The Dreaded Marco
Footballguy
gotta go to work, gotta go to work, gotta have a job.
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Middle Aged Dummies!! Artists #1's have been posted!! (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Zegras11
- Start date
Scoresman
Footballguy
The only thing I would tweak is to have the weekday releases be in the morning so I can fire up the playlist while working. That's just me though.
worrierking
Footballguy
In other travel news, I have returned to Louisiana from Alaska. Did you know that even though we are in the same country, our weather is considerably different?
Thanks everyone for the nice comments about the Warren Zevon songs. I am happy to be the FBG Middle Age Dummies' personal Zevongelist.
I can't wait to finally get to listen to some of the stuff everyone is talking about.
Thanks everyone for the nice comments about the Warren Zevon songs. I am happy to be the FBG Middle Age Dummies' personal Zevongelist.
I can't wait to finally get to listen to some of the stuff everyone is talking about.
Raging weasel
Footballguy
The only Zevon I had ever heard before this is Werewolves of London and Excitable Boy. Can't remember if I spotlighted any of the songs so far but have liked a couple
rockaction
Footballguy
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I like the pace of the reveals but would agree with this. I’d prefer Tuesday and Thursday to be morning rather than evening reveals - unless that’s an issue for you of course.
Zegras11
Footballguy
I have no time to do it in the morning. I could do late Monday and Wednesday night though
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
If that's the case, I don't think it would change anything much and would just leave as is. Sunday/Monday reveals may be a little too close together.
rockaction
Footballguy
I figured this was the case. Proceed the best way you see fit, Zegrasgetz.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
The current scheme works fine for me.
Just Win Baby
Footballguy
I like the pace a lot. 
krista4
Footballguy
Since the songs don't get posted until evening, I went ahead and started my catching up with the #26s today. After I post, I'll go back and read the write-ups and comments. Coming into this, I only know ~5-6 of the drafter/artist combos, so mostly I'm doing this first one blind.
Given I'm so far behind, my commentary will be sparse until I get caught up.
As is tradition, my new-to-me-favorites playlist is named after the first song I come to on the list that gets a heart. This time, that honor goes to "Mes Filhos, Meu Tesouro" by Jorge Ben Jor.
Other songs to make the playlist:
- "Behind the Lines" by Genesis - lookie there, a Genesis song I like!
- "Sunshine" by The Decemberists
- "King for a Day / Shout" by Green Day
- "Blurred Year" by Big Thief - also wins "best album cover" for the day
- "Lucky Now" by Ryan Adams - this is a list I was particularly looking forward to. I know a LOT of Ryan Adams, but he's so prolific that I've also missed a lot along the way. Silver medal for the day.
- "Someday at Christmas" by Stevie Wonder - how did I not know this song?
- "Stars" by Black Francis
- "Low Ceiling" by Alice in Chains - I should know more of their stuff, and this one was a nice surprise.
- "Breakthru" by Queen - Bronze medal for the day.
- "Hong Kong" by Gorillaz - though I hate this "band" for being so difficult to vet and make rulings on in the British Isles countdown, I'm looking forward to hearing more. The coveted gold medal for the day.
- "Carousels" by Doves - I lost track of the Doves ~5 years ago and shouldn't have.
- "Aurora" by Foo Fighters - I'm embarrassed at how few songs I know from one of the world's most popular bands. This one was a good entrypoint into learning more.
Songs I admired/enjoyed even though the style just isn't my thing included "the 1" by Taylor Swift and "Some Chords" by deadmau5.
Special shout-out to "Daniel" by Elton John. It's one of my absolute favorites from him, and I was shocked it scored nary a point in the British Isles countdown.
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Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
You’ve never heard of Someday at Christmas? Did Wonderful Christmastime scare you off of Christmas songs?
Ilov80s
Footballguy
I've got a hat with the little bear playing guitar on it, wearing it at the moment actually.
krista4
Footballguy
I really enjoyed this one, except it had too much flute for me, keeping off my "hearts" list.
krista4
Footballguy
krista4
Footballguy
Love this idea.
Also forgot to shout out that Police track. Not a band I enjoy much (AFAIK), but this song is a big exception.
krista4
Footballguy
A couple of them... There are, as you might expect, multiple Beatles museums there. By far the best is the one on Mathew Street that is owned by Roag Best, half-brother of Pete Best and son of Mona Best and Neil Aspinall. Incredible collection, very well put together.
Highlight of the whole visit was a seven-hour tour we took with this guy. Maybe if one weren't an insane Beatles fan, it would be too much to see so many childhood homes and the like, but to me it was earth-shattering. Even my friend Stacy loved it, and she's a casual fan at best. One of the best parts, though, was that we got along so famously with Ian the tour operator that he ended up asking if we could go by the house where he grew up, which he had not visited since 1986. It was not in a good area (near one of George's childhood homes), and he had gotten out of there as soon as he could and never looked back. He's emailed me a couple of times since the tour to say how much it had meant to him that we went there. Also both there and at one of George's homes, we ended up in long conversations with some locals, which was just huge to me.
