Getcha passports ready - the middle-aged dummies are going to the British Isles! Top 31 song countdown. (5 Viewers)

[krista4]

A question has arisen regarding Horace Andy (Jamaican) of Massive Attack. Wiki has him listed as a former member, and many of their albums just list "Musicians" rather than distinguishing band members from session musicians. However, at least two albums do have listings for "Massive Attack" vs. "additional musicians." On those albums (Heligoland and Mezzanine), Horace Andy is listed as an "additional musician." Therefore, I am ruling them eligible.

 

[falguy]

Where are @simey and @falguy ?

I've been pretty busy since Friday. I'll probably participate but didn't want to commit just yet. Traveling Dec 27 (honeymoon with @simey ) for a week so need to make sure I have time to put together a reasonable list.

 

[krista4]

I'd already noted in the third post that three early members of the Bee Gees made most of their pre-1973 catalog ineligible. Check any tracks from those years carefully. A question has arisen about Joe Lala, who played drums on some Saturday Night Fever tracks and possibly otherwise. Mr. Lala, which is a great name for a musician, was never a member of the band, so songs with his contributions remain eligible.

 

[krista4]

Where are @simey and @falguy ?

I've been pretty busy since Friday. I'll probably participate but didn't want to commit just yet. Traveling Dec 27 (honeymoon with @simey ) for a week so need to make sure I have time to put together a reasonable list.

I'm putting you on the "yes" list. Same with Uruk-Hai.

 

[Doug B]

One act for which I'd like to get some input from the house is The Alan Parsons Project.

My understanding is that The Alan Parsons Project is a lot like Steely Dan in make-up and execution: there are just two members (Alan Parsons & Eric Woolfson = Steely Dan's Donald Fagen & Walter Becker) and EVERYONE else is a session player. And then a lot of APP's session players returned to work on multiple albums. Their Wiki article generally backs this up:

The Alan Parsons Project was a British rock band active between 1975 and 1990 whose core membership consisted of producer, audio engineer, musician and composer Alan Parsons and singer, songwriter and pianist Eric Woolfson. They were accompanied by varying session musicians and some relatively consistent session players such as guitarist Ian Bairnson, arranger Andrew Powell, bassist and vocalist David Paton, drummer Stuart Elliott, and vocalists Lenny Zakatek and Chris Rainbow.

All the session players on that list are British-born-&-bred except Lenny Zakatek. Zakatek was born a British subject in what is now Karachi, Pakistan. He moved to the UK as a child. I understand that by the ground rules of this exercise, recordings with Zakatek are ineligible.

Speaking of recordings: something else complicating the eligibility of APP songs is that the band isn't readily defined by what's in the album's liner notes. Their albums' players are simply listed as "Personnel" with no distinction between Parson/Woolfson and the session players.

So, anyway ... what does the house think? Tracks without Zakatek are OK? Or are such tracks still disallowed if Zakatek is on any other track on the same album? In short -- does Zakatek's role as a session vocalist on one song make all the rest of the album ineligible? Or is Zakatek properly considered a session vocalist (Parsons used many), and so doesn't affect the act's eligibility at all?

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Official members

• Alan Parsons – production, engineering, programming, composition, vocals, keyboards, guitars (1975–1990)
• Eric Woolfson – composition, lyrics, piano, keyboards, vocals, executive production (1975–1990)

 

[krista4]

One act for which I'd like to get some input from the house is The Alan Parsons Project.

Agree with Dr. O. Only two official members, so this artist is fully eligible.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Yep. They were basically the British Becker and Fagen.

 

[Westerberg]

I'll play.

 

[simey]

Where are @simey and @falguy ?

I've been pretty busy since Friday. I'll probably participate but didn't want to commit just yet. Traveling Dec 27 (honeymoon with @simey ) for a week so need to make sure I have time to put together a reasonable list.

 

[simey]

Where are @simey and @falguy ?

I just read all of the thread. I'll give you a list. Also, worrierking said he was in, and I don't see him on the list.

 

[zamboni]

One act for which I'd like to get some input from the house is The Alan Parsons Project.

