Getcha passports ready - the middle-aged dummies are going to the British Isles! Top 31 song countdown. (2 Viewers)

[Pip's Invitation]

New-to-me favorites from #15:

You Held the World in Your Arms -- Idlewild (Titusbramble). Excellent example of '90s rock. It is the '90s, right? Has all the hallmarks of it.
Rime of the Ancient Mariner -- Iron Maiden (jwb). I could do without the spoken part in the middle, but otherwise this was captivating for almost its entire length.
Pink Flag (r1) (1999 version) -- Wire (Scorchy). This is pretty badass.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I think the problem is they were marketed as “alternatIve” and compared to Radiohead at first - but at heart they’re a “soft” pop band so the alternative fans had to turn their backs on them

This is what is happening (and has always happened) when the RNR HOF nominees are announced around here.

As usual, I blame Jann Wenner.

 

[jwb]

Oliver Humanzee:

Horizontal Hold (Peel Session, Made Available) - This Heat
(new artist)

Did we get an explanation for this?

I'm not sure you really would want this.

But seriously, his rant last night seemed to be about how three guys in 1979 could find each other and all want to do something so disturbing and ahead of its time. Something like that.

I liked it. I also find it fascinating to think of that - how do these guys find each other and all agree "yea that sound"

 

[AAABatteries]

I've always known my memory is **** but one thing these countdowns has taught me is that I have no clue what the song title is for A LOT of songs. The number of songs I recognize just from the title is always well under 50%. Then I listen and I'm like

 

[Dr. Octopus]

B1tching about the format, though, is a bridge too far for me

I agree that it’s probably poor form in light of all the work put in by only a few volunteers, but I saw it more as “lamenting” than “bitching” - and I say this as some one that has been railing against random bitching and complaining on this forum the past few days.

 

[zamboni]

Mrs. Rannous and Val Rannous:

Run To The Hills - Iron Maiden
(duplicate – first AND second votes today)

@KarmaPolice I know this one! Got a lot of play on MTV back in the day.

I don't remember many Maiden videos, but this was for sure one of them.

There's another memorable video from them that got a lot of MTV airplay - almost picked that song here. Picked another Maiden tune though that will be coming up later.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I liked

It was interesting and I’d say I liked it also - can’t imagine listening to it enough to be a “favorite” but obviously music is subjective and I’m sure people can say that about some of my songs also.

 

[zamboni]

I never got it, either. Their songs are melodic and performed well. Not a huge fan of Martin's vocals sometimes, but they are a good band that has some memorable songs.

I like - although don’t listen heavily to - Coldplay. I like one album a real lot, and some songs off a few others.

I think the problem is they were marketed as “alternatIve” and compared to Radiohead at first - but at heart they’re a “soft” pop band so the alternative fans had to turn their backs on them.

The views on Coldplay don't sound unlike what was said a generation ago with Duran Duran or perhaps the Bee Gees. Many didn't want to lose cred points for liking them, only to fully realize years later how good they are. Not that applies to anyone here, of course.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Oliver Humanzee:

Horizontal Hold (Peel Session, Made Available) - This Heat
(new artist)

Did we get an explanation for this?

I'm not sure you really would want this.

But seriously, his rant last night seemed to be about how three guys in 1979 could find each other and all want to do something so disturbing and ahead of its time. Something like that.

I liked it. I also find it fascinating to think of that - how do these guys find each other and all agree "yea that sound"

I always wondered how Buddy Holly and the Crickets found each other in Lubbock in that time period. It couldn't have been easy.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Mrs. Rannous and Val Rannous:

Run To The Hills - Iron Maiden
(duplicate – first AND second votes today)

@KarmaPolice I know this one! Got a lot of play on MTV back in the day.

I don't remember many Maiden videos, but this was for sure one of them.

Yep. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86URGgqONvA

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Rime of the Ancient Mariner -- Iron Maiden (jwb). I could do without the spoken part in the middle, but otherwise this was captivating for almost its entire length.

I think Dickinson needed a break in the middle - it sounds like he’s out of breath most of the song.

