Middle Aged Dummies - Artist - Round 5 - #15's have been posted. Link in OP. (9 Viewers)

[zamboni]

Could someone clarify something for me, please? Are Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon in the Hall of Fame, or did they just win Miss Congeniality?

The RR HOF seems to be doing the same lowering-the-bar thing as Cooperstown did when it started letting in marginal guys like Harold Baines.

The problem - as with most things related to post-1950s pop history - is Jann Wenner. He and his crew created their version of what "R&R" is (& what it's not) 50+ years ago, and it got baked into the DNA of music fans. I think people our age are so used to it that we'll never get past it, but I think it's changing for younger folks.

Probably should have clarified better, and we've had these discussions many times before. Like you, I have no problem with R&B/soul/rap/disco/country, etc. acts getting into the RRHOF. They very well should be despite what Wenner and his cronies pigeonholed as R&R per se.

My comment more related to the nature of acts that they're letting in more and more. One example is Bad Company, who just got in. Solid band that had some very good tunes and a couple of solid albums, but really just disappeared not too long thereafter and kept on going with different personnel on the country fair circuit.

But I digress - it's a tiresome argument that's not worth dedicating much brainpower or time.

Agree on Bad Company. Grand Funk & Chic are my two hills to die on

Chic definitely deserves the nod - may not have been around long, but a huge influence on many artists to this day.

I noticed you left out of your response

Didn’t want to get myself in trouble. It’s dangerous treading these days around here.

No, I didn't mean that. I meant that the emoji looks like Donnie Brewer from Grand Funk

Oh right - lol. A fro that probably made Oscar Gamble jealous.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Willie Nelson is 92 today and still releasing 7 albums a year.

 

[tuffnutt]

Conor Oberst Last 5 Out
All 5 of these songs would have made my list had this just been a Bright Eyes countdown, but unfortunately they found the cutting room floor with the inclusion of the other Conor Oberst projects.
The Calendar That Hung Itself- Bright Eyes
from Fevers and Mirrors (2000)

It perfectly encapsulates the experience being young and pining after something with all your heart and soul. its a metaphor for emotional collapse or the oppressive weight of time and memory.

A Perfect Sonnet- Bright Eyes
from Every Day and Every Night (1999)

It captures the confusion and heartbreak that often accompany young, intense love — where every feeling is amplified. It’s about remembering someone deeply but painfully, and trying to make sense of your own feelings through poetic expression.

Bowl of Oranges- Bright Eyes
from Lifted or the Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground (2002)

This is one of Conor Oberst’s more hopeful and healing songs—though it still carries his signature blend of vulnerability and introspection. It explores mental health, suffering, and the small, unexpected joys that help carry us through pain.

We Are Nowhere and its Now- Bright Eyes
from I'm Wide Awake and It's Morning (2005)

This one is a haunting, introspective track about existential confusion, searching for meaning, and the emotional paralysis of being lost in time and place. It's one of the most poetic and emotionally heavy songs from the album. Love Emmy Lou Harris on backing vocals.

The Big Picture- Bright Eyes
from Lifted or the Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground (2002)

This was my hardest cut. but at nearly 9 minutes long and with its raw and unpolished sound, I get that it might not be everyone's cup of tea. so for that reason it stays off the countdown.

 

[Eephus]

Michael Head is not in the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Steve Marriott list has been submitted.

Really enjoyed discovering/re-discovering some of his deeper cuts with The Small Faces and Humble Pie - hope people not familiar with his material enjoy this little powerhouse.

Plan on submitting my just-missed list early next week.

I was at the doctor this morning. I presume we'll be hearing from Steve about why he wouldn't have done that.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Willie Nelson is 92 today and still releasing 7 albums a year.

I've been in the car a bunch today and WXPN has been playing a lot of Willie, both his recordings and covers of his songs.

 

[Chaos34]

A Perfect Sonnet- Bright Eyes
from Every Day and Every Night (1999)

good lord what a poet

 

[KarmaPolice]

Great stuff so far - I got caught up with the last 5-10 outs this morning. This one is going to stuffed with artists and songs that I either haven't heard of or just barely. For example Bright Eyes I had heard of (and probably heard a song or two in passing), but didn't now the artist name. John 5 I thought was made up and is one that I am very much looking forward to.

