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Song For Big John-08 by ziti [Email]

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 1247
Comments: 52
Votes: 27
Plays: 172
Last Played: Oct 12, 2008 - 02:04:17 PM
Downloads: 3
Fans: 34
Uploaded: Feb 25, 2008 - 10:36:08 PM
Last Updated: Feb 25, 2008 - 10:36:08 PM
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Description:
I am very excited to post this version of my favorite of my original songs. Big John Croft was a great soul singer and a dear friend and mentor of mine. He was also big and scary. the band ALWAYS got paid. He should have been rich and famous, but he died penniless and alone. If you cna find yourself a copy of BIG JOHN AND THE FABULOUS BLENDS live then BUY it. I loved John and wasnt there for him in the end...and i have never forgiven myself for that.

This is my dreams coming true. This recording is Live bass and drums played by Fran Bishop on drums and Bryan Bishop on bass...this is basically what you will hear on the 7th of March....I am hoping to see all of you there in Marlboro for a great show!!!!!

peace thru music

Hardware:
live band:too much to list all the ingredients....

suffice it to say the electric rhythm, bass and drums were recorded live in one take. I overdubbed with lead guitar and acoustic rhythm guitar

Software:
GB
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Song For Big John-08 &mdash 02/25/08 - 10:42:11 PM
Grogeous ....the superb playin and sound ..just
hautning my friend ,what a great deidcation song
indeed very soulful and powerful ... way to go !
Deep Bow !!


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real deal &mdash 02/25/08 - 10:46:21 PM
This is very cool. Live soul. Go, Zeets!


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WAy To Go &mdash 02/25/08 - 10:49:31 PM
Z

Nice Playin indeed!

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Wonderful &mdash 02/25/08 - 10:50:05 PM
You make it cry, you make it sing - this is awesome, and YOU are awesome. Thanks for putting this up for everybody ziti.

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well &mdash 02/25/08 - 10:51:32 PM
come to the show on March 7th!!!!

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Delicious guitar playing,... &mdash 02/25/08 - 11:40:27 PM
just love the drums and bass, all work to together with such nice emotion and richness. Thanks for sharing, immensly enjoyed.

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Great guitar in a &mdash 02/26/08 - 05:34:00 AM
very restful and beautiful piece...Magnificent feel all around...Guess a good vox would work here too..but this works already...Awesome work, enjoyed the listen.

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What did I tell you? &mdash 02/26/08 - 05:53:15 AM
Fran- this is without a doubt my favorite Ziti song. Yes, the mix is fine but man, I'm too busy being moved by the music to give much of of a damn.

I compared this to the the previous versions you shared with me... I deleted the old ones immediately.

This is some of the most soulful, emotional and moving guitar playing I have heard ...ever!

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i thank you adam &mdash 02/28/08 - 12:15:13 AM
you have very good taste!
hehehehehehehe...you are an invaluable sounding board, and i have come to respect and trust your judgement so much. Thanks.

z

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Song for Big John 08 &mdash 02/26/08 - 06:14:29 AM
Very nice playing, I like the huge wall of guitar-sounds. Cool track, amazing!

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I have &mdash 02/26/08 - 07:30:49 AM
been listening to an earlier version of this for ages on my ipod and I love it. This version is even more soulfully played. The guitar tone is exquisite. Beautiful.
Really wish I could come to you live, but alas, too many thousands of miles.
Would have loved to have downloaded.
Cheers
Len



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hi len &mdash 02/28/08 - 12:13:14 AM
to hear that someone has a track of mine in their iPod and has listened to it more than once is an honor to me and I thank you. If you contact me, I will get you a copy of this for the iPod...and I will include its bookend piece, ALBATROSS...

best wishes
z

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Deep and lovely personality &mdash 02/26/08 - 08:19:13 AM
Heartfelt and beautiful performance.
So great to hear your band. Seems to me that you're growing all the time,
more and more develping your personality as a band. A personality that is deep and lovely.

This is by all means a wonderful piece of music.

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Great!! &mdash 02/26/08 - 08:57:57 AM
Excellent piece. LOVELY GUITAR PLAYING. It's like a crying heart. Everything works. One of the best things I've heard here so far and I've heard very good ones.
B

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Heart Felt... &mdash 02/26/08 - 11:52:34 AM
That's some BIG playin'. Sounds GREAT!

C.

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I guess .. &mdash 02/26/08 - 02:32:16 PM
.. that you've nailed the live recording thing Fran - sounds brilliant (and the playing's not too shabby either!).
Neil

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wow &mdash 02/26/08 - 02:49:57 PM
beautiful! im glad I found this. very moving playing. this is realy something else!

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Great Song &mdash 02/26/08 - 03:39:28 PM
Looking forward to the show!!

Thanks
Bill

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I'm hearing... &mdash 02/26/08 - 08:47:49 PM
...acoustic guitar in there...

