I remember hearing this in a small music shop where I live in Australia (Victoria, Croydon) The shop owner played this for a customer (just a sample of what they were about to purchase) Al started the lick that Built up speed and then came that scream (just after that stopped the music and sale was made) I knew then and there I had to get this Got the store owner to order it in (CD version), two weeks later I came out of the store and place it in my CD Walkman and was blown away Best musical choice I had made and extremely glad I ordered the cd This is the song I play to my friends who think acoustic guitars can’t cut it (My metal, punk and hard core friends all ready know this album, they listen to it for the virtuoso playing being guitarist themselves) It’s the ones who listen to top 40 and basic strumming on acoustic guitars I stun. “That’s what can be done on that guitar and it’s a hell of a lot more than strumming” is what I tell them Their perspective is changed, to me they now understand what good music is and now know what can be done with a acoustic guitar.
This song - this version - represents one of the reasons I love music so much. It has been a great part of me since adolescence. I couldn't believe what I heard the first time. So much beauty and so much talent is amazing. Thank you Paco de Lucía, for so many beautiful moments recorded. Those moments stay with us and elevate humanity in a significant way.
You wrote it much better than I ever could but I had the same experience and feeling. This explains why I had to see Paco playing live so many times, each time an almost mystical experience. I still praise my girlfriend for having offered me that record when I was 16: She is still my wife 44 years later!
I have to say I feel the exact same way you do good sir, this literally changed my life when I was shown by a horse teacher in 9th grade and still to this day is probably the best thing I've ever heard flawless performance by both men
This was the first album on CD that I ever bought. Got it for myself for Christmas in 1985. I 'll be playing it today, all day. Adios, Paco. Thank you for all the lovely music.
As a young lad, I traveled to Europe, to Spain, in search of Flamenco. Walking those mythical streets for hours, I stumbled upon Calle (Street) Ilustracion #7....the home of Paco de Lucia. I bravely, yet nervously, rang the bell and his lovely mother, Lucia, welcomed me in, escorting me to where Paco was studying in the back sunroom. With food & drink at hand...a typical Mediterranean custom I knew so very well as a Hellene ( Greek ), we spoke and played what seemed like hours and, at the end, promised that I would arrange a concert for him in Chicago. We bonded immediately then. He offered to teach me in Algeciras ( his summer home ).....yet ,foolishly, I became entangled with a beautiful young lady from South Africa...GRAVE MISTAKE. Paco later on said that he would have stayed with that "Mujer", too ! Before I left Spain, he made me promise a concert in Chicago and I agreed. Years passed, when back in Chicago, I established the Classical & Flamenco Guitar Studies at the Guitar Dept. at the famed "Arlington School of Music", in Arlington Heights, IL. With these credentials, I worked up enough courage to approach famed Impresario Harry Zelzer of Allied Arts Corp at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and, as he quibbled ( money, of course ) with Paco's International Impresario Sol Hurok in New York city, I persuaded both of them to bring Paco de Lucia to Chicago for a gala concert. Zelzer even agreed to bring the fabulous Sabicas (The King of the Flamenco Guitar) also...on the same Guitar Concert Series including Andres Segovia. I called Sabicas in New York....alas no answer. This proved to be the greatest "Guitar Series" in Chicago's History! I called Paco long distance (no cell phones then) and he told me his agent informed him of his Chicago debut. Paco then told me to grab my guitar and preceded in working with me on "Entre Dos Aguas" as I was holding the phone, glued to my chin...for over an hour. No cell phones then....Ouch! “Que No... Hombre !” "NO NO... La Menor 7 (a minor 7)"...Paco would scream. “No Maldita Sea. JUGAR CORRECTAMENTE....TU MARICON !! ( how rude ). This went on for 30 minutes more until he was satisfied with my results. He arrived in Chicago and, staying at my apartment, we played all night. The next day , we drove to Orchestra Hall on Michigan Ave, and rehearsed there with the sound and lighting engineers. That evening, Paco played flawlessly to the utter shock of the audience...top professional Guitarists from all corners of the United States, Canada and Mexico.....riveted into their seats. They never heard a guitar sound so explosive, so emotional, so flawless technically.... so Espanol...so Gitano! It came time for his last piece..."Entre Dos Aguas" and I walked onto that immortal stage and accompanied him to the never ending screams of the audience... the "Latinos.... y Latinas" …. in dance form... drowning out our performance with perpetual "OLE'S !" That following day, at the airport, Paco asked me to join him on his tour across the Southeastern USA. This is when I was reborn. This is where my career began.....getting to know the intimate Paco, his loves and fears, the secrets of his monstrous technique, phrasing and study habits. Years later, Paco called and informed me of his new affiliation with AL Di Meola and John McLaughlin in their "Friday Night in San Francisco Tour" at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre...a legendary concert hall with perfection in Acoustics. I arrived at that afternoon's rehearsal and noticed Paco's sound was awful...couldn't hear the guitar. Without thinking, I ran back home, retrieved my Sennheiser Mic Paco used at Orchestra Hall, years before, to the utter satisfaction of Paco and the sound engineer...… ( try talking your way out of a speeding ticket with an Illinois State Trooper.) Night came, audience brimming with young eager, guitarists, whether Rockers, Jazz Pros, Country Artists from Nashville or famed Classical guitarists , they were all there waiting to get a glimpse of this......."Paco de Lucia". Lights dimmed to the constant rustling of hungry youth...then...it happened......ALL HELL BROKE LOSE! Well ! ...This "Paco de Lucia" simply exploded with "The Face of An Angel And With The Technique of A Demon" The audience gasped, going wild with hundreds and hundreds of cigarette lighters ablaze in hand, to the sound of "The Holy Three". "Musical History Had Been Made !" The next morning, I drove Paco and John to the airport...said our goodbyes in Hellenic-Hispanic Style...and promised that we would attend each other's funeral who would die first. That was the last time I saw Paco. Sadly, he died first and I angrily realized that my passport had expired, at the last minute. It was too late for me to go. I was incarcerated in my home, shocked and immobile upon hearing of his death.... my life with Paco flashing before my eyes. After all this time, and after these many, many years looking back.... I can only say......"Paco!" "Hermano" "Escuchame !"......"When it is my time to enter the Pearly Gates of Heaven (if I get there, that is) ...I'm bringing that Sennheiser Mic with me......we"ll jam all night”. “The entire Universe will hear you again....LIVE! “ "Esperame, mi Amigo!" “Wait for me, My friend" Memories!
