pierson

this was one of the obits I found on the web: It's not been a good year for our beloved Cowsill Family... say a prayer for the family (families) COWSILLS SINGER DIES AGED 58 20.2.2006. 10:25:51 The lead singer of the group that inspired the television hit sitcom, the Partidge Family, William "Billy" Cowsill, has died aged 58. "He is singing with the angels now," said Canadian record producer Neil MacGonigill, who first met the singer with the pure, soaring voice in the 70s. The Cowsills, the inspiration for the TV series The Partridge Family, recorded a series of top hits between 1967 and 1970, including The Rain, The Park and Other Things and Hair. At one time the band members were also were spokespeople for the American Dairy Association, appearing in commercials and print ads for milk. Cowsill, who was suffering from emphysema, osteoporosis, Cushing syndrome and other ailments, died in Calgary, Alberta, on Friday. He had been in deteriorating health for a number of months. He was also still coping with the aftereffects of an eight-hour back surgery during which one lung had to be collapsed. Doctors could not get it to function again but no cause of death has been released. Four Cowsill brothers played in the band: Barry on bass, Bill on guitar, Bob on guitar and organ, and John on drums. Their mother, Barbara, and little sister, Susan, eventually joined the group. The band's career began in Newport, Rhode Island, where by 1965 they had a regular gig at a club. They were spotted by a producer for NBC's Today show who booked them for an appearance that led to a record deal. The band had an acrimonious breakup in the 1970s. William, the oldest member, moved to Canada about 35 years ago. The news of Cowsill's death came during a memorial service being held at Newport's King Park honouring his brother Barry, who drowned after Hurricane Katrina. William Cowsill is survived by two sons, Travis and Del.

Bob Dylan- It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding John Lennon- Give Me Some Truth Hamell On Trial- Seven Seas Velvet Underground- Heroin Dictators- Master Race Rock Jon Brion- I Believe She's Lying Joni Mitchell- Woman Of Heart & Mind Psychedelic Furs- Fall Bruce Springsteen- Growin Up Soft Cell- It's A Mug's Game Dramarama- Work For Food Clash- Magnificent Seven The Jam- That's Entertainment

the more mature sense of cool is what Eric excells in... Barry, never gets beyond mere nice and ersatz sophisticated adult pop (i.e. he wishes he could be the male version of Dione Warwick or Dusty Springfield, but never has gotten close to such greatness: stuff that transcends basic pop sensibilites and ordinary niceness) nothing really wrong with being corny, if that's what you are, by the way.... Barry's been great at it forever... cool is not part of his makeup, and that actually makes him more endearing to those who appreciate him...

not for nuthin'... no Bon Scott... also MIA: Pete Ham (Badfinger) Eddie Cochran Gene Vincent Bobby Stinson (Replacements) Johnny Thunders (New York Dolls) Stiv Bators (Dead Boys) Chris Bell (Big Star) Richie Valens Bobby Fuller Nico Marc Bolan (T. Rex)

Blender's Brain is in a blender.... no John Bonham... without John Bonham there is no such thing as "ROCK"-- the list is invalidated

DUH... Barry Manilow sucks and Eric Carmen doesn't... with maybe 3 really good songs and ten tons of dreck to his name, Manilow is the anti-christ... Eric Carmen fromed the Raspberries which immediately gives him cred on the level of Big Star, Badfinger, Flamin' Groovies... yes his solo stuff had ballads, and his '80s material is very questionable, but I would never align him with Barry, mainly because he was cooler and ISN'T such a cornball

the recent live Cream footage was very sluggish and lame, to say the least... as for Eric Clapton... for the man who gave us "Badge," "Bell Bottom Blues" and "Let It Grow" to fall off the mark in such quick dreadful fashion w/ crap like "Cocaine" (cover, or not) and "Lay Down Sally" and the godawful "Pretending"... Bob is spot-on... Farmer attire dig deserved...