Nice mix, Fran... This has always been a soulful tune... You've managed to add depth and production without blunting its feel or its cutting edge...

I see a CD purchase in my future...

Ed

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thanks ed &mdash 02/28/08 - 12:08:04 AM
yep...i dont think i am asking for advice anymore...i think now i just tweak here and there...re-position a snare mic a bit maybe....but i have to give a lot of credit to CHANNELSTRIP plug in for the final mastering...i have begun to use it a lot on master tracks it gives all the band stuff an even quality and airiness i really like....

I am hoping to have some disks ready for march 7th...but at the very least we will have a EP type thing...

thanks as always ed for the continuing support

z

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Well, what I was TRYING to say... &mdash 02/28/08 - 11:22:20 AM
Is that I thought I heard an acoustic guitar in this...

That wasn't advice, it was a comment...

But maybe that was my ears giving out...again... IS there any acoustic in this?

Ed

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yes there is &mdash 02/28/08 - 06:03:18 PM
an acoustic rythym track!

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Yeah Man &mdash 02/27/08 - 11:33:15 AM
Thats whats up.
Sad story about Big John, though.

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glad you like this SB! &mdash 02/28/08 - 12:11:20 AM
it is the real deal...or as close as you can come to it without spending 10 grand in the studio i reckon. I find the ability to do this a very life fulfilling thing. to be able to share it here with like-minded folks is a blessing!..thanks for your kindness

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Amazing!! &mdash 02/27/08 - 11:34:38 AM

Hi
what a brilliant tribute song. I simply loved this and he would be very proud. I loved the guitar as well.
Everything about this was really exceptional and I can hear much emotion. I feel sure 'Big John Croft'
-can certainy hear this played in heaven and forgives you. 'Well done you guys'

Peace
Dee.

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I sure hope &mdash 02/27/08 - 12:19:22 PM
that you are right....since i wrote this song, i have wanted to do a recording of it that touched John...When I was playing the final solo take(the one that was used here), I was VERY conscious of his presence, and was filled with wonderful, vivid memories....which was really the reason I kept this take whole and unedited, even tho there are several passages that are misplayed. John is all over this and he would have dug it.

John was about 6 foot 6, and around 470 pounds or so...legend had it that he was 14 pounds at birth and that consequently, his mother didn't speak to him for his first 6 years...he would sing so sweetly for a big man...but with the turn of a phrase, he could unleash a torrent of emotion in a single note....he would stand next to me onstage and scream TALK TO ME while i soloed....that tends to focus a fellow.

sure miss him tho...he was the most gentle and wonderful human...the sight of the Big guy holding my newborn preemie son is a vision that will stay with me...he called the little one PuckPuck for some reason.....

thank you for the kind words

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all i can say is... &mdash 02/27/08 - 12:59:17 PM
WOW! great lil number you've got here. and in one take? you guys are amazing! wish i could come see ya play, i think it'd be a great experience. this gives me a real pink floyd feel...and they are one of my all time favorites! very well done!

age
-sons of hypnos

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au &mdash 02/27/08 - 01:24:16 PM
listening to your guitar playing is always a pleasure..
this is way too cool... Real good job

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Playing &mdash 02/27/08 - 03:04:31 PM
straight from the heart.Excellent version of this song.Your phrasing knocks me out.

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Beautiful tribute &mdash 02/27/08 - 06:02:14 PM
great playing and recording. Looking forward to the 7th - hope the stars align and I get there.

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Man... &mdash 02/27/08 - 06:24:57 PM
...this is just TOOOOOO good...go to your corner and suck your thumb while I steal your chops...you bad ass boy, you....

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Always a pleasure &mdash 02/27/08 - 09:40:32 PM
Zeets! I'm new here, but I've dug your stuff before at iC, you may recall. Reminds me a little of Black Napkins, not in tone, but in a touch of FZ phrasing, if a little more deeply emotive, less angular. Always a pleasure to hear your work.

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gorgeous franness &mdash 02/28/08 - 05:56:50 AM
thank you xoxox

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Great sound &mdash 02/28/08 - 06:36:06 AM
The sound is so great... I like hearing the lead guitar... The melody is beautiful.... It has one of the best mixes, that i've heard here... A pleasure to listen.... Thanks for sharing this..

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That is ... &mdash 02/28/08 - 07:04:27 AM

.. without doubt the best I've heard from you Fran and co. The recording/mix is spot on, not one quibble or nit. Top notch. I regret I'll have to miss the international gathering this year... would have been a highlight for sure to hear this live.

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You got me here! &mdash 02/28/08 - 04:17:01 PM
Most emotional piece I've heard so far here... professional skills and amazing sensibility... lead guitar that resembles Gilmour, Knopler AND Clapton in a unique way!... i said you got me!

