Neil Peart Man Crush Revisited 2.112 Edition: Jeff Berlin And Vox Humana's "Champion (Of The World)" Featuring The Professor On The Drum Kit!!

[RUSHHEAD666]

I am sure I've threaded this many many moons ago but alas here we are in 2019!

 

I pulled out my cd of Jeff Berlin & Vox Humana last week and it's been years.

 

I have totally re-fallen in love with Neil's drumming on the last track of the album. "Champion (Of The World)"

 

I am sure for those of you who have heard might rip the song in general, but man Neil's chops are smoking fukkkkin HOT!!!! JMO!!!

 

I hate the fade out at the end as Neil crushes his china boy!!!!

 

I love this record as a whole. Jeff Berlin should call up Neil and do a record.

 

Anyone dig this shit?

 

Edited January 31, 2019 by RUSHHEAD666

[RUSHHEAD666]

"They All Can't Be Zingers" kids!

 

Love,

 

PRIMUS

[Entre_Perpetuo]

I can dig it. The drum sound is tinny, but the performance is good. Neil's trying really hard not to overplay, but really goes for it when he gets the chance to do a fill. Not sure it's the greatest fusion drumming I've ever heard, but certainly better than most rock drummers could do, and plenty of tasty fills for the avid Neil fan.

[chemistry1973]

Just saw JB perform at NAMM.

 

Dude likes to talk some shit! LoL. He does not have much of a filter. Seems like a good dude. The combo he was playing with sounded fantastic. Is he doing anything else these days?

 

Also got a chance to watch Stu Hamm, who was very impressive.

[RUSHHEAD666]

I can dig it. The drum sound is tinny, but the performance is good. Neil's trying really hard not to overplay, but really goes for it when he gets the chance to do a fill. Not sure it's the greatest fusion drumming I've ever heard, but certainly better than most rock drummers could do, and plenty of tasty fills for the avid Neil fan.

 

Well stated!!! A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[RUSHHEAD666]

Just saw JB perform at NAMM.

 

Dude likes to talk some shit! LoL. He does not have much of a filter. Seems like a good dude. The combo he was playing with sounded fantastic. Is he doing anything else these days?

 

Also got a chance to watch Stu Hamm, who was very impressive.

 

That is awesome dude! I love me some Stu Hamm too! Jeff has no filter! I must be related! LOL!

[RUSHHEAD666]

I'm so pissed! I had a meet and greet ticket to see Alex Skonick and Stu Hamm. It was called Skolhamm. Had a cool woman on the violin. I had to miss the show thanks to adulting. My oldest daughter's last night at home before going back to college. Can't see them all! I wish Skolhamm would record an album!

[jacklifeson]

Im a bass player so of course I know of Jeff Berlin (one of the all time great bass players), and heard that song when it came out. I also heard that Jeff almost "fired" Neil from the record because he was also playing on another track, something with more of a jazz swing, and Neil couldnt do it. The producer was the one that told Jeff not to do it and to get Steve Smith in to "help" on the track.

[RUSHHEAD666]

Im a bass player so of course I know of Jeff Berlin (one of the all time great bass players), and heard that song when it came out. I also heard that Jeff almost "fired" Neil from the record because he was also playing on another track, something with more of a jazz swing, and Neil couldnt do it. The producer was the one that told Jeff not to do it and to get Steve Smith in to "help" on the track.

 

Yep! Good story Jack. It's true. Poor Neil. Can't swing. "Cottontail" on the Buddy Rich Memorial is unmemorable. I never knew as a Neil Peart freak back in 1981 when I was in the 8th grade would have fukked my drumming skills.

Now I'm 51 and hell I can play every Rush record still, yet I can't swing.

 

I saw Steve Smith in Journey last summer. Wow, poor old guy. He was more stiff than a porno star on viagra. Sad really but it's life. Our mortal icons and influences are either retiring, or expiring.

 

I love Jeff Berlin on the Bill Bruford solo albums.

 

As a matter of fact Bill just released a killer black box set. Three remastered cds and a live disc. With an autograph sheet and a poster.

 

"One Of A Kind" is a masterpiece.

 

 

RUSH ON!

[HalfwayToGone]

Right on. Steve really could play. I think the first non-Journey I heard him on was Brand-X, which Phil Colins also took a drum seat in for a record—both killer performance. Steve could actually handle a fusion gig. Ditto on the Bruford stuff. I read his book and it’s pretty damn entertaining as well as full of insights into the real meta-theory of music and what is musical. I loved his piano and drums stuff w/Patrick Moraz too and the follow up they did with synth/sampler and all sorts of experimental sounds. Don’t get me started about Allan Holdsworth either. Just check out Road Games EP and that’s all you need—Jeff Berlin on most of it and Jack Bruce on one song. Blew my mind when I first heard it sometime around 1983.

[edhunter]

I remember reading about this back in the 80's but I never checked Berlin out. I thought I'd read he was a real douche. Same with Hamm, but I at least had one of his solo cassetes. Can't remember what it was called.

[RUSHHEAD666]

I remember reading about this back in the 80's but I never checked Berlin out. I thought I'd read he was a real douche. Same with Hamm, but I at least had one of his solo cassetes. Can't remember what it was called.

 

I love the first three Stuart Hamm albums!!

 

Radio Free Albemuth

Kings Of Sleep

The Urge

[RUSHHEAD666]

Right on. Steve really could play. I think the first non-Journey I heard him on was Brand-X, which Phil Colins also took a drum seat in for a record—both killer performance. Steve could actually handle a fusion gig. Ditto on the Bruford stuff. I read his book and it’s pretty damn entertaining as well as full of insights into the real meta-theory of music and what is musical. I loved his piano and drums stuff w/Patrick Moraz too and the follow up they did with synth/sampler and all sorts of experimental sounds. Don’t get me started about Allan Holdsworth either. Just check out Road Games EP and that’s all you need—Jeff Berlin on most of it and Jack Bruce on one song. Blew my mind when I first heard it sometime around 1983.