Also in the last few weeks I have been randomly going through the GP4 playlists. I laughed to myself a few times as I hit a song that gave me pause in a playlist to see who it was, just to see it was an upcoming Part 5 artist. I posted a bit ago I felt I should know Luna and ran across a couple of their songs. Same with Golden Smog. A few others showed up as well. The best was running into an artist I hadn't heard of that was in 2-3 playlists and caused me to start a deep dive. I searched the thread to see who drafted the songs and saw a post from me talking about how they were a favorite artist from the playlists. I think I have just erased that year from memory.

 

[Yambag]

Smashing Pumpkins list is in, if only so I stop tinkering with it. I will probably have regrets in about 5 minutes.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Also in the last few weeks I have been randomly going through the GP4 playlists. I laughed to myself a few times as I hit a song that gave me pause in a playlist to see who it was, just to see it was an upcoming Part 5 artist. I posted a bit ago I felt I should know Luna and ran across a couple of their songs. Same with Golden Smog. A few others showed up as well. The best was running into an artist I hadn't heard of that was in 2-3 playlists and caused me to start a deep dive. I searched the thread to see who drafted the songs and saw a post from me talking about how they were a favorite artist from the playlists. I think I have just erased that year from memory.

I figured since I received notifications that you my posts in that thread with the playlist links.

I had to check: In that exercise (which lasted more than a year), there were 6 Love songs, 4 of which were picked by me.

And there were a bajillion songs with "love" in the title, which made CTRL + F on the spreadsheet for my band more difficult than it would be for most.

 

[Don Quixote]

I had to check: In that exercise (which lasted more than a year), there were 6 Love songs, 4 of which were picked by me.

And there were a bajillion songs with "love" in the title, which made CTRL + F on the spreadsheet for my band more difficult than it would be for most

On a side Love note, I was listening to a Carol Kaye playlist in honor of her selection to the R&R HoF today. Think I got a preview of some stuff that she played session on.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I had to check: In that exercise (which lasted more than a year), there were 6 Love songs, 4 of which were picked by me.

And there were a bajillion songs with "love" in the title, which made CTRL + F on the spreadsheet for my band more difficult than it would be for most

On a side Love note, I was listening to a Carol Kaye playlist in honor of her selection to the R&R HoF today. Think I got a preview of some stuff that she played session on.

Yes, she does show up in Love's recording history. I'll get to the where and the why along the way.

 

[zamboni]

I had to check: In that exercise (which lasted more than a year), there were 6 Love songs, 4 of which were picked by me.

And there were a bajillion songs with "love" in the title, which made CTRL + F on the spreadsheet for my band more difficult than it would be for most

On a side Love note, I was listening to a Carol Kaye playlist in honor of her selection to the R&R HoF today. Think I got a preview of some stuff that she played session on.

Yes, she does show up in Love's recording history. I'll get to the where and the why along the way.

If something came out of L.A. back in those days, there was a pretty good chance Carole was a part of it - and justifiably so.

 

[Don Quixote]

I had to check: In that exercise (which lasted more than a year), there were 6 Love songs, 4 of which were picked by me.

And there were a bajillion songs with "love" in the title, which made CTRL + F on the spreadsheet for my band more difficult than it would be for most

On a side Love note, I was listening to a Carol Kaye playlist in honor of her selection to the R&R HoF today. Think I got a preview of some stuff that she played session on.

Yes, she does show up in Love's recording history. I'll get to the where and the why along the way.

If something came out of L.A. back in those days, there was a pretty good chance Carole was a part of it - and justifiably so.

