Middle Aged Dummies - Artist - Round 3 - #1's have been posted! (1 Viewer)

[KarmaPolice]

Saturday morning rambles about the #13s and artists in general....


The Lucky One hits my Blue October sweet spot. I like his voice when it's like this and it has a nice hazy 00s rock feel to it, but mixed with some guitars that remind me a little of U2 (not the last time I hear that in this playlist, so maybe I just have The Edge on my might for some reason). They have still been a little hit and miss on the playlists I have listened to, but from your comments I think I might be encountering a higher hit rate in the top 10.

Borrowed Time I am glad you mentioned the lyrics, and that made me love the song even more. I agreed with the comments about the Stones as my notes were "Stones-ish, leading with the crotch swagger". It would be a good pairing with some of Liz Phair's Exile in Guyville tracks for all the reasons mentioned. Great stuff as usual from them.

Heaven Coming Down Echoes a lot of my thoughts about the Blue October song, minus the U2 comments. Love the blend of music and his voice on this one. For some reason this is the fist time I clicked on the artist profiles on Spotify while listening to see what the artists look like. Got a little Johnie Depp thing going on. Or Eddie Vedder + Chris Cornell, I can't decide.

Sweet F.A. is an F'n great rocking 70s song - complete with lyrics. Well worth it for those last couple epic minutes. Nice fitting 1-2 punch with that Fanny track above. Sweet has definitely been hitting more with me as the adventure goes on.

Judy and the Dream of Horses is what I had in my mind that Belle and Sebastian sounded like before for this started. Not my favorite of their sounds, but I still really liked this tune, especially during the chorus as it fills out more. I can't think of a song I haven't liked from them yet.

I Don't Like My Mind gave me Bridge Over Troubled Waters vibes. I haven't lost my attachment to Mitzki yet, and she is still one of the artists I am looking forward deep diving into most. This almost got the nod for playlist title too. Randomly, I don't think I will ever understand or predict with accuracy what will have strong followings on Spotify as I was a bit surprised with her 27M/month listens.

With Baby Jane I cringed because I am dumb and thought I was getting a cover, but wrong song title. Instead, I got this fantastic and touching song. Probably my favorite so far. I loved seeing in the post that they come out and interact with fans during the show. Oh, and in their pic they look exactly like what a Slambovian Circus should look like. Great stuff all around here.

Speaking of how dumb I am sometimes, The Voice hit and I am was racking my brain trying to think of what I thought the song sounded like. I loved it, but couldn't place it for about 1min, then - Uh, The Moody Blues - Your Wildest Dreams. Imagine that! Anyway, loved the song - one of my favorites so far and that is saying something. Is this an album you would suggest for deeper diving?

Sin is another stand out track from that album. When STP has been hit or miss with me, it's later era from them. I still very much love the first 2 albums, and they were played to death in HS. I plan to revisit both after this is done.

Is Turn You On, Turn Me On actually about what is seems to be or this some euphemism? Started off with a George Throrogood feel, but then then there is a stronger mix of the rockabilly in there. Very fun track that I've listened to a couple times.

Speaking of sexy time, So in Love kicked in next. I've dabbled in a little bit of Mayfield before this, but this was a sound from him I hadn't hear yet, and I am here for it.

In Every Dream Home a Heartache certainly is odd, but it also might be my favorite so far. I think of all the artists on the playlist Ferry is the one I am most uncertain of my opinion of. I really need an artist playlist dedicated listen to this one. I wasn't expecting the 60s/70s vibe here (reminded me a bit of White Room and Cream), but echoing my thoughts on what I loved about Oingo Boingo, the oddness really kicked in, and I had a similar "wait, what is he singing about??? moments".

Yep, more love for Galacticana from me. I have liked a lot more than I expected from the lists of artists in general, but I think this is the current stand out artist for me from MAD Part 3. This is the album at the top of my list for a listen when we are done. You didn't get many votes in our music leagues, but A+ songs here.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I'll post the rest later, but will say this- it was the 2nd half of the playlist that got my excitement up as i entered songs and saw titles. Probably why i subconsciously "accidentally" played the 13s instead of the 14s the other night.

 

[New Binky the Doormat]

In Every Dream Home a Heartache certainly is odd, but it also might be my favorite so far. I think of all the artists on the playlist Ferry is the one I am most uncertain of my opinion of. I really need an artist playlist dedicated listen to this one. I wasn't expecting the 60s/70s vibe here (reminded me a bit of White Room and Cream), but echoing my thoughts on what I loved about Oingo Boingo, the oddness really kicked in, and I had a similar "wait, what is he singing about??? moments".

You nailed it. There are only a couple more of the lush crooners that similar to a great many of the Roxy/Ferry numbers so far in the list. The rest are what drew me to them way back in the day. Not that I don't think like the other stuff, but this is the stuff that really make Roxy Music who they are ...to me, at least.