If anyone goes to Liverpool and wants a tour, let me get in touch with him.
krista4
Footballguy
Gerry Marsden participate in another charity single associated with that tragedy, along with Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams, Shane MacGowan, a Spice Girl, and many others. I loved this version of "He Ain't Heavy."
rockaction
Footballguy
That is truly awesome.
simey
Footballguy
@Eephus I was supposed to see the band X and the Squirrel Nut Zippers with some friends in Charlotte Saturday, and we got a postponed message today. It said they had to postpone the show due to an emergency medical procedure with a band member of X. It didn't say which band member, but I was just passing it on cause I know your wife is friends with Exene.
rockaction
Footballguy
You were supposed to go to that? I heard about its cancellation on a music forum and thought of Eephus and Mrs. Eephus, too.
simey
Footballguy
Yeah. I've seen them both before, but what a fun show it would have been seeing them both on the same night. It didn't say when the makeup date will be. Hopefully the makeup date won't interfere with something else. Also, I hope everything is OK with the band member that got the procedure done.
krista4
Footballguy
I realized skipping to the 26s to listen and then read the comments plopped me right in the middle of some side conversations where I haven't a clue what was happening (near-death experiences?). I've gone back to the 31s now instead so that I can follow the conversation.
I'm sure you all needed to know that.
I'm sure you all needed to know that.
Zegras11
Footballguy
25's PLAYLIST
| #25- | ||
| Todd Rundgren | New Binky the Doormat | Buffalo Grass
|
| Jorge Ben Jor | Don Quixote | Carolina, Carol Bela (by Jorge Ben Jor and Toquinho)
Carolina, Carol BelaProvided to YouTube by The Orchard EnterprisesCarolina, Carol Bela · World · Jorge Ben & ToquinhoSamba Rock Vol.1℗ 2008 Atração FonográficaReleased on: 2007-...
youtu.be
|
| Brandi Carlile | JB Breakfast Club | Mainstream Kid - Firewatcher's Daughter |
| The Police | Zegras11 | Man In A Suitcase |
| Modest Mouse | The Dreaded Marco | Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes
Modest Mouse - Tiny Cities Made Of AshesAll rights reserved to MMFifth track off of the album.We're goin' down the road towards tiny cities made of ashesGonna hit you on the face gonna punch you in...
www.youtube.com
|
| Genesis | Yo Mama | Abacab |
| Stevie Ray Vaughan | Sullie | Leave My Girl Alone
Leave My Girl AloneProvided to YouTube by EpicLeave My Girl Alone · Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double TroubleIn Step℗ 1989 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music EntertainmentRelease...
www.youtube.com
|
| The Decemberists | kupcho1 | Make You Better
The Decemberists - Make You Better (Official)‘What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World’ limited-edition deluxe box sets available: http://smarturl.it/TheDecemberistsNew album on iTunes now: http://...
youtu.be
|
| ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead | plinko | The Doomsday Book IX (2014) |
| The Kinks | Galileo | Heart of Gold (1983 - State of Confusion) |
| Rush | higgins | Closer to the Heart
Rush - Closer To The Heart (Official Music Video)REMASTERED IN HD!Amazon: http://bit.ly/Rush2112SDE_WebMusic video by Rush performing Closer To The Heart. (C) 1977 The Island Def Jam Music Group and Anthem ...
www.youtube.com
|
| Sigur Rós | Scoresman | Gong - Takk - 2005 |
| Donald Fagen | Charlie Steiner | |
| Green Day | MAC_32 | She |
| Big Thief | Ilov80s | Vegas |
| Daft Punk | rockaction | Rollin' & Scratchin'
Daft Punk - Rollin' & Scratchin' (Official Audio)“Rollin' & Scratchin'” is taken from “Homework” available on all platforms: https://daftpunk.lnk.to/Homework Subscribe to the official Daft Punk YouTube chan...
youtu.be
|
| Taylor Swift | Jpalmer | exile |
| Elliott Smith | Tuffnutt | King's Crossing
King's CrossingProvided to YouTube by Kill Rock StarsKing's Crossing · Elliott SmithFrom A Basement On The Hill℗ Kill Rock StarsReleased on: 2010-04-06Auto-generated by You...
www.youtube.com
|
| Chicago | Pip's Invitation | This Time |
| The Stranglers | John Maddens Lunchbox | Sweden (All Quiet on the Eastern Front)
|
| Ryan Adams | Dr. Octopus | I Want You |
| Stevie Wonder | Uruk-Hai | We Can Work It Out 
Stevie Wonder - We Can Work It Out"We Can Work It Out" is the cover of a song by John Lennon and Paul McCartney of the Beatles. Stevie Wonder released his version on the 'Signed, Sealed & Del...
www.youtube.com
|
| Slade | Mrs. Rannous | OK Yesterday Was Yesterday
Slade - Slade In Flame - OK Yesterday Was YesterdayPurchase Everything Slade: https://slade.tmstor.es/Slade were unstoppable throughout the seventies becoming one of Europe's biggest bands, releasing 6 smash ...
www.youtube.com
|
| Phish | shuke | Pebbles and Marbles |
| Electgric Light Orchestra (ELO) | jwb | Fire On High |
| Frank Black | Mister CIA | Skeleon Man
"Skeleton Man" - Frank Black and the CatholicsMy personal favorite from Pistolero! If you like my videos, please subscribe. If you like the songs that I have uploaded, please buy the artist's music, beca...
www.youtube.com
|
| Clutch | Raging Weasel | Juggernaut |
| Dinosaur Jr. | KarmaPolice | Forget the Swan
Dinosaur Jr. - Forget the SwanDinosaur (1985)Track List:1. "Forget the Swan"2. "Cats in a Bowl"3. "The Leper"4. "Does It Float"5. "Pointless"6. "Repulsion"7. "Gargoyle"8. "Severed Lips"9....
www.youtube.com
|
| Warren Zevon | worrierking | Veracruz |
| Alice in Chains | Mt. Man | Rotten Apple |
| Queen | snellman | I'm Going Slightly Mad |
| AC/DC | falguy | Crabsody In Blue |
| The Hold Stead | scorchy | Blackout Sam |
| Damon Albarn | Eephus | Blur --- Charmless Man 
Blur - Charmless Man (Official Music Video)The official music video for Blur - Charmless Man Taken from Blur’s 4th studio album ‘The Great Escape’ released in 1995, which featured the hit singles 'Cou...
