That’s good but …..
It stops being rock with an accordion.
Too much breath to sustain tight rhythms.
The master of al, this is Flaco Jiminez but I do ‘t think there’s anything he’s played on that’s really rock. Lots of roll but not so much rock.
Correct me if I’m wrong.
This is a rock tune with accordion. It’s pretty damn funky as well. And quote prog in places. Honestly, folks might like it. The Aliens were brilliant.
I’m not familiar with very much of Calexico’s music, but I love this song, “Sunken Waltz”
Nice accordion sound. Good lyrics.
“Take the story of Carpenter Mike
who dropped his tools and his keys and left
and headed out as far as he could
past the cities and gated neighborhoods.
And he slept neath the stars
wrote down what he dreamt
and he built a machine
for no one to see.
Then took flight,
at first light
of new morning.”
Rocking accordions? Loiusiana has got to the place to look. Three members of one of my favourite new NOLA bands, Feufollet, getting them up on the dance floor at the Blue Moon Saloon in Lafayette.
Off piste for a second. If anyone else is a Feufollet fan, you may be interested to hear that they’ve changed vocalist and the very charismatic Anna Laura Edmiston is now training to be a birth doula (a kind of midwife’s assistant) and singing in a ginormous travelling circus with horses. Blimey!
We could stuck in a long, un-resolvable semantic argument but ….
Depends what you mean by rock. To my ears the examples above are rock and roll (Johnny Allen is the prime example) or Cajun or ballads. The Aliens track is the possible exception to the rule but the accordion is a bit of an incidental background texture rather than a real feature (at least in as much of it as I could listen to!).
Still not convinced!
As usual the mighty Tull have been there. The superb “Queen and country” with accordion and key part of the arrangement. It’s all over “Warchild” actually.
In the magnificent film, ‘The Girl Can’t Help It’, there’s a dreadful sequence with besuited buffoons playing ‘rock n roll’ with accordions. Rather confirms Geoff’s point.
You want AC/DC played on the accordion? Of course you don’t, but I’m posting it anyway.
With this vid I get a spooky, voyeuristic feeling. I’m watching somebody do something personal in the privacy of their own home that I should not be watching. Yet here I am. peeking through the curtains.
All Welsh rock band,Geraint Watkins on accordion,Micky Gee,Dave Edmunds,Andy Fairweather -Lowe,Henry Spinetti amongst others.Micky Gee has unfortunately passed away.
At the top is Gogol Bordello who are enormously popular with the youth. I saw part of their set at Roskilde and thought were absolutely unlistenable. Rowdy agit-prop pop.
Accordian use is liberally scattered throughout the work – stand up and squeeze your box Mr James Fearnley
(who is also the author of the fine book ‘Here Comes Everybody: The Story of the Pogues’ (part fact, part fictionalised account, part flowery language to flesh out the detail, wholly readable))
Sorry Jed. I went all ethnic in those last four posts and strayed away from the OP. Not of course, that it isn’t fine music. The definitive compilation for global accordion sounds is a 3CD set called Planet Jukebox.
It’s interesting how some countries, and in some cases, regions of a particular country have a very strong accordion tradition. Finland for example-
Finland – Maria Kalaniemi, Kimmo Pohjonen
Before the electric guitar came along it was one of the loudest instruments, so very handy for an impromptu dance party.
I was browsing Google when I came across this document from a French library.
Some great music on here but …..
I go back to my first point (and rhe original title of the post) – I like a good accordion but no evidence here that it fits in rock. It fits in rock and roll; it fits in Cajun; it fits in folk; it fits in all kinds of ethnic music; but it doesn’t fit in rock.
So I’m right and you’re all wrong!!!
Geoffbs7 says
That’s good but …..
It stops being rock with an accordion.
Too much breath to sustain tight rhythms.
The master of al, this is Flaco Jiminez but I do ‘t think there’s anything he’s played on that’s really rock. Lots of roll but not so much rock.
Correct me if I’m wrong.
Jed Clampett says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OQQSqMjXkM
This one must count?
Johnny Concheroo says
Flaco and Ry really rock on this one:
ganglesprocket says
This is a rock tune with accordion. It’s pretty damn funky as well. And quote prog in places. Honestly, folks might like it. The Aliens were brilliant.
Jed Clampett says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdlRHvCDUEE
Hmm, good but not rock. That may be fair comment.
hubert rawlinson says
Richard Thompson used to perform Billy Lee Riley’s Flying Saucer Rock and Roll with John Kirkpatrick on accordion.
retropath2 says
Simple answer. Johnny. Allan.
Stitch that, sunshine bs7
duco01 says
I’m not familiar with very much of Calexico’s music, but I love this song, “Sunken Waltz”
Nice accordion sound. Good lyrics.
“Take the story of Carpenter Mike
who dropped his tools and his keys and left
and headed out as far as he could
past the cities and gated neighborhoods.
