In an effort 2 keep up at work lately, when the coffee & the stress Rn't enuf, I've been playing a lotta early upbeat Beatles music 2 keep me moving. It really works.
I've been bored with my musical intake 4 awhile, & currently my overnite bag full of CDs is almost completely stocked with '60s/'70s hits, best-of's, & a few things from later. But mostly it's upbeat stuff, motivational stuff, stuff 2 keep me going. Arty, introspective, melancholy stuff doesn't work 4 me at work, no matter how much I might love it at home.
Most recently, when feeling the need 4 more motivational music at work, I bagged The Beatles' "1" & the Go-Go's GREATEST -- CDs I already knew all of & had sorta road-tested, stuff that I knew would keep me moving. At least the upbeat stuff would....
I don't think "1" is the best way 2 hear the Fab 4, but it does give you 27 #1 hits, & summa those early hits R undeniable. The string of #1's that runs from "She Loves You" to "Help!" is really pretty unbeatable in a moderate-2-fast-paced work environment -- you can't help but move. & you'll be happy about it.
But after that, things start 2 drag a little.
Don't get me wrong. The Fabs were still brilliant & creative & all that, but that youthful enthusiasm we prize so much from their early recordings -- where they sing as if the emotion in the songs is going 2 Xplode out of them -- is starting 2 fade a bit by late '65, & by '66 it's all but gone. The last place I hear it on "1" is on "Paperback Writer," & it's there mostly in the driving guitar work. The lyrics & singing R a bit 2 clever-clever, tho the song's still brilliant.
But at this point we start hearing something other than youthful enthusiasm, passion, simple joy in being alive. At this point their music clearly becomes something more complex, something more like art.
Not that it wasn't already. Can't beat Ringo's drumming & the chiming guitars in "Ticket to Ride," not 2 mention John's singing. & on "Help!" you never start wondering if John Means It. It's obvious. I've even sorta become a fan of "Day Tripper," a song I've hated 4 YEARS. & "Eight Days a Week" -- oh man, it's sunny romantic bliss. & on "She Loves You" & "I Want to Hold Your Hand" they sound so HAPPY. & we get happy just hearing it. You can't beat this stuff.
But why did they lose this? Sure they got clever, more sophisticated, better judges of the effects they were trying 2 create. & maybe it was inevitable that they'd lose that early freshness, that bright young innocence that charmed the world. Maybe it's a normal part of growing up, getting older. It happens to everyone.
It happened to most of the rest of us, too. When's the last time you heard someone sing something that they were clearly enthusiastic about, excited about? When was the last time you saw somebody get really genuinely excited -- about anything?
I think a little enthusiasm would do this old world a lot of good.
But it's like it's become uncool to get excited. We've all been around, we've all seen everything, we're all a little bit jaded and cynical -- we're all a bit too old, too experienced to be convinced that something genuinely good is going to happen, no matter what it is. We've all been disappointed just a few too many times. These days we set our sights lower.
The last time I saw a young person (especially) get enthusiastic about something, her friends seemed faintly embarrassed about it -- as if to show such emotion was ... so naive, the sure mark of a beginner. & to be caught showing such passion, such interest was ... just really not cool.
How did we all get so cool, so knowing, anyway? And when did it start happening?
I know I'm drawn 2 the enthusiasm in '60s & '70s music because I miss that innocent, passionate feeling -- it's a lack I feel within myself, & that music puts me back in touch with it.
Of course, enthusiasm is where you find it. I know what works 4 me. Usually I'm grabbed by singers who sing as if they're going to explode before they get the words out. The early, upbeat Beatles hits definitely hit the mark. A lot of the Ronettes works real well for me -- as does a lot of Phil Spector's stuff. Lotta Stevie Wonder's early stuff, especially "I Was Made to Love Her."
I think the Go-Gos' more upbeat songs have that enthusiastic quality I'm sucked in by -- but only a couple of the Bangles' songs, especially "Let it Go."
I think the early Yes was very enthusiastic on their 1st 2 albums -- they sounded excited, bright & cheery & really happy to be around. Check out "Every Little Thing" & "Sweet Dreams" & "No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed." By the time of THE YES ALBUM they were chasing technical perfection -- "Your Move" is gorgeous, but otherwise their early brightness is gone. But drummer Bill Bruford was always enthusiastic, & bassist Chris Squire often seemed 2 be thrilled just to be on-stage.
A couple more obvious Xamples of what I mean can be found in the Raspberries' upbeat early '70s singles ("Go All the Way," "I Wanna Be With You," "Tonight," etc.), some of The Who's early stuff ("I'm the Face," "Disguises," "I Can See for Miles," & drummer Keith Moon was the poster-boy 4 enthusiasm), Badfinger's "No Matter What." I sometimes think Bare Naked Ladies have a handle on this, when they're not too busy trying to be clever & funny -- they often sound like their hearts are in their throats. I'm sure there are MANY more examples I can't think of right now.
But I don't have that many examples that are RECENT. I can admire & scream along with the rush of emotions in Florence + the Machine's "Shake it Out," but while I'm not worried about whether Florence Means It, I'm not sure how enthusiastic she is.
I can enjoy -- even laff at -- the pastiche-'60s-soul of Adele's "Rumor Has It," but while I think she's passionate at times I still think that song was mainly done 4 laffs.
When's the last time you heard some1 -- a singer or musician -- who was clearly passionate & enthusiastic about what they were doing, & how do you define that? In what way can you hear it? & how do you know when it's there & when it isn't?
And would you agree a little more enthusiasm would do us all a lotta good? That at the very least it might light up this old world a little more?
Coming Soon: "Bits&Pieces," a review of producer/engineer Ken Scott's FROM ABBEY ROAD TO ZIGGY STARDUST....
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
#585: Good trouble
Bernard Stollman's ESP-Disk was 1 of the most adventurous record labels of the mid-'60s. Starting out recording free jazz (beginning with Albert Ayler's SPIRITUAL UNITY), ESP released albums by Ornette Coleman and Sun Ra, then expanded 2 include on its roster such wild stuff as The Fugs, The Holy Modal Rounders, Patty Waters, Pearls Before Swine, The Godz, and Cromagnon.
Now, in Jason Weiss's ALWAYS IN TROUBLE: AN ORAL HISTORY OF ESP-DISK (2012), Stollman & more than 3 dozen of the artists he recorded look back on those times. The result is the best "oral history" I've read.
Oral histories sometimes lack a clear overview. The idea is that by talking 2 enuf people, a clear-enuf picture of the time or event being discussed can be painted for the reader. In this book it works -- partly because the people interviewed in this book seem to enjoy talking, & partly because it's an intresting time 2 look back on. I also think Weiss was a skilled interviewer who edited the responses pretty tightly. At the end of 283 pgs, you wish there were more.
Stollman himself gets about 1/2 the book 2 describe what running ESP was like. Turns out he ran the label out of his parents' apartment, using $$$ they gave him + whatever else he could scrape-up as a part-time lawyer. At its largest, ESP had 3 other employees, who sold the albums & talked 2 distributors. Stollman set-up recording sessions & arranged 4 album-cover art, pressings, etc.
There R lots of questions that go unanswered during this 1st section. Then the artists get their turn. Some of these interviews R hilarious.
Among the artists, there R 2 views of Stollman -- either "The man didn't want to pay anybody," or "This stuff (strange music) doesn't sell -- it never did." There R differing views on whether Stollman Got Away With Something, whether he was taken advantage of by record-pressers & bootleggers, or whether he pocketed some of the profits -- if there were any.
Stollman himself claims he was put out of business by the CIA at the end of the '60s because some ESP artists dared 2 criticize the government. But after that, Stollman became a full-time lawyer for the feds, only reactivating the ESP label in the last 10 years after retiring from federal service. Most observers agree Stollman didn't get rich by running ESP.
What he did was record some way-out artists that no other label would take a chance on at the time. Most of the artists have mellowed over the years, most of them appreciate the chance ESP gave them -- & most R delighted when Stollman appears at a gig & hands the musicians a royalty check ... 40 years later.
Some of ESP's artists did go on 2 some measure of fame -- Sun Ra & Coleman 4 work they recorded elsewhere. The Fugs, Holy Modal Rounders & Pearls Before Swine went on 2 lasting cult success. The Swine's leader Tom Rapp moved 2 Warner Bros. Records at the end of the '60s -- where his business manager allegedly disappeared with Rapp's 6-figure advance.
The Godz achieved some brief fame thru a rave review from legendary rock critic Lester Bangs -- I'd love 2 hear their 1st album just based on Lester's review.
Almost all these folks R interviewed in the book -- Peter Stampfel & Steve Weber of the Rounders (Stampfel's interview is hysterical), Rapp, jazzers like John Tchicai, Marion Brown, Milford Graves, Gary Peacock, Roscoe Mitchell, Roswell Rudd, Evan Parker, Burton Greene, Gato Barbieri, Sunny Murray, Sirone, poet Amiri Baraka, members of The Godz -- even the drummer 4 Cromagnon!
The only downside I see here is that there's no discography of ESP albums -- a list I thot woulda bn a necessity 4 a project like this. There R some nice photos of the artists, tho.
Maybe the book's title shoulda been ALWAYS IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE....
Coming next: Enthusiasm!
Now, in Jason Weiss's ALWAYS IN TROUBLE: AN ORAL HISTORY OF ESP-DISK (2012), Stollman & more than 3 dozen of the artists he recorded look back on those times. The result is the best "oral history" I've read.
Oral histories sometimes lack a clear overview. The idea is that by talking 2 enuf people, a clear-enuf picture of the time or event being discussed can be painted for the reader. In this book it works -- partly because the people interviewed in this book seem to enjoy talking, & partly because it's an intresting time 2 look back on. I also think Weiss was a skilled interviewer who edited the responses pretty tightly. At the end of 283 pgs, you wish there were more.
Stollman himself gets about 1/2 the book 2 describe what running ESP was like. Turns out he ran the label out of his parents' apartment, using $$$ they gave him + whatever else he could scrape-up as a part-time lawyer. At its largest, ESP had 3 other employees, who sold the albums & talked 2 distributors. Stollman set-up recording sessions & arranged 4 album-cover art, pressings, etc.
There R lots of questions that go unanswered during this 1st section. Then the artists get their turn. Some of these interviews R hilarious.
Among the artists, there R 2 views of Stollman -- either "The man didn't want to pay anybody," or "This stuff (strange music) doesn't sell -- it never did." There R differing views on whether Stollman Got Away With Something, whether he was taken advantage of by record-pressers & bootleggers, or whether he pocketed some of the profits -- if there were any.
Stollman himself claims he was put out of business by the CIA at the end of the '60s because some ESP artists dared 2 criticize the government. But after that, Stollman became a full-time lawyer for the feds, only reactivating the ESP label in the last 10 years after retiring from federal service. Most observers agree Stollman didn't get rich by running ESP.
What he did was record some way-out artists that no other label would take a chance on at the time. Most of the artists have mellowed over the years, most of them appreciate the chance ESP gave them -- & most R delighted when Stollman appears at a gig & hands the musicians a royalty check ... 40 years later.
Some of ESP's artists did go on 2 some measure of fame -- Sun Ra & Coleman 4 work they recorded elsewhere. The Fugs, Holy Modal Rounders & Pearls Before Swine went on 2 lasting cult success. The Swine's leader Tom Rapp moved 2 Warner Bros. Records at the end of the '60s -- where his business manager allegedly disappeared with Rapp's 6-figure advance.
The Godz achieved some brief fame thru a rave review from legendary rock critic Lester Bangs -- I'd love 2 hear their 1st album just based on Lester's review.
