Bottom Feeders: The Orchestral End of the ’80s

Dave Steed April 13, 2011 9

Well, folks – it pains me to say it but for what I believe is the first time in the three years this series has run (minus a planned Mellowmas break the first year) there is no Bottom Feeders post this week. It’s been a taxing week of ups-and-downs and it just isn’t happening. But I give you this promise. Come back next Wednesday and you’ll see the biggest post of the entire series featuring the Smithereens, Squeeze, Billy Squier, the Boss and a lot more.

To hold you over, a guy named Walt Ribeiro contacted me recently to share a version of Rush’s “Tom Sawyer” that he created and well, it’s damn good. Some of you may be familiar with the name or his project called, For Orchestra! He puts together orchestral versions of pop and rock songs and while that’s a dime a dozen these days, there’s something about his mixes that are really cool. They are both recognizable and have a little extra something to each to them to make them exciting. So I thought I would share to hold you over.

Check out his music and some of my favorites like, “Take On Me,” “Dr. Feelgood” or “Crazy Train.” Though you should be warned that not only is there some Rick Astley but he’s done that damn “Friday” song too. I mean, if he’s going to rework that one, then I’m going to request that he digs up “Dance Baby” by Alfonzo Ribeiro. Walt and Cousin Carlton are no relation but it would seem only fitting that he puts that to song too.

  • Jesselun

    booo…favorite column!

  • Kbot

    Take your time buddy. It’s obvious that you take a lot of time to put these great articles together. Thanks!

  • RSF Smee

    Once upon a pre-1960s, orchestral rewrites of popular music may have been, like now, a dime a dozen, but they were distinctly not novelty: Square, perhaps, but also quietly adult, the way that black-and-white movies were after the war. The bombardment of youth upon the walls of grown-up music ended all that; after all, the “scene” was “plastic,” and what did those oldsters know anyway? Only that a musical form which evolved over most of 500 years had, perhaps, some advantages over transistor amplifiers and growled obscenities. Three cheers for Riberio; a few more like him, and we’ll be one step closer to reclaiming popular music for the over-15 crowd.

  • Anonymous

    Good luck and Godspeed to you, sir.

  • Garylucy

    I look so forward to Bottom Feeders every week; which you’ve delivered more reliably than UPS and FedEx combined…so you’re certainly entitled to a little break. Hope everything’s okay! Take care, G

  • breadalbane

    Hope everything’s okay, Dave — looking forward to the next Bottom Feeders whenever it arrives!

  • breadalbane

    Hope everything’s okay, Dave — looking forward to the next Bottom Feeders whenever it arrives!

  • http://www.fororchestra.com WaltRibeiro

    Thanks for the support Dave! And if I arrange “Dance Baby” I’ll certainly let you be the first to know.

  • http://www.fororchestra.com WaltRibeiro

    Thanks Smee – you have no idea what those kind words mean to me, because I work incredibly hard at my craft. I arrange new pieces every week. Many more to come!