Middle-aged Dummies are back and bursting at the "themes" to get going! Full theme ahead! (4 Viewers)

[Mrs. Rannous]

Single (Named) Lady #16 - Rosali - "Hey Heron" (2024)

She has a very pretty voice. I loved this one.

 

[shuke]

15s

Shukelist songs
-OZ- - - I Feel Love - Donna Summer - more Art Bell bumper music
El Floppo – Gone Daddy Gone - Violent Femmes

Saxy!
Don Quixote – Love and Death (Spotify) - Ebo Taylor - maybe? My ear isn't as good tonight, can't tell if that is tenor sax or trumpet
Pip’s Invitation – One Night Stand - Janis Joplin

Known notables
Charlie Steiner – Tomorrow Never Knows - The Beatles - inject this directly into my veins
Dr. Octopus – Winterlong - Neil Young and Crazy Horse (Neil Young)
jwb – Plastic Fantastic Lover (Filmore West Version) - Jefferson Airplane

New to me goodness
Eephus – Hey Heron – Rosali
Chaos34 - Marinade - Dope Lemon

 

[Leroy Hoard]

16. "Late Nights With The Power Pop" - Matthew Sweet (2011)

Who better to write a song with a self-reference to this genre than Matthew Sweet? It's a mid-tempo one, but the title was irresistible.

There hasn't been much news about Sweet since his stroke last year. The only thing I've read was an interview from December where he said he was dealing with likelihood he'd never be able to play guitar again.

I really like a bunch of the covers Matthew did with Susanna Hoffs.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

jwb – songs that sound great on a decent 2-channel system

Plastic Fantastic Lover (Filmore West Version) - Jefferson Airplane

Ok, why the heck is this one on the list? I mean, it sounds ok for live music in the 60’s, but it’s not like it’s overly engineered or anything. In fact, it starts out sounding pretty thin.

But give it a minute or so – this is all about Jefferson Airplane “the band”. They were excellent live, and this song is a great example of good speakers giving you a sense of the entire band. Jack Casady’s bass in particular is superb – around 1:30 or so he really gets moving and drives the song forward, and if anything, the bass gets stronger as the song continues. I love listening to this bassline (this entire live album is noted for its strong bass playing). Marty Balin also makes his second appearance in my list, and gives an excellent vocal.

My friend (the one who now owns a record store) and I used to joke that Marty Balin invented rap on this version of PFL. He goes real fast and sounds like he's rhythmically talking as much as singing.

Growing up, my older sister used to spend her babysitting money on 45 rpm singles from the local discount store. One of them had Plastic Fantastic Lover on the b side of White Rabbit.

On a different note it might be the first recorded song about a blow up doll. Or the less racy opinions that it's about television or Marty's brand new stereo system.

 

[Mt. Man]

#, Please # 15
Song: 57 Channels (And Nothin’ On)
Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Year: 1992

(Official Music Video) Bruce Springsteen - 57 Channels (And Nothin' On)
(Live version) Bruce Springsteen - 57 Channels (And Nothin' On) (from In Concert/MTV Plugged)

4 Lines:
Well now, home entertainment was my baby's wish
So I hopped into town for a satellite dish
I tied it to the top of my Japanese car
I came home and I pointed it out into the stars

Number Theory:
Why 57? I dunno. Well, I suppose that’s not entirely true. Wiki has a quote from Springsteen regarding the music video that mentions it was “Shot back in the quaint days of only 57 channels and no flat screen TVs”. I’ll have to assume that 57 was an approximation, lacking any evidence that Springsteen (or anyone involved) counted the number of channels available at the time.

Like I teased, the “Greatest TV Shows of All Time” thread has a good case for good shows existing for as long as the medium has. And let’s face it, “nothing on” is always hyperbole, and if we lived for 100 more years and didn’t have to work or sleep, we wouldn’t run out of possibilities. Still, if you’ve never had the feeling of having nothing you want to watch, I envy you.

