the enigma of nic jones, BBC4

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If you can take the fact that it's about folk music, this is an absolute orgy of exquisite acoustic guitars and playing.

The only problem is that as with most docs, they talk far too much and play not nearly enough, and they talk over the playing way too much.

But there's some phenomenal guitar porn on there, especially Roger Bucknall's and the one Martin Simpson plays in it. And the playing you can hear is stunning.

Must get hold of Penguin Eggs at some point.
If you must have sex with a frog, wear a condom. If you want the frog to have fun, rib it.
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Comments

  • Brilliant isn't it.

    I was at Warwick that year, but his performance was a special for the Thursday night and we didn't get there till the Friday....gutted to miss it. 
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  • That was fucking ace. The music was fantastic and that lovely little poem from John Hegley at the end, the tale of the kids in the primary school, what a finish.

    And followed by a Richard Thompson concert!!

    You have to love the Beeb.
    If you must have sex with a frog, wear a condom. If you want the frog to have fun, rib it.
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  • I'll iPlayer this. He's one of those legendary people who I've never actually heard but have heard referred to a lot. Thanks for posting.
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  • I flicked it on last night and was amazed to see The Globe in Glossop (local to me, and a place I have frequented many, many times) played a major part in Nic's story.
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  • bertiebertie Frets: 13564

    The only problem is that as with most docs, they talk far too much and play not nearly enough, and they talk over the playing way too much.

    uh,  isnt that the point ?


    :-S
    just because you don't, doesn't mean you can't
     just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
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  • bertie said:

    The only problem is that as with most docs, they talk far too much and play not nearly enough, and they talk over the playing way too much.

    uh,  isnt that the point ?


    :-S
    What, to talk too much?
    If you must have sex with a frog, wear a condom. If you want the frog to have fun, rib it.
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  • bertiebertie Frets: 13564
    how can a documentary be talking "too much??"   

     If you want to hear more playing - watch a concert surely ?
    just because you don't, doesn't mean you can't
     just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
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  • On music docs, there's a balance between talking and the music. Given that this doc was about a man hailed as one of the best ever folk guitarists, one would think that one would see a reasonable amount of evidence to support that assertion. It had only the merest glimpses instead, with more people telling us how great he was rather than music to show us. So, imo, it had too much talking and not enough music.

    You can't watch a concert of Nic Jones, he's only played one in the last 32 years because of a car crash in 1981 that broke virtually every bone in his body - bits of his teeth were found in his lungs, apparently. He hasn't even held a guitar since then. We saw about 30 seconds of that one concert from Warwick last year, roughly 15 of which were talked over.

    No footage exists of his previous concerts from the 70s. I had never heard of the man before this documentary, so with all that I have just said taken into account, I believe it's reasonable to wish to see a bit more playing and a bit less talking.
    If you must have sex with a frog, wear a condom. If you want the frog to have fun, rib it.
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  • vizviz Frets: 10647
    Spinal tap would have been diminished without the music. Actually on second thoughts perhaps not.
    Roland said: Scales are primarily a tool for categorising knowledge, not a rule for what can or cannot be played.
    Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
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  • I thought the balance of footage/talking was fine considering what footage is available. If you knew his songs you got a feel for the new arrangements with his son, if you didn't then it made you want to go out and buy 'Penguin Eggs'. Job done.
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  • bertiebertie Frets: 13564
    edited September 2013
    On music docs, there's a balance between talking and the music. Given that this doc was about a man hailed as one of the best ever folk guitarists, one would think that one would see a reasonable amount of evidence to support that assertion. I
    depends on the subject context surely?,   was the documentary primarily about the man or his music ?

    Take the recent one about  Jeff Lynn for instance,   the music, which we all know, was completely superfluous - the interest of this program was in his hearing about his history, his alliances and the anecdotes/additional "facts"  from people he had worked with along the way - not the music

    :) 
    just because you don't, doesn't mean you can't
     just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
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  • Nic Jones is very good shame about his accident
    Old Is Gold
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