Classic Album Discussion Thread: The Kinks-Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Pt. 1 (1 Viewer)

[Uruk-Hai]

. It would be more appropriate to have called this thread Albums Tim has liked a lot during his life or something similar.

I think most of us have translated the thread title to this a long time ago. That's not a criticism of Tim , but just the nature of the beast when something objective like art is being listed. 

I AM kind of mystified why some folks are so screwed up by the thread title, though.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I'm not going to harp on Tim, but writing the song has to count for something. Without S&G, we're not even talking about comparing the two. 

I still think the Bangles version is good, but I'm not willing to call it better for that sole reason.  

Didn't Simon think it was trash, or do I have the wrong song he hated?

 

[rockaction]

I think most of us have translated the thread title to this a long time ago. That's not a criticism of Tim , but just the nature of the beast when something objective like art is being listed. 

I AM kind of mystified why some folks are so screwed up by the thread title, though.

I think because it does imply and objectivity about consensus. But consensus with something like pop music is nigh impossible, though, so it's really not a big deal that he calls it classic. I know full well when I disagree, I'm doing it because my own personal tastes don't match.  

 

[rockaction]

Didn't Simon think it was trash, or do I have the wrong song he hated?

You know, I don't know. I can look it up, though.  

It's Feelin' Groovy that he hates. 

 

[timschochet]

It would also make the Aqualung inclusion a little more palatable.

Boo.

It is NOT albums I like a lot. Probably my favorite band in the last 30 years or so is The Indigo Girls. I absolutely LOVE several of their albums. You're not going to see them here. Nor will you see my favorite punk band, The Dickies, or my favorite new wave band, The Boomtown Rats.

Some of my other favorite artists you won't see here:

Sufjan Stevens

Ron Sexsmith

Rufus Wainwright

Aimee Mann

John Stewart

The Divine Comedy

Eels

Eliza Gilkyson

Five for Fighting

Gillian Welch

Girlyman

Golden Smog

I Am Kloot

Jimmy Webb

John Cale

John Hiatt

Judee Sill

Kate Rusby

The Kennedys

Meiko

Mick Taylor

Otis Gibbs

Peter Wolf

Ray Wylie Hubbard

The Strawbs

Susan Tedeschi

The Tallest Man on Earth

Maria McKee & Lone Justice

Todd Snider

Truth & Salvage Co.

The Vapors

Colin Hay

Danny Schmidt

John Doe

Shonen Knife

The Wailin' Jennys

Wet Willie

Willie Nile

 

[shuke]

It’s just a discussion about music.  Who gives a #### if Tim is calling them “classic”?

 

[Uruk-Hai]

And before we get all high and mighty about who-did-what, you'd have no "Simon And Garfunkel" as we know them had not the record company taken a 2 year old failure of a song - without the creator's knowledge, mind you - and remixed it into a world-wide smash. From wiki with the important parts below:

"The Sound of Silence", originally "The Sounds of Silence", is a song by the American music duo Simon & Garfunkel. The song was written by Paul Simon over a period of several months in 1963 and 1964. A studio audition led to the duo signing a record deal with Columbia Records, and the song was recorded in March 1964 at Columbia Studios in New York City for inclusion on their debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M..

Released in October 1964, the album was a commercial failure and led to the duo breaking apart, with Paul Simon returning to England and Art Garfunkel to his studies at Columbia University. In the spring of 1965, the song began to attract airplay at radio stations in Boston, Massachusetts, and throughout Florida.[citation needed][vague] The growing airplay led Tom Wilson, the song's producer, to remix the track, overdubbing electric instruments and drums. Simon & Garfunkel were not informed of the song's remix until after its release. The single was released in September 1965.

The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending January 1, 1966, leading the duo to reunite and hastily record their second album, which Columbia titled Sounds of Silence in an attempt to capitalize on the song's success. The song was a top-ten hit in multiple countries worldwide, among them Australia, Austria, West Germany, Japan and the Netherlands. Generally considered a classic folk rock song, the song was added to the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important" in 2012 along with the rest of the Sounds of Silence album.

 

[Zegras11]

It’s just a discussion about music.  Who gives a #### if Tim is calling them “classic”?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

It’s just a discussion about music.  Who gives a #### if Tim is calling them “classic”?

This guy gets it. I don't love every freaking album in either this or the favorite songs thread. But then again, neither is my thread.