I'd seen both DiMeolla and McGlauglin live in the '70's. Both of them left me in awe, flushed with endorphins and high on music played like I'd never heard it before. I even used McGlaughlin's "Noonward Race" as the intro music to a 9-12 radio show I did in Houston. Then, years later, I discovered this on CD (the vinyl is all in the hands of collectors). I introduced it to huge numbers of people while selling audio gear, many of whom, if they were guitarists would joke they were "going home to burn my guitar". But the truth is, they inspired untold thousands. I'd listen to Paco, and say, "He's doing that with just his fingers, no pick." "It's not humanly possible." R.I.P. Paco. You shared your joy and flamenco with a world which will never forget you, honoring your culture, your people and gifting me and many others, with transcendent grace.
I have seen this trio live twice. The first time at a small venue at Queens College in NYC and was BLOWN AWAY. To actually watch how easily they make it seem was incredible. The complex composition was flowing from their fingertips with ease. This rendition of the song is not only my favorite version but my all time favorite song from them
Unequalled, unsurpased. An utter master of his craft, probably the greatest player of all of our lifetimes and the one player I guarantee would make any guitarist's jaw drop. I shall get stoned and listen to Med Sundance later in memory- still, 24 yrs after I heard it, stunning. RIP Great Man.
I just heard an interview with Al Di Meola. He said there is a Saturday Night in San Francisco coming out in June. All of the songs will be new ones, songs cut from the recording of the Friday Night Show. The interview was with Rick Beato and it is fun listening to him talk about being between John and Paco and their differing views, also Al being the kid of the bunch. It's a loooong interview but at least find the part about this time in his career.
WOW that was great to watch. I've been listen to this on LP and CD since 1992, and I have tried playing this number on guitar hundreds of times. I never knew this concert was recorded on movie.
I first heard this piece when the album FRIDAY NIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO was released back in the '80s. It changed my life. This entire album is one of my top ten desert island discs. I've given away more copies of this album than any other (actually, people refused to return my copy after I lent it to them! Ha!) I'm so glad this lineup was caught on film back in the day. I used to watch Paco on Public Broadcast Television (PBS) in the States back in the late 1970s. He's one of the reasons I started playing guitar. This album gave him world wide recognition. I could listen to this forever.
Al Dimeola infravalorated in this case. The two songs and the two guitarrists were made like a perfect marriage. Nothing as beautiful as this piece. McLaughlin is the cherry on the pie in Fridays Night recording...
Esta maravilla me cautiva. Me emociona. Me transporta. Inevitable no acordarse y no venir a escucharla el maldito día que el gran Paco nos ha dejado. Descansa en paz, maestro
I am very saddened by the loss of Paco. "Friday Night in San Francisco" was one of the those live albums that took my appreciation of music to a new level. RIP Paco de Lucia, you will be sorely missed!!
this is the actual show, the lp is edited. And sped up a tiny bit as well. Still the best live guitar ever recorded. Ever. 30 years later - this still owns everything out there, and these guys can still pull it off, if a bit less articulate. So adept and so melodic. Count your blessings to enjoy this - we will not see players like this for a long time.
After reflecting on the passing of Paco de Lucia , lets not be sad. Let's rather be joyful, ecstatic even, that such artists exist to leave us their enormous and irreplaceable legacy.
Easily the greatest performance ever given. So much talent for one stage to handle. 1:51 always leaves my jaw open in shock. Al di Meola is a master. Nothing will ever compare to Paco and Al.
DESCANSA EN PAZ QUERIDO PACO... NOS QUEDA LA TRISTEZA EN LAS CUERDAS, PERO LA ALEGRIA EN EL CORAZON DE HABER DISFRUTADO TANTO TU MUSICA..... Y LO QUE AUN NOS QUEDA EN EL RECUERDO QUE SEGUIREMOS DISFRUTANDO... A ESO, LA MUERTE NO PODRA GANARLE.... !!! QUE TENGAS UN VIAJE CON MUCHA LUZ.... !!!!
One of the best record in my huge collection. Absolutely epic performances. But unfortunately a little part only of this magic concert was issued on LP. I am still looking for more on record
Ogni volta che vedo questo video rimango affascinato dall'eleganza del tocco di quelle corde e dalla semplicità con cui scorre la mano su quel manico di chitarra. Io penso che persone così abbiano come unico limite la loro fantasia. Con le loro dita riescono ad esprimere quello che vogliono. Credo anche che per suonare certi pezzi raggiungano uno stato di estasi che permette loro di annullarsi per diventare un insieme unico con la chitarra. PAZZESCO. BRAVISSIMI
The left one´s "Al" from "Home Improvement.".. ;-) No, just joking. I´m glad I found this vid, looong Time ago this was one of my favorite records and I didn´t even know there´s a video. Thank you for posting this!
Una hermosa cancion de Di Meola con el sabor de Lucía que toca unas escalas y notas que te transportan hacía Andalucía y esa influencia otomana y árabe....cuando escuchas esta versión te das cuenta que era lo que le faltaba al track del disco.....BRAVO!
