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Leo Kottke — Snorkel
Album: One Guitar, No Vocals
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1124









Released: 1999
Length: 3:17
Plays (last 30 days): 1
(Instrumental)
Comments (54)add comment
this is amazing.
 wycado wrote:

A true tale, lads and lassies. I was at a concert many years ago at an outdoor venue - the Lorelei, on the Rhine river in Germany.

[...]

One could see the flames miles away from the Rhine. Jefferson Starship booted Grace Slick from the band, as they were a bit peeved at losing all their instruments due to her "medical issue".

So when I hear Leo, I think of this, in addition to him being a great guitarist.



Wow.  Here's an insider's detailed story of the incident: https://web.archive.org/web/20170729094905/http://starship.lu/E78/78creem.html

I love this Kottke track, a bit less frenetic than much of his work.  He's great whether fast or slow.  Check out The Ice Field, from when he had to change his method of playing -- because he was actually hurting his hands!
 janac13 wrote:

I remember a mate describing Mr Kottke as Mr plasticine fingers back 1977. We were both in grade 12 at the time.

A late friend quipped his songs are some of the most creative abuse of a 12 string guitar he heard. 
 DD rabbi_phil wrote:


zitter...a new model of electron that incorporates schroedingers qualitative 'zitterbewegung' concept into a fully specified interacting particle model. the zitter electron is a lightlike charged particle with intrinsic spin that maintains it in a helical spacetime path with curvature and frequency determined by the electron mass............

what he was playing is called a zither

It’s a twelve string guitar. Zither is a different instrument akin to a dulcimer. 
I can't believe one guitar is achieving this! A very rare 9 from me
I got to see Leo a couple of times over the years - I loved the stories he told, with his dry wit!  a great experience...
I remember a mate describing Mr Kottke as Mr plasticine fingers back 1977. We were both in grade 12 at the time.
Nice!
Slack string?
I normally find Leo not that great, but this is a great piece.
(Not saying he isn't a good guitar player!)
 martinc wrote:
Manx - Cockburn - Kottke - Nice run. One from Bruce's Speechless Album would have fit in nicely too. What next Jimmy P 

 
The acoustic guitar genius set. Kaki King, Patti Larkin, and/or Jorma Kaukonen would have also fit in nicely.
Much diggage, great set Bill.
Manx - Cockburn - Kottke - Nice run. One from Bruce's Speechless Album would have fit in nicely too. What next Jimmy P 
 Cynaera wrote:
Before I even accessed the playlist, I knew this was Leo. He has such a difinitive style. And the fact that he's tone-deaf so has to tune his guitar to certain registers that he can hear makes him even more special to me. I know I've posted that several times on different cuts, but for some reason, it doesn't seem to sink in with listeners. Guh.

I love Leo Kottke.{#Sunny}
 

Miss you so much, Cynaera...

this is sweet music...
 
Have oyu ever heard this guy not sound terrific?  This isn't one of his best, but it still sounds perfectly played.
A kind of song for children, in the good sense
I get to see him live in Davis tonight (yeah!).  playing on a double bill w/ one of my favorites, Loudon Wainwright III...(SWEET!)

 
 Stingray wrote:

Right - and the instrument this is played with is called "ZITTER"
a weird Hillbilly instrument!

 

zitter...a new model of electron that incorporates schroedingers qualitative 'zitterbewegung' concept into a fully specified interacting particle model. the zitter electron is a lightlike charged particle with intrinsic spin that maintains it in a helical spacetime path with curvature and frequency determined by the electron mass............

what he was playing is called a zither
 Cynaera wrote:
Before I even accessed the playlist, I knew this was Leo. He has such a difinitive style. And the fact that he's tone-deaf so has to tune his guitar to certain registers that he can hear makes him even more special to me. I know I've posted that several times on different cuts, but for some reason, it doesn't seem to sink in with listeners. Guh.

I love Leo Kottke.{#Sunny}
 
That's interesting, I never knew that about Leo (tuning his guitar) — I agree with you that his sound is distinctive.  I love him too!  Glad I had the chance to see him perform live — summer concert on the Seattle waterfront back in the 90's.


 prickelpit96 wrote:
Sounds like Bavarian music from the Alps. {#Grumpy}
 
Right - and the instrument this is played with is called "ZITTER"
a weird Hillbilly instrument!

Grand-Dad Leo playing campfire tales!
He's the proof that great guitar-player
does not necessarily means great music!
19th century - BORING!


 ubuntourist wrote:
Been down one time...
Been down two time...
Never goin' back again...
 
 
Not..  Even...  Close.

There is so much more going on in this song. 
Been down one time...
Been down two time...
Never goin' back again...
 
Sounds like Bavarian music from the Alps. {#Grumpy}
Very Lindsay Buckinhamish.
I like.

Before I even accessed the playlist, I knew this was Leo. He has such a difinitive style. And the fact that he's tone-deaf so has to tune his guitar to certain registers that he can hear makes him even more special to me. I know I've posted that several times on different cuts, but for some reason, it doesn't seem to sink in with listeners. Guh.

I love Leo Kottke.{#Sunny}
He's in Athens GA this Wednesday... I was gonna save the money......  but heck, it's Leo, and the venue, The Melting Point (they deserve a plug) is fantastic.  Very intimate and excellent sound.
 wycado wrote:

A true tale, lads and lassies. I was at a concert many years ago at an outdoor venue - the Lorelei, on the Rhine river in Germany. This is the famous section of the river in which legend had it that a maiden would sing to ships and they would follow her voice, doomed to hit the rocks and sink. The headliners were Jefferson Starship, with Atlanta Rhythm Section right before them. There were a number of bands at these outdoor concerts, which usually ran all day and well into the night.