www.youtube.com
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| Ray Charles | simey |
Ray Charles - Come Rain or Come ShineRay Charles - Come Rain or Come Shine from the CD 'the definitive Ray Charles' © 2001 Warner Strategic Marketing, Warner Music International for the World ou...
www.youtube.com
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| Doves | landrys hat | The Outsiders |
| Spoon | Hov34 | The Way We Get By
Spoon - The Way We Get BySpoon - The Way We Get By; track #2 off of the album, Kill The Moonlight (2002). (Lyrics)We get high in back seats of carsWe break into mobile homesWe go to ...
www.youtube.com
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| Foo Fighters | Just Win Baby | Best Of You |
| Simon & Garfunkel | zamboni | "Song for the Asking"
Simon & Garfunkel - Song for the Asking (Audio)"Song for the Asking" by Simon and GarfunkelListen to Simon and Garfunkel: https://simonandgarfunkel.lnk.to/listen_YDSubscribe to the official Simon and Garf...
www.youtube.com
|
| Bruce Springsteen | DrIanMalcolm | Streets of Philadelphia
Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Philadelphia (Official Video)Official Video of ”Streets Of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen Listen to Bruce Springsteen: https://BruceSpringsteen.lnk.to/listenYD Pre-Order the Legendar...
www.youtube.com
|
| The Prodigy | titusbramble | Narayan |
| Bauhaus | otb_lifer | Of Lilies & Remains |
| Heart | Doug B | Stranded |
| The Tragically Hip | Northern Voice | Family Band |
| deadmau5 | zazale | Slip |
| Elton John | timschochet | Ballad Of A Well Known Gun
Elton John live 4K - Ballad Of A Well-Known Gun (Elton 60 - Live at Madison Square Garden) | 2007Sir Elton John performing "Ballad Of A Well-Known Gun" on his 60th birthday concert, live at Madison Square Garden in New York, 2007.
www.youtube.com
|
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
There are almost Jethro Tull levels of flute in that song. Most of the others don’t have it much or at all.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
I was in the ER but I didn’t almost die. Nor did my appendix or gallbladder burst. That should cover that.I realized skipping to the 26s to listen and then read the comments plopped me right in the middle of some side conversations where I haven't a clue what was happening (near-death experiences?). I've gone back to the 31s now instead so that I can follow the conversation.
I'm sure you all needed to know that.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
This roughly starts what I consider the actual countdown for Big Thief. The first 6 songs were meant as an introduction to the band to give a showcase of who they are for those getting their first taste. Obviously now it will build to their best work over the next few weeks and that will include a live track and the first appearances of songs from UFOF, arguably their best album.
Mt. Man
Footballguy
25. Rotten Apple (off Jar of Flies, 1994)
What I see is unreal
I've written my own part
Eat of the apple, so young
I'm crawling back to start
(Youtube) Rotten Apple
(Live Version) Alice in Chains - "Rotten Apple"
Hey ah na na! Rotten Apple shuffled up and down, and I’m a bit curious about reactions regarding me putting it here. You know, more than usual.
But onto the actual song. Judge it for yourself (if you haven’t already by the time you read this), but it starts with a smooth bass-heavy groove that persists, with the haunting harmonies that are a staple of AIC coming in after about a minute. So the “core” comment last time wasn’t JUST a pun from the song’s name. It’s a song about lost innocence, and yes, about struggling with addiction.
Next on the countdown, a song about eye and dental care.
What I see is unreal
I've written my own part
Eat of the apple, so young
I'm crawling back to start
(Youtube) Rotten Apple
(Live Version) Alice in Chains - "Rotten Apple"
Hey ah na na! Rotten Apple shuffled up and down, and I’m a bit curious about reactions regarding me putting it here. You know, more than usual.
But onto the actual song. Judge it for yourself (if you haven’t already by the time you read this), but it starts with a smooth bass-heavy groove that persists, with the haunting harmonies that are a staple of AIC coming in after about a minute. So the “core” comment last time wasn’t JUST a pun from the song’s name. It’s a song about lost innocence, and yes, about struggling with addiction.
Next on the countdown, a song about eye and dental care.
Galileo
Footballguy
#25 Heart of Gold (1983 - State of Confusion)
This is the second track in my countdown from the State of Confusion album. This is a song inspired by the birth of Natalie, daughter of Ray Davies and Chrissie Hynde (Pretenders). Nothing musically spectacular here, but it is a solid 80’s pop song. I find myself bopping and singing along when I hear it.
Growing up isn't easy to do,
Especially for one who always knew,
You would always come up second best.
Is that why you have such bitterness?
The apple of your father's eye,
And always by your brother's side.
Then a little sister came along,
And you found all the affection suddenly gone.
But underneath that cold exterior
I know you've got a heart of gold.
So aloof, so superior,
But you've got a heart of gold.
Watch out, don't get caught in the crossfire.
Watch out, she's still growing up, she's in a rage,
I guess she's reached that difficult age.
Growing up is very hard to do,
Everyone watching your every move.
Your private life always on view,
But jealously never really suited you.
But I know that
Underneath that rude exterior,
There's got to be a heart of gold.
Underneath that hard exterior,
Is a little girl waiting to be told,
You've got a heart of gold.
She's got a heart of gold.
I couldn't understand your attitude.
I only wanted to take a photograph of you,
But I was shocked when I heard what you had to say.
You picked up my camera, threw it away,
I didn't really mean to ruin your day.
