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Post by Rick Henry on Feb 5, 2009 3:23:57 GMT -5
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Post by Rick Henry on Feb 6, 2009 10:29:49 GMT -5
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timo
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Post by timo on Feb 6, 2009 12:21:24 GMT -5
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kc1950
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Post by kc1950 on Feb 7, 2009 8:20:29 GMT -5
Interestinlg interviews and great questions. A little background -
Russel Javors and Liberty Devito played for Billy Joel for many years. Liberty is quite a character - He is the son of a NYC cop and is known for telling it like it is. Sadly, Liberty no longer plays with Billy Joel anymore. They had a nasty falling out - I personally can't listen to Billy Joel without Liberty on drums. Its not the same.
Russel Javors was sort of like Billy's Denny Laine - played a lot of guitar and back-up - I hear that Russel is no longer in the music business - I read in a bio that he's in Wisconsin or something and happened a retail store with his wife
Sadly - one of Billy's band-mates Doug Stegmeyer killed himself a dozen years ago - so, Billy Joel's band - is a bit dysfunctional - sadly - they were great guys and Liberty and Russel were assets to Karen's solo album -
George Martin offered to produce the stranger when Billy was looking for producers - He wanted to sack Billy's band and Billy said no - That's when Phil Ramone came in and the rest is history
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Post by enigma on Feb 7, 2009 12:42:23 GMT -5
Yes Rick me too especially the Louis Johnson on Karen really opened up to him and I am not sure that she knew him all that well from his account it was like a first time meeting (the one where they talked for hours and told each other their life stories). Karen seemed to be an very open and honest person I have heard other accounts of Karen opening up to people and accompanied by the fact that I have never heard anyone who met and talked to Karen say a bad thing about her. Alot of people had misconceptions about Karen before they met her and were surprised at how open honest and down to earth Karen really was with the exception of her illness. I would have loved to be on that step getting to know Karen like Louis did since he said they talked for hours it must have been an interesting conversation.   |
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kc1950
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Post by kc1950 on Feb 7, 2009 13:03:49 GMT -5
Louis Johnson was probably one of those cats who knew pain - and he felt Karen's pain right away and they identified it - Just like that - Karen was a person who had deep pain inside - i am convinced that she was abused as a child (whether from Agnes' coldness or the family favoring her brother) - that was a messed up family
Not to sound trite or condensending - some people know true feelings and they know hurt and pain - its called soul - Louis Johnson has it, he felt it, and he knew how to talk to Karen and her pain -
Great thing about it was karen unleashed it in her songs and music - LJ was a cat who connected with KC and thus the talk - Phil Ramone felt that too
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Feb 7, 2009 14:13:43 GMT -5
Interestinlg interviews and great questions. A little background - Russel Javors and Liberty Devito played for Billy Joel for many years. Liberty is quite a character - He is the son of a NYC cop and is known for telling it like it is. Sadly, Liberty no longer plays with Billy Joel anymore. They had a nasty falling out - I personally can't listen to Billy Joel without Liberty on drums. Its not the same. Russel Javors was sort of like Billy's Denny Laine - played a lot of guitar and back-up - I hear that Russel is no longer in the music business - I read in a bio that he's in Wisconsin or something and happened a retail store with his wife Sadly - one of Billy's band-mates Doug Stegmeyer killed himself a dozen years ago - so, Billy Joel's band - is a bit dysfunctional - sadly - they were great guys and Liberty and Russel were assets to Karen's solo album - George Martin offered to produce the stranger when Billy was looking for producers - He wanted to sack Billy's band and Billy said no - That's when Phil Ramone came in and the rest is history  Rick, first let me just say that I recall reading each of these interviews, and enjoying them in their entirety. Having them listed like this, with bits and pieces of EACH all together here reads very well, and gives fans who are not forum members a chance to read some great information you gleaned through your interviews with these talents. Nicely done. Great job. kc your post is interesting....Think I'll also provide a little info to clear things up about Billy and company, perhaps? It is a shame that Lib no longer plays with Billy, yet his current drummer, from the NYC show "Movin' Out" band, is quite capable, and I have seen him in concert with Billy 3 times