MAD - Artist - Round 4 - #1's have been posted (10 Viewers)

[krista4]

On a serious note, what are the rules here?
Would “Top 31 songs from musicians who previously had become famous as part of a band or duo” be alright?

No rules, and yes.

 

[Yo Mama]

My theme draft theme is going to sound like a scenes from a hat idea from the Who’s Line Is It Anyway improv show.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

#17 Parliament - "Theme From The Black Hole"

I've been dancing around a common theme in P-Funk/Bootsy records and I'm not gonna address it because I don't feel like getting a timeout, but this song makes it kind of hard to miss. If anyone is surprised Bootsy Collins has a writing credit on it, they haven't been paying attention.

That said.........even though this one came pretty close to the end of the assembly-line in their run, it freaking jams. The handclaps have become cliche, maybe, but were fresh as hell when the record was released. There are like seven different singers with lead parts. The groups was running out of ideas, though, for a bunch of reasons.

Next, let's check out what Bootsy had to say in 1977

 

[krista4]

17. Only You (and You Alone) from Goodnight Vienna (1974)

Previously ranked #18 - prior write-up below

Ringo recorded this cover of the Buck Ram song (first recorded in 1954 by The Platters) at the suggestion of John, who played acoustic guitar and provided a guide vocal here, with Harry Nilsson on backing vocals. John’s version was also released in the Anthology series. This version was released as a single and hit #6 on the US charts. I don’t have it higher because I never much cared for the original version. My favorite part of this song is the hilariously sincere spoken-word part in the middle. An equally hilarious music video with Harry Nilsson was shot for this song.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

On a serious note, what are the rules here?

Rule #1: There are no rules!!!
Rule #2: Must have a theme

 

[Uruk-Hai]

17. Only You (and You Alone) from Goodnight Vienna (1974)

Previously ranked #18 - prior write-up below

Ringo recorded this cover of the Buck Ram song (first recorded in 1954 by The Platters) at the suggestion of John, who played acoustic guitar and provided a guide vocal here, with Harry Nilsson on backing vocals. John’s version was also released in the Anthology series. This version was released as a single and hit #6 on the US charts. I don’t have it higher because I never much cared for the original version. My favorite part of this song is the hilariously sincere spoken-word part in the middle. An equally hilarious music video with Harry Nilsson was shot for this song.

I may have talked about this song in the original thread, but The Platters covered themselves on a rerecording and it then became a smash. I get why people don't like it, but I'm a sucker for 1950s group harmony. Can't help it and I love The Platters' 2nd version. The original was kind of a mess and murky.

I love Ringo's, too.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

17.


Song: What Light
Artist: Wilco
Album: Sky Blue Sky
Year: 2007


If you feel like singing a song
And you want other people to sing along
Then just sing what you feel
Don't let anyone say it's wrong

And if you're trying to paint a picture
But you're not sure which colors belong
Just paint what you see
Don't let anyone say it's wrong



I love the message espoused by this Dylanesque gem – if you’re an artist, don’t let anyone tell you how to be an artist and ignore the critics.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

“Top 31 guitarists never to be in my kitchen “ not available?

I had to have seen the guitarist play live at least once - but I've seem some on the list over 35 times.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Yes #17 - Cinema / Leave It
Album - 90125 (1983)

My first set of paired up songs. Like Anytime by Journey, it would be a crime to split these two songs up. The instrumental Cinema is a perfect lead in to the vocally incredible Leave it and it’s always weird to me to hear one without the other. Yoda voice: “there is another” song pairing further up my list.

Cinema was originally part of a 20-minute song by the group Cinema (everyone on this iteration of Yes before Jon Anderson rejoined the group). It actually won the Grammy for best rock instrumental - their only Grammy win.

Leave It was the only song on 90125 written by the Cinema gang that wasn’t rearranged when Anderson jumped back in and the only song on the album he wasn’t on the writing credits for.

They had an interesting video for Leave It linked below. It was an early adopter of computer generated technology and there was actually an MTV special on the making of this video since it took so long to create (there were 18 different versions of the video made).