First, they were different ...very different. Like a lot of stuff with music discovery - I had to work backwards. I was vaguely familiar with them but then bought the first Brian Eno solo album "Here Come The Warm Jets" and fell in love ...what an album.

Then i went from there - they were a little bit of everything - you like Bowie and art rock? They have that. You like some prog? They have that. You like Motown and some horns? They got that. Yo like guitar jams? They got that.

And all the while - they didn't sound like anybody else. Think about seeing and hearing these guys at the same time the Billboard song of the year was "Tie A Yellow Ribbon"

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Known and liked songs from #15 include The Moodies, STP, Mayfield, Roxy (their signature song in the US until More Than This and Avalon got a ton of play on MTV), DMB, Chesney, Beach Boys, The Doors and EWF.

Thoughts on some of the others:

I guess I do vaguely remember this Boingo song in Sixteen Candles. I mainly remember it as "geek dances to New Wave music."

Geyser is a whirlwind of emotions in less than 2.5 minutes.

If Elvis had lived and he wasn't a drug-addled mess under the control of a shyster, he might have sounded like Bring It Back Again in the '80s.

Forever Chords is dreamy and majestic. And there's definitely a Cortez the Killer vibe, but this is not the Strand of Oaks Cortez doppelganger that closed their set that I saw and that I am hoping to see in this countdown. (Forever Chords also has some similarities to Steam Engine by My Morning Jacket, which makes sense since four of its members played on this record.) But I think I like this one just as much as that one. "The problem with living/Is one day you won't". Damn.

Ghost Highway is something I didn't think was possible: ethereal garage rock.

Walking Down Your Street is bubbly in the same way that Love Shack is, but it came out before that.

What I Like About Texas is a good snapshot of what country was like before it fused with the most formulaic styles of rock to become something even more formulaic.

Plasticities is exquisite. There's even a little bit of post-rock sound in the arrangement.

WSOD is another Shellac track with an incredible bass part.

April Wine's three guitars are put to good use on the live version of Anything You Want, You Got It.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

Speaking of how dumb I am sometimes, The Voice hit and I am was racking my brain trying to think of what I thought the song sounded like. I loved it, but couldn't place it for about 1min, then - Uh, The Moody Blues - Your Wildest Dreams. Imagine that! Anyway, loved the song - one of my favorites so far and that is saying something. Is this an album you would suggest for deeper diving?

Funny you should ask. The next two songs on my list are also from this album and are sort of deep cuts, though one did get a very sliver of airplay.

As for its similarity to Your Wildest Dreams, both are Justin Hayward songs, and I believe their similarity is an example of the synergy that was lost when Mike Pinder retired from the band. When they were at their creative peak, from Days of Future Passed through A Question of Balance, everyone had input on every song, but that had stopped by the last two albums before their hiatus, and Octave was just a hot mess all the way around. Perhaps they should have taken a page out of Jefferson Airplane's book and tweaked their name to acknowledge their transition to something different.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Stay or Leave was great, and this is an album I circled for post MAD listening. I listened to Crash and Under the Table a ton, but nothing after that and I don't know why. I wasn't a huge fan of the background f/x at the start, but the crescendo and tone of the song overall is great. The opposite reaction of Mitzi here, I was surprised that DMB only had 2M/month or so.

For whatever reason Disappear reminded me of Chasing Amy and the song JLA sings that Ben mistakes for being for him. Odd reference, but what I think what I am getting at is that listening to Mazzy's music seems like a different experience in that it feels very intimate. The way Hope's voice is and the way the mix is, it sounds like it's just you and them in a room listening to the music.

Noise was great, but it's pretty tame if this is his most political song. Or maybe I just thought it was tame because in my old age I am very much nodding to the sentiment of the song. It was also another time that I got a bit of a U2 feel to the guitars this playlist. It seems we have broken down our biases a bit of each other's artists which has been one of my favorite things about MAD31s in general and Part 3 specifically. I am sure there is more modern stuff out there like this, but just about all I encountered growing up was the stereotypical stuff like the previously mentioned Sexy Tractor song. You have twang, country/farm themes, and no decent drumming - and I'm out. I've been quite impressed with the songs from Mr. Chesney. Easily my biggest surprise of Part 3.

Wouldn't It Be Nice is a rare Beach Boys song that I really know and love. Another of the bigger surprises for me as I feel I have tried Pet Sounds multiple times and didn't get the devotion to it. Scanning the track list, tracks 7 and 8 are fantastic too, so I am not sure what I am smoking. Pet Sounds is also at the top of my list to give an honest, dedicated headphones listen to after we are done. Also a dumb movie reference, this reminds me of 50 First Dates.