 

[Zegras11]

This guy gets it. I don't love every freaking album in either this or the favorite songs thread. But then again, neither is my thread.

in the other thread... Peg makes me want to scratch my eyes out.   I can not stand that song.  LOL

 

[northern exposure]

I didn’t want to limit this list to albums that the critics regard as the greatest of all time. We’ve covered a lot of those, and eventually we might get to all of them, but I also wanted to discuss albums and bands that people remember fondly: so The Violent Femmes. Cyndi Lauper. Sublime. Foreigner. And the Bangles. And there will be much more of this. 

Holding my breath to see which Greg Kihn Band album you choose. I have my fingers crossed for Kihnspiracy! 

 

[timschochet]

Holding my breath to see which Greg Kihn Band album you choose. I have my fingers crossed for Kihnspiracy! 

I graduated high school in 1983 and Grad Nite was at Disneyland; there were two live bands: Berlin and Greg Kihn. So I have a warm spot in my heart for those guys. 

 

[AAABatteries]

Boo.

It is NOT albums I like a lot.

I was just making a joke - I said much earlier in the thread that I have no issues with your definition or thread title.  I still think Aqualung sucks and your comment about Hazy Shade of Winter is wrong but this has been a fantastic thread.

 

[AAABatteries]

You know, I don't know. I can look it up, though.  

It's Feelin' Groovy that he hates. 

That’s a song worthy of a little hate.  Although I still love it.

 

[rockaction]

That’s a song worthy of a little hate.  Although I still love it.

Let the morning time drop all its petals on me/Life, I love you/All is groovy...

Yeah 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) is a little painful to some, but I don't mind it. I kind of like parenthetical titles, and the 59th Street Bridge evokes images of a cobblestone-like deal. I like the song, too. Wonder why he hates it.  

 

[timschochet]

Let the morning time drop all its petals on me/Life, I love you/All is groovy...

Yeah 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) is a little painful to some, but I don't mind it. I kind of like parenthetical titles, and the 59th Street Bridge evokes images of a cobblestone-like deal. I like the song, too. Wonder why he hates it.  

I figure he thinks it’s too simple. But I think there’s some great craft there. 

 

[rockaction]

I figure he thinks it’s too simple. But I think there’s some great craft there. 

Interesting take. There's a story where he messes up the lyrics at one of his solo shows. In other words, screws up one of his own songs, and tells the crowd that as self-punishment, he's going to sing Feeling Groovy, which he hates. 

I found that funny. 

I can relate. I've created some stuff that years later I absolutely loathed and wondered what in the world I was thinking.

 

[Ghost Rider]

The original Manic Monday by Prince is worth a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WXfHSLjQnA

And to echo the earlier sentiment, Susanna Hoffs was and is still absolutely gorgeous. Every red-blooded straight male who grew up watching MTV in the mid 80's thought she was it.  

 

[Zegras11]

Let the morning time drop all its petals on me/Life, I love you/All is groovy...

Yeah 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) is a little painful to some, but I don't mind it. I kind of like parenthetical titles, and the 59th Street Bridge evokes images of a cobblestone-like deal. I like the song, too. Wonder why he hates it.  

I saw Simon play at the Botanical gardens 2 years ago.  He hated all his songs that day.  Second worst concert I've ever attended.  

 

[rockaction]

I saw Simon play at the Botanical gardens 2 years ago.  He hated all his songs that day.  Second worst concert I've ever attended.  

Wow. I've never been a huge fan of Simon solo, so that doesn't upset nor surprise me. That's too bad. You probably paid a pretty penny for tickets, too. 

 

[AAABatteries]

I saw Simon play at the Botanical gardens 2 years ago.  He hated all his songs that day.  Second worst concert I've ever attended.  

Guy is a brilliant songwriter but always seemed/seems unhappy.  That’s one concert I would attend and it sucks that he didn’t give you your moneys worth.

 

[timschochet]

Star Wars- Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1977) 

Main Title

Imperial Attack

Princess Leia’s Theme

The Desert & the Robot Auction

Ben’s Death and TIE Fighter Attack

The Little People Work

Rescue of the Princess

Inner City

Cantina Band

The Land of the Sand People

Mouse Robot and Blasting Off

The Return Home

The Walls Converge 

The Princess Appears

The Last Battle 

The Throne Room and End Title

Written by John Williams; performed by the London Symphony Orchestra with Williams as conductor. Personally I prefer his themes to Raiders and Superman, but this is certainly his most iconic work and the most famous and bestselling soundtrack album ever. The American Film Institute voted it the greatest movie soundtrack of the 20th Century, and certainly everyone I knew owned a copy. 