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

 

[kupcho1]

The Clash

kupcho1

Rudie Can't Fail Rudie Can't Fail - Remastered The Clash · London Calling (Remastered) · Song · 1979 open.spotify.com

#17, Rudie Can't Fail, is the 4th off of London Calling. I love it because it is such an energetic, upbeat song. Perhaps that's because of what the song is about.
From songfacts:

A "Rudie" is a "Rude Boy," which is a term for the first English generation born to Jamaican parents who had immigrated to England - the so called JamEnglish generation. These "Rude Boys" were often looked down upon as irresponsible, which is the theme of this song, but others would celebrate their ways as a rebellious expression of freedom.

I went on at length on the last song, so I'll keep this writeup short and sweet.

You're looking pretty smart
(Chicken skin suit) with your chicken skin suit
You think you're pretty hot
(Pork pie hat) In the pork pie hat

 

[kupcho1]

Johnny Marr

Eephus

The The--The Beat(en) Generation The Beat(en) Generation - Remastered The The · Mind Bomb · Song · 1989 open.spotify.com

Fantastic song; maybe one of the best of 1989. I had no idea Johnny Marr was involved.

 

[Yambag]

17's PLAYLIST

Ryan Star

Yambag

My Life With You My Life With You Ryan Star · A N G E L S + A N I M A L S · Song · 2014 open.spotify.com

Mrs. Yambag’s favorite song as it spoke to her dreams as a young girl growing up in a toxic household, hoping and dreaming for a better future and feeling like she finally found it.

 

[KarmaPolice]

#17: JOURNEY - JUST THE SAME WAY

- YouTube

Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.

www.youtube.com

I've been waiting a bit to unleash this video. 70s Journey makes me so happy. Outfits are outstanding, Rolie and Perry playing off each other on vocals, and just a bit more groove to the tunes. The finger point to camera at 1:50 is just and cracks me up every time. A big difference between shows like this and the Houston '81 show just a couple years later that was linked before. Speaking of The Midnight Special, there was also a version of this song on there too. Neal bringing the goods more way than one with the solo at the end.

- YouTube

Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.

www.youtube.com

About the lyrics, I just found it funny that they went back to the well on the same album with the "squeezing" stuff on this song.

Oh, no, you should be holdin' on to him girl.
Oh, yeah just like, just like you want to do.
Oh, no, just love and squeeze him girl.
Oh, yeah just love and squeeze him yeah.

Spoiler alert, the other song from the album is the one that I really don't like from the first 9-10 albums. Of course it's one of their biggest hits.

Next: another rocker from Look into the Future.

 

[KarmaPolice]

#17: LORD HURON - MINE FOREVER

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Another track, another slower tune with themes of love and love lost. Watching the link today also reminded me that I haven't talked about the videos Lord Huron puts out and how fun and cinematic they tend to be.

If you're ever gonna leave this place
Don't wait, it's time to go
If you really wanna stay, I'll go alone
If you tell me where to meet
Then I'll wait 'til I turn to bones
Oh, we really should've left here long ago


Next up: A cover!!! @Pip's Invitation can tell me if it is a quality one....

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#17 - Robyn - Time Machine​

- YouTube

Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.

m.youtube.com

Producer - Max Martin and Shellback
Writer - Robyn, Klas Åhlund, Max Martin, Shellback and Sophia Somajo
Chart Positions - #54 Sweden. Not released as a single
Album - Body Talk Pt 3
Year - 2010
Collaborator History - Shellback is a Max Martin protege.
At the age of 16, Schuster met Max Martin through a mutual friend. By that time, according to an interview in the Swedish music magazine Stim-magasinet, Schuster's taste in music was "too cool for school" and he had no interest in pop music whatsoever. Julius kept sending Schuster's indie rock-death metal demos to Martin, who became curious about what it would sound like if Schuster were to make pop music. So in 2006 Martin invited Schuster to his studio in Stockholm to record a demo with him, and since 2007 Schuster has been signed to Martin's production company Maratone.