Speaking of breaking down biases... El Commish got me with Go All the Way. A very rare case where I like the cover more after listening to them back to back. The opening guitars had a Woman from Tokyo vibe to it, and Sweet's guitar stands out here, as does Hoff's voice. IMO by far the best of the covers yet from this duo.

As I dig deeper, Priest is firmly in the camp of artists I kick myself a bit for not listening to more before now (in that group is Floyd, Thin Lizzy, Dino Jr, and a few others that I love now). What it was is besides a couple hits like Breaking the Law all I knew from them was the Painkiller album I had in HS, and didn't love. Big mistake not listening to the 70s/80s output, but on the flip side I'm having a blast still having great music from all eras that I am still discovering in my old age. Like Thin Lizzy and Talking Heads, this was a MAD artist I had started a playlist for on the side. One weird tick I have is I laugh when a solo or music blows me away. I mention this because Exciter got some laughs, as did the Sin After Sin album.

Ok, I have listened to Close To Me an embarrassing number of times in the last couple days now. The Cure have been a bit hit or miss, but Smith's voice sounds fantastic with this type of music. As the adventures go on I am getting the feeling that I am going to love most of their stuff from the mid 80s-early 90s (this album through Wish?), but all else will be less successful. Looking forward to what your choices for the top 12 are.

Tree By the River I love and was one of the songs I knew from the show we saw earlier this year. He operates in another genre that isn't 100% my cup of tea, but I love Sam's voice here and how full the sound is mixed with the backing vocals and instruments. After seeing the show I guessed I would like certain albums a lot and some not so much. I've been liking most of what you have put on the list, but I still think there are a couple albums, including this one that might be likely to fully hit with me.

Driftin' Way of Life might be my favorite JJW yet. Very hard not to tap and drum along here. Between you and Mac I've been trying to nail down what my biases are with what I assumed the music was going to be like and what exactly I have a negative reaction to since both I have liked damn near all of what you have thrown my way.

I think my daughter might have added a Doors song today. I picked her up from musical practice today and I asked if she knew this song. She started laughing about 20secs - more movie references since she knows the song from School of Rock. Touch Me is so great with the headphones on. The bass coming in the left sounds so full and "fat" for lack of better word, and mixed with the high end on the right is it's

Every Open Eye is my favorite album from Chvrches, and Empty Threat is a great example why. JML mentioned as well, but when I was listening my notes were more of a running theme I keep mention - me very much liking music that doesn't exactly match the lyrics. They have a way of doing fantastic sounding upbeat pop songs that have an angry edge to them when you dig a little deeper.

I forgot all about Shining Star. What a banger. EWF is going to be another big deep dive when this is done. I've been circling around several bands like this and I have loved everything on the playlists from them.

Rubies was one of my favorite Destroyer songs. Well, for the first 6mins then I got uncomfortable, but still liked it. My note from the other night was "uh, where did the band go?". I listened to it again today and appreciated it more, but I think what is was it the first 6mins are so full and lush, but then it drops of and in a call back to the Mazzy Star comment it felt like it was just us two in the room.

Similar to the comments above about Mr. Ferry, Andrew Bird is one I really want to sit down with, as he is probably #2 on my list of artists I'm not sure what my opinion on them are quite yet. What I do know is I really like Lazy Projector and Give it Away, so I know there is an album I would probably like.

Dude Incredible is well, incredible. I knew Shellac, probably from UH in a random draft honestly, and this is the song and album I was most familiar with. Love the whole song, but especially the stretch from minutes 4 to 5. There is another song that I gravitated to on repeat listens of the album, and I curious if it's in the top 12. One of the main reasons I was excited about the 2nd 1/2 of the playlist. The main reason was....

**** yeah. For me this is an upper tier Sabbath album, but it doesn't seem to get as much love and is overshadowed by the album the year before. A big reason is the epic-ness that is The Sign of the Southern Cross. I remember seeing the album and cover in a pile at one of our garage sales as a kid (it was one from my BiL as he was purging stuff from his collection). I thought it look awesome, metal, and evil. My mom didn't want me to have it, and I didn't have a record player anyway. You can probably guess what tape I got my hands on shortly afterwards. There are a couple more great tracks on this album, but we will see if Mt. Man has the same love for the album.

Enough is Enough probably what anybody reading this rambling is thinking, but one more great track and artist to comment on. 70s/early 80s rock is so my sweet spot and April Wine has delivered. I knew nothing about them, so of course I thought it was folk music as usual (my ignorant go-to). Yet another I've been writing down albums to listen to (when they are available in the states, that is!). Way to go Canada, you now have 3 worthwhile exports: ice hockey, You Can't do That on Television, and April Wine!

 

[Uruk-Hai]

so I am not sure what I am smoking

Ah, it's all becoming more clear now

 

[zamboni]

Way to go Canada, you now have 3 worthwhile exports: ice hockey, You Can't do That on Television, and April Wine!