It was a great playlist that I was listening to. Lots of top tier stuff on it.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Also in the last few weeks I have been randomly going through the GP4 playlists. I laughed to myself a few times as I hit a song that gave me pause in a playlist to see who it was, just to see it was an upcoming Part 5 artist. I posted a bit ago I felt I should know Luna and ran across a couple of their songs. Same with Golden Smog. A few others showed up as well. The best was running into an artist I hadn't heard of that was in 2-3 playlists and caused me to start a deep dive. I searched the thread to see who drafted the songs and saw a post from me talking about how they were a favorite artist from the playlists. I think I have just erased that year from memory.

I figured since I received notifications that you my posts in that thread with the playlist links.

I had to check: In that exercise (which lasted more than a year), there were 6 Love songs, 4 of which were picked by me.

And there were a bajillion songs with "love" in the title, which made CTRL + F on the spreadsheet for my band more difficult than it would be for most.

I was loving your posts for sure the other day. I thought I had all the playlists from GP4 saved, but I was in there looking for something else, and saw those lists at the end. Turns out I had missed 20-30 of the playlists as I flaked out at the end of that adventure. I appreciate the work there trying to organize that chaos.

What started the rabbit hole was me randomly listening to the Pop Rocks playlist and being annoyed that the Ex Hex song I took for the theme draft was in there. Of course taken and forgotten by me. In my defense it was only Round 207 of 600+. I also added a People Under the Stairs song to a playlist.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Smashing Pumpkins list is in, if only so I stop tinkering with it. I will probably have regrets in about 5 minutes.

Looking forward to seeing what you landed on here. Tough to narrow down, even if the core focus is the first few albums.

 

[Eephus]

I don't think I ever posted my themed playlist. Is there some Google sheet I need to update?

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Otis Redding list submitted

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Michael Head is not in the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame.

And sadly neither is Murray Head.

But good news for the Talking Heads.

 

[simey]

I texted simey to see if she's still in. We had talked for a bit during the run-up to this round and she had an interesting choice.

I'm not sure how much time I'll have to give to it, but I'll give it a go.

I'm doing Billy Joel, and the thumper rule will not apply to any of the songs on my list.

Billy Joel vs Billy Hai. My money is on Billy.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I'm doing Billy Joel, and the thumper rule will not apply to any of the songs on my list.

 

[simey]

I'm doing Billy Joel, and the thumper rule will not apply to any of the songs on my list.

You'll be a fan by the end of the countdown.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I'm doing Billy Joel, and the thumper rule will not apply to any of the songs on my list.

You'll be a fan by the end of the countdown.

Your new avatar is already triggering me

 

[zamboni]

Michael Head is not in the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame.

And sadly neither is Murray Head.

But good news for the Talking Heads.

There’s never been any reason to not also include Head East.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I'm doing Billy Joel, and the thumper rule will not apply to any of the songs on my list.

You'll be a fan by the end of the countdown.

Your new avatar is already triggering me

Who do you hate more, Billy Joel or Jann Wenner?

And how much of your Billy hate is due to Wenner and his minions telling you to hate him?

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I'm doing Billy Joel, and the thumper rule will not apply to any of the songs on my list.

You'll be a fan by the end of the countdown.

Your new avatar is already triggering me

Who do you hate more, Billy Joel or Jann Wenner?

And how much of your Billy hate is due to Wenner and his minions telling you to hate him?

Wenner, because he's done so much more damage. It'll take decades to undo what he's done. I could burn up all of the internet's bandwidth describing that damage.

Joel's just a pretentious hack who thought he was Dylan by including slang in his songs. I couldn't stand his records long before I ever even knew who Jann Wenner was. He's also been a jerk to everyone who's ever been around him.

I think this may be the only time in my life that Christie Brinkley & I will be this close.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Michael Head is not in the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame.

And sadly neither is Murray Head.

But good news for the Talking Heads.

There’s never been any reason to not also include Head East.

That is a good song.

 

[zamboni]

I'm doing Billy Joel, and the thumper rule will not apply to any of the songs on my list.

You'll be a fan by the end of the countdown.

Your new avatar is already triggering me

Now I know where Doug Henning got his look - or was it the other way around?

 

[Mister CIA]

I'm doing Billy Joel, and the thumper rule will not apply to any of the songs on my list.

You'll be a fan by the end of the countdown.