@@musicazen8558 The intro is called Mediterranean Sundance, and was composed by Al, and recorded by both Al and Paco for Al's 77 album Elegant Gypsy. The rest of the song is Rio Sancho by Paco, recorded in 76. They joined both songs toguether, and they both share the same middle chord progression, using the spanish cadence (Im, VIIb, VIb, V).
I've heard a few versions of this and this is the best ; the synchronisation here is almost beyond belief. Those plectrum runs by Al are such a contrast to the Flamenco percussive slap-playing of Paco ( the cheeky beggars go atonal at several points in tribute to Django ). Who is faster ? Al, but who cares. But who is more tasteful ? Paco to my ear. You won't hear any improvisation that is more musical ; and the tune is great too ! Well rehearsed improvisation that is.
@Gtrplayer77 Thanks for uploading this man. Great. I always thought that a LP is slightly speeded up, (funny couse they play really fast without need to speed upl LOl), maybe for a limited LP timetrack. Thank you. Grettings
Regarding the playing of "la guitarra", even in death, Paco is still "The Man" Leaving behind a standard of guitar musicianship that many will spend a lifetime attempting to equal, but few, if any, will achieve
I should have done better paying more attention to those due..but. I was younger and trying to absorb the music in this country (Brazil) Now on the other hand I have more time and will try to absorb the magic of Paco's music..
Magnífica gravação mas eu queria entender o porquê há algumas partes diferentes neste vídeo mas que na maioria estão iguais ao que está gravado no LP/CD. Alguém explica????
Us guitarists (and music lovers in general) have marveled at the mastery of these two musicians millions of times over the last 40-odd years. Yet they're just having fun. I would give an eye to have that level of fun playing guitar!
Paco de Lucía:"Cuánta necesidad de conocerte, cuánta valía el no conocerte, cuánta muerte y no perderte-millones de llantos estoy escuchando ya, pero tu música no morirá" QEPD.
R.I.P. Paco De Lucia. I remember listening to this on CD then watching this video. My mind was blown away! Brilliant and magical. I consider them the original "shredders" and "G3". Yes, celebrate his legacy!
So from 5:07 on, this was completely redone in the studio. Very interesting, to say the least. Reminds us all that these guys are human, too. Although I should mention that this was pretty early in the tour--by the time they played the Hollywood Bowl in August of "81, when I saw them, they probably could have attained 'Friday Night"s level of technical performance with no overdubs.
I was at the San Francisco performance that ended up on the album. It was something special, for sure. We hit Led Zeppelin, the Stones, the Tubes (at Bimbo's 365 Club, in their heyday!) etc, in those days. Not to mention Robin Williams, Ellen DeGeneres, Sam Kinnison et al at the stand-up comedy clubs... special days in SF!
Very nice to catch a lot of details on how they exactly played this! Anybody know when/where this was recorded? It's a different version than the official live album version (at least the one I have), there are many parts very similar (including the famous scream at 2:00 minutes) but other parts are completely differently improvised. It probably was on that same tour I guess...
Raw, acoustic fusion! Neither McLaughlin nor di Meola were never ever a peer to Paco on acoustic guitar, but this collaboration was extraterrestrial. A steel strung american Ovation and a gut strung spanish Cordoba.
lol, Paco screwed up and forgot the transition to end the song at 9:37 - 9:39. What a classic, though. Paco's rhythm is just outstanding. Can't get enough of this tune since it first came out!
johnnyreality What's silly is you just saying it's silly without elaborating on anything. What don't you enlighten us on why you think my comment is silly? Or are you just googletrolling with nothing better to do but be an arrogant ass? If you had a clue about the song and know it to a certain extent, never mind know how to play it, then you'd know exactly why you don't have a clue about what you're talking about. Go back to your bedroom and listen to any of the Mediteranean Sundance recordings and especially the Friday Night Live in San Fransico and you'll see that part ends with a rapid flamenco strum from both guitars and then one guitar goes into the intro melody. Instead, here, Paco seems to think the entire rhythm progression starts all over again while Al goes into the melody part and Paco just nicely fakes it and gets back on track. Got it?
You will always suck, Paco will always rule. You want to let other people know you're good, and that you know soooo much, by trying to correct one of the best guitar virtuosos of our time playing one of the hardest pieces of acoustic guitar ever played live and recorded. But you're not good. You suck, and it doesn't matter what your mom tells you, or your little friends. You suck, and that's why no one knows who the hell you are, and you're trying to get attention by "correcting" Paco on the day he passed away. You're a tool. You're a fucking tool. Keep voting your own comments up, mine go up by themselves because I am right. Now YOU finally got it, right up the ass. So shut it, and go back to school son, and never pick up a guitar, or speak of a guitar or of any PROFESSIONAL guitar player again.
johnnyreality Instead of just cursing at me, why don't you tell us all why you don't think it was a mistake and why you think my comment was silly? Give it a shot. Or is it because you can't and that's why your replies are nothing but childish insults? You know what that's called? Ad-Hominem. Look it up. It's when someone has obviously lost a debate and then resorts to insults and makes things personal instead of using facts to prove their point. It's so clear that Paco just forgot, if you know the song, which obviously you don't. Just because Paco is one of the greatest virtuosos doesn't mean he can't make a mistake. And BTW, it's not one of the hardest acoustic guitar pieces ever played and that's proof positive you have no clue about it and avoid answering my question. And FYI, my playing has nothing to do with this conversation or with the topic and the mere fact you keep bringing it up is proof positive that you have no clue what you're talking about. You avoided the question like you probably will again. Let's see if you're capable of proving me wrong without resorting to childish insults and tell us why.........but I doubt you can......:)
There's nothing Ad-Hominem about this. To point out a mistake on the day this man passed away is disrespectful and downright idiotic. I made that point, and now I am reiterating it. This is the only point that is important in this whole conversation. It is "one of the hardest pieces of acoustic guitar ever played live and recorded", don't change my words you sly but unintelligent troll. I know more about music than you, believe me. Now you should go and wait for Stephen Hawking to pass away so you can come up with your new theory of everything. Fuck you, you suck, no one ever heard of you, no one ever will. PWNED.
