THE OLA ONABULE FORUM - A Bravenet.com Forum

mark

Oct 24, 05 - 12:04 PM

Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Great idea to put live trax up here. Sounds fantastic. I've put the following message on AWB and Lewis sites so you should get, oh, at least 10 more listens!! (and yes, you do over sing live - it's kinda understandable but with as you have one of the best natural voices on the planet it's really not necessary to try that hard..but..). Anyway, thnx for download:-

Ola free live download

Those Ola fans on this forum might like to know he's put a free download of a 12 minute version of the great 'Heart of Lead' on his website http://www.olasmusic.com

There is the usual amt of oversinging on there (with a voice like his he really doesn't need to try that hard!) and quite a bit of overplaying by pianist Pete Adams (who I love) but it's still great stuff and well worth hearing.

This free download trend is a great idea. the piano/voice free download on http://www.alisondavid.com is also well worth hearing to.

Conor

Oct 26th, 2005 - 5:36 AM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Ola oversings? Yeah, in the same way as Jimi Hendrix overplayed his guitar. The man is the best live vocalist/performer I've seen in years (and I make a living booking musical acts for a venue in Ireland). If you've got it you flaunt it...

Dapo

Oct 26th, 2005 - 6:01 AM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Well, Branford Marsalis was once asked what he thought about Courtney Pine and the way he hold notes for so long when he plays and how difficult a technique it is;and he said something like "Why does a dog bite it's own tail-Cause it can".You see most singers wish they could use their voice the way Ola does,this is skill that takes a lot of years to master-
yeah anyone could be born with a good voice/octaves etc-this is ability,pure hard work,genius,mastery of craft,Soul music.Sorry Mark with all due respect were you expecting some mimming or what.What seperates the best from the rest is what Ola does which is why he's still here(5 self-penned/self produced albums,loads of miles on the road and still going strong)Please SHOW SOME RESPECT!
Thanks again for the download and I played it over and over again.I must have listened to it about 8 times yesterday.Keep it real.
RESPECT
Dapo

TC

Oct 26th, 2005 - 6:55 AM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

I have to agree with you Conor & Dapo. My babe downloaded Heart of Lead yesterday for me(he knows what I like),whilst I was otherwise engaged and I listened to it continually on my way to work this morning in the car. It is 'Wonderful, Beautiful, Magical Remarkable, Phenomental!!' Mark if this is over-singing - please continue Ola. It's what I love about your live performances, I call it singing from the Heart - it's music from the SOUL! Don't ever stop doing it the way you do. Can't wait to catch you live again in Yorkshire next month.

By putting a free live version of Heart of Lead on your website I'm sure it will crash open those doors of fortune for you. I will certainly be telling everyone I possibly can to check it out. Once they do I'm sure they will get 'The Picture' and want to 'Stay Here Forever' - 'cos what you got for us is mega - it's getting positively better!' Oh Stop!

Liked your ganzie in the photos from America by the way... I bet they loved your Britishness over there. Welcome home and as Leroy Hutson said - you're a 'Lucky Felllow'..

TC

Terry Arnold

Oct 26th, 2005 - 9:03 AM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Is it possible to buy a copy of the live version of "heart of lead" on line anywhere, i've just finished listening to it for a second time and it really is quite beautiful. Being a 47 year old soulster and an avid fan of live music, it takes me back to the wonderful vocal talents of artists like Eddie Levert, getting on down at the Hammersmith pouring his heart and soul in to gorgeous live versions of "sunshine" and " wildflower" and then there was Phllipe Wynne singing "love don't love nobody" Marvin's "distant lover" both at the lovely gaumont in southampton. Ok, i could be really boring now and list Etta James at the Town and Country and many more. What they all had in abundance was that rare and unique talent to take an excellent piece of music in it's own right and then mould and shape it in a live format into a special soulful piece of theatre, and your version of "heart of lead" is all that and more.
Sorry you couldn't make it down to Winchester or New Milton and i hope that your soon back to good health. Thanks again for the lovely music and i hope that you are able to go from strength to strength.

regards

Terry

mark

Oct 28th, 2005 - 4:36 PM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

mark

Oct 29th, 2005 - 3:34 AM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Try again...

