pierson
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Posts posted by pierson
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i hate lists like this 'cause it's impossible to choose--as you will see #11 was like a 99-way tie
i only gave each artist one LP even though many deserved several...
top 10 LPs (in no particular order)
1. Pernice Bros- Yours Mine & Ours
2. Van Duren- Are You Serious
3. Trash Can Sinatras- I've Seen Everything
4. Big Star- Radio City
5. Sex Pistols- Never Mind The Bollocks...
6. Rolling Stones- Exile On Main Street
7. New York Dolls- New York Dolls
8. Radiohead- The bends
9. Beatles- Revolver (UK & US)
10. David Bowie- Hunky Dory
others: tied for #11
Raspberries: Fresh
Todd Rundgren- Ballad Of Todd
Prefab Sprout- 2 Wheels Good
George Harrison- All Things Must Pass
John Lennon- Imagine
Paul McCartney- Ram
Ivy- Apartment Life
Marshall Crenshaw- Field Day
Nick Drake- Bryter Layter
Who- Sing My Generation
Alice Cooper- Greatest hits
Joni Mitchell- Court & Spark
Badfinger- Straight Up
20/20- 20/20
Replacements- Tim
Mott The Hoople- Mott
Artful Dodger- Rave On
Shoes- Present Tense
Psychedelic Furs- Talk Talk Talk
Sly & The Family Stone- There's A Riot Goin' On
T Rex- The Slider
Dramarama- Cinema Verite
Ramones- Rocket To Russia
Clash- London Calling
Frank Sinatra- Sinatra & Jobim
Nick Lowe- Jesus Of Cool/Pure Pop...
Elvis Costello- Imperial Bedroom
Jon Brion- Meaningless
Dwight Twilley Band- Twilley Don't Mind
Beach Boys- Pet Sounds
Eno- Here Come The Warm Jets
Elton John- Tumbleweed Connection
Buzzcocks- Singles Going Steady
Flying Burrito Bros- Gilded Palace Of Sin
Elvis Presley- The Sun Sessions
Little Richard- 18 Greatest Hits
dBs- Repercussion
REM- Chronic Town
Pretenders- Pretenders
XTC- Skylarking
Even Johansen- Even Johansen
Oasis- Definitely Maybe
Pulp- Different Class
Led Zeppelin- III
Smiths- Louder Than Bombs
Neil Young- After The Goldrush
Nilsson- Nilsson Schmilsson
Faces- Best of
Bob Dylan- Highway 61 Revisited
Television- Marquee Moon
Aerosmith- Rocks/Get Your Wings
Velvet Underground- Velvet Underground & Nico
Roxy Music- Greatest Hits
Slade- Sladest
Stevie Wonder- Innervisions
Cheap Trick- Cheap Trick
Jesus & Mary Chain- Psychocandy
Sugar- Copper Blue
Nirvana- Nevermind
Lemonheads- It's A Shame About Ray
Johan- Pergola
Simon & Garfunkel- Bookends
Hamell On Trial- The Chord Is Mightier Than The Sword
Flashcubes- Raw Power Pop (Live in Japan)
Pixies- Trompe Le Monde
Jellyfish- Bellybutton
Posies- Dear 23
Syd Barret- Madcap Laughs
Patti Smith- Radio Ethiopia
Modern Lovers- Modern Lovers
Suede- Coming Up
Blur- The Great Escape
Game Theory- Big SHot Chronicles
Wilco- Being There
Kinks- Kronikles
The Church- Blurred Crusade
The Jam- SOund Affects
Tommy Keene- Songs From The Film
Adorable- Against Perfection
Zombies- Odyssey & Oracle
Grant Lee Buffalo- Mighty Joe Moon
Aimee Mann- I'm With Stupid
Al Green- I'm Still In Love With You
Dusrty Springfield- Dusty In Memphis
Turtles- Best of
Byrds- Mr Tambourine Man
Hollies- History Of The Hollies
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i meant "pipes of peace" the album (arguably Paul's weakest)-- I think "ebony & ivory" stands out as very bland song amongst the superior material on "tug of war"
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Originally posted by Carmen Smalley:
[QB] Recolution9-Beatles
Knots-Gentle Giant
Her Majesty-Beatles
AND THESE WEREN'T HITS OR EMPHASIS TRACKS...
others w/out chorsuses...