allergyforsun : that is the exact thing ! (the picture is in a little dealay since it's an old recording I think) But they did edit it, and also took some phrases out (my guess: a few that Al didn't like...) but man,wow,what a recording ! we must ever thank that guy who was so genius to film it, that piece,when came out on Dec' 80' changed the (guitar) world forever for the better. the way I see it, the world's "before and after" is this: before med' sundance recording and after...
good god man, I...I want to play like that guy man, i'm very musically oriented and i can't begin to describe just how awesome i feel just by listening to this
I was hoping someone here could help me with something. Does anybody know if Paco De Lucia uses Rest Strokes or Free Strokes when playing the fast runs? This would help me greatly. Thanks.
He's from old spanish gypsy so will - if you use not eyes but ears a combination of both depending on attack of the string - on a legato he will use a rest but on others a faster less nail to the body approach . Great question and i wondered this also.
If aliens ever decide to destroy planet earth this album will save us. How human beings can create this gives us a reason worth saving. Some of the greatest artistry ever created
@valueless11 aside from the audio/video being off a little bit, this is the version i think most people have heard. (its definitely the one i'm used to listening to.. the part from 1:51 to 2:00 would be pretty impossible to play the same twice lol (including the guy in the audience screaming)
Alguien analizó la fuerza de Paco...que después de acompañar a Al por 3 ciclos es capaz de tocar con una rapidez y potencia extraordinaria...sin desmerecer lo máster de Al pero Paco a otro nivel. 💪
The original duet, and in a way I think still the best! The "awwww" after that one Di Meola cadenza (about 1:50) still brings a smile...current concert "awww"ers could learn from that guy! :-))) Guitarists...would you say finger style is more difficult? or it's just that more guitarists start playing with a pick, so fingerstyle seems tougher?
So after listening to this album at least a hundred times over the last 40 years my best crack at is, in comparison to the released version, here are the edits/punched in sections: Al's ending solo 3:00 to 3:05 edited out as was much of Paco's from 5:10-5:50 and then Al edited out again at 6:00-6:30 and Paco from 6:35-6:50, duo section from 7:02-8:39 edited out and some small 2-3 second bits here there until 9:40. The final mixing obviously punched in some other performances to fill in these gaps. To me--and just me- the edited version sounded a lot better overall than this performance.
@rizzope42 i agree with u.mp3 version for this is actually teqnicaly remastered of this performence.specially the ending of mp3 version is totally different.but u r right that starting part is same.the mp3 version is a bit longer than this one also. but what i mean to say,THIS IS NOT THE FIRST MED;SUNDANCE PLAYED BY THEM.original one is a track from the album 'elegant gypsy'.seems like paco and al never played that tune again in any live show.that is the most famous one. plz share ur thaughts.
Al tocar con los dedos paco tiene mas control sobre el volumen de lo que toca. con la uñeta a esa velocidad pierdes control de las cuerdas. de otro planeta, el mejor.
40 years ago, Al looked 40. 40 years later. Al looks 40.
I have heard it so often it became a part of the song for me. When lyrics run in my head while it’s playing I always know when the scream comes haha
먼개소리지.. 녹화본이니 당연 시간이지나든 어쨋든 그대로지
Italian men spend all their lives turning 40
02:00 the guy/girl have their scream recorded on this epic performance for eternity
Al, Paco and John owe that guy/girl royalties. 🤣🤣 To me, that scream is as much a part of the song as the guitars
Aye but it pales in comparison to this utterly sublime duet.
I remember hearing this in a small music shop where I live in Australia (Victoria, Croydon)
The shop owner played this for a customer (just a sample of what they were about to purchase)
Al started the lick that Built up speed and then came that scream (just after that stopped the music and sale was made)
I knew then and there I had to get this
Got the store owner to order it in (CD version), two weeks later I came out of the store and place it in my CD Walkman and was blown away
Best musical choice I had made and extremely glad I ordered the cd
This is the song I play to my friends who think acoustic guitars can’t cut it
(My metal, punk and hard core friends all ready know this album, they listen to it for the virtuoso playing being guitarist themselves)
It’s the ones who listen to top 40 and basic strumming on acoustic guitars I stun.
“That’s what can be done on that guitar and it’s a hell of a lot more than strumming” is what I tell them
Their perspective is changed, to me they now understand what good music is and now know what can be done with a acoustic guitar.
I screamed DiMeola at a quiet spot. That was the night I recorded with all three of them. 😂
Nothing takes the cake like the enthusiastic scream at the beginning of Mahavishnu Orchestra’s “The Sunlit Path” LOL
This is the greatest acoustic jam to ever grace the earth. I can air guitar the whole thing. All 11 min, love you paco!!!
I can almost air guitar the whole thing but theres a few parts I keep getting stuck on. legendary fingers!
The Graceful Savage
sweet!!!
totally agree!!
This song - this version - represents one of the reasons I love music so much. It has been a great part of me since adolescence. I couldn't believe what I heard the first time. So much beauty and so much talent is amazing. Thank you Paco de Lucía, for so many beautiful moments recorded. Those moments stay with us and elevate humanity in a significant way.
You wrote it much better than I ever could but I had the same experience and feeling. This explains why I had to see Paco playing live so many times, each time an almost mystical experience. I still praise my girlfriend for having offered me that record when I was 16: She is still my wife 44 years later!
I have to say I feel the exact same way you do good sir, this literally changed my life when I was shown by a horse teacher in 9th grade and still to this day is probably the best thing I've ever heard flawless performance by both men
Xtended versión yourself😮
This was the first album on CD that I ever bought. Got it for myself for Christmas in 1985. I 'll be playing it today, all day. Adios, Paco. Thank you for all the lovely music.
