Two of the people I live with are going to London soon for a concert by Peter Gabriel. When they asked whether I wanted them to get me a ticket, I have to admit that I was so preoccupied with my gig in Paris and its time demands that I said No.
But in my defense, they didn't mention to me at the time the *nature* of the concert. I've seen Peter Gabriel several times, and it was always an enjoyable experience, so I figured...hey, been there, done that. Had they mentioned to me that this concert was to celebrate -- and re-perform in its entirety -- the breakthrough album he released 30 years ago, I'd have jumped at the chance. The album, you see, is "So." Those of you who know and love it, think back to some of the classic songs it contains, like "In Your Eyes <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU8OJAOMbPg> " (written about the moment when Arjuna looks into Krishna's eyes in the Gita...really...at least according to Peter Gabriel). Or the poignancy of "Don't Give Up <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjEq-r2agqc> " (so appropriate for these times, as it's about the despair of poverty) and "Mercy Street <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjEq-r2agqc> " (Gabriel's compassionate song for poet Anne Sexton). Or his homage to Motown and Otis Redding, "Sledgehammer" (video <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJWJE0x7T4Q> done by Nick Park and Aardmann Studios, creators of "Wallace and Gromit"). Or the rousing, full-on rocker that closed most released versions of the album "Big Time" (another video <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBAl9cchQac> classic, should you be up for it). Now imagine him performing these songs live, 30 years later. There has been a lot of bridge over the water in all of those years. For Peter Gabriel, and for all the rest of us. It should be a magical evening. I just *love* this concept, though -- musicians "going back" and revisiting albums that have become classics, and thus have become associated with them forever. Van Morrison did that with "Astral Weeks <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kDhaH_mXEA> - Live at the Hollywood Bowl." Tremendous concert, and video. Jean-Michel Jarre re-recorded his classic album "Oxygene <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVY_17d1KkM> ," with less success. So what are some of the albums you'd like to see re-performed (and hopefully re-recorded) by some of your favorite musicians? All of the original songs, in their entirety, as performed by the same musician who created them, but decades later? The first such fantasy "do-over" that sprung to my mind was Bob Dylan, re-performing "Freewheelin'" not just 30 years later, but 50. Wouldn't THAT be fuckin' awesome? Or the Rolling Stones re-rocking to "Aftermath," now nearing its 50-year anniversary. Or Keith Jarrett, re-performing "The Koln Concert," in Koln, this time (as the last) as a total improvisation, start to finish. But this time (*not* as the last), the improvisation is based on riffing off the original composition. All of these fantasy "do-overs" could happen, because the musicians involved are all still alive, and still performing. But don't let that limit your suggestions. Had he lived, wouldn't you pay big bucks to attend the 45th-anniversary re-performance of Jimi Hendrix's "Electric Ladyland?" I know I'd pay a veritable fortune to see a re-performance of Gram Parsons' classic album "Grevious Angel," with a similarly-aged Emmylou Harris performing her parts. Or the Beatles, re-performing "Rubber Soul" or "Revolver" 47 years later? Have fun with the concept...