Shellback has turned into one of modern musics biggest names. As a songwriter and producer. Sometimes with Max Martin, sometimes without.
Sophia Somajo is an artist in her own right, with a production company called “Do it Yourself B*tch productions”
She says “Somajo has written songs under her name for Swedish artists Robyn and Style of Eye, and under a number of pseudonyms for Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys, Alesso, Adam Lambert, and other artists. One of the pseudonyms she has used is Tiffany Amber. She described her use of pseudonyms as a way to manage expectations with her own music. In a 2018 interview with Popjustice, Somajo recalled being expected to work as a singer with teams of male songwriters and music producers. She noted producer Max Martin as an exception to that trend, who saw her as equivalent to male producers and gave her a chance to write and produce music. “
We will leave Max Martin until his last track with Robyn

Key Lyric - So all I need is a time machine
A one way track
'Cause I'm taking it back, taking it back
All I want is a DeLorean
If I could go just like that
I'll be taking it back, taking it back (hey)

Notes - This is a fun bit of pop nonsense with a heavy 80s throwback complete with references to Deloreans and a singing robot voice.
“Robyn collaborated with Swedish producer Max Martin on the song "Time Machine". Martin was responsible for producing Robyn's US early breakthrough hits, which both charted inside the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1996 and 1997. She said of the collaboration: "It was nostalgic to go back into the studio together. For me, it's perfect timing – I've come full circle. It's a way for me to show that I'm not trying to distance myself from where I come from. It's still all about the songs”

Next up - The only track we will see with Röyksopp. We saw 6 in the countdown i did with the Norwegians, but while i could have included them all here, to showcase Robyn i only included one.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Round 17 - Peace Is Just A Word - The Eurythmics

From their album Peace.

 

[Tau837]

Eddie Vedder

Tau837

Insignificance - YouTube Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. www.youtube.com

"Insignificance" is a track from Pearl Jam's 2000 album "Binaural." Written by Eddie, the song is a fiery, politically charged piece that reflects the band's introspection and frustration with societal and global issues at the time. Its combination of driving instrumentation and pointed lyrics make it one of the standout tracks on the album.

The lyrics delve into themes of war, power, and the destructive consequences of political and societal decisions. The lyrics reference the indiscriminate nature of violence, with lines like "Bombs dropping down, please forgive our hometown" highlighting the collateral damage of war. Eddie expresses frustration with how governments and leaders justify such actions without regard for the human cost.

The title itself, "Insignificance," suggests the feeling of being small and ineffective in a world dominated by larger forces. This is reinforced by lines like "I’m just a whisper, a distant memory." It reflects the struggle to make an impact in a world overwhelmed by chaos and destruction. Despite the grim subject matter, the song carries an undertone of defiance, as if urging listeners to recognize the broader implications of their actions and resist complacency.

The song is propelled by a strong, rhythmic guitar riff and Matt Cameron’s tight drumming, creating a sense of urgency. Stone Gossard and Mike McCready’s guitars create a wall of sound, balancing aggression with melodic undertones. Eddie’s impassioned vocal delivery emphasizes the weight of the lyrics, moving between simmering restraint and fiery intensity. The song’s production, utilizing binaural recording techniques, gives it a unique spatial quality, enhancing the immersive listening experience.

"Insignificance" is celebrated as a thought-provoking and powerful song in Pearl Jam’s discography. Its critique of war and media manipulation remains relevant, and its blend of lyrical depth and musical intensity exemplifies the band’s ability to address complex issues without sacrificing their signature rock sound. Fans have also embraced the song for its raw intensity and meaningful message, often interpreting it as a rallying cry against apathy.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I love seeing bands like Candlebox and Our Lady Peace on the playlists. Bands I remember really digging an album or two at the most, but hearing 0% of anything else from them. I've been trying to find something that triggers a deeper dive from me, but I haven't hit that with examples I had thought of. These were great ones I hadn't thought of. The closest I came was Better Than Ezra.
.

Totally agree. Even Vedder is in this category to me. He lasted longer but not by much, his star was among the brightest, then many of us looked away. I’ve enjoyed more than I thought I would.

Better than Ezra would be an interesting list.

If I were to choose a list based on this criteria, it would probably be the Offspring. Counting crows almost qualifies.

Counting Crows would be a good one for me too - I've only heard 2 albums and played Recovering the Satellites a lot in that same era. Toad the Wet Sprocket was another random one that I had written down along with Soul Asylum. Both of those I was surprised to see albums before the 90s.