Oh make no mistake I'll a huge Ola Onabule fan. I've probably been to close to a hundred gigs, still regularly doing late night hundred miles round trip from Brighton to catch him in London and elsewhere. I've helped him get new gigs, pushed him like crazy on any local radio shows I've produced, introduced new fans, helped get him press in Blues and Soul and elsewhere. I think generally I've put my money where my mouth is for him and his music.

I think he's the most talented British singer EVER to emerge - certainly in terms of natural talent, colours, range, depth etc etc in his voice. Vocally, he is almost too talented, if there is such a thing.

He is also one of the nicest people I've ever met - a true gentleman - not that thats of any particular relevance per se.

But, just because I think all this doesn't mean it's wrong to critique his work. Any artist who puts their work in the public domain does, by definition, put their work out for critique. if they, or their supporters, don't like that..well, they are in the wrong game!! In my world, I am showing real respect..ie I say what I think, not what I think someone wants to hear

No, I think Ola is fantastic...but I do think he tends to oversing...show all his tricks in every song, if you like. If you look at artists like Ian Shaw (who has similar chops) and, say, Hamish Stuart (who hasn't) they use much more light and ahade in their performance. Hamish, in the AWB, used to squawk away, generally trying too hard, but over the years he's come to use much more light and shade..knows full well that sometimes less is more and knows how to hold audiences attention that way. And for all his vocal acrobatics..Shaw understands the need to inject taste in his performance, something he does masterfully.

I like Ola better than those artists, by the way, but doesn't mean they have something to teach.

Hendrix was the worlds greatest guitar player but he, more than anyone, would drift off into self indulgent over-playing (mercifully not captured on his mainstream albums!). Ola doesn't do that but it's like he's scared to trust the audience to listen sometimes. Being a 100% soul man is a great thing..but it's no co-incidence that some of his best recorded work is the understatd vocal stuff.

Ola has a superb voice..sometimes that is enough.

And, like I say, this is said with huge respect.

TC

Oct 30th, 2005 - 4:31 AM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Isn’t this amazing… isn’t this ironic…. we’re all here on this forum because of Ola and as much as we are passionate about him… we’re as passionate about the different ways we all think of what we believe in music…but so very similar thinking in other ways…

People in the public domain are open to – ‘critique’ – I accept this… however, I believe in the same vein, some people give negativity just because they can, but if they were more honest with themselves, they would see the passion that invokes them to say something, is because they value and take an interest in what they have seen.

In short, Ola HAS achieved what he has stood on stage for – he has gained OUR absolute attention…a gracious gentleman is so rare, it must be treasured… I know if he wasn’t, I wouldn’t want to keep seeing him live again and again like so many of us do. It’s such a valuable asset, I believe and I’m sure Ola has total trust in his audience; continually adapting to whatever situation he’s in at the time. I know the 3 gigs of his I’ve been to have all been 3 very different gigs.

As for not being able to critique his work, we’re not in the wrong game, we say what we think, honestly. Quite simply, if we admire wholeheartedly a song, which an artist does, we give credit, where credit is due. We’re all independent people, with independent views on what we like to hear personally – what one person thinks as over-singing is another person’s idea of soul/passion.

You mentioned Burt Bacarach in an earlier mail. I admire his work so much (went to see Dionne Warwick in Bfd a few weeks ago and enjoyed listening to so many of the songs he wrote for her). However, as much as he is a legend of mine, I did not get the music he did on Jools last weekend, just not my thing, sounded more like backing music, did not grab me on the insides where I feel music should grab me - didn’t do anything for me personally, as much as I have admired his work so far. Kind of liked it, but don’t know if that was because it was Burt. Definitely needs more listening to for me. Isn't it good that we are all not the same, life would be very boring if we were.

I’ve been listening to Raul Midon this week, who, thankfully, I came across on this website recently. Reminds me of Jose Feliciano, Stevie Wonder, Craig David, Jon Gomm, Michael Hedges, Gypsy Kings, Ola…. all good stuff…love the guitar harmonics.

There are only 3 artist’s CD’s, which I am flogging to death at the moment. Ray Lamontagne, Ola & now Raul – whereby you put the CD’s on and can listen & appreciate each and every track – all brilliant – difficult to chose which ones are your favourites – they are all so good. Plus a compilation CD that my hubby put together for me around this theme.