Maybe I'm Amazed- Paul McCartney
So You Want To Be A R&R Star- Byrds
8 Miles High- Byrds
Gentle On My Mind- Glen Campbell
I'm Sorry- Brenda Lee
House Of The Rising Sun- Animals
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Kitsch manna:
1. Music to Watch Girls By- Bob Crewe
2. Twiggy Twiggy- Pizzicato 5
3. Venus- Tom Jones/Shocking Blue
4. Une Stylish Fille- Dimitri From Paris
5. Mrs. Robinson- Frank Sinatra
6. lotsa Stereo Total
7. Iron Man- Cardigans
8. Flip Flop & Fly- Johnnie ray
9. Dark Lady- Cher
10. All The Cats Join In- Peggy Lee
11. Mr Tambourine Man- William Shatner
12. Esquivel
13. Bonnie & Clyde- Serge Gainsbourg
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Twee Manna:
1. Round & Round- Octavian
2. Summer Girl- Craig Rhuntke
3. The Rain, The Park & Other Things- Cowsills
4. Rose- Paul Williams
5. Let me Be The One- Carpenters
6. Guitar man- Bread
7. Masquerade- Edward bear
8. Get Up & Go- Pilot
9. I'd Love You To Want Me- Lobo
10. Is That The Way- Tin Tin
11. Run To Me- Bee Gees
12. It's Like Heaven- Shaun Cassidy
13. 100,00 Fireflies- Magnetic Fields
14. One Day of Your Life- Andy Williams
15. London- Alessi
16. Tell Someone You Love Them- Dino Desi & Billy
17. I Will Always Think About You- New Colony 6
18. Will You Be Staying After Sunday- Peppermint Rainbow
19. By The Time I Get To Phoenix- Glen Campbell
20. Who Do You Think You Are- Bo Donaldson
21. Fallin In Love- Hamilton Joe Frank & Reynolds
22. Dancing On A Saturday Night- Bond
23. So You Are A Star- Hudson Bros
24. You Know I've Found A Way- Sagittarius
25. There Is Nothing More To Say- The Millennium
26. O-h-h Child- 5 Stairsteps
27. Smile A Little Smile- Flying Machine
28. Love grows- Edison Lighthouse
29. Pretty Lady- Lighthouse
30. Back When My Hair Was Short- Gunhill Road
31. For The Peace Of All Mankind- Terry Sylvester
32. Precious & Few- Climax
33. You Were On My Mind- We Five
34. Sky High- Jigsaw
35. Come Saturday Morning- Sandpipers
36. Get Down- Gilbert O'Sullivan
37. When Will I See You Again- Three Degrees
38. Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne- Looking Glass
39. So Good Together- ANdy Kim
40. Don't Sleep In The Subway- Petula Clark
41. To Sir w/ Love- Lulu
42. Happy- Sunshine Company
43. Summer Days- Partridge Family
44. Indian Giver- 1910 Fruitgum Co
45. Gorilla- Defranco Family
46. More Today Than Yesterday- Spiral Staircase
47. Can't Find The Time To Tell You- Orpheus
48. Cherish- The Association
49. You Showed Me- Turtles
50. Tracy- Cuff Links
51. You Made Me Believe In Magic- Bay City Rollers
52. Hello & Welcome Home- Rollers
53. For The Love Of Him- Bobbi Martin
54. Reflections Of My Life- Marmalade
55. King Creosus- World of Oz
56. Randy- Blue Mink
57. Everlasting Love- The Love Affair
58. baby Now That I've Found You- Foundations
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DJs HAVE TO LIKE MUSIC--THAT'S THE RULEBOOK. DISCO, LIKE ALL GENRES HAS IT BAD AND GOOD SONGS. Bad Disco: Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" Good Disco: Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" (influenced by Kraftwerk, approved by Bowie)...sadly, its monotonous beat makes it more insufferable than most genres...DJs have to like disco music. It's in the International DJ Rulebook.
With guilty pleasures and Bubblegum, there's stuff that either strikes a positive chord because it resonates with your childhood. Still, some stuff is awful. Bad disposable AM pop: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods' "Billy Don't Be A Hero" Good disposable AM pop: Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods' "Who Do You Think You Are"
Stuff I own that 'no one else should know about': too many Cowsills albums, Jethro Tull ("Cheap Day Return"), Tommy Roe, Orpheus, Edward Bear, Octavian, Sandler & Young, Carpenters, lotsa Hudson Bros, Cuff Links, Classix Nouveau, Johnny Rivers, Keith, etc.
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Originally posted by BadfingerBarb:
The only clue I've ever seen that suggested Paul was dead was the "Speed of Sound" album.
MY THOUGHT EXACTLY... even "wildlife" has a weird charm to it (and arguably his greatest solo song ever, "dear friend")... There is a book about all the "Paul Is Dead" stuff called "The Walrus Was Paul: The Great Beatle Death Clues" written by R. Gary Patterson in 1996...
other Paul is dead clues: "ebony & ivory" and "pipes of peace"
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shows you how lousy an indicator of quality the charts can be
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Can you think of any 'hit songs' that strayed from the conventional? How about any 'berries songs?
