What I do here on my channel takes many hours of dedication to you fans out there. If you would like to send a small donation my way, you can do so here: paypal.me/MusicPromoter?locale.x=en_US Thanks! I HAVE THE ORIGINAL RARE DVD OF RTF WITH BILL CONNORS GIG IN GERMANY HERE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED: www.ebay.com/itm/125587610080 IT IS MY LAST EXTRA COPY.
*Connors indeed had rapid fire picking of notes. Al D was more noted for his percussive voicing due to palm muting on his riffs. This allowed a unique explosive dynamic in his solos where he built from a quieter palm muted set of notes that he then removed the muting and the volume change was immediately louder like a tap tap tap into a sudden Hendrixian wall of overdriven notes. Now those moments were a rush to experience but after hearing that style over and over…well, it got predictable and boring (to me at least) but Connors’ unpredictable emotive runs were exactly the kind of fusion that made fusion interesting. It still gives me chills to this day.*
*THIS VIDEO HAS REALLY BLOWN UP IN VIEWS QUICKLY! I GUESS PEOPLE DIG GREAT FUSION AFTER ALL! HOORAY! TELL YOUR FRIENDS FOR ME ABOUT THIS CHANNEL. THANKS.*
A magnificent video. Thanks a lot. Maybe the fact that Bill only ever made one studio album with RTF, only seems to add to my admiration for him. Apart from a few great live recordings and that rare (and elusive) colour footage from German TV, it’s all I have to go on. Maybe it’s enough. From these unique gems, I have to say, he’s become my favourite ’fusion’ guitarist from that period. His tone was beautiful, he used that peculiar ‘phasing’ sound to incredible effect, his phrasing always perfectly apposite, his imagination beguiling, and he was exquisitely tasteful in his contributions. I wish there was a bit more to go on, but I’m happy to relish what there is. I understand he’s made lots more up to date music (in the Holdsworth vein), but that stuff’s not for me.
U R SO WELCOME! I USED TO HAVE MY REMASTERED VIDEO AND AUDIO VERSION I SLAVED OVER TO CREATE UPLOADED OF THAT FOOTAGE FROM GERMAN TV BUT SOME MEDIA GROUP IN GERMANY TORPEDOED THAT UPLOAD WITH A COPYRIGHT STRIKE TAKE DOWN! THEY NEVER CONTACTED ME NOR ANSWERED MY MANY EMAILS TO RECONSIDER. THAT REALLY SUCKED AND NOW IT IS INDEED VERY HARD TO FIND THAT FOOTAGE. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL DVD OF THAT GIG HERE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED: www.ebay.com/itm/125587610080 IT IS MY LAST EXTRA COPY.
I have never stopped listening to Hymn of the 7th Galaxy since I got the album in the 70s. The cover art is in a frame on the wall in my house. Later it was a mystery to me why Bill Connors (especially) wasn't more well known or appreciated. Only in the last couple of years have I been able to find more stuff on UA-cam. Thank you thank you thank you! I've been waiting for this for a LONG time. Can't believe it's been out a year already before I found it just today!! Ive got goosebumps & a tear in my eye as I'm listening to Bill & the guys riffing around the tracks I know so well.
@rgolten You, sir, are a true fusion fan. Love to hear of your love for RTF with Connors. Glad you found my channel and this video of killer axe work by Bill. In email with Bill's brother, he told me that Bill practiced guitar for endless hours and was a perfectionist. It definitely shows, even in his limited volume of work. 😎👍🎼🎸
@@JazzRockFusionSynthesizerMusic The other album that jumps out from that time was FZ's Hot Rats. I never knew until recently that it's regarded as a masterpiece of Fusion. I couldn't get enough of it in the mid '70s. I was at Uni in the UK. I went on to become something of a FZ completist.
Not providing that info as I already said in video description. Just go to Guitars101.com and search Return to Forever and you will discover much of what is in this video -- not everything -- and not specially selected, remixed and remastered as in this video.
Amazing video! I truly think that Bill's era of RTF was the greatest of the band. Would you be able to let me know what the performance date or source of the first track 'Captain Señor Mouse' is? I'm curious to hear more of this performance
IF MEMORY SERVES ME WELL . . . Return to Forever - 1974-03-24 - Roermond, NL . . . www.guitars101.com/threads/returno-to-forever-1974-03-24-roermond-nl-fm-flac.158947/
A real treasure trove, thanks! What is interesting is everyone thinks that Al invented that distorted machine gun alternate picking style of playing, but Bill had it going on beforehand and All just seems to have built on it (although Al would take it to new heights). If I recall correctly, one of the reasons Bill left, or was fired, is because he wasn't buying into Chick's whole scientology thing? I love both Bill and Al, but this incarnation of the group seemed more 'jazz' if you know what I mean. One thing I always struggled with in Bill's playing in RTF though was that his intonation was a bit off in places, which jarred with me, but overall he was integral to what RTF was and would become.
