[ Closed ] Please Joe stop with the blues COVER!!! (Page 3 of 5)

Whoa! Yes the list Bill has done are all great songs that are part of Joe's catalogue. Often these are songs that Joe has dug out of his own collection, put on his own spin while still treating them with the reverence they deserve. However I don't think anyone is saying Joe should not have recorded these songs. Rather they are saying going forward that they think he should consider doing less covers. There are signs that the well is drying up a little (check how many of these artists Joe has already covered?).

Joe’s written some incredible songs, I’ll spare you a list, but these include songs on his new album. Yet I feel that wider acknowledgment of this talent being hampered the demands he puts on himself to produce an album each year.
Fans could really do Joe a favour in stopping the constant pressure for new material and let him take his time to make his next album, and if it takes two years, so be it. The potential in his current song writing is incredible, and a keenly awaited fully self-composed album would really break down barriers.  NPB_EST.1979’s spot on when he says that the Grammy people prefer originals and it’s the same for professional music critics. Once Joe is perceived by industry figures as an innovator rather than a revivalist he will find that critical acclaim that he craves. Don’t demand more covers from Joe, it’s originals that will see him flourish.

As for fans being introduced to the blues, how many great songs interpreted by Joe do they need before they start to delve into the great music previous recorded within the genre?

I am sure he does what he wants to do. He has said recently in interviews that he enjoys covering artists that have thrilled him in his past as well as his own songs. Listen to his interview with Paul Jones on the BBC radio 2 site. I think he answers everything that needs to be said on this topic. I love his own stuff, I love most of his covers of which my all time favourites are 'Just Got Paid' and the great 'Midnight Blues'. Joe do what you want to do when you want. I'm sure the majority will still follow and love your performances.
Found the link, http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01hpwwp#synopsis

Covers are a vital tradition of the blues.  Covers are an opportunity for artists to pay homage to artists they admire.  Covers can breath new life into great song that shouldn't just fade into the sunset.  Joe does some of the best covers of any artist.  They are part of his artistry and style.  I love it and always eagerly anticipate what he is going to reinvent next.

I also love that Joe is so prolific in the studio.  13 albums in 12 years and not a dud in the bunch.  You may not love the style of every CD, but the quality is always there and no performance is ever just phoned in.  As long as Joe has the creative juices and fire, why not capture it for the fans?  So while I devour DTTD, I have an eye toward #14.

Oh, and I'll take a live recording from every tour as well (CD or DVD)!

Perhaps, but he seems to play a maximum of four songs from each new album, so he could always play another four songs instead! He's also got over 150 recorded songs to choose from aswell. There's regularly a clamour of demands for recordings when mention of a studio visit or new song is mentioned on the forum.

I could also write that I want Joe to record and release as many albums as possible, but I tend to think about things a little deeper than that... I don't go with this vital tradition of the blues stuff at all by the way, we're not talking a traditional blues artist here. The covers clearly benefit Joe as they mean he is able to release an album after writing four or five of his own songs. I believe he can do better and I'm not convinced in the long term that its the right approach in the long term.... anyway we'll move on.

Thanks for the reminder about the Paul Jones show, Mr Smith, I'll check it out!

"My vision" for Joe is no more than the standard expectation level for any creative artist, regardless of genre in the current age. Good luck in your wait for #14.

In my opinion, and I feel somewhat ambivalent in my sincerity perhaps, but nevertheless, I feel "Your vision" is archaic in the 21st century new whirled music "in dusty" [sic], and honestly makes you appear, to me if only, as an anachronism to the whirled blues scene.  A lot of "original" blues material out there is nothing more than kiddy cereal sugar puffy stuff!  No "feeling", just rote incantations and your (to me) ignomius  (not glorious, again, to me) "creative artist expectations level" (perhaps) boringly met.  Is it imperative to impress those who are paid to be grudgingly (or far from it) impressed?!  That is a barometric determinant of valid viability and liability of abilities for the reward of awards???!!! Seems to be an expectation that refuses to die, so I guess it is yes twice.  I think there is a new benchmark.  History is the best reward.  It writes itself and critiques itself.  Expectations can be so contrived.  Some things have a natural flow.  I await 14+++.  If that is "pressure", good!  But it is not. And everyone knows it! At least those who have been waiting around for "whatever" comes next for half his career do.

I honestly wonder if Joe Bonamassa doing a complete self-penned project may be of demo only quality, due to lack of inspiration from free-form salutes and Joe' s uncanny ability to add "just enough" stylistic twists to a cover to make it a "gem".  A cover that makes me go wow gets my award as a gem, whether covering Chopin or B.B. King or Led Zeppelin or Irving Berlin or John Lee Hooker or.......Joe Bonamassa!!!!

Joe can do better?!  You better believe it.  Every step he takes forward proves it.  You can wait for a better better, but my bet rides with "whatever" is next will be even better.

Rock ON & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! "
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

Thanks Rivercat, that's exactly what I mean. I'm not suggesting that Joe changes his song writing approach or looks to tailor music towards certain people. Just to continue writing the great songs he does and allowing them a greater prominence on his future releases. Of course Joe's roots, influences and inspiration will always come through in his material.  Rocket, I could elaborate on how I feel your post insults Joe, his peers and myself, but I'll save myself the time.

If over a 2 year period Joe writes 8 to 10 new songs,Does it really matter if they are wrapped up in one or 2 cds?An all original cd would have its merrits.Given Joe's past history,I would feel short changed if he abandoned covers just for  the sake of pure new material.Look at the Don't Explain cd.I guess that would never have happened if it all important to have new material.When would Joe have the time to write with Beth,himself,BCC.It is amazing given his scedule that he can even come up with 4-5 new songs of the highest quality given what is on his plate.I just don't see what the big deal is.I for one like what he has been doing as long as he can keep it up.If he needs to slow down the output that's ok too.Look,his cds are at the tops of the charts as in current configuration of covers and oiginals,so give it a rest.He eems to be doing great with how he's writing and recording so I say if it aint broke ,don't fix it.