‘80s Soul Asylum is VERY different from ‘90s Soul Asylum.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I love seeing bands like Candlebox and Our Lady Peace on the playlists. Bands I remember really digging an album or two at the most, but hearing 0% of anything else from them. I've been trying to find something that triggers a deeper dive from me, but I haven't hit that with examples I had thought of. These were great ones I hadn't thought of. The closest I came was Better Than Ezra.
.

Totally agree. Even Vedder is in this category to me. He lasted longer but not by much, his star was among the brightest, then many of us looked away. I’ve enjoyed more than I thought I would.

Better than Ezra would be an interesting list.

If I were to choose a list based on this criteria, it would probably be the Offspring. Counting crows almost qualifies.

Counting Crows would be a good one for me too - I've only heard 2 albums and played Recovering the Satellites a lot in that same era. Toad the Wet Sprocket was another random one that I had written down along with Soul Asylum. Both of those I was surprised to see albums before the 90s.

‘80s Soul Asylum is VERY different from ‘90s Soul Asylum.

The couple songs I skimmed sounded more like The Replacements.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I love seeing bands like Candlebox and Our Lady Peace on the playlists. Bands I remember really digging an album or two at the most, but hearing 0% of anything else from them. I've been trying to find something that triggers a deeper dive from me, but I haven't hit that with examples I had thought of. These were great ones I hadn't thought of. The closest I came was Better Than Ezra.
.

Totally agree. Even Vedder is in this category to me. He lasted longer but not by much, his star was among the brightest, then many of us looked away. I’ve enjoyed more than I thought I would.

Better than Ezra would be an interesting list.

If I were to choose a list based on this criteria, it would probably be the Offspring. Counting crows almost qualifies.

Counting Crows would be a good one for me too - I've only heard 2 albums and played Recovering the Satellites a lot in that same era. Toad the Wet Sprocket was another random one that I had written down along with Soul Asylum. Both of those I was surprised to see albums before the 90s.

‘80s Soul Asylum is VERY different from ‘90s Soul Asylum.

The couple songs I skimmed sounded more like The Replacements.

Yep. I saw them in 1993 on a bill with the Spin Doctors and Screaming Trees -- holy '90s, Batman! -- and much of their non-Grave Dancers Union material sounded like the 'Mats to me.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#17: LORD HURON - MINE FOREVER

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Another track, another slower tune with themes of love and love lost. Watching the link today also reminded me that I haven't talked about the videos Lord Huron puts out and how fun and cinematic they tend to be.

If you're ever gonna leave this place
Don't wait, it's time to go
If you really wanna stay, I'll go alone
If you tell me where to meet
Then I'll wait 'til I turn to bones
Oh, we really should've left here long ago


Next up: A cover!!! @Pip's Invitation can tell me if it is a quality one....

Is it Neil? I don't think people would "at" me if it wasn't Neil.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

17. Too Much Thinking
Album: Never Surrender (Canada 1982, US 1983)
Writers: Rik Emmett, Mike Levine and Gil Moore
Lead vocals: Gil Moore
Chart History: None
Video?: No
Lyrical category: Vaguely political

Rik Emmett is not the kind of guitarist who uses much distortion or pedal trickery. But it is all over "Too Much Thinking," the opener to Triumph's Never Surrender album, and is one of several reasons why the song is an outlier in the band's catalog.

It opens with a sound collage of news clips, including the voice of then-President Reagan, before hurtling headlong into what's probably the nastiest riff Emmett ever played. What follows is five and a half minutes of guitar mayhem, and perhaps the only '80s Triumph track that would have sounded at home in the grunge era. The playing from all three members exudes an angry kind of energy that we didn't usually get from the band, before fading out into more sound clips, including Reagan again and a Valley Girl.

The song is also unique in that its lyrics match the anger of the music -- and are in fact downright nihilistic in spots. Some lines refer to an impending nuclear war, as was common in the zeitgeist of the time; we were at the height of the Cold War, after all. This is not at all what we had come to expect from a band that believed so strongly in the power of positive thinking.