As a young lad, I traveled to Europe, to Spain, in search of Flamenco. Walking those mythical streets for hours, I stumbled upon Calle (Street) Ilustracion #7....the home of Paco de Lucia. I bravely, yet nervously, rang the bell and his lovely mother, Lucia, welcomed me in, escorting me to where Paco was studying in the back sunroom. With food & drink at hand...a typical Mediterranean custom I knew so very well as a Hellene ( Greek ), we spoke and played what seemed like hours and, at the end, promised that I would arrange a concert for him in Chicago. We bonded immediately then. He offered to teach me in Algeciras ( his summer home ).....yet ,foolishly, I became entangled with a beautiful young lady from South Africa...GRAVE MISTAKE. Paco later on said that he would have stayed with that "Mujer", too ! Before I left Spain, he made me promise a concert in Chicago and I agreed. Years passed, when back in Chicago, I established the Classical & Flamenco Guitar Studies at the Guitar Dept. at the famed "Arlington School of Music", in Arlington Heights, IL. With these credentials, I worked up enough courage to approach famed Impresario Harry Zelzer of Allied Arts Corp at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and, as he quibbled ( money, of course ) with Paco's International Impresario Sol Hurok in New York city, I persuaded both of them to bring Paco de Lucia to Chicago for a gala concert. Zelzer even agreed to bring the fabulous Sabicas (The King of the Flamenco Guitar) also...on the same Guitar Concert Series including Andres Segovia. I called Sabicas in New York....alas no answer. This proved to be the greatest "Guitar Series" in Chicago's History! I called Paco long distance (no cell phones then) and he told me his agent informed him of his Chicago debut. Paco then told me to grab my guitar and preceded in working with me on "Entre Dos Aguas" as I was holding the phone, glued to my chin...for over an hour. No cell phones then....Ouch! “Que No... Hombre !” "NO NO... La Menor 7 (a minor 7)"...Paco would scream. “No Maldita Sea. JUGAR CORRECTAMENTE....TU MARICON !! ( how rude ). This went on for 30 minutes more until he was satisfied with my results. He arrived in Chicago and, staying at my apartment, we played all night. The next day , we drove to Orchestra Hall on Michigan Ave, and rehearsed there with the sound and lighting engineers. That evening, Paco played flawlessly to the utter shock of the audience...top professional Guitarists from all corners of the United States, Canada and Mexico.....riveted into their seats. They never heard a guitar sound so explosive, so emotional, so flawless technically.... so Espanol...so Gitano! It came time for his last piece..."Entre Dos Aguas" and I walked onto that immortal stage and accompanied him to the never ending screams of the audience... the "Latinos.... y Latinas" …. in dance form... drowning out our performance with perpetual "OLE'S !" That following day, at the airport, Paco asked me to join him on his tour across the Southeastern USA. This is when I was reborn. This is where my career began.....getting to know the intimate Paco, his loves and fears, the secrets of his monstrous technique, phrasing and study habits. Years later, Paco called and informed me of his new affiliation with AL Di Meola and John McLaughlin in their "Friday Night in San Francisco Tour" at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre...a legendary concert hall with perfection in Acoustics. I arrived at that afternoon's rehearsal and noticed Paco's sound was awful...couldn't hear the guitar. Without thinking, I ran back home, retrieved my Sennheiser Mic Paco used at Orchestra Hall, years before, to the utter satisfaction of Paco and the sound engineer...… ( try talking your way out of a speeding ticket with an Illinois State Trooper.) Night came, audience brimming with young eager, guitarists, whether Rockers, Jazz Pros, Country Artists from Nashville or famed Classical guitarists , they were all there waiting to get a glimpse of this......."Paco de Lucia". Lights dimmed to the constant rustling of hungry youth...then...it happened......ALL HELL BROKE LOSE! Well ! ...This "Paco de Lucia" simply exploded with "The Face of An Angel And With The Technique of A Demon" The audience gasped, going wild with hundreds and hundreds of cigarette lighters ablaze in hand, to the sound of "The Holy Three". "Musical History Had Been Made !" The next morning, I drove Paco and John to the airport...said our goodbyes in Hellenic-Hispanic Style...and promised that we would attend each other's funeral who would die first. That was the last time I saw Paco. Sadly, he died first and I angrily realized that my passport had expired, at the last minute. It was too late for me to go. I was incarcerated in my home, shocked and immobile upon hearing of his death.... my life with Paco flashing before my eyes. After all this time, and after these many, many years looking back.... I can only say......"Paco!" "Hermano" "Escuchame !"......"When it is my time to enter the Pearly Gates of Heaven (if I get there, that is) ...I'm bringing that Sennheiser Mic with me......we"ll jam all night”. “The entire Universe will hear you again....LIVE! “ "Esperame, mi Amigo!" “Wait for me, My friend" Memories!
This should be a book.
now that is some dad lore...
This song, throughout my life, gave me insane chills.
I'd seen both DiMeolla and McGlauglin live in the '70's. Both of them left me in awe, flushed with endorphins and high on music played like I'd never heard it before. I even used McGlaughlin's "Noonward Race" as the intro music to a 9-12 radio show I did in Houston. Then, years later, I discovered this on CD (the vinyl is all in the hands of collectors). I introduced it to huge numbers of people while selling audio gear, many of whom, if they were guitarists would joke they were "going home to burn my guitar". But the truth is, they inspired untold thousands. I'd listen to Paco, and say, "He's doing that with just his fingers, no pick." "It's not humanly possible." R.I.P. Paco. You shared your joy and flamenco with a world which will never forget you, honoring your culture, your people and gifting me and many others, with transcendent grace.