Most of these "folk" songs work on a stream-like sense... and even though there's a hook-line, there's not really a chorus per se...early r&r may just be one long chorus (i.e. 'heartbreak hotel' 'peggy sue') some are just a verse and refrain ("hard days night/'eleanore rigby')--there's loads of instrumental hits songs and soul songs that "stray" too, but i tried to keep it to pop/rock stuff....
"By The Time i Get To Phoenix"- Glen Campbell
"Elusive Butterfly"- Bob Linde
"Everybody's Talkin'"- Nilsson
"I Guess The Lord Must Be in New York City"- Nilsson
"Subterranean Homesick Blues"- Dylan
"Mrs Robinson"- Simon & Garfunkel
"The Dangling Conversation"- Simon & Garfunkel
"For Emily Whenever I May Find Her"- Simon & Garfunkel
"Family Affair"- Sly & The Family Stone
"Shaft"- Isaac Hayes
"Wild Thing"- Troggs
"Ode To Billy Joe"- Bobby Gentry
"Riders On The Storm"- Doors
"Heroes"- Bowie
"7 & 7 Is"- Love
"Little Girl"- Syndicate Of SOund
"Daydream"- Lovin Spoonful
"Creque Alley"- Mamas & Papas
"I'm A Man"- Yardbirds/Bo Diddley
"Bo Diddley"- Bo Diddley
"Heartbreak Hotel"- Elvis Presley
"Be-Bop-A-Lula"- Gene Vincent
"Peggy Sue"- Buddy Holly
'Trouble Man"- Marvin Gaye (& others)
"Lady Madonna"- The Beatles
"Hard Day's Night" (?)
"Eleanor Rigby" (?)
"Shattered"- Rolling Stones
"Happy Jack"- The Who
"My Generation"- The Who
etc.
RaspBerries
"Cry"
"Waiting"
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Originally posted by marvin:
[QB] Bob where did you hear their song?
Not that i want to put words in Bob's place.... but I believe his brother emailed him "This Is The Last Time" after I sent it out to friends. This is something i never do, but in regards to the song's intense beauty and overall impact, it deserves to be heard the world over.
I was led to them by my friend Bob Patrowicz, who I believe heard them on KCRW. The band has already played the states (i think they were here as an opening act for a few Travis shows). The band played the Mercury Lounge back in December of 2003.
Their only resemblance to Coldplay is the Brit-pop piano format and that they were heavily influenced by Radiohead's "The Bends" and maybe a touch of Tori Amos' most melodic stuff. Still, they are a very rare breed with a melodic pop sense that's unparalleled. The emotional depth and sheer magic they display is something reminiscent to Eric Carmen's highest peaks.
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The Guess Who's "Star baby" peaked at #39.
other fave one-hit wonders: (this only covers '60-'76)
Tin Tin- "Toast & Marmalade For Tea"
Jonathan Edwards- "Sunshine"
Flying Machine- "Smile A Little Smile For Me"
Shocking Blue- "Venus"
White Plains- "My Baby Loves Lovin'"
Marmalade- "Reflections Of My Life"
5 Stairsteps- "O-h-h Child"
Stories- "Brother Louie"
Timmy THomas- "Why Can't We Live Together'
William DeVaughn- "Be Thankful For Waht You've Got"
Rivieras- "California Sun"
Nashville Teens- "Tobacco Road"
Knickerbockers- "Lies"
Bob Lind- "Elusive Butterfly"
Standells- "Dirty Water"
Syndicate Of Sound- "Little Girl"
Count Five- "Psychotic Reaction"
Music Machine- "Talk Talk"
Bob Crewe- "Music To Watch Girls By"
Parade- "Sunshine Girl"
Every Mother's Son- "Come On Down To My Boat"
Undisputed Truth- "Smiling Faces Sometimes"
Carol Douglas- "Doctor's Orders"
Sunshine Company- "Back On The Street Again"
Yellow Balloon- "Yellow Balloon"
Ten Years After- "I'd Love To Change The World"
Unit Four Plus Two- "Concrete & Clay"
Starz- "Cherry Baby"
Peppermint Rainbow- "Will You Be Staying After Sunday"
Jefferson- "Baby Take Me In Your Arms"
Max Frost & The Troopers- "Shapes Of Things To Come"
Gunhill Road- "Back When My Hair Was Short"
First Choice- "Armed & Extremely Dangerous"
Clique- "Sugar On SUnday"
Crabby Appleton- "Go Back"
Christie- "Yellow River"
Balloon Farm- "Question Of Temperature"
Tornadoes- "Telstar"
Chantays- "Pipeline"
Surfaris- "Wipe Out"
two-hit wonders:
Crispin St Peters- "Pied Piper" (and "You were On My Mind")
We Five- "You Were On My Mind" (and "Let's Get Together")
Walker bros- "Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"/ "Make It Easy On Yourself"
Hamilton Joe Frank & Reynolds- "Don't Pull Your Love"/ "Fallin In Love" (they did have one other chart entry... "Winners & Losers")
Dino Desi & Billy- "I'm A Fool" (& "Not The Lovin Kind")
Cyrkle- "Red Rubber ball"/"Turn Down Day"
The Critters- "Mr Diengly Sad"/ "Don't Let The Rain Fall Down On Me"
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YES.... CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE: TRASHCANSINATRAS.COMStill getting used to the Trash Can Sinatras CD I originally bought for one song, "Hayfever," and am liking the whole album, I've Seen Everything, more and more all the time. Anybody else familiar with this group?