Steal away each and everyone
Contemplate the madness before the deed is done
See tomorrow coming, shake the hand of fate
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Is it all too late
Prophets of doom fearful of the violence
Preaching to no one at all

As I've said earlier in this thread, the band's bitterness toward its label RCA around this time -- the relationship would deteriorate completely after the release of this album -- is the only thing I can think of that explains why Never Surrender has some downright abrasive songs and the rest of the band's catalog has pretty much none. But it got Rik Emmett to push himself out of his comfort zone to spectacular effect, so at least listeners got something out of the deal.

The aggression and grunge-esque noises of this track surprised me when I came upon it for my listening; I hadn't listened to it in probably decades and it sounded fresh to my ears. Where I ended up ranking it was probably the biggest surprise for me when I was making my list.

"Too Much Thinking" is also an outlier in the band's catalog because it was performed live despite their unofficial rule of "no downer songs in the setlist". How could it not be with those riffs and that energy? It opened most shows of the Never Surrender tour, including at their highest-profile gig, on "Metal Day" of US Festival '83, before 500,000 people. (It is not included on the album and DVD of that performance because of technical difficulties with the sound.) There are only two documented performances after the Never Surrender tour, as the band returned to downer-free setlists after that.

Live version from Dallas in 1983 or 1984: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U28H8g1xJT4

At #16, the proggiest, and oldest, song in this countdown.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Thoughts on the #17s of artists I know well:

Yes -- Unlike the other pair that I presume is coming, I don't recall "Cinema" and "Leave It" being played on the radio together (only "Leave It"), and when I saw them in 1987, they played "Cinema" without "Leave It". In any case, these are another example of how the band adapted their adventurousness of the '70s to the sounds of the '80s.

Tweedy/Wilco -- "What Light" is Dylanesque indeed. In fact, it's basically Tweedy doing with Dylan what Dylan did with Woody Guthrie -- adapting his songs to his own material in a way that makes them feel familiar and relatable. To that point, I remember being at a bar in Doylestown, PA a few days after Sky Blue Sky came out and the folksinger dude playing there performed this -- clearly it was an instant classic to him.

My Morning Jacket -- Like "What a Wonderful Man", "Gideon" is a very good song that still manages to be in the lower half of Z for me, because Z is just that good. Excellent arrangement and vocal, but lyrics are too on-the-nose.

P-Funk -- I mean, Sir Mix-a-Lot had to be taking cues from this, no?

Bee Gees -- "To Love Somebody" is another one of their best from the pre-disco era. The vocals are extremely powerful and the arrangement serves them well. It's easy to go schlocky or bombastic with this song, but they never do.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

The groups was running out of ideas, though, for a bunch of reasons.

They ran out of holes/positions?

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Liked ATE, Lord Huron, Parliament, Candlebox, Robyn, and Pretty Reckless.

Listened to Candlebox twice. That's very pretty.

 

[kupcho1]

Maybe it's just my familiarity with the artists, but Yes, Journey, Eurythmics, Whitney Houston, R.E.M., Radiohead and the Bee Gees have had some solid winners and we're only up to (down to?) 17.

 

[Yambag]

17's

Known: Whitney, REM, Radiohead, Bee Gees

Caught My Attention
Johnny Marr - The Beat(en) Generation
Lindsey Sterling: The Upside
Triumph: Too Much Thinking
Airborne Toxic Event: California
Robyn: Time Machine
Candlebox: Sweet Summertime

 

[Mt. Man]

I’m getting to the #18s someone late (after the #17s have been posted, even) as life’s been busy. Fortunately I finally have some time off to listen to music and relax, which I really need. So here’s a small sample of what shined for me:

Selected (And Shuffled) Favorites:
All For You - Our Lady Peace
Let Down - Radiohead. My #1 from them, and one of my favorite songs period.
Do You Know (What it Takes) - Robyn
And So It Went - The Pretty Reckless (ft Tom Morello)
Anytime - Journey. All commentary about paired songs aside, glad to see it here.
Rhythm of Love - Yes
Come On Out - The Airborne Toxic Event
The Wait - Built To Spill
Smooth Operator - Ragunde (via Big Room category)

Shuffle Adventures:
In the “definitely not a pair I’d immediately link together” category, I though Lord Huron’s “Ancient Names (Part 1)” worked well with “Straight to Hell” from The Clash. Both bringing high-energy songs with powerful vocals, if… slightly different messages.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

I was recently made aware of something that I wanted to share here. Don't know who has or hasn't seen it, but it leads me to ask:

Who wouldn't fall in love with Whitney Houston after seeing her reaction at the end of this?

