Entertainment For Lively Minds
Ron Sexsmith documentary on BBC4
Did anyone see this? Heartbreaking stuff in places. Ron's apparent lack of belief in himself, and frustration at his own low profile (this from the man who wrote Strawberry Blonde!) I found really quite upsetting. And now he's taken a huge risk (including apparently sinking in quite a bit of his own money) in hiring former Bon Jovi producer Bob Rock to help deliver his one last shot at 'success' - whatever that might be these days. If this album doesn't make it, he says, he might jack it all in.
I couldn't really get on with the album when I tried it the other day on Spotify, but having seen this I almost want to buy it regardless, if only to help him claw back a couple of quid.
But his albums are always growers - Retriever and Cobblestone Runway didn't do much for me and now they're among my favourite records ever - so I'm going to keep on trying and hopefully its charms will reveal themselves. The doc showed him demoing a couple of beautiful songs on acoustic. I just hope Rock hasn't squeezed all the life out of them.
On iPlayer here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00z2nby/Ron_Sexsmith_Love_Shines/
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Elvis C (who helped him get his deal I think) once said
that he told Ron he should call his next album 'My Magnificent Wonderful Brilliant Songbook!!!!!'. Ron went with 'Other Songs'.
I saw him at Richard On Richards in Vancouver in 2002. He was brill. My friend who has since passed away taped it. I wish I had a copy.
I think he is in a class of his own
I saw him at the since closed Ronnie Scotts Birmingham and thought his voice was very close to ray Davies and then he went and did a Kinks cover. In a world of false celebrity he is going to struggle but we really should be giving our support to musicians of his ilk otherwise we will be left with dross.
Having said all that I am not sure the production on the latest cd does him any favours. It might well be a slow grower and will give it s few more spins before casting judgement.
I don't know Ron Sexsmith's music at all well...
but I heard a tune off his latest record and recognized the hideous metallic burr of Auto Tune-usage. It was most off-putting.
Am going to see him at the Barbican
Have watched some of the documentary and will catch the rest tomorrow. He is a wonderful songwriter and performer and his work really does get under your skin. The world is a better place for artists of his quality.
See you there then Leeds -
See you there then Leeds - Mrs T and I are going
*waves*
Mini Massive Meet?
I'll be there too. We've got seats in the circle.
I'd say see you in the bar, but this is the Barbican and we've had problems in the past trying to rendezvous with people, so I'll just say possibly see you in the bar.
I know from past experience it has dead areas for Orange mobile phones.
Yes deffo meet
Anyone know it well enough to suggest a meeting spot? Aren't there open stairs coming down - we could meet under them? Where, incidentally, I stood next to Mark Ellen waiting for a drink at a Nick Lowe gig a few years ago, pre- Massive Mingles so I didn't say anything **star struck**.
Wish I'd known about that Barbican gig
I checked after you told me at the mingle and the good stuff has gone. Oh well, he'll prob be back for a full tour
Thank you BBC4
Came in from work at 9 and it was a wonderful night of telly.
I saw him around 2000
touring UK with Mark Nevin...
That was a bloody brilliant night.
Ron's drummer bounced a ball in time off his floor-tom on one song. Mighty impressive.
if you scroll down on main page
http://wordmagazine.co.uk/content/ron-sexsmith-night-bbc4
Just to add
I know Ron a little bit (my wife features briefly in the doc) and I seriously doubt he would ever jack it in. He's already written the next album.
I agree...
It was heartbreaking stuff at times and it has prompted me to buy a copy of his album (rather than listening to it on Spotify).
By the way, can anyone say why the pianist had a copy of Mick Ronson's Slaughter On 10th Avenue on his piano (I freeze-framed it and it's definitely there)?
knew
nothing about him, but was a great documentary. cheers BBC
Why is it heartbreaking?...
..he's already had way more success than most songwriters in the world...hasn't he?
I loved it...
...and have ordered his album on the strength of it.
The 'too poor for a piano' bit was a bit thin though: you can pick up an OK upright for literally nothing in many local paper free ads. Presumably the same in Canada. I know it wouldn't be what he is used to in recording studios but he could still write a tune on it.
I did find heartbreaking the bit of his Mum taken photos of the TV screen when he won the Juno award.
Weep no more.
He's got a song on Justin Bieber's new record.
I reserve the right to weep
if I hear it.
Really??!!
I hope so.
I went round a number of record shops in
Bristol this morning looking for his new album. Good news for Ron, it's sold out, bad news for me of course - I'll have to wait. I understand from the man in Rise, however, that the record company didn't foresee the level of demand and didn't manufacture enough.
Late Bloomer
I've had it for nearly three weeks now and playing it last night while cooking it struck me what a great album it is. Every song a corker (apart from the slightly lacklustre Michael and Son).
It may be Ron's best yet.
Re the documentary I really felt for him when he was waiting with Sheryl Crow to go on Elvis Costello's show. She looked tense, but he looked terrified.
My Damascene moment also came yesterday
I was listening to it in the car on my way home and I realised what a great album it is. Definitely his best yet IMHO.
Ron - the elephant in the room
I do like Ron a lot. I shall be at the Barbican and will love it. But, but.... I bought his first album when it came out, then his second. Then I, err, stopped. Till I bought "Late bloomer" after seeing the Beeb4 programme.
Ver fing is, I'm not sure how many Ron albums you actually need. Dare I suggest they sound quite similar? Or are there radical jazz operas in the later disks? With the 3 I have I feel quite Ronned up really. And he has a silly name, which probably hasn't helped his sales.
Just sayin'.
Anyone know if the film will get a DVD release?
I'm keen to see it, and it appears to have fallen off the iPlayer.