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From: "Geoff Lewis" <Geofftcl@btinternet.com>
Subject: Arvon, actually
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 05:46:20 -0000
OK, OK, I was just kidding.
The course was absolutely wonderful. Ray was just great - friendly and encouraging with not a sign of Rock Star ego. He was there all week and he *was* the tutor. Marion co-ordinated the whole thing.
The 1000-year old farmhouse where it was held is a superb place, set in a beautiful Dartmoor valley, and the young couple who run it, Andy and Amy, are just too good to be true.
In fact, the only negative thing I have to say about the course is that it was over too soon. I could have spent the rest of my life in that great place, among all those super folks - it was a real treat to meet so many lovely like-minded people.
Apart from my old mate Jim, I met KPSers Mitch, whose use of words in lyrics is phenomenal and Bill Richards, whose solo act must be pleasing the Connecticut public, (especially now he has a Harmonizer (-; )
There was the wonderful Ginny Dodds from St Paul, Minneapolis, who is lurking on the list, and whose records I would go out and buy if she would only start making some. With Ginny was Jim Kaedden, one of the nicest guys I have ever met.
The other two Americans on the course were both very witty and amusing guys - Bob Joyce from Berkeley and Glenn Mohr from NYC. I would expect these two to be appearing on the list soon.
It was a delight to know all these people. Then there were the Brits. (-;
Watch out for Jude Cowan - she could well become a star soon - and Richard Pearson, a classy songwriter who has spent most of his life being a chartered accountant. To quote Ian Dury, "What a waste!" Mega Ray fan Olga, of whom I have previously seen mention on the digest, was also among the UK contingent.
I have to admit I started the week feeling very inhibited. For some stupid reason, it hadn't dawned on me that I was going to have to perform the songs that I wrote. Apart from my notorious rendition of "Alcohol", I had never sung anything other than backing vocals in front of people. Suddenly I found that I was performing solo not only in front of 15 strangers (plus Jim), but also in front of the man who has been my musical hero for as long as I can remember. Terrifying!
On the Wednesday, I realised that I had a better chance of making my singing heard if I pre-recorded the keyboard part. By Friday, I was happily singing out a silly C&W (!!!!) song, with Ray Davies jumping around me pointing a video camera at me!
On Wednesday evening (or was it Tuesday? I lost all track of time), when we had all given up struggling away at our assignments, the Internet section (i.e. the Americans and I) and a few others had a major Kinks jam.
It was great. I was just banging out "Skin and Bone" on the piano, with the assembled company ripping out the vocals, when Ray came into "the barn".
He seemed surprised that we knew the song, but appeared to enjoy it. He stayed while Jim took over on piano and we did "Schooldays" and "You Make It All Worthwhile" (starring Bill and Bob doing the "shepherd's pie" bit etc.) It was only when we started on "Sunny Afternoon" that he said "Oh, no - good night."
I expect someone will be able to read something negative into it, by I took that as a sign that he appreciated that there were so many genuine admirers of his songwriting on the course.
(BTW, I managed to get the words "no talent" and "starry-eyed fan" into the first song I wrote.)
Thereafter, of course, jam sessions were the standard way to finish off an evening. The one on Friday night finished at 3.30 a.m.
Ray actually did listen to a couple of my older songs on tape, said he really liked them, suggested some improvements (how could I have failed to put a bridge in "Dirty Weekend"?) and said he liked my subject matter, which he analysed as "adult sex". I told him he had just analysed my life (-; Hence I got the part of the horny trucker in the musical. (Not fair - he only heard two of my old songs - they aren't *all* like that!)
Among the many highlights of the week for me were lovely songs by both Jim and Bill about missing their kids, the songs the same two wrote for "Thelma and Louise", a superb "hill" song by Ginny, which sounded even better during "hits of the week" when she reprised it on my electric guitar, and Mitch's wonderful detective song. The latter included a great riff, "I
will crack the case (alone)", which caught everyone's imagination and immediately had us all joining in.
One very memorable thing, for me alone, was that when Ray privately auditioned my song for the show, he said "That's a great lyric!"
Wha-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-t???!!! There can be no higher praise. I'm sure he didn't mean it literally, but I want that on my gravestone - "Ray Davies said he wrote a great lyric."