My understanding is that The Alan Parsons Project is a lot like Steely Dan in make-up and execution: there are just two members (Alan Parsons & Eric Woolfson = Steely Dan's Donald Fagen & Walter Becker) and EVERYONE else is a session player. And then a lot of APP's session players returned to work on multiple albums. Their Wiki article generally backs this up:

The Alan Parsons Project was a British rock band active between 1975 and 1990 whose core membership consisted of producer, audio engineer, musician and composer Alan Parsons and singer, songwriter and pianist Eric Woolfson. They were accompanied by varying session musicians and some relatively consistent session players such as guitarist Ian Bairnson, arranger Andrew Powell, bassist and vocalist David Paton, drummer Stuart Elliott, and vocalists Lenny Zakatek and Chris Rainbow.

All the session players on that list are British-born-&-bred except Lenny Zakatek. Zakatek was born a British subject in what is now Karachi, Pakistan. He moved to the UK as a child. I understand that by the ground rules of this exercise, recordings with Zakatek are ineligible.

Speaking of recordings: something else complicating the eligibility of APP songs is that the band isn't readily defined by what's in the album's liner notes. Their albums' players are simply listed as "Personnel" with no distinction between Parson/Woolfson and the session players.

So, anyway ... what does the house think? Tracks without Zakatek are OK? Or are such tracks still disallowed if Zakatek is on any other track on the same album? In short -- does Zakatek's role as a session vocalist on one song make all the rest of the album ineligible? Or is Zakatek properly considered a session vocalist (Parsons used many), and so doesn't affect the act's eligibility at all?

I don’t care what you do.

 

[krista4]

Circling back to those who were in the last draft but haven't committed here. Please let us know if you're in!

@Chaz McNulty
@landrys hat
@MAC_32
@simsarge

@shuke, you have posted but not indicated you're doing it, so please confirm, too.

ETA: neal cassady has let me know he's sitting this one out.

 

[landrys hat]

i'm in

 

[zamboni]

ETA: neal cassady has let me know he's sitting this one out.

Must be on the road.

 

[krista4]

I started to tag a bunch of usual music-thread people, but then was afraid I'd forget someone and look like a jerkface. But please feel free to do so. We have a massive group already, but I think the more the merrier!

 

[krista4]

I had an inquiry regarding Engelbert Humperdinck (born Arnold George Dorsey). He was born in India to British parentage, with his dad having been stationed there as a British Army officer. Therefore, Mr. Humperdinck/Dorsey is eligible.

 

[Hov34]

The English Beat is ineligible. It says English right there in the group name!!!!

SMH

 

[shuke]

@shuke, you have posted but not indicated you're doing it, so please confirm, too.

Depends on due date.

 

[zamboni]

The English Beat is ineligible. It says English right there in the group name!!!!

SMH

I confess to being surprised.

 

[DrIanMalcolm]

Official members

• Alan Parsons – production, engineering, programming, composition, vocals, keyboards, guitars (1975–1990)
• Eric Woolfson – composition, lyrics, piano, keyboards, vocals, executive production (1975–1990)

And now you will experience the awesome lethality of the Alan Parsons project.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

The English Beat is ineligible. It says English right there in the group name!!!!

SMH

The English Beat is ineligible. It says English right there in the group name!!!!

SMH

I confess to being surprised.

So the thing is, the band was known as The Beat everywhere in the world except the US. They were called The English Beat in the US because there was a US-based new wave/power pop band called The Beat. In Europe, the American band was billed as Paul Collins' Beat.

Getting Saxa to join their band was a huge coup for Dave Wakeling et al because Saxa had played on a number of first-wave ska records in the '60s.

"The English Beat Plus One Guy from Jamaica" doesn't have a very good ring to it.

 

[rockaction]

I just cut and pasted some stuff from various Wes Anderson soundtracks.

I could easily have had the same problem.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Good news, though, General Public is eligible. Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger did have Saxa play on a few tracks, but as a guest musician.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Musical Youth is fully eligible. All were born in Birmingham.

I have fifty-one different bands listed. How on Earth are you people having a problem here?

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

@shuke, you have posted but not indicated you're doing it, so please confirm, too.

Depends on due date.

I think it's in january, possibly the 13th.

 

[krista4]

Musical Youth is fully eligible. All were born in Birmingham.

I have fifty-one different bands listed. How on Earth are you people having a problem here?

I have 23 "must-haves" in my artists, and another seven "really-wanna." So 30 on my A list is just about perfect.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Musical Youth is fully eligible. All were born in Birmingham.

I have fifty-one different bands listed. How on Earth are you people having a problem here?

I have 23 "must-haves" in my artists, and another seven "really-wanna." So 30 on my A list is just about perfect.

Braggart. Given that I want more than one for some bands, it's a good thing Queen isn't eligible. As it is, I'll probably end up with a top 100.