I have seen this trio live twice. The first time at a small venue at Queens College in NYC and was BLOWN AWAY. To actually watch how easily they make it seem was incredible. The complex composition was flowing from their fingertips with ease. This rendition of the song is not only my favorite version but my all time favorite song from them
Fascinating to hear and see the unedited performance for the first time, especially when I never knew this existed until a moment ago! Crazy~❤💫
Unequalled, unsurpased. An utter master of his craft, probably the greatest player of all of our lifetimes and the one player I guarantee would make any guitarist's jaw drop.
I shall get stoned and listen to Med Sundance later in memory- still, 24 yrs after I heard it, stunning.
RIP Great Man.
I just heard an interview with Al Di Meola. He said there is a Saturday Night in San Francisco coming out in June. All of the songs will be new ones, songs cut from the recording of the Friday Night Show. The interview was with Rick Beato and it is fun listening to him talk about being between John and Paco and their differing views, also Al being the kid of the bunch. It's a loooong interview but at least find the part about this time in his career.
WOW that was great to watch. I've been listen to this on LP and CD since 1992, and I have tried playing this number on guitar hundreds of times. I never knew this concert was recorded on movie.
The greatest of all time. R.I.P. Maestro
I first heard this piece when the album FRIDAY NIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO was released back in the '80s. It changed my life.
This entire album is one of my top ten desert island discs. I've given away more copies of this album than any other (actually, people refused to return my copy after I lent it to them! Ha!)
I'm so glad this lineup was caught on film back in the day.
I used to watch Paco on Public Broadcast Television (PBS) in the States back in the late 1970s. He's one of the reasons I started playing guitar. This album gave him world wide recognition. I could listen to this forever.
Al Dimeola infravalorated in this case. The two songs and the two guitarrists were made like a perfect marriage. Nothing as beautiful as this piece. McLaughlin is the cherry on the pie in Fridays Night recording...
Esta maravilla me cautiva. Me emociona. Me transporta. Inevitable no acordarse y no venir a escucharla el maldito día que el gran Paco nos ha dejado. Descansa en paz, maestro
I am very saddened by the loss of Paco. "Friday Night in San Francisco" was one of the those live albums that took my appreciation of music to a new level. RIP Paco de Lucia, you will be sorely missed!!
this is the actual show, the lp is edited. And sped up a tiny bit as well.
Still the best live guitar ever recorded. Ever. 30 years later - this still owns everything out there, and these guys can still pull it off, if a bit less articulate.
So adept and so melodic. Count your blessings to enjoy this - we will not see players like this for a long time.
After reflecting on the passing of Paco de Lucia , lets not be sad. Let's rather be joyful, ecstatic even, that such artists exist to leave us their enormous and irreplaceable legacy.
Such an unexpected and tragic passing! Way to soon! way to soon! Paco RIP!
Thnx! I have this on vinyl, saw 2 tours in Holland. These artists wrote history which still is inimitable. Thnx!!
Easily the greatest performance ever given. So much talent for one stage to handle. 1:51 always leaves my jaw open in shock. Al di Meola is a master. Nothing will ever compare to Paco and Al.
It doesn't get much better than this! Two legends doing what they do best, and quite effortlessly.
Magnificent! Words are not enough to express my feelings when I listen to this masterpiece.
This is my favorite album of my lifetime. I can’t believe I never bothered to look up a possible video of this until right damned now.
Arguably the best live recorded event out there.
2 of the greatest of all time. What a treat!
Never thought that one day I would watch this show. Thank you for sharing.
DESCANSA EN PAZ QUERIDO PACO... NOS QUEDA LA TRISTEZA EN LAS CUERDAS, PERO LA ALEGRIA EN EL CORAZON DE HABER DISFRUTADO TANTO TU MUSICA..... Y LO QUE AUN NOS QUEDA EN EL RECUERDO QUE SEGUIREMOS DISFRUTANDO... A ESO, LA MUERTE NO PODRA GANARLE.... !!! QUE TENGAS UN VIAJE CON MUCHA LUZ.... !!!!
One of the best record in my huge collection. Absolutely epic performances. But unfortunately a little part only of this magic concert was issued on LP. I am still looking for more on record
No hay palabras para describir este momento de la historia. Rompieron todo.
Ogni volta che vedo questo video rimango affascinato dall'eleganza del tocco di quelle corde e dalla semplicità con cui scorre la mano su quel manico di chitarra.
Io penso che persone così abbiano come unico limite la loro fantasia.
Con le loro dita riescono ad esprimere quello che vogliono. Credo anche che per suonare certi pezzi raggiungano uno stato di estasi che permette loro di annullarsi per diventare un insieme unico con la chitarra.
PAZZESCO. BRAVISSIMI
Friday Night in all over the world.. Thank you great musicians..
There's no words to explain what this song made me feell!!! Brilliant is not enough...
Non ci sono parole, c'è solo da inchinarsi a tanta classe....mitici!!!!
RIP .....you will be forever remembered.
2 Weeks ago my father gave me his old vinyl of this! Genius, pure genius! Love my Dad for giving it to me :D
One of the best duo’s of all time 🙏🏼
He played it on last Thursday in Veszprem, Hungary. After more than 30 years it is still fantastic.
recuerso el día y la hora excata que escuche esta grabación por primera vez, maravilloso...
WOW. I'm blown away by how much of this was edited out of the actual release.
Salute to the Master.....thank you for music Paco, vaya con Dios.
everlasting
パコ・デ・ルシアの畳み掛ける引き方はほんとに凄いです。
The left one´s "Al" from "Home Improvement.".. ;-) No, just joking. I´m glad I found this vid, looong Time ago this was one of my favorite records and I didn´t even know there´s a video. Thank you for posting this!