 

[KarmaPolice]

Maybe it's just my familiarity with the artists, but Yes, Journey, Eurythmics, Whitney Houston, R.E.M., Radiohead and the Bee Gees have had some solid winners and we're only up to (down to?) 17.

As in you aren't overly familiar with this group of artists and have been surprised by the quality?

 

[-OZ-]

18s - good stuff overall, I don’t have any favorites here but solid all around with many likes. A solid B.

Known likes
Straight to hell
And so it went
Anytime
Finest workdong

New likes
Right now
Rhythm of Love
Box full of Letters
Holding on to that metal
Do you know
Don’t count me out

 

[kupcho1]

Maybe it's just my familiarity with the artists, but Yes, Journey, Eurythmics, Whitney Houston, R.E.M., Radiohead and the Bee Gees have had some solid winners and we're only up to (down to?) 17.

As in you aren't overly familiar with this group of artists and have been surprised by the quality?

Nope, very familiar but hadn't dug deep on them in a while. The depth is tremendous

 

[zamboni]

A bit behind on my writeups.

The Bee Gees

zamboni

Edge of the Universe Edge Of The Universe Bee Gees · Main Course · Song · 1975 open.spotify.com

One of their longer '70s tunes and off their Main Course album, "Edge of the Universe" has a bit of a country-like element to it, maybe with a tinge of Beach Boys as well. Some vibrant keyboard work by Blue Weaver, with a captivating melody and bridge. And Dennis Bryon's drum work over the last minute or so is pretty impressive. The original studio version never charted in the U.S., although a few years later (1977) the band released a live album in which the live version hit #26 in the States.

The Bee Gees

zamboni

To Love Somebody To Love Somebody Bee Gees · Bee Gees' 1st · Song · 1967 open.spotify.com

Shifting back to their debut album, "To Love Somebody" was their second international/U.S. hit (reaching #17 in the States). Really nice orchestral arrangement with emotional vocal performance by Barry and harmonized chorus with the brothers. Has a nice soulful element that probably fit in rather well with the great Motown efforts that were permeating the airwaves at the time. In fact, some (unsubstantiated) accounts say that the song was written for Otis Redding and that he died before having a chance to record it. Per Wiki: "Redding came to see Barry at the Plaza in New York City one night. Robin claimed that "Otis Redding said he loved our material and would Barry write him a song"". That said, Barry later indicated that he wrote it for his manager Robert Stigwood as admiration for getting them to where they were.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Maybe it's just my familiarity with the artists, but Yes, Journey, Eurythmics, Whitney Houston, R.E.M., Radiohead and the Bee Gees have had some solid winners and we're only up to (down to?) 17.

As in you aren't overly familiar with this group of artists and have been surprised by the quality?

Nope, very familiar but hadn't dug deep on them in a while. The depth is tremendous

Ten of the remaining Annie Lennox songs should be ones that everyone knows. It was fun filling out the dance card.

 

[Eephus]

Marr #17 / Collaboration #6: The The - The Beat(en) Generation (1989)

Johnny was Manchester mates with Matt Johnson of The The before The Smiths were a band. He'd slept on Johnson's couch in London while working on the Smiths' record deal with Rough Trade. They'd always talked about playing music together but their other projects got in the way until 1989. After The Smiths' breakup, Marr and Johnson met backstage at an Iggy Pop show in London and it was Iggy himself who suggested that they work together. The The has always been a Johnson solo project but for the next six years, they maintained a stable lineup including Marr on guitars and harmonica. This group put out two albums, Mind Bomb and Dusk, that I think are the finest of Johnson's career.

"The Beat(en) Generation" was the first single off of Mind Bomb. It's a shuffle propelled by Johnny's harmonica interludes but the jaunty tune belies Johnson's lyrics that still ring true 35 years on.