Almost all these folks R interviewed in the book -- Peter Stampfel & Steve Weber of the Rounders (Stampfel's interview is hysterical), Rapp, jazzers like John Tchicai, Marion Brown, Milford Graves, Gary Peacock, Roscoe Mitchell, Roswell Rudd, Evan Parker, Burton Greene, Gato Barbieri, Sunny Murray, Sirone, poet Amiri Baraka, members of The Godz -- even the drummer 4 Cromagnon!
The only downside I see here is that there's no discography of ESP albums -- a list I thot woulda bn a necessity 4 a project like this. There R some nice photos of the artists, tho.
Maybe the book's title shoulda been ALWAYS IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE....
Coming next: Enthusiasm!
#584: The song is over...?
Big Who fan? Richie Unterberger's WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN: THE WHO FROM LIFEHOUSE TO QUADROPHENIA (2011) will tell you just about everything you need 2 know about that troubled period in the early '70s when The 'Oo was trying 2 find a follow-up 2 TOMMY. And in the process they created some of their very best work.
Not without hassles, however. LIFEHOUSE was supposed 2 B this huge multi-media presentation (concert/video/album/documentary/etc.) that even 40 years later Who leader/guitarist/songwriter Pete Townshend still can't quite pin down. Most of the songs from the project ended up on WHO'S NEXT, some dribbled out as excellent singles over the next coupla years ("Join Together," "The Relay"), & some trax were still turning up on Townshend solo albums 30+ years later -- check the synthesizer instrumentals on PSYCHODERELICT, supposedly created during the early '70s.
No question the songs included on WHO'S NEXT are the band's best, most lasting work. Producer/engineer Glyn Johns is credited 4 suggesting putting LIFEHOUSE's best songs on 1 album, & he was right. But the evidence is, if The Who'd made it a 2-disc set it woulda been a killer.
After dribbling out singles thru '72, Pete came up with QUADROPHENIA, which seems 2 have mellowed in the band's estimation since the gyrations 2 get it done & toured at the end of '73. Engineer Ron Nevison had previously taken a beating 4 the supposedly cluttered mix, overloaded with sound effects, swamping Roger Daltrey's vocals. Nevison seems OK with it now, & surviving band members R way less harsh about it years later. Bassist John Entwistle had such reservations about the album that he re-dubbed his bass & horn parts & remixed the trax 4 the 1979 movie-soundtrack version. That version seemed clearer & punchier 2 me at the time, but there's never been NE question that summa the songs R outstanding: "Love, Reign O'er Me," "Bell Boy," "5:15," "Doctor Jimmy," "I'm One," "I've Had Enough," "The Real Me," etc. The best of them R breathtaking.
Unterberger provides lotsa detail about the recording of QUAD, & plenty about the on-stage soul-searching that Townshend & Daltrey went thru during the tour that followed. In fact, Unterberger quotes a TON of sources 2 get this story told, & hits almost all the major LIFEHOUSE and QUADROPHENIA stories I remember along the way.
Tho Townshend had a nervous breakdown during the LIFEHOUSE period, we don't hear that much about it. The only story Unterberger misses is Pete's reminiscence about walking in2 a hotel room 4 a meeting about the project, seeing every1 in the room suddenly turn in2 giant lizards, & then wanting 2 jump out the window....
The only major problem I saw is that there Rn't NE current interviews with Townshend & Daltrey 2 add 2 the old stories. Maybe Unterberger couldn't interview them, or didn't think he needed 2. There is some new info in connection with the LIFEHOUSE CHRONICLES box set that Townshend sold thru his website 4 awhile, a decade ago. But that's the most recent info included in the book.
Other Minor Disappointments: No discography. No list of songs intended for LIFEHOUSE.
But Unterberger writes very well -- I knew his name from reviews for ALL MUSIC GUIDE, among other places -- & his book is as well-researched as anyone could ask. It might be just a touch thin on the emotional end -- I woulda loved some current interviews with Pete & Roger about how they feel about these songs, looking back from 40 years later.
These R all minor reservations, however. If you're a big Who fan you might wanna track this 1 down. It's the best book on the 'Oo I've read since Dave Marsh's exhausting BEFORE I GET OLD -- & there were still things I wanted 2 know at the end of THAT one, too....
This is also the 2nd impressive book I've read from England's Jawbone Press -- the 1st was the Bill Bruford AUTOBIOGRAPHY I reviewed here a couple years back. Like Bruford's book, WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN includes a good selection of period photos, sharp graphics, & not a single typographical error in the whole book. Nice 2 see some1 doing the job right these days....
Coming next: Enthusiasm! -- & a review of Jason Weiss's ALWAYS IN TROUBLE: AN ORAL HISTORY OF ESP-DISK.
Not without hassles, however. LIFEHOUSE was supposed 2 B this huge multi-media presentation (concert/video/album/documentary/etc.) that even 40 years later Who leader/guitarist/songwriter Pete Townshend still can't quite pin down. Most of the songs from the project ended up on WHO'S NEXT, some dribbled out as excellent singles over the next coupla years ("Join Together," "The Relay"), & some trax were still turning up on Townshend solo albums 30+ years later -- check the synthesizer instrumentals on PSYCHODERELICT, supposedly created during the early '70s.
No question the songs included on WHO'S NEXT are the band's best, most lasting work. Producer/engineer Glyn Johns is credited 4 suggesting putting LIFEHOUSE's best songs on 1 album, & he was right. But the evidence is, if The Who'd made it a 2-disc set it woulda been a killer.
After dribbling out singles thru '72, Pete came up with QUADROPHENIA, which seems 2 have mellowed in the band's estimation since the gyrations 2 get it done & toured at the end of '73. Engineer Ron Nevison had previously taken a beating 4 the supposedly cluttered mix, overloaded with sound effects, swamping Roger Daltrey's vocals. Nevison seems OK with it now, & surviving band members R way less harsh about it years later. Bassist John Entwistle had such reservations about the album that he re-dubbed his bass & horn parts & remixed the trax 4 the 1979 movie-soundtrack version. That version seemed clearer & punchier 2 me at the time, but there's never been NE question that summa the songs R outstanding: "Love, Reign O'er Me," "Bell Boy," "5:15," "Doctor Jimmy," "I'm One," "I've Had Enough," "The Real Me," etc. The best of them R breathtaking.
Unterberger provides lotsa detail about the recording of QUAD, & plenty about the on-stage soul-searching that Townshend & Daltrey went thru during the tour that followed. In fact, Unterberger quotes a TON of sources 2 get this story told, & hits almost all the major LIFEHOUSE and QUADROPHENIA stories I remember along the way.
Tho Townshend had a nervous breakdown during the LIFEHOUSE period, we don't hear that much about it. The only story Unterberger misses is Pete's reminiscence about walking in2 a hotel room 4 a meeting about the project, seeing every1 in the room suddenly turn in2 giant lizards, & then wanting 2 jump out the window....
The only major problem I saw is that there Rn't NE current interviews with Townshend & Daltrey 2 add 2 the old stories. Maybe Unterberger couldn't interview them, or didn't think he needed 2. There is some new info in connection with the LIFEHOUSE CHRONICLES box set that Townshend sold thru his website 4 awhile, a decade ago. But that's the most recent info included in the book.
Other Minor Disappointments: No discography. No list of songs intended for LIFEHOUSE.
But Unterberger writes very well -- I knew his name from reviews for ALL MUSIC GUIDE, among other places -- & his book is as well-researched as anyone could ask. It might be just a touch thin on the emotional end -- I woulda loved some current interviews with Pete & Roger about how they feel about these songs, looking back from 40 years later.
These R all minor reservations, however. If you're a big Who fan you might wanna track this 1 down. It's the best book on the 'Oo I've read since Dave Marsh's exhausting BEFORE I GET OLD -- & there were still things I wanted 2 know at the end of THAT one, too....
This is also the 2nd impressive book I've read from England's Jawbone Press -- the 1st was the Bill Bruford AUTOBIOGRAPHY I reviewed here a couple years back. Like Bruford's book, WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN includes a good selection of period photos, sharp graphics, & not a single typographical error in the whole book. Nice 2 see some1 doing the job right these days....
Coming next: Enthusiasm! -- & a review of Jason Weiss's ALWAYS IN TROUBLE: AN ORAL HISTORY OF ESP-DISK.
Monday, August 20, 2012
#583: Works in progress
OK, so, back when I started this blogging stuff, I thot I was gonna B this Big Prog Guy who was gonna gently ram down yer throat all this Great Overlooked Progressive Rock that I've bn listening-2 4 years, & go on&on about what a Crime it was that all this great stuff failed 2 make its genius creators in2 millionaires, etc. etc. etc. ....
& I've done summa that. But what I've discovered as I've tried repeatedly 2 Xpand my listening horizons (had another bash at that earlier this year, see below), is that I need TUNES 2 hum or whistle along with. I need LYRICS that I can screech along with. It is no longer ENUF 4 me 4 music just 2 B Strange. I gotta have something 2 hang on 2. I've gotten kinda boring in my old age.
So: True Confessions. Below is Another List of artists whose albums I have somehow never been able 2 get all the way thru 4 whatever reason. There's some fairly big gaps here, on some fairly big names that I should Know Better if I Really Am a Big Prog Guy.
Should B good 4 some laffs. & maybe you share my frustrations with summa these folks...?
* Pink Floyd -- Got all the way thru PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN about 35 years ago. Loved "Flaming," liked "Chapter 24" & "Bike," marvelled at the strangeness of the rest even tho I barely remember it now. Nobody did psych like Syd Barrett. But I never Got "Interstellar Overdrive," & "Astronome Domine" sounds way better live on UMMAGUMMA. Thot SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS was mostly noise, didn't even notice "Jugband Blues" til I heard it on the ECHOES best-of. Got all the way thru MEDDLE a few times but forget the 1st side after "One of These Days." & I've heard none of the soundtrax, ATOM HEART MOTHER, last 1/2 of UMMAGUMMA, etc.
* ELP -- Think I got all the way thru TARKUS 1nce, but a note from Rastro a coupla yrs ago told me I needta re-listen, soon as I find another copy. Got all the way thru TRILOGY awhile back, it was OK. Heard mosta BRAIN SALAD SURGERY & agree it's their best, but I drifted off somewhere in the last 2/3rd's of "Karn Evil 9," so.... Mosta the time I can't take their EGO....
* Tull -- Speaking of Ego.... I think they're great, but when they get on2 a Big Concept I usually can't take it. Have never gotten thru all of AQUALUNG (the song or the album) or THICK AS A BRICK (tho I like the opening 3 mins or so) -- & A PASSION PLAY showed me it wasn't worth the work anyway. STAND UP is pretty strong, even if I don't remember 1/2 the songs ("Back to the Family" was my fave). Better when they're funny, but HEAVY HORSES drags, & the later stuff smooths out all the rough edges so there's not much left 2 hear....
* Who -- I love these guys, & their box set taught me a lot. But I've never been able 2 make it thru QUADROPHENIA even tho I love a lotta the songs ("Bell Boy," "Love, Reign O'er Me," "5:15," "Doctor Jimmy," "I'm One," etc.) -- I actually liked the movie soundtrack more cos it was EZer 2 get thru. Heard mosta SELL OUT & would love 2 hear the rest. & I spose I should listen 2 TOMMY again. If I have to....
* Yes -- Love their early stuff but needta hear more. Their middle period I generally like better live. & the stuff from the last 20+ years I've heard none of. Got RELAYER back in the house 4 another try, & I actually got thru 2 sides of TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS awhile back. But please, not TORMATO again....
* Genesis -- I'm weak on their early stuff -- FOXTROT, NURSERY CRYME, SELLING ENGLAND, THE LAMB, like that. I've gotta problem with Peter Gabriel's voice. I've heard maybe 1 track with him that I can stand, offa THE LAMB, & now I can't even remember which 1 it was....
* Bowie -- I just can't take much of his voice, tho I think he has about 4 great songs -- "Suffragette City," "Changes," "Modern Love," "Space Oddity." But I'm sure no Xpert....