Now I see you've got a little girl of your own.
Little princess certainly grown,
And there's a man, he's smiling at you.
He must have been the one who always knew.
You had a heart of gold.
Underneath that rude exterior,
You've got a heart of gold.
So aloof, so superior,
But you've got a heart of gold.
Underneath that rude exterior,
You've got a heart of gold.
Underneath that hard exterior,
You've got a heart of gold.
This is the second track in my countdown from the State of Confusion album. This is a song inspired by the birth of Natalie, daughter of Ray Davies and Chrissie Hynde (Pretenders). Nothing musically spectacular here, but it is a solid 80’s pop song. I find myself bopping and singing along when I hear it.
Growing up isn't easy to do,
Especially for one who always knew,
You would always come up second best.
Is that why you have such bitterness?
The apple of your father's eye,
And always by your brother's side.
Then a little sister came along,
And you found all the affection suddenly gone.
But underneath that cold exterior
I know you've got a heart of gold.
So aloof, so superior,
But you've got a heart of gold.
Watch out, don't get caught in the crossfire.
Watch out, she's still growing up, she's in a rage,
I guess she's reached that difficult age.
Growing up is very hard to do,
Everyone watching your every move.
Your private life always on view,
But jealously never really suited you.
But I know that
Underneath that rude exterior,
There's got to be a heart of gold.
Underneath that hard exterior,
Is a little girl waiting to be told,
You've got a heart of gold.
She's got a heart of gold.
I couldn't understand your attitude.
I only wanted to take a photograph of you,
But I was shocked when I heard what you had to say.
You picked up my camera, threw it away,
I didn't really mean to ruin your day.
Now I see you've got a little girl of your own.
Little princess certainly grown,
And there's a man, he's smiling at you.
He must have been the one who always knew.
You had a heart of gold.
Underneath that rude exterior,
You've got a heart of gold.
So aloof, so superior,
But you've got a heart of gold.
Underneath that rude exterior,
You've got a heart of gold.
Underneath that hard exterior,
You've got a heart of gold.
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
I will beat @Pip's Invitation to the punch - I hear a little Neil in this Ryan Adams song.
kupcho1
Footballguy
The Decemberists
#25 Make You Better
Off of 2015's What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World, Make You Better is a contemplative meditation on how love isn't a fix-it for problems. There are some beautiful harmonies throughout.
This is the only song I've included from this release, but its a good one.
W/r/t the video, watch if you like Nick Offerman who plays the host of The Old Blue Rock Palace Show playing around with a Germanic accent and dishing out malapropisms faster than Norm Crosby.
#25 Make You Better
Off of 2015's What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World, Make You Better is a contemplative meditation on how love isn't a fix-it for problems. There are some beautiful harmonies throughout.
This is the only song I've included from this release, but its a good one.
W/r/t the video, watch if you like Nick Offerman who plays the host of The Old Blue Rock Palace Show playing around with a Germanic accent and dishing out malapropisms faster than Norm Crosby.
Mister CIA
Footballguy
Galileo
Footballguy
Mainstream Kid - Brandi Carlile: This one hit different from the others we've heard. I liked it. I hadn't really gotten into this artist yet, but I found this one interesting.
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes - Modest Mouse: This song made me feel like I was high even though I am not.
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes - Modest Mouse: This song made me feel like I was high even though I am not.
Raging weasel
Footballguy
Love the song and would be closer to top 10 for me.
krista4
Footballguy
Sorry to backtrack on you all, but my listening party for the 31s is complete. I had exactly the same number of songs - 13 - that received hearts as I did in the 26s. Both playlists have been enjoyable, and the 13 hearts of course don't represent songs I already knew and enjoyed, like the Elliott Smith, ELO, AC/DC and many others.
New-to-me songs I thought were very good but didn't make my playlist as not really something I'd seek out again: "Robot Rock" by Daft Punk; "The Lizards" by Phish; "Careful with That Mic" by Clutch; "Strobe" by deadmau5; "Party of the First Part" by Bauhaus; "Weather Experience" by The Prodigy; and "O Holy Night" by Brandi Carlile. I also thought Warren Zevon's "Tenderness on the Block" was a well-written and well-constructed song (I'm just not big on his vocal).
Songs that made my playlist:
- "Walk on By" by The Stranglers - fun fun fun
- "A Song for You" by Ray Charles
- "Anything You Want" by Spoon - my friend Lisa must be one of the biggest Spoon fans in the world, but I've not ever felt much connection to them. This song was a huge exception - my favorite new-to-me of the 31s.
- "The Things (That) I Used to Do" by SRV - I honestly wasn't sure what I'd think of his songs, but this was a bluesy standout.
- "O Telefone Tocou Novamente" by Jorge Ben Jor - he's two for two so far making my playlist
- "Hideaway" by Chicago - great rocker without all that flute!
- "My Music at Work" by The Tragically Hip
- "Be Nice to Me" by Todd Rundgren - soooo purty. On another day it might win my "new favorite" award. Today it gets second place.
- "Where Is Our Love Song?" by Stevie - also two for two so far
- "Bleecker Street" by Simon & Garfunkel
- "There's No Other Way" by Blur - also two for two
- "Hornets! Hornets!" by The Hold Steady - Would have won any tiebreaker for third place based on title alone, but didn't have to get to that as it had sole claim to third based on musical merits.
- "Taken by the Hand" by ...And You Will etc.
Special shout-out: "Alcohol" by The Kinks, for tuba. Any song with heavy tuba action will get a special shout-out.