When you cast your eyes upon the skylines
Of this once proud nation
Can you sense the fear and the hatred
Growing in the hearts of its population

And youth, oh youth, are being seduced
By the greedy hands of politics and half truths

The beaten generation
The beaten generation
Reared on a diet of prejudice and mis-information

The Beat(en) Generation - Remastered

The The · Mind Bomb · Song · 1989

open.spotify.com

 

[KarmaPolice]

Maybe it's just my familiarity with the artists, but Yes, Journey, Eurythmics, Whitney Houston, R.E.M., Radiohead and the Bee Gees have had some solid winners and we're only up to (down to?) 17.

As in you aren't overly familiar with this group of artists and have been surprised by the quality?

Nope, very familiar but hadn't dug deep on them in a while. The depth is tremendous

Ten of the remaining Annie Lennox songs should be ones that everyone knows. It was fun filling out the dance card.

Translation - I will probably know 2-3.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Maybe it's just my familiarity with the artists, but Yes, Journey, Eurythmics, Whitney Houston, R.E.M., Radiohead and the Bee Gees have had some solid winners and we're only up to (down to?) 17.

As in you aren't overly familiar with this group of artists and have been surprised by the quality?

Nope, very familiar but hadn't dug deep on them in a while. The depth is tremendous

Ten of the remaining Annie Lennox songs should be ones that everyone knows. It was fun filling out the dance card.

Translation - I will probably know 2-3.

Not unless you were living under a rock in Outer Slabovia.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Maybe it's just my familiarity with the artists, but Yes, Journey, Eurythmics, Whitney Houston, R.E.M., Radiohead and the Bee Gees have had some solid winners and we're only up to (down to?) 17.

As in you aren't overly familiar with this group of artists and have been surprised by the quality?

Nope, very familiar but hadn't dug deep on them in a while. The depth is tremendous

Ten of the remaining Annie Lennox songs should be ones that everyone knows. It was fun filling out the dance card.

Translation - I will probably know 2-3.

Not unless you were living under a rock in Outer Slabovia.

I will give you an honest count how many i know.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Maybe it's just my familiarity with the artists, but Yes, Journey, Eurythmics, Whitney Houston, R.E.M., Radiohead and the Bee Gees have had some solid winners and we're only up to (down to?) 17.

As in you aren't overly familiar with this group of artists and have been surprised by the quality?

Nope, very familiar but hadn't dug deep on them in a while. The depth is tremendous

Ten of the remaining Annie Lennox songs should be ones that everyone knows. It was fun filling out the dance card.

Translation - I will probably know 2-3.

Not unless you were living under a rock in Outer Slabovia.

I will give you an honest count how many i know.

You may only know nine of them. Quite a few have been selected in previous drafts. One will likely turn up in the theme draft, although not on my list.

 

[Mt. Man]

Candlebox #17
Song: Sweet Summertime
Album: Love Stories & Other Musings (2012)

(youtube version) Sweet Summertime - YouTube
(Live version) Candlebox - "Sweet Summer Time" (TELEFUNKEN Live From The Lab)

The summertime you make me feel right
There's something in my heart baby
You're turning me on and on
And it makes me wanna come undone

–
This is our second and last trip to “Love Stories & Other Musings”. Part of it having the fewest of the main albums is having 9 (new) songs, though there was also just too much to pack into 31 spots. See also below.

As for the song itself? It’s pretty simply a poppy summertime feel-good offering. Catchy, upbeat, great for warm sunny days, you know the drill. Kevin Martin talked about it thusly: "It's inspired by what my job does, where it takes me, and how far it takes me away from my family."

–
Next on the countdown,.another upbeat song, at least on the surface. Though nothing to the point of being frustrating or troublesome.

Bonus song: "Come Home"

Come Home

Candlebox · Love Stories & Other Musings · Song · 2012

open.spotify.com

For me, "Come Home" was next closest from this album to making it. I'll leave it to the eye of the beholder (or at least the ear of the listener) whether it deserved more love.

 

[kupcho1]

Maybe it's just my familiarity with the artists, but Yes, Journey, Eurythmics, Whitney Houston, R.E.M., Radiohead and the Bee Gees have had some solid winners and we're only up to (down to?) 17.

As in you aren't overly familiar with this group of artists and have been surprised by the quality?

Nope, very familiar but hadn't dug deep on them in a while. The depth is tremendous

Ten of the remaining Annie Lennox songs should be ones that everyone knows. It was fun filling out the dance card.