* King Crimson -- I've heard almost none of POSEIDON and LIZARD, & only bits&pieces of BEAT, THREE OF A PERFECT PAIR, THRAK, CONSTRUCKTION OF LIGHT. But I'm working on it....
* Rush -- Beyond the best-of's, I haven't heard much. Think I got all the way thru FAREWELL TO KINGS about 30 years ago. & I've never heard a note of 2112, far as I know....
* Zappa -- All I've heard 4 sure is WEASELS RIPPED MY FLESH, which had 3 good songs & a LOT of noise. Heard 1/2 of TINSELTOWN REBELLION. & other bits&pieces over the years. Keep hearing WAKA/JAWAKA is pretty good jazz-rock. Or was that GRAND WAZOO...? HOT RATS? UNCLE MEAT? Can't remember. & I could spend a life trying 2 find out....
* Eno -- I tried TIGER MOUNTAIN and WARM JETS & they were OK, diffrent. But I really wished they were a little less clever & a little more straightforward....
* Roxy -- I prefer the later, smoother stuff, but I really love "The Thrill of it All" & should do more investigating of their 1st 4 albums -- that Concorde-like rush they sometimes get is really thrilling....
* Gong -- I really can't take the early silliness -- tried a 2-CD best-of earlier this year. Didier Mahlerbe is a helluva sax player, & guitarist Steve Hillage & synth-guy Tim Blake add some good stuff, but I guess I wasn't stoned enuf.... & the later jazz-rock stuff can get REALLY boring....
* Tangerine Dream -- Never made it all the way thru NE of their albums. Have ENCORE in the house & listened all the way thru Side 3, "Monolight," which I still think is their best piece ever. 1nce had a really bad dream while listening 2 "Fly and Collision of Comas Sola" off of ALPHA CENTAURI. Have heard lotsa bits&pieces, but.... "Igneous" offa their THIEF soundtrack is a pretty great guitar-meltdown....
* Mahavishnu Orchestra -- I've tried 2 treat them like King Crimson without tunes but it just doesn't work. Their quieter moments R kinda nice, like "A Lotus on Irish Streams." But the only loud 1 I've been able 2 get in2 is "Awakening." & McLaughlin's solo albums seem pretty dull -- tried DEVOTION and EXTRAPOLATION, didn't get THEM, either....
* Strawbs -- I should like these guys a lot more than I actually DO: British-folk-based songs, Rick Wakeman/John Hawken/Blue Weaver on flamboyant keyboards, etc. But Dave Cousins' voice is sometimes whiny -- he's best when angry or bitter. Their CLASSIC STRAWBS has 1 GREAT side: "Hero and Heroine"/"New World"/"Down by the Sea"/"Where is This Dream of Your Youth?," but I can't get in2 the rest. Their HALCYON DAYS CD-best-of adds some more good things ("Backside," "Keep the Devil Outside") but drops most of Wakeman -- why?
* Barclay James Harvest -- I don't have enuf patience 4 their wild uneven-ness. I'm sticking with their best-of's.
Other items 4 future research: Al Stewart's PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE Side 1; Gentle Giant's LIVE: PLAYING THE FOOL, IN A GLASS HOUSE, POWER AND THE GLORY; Nektar, Clannad, Mott the Hoople, Soft Machine, Jade Warrior, Focus, Return to Forever, Mannheim Steamroller, early Journey, Kevin Ayers....
Complaints? Agreements? Please add yer 2 cents below....
Coming Soon: Reviews of Richie Unterberger's WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN: THE WHO FROM LIFEHOUSE THROUGH QUADROPHENIA, Ken Scott's FROM ABBEY ROAD TO ZIGGY STARDUST, and Jason Weiss's ALWAYS IN TROUBLE: AN ORAL HISTORY OF ESP-DISK.
& I've done summa that. But what I've discovered as I've tried repeatedly 2 Xpand my listening horizons (had another bash at that earlier this year, see below), is that I need TUNES 2 hum or whistle along with. I need LYRICS that I can screech along with. It is no longer ENUF 4 me 4 music just 2 B Strange. I gotta have something 2 hang on 2. I've gotten kinda boring in my old age.
So: True Confessions. Below is Another List of artists whose albums I have somehow never been able 2 get all the way thru 4 whatever reason. There's some fairly big gaps here, on some fairly big names that I should Know Better if I Really Am a Big Prog Guy.
Should B good 4 some laffs. & maybe you share my frustrations with summa these folks...?
* Pink Floyd -- Got all the way thru PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN about 35 years ago. Loved "Flaming," liked "Chapter 24" & "Bike," marvelled at the strangeness of the rest even tho I barely remember it now. Nobody did psych like Syd Barrett. But I never Got "Interstellar Overdrive," & "Astronome Domine" sounds way better live on UMMAGUMMA. Thot SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS was mostly noise, didn't even notice "Jugband Blues" til I heard it on the ECHOES best-of. Got all the way thru MEDDLE a few times but forget the 1st side after "One of These Days." & I've heard none of the soundtrax, ATOM HEART MOTHER, last 1/2 of UMMAGUMMA, etc.
* ELP -- Think I got all the way thru TARKUS 1nce, but a note from Rastro a coupla yrs ago told me I needta re-listen, soon as I find another copy. Got all the way thru TRILOGY awhile back, it was OK. Heard mosta BRAIN SALAD SURGERY & agree it's their best, but I drifted off somewhere in the last 2/3rd's of "Karn Evil 9," so.... Mosta the time I can't take their EGO....
* Tull -- Speaking of Ego.... I think they're great, but when they get on2 a Big Concept I usually can't take it. Have never gotten thru all of AQUALUNG (the song or the album) or THICK AS A BRICK (tho I like the opening 3 mins or so) -- & A PASSION PLAY showed me it wasn't worth the work anyway. STAND UP is pretty strong, even if I don't remember 1/2 the songs ("Back to the Family" was my fave). Better when they're funny, but HEAVY HORSES drags, & the later stuff smooths out all the rough edges so there's not much left 2 hear....
* Who -- I love these guys, & their box set taught me a lot. But I've never been able 2 make it thru QUADROPHENIA even tho I love a lotta the songs ("Bell Boy," "Love, Reign O'er Me," "5:15," "Doctor Jimmy," "I'm One," etc.) -- I actually liked the movie soundtrack more cos it was EZer 2 get thru. Heard mosta SELL OUT & would love 2 hear the rest. & I spose I should listen 2 TOMMY again. If I have to....
* Yes -- Love their early stuff but needta hear more. Their middle period I generally like better live. & the stuff from the last 20+ years I've heard none of. Got RELAYER back in the house 4 another try, & I actually got thru 2 sides of TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS awhile back. But please, not TORMATO again....
* Genesis -- I'm weak on their early stuff -- FOXTROT, NURSERY CRYME, SELLING ENGLAND, THE LAMB, like that. I've gotta problem with Peter Gabriel's voice. I've heard maybe 1 track with him that I can stand, offa THE LAMB, & now I can't even remember which 1 it was....
* Bowie -- I just can't take much of his voice, tho I think he has about 4 great songs -- "Suffragette City," "Changes," "Modern Love," "Space Oddity." But I'm sure no Xpert....
* King Crimson -- I've heard almost none of POSEIDON and LIZARD, & only bits&pieces of BEAT, THREE OF A PERFECT PAIR, THRAK, CONSTRUCKTION OF LIGHT. But I'm working on it....
* Rush -- Beyond the best-of's, I haven't heard much. Think I got all the way thru FAREWELL TO KINGS about 30 years ago. & I've never heard a note of 2112, far as I know....
* Zappa -- All I've heard 4 sure is WEASELS RIPPED MY FLESH, which had 3 good songs & a LOT of noise. Heard 1/2 of TINSELTOWN REBELLION. & other bits&pieces over the years. Keep hearing WAKA/JAWAKA is pretty good jazz-rock. Or was that GRAND WAZOO...? HOT RATS? UNCLE MEAT? Can't remember. & I could spend a life trying 2 find out....
* Eno -- I tried TIGER MOUNTAIN and WARM JETS & they were OK, diffrent. But I really wished they were a little less clever & a little more straightforward....
* Roxy -- I prefer the later, smoother stuff, but I really love "The Thrill of it All" & should do more investigating of their 1st 4 albums -- that Concorde-like rush they sometimes get is really thrilling....
* Gong -- I really can't take the early silliness -- tried a 2-CD best-of earlier this year. Didier Mahlerbe is a helluva sax player, & guitarist Steve Hillage & synth-guy Tim Blake add some good stuff, but I guess I wasn't stoned enuf.... & the later jazz-rock stuff can get REALLY boring....
* Tangerine Dream -- Never made it all the way thru NE of their albums. Have ENCORE in the house & listened all the way thru Side 3, "Monolight," which I still think is their best piece ever. 1nce had a really bad dream while listening 2 "Fly and Collision of Comas Sola" off of ALPHA CENTAURI. Have heard lotsa bits&pieces, but.... "Igneous" offa their THIEF soundtrack is a pretty great guitar-meltdown....
* Mahavishnu Orchestra -- I've tried 2 treat them like King Crimson without tunes but it just doesn't work. Their quieter moments R kinda nice, like "A Lotus on Irish Streams." But the only loud 1 I've been able 2 get in2 is "Awakening." & McLaughlin's solo albums seem pretty dull -- tried DEVOTION and EXTRAPOLATION, didn't get THEM, either....
* Strawbs -- I should like these guys a lot more than I actually DO: British-folk-based songs, Rick Wakeman/John Hawken/Blue Weaver on flamboyant keyboards, etc. But Dave Cousins' voice is sometimes whiny -- he's best when angry or bitter. Their CLASSIC STRAWBS has 1 GREAT side: "Hero and Heroine"/"New World"/"Down by the Sea"/"Where is This Dream of Your Youth?," but I can't get in2 the rest. Their HALCYON DAYS CD-best-of adds some more good things ("Backside," "Keep the Devil Outside") but drops most of Wakeman -- why?
* Barclay James Harvest -- I don't have enuf patience 4 their wild uneven-ness. I'm sticking with their best-of's.
Other items 4 future research: Al Stewart's PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE Side 1; Gentle Giant's LIVE: PLAYING THE FOOL, IN A GLASS HOUSE, POWER AND THE GLORY; Nektar, Clannad, Mott the Hoople, Soft Machine, Jade Warrior, Focus, Return to Forever, Mannheim Steamroller, early Journey, Kevin Ayers....
Complaints? Agreements? Please add yer 2 cents below....
Coming Soon: Reviews of Richie Unterberger's WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN: THE WHO FROM LIFEHOUSE THROUGH QUADROPHENIA, Ken Scott's FROM ABBEY ROAD TO ZIGGY STARDUST, and Jason Weiss's ALWAYS IN TROUBLE: AN ORAL HISTORY OF ESP-DISK.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
#582: The Best!
Here's the best Strange Music I've bn able 2 find in 40+ years of listening, in more-or-less descending order. See what you think. ...& next time I'll reveal summa the massive, embarrassing gaps in my listening Xperience....
* Beach Boys: SMiLE SESSIONS (2011) -- Finally. Gorgeous sounds, amazing songs, not a letdown on the entire 2-CD set. Worth the wait.
* Gryphon: RED QUEEN TO GRYPHON THREE (1974) -- The best instrumental rock album ever. Gorgeous British Isles folk with recorders, krumhorns, bassoons, & a helluva lotta charm. They sound like a wind-up-toy band. Best: "Lament," "Opening Move," "Second Spasm."
* Providence: EVER SENSE THE DAWN (1972) -- Sorta a kinder, gentler Moody Blues album by a Boise, Idaho band. Great tunes, strong vocals. "If We Were Wise," "Fantasy Fugue," "Neptune's Door," "The Stream," "Behold: A Solar Sonnet," "Mountain."
