ABECK Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 Really digging the up front keys on this track. Sounds ehem...remarkably like 80s Clapton. I'm seeing A Juno (60?), JX8P, What looks like a Juno 106S and a Prophet 5. And of course, Greg Phillinganes. Can't get more street cred than that. [video:youtube] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElmerJFudd Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 First 30 seconds reek of an 80s tune. The 16 beat hi-hat, chorused guitar palming rhythm, little rock guitar licks, and that short attack little to no release pad pattern. Nostalgia track! The only difference is the percussion stuff sounds played rather than midi sequenced to some Roland PCM percussion on Channel 10. Greg, shoot. He practically invented this type of arrangement. Quote Yamaha CP88, Casio PX-560 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nursers Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 Well I can't imagine Greg broke a sweat playing that. I quite like Mayer's work a lot of the time but damn that song was boring. Quote The Keyboard Chronicles Podcast Check out your fellow forumites in an Apple Music playlist Check out your fellow forumites in a Spotify playlist My Music: Stainless Fields Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoken6 Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 Extra points for: more than one four-chord loop Lose points for: pitch correction. Admittedly not on every note, but man is that proximity effect on the lower notes polished to lustrous perfection in post... The arrangement reminds me of Tim Pierce's "formula" for playing a guitar session in the 90s: Verse - chug power chords, very tight. Pre-chorus - pick out clusters of three notes, let ring. Chorus - Dave "The Edge" Evans. No messing about. Cheers, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BbAltered Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 It looks like parts of the video were shot in NYC Grand Central Station (or a mock-up). Appropriate when he's singing "running for the last train home". Sounds pretty boring to me - even with the prominent keyboards. Quote J.S. Bach Well Tempered Klavier The collected works of Scott Joplin Ray Charles Genius plus Soul Charlie Parker Omnibook Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life Weather Report Mr. Gone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morrissey Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 John Mayer is fearless. Not afraid to pivot from his initial pop success to tour as a blues trio. Not afraid take up the "Jerry Garcia" spot in the latest iteration of the Grateful Dead. Not afraid to circle back and write a generic pop song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drawback Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 John Mayer is a real musician, and he surrounds himself with likewise. He holds his own in live appearances alongside industry greats. I'll support any musical endeavour he embarks on â there aren't too many I'd call the "real deal," who should have a lifelong career as a current musician rather than a "used-to-be," but Mayer is definitely one â in my books anyway. Quote ____________________________________ Rod Here for the gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomKittel Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 Really digging the up front keys on this track. Sounds ehem...remarkably like 80s Clapton. I'm seeing A Juno (60?), JX8P, What looks like a Juno 106S and a Prophet 5. And of course, Greg Phillinganes. Can't get more street cred than that. Hmm... even though I'm seeing four classic keyboards I don't HEAR four classic keyboards in this boring song... is it just me and my deaf old ears? Quote LIFE IS SHORT, GO GET THE GEAR YOU WANT ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABECK Posted June 7, 2021 Author Share Posted June 7, 2021 Hmm... even though I'm seeing four classic keyboards I don't HEAR four classic keyboards in this boring song... is it just me and my deaf old ears? Who knows. Sounds like a basic polysynth patch that could be covered by any of the individual boards in the vid.....or a simple VI. Looks cool on the vid though. The vid very much looks like the Invisible Touch vid and others from the same era. Probably not a coincidence that the 80s sounding song has an 80s looking vid. I echo the comments about Mayer. He wears his influences on his sleeve, but there's no doubt he is talented and fits into a lot of different markets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill H. Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 If you wanna roll me, then you gotta roll me all night long... Definitely going all 80s with lyrics like that! I'm ok with the song and it's nice to hear a lead outro. But those lyrics... personally I wish he'd left them in the 80s. So... Rev3 or 4? I think it's a 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adan Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 The title of this thread got my hopes up for something interesting, but as far as keyboards that just left me with a "been there done that" feeling. Mayer is a guitar player for the ages, yet despite that I can't get into his work. This tune certainly doesn't help. Quote Gigging: Crumar Mojo 61, Hammond SKPro Home: Vintage Vibe 64 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o0Ampy0o Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 Can't listen to the track yet but I suspect it is as much a financial as it is a thirst for creative expansion which motivates him to venture into other genres. He dove into deep water when into his Strat and Two Rock. He has adopted PRS because Smith showers his endorsers with incentives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABECK Posted June 7, 2021 Author Share Posted June 7, 2021 The title of this thread got my hopes up for something interesting, but as far as keyboards that just left me with a "been there done that" feeling. Ha - gotta reel em in with a provocative title! I'm just excited to hear a synth part up front in the mix and see a nice rig featured in a video. Funny that I've been reading comments how it sounds like Toto online. Not hearing it (other than a brass-like synth part). But, Gregg P was in those next gen "wrecking crew" circles along with Lukather et al. in the late 70s and 80s, so it makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cp-the-nerd Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 I like John, but if this is the "hit" off his new album, it's going to be a snore-fest. The production is excellent and the playing is tasteful, but the song is a boring take on the current 80s sound bandwagon. Even John himself is dressed like he wants to be the cool tough guy from Breakfast Club. Bland and safe. Quote Keyboards: Nord Electro 6D 73, Korg SV-1 88, Minilogue XD, Yamaha YPG-625 Bonus: Boss RC-3 Loopstation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stokely Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 