Your new avatar is already triggering me

Now I know where Doug Henning got his look - or was it the other way around?

I'm seeing Three Muskateers. Maybe that is Athos, though I suspect @Uruk-Hai might vary the spelling a tad.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I'm doing Billy Joel, and the thumper rule will not apply to any of the songs on my list.

You'll be a fan by the end of the countdown.

Your new avatar is already triggering me

Now I know where Doug Henning got his look - or was it the other way around?

Oh, I'm sure Joel stole the look just like he's stolen everything else.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Um, simey, you seem to have something on your upper lip. Perhaps a napkin? Or a weedwacker?

 

[KarmaPolice]

I texted simey to see if she's still in. We had talked for a bit during the run-up to this round and she had an interesting choice.

I'm not sure how much time I'll have to give to it, but I'll give it a go.

I'm doing Billy Joel, and the thumper rule will not apply to any of the songs on my list.

Billy Joel vs Billy Hai. My money is on Billy.

Outstanding pic for avatar.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I texted simey to see if she's still in. We had talked for a bit during the run-up to this round and she had an interesting choice.

I'm not sure how much time I'll have to give to it, but I'll give it a go.

I'm doing Billy Joel, and the thumper rule will not apply to any of the songs on my list.

Billy Joel vs Billy Hai. My money is on Billy.

Let’s shout the hater down!!!

 

[KarmaPolice]

In another example of music nerdery, @Yambag and I made our versions of a 1 disc version of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. I grumble that it's too bloated as a double album, and would be a perfect single disc, but the actual cutting was much harder than I thought. I listened to his at work today - good stuff. Maybe he will share it at the end, but talking about overlap or songs missing is too much of a spoiler for the playlist....

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I texted simey to see if she's still in. We had talked for a bit during the run-up to this round and she had an interesting choice.

I'm not sure how much time I'll have to give to it, but I'll give it a go.

I'm doing Billy Joel, and the thumper rule will not apply to any of the songs on my list.

Billy Joel vs Billy Hai. My money is on Billy.

Let’s shout the hater down!!!

I WILL NOT BE UNHEARD

 

[zamboni]

I texted simey to see if she's still in. We had talked for a bit during the run-up to this round and she had an interesting choice.

I'm not sure how much time I'll have to give to it, but I'll give it a go.

I'm doing Billy Joel, and the thumper rule will not apply to any of the songs on my list.

Billy Joel vs Billy Hai. My money is on Billy.

Let’s shout the hater down!!!

I WILL NOT BE UNHEARD

You had to be a big shot, didn’tcha?

 

[Mister CIA]

Once had a FF owner in a league with team name Austin Collie and the Infinite Sadness.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I texted simey to see if she's still in. We had talked for a bit during the run-up to this round and she had an interesting choice.

I'm not sure how much time I'll have to give to it, but I'll give it a go.

I'm doing Billy Joel, and the thumper rule will not apply to any of the songs on my list.

Billy Joel vs Billy Hai. My money is on Billy.

Let’s shout the hater down!!!

I WILL NOT BE UNHEARD

You had to be a big shot, didn’tcha?

Always been my issue, zam. I don't; care anymore, it's my life. I'm moving out, man.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Once had a FF owner in a league with team name Austin Collie and the Infinite Sadness.

That’s amazing. Wish I had thought of it back in the day.

 

[Zegras11]

Michael Head Eephus
People Under the Stairs KarmaPolice
John Waite Charlie Steiner
Golden Smog Dr. Octopus
The GAP Band/Charlie Wilson Don Quixote
The English Beat Family Tree Yo Mama
Caroline Esmeralda van der Leeuw -OZ_
Neil Diamond Mrs. Rannous
Steve Marriott zamboni
Conor Oberst Tuffnutt
Smashing Pumpkins Yambag
Otis Redding John Maddens Lunchbox
Meat Loaf snellman

 

[Zegras11]

So I'm sending everyone there list that has input one, to check if any errors.

