Breaking Down Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays Most Beautiful Song

In this episode I breakdown Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays composition "September Fifteenth" of the As Falls Wichita Falls, So Falls Wichita Fall Album.

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[jerrymcgeorge]

Lyle was one of my classmates at North Texas State ‘75. One of the most brilliant musicians I have ever known. So saddened by his passing, RIP old friend.

[rebeccastone]

Rick … you have great hearing. Mike Metheny, Pat’s older brother, taught my arranging class at Berklee in 1976. He introduced me to Pat, Lyle, Mark and Danny. I helped them roll their gear out from their van and into the club where they played. I’ve been following the PMG and have seen them maybe 50 times. I never got tired of watching or hearing them play. Like one of the comments says … when Lyle played it was like HEAVENLY MAGIC touching your soul. RIP Lyle …

[edclevel]

The whole "As Falls Wichita..." album is a masterpiece. Two incredibly gifted musicians at the top of their game.

[NicolaLarosa]

"There'll never be music created like that again. Lyle is gone and that time has passed. But we can always travel back in time and listen to this, any time we want." And that is the magic of music. <3

[hodagg]

So nice to see Lyle Mays getting some recognition here. Back in 1972 and 1973 he and I were both music majors at the UW-Eau Claire. Even then it was very apparent to all of the rest of us how talented he was. His rehearsals were "event's" to go and watch when we'd hear about them. So happy for him that he could have such success. He certainly deserved it!

[That_Guy_Says_Hi]

My fiancee had been brutally murdered three weeks after the Blizzard of '78. I was drunk and dissociated, driving big-city cab during the recession of '81. Enter "As Falls Wichita..." to help carry me through the back nine of the toughest course my life ran this time through.

God Bless, and rest in music, Mr. Mays.

[toddjones]

OMG. FINALLY someone besides me feels this way about this song. I've said for decades that this is the most beautiful song I've ever heard. Even without the mechanics of it. I'm an accomplished musician/composer so I fully get that aspect of it. But to couple that with the soul shaking, poignant sadness of the result puts this song in its own category. The entire album is near perfection, but this song is a gem by any standards. Lyle was a gift to humanity, and this song reflects that. Add in the nylon and its all over. Thank you Rick for bringing this treasure to your audience.

[vawterb]

Rick I am by no means a musician but I have greatly enjoyed music for decades. I want to thank you for greatly deepening my appreciation for music. You have helped me rediscover the richness of good music and heightened my appreciation for the construction/composition of good music. In short, you have made my life better. Thank you.

[eddents]

Though I don't play, thank you Rick for showing the intense complexity of that sublime, beautiful and masterful piece. When PMG came to my college campus in the early 80's, I was gobsmacked. After that concert, I was in like the mob. Five years later, when I pushed the play button on the cassette player in my apartment for background music on a first date, AFWSFWF played. I was floored when my date named the album and the song. She was beautiful, smart, loving and she knew who PM and LM were! Fast fwd 36 years later and this incredible person who has accompanied me to PM concerts over 3 decades, the mother of our two amazing sons and the love of my life, turns to me last night and says: Pat Metheny at the Kennedy center in June? Just like 36 years ago - she had me at "Pat Metheny".

[michaelvaladez]

Iwas fortunate to see Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays play this in concert. It was a surprise to me to see and hear them do this live..you could hear a pin drop at the end of the song...astounding.

[davidmachemer]

Pat said in his podcast (commenting on this album together with Lyle) that around 9:50 (in this video) is where he and Lyle ran out of what they had prepared for the recording! From that point on it was all improvisation on the spot. And when Lyle became inspired for the way forward (around 10:40 on this video), Pat knew something truly magical was happening and so he got out of the way and just added subtle background brushstrokes on the musical canvas for Lyle to paint over. Masterful musical partnership! I defy anyone to really listen to this song and not be powerfully moved - almost to tears of intermingled joy and sorrow. Lyle was a fantastic writing partner for Pat who will be sorely missed...

[kenschubert]

Incredible record. The song “Ozark” has what I feel is some of Lyle’s most amazing improvisation ever. You can literally hear the connection from Lyle’s brain to his hands dissolve as they fuse into one on this piece. That connection that was absolutely magical.
I had the pleasure of seeing this tour from the front row of The Bayou in DC in 1981. Percussionist Nana Vasconcelos six feet from me. and Pat just to his left. Our jaws were on the floor. That is now some 43 years ago, but my memories of that performance remain perfectly clear. A truly incredible period for PMG. Happy Birthday Lyle - you are missed.

[maureraleixo]

You know it just hurts at the end of the video when Rick throws the reality back in our faces at 13:28 (and it's totally true) .."there will never be music created like that again... but ..we can always travel back in time and listen to this anytime we want."

[ericostling]

One of the greatest recordings ever made. The thing that’s so remarkable, Lyle’s piano solo was unplanned. Rick you should press Pat for more details, but the story is that they got to the end of the waltz, and Lyle just continued playing. And Pat, sensing the moment, quietly urged him on in the studio with the tape running, playing a few backup lines on guitar as if to say “keep going! keep going!”. Brings chills to think about. Especially as a tribute to Bill, like he was right there with them in that moment.

[MarioIArguello]

So beautiful. I wonder how many people truly appreciate the elegantly constructed complexity of this and many other Pat and Lyle arrangements.

[quad]

Pat Metheny's 1975 to 1984 period on ECM was incredibly special for many of us. Thank you Rick for the beautiful deep dive on this track.

[windyhillbomber]

EDIT.

due to popular opinion, I am happy to now advise that Rick Beato is rapidly becoming an INTER National Treasure. Any reference to National Treasure must now be considered insufficient scope.

Thank you for your attention

[ismaelrodrigueziii]

As I write my comments, tears are cascading down my cheeks along with so many emotions as I see how emotional you are in breaking down this brilliant, complex, and sublime masterpiece. 🎹🎸 RIP Lyle. 12/17/23

[jobaecker]

Another reminder for me that it's "Lyle Mays season" again. Every year, for many decades now, November in the Midwest is a time for to hunker down, look inwards and be in the moment of the season turning to winter. Only Mays and Pat can do that for me. This was such a pivotal album for me. But later on, Mays' "Solo" record - especially the track "Long Life" has been such a melancholy comfort. This video does such a fantastic job of breaking down the genius of these two men - and it validates my love of Rick Beato, perhaps if only selfishly for enjoying these songs as much as I do. Lyle Mays is still here with me, especially in my car on cold November days. And here come the tears again.

[whyyeseyec]

I am so impressed with Rick's ability to hear music and recreate it so quickly. These are not uncomplicated chords. Minor 7 flat 5 over C!!?? Who can hear that and know what it is? Amazing....