Significant Digits:
Off album#: 9
Track #: 3
The Single charted in 9 countries, including #9 in Norway, #18 in Italy, and #68 in US Billboard Hot 100

Artist crossover with other playlists: 15
(Known: 9) Van Halen (x3) currently in the lead

–
Next on the countdown, the song only mentions a small fraction of the title, but it’s not like I’ve come up with more methods.

 

[simey]

On a different note it might be the first recorded song about a blow up doll.

In my younger years, I thought "Cracklin' Rosie" by Neil Diamond was about a blow up doll since she was a store bought woman, and she made him sing like a guitar hummin'. I'd eventually figure out that "Cracklin' Rosie" was a bottle of wine.

 

[simey]

I really like a bunch of the covers Matthew did with Susanna Hoffs.

Zegras picked a lot of good covers by those two when he did Susanna for a MAD artist.

 

[Ilov80s]

Theme: 31 Best Albums of 1984

15. Die 4 U by Prince

Album: Purple Rain
Released: June 25

The 3 biggest albums of the year all came out in a 4 week span starting with Private Dancer on May 29 and finishing with Purple Rain here. The album missing from my countdown that came out June 4th is a very good album. It had a lot of hits and is one we are all very familiar with. For me, it's just a little too polished and overplayed. It's nowhere near my favorite from the artist. It represents what I consider 3 of my "hot take omissions".

I don't know what there is say about Purple Rain that hasn't been said. It's universally accepted as part of the music cannon. Various publications have named it the best soundtrack of all time, the best album of the 80s, among the 10 best albums of all time. Prince joined Elvis and The Beatles as the only artists to have the #1 single, #1 album and #1 movie the same week. 13x Platinum. I Would Die 4 U was the 4th single to be released from Purple Rain and it's 4th Top 10 hit.

I Would Die 4 U

Prince · Purple Rain · Song · 1984

open.spotify.com

 

[Don Quixote]

If we do another themed countdown, I've confirmed the theme I have in mind is feasible to do.

I’m still trying to settle on an artist for next artist countdown.

 

[Don Quixote]

Here's a hint on the Mystery Theme, or more of a hint to a hint: while none of the guesses are particularly close, I've bolded those that I think are closer to the right track than the others. If you read the whole list, especially taking into account those that did not get bolded, you might figure out the hint. If you get the hint right, I'll confirm that.

Selections:

31. If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next - Manic Street Preachers

30. Hear The Drummer Get Wicked - Chad Jackson

29. Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band

28. Virtual Insanity – Jamiroquai

27. Another Chance - Roger Sanchez

26. Living On My Own - Freddie Mercury

25. Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top

24. Better Off Alone - Alice Deejay

23. Love Is The Drug - Roxy Music

22. By The Time I Get To Arizona - Public Enemy

21. I Kissed A Girl - Katy Perry

20. Goddess On A Hiway - Mercury Rev

19. Dark Therapy – Echobelly

18. Run To You - Bryan Adams

17. Inside Out – Anthrax

16. There's Nothing I Won't Do – JX

15. You - Bad Religion



Incorrect guesses:

Songs that give advice

Bands That Have Never Been in My Kitchen

Songs by artists who have headlined Glastonbury

Songs featuring the Mellotron

Fear mongering

Song titles that could be part of geometry proofs

Bands who have a member whose first or last name is a James Bond reference

Bands with family members

Songs that reference a location in another country

Songs that have nine or more words in the title

Songs that mention famous streets

Bands who had a member mysteriously disappear, get declared dead, but no body has ever been found

Songs that reference footballguys user names

Songs without a guitar

Song titles that are commands

First two words of song titles in order of lyrics from The Youngbloods’ Get Together

Songs about resilience in the face of adversity

Songs about the importance of progress

Songs to make people overthink and speculate about an imaginary theme that doesn't really exist

31 songs that MADs submitted in prior MAD rounds, but judge disqualified because the submitting MAD failed to get the long-form birth certificate of all band members before submitting