First up was a couple German bands, and they did a fine job. Then Leo Kottke, and he was good as always. The crowd knew that after Leo, the hard rock would begin, so they began getting into the proper frame of mind. When Leo finished, an announcer came on stage to tell the crowd there was a "small problem". Atlanta Rhythm Section never was under contract, and Grace Slick was "ill", and Jefferson Starship cancelled. "So it's over now; see you later".

The crowd thought about that, and made the decision to first cut loose with a volley of bottles and cans. When the ammunition was exhausted, they stormed the gates of the Bastille. The speakers were piled up and set aflame, the instruments were hauled off, and the scene was bedlam for hours. The police let it go, figuring that as long as just property damage was occurring, let it work itself out. I still have pictures of people hauling out pianos and guitars.

One could see the flames miles away from the Rhine. Jefferson Starship booted Grace Slick from the band, as they were a bit peeved at losing all their instruments due to her "medical issue".

So when I hear Leo, I think of this, in addition to him being a great guitarist.


 
Arf! Nice story - thanks for posting :)

I love the minimalism of the album's title. When you're as good a guitarist as this guy, you don't need any accompaniment. Good stuff, Leo.

Play it Leo!
 govna wrote:
reminds me of that fleetwood mac tune "never going back again" that lindsay did.
 

Totally.
 romeotuma wrote:
This music is good for the ears...
 
I hear you. {#Clap}

A true tale, lads and lassies. I was at a concert many years ago at an outdoor venue - the Lorelei, on the Rhine river in Germany. This is the famous section of the river in which legend had it that a maiden would sing to ships and they would follow her voice, doomed to hit the rocks and sink. The headliners were Jefferson Starship, with Atlanta Rhythm Section right before them. There were a number of bands at these outdoor concerts, which usually ran all day and well into the night.

First up was a couple German bands, and they did a fine job. Then Leo Kottke, and he was good as always. The crowd knew that after Leo, the hard rock would begin, so they began getting into the proper frame of mind. When Leo finished, an announcer came on stage to tell the crowd there was a "small problem". Atlanta Rhythm Section never was under contract, and Grace Slick was "ill", and Jefferson Starship cancelled. "So it's over now; see you later".

The crowd thought about that, and made the decision to first cut loose with a volley of bottles and cans. When the ammunition was exhausted, they stormed the gates of the Bastille. The speakers were piled up and set aflame, the instruments were hauled off, and the scene was bedlam for hours. The police let it go, figuring that as long as just property damage was occurring, let it work itself out. I still have pictures of people hauling out pianos and guitars.

One could see the flames miles away from the Rhine. Jefferson Starship booted Grace Slick from the band, as they were a bit peeved at losing all their instruments due to her "medical issue".

So when I hear Leo, I think of this, in addition to him being a great guitarist.


 stkman wrote:

Am pretty sure he refered to his voice as "geese farting in the wind" but I don't wanna hear him sing I wanna watch him play, the guy is and has been amazing for years and it is taking toll on his body, he does have a great sense of humor         nope it was "geese farting on a muggy day" but I was close I had slept since then
                                                                                                                                    

 
He actually put that in writing for the liner notes he wrote for this one:
 
 
 
 
 An album absolutely everyone should own.

HarrO wrote:

I've seen him publicly admit his singing is less than good at several shows. He doesn't sing much but I think he feels he's earned the right by touring so much. His audience generally just laughs it off as part of the show.


Am pretty sure he refered to his voice as "geese farting in the wind" but I don't wanna hear him sing I wanna watch him play, the guy is and has been amazing for years and it is taking toll on his body, he does have a great sense of humor         nope it was "geese farting on a muggy day" but I was close I had slept since then
                                                                                                                                    

 HarrO wrote:

I've seen him publicly admit his singing is less than good at several shows. He doesn't sing much but I think he feels he's earned the right by touring so much. His audience generally just laughs it off as part of the show.

 
You mean they " laugh it off " figuratively or they actually laugh at his singing? I guess not...that'd be kind of rude!

 inindian wrote:

Love the guitar. Don't like it much when he sings!

 
I've seen him publicly admit his singing is less than good at several shows. He doesn't sing much but I think he feels he's earned the right by touring so much. His audience generally just laughs it off as part of the show.

Gosh, I just love that Kottke guitar style. Granted he'll never win any vocal awards but the combination make his sound unique.  This song takes me back a few years.  Thanks!
 theGOOT wrote:
i love this guy. come on, who doesn't?

 
Love the guitar. Don't like it much when he sings!

reminds me of that fleetwood mac tune "never going back again" that lindsay did.
Ridiculously good. He is a true master!
Exquisite. Slide, 12 string? Makes the guitar sound like a banjo, a harmonium, a harpsichord and a happy animal. Totally tremendous.
Kottke has such a clean, rich sound. It's always good to hear his playing.
Jacksonstat wrote:
Couldn't help myself, this popped into my head when I first saw the title!
Imagine being dutch, then: ">
Couldn't help myself, this popped into my head when I first saw the title!
nice
i love this guy. come on, who doesn't?
Truly awesome technique!
NO ONE like Leo K
Takes me back -way back. Wonderful - Thanks
Long Live Leo!!!
Hello, This is a top-notcb CD! Neil
lovely.