This week also loving George Duke ‘Somebody’s Body & ‘Hybrids’, Nate James ‘Said I’d Show You’ & ‘The Message’ and Leroy Hutson ‘So In Love With You’ & of course Ola’s ‘Forgiven’ and his live version of ‘Heart of Lead’ – soo good…

However, I’ll leave you all with a song of Raul’s - ‘Everybody’ which I think everybody should check out…. ‘Everybody can be somebody, Everybody is free to make a difference in this world’..

100 gigs or more of Ola – HUGE RESPECT!!! 97 to go for me…WOW!!

Love to y’all!!

TC

mark

Oct 30th, 2005 - 4:46 AM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Cool. This is a discussion forum, it's all about opinions, rather than 'rights' and 'wrongs'.

well said TC

Dapo

Oct 31st, 2005 - 6:10 AM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Hmm Mark one of the things I learnt as a child in life is this.There is right and there is wrong.In your opinion it's right to disrespect and to misrepresent or is it lie.It's right to speak without thinking about how what you say has a negative impact on others around you.I pray God to forgive you for some of the things I read coming from your mind,your lips on this forum and I'm sorry to say it's all so SAD.Funny thing about that is, it says a lot about the person behind that frame called human body.I don't think you'd make some of the comments you make or even don't believe it'd cross your mind some of the low-life type of thoughts that's behind your reckoning:if Ola was white.But you see,spritiually speaking these things have meaning.To quote a line which you might be familiar with since you claim to be an Ola "FAN",-"some will take life far from those who need it,them you must discern cause this has meaning". I can point you to a few other Ola songs you need to go back and listen to.
"HE SAYS" to start with,will be enough for you.But I'd add the following:
PICTURE,HEART BREAK GHETTO,YOU'D BETTER BELIEVE,ANYONE,DON'T LIVE IN ANGER,LOVE WILL COME BACK TO YOU,CLOSER(Yeah stop faking your smile,get closer with yourself and deal with your INSECURITIES MARK!)IF YOU KNEW (Careless talk,careless soul,No passion for life and all it's beauty and God's glory)
You see Mark,I could go on and on but you see if you have been to over 100 gigs and done all the things you claim to have done which I believe is all Lies anyway,Why do you have so much negative things to say about a man pursuing God's purpose for his life (do you have a struggle finding yours or what?Envy,disrepect,disregard,jealousy etc ain't the way to go about it.I for one will be willing to help you grow from boy to man if you don't mind; that's if after listening to to OLA's five albums you still don't get it.
If you have nothing positive to say why don't you just shut up.Go and work on yourself mate!You got Issues and I mean serious Issues.Stop the persecution,the hating.Stop putting curse on your own head.Stop putting down a righteous man.I'd shout this out to you again just in case you didn't hear it last time SHOW SOME RESPECT!!.It doesn't take away your manhood or make you less macsuline OK!
Dapo

Taj

Oct 31st, 2005 - 10:49 AM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Woooah guys! It's hot in here!

Only just caught Ola this weekend at High Wycombe and thought he sounded exceptional and world class, captivating and stirring emotionally, in a way that makes you feel like you'd just witnessed something exceptionally rare on the drive home.

And yes there is something of the old world, power house soulster in him, a bit of the the Teddy Pendergrass, The Otis Redding, The Wilson Pickket, The Levi Stubbs, Solomon Burke, The Ojays (the Levert brothers) The womacks, The Michael McDonald, The James Ingram, The James Brown, The Jackie Wilson, The Sam & Dave, Etta James and the list goes on ad nauseum.

What I found compelling about Ola was that he could also do the crooning, smooth soul balldeer thing with gorgeous falsetto to boot in the vein of Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Stevie wonder, Curtis Mayfield, Lenny Williams, Billy Paul, Al Green,,, anyway you get the picture

If Ola had claimed to be a country & western singer then the charge of oversinging may well have been relevant but as a soul singer he manages to weave the best of the genre in with great stagecraft & charisma.

I suspect that because we so rarely hear a voice like this compared to yester years we think that it should fall in with the pre-pubescent warblings of most of todays bunch of soul pretenders who often can barely sing in the first place.

Ola sounds like a real MAN! doing that rare real man thing of showing true emotion.... and on a stage!