* Gryphon: TREASON (1977) -- Sorta Jethro Tull-lite. More keyboards, Xcellent group vocals. "Spring Song" shoulda bn an art rock classic. + "Round and Round," "Fall of the Leaf," "Major Disaster," "Falero Lady."
* King Crimson: THE YOUNG PERSON'S GUIDE best-of (1976) -- Best $16 I ever spent on an album, way back in 1978. Almost everything you'd ever need, Xcept 4 "Schizoid Man," "Fracture," "Great Deceiver." Best: "Starless," "Red," "Epitaph," "Court," "Night Watch," "Cat Food," "Cadence and Cascade," "I Talk to the Wind (demo)," etc. Changed my life.
* Beach Boys: PET SOUNDS (1966) -- Also changed my life. "God Only Knows," "Sloop John B," "Here Today," "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times," "I Know There's an Answer," "Let's Go Away for Awhile," "Trombone Dixie."
* Yes: YESSONGS (1973) -- So great you could throw away a side & not miss a thing. "Close to the Edge," "And You and I," "Starship Trooper," "Siberian Khatru," "Heart of the Sunrise," "Perpetual Change," "Yours is No Disgrace."
* Beatles: ABBEY ROAD (1969) -- Thank Ghod for weirdness.
* Beatles: WHITE ALBUM (1968) -- & again....
* Caravan: FOR GIRLS WHO GROW PLUMP IN THE NIGHT (1973) -- Great, swinging melodic prog. "The Dog, The Dog, He's at it Again," "Memory Lain/Hugh/Headloss," "Surprise, Surprise," "Be All Right," "A Hunting We Shall Go...."
* The Who: WHO'S NEXT (1971) -- You know the songs. If LIFEHOUSE wasn't Art Rock, then....
* King Crimson: THE GREAT DECEIVER/LIVE 1973-74 -- In case their mid-'70s albums were 2 subtle 4 you, almost everything from LARKS & STARLESS gains power here. "Larks I&II," "Talking Drum," "Fracture," "Doctor Diamond."
* Moody Blues: THE PRESENT (1983) -- An older, mellower, reflective Moodies on their most consistent album ever. Not a howler in the bunch. "Blue World," "Meet Me Halfway," "Running Water," "It's Cold Outside of Your Heart," "Sorry." They shoulda stopped here....
* Nick Drake: BRYTER LAYTER (1970) -- Beautiful. Maybe 2 weak trax. "Northern Sky," "Fly," "Sunday," "Hazey Jane II," "At the Chime of a City Clock," "One of These Things First," "Hazey Jane I."
* Fairport Convention: FAIRPORT CHRONICLES best-of (1972) -- The best British folk-rock ever. "Come All Ye," "I'll Keep it With Mine," "Tale in Hard Time," "Listen, Listen," "Meet on the Ledge," "The Way I Feel," "My Girl the Month of May," "Million Dollar Bash"....
* Kansas: LEFTOVERTURE (1976) -- The gorgeous "Miracles Out of Nowhere," the loopy keyboards on "Questions of My Childhood," "Cheyenne Anthem," "What's on My Mind," "The Wall" ... Why wasn't there more of this?
* Happy the Man: CRAFTY HANDS (1978) -- Gorgeous guitar-keyboard-sax sounds, beautiful melodies, + they can rock. "Wind-Up Doll Day Wind," "Service With a Smile," "Open Book," "Morning Sun," "Ibby it Is," "Steaming Pipes."
* Illusion: OUT OF THE MIST (1977) -- Best Renaissance-style album ever. "Everywhere You Go," "Candles are Burning," "Roads to Freedom," "Face of Yesterday," "Beautiful Country," "Isadora."
* Renaissance: LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL (1976) -- So great you could throw 2 sides away. The band did. "Can You Understand?," "Running Hard," "Ocean Gypsy," "Mother Russia," & the gorgeous 1st 3 mins of the side-long "Ashes are Burning."
* Gentle Giant: PRETENTIOUS best-of (1978) -- Almost everything you'll ever need by these guys. "Pentegruel's Nativity," "Schooldays," "The Advent of Panurge," "Raconteur Troubadour," "Knots," "Proclamation," "Cogs in Cogs," "Edge of Twilight."
* The Who: THIRTY YEARS OF MAXIMUM R&B box set -- There's some strange stuff in this box. & it's all great, naturally. "The Relay," "Let's See Action," "I'm the Face," "Disguises," "Armenia City in the Sky," "Tattoo," "Dogs," "Call Me Lightning," "Slip Kid," "Blue, Red and Grey," "Dreaming from the Waist (live)," much more....
* Queen: A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (1976) -- "'39," "The Prophet's Song," "Death on Two Legs," "You're My Best Friend" ... & something called "Bohemian Rhapsody"?
* Al Stewart: MODERN TIMES (1975) -- 2nd side's perfect. His most consistent album. Title song, "Apple Cider Reconstitution," "Dark and Rolling Sea," "Carol."
* Beach Boys: GOOD VIBRATIONS: THIRTY YEARS OF box set -- Summa the later choices R pretty frustrating, but you get 1/2anhour of SMiLE trax & TONS of mid-period stuff: "Please Let Me Wonder," "The Little Girl I Once Knew," "Cabinessence," "Heroes and Villians (sections)," "I Can Hear Music," "This Whole World," "Long Promised Road," "The Trader," "Surf's Up," "'Til I Die," etc.
* U.K.: (1st) (1978) -- Even the weakest track, "Thirty Years," works. Xcellent pyrotechnic entertainment. "Time to Kill," "In the Dead of Night" suite, "Mental Medication."
* Group 87: (1st) (1980) -- Beautiful & rousing rock instrumentals, not a single bad track. "One Night Away from Day," "Future of the City," "Magnificent Clockworks," "While the City Sleeps," "The Bedouin," & all the rest....
* Fleetwood Mac: TUSK (1979) -- Best album ever 4 doing household chores. & "I Know I'm Not Wrong" is an overlooked classic!
* Justin Hayward & John Lodge: BLUE JAYS (1975) -- Just like a good Moodies album, more or less. "When You Wake Up," "Saved by the Music," "This Morning," "Remember Me, My Friend," "Who Are You Now?"
* Camel: THE SNOW GOOSE (1975) -- Gorgeous melodic prog instrumentals. "Rhayader," "Rhayader Goes to Town," "Flight of the Snow Goose."
* Camel: NUDE (1980) -- More gorgeous melodic prog. "City Life," "Drafted," "Please Come Home," "Captured," & mosta the rest....
* Moody Blues: TIME TRAVELLER 4-CD best-of -- Almost everything you'd ever need, + mosta Hayward & Lodge's BLUE JAYS album 2....
* Moody Blues: TO OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN'S CHILDREN (1969) -- Icy-cold & distant, but it sticks with you. "Gypsy," "Eyes of a Child Part 2," "Watching and Waiting," "Out and In."
* Moody Blues: A QUESTION OF BALANCE (1970) -- "Question," "It's Up to You," "Don't You Feel Small?," "Minstrel's Song," "Dawning is the Day," "Melancholy Man"....
* Moody Blues: LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER (1981) -- Sparkly production, some pretty strong songs. "Meanwhile," "Veteran Cosmic Rocker," "Nervous," "In My World," "The Voice."
* Moody Blues: THIS IS best-of (1974) -- Solid, obvious picks with 1 big bonus: Mike Pinder's best song, the B-side "Simple Game."
* Dire Straits: MAKIN' MOVIES (1979) -- Punchy, rollin cinematic rock. "Expresso Love," "Romeo and Juliet," "Hand in Hand," "Tunnel of Love," "Skateaway," "Solid Rock."
* Clannad: MACALLA (1986) -- Gorgeous, windswept Irish folk-rock. "Caislean Oir," "The Wild Cry," "Journey's End," "Indoor," "Blackstairs," "Closer to Your Heart," "Almost Seems Too Late to Turn."
* Caravan: CANTERBURY TALES vinyl best-of (1976) -- Almost perfect.... "Memory Lain," "The Dog, The Dog," "Aristocracy," "Virgin on the Ridiculous," "Nine Feet Underground," "The Love in Your Eye"....
* Sally Oldfield: WATER BEARER (1978) -- She shoulda done the LORD OF THE RINGS soundtracks. Title song, "Songs of the Quendi," "Fire and Honey," "Land of the Sun."
* Amazing Blondel: FANTASIA LINDUM (1972) -- Beautiful acoustic British folk, straight outta 1562. Full-side title suite, "Toye," "Three Seasons Almaine"....
* Fleet Foxes: (1st) (2008) -- SMiLE-era Beach Boys meets British folk. "Blue Ridge Mountains" & almost all the rest....
* Pink Floyd: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON (1973) -- I know, I know. But I can't argue with "Us and Them" & "Great Gig in the Sky"....
* Pink Floyd: THE WALL (1979) -- You can't argue with "Comfortably Numb," "Run Like Hell," "The Trial," "In the Flesh?," "One of My Turns"....
* Beatles: SGT. PEPPER (1967) -- I can't play it all the way thru, but.... "Day in the Life," "Lucy in the Sky," "Getting Better," "When I'm 64," "With a Little Help From My Friends"....
* Steve Tibbetts: YR (1980) -- Great guitar-based instrumental rock. "Ur" will melt your speakers. + "Three Primates," "You and It," "The Alien Lounge"....
* Moody Blues: DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED (1967) -- The orchestra's pretty soundtracky, but the songs are strong. "Nights in White Satin," "Tuesday Afternoon," "Peak Hour," "Evening: Time to Get Away," "Twilight Time," "Late Lament."
* Wigwam: NUCLEAR NIGHTCLUB (1974) -- Sorta Supertramp meets Traffic without a sax. "Bless Your Lucky Stars," "Simple Human Kindness," "Do or Die," all the rest....
* Glass Moon: (1st) (1980) -- Xcellent Genesis-soundalike band. "Sundays and Mondays," "Solsbury Hill," "Blue Windows," "Killer at 25"....
* Grace Slick: DREAMS (1980) -- BIG melodrama. "Full Moon Man," "Face to the Wind," "El Diablo," "Garden of Man," "Let it Go," "Angel of Night," title song.
* Pink Floyd: ECHOES best-of -- Wow, where 2 start? "High Hopes," "Keep Talking," "One of These Days," "When the Tigers Broke Free," "Jugband Blues," "Bike," "Echoes" ... Even made me appreciate all of "Sheep."
* Rush: CHRONICLES best-of -- The later stuff kicks ass: "Time Stand Still," "Force Ten," "Manhattan Project," "Distant Early Warning," "Mystic Rhythms (live)," etc....
* U2: BOY (1980) -- Has anyone ever figured out what Bono was on about here? Still great. "I Will Follow," "Twilight," "Into the Heart," "Out of Control," "The Electric Co."
* Kinks: VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY (1968) -- Low-key masterwork with some great songs. Title song, "Days," "Phenomenal Cat," "All My Friends Were There," "Do You Remember Walter," "Picture Book," more....
* Pete Townshend: PSYCHODERELICT (1991?) -- The drama's kinda silly, but I enjoyed it. & the songs R pretty strong. Best: "Now and Then."
* Nick Drake: PINK MOON (1972) -- Beautiful but sad. Title song, "From the Morning," "Things Behind the Sun."
* Nick Drake: WAY TO BLUE best-of -- Almost everything you'll ever need. "Cello Song," "Northern Sky," "Pink Moon," many more.
* Hollies: ROMANY (1972) -- Moody, arty, solid. "Magic Woman Touch," "Romany," "Touch," "Words Don't Come Easy," "Slow Down," "Down River," "Blue in the Morning"....