now...and plan to see him again with Billy on his BJ/Elton John tour in May, in St. Louis, thanks to Crystal Taliefero, who is my dear friend. I find it too bad that you don't want to listen to Billy's work any longer, because of a business decision. Billy and Lib did have a falling out, and at first, there was a lot of anger. However, Liberty will often talk about how his time with Billy was brilliant and fun, but he does seem to also love what he is doing, now - teaching all over the world. He's a good man, and I miss him too, but Billy is the star of the show, and ultimately, it's his genius that has always attracted me. I do miss seeing Liberty give his all - he was quite fun to watch - but Billy wrote the songs - and though I don't think I'll ever really know what happened, I don't think there are still hard feelings about it. Insofar as Russell Javors is concerned, the last time I spoke with him, he was living in Hong Kong. Russell works for a company as a developer. He's quite a guy, and he's most interesting. The things he says in this interview, he has also repeated to me, and more. He thought the absolute world of Karen, and was quite humbled that she chose not one, but two of his tunes to record. He and Doug Stegmeyer and David Brown grew up together. It was a real blow to them when Doug took his own life. Russell discussed this with me, and his theories of why....and I know it will haunt these good friends forever. Such a shame. As for Billy's band being a bit dysfunctional, tell me, what band isn't? I mean, Carpenters sure had their share of dysfunction, eh? And...they were family. So yeah, there have been some dysfunctional things happen in the past with Billy and company, but the band he has now has been with him, mostly, since 1989, with the exception of his new drummer, and Andy Cichon, his bass player, who joined him from Shania Twain's band in 1999. Crystal, Tommy, Mark, David have been with Billy for many, many years now. Crystal a year or two before the others, as she performs on the Storm Front album. I've spoken with them all, and Crystal most often....they have a great time together, and as I understand it, they are quite happy Billy decided to tour yet again this year. Twas Phil Ramone who rescued Billy from the horrible contract that he got into with another company who were only out for themselves. Phil believed in Billy, and his band. The rest, as you said, is history. I'm afraid we'd have never heard of our friend Billy Joel, and now his marvelous daughter, Lex, had it not been for Phil Ramone. Thanks again, Rick, for the great job you did with the interviews, and bringing that info all together. Nicely done, and I enjoyed how it flowed well from one interview to the other. |
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kc1950
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Post by kc1950 on Feb 7, 2009 15:09:13 GMT -5
I certainly appreciate your passion for Billy and for Karen. Your posts are always right on the money and i have a lot of respect for something such as yourself who is such a big fan of Karen Carpenter
I grew up on Billy Joel through my dad - Been a fan of his since about 1976 when they had 8 tracks. I adored his band - I mean Billy was never a solo act for me - He was part of a band and when i was in High School - I saw the video for Longest time when the guys are in the video - I was upset when Ritchie Canata left and was replaced by Mark Rivera -
I know it sounds like a betryal to Billy because nothing lasts forever - But seeing Billy Joel without Liberty is really tough for me - I know some bad stuff went down but i think him losing the band like that - was bigger than a business decision -
The new band is cool and i have no problem with them - But to me - It was that band - they played together for so long - 75-87 and beyond, it was Billy writing new songs and recording new albums. Without that - its hard for me to get back into him. Billy Joel not recording new music is not right, he needs to do it, and its tough to hear him not come up with new product, cause he's so talented -
i agree to disagree with you on that. Liberty's drums is essential to Billy's sound - Like Bonham's drums with Page/Plant or McCartney on bass with Beatles. True - Billy is the star and that's that - but that band was hot !! Listen to Songs in the attic - god, what a band
I mean no disrespect - its the way i feel - I like reading your posts 'yesterday' - You certainly know your stuff
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Feb 7, 2009 15:29:17 GMT -5
