THIS WEEK'S FAVORITE IS FITTING FOR THE COMING MONTHS.
THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS? WHICH VERSION DO YOU PREFER?

POUGHKEEPSIE
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ORLANDO
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MILLERSVILLE
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I JUST CAME IN TO EDIT THIS, AND SOMEHOW MANAGED TO LOSE THE 8 COMMENTS THAT WERE ALREADY HERE... (I remember one from Mouser, SallyannLady, and not sure who else).

I AM VERY SORRY .... Please repost your comments if you will.

THANKS

Not a problem, evancol....I doubt people will get tired of watching these wonderful vids or of talking about Taylor. ;) Here is my post from before:

I am partial to Millersville, because I was there, because it was the last song of the tour, and because the ending was so bittersweet. However, the PK one is probably my fav because of the fun that Taylor seemed to be having up there, the energy of the song, and the sound quality is so good. My video is the one from Millersville and for some reason, my sound sucked...lol. This is such a great song and a wonderful one to end the show with.

Millersville has to be my fav. :clap :clap Not only was I there (I was ay Orlando Hard Rock as well), but just the way he gets into the song. I have very mixed emotions about this particular performance. Loved the harp back-and-forth with Brian in this version. Taylor seemd to really be putting himself out there. :hearts

Yes, very bittersweet - the last song for awile. I will miss Brian, Loren, Felix, Josh & Al. Don't know if we will ever see them together with Taylor or not. I thought this was a fantastic sound. :hot

I can't wait to hear waht Taylor comes out with next. He is sure to surprise us all. :Yay!

Thanks Gypsee for putting this "Take 2" together.

You are welcome, Pat, but it's actually evancol's baby. We are hosting it for her, and I'm so glad we have it. Taylor's performances provide so much rich discussion and enjoyment, while he is not onstage. I agree with you about Millersville....very bittersweet. I love this song in any form.

I have a tendency to critique the whole video, not just Taylor's performance in it, so if I'm doing it wrong, please correct me.

Poughkeepsie: This was a very good "close-up" video of Taylor- not a lot of footage of him from the waist down, so missed most of his movements on stage, which is half the fun of going to his shows. The harp intro was different and added to the feel of the song. Great interaction with Brian, then when he started singing again, he took a bit of a different turn, and slid down on the note to "nice", then ended up speaking that one word- I liked it. The best part of the whole video was him giving his harp to the kid with the face sign- it made the whole video. I think he was having more fun here. (not the BEST sound quality)

Orlando: This video cut out the whole of Felix's drum solo at the beginning- that sets the tone for the song. I liked being able to see everything that was happening on the stage, and seeing Taylor take control of the whole thing. Another great interaction with Brian. This video has the best sound quality of the 3.

Millersville: This, in my opinion, had the worst sound of the three. Another good "close-up" video. New drummer Randy was fantastic, but this cut out most of his solo. I loved the way Taylor stood there watching him and making comments, even tho I couldn't make out what he was saying. I loved hearing the audience singing along with him. Again, he & Brian make a great team. In this performance, he did the "ooohs" and "aaahs"- I think they were missing from the other 2- correct me if I'm wrong. I loved the ending- very effective, but also a bit sad- walking off the stage singing and playing the harp, as if in acknowledgement that this was the last show of the tour.

In my opinion, the best was Poughkeepsie, because it seemed to me that he had the most fun there, and it translated into a fantastic performance.

Ah , the horror of having to compose my thoughts again. Such pearls of wisdom are generated only once and than lost forever. But in the interest of feeling the need to express my thoughts, I will repeat myself. ( It's ok Evancol, I am never at a lose for words )

This is a wonderful choice for Take 2 as it was Taylor's first performance with his harmonica. He sure has come a long way from those days : He took " The Long Way Home".

POUGHKEEPSIE :

The introduction was special: superlative drum, keen keyboard, tantalizing tambourine and of course that delicious harp.
His facial expressions were evident and made me smile.
The song had a plodding to it. It was smooth; even lazy in its delivery.
Taylor's body language was smooth also, he glidded over the stage, singing simply a song that has been in his repertoire for a long time.


ORLANDO:

The intro harp was inventive, some new notes, a different interpretation. Because I couldn't see his face, it limited the song for me in a way. Because I was actually at this performance, I can attest to the fact that he was extremely playful the entire concert; playful with the band and interacting well with them, sometimes at the exclusion of the audienc.e
His performance was bouncy. His staging like a train, chugging along down the line.
Fantastic vocal.

MILLERSVILLE:

The introduction on the video was more interaction with an obviously appreciative audience. He got into the song immediately however, with very little muscial intro. The rendition seemed punchy in phrasing and in body language........he paced back and forth across the stage.
Even though it was a bit hard to hear in the middle, the harmonica solos were fabulous.
This was the best ending for "Take The Long Way Home " that I have ever heard or seen. Walking off that stage while playing and looking back was priceless.

So to answer the question: Which one did I like best.

The beginning of Poughkeepsie, the middle of Orlando and the ending for Millersville would make the perfect TTLWH for me.

If I had to pick one, I would say Millersville for it's poignancy and Poughkeepsie for the purity of the song.

LOL Thanks mouser!

This is one where I just couldn't decide between PK and Millersville-each for their own reasons. PK had the ending with the little boy getting the autographed harmonica--and it was also unique because it seemed like when Tay started the song he was simply singing the words robotically and thinking
"OK after this what are we gonna do for dinner?" then about 1/2way through he
suddenly "woke up" and began really performing the song.