* Al Stewart: YEAR OF THE CAT (1976) -- Smooth, vivid songs. "Flying Sorcery," "Lord Grenville," "On the Border," "Broadway Hotel," "One Stage Before," title song.
* Electric Light Orchestra: TIME (1981) -- A silly, cheezy sci-fi future, but I love it all, even the filler. "Twilight," "The Way Life's Meant to Be," "Yours Truly, 2095," "Here is the News," etc.
* Sky: SKY2 (1980) -- So great you could throw away a side & 1/2 like they did. "Vivaldi," "Scipio," "Fifo," "Watching the Aeroplanes," "Adagio," "Scherzo," "Toccata."
* Dire Straits: LOVE OVER GOLD (1982) -- Some gorgeous mood music. "Telegraph Road," title song, "Industrial Disease," "It Never Rains."
* Space Art: A TRIP IN THE CENTER HEAD -- Jean Michel Jarre in disguise with the best synthesizer album ever. Tunes I can still remember 30 years later. & it's been out-of-print forever....
* Alan Parsons Project: THE INSTRUMENTAL WORKS -- Kinda predictable, but smooth & solid. "Gold Bug," "I Robot," "Lucifer," "Secret Garden," "Where's the Walrus?"
* George Winston: AUTUMN (1980) -- Gorgeous solo-piano instrumentals, all great.
* Mike Oldfield: OMMADAWN (1976) -- 1st side's forceful & hypnotic.
* Mike Oldfield: TUBULAR BELLS (1973) -- Think the 3-minute single said it all, but there R some nice & amusing things here....
...I've got blisters on my fingers. More soon....
* Beach Boys: SMiLE SESSIONS (2011) -- Finally. Gorgeous sounds, amazing songs, not a letdown on the entire 2-CD set. Worth the wait.
* Gryphon: RED QUEEN TO GRYPHON THREE (1974) -- The best instrumental rock album ever. Gorgeous British Isles folk with recorders, krumhorns, bassoons, & a helluva lotta charm. They sound like a wind-up-toy band. Best: "Lament," "Opening Move," "Second Spasm."
* Providence: EVER SENSE THE DAWN (1972) -- Sorta a kinder, gentler Moody Blues album by a Boise, Idaho band. Great tunes, strong vocals. "If We Were Wise," "Fantasy Fugue," "Neptune's Door," "The Stream," "Behold: A Solar Sonnet," "Mountain."
* Gryphon: TREASON (1977) -- Sorta Jethro Tull-lite. More keyboards, Xcellent group vocals. "Spring Song" shoulda bn an art rock classic. + "Round and Round," "Fall of the Leaf," "Major Disaster," "Falero Lady."
* King Crimson: THE YOUNG PERSON'S GUIDE best-of (1976) -- Best $16 I ever spent on an album, way back in 1978. Almost everything you'd ever need, Xcept 4 "Schizoid Man," "Fracture," "Great Deceiver." Best: "Starless," "Red," "Epitaph," "Court," "Night Watch," "Cat Food," "Cadence and Cascade," "I Talk to the Wind (demo)," etc. Changed my life.
* Beach Boys: PET SOUNDS (1966) -- Also changed my life. "God Only Knows," "Sloop John B," "Here Today," "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times," "I Know There's an Answer," "Let's Go Away for Awhile," "Trombone Dixie."
* Yes: YESSONGS (1973) -- So great you could throw away a side & not miss a thing. "Close to the Edge," "And You and I," "Starship Trooper," "Siberian Khatru," "Heart of the Sunrise," "Perpetual Change," "Yours is No Disgrace."
* Beatles: ABBEY ROAD (1969) -- Thank Ghod for weirdness.
* Beatles: WHITE ALBUM (1968) -- & again....
* Caravan: FOR GIRLS WHO GROW PLUMP IN THE NIGHT (1973) -- Great, swinging melodic prog. "The Dog, The Dog, He's at it Again," "Memory Lain/Hugh/Headloss," "Surprise, Surprise," "Be All Right," "A Hunting We Shall Go...."
* The Who: WHO'S NEXT (1971) -- You know the songs. If LIFEHOUSE wasn't Art Rock, then....
* King Crimson: THE GREAT DECEIVER/LIVE 1973-74 -- In case their mid-'70s albums were 2 subtle 4 you, almost everything from LARKS & STARLESS gains power here. "Larks I&II," "Talking Drum," "Fracture," "Doctor Diamond."
* Moody Blues: THE PRESENT (1983) -- An older, mellower, reflective Moodies on their most consistent album ever. Not a howler in the bunch. "Blue World," "Meet Me Halfway," "Running Water," "It's Cold Outside of Your Heart," "Sorry." They shoulda stopped here....
* Nick Drake: BRYTER LAYTER (1970) -- Beautiful. Maybe 2 weak trax. "Northern Sky," "Fly," "Sunday," "Hazey Jane II," "At the Chime of a City Clock," "One of These Things First," "Hazey Jane I."
* Fairport Convention: FAIRPORT CHRONICLES best-of (1972) -- The best British folk-rock ever. "Come All Ye," "I'll Keep it With Mine," "Tale in Hard Time," "Listen, Listen," "Meet on the Ledge," "The Way I Feel," "My Girl the Month of May," "Million Dollar Bash"....
* Kansas: LEFTOVERTURE (1976) -- The gorgeous "Miracles Out of Nowhere," the loopy keyboards on "Questions of My Childhood," "Cheyenne Anthem," "What's on My Mind," "The Wall" ... Why wasn't there more of this?
* Happy the Man: CRAFTY HANDS (1978) -- Gorgeous guitar-keyboard-sax sounds, beautiful melodies, + they can rock. "Wind-Up Doll Day Wind," "Service With a Smile," "Open Book," "Morning Sun," "Ibby it Is," "Steaming Pipes."
* Illusion: OUT OF THE MIST (1977) -- Best Renaissance-style album ever. "Everywhere You Go," "Candles are Burning," "Roads to Freedom," "Face of Yesterday," "Beautiful Country," "Isadora."
* Renaissance: LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL (1976) -- So great you could throw 2 sides away. The band did. "Can You Understand?," "Running Hard," "Ocean Gypsy," "Mother Russia," & the gorgeous 1st 3 mins of the side-long "Ashes are Burning."
* Gentle Giant: PRETENTIOUS best-of (1978) -- Almost everything you'll ever need by these guys. "Pentegruel's Nativity," "Schooldays," "The Advent of Panurge," "Raconteur Troubadour," "Knots," "Proclamation," "Cogs in Cogs," "Edge of Twilight."
* The Who: THIRTY YEARS OF MAXIMUM R&B box set -- There's some strange stuff in this box. & it's all great, naturally. "The Relay," "Let's See Action," "I'm the Face," "Disguises," "Armenia City in the Sky," "Tattoo," "Dogs," "Call Me Lightning," "Slip Kid," "Blue, Red and Grey," "Dreaming from the Waist (live)," much more....
* Queen: A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (1976) -- "'39," "The Prophet's Song," "Death on Two Legs," "You're My Best Friend" ... & something called "Bohemian Rhapsody"?
* Al Stewart: MODERN TIMES (1975) -- 2nd side's perfect. His most consistent album. Title song, "Apple Cider Reconstitution," "Dark and Rolling Sea," "Carol."
* Beach Boys: GOOD VIBRATIONS: THIRTY YEARS OF box set -- Summa the later choices R pretty frustrating, but you get 1/2anhour of SMiLE trax & TONS of mid-period stuff: "Please Let Me Wonder," "The Little Girl I Once Knew," "Cabinessence," "Heroes and Villians (sections)," "I Can Hear Music," "This Whole World," "Long Promised Road," "The Trader," "Surf's Up," "'Til I Die," etc.
* U.K.: (1st) (1978) -- Even the weakest track, "Thirty Years," works. Xcellent pyrotechnic entertainment. "Time to Kill," "In the Dead of Night" suite, "Mental Medication."
* Group 87: (1st) (1980) -- Beautiful & rousing rock instrumentals, not a single bad track. "One Night Away from Day," "Future of the City," "Magnificent Clockworks," "While the City Sleeps," "The Bedouin," & all the rest....
* Fleetwood Mac: TUSK (1979) -- Best album ever 4 doing household chores. & "I Know I'm Not Wrong" is an overlooked classic!
* Justin Hayward & John Lodge: BLUE JAYS (1975) -- Just like a good Moodies album, more or less. "When You Wake Up," "Saved by the Music," "This Morning," "Remember Me, My Friend," "Who Are You Now?"
* Camel: THE SNOW GOOSE (1975) -- Gorgeous melodic prog instrumentals. "Rhayader," "Rhayader Goes to Town," "Flight of the Snow Goose."
* Camel: NUDE (1980) -- More gorgeous melodic prog. "City Life," "Drafted," "Please Come Home," "Captured," & mosta the rest....
* Moody Blues: TIME TRAVELLER 4-CD best-of -- Almost everything you'd ever need, + mosta Hayward & Lodge's BLUE JAYS album 2....
* Moody Blues: TO OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN'S CHILDREN (1969) -- Icy-cold & distant, but it sticks with you. "Gypsy," "Eyes of a Child Part 2," "Watching and Waiting," "Out and In."
* Moody Blues: A QUESTION OF BALANCE (1970) -- "Question," "It's Up to You," "Don't You Feel Small?," "Minstrel's Song," "Dawning is the Day," "Melancholy Man"....
* Moody Blues: LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER (1981) -- Sparkly production, some pretty strong songs. "Meanwhile," "Veteran Cosmic Rocker," "Nervous," "In My World," "The Voice."
* Moody Blues: THIS IS best-of (1974) -- Solid, obvious picks with 1 big bonus: Mike Pinder's best song, the B-side "Simple Game."
* Dire Straits: MAKIN' MOVIES (1979) -- Punchy, rollin cinematic rock. "Expresso Love," "Romeo and Juliet," "Hand in Hand," "Tunnel of Love," "Skateaway," "Solid Rock."
* Clannad: MACALLA (1986) -- Gorgeous, windswept Irish folk-rock. "Caislean Oir," "The Wild Cry," "Journey's End," "Indoor," "Blackstairs," "Closer to Your Heart," "Almost Seems Too Late to Turn."
* Caravan: CANTERBURY TALES vinyl best-of (1976) -- Almost perfect.... "Memory Lain," "The Dog, The Dog," "Aristocracy," "Virgin on the Ridiculous," "Nine Feet Underground," "The Love in Your Eye"....
* Sally Oldfield: WATER BEARER (1978) -- She shoulda done the LORD OF THE RINGS soundtracks. Title song, "Songs of the Quendi," "Fire and Honey," "Land of the Sun."
* Amazing Blondel: FANTASIA LINDUM (1972) -- Beautiful acoustic British folk, straight outta 1562. Full-side title suite, "Toye," "Three Seasons Almaine"....
* Fleet Foxes: (1st) (2008) -- SMiLE-era Beach Boys meets British folk. "Blue Ridge Mountains" & almost all the rest....
* Pink Floyd: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON (1973) -- I know, I know. But I can't argue with "Us and Them" & "Great Gig in the Sky"....
* Pink Floyd: THE WALL (1979) -- You can't argue with "Comfortably Numb," "Run Like Hell," "The Trial," "In the Flesh?," "One of My Turns"....
* Beatles: SGT. PEPPER (1967) -- I can't play it all the way thru, but.... "Day in the Life," "Lucy in the Sky," "Getting Better," "When I'm 64," "With a Little Help From My Friends"....
* Steve Tibbetts: YR (1980) -- Great guitar-based instrumental rock. "Ur" will melt your speakers. + "Three Primates," "You and It," "The Alien Lounge"....
* Moody Blues: DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED (1967) -- The orchestra's pretty soundtracky, but the songs are strong. "Nights in White Satin," "Tuesday Afternoon," "Peak Hour," "Evening: Time to Get Away," "Twilight Time," "Late Lament."