New-to-me songs I thought were very good but didn't make my playlist as not really something I'd seek out again: "Robot Rock" by Daft Punk; "The Lizards" by Phish; "Careful with That Mic" by Clutch; "Strobe" by deadmau5; "Party of the First Part" by Bauhaus; "Weather Experience" by The Prodigy; and "O Holy Night" by Brandi Carlile. I also thought Warren Zevon's "Tenderness on the Block" was a well-written and well-constructed song (I'm just not big on his vocal).
Songs that made my playlist:
- "Walk on By" by The Stranglers - fun fun fun
- "A Song for You" by Ray Charles
- "Anything You Want" by Spoon - my friend Lisa must be one of the biggest Spoon fans in the world, but I've not ever felt much connection to them. This song was a huge exception - my favorite new-to-me of the 31s.
- "The Things (That) I Used to Do" by SRV - I honestly wasn't sure what I'd think of his songs, but this was a bluesy standout.
- "O Telefone Tocou Novamente" by Jorge Ben Jor - he's two for two so far making my playlist
- "Hideaway" by Chicago - great rocker without all that flute!
- "My Music at Work" by The Tragically Hip
- "Be Nice to Me" by Todd Rundgren - soooo purty. On another day it might win my "new favorite" award. Today it gets second place.
- "Where Is Our Love Song?" by Stevie - also two for two so far
- "Bleecker Street" by Simon & Garfunkel
- "There's No Other Way" by Blur - also two for two
- "Hornets! Hornets!" by The Hold Steady - Would have won any tiebreaker for third place based on title alone, but didn't have to get to that as it had sole claim to third based on musical merits.
- "Taken by the Hand" by ...And You Will etc.
Special shout-out: "Alcohol" by The Kinks, for tuba. Any song with heavy tuba action will get a special shout-out.
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Yo Mama
Footballguy
This is one of my favorites from Alice In Chains - pretty much anything off of Jar of Flies. Great choice!
Mister CIA
Footballguy
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
I haven't written about Dinosaur Jr. for a bit. I realized last week that my 1st 7 songs were from 7 different albums, and I thought I would just let that intro largely speak for itself. If you haven't heard a song that interested you yet, it won't happen as I don't think there are any other big swerves or surprises in store. 2 of the last 3 picks came from their first two albums - today's Forget the Swan off their debut, and Sludgefeast off You're Living All Over Me. Full disclosure if these are your favorites of the bunch, this sound will be underrepresented. YLAOM is probably the album I would guess most Dino fans from the beginning would point to as being their best, and I usually see it ranked in their top 2 when poking around. But remember, I am late to the game on Dino and that sound still doesn't click with me outside of a handful of songs. We get no more off Dinosaur and 1 more off their second album, so anybody really curious about their roots and dug those two sounds would be safe listening to those albums - the playlist won't be spoiled much for you. Sludgefeast is a banger though, and I Forget the Swan was a pleasant surprise for me while doing research - it really brought to light the Dino to Nirvana connection more. Mick is off Hand it Over, their '97 album that I had managed to pass over until now and was probably one of the best surprises of this adventure for me. More to come off this one. Hope some songs are hitting home for y'all.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
25. This Time
Album: Chicago XI (1977)
Writer: Lee Loughnane
Lead vocals: Lee Loughnane
Released as a single? No
This Time should have been catnip to radio programmers circa 1977. It's got an infectious melody, a bouncy rhythm, a driving electric piano, a soaring chorus and of course an amazing Terry Kath guitar solo. All you had to do was slap a Peter Cetera lead vocal on it and you'd have a hit, right? But that's not what the band did. Instead, the vocal was given to the song's writer, trumpeter Lee Loughnane, whose voice is most charitably described as Kath-lite and more honestly described as flat. Still, the song possesses the zest and hookiness of the band's mid-70s hits such as Just You 'N Me, Call on Me and Old Days. It's even readily identifiable as Chicago, not only because of the horns but also because Cetera's voice is mixed very high up in the chorus (and he gets a few "yeah yeahs" and "mama mamas" to himself). Two of the three singles from this album did not set the world on fire, so they should have given it a shot. Instead, one of their best songs is known only to people who have heard Chicago XI in its entirety.
Played live only a handful of times (probably because no one goes to a Chicago show to hear Lee Loughnane sing), but here is the version from Terry Kath's final show (12/1/77 in Oakland): https://youtu.be/MgZPUvKqyNg?t=544
Chicago XI, like its immediate predecessors VIII and X (IX was a greatest hits album), is a little all over the place. The spirit of Chicago VII was for everyone to try whatever they wanted. And as a double, it had plenty of space to provide for that, and flexibility to tie the songs together in a certain way that made sense. It's much harder to accomplish that on single albums when you have eight members vying for creative input. I think XI may be the best of the trio, as it is more consistent than VIII but has higher peaks than X. (It also sounds like Steely Dan in spots, which is a plus for me but may not be for others.) It was once again dabbling in many different areas stylistically, perhaps a reflection of six of the original members getting writing credits. The original trio of writers, Robert Lamm, Terry Kath and James Pankow, combined to pen less than half the tracks here. And five members took turns on lead vocals. (Peter Cetera had one writing credit, which was not a big surprise, but also only one lead vocal, which was.) The album also offered the most stark evidence that Terry Kath perhaps didn't have his heart completely in the band anymore. Of his two compositions, one was taken from sessions for a horns-less solo album he was working on, and the other was an old song of his dating back to at least 1969. That doesn't sound like someone particularly interested in working within his band's current milieu. Sadly, we will never know whether this was a temporary phase or the preface to a break with the band, as four months after the album's release, Kath accidentally shot and killed himself, altering the band's trajectory forever.