 

[Eephus]

So the thing is, the band was known as The Beat everywhere in the world except the US. They were called The English Beat in the US because there was a US-based new wave/power pop band called The Beat. In Europe, the American band was billed as Paul Collins' Beat.

I saw Paul Collins perform at a live bar in SF about a few years ago. He still could rock the house. His band had done a joint US tour with Wakeling's English Beat a little while earlier.

Collins along with Peter Case of Plimsouls and Jack Lee (who wrote "Hanging on the Telephone") made up the legendary LA Power Pop band The Nerves, who broke up before they could record an album.

None of these are eligible

 

[KarmaPolice]

Musical Youth is fully eligible. All were born in Birmingham.

I have fifty-one different bands listed. How on Earth are you people having a problem here?

I have the opposite reaction. I feel like either I am missing a bunch, or just have wildly different tastes in music. I only have 24 in my playlist right now and 5-6 are were just random clicks as I went through and wasn't super sold on the ideas. I might have to triple up on artists' songs at this rate.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Musical Youth is fully eligible. All were born in Birmingham.

I have fifty-one different bands listed. How on Earth are you people having a problem here?

I have the opposite reaction. I feel like either I am missing a bunch, or just have wildly different tastes in music. I only have 24 in my playlist right now and 5-6 are were just random clicks as I went through and wasn't super sold on the ideas. I might have to triple up on artists' songs at this rate.

Given that this is supposed to be a favourites list and I grew up with this stuff, I guess it's not that surprising.

I am finding a lot of Commonwealth stuff.

 

[zamboni]

I have fifty-one different bands listed. How on Earth are you people having a problem here?

Agreed - there may be a lot of bands excluded, but no shortage of others - we’re talking England here, not Liechtenstein.

 

[DrIanMalcolm]

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 about this man.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

The album Double Fantasy is credited to John Lennon and Yoko Ono - but each song is credited to either John Lennon or Yoko Ono.
Obviously the Yoko songs are not eligible (for many many reasons) but are the John songs eligible?

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Musical Youth is fully eligible. All were born in Birmingham.

I have fifty-one different bands listed. How on Earth are you people having a problem here?

I have the opposite reaction. I feel like either I am missing a bunch, or just have wildly different tastes in music. I only have 24 in my playlist right now and 5-6 are were just random clicks as I went through and wasn't super sold on the ideas. I might have to triple up on artists' songs at this rate.

It seems like 80% of the artist/bands in the 80s were British - maybe concentrate on “songs” more than “bands”.

I’m obviously taking plenty of songs by bands I love but maybe 1/5 of my list are songs I love by bands that I haven’t really ever dug deeply into despite loving that particular song or when/if I did, nothing else really stood out for me.

 

[shuke]

@shuke, you have posted but not indicated you're doing it, so please confirm, too.

Depends on due date.

I think it's in january, possibly the 13th.

OK. In.

 

[AAABatteries]

Just because I'm also going to force myself to pick at least one artist from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

I have one song where that one band alone covers this full spectrum.

 

[AAABatteries]

England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

I have one song where that one band alone covers this full spectrum.

I was going for all the members from one country but I’m curious to know which artist you are talking about - I’ll take a PM if you don’t mind.

ETA - I think one of my entries already breaks my rule oh well, I won’t be a stickler with my stupid rule

 

[simey]

I have fifty-one different bands listed. How on Earth are you people having a problem here?

Agreed - there may be a lot of bands excluded, but no shortage of others - we’re talking England here, not Liechtenstein.

I'm having to cut a lot of bands/artists, because I have too many.

Happy Hanukkah, zam, and to all our Jewish friends.

 

[timschochet]

Obviously the Yoko songs are not eligible

Well then the hell with this. If I can’t have “Kiss Kiss Kiss” I’m out.

 

[Tau837]

Yeah, no problem here getting to 50+ artists... limiting to one song per artist, I think it will be easier to cut down to 36 than it was for me with American artists.

 

[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.

Today we said goodbye to Cassidy. A few months ago he was diagnosed with lymphoma and a tumor in his intestines was spotted. On Friday it became apparent that the tumor was starting to prevent his body from doing certain things it’s supposed to do, so we made the call. A hospice service that provides in-home euthanasia came out this morning. Cassidy became our cat after my father-in-law passed away, and now they are reunited.

 

[Manster]

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.

