June 4th, 2023 § Comments Off on The Road to Meddazaland – Duran Duran § permalink
The Barbarella Pictures interviews with many of the musicians, producers, and engineers who worked in the studio with Duran Duran. @DuranDuran
The documentary was written, produced, filmed and edited by Carsten Windhorst and Gerard Hynes!
I’ll admit, this interview was my first foray out in public in nearly a year.
If I hadn’t found a parking meter on Sunset Boulevard I might have been a no-show.
Carsten and Gerard were brilliant and supportive! We are overdue a pint!
Enjoy!
Part 2 of the Barbarella Pictures interviews with some of the people who worked in the studio with Duran Duran. The documentary was written, produced, filmed and edited by Carsten Windhorst and Gerard Hynes.
Part 3 – An awesome album! Not my story. Good music!
November 13th, 2022 § Comments Off on Rock Hall 2022 for Duran Duran § permalink
After massive support from fans around the world, Duran Duran were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame by Robert Downey Jr., on November 5 (Guy Fawkes night), 2022, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
We went to the show, and were truly blown away by everyone on stage, and the audience! Although it as a very long show there wasn’t a moment wasted between segments. An incredible stage set, and light show, with no need for a host.
Neither Andy Taylor or Warren Cuccurullo from Duran Duran were there, and sadly, Andy wrote his thank you’s in a letter, and told us he had terminal cancer. A bittersweet night.
My highlights were everything, but of course hearing Ordinary World was very special. Otherwise,
I can’t get those Eurythmic songs out of my head! Annie and Dave were awesome! Eminem, Judas Priest… They all were! Seriously one of the best concerts ever!
For many years I have been a fan and a student of the Beatles and all who sailed their ship. But, there was one person on the team I knew little about – Norman Smith, the musician, engineer, producer, recording artist and the 6th Beatle!
Norman Smith
Norman recorded the Beatles from the very beginning through the Rubber Soul album. At the end of 1965 George Martin founded A.I.R. with his EMI producing partners and Norman was promoted to producer and took over the Parlophone label from George.
Norman signed Pink Floyd in 1967 and produced and engineered three of their first four albums, including Ummagumma, and then in 1971 went on to have a #1 hit in America as recording artist Hurricane Smith!
When I was in London a few years ago recording Joey Niceforo and the Steve Sidwell orchestra in Studio One at Abbey Road with Steve Price, I met Richard Hale, longtime engineer at E.M.I. Studios. I’ll save Richard’s story for another day, but suffice to say that he regaled me with tales of Norman Smith, and lent me a copy of Norman’s “auto biography” – John Lennon Called Me Normal.
Norman was in the glider division of the Royal Air Force in the last year of World War II. Fortunately for him he was never deployed and ended up spending a couple of years in a jazz band playing on the roof top of a hotel in Venice, Italy.
But, the best part for me is finally seeing the man himself, and he is fantastic, and definitely the missing link in all the stories of the greatest band of the 1960’s!
An interview with Beatles engineer and Pink Floyd producer/engineer Norman Smith
February 3rd, 2021 § Comments Off on Hello 2021! § permalink
This site has been mostly offline since 2019. I started posting news in 1995. This is my first News page from more than 25 years ago! The old News Index
Today I am going to head back to a “write your own” website that was always so much fun to play with!
I’ll be updating the Music Production and Singer Songwriter pages with all of the projects I have been working on and with news of friends that have helped us along the way!
Strangely, I’ve neglected to share my Soundcloud page – which is so much fun uploading song demos and other unreleased ditties. Songs are added and removed almost daily.
Another new place for me is over there on IGTV. This is a live version of Eleanor Rigby recorded summer 2020. Click the icon to turn the audio on.
John Jones Music Links to FaceBook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, Spotify, Apple, Soundcloud…
What are you going to do about tomorrow
When will it all ever change
We’re finding out about the victims
They’ve been down and out and we’re all insane
When I wish upon a star
Do I believe in all the lying games that come my way
And is it not my right to know (all our right to know)
What’s a Nation, when the Sun is in the clouds
What we’re facing
It’s only a dream
And I guess all the screams I can hear ‘never meant to be seen
Can you hide from what you see
Or you just a case of hard to get
What are you going to tell all the sisters
And the brothers of the heart
Did I miss a devolution (devolution) Have we really lost our way again And did we fall apart (fall apart) It’s back into the sea again (back into the sea)
What’s a Nation, when the Sun is in the clouds
What we’re facing
It’s only a dream
And I guess all the screams I can hear ‘never meant to be seen
What’s a Nation? What’s a Nation?
What’s a Nation? What’s a Nation?
Give it back to me I wanna see all people free
(set me free, set me free from your games)
Why don’t you give it back to us and make us free from your curse
(set me free, set me free from your chains)
Solo
Who will it find the right solution (time is a danger)
Will it all be just in vein (will it all be just the same)
Will we walk among the ruins (will we walk among the ruins)
Will we lose it again (lose it all again)
What’s a Nation, when the Sun is in the clouds
What we’re facing
It’s only a dream
And I guess all the screams I can hear ‘never meant to be seen
(what’s a nation) When all we got are tears in our eyes
(what’s a nation) There won’t be no more time for goodbyes
(what’s a nation) There’s nothing left for you in the night
(what’s a nation) Set these people free from your chains
(what’s a nation) Oh let them get away from your games
What’s a Nation (what’s a nation)
What’s a Nation (what’s a nation)
August 26th, 2019 § Comments Off on An Especial Pint With jj frazz II § permalink
A few weeks back I decided to put together a 15 minute “podcast” of various demo recordings that I have produced over the years. I have had the luxury of recording everyday since my parents bought me a Sony Sound-On-Sound real-to-reel tape recorder in the 1970’s, so I have recorded hundreds of songs in my life. Quantity over quality!
This week’s A Pint With jjfrazz II is a flock of covers, special to me, but not ready for prime time. Here are they in all their one take demo goodness.