* Wigwam: NUCLEAR NIGHTCLUB (1974) -- Sorta Supertramp meets Traffic without a sax. "Bless Your Lucky Stars," "Simple Human Kindness," "Do or Die," all the rest....
* Glass Moon: (1st) (1980) -- Xcellent Genesis-soundalike band. "Sundays and Mondays," "Solsbury Hill," "Blue Windows," "Killer at 25"....
* Grace Slick: DREAMS (1980) -- BIG melodrama. "Full Moon Man," "Face to the Wind," "El Diablo," "Garden of Man," "Let it Go," "Angel of Night," title song.
* Pink Floyd: ECHOES best-of -- Wow, where 2 start? "High Hopes," "Keep Talking," "One of These Days," "When the Tigers Broke Free," "Jugband Blues," "Bike," "Echoes" ... Even made me appreciate all of "Sheep."
* Rush: CHRONICLES best-of -- The later stuff kicks ass: "Time Stand Still," "Force Ten," "Manhattan Project," "Distant Early Warning," "Mystic Rhythms (live)," etc....
* U2: BOY (1980) -- Has anyone ever figured out what Bono was on about here? Still great. "I Will Follow," "Twilight," "Into the Heart," "Out of Control," "The Electric Co."
* Kinks: VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY (1968) -- Low-key masterwork with some great songs. Title song, "Days," "Phenomenal Cat," "All My Friends Were There," "Do You Remember Walter," "Picture Book," more....
* Pete Townshend: PSYCHODERELICT (1991?) -- The drama's kinda silly, but I enjoyed it. & the songs R pretty strong. Best: "Now and Then."
* Nick Drake: PINK MOON (1972) -- Beautiful but sad. Title song, "From the Morning," "Things Behind the Sun."
* Nick Drake: WAY TO BLUE best-of -- Almost everything you'll ever need. "Cello Song," "Northern Sky," "Pink Moon," many more.
* Hollies: ROMANY (1972) -- Moody, arty, solid. "Magic Woman Touch," "Romany," "Touch," "Words Don't Come Easy," "Slow Down," "Down River," "Blue in the Morning"....
* Al Stewart: YEAR OF THE CAT (1976) -- Smooth, vivid songs. "Flying Sorcery," "Lord Grenville," "On the Border," "Broadway Hotel," "One Stage Before," title song.
* Electric Light Orchestra: TIME (1981) -- A silly, cheezy sci-fi future, but I love it all, even the filler. "Twilight," "The Way Life's Meant to Be," "Yours Truly, 2095," "Here is the News," etc.
* Sky: SKY2 (1980) -- So great you could throw away a side & 1/2 like they did. "Vivaldi," "Scipio," "Fifo," "Watching the Aeroplanes," "Adagio," "Scherzo," "Toccata."
* Dire Straits: LOVE OVER GOLD (1982) -- Some gorgeous mood music. "Telegraph Road," title song, "Industrial Disease," "It Never Rains."
* Space Art: A TRIP IN THE CENTER HEAD -- Jean Michel Jarre in disguise with the best synthesizer album ever. Tunes I can still remember 30 years later. & it's been out-of-print forever....
* Alan Parsons Project: THE INSTRUMENTAL WORKS -- Kinda predictable, but smooth & solid. "Gold Bug," "I Robot," "Lucifer," "Secret Garden," "Where's the Walrus?"
* George Winston: AUTUMN (1980) -- Gorgeous solo-piano instrumentals, all great.
* Mike Oldfield: OMMADAWN (1976) -- 1st side's forceful & hypnotic.
* Mike Oldfield: TUBULAR BELLS (1973) -- Think the 3-minute single said it all, but there R some nice & amusing things here....
...I've got blisters on my fingers. More soon....
#581: More Good Stuff (Part 2)
Continuing The Good Stuff, again in more-or-less descending order.
Coming Next: The Best! -- summa my all-time Strange Music faves.
& later, a list of all the stuff I really havta listen 2 some more B4 trying 2 rate. THAT should B Mbarrassing....
As always, let me know what you think. & thanx 4 reading here....
+ Nektar: THRU THE EARS best-of (1978) -- The shorter songs R forgotten prog classics. "Fidgety Queen," "King of Twilight," "Do You Believe in Magic?," "It's All Over," "Astral Man."
+ Yes: YESSTORY best-of (1991) -- Might do 'til I can get their YESYEARS box. "No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed," "Every Little Thing," "Something's Coming."
+ King Crimson: DISCIPLINE (1981) -- "Frame by Frame" is freaking brilliant, "Indiscipline" & "Elephant Talk" just 1 step down from that. I start 2 drift 1/2way thru Side 2....
+ King Crimson: STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK (1974) -- The good stuff's amazing: "Great Deceiver," "Fracture," "Night Watch." Actually, the whole 1st side's pretty great. Powerful.
+ Jethro Tull: MINSTREL IN THE GALLERY (1975) -- 2nd side's perfect. 1st side's ignorable. "Baker Street Muse," "One White Duck/Nothing at All."
+ King Crimson: RED (1974) -- Xcept 4 "Providence," pretty great. & the long, dramatic coda 2 "Starless" is probly their greatest moment ever.
+ Pete Townshend: ALL THE BEST COWBOYS HAVE CHINESE EYES (1982) -- Isn't this Strange enuf? & how bout that VOCABULARY? "Slit Skirts," "North Country Girl," "Somebody Saved Me," "Uniforms," "Face Dances Part 2," "Prelude."
+ Beach Boys: SURF'S UP (1971) -- Mostly gorgeous. 2nd side's great, 1st side's iffy. Title song, "'Til I Die," "Feel Flows," "Long Promised Road."
+ Jefferson Starship: FREEDOM AT POINT ZERO (1979) -- I'm a sucker 4 Paul Kantner's science-fiction chorales. Title song, "Fading Lady Light," "Lightning Rose," "Just the Same," "Awakening," "Things to Come."
+ Strawbs: STORY IN MUSIC (1980) -- Italian best-of. Lotsa great stuff. "Where is This Dream of Your Youth?," "The Man Who Called Himself Jesus (live)," "Part of the Union," "Hero and Heroine," "I'll Carry on Beside You."
+ Can: ANTHOLOGY best-of -- Wow. 2 discs of mind-scrambling early-'70s German prog. The best of it's amazing, with a drum groove like no1 else. "Father Cannot Yell," "Outside My Door," "You Doo Right," "Uphill."
+ Brian Wilson presents SMiLE (2004) -- Pretty good reconstruction. The songs we haven't actually heard B4 R pretty great. But Brian's voice is shot. "On a Holiday," "In Blue Hawaii."
+ Caravan: BEST OF single-LP (1979) -- Good starter sampler. "Memory Lain/Hugh/Headloss," the great "For Richard (live)," "Aristocracy."
+ Rush: MOVING PICTURES (1980) -- Possibly their best? "Camera Eye," "Red Barchetta."
+ Utopia: ADVENTURES IN UTOPIA (1980) -- Todd Rundgren & friends with catchy high-tech pop. "The Very Last Time," "You Make Me Crazy," "Set Me Free," "Road to Utopia," "Second Nature."
+ Weather Report: 8:30/LIVE (1979) -- They finally come alive onstage. "Bahia/Boogie Woogie Waltz" is stunning.
+ Gong: SHAMAL (1975) -- "Wingful of Eyes" is classic, + "Chandra," "Bambooji," title song.
+ Be-Bop Deluxe: SUNBURST FINISH (1976) -- 1st side's great, with lotsa Bill Nelson's flashy guitar. "Sleep That Burns," "Crying to the Sky," "Heavenly Homes," "Blazing Apostles."
+ Van Morrison: MOONDANCE (1970) -- Visionary R&B. "Into the Mystic," "Caravan."
+ Genesis: THREE SIDES LIVE (1982) -- "Paperlate," "You Might Recall," the angry "In the Cage (live)."
+ King Crimson: IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING (1969) -- Heavy Moody Blues, + the great opening blowout "21st Century Schizoid Man." & a lot of wasted space.
+ The Move: MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTRY (1972) -- The heavily-produced stuff's great, the fake-rockabilly stuff's cute. "Do Ya?," title song, "Tonight."
+ Gryphon: RAINDANCE (1975) -- 2nd side's perfect. 1st side's hit&miss. "Wallbanger," "(Ein Klein) Heldenleben," "Don't Say Go."
+ Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays: AS FALLS WICHITA, SO FALLS WICHITA FALLS (1980) -- Full-side title track is gorgeous washy mood music with an actual theme, & closes with aliens landing on a kids' playground. 2nd side peaks with the opening "Ozark," then gets quiet.
+ Roxy Music: GREATEST HITS (1976) -- My fave is the screaming "Thrill of it All." + "Love is the Drug." 2nd side's pretty strong.
+ Caravan: THE WORLD IS YOURS box-set best-of -- Pretty solid, a few suprises including a raucous, squalling cover of Soft Machine's early "Feelin' Reelin' Squealin.'" + you get almost all of their 1st 3 albums....
+ Camel: RAINBOW'S END box-set best-of -- Lotsa stuff from their jam-band early days. Pretty solid sampler. Later trax almost make me like STATIONARY TRAVELER....
+ Clannad: PASTPRESENT (1996?) -- Good sampler. You get about 1/2 of the great MACALLA (tho not "The Wild Cry"), + other standouts like "Second Nature," "Harry's Game," & that mournful thing with the long Gaelic title....
+ King Crimson: LARKS TONGUES IN ASPIC (1973) -- Trebly production, or is it just my stereo...? "Book Of Saturday," the bump&grind "Easy Money," & the lyrical "Exiles" R all mature rock songs, confident & creative. "Larks I&II" & "The Talking Drum" all sound better on the GREAT DECEIVER box....
+ Beach Boys: SUNFLOWER (1970) -- 1st side's pretty strong. "This Whole World," "It's About Time," "Slip on Through," "Add Some Music to Your Day."
+ Bruce Cockburn: DANCING IN THE DRAGON'S JAWS (1979) -- Visionary but mellow Canadian singer-songwriter. Nice jazzy moods, sometimes-cosmic lyrics. "Incandescent Blue," "Badlands Flashback," "After the Rain."
+ Roxy Music: ATLANTIC YEARS best-of (1989) -- Focuses mainly on later, smoother stuff: "Over You," "Oh Yeah (On the Radio)," "Same Old Scene," "Love is the Drug."
+ Tubes: REMOTE CONTROL (1979) -- Concept album about TV addiction. 1st side's great, funny & cutting. "I Want it All Now," "Prime Time," "Love's a Mystery (I Don't Understand)."
+ Clannad: ANAM (1993?) -- Smooth, flowing Irish folk-rock. "In Fortune's Hand."
+ Florence + the Machine: CEREMONIALS (2011) -- "Shake it Out" is the best song of the 2000's so far....
+ It's a Beautiful Day: (1st) (1969) -- Hippie mysticism, lotsa mood, a few strong songs. "White Bird," "Hot Summer Day."
+ New Muzik: STRAIGHT LINES EP (1980) -- 4 Xcellent, memorable, catchy minimalist-electronic New Wave songs. But their album was disappointing. "On Islands," "Sad Film."
+ Led Zeppelin: IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR (1979) -- Hey, "Carouselambra"'s art rock! & it's great! & I love the drum&bugle-corps middle-break on "Fool in the Rain." & how bout "Hot Dog"?!
+ Roxy Music: AVALON (1980) -- Smooth! "Take a Chance With Me," "More Than This," title song.
+ Miles Davis: IN A SILENT WAY (1969) -- Title track's gorgeous. The other 3 R nice, rather leisurely sleepy-time jazz blowing.