At #24, a song with a very '70s theme and arguably the best coda the band did that didn't involve a raging guitar solo.
Album: Chicago XI (1977)
Writer: Lee Loughnane
Lead vocals: Lee Loughnane
Released as a single? No
This Time should have been catnip to radio programmers circa 1977. It's got an infectious melody, a bouncy rhythm, a driving electric piano, a soaring chorus and of course an amazing Terry Kath guitar solo. All you had to do was slap a Peter Cetera lead vocal on it and you'd have a hit, right? But that's not what the band did. Instead, the vocal was given to the song's writer, trumpeter Lee Loughnane, whose voice is most charitably described as Kath-lite and more honestly described as flat. Still, the song possesses the zest and hookiness of the band's mid-70s hits such as Just You 'N Me, Call on Me and Old Days. It's even readily identifiable as Chicago, not only because of the horns but also because Cetera's voice is mixed very high up in the chorus (and he gets a few "yeah yeahs" and "mama mamas" to himself). Two of the three singles from this album did not set the world on fire, so they should have given it a shot. Instead, one of their best songs is known only to people who have heard Chicago XI in its entirety.
Played live only a handful of times (probably because no one goes to a Chicago show to hear Lee Loughnane sing), but here is the version from Terry Kath's final show (12/1/77 in Oakland): https://youtu.be/MgZPUvKqyNg?t=544
Chicago XI, like its immediate predecessors VIII and X (IX was a greatest hits album), is a little all over the place. The spirit of Chicago VII was for everyone to try whatever they wanted. And as a double, it had plenty of space to provide for that, and flexibility to tie the songs together in a certain way that made sense. It's much harder to accomplish that on single albums when you have eight members vying for creative input. I think XI may be the best of the trio, as it is more consistent than VIII but has higher peaks than X. (It also sounds like Steely Dan in spots, which is a plus for me but may not be for others.) It was once again dabbling in many different areas stylistically, perhaps a reflection of six of the original members getting writing credits. The original trio of writers, Robert Lamm, Terry Kath and James Pankow, combined to pen less than half the tracks here. And five members took turns on lead vocals. (Peter Cetera had one writing credit, which was not a big surprise, but also only one lead vocal, which was.) The album also offered the most stark evidence that Terry Kath perhaps didn't have his heart completely in the band anymore. Of his two compositions, one was taken from sessions for a horns-less solo album he was working on, and the other was an old song of his dating back to at least 1969. That doesn't sound like someone particularly interested in working within his band's current milieu. Sadly, we will never know whether this was a temporary phase or the preface to a break with the band, as four months after the album's release, Kath accidentally shot and killed himself, altering the band's trajectory forever.
At #24, a song with a very '70s theme and arguably the best coda the band did that didn't involve a raging guitar solo.
tuffnutt
Footballguy
25.
Kings Crossing-Elliott Smith
From a Basement on a Hill Album
It's a Christmas time
And the needles on the tree
A skinny Santa is bringing something to me
His voice is overwhelming, but his speech is slurred
And I only understand every other word
"Open your parachute and grab your gun
Falling down like an omen, a setting sun
Read the part and we turn out fine
It's a hell of a role if you can keep it alive
From the posthumous album "From a Basement on a Hill" Kings crossing is a very different tune then the low-fi 4 track recordings we are used to with Elliott's music. This is certainly one of his most "produced" songs. I once heard someone say that King's Crossing sounds like a nervous breakdown, and I can see that. I've also heard it described as his masterpiece.
It’s one of Smith’s most unsettling songs and certainly, among his most ambitious. The lyrics don’t begin until almost two minutes in and once they begin, they’re intertwined within a wall of sound. It makes you wonder what From A Basement On The Hill would have sounded like had Smith been alive to finish it.
Kings Crossing-Elliott Smith
From a Basement on a Hill Album
It's a Christmas time
And the needles on the tree
A skinny Santa is bringing something to me
His voice is overwhelming, but his speech is slurred
And I only understand every other word
"Open your parachute and grab your gun
Falling down like an omen, a setting sun
Read the part and we turn out fine
It's a hell of a role if you can keep it alive
From the posthumous album "From a Basement on a Hill" Kings crossing is a very different tune then the low-fi 4 track recordings we are used to with Elliott's music. This is certainly one of his most "produced" songs. I once heard someone say that King's Crossing sounds like a nervous breakdown, and I can see that. I've also heard it described as his masterpiece.
It’s one of Smith’s most unsettling songs and certainly, among his most ambitious. The lyrics don’t begin until almost two minutes in and once they begin, they’re intertwined within a wall of sound. It makes you wonder what From A Basement On The Hill would have sounded like had Smith been alive to finish it.
Mister CIA
Footballguy
simey
Footballguy
#25 - Ray Charles - Come Rain or Come Shine - Spotify
Ray recorded this jazz standard in 1959, and it is on the 1959 album The Genius of Ray Charles. The first half of the album are songs recorded with brass big bands and arranged by Quincy Jones, and the second half of the album are ballads recorded with a string orchestra and arranged by Ralph Burns. This would be his last album with Atlantic, and while you can hear his blues and soul within the music, the album focuses on Ray's jazz side. Although the band can be a bit loud sometimes on the album and the mic had limited quality, it's still a great album and one of my favorites, and he does a great job on "Come Rain or Come Shine." It's my favorite version of the song.
Ray recorded this jazz standard in 1959, and it is on the 1959 album The Genius of Ray Charles. The first half of the album are songs recorded with brass big bands and arranged by Quincy Jones, and the second half of the album are ballads recorded with a string orchestra and arranged by Ralph Burns. This would be his last album with Atlantic, and while you can hear his blues and soul within the music, the album focuses on Ray's jazz side. Although the band can be a bit loud sometimes on the album and the mic had limited quality, it's still a great album and one of my favorites, and he does a great job on "Come Rain or Come Shine." It's my favorite version of the song.