As far as I am concerned more power to the man

Cheers

Taj

Dapo

Oct 31st, 2005 - 12:26 PM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Hey Taj.God bless you for recognising.Stay in the path.
Peace

Mark

Nov 1st, 2005 - 10:33 AM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Yeah, well Dapo..yeah you banged me to rights...it's cos Ola is BLACK!!. Oh, I'm so stupid..if he as only white like Lewis Taylor, Jamie Liddell, Hamish Stuart, Peter Cox AWB and those other cats I dig, then a little bit of over-singing by them obviously wouldn't worry me.

Thanks for pointing it out, man, .. mean you'd never catch me 'disrespecting' (ie critquing 'public domain' work artists I love) those poor white guys around the internet now would you?

I just pick on poor old black man Ola. Like everyone does Bad me! Bad us, eh?

Dapo

Nov 1st, 2005 - 12:07 PM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Kleenex and roses on the way Mark.Ha my heart bleeds for you.You are such a victim o ma se oh.
By the way I didn't realise you once attempted the music thing amongst other things and also in your profile somewhere on the internet you describe yourself as black of African descent.Do you paint your face black sometimes ? Ehn
How spot-on about your diagnosis was I? About things from your past still haunting you.Your own failures,your insecurities:deal with your losses mate,past relationships perharps,lack of a happy childhood,a life with no purpose etc.(I'm sure somebody must have told you about at least one of them.If this is the first time,well done Mark,It's your lucky day.This is your day.Welcome to your reality.
NO FEES FOR THIS SESSION.

Client:Mark
Shrink:Dapo

End of Session...........Hey Mark before u go!!!

By the way I would recommend you find another pitch to play as this is for mature souls,people who care about growth,about life,love and Peace.
Honestly,you don't belong here.And that's the honest truth.This is way too factual and way too real for your world and your ideas,ideaologies and principalities.I wish you a life of growth cause I believe everyone deserves it and I hope you find peace in your life someday soon.
Peace

mark

Nov 2nd, 2005 - 2:40 AM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Well I would engage you in a sensible debate but it's cruel to engage in a battle of wits with a unarmed man.

So without patronising you (something I try an avoid at all times) but without being rude either, I'll leave you to your views...and your religion, your views on race (very pleasant, by the way!!) and your idea of showing respect.

Good luck...something tells me you are gonna need it!

Fallen Angel

Nov 2nd, 2005 - 7:38 AM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Wow it is very hot in here.

I am a fan of Ola's and I know he HAS a fantastic voice and a great showman.

'The Shrink' to put my 2 cents worth I think that response will uncalled for and a very personal attack.

Mark has been to over 100 Ola gigs and is a fan.

It was only his opinion that Ola over sings and he is entitled to say it because it is a public forum.

If you read his opening thread he does say Ola is great so it was not a personal attack.

Showing DISREPECT is posting on a public forum of a artist is invading an artists personal life putting private stuff in the public domain that the artist may not wish to share, trolling a artist site with the only intention to blatantly offend other forum members.

It is not as if Ola would actually heed Mark's advice and change his singing but then maybe he would or chin him at the next gig lol.

If this site was white washed and was a fawning site only then it would be very boring.

We all have a arsehole same as opinions.

You should politely disagree with the opinion not attack the person making the opinion.

It is not your place to tell anyone to stop posting on this forum making a critique because only Ola or Maria can see fit to do that.

I do know Mark and felt the need to defend him although he has not asked me to.

I had been wary of meeting Mark because he can be tough and too honest.The written word can be misconstrued but if you met him he is a nice guy with a big heart.

So peace be with you and chill out and stop throwing your toys out of the pram.

Lets hear it for Ola big up big guy and lots of love and best of luck as always.

mark

Nov 2nd, 2005 - 9:49 AM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Thanks Fallen Angel, although I don't encourage any such defence because frankly I'm big enough to look after myself and would hate others to be caught in any crossfire from a guy who clearly needs to find targets everywhere!

More worring, perhaps, is the number of people who think Ola is somehow behind, or linked, to these comments.

Now I don't expect for one minute that the big guy is gonna thank me for critquing (spelling?)his work (which was actually a suggestion to use more light and shade in live performance but lets not let the facts spoil a good punch up shall we?). And I'm sure there may be other areas where Ola and I might have different perspectives on, possibly, but I can bet my bottom dollar, Ola does not use that type of language or go into that kind of personal abuse, whatever.