Songs NOT produced by Todd Rundgren

Artists without umlauts

Songs Sam Rockwell has danced to in a movie

Songs about navigating and adapting to a constantly changing world

Songs credited to more than one songwriter

UK top ten singles

Singles released by UK artist/bands

31 British Isles Songs That Did Not Appear in the MAD British Isles Countdown

Non-guitar driven songs

Songs in 4/4 time

Broadway shows

Songs that all charted in the same six countries:
UK
Australia
Germany
France
Ireland
Netherlands

Songs under 5 minutes

Songs where artists let out excessive vocalizations of the “ahh,” “ooh,” “dee,” etc. variety

A break up and starting over

Things that will drive a bunch of middle aged dummies who are trying to find a pattern go crazy

Stages in Rustoleum’s marriage

Guinness World Records

Songs that can qualify for other people’s themes

Songs by people with facial hair

All songs use an instrument with keys

Songs that are the narrative arc of a divorce

Addiction

Songs with 125 BPM or more

Songs that sample other songs on the list

Songs representing different Nicholas Cage movies / characters

Songs

This is your life, Krista

Something to do with Tina Turner/abused women

Jimi Hendrix

Detailing Britney Spears’ descent into madness

Addiction ... to love

Songs in A Minor

The plot to Thelma and Louise

Kourtney Kardashian

Songs about a major change in someone's life

Midlife crisis

Songs with a subject you should see a therapist about

Mental illness

Songs about the world's worst super heros

Mania

Things you do impulsively

Songs that use the word “The” at some stage in the lyrics

The Ballad of @krista4 and OH

Songs the were on the UK official singles chart for the week ending on Aug 16, 2008

Songs from multiple decades

Songs about exploration of identity

Dancing

Each of these songs holds a special place in the hearts of listeners, and they remain influential in the genres they represent

krista's iconic playlist

struggle, rebellion, and survival

songs that have no connection to each other whatsoever - y'all are just wasting your time - ha ha ha suckers

Id, ego, and superego

Each song is somehow connected to one of the first 31 themes submitted for this countdown

Songs that qualify for more than one of the MAD31 themes submitted

Obscure chess strategies

All of these songs tie into the movie Thelma and Louise

history repeating itself

Songs for which there exists another song with the exact same title

Songs that implicate the seven deadly sins

I’m going to guess the arc of Pink Floyd’s The Wall.

 

[simey]

Here's a hint on the Mystery Theme, or more of a hint to a hint: while none of the guesses are particularly close, I've bolded those that I think are closer to the right track than the others. If you read the whole list, especially taking into account those that did not get bolded, you might figure out the hint. If you get the hint right, I'll confirm that.

Selections:

31. If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next - Manic Street Preachers

30. Hear The Drummer Get Wicked - Chad Jackson

29. Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band

28. Virtual Insanity – Jamiroquai

27. Another Chance - Roger Sanchez

26. Living On My Own - Freddie Mercury

25. Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top

24. Better Off Alone - Alice Deejay

23. Love Is The Drug - Roxy Music

22. By The Time I Get To Arizona - Public Enemy

21. I Kissed A Girl - Katy Perry

20. Goddess On A Hiway - Mercury Rev

19. Dark Therapy – Echobelly

18. Run To You - Bryan Adams

17. Inside Out – Anthrax

16. There's Nothing I Won't Do – JX

15. You - Bad Religion



Incorrect guesses:

Songs that give advice

Bands That Have Never Been in My Kitchen

Songs by artists who have headlined Glastonbury

Songs featuring the Mellotron

Fear mongering

Song titles that could be part of geometry proofs

Bands who have a member whose first or last name is a James Bond reference

Bands with family members

Songs that reference a location in another country

Songs that have nine or more words in the title

Songs that mention famous streets

Bands who had a member mysteriously disappear, get declared dead, but no body has ever been found

Songs that reference footballguys user names

Songs without a guitar

Song titles that are commands

First two words of song titles in order of lyrics from The Youngbloods’ Get Together

Songs about resilience in the face of adversity

Songs about the importance of progress

Songs to make people overthink and speculate about an imaginary theme that doesn't really exist

31 songs that MADs submitted in prior MAD rounds, but judge disqualified because the submitting MAD failed to get the long-form birth certificate of all band members before submitting