Translation - I will probably know 2-3.

Not unless you were living under a rock in Outer Slabovia.

I will give you an honest count how many i know.

You may only know nine of them. Quite a few have been selected in previous drafts. One will likely turn up in the theme draft, although not on my list.

No peeking! That's my shtick.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I will have to look to see if I even have enough ideas to make it work. I was thinking my shtick for the Krista draft will be 31 songs from artists NOT on Shuke's 1000+ artist countdown.

 

[Mt. Man]

I will have to look to see if I even have enough ideas to make it work. I was thinking my shtick for the Krista draft will be 31 songs from artists NOT on Shuke's 1000+ artist countdown.

I'm sure that's doable. You could definitely take some... inspiration from the various M-AD countdowns, and then there are some decently well-known bands yet to be covered. I suppose the main "danger" is if he spotlights some of your picks during the countdown.

 

[Tau837]

I will have to look to see if I even have enough ideas to make it work. I was thinking my shtick for the Krista draft will be 31 songs from artists NOT on Shuke's 1000+ artist countdown.

I just looked at my Music app on my laptop, and I have 1674 artists in my library. Granted, the way the app works is if you have "Eddie Vedder and Neil Young" that is a different artist than Eddie alone and Neil alone, so perhaps the reasonable number is lower.

But it is decidedly slanted toward artists in the 1960s to 2000s, not very much from the past 15 years. As a very simple example, I have nothing in there from the Pretty Reckless or Lindsey Stirling, who have really impressed me in this countdown. I'm sure there are plenty of other artists I don't have who have quality music that could be included.

I think it is very likely I could build at least a solid list from artists not in @shuke 's countdown.

 

[Tau837]

Got behind and trying to catch up. Listened to the #18 playlist. Other than my own song:

• Favorites already known to me:
  • Yes - Rhythm of Love
  • Journey - Anytime
• Favorites new to me:
  • The Walkmen - On the Water
  • Built To Spill - The Wait
  • The Pretty Reckless, Tom Morello - And So It Went -- you had me at Tom Morello...
  • Lindsey Stirling, Dan + Shay - Those Days -- no idea who Dan + Shay are, but the violin makes it for me
  • Our Lady Peace - All for You
  • Robyn - Do You Know (What It Takes)

Best playlist yet for me.

 

[Mister CIA]

Thanksgiving at my mom's house, where the volume is always cranked up to 11. Currently listening to a documentary about the great storm of 1703 in England. Not helping, my brother decided to stay in a hotel for a couple of days instead. Revenge will be memorable.

On the bright side, I brought my fancy noise-canceling headphones and can catch up on the playlists. Don't shoot me, yet.

 

[Mt. Man]

Is it too cheesy to say that I’m thankful for the #17s? Yeah, probably, but it’s true. Anyway, time to start with a musical appetizer before I feast on football and food later in the day. Here’s some of what felt the most appealing:

Selected (And Shuffled) Favorites
Theme from The Black Hole - P-Funk
Just the Same Way - Journey
Insignificance - Pearl Jam (/Eddie Vedder)
Cinema/Leave It - Yes. Unlike *cough* another pair, I usually heard “Leave It” by itself.
The Beat(en) Generation - The The (/Johnny Marr)
Rudie Can’t Fail - The Clash
Time Machine - Robyn
Mine Forever - Lord Huron
To Love Somebody - Bee Gees
Stab - Built To Spill

Shuffle Adventures
I shouldn’t pick my own tune, right? Too bad as I thought “California” from Airborne Toxic Event worked as a great lead-in to the Candlebox selection. I suppose tying it to R.E.M.’s “Pretty Persuasion” works out fairly well too.

 

[zamboni]

Currently listening to a documentary about the great storm of 1703 in England.

Sounds like a Bee Gees concept album.

 

[zamboni]

They had an interesting video for Leave It linked below. It was an early adopter of computer generated technology and there was actually an MTV special on the making of this video since it took so long to create (there were 18 different versions of the video made).

I remember when MTV played all of those versions consecutively in one sitting. Pretty sure I watched them all.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Currently listening to a documentary about the great storm of 1703 in England.

Sounds like a Bee Gees concept album.

Have you seen my wife, Mr. Zamboni?