THERE'S LOTSA COOL DOWNLOADS AND NEWS ABOUT THEIR NEW (AND LONG OVERDUE) 4TH ALBUM, "WEIGHTLIFTING"--
THEY'RE PLAYING THE TROUBADOUR IN LA IN MARCH (IT'S ALREADY SOLD-OUT VIA WORD OF MOUTH) THEY ARE A GREAT BAND AND THEIR NEW STUFF IS AMAZING
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here are mine on Pierson's comments:
HERE ARE MY RESPONSES....
1. "Love Is A Battlefield" - Pierson you give yourself away when you say you're not a fan of Pat, and that the song "had one of the worst videos ever..."
WELL, I WOULD NEVER WANT TO SAY I AM A FAN... IT'S DEFINITELY FAIR TO CRITICIZE A BAND/SINGER YOU'RE NOT A FAN OF... EVEN IF YOU TAKE OUT THE VIDEO THE SONG IS ANNOYING... AND THE PRODUCTION IS AWFUL
2. "Cover Me" - very unfair to compare this song to "Born to Run",
I DIDN'T COMPARE IT TO 'BORN TO RUN'--I STATED THAT IT WAS WRITTEN BY THE SAME GUY...A VERY DIFFERENT POINT... THE LEAD IS GOOD, BUT THE SONG AS A WHOLE LACKS SPRINGSTEEN'S BEST TRADEMARKS...
3. "Seperate Ways" - again you say "I'm not a Journey fan." You can't say you hate a song by prefacing it that way.
YES, YOU SURE CAN... I HATE BARBARA STRIESAND BUT I CAN TELL YOU VERY CONFIDENTLY THAT "THE WAY WE WERE" IS A MUCH BETTER SONG THAN "WOMAN IN LOVE"
4. "All She Wants To Do Is Dance" - All I'll say about this song is that it COOKS live!
THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT THE RECORDED VERSION HAS THAT ATROCIOUS '80S PRODUCTION... AND I STILL CAN'T HANDLE THE LAME CHORUS
5. "Best of Times" - As Styx ballads go, I'll take "The First Time" over this song, so I'll agree with your opinion about it being
"Schlocky", but one of the worse songs ever?
YOU'RE RIGHT... 'MR. ROBOTO' IS A BIGGER CRIME
7. "Everything I Do I Do It For You" - In my opinion, as far as incredible hooks go, this one has one of the best Bridges EVER!
A BRIDGE DOESN'T ERASE BAD LYRICS OR AN OVERWROUGHT SENTIMENT
8. "When A Man Loves A Woman" - If ever there was a sure thing as far as lighting up the dance floor goes, this one is it.
JUDGING SONGS ON THEIR ABILITY TO LIGHT UP DANCE FLOORS OR BY HOW 'POPULAR' THEY WERE DOESN'T FLY WHEN SONGS LIKE "THE MACARENA" AND "DO YA THINK I'M SEXY" EXIST...
10. "You Can Call Me Al" - Have you ever tried to play this in a band? Killer horn charts and a bass line that's almost impossible. Who cares about the lyrics when you've got music this challenging.
NOW THAT'S THE EXACT KIND OF THINKING THAT GETS EVERYBODY IN TROUBLE. IF WE APPLAUDED STUFF THAT WAS CHALLENGING IRREGARDLESS TO THE LYRICS THAN ALL THE PROG ROCK MADE BETWEEN 1969-1973 WOULD BE THE GREATEST STUFF EVER... EVERYTHING MUST WEIGH ACCORDING TO ITS PLACE AND ALL OF ITS ELEMENTS... A CHEESEY KEYBOARD SOLO CAN RUIN A GOOD SONG AND OVER-INDULGENT EGO-CRAZED GUITAR SOLO CAN DO THE SAME... THE RASPBERRIES WERE DEFINITIVE EXAMPLES OF STYLE AND TASTE AND PRACTICED THE ART OF BREVITY TO PERFECTION.. AND THEIR LYRICS NEVER STEPPED OVER THE LINE OF SCHMALTZ AND CHEESE... THEY LEARNED FROM THE '60S FOREFATHERS (BEACH BOYS, BEATLES, WHO, LEFT BANKE) AND KNEW WHERE THE DREADED SCHLOCK-LINE WAS...
