• Registered: 2009-12-09
  • Posts: 4

Topic: Joe has no Layla???

Read last Friday's (1/17/14) webblast with interview of Joe and was a bit disturbed that Joe says he has no really great song, like for example, Clapton's Layla.  So I'm thinking at the time, you got to be kidding me!  The only reason that "Mountain Time" isn't as famous as Layla is that a billion people haven't heard it......yet!  Mountain Time is a classic in my book and I guess it is confirmed by this week's webblast with Mountain Time being feature from RAH.  Rock on Joe.  Mountain Time crushes Layla! And come back to Tulsa....I'll be the guy in the front row with the hat, again.

  • From: Kansas City
  • Registered: 2013-11-27
  • Posts: 52

Re: Joe has no Layla???

I would have to agree, he does so many versions of that song. He's smart not going commercial. He could probably go anywhere by himself and no one would know who he is, that's the way I'd have it. And as for a great song he nailed it on the Sloe Gin acoustic version on the Vienna cd. I listened to that song about 50 times yesterday. If you haven't heard that song through a really good stereo system your missing out.

  • gary
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  • From: Palatine Illinois by Chicago
  • Registered: 2006-08-25
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Re: Joe has no Layla???

I will take Mountain Time or Layla too!

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Your hard sweet and sticky

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  • ken
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  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2007-05-28
  • Posts: 949

Re: Joe has no Layla???

I think that Joe has quite a few songs that could have been his "Layla" if he was born in a different era. When I listen to a new Joe CD, I normally think that I like the Joe originals at least as well as the covers he does, if not better.

  • From: Vermont
  • Registered: 2013-08-30
  • Posts: 126

Re: Joe has no Layla???

Admittedly, I have a fondness for Sloe Gin (it was the first JB song I heard and the Vienna version makes me cry!) but India/Mountain Time together was what I heard next.  I think Mountain Time is Joe's Layla.  Especially the version from Live from Nowhere In Particular or off the Vienna CD.  I've heard the other versions but those two versions are my favorites. 

Plus, doesn't Joe save Mountain Time for his encore or has that changed?  Seems to me that Mountain Time is one song that everyone looks forward to him playing, so to me that would suggest that Mountain Time is Joe's Layla.  I could be totally wrong and that's okay too.

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5/16/14 Hampton Beach, NH (First Joe show!)
1/15/16 Burlington, VT

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  • From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Re: Joe has no Layla???

Other than the Tour de Force shows, joe has played Mountain Time at every show I've been to...just under 50 in total. I would have to categorize that as Joe's Layla.

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"
  • From: Central Ohio
  • Registered: 2008-09-11
  • Posts: 92

Re: Joe has no Layla???

I have to agree with everyone that Mountain Time is Joe's Layla. What is interesting is listening to it on the original album and then listening to it on the live albums. He continues to polish it every time he sings it. Without a doubt my favorite Joe song.

I’m from the old school, like the old rules - HEADACHES TO HEARTBREAKS
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  • Registered: 2013-10-07
  • Posts: 148

Re: Joe has no Layla???

He cut it out of the Prague show last year due to time constraints imposed by the venue. I was expecting to hear it because he had played it at every other show up to that point, (and indeed he played it at every subsequent show on the tour), so the disappointment was immense! I have everything crossed that he'll play it next time I see him in Basel in March!

  • Registered: 2012-02-27
  • Posts: 43

Re: Joe has no Layla???

My gut reaction to redmaja's post was 'what about Ballad of John Henry?' It's epic, and just like Layla, it's got a huge riff, a great story and it meanders between sections that are quite distinct. Massive song, but I've a lot of love for mountain time and sloe gin, as others have expressed here.

  • From: Maryland
  • Registered: 2012-05-13
  • Posts: 2,790

Re: Joe has no Layla???

I love both "Mountain Time" and John Henry". I think "Mountain Time" is a better written song than "John Henry" in that there is a little more to it's lyrics, yet to me "John Henry" is more interesting musically, especially the way Joe has been doing it live recently. Personally, I don't think Joe needs to have a "Layla". I don't need to hear the "one song" at every single show we go to. He has countless fantastic songs and I would love to hear so many of them. The problem with a "Layla" is that there is then an obligation to have to play it every show. The fact that people get all bent out of shape when he doesn't do "Sloe Gin", for example, just doesn't make sense to me. They should be happy they got something different that others places on the tour didn't get. Hearing "Never Make Your Move Too Soon" a couple of weeks ago totally made my night because it was such an unexpected treat. I'll take that kind of thing any night over an obligatory "Layla".

  • From: Deep in the forest
  • Registered: 2007-02-11
  • Posts: 5,296

Re: Joe has no Layla???

IMHO Having one song as your calling card is limiting. Joe is beyond that. Joe has a sound, and that's a bigger claim to fame. I bet any true fan can identify Joe's playing within a few notes. There aren't many that can make that claim. However, if there was to be a song, "Mountain Time" has always had a huge following. "Asking Around for You", "So It's Like That", and other originals can stand the test of time. I'm stoked for the new material and will be looking for my next favorite Joe tune within that song list smile

  • From: N.Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2009-03-06
  • Posts: 2,183

Re: Joe has no Layla???