Songs NOT produced by Todd Rundgren

Artists without umlauts

Songs Sam Rockwell has danced to in a movie

Songs about navigating and adapting to a constantly changing world

Songs credited to more than one songwriter

UK top ten singles

Singles released by UK artist/bands

31 British Isles Songs That Did Not Appear in the MAD British Isles Countdown

Non-guitar driven songs

Songs in 4/4 time

Broadway shows

Songs that all charted in the same six countries:
UK
Australia
Germany
France
Ireland
Netherlands

Songs under 5 minutes

Songs where artists let out excessive vocalizations of the “ahh,” “ooh,” “dee,” etc. variety

A break up and starting over

Things that will drive a bunch of middle aged dummies who are trying to find a pattern go crazy

Stages in Rustoleum’s marriage

Guinness World Records

Songs that can qualify for other people’s themes

Songs by people with facial hair

All songs use an instrument with keys

Songs that are the narrative arc of a divorce

Addiction

Songs with 125 BPM or more

Songs that sample other songs on the list

Songs representing different Nicholas Cage movies / characters

Songs

This is your life, Krista

Something to do with Tina Turner/abused women

Jimi Hendrix

Detailing Britney Spears’ descent into madness

Addiction ... to love

Songs in A Minor

The plot to Thelma and Louise

Kourtney Kardashian

Songs about a major change in someone's life

Midlife crisis

Songs with a subject you should see a therapist about

Mental illness

Songs about the world's worst super heros

Mania

Things you do impulsively

Songs that use the word “The” at some stage in the lyrics

The Ballad of @krista4 and OH

Songs the were on the UK official singles chart for the week ending on Aug 16, 2008

Songs from multiple decades

Songs about exploration of identity

Dancing

Each of these songs holds a special place in the hearts of listeners, and they remain influential in the genres they represent

krista's iconic playlist

struggle, rebellion, and survival

songs that have no connection to each other whatsoever - y'all are just wasting your time - ha ha ha suckers

Id, ego, and superego

Each song is somehow connected to one of the first 31 themes submitted for this countdown

Songs that qualify for more than one of the MAD31 themes submitted

Obscure chess strategies

All of these songs tie into the movie Thelma and Louise

history repeating itself

Songs for which there exists another song with the exact same title

Songs that implicate the seven deadly sins

Being in an oppressive relationship, and the journey to take back control of your life

 

[Eephus]

15. Die 4 U by Prince

Album: Purple Rain
Released: June 25

I remember picking up this record on my lunch hour the day it was released. My little sister and her friend were visiting SF and getting shown around town by the future Mrs. Eephus. We all rendezvoused back at my apartment after work along with my friend Earl and cranked it up loud and listened to the full album twice. My sister thought I was nuts.

 

[Eephus]

#, Please # 15
Song: 57 Channels (And Nothin’ On)
Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Year: 1992

I prefer Lucky Town to Human Touch and still think there's a great single album buried somewhere among the twin albums.

 

[simey]

simey – train songs

Kundalini Express - Love and Rockets

All aboard the express Kundalini! We're serving cracklin' rosie in the lounge cars. Woot woo!

 

[rockaction]

Theme: 31 Best Albums of 1984

15. Die 4 U by Prince

Album: Purple Rain
Released: June 25

The 3 biggest albums of the year all came out in a 4 week span starting with Private Dancer on May 29 and finishing with Purple Rain here. The album missing from my countdown that came out June 4th is a very good album. It had a lot of hits and is one we are all very familiar with. For me, it's just a little too polished and overplayed. It's nowhere near my favorite from the artist. It represents what I consider 3 of my "hot take omissions".

I don't know what there is say about Purple Rain that hasn't been said. It's universally accepted as part of the music cannon. Various publications have named it the best soundtrack of all time, the best album of the 80s, among the 10 best albums of all time. Prince joined Elvis and The Beatles as the only artists to have the #1 single, #1 album and #1 movie the same week. 13x Platinum. I Would Die 4 U was the 4th single to be released from Purple Rain and it's 4th Top 10 hit.