Yo Mama
Footballguy
#25 Genesis - Abacab
Album - Abacab
Year - 1981
Another more popular song here. I mostly included it for nostalgic purposes. This was on one of my favorite mixtapes from the mid-80s, and it totally brings back summer memories from that time. I was the only one of my group with a boom box so everyone had to listen to my music most of the time - this mix was a constant at the beach and by the pool.
As most know, the title was based on the original structure of the song, but by the time the band finished with the final song the structure ended up being closer to a cheat code from Contra.
Decades later, a shorter version of the song was adopted by members of Antifa for its rally cry. This abridged version was titled ACAB.
Up next, a song I realize I should have ranked at least ten spots higher every time I listen to it now.
Album - Abacab
Year - 1981
Another more popular song here. I mostly included it for nostalgic purposes. This was on one of my favorite mixtapes from the mid-80s, and it totally brings back summer memories from that time. I was the only one of my group with a boom box so everyone had to listen to my music most of the time - this mix was a constant at the beach and by the pool.
As most know, the title was based on the original structure of the song, but by the time the band finished with the final song the structure ended up being closer to a cheat code from Contra.
Decades later, a shorter version of the song was adopted by members of Antifa for its rally cry. This abridged version was titled ACAB.
Up next, a song I realize I should have ranked at least ten spots higher every time I listen to it now.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
Random thoughts about some of the #25s I already know:
I had never heard the studio version of Buffalo Grass, only a live version on a bootleg CD. It's got a very strong chorus.
Man in a Suitcase is another Police song that shows off their talent without wankery -- those bass lines Sting lays down are nuts.
Abacab is another Genesis song that has always been a favorite. The little exchanges between Mike Rutherford's guitar (bum-bum-bum) and Tony Banks' organ (bum-bum) are the perfect synthesis of prog and New Wave.
I forgot The Kinks also share a song title with Neil Young.
Rush is not associated with power ballads -- but does Closer to the Heart count as one of the earliest ones?
Stevie's version of We Can Work It Out is one of the best Beatles covers I have ever heard.
Round Room is a weird album even by Phish standards. Almost every song is either an intricate epic or a turgid ballad. Pebbles and Marbles is in the former category and boasts one of their most dynamic arrangements. (The only song that falls into neither category is the rocker 46 Days. When they played SNL after Round Room came out, they did 46 Days and then resorted to an older tune for their second song, as everything else from Round Room was either too long or wouldn't have held interest.)
I picked ELO's Fire on High in my 1975 countdown. What I said there: "This mostly instrumental track was ubiquitous in the '70s, not necessarily because of radio play, but because the passage with the main riff (featuring a rapidly played acoustic guitar) was the theme for the CBS weekend show Sports Spectacular, and has appeared as background music in many sports and other contexts. It's a dynamic mix of rock and classical flourishes and is notable for including backwards vocals at the beginning, which Jeff Lynne threw in there to tweak the Fundamentalists who claimed their previous album, Eldorado, contained hidden Satanic messages. When played forward, the vocals say "The music is reversible but time is not. Turn back. Turn back. Turn back. Turn back." This is the rare prog song that has a good beat and you can dance to it."
Best of You was covered by Prince AT THE SUPER BOWL. He's not doing that for anything less than a great song.
Ballad of a Well-Known Gun is a good example of why Elton caught on in the US before he did in the UK. Bernie Taupin worked a lot of American history/mythology themes into his early lyrics, and that resonated over here.
I had never heard the studio version of Buffalo Grass, only a live version on a bootleg CD. It's got a very strong chorus.
Man in a Suitcase is another Police song that shows off their talent without wankery -- those bass lines Sting lays down are nuts.
Abacab is another Genesis song that has always been a favorite. The little exchanges between Mike Rutherford's guitar (bum-bum-bum) and Tony Banks' organ (bum-bum) are the perfect synthesis of prog and New Wave.
I forgot The Kinks also share a song title with Neil Young.
Rush is not associated with power ballads -- but does Closer to the Heart count as one of the earliest ones?
Stevie's version of We Can Work It Out is one of the best Beatles covers I have ever heard.
Round Room is a weird album even by Phish standards. Almost every song is either an intricate epic or a turgid ballad. Pebbles and Marbles is in the former category and boasts one of their most dynamic arrangements. (The only song that falls into neither category is the rocker 46 Days. When they played SNL after Round Room came out, they did 46 Days and then resorted to an older tune for their second song, as everything else from Round Room was either too long or wouldn't have held interest.)
I picked ELO's Fire on High in my 1975 countdown. What I said there: "This mostly instrumental track was ubiquitous in the '70s, not necessarily because of radio play, but because the passage with the main riff (featuring a rapidly played acoustic guitar) was the theme for the CBS weekend show Sports Spectacular, and has appeared as background music in many sports and other contexts. It's a dynamic mix of rock and classical flourishes and is notable for including backwards vocals at the beginning, which Jeff Lynne threw in there to tweak the Fundamentalists who claimed their previous album, Eldorado, contained hidden Satanic messages. When played forward, the vocals say "The music is reversible but time is not. Turn back. Turn back. Turn back. Turn back." This is the rare prog song that has a good beat and you can dance to it."
Best of You was covered by Prince AT THE SUPER BOWL. He's not doing that for anything less than a great song.