Degrassi Junior High down?

 

[KarmaPolice]

so I am not sure what I am smoking

Ah, it's all becoming more clear now

Don't encourage Pip.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Way to go Canada, you now have 3 worthwhile exports: ice hockey, You Can't do That on Television, and April Wine!

Degrassi Junior High down?

Not sure I've seen an episode.

 

[zamboni]

Way to go Canada, you now have 3 worthwhile exports: ice hockey, You Can't do That on Television, and April Wine!

Degrassi Junior High down?

Not sure I've seen an episode.

Was groundbreaking stuff at the time.

 

[Don Quixote]

Way to go Canada, you now have 3 worthwhile exports: ice hockey, You Can't do That on Television, and April Wine!

Degrassi Junior High down?

Not sure I've seen an episode.

Was groundbreaking stuff at the time.

At least limited it just to that and not the franchise reboot that gave us Drake.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

so I am not sure what I am smoking

Ah, it's all becoming more clear now

Don't encourage Pip.

I was gonna quote the same passage and respond with "Weed." But he beat me to it.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Didn't Canada give us WILLIAM FREAKING SHATNER??????????

 

[KarmaPolice]

Way to go Canada, you now have 3 worthwhile exports: ice hockey, You Can't do That on Television, and April Wine!

Degrassi Junior High down?

Not sure I've seen an episode.

Was groundbreaking stuff at the time.

I have a hazy memory of a punk girl with a mohawk?

 

[KarmaPolice]

so I am not sure what I am smoking

Ah, it's all becoming more clear now

Don't encourage Pip.

I was gonna quote the same passage and respond with "Weed." But he beat me to it.

Not as much latey. Maybe that's the issue?

 

[zamboni]

Way to go Canada, you now have 3 worthwhile exports: ice hockey, You Can't do That on Television, and April Wine!

Degrassi Junior High down?

Not sure I've seen an episode.

Was groundbreaking stuff at the time.

I have a hazy memory of a punk girl with a mohawk?

Correct - her nickname was Spike. I crushed hard on the girl Caitlyn.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Every Open Eye is my favorite album from Chvrches, and Empty Threat is a great example why. JML mentioned as well, but when I was listening my notes were more of a running theme I keep mention - me very much liking music that doesn't exactly match the lyrics. They have a way of doing fantastic sounding upbeat pop songs that have an angry edge to them when you dig a little deeper.

I think in general, the guys write the music while Lauren write the words.
They are much older and know how to write happy music. Shes not very good at picking men apparently lol.

 

[jwb]

Speaking of how dumb I am sometimes, The Voice hit and I am was racking my brain trying to think of what I thought the song sounded like. I loved it, but couldn't place it for about 1min, then - Uh, The Moody Blues - Your Wildest Dreams. Imagine that! Anyway, loved the song - one of my favorites so far and that is saying something. Is this an album you would suggest for deeper diving?

Funny you should ask. The next two songs on my list are also from this album and are sort of deep cuts, though one did get a very sliver of airplay.

As for its similarity to Your Wildest Dreams, both are Justin Hayward songs, and I believe their similarity is an example of the synergy that was lost when Mike Pinder retired from the band. When they were at their creative peak, from Days of Future Passed through A Question of Balance, everyone had input on every song, but that had stopped by the last two albums before their hiatus, and Octave was just a hot mess all the way around. Perhaps they should have taken a page out of Jefferson Airplane's book and tweaked their name to acknowledge their transition to something different.

Yup - 80's Moody Blues were a totally different thing. I like all of it, but your Jefferson Airplane comment is spot on.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Given my love of Forever Chords and another song from it that Eephus spotlighted in a previous countdown, I am listening to Strand of Oaks' Eraserland. Much of it could indeed pass for a My Morning Jacket album. Those guys must have been happy to be working together in a studio again, as they did not make any albums between 2015 and 2021 -- Jim James continued to tour with them, but was focused on releasing solo albums during this time.

Anyway, in addition to the two songs referenced above, there's another I've completely fallen in love with. I hope it appears high (Binky: low) on Eephus' list.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Is Turn You On, Turn Me On actually about what is seems to be or this some euphemism? Started off with a George Throrogood feel, but then then there is a stronger mix of the rockabilly in there. Very fun track that I've listened to a couple times.

I don't think Setzer is generally that obscure in his thoughts.