i agree w/ Bob Allen's Ted Kennedy choice, but not the guy who made "Do The Right Thing" (although Spike sometimes doesn't know when to shut his mouth).... Better choices: Sean Hannity, Nancy Grace, Dominick Dunne, Alan Combs, Tom Cruise, Ann Coulter (actually she should be A-1 on the list), Tucker Carlson, Al Sharpton, Paul Begalia (sp?)

i think everyone should be deported and we should start all over again

phooey... although it's a nice idea, it's only based on information given by others, whether or not they are credible.... in other words if someone out there has an inkling of putting out a LOT of information regarding his opinion that Styx are the closest kindred spirit to Raspberries and posts it willy nilly or gets published etc, the whole thing is a mess.... AND believe me, there are MORE DUMB people writing about pop music on the internet than ever before... so beware... Also, Dwight Twilley really doesn't fit the match as closely as Van Duren or (my choice) Jon Brion... some of Twilley's music has a rockibilly thread to it which is an aesthetic choice Eric & Todd NEVER touched... never expect such things to be a GREAT source of insight... it basically works on lowest common denominators which can be very misleading or just off the mark....

yes and no...... yes "Pet Sounds" is overrated.... no, Brian was indeed a musical genius between 1964-1966... not nearly as juvenile as the "hits" make 'em out to be... anyone who writes these 25 songs (in a 30-month span) has to be: Please Let Me Wonder Surfer Girl In My Room Don't Worry Baby I Get Around The Warmth Of The Sun Little Honda Wendy She Knows Me Too Well Girl Don't Tell Me Let Him Run Wild You're So Good To Me I Know There's An Answer I Just Wasn't Made For These Times Caroline, No God Only Knows Hang On To Your Ego I'm Waiting For The Day Wouldn't It Be Nice Let's Go Away For A While You Still Believe In Me Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) Pet Sounds Still I Dream Of It

i had the same thought about IVY (In The Clear) when I first heard it.... after going back to it & listening to it more, I realized it was as good as the rest... Yes they are in order

it's hard to just pick 5.... here's a few lists: small ones: 1. Van Duren- Are You Serious? 2. Pernice Brothers- Yours Mine & Ours 3. Chamber Strings- A Month Of Sundays 4. Dancing Hoods- 12 Jealous Roses 5. Even Johansen- Quiet & Still 1. Marjorie Fair- Self Help Serenade 2. Trashcan Sinatras- Weightlifting 3. Dirty Looks- Dirty Looks 4. Sam Phillips- The Indescribale Wow 5. Pilot- Two's A Crowd 1. Ivy- Long Distance & Apartment Life 2. Ed Harcourt- Strangers 3. Jon Brion- Meaningless 4. Aimee Mann- I'm With Stupid 5. 20/20- 20/20 1. Mood Six- A Matter Of 2. Tin Tin- Astral Taxi 3. Doves- Some Cities 4. Bongos- Drums Along The Hudson 5. Wonder Stuff- 8 Legged Groove Machine big ones: 1. Mott The Hoople- Mott 2. New York Dolls- New York Dolls 3. Cheap Trick- Cheap Trick 4. Neil Young- Comes A Time 5. Raspberries- Starting Over 1. Montrose- Montrose 2. Dramarama- Vinyl 3. Posies- Dear 23 4. Dictators- Bloodbrothers 5. Todd Rundgren- The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren 1. Dwight Twilley Band- Sincerely 2. Dwight Twilley Band- Twilley Don't Mind 3. Artful Dodger- Artful Dodger 4. The Church- The Blurred Crusade 5. Peter Frampton- Wind Of Change

my thought exactly... also check Eric's thoughts on F Scott Fitzgerald...

how'd i forget... Eagles- Hotel Crapafornia

Absolutely... this is where they totally lose what they "had" (bar a few moments, i.e. "Comfortably Numb")... and since it way outsold "Dark Side Of The Moon" (reports have it well passed 20 million) it's disgusting... not a "bad" album per se, but not a Good Pink Floyd album... others: Bruce Springsteen- Born In The USA Rolling Stones- Tattoo You Led Zeppelin- In Through The Out Door Boston- Boston Def Leppard- Pyromania Motley Crüe- everything Duran Duran- Rio Police- Synchronicity good call popdude on The Doors