@@JazzRockFusionSynthesizerMusic Thanks my friend. You and I should try and chat sometime as it seems we have very similar tastes, ad if you recall you particularly enjoyed a lengthy reply I posted on another of your videos.. I am old enough to have been around for the birth of fusion and have followed it ever since.
@fusionfan6883 I don't think his departure was associated with Chick (and Stanley) being high-level, Scientologists. If that were the case, then I would think both Lenny, Al and everyone in the Elektric Band would have been replaced :-) I think it might have been similar to the reason Scott Henderson didn't hang around long...differences in opinion on compositional stuff. Chick liked to let players "blow", but he also wanted you to be able to play the exact part he wrote for you in the chart. RTF was a band, but Chick was "the leader" when it came to compositions.
Maybe you do, but let’s not forget that RTF was propelled into superstardom with Al and who influenced a LOT of players. To my ears. Connors sounds a lot like McLaughlin (at least here) while Al carved out his own signature style. Also, Di Meola is still selling out venues whereas Connors has seemingly disappeared.
Bill was the best RTF guitarist ...so much more intelligence and feel...something like Miroslav Vitous with Weather Report...Unfortunately, Chick (being Scientologist) wasnt too cooperative at the time i.e. very commanding...so Bill left..
What I do here on my channel takes many hours of dedication to you fans out there. If you would like to send a small donation my way, you can do so here: paypal.me/MusicPromoter?locale.x=en_US Thanks! I HAVE THE ORIGINAL RARE DVD OF RTF WITH BILL CONNORS GIG IN GERMANY HERE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED: www.ebay.com/itm/125587610080 IT IS MY LAST EXTRA COPY.
My favorite fusion guitarist!
*Connors indeed had rapid fire picking of notes. Al D was more noted for his percussive voicing due to palm muting on his riffs. This allowed a unique explosive dynamic in his solos where he built from a quieter palm muted set of notes that he then removed the muting and the volume change was immediately louder like a tap tap tap into a sudden Hendrixian wall of overdriven notes. Now those moments were a rush to experience but after hearing that style over and over…well, it got predictable and boring (to me at least) but Connors’ unpredictable emotive runs were exactly the kind of fusion that made fusion interesting. It still gives me chills to this day.*
Very well stated....great analysis! I appreciate Connors' playing for the exact reasons you have mentioned here.
@@garyh.238 Thank you😎👍🎼🎸
Bill was the End All and Be All
of Fusion Guitar. Period.
@@marksorah9561 Agreed 👍 110%
*THIS VIDEO HAS REALLY BLOWN UP IN VIEWS QUICKLY! I GUESS PEOPLE DIG GREAT FUSION AFTER ALL! HOORAY! TELL YOUR FRIENDS FOR ME ABOUT THIS CHANNEL. THANKS.*
A magnificent video. Thanks a lot.
Maybe the fact that Bill only ever made one studio album with RTF, only seems to add to my admiration for him. Apart from a few great live recordings and that rare (and elusive) colour footage from German TV, it’s all I have to go on. Maybe it’s enough.
From these unique gems, I have to say, he’s become my favourite ’fusion’ guitarist from that period. His tone was beautiful, he used that peculiar ‘phasing’ sound to incredible effect, his phrasing always perfectly apposite, his imagination beguiling, and he was exquisitely tasteful in his contributions.
I wish there was a bit more to go on, but I’m happy to relish what there is.
I understand he’s made lots more up to date music (in the Holdsworth vein), but that stuff’s not for me.
U R SO WELCOME! I USED TO HAVE MY REMASTERED VIDEO AND AUDIO VERSION I SLAVED OVER TO CREATE UPLOADED OF THAT FOOTAGE FROM GERMAN TV BUT SOME MEDIA GROUP IN GERMANY TORPEDOED THAT UPLOAD WITH A COPYRIGHT STRIKE TAKE DOWN! THEY NEVER CONTACTED ME NOR ANSWERED MY MANY EMAILS TO RECONSIDER. THAT REALLY SUCKED AND NOW IT IS INDEED VERY HARD TO FIND THAT FOOTAGE. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL DVD OF THAT GIG HERE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED: www.ebay.com/itm/125587610080 IT IS MY LAST EXTRA COPY.
I have never stopped listening to Hymn of the 7th Galaxy since I got the album in the 70s. The cover art is in a frame on the wall in my house. Later it was a mystery to me why Bill Connors (especially) wasn't more well known or appreciated. Only in the last couple of years have I been able to find more stuff on UA-cam. Thank you thank you thank you! I've been waiting for this for a LONG time. Can't believe it's been out a year already before I found it just today!! Ive got goosebumps & a tear in my eye as I'm listening to Bill & the guys riffing around the tracks I know so well.