The music is majestic and epic in scope. Besides the main title, everybody knows “Cantina Band”, probably the most famous piece of movie soundtrack ever that is not a main theme. 

 

[Shrugs]

So, still haven’t gotten to Pearl Jam but doing the score for Star Wars?

The Bangles were my first concert as a kid in the late 80s, and then I saw them twice this summer (they played music festival in Pasadena that I went to mainly for Robert Plant, then for free in downtown LA). Hoffs is turning 60 in a couple weeks, but still attractive. 

 

[Andy Dufresne]

The 1997 release is the one you want for all three Star Wars soundtracks.

On A New Hope, the tracks of Leia's Theme and Binary Sunset are magnificent. The alternate takes of a few tracks are good to hear as wellwell.

 

[timschochet]

On A New Hope

Please don’t call it that. Annoys the heck out of me that they went back and changed the name of every product, including this album. So dumb, IMO.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I graduated high school in 1983 and Grad Nite was at Disneyland; there were two live bands: Berlin and Greg Kihn. So I have a warm spot in my heart for those guys. 

Always loved Terri Nunn, lead singer for Berlin.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Please don’t call it that. Annoys the heck out of me that they went back and changed the name of every product, including this album. So dumb, IMO.

You make it so difficult sometimes.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Was still buying 45rpm vinyl at the time. Owned the single version of the main title with  Cantina Band on the flip side.

 

[timschochet]

Always loved Terri Nunn, lead singer for Berlin.

“Sex (I’m A...)” is one of the most underrated songs of the 80s. 

 

[Osaurus]

“Sex (I’m A...)” is one of the most underrated songs of the 80s. 

I love Berlin, but when this song comes on, I immediately mute it.  Many bad memories of past relationships associated with this song.  It’s not the song’s fault, it’s mine.

 

[Gr00vus]

“Sex (I’m A...)” is one of the most underrated songs of the 80s. 

A rival band back in college used to do a killer version of Masquerade, I think that might be my favorite Berlin.

 

[Osaurus]

A rival band back in college used to do a killer version of Masquerade, I think that might be my favorite Berlin.

No More Words for me.  Love the Bonny & Clyde Video.

 

[jwb]

Was still buying 45rpm vinyl at the time. Owned the single version of the main title with  Cantina Band on the flip side.

Had a 45 of the Meco version. 

 

[AAABatteries]

Star Wars- Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1977) 

Main Title

Imperial Attack

Princess Leia’s Theme

The Desert & the Robot Auction

Ben’s Death and TIE Fighter Attack

The Little People Work

Rescue of the Princess

Inner City

Cantina Band

The Land of the Sand People

Mouse Robot and Blasting Off

The Return Home

The Walls Converge 

The Princess Appears

The Last Battle 

The Throne Room and End Title

Written by John Williams; performed by the London Symphony Orchestra with Williams as conductor. Personally I prefer his themes to Raiders and Superman, but this is certainly his most iconic work and the most famous and bestselling soundtrack album ever. The American Film Institute voted it the greatest movie soundtrack of the 20th Century, and certainly everyone I knew owned a copy. 

The music is majestic and epic in scope. Besides the main title, everybody knows “Cantina Band”, probably the most famous piece of movie soundtrack ever that is not a main theme. 

Not much to say other than it’s a brilliant soundtrack.  J.W. Is a genius.

 

[timschochet]

Iggy & The Stooges- Raw Power (1973)

Search and Destroy

Gimme Danger

Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell

Penetration 

Raw Power

I Need Somebody 

Shake Appeal 

Death Trip

The name of the album says it all. This is one of a few records from the early 1970s that represent the birth of punk rock. It’s interesting that it was produced by David Bowie, because it sounds nothing like the smooth glam sound of his own work or that of Mott the Hoople (The other band he produced at the same time.) This is raw. 

James Williamson on lead guitar, Ron Ashton on bass, Scott Ashton on drums create a template that hundreds of punk bands would follow over the decades, but of course it’s Iggy Pop’s manic energy that dominates the recording. 

 

[timschochet]

No love for Iggy Pop? 

 

[shuke]

No love for Iggy Pop? 

Was never really my thing.  I'll give it a listen later.

  I did like one of his newer songs, Gardenia.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

James Williamson really cranked it on this album. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9gwaq8cC3y8&list=PLbFN8me9ddBAW77vrAPUIxvLrNXB1kTAy&index=7

 

[rockaction]

No love for Iggy Pop? 