 

[zamboni]

Rime of the Ancient Mariner -- Iron Maiden (jwb). I could do without the spoken part in the middle, but otherwise this was captivating for almost its entire length.

I think Dickinson needed a break in the middle - it sounds like he’s out of breath most of the song.

Which is strange because he was/is a very good soccer player.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

My Idiots #15

Scooter
Yellow - Coldplay

I only recognized this song when I listened to it. Had no idea what it was called.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I've always known my memory is **** but one thing these countdowns has taught me is that I have no clue what the song title is for A LOT of songs. The number of songs I recognize just from the title is always well under 50%. Then I listen and I'm like

I've been listening to Led Zep for well over 50 years and I can not - to this day - tell what some of their songs are just by the title. Once I hear them, it locks in. But before that? Nope.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Pip’s Invitation:

How Soon Is Now? - The Smiths
(duplicate – third vote)

My #1 Smiths. It's all about Johnny Marr's guitar effects. It's 6+ minutes of the most compelling shimmering sound that humans could come up with.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I've always known my memory is **** but one thing these countdowns has taught me is that I have no clue what the song title is for A LOT of songs. The number of songs I recognize just from the title is always well under 50%. Then I listen and I'm like

I've been listening to Led Zep for well over 50 years and I can not - to this day - tell what some of their songs are just by the title. Once I hear them, it locks in. But before that? Nope.

To be fair, they have plenty of songs that don't have the title in the lyrics, and sometimes you can't tell what the lyrics are saying because of the way Robert Plant sings.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

To be fair, they have plenty of songs that don't have the title in the lyrics, and sometimes you can't tell what the lyrics are saying because of the way Robert Plant sings.

Yep. That's what I'm attributing it to instead of me having a flaw

 

[jwb]

Mrs. Rannous:

Run To The Hills - Iron Maiden

Val Rannous:

Run To The Hills - Iron Maiden

well this is certainly a nice way to start my morning.

 

[zamboni]

Pip’s Invitation:

How Soon Is Now? - The Smiths
(duplicate – third vote)

My #1 Smiths. It's all about Johnny Marr's guitar effects. It's 6+ minutes of the most compelling shimmering sound that humans could come up with.

Totally agree. On the ongoing subject of MTV, the video always conjures up memories of their 120 Minutes show. Just too bad they had to neuter the song to fit within a 4 minute video.

 

[AAABatteries]

I never got it, either. Their songs are melodic and performed well. Not a huge fan of Martin's vocals sometimes, but they are a good band that has some memorable songs.

I like - although don’t listen heavily to - Coldplay. I like one album a real lot, and some songs off a few others.

I think the problem is they were marketed as “alternatIve” and compared to Radiohead at first - but at heart they’re a “soft” pop band so the alternative fans had to turn their backs on them.

The views on Coldplay don't sound unlike what was said a generation ago with Duran Duran or perhaps the Bee Gees. Many didn't want to lose cred points for liking them, only to fully realize years later how good they are. Not that applies to anyone here, of course.

I always got the sense that some viewed Coldplay like Creed or Nickelback and I never understood why. I like quite a few of Coldplay's songs.

 

[simey]

simey:

No Easy Way Down - Dusty Springfield

I may be the only one who has taken this song, so I'll comment on it. It is my favorite Dusty sang song. It's on her great album Dusty in Memphis, and was written by the great songwriting team of Carole King and Gerry Goffin. She isn't the first to cover the song, but her version is by far the best. Her voice and this song were meant for each other. The backup singers, The Sweet Inspirations, and the band, the Memphis Boys, add to the wonderfulness of this song.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

My Idiots #14

Scooter
Champagne Supernova - Oasis

Doug
Shattered – The Rolling Stones

Jeb
You Wear It Well – Rod Stewart

Chap
Madman Across the Water – Elton John

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I've always known my memory is **** but one thing these countdowns has taught me is that I have no clue what the song title is for A LOT of songs. The number of songs I recognize just from the title is always well under 50%. Then I listen and I'm like

I've been listening to Led Zep for well over 50 years and I can not - to this day - tell what some of their songs are just by the title. Once I hear them, it locks in. But before that? Nope.

