More random thoughts...

I've been watching some YouTube clips of Chad & Jeremy, and got to thinking that just about every time I saw them back in the 60's, they and their music were always accompanied by an off screen orchestra, or they were lip syncing to a hit on some TV variety show. There was little indication that the guitars were much more than props. Obviously, I could see even then that they could play and knew what they were doing, but there wasn't much evidence how skilled they were, what with all that strumming going on.

I knew that Chad was an arranger back in the day, and he had that instrumental on the first LP, but it took until the 2004 concert CDR that I realized just how remarkably good he was as a soloist on guitar. The in concert performances of September in the Rain, the bass runs, embellishments and fills he plays on All the Harvests, Tell You Something Else, the solo on Take Out Some Insurance are all just plain showcases for his ability. I could never understand how McCartney could play his bass patterns while singing, and I cannot understand how Chad can do the same things in Before & After, Zanzibar Sunset and I'll Be Back. Just plain amazing. I give this opinion from the vantage point of having played guitar for 40 years or so, at a level well beneath most teenagers (and certainly below the level of my kids), but at least knowledgeable of great skill when I see it :). Jeremy's guitar work is just as flawless in it's role as a rhythmic foundation and background to both the music and harmonies.

OK, so I think we need to suggest that they do Teenage Failure again. I've given up hoping for I Don't Want To Lose You Baby, but Teenage Failure would certainly work in the show as least as good as Apache does. Just an opinion.

Good evening, and I need a beer.