The google form gets an improvement or two every time I use it, and this time, when I send all 31 of your songs to you, they post DOWN the page, instead of ACCROSS the page, which is 1000x easier to read,

 

[Zegras11]

I'm also back from an amazing 9 day trip to Kauai.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

Meat Loaf snellman

Great name for an old school professional wrestler.

 

[Chaos34]

I'm also back from an amazing 9 day trip to Kauai.

Nice. Favorite part?

 

[Zegras11]

I'm also back from an amazing 9 day trip to Kauai.

Nice. Favorite part?

Na Pali Catamaran coast line boat tour was insane. Gal driving our boat backed that thing deep into a few caves which was incredible. We also saw some whales on way back.

Also had dinner with old HS friend (Thursday) I hadn't seen since 1980 at the Beach House in Poipu. He's an E,N, and Throat doctor at the hospital there. He took us Saturday in his Jeep to Princeville and Hanalei Bay. Hit the beaches and bars all day.

 

[Chaos34]

I'm also back from an amazing 9 day trip to Kauai.

Nice. Favorite part?

Na Pali Catamaran coast line boat tour was insane. Gal driving our boat backed that thing deep into a few caves which was incredible. We also saw some whales on way back.

Also had dinner with old HS friend (Thursday) I hadn't seen since 1980 at the Beach House in Poipu. He's an E,N, and Throat doctor as the hospital there. He took us Saturday in his Jeep to Princeville and Hanalei Bay. Hit the beaches and bars all day.

If I made a guess it would have been Na Pali. My old boss and a great friend for 30 years has a home right on Tunnels. Retired there in 2012. I visited every year for 7 years when he first moved there. Definitely my favorite part of the island.

 

[Don Quixote]

I'm also back from an amazing 9 day trip to Kauai.

Nice. Favorite part?

Na Pali Catamaran coast line boat tour was insane. Gal driving our boat backed that thing deep into a few caves which was incredible. We also saw some whales on way back.

Also had dinner with old HS friend (Thursday) I hadn't seen since 1980 at the Beach House in Poipu. He's an E,N, and Throat doctor as the hospital there. He took us Saturday in his Jeep to Princeville and Hanalei Bay. Hit the beaches and bars all day.

I did the same tour when I was in Kauai a couple of years ago. Most memorable part of my trip for sure. Never seen anything like it.

 

[Chaos34]

Also, after listening to a few 5 or 6 times I finally narrowed my guitar player down to 31. I even like the way they're ranked. I did it on youtube so need to spend a little time on Spotify and with the form, but this continued to be the most fun I've had making a list. DLR, Manson and Zombie make fun videos and I'll highly recommend them as we go forward.

This is my first time doing this format and I think that has as much to do with it as John 5. I made a rule to limit it to songs in which he has writing credits. Even that left narrowing it down pretty difficult. 10 different bands are represented along with some solo stuff.

 

[Zegras11]

Pip's Invitation	(Arthur Lee and) Love
Zegras11	Belinda Carlisle
Simey	Billy Joel
-OZ-	Caroline Esmeralda van der Leeuw	in
MrsKarmaPolice	City and Colour
tuffnut	Conor Oberst	in
Tau837	Eric Clapton
titusbramble	Ferry Cortsen
Dr. Octopus	Golden Smog	in
Mister CIA	Hugh Dillon
Charlie Steiner	John Waite	in
landrys hat	Luna
Snellman	Meatloaf	in
Mt. Man	Metllica
eephus	Michael Head	in
Mrs. Rannous	Neil Diamond	in
John Maddens Lunchbox	Otis Redding	in
Karma Police	People Under The Stars	in
zamboni	Steve Marriott	in
Uruk-Hai	The Commodores
Yo Mama	The English Beat Family Tree	in
Don Quixote	The Gap Band/Charlie Wilson	in
Yambag	The Smashing Pumpkins	in
Iluv80s	The Waterboys
Northern Voice	TV on the Radio

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I'm doing Billy Joel, and the thumper rule will not apply to any of the songs on my list.

You'll be a fan by the end of the countdown.

Your new avatar is already triggering me

Yes, please change it back to one of the cute cat pics. Much less upsetting.