Eric Burden or Paul McCartney?

So my home town of Ottawa has a Blues Fest every year, and they get some great people... Eric Burdon is playing one night. Paul McCartney has his first visit ever, of any of the Beatles, to Ottawa that same night. Who would I choose...?

Depends on whether your crystal ball is working and you know what kind of a mood you'll be in.
If you don't have a crystal ball...Eric Burdon.

Okay, interesting answer... how come?

Look up some youtube videos of Burden's latest performances. From what I've seen, and I was a big fan of his, he isn't up to McCartney's level.

As a song writer, that's true. But, I really like Burdon's voice...it has more depth, soul and emotion than McCartney's does (for me). I'd pay just to hear him sing "House of the Rising Sun". McCartney? meh.

Friends say McCartney's 2.5+ hour shows are the best rock shows they've ever seen. Might be worth it for that.

If he was back with War I would go see Eric otherwise McCartney.

Z

Mcartney solo or with backup?

The touring band he's been using for quite a while now.

McCartney hands down.

McCartney. Eric Burdon peaked with The Animals.

They have all "peaked" and I'm starting to think I'll just keep them in my memory bank and forgo adding to their retirement funds. Honestly, if I hear one more old fart singing out of tune, I'm gonna croak. I may not be able to see or move like I used to but there's nuthin' wrong with my hearing. Live 2011...House of the Rising Sun...actually starts at the 3 minute mark...gag me.

Hubby says Eric Burden.

ferret wrote:They have all "peaked" and I'm starting to think I'll just keep them in my memory bank and forgo adding to their retirement funds. Honestly, if I hear one more old fart singing out of tune, I'm gonna croak. I may not be able to see or move like I used to but there's nuthin' wrong with my hearing. Live 2011...House of the Rising Sun...actually starts at the 3 minute mark...gag me.

simply because it wasn't like the original recording doesn't make it bad and he didn't sing out of tune,so there is something wrong with your hearing.
what the hell is mccartney doing at a blues festival anyhoe? go see burden. fine guit work on this too,by the way!

I'm not a McCartney acolyte. But the idea of comparing him unfavorably to an ordinary, uninspired frontman such as Eric Burdon is absurd.

Pedro wrote:what the hell is mccartney doing at a blues festival anyhoe? go see burden. fine guit work on this too,by the way!

This has long been a bone of contention amongst Blues Fest organizers and attendees. It was finally decreed that "if an artist has heard the word blues, that artist is welcome to appear."

So, for example, the band Blue Cheer (widely known for their only hit "Summertime Blues"), assuming blues meant an assortment of laundry, was immediately welcomed as a potential guest.

conbtrarian wrote:I'm not a McCartney acolyte. But the idea of comparing him unfavorably to an ordinary, uninspired frontman such as Eric Burdon is absurd.

Uninspired? The man who made a huge rock hit out of an old folk tune of uncertain origin? Who was one of the very first in the sixties to write and sing about social issues, when most of the Invasion bands were singing silly love songs? And used rock as a format instead of folk to do it? Mixing blues and rock in the early days, much to the disdain of purists on both sides? Who was an example for so many other bands? Who had one of the most memorable and powerful voices of any of the British bands, outside of Long John? Who brought us War?

Really.

If you are that convinced, then why did you ask the question in the first place? It appears that you already had your answer!

Dummy up HelperDude.... McCartney has to be the most Prolific Song Writer of all time
Fellow Artistssuch as Jagger & Richards, Clapton, Raitt, Charles, Wonder... would give their left nut ta perform with him.... well... maybe not Raitt

Your Hero rates right up there with Iron Butterfly who woke up after a Drug Induced Haze to find a Hit Recorded The Nite Before

hockables wrote:Dummy up HelperDude.... McCartney has to be the most Prolific Song Writer of all time
Fellow Artistssuch as Jagger & Richards, Clapton, Raitt, Charles, Wonder... would give their left nut ta perform with him.... well... maybe not Raitt

Your Hero rates right up there with Iron Butterfly who woke up after a Drug Induced Haze to find a Hit Recorded The Nite Before

So what? So WHAT? Iggy Pop has written hundreds of songs and performed with everybody... and you couldn't PAY me to go see him perform. Look, it comes down to this: both guys playing the same night, both legends. One an "also ran", one a contemporary. It's not an issue of contention... just a question of curiosity.

Pray for a Downchild Blues Band re-union.

Or Them.

Or Curley Bridges, or or or or.

Oh hell! Time for another tequila and a trip down blues lane

Back to talking about Eric or Paul please. I really like Eric with War. It was a
great sound. Paul earned the right to play blues. As Paul said one day when
asked why his music was so happy? He said why should I be unhappy? I have
a great life or something like that. I would see em both if I could.

Z

While it was a bit before my time, I wouldn't even put Eric Burden in the same category as Paul McCartney. I don't think The Animals or War did for rock and roll what the Beatles did. Not even close IMO.

one goes to a blues festival ta see blues performers-no? mccartney ain't one.

I never really considered Eric Burden to be a "Blues" artist either. No more than Jimmy Morrison anyways.