@rgolten You, sir, are a true fusion fan. Love to hear of your love for RTF with Connors. Glad you found my channel and this video of killer axe work by Bill. In email with Bill's brother, he told me that Bill practiced guitar for endless hours and was a perfectionist. It definitely shows, even in his limited volume of work. 😎👍🎼🎸
@@JazzRockFusionSynthesizerMusic The other album that jumps out from that time was FZ's Hot Rats. I never knew until recently that it's regarded as a masterpiece of Fusion. I couldn't get enough of it in the mid '70s. I was at Uni in the UK. I went on to become something of a FZ completist.
I Love Bill Connors...his early RTF, his ECM lps and his later barbeque period as he stated it in the 1980's...he played with passion and precision!!!
Oh yes!
SMOKING !!!
Oh yeah…😎🎼🎸🎹🥁
preferred CONNERS style to DE MEOLA....
Me too ✋️
Ditto! Connors is my favourite.
Thanks a lot. Any idea of the tracks and times?
PS: my preferred Bill Connors recordings are with ECM. /DS
Not providing that info as I already said in video description. Just go to Guitars101.com and search Return to Forever and you will discover much of what is in this video -- not everything -- and not specially selected, remixed and remastered as in this video.
Just excellent!thanks for sharing 👍..as a jazz/fusion music head you have made my day a little better🙏bro
Great to hear that. I was glad it came to me to do this.
Amazing video! I truly think that Bill's era of RTF was the greatest of the band. Would you be able to let me know what the performance date or source of the first track 'Captain Señor Mouse' is? I'm curious to hear more of this performance
IF MEMORY SERVES ME WELL . . . Return to Forever - 1974-03-24 - Roermond, NL . . . www.guitars101.com/threads/returno-to-forever-1974-03-24-roermond-nl-fm-flac.158947/
@@JazzRockFusionSynthesizerMusic Thank you, I'll check it out!
A real treasure trove, thanks! What is interesting is everyone thinks that Al invented that distorted machine gun alternate picking style of playing, but Bill had it going on beforehand and All just seems to have built on it (although Al would take it to new heights). If I recall correctly, one of the reasons Bill left, or was fired, is because he wasn't buying into Chick's whole scientology thing? I love both Bill and Al, but this incarnation of the group seemed more 'jazz' if you know what I mean. One thing I always struggled with in Bill's playing in RTF though was that his intonation was a bit off in places, which jarred with me, but overall he was integral to what RTF was and would become.
Well said...
@@JazzRockFusionSynthesizerMusic Thanks my friend. You and I should try and chat sometime as it seems we have very similar tastes, ad if you recall you particularly enjoyed a lengthy reply I posted on another of your videos.. I am old enough to have been around for the birth of fusion and have followed it ever since.
@@fusionfan6883 My contact email is here: www.youtube.com/@JazzRockFusionSynthesizerMusic/about
@fusionfan6883 I don't think his departure was associated with Chick (and Stanley) being high-level, Scientologists. If that were the case, then I would think both Lenny, Al and everyone in the Elektric Band would have been replaced :-) I think it might have been similar to the reason Scott Henderson didn't hang around long...differences in opinion on compositional stuff. Chick liked to let players "blow", but he also wanted you to be able to play the exact part he wrote for you in the chart. RTF was a band, but Chick was "the leader" when it came to compositions.
@@bourgeoisbrats Actually, both things were an issue . . . and Bill was getting tired of things being so loud at every show.
I like him so much better than Al
Maybe you do, but let’s not forget that RTF was propelled into superstardom with Al and who influenced a LOT of players. To my ears. Connors sounds a lot like McLaughlin (at least here) while Al carved out his own signature style.
Also, Di Meola is still selling out venues whereas Connors has seemingly disappeared.
@dadduorp That's cool bro. I still think Bill is a better player
Di Meola was not the reason…….
@@dadduorpDi Meola and Connors have different values and different tastes. Research it……
Who is on Percussion, please?
Most likely Lenny White
@@JazzRockFusionSynthesizerMusic - Surely LW is on kit?!
If you hear live recordings of RTF with Bill Connors and there is percussion as well as drums, then it's Steve Gadd and Mingo Lewis.
@@jbognap But that's not the case on Hymn Of The Seventh Galaxy?!
@@JazzRockFusionSynthesizerMusic That scenario is not possible!?
Bill was the best RTF guitarist ...so much more intelligence and feel...something like Miroslav Vitous with Weather Report...Unfortunately, Chick (being Scientologist) wasnt too cooperative at the time i.e. very commanding...so Bill left..