 

[Zegras11]

12's PLAYLIST

		#12 -
Blue October	-OZ-	I hope you're happy - 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
Fanny	Pip's Invitation	All Mine All Mine Song · Fanny · 2002 open.spotify.com
The Tea Party	Scoresman	Babylon Babylon Song · The Tea Party · 1997 open.spotify.com
Sweet	John Maddens ****ing Lunchbox	Wig Wam Bam - 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 Wig Wam Bam Song · Sweet · 1971 open.spotify.com
Oingo Boingo	KarmaPolice	Only A Lad Only A Lad Song · Oingo Boingo · 1981 open.spotify.com
Belle and Sebastian	kupcho1	Expectations Expectations Song · Belle and Sebastian · 1996 open.spotify.com
Mitski	Ilov80s	A Loving Feeling A Loving Feeling Song · Mitski · 2016 open.spotify.com
The Slambovian Circus of Dreams	Yambag	Very Happy Now Very Happy Now Song · The Slambovian Circus Of Dreams · 2013 open.spotify.com
The Moody Blues	Charlie Steiner	Meanwhile Meanwhile Song · The Moody Blues · 1981 open.spotify.com
Stone Temple Pilots	Yo Mama	Sour Girl Sour Girl Song · Stone Temple Pilots · 1999 open.spotify.com
Brian Setzer	Mrs. Rannous	Rumble In Brighton Rumble In Brighton Song · The Brian Setzer Orchestra · 1996 open.spotify.com
Curtis Mayfield	Don Quixote	The Makings of You, by Curtis Mayfield - 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. youtu.be The Makings of You Song · Curtis Mayfield · 1970 open.spotify.com
Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music	BinkytheDoormat	Editions Of You - 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
Strand of Oaks	Eephus	JM JM Song · Strand of Oaks · 2015 open.spotify.com
Dave Matthews	Tau837	Lover Lay Down Lover Lay Down (Live at Luther College, Decorah, IA - February 1996) Provided to YouTube by RCA/LegacyLover Lay Down (Live at Luther College, Decorah, IA - February 1996) · Dave Matthews · Tim ReynoldsLive At Luther Collegeâ 1... www.youtube.com
Mazzy Star	landrys hat	Cry, Cry Cry, Cry Song · Mazzy Star · 1996 open.spotify.com
Kenny Chesney	MAC	Out Last Night - 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
The Beach Boys	zamboni	"Heroes and Villains" Heroes And Villains - Remastered 2001 Song · The Beach Boys · 1967 open.spotify.com
Susanna Hoffs	Zegras11	Tear Off Your Own Head Tear Off Your Own Head (It's A Doll Revolution) Song · The Bangles · 2003 open.spotify.com
Judas Priest	Raging Weasel	Sinner Sinner Song · Judas Priest · 1977 open.spotify.com
The Cure	Juxtatarot	Close To Me Close to Me - 2006 Remaster Song · The Cure · 1985 open.spotify.com
Iron and Wine	Tuffnutt	Naked As We Came - 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
Jerry Jeff Walker	simey	Pot Can't Call the Kettle Black Pot Can't Call The Kettle Black Song · Jerry Jeff Walker · 2002 open.spotify.com
The Doors	jwb	Love Street Love Street Song · The Doors · 1968 open.spotify.com
Chvrches	JML’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Secret Identity	Leave a Trace - 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 Leave A Trace Song · CHVRCHES · 2015 open.spotify.com
Earth, Wind, & Fire	Uruk-Hai	Sing A Song - 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
Destroyer	The Dreaded Marco	Students Carve Hearts Out of Coal Students Carve Hearts Out of Coal Song · Destroyer · 2002 open.spotify.com
Andrew Bird	Mister CIA	Spare Ohs Spare-Ohs Song · Andrew Bird · 2007 open.spotify.com
Steve Albini	Oliver Humanzee	Shellac - This Is a Picture This Is A Picture Song · Shellac · 1998 open.spotify.com
Ronnie James Dio	Mt. Man	I I - 2008 Remaster Song · Black Sabbath · 1992 open.spotify.com
April Wine	Falguy	You Won't Dance With Me You Won't Dance With Me Song · April Wine · 1991 open.spotify.com - 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

 

[Zegras11]

Oingo Boingo

KarmaPolice

Only A Lad Only A Lad Song · Oingo Boingo · 1981 open.spotify.com

in my top 3 for sure

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

The Sweet​

#12 - Wig-Wam Bam​

- 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 - Phil Wainman
Writer - Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman
Chart Positions - UK #4, Australia #15, Germany #1, US Did Not Chart
Album - The Sweet (US Release only)
Year - 1972
Lead Vocal - Brian Connolly
Steve Priest Vocal - Lead on “try a little touch, try a little too much” during chorus.
Notes - This song would have been much lower in the countdown cause it is quite naff and dated. But its important for a multitude of reasons. It was the first song since they joined the Chinn/Chapman songwriting team to feature the band on their own instruments and the change in sound is spectacular. Way more muscular and a pre cursor to the Glam movement they were forerunners in.

That said, the lyrics are still pure Chinn/Chapman nonsense with ignorance about Native American culture. Based almost entirely on the Hiawatha poem and the 1959 song Running Bear.
This song is also the first to feature bassist Steve Priest on guess lead during the chorus. It is used to magnificent effect here and on most of the ones we see ahead of us.

