Getcha passports ready - the middle-aged dummies are going to the British Isles! Top 31 song countdown. (7 Viewers)

[Pip's Invitation]

I have a list in already, plus a "last five out."

I was off work this week and I needed something to take my mind off things because I don't think we're going to have Cassidy for much longer.

Aw, I'm so sorry. It had sounded like Cassidy had been doing better.

He had been. But these things can turn quickly. On Friday they did.

 

[Eephus]

He had been. But these things can turn quickly. On Friday they did.

I'm so sorry. Treasure the time together.

 

[Eephus]

It's where music snobs get to show off how deep their musical library goes by proclaiming that the actual #1 song of all time is their bootleg collaboration between an adolescent Adam Ant and Mott the Hoople recorded in 1974 at the Old Trippe to Jerusalem pub recorded by a roused out of bed at 2 AM already hung over John Timperley.

There really wasn't a whole lot of this in the American countdown, not even from me.

 

[New Binky the Doormat]

I have a list in already, plus a "last five out."

I was off work this week and I needed something to take my mind off things because I don't think we're going to have Cassidy for much longer.

sorry Pip

 

[Yankee23Fan]

I might have 7 different bands tops in this list.

 

[krista4]

I might have 7 different bands tops in this list.

I'm finding this one a bit top-heavy for me, too. Fewer artists that I am interested in choosing, but more songs that I want to choose from each artist. Still going to try to limit to two per artist, not counting something like, as a complete hypothetical and not something I would do at all, taking George Harrison solo in addition to the Beatles.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

If a band uses a drum machine, does it matter where the machine was manufactured?

YES!

Roland 808 was born in Japan.

 

[AAABatteries]

I might have 7 different bands tops in this list.

I think I was up to 35 I’m considering. I just don’t want to have a bunch of Beatles and LZ.

 

[Tau837]

Finished my top 36 today, limiting to one song per artist. As much as I like my top 36 in the American artist countdown, I think my UK list is stronger.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

@Eephus Remember how I said I was restrained by my standards on song lengths in the US countdown? Not so this time. I have quite a few songs over 10 minutes, the longest of which is 22.

 

[Eephus]

@Eephus Remember how I said I was restrained by my standards on song lengths in the US countdown? Not so this time. I have quite a few songs over 10 minutes, the longest of which is 22.

That rules out "Echoes"

 

[Pip's Invitation]

@Eephus Remember how I said I was restrained by my standards on song lengths in the US countdown? Not so this time. I have quite a few songs over 10 minutes, the longest of which is 22.

That rules out "Echoes"

Yes it does. And Zamboni just sent me a PM saying the same thing!

It also rules out the two album-length songs from Jethro Tull.

 

[Don Quixote]

I was looking at Blur. Graham Coxon’s Wikipedia says he was born in Germany, but looks like his dad was in the British military, apparently stationed in Germany as a clarinet player. (Woo-hoo, if you’d like to.)

 

[krista4]

I was looking at Blur. Graham Coxon’s Wikipedia says he was born in Germany, but looks like his dad was in the British military, apparently stationed in Germany as a clarinet player. (Woo-hoo, if you’d like to.)

Nice, I'll add to the third post that they are A-OK.

Also had a separate discussion with someone regarding the band Republica. Their lead singer, Saffron, was born in Nigeria but is eligible due to British parentage, too.

 

[Don Quixote]

Also had a separate discussion with someone regarding the band Republica. Their lead singer, Saffron, was born in Nigeria but is eligible due to British parent(s), too.

Looks like The Clash is similar, with Joe Strummer born in Turkey to Scottish/British parents (I was briefly concerned even London Calling was about to not qualify).

 

[krista4]

Also had a separate discussion with someone regarding the band Republica. Their lead singer, Saffron, was born in Nigeria but is eligible due to British parent(s), too.

Looks like The Clash is similar, with Joe Strummer born in Turkey to Scottish/British parents (I was briefly concerned even London Calling was about to not qualify).

Oh yeah, we discussed him in the last thread, or in this one, or only in my imagination. I'll add to the post so that no one will worry about them.

 

[zamboni]

Also had a separate discussion with someone regarding the band Republica. Their lead singer, Saffron, was born in Nigeria but is eligible due to British parent(s), too.

I’m just wild about the Saffron ruling.

 

[krista4]

If there's something very wrong with you and you want mid- or late-period Black Sabbath instead of the best stuff, reminder that Ronnie James Dio, Craig Gruber, Vinny Appice, Ron Keel, David Donato, Eric Singer, Dave Spitz, Ray Gillen, and Bobby Rondinelli were all Americans.

 

[krista4]

A kind soul has vetted Jethro Tull for me and reports the following:

Songs from A (1980) are ineligible because of Mark Craney (drums, born in US).
Songs from Crest of a Knave (1987), Rock Island (1989), Catfish Rising (1991), Roots to Branches (1995), J Tull Dot Com (1999) and The Jethro Tull Christmas Album (2003) are ineligible because of Doane Perry (drums, born in US).
Songs from The Zealot Gene (2022) are ineligible because of Florian Opahle (guitar, born in Germany).