I Would Die 4 U

Prince · Purple Rain · Song · 1984

open.spotify.com

Best song on the album.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

If we do another themed countdown, I've confirmed the theme I have in mind is feasible to do.

I’m still trying to settle on an artist for next artist countdown.

I said I would do a poll for mine. BRB.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Way behind in my general shout outs, so let's just skip to the #15s:

Hey Heron was one of my favorites in a few playlists. I've listened to it several times now. Absolutely loved her voice and how it builds with the music. The cover on the 2024 album =
Winterlong was great. I had forgotten about this one, and it reminded me how much Neil I listened to in the 00s when Greendale came out and I have a few of these live CDs too.
Ditto about Janis and One Night Stand. Such a distinct, powerful voice. I need to get back to listening to her as well.
No surprise how great Plastic Fantastic Lover sounds live considering the theme it was for.
Oh my, the groove on Heartbreak Road. Another tune I listened to a couple times.
The Beekeeper was a rare Tori album I didn't listen to a ton. Sleeping with Butterflies was gorgeous. We have a running theme of great female voices and concerts at the Fillmore on this playlist.
@Tau837 opened a huge can of worms with Is This Love. It was our daughter's 10th yesterday and on the way to go to eat I had this album cranked was irritating her I'm sure. I spent the morning making a playlist of '84-'87 music of the cassettes I had and wore out. This one was a big one.
I don't listen to much Jay-Z, but Empire State of Mind is a classic.
I really liked Lake Shore Drive, but seriously what is Girlpop Grindcore and more importantly, WTF is up with that album cover? Terrifying.

 

[KarmaPolice]

If we do another themed countdown, I've confirmed the theme I have in mind is feasible to do.

I’m still trying to settle on an artist for next artist countdown.

I said I would do a poll for mine. BRB.

I like the voting/taking requests idea.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

If we do another themed countdown, I've confirmed the theme I have in mind is feasible to do.

I’m still trying to settle on an artist for next artist countdown.

I said I would do a poll for mine. BRB.

Poll is up. Closes next Sunday.

Thread 'Music thread folks: What should be the genre of my next MAD artist?'

Mar 1, 2025

I've got four ideas in my head for the next Middle-Aged Dummies (MAD) single-artist countdown. So I'll let the forum decide. To minimize bias (and keep the non-winners under wraps), I'm listing the options by genre instead of artist. I will reveal the winning artist after the poll closes next Sunday March 9.

• Pip's Invitation
• Replies: 33
• Forum: Footballguys Free For All

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Winterlong was great. I had forgotten about this one, and it reminded me how much Neil I listened to in the 00s when Greendale came out and I have a few of these live CDs too.

You went on a Neil kick because of GREENDALE?

 

[Eephus]

Hey Heron was one of my favorites in a few playlists. I've listened to it several times now. Absolutely loved her voice and how it builds with the music. The cover on the 2024 album =

You'd probably like "Pour Over Ice" from Rosali's 2022 album No Medium

Pour Over Ice

Rosali · No Medium · Song · 2021

open.spotify.com

 

[KarmaPolice]

Winterlong was great. I had forgotten about this one, and it reminded me how much Neil I listened to in the 00s when Greendale came out and I have a few of these live CDs too.

You went on a Neil kick because of GREENDALE?

Lol, correct. I ended up only liking a couple off that and Prairie wind, but loving the 70s stuff.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Winterlong was great. I had forgotten about this one, and it reminded me how much Neil I listened to in the 00s when Greendale came out and I have a few of these live CDs too.

You went on a Neil kick because of GREENDALE?

Lol, correct. I ended up only liking a couple off that and Prairie wind, but loving the 70s stuff.

OK. But what about Greendale specifically prompted you to check out Neil? Or was it just a case of "he has a new album out, let me listen to it and his other stuff."

 

[KarmaPolice]

Winterlong was great. I had forgotten about this one, and it reminded me how much Neil I listened to in the 00s when Greendale came out and I have a few of these live CDs too.

You went on a Neil kick because of GREENDALE?

Lol, correct. I ended up only liking a couple off that and Prairie wind, but loving the 70s stuff.