Pay attention to how Priest dresses during the video clip in full Native American head dress. Even Brian has make up under his eyes. He usually frowned on such things.

Next Up - A track considered a disappointment at the time, but it holds up well in sound and their history.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Chvrches​

#12 - Leave a Trace​

- 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 - Chvrches
Writer - Iain Cook Martin Doherty Lauren Mayberry
Album - Every Eye Open
Year - 2015
Notes - This track was chosen as the opening single for their highly anticipated follow up to their debut album The Bones of What You Believe. Rolling Stone placed it at #24 for its top 50 songs of 2015.
The video led to trolls at 4chan launching a misogynistic attack on Lauren. She responded on a tweet “ Dear anyone who thinks misogyny isn't real. It is and this is what it looks like”
Fellow band members responded on the bands offical account “PSA: apparently wet hair makes you a 'slut'. Nice work, 4chan / humanity."

In the song Lauren reflects on an ex

“Leave a Trace" is the middle finger mic-drop. It’s about that point where you’re like, "There’s no point having this conversation anyways: There will be no resolve, I won’t feel better about it, you won’t feel better about it, no outcome from this will actually change my reality". It makes me feel better to write about that—I’ve done something constructive with it. You don’t put that on other people, you put that into what you do. That’s always the way I’ve written lyrics. My ex-partners are not friends with me, but I’m OK with that.”

Next Up - We go back to the debut album with an anthemic track that was one of the seven singles release. We will still have two more to go from this album after this cracker.

 

[Yo Mama]

STP #12 - Sour Girl
Album - No. 4 (1999)

What do you know - another song about one of Scott’s (ex)wives. This was about his first wife, who he despised particularly because of the size of the divorce settlement she got.

This is my last on my list off the disappointing (to me at least) 4th album, although this song is super cool and became one of their biggest hits.

She was a happy girl the day that she left me


I’m going to link the video for this song because it contains a toned and shirtless Scott, the lovely Sarah Michelle Gellar, and some creepy dwarf-sized furries making moves on the band members. Very artsy.

- 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.

youtu.be

 

[Uruk-Hai]

#1'2 - "Sing A Song"

In a catalog chock-full of uplifting songs, this may be the happiest EWF record of them all. You could do a lot worse than start every day with this one.

The album it came from - Gratitude - was a (mostly) live double LP. It hit #1 on Billboard's Top 200, which was unique for a live R&B album (let alone a double). There were a couple of studio songs tacked on - "Sing A Song" was one, and it went Top 5 on the pop charts.

Up next, one of EWF's most enduring songs.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Brian Setzer - Rumble in Brighton

This verson is the Brian Setzer Orchestra. They are covering the Stray Cats version, linked here for your convenience.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Sorry, I forgot to post about the mistake I didn't catch until last night. As I quickly click through I seem to miss that step of verifying the title with the link. My lazy butt just clicks and goes.

Anyway, I noticed as I made the 12s that I was adding Close to Me for the 2nd time. We didn't catch that the #13s had Pictures of You for the song title, but Close to Me for the link. Then the 12s had Close to Me for both title and link. Since it was the full cycle of listening, I made the call to put in Pictures of You for the #12s, but forgot to warn @Juxtatarot and @Zegras11 of the swap and mistake.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

The video led to trolls at 4chan launching a misogynistic attack on Lauren. She responded on a tweet “ Dear anyone who thinks misogyny isn't real. It is and this is what it looks like”
Fellow band members responded on the bands offical account “PSA: apparently wet hair makes you a 'slut'. Nice work, 4chan / humanity."

Gee. I wonder what they would say about Megan Thee Stallion's new video Mamushi. NSFW

The Chvrches song is lovely.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

12. Meanwhile (Long Distance Voyager, 1981)

Meanwhile was one of the first songs that Justin Hayward wrote in preparation for the album, and with some foresight about their new producer. He recalled years later: "I think I was probably influenced by knowing that Pip [Williams] was going to do the album, knowing that he'd done Status Quo, and having this song around...I thought 'That's great; it's in the Status Quo tempo. That's perfect for it.' However, it didn't turn out anything like Status Quo: it just sounded like the Moody Blues." Williams recalled: "This was a serious happening track from Day One...There is something very seductive – musically – about songs that comprise any form of suspended chord structure of 'hanging in the air' feeling."

The song was well-received by the critics, and Hayward had hoped it would have been released as single, but it was decided above them that other songs, including Gemini Dream (which reached #12 on the Hot 100) would get to be singles. Nevertheless, it did get enough airplay on album-oriented rock stations to reach #11 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

As my tastes have changed over the years, I find this may be my favorite or second favorite song from this album, and after seeing them play the next selection live, it became the other song I can't decide is my favorite or second favorite from it.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Oh, lovely. An interview with Billy Joel is coming up on Sunday Today. Should I use chopsticks or lawn darts to finish off my eardrums?