I certainly appreciate your passion for Billy and for Karen. Your posts are always right on the money and i have a lot of respect for something such as yourself who is such a big fan of Karen Carpenter I grew up on Billy Joel through my dad - Been a fan of his since about 1976 when they had 8 tracks. I adored his band - I mean Billy was never a solo act for me - He was part of a band and when i was in High School - I saw the video for Longest time when the guys are in the video - I was upset when Ritchie Canata left and was replaced by Mark Rivera - I know it sounds like a betryal to Billy because nothing lasts forever - But seeing Billy Joel without Liberty is really tough for me - I know some bad stuff went down but i think him losing the band like that - was bigger than a business decision - The new band is cool and i have no problem with them - But to me - It was that band - they played together for so long - 75-87 and beyond, it was Billy writing new songs and recording new albums. Without that - its hard for me to get back into him. Billy Joel not recording new music is not right, he needs to do it, and its tough to hear him not come up with new product, cause he's so talented - i agree to disagree with you on that. Liberty's drums is essential to Billy's sound - Like Bonham's drums with Page/Plant or McCartney on bass with Beatles. True - Billy is the star and that's that - but that band was hot !! Listen to Songs in the attic - god, what a band I mean no disrespect - its the way i feel - I like reading your posts 'yesterday' - You certainly know your stuff Please, call me Tim - everyone else does....and I completely respect where you're coming from, too. Didn't mean to imply otherwise. I completely see it. So yes, we agree to disagree, and that's way cool by me. My daughter and son are like you, in that they grew up with Billy's music from the womb, actually, and it was a blow to my son, the drummer, to see Lib leave. It's just something that happens. So, I completely understand and appreciate your viewpoint. Just wanted to add a bit about the new guys (and gal) and my feelings on Billy's music. Russell and Liberty were SO fortunate, in my book, to work with Karen on her solo album. I've said it many times on this forum, I really grew up enjoying two artists more than any other....Billy Joel, and Carpenters. So, imagine my delight to know that it was (part of) Billy's very band that performed on Karen's solo CD. That was like a dream, come true. Didn't mean to get off topic, Rick. |
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Post by Rick Henry on Feb 8, 2009 0:59:48 GMT -5
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Post by wisejester7 on Feb 8, 2009 8:06:15 GMT -5
Rick - I've read the snippets you posted. I'm curious about the parts you chose, though. How did you choose to include those particular snippets?
The whole interviews (that used to be posted) will be warmly welcomed when you are ready to post them again.
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kc1950
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Post by kc1950 on Feb 8, 2009 9:06:24 GMT -5
Louis Johnson and Karen just clicked- that's what happens sometimes people just relate to each other. I think Louis can recognize in Karen some hurt and pain - and they connected - Its called soul and she had it. And he saw it !!
Snoop Dogg - once broke down the Carpenters on an interview. He said Karen's voice was soulful not in the James Brown sense. But in the pain sense like Sinatra - she captured the song and the feelings and wore it on her sleeve. You see when she went into the basement - you felt it. He said (tongue firmly in cheeck) that Karen was funky in that sense. He then sort of half sung "this song for u" and broke it down. It was great. Even though i think Donny Hathaway's version is better - i really think that it was quite cool that Snoop Dog analyzed KC's vocal chops - and he was really on the money with those comemnts
The great comedian RIchard Pryor once said and i paraphrase "black folks know pain and you can't fool them on that - they know real emotion too and that's what separates a real artist from the phony". I don't mean to preach here or even try to represent a race - but i can sort of feel that comment - It's what separates a Little RIchard from say a Pat Boone - no disrespect to Pat Boone - But - his Tutti Frutti is a pale imitation to the true master. Kind of like comparing Jessica Simpson to Aretha
Karen was an original and the true artists and observers can tell she wasn't playing when she sang. It was real and it was from the gut!! THe basement held a lot of pain!!
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Post by Rick Henry on Feb 9, 2009 21:39:30 GMT -5
Rick - I've read the snippets you posted. I'm curious about the parts you chose, though. How did you choose to include those particular snippets? The whole interviews (that used to be posted) will be warmly welcomed when you are ready to post them again. |
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Post by BethMosior on Feb 10, 2009 4:30:42 GMT -5
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Post by enigma on Feb 10, 2009 11:02:35 GMT -5
looking forward to rereading these insightful and fantastic interviews its nice of you and the other interviewees to take the time to talk about this record I am always interesting in making of record album and what really goes on and the solo record is especially interesting for me. thanks in advance Rick! |
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and I'm really so glad for your web site and the C's avenue and other site about the Carpenters 