OK. But what about Greendale specifically prompted you to check out Neil? Or was it just a case of "he has a new album out, let me listen to it and his other stuff."

Sort of like these adventures - something new reminds that i loved a couple albums and prompts me to dive further. If memory is correct i randomly had Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere and Live Rust. Also if i have my dates right, Greendale came out around when Sea Change. Ghosts of the Great Highway, Scarlett's Walk, and a few other albums with a similar tone that i was really into then. It had me deep diving those artists.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Skimming though now -I liked Prairie Wind more than Greendale. Not sure if that makes it better or worse for you.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Winterlong was great. I had forgotten about this one, and it reminded me how much Neil I listened to in the 00s when Greendale came out and I have a few of these live CDs too.

You went on a Neil kick because of GREENDALE?

Lol, correct. I ended up only liking a couple off that and Prairie wind, but loving the 70s stuff.

OK. But what about Greendale specifically prompted you to check out Neil? Or was it just a case of "he has a new album out, let me listen to it and his other stuff."

Sort of like these adventures - something new reminds that i loved a couple albums and prompts me to dive further. If memory is correct i randomly had Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere and Live Rust. Also if i have my dates right, Greendale came out around when Sea Change. Ghosts of the Great Highway, Scarlett's Walk, and a few other albums with a similar tone that i was really into then. It had me deep diving those artists.

Greendale came out almost a year after Sea Change -- but Neil had been playing it in concert since early 2003 and so the hardcore fans were familiar with it many months before it came out. Not familiar with the other albums.

The Neil album that's closest in vibes to Sea Change is probably On the Beach.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Skimming though now -I liked Prairie Wind more than Greendale. Not sure if that makes it better or worse for you.

Prairie Wind is pretty good by 21st century Neil standards. It's no After the Gold Rush, Harvest or Harvest Moon, but it's an acoustic record with few weaknesses.

 

[Eephus]

Greendale came out almost a year after Sea Change -- but Neil had been playing it in concert since early 2003 and so the hardcore fans were familiar with it many months before it came out. Not familiar with the other albums.

The Neil album that's closest in vibes to Sea Change is probably On the Beach.

I thought you guys were talking about Beck's Sea Change album

 

[KarmaPolice]

Not familiar with Ghosts of the Great Highway? Someone hasn't been reading my posts. Definitely a top album of the 00s for me. You know who had it on his list - it was one of the first bands i added to my initial list.

 

[Yambag]

15s

Known
Neil Young: Winterlong
Donna Summer: I Feel Love
Bruce: 57 Channels (and Nothin' On)
Prince: I Would Die 4 You
Violent Femmes: Gone Daddy Gone (first song I thought of when I saw mallet rock was a theme)
Color Me Badd: All 4 Love
Whitesnake: Is This Love?
Jay-Z: Empire State of Mind
The Knack: My Sharona

Caught My Attention
Ray Charles: Come Rain or Come Shine
B-Movie: Nowhere Girl
Cruxshadows: Deception
I Am Kloot: Avenue of Hope
Bad Religion: You
Caroline's Spine: Sullivan

 

[KarmaPolice]

Greendale came out almost a year after Sea Change -- but Neil had been playing it in concert since early 2003 and so the hardcore fans were familiar with it many months before it came out. Not familiar with the other albums.

The Neil album that's closest in vibes to Sea Change is probably On the Beach.

I thought you guys were talking about Beck's Sea Change album

Well I was at least. Sorry, that post was needlessly vague.

Beck, Tori Amos, Sun Kil Moon are the artists

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Not familiar with Ghosts of the Great Highway? Someone hasn't been reading my posts. Definitely a top album of the 00s for me. You know who had it on his list - it was one of the first bands i added to my initial list.

Nope. I've heard of the band but couldn't name a song or album of theirs.

 

[Eephus]

Not familiar with Ghosts of the Great Highway? Someone hasn't been reading my posts. Definitely a top album of the 00s for me. You know who had it on his list - it was one of the first bands i added to my initial list.

Nope. I've heard of the band but couldn't name a song or album of theirs.