Wonder if they'll ask him what he thinks about every bandmember he ever worked with hates him because he screwed them.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

My happy 12's:

I Hope You're Happy - Blue October
Wig Wag Bam - Sweet
Only A Lad - Oingo Boingo
A Loving Feeling - Mitski
Very Happy Now - Slambovian Circus
Rumble In Brighton - Brian Setzer
Pictures Of You - The Cure
Pot Can't Call The Kettle Black - Jerry Jeff Walker
Love Street - The Doors
Sing A Song - , , &

 

[simey]

I love the bouncy melody to "Love Street" by The Doors. It's one of my favorite songs by them.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I love the bouncy melody to "Love Street" by The Doors. It's one of my favorite songs by them.

There was a Goldie Hawn movie years ago that used it to great effect in a flashback scene. Probably the best part of the movie.

 

[rockaction]

The Sweet

Just got a Sweet shirt in the mail. It’s the logo in the upper right-hand corner of Desolation Boulevard’s album cover in red and blue from the original UK cover.

I have no idea why I got the shirt. I like Sweet, but not nearly enough to do that. Heh. I actually tried to change it to the Zero Boys or the Wipers or the Adverts, but they’d already printed the darn Sweet thing.

Anyway, I’m interested to read more about the songs you’ve picked. I do like the band a bunch.

 

[simey]

Oh, lovely. An interview with Billy Joel is coming up on Sunday Today. Should I use chopsticks or lawn darts to finish off my eardrums?

Wonder if they'll ask him what he thinks about every bandmember he ever worked with hates him because he screwed them.

Billy's nose looks like it has gotten a little bigger or rounder. Doesn't it?

 

[rockaction]

"Heroes and Villains"

I’ll be very interested to see what zamboni says about this song. He picked the Smiley Smile version. There are huge debates about how the song should go, as it was largely unfinished, but I’ll let zam talk all about it.

 

[rockaction]

Billy's nose looks like it has gotten a little bigger or rounder. Doesn't it?

Uruk punched that schnozz up with long-distance vibes.

 

[simey]

Sorry, I forgot to post about the mistake I didn't catch until last night. As I quickly click through I seem to miss that step of verifying the title with the link. My lazy butt just clicks and goes.

Anyway, I noticed as I made the 12s that I was adding Close to Me for the 2nd time. We didn't catch that the #13s had Pictures of You for the song title, but Close to Me for the link. Then the 12s had Close to Me for both title and link. Since it was the full cycle of listening, I made the call to put in Pictures of You for the #12s, but forgot to warn @Juxtatarot and @Zegras11 of the swap and mistake.

"Pictures of You" is a good Sunday song.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Oh, lovely. An interview with Billy Joel is coming up on Sunday Today. Should I use chopsticks or lawn darts to finish off my eardrums?

Wonder if they'll ask him what he thinks about every bandmember he ever worked with hates him because he screwed them.

Billy's nose looks like it has gotten a little bigger or rounder. Doesn't it?

I don't know. I spent the interview peeling hard-boiled eggs.

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

Sorry, I forgot to post about the mistake I didn't catch until last night. As I quickly click through I seem to miss that step of verifying the title with the link. My lazy butt just clicks and goes.

Anyway, I noticed as I made the 12s that I was adding Close to Me for the 2nd time. We didn't catch that the #13s had Pictures of You for the song title, but Close to Me for the link. Then the 12s had Close to Me for both title and link. Since it was the full cycle of listening, I made the call to put in Pictures of You for the #12s, but forgot to warn @Juxtatarot and @Zegras11 of the swap and mistake.

"Pictures of You" is a good Sunday song.

That entire album is a great Sunday album.

 

[zamboni]

Oingo Boingo

KarmaPolice

Only A Lad Only A Lad Song · Oingo Boingo · 1981 open.spotify.com

in my top 3 for sure

Same here - the energy on this is infectious.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Underneath the Stars has a bit of a Cortez the Killer vibe in its guitars. I know lots of bands have at least one song that does this (including a Strand of Oaks song that I hope to see later), but I wasn't expecting The Cure to be one of them.

Sterling is Neil-ish, but is not the Strand of Oaks song that reminds me of Cortez the Killer that I mentioned earlier. The "I saw him coming" part is also very My Morning Jacket-ish.

Forever Chords is dreamy and majestic. And there's definitely a Cortez the Killer vibe, but this is not the Strand of Oaks Cortez doppelganger that closed their set that I saw and that I am hoping to see in this countdown. (Forever Chords also has some similarities to Steam Engine by My Morning Jacket, which makes sense since four of its members played on this record.) But I think I like this one just as much as that one. "The problem with living/Is one day you won't". Damn.

