Marshall Crenshaw

[Rich R]

Needed some new music this AM, and was goin' through the piles. Decided to put on some old Marshall Crenshaw, and got a big fat blast of pop brilliance--forgot how good he sounded.

Anyone else like him, or know him?

 

[Wilko]

He's awesome. I just listened to a bunch his stuff yesterday, including early demos of a few tunes (I've got a few if you want 'em)

A friend of mine has toured Australia with him. He still tours around mostly solo.

He's done movie work (La Bamba, etc.) and wrote a bunch of great music for Walk Hard, the Dewey Cox Story.

 

[27sauce]

Marshall is awesome, I could never understand why he wasnt more popular.

 

[TomGuitar]

Marshall is a good old friend of mine. Been great since he was a teenager. Great voice. Great writer. A real talent.

 

[lpnv59]

I auditioned for his touring band in the early 90's. It was just the 2 of us in a lower Manhattan rehearsal studio. He knew I drove down from NH and he asked me if I lived near Fremont. I said it was a few towns away from me so I asked him why. His answer; "Thats where the Shaggs are from". It was obvious by the look on Marshalls face and tone of voice, he was a big fan and held great reverence for the three Wiggins sisters. I was kind of shocked and amused at the same time. Because I had heard of them and their legend since they came out in the late 60's. Check it out....

http://www.myspace.com/itstheshaggs

 

[27sauce]

I am a Shaggs fan too! Poor girls, all because of their grandmonthers palm reading forecast? Awesome.

 

[treeofpain]

Marshall is awesome. The Shaggs are atrocious!

 

[IMMUSICRULZ]

Marshall Crenshaw is an amazing guitarist and singer. He actually played John Lennon in a stage show in the seventies called Beatlemania, and his song Someday Someway is pretty good.

He often reminds me of Elvis Costello.

 

[Wilko]

bunch of great songs. I've been covering this one since the 80s.

 

[Steven K]

None of the songs I have heard him play does he play lead guitar, just rhythm. Does he play lead ?

 

[Wilko]

"lead" guitar not needed, and I don't like to make a distinction. You're either playing the song or you're not.

 

[Steven K]

Depending on facet of rock, improvisation, type of blues, improv ability definately is needed. many styles of improv encompass lead. Why else would so many musicians learn the blues scale.

 

[Nat Ratman]

None of the songs I have heard him play does he play lead guitar, just rhythm. Does he play lead?

"Does he play lead ?"

Everybody's heard the one pop song from him, "Some Day, Some Way" from his debut album in 1982

But he hit his guitar-playing stride in 1985 and 1987 with "Downtown" and "Mary Jean and 9 Others"

Absolutely transcendent lead and rhythm guitar playing, the whole menu, the whole gamut, electric 12-string, Nashville tuning, baritone guitar, electric sitar, tremolo and echo, rockabilly, driving rock, controlled feedback, you name it

I can't vouch for his mindset at the time, but these two albums to me have always thrown off a vibe of "Oh, you want electric guitar playing? Here - hold my beer ..."

Acclaimed mainly as a songwriter up til then, it felt to me like he really wanted to make his mark on guitar with these two and somehow got enough studio time dedicated for guitar overdubs to accomplish that goal.

... plus - phenomenal songwriting - I'll contend he hit both his guitar-playing AND songwriting peak on these 2 albums and was never as good before or after

Give a listen on the utubes or just buy both albums outright - both albums at least 8 out of 10 songs are strong, strong contenders, and that's rare, you're lucky if you get 2 or 3 on most albums

You can take it to the bank, these two albums were in steady rotation for me most of the late-80s and 1990s and still stand up to this day

Headphones and loud

Marshall Crenshaw - Downtown Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic

Discover Downtown by Marshall Crenshaw released in 1985. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.

www.allmusic.com

Marshall Crenshaw - Mary Jean & 9 Others Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic

Discover Mary Jean & 9 Others by Marshall Crenshaw released in 1987. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.

www.allmusic.com

 

[LeonC]

Wow, another zombie thread It's cool I like this subject and actually know a little bit about it. Marshall is a fantastically talented guy, and he's an excellent pop/rock guitar player in every respect IMO. I took his place in a band in the Detroit area back when he got the Lennon/Beatlemania gig, before releasing his first LP. His brother Robert was the drummer and I got to know Marshall a bit through this experience and running in the same circle of friends. He always struck me as a very talented player and a great song-writer and excellent singer. But I can tell you, the guy can play!! He was never a showy/flashy type player but he had excellent chops and taste in my recollection.

 

[Wilko]

All lot of people (too many, IMNSHO) only consider a guitarist good if they can play fast high notes. I know plenty of guys who can can play fast high notes "lead guitar" and can't play a song. Eff that.

 

[Amp360]

Always been a big fan since the 1980s. I like the small shows he was doing where he played alone a few years back. Always great with a band as well.