Kozelek has put out nearly as many albums as Neil has in spite of spotting him a 25 year head start.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Winterlong was great. I had forgotten about this one, and it reminded me how much Neil I listened to in the 00s when Greendale came out and I have a few of these live CDs too.

You went on a Neil kick because of GREENDALE?

Shocking Pinks is usually the gateway.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Not familiar with Ghosts of the Great Highway? Someone hasn't been reading my posts. Definitely a top album of the 00s for me. You know who had it on his list - it was one of the first bands i added to my initial list.

Nope. I've heard of the band but couldn't name a song or album of theirs.

Highly recommend. For me Ghosts of the Great Highway is to the 00s what Strange Trails is the 10s.

Mark K is one of the first artists i thought of for a MAD31, but he is a bit of a doosh and there are some epically bad albums that I am not willing to dig through for y'all.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Not familiar with Ghosts of the Great Highway? Someone hasn't been reading my posts. Definitely a top album of the 00s for me. You know who had it on his list - it was one of the first bands i added to my initial list.

Nope. I've heard of the band but couldn't name a song or album of theirs.

Highly recommend. For me Ghosts of the Great Highway is to the 00s what Strange Trails is the 10s.

Mark K is one of the first artists i thought of for a MAD31, but he is a bit of a doosh and there are some epically bad albums that I am not willing to dig through for y'all.

I don't know what that is either.

ETA: I see it's Lord Huron. I didn't have time to follow along with MAD 4 much, certainly not enough to remember names of albums.

 

[Ilov80s]

What do people think of me not including Born in the USA for my best of 84?

Cover Me

Bruce Springsteen · Born In The U.S.A. · Song · 1984

open.spotify.com

 

[Ilov80s]

Theme: 31 Best Albums of 1984

15. Die 4 U by Prince

Album: Purple Rain
Released: June 25

The 3 biggest albums of the year all came out in a 4 week span starting with Private Dancer on May 29 and finishing with Purple Rain here. The album missing from my countdown that came out June 4th is a very good album. It had a lot of hits and is one we are all very familiar with. For me, it's just a little too polished and overplayed. It's nowhere near my favorite from the artist. It represents what I consider 3 of my "hot take omissions".

I don't know what there is say about Purple Rain that hasn't been said. It's universally accepted as part of the music cannon. Various publications have named it the best soundtrack of all time, the best album of the 80s, among the 10 best albums of all time. Prince joined Elvis and The Beatles as the only artists to have the #1 single, #1 album and #1 movie the same week. 13x Platinum. I Would Die 4 U was the 4th single to be released from Purple Rain and it's 4th Top 10 hit.

I Would Die 4 U

Prince · Purple Rain · Song · 1984

open.spotify.com

Best song on the album.

Agree. Side 2 might be the best side of any album ever made.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

simey – train songs

Kundalini Express - Love and Rockets

All aboard the express Kundalini! We're serving cracklin' rosie in the lounge cars. Woot woo!

Kundalini Express is such a fun song. Whole album is actually.
The music on this one is so into the flow of a train

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

What do people think of me not including Born in the USA for my best of 84?

Cover Me

Bruce Springsteen · Born In The U.S.A. · Song · 1984

open.spotify.com

The song has been captured by others and had its meaning stolen away.
Id much prefer I’M on Fire or Dancing in the Dark

 

[KarmaPolice]

Theme: 31 Best Albums of 1984

15. Die 4 U by Prince

Album: Purple Rain
Released: June 25

The 3 biggest albums of the year all came out in a 4 week span starting with Private Dancer on May 29 and finishing with Purple Rain here. The album missing from my countdown that came out June 4th is a very good album. It had a lot of hits and is one we are all very familiar with. For me, it's just a little too polished and overplayed. It's nowhere near my favorite from the artist. It represents what I consider 3 of my "hot take omissions".