Just waiting until I have a moment to give it some love. Everything about this album is great.  

 

[timschochet]

Just waiting until I have a moment to give it some love. Everything about this album is great.  

Truth is I hadn't listened to it in years before last night. I had one song, "I Need Somebody", on my playlists for whatever reason. But I really like the whole thing. And its so ahead of its time.

It's funny to me, when I used to read articles about the roots of punk rock, they always talk about the Velvet Underground (whom I love, BTW), a couple of Glam bands, and a few other albums we might touch upon later, but while some of it sounds New Wave, very little of it sounds like punk rock. This album absolutely does.

 

[timschochet]

One other Iggy Pop mention- has anybody seen that Jim Jarmusch film, Coffee and Cigarettes? There is a sequence featuring Iggy Pop and Tom Waits, and it's vaguely unsettling. Here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49tTzEifY6M

 

[krista4]

One other Iggy Pop mention- has anybody seen that Jim Jarmusch film, Coffee and Cigarettes? There is a sequence featuring Iggy Pop and Tom Waits, and it's vaguely unsettling. Here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49tTzEifY6M

I've seen it because I see all Jarmusch movies.  I seemed to have enjoyed this movie more than most people did, but still didn't think it was one of his best.  IIRC my favorites segments were Bill Murray/RZA/GZA and Steve Coogan/Alfred Molina.  I liked this segment only because I'm a big fan of both Iggy and Waits.

 

[Herb]

Raw Power rules. Love this record, love Iggy Pop. Since Lemmy Kilmister passed, Iggy has now assumed the mantle of greatest living embodiment of rock and roll. Dude is criminally underappreciated as an artist. 

 

[rockaction]

This probably sounds like punk because it is the embodiment of it. From the opening strains of Search and Destroy, "Look out baby, cause I'm using technology," (Hell, it was the anthemic beginning of a Nike ad) to the closing tones of Death Trip, this is one hell of an album. From S&D to Raw Power to Shake Appeal and others, this is front-to-back greatness. All I can say is that a high school rock loved this album so much he got in fights with his punk rock girlfriend about how awesome it was. Rock won the debate and carried the day. She got to listen to Depeche Mode.  

True story.  

Great review from Pitchfork about the various mixes of the album. Scott Asheton is responsible for my screen name, by the way. 

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14125-raw-power-legacy-edition-raw-power-deluxe-edition/

 

[timschochet]

Heart- Little Queen (1977)

Barracuda

Love Alive

Sylvan Song

Dream of the Archer

Kick It Out

Little Queen

Treat Me Well 

Say Hello

Cry to Me

Go On Cry

Heart’s second effort was possibly even better than Dreamboat Annie. Nancy Wilson  continued her slavish love of acoustic Led Zeppelin with her guitar work on “Love Alive”, “Dream of the Archer” and “Treat Me Well”, also featuring Nancy on vocals. Meanwhile Ann Wilson established herself as one of rock’s  best vocalists ever on classics like “Barracuda” and “Kick It Out”. As good as any hard rock album from the late 70s. 

 

[KickinT]

Heart- Little Queen (1977)

Barracuda

Love Alive

Sylvan Song

Dream of the Archer

Kick It Out

Little Queen

Treat Me Well 

Say Hello

Cry to Me

Go On Cry

Heart’s second effort was possibly even better than Dreamboat Annie. Nancy Wilson  continued her slavish love of acoustic Led Zeppelin with her guitar work on “Love Alive”, “Dream of the Archer” and “Treat Me Well”, also featuring Nancy on vocals. Meanwhile Ann Wilson established herself as one of rock’s  best vocalists ever on classics like “Barracuda” and “Kick It Out”. As good as any hard rock album from the late 70s. 

 

[KickinT]

First albums are usually raw and hungry and I like them best. I agree with you here. 

 

[KickinT]

I think the difference between Zeppelins first and second albums   is night and day. Don’t really care for Zep 1 when compared to following albums.

Heart is one of the few American Bands considered classic rock. Petty, Aerosmith, then it starts to tail off as far as popularity. 

I’ll choose 2112 as the concept album that most influenced my high school ears. Side b rocks too, but A side is a work of art.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Golden Smog

Down By the Old Mainstream should be a classic album. It's not but it should be.

 

[KickinT]

Heart, Queen, Pat Benetar,Steve Miller and Tom Petty were the kind of music you could play at a party back then and not have issues with complaints. It was acceptable to the ladies and the hardest of the hard.