Thanks Ray, thanks Marion, Andy and Amy, and thanks all my great friends who shared the privilege of being there.
- Geoff
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End of Kinks Digest #834
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Date: Fri, 13 Mar 1998 22:14:53 GMT
From: feedback@jeack.com.au (Russell Forden)
Subject: That first Arvon posting
Let me say first off that I didn't fall for those two jokey postings of Jesse's about the songwriting course a few digests back. Like most of you, I had a good laugh about them. But that first Arvon posting from Geoff is another matter. I was prepared to believe it. Laugh if you like, but after reading it I spent an entire day bummed out and disillusioned. Okay, there
was a happy ending to this - it was all a joke, ha ha - and certainly all is forgiven after that fantastic second posting, but (sudden stern face) don't do it again...:-(
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Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 14:10:08 -1000
From: Jim Smart <jimsmart@hula.net>
Subject: Thank you for the Ray
Dear friends:
First of all, Geoff's first post was a hoax, OK? So was my little reply about Ray shaving his head and whatever. So if you sent it on to someone, or printed out a copy, please rectify the situation with a follow up. This is how "the Martians are landing", "Paul is dead", and "Jimmy Page played the solo on YRGM" probably started, so let's not go there, yeah?
Geoff and Mitch have really hit the nails on the heads with their posts in KPS 834. We got to know Ray (and he us) without all the stress that comes with hanging by the stage door for an autograph (many of you will remember that I have done that...even met Katie there...Katie, don't believe everything you read!). Also, it's not like having a drink with Ray after the show, or whatever. That's the "show Ray". We got to know the morning Ray, the resting Ray, the Ray you pass casually in the courtyard and say good morning to.
And let me tell you, if you think the guy who gave us all those insightful clever songs is himself insightful, empathetic, kind, generous, and (especially) funny, you are absolutely right. Ray is hilarious. But he was so thoughtful. He often asked me "How's the jet lag?" "Have you called home yet?" "How are you feeling?" "Did you sleep well?", and he meant it. He's just a really nice guy.
And Marion who ran the course with him is wonderful. I say again, Geoff's first post was a HOAX, OK? That lady was very kind to me, and I feel a strong kinship with her and the participants in the course. It was an honor to hear all their songs and share all those laughs with them.
Ray taught with humor. One image I will cherish in my mind is when Mitch was up at the mike, guitar carefully tuned, ready to do a song. Mitch wasn't sure which of his own compositions to perform, and Ray was saying, "Now DON'T let us down, Mitch. you KNOW which song we want," which sent us al into hysterics because Mitch had written this really catchy little detective number with a bit that we all liked to sing along with, and we all wanted it and no other. So there's Ray Davies, mercilessly teasing him, and Mitch giving it right back to him with mock sarcasm before beginning, and the room in hysterics over the whole thing. Mitch and several others had made this amazing transition from terrified discomfort to relative ease performing in front of Ray and the group. Ray created trust so we could all relax, create, and tease each other good naturedly. Speaking as a school teacher, this is not an easy trick, but Ray made it look easy.
I was aware before I went that Ray Davies is a man of many talents: singer, songwriter, guitar player, piano player, harmonica player, arranger, author, director, playwright, rock frontman, record producer, etc. But I would now like to add the tag "teacher" to that list. As a teacher Ray is challenging yet caring. He makes his students feel at ease, yet never lets them off the hook. They must work hard. Ray helped the group quickly trust each other and him. Students are encouraged to "go for it", and not fear ridicule or failure.
I always knew he was better than me at all those other things, though I've tried my hand at most of them. But now I'm faced with the rather awkward realization that Ray is probably even a better teacher than I am. Humbling, for sure.
More later,
Jim
PS: as a side note, if I'm not my usual self, or don't post much, it's because there's a very serious illness in my family. I do find the KPS a welcome distraction, but may not always have time to attend to it in the coming weeks...months...it's a hard time for me, but mixed in with it is a desire to talk about what a great course Ray ran, and I'm really looking forward to buying/experiencing/rooting for the products he's been working on...the Storyteller album, the bonus tracks for the Kinks albums, and his musical Come Dancing.
jimsmart@hula.net * Hawaii * http://www.hula.net/~jimsmart/
_______________________jest checking_________________________
* Thank you for the days * ~ Ray Davies
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End of Kinks Digest #835
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