 

[Eephus]

The Jethro Tull Christmas Album (2003)

Now playing

 

[Eephus]

The Jethro Tull Christmas Album (2003)

Now playing

It's alright. A little heavy on Ian Anderson originals instead of more traditional holiday songs. All the carols are traditional songs in the public domain. But the flute and accordion sound good together and Anderson is kind of like a character out of Dickens.

Although I was hoping for something like

Sitting on a park bench
Eyeing little girls with bad intent
Snot's running down his nose
Greasy fingers, smearing shabby clothes
Hey, Santa Claus



ETA: I must have listened to it before because "We Five Kings" is on my giant Holiday playlist

/^\ * /^\ christmas xmas christmas

/^\ * /^\ christmas xmas christmas · Playlist · 699 songs · 7 likes

open.spotify.com

 

[higgins]

Wiki states that Supertramp with the following band member would be ineligible for songs from the Breakfast from America album.

• Bob Siebenberg (credited as Bob C. Benberg) – drums

Just sayin’….

 

[krista4]

Wiki states that Supertramp with the following band member would be ineligible for songs from the Breakfast from America album.

• Bob Siebenberg (credited as Bob C. Benberg) – drums

Just sayin’….

Thanks! We covered this one - see post #3 in thread, copied below:

Supertramp – all but the first two albums (Supertramp and Indelibly Stamped) are ineligible more info here

 

[zamboni]

Wiki states that Supertramp with the following band member would be ineligible for songs from the Breakfast from America album.

• Bob Siebenberg (credited as Bob C. Benberg) – drums

Just sayin’….

Sounds logical

 

[Eephus]

Wiki states that Supertramp with the following band member would be ineligible for songs from the Breakfast from America album.

• Bob Siebenberg (credited as Bob C. Benberg) – drums

Just sayin’….

Sounds logical

You're bloody well right

 

[DrIanMalcolm]

And Bundrick also makes a little bit of The Who ineligible.

I don't think Bundrick was ever an official member of the band.

Do Rabbits even count?

As long as I can feed the rabbits, George.

 

[DrIanMalcolm]

Olivia Newton John. Born in Cambridge, England.

Eligible.

I'll show myself out. (not gonna lie, she's got one song that's a serious contender here.)

No way I can do the thing where I limit myself to 1 song per artist with the Stevie (2) and Aretha (2) exceptions though. Not with the Beatles and LZ out there, but maybe 4, 3, and then 2 for the Stones? Ugh, there's also Bowie. Crikey.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Olivia Newton John. Born in Cambridge, England.

Eligible.

I'll show myself out. (not gonna lie, she's got one song that's a serious contender here.)

No way I can do the thing where I limit myself to 1 song per artist with the Stevie (2) and Aretha (2) exceptions though. Not with the Beatles and LZ out there, but maybe 4, 3, and then 2 for the Stones? Ugh, there's also Bowie. Crikey.

There are entire scenes where the Brits have little to no presence, which makes the winnowing process a little easier IMO. But still hard.

 

[DrIanMalcolm]

There are entire scenes where the Brits have little to no presence, which makes the winnowing process a little easier IMO. But still hard.

Yeah, there is that. The major artists have such a high concentration that it's hard to chop them down a lot, but on the other hand, the jazz, funk, R&B and hip hop scenes are completely out of the picture here, much to their detriment.

 

[rockaction]

Sorry about Cassidy, Pip.

 

[rockaction]

I was reading Andy's comment. One hopes it was in good spirits rather than a swipe.

That said, I reserve the right to be as pretentious and as tendentious as they come and inevitably get hoisted upon my own petard because of that. Chances are that you've already forgotten U.K. acts that I've never heard.

I'm also really weak in anything but chalk U.K. stuff, so my playlist will be hit after hit after hit on pre-BBC rock pirate radio and subsequent Peel stuff. I just looked at some best of all-time U.K. lists and it's way more daunting than the American acts, IMO.

So I'm very much in, though I don't know how often I'll be hitting the comment section. I found that singling things out last time proved to be sort of giving meritorious picks short shrift and all that. I also don't know how much time I'll have in discovery, though I'd like to do that here and there. Just can't every day.

Anyway, that's a really long way of saying that I'm certainly in.

 

[Don Quixote]

There are entire scenes where the Brits have little to no presence, which makes the winnowing process a little easier IMO. But still hard.

Yeah, there is that. The major artists have such a high concentration that it's hard to chop them down a lot, but on the other hand, the jazz, funk, R&B and hip hop scenes are completely out of the picture here, much to their detriment.

I have a few like Amy Winehouse and MIA on my shortlist of around 50 or so, but, yeah, not a ton.

 

[jwb]

There are entire scenes where the Brits have little to no presence, which makes the winnowing process a little easier IMO. But still hard.