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Hey Z &mdash 03/01/08 - 11:26:04 AM
Sorry I didn't comment sooner I assumed it was the same version. Anyhow, I don't know how you could improve on this! There are so many things I love about it......tone, stereo image, the mix in general, but this great haunting melody and emotional performance are the real forces behind this great tribute.

Just Great Z
paul

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I Love how you &mdash 03/01/08 - 12:49:44 PM
Mix the etherial with the traditional... your a mystic ay heart.. it comes through in your art.... I'll see you in less than a week... Ed says you're a great cook, but I can only stay a month

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Jeez... &mdash 03/01/08 - 02:40:49 PM
Words sorta suck as a method to express it here, man. Best 7 minutes I've experienced this week. Very moving. Clear that there's a following and some history with many posters - no wonder -with a gift like this. Count another one at the end of the line, man.

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thank you &mdash 03/02/08 - 01:00:59 AM
for the kind words!

z

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My Friend Big John &mdash 08/15/08 - 12:06:18 PM
Ziti,

How do you know Big John??


I was wondering what ever happened to John.He was a GREAT guy with a Huge Heart! I used to play bass & sing in The Fabulous Blends in the 90s with Brockett Parsons, James Brooks, Rich (on trombone)Bill (on trumput)Neil (on Sax) and Jimmy on the Drums.

I'm VERY SAD to hear he has died. Can anybody tell me when?? What happened to his wife (forget her name right now).

I still have recordings from the band but, they're on cassett.

Someone please reply.

Thanks,

Ken

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Amazing soul and blue &mdash 03/02/08 - 09:39:21 AM
reflections. Melodic and not over played. The rhythm guitars are the highlight for me.

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My 10's ... &mdash 03/03/08 - 08:00:21 AM
Who's the one who downloaded this ? (what a lucky person you're .. hahahahaha ...)

Just a masterpiece, I've always loved to listen to this tune from you, the acoustic version was great and this one is greater. Just an amazing hands and quality. I'm truly speechless ... Wish that I can download this!

Thanks a lot for your sharing and working on this ..

Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi

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Smoking tendrils of passion... &mdash 03/05/08 - 09:45:28 AM
...oozing out of this one. That is TASTY!


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GREAT One . . &mdash 03/05/08 - 12:28:11 PM
...wish it was dl !! Now I have to go here everytime I wanna hear it lol... : ) Magnific ! sorry to hear of Your friend&mentor...I'm sure noone would be Happier than Him if You forgave Yourself. . .
ThankYou for this beauty*...Have a Great Jam on the 7 !

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This is...... &mdash 04/05/08 - 02:29:56 PM
So beautiful on every level. Another in my Itunes. I so wish I could play like this. Ziti, John may have died penniless, but he was a very rich man to have a friend like you and I suspect he had many, and is smiling down upon you.

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oops &mdash 04/05/08 - 02:33:13 PM
Didn't notice I'm not able to download it, but no worries its in my favorites so don't take it down, I want to be able to listen to it in a playlist I'm creating. Thanks for sharing this Ziti

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and we soar &mdash 04/08/08 - 11:56:35 AM
some nice atmosphere on this piece. has a soft feel but yet a rock edge with the distortion on that guitar. nice playing.

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My Friend Big John &mdash 08/15/08 - 12:03:23 PM
Hi All

I was wondering what ever happened to John.He was a GREAT guy with a Huge Heart! I used to play bass & sing in The Fabulous Blends in the 90s with Brockett Parsons, James Brooks, Rich (on trombone)Bill (on trumput)Neil (on Sax) and Jimmy on the Drums.

I'm VERY SAD to hear he has died. Can anybody tell me when?? What happened to his wife (forget her name right now).

I still have recordings from the band but, they're on cassett.

Someone please reply.

Thanks,

Ken

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hey there &mdash 08/16/08 - 10:36:18 AM
I played with big john for many years...right before the incarnation of the BLENDS you mention. Jimmy the drummer is a friend of mine going back 30 some years now.

John passed away around thanksgivivng, i believe it was in 2000...but i am not sure about the year...sorry about that.

I can tell you it took two urns to hold his remains, I carried one and Jimmy, the other...he was a monster of a man, and I loved him dearly.

drop me a line if you get a minute.


z

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Big John &mdash 08/18/08 - 07:50:16 AM
Hey Ziti,

My name is Ken. I live in Milford,MA. My email is ken@thenortherncorp.com.

Any idea what happened to his wife, Dawn (I finally remembered her name)?

Please say hello to jimmy for me. He was the coolest guy in the band!!!

I have a few cassetts from the blends. On the cover on one I'm shown with a NASTY mullet! Wow how times have changed!!

Feel free to send me an email so we don't have to do it through this site.

Ken

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Thanks!!! &mdash 09/04/08 - 12:49:48 PM
Fran,

Thanks soooo much for giving Bill my email. What a blast from the past.

Any idea what Richie is up to?

Ken

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