Okay, so I threatened to do it. You thought I was kidding.

Well, now this is happening.

WELCOME TO “TAMBOURINE TIME” WITH CHRIS.

This all started a couple weeks ago over dinner, when I was mocked by a few of my buddies for praising the greatness and oft-underappreciated beauty of the tambourine. It’s a very misunderstood and ignored instrument. But I argued that a great tambourine part can make a great song that much better. And of course, on the flip side of that coin, a really poorly-executed tambourine can derail a song. Ask any live band who’s been the victim of a self-invited would-be tambourinist.

The unfortunate reality is that everyone thinks they can play the tambourine. But I, as a fucking tambourine expert, can assure you, that is NOT the case. The tambourine can be very dangerous when placed in the wrong hands. I would never let that happen in one of my bands. Okay, okay…sure, it has happened plenty of times over the years. But never was it approved or sanctioned by me.

Personally, I get all kinds of guff from bandmates (Tom) about my over-zealous love for the tambourine. A token Tom quote from any session we’ve ever done over the past decade: “Ugh…you want tambourine on everything.” That is simply not true. There are plenty of songs where a shaker can suffice, and provide me with the jimmy legs I need to feel a song. Laugh all you want, you indier-than-thou snobs. This blog is now a reality.

Every Friday, I will enlighten you with All Things Tambourine. We’ll look deep into the dark sonic corners of the great recordings of all time, and dissect the tambourines that enhanced their beauty. And to be fair, we’ll also look at bad tambourining, and ask “What were they thinking?” And all of you who laughed at my passion - you know who you are - will suck it.

Let us begin with a track from the greatest album ever made. Please don’t argue with me about that. The tambourine waits a solid 8 seconds before making its entrance in a rather strange and completely unpredictable place. I can hear Ringo saying “Wait, what? Now? When?” And Paul saying “it’s fine, let’s move on…” Personally, I can’t ever hear the song without playing air tambourine. And keep in mind that this song has kickass drums, a monster fuzz bass line, and pounding piano. Yet the tambourine shines through, like a beacon of light through a foggy night to a ship searching for the shore.

Am I wrong, Dude?

CH 12/4/09