Song For Big John-08

ziti

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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

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Song Stats

Hits: 2368
Comments: 52
Fans: 35
Plays: 194
Downloads: 3
Votes: 28
Uploaded: Feb 25, 2008 - 10:36:08 PM
Last Updated: Feb 25, 2008 - 10:36:08 PM Last Played: Nov 20, 2009 - 11:32:11 AM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Song Actions

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:

Comments

Feter	Feter said 638 days ago (February 25th, 2008)
	Song For Big John-08 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 !! Check out my latest song called A Night With Feter feat'(Roxylee sloparts crissew johnwhitehead and Yamin AL Yamani )

	said 638 days ago (February 25th, 2008)
	real deal This is very cool. Live soul. Go, Zeets!

thetiler	thetiler said 638 days ago (February 25th, 2008)
	WAy To Go Z Nice Playin indeed! Check out my latest song called The Bluebird Cafe (with two other guest)

magnatone	magnatone said 638 days ago (February 25th, 2008)
	Wonderful You make it cry, you make it sing - this is awesome, and YOU are awesome. Thanks for putting this up for everybody ziti. Check out my latest song called Symphonic Smackdown

ziti	ziti said 638 days ago (February 25th, 2008)
	well come to the show on March 7th!!!! Check out my latest song called All Smokey

eanbardsley	eanbardsley said 638 days ago (February 25th, 2008)
	Delicious guitar playing,... just love the drums and bass, all work to together with such nice emotion and richness. Thanks for sharing, immensly enjoyed. Check out my latest song called The Meeting

	said 638 days ago (February 26th, 2008)
	Great guitar in a 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.

aclarke

aclarke said 638 days ago (February 26th, 2008)

What did I tell you?
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!

Check out my latest song called Ballad of The Little Tiki

ziti	ziti said 636 days ago (February 28th, 2008)
	i thank you adam 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 Check out my latest song called All Smokey

dirigent	dirigent said 638 days ago (February 26th, 2008)
	Song for Big John 08 Very nice playing, I like the huge wall of guitar-sounds. Cool track, amazing! Check out my latest song called Autumn

lengold	lengold said 638 days ago (February 26th, 2008)
	I have 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 Check out my latest song called Dodgy Doughnut

ziti	ziti said 636 days ago (February 28th, 2008)
	hi len 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 Check out my latest song called All Smokey

Cori Ander	Cori Ander said 638 days ago (February 26th, 2008)
	Deep and lovely personality 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. Check out my latest song called Guitar test — Martin CSN (Gerry Tolman Tribute)

Barretok	Barretok said 638 days ago (February 26th, 2008)
	Great!! 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 Check out my latest song called ANOTHER STORY

	said 638 days ago (February 26th, 2008)
	Heart Felt... That's some BIG playin'. Sounds GREAT! C.

jiguma	jiguma said 637 days ago (February 26th, 2008)
	I guess .. .. that you've nailed the live recording thing Fran - sounds brilliant (and the playing's not too shabby either!). Neil Check out my latest song called Lost In Translation (w Mike Watkins)

rsorensen	rsorensen said 637 days ago (February 26th, 2008)
	wow beautiful! im glad I found this. very moving playing. this is realy something else! Check out my latest song called Keep Your Chin Up

peacepiano	peacepiano said 637 days ago (February 26th, 2008)
	Great Song Looking forward to the show!! Thanks Bill Check out my latest song called I Should Have Known

Ed Hannifin	Ed Hannifin said 637 days ago (February 26th, 2008)
	I'm hearing... ...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 Check out my latest song called Next Time Around (w/jiguma)

ziti

ziti said 636 days ago (February 28th, 2008)

thanks ed
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

Check out my latest song called All Smokey

Ed Hannifin	Ed Hannifin said 636 days ago (February 28th, 2008)
	Well, what I was TRYING to say... 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 Check out my latest song called Next Time Around (w/jiguma)

ziti	ziti said 635 days ago (February 28th, 2008)
	yes there is an acoustic rythym track! Check out my latest song called All Smokey

Savage_Beast	Savage_Beast said 637 days ago (February 27th, 2008)
	Yeah Man Thats whats up. Sad story about Big John, though. Check out my latest song called Whatever feat. ECLive

ziti	ziti said 636 days ago (February 28th, 2008)
	glad you like this SB! 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 Check out my latest song called All Smokey

	said 637 days ago (February 27th, 2008)
	Amazing!! 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.

ziti

ziti said 637 days ago (February 27th, 2008)

I sure hope
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

Check out my latest song called All Smokey

ageofthedeathtree	ageofthedeathtree said 636 days ago (February 27th, 2008)
	all i can say is... 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 Check out my latest song called Liar's Oath (sons of hypnos w/heightened)

craft	craft said 636 days ago (February 27th, 2008)
	au listening to your guitar playing is always a pleasure.. this is way too cool... Real good job Check out my latest song called Blue Lights (feat. Spleenveil)