+ Miles Davis/Bill Laswell: PANTHALASSA (1998) -- The remixes of "In a Silent Way" & "He Loved Him Madly" R pretty great. The rest sorta drifts....
+ Rick Wakeman: WHITE ROCK (1976) -- 2nd side's about perfect. "Lax'x," "Ice Run," "After the Ball," "Montezuma's Revenge," title track.
+ Lyle Mays: (1st) (1982?) -- Nice tuneful jazzy keyboard instrumentals. "Ascent" is a blowout.
+ Procol Harum: LIVE WITH THE EDMONTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (1972) -- The last 1/2 of "In Held T'was in I" is pretty freakin' great, & "A Salty Dog" is almost perfect. The horns R the best thing about "Conquistador." & the last 2 songs on Side 1 R forgettable....
+ Fifth Dimension: THE MAGIC GARDEN (1968) -- Nice lite-psychedelic pop songs. "Carpet Man," "Requiem: 820 Latham."
+ Sandy Denny: SANDY (1972) -- The best songs R so good it hurts. "Listen, Listen," "The Simple Joys of Brotherhood."
+ Bruce Cockburn: RESUME best-of (1980) -- Good sampler from 4 RCA-distributed albums. "Silver Wheels," "Dialogue with the Devil," "Outside a Broken Phone Booth...."
+ Mott the Hoople: MOTT (1973) -- Good tuneful early-'70s hard rock with an eccentric touch. "All the Way from Memphis," "Honaloochie Boogie," "Violence."
+ King Crimson: THE POWER TO BELIEVE (2002) -- Impressive & super-efficient. But not stunning. & I wanted 2 B run over.... "Level Five," "Happy With What You Have to be Happy With."
+ King Crimson: LADIES OF THE ROAD/LIVE 1972 -- WAY more lively versions of songs 1st released on ISLANDS -- + a bonus disc full of "live" "Schizoid Man" performances.
+ Barclay James Harvest: BEST OF VOLUME I -- Pretty good sampler from their 1st 4 albums 4 Harvest.
+ Barclay James Harvest: BEST OF VOLUME II -- The uncharacteristic no-frills rocker "Taking Some Time On" is the standout here -- they shoulda done more stuff like this....
+ Emerson, Lake & Palmer: THE ATLANTIC YEARS best-of (1991) -- After the hits, this actually drags. But all the essentials R here, & the 1st 1/2 of "Karn Evil 9 (1st Impression)" is freaking great! "Tarkus" didn't impress me, & there's only the badly-edited single version of "Fanfare for the Common Man" -- but "Great Gates of Kiev" is great noise! "Still, You Turn Me On," "From the Beginning," "Lucky Man," "I Believe in Father Christmas."
+ Keith Jarrett: EYES OF THE HEART (1980) -- Tense & dramatic. Listen 2 the sound of Jarrett's quartet falling apart. The 4th side's blank.
+ Hatfield and the North: THE ROTTERS CLUB (1975) -- Richard Sinclair's funny lyrics & vocals, + their magnum opus "Mumps." Lighter, more enjoyable, less frantic & busy-busy than their 1st.
+ Rick Wakeman: CRIMINAL RECORD (1978) -- Dramatic, funny -- good tunes, not overbearing. "Breathalyzer," "Judas Iscariot."
+ Doobie Brothers: STAMPEDE (1975) -- There's some rather self-consciously arty stuff hidden away here. "Neal's Fandango" is great tho rushed. Coulda done without the choirboy vocals & soundtracky strings&horns ending of "I Cheat the Hangman," but it's definitely Something Different....
+ Steve Tibbetts: THE FALL OF US ALL -- Indian/Oriental-sounding guitar instrumentals. Sometimes loud, not much in the way of memorable tunes.
+ Journey: DREAM AFTER DREAM soundtrack (1980) -- Brief soundtrack 4 Japanese film. Nice washy moods, Xcellent playing. Opener "Destiny" is probly best, with some forceful Neil Schon guitar.
+ Van der Graaf Generator: PAWN HEARTS (1971) -- Fairly scary, & some moments of real majesty in "Man-Erg" & "Lemmings." The full-side "Lighthouse Keepers" is endless, but the ending is almost worth the trip.
+ Laurie Anderson: BIG SCIENCE (1981) -- Anderson does more with the tone of her voice than any1 I've heard in a long time. Stark, funny, playful. Side 1's fascinating. On Side 2 it starts wearing off....
+ Philip Glass: KOYAANISQATSI soundtrack (1981) -- Ghostly, scary, otherworldly, trancelike, icy. Voices of disembodied horror.
+ Steve Tibbetts: EXPLODED VIEW (1980) -- Jazz-guitar instrumentals, moody but not enuf tunes....
Coming Next: The Best! -- summa my all-time Strange Music faves.
& later, a list of all the stuff I really havta listen 2 some more B4 trying 2 rate. THAT should B Mbarrassing....
As always, let me know what you think. & thanx 4 reading here....
+ Nektar: THRU THE EARS best-of (1978) -- The shorter songs R forgotten prog classics. "Fidgety Queen," "King of Twilight," "Do You Believe in Magic?," "It's All Over," "Astral Man."
+ Yes: YESSTORY best-of (1991) -- Might do 'til I can get their YESYEARS box. "No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed," "Every Little Thing," "Something's Coming."
+ King Crimson: DISCIPLINE (1981) -- "Frame by Frame" is freaking brilliant, "Indiscipline" & "Elephant Talk" just 1 step down from that. I start 2 drift 1/2way thru Side 2....
+ King Crimson: STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK (1974) -- The good stuff's amazing: "Great Deceiver," "Fracture," "Night Watch." Actually, the whole 1st side's pretty great. Powerful.
+ Jethro Tull: MINSTREL IN THE GALLERY (1975) -- 2nd side's perfect. 1st side's ignorable. "Baker Street Muse," "One White Duck/Nothing at All."
+ King Crimson: RED (1974) -- Xcept 4 "Providence," pretty great. & the long, dramatic coda 2 "Starless" is probly their greatest moment ever.
+ Pete Townshend: ALL THE BEST COWBOYS HAVE CHINESE EYES (1982) -- Isn't this Strange enuf? & how bout that VOCABULARY? "Slit Skirts," "North Country Girl," "Somebody Saved Me," "Uniforms," "Face Dances Part 2," "Prelude."
+ Beach Boys: SURF'S UP (1971) -- Mostly gorgeous. 2nd side's great, 1st side's iffy. Title song, "'Til I Die," "Feel Flows," "Long Promised Road."
+ Jefferson Starship: FREEDOM AT POINT ZERO (1979) -- I'm a sucker 4 Paul Kantner's science-fiction chorales. Title song, "Fading Lady Light," "Lightning Rose," "Just the Same," "Awakening," "Things to Come."
+ Strawbs: STORY IN MUSIC (1980) -- Italian best-of. Lotsa great stuff. "Where is This Dream of Your Youth?," "The Man Who Called Himself Jesus (live)," "Part of the Union," "Hero and Heroine," "I'll Carry on Beside You."
+ Can: ANTHOLOGY best-of -- Wow. 2 discs of mind-scrambling early-'70s German prog. The best of it's amazing, with a drum groove like no1 else. "Father Cannot Yell," "Outside My Door," "You Doo Right," "Uphill."
+ Brian Wilson presents SMiLE (2004) -- Pretty good reconstruction. The songs we haven't actually heard B4 R pretty great. But Brian's voice is shot. "On a Holiday," "In Blue Hawaii."
+ Caravan: BEST OF single-LP (1979) -- Good starter sampler. "Memory Lain/Hugh/Headloss," the great "For Richard (live)," "Aristocracy."
+ Rush: MOVING PICTURES (1980) -- Possibly their best? "Camera Eye," "Red Barchetta."
+ Utopia: ADVENTURES IN UTOPIA (1980) -- Todd Rundgren & friends with catchy high-tech pop. "The Very Last Time," "You Make Me Crazy," "Set Me Free," "Road to Utopia," "Second Nature."
+ Weather Report: 8:30/LIVE (1979) -- They finally come alive onstage. "Bahia/Boogie Woogie Waltz" is stunning.
+ Gong: SHAMAL (1975) -- "Wingful of Eyes" is classic, + "Chandra," "Bambooji," title song.
+ Be-Bop Deluxe: SUNBURST FINISH (1976) -- 1st side's great, with lotsa Bill Nelson's flashy guitar. "Sleep That Burns," "Crying to the Sky," "Heavenly Homes," "Blazing Apostles."
+ Van Morrison: MOONDANCE (1970) -- Visionary R&B. "Into the Mystic," "Caravan."
+ Genesis: THREE SIDES LIVE (1982) -- "Paperlate," "You Might Recall," the angry "In the Cage (live)."
+ King Crimson: IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING (1969) -- Heavy Moody Blues, + the great opening blowout "21st Century Schizoid Man." & a lot of wasted space.
+ The Move: MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTRY (1972) -- The heavily-produced stuff's great, the fake-rockabilly stuff's cute. "Do Ya?," title song, "Tonight."
+ Gryphon: RAINDANCE (1975) -- 2nd side's perfect. 1st side's hit&miss. "Wallbanger," "(Ein Klein) Heldenleben," "Don't Say Go."
+ Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays: AS FALLS WICHITA, SO FALLS WICHITA FALLS (1980) -- Full-side title track is gorgeous washy mood music with an actual theme, & closes with aliens landing on a kids' playground. 2nd side peaks with the opening "Ozark," then gets quiet.
+ Roxy Music: GREATEST HITS (1976) -- My fave is the screaming "Thrill of it All." + "Love is the Drug." 2nd side's pretty strong.
+ Caravan: THE WORLD IS YOURS box-set best-of -- Pretty solid, a few suprises including a raucous, squalling cover of Soft Machine's early "Feelin' Reelin' Squealin.'" + you get almost all of their 1st 3 albums....
+ Camel: RAINBOW'S END box-set best-of -- Lotsa stuff from their jam-band early days. Pretty solid sampler. Later trax almost make me like STATIONARY TRAVELER....
+ Clannad: PASTPRESENT (1996?) -- Good sampler. You get about 1/2 of the great MACALLA (tho not "The Wild Cry"), + other standouts like "Second Nature," "Harry's Game," & that mournful thing with the long Gaelic title....
+ King Crimson: LARKS TONGUES IN ASPIC (1973) -- Trebly production, or is it just my stereo...? "Book Of Saturday," the bump&grind "Easy Money," & the lyrical "Exiles" R all mature rock songs, confident & creative. "Larks I&II" & "The Talking Drum" all sound better on the GREAT DECEIVER box....
+ Beach Boys: SUNFLOWER (1970) -- 1st side's pretty strong. "This Whole World," "It's About Time," "Slip on Through," "Add Some Music to Your Day."
+ Bruce Cockburn: DANCING IN THE DRAGON'S JAWS (1979) -- Visionary but mellow Canadian singer-songwriter. Nice jazzy moods, sometimes-cosmic lyrics. "Incandescent Blue," "Badlands Flashback," "After the Rain."
+ Roxy Music: ATLANTIC YEARS best-of (1989) -- Focuses mainly on later, smoother stuff: "Over You," "Oh Yeah (On the Radio)," "Same Old Scene," "Love is the Drug."
+ Tubes: REMOTE CONTROL (1979) -- Concept album about TV addiction. 1st side's great, funny & cutting. "I Want it All Now," "Prime Time," "Love's a Mystery (I Don't Understand)."
+ Clannad: ANAM (1993?) -- Smooth, flowing Irish folk-rock. "In Fortune's Hand."
+ Florence + the Machine: CEREMONIALS (2011) -- "Shake it Out" is the best song of the 2000's so far....
+ It's a Beautiful Day: (1st) (1969) -- Hippie mysticism, lotsa mood, a few strong songs. "White Bird," "Hot Summer Day."