11. "When It's Love" - I'm not the biggest Haggar fan around, but I'll still take his singing over David Lee anytime.
SURE HE WAS A BETTER SINGER, BUT THE BAND LOST THEIR EDGE AND PERSONALITY
12. "3am" Matchbox 20 - I guess you figure this is "one of the worst lead vocal takes" because of "it's the over-ennunciating syndrome"?? I still think it's a catchy song.
"WE BUILT THIS CITY" IS A CATCHY SONG BUT IT'S ALSO THE WORST SONG EVER WRITTEN...
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I don't want to confuse anyone, the previous post was my reply to Marvin's... it doesn't quite look like it when you read it. All the replies after the song titles are mine.
p.s. If anyone likes Clint Holmes, my apologies. "Playground In My Mind" is still very cringe inducing.
thanks
pierson
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Pierson I'm curious as to whether it's just a question of personal taste why you hate:
1. "Love Is A Battlefield"
I'm not a fan of Pat, but none of her songs are "bad" like this one. It's overwrought, and it has that awful '80s production and it's insufferable. And it had one of the worst videos ever...
2. "Cover Me"
From the same guy who wrote "Growin' Up" and "Born To Run" this is an inexcusable excercise in banality and it's very boring, musically speaking, especially for someone whose melodies and rock sense were so sharp...
3. "Seperate Ways"
I'm not a Journey fan. But I do know a "good" Journey song (i.e. "Lovin Touchin Squeezin'--still pretty bad in the lyric dept, but OK musically/melody speaking) from a bad one. "Seperate Ways" isn't so bad lyrically as it's just classic overwrought corporate rock at its worst... and his vocals are overbearing...
4. "All She Wants To Do Is Dance"
Awful '80s production. Cheesey lyrics. Bad vocals. And this is from the guy who gave us "Desperado."
5. "Best of Times"
Schlocky...
6. "You've Made Me So Very Happy"
Even though I'm a fan of a lot of corny '60s pop songs (i.e. Cowsills, Association, Tommy Roe etc.) this is where I draw a certain line. It's just too corny and it has a lot to do with the way David Clayton Thomas sings. Unlike Tom Jones, this lacks something that makes it tolerable.
7. "Everything I Do I Do It For You" Bryan
The title says it all... Does he mean when he goes to the bathroom as well?
8. "When A Man Loves A Woman"
Plodding... and just overrated
9. "Fernando" Abba,
I really like and love a lot of Abba's stuff (i.e. "Waterloo," "Knowing Me Knowing You," "Name Of The Game," and "SOS")... I always hated this song and still do.... It's corny and stilted.. or stiff sounding..
10. "You Can Call Me Al"
this from the guy who gave us "Bookends" i guess it's tolerable to those who like a novelty single... I'll take "Kodachrome" or "Me & Julio" anyday.... it's just dreadful
11. "When It's Love" Van Halen
this is way too cookie cutter for a band who was better than average... Banal... and of course Sammy Hagar is singing
12. "3am" Matchbox 20
One of the worst lead vocal takes.... it's the over-ennunciating syndrome... Rob Thomas has improved quite a bit since.... but this is terrible... much like early Eddie Vedder...
Thanks.
Marvin
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in 1998 i published a list of what i thought were the 100 worst songs in my magazine, "Yeah Yeah Yeah." Bernie's list sorta reflects the correct mood...
Still I'm surprised no one has mentioned what truly is the worst song ever: Starship's "We Built This City" which is a hands-down winner mainly because it's so unbelieably cheesey (Lyrics are as godawful as it gets--and Bernie Taupin lent a hand). And Starship were once a credible band. Most of what I included were either major letdowns by credible artists (i.e. Dylan, Mick Jagger, Don Henley, Van Halen) or just annoying songs.