1. PERNICE BROTHERS- Discover A Lovelier You [Ashmont] 2. MAGNET- The Tourniquet [Atlantic- UK] 3. IVY- In The Clear [Nettwerk] 4. ED HARCOURT- Strangers [Astralwerks] 5. TEARS- Here Come The Tears [independiente-UK] 6. MY MORNING JACKET- Z [RCA] 7. THE 88- Over & Over [Moo Tron/EMK] 8. NADA SURF- The Weight Is A Gift [barsuk] 9. THE HOLD STEADY- Separation Sunday [Frenchkiss] 10. DRAMARAMA- Everybody Dies [Harvey Star/33rd Street]

in all fairness, Rush doesn't suck, although I can't stand them and find 99.9% of their stuff unlistenable (bar "In The Mood" and some of 2112)... any band who has churned out music so specific to a certain aesthetic (i.e. prog/metal) and has rarely strayed from it & has been so consistent at it, means they're pretty f'in good at something, albeit making music that's not up our alley... i would hope that most diehard Rush fans would think the Raspberries suck just as much as most of us think Rush does... the "opposed" elements are very apparent... But I don't think there's a single poster here who doesn't wish the Raspberries and Eric gave us as much music as Rush gave their fans... that's something no one can begrudge, except the fact that hearing Geddy Lee so continously is beyond annoying...

well.... since it's a 12-minute set, try this: extendo twofer-- (i.e. no break in between songs) 1. Gimme Shelter 2. Sympathy For The Devil old fast rules: 1. Rip This Joint 2. Not Fade Away 3. Route 66 4. Paint It Black 5. Around And Around psychedelic 1. 2000 Light Years From Home 2. We Love You 3. Dandelion Exileville 1. Rocks Off 2. All Down The Line 3. Happy 4. Sweet Virginia what they probably will do: 1. single from Bigger bang 2. Start Me Up 3. Satisfaction 4. It's Only R&R

if the Rolling Stones were really truly still an incredible band and had their heads screwed on this is what they'd do: 1. Rip This Joint 2. Route 66 3. Stray Cat Blues 4. Jumpin Jack Flash 5. Sweet Virginia or be dark: 1. Sympathy For The Devil 2. Gimme Shelter 3. Play With Fire 4. 2000 Light Years From Home 5. Monkey Man

Huh????????!!!!??? not for nuthin' but EW&F never got remotely close to "There's A Riot Goin On" as far as inovation's concerned-- it's kinda like in its own world... comparatively speaking, EW&F are as "groundbreaking" as the Eagles whereas Sly was almost as audacious as The Beatles... and by the way, the first Bob Dylan album sounds a lot like Woodie Guthrie at times... it took him a few albums to come into his own as an "original" ... Guthrie's affectations are very noticeable on the early Dylan stuff...

Blue Spruce Woman- Foghat Montrose- Rock The Nation Dictators- Science Gone Too Far Kiss- Nothing To Lose, Firehouse, Duece, Black Diamond, Got To Choose, Hotter Than Hell, All The Way, Watchin' You, Two Timer, Getaway, She, Love Her All I Can April Wine- Weeping Widow, Victim Of Your Love, Highway Hard Run, Not For You Not For R&R, Tonite Is A Wonderful Time To Fall In Love BTO- Rock Is My Life This Is My Song, You Ain't Seen Nothin Yet, Second Hand, She's A Devil, Hey You, Flat Broke Love, Quick Change Artist, Don't Let The Blues Get You Down

some obvious ones & not-so obvious ones: Don't Fear Thje Reaper- BOC (of course) We're An American Band- Grand Funk Everybody Dies- Dramarama Mississippi Queen- Mountain Alice Cooper- Cold Ethyl

in one category: "The Power Pop Song" yes, Eric Carmen should be recognized as king... He took from the Beatles' "Please Please Me" and molded it with the energy of The Who & Small Faces and gave us the quintessential teenage lust song... nothing touches "Tonight," "Ecstasy" or "Go All The Way".... and no one has come close to them...