The Ocean

 

[KarmaPolice]

My Idiots #14

Scooter
Champagne Supernova - Oasis

Doug
Shattered – The Rolling Stones

Jeb
You Wear It Well – Rod Stewart

Chap
Madman Across the Water – Elton John

Added to the playlist.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Oh, to mix it up for Run to the Hills, one version I added was the album version, and the other I purposely did from Live After Death to add variety. I hope that is Ok, and have no problem switching it. There was just some talk of Live After Death the other day.

 

[titusbramble]

New-to-me favorites from #15:

You Held the World in Your Arms -- Idlewild (Titusbramble). Excellent example of '90s rock. It is the '90s, right? Has all the hallmarks of it.

2002

 

[falguy]

Eighteen-Point Selections:


Ilov80s:

Only Time – Enya
(new artist)

Happy to see an Enya song on someone's list. She has a few that I was considering. Songs I like to just close my eyes and pretend all my troubles are gone.

cosjobs:

The Letter - Joe Cocker
(NOPE)

 

[KarmaPolice]

Wow, I am only about 10 songs in and this is shaping up to be one of the better lists for me. I've already written down 3 new songs for the playlist, and there is a lot of stuff still to come I already know I love.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

My #1 Smiths.

I went back and forth with this song and the one that ultimately made me list - that one is just a bit more "fun" and I guess that's the mood I was in at the time.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I've always known my memory is **** but one thing these countdowns has taught me is that I have no clue what the song title is for A LOT of songs. The number of songs I recognize just from the title is always well under 50%. Then I listen and I'm like

I've been listening to Led Zep for well over 50 years and I can not - to this day - tell what some of their songs are just by the title. Once I hear them, it locks in. But before that? Nope.

To be fair, they have plenty of songs that don't have the title in the lyrics, and sometimes you can't tell what the lyrics are saying because of the way Robert Plant sings.

and sometimes the name of the album was the name of a song on a different album

 

[KarmaPolice]

Victim of Changes is so good.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I've always known my memory is **** but one thing these countdowns has taught me is that I have no clue what the song title is for A LOT of songs. The number of songs I recognize just from the title is always well under 50%. Then I listen and I'm like

I've been listening to Led Zep for well over 50 years and I can not - to this day - tell what some of their songs are just by the title. Once I hear them, it locks in. But before that? Nope.

To be fair, they have plenty of songs that don't have the title in the lyrics, and sometimes you can't tell what the lyrics are saying because of the way Robert Plant sings.

and sometimes the name of the album was the name of a song on a different album

If someone asked me to cold-hum a few bars of "Over The Hills And Far Away", "The Rover", "The Lemon Song", "Misty Mountain Hop", "What Is And What Should Never Be (or whatever the hell it's called)", "Houses Of The Holy", (and about two dozen others) and told me my life depended on getting them right - I'd be a dead man. I had a great memory when I was younger, but a blind spot when it came to many Zep songs.

 

[Doug B]

The Ocean

This title only got locked in for me once Zebra covered it.

 

[zamboni]

I've always known my memory is **** but one thing these countdowns has taught me is that I have no clue what the song title is for A LOT of songs. The number of songs I recognize just from the title is always well under 50%. Then I listen and I'm like

I've been listening to Led Zep for well over 50 years and I can not - to this day - tell what some of their songs are just by the title. Once I hear them, it locks in. But before that? Nope.

To be fair, they have plenty of songs that don't have the title in the lyrics, and sometimes you can't tell what the lyrics are saying because of the way Robert Plant sings.

and sometimes the name of the album was the name of a song on a different album

If someone asked me to cold-hum a few bars of "Over The Hills And Far Away", "The Rover", "The Lemon Song", "Misty Mountain Hop", "What Is And What Should Never Be (or whatever the hell it's called)", "Houses Of The Holy", (and about two dozen others) and told me my life depended on getting them right - I'd be a dead man. I had a great memory when I was younger, but a blind spot when it came to many Zep songs.

