Mark's WOW Factor is gone?

[Love Expresso]

When was the last time you were wowed by a 75 year old?

Bob.

LE

[dustyvalentino]

I was wowed by Paul McCartney a few years back when he was 77 or whatever, but I think the point I am making is that these are exceptions rather than the rule.

And in most cases we are talking about live performances rather than studio work so apples and oranges in terms of what we are discussing with MK.

I LOVE Willie Nelson, but can someone send me something from one of his studio albums from age 75 onwards that has the wow factor? It should be easy, he's made like 50 albums since then!

[stratmad]

When was the last time you were wowed by a 75 year old?

Bob.

LE

Very much un-wow for me, but that's been the case since the 1990s. I'm not referring to his songwriting, which is definitely very wow, but his live performances.

[stratmad]

I was wowed by Paul McCartney a few years back when he was 77 or whatever, but I think the point I am making is that these are exceptions rather than the rule.

And in most cases we are talking about live performances rather than studio work so apples and oranges in terms of what we are discussing with MK.

I LOVE Willie Nelson, but can someone send me something from one of his studio albums from age 75 onwards that has the wow factor? It should be easy, he's made like 50 albums since then!

I had the new single in mind, "The border", which is one of those mini-dramas, sung with great intensity, although it seems to be such a simple somg.

[Love Expresso]

OP was explicitely not talking about live performance.

LE

[stratmad]

OP was explicitely not talking about live performance.

LE

In the case of Bob, it also applies to the performance on the albums. But it's always been that way with Bob, he could be so much better musically. But maybe it's the way he wants it.

[Robson]

When was the last time you were wowed by a 75 year old?

Bob.

LE

Peter Gabriel
There are several moments on the new Snowy White album: wow. But everything is really a matter of taste.

[Robson]

My humble opinion is that fast music motivates people more and that is why they prefer it. But in the case of artists like MK, the public has a lot to do with it. In DS's days, rock, solos, and the guitar itself were much more central to their music than they are today, and that's okay. But people are already accustomed to thinking that Mark is a rocker (and he is, but over the years he "softened" and today I think he focuses more on the melody and lyrics than on the guitar), so he has to see with that too. I believe, for example, that crooners never quite felt comfortable trying to be on trends, singing pop. It wasn't his thing, and even though almost everyone came to see them to hear songs from the Great American Songbook, the mass public and some fans still imagine Knopfler more as a rock star than as a singer-songwriter.
My thoughts.

It's true.

[Rolo]

When was the last time you were wowed by a 75 year old?

Bob.

Very much un-wow for me, but that's been the case since the 1990s. I'm not referring to his songwriting, which is definitely very wow, but his live performances.

I always like Bob live performances. Loud and powerfull.

[Rolo]

MK's songwriting is always top notch.
He was a pop/rock singer and guitar player and i am sure that he used to like his success as an pop artist.

He was making slower songs/concerts since 2006. Wicht is normal.
SL is a slow paced album with a lot of soul and deepness.

During the making of ODR, Mark choose to spend more time on the studio recording and listening the songs. He always said that the 1st take was the best. However, ODR, in my opinion, is way better than DTRW and Tracker its just because this extra time on studio.

I think that, if he try another group of musicians, the chances about a new WOW factor tends to increase.

[Robson]

MK's songwriting is always top notch.
He was a pop/rock singer and guitar player and i am sure that he used to like his success as an pop artist.

He was making slower songs/concerts since 2006. Wicht is normal.
SL is a slow paced album with a lot of soul and deepness.

During the making of ODR, Mark choose to spend more time on the studio recording and listening the songs. He always said that the 1st take was the best. However, ODR, in my opinion, is way better than DTRW and Tracker its just because this extra time on studio.

I think that, if he try another group of musicians, the chances about a new WOW factor tends to increase.

It's true.

After three months, I can say that I like this album more than DTRW. But I've always really liked MK's flirtation with country music

[Banjo99uk]

When was the last time you were wowed by a 75 year old?

Bob.

LE

Glen Campbell whilst going down with Dementia. His Ghost On The Canvas album is fantastic.

[KnopfleRick]

After three months, I can say that I like this album more than DTRW. But I've always really liked MK's flirtation with country music

Same here! And Mark's flirtation with country music (love this term) makes his music so special to me.
I get that wow feeling when MK announces a new album and it continues when listening to his new songs. 

[Rolo]

Very curious you say that because all records before opening BG were rushed in terms they were using proffesional studios in Nashville, or LA for Shangri-La, that were very busy and expensive at the same time, so they have a very limited amount of time to make the records, when he opened BG, he made sure having a room specifically for him and Guy where they spend a lot of time experimenting, most of the time with combinations of guitars and amps, and tea, LOL, but the reality is that they have many more time than before.

Actually I think that when they used other studios, that previous work was made too by MK and Guy at the Mews studio in Notting Hill, but they didn't had so much space and equipment like they have in BG.

In my interpretation, MK and Guy spent more time at BG doing the Pre-Production.
The songs are sent to the band and then recorded in 2 or 3 weeks at max.
In my memory, SL was recorded in 4 weeks, same as RPD.
STP was recorded between 1998 and 2000. GH between 93 and 95.
I have absolutely sure that MK spent some time with GF doing Pre-Production weeks earlier the RPD and SL recordings.

[Robson]

Shangri - La 2 months (february - march 2004)

First album recorded in British Grove in 3 months (january - march 2007)

Get Lucky 6 months (october 2008 -  march 2009)

Privatereing 5 months ( november 2011 - march 2012)

Tracker 10 months ( january - october 2014)

and then it was years of recording ( two DTRW )