 

Excellent post!! I love Allan too! So does Duck!

[HalfwayToGone]

Only got to see him one time but it was pretty memorable. He played at Rutgers, and had Gary Husband on drums (chad wackerman got sick or had a conflict and couldn’t do it) and this guy named Jimmy Johnson on bass. Both of those guys could get around the fretboard like nobody’s business. I wanna swear Jimmy was smoking a big pipe on stage like Donald Dunn used to do. One and only time I ever saw a real live synthaxe being played too. Whacky idea. I also remember Steinberger guitars being used by Allan.

[RUSHHEAD666]

Only got to see him one time but it was pretty memorable. He played at Rutgers, and had Gary Husband on drums (chad wackerman got sick or had a conflict and couldn’t do it) and this guy named Jimmy Johnson on bass. Both of those guys could get around the fretboard like nobody’s business. I wanna swear Jimmy was smoking a big pipe on stage like Donald Dunn used to do. One and only time I ever saw a real live synthaxe being played too. Whacky idea. I also remember Steinberger guitars being used by Allan.

 

Amazing stuff dude! I love both of those drummers!

 

Excellent memory! Thanks for sharing!

[RUSHHEAD666]

Only got to see him one time but it was pretty memorable. He played at Rutgers, and had Gary Husband on drums (chad wackerman got sick or had a conflict and couldn’t do it) and this guy named Jimmy Johnson on bass. Both of those guys could get around the fretboard like nobody’s business. I wanna swear Jimmy was smoking a big pipe on stage like Donald Dunn used to do. One and only time I ever saw a real live synthaxe being played too. Whacky idea. I also remember Steinberger guitars being used by Allan.

 

Some think I'm crazy but I'm just crazy about music!

 

Your avatar instantly reminded me of Allan's album "Sand!" The cover art tent. LOL!

 

https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=Sand+Allan+Holdsworth&fr=yhs-Lkry-SF01&hspart=Lkry&hsimp=yhs-SF01&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.expose.org%2Fassets%2Fimg%2Freleases%2Fholdsworth-allan-sand-1987.jpg#id=2&iurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.expose.org%2Fassets%2Fimg%2Freleases%2Fholdsworth-allan-sand-1987.jpg&action=click

[chemistry1973]

Only got to see him one time but it was pretty memorable. He played at Rutgers, and had Gary Husband on drums (chad wackerman got sick or had a conflict and couldn’t do it) and this guy named Jimmy Johnson on bass. Both of those guys could get around the fretboard like nobody’s business. I wanna swear Jimmy was smoking a big pipe on stage like Donald Dunn used to do. One and only time I ever saw a real live synthaxe being played too. Whacky idea. I also remember Steinberger guitars being used by Allan.

 

I saw Holdworth with Jimmie Johnson and Chad Wackerman at the Baked Potatoe in LA 7 years ago—

 

It was one of the sickest shows I’ve ever seen. It had an element that the records never captured - live, raw energy.

[RUSHHEAD666]

Only got to see him one time but it was pretty memorable. He played at Rutgers, and had Gary Husband on drums (chad wackerman got sick or had a conflict and couldn’t do it) and this guy named Jimmy Johnson on bass. Both of those guys could get around the fretboard like nobody’s business. I wanna swear Jimmy was smoking a big pipe on stage like Donald Dunn used to do. One and only time I ever saw a real live synthaxe being played too. Whacky idea. I also remember Steinberger guitars being used by Allan.

 

I saw Holdworth with Jimmie Johnson and Chad Wackerman at the Baked Potatoe in LA 7 years ago—

 

It was one of the sickest shows I’ve ever seen. It had an element that the records never captured - live, raw energy.

 

I love the Baked Potatoes. Lucky!

[HalfwayToGone]

Only got to see him one time but it was pretty memorable. He played at Rutgers, and had Gary Husband on drums (chad wackerman got sick or had a conflict and couldn’t do it) and this guy named Jimmy Johnson on bass. Both of those guys could get around the fretboard like nobody’s business. I wanna swear Jimmy was smoking a big pipe on stage like Donald Dunn used to do. One and only time I ever saw a real live synthaxe being played too. Whacky idea. I also remember Steinberger guitars being used by Allan.

 

I saw Holdworth with Jimmie Johnson and Chad Wackerman at the Baked Potatoe in LA 7 years ago—

 

It was one of the sickest shows I’ve ever seen. It had an element that the records never captured - live, raw energy.

7 years ago is also around 35 years after I saw them, so add that much more experience too.

[ytserush]

Those 80's Berlin albums are OK, but I really prefer Taking Notes or Boston T Party with Dennis Chambers. That stuff doesn't sound as dated to me.

 

Wish I'd gotten to see Holdsworth. Might be blanking, but did he ever play with Jaco? Would have loved to have witnessed something like that.

[HalfwayToGone]

I’m pretty sure Jaco and Holdsworth never got to play together, but that would’ve been a cool thing to see. Dennis Chambers had a sizeable impact on how I play since I first heard him with Scofield on Blue Matter and Loud Jazz. There was a killer live record with that band too. I feel like I’m playing “6 Degrees of Jeff Berlin” now.....

[ytserush]

I’m pretty sure Jaco and Holdsworth never got to play together, but that would’ve been a cool thing to see. Dennis Chambers had a sizeable impact on how I play since I first heard him with Scofield on Blue Matter and Loud Jazz. There was a killer live record with that band too. I feel like I’m playing “6 Degrees of Jeff Berlin” now.....

 

Didn't think they did. You'd figure something like that would have been recorded.