Yeah, I haven't heard poly synth chords like that since the 80s....I honestly felt it needed a bit of variation as it went along. I'd have to agree that the song is kind of ho-hum compared to some of my favorites from his earlier albums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EscapeRocks Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 Sometimes "boring" is okay. Personally, I really enjoyed this. John, and Greg don't have to be flashy on everything they do. I'm not one to delve deep and deconstruct every song I enjoy. I just like to listen. If I were to learn it to play, then I go back to figure out how they did what and where with production. It's funny that I seem to be the opposite of, "get off my lawn," as I seem to be becoming less critical and more accepting of things as I get older. Quote David Gig Rig:Casio Privia PX-5S | Yamaha MODX+ 6 | MacBook Pro 14" M1| Mainstage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drohm Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 Sounds like someone is out of new ideas. I could not listen past the first 20 seconds. However, I would listen to new Peter Gabriel from that era! In fairness, I do think Mayer is a very talented musician and an amazing guitar payer. But...this specific song is boring. Quote NS3C, Hammond XK5, Yamaha S7X, Sequential Prophet 6, Yamaha YC73, Roland Jupiter X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MathOfInsects Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 This video circulated one of my musician threads in the context of "WTF is even going on here?" Inscrutable video and a sort of "yeah, you captured the sound but why?" approach to the song. Sure, the six people still listening to 80's-era Clapton non-ironically will like it. But that leaves the rest of the human population to go on ignoring it with great prejudice. Quote Now out! "Mind the Gap," a 24-song album of new material. www.joshweinstein.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazzjazz Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 Great to hear synths like that. I couldn"t help but notice the lyrics are really weak, kinda nonsense. Quote www.dazzjazz.com PhD in Jazz Organ Improvisation. BMus (Hons) Jazz Piano. my YouTube is Jazz Organ Bites 1961 A100.Leslie 45 & 122. MAG P-2 Organ. Kawai K300J. Yamaha CP4. Moog Matriarch. KIWI-8P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cp-the-nerd Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 This video circulated one of my musician threads in the context of "WTF is even going on here?" Inscrutable video and a sort of "yeah, you captured the sound but why?" approach to song. Sure, the six people still listening to 80's-era Clapton non-ironically will like it. But that leaves the rest of the human population to go on ignoring it with great prejudice. It does already have 2.6 million views in 3 days. I think it's going to get a lot of play from normies who like pleasant nonsense and millennial girls who were too young to hear 80s synth ballads before, so they think this is novel. Quote Keyboards: Nord Electro 6D 73, Korg SV-1 88, Minilogue XD, Yamaha YPG-625 Bonus: Boss RC-3 Loopstation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elsongs Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 It looks like parts of the video were shot in NYC Grand Central Station (or a mock-up). Appropriate when he's singing "running for the last train home". Sounds pretty boring to me - even with the prominent keyboards. It was actually filmed at Los Angeles' Union Station -- at the very same place where the Academy Awards took place this year. I could totally tell Mayer was playing Toto's "Africa" and thought, "Hey, maybe I cam make another song from this..." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 Are keyboards cool again????? One could make a strong argument that keyboards/synthesizers have been the primary instrument of pop music for more than a few years now. dB Quote ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timwat Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 Forgetting the tune for a second ("to each his own")...can Greg push his two keyboard stacks any further apart? I can't think offhand of another player who uses the eagle spreads his wing look other than Greg. I think the first time I saw him do that was in a Toto tour rig walkthrough. Quote .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o0Ampy0o Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 This is Toto, simplified with some Phil Collins, seasoned with Eric Clapton then packaged in Johnny Depp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MathOfInsects Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 I could totally tell Mayer was playing Toto's "Africa" and thought, "Hey, maybe I cam make another song from this..." Yes, "I thought he was playing Africa" was the most common comment after "WTF is going on in this video?" on our little thread. Quote Now out! "Mind the Gap," a 24-song album of new material. www.joshweinstein.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o0Ampy0o Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 Forgetting the tune for a second ("to each his own")...can Greg push his two keyboard stacks any further apart? I can't think offhand of another player who uses the eagle spreads his wing look other than Greg. I think the first time I saw him do that was in a Toto tour rig walkthrough. He is posing for the video (of course they all are). Does he actually play them like that live? With that Toto rig, did he play two across from one another or just move to them separately? He did not spread everything out like this when he played with David Gilmour, Eric Clapton or Michael Jackson. This song also reminds me of Don Henly solo material. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timwat Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 [video:youtube] Quote .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agitato Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 Gregory Phillinganes, the keyboardist's keyboardist! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Towne Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 Have you seen the album cover? 80s is exactly what he's going for. Quote Endorsing Artist/Ambassador for MAG Organs and Motion Sound Amplifiers, Organ player for SRT - www.srtgroove.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o0Ampy0o Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 Forgetting the tune for a second ("to each his own")...can Greg push his two keyboard stacks any further apart? I can't think offhand of another player who uses the eagle spreads his wing look other than Greg. I think the first time I saw him do that was in a Toto tour rig walkthrough. Another eagle spread not quite as much as Greg's but within a few inches (2:38), taking into consideration the Toto rig appears to be closer together than his rig in this video. [video:youtube] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.