I’ve heard the chords two different ways, one by Reed (which I’m quite sure is incorrect, but it may be what you are more familiar with — I think Reed modified both the chords and the melody) and one by Bob Berlien, who is on LJ. Or you might want to call me up and play me the record over the phone.
Gimme a li’l while — coupla days, anyhow. I’m one of the world’s slowest typists, & haven’t done “chords over words” things in quite awhile — which is especially necessary with this song. If I had a web cam, I’d just put it up on YouTube; say luh vee.
The chords I have are the ones I learned from Mike Smith (horse’s fingers, & all that), & there are a few “maj7″ chords & arpeggios in ‘em that nobody else seems to figger out, including the Mudcat site & everybody else I’ve ever heard try the tune.
Quick note to Emma:
Steve can’t do any worse to it than I already have — different, maybe, funnier, perhaps, but not worse. Smith has never known whether to sue me or do it himself. I made beer come out his nose. It’s the lowest, vilest thing I’ve ever put on paper. Kathy won’t sing it with me.
I just want to say that it makes me smile to see Steve, Nate, Bob, & Emma all talking here about “Spoon River”. I don’t know Patch, but appreciate the google-fu.
The song is wonderful and I love Reed’s version and Bob’s version and would of course love to see/hear Steve’s take on it too.
I’ve got them now, thanks all. And Em, actually, I’m doing it straight–I love that song. I miss having Bob or Reed around to play it, so I have to do it myself.
14 responses so far ↓
1 Nate Bucklin // Jul 25, 2008 at 4:48 pm
I’ve heard the chords two different ways, one by Reed (which I’m quite sure is incorrect, but it may be what you are more familiar with — I think Reed modified both the chords and the melody) and one by Bob Berlien, who is on LJ. Or you might want to call me up and play me the record over the phone.
Nate
2 Patch // Jul 25, 2008 at 4:55 pm
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=4682#26142
3 skzb // Jul 25, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Thanks Nate, and thank you Patch–your Goggle-Fu is more powerful than mine. :-)
4 Emma // Jul 25, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Given the nature of this song, I have fear. Because, well, is it unworthy of me to suspect that it might be a little…different when you do it?
5 Bob Berlien // Jul 25, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Gimme a li’l while — coupla days, anyhow. I’m one of the world’s slowest typists, & haven’t done “chords over words” things in quite awhile — which is especially necessary with this song. If I had a web cam, I’d just put it up on YouTube; say luh vee.
The chords I have are the ones I learned from Mike Smith (horse’s fingers, & all that), & there are a few “maj7″ chords & arpeggios in ‘em that nobody else seems to figger out, including the Mudcat site & everybody else I’ve ever heard try the tune.
Love Ya,
Bob
6 Bob Berlien // Jul 25, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Quick note to Emma:
Steve can’t do any worse to it than I already have — different, maybe, funnier, perhaps, but not worse. Smith has never known whether to sue me or do it himself. I made beer come out his nose. It’s the lowest, vilest thing I’ve ever put on paper. Kathy won’t sing it with me.
7 Emma // Jul 25, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Bob, I love the original. But I worship you for what you did to it. (Well, in addition to the other things I worship you for.)
8 Laurel Krahn // Jul 25, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I just want to say that it makes me smile to see Steve, Nate, Bob, & Emma all talking here about “Spoon River”. I don’t know Patch, but appreciate the google-fu.
The song is wonderful and I love Reed’s version and Bob’s version and would of course love to see/hear Steve’s take on it too.
I’ve got a music party in my head now– yay!
9 Netdancer // Jul 25, 2008 at 9:25 pm
I did find this:
http://www.artistsofnote.com/michael/songbook1.shtml
Everyone free seems to have The Dutchman and nothing else…
10 skzb // Jul 25, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I’ve got them now, thanks all. And Em, actually, I’m doing it straight–I love that song. I miss having Bob or Reed around to play it, so I have to do it myself.
11 Floyd // Jul 27, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I guess you already have the chord progression, but I’ll leave this anyway in case it is any help.
C Em F G
C Em F G
C Em F G
C Em F G
C C C7 C7
F F Fm Fm
C Em F G
They’re in the Rise Up Singing book. I haven’t tried to play it, so I’m not sure of the number of measures per chord. Anyway…
12 skzb // Jul 27, 2008 at 7:48 pm
That checks what I have. Thanks!
13 Michael M. Butler // Jul 31, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I miss having you, Bob, Reed and Emma around.
Shit, where’s that guitar?
Hmm. Dead strings. I can fix that!
14 Michael M. Butler // Jul 31, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Bob: I shall send you a webcam soonest. Working as I do at a Place Where Tech Goes to Die and Be Reborn Horribly Mutated, this should not take long.
Yes, I am a selfish marsupial bastard for sending you such a thing. Or, umm, manipulative? I get them confused.
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