Yeah, there is that. The major artists have such a high concentration that it's hard to chop them down a lot, but on the other hand, the jazz, funk, R&B and hip hop scenes are completely out of the picture here, much to their detriment.

Hot Chocolate jumped to mind. I love Every 1's a Winner. Ineligible though - singer was born in Jamaica.

 

[rockaction]

Whoops. Never mind. Safe to say without spoiling that I'm right there providing some dance, r & b, and hip hop. Fix up, look sharp, fellas. Put on your best dressed, we're going out to the clubs in London.

I will remain mum on how firmly ensconced my selections are, only to say that I probably have at least two already named firmly in the top thirty-one.

 

[rockaction]

Post, prog, and punk rock, too. Fun stuff. I won't list any, but they're there. Should be an interesting countdown.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

A kind soul has vetted Jethro Tull for me and reports the following:

Songs from A (1980) are ineligible because of Mark Craney (drums, born in US).
Songs from Crest of a Knave (1987), Rock Island (1989), Catfish Rising (1991), Roots to Branches (1995), J Tull Dot Com (1999) and The Jethro Tull Christmas Album (2003) are ineligible because of Doane Perry (drums, born in US).

American drummers strike again!

 

[Hawks64]

I might have 7 different bands tops in this list.

I'm going to struggle to have more than 5, because like @shuke I'm going to need a list of actual bands

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I might have 7 different bands tops in this list.

I'm going to struggle to have more than 5, because like @shuke I'm going to need a list of actual bands

I’ll start:
Beatles
Bill Wyman

 

[Hawks64]

I have a list in already, plus a "last five out."

I was off work this week and I needed something to take my mind off things because I don't think we're going to have Cassidy for much longer.

Aw, I'm so sorry. It had sounded like Cassidy had been doing better.

He had been. But these things can turn quickly. On Friday they did.

Really sorry to hear @Pip's Invitation that just f'ing sucks.

 

[Hawks64]

I might have 7 different bands tops in this list.

I'm going to struggle to have more than 5, because like @shuke I'm going to need a list of actual bands

I’ll start:
Beatles
Bill Wyman

I would expect mine to be heavy on 3 or 4 bands...so pretty much like that last list

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I might have 7 different bands tops in this list.

I'm going to struggle to have more than 5, because like @shuke I'm going to need a list of actual bands

I’ll start:
Beatles
Bill Wyman

I would expect mine to be heavy on 3 or 4 bands...so pretty much like that last list

I’m doing one song per artist/band (with a few instances of a solo artist on my list also being in a band on my list).
Since it’s songs and not albums - it’s very easy to spread out for me because there are many songs I love - despite not going deep into the band/artist (especially with 80s music).

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I could easily only have Beatles and/or Stones songs - but I don’t find that as fun - so they’ll just get locked into top 5 slots.

 

[Chaos34]

I might have 7 different bands tops in this list.

I'm going to struggle to have more than 5, because like @shuke I'm going to need a list of actual bands

I’ll start:
Beatles
Bill Wyman

I would expect mine to be heavy on 3 or 4 bands...so pretty much like that last list

I’m doing one song per band (with a few instance of a solo artist also being in a band on my list).
Since it’s songs and not albums - it’s very easy to spread out for me because there are songs I love - despite not going deep into the band/artist (especially with 80s music).

Same. I think. Let me check.

I now have six songs by different artists. My 7th probably ruled out by a Jamaican, but I consider him a session guy (lead singer who appears on multiple tracks and albums...haha). So, I'll need a ruling.

Also, krista, I've formatted all six songs differently on my list. Keeping up with this may be harder than choosing songs.

 

[AAABatteries]

I might have 7 different bands tops in this list.

I'm going to struggle to have more than 5, because like @shuke I'm going to need a list of actual bands

I’m happy to share my artist list with you (or anyone else) if you want.

 

[timschochet]

Didn’t see this until now. In if you’ll have me. Should be fun.

 

[Chaos34]

I could easily only have Beatles and/or Stones songs - but I don’t find that as fun - so they’ll just get locked into top 5 slots.

I woke up very early this morning and decided to get The Beatles out the way. It took me less than an hour to pick one song and that's that. So, I moved on to Pink Floyd. It's a much bigger problem for me. Can. Not. Pick.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Bill Wyman

If anyone was picking this song - I’m sorry (in every aspect of the word).

 

[krista4]

Where are @simey and @falguy ?

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Where are @simey and @falguy ?

Maybe they eloped?

 

[Don Quixote]

I might have 7 different bands tops in this list.

I'm going to struggle to have more than 5, because like @shuke I'm going to need a list of actual bands

I’m happy to share my artist list with you (or anyone else) if you want.

Happy to share artists in my prelim list as well.

Although I was just looking sober at what I pulled together last night, and realized it looks like I just cut and pasted some stuff from various Wes Anderson soundtracks. Gonna have to make some tweaks.