Una hermosa cancion de Di Meola con el sabor de Lucía que toca unas escalas y notas que te transportan hacía Andalucía y esa influencia otomana y árabe....cuando escuchas esta versión te das cuenta que era lo que le faltaba al track del disco.....BRAVO!
De hecho el tema es de Paco de Lucia se llama Rio ancho es una rumba
@@musicazen8558
The intro is called Mediterranean Sundance, and was composed by Al, and recorded by both Al and Paco for Al's 77 album Elegant Gypsy.
The rest of the song is Rio Sancho by Paco, recorded in 76.
They joined both songs toguether, and they both share the same middle chord progression, using the spanish cadence (Im, VIIb, VIb, V).
La verdad que si ❤
I've heard a few versions of this and this is the best ; the synchronisation here is almost beyond belief. Those plectrum runs by Al are such a contrast to the Flamenco percussive slap-playing of Paco ( the cheeky beggars go atonal at several points in tribute to Django ). Who is faster ? Al, but who cares. But who is more tasteful ? Paco to my ear. You won't hear any improvisation that is more musical ; and the tune is great too ! Well rehearsed improvisation that is.
TY for posting this video!
RIP Paco
Sin palabras Paco... Felicidades es el primera vez que esta guitarra tuya me eriza el pelo del cuerpo...Magia...ERES MUY GRANDE!!!
listening to this in hi-res is amazing
I remenber their concert's party piece . Indeed, prime performance!
The world is poorer without him, but richer because of him - thank you for the music, Paco.
it is just'fllowing' over my mind..... for about more tham 30 years....thanks a lot
THANK YOU !..always obsessed over this song with my peers..never SAW IT..u rule
@Gtrplayer77 Thanks for uploading this man. Great. I always thought that a LP is slightly speeded up, (funny couse they play really fast without need to speed upl LOl), maybe for a limited LP timetrack. Thank you. Grettings
Paco was the best rest in peace.you are a legend for the ages.
Regarding the playing of "la guitarra", even in death, Paco is still "The Man"
Leaving behind a standard of guitar musicianship that many will spend a lifetime attempting to equal, but few, if any, will achieve
I should have done better paying more attention to those due..but. I was younger and trying to absorb the music in this country (Brazil)
Now on the other hand I have more time and will try to absorb the magic of Paco's music..
Have the cassette, LP & CD. All time favorite.
Magnífica gravação mas eu queria entender o porquê há algumas partes diferentes neste vídeo mas que na maioria estão iguais ao que está gravado no LP/CD.
Alguém explica????
Unexampled. Wonderful guitarists! Just enjoy...
Us guitarists (and music lovers in general) have marveled at the mastery of these two musicians millions of times over the last 40-odd years. Yet they're just having fun. I would give an eye to have that level of fun playing guitar!
R.I.P.
Thank you for the good music moments
They where, are and will be my heroes ... forever
Thank you very very much for you !!! I am Happy! Magic improvisation!!!😇 I subscribed to your website!
Paco de Lucía:"Cuánta necesidad de conocerte, cuánta valía el no conocerte, cuánta muerte y no perderte-millones de llantos estoy escuchando ya, pero tu música no morirá" QEPD.
man, when i bought this cd, i couldnt listen to the elegant gypsy recording anymore; this is just too good
R.I.P. Paco De Lucia. I remember listening to this on CD then watching this video. My mind was blown away! Brilliant and magical. I consider them the original "shredders" and "G3". Yes, celebrate his legacy!
Que tema que pasion para tocar , dos genios
So from 5:07 on, this was completely redone in the studio. Very interesting, to say the least. Reminds us all that these guys are human, too. Although I should mention that this was pretty early in the tour--by the time they played the Hollywood Bowl in August of "81, when I saw them, they probably could have attained 'Friday Night"s level of technical performance with no overdubs.
Maybe its just a mixture of more than one live performance?
Fantástico!!
I was at the San Francisco performance that ended up on the album. It was something special, for sure. We hit Led Zeppelin, the Stones, the Tubes (at Bimbo's 365 Club, in their heyday!) etc, in those days. Not to mention Robin Williams, Ellen DeGeneres, Sam Kinnison et al at the stand-up comedy clubs... special days in SF!
_¡Al Maestro de siempre!, usted jamás se perderá, volverá....
Very nice to catch a lot of details on how they exactly played this!
Anybody know when/where this was recorded?
It's a different version than the official live album version (at least the one I have), there are many parts very similar (including the famous scream at 2:00 minutes) but other parts are completely differently improvised. It probably was on that same tour I guess...
He also messed up at 2:13 and at 2:59 but, hey every live recording a band member messes up especially when the song is redundant as this song is.
awesome...marvellous...wonderful....
Estoy disfrutando como un niño, primera vez que veo este vídeo🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Raw, acoustic fusion! Neither McLaughlin nor di Meola were never ever a peer to Paco on acoustic guitar, but this collaboration was extraterrestrial. A steel strung
american Ovation and a gut strung spanish Cordoba.
This is top-notch guitar playing. The whole world approves this video.
I always knew Paco was a badass, but Al Dimeola really showed what maestro he was too!!
lol, Paco screwed up and forgot the transition to end the song at 9:37 - 9:39. What a classic, though. Paco's rhythm is just outstanding. Can't get enough of this tune since it first came out!
Silly comment.
johnnyreality What's silly is you just saying it's silly without elaborating on anything. What don't you enlighten us on why you think my comment is silly? Or are you just googletrolling with nothing better to do but be an arrogant ass? If you had a clue about the song and know it to a certain extent, never mind know how to play it, then you'd know exactly why you don't have a clue about what you're talking about. Go back to your bedroom and listen to any of the Mediteranean Sundance recordings and especially the Friday Night Live in San Fransico and you'll see that part ends with a rapid flamenco strum from both guitars and then one guitar goes into the intro melody. Instead, here, Paco seems to think the entire rhythm progression starts all over again while Al goes into the melody part and Paco just nicely fakes it and gets back on track. Got it?