I don't know what there is say about Purple Rain that hasn't been said. It's universally accepted as part of the music cannon. Various publications have named it the best soundtrack of all time, the best album of the 80s, among the 10 best albums of all time. Prince joined Elvis and The Beatles as the only artists to have the #1 single, #1 album and #1 movie the same week. 13x Platinum. I Would Die 4 U was the 4th single to be released from Purple Rain and it's 4th Top 10 hit.

I Would Die 4 U

Prince · Purple Rain · Song · 1984

open.spotify.com

Best song on the album.

Agree. Side 2 might be the best side of any album ever made.

Baby I'm a Star is a personal favorite. Easy to overlook it with all the greatness on the back half of that album.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

What do people think of me not including Born in the USA for my best of 84?

Cover Me

Bruce Springsteen · Born In The U.S.A. · Song · 1984

open.spotify.com

The Born in the USA album is the main reason why I am averse to Springsteen. It was overproduced and full of cliches -- and it was everywhere.

 

[simey]

Kundalini Express is such a fun song. Whole album is actually.
The music on this one is so into the flow of a train

The music does match the flow of a train well. The song is one of my favorites from my train list, and had I not used The Silver Ghost to kick off the countdown, I would have used this one.

 

[simey]

What do people think of me not including Born in the USA for my best of 84?

Cover Me

Bruce Springsteen · Born In The U.S.A. · Song · 1984

open.spotify.com

I could see it be used or not used. I do dig the songs I'm Going Down and Downbound Train from the album.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

What do people think of me not including Born in the USA for my best of 84?

Cover Me

Bruce Springsteen · Born In The U.S.A. · Song · 1984

open.spotify.com

If it’s personal taste than no issue with it. It was a huge album that year though. It’s a little overproduced (like most 80s albums) but there’s some well written songs on there.

 

[simey]

Theme: 31 Best Albums of 1984

15. Die 4 U by Prince

Album: Purple Rain
Released: June 25

The 3 biggest albums of the year all came out in a 4 week span starting with Private Dancer on May 29 and finishing with Purple Rain here. The album missing from my countdown that came out June 4th is a very good album. It had a lot of hits and is one we are all very familiar with. For me, it's just a little too polished and overplayed. It's nowhere near my favorite from the artist. It represents what I consider 3 of my "hot take omissions".

I don't know what there is say about Purple Rain that hasn't been said. It's universally accepted as part of the music cannon. Various publications have named it the best soundtrack of all time, the best album of the 80s, among the 10 best albums of all time. Prince joined Elvis and The Beatles as the only artists to have the #1 single, #1 album and #1 movie the same week. 13x Platinum. I Would Die 4 U was the 4th single to be released from Purple Rain and it's 4th Top 10 hit.

I Would Die 4 U

Prince · Purple Rain · Song · 1984

open.spotify.com

Best song on the album.

Agree. Side 2 might be the best side of any album ever made.

Baby I'm a Star is a personal favorite. Easy to overlook it with all the greatness on the back half of that album.

Today my favorite is The Beautiful Ones.

 

[krista4]

Today my favorite is The Beautiful Ones.

This is the one I took in the M-aD US countdown, but it's a tough call.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

The song has been captured by others and had its meaning stolen away.

The ironic part is while it’s not exactly anti-patriotic it’s not patriotic at all as far as it’s used. It deals with the poor treatment Vietnam Veterans received upon their return.

 

[simey]

Today my favorite is The Beautiful Ones.

This is the one I took in the M-aD US countdown, but it's a tough call.

The album is loaded with great ones. I love his scream singing towards the end of The Beautiful Ones. Now that is a man on

 

[Ilov80s]

What do people think of me not including Born in the USA for my best of 84?

Cover Me

Bruce Springsteen · Born In The U.S.A. · Song · 1984

open.spotify.com

If it’s personal taste than no issue with it. It was a huge album that year though. It’s a little overproduced (like most 80s albums) but there’s some well written songs on there.

Yeah my list really should have been my favorite 31 albums of 1984. That is really what I am doing. I made 3 omissions that I think in a totally objective list would need to be on there but it does make room for some lessrs know albums which is better IMO. Nobody here is going to listen to a song off Born in the USA and go "oh wow I wonder what the deal with this Bruce Springsteen guy is".