Ibstrat	Ibstrat said 636 days ago (February 27th, 2008)
	Playing straight from the heart.Excellent version of this song.Your phrasing knocks me out. Check out my latest song called Blues in Bm

bud	bud said 636 days ago (February 27th, 2008)
	Beautiful tribute great playing and recording. Looking forward to the 7th - hope the stars align and I get there. Check out my latest song called try not to think

guitapick	guitapick said 636 days ago (February 27th, 2008)
	Man... ...this is just TOOOOOO good...go to your corner and suck your thumb while I steal your chops...you bad ass boy, you.... Check out my latest song called Outside the Corral

Bob6stringer	Bob6stringer said 636 days ago (February 27th, 2008)
	Always a pleasure 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. Check out my latest song called Yours and Mine

caroline	caroline said 636 days ago (February 28th, 2008)
	gorgeous franness thank you xoxox Check out my latest song called clink that link mjrf

	said 636 days ago (February 28th, 2008)
	Great sound 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..

apb	apb said 636 days ago (February 28th, 2008)
	That is ... .. 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. Check out my latest song called Misplaced

massa	massa said 635 days ago (February 28th, 2008)
	You got me here! 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! Check out my latest song called Song for Collab

droop	droop said 634 days ago (March 1st, 2008)
	Hey Z 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 Check out my latest song called Last Teardrop

Scott Carmichael	Scott Carmichael said 634 days ago (March 1st, 2008)
	I Love how you 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 Check out my latest song called Good Morning

WellOfWyrd	WellOfWyrd said 633 days ago (March 1st, 2008)
	Jeez... 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. Check out my latest song called Tensions

ziti	ziti said 633 days ago (March 2nd, 2008)
	thank you for the kind words! z Check out my latest song called All Smokey

kens said 467 days ago (August 15th, 2008)

My Friend Big John
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 &amp; 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

BossHook	BossHook said 633 days ago (March 2nd, 2008)
	Amazing soul and blue reflections. Melodic and not over played. The rhythm guitars are the highlight for me. Check out my latest song called You're Like Whiskey

said 632 days ago (March 3rd, 2008)

My 10's ...
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

Pete_NB	Pete_NB said 630 days ago (March 5th, 2008)
	Smoking tendrils of passion... ...oozing out of this one. That is TASTY! Check out my latest song called First of Fall - Slide

saymme	saymme said 630 days ago (March 5th, 2008)
	GREAT One . . ...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 !

guygrooves	guygrooves said 598 days ago (April 5th, 2008)
	This is...... 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. Check out my latest song called Last Day Here

guygrooves	guygrooves said 598 days ago (April 5th, 2008)
	oops 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 Check out my latest song called Last Day Here

screamalexz	screamalexz said 596 days ago (April 8th, 2008)
	and we soar some nice atmosphere on this piece. has a soft feel but yet a rock edge with the distortion on that guitar. nice playing. Check out my latest song called Die (Album Version)

kens said 467 days ago (August 15th, 2008)

My Friend Big John
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

ziti

ziti said 466 days ago (August 16th, 2008)

hey there
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

Check out my latest song called All Smokey

kens said 464 days ago (August 18th, 2008)

Big John
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

	kens said 447 days ago (September 4th, 2008)
	Thanks!!! Fran, Thanks soooo much for giving Bill my email. What a blast from the past. Any idea what Richie is up to? Ken

bobsynth said 185 days ago (May 24th, 2009)

Big John & 7 Blends????
ZITI! Is this the same group? If so, I worked with them a few times. I had a band called "Bobby & The Galaxies" We were out of Fall river, Ma. We played every Saturday at Lincoln park Amusement Park, in Westport Mass. We discovered Golden Joe Baker, who worked with my group. In fact I named him. But that's another story. We worked a sweet 16 birthday party at a fancy hotel in Boston. The guy had hired a radio DJ, us, and Big John & The 7 Blends. I was blown away by them. After the gig Big John asked me if I would work with them from time to time, since they needed a guitarist. Back then they were just singers. I agreed. It was wild because I am white and they were all black. I worked several all black clubs in Marion, Ma. with them. Big John had the voice of an angel. He was really big and mean looking, but he was as gentle as gentle could be. To hear that sweet falcetto coming out of such a huge man, was amazing. His singing would bring tears to my eyes. I really treasured my few gigs with them. I had my own band going strong so I couldn't do both. If this is the same guy, I would sure like to know. Bob Hughes, bobhughes13@mchsi.com. Please contact me and let me know. I still gig as a 1 man band, but in Ocean City, Md. Never too old to Rock and Roll. www.BobHughesMusic.Net.

	bobsynth said 130 days ago (July 18th, 2009)
	Excellent Fran thanks for honoring Big John. He was all you say and more. I enjoyed your tribute to him. You play with a lot of soul. Did he record on Casa Grande records back in the day?

	bobsynth said 130 days ago (July 18th, 2009)
	Excellent Fran thanks for honoring Big John. He was all you say and more. I enjoyed your tribute to him. You play with a lot of soul. Did he record on Casa Grande records back in the day?

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Artist Info

Name: Fran Dagostino

I have been posting music and making friends at MJs for almost 4 years now. Welcome friends!!... [see more]

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Genre Info

The blues is a vocal and instrumental form of music based on a pentatonic scale and a characteristic twelve-bar chord progression. The form evolved in the United States in the communities of former African slaves from spirituals, praise songs, field

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