Today we said goodbye to Cassidy. A few months ago he was diagnosed with lymphoma and a tumor in his intestines was spotted. On Friday it became apparent that the tumor was starting to prevent his body from doing certain things it’s supposed to do, so we made the call. A hospice service that provides in-home euthanasia came out this morning. Cassidy became our cat after my father-in-law passed away, and now they are reunited.

Sorry for your loss.....that's the tough thing about pets. Their life span is relatively short. Our dog is 15 and a half....got her before kids. So essentially our first kid. She is still hangin, but I know one day soon gonna have to make the same call. My kids will be devastated.

 

[Manster]

Yeah, no problem here getting to 50+ artists... limiting to one song per artist, I think it will be easier to cut down to 36 than it was for me with American artists.

There's a few artists I simply cannot limit myself to one song only, so I'm not even gonna try.

 

[Sullie]

Okay, I haven't read everything on here but if Wings is "wholly ineligible" because Linda McCartney tapped a tambourine on her thigh (out of rhythm) and mouthed words (off key) - both of which were clearly edited out of the final song releases - thinly veiling her true purpose of acting as a pit bull to keep the mindless groupies at bay then I must file an official protest right here and now. The entire previous sentence may be tongue-in-cheek but I am a little bummed b/c I was born and grew up in the "Wings" era of the fab 4 when it was actually just 1/4 of the fab 4. I still have many fond memories of hearing "band on the run", "listen to what the man said" among many other 70's tunes blaring on the crappy PA system at the local public swimming pool.

 

[simey]

Today we said goodbye to Cassidy. A few months ago he was diagnosed with lymphoma and a tumor in his intestines was spotted. On Friday it became apparent that the tumor was starting to prevent his body from doing certain things it’s supposed to do, so we made the call. A hospice service that provides in-home euthanasia came out this morning. Cassidy became our cat after my father-in-law passed away, and now they are reunited.

I'm sorry for your loss, Pip. Cassidy was lucky to have such a loving family.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Okay, I haven't read everything on here but if Wings is "wholly ineligible" because Linda McCartney tapped a tambourine on her thigh (out of rhythm) and mouthed words (off key) - both of which were clearly edited out of the final song releases - thinly veiling her true purpose of acting as a pit bull to keep the mindless groupies at bay then I must file an official protest right here and now. The entire previous sentence may be tongue-in-cheek but I am a little bummed b/c I was born and grew up in the "Wings" era of the fab 4 when it was actually just 1/4 of the fab 4. I still have many fond memories of hearing "band on the run", "listen to what the man said" among many other 70's tunes blaring on the crappy PA system at the local public swimming pool.

A. You forgot the one-finger synthesizer lines.

B. I believe the plan is after this one to do a third countdown with all artists who weren’t eligible for the first two.

 

[simey]

Okay, I haven't read everything on here but if Wings is "wholly ineligible" because Linda McCartney tapped a tambourine on her thigh (out of rhythm) and mouthed words (off key) - both of which were clearly edited out of the final song releases - thinly veiling her true purpose of acting as a pit bull to keep the mindless groupies at bay then I must file an official protest right here and now. The entire previous sentence may be tongue-in-cheek but I am a little bummed b/c I was born and grew up in the "Wings" era of the fab 4. I still have many fond memories of hearing "band on the run", "listen to what the man said" among many other 70's tunes blaring on the crappy PA system at the local public swimming pool.

She played keyboards sometimes too when it wasn't too technical, but like it or not, she was part of the band. I also heard Wings a lot at the public swimming pool in the 70s. They stand out to me as one of the bands I heard the most during that time period.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Okay, I haven't read everything on here but if Wings is "wholly ineligible" because Linda McCartney tapped a tambourine on her thigh (out of rhythm) and mouthed words (off key) - both of which were clearly edited out of the final song releases - thinly veiling her true purpose of acting as a pit bull to keep the mindless groupies at bay then I must file an official protest right here and now. The entire previous sentence may be tongue-in-cheek but I am a little bummed b/c I was born and grew up in the "Wings" era of the fab 4. I still have many fond memories of hearing "band on the run", "listen to what the man said" among many other 70's tunes blaring on the crappy PA system at the local public swimming pool.

She played keyboards sometimes too when it wasn't too technical, but like it or not, she was part of the band. I also heard Wings a lot at the public swimming pool in the 70s. They stand out to me as one of the bands I heard the most during that time period.

I vividly remember Band on the Run, Jet, Listen to What the Man Said and Silly Love Songs as frequent car radio songs when I was a kid.