Ballad of a Well-Known Gun is a good example of why Elton caught on in the US before he did in the UK. Bernie Taupin worked a lot of American history/mythology themes into his early lyrics, and that resonated over here.
John Maddens Lunchbox
Socialism for Dummies
#25- The Stranglers - Sweden (All Quiet on the Eastern Front)
Year - 1978
Album - Black and White
UK Chart position - Non Single
Vocals - Hugh Cornwell
Key Lyric - Let me tell you about Sweden
Only country where the clouds are interesting
Big brother says it's the place to go
Too much time to think, too little to do
Interesting Points
1- A version was sung entirely in Swedish - Sverige (Jag Är Insnöad På Östfronten) It was released as a single there.
2- Hugh Cornwell first went to Sweden to work on his Microbiology PHD. When all his friends said they were going to London, he thought he would out do them by picking an international destination
3- As can be clearly seen by the lyrics, Cornwell found the place dull and boring.
4- Sweden further soured for the band….i will let JJB and Jet Black take it from here:
Being escorted out of Sweden by armed police
Burnel: This happened twice. The first time, 200 members of this teddy boy gang who hated punk drove up in their big 1950s American cars, beat up our road crew and smashed our equipment. We were locked in our dressing room, but managed to escape by throwing a few Molotovs before the police arrived. The second time was your fault. You destroyed the hotel restaurant!
Black: That's true. I kicked up a fracas because I couldn't get served any food and the hotel threatened to call the police, who turned up with machine guns again to escort us on to the next plane.
5- They had a bad reputation with journalists as well. No surprise when one was taken to the eiffel tower, stripped and gaffer taped to the monument 400m off the ground to the bemusement of Japanese tourists.
Summary to date
Year
1977 - 3
1978 - 2
1979 - 1
1980 - 0
1981 - 0
1982 - 0
1983 - 0
1984 - 0
1985 - 0
1986 - 0
1987 - 0
1988 - 1
1989 - 0
1990 onwards - 0
Where to find
Rattus Norvegicus - 3/9
No More Heroes - 0/11
Black and White - 1/12
The Raven - 1/11
The Gospel According to the Meninblack - 0/10
La Folie - 0/11
Feline - 0/9
Aural Sculpture - 0/11
Dreamtime - 0/10
All Live and All of the Night - 1/13
10 - 0/10
1991 onwards - 0
B Sides - 0
Greatest Hits - 0
Standalone Single - 1
Running Vocal Count
Hugh Cornwell - 4
Jean-Jacques Burnel - 3
Other - 0
Rundown
#31 - Walk on By
#30 - Guly
#29 - All Day and All of the Night
#28 - Meninblack
#27 - Goodbye Toulouse
#26 - Princess of the Streets
#25 - Sweden (All Quiet on the Eastern Front)
Next we have one of their higher charting singles, that surprise, surprise had issues with the establishment. The video was banned by the BBC for blasphemy. Meanwhile dozens of BBC employees were engaging in rampant paedophilia.
Year - 1978
Album - Black and White
UK Chart position - Non Single
Vocals - Hugh Cornwell
Key Lyric - Let me tell you about Sweden
Only country where the clouds are interesting
Big brother says it's the place to go
Too much time to think, too little to do
Interesting Points
1- A version was sung entirely in Swedish - Sverige (Jag Är Insnöad På Östfronten) It was released as a single there.
2- Hugh Cornwell first went to Sweden to work on his Microbiology PHD. When all his friends said they were going to London, he thought he would out do them by picking an international destination
3- As can be clearly seen by the lyrics, Cornwell found the place dull and boring.
4- Sweden further soured for the band….i will let JJB and Jet Black take it from here:
Being escorted out of Sweden by armed police
Burnel: This happened twice. The first time, 200 members of this teddy boy gang who hated punk drove up in their big 1950s American cars, beat up our road crew and smashed our equipment. We were locked in our dressing room, but managed to escape by throwing a few Molotovs before the police arrived. The second time was your fault. You destroyed the hotel restaurant!
Black: That's true. I kicked up a fracas because I couldn't get served any food and the hotel threatened to call the police, who turned up with machine guns again to escort us on to the next plane.
5- They had a bad reputation with journalists as well. No surprise when one was taken to the eiffel tower, stripped and gaffer taped to the monument 400m off the ground to the bemusement of Japanese tourists.
Summary to date
Year
1977 - 3
1978 - 2
1979 - 1
1980 - 0
1981 - 0
1982 - 0
1983 - 0
1984 - 0
1985 - 0
1986 - 0
1987 - 0
1988 - 1
1989 - 0
1990 onwards - 0
Where to find
Rattus Norvegicus - 3/9
No More Heroes - 0/11
Black and White - 1/12
The Raven - 1/11
The Gospel According to the Meninblack - 0/10
La Folie - 0/11
Feline - 0/9
Aural Sculpture - 0/11
Dreamtime - 0/10
All Live and All of the Night - 1/13
10 - 0/10
1991 onwards - 0
B Sides - 0
Greatest Hits - 0
Standalone Single - 1
Running Vocal Count
Hugh Cornwell - 4
Jean-Jacques Burnel - 3
Other - 0
Rundown
#31 - Walk on By
#30 - Guly
#29 - All Day and All of the Night
#28 - Meninblack
#27 - Goodbye Toulouse
#26 - Princess of the Streets
#25 - Sweden (All Quiet on the Eastern Front)
Next we have one of their higher charting singles, that surprise, surprise had issues with the establishment. The video was banned by the BBC for blasphemy. Meanwhile dozens of BBC employees were engaging in rampant paedophilia.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
Brandi's Mainstream Kid and the Decembrists' Make You Better may be my favorites from them thus far.
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