And he slept neath the stars
wrote down what he dreamt
and he built a machine
for no one to see.
Then took flight,
at first light
of new morning.”
Junior Wells says
Los Lobos are masters but collaborating with Paul Simon is right up there
Junior Wells says
whatever Springsteen does – its rock
Kaisfatdad says
Now that’s what I call an OP!
Geoff has an interesting point, I’m going to enjoy trying to prove him wrong.
Kaisfatdad says
Rocking accordions? Loiusiana has got to the place to look. Three members of one of my favourite new NOLA bands, Feufollet, getting them up on the dance floor at the Blue Moon Saloon in Lafayette.
Kaisfatdad says
Off piste for a second. If anyone else is a Feufollet fan, you may be interested to hear that they’ve changed vocalist and the very charismatic Anna Laura Edmiston is now training to be a birth doula (a kind of midwife’s assistant) and singing in a ginormous travelling circus with horses. Blimey!
http://theind.com/article-11876-goodbye-girl.html
Geoffbs7 says
We could stuck in a long, un-resolvable semantic argument but ….
Depends what you mean by rock. To my ears the examples above are rock and roll (Johnny Allen is the prime example) or Cajun or ballads. The Aliens track is the possible exception to the rule but the accordion is a bit of an incidental background texture rather than a real feature (at least in as much of it as I could listen to!).
Still not convinced!
Geoffbs7 says
Is there an AC/DC track with an accordion? Can you imagine one?
ianess says
AC/DC are a ‘rock’ band; there’s no ‘roll’.
Geoffbs7 says
I think that was my point
ianess says
Didn’t read properly. Next, ‘zithers in rock’?
Twang says
As usual the mighty Tull have been there. The superb “Queen and country” with accordion and key part of the arrangement. It’s all over “Warchild” actually.
poolhallrichard says
The answer is of course Plonk…
Uncle Mick says
It rocks my world….
ianess says
In the magnificent film, ‘The Girl Can’t Help It’, there’s a dreadful sequence with besuited buffoons playing ‘rock n roll’ with accordions. Rather confirms Geoff’s point.
Kaisfatdad says
Can I imagine an ACDC track with an accordion? Yes I could. And it would probably be Kimmo Pohjonen playing.
I wouldn’t for a second argue that his music rocks.
But he certainly provides a convincing argument that the squeezebox is the devil’s instrument. He’s on the highway to hell, no doubt about it.
Kaisfatdad says
You want AC/DC played on the accordion? Of course you don’t, but I’m posting it anyway.
With this vid I get a spooky, voyeuristic feeling. I’m watching somebody do something personal in the privacy of their own home that I should not be watching. Yet here I am. peeking through the curtains.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvLA-J6eLtY
Lando Cakes says
Always good to have an excuse to post the marvellous Bootprints by King Creosote:
Lando Cakes says
And an implausibly young-looking Richard Thompson leads his big band through Tear-Stained Letter. Complete with accordion solo. Ace.
Wraggcity says
All Welsh rock band,Geraint Watkins on accordion,Micky Gee,Dave Edmunds,Andy Fairweather -Lowe,Henry Spinetti amongst others.Micky Gee has unfortunately passed away.
Rigid Digit says
They Might Be Giants
116 to choose from
http://tmbw.net/wiki/Category:Songs_Featuring_Accordion
Here’s one – Whistling In The Dark
Kaisfatdad says
A genre that has not been touched on is gipsy punk. Will we find rock accordion there?
Here’s a list of 10 artists who fall roughly within this category.
http://www.mtviggy.com/lists/mohawks-and-accordions-top-10-gypsy-punk-bands/
At the top is Gogol Bordello who are enormously popular with the youth. I saw part of their set at Roskilde and thought were absolutely unlistenable. Rowdy agit-prop pop.
10,000 dancing fans did not agree with me
Rigid Digit says
Pogues – Sally MacLennane
Accordian use is liberally scattered throughout the work – stand up and squeeze your box Mr James Fearnley
(who is also the author of the fine book ‘Here Comes Everybody: The Story of the Pogues’ (part fact, part fictionalised account, part flowery language to flesh out the detail, wholly readable))
Jed Clampett says
Very good point, not sure how I forgot this one.
davebigpicture says
Les Negresses Vertes were big on accordion IIRC.
Rigid Digit says
The instrument of choice for Weird Al Yankovic, particularly for the obligatory Polka
Rigid Digit says
Bohemian Polka
DrJ says
I saw Weird Al do this medley live and in person last night. Still recovering…
thecheshirecat says
paging daveamitri to the blog.
Kaisfatdad says
No it ain’t rock. But it does feature two accordions and the wonderful Luis Gonzaga from the North East of Brazil. And the audience are loving it.