For a long time, I called it "Dire Maker" before I was appropriately corrected.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Pip’s Invitation:

How Soon Is Now? - The Smiths
(duplicate – third vote)


Hawks64:

Let’s Get Rocked – Def Leppard
(new song)



Dr. Octopus:

She Sells Sanctuary - The Cult
(duplicate – fourth vote)




Mrs. Rannous:

Run To The Hills - Iron Maiden
(new song but see below)


higgins:

Jeremiah Blues - Sting
(new artist)

Chaos34:

Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
(new song)


Chaz McNulty:

Who Are You - The Who
(new song)



Mrs. Eephus:

Hollow Man - The Cult
(new song)

Listening to How Soon Is Now with headphones on is kind of disorienting. The back and forth warbling is so strange...but cool.

Let's Get Rocked? Still, at least it's not that other song. (No really, I kind of like LGR).

Did I share this version of She Sells Sanctuary? If not, I meant to - If I did I meant to again.

I was so busy lamenting that The Police weren't included that I didn't even think of Sting solo. A track from Soul Cages would have made the cut here.

It wasn't until about five years ago that the radio world realized that Daltry was saying "Who the #### are you?" and they should maybe bleep that out. I think that's funny.

Hollow Man - GREAT deep cut Cult choice Mrs @Eephus !

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Oh, and I wasn't complaining about the format. I was musing about an alternate.

It's like I'm playing cards with my brother's kids ya nerve wracking sonsa#####es.

 

[Doug B]

Speaking of Zeppelin tunes, I'll pimp my selection a bit: Loved when True Blood broke out "In The Evening" to close out one of their episodes.

---

A lot of fans circa 1980 probably disagreed ... but I'd have been looking forward to the direction Zeppelin would've gone in as they more often spotlighted Jones on keys/synth. Never did think In Through The Out Door was some weak-sauce album for which the band needed to apologize.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Run to the Hills was really fun to play on Rock Band. I miss that game.

 

[falguy]

MAC_32:

Whiskey In The Jar - The Irish Rovers
(new artist)

We now have 3 versions of this one.

Earlier we had a Dubliners and a Thin Lizzy version.

Another "Idiots" first

 

[scorchy]

Posting from the pre-flight Amex lounge in MIA and seems like I missed a bunch. Didn't get a chance to listen to the picks from yesterday or today but I've downloaded for the plane and bus rides.

I wanted to let folks know (especially @krista4 ) how much I've enjoyed this thread. Every year, I become a major bummer in January (work, weather, etc) and my wife needs to remind me that it's like clockwork and not to fall too deep in a hole. The British Isles list has given me something to enjoy every day for the last several weeks and made me a nicer person to be around.

On that note, my pick today fills a similar void. There are a few songs that I can listen to to when I know I need to be better. The big two for me are World of Hurt by Drive-By Truckers and The Last Day of Our Acquaintance by Sinead. So much pain in her voice (live versions add fury after the drums kick in but none are on spotify) but one line guts me:

you used to hold my hand when the plane took off...

I did. And then I didn't. But I will again. At least today.

 

[Chaz McNulty]

I ended up down a Coldplay rabbit hole tonight and while I'm not going to play spolier with anyone I'm still withholding anyway - just in case. I'm just saying I was wrong. While I said I was stuck on 3 it's way more than that. And listening I'm starting to wonder if this is just my generation's U2.

I never got the Coldplay hate. They aren't in my heavy rotation, but I generally dig their first 3 albums at least.

I wasn't aware there was Coldplay hate. They seem fairly neutral. I think they're great and my teenage daughters love them. We're all going to see them in September.

 

[Doug B]

one person “complained” about this format versus a draft and how he doesn’t have time to listen to long playlists

I'll offer this:

The playlists exist because some people in the draft enjoy partaking of the music in that way. Other people in the draft don't really use the playlists, preferring to pick and choose from the musical buffet piece by piece at their own pace. Still other drafters might rely on memories of songs, and never really re-listen to some selections at all.