JM is the Strand of Oaks Cortez the Killer doppelganger that I was referring to in the above bolded passages.

My first exposure to him/them was in 2017 when I saw him/them open for My Morning Jacket. After they closed their set with JM, I was like

 

[zamboni]

"Heroes and Villains"

I’ll be very interested to see what zamboni says about this song. He picked the Smiley Smile version. There are huge debates about how the song should go, as it was largely unfinished, but I’ll let zam talk all about it.

There was really no rhyme or reason to it - I just grabbed the one I saw off Spotify. The extended Smile version is available only on YouTube. I'll talk more about the song when I get a chance, probably tomorrow.

- 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

 

[zamboni]

The Doors

jwb

Love Street Love Street Song · The Doors · 1968 open.spotify.com

A top Doors tune for me as well. Softer sound, but I love the swingy nature of it.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

12. All Mine
Album: Mothers Pride (1973)
Writers: June Millington and Jean Millington
Lead vocals: June Millington and Jean Millington

As I have stated, Fanny's fourth album, Mothers Pride, is disappointing, especially because it was produced by one of my favorite artists, Todd Rundgren, but mostly doesn't achieve the heights that can be heard on many of the records he produced for himself and others. The disc mostly lacks energy and has few memorable songs.

But All Mine, the album's first US single (it did not chart), is the one track where the Rundgren magic was evident. The organ-and-guitar intro is one of the most soulful instrumental passages the band recorded, the melody is compelling throughout, June Millington's guitar flourishes at the end of each verse sound like something Robbie Robertson would have played, and the song overall exudes a spine-tingling warmth that never devolves into sappiness.

All Mine is also notable for being one of Fanny's few straightforward love songs. People at the time probably would have expected an all-female band to have a repertoire of mostly love songs, so their lyrical subjects were another case of them zagging when everyone expected them to zig.

The song is one of the few Fanny tracks where the Millington sisters (who co-wrote it) share lead vocals but trade them instead of sing in unison the whole time. Jean takes the first verse, June takes the second, and they sing the third together. This track is also the only time on the album where you can hear Rundgren -- he provides a counterpoint vocal during the third verse and the coda.

This is the last ballad on my list. All bangers from here on out.

Live on The Midnight Special on 4/17/73: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_YhgHykdl0. This was the first song of their only Midnight Special appearance. The second was their cover of Randy Newman's Last Night I Had a Dream, which was in my Last 5 Out.

At #11, a cover that the band made their own to the point of writing a new passage for it.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

The lineup for the Midnight Special episode Fanny appeared on also included Bill Cosby (host), David Brenner, Ray Charles, Waylon Jennings, Billy Preston, Steely Dan and Taj Mahal.

 

[zamboni]

The lineup for the Midnight Special episode Fanny appeared on also included Bill Cosby (host), David Brenner, Ray Charles, Waylon Jennings, Billy Preston, Steely Dan and Taj Mahal.

One of these days when I have tons of time to kill, I have to go back and watch some of these full Midnight Special shows you've provided in various threads.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

12. All Mine
Album: Mothers Pride (1973)
Writers: June Millington and Jean Millington
Lead vocals: June Millington and Jean Millington

As I have stated, Fanny's fourth album, Mothers Pride, is disappointing, especially because it was produced by one of my favorite artists, Todd Rundgren, but mostly doesn't achieve the heights that can be heard on many of the records he produced for himself and others. The disc mostly lacks energy and has few memorable songs.

But All Mine, the album's first US single (it did not chart), is the one track where the Rundgren magic was evident. The organ-and-guitar intro is one of the most soulful instrumental passages the band recorded, the melody is compelling throughout, June Millington's guitar flourishes at the end of each verse sound like something Robbie Robertson would have played, and the song overall exudes a spine-tingling warmth that never devolves into sappiness.

All Mine is also notable for being one of Fanny's few straightforward love songs. People at the time probably would have expected an all-female band to have a repertoire of mostly love songs, so their lyrical subjects were another case of them zagging when everyone expected them to zig.

The song is one of the few Fanny tracks where the Millington sisters (who co-wrote it) share lead vocals but trade them instead of sing in unison the whole time. Jean takes the first verse, June takes the second, and they sing the third together. This track is also the only time on the album where you can hear Rundgren -- he provides a counterpoint vocal during the third verse and the coda.

This is the last ballad on my list. All bangers from here on out.

Live on The Midnight Special on 4/17/73: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_YhgHykdl0. This was the first song of their only Midnight Special appearance. The second was their cover of Randy Newman's Last Night I Had a Dream, which was in my Last 5 Out.

At #11, a cover that the band made their own to the point of writing a new passage for it.

I think this one's my favorite, and I don't think I can put my finger on exactly why. It sounds like a Three Dog Night song (and I mean that as a compliment).