As I said he's a gentlemen. I'm not going to patronise him falsely either and there is a huge amount of difference between what I'm saying and with an intention to disrespect - disrespect is/was never on my agenda.

If I were him I'd be calling my libel lawyers - some of his self appointed supporters/spokespeople might be just doing him an (unintended) injustice!

See ya at the next gig!

Dapo

Nov 2nd, 2005 - 4:19 PM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Well Mark,
Looks like you can't really take a beating especially when you get hit on the button.You now have an advocate too.WOW!!You see if Fallen Angel was to read your comments on this forum and other forums across the net,she just might have a different opinion.You see Mark,"a fool has no delight in understanding but only in revealing his personal opinions and himself".After all the advice I gave you my son,you are still babbling en? when are you gonna grow up Mark en grow up now.All this I can fight my own fight business;come on you can't be for real now can you.This is way too much out of your league.Looks like you live in a glass house and you throw rocks not just stones.
Mark just in case you haven't heard. TIME TO CHECK YOURSELF MARK!CHECK YOURSELF.Or are you so afraid of what you might find there or what.Wait,Listen there is hope.I believe there is hope for you but first you need a change,you need to grow up & face your truth.There is a whole lot of wealth in that.By the way Ola means wealth.(It's black history month)
PS:My refering to Ola's lyrics was just to remind you whose forum this is and if you'd been listening to this artist you love oh so very much then I wondered where your whole ideology meets his message.They are complete opposites.And it's so glearing,crystal clear.If you lack understanding I pray God to give you wisdom.
Sleep tight my son.
Peace

mark

Nov 3rd, 2005 - 4:04 AM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Leaving aside the views of our bible loving friend with a Doctorate in social sciences and race relations (to say nothing of his mind reading qualities) I think there is a more important, wider, point at stake here.

I had the temerity to suggest, in my opinion (and it is only my opinion), that Ola sometimes (not always, but sometimes!) 'oversings'. Unecessarily, in my view, when he has such a great, pure, voice.

Big deal.

But the serious point is too many artists/potential artists don't understand the basic rules of the game. They try and control what people say, think, and feel about them. They sometimes retreat into a seige mentality - ie if they don't hear whats being said, then it somehow doesn't exist.

But the reality is, of course, if one put's oneself (ie on stage) or one's work (ie recordings)
out in the public domain, one becomes - de facto - fair game for critique. And if you think I should shut up (and I'm not saying that you woudn't have
a fair point!!) then try dealing with what REAL A&R guys, critics, reviewers, audiences etc are thinking and saying! The biggest Jazz critic in the UK once wrote 'Ola has all the taste of a left over prawn sandwich'.

Too many artists try and do things on their own terms but it doesn't work..they get wounded, hurt, withdrawn etc as a result.

It's simply through not understanding the rules of the game. So any artist (who are, by definition, often quite sensitive people) need to think long
and hard about whether they are mentality prepared for the (inevitable rough) ride.

Obviously this isn't aimed at anyone specifically but does apply to everyone and all who (myself/my loved ones/my heros, like Ola, all included) who has ever considered putting their toe into the mad world of 'music'.

Here endeth MY sermon

Dapo

Nov 3rd, 2005 - 5:03 AM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
What does it mean to you Mark?
I've said what I had to say to you.
It's good to know what lives inside your soul,inside someone like you.
Just carry on.You gonna get what's coming your way.
Peace be unto you.

Everton

Nov 3rd, 2005 - 11:17 AM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Dapo, i wish you love, dude, but if you've got problems in your life please don't seek your relief here. Don't lecture people of the meaning of respect if you can't demonstrate it yourself.

You are embarrassing yourself and, more importantly, this website. And Olas fans and Ola's music.And possibly the man himself.

I don't agree with everything Mark says but it's obvious from the tone of his original post that he is a fan with a good heart. And this is a discussion forum. So unless there is something here we don't know about lets increase the peace!