There's no one right way to participate in these threads, and it certainly isn't our "job" or "homework" to listen through the entire playlist every day. Don't stress it if you can't or don't drink in the entire playlists. It's OK not to, and doesn't interfere with others that enjoy going through them. It's all good.

And a million thanks to krista for running these. Yes, your efforts are too often taken for granted. On the bright side, I don't see that anyone's lamentations about this exercise is coming from an ungrateful place. Maybe from a place of slight social anxiety: "Am I keeping my end up here?" But that kind of thinking gets in the way of enjoying the thread ... and really, what participation anyone can and does provide is A-OK.

 

[MAC_32]

Mrs. Rannous:

Run To The Hills - Iron Maiden

Val Rannous:

Run To The Hills - Iron Maiden

well this is certainly a nice way to start my morning.

I respect what Iron Maiden did for metal, but most of their work goes in one ear out the other. I can't say the last time I heard this song, but whenever that was I recall enjoying it. Looking forward to getting to them on today's spin...

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Oh, and I wasn't complaining about the format. I was musing about an alternate.

I put you down as "suggesting" but "musing" is probably closer - like I said, most just seemed off the cuff remarks, not complaints.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I ended up down a Coldplay rabbit hole tonight and while I'm not going to play spolier with anyone I'm still withholding anyway - just in case. I'm just saying I was wrong. While I said I was stuck on 3 it's way more than that. And listening I'm starting to wonder if this is just my generation's U2.

I never got the Coldplay hate. They aren't in my heavy rotation, but I generally dig their first 3 albums at least.

I wasn't aware there was Coldplay hate. They seem fairly neutral. I think they're great and my teenage daughters love them. We're all going to see them in September.

I think it was a combo of a couple things:

1. as somebody else said, if they weren't marketed directly as Radiohead follow up, that's what it morphed into. They weren't the only ones either, but never thought they sounded THAT much like Radiohead to begin with, so I liked them for what they were.

2. They were also trying to break through later, when a lot of the popular stuff was what was talked about in that Woodstock '99 doc: Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, Korn, Slipknot, Rage. Coldplay is definitely not that, so they got dumped on in a similar fashion that "wannabe" metal bands like Nickelback did in that similar time frame.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I always found Iron Maiden (sans their most popular two or three) to be the Luciano Pavarotti version of Judas Priest.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

At Chap's wedding, the DJ showed up very late (his van broke down) - so I had to go up to my hotel room and get my boom box and the few CDs I brought with me. It was probably the only wedding in history with Iron Maiden's "The Number of the Beast" album blasting during dinner.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I always found Iron Maiden (sans their most popular two or three) to be the Luciano Pavarotti version of Judas Priest.

I will admit to being an uncultured swine. I am not sure if this is a compliment or a shot. I think a shot.

 

[KarmaPolice]

At Chap's wedding, the DJ showed up very late (his van broke down) - so I had to go up to my hotel room and get my boom box and the few CDs I brought with me. It was probably the only wedding in history where Iron Maiden's "The Number of the Beast" album blasting during dinner.

A.K.A. the best wedding dinner ever!!

 

[MAC_32]

MAC_32:

Whiskey In The Jar - The Irish Rovers
(new artist)

We now have 3 versions of this one.

Earlier we had a Dubliners and a Thin Lizzy version.

Another "Idiots" first

When we started this thing I thought 40% of my list was going to be irish pub and folk. I quickly found out that almost all of my 'irish' music included at least one american. Thankfully my favorite rendition of Whiskey in the Jar qualified. Not that the other two aren't great (they are), but this one presents a much greater visual - listening to it I can see myself at 3 pm on St Paddy's afternoon singing and dancing on the 2nd floor of the bar we gather at every year. A good friend of ours is a solo act - some acoustic, some fiddle, and a lot of jokes made in poor taste to glue one song to the next. He plays the afternoon set every year and the 30...40...some of us of all ages from baby to old, but still able to walk up a flight of stairs sing and dance and drink along from beginning to end.

Ahh...my happy place...