You will always suck, Paco will always rule. You want to let other people know you're good, and that you know soooo much, by trying to correct one of the best guitar virtuosos of our time playing one of the hardest pieces of acoustic guitar ever played live and recorded. But you're not good. You suck, and it doesn't matter what your mom tells you, or your little friends. You suck, and that's why no one knows who the hell you are, and you're trying to get attention by "correcting" Paco on the day he passed away. You're a tool. You're a fucking tool. Keep voting your own comments up, mine go up by themselves because I am right. Now YOU finally got it, right up the ass. So shut it, and go back to school son, and never pick up a guitar, or speak of a guitar or of any PROFESSIONAL guitar player again.
johnnyreality Instead of just cursing at me, why don't you tell us all why you don't think it was a mistake and why you think my comment was silly? Give it a shot. Or is it because you can't and that's why your replies are nothing but childish insults? You know what that's called? Ad-Hominem. Look it up. It's when someone has obviously lost a debate and then resorts to insults and makes things personal instead of using facts to prove their point.
It's so clear that Paco just forgot, if you know the song, which obviously you don't. Just because Paco is one of the greatest virtuosos doesn't mean he can't make a mistake. And BTW, it's not one of the hardest acoustic guitar pieces ever played and that's proof positive you have no clue about it and avoid answering my question.
And FYI, my playing has nothing to do with this conversation or with the topic and the mere fact you keep bringing it up is proof positive that you have no clue what you're talking about. You avoided the question like you probably will again. Let's see if you're capable of proving me wrong without resorting to childish insults and tell us why.........but I doubt you can......:)
There's nothing Ad-Hominem about this. To point out a mistake on the day this man passed away is disrespectful and downright idiotic. I made that point, and now I am reiterating it. This is the only point that is important in this whole conversation.
It is "one of the hardest pieces of acoustic guitar ever played live and recorded", don't change my words you sly but unintelligent troll. I know more about music than you, believe me.
Now you should go and wait for Stephen Hawking to pass away so you can come up with your new theory of everything.
Fuck you, you suck, no one ever heard of you, no one ever will. PWNED.
muy buena la melodia, grandisimo paco, el mejor guitarrista de flamenco a un mundo del segundo y el de mejor tecnica
Legendary...
Dios Mio no se puede tocar tantooooo!!!
Paco sos un grande!!!
The Jimi Hendrix of Flamenco is no more. Celebrate his legacy!
You're wrong my man, Paco is unique
Breath taking
Sublime... Sin palabras
1:15 "yeah!" I always loved that!
Man, the lead playing is incredible, but Paco's rythym comping is amazing!
allergyforsun :
that is the exact thing ! (the picture is in a little dealay since it's an old recording I think)
But they did edit it, and also took some phrases out (my guess: a few that Al didn't like...) but man,wow,what a recording !
we must ever thank that guy who was so genius to film it,
that piece,when came out on Dec' 80' changed the (guitar) world forever for the better.
the way I see it, the world's "before and after" is this:
before med' sundance recording and after...
Maestro, serás siempre ETERNO
Sounds amazing
good god man, I...I want to play like that guy man, i'm very musically oriented and i can't begin to describe just how awesome i feel just by listening to this
Today, 26/02/2014, at 66, Paco left us and began his last tour! To him!
I was hoping someone here could help me with something. Does anybody know if Paco De Lucia uses Rest Strokes or Free Strokes when playing the fast runs? This would help me greatly. Thanks.
He's from old spanish gypsy so will - if you use not eyes but ears a combination of both depending on attack of the string - on a legato he will use a rest but on others a faster less nail to the body approach . Great question and i wondered this also.
If aliens ever decide to destroy planet earth this album will save us. How human beings can create this gives us a reason worth saving. Some of the greatest artistry ever created
thank you
@valueless11 aside from the audio/video being off a little bit, this is the version i think most people have heard. (its definitely the one i'm used to listening to.. the part from 1:51 to 2:00 would be pretty impossible to play the same twice lol (including the guy in the audience screaming)
Alguien analizó la fuerza de Paco...que después de acompañar a Al por 3 ciclos es capaz de tocar con una rapidez y potencia extraordinaria...sin desmerecer lo máster de Al pero Paco a otro nivel. 💪
The original duet, and in a way I think still the best! The "awwww" after that one Di Meola cadenza (about 1:50) still brings a smile...current concert "awww"ers could learn from that guy! :-)))
Guitarists...would you say finger style is more difficult? or it's just that more guitarists start playing with a pick, so fingerstyle seems tougher?
So after listening to this album at least a hundred times over the last 40 years my best crack at is, in comparison to the released version, here are the edits/punched in sections: Al's ending solo 3:00 to 3:05 edited out as was much of Paco's from 5:10-5:50 and then Al edited out again at 6:00-6:30 and Paco from 6:35-6:50, duo section from 7:02-8:39 edited out and some small 2-3 second bits here there until 9:40. The final mixing obviously punched in some other performances to fill in these gaps. To me--and just me- the edited version sounded a lot better overall than this performance.
@rizzope42 i agree with u.mp3 version for this is actually teqnicaly remastered of this performence.specially the ending of mp3 version is totally different.but u r right that starting part is same.the mp3 version is a bit longer than this one also. but what i mean to say,THIS IS NOT THE FIRST MED;SUNDANCE PLAYED BY THEM.original one is a track from the album 'elegant gypsy'.seems like paco and al never played that tune again in any live show.that is the most famous one. plz share ur thaughts.
Al tocar con los dedos paco tiene mas control sobre el volumen de lo que toca. con la uñeta a esa velocidad pierdes control de las cuerdas. de otro planeta, el mejor.