Other big winners/losers:
"Final Countdown" Europe, "Everything Is Beautiful" Ray Stevens, "Tom Saywer" Rush, "Only Wanna Be With You" Hootie & Blowfish, "Spoon Man" Soundgarden, "We Don't Need Another Hero" Tina Turner, "Feelings" Morris Albert, "Love Is A Battlefield" Pat Benetar, "Danger Zone" Kenny Loggins, "Eye Of The Tiger" Survivor, "Cover Me," Bruce Springsteen, "Seperate Ways" Journey, "I'll Be There For You" Bon Jovi, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" Poison," "All She Wants To Do Is Dance" Don Henley, "The Heat Is On" Glenn Frey, "Let's Work" Mick Jagger, "Sunglasses At Night" Corey Hart, "If I Had A HAmmer" Peter Paul & Mary, "Flesh For Fantasy" Billy Idol, "St Elmo's Fire" Johnny Parr, "Caribbean Queen" Billy Ocean, "Best of Times" Styx, "Melody Of Love" Bobby Vinton, "Big Girls Don't Cry" Frankie Valli, "Who's Zoomin Who" Aretha Franklin, "You've Made Me So Very Happy" Blood Sweat & Tears, "Pretending" Eric Clapton, "Everything I Do I Do It For You" Bryan Adams, "All For Love" Sting Bryan Adamas & Rod Stewart, "When A Man Loves A Woman" by everyone, "Playground Of My Mind" Clint Holmes, "In The Navy" Village People, "Can't Smile Without You" Barry Manilow, "Lay Lady Lay" Bob Dylan, "Kokomo" Beach Boys, "Material Girl" Madonna, "Fernando" Abba, "You Can Call Me Al" Paul Simon, "Gloria" Laura Branigan, "5th Of Beethoven" Walter Murphy, "The Warrior" Scandal, "Sometimes When We Touch" Dan Hill, "She Works Hard For The Money" Donna Summer, "When It's Love" Van Halen, "Another One Bites The Dust" Queen, "Another Brick In The Wall" Pink Floyd, "Native New Yorker" Odyssey, "United We Stand" Brotherhood Of Man, "The Stroke" Billy Squier, "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" Neil Diamond, "It's Impossible" Perry Como, "Far From Over" Frank Stallone, "Batdance" Prince, "3am" Matchbox 20, "Convoy" CW McCall, "Sing" Carpenters....
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The biggest hurdle facing such a thing happening for The Raspberries would be that VH1 and the show's producers caring about the band. Since the show was created by Richard Blade (whose concept of classic pop is Duran Duran and Depeche Mode) it's extremely doubtful they'd give toss for any band from the early '70s (i.e. Mott The Hoople) that are ripe for a one-off reformation.
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Not so ironically, my most indelible drummer experience was witnessing Bob Allen's brother Tommy Allen in the spring of 1982 (then with Screen Test). This was the same night I saw The Police at The Carrier Dome which was a dreadful bore--The Synchronicity Tour, ugh. Needless to say, the great drumming of Stewart Copeland was lost amongst the bloated arena sound...
Screen Test definitively displayed the true meaning and spirit of power pop and defined what was the "club experience." And during those peak years 1982-1984, Tommy Allen was the most exciting drummer I'd ever seen. Since then I've seen the legendary Clem Burke and even though Clem is in another league, he was, either a bit too show-offish or would often times play certain songs too fast. He still was a monster and one of the greatest.
other great drummers: Doug Tull (w/ Tommy Keene), Peter Parker (Dirty Looks), Ray Kubian (True Love/Mars Needs Women), Chris Maggio (unknown kid from NJ who was in a band called Puggle, and is now in a band called Accobra), John Bonham, Buffin (Mott The Hoople)... Ringo Starr on: "Tomorrow Never Knows," "A Day In The Life," "Glass Onion," "Happiness Is A Warm Gun," "Money" "Roll Over Beethoven"
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The Trash Can Sinatras have their own website: trashcansinatras.com and have loads of stuff available to purchase....
i recently picked up their b-sides/rarities comp, "On A B Road' which collects all of their amazing b-sides and numerous radio and live performances...
The best place for people to start is to see if their regular CDs ("Cake," "I've Seen Everything" and "A Happy Pocket") are available on places like eBay...
They just finished their long overdue 4th LP ("Weightlifting") and are set to release it in the spring. In many ways they're better now than they ever were. A recent live performance at NYC's Fez was absolutley breathtaking. They did a stunning version of Paul McCartney's "Junk." His (Frank Reader) once "drab" voice is now very strong and unique, and something quite incredible, albeit in a softer sense (i.e. Colin Blunstone).
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Originally posted by Bob Allen:
Candy...a few more names that Tommy and I cannot -- and do not -- live without -- all of whom have released 'desert island' records: Big Star, Dwight Twilley, Artful Dodger, Badfinger (naturally), NY Dolls, Scruffs, the Pernice Bros, Chamber Strings, Pezband. The list can go on.
Since the brothers Allen (Bob & Tommy) are indirectly responsible for my Raspberries fix, I must extend on their choices...and go (to quote Pezband) on & on
In Raspberries mode (mostly singles/songs here): Edgar Winter Group's one insane power pop gem "Sundown"--Tommy Allen says: "A-B it with "I Can Hardly Believe Your Mine", Flo & Eddie's version of Small Faces' "Afterglow," Piper's "Who's Your Boyfriend" and "Can't Wait," Prix's "Saturday's Gone," Gary Charlson's Live EP which featured covers of "Hey Deanie" and "Tonight" not to mention an amazing version of Vance or Towers' "Do Whatever We Want," Vandalias' "Get To Know You," The Pop's "You Oughta Know," Enuff Z'Nuff's "New Thing," Flashcubes' "No Promise," Off Broadway's "Bad Indication" and "Stay In Time," Bad Boy's "Thinking Of You," Van Duren's masterpiece debut solo album "Are You Serious," Slade's "When The Lights Are Out" and "Do We Still Do It," Thundermug's "Orbit," Grand Funk's "Bad Time," Starz's "Cherry Baby," Crabby Appleton's "Go Back" (it pre-dates the 'Berries), Bay City Rollers' "R&R Love Letter," "Wouldn't You Like It"
AM pop/soft pop: Hudson Bros, Emitt Rhodes, Mortimer, Bread, Choi Choi, Hawks, Octavian, Pilot, Sleepy Hallow, Tin Tin, Vance Or Towers, Craig Rhuntke, Pagliaro, Paul Williams, April Wine (their ballads), Edward Bear, Abba, Stealer's Wheel, America (i.e. "She's Gonna Let You Down," "I Need You"), Slik, Lobo, Blue, Andy Kim, Bee Gees, Shaun Cassidy's "It's Like Heaven." Thunderclap Newman...