Dapo

Nov 3rd, 2005 - 1:37 PM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

A fan with a good heart?hmmn. I'm sorry to say this Everton,but your understanding of the word respect might just differ from mine.But one thing is for sure.It has to be reciprocal.About my life,Men I am as blessed in every area of my life as can be.I am content with the things that Life has thrown my way and that's by God's grace.If I had problems in my life,I do not think the way to relief my stress will be to take it out on other people.For your information,Mark derives pleasure in doing just what he's been doing on this site.Believe it or not if you go on his website then you might get a better understanding of what you are dealing with.Talk about embarrassment,Your mate mark should be the one that's should be.All I've done is hold up a mirror for him to see himself.
It's amazing how you don't agree with some of Mark's comments.Makes me wonder which one?
May be you don't know the things I know but I forgive you.Just try and do your research next time before jumping to conclusion.Mark resides in a lot of places over the net doing this.In his own words "Mark would be a fantastic and successful musician himself were it for one minor detail - talent. As in none whatsoever. Never stopped him critiquing others though, which makes for occassional fun, given many musicians equate a casual comment about the flow of a middle-eight with a threat to maim their first born!!"
Now that's what you call respect en Everton.Get real now,would you? this is just the tip of the iceberg.
I do hope I haven't in anyway disrespected Ola and what the man stands for.If I have in any way,I seek his forgiveness.That wasn't my intention and any TRUE Ola fans out there Nuff Respect for supporting something that makes a positive difference in our world.
Peace be unto you.

mark

Nov 3rd, 2005 - 2:21 PM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Thnx Everton...not that I feel in need of vindication..but still nice to hear. I'm sure you are glad to know you've been forgiven for your errors, into the bargain!

The myspace bit..oh dear...stick, wrong end of... perhaps....It's also says, from memory I'm 82, a male prostitute and 7ft 9inches tall. Two out of three of which, at least, certainly aren't true!

But there you go.....one mans insult is another mans humour, obviously.

Fallen Angel

Nov 3rd, 2005 - 3:48 PM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

For Gods sake Depo please stop this now. This is NOT a religious site or a site to ram down racial views.

You are bullying people and embarrassing yourself, this community and most importantly the big man himself Ola.

Mark has explained his reasons why in HIS opinion he thinks Ola over sings and that is his prerogative as it is a discussion forum as say it IS Ola’s prerogative to over sing, under sing or even yokel on stage or on cd.

Please don’t have the audacity to tell me how I should think about Mark. I have explained he can be too tough and too honest. If this forum was white washed and a fawning site it would not be a true reflection of a fan community. We are not all sycophantics and Ola would not want us to be. He is a gracious man and if he has a problem with Mark’s critique he would graciously take it on board or politely disagree because he is not only a GENTLEMAN, but a fine REFINED CLASSY GENTLEMAN as well.

This forum was akin to a lovely painting. Yourself by posting on here bullying NOT politely disagreeing with Mark you have left a large scratch on the surface.

This is Ola’s house and please show some respect to his guests.

David

Nov 9th, 2005 - 11:19 AM

Re: Thanx For live download - fantastic!!!

Glad I popped in.
Opinions are neither right or wrong, and at the end of the day thats all that is being debated but somehow the way has been lost. Subtle or unsubtle, clever or dumb personal retributions in exchange for personal critisms somehow feel out of place to me in what is essentially a forum about the music and the artist.

Its like a lost argument where the only thing that matters is getting in the last word. I'm hoping one or perhaps all of you can have the personal character to move on as I dont think either party is going to suddenly turn round and say "You know you're right - I agree". Lets move on.

As for my personal opinion, which is neither right nor wrong, I thought "Heart of Lead" was a work of art when I first heard it, and that opinion has never changed but been reifroced with every rendition I have heard. For me it is a work of beauty that is enhanced and not diminshed by the live extensions. To me it is a mark of both the quality of the man and the song that the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, whether I'm hearing it live or not. "Forever Girl" and a host of others carry that same special quality. I am under no illusion that I am a rose tinted bespectacled devotee, and that will forever bias my opinion. (Neither right nor wrong). Like so many others, including Mark, I have heard Ola time and time again, and believe that he is without doubt the best kept secret of UK soul and the best thing that this country has had the privilege to enjoy for an eon. I am long enough in the tooth to have seen some of the greats too, and put Ola right up amongst them. Music is my first love, and I believe I am a good judge of musical quality. But then again thats just my opinion.

Bye for now all

David

	THE OLA ONABULE FORUM Welcome to the forum. Thanks for dropping in... have fun and play fair, Big P&L OLA
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