Millersville was unique for the ending where he simply walks off the stage playing the harp-which is how I always pictured him ending this song-and the fact that he saved this for "the last gig" was quite appropriate.

I can't decide on this one--call it a tie!!

First of all... this song takes me back to a very happy time in my life. I was in High School...(dates me). But when Taylor started performing it I was thrilled. Super Tramp was one of my favorite bands at the time. The harmonica opening in that song gives me CHILLS no matter how many times I hear him play it. He puts so much feeling into it.

I had a hard time choosing between these three. I love the little dance Taylor does when Brian has his solo and then he comes back with harp. (Orlando's was great and high energy) But here we go with the Bittersweet factor....Millersville hands down!!! It was the final goodbye - and the walk off stage playing the song was something the hardcore TH lovers will never forget.

Thanks Evancol and Gypsee! :clap

OK ~ I think this is the most difficult 'Take2' yet. I've been thru them twice, so here goes:
PK: He had a lot of fun dancing around. The interaction with Brian was Hot! And the joy on his face signing the harp & giving it to the boy was priceless!

Orlando: The sound for me was much better than PK; probably the best of all 3. He was 'prancing' around on stage more; or at least it seemed that way. Again, I Loved the interaction between Brian & him. I did not particularly care for the 'chattering' with the harp at the beginning. I felt it kinda 'took away' from the song.

Millersville: It seemed to be more up close & personal. At the end, I liked the 'ooh~awh~mmm' along with his facial expressions. The exit was perfect; a perfect 'see ya later until the next go-around' type of ending.

Even with very little said; I think I'll need to go with Millersville since it reminds me a lot of when I saw him in Portland, Oregon. Up Close & Personal!

Finally have a chance to get back to this party.
As always each one has something special to offer - isn't that why we go to as many concerts as we can ?
But of the three offered here only one compelled me to watch it more than once - 3 to be exact - when I was satisfied with once each for the other two. So letting my gut reaction call it on this one - Millersville hands down !

Millersville was definitely something special, but there is part of me that still prefers the PK one. They are all good tho...you can tell he likes performing this one!

Another tough selection - I loved all three performances as well; but to choose, I will have to say Millersville - seeing this live as I did, well it is hard to describe in words, but it was really something special! And his exit was absolutely amazing to see and experience - truly unforgettable!!!

I'm just now getting back to watching these again. Poughkeepsie was so much fun. Taylor was definitely in a great mood that night and it was really special to see him sign that harp for the little boy in the middle of the song. I didn't really have a good download of the Orlando performance so I can't comment on that one.

My favorite has to be Millersville. The beginning when Taylor was joking with the drummer, Randy, was hilarious and seemed to set such a fun mood. But I loved how he switched so quickly to serious musician when he begin the harp solo. That solo has always given me chills. The most thrilling start to this song has to be the one in Birmingham though. Back to Millersville, I loved the interaction with Brian during the middle of the song and then we got that wonderful extended harp solo at the end. I know everyone was sad when he left the stage but I thought it was the perfect ending to a great tour. Just by for a little while. Plus that was the best ending from the band I've heard. They put a little different spin on it, especially Brian on the sax. It's as if they were also saying, "it's been a great tour, we've had a wonderful time, thanks for coming and we'll see you again."

At least that's what it said to me. :)

Millersville was very special indeed. I am so glad I got to be there. I do love this song a lot and alwas enjoy hearing or seeing Taykor perform it.

:harmonica2

Oh My ~ Do we miss him or what! :harmonica2 :guitar :taydance :TaySoulPatrol

Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I love love love this song...

I have PK on my mp3 player & I have to tell ya ... when that harp starts I grin from ear to ear.... It's my fav .. always has been .. always will be..

and yes Gr8fulheart .. I really miss him .. BUT ..... I hope he's having a blast!

I confess - I'm with Jax. I just love this song - always have, probably always will. I cried when I heard the harmonica beginning of it in Alabama and it cemented my belief that someday soon, I'm going to call that place home.
I can't say that I have a favourite here - they all are exquisite renditions aomewhere, so I leave that to the experts. BUT I can listen to it all day. Taylor really ought to put this cover on his next album in my opinion.
~tyg

:thud Hard to choose a favorite as each had something to offer. The main thing I love about each is hearing this glorious man sing and totally loved the harp. AWESOME! :harmonica2


:hot :hot :hot

Millersville, for selfish reasons, will remain my all-time favorite.

On the srq soul patrol board and on the Boogey Board, I believe, I posted my recap. What happened is that I wound up standing against what I thought was a black curtain under the stage, as Taylor launched into Happier with Her (blew me away) and then Take the Long Road Home. As everyone else said, he continued to blow that harp oh so bittersweetly as he strolled very leisurely off the stage. Some devil told me to lift the curtain very gently -- it was actually black,semi-sheer panels -- and as I did so, I saw something that no one else saw unless they were looking over my shoulder, which isn't hard to do, LOL. Even though no one else could see him, Taylor just kept strolling very calmly down the steps, beneath that stage, blowing that harp. He wasn't performing, from my point of view; he was ONE with the harp. I was transfixed and yet very much aware that I had been given a very special gift in seeing this. The sound coming out of that harp was sweet and sad all at once; it was so real, I have no words to do it justice.

I don't know how he does it, but I love him more and more with each performance, each tale, each new charitable work, each song. Millersville was the last time I saw him and what I saw, beneath the dark panels, will remain with me forever. Thank God for that!!

Great comment, but can you edit your post to include your username, so we know who to thank for it? :)