Kaisfatdad says
More vintage Latino squeezebox: Alejo Duran from Colombia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGFgk8f-wuA
Kaisfatdad says
It may not be rock, but it’s quite a party.
Lisandro Meza from Colombia. Cumbia de los Locos.
Kaisfatdad says
Off piste a little, yet again. An oddity. From Out here in the Fields: Legends of Reggae salute the Who (Blimey!!) Toots does Squeezebox.
Rigid Digit says
Despite it’s title, The Who version doesn’t actually feature an accordion.
However, this Sheryl Crow version does:
Rec Room says
Well sailors, since peeps already did the Pogues and Tull, how about Mr. Marc Almond?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV4ftlaLxBI
Rec Room says
try again?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV4ftlaLxBI
Rec Room says
Well you get the idea.
Black Celebration says
Thanks for that. That’s a really good song – I haven’t listened to his stuff for a long time and I should put that right.
Kaisfatdad says
Sorry Jed. I went all ethnic in those last four posts and strayed away from the OP. Not of course, that it isn’t fine music. The definitive compilation for global accordion sounds is a 3CD set called Planet Jukebox.
It’s interesting how some countries, and in some cases, regions of a particular country have a very strong accordion tradition. Finland for example-
Finland – Maria Kalaniemi, Kimmo Pohjonen
Before the electric guitar came along it was one of the loudest instruments, so very handy for an impromptu dance party.
I was browsing Google when I came across this document from a French library.
http://b14-sigbermes.apps.paris.fr/userfiles/file/bibliographies/accord/accordeon-monde.pdf
Sacre bleu! Extremely thorough. Over 80 pages of accordionists from all over the world. I’m truly gobsmacked.
Jed Clampett says
Absolutely nothing to apologize for mate.
I don’t feel any ownership of threads, once they are launched they go where the go. Have at it!
Mousey says
That Planet Squeezebox is fabulous
dadwardo says
As Ms. Crow says at the start of this clip, “there’s nothing sexier than a girl and an accordion”.
She may have a point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MY_DIi1hRQ
Kaisfatdad says
How about three Finnish girls with accordions?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9voJve6hLC0
The wonderful Maria Kalaniemi with two pals.
Kaisfatdad says
Or how about two Bavarian teens on roller skates playing accordions?
Ooops! I’m dragging this thread off into some seriously dodgy areas.
Black Celebration says
The accordion is the star in this song
Black Celebration says
Red Box very much in the coulda been contenders file:
Black Celebration says
And I would suggest that the Lambada is the accordion riff that is the equivalent of Smoke on the Water for guitarists
Kaisfatdad says
Catchy Mexican pop with classy squeezebox from Julieta Venegas.
http://youtu.be/OtCdmMDi-XI
Kaisfatdad says
You are so right about Constant Craving, Black. And Lambada.
Kaisfatdad says
And now the wonderfully creepy Tiger Lilies.
Kaisfatdad says
Quite a groove to the Oyster Band’s version of the VU Classic largely due to the squeezebox. June Tabor stepping effortlessly into Nico’s shoes too.
Kaisfatdad says
I saw them live once and the Oysters really rocked along nicely. But I can’t remember any song names.
Rigid Digit says
The The – This Is The Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-32AAp418V4
dadwardo says
choon
Kaisfatdad says
Not everyday you see Grace Jones clutching an accordion.
Kaisfatdad says
I’ve never thought until today to ask who played the squeezebox on Libertango. It was Jack Emblow.
Not often he played with Sly and Robbie I suspect.
The tune is an adaptation of an Astor Piazolla song, originally played on bandoneon.
Jed Clampett says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K2DBD9TLyY
Kaisfatdad says
That was a find! Talk about a superstar band. But who was playing the accordion?
Kaisfatdad says
Blimey! The definitive accordion movie. And it’s Swedish too: One hundred accordions and a girl.
https://geosci.uchicago.edu/~rtp1/nordic/music/HundraDragspel.html
And here’s a clip!
Geoffbs7 says
Some great music on here but …..
I go back to my first point (and rhe original title of the post) – I like a good accordion but no evidence here that it fits in rock. It fits in rock and roll; it fits in Cajun; it fits in folk; it fits in all kinds of ethnic music; but it doesn’t fit in rock.
So I’m right and you’re all wrong!!!
Kaisfatdad says
But we found some wonderful songs trying to disprove your theory Geoff.
And here’s further proof of how difficult it is to rock with a squeezebox.
Someone should tell these Russians that rock needs riffs, power chords and a certain sexy swagger.
Kaisfatdad says
Can’t let this thread come to an end without a track by the Basque maestro Kepa Junkera.
My pal actually met Kepa at a bookfair. I was deeply impressed.
Kaisfatdad says
Can’t believe how little I know about accordions!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accordion_music_genres
But, with the arrival of the electric guitar, it was definitely a case of Move over Flaco let Jimi take over