'60s pop: Hollies, Dusty Springfiled, Clique, Beach Boys, The Critters, Dino Desi & Billy, Herman's Hermits, Sagittarius/Millennium, Left Banke, New Colony Six, Cowsills, Sunshine Company, Turtles, Zombies, Paul Revere & Raiders, Monkees,
late '70s-'80s; Marshall Crenshaw, Tommy Keene, Dancing Hoods, 20/20, Joey Wilson, Shoes, The Beat, Plimsouls, Rubinoos, Records, Spongetones, Romantics (1st LP), dBs, Bill Lloyd, Game Theory, Phil Seymour, Nick Lowe,
etc: TODD RUNDGREN, Harry Nilsson, Bowie, T Rex, Alice Cooper, Sweet, Mott The Hoople, Kinks, Small Faces, Faces, Donovan, Easybeats, Creation, Move, Byrds, Cheap Trick, Who (64-67), A Foot In Cold Water, 10cc, Jon Brion, McGuinness Flint, Nasty Pop, Creamcheeze Goodtime band (1972's "Livin w/out You"), McCartney, Splinter, Jellyfish, Posies, Material Issue, Rooney, Tommy James, Nazz, The Boys (UK & US), Rich Kids, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Outlets, Mood Six, Riff Doctors, Syd Barrett, Numbers (Canadian), Jam, Secret Affair, Act, Lambrettas, Ramones, Shake Appeal, True Love, Wondermints, World Of Oz, George Harrison, Sneetches, Rabbit, Radio Stars, Roxy Music, Andy Williams, REM, Rain Parade, Split Enz, Crowded House, Sparks, Velvet Underground, Tommy Roe, We Five, Mrs. Miller
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The Pernice Brothers are highly recommended to fans of Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, Zombies, and Big Star. I actually think their latest, "Yours Mine & Ours" is the best album of the century, if not the best since 1996.
I did go back to "The World Won't End" which, like their debut, "Overcome By Happiness" is an amazing effort. On "YM&O" they've upped the energy a little and the melodies are just to die for, not to mention Pernice's Blunstone-esque vocals which are always striking.
Like most memorable underground pop bands The Pernice Bros are existing in a good amount of obscurity but have a fanbase that allows them to tour the world over.
Other significant artists working the Pernice territory: Howie Beck (new album due out soon), Even Johansen (2001's "Quiet & Still" is a gorgeous masterwork), Chamber Strings, Johan, David Poe, Trash Can Sinatras (new LP, "Weightlifting" due out in spring--absolutely brilliant).
All artists are worth seeking out on the net, especially the Trash Cans..
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The Pernice Brothers are highly recommended to fans of Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, Zombies, and Big Star. I actually think their latest, "Yours Mine & Ours" is the best album of the century, if not the best since 1996.
I did go back to "The World Won't End" which, like their debut, "Overcome By Happiness" is an amazing effort. On "YM&O" they've upped the energy a little and the melodies are just to die for, not to mention Pernice's Blunstone-esque vocals which are always striking.
Like most memorable underground pop bands The Pernice Bros are existing in a good amount of obscurity but have a fanbase that allows them to tour the world over.
Other significant artists working the Pernice territory: Howie Beck (new album due out soon), Even Johansen (2001's "Quiet & Still" is a gorgeous masterwork), Chamber Strings, Johan, David Poe, Trash Can Sinatras (new LP, "Weightlifting" due out in spring--absolutely brilliant).
All artists are worth seeking out on the net, especially the Trash Cans..
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Thanks for the feedback.
I think that the discussion/debate is valid and I understand why people think Big Star/Alex Chilton are overrated and that Raspberries/Eric Carmen often times get a raw deal--Issue 937 of Rolling Stone (500 Greatest Albums Of All Time) being the most recent glaring example.
It is rediculous that "Starting Over," "Fresh" or their "Best of" was not included. The same injustice was served to The Dwight Twilley Band, whose "Sincerely" and "Twilley Don't Mind" albums are of prominent stature.
Also, I would like to note that after Big Star, Alex Chilton's solo material was of virtually no use and was far more dissapointing than Eric's. Despite Eric's slickness, there were alaways glimmers of the pop genius coming through his work. Chilton lost it completely and never looked back, despite "reforming" and doing reunion shows.
I think Bernie asked if there were any GREAT bands whose albums were not issued in the US on CD. I think the Raspberries stand tallest amongst such a disgrace. Of the "GREAT"s (i.e. Badfinger, Big Star, Dwight Twilley Band, Artful Dodger, Todd Rundgren) all of them had their albums reissued here. Artful Dodger is missing one or two and have no "Best of" available. Just recently the Lovin' Spoonful had their catalog reissued. The Hollies catalog was always issued in a cryptic nature and up until recently (with the new 6-CD box set) has not been given proper exposure.
Over the years Rhino, Varese Sarabande or Sundazed has usually taken care of such disservices (i.e. Flo & Eddie and The Turtles, Emitt Rhodes etc.) but has found it easier to handle the obscurities (i.e Hudson Bros, Sagittarius/Millennium, Montage, Dino Desi & Billy) rather than those with more than one top 40 hit like Bread, The Sweet or The Raspberries.
As far as UK bands are concerned, I'm not sure if all the Slade albums were reissued on CD. T. Rex, in one form or another has always gotten a good deal. Bands like Mud, Cockney Rebel, Pilot etc. are usually relegated to the Japanese labels or Eurupean market.
I know Bob Allen and I want to see Tin Tin's catalog on CD. (Their one top 20 hit, "Toast & Marmalade For Tea" is available on Rhino's "Have A Nice Day" series--Vol. 16). I would like to see Blue's 1973 self-titled debut (originally on RSO) released.
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Sad to hear Raspberries fans not digging Big Star. Both bands represent quintessential American pop/rock from 72-74 that was trying to recapture the spirit of 64-67 British Invasion and west coast pop. Both bands distinctly created phenomal music for a period sorely lacking such pop vision. Both bands cut roughly the same amount of material (Big Star: 38 songs/Raspberries: 39 songs) and had a creative arc of sorts. Big Star peaked with "Radio City" and The Berries (arguably) with "Starting Over." Bernie's statement about Big Star being "punk" is just incorrect. Even The Berries showed more venom on songs like "Ecstacy" and "I Don't Know What I Want"--bands like The Dead Boys and The Dictators cited them as inspiration. Big Star was a mix of Byrds, Kinks, and Beatles that sounded like folk-pop meets 1966 mod rock, all with a fresh lyrical perspective. Unlike The Berries, their lyrics were more abstract and they always had a sense of mystery which The Berries eschewed. The Raspberries were, however, the definitive power pop band with the singles "Go All The Way," "Tonight" and "I Wanna Be With You." Big Star did rise to such heights with "September Gurls," "In The Street" and "Back Of A Car" but the sense of urgency was different. Despite both bands focusing in on similar teenage topics, The Raspberries had an inherant positive attitude ("hold me tight/my love could live forever after tonight/if you believe in what we're doing is right/close your eyes and be still")-- Big Star were less up front about it and were confused ("sitting in the back of a car/music so loud can't tell a thing/thinking 'bout what to say/and i can't find the lines").
Big Star's music is more cerebral and self-conscious, and thusly, something which resonates deeper with modern critics who have trouble dealing with straight ahead stuff. The Raspberries are much more immediate and easy to figure out. Only on "Fresh" and "Starting Over" did they show signs of reaching into darker areas. Despite people's reservations about Big Star's "3rd" album, they proved they could explore depths equal to The Beatles at their most daring with songs like "Blue Moon," "Nightime," "Big Black Car," and "Holocaust." It definitely wasn't power pop, but it wasn't nearly as offensive as following Clive Davis' lead to imitate Barry Manilow.
Favourite "undiscovered" albums
in Everything
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The all-time greatest undiscovered album (especially for Raspberries/Eric Carmen fans) would have to be Van Duren's "Are You Serious" which was released in late 1977 on Big Sound records. It is finally available on CD as is his once unreleased 2nd LP, "Idiot Optimism" which at times sounds like lost Eric Carmen and Todd Rundgren treasures (i.e. "Bear With Me All The Way," "The Love That I Love").
other choices:
Pagliaro- Pagliaro (big in Canada, but virtually unknown in US)
Johan- Pergola
This Perfect Day- C 60
Even Johansen- Even Johansen
Tin Tin- Astral Taxi
Kevin Tihista- Don't Breathe A Word
Jon Brion- Meaningless
Rialto- Rialto
Nick Heyward- Tangled
Duffy- I Love My Friends
Nilsson- Pandemonium Shadowshow
New Musik- Sanctuary
Howie Beck