Mountain Time is a great song...but c'mon...it is no Layla!

  • gary
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  • From: Palatine Illinois by Chicago
  • Registered: 2006-08-25
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Re: Joe has no Layla???

Sloe Gin is a cover so I couldn't say technically it's Joes.Although here is no doubt he makes it his own.
Joe has written quite a few really good songs which be may not give himself enough credit for.Just because it's not in top 40 radio doesn't mean anything these days.

Your rock candy baby
Your hard sweet and sticky

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  • From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Re: Joe has no Layla???

DaveWammbarro wrote:

Mountain Time is a great song...but c'mon...it is no Layla!

Certainly not in record sales, but as the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
For me, I actually prefer Mountain Time, which is not meant to put down Layla in any way.

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"
  • From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Re: Joe has no Layla???

nmagcorn wrote:

I love both "Mountain Time" and John Henry". I think "Mountain Time" is a better written song than "John Henry" in that there is a little more to it's lyrics, yet to me "John Henry" is more interesting musically, especially the way Joe has been doing it live recently. Personally, I don't think Joe needs to have a "Layla". I don't need to hear the "one song" at every single show we go to. He has countless fantastic songs and I would love to hear so many of them. The problem with a "Layla" is that there is then an obligation to have to play it every show. The fact that people get all bent out of shape when he doesn't do "Sloe Gin", for example, just doesn't make sense to me. They should be happy they got something different that others places on the tour didn't get. Hearing "Never Make Your Move Too Soon" a couple of weeks ago totally made my night because it was such an unexpected treat. I'll take that kind of thing any night over an obligatory "Layla".

It's funny that you mentioned Sloe Gin. Before the Tour de Force show at SBE, we met a guy at the restaurant pub next to the venue. He was going to the show (I think it was his first time seeing Joe) and he was so excited he could barely stand it. I saw him after the show and asked what he thought. He basically said the show sucked and he was pissed off he had spent so much money and travel time. I was dumbfounded. I told him I thought the show was outstanding and asked why he thought it was so bad. "He didn't play Sloe Gin" was the response. I actually tried to explain to him that everyone has a favorite song they want to hear and Joe can't always play every song at every show, but he had blinders on.
Talk about missing the point. 14 outstanding songs and the only thing this guy took from the show was that Joe didn't play Sloe Gin!

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"
  • From: San Clemente, CA
  • Registered: 2011-02-19
  • Posts: 569

Re: Joe has no Layla???

Its hard to comment without understanding what JB meant by his reference to "Layla". Sales/recognition? Quality? Personal expression? All of the above?

"Layla" has all three of those bases covered as well as an amazing band....in fact "Layla" isn't even my favorite song on the album. As good as "Mountain Time " is, I doubt that 40 years from now people will be talking about it.

I don't think very many players/bands have a "Layla"....but JB has time for his!

  • From: Maryland
  • Registered: 2012-05-13
  • Posts: 2,790

Re: Joe has no Layla???

Bill S wrote:
nmagcorn wrote:

I love both "Mountain Time" and John Henry". I think "Mountain Time" is a better written song than "John Henry" in that there is a little more to it's lyrics, yet to me "John Henry" is more interesting musically, especially the way Joe has been doing it live recently. Personally, I don't think Joe needs to have a "Layla". I don't need to hear the "one song" at every single show we go to. He has countless fantastic songs and I would love to hear so many of them. The problem with a "Layla" is that there is then an obligation to have to play it every show. The fact that people get all bent out of shape when he doesn't do "Sloe Gin", for example, just doesn't make sense to me. They should be happy they got something different that others places on the tour didn't get. Hearing "Never Make Your Move Too Soon" a couple of weeks ago totally made my night because it was such an unexpected treat. I'll take that kind of thing any night over an obligatory "Layla".

It's funny that you mentioned Sloe Gin. Before the Tour de Force show at SBE, we met a guy at the restaurant pub next to the venue. He was going to the show (I think it was his first time seeing Joe) and he was so excited he could barely stand it. I saw him after the show and asked what he thought. He basically said the show sucked and he was pissed off he had spent so much money and travel time. I was dumbfounded. I told him I thought the show was outstanding and asked why he thought it was so bad. "He didn't play Sloe Gin" was the response. I actually tried to explain to him that everyone has a favorite song they want to hear and Joe can't always play every song at every show, but he had blinders on.
Talk about missing the point. 14 outstanding songs and the only thing this guy took from the show was that Joe didn't play Sloe Gin!

Oh my, hearing this kind of thing just makes me a bit crazy. Shepherds Bush with the horns??!! The absolutely surreal "Chains and Things"?! "The Great Flood"?! It was killing me to not be at this show and the others because of all the pull outs. I really don't understand the obsession with "Sloe Gin". Joe does a fantastic job playing and singing it but it certainly isn't the end all, be all. Now "Chains and Things" I can only hope he will someday surprise us with in the future when he hopefully does a tour with the horns. (please, please, please)

  • From: East Lancashire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-06-24
  • Posts: 3,019

Re: Joe has no Layla???

As I never liked Layla for some reason, I hope Joe doesn't start making similar tracks. lol

Come on the Blades (sorry Idolbone just had to borrow your line)