+ New Muzik: STRAIGHT LINES EP (1980) -- 4 Xcellent, memorable, catchy minimalist-electronic New Wave songs. But their album was disappointing. "On Islands," "Sad Film."
+ Led Zeppelin: IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR (1979) -- Hey, "Carouselambra"'s art rock! & it's great! & I love the drum&bugle-corps middle-break on "Fool in the Rain." & how bout "Hot Dog"?!
+ Roxy Music: AVALON (1980) -- Smooth! "Take a Chance With Me," "More Than This," title song.
+ Miles Davis: IN A SILENT WAY (1969) -- Title track's gorgeous. The other 3 R nice, rather leisurely sleepy-time jazz blowing.
+ Miles Davis/Bill Laswell: PANTHALASSA (1998) -- The remixes of "In a Silent Way" & "He Loved Him Madly" R pretty great. The rest sorta drifts....
+ Rick Wakeman: WHITE ROCK (1976) -- 2nd side's about perfect. "Lax'x," "Ice Run," "After the Ball," "Montezuma's Revenge," title track.
+ Lyle Mays: (1st) (1982?) -- Nice tuneful jazzy keyboard instrumentals. "Ascent" is a blowout.
+ Procol Harum: LIVE WITH THE EDMONTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (1972) -- The last 1/2 of "In Held T'was in I" is pretty freakin' great, & "A Salty Dog" is almost perfect. The horns R the best thing about "Conquistador." & the last 2 songs on Side 1 R forgettable....
+ Fifth Dimension: THE MAGIC GARDEN (1968) -- Nice lite-psychedelic pop songs. "Carpet Man," "Requiem: 820 Latham."
+ Sandy Denny: SANDY (1972) -- The best songs R so good it hurts. "Listen, Listen," "The Simple Joys of Brotherhood."
+ Bruce Cockburn: RESUME best-of (1980) -- Good sampler from 4 RCA-distributed albums. "Silver Wheels," "Dialogue with the Devil," "Outside a Broken Phone Booth...."
+ Mott the Hoople: MOTT (1973) -- Good tuneful early-'70s hard rock with an eccentric touch. "All the Way from Memphis," "Honaloochie Boogie," "Violence."
+ King Crimson: THE POWER TO BELIEVE (2002) -- Impressive & super-efficient. But not stunning. & I wanted 2 B run over.... "Level Five," "Happy With What You Have to be Happy With."
+ King Crimson: LADIES OF THE ROAD/LIVE 1972 -- WAY more lively versions of songs 1st released on ISLANDS -- + a bonus disc full of "live" "Schizoid Man" performances.
+ Barclay James Harvest: BEST OF VOLUME I -- Pretty good sampler from their 1st 4 albums 4 Harvest.
+ Barclay James Harvest: BEST OF VOLUME II -- The uncharacteristic no-frills rocker "Taking Some Time On" is the standout here -- they shoulda done more stuff like this....
+ Emerson, Lake & Palmer: THE ATLANTIC YEARS best-of (1991) -- After the hits, this actually drags. But all the essentials R here, & the 1st 1/2 of "Karn Evil 9 (1st Impression)" is freaking great! "Tarkus" didn't impress me, & there's only the badly-edited single version of "Fanfare for the Common Man" -- but "Great Gates of Kiev" is great noise! "Still, You Turn Me On," "From the Beginning," "Lucky Man," "I Believe in Father Christmas."
+ Keith Jarrett: EYES OF THE HEART (1980) -- Tense & dramatic. Listen 2 the sound of Jarrett's quartet falling apart. The 4th side's blank.
+ Hatfield and the North: THE ROTTERS CLUB (1975) -- Richard Sinclair's funny lyrics & vocals, + their magnum opus "Mumps." Lighter, more enjoyable, less frantic & busy-busy than their 1st.
+ Rick Wakeman: CRIMINAL RECORD (1978) -- Dramatic, funny -- good tunes, not overbearing. "Breathalyzer," "Judas Iscariot."
+ Doobie Brothers: STAMPEDE (1975) -- There's some rather self-consciously arty stuff hidden away here. "Neal's Fandango" is great tho rushed. Coulda done without the choirboy vocals & soundtracky strings&horns ending of "I Cheat the Hangman," but it's definitely Something Different....
+ Steve Tibbetts: THE FALL OF US ALL -- Indian/Oriental-sounding guitar instrumentals. Sometimes loud, not much in the way of memorable tunes.
+ Journey: DREAM AFTER DREAM soundtrack (1980) -- Brief soundtrack 4 Japanese film. Nice washy moods, Xcellent playing. Opener "Destiny" is probly best, with some forceful Neil Schon guitar.
+ Van der Graaf Generator: PAWN HEARTS (1971) -- Fairly scary, & some moments of real majesty in "Man-Erg" & "Lemmings." The full-side "Lighthouse Keepers" is endless, but the ending is almost worth the trip.
+ Laurie Anderson: BIG SCIENCE (1981) -- Anderson does more with the tone of her voice than any1 I've heard in a long time. Stark, funny, playful. Side 1's fascinating. On Side 2 it starts wearing off....
+ Philip Glass: KOYAANISQATSI soundtrack (1981) -- Ghostly, scary, otherworldly, trancelike, icy. Voices of disembodied horror.
+ Steve Tibbetts: EXPLODED VIEW (1980) -- Jazz-guitar instrumentals, moody but not enuf tunes....
Monday, August 13, 2012
#580: The Good Stuff (Part 1)
OK, we R well in2 The Good Stuff now. All of the following Strange Music albums have great songs, some have great whole sides, but R somehow just short of Great overall. I'll highlight where they just miss, + the outstanding trax, as I go on.
Again, in more-or-less descending order....
+ Moody Blues: EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR (1971) -- Mostly great 1st side, 2nd side's spotty. Best: "Story in Your Eyes," "Our Guessing Game," "One More Time to Live," "You Can Never Go Home."
+ Moody Blues: SEVENTH SOJOURN (1972) -- Programmed sideways, but 4 great trax: "You and Me," "For My Lady," "Land of Make-Believe," "I'm Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band."
+ Camel: BREATHLESS (1978) -- Great 1st side, spotty Side 2. Title song, "Echoes," "Down on the Farm," "Summer Lightning."
+ Yes: GOING FOR THE ONE (1977) -- Very solid, not a single bad track, but somehow not quite stunning. "Wonderous Stories," "Turn of the Century."
+ Genesis: A TRICK OF THE TAIL (1976) -- The last 2 songs R weak, but the 1st 6 R uncommonly gorgeous, dramatic, vivid. "Ripples," "Madman Moon," "Entangled," "Robbery, Assault and Battery."
+ Caravan: BLIND DOG AT ST. DUNSTAN'S (1976) -- Some silliness & 1 complete waste, but "All the Way" & "Can You Hear Me?" R especially gorgeous. They shoulda stopped here.
+ Moody Blues: ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM (1969) -- Falls apart at the end, but til then pretty great. "Lovely to See You," "Never Comes the Day," "Send Me No Wine." & Graeme Edge's "The Dream" is his best poem ever....
+ Gentle Giant: FREE HAND (1975) -- Starts & ends weakly, but the middle's great! "His Last Voyage," "On Reflection," "Time to Kill."
+ Genesis: ...AND THEN THERE WERE THREE... (1979) -- Almost sounds like a Moody Blues album, but features 6 great trax! "Undertow," "Deep in the Motherlode," "Burning Rope," "Snowbound," "Down and Out," "The Lady Lies."
+ Hawkwind: HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN GRILL (1974) -- Excellent heavy space-rock. "You'd Better Believe It," "Lost Johnny," "Paradox," "Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear in Smoke)."
+ Led Zeppelin: IV (1971) -- Is this Strange enuf? "Stairway to Heaven," "Battle of Evermore," & the cosmic, end-of-the-world "When the Levee Breaks." The hugest drum sound of all time....
+ Camel: ECHOES best-of -- Too much later commercial stuff, but most of the essentials R here, & the best of it's great: "Never Let Go," "Rhayader," "Rhayader Goes to Town," "Unevensong," "Breathless," "Echoes," "Drafted," "Sasquatch," "West Berlin," "Mother Road"....
+ Caravan: CANTERBURY TALES CD-best-of -- Too many weak later choices, but the best of it's great. "For Richard (live)," 1/2 of the great FOR GIRLS WHO GROW PLUMP IN THE NIGHT, "The World is Yours," "Songs and Signs," etc.
+ Caravan: LIVE WITH THE NEW SYMPHONIA (1974) -- Epic "For Richard," wonderful "Virgin on the Ridiculous," good "Love in Your Eye," & more....
+ Camel: THE SINGLE FACTOR (1982) -- 2nd side's perfect. 1st side's like plunging off a cliff. "Sasquatch," "Manic," "End Peace."
+ Genesis: ABACAB (1980) --1/2way Btween arty & commercial. "Like it or Not," "Keep it Dark," "No Reply at All," title song.
+ Spirit: 12 DREAMS OF DR. SARDONICUS (1970) -- Starts & ends strong. "Nature's Way," "Animal Zoo," "Nothing to Hide," "Morning Will Come," "Life Has Just Begun," "Soldier."
+ Kansas: (box set best-of) -- They include 5 songs from LEFTOVERTURE & miss the 3 best, but "Journey from Mariabronn" is here, + all the other essentials. Also a lot from MASQUE & SONG FOR AMERICA, & some ugly loud stuff....
+ Jethro Tull: SONGS FROM THE WOOD (1977) -- Their best folk-rock album. "The Whistler," "Ring Out, Solstice Bells," "Fire at Midnight."
+ Buffalo Springfield: RETROSPECTIVE best-of (1969) -- Solid sampler. "On the Way Home," "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing," "Bluebird," "Mr. Soul," "Rock and Roll Woman," "Broken Arrow."
+ Barclay James Harvest: GONE TO EARTH (1978) -- Probly their best, tho inconsistent as usual. 3 greats: "Hymn," "Spirit on the Water," & the defining "Poor Man's Moody Blues."
+ Supertramp: CRIME OF THE CENTURY (1975) -- "Dreamer," "School," "If Everyone Was Listening," title song. The rest is smooth & pleasant....
+ Judie Tzuke: STAY WITH ME 'TIL DAWN (1979) -- Probly just an arty singer-songwriter, but the huge production & drama sounds like Art Rock 2 me. Move the title song 2 the end of Side 1 & that side'd B perfect. + "Welcome to the Cruise," "These Are the Laws," "For You" & the real sleeper "Sukarita."
+ Manfred Mann's Earth Band: CHANCE (1980) -- Mechanical. & pretty solid. "Stranded," "Heart on the Street," "For You," & other oddities....
+ Kate Bush: THE WHOLE STORY best-of -- Good singles package with some stunning stuff: "Cloudbusting," "Running Up That Hill."
+ David Sancious and Tone: TRANSFORMATION (THE SPEED OF LOVE) (1976) -- The title track is 18 minutes of cosmic jazz-rock/synthesizer bliss. "Play and Display of the Heart" is a gorgeous 5-minute piano showcase. The rest ain't terrible....
+ The Who: TOMMY (1969) -- This is OK, it peaks at the end with "See Me, Feel Me" & "Listening to You," but generally I like their later stuff better....
+ Alan Parsons Project: I ROBOT (1977) -- 1st side's pretty great. Check out "Some Other Time."
+ Al Stewart: 24 CARROTS (1980) -- Heavily underrated. Check out the gorgeous "Rocks in the Ocean," "Running Man," hilarious "Mondo Sinistro."
+ Camel: RAIN DANCES (1977) -- Some hidden gems: "Unevensong," "First Light," title track....
+ Jethro Tull: STORMWATCH (1979) -- "Dark Ages," "Dun Ringill" & lