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

[rockaction]

I was completely serious.  My wife started listening to this album again.  A few weeks later she bought a Subaru Outback.

Oh, I believed you were serious. I was just saying that Subaru did target a specific demographic in their advertising. 

 

[simey]

Oh, I believed you were serious. I was just saying that Subaru did target a specific demographic in their advertising. 

My best friend that loves the IGs drives a Subaru. She has always driven them, just like her late grandfather. She recently purchased an Ascent, because she wanted a third row. 

 

[timschochet]

Prediction: This is the least discussed record in this thread so far.*

* this post should not count towards the discussion.

You already lost this prediction when you made it. The least discussed record was Can't Get Enough by Barry White. Nobody remembers the Master of Love anymore.

 

[HellToupee]

In all seriousness, Subaru was the first car company to target lesbians as a distinct demographic, and they responded.  

“Subaru , inexpensive and built to stay that way”

And the Indigo girls are a big snore

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Inserting this album in the conversation of all-time great album is like inserting Zulio Versalles in the conversation of all-time great shortstops.  

 

[timschochet]

Dire Straits- Brothers In Arms (1985)

So Far Away

Money for Nothing

Walk of Life

Your Latest Trick

Why Worry

Ride Across the River

The Man’s Too Strong

One World 

Brothers In Arms 

I really struggled here in trying to decide whether to post this album or the earlier Making Movies. In the end I went with this one due to its much higher sales and exposure, as it made this band superstars for a while in the mid-80s, even as it skewers rock stardom with the hit single “Money for Nothing” (arguably the best guitar riff of the 80s decade). 

The first 3 songs were hits, but the entire album is an eclectic mix of rock, Carribean music, jazz, and Latin. “One World” is another great rock song, but the best song on the record might be “Your Latest Trick”. 

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I think they peaked with making movies, but this one is pretty good too.

 

[worrierking]

I give the nod to Making Movies as well, but they are both really good.  On this one, I like side two better than side one, which has all the hits.

Senior year of college, so this one has great memories.

 

[jon_mx]

Love Mark Knopfler on guitar.   

 

[Juxtatarot]

Perhaps my favorite use of a song in TV history.

 

[glock]

Listening to Knopler & Co. right now. Man can play.

 

[Apple Jack]

I also prefer Making Movies. Romeo and Juliet is an awkward song to play on the guitar.

 

[skycriesmary]

Brother in Arms is a great record, through and through, with one exception. Walk of Life makes we want to punch someone in the face anytime I hear it. That main rhythm is so annoying. 

The instrumental to close out the album is beautiful though. I've never seen Knopfler live, but imagine he puts on a great show.

 

[rockaction]

Jenny and the Ess Dog 

Jennifer dates a man in a 60s cover band
Hes the ess-dog, or Sean if you wish
Shes 18, he's 31
Shes a rich girl, he's the son
Of a coca-cola middle man

Kiss when they listen
To "Brothers In Arms"
And if there's something wrong with this
They don't see the harm
In joining their forces and singing along

-Stephen Malkmus

 

[Apple Jack]

Check that frisbee in his Volvo

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Dire Straits- Brothers In Arms (1985)

I really struggled here in trying to decide whether to post this album or the earlier Making Movies. In the end I went with this one

wrong choice and it's not even close.

 

[Ilov80s]

Brother in Arms is a great record, through and through, with one exception. Walk of Life makes we want to punch someone in the face anytime I hear it. That main rhythm is so annoying. 

The instrumental to close out the album is beautiful though. I've never seen Knopfler live, but imagine he puts on a great show.

Oh man, Walk of Life is so fun- it puts me in a good mood everytime.

 

[Ilov80s]

Also put me in the minority here that prefer Brother in Arms over Making Movies

 

[Mr. Ected]

I know it's incredibly minor, but I loved Sting doing "I want my MTV" for "Money for Nothing."

 

[Leroy Hoard]

When it comes to iconic rock headbands, I rank Mark Knopfler just above Mike Reno of Loverboy.

 

[Apple Jack]

Iirc, MTV and radio omitted the verse, but it's crazy the homophobic Boy George verse made it on the record.

 

[jon_mx]

I know it's incredibly minor, but I loved Sting doing "I want my MTV" for "Money for Nothing."

I would not call that minor, it is iconic almost as much so as the riff.

 

[Apple Jack]

When it comes to iconic rock headbands, I rank Mark Knopfler just above Mike Reno of Loverboy.

Thinning hair headband guy = not a good look

 

[jon_mx]

Iirc, MTV and radio omitted the verse, but it's crazy the homophobic Boy George verse made it on the record.

It was not homophobic.  The song is a parody of people using a slur.  

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Iirc, MTV and radio omitted the verse, but it's crazy the homophobic Boy George verse made it on the record.

Maybe MTV eventually nixed it but "the little ###### with his earrings and his makeup" verse was on MTV for a while at least.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

It was not homophobic.  The song is a parody of people using a slur.  

Yes if anything it was making fun of unenlightened unskilled workers being jealous of rock stars.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I know it's incredibly minor, but I loved Sting doing "I want my MTV" for "Money for Nothing."

That wasn't minor. It was probably MTV's biggest moment up to that point, as far as beaming across pop culture goes.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Yes if anything it was making fun of unenlightened unskilled workers being jealous of rock stars.

Yes, dumb refrigerator movers are the ones who should be outraged.

 

[Mr. Ected]

I know it's incredibly minor, but I loved Sting doing "I want my MTV" for "Money for Nothing."

That wasn't minor. It was probably MTV's biggest moment up to that point, as far as beaming across pop culture goes.

Everything is a blur of that age, was "I want my MTV" used before the song, just not sung like that?

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Everything is a blur of that age, was "I want my MTV" used before the song, just not sung like that?

I dunno. I didn't have cable until 1987. But I remember the Sting/Dire Straits thing before that.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Everything is a blur of that age, was "I want my MTV" used before the song, just not sung like that?

I'm pretty sure the "I Want My TV" ad campaign predated the song - but it was just a catchphrase. Sting sung it to the tune of "Don't Stand So Close to Me" on "Money for Nothing"

 

[CletiusMaximus]

wrong choice and it's not even close.

You're both wrong.  The debut* is their best record, and its not even close!

*the first record I ever bought, same day I got my first record player at the local mall.

 

[glock]

Okay- Old Guy Alert!

When buying my Acoustic Research speakers at Crazy Eddies, THIS album had just become the first CD to sell a million copies (1985). It was my album of choice whilst testing out speakers. 

Oh- my AR's still rock.  

 

[Kumerica]

Another fun factoid--BiA was the first (or one of the first) albums to be recorded, mixed, and mastered digitally, designed for optimum playback on CD, rather than vinyl.

As for the Movies vs Brothers argument, due to my age, Brothers in Arms was the first full DS record I ever heard. I didn't truly dig into their back catalog until later one, when I fell in love with Making Movies. I'd say MM is my favorite, but on a list of "classic albums," BiA has to be first at bat.

 

[Fiddles]

Perhaps my favorite use of a song in TV history.

I prefer halt and catch fire

 

[shuke]

Everything is a blur of that age, was "I want my MTV" used before the song, just not sung like that?

Pretty sure it started with the song.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

meh.  Outside of "Money for Nothing" just a whole lot of meh.  

 

[jon_mx]

I'm pretty sure the "I Want My TV" ad campaign predated the song - but it was just a catchphrase. Sting sung it to the tune of "Don't Stand So Close to Me" on "Money for Nothing"

Sting is credited with co-writting the song with Mark Knopfler.  The only lyrics Sting contributed were "I want my MTV", which was really just stolen from the early slogan for MTV ad campaign created by George Lois.  

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Sting is credited with co-writting the song with Mark Knopfler.  The only lyrics Sting contributed were "I want my MTV", which was really just stolen from the early slogan for MTV ad campaign created by George Lois.  

Maybe because he also wrote "Don't Stand So Close To Me" and that's the melody he uses to sing that line?

 

[Big Blue Wrecking Crew]

Maybe because he also wrote "Don't Stand So Close To Me" and that's the melody he uses to sing that line?

You are correct. Believe it was the publishing company who went after the co-credit.

 

[timschochet]

Jackson Browne- Running On Empty (1977)

Running On Empty

The Road

Rosie

You Love the Thunder

Cocaine

Shaky Town

Love Needs a Heart

Nothing But Time

The Load Out

Stay 

This was a live album featuring songs that Jackson Browne has never played before, rather than the normal greatest hits package- a rather innovative move at the time. Upon its release, Browne was transformed from noteworthy but second tier singer-songwriter to major rock star. 

And it’s an excellent record, like much of Browne’s early material. The title song and “The Load Out/Stay” were the radio hits, but “Rosie”, “You Love the Thunder” and everything else is very good as well. 

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Jackson Browne is a guy that should be in my wheelhouse but I just never really got into him. Maybe I'll try and find this records on Amazon Music tonight and give it a listen - of course I have hear the title song, The Road and Stay on the radio.

 

[zamboni]

Jackson Browne is a guy that should be in my wheelhouse but I just never really got into him. 

Kind of the way I feel about him. Have always respected his songwriting chops, but never was a big fan of him as a performer. That said, I do like Late For The Sky a lot. And the use of "Somebody's Baby" in the Fast Times At Ridgemont High dugout scene.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

As far as Jacksons go, I rank him below Randy but above Tito.

 

[worrierking]

Running on Empty is basically the soundtrack to my Freshman year of HS.  Great stuff.  It's when my musical taste matured from Kiss and Alice Cooper to some more thoughtful and lyrically relevant music.

One other memory of this one.  In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Rita in 2005, I was alone in my house with no power, my city evacuated, with a flashlight and some candles.  I had worked all day (I'm a local government Public Information Officer) and was exhausted and a little scared.  I found a half bottle of tequila, a can of ravioli and my Walkman which I hadn't used in years. Running on Empty was the cassette that happened to be in the Walkman and I listened to it until the batteries died.  I can't hear the album or any of the songs on it without thinking of that night.

 

[zamboni]

As far as Jacksons go, I rank him below Randy but above Tito.

And all below him.

 

[Ilov80s]

I am a huge Jackson Browne fan. His self titled album is better but this a really solid album as well. 

 

[[scooter]]

This was a live album featuring songs that Jackson Browne has never played before, rather than the normal greatest hits package- a rather innovative move at the time. Upon its release, Browne was transformed from noteworthy but second tier singer-songwriter to major rock star. 

And it’s an excellent record, like much of Browne’s early material. The title song and “The Load Out/Stay” were the radio hits, but “Rosie”, “You Love the Thunder” and everything else is very good as well. 

1. it wasn't a true "live" album. Every song was recorded while on tour, but half the songs were recorded backstage, or in hotel rooms, or (in the case of one song) on the tour bus.

2. "The Load Out/Stay" is a masterpiece. It's Browne's "Stairway To Heaven". But the choice to chop the song in half -- and ONLY release "Stay" as a single -- was the epitome of commercial rock cynicism. BTW, I always thought that it was the girl singer who did all the vocals at the end of the song, but it turns out that I was half wrong.

 

[worrierking]

1. it wasn't a true "live" album. Every song was recorded while on tour, but half the songs were recorded backstage, or in hotel rooms, or (in the case of one song) on the tour bus.

2. "The Load Out/Stay" is a masterpiece. It's Browne's "Stairway To Heaven". But the choice to chop the song in half -- and ONLY release "Stay" as a single -- was the epitome of commercial rock cynicism. BTW, I always thought that it was the girl singer who did all the vocals at the end of the song, but it turns out that I was half wrong.

(Scooter) that link goes to very cool Pee Wee Crayton Tune.  The vocalist at the end of Stay is David Lindley (who you probably meant to link to).

 

[[scooter]]

1. it wasn't a true "live" album. Every song was recorded while on tour, but half the songs were recorded backstage, or in hotel rooms, or (in the case of one song) on the tour bus.

2. "The Load Out/Stay" is a masterpiece. It's Browne's "Stairway To Heaven". But the choice to chop the song in half -- and ONLY release "Stay" as a single -- was the epitome of commercial rock cynicism. BTW, I always thought that it was the girl singer who did all the vocals at the end of the song, but it turns out that I was half wrong.

(Scooter) that link goes to very cool Pee Wee Crayton Tune.  The vocalist at the end of Stay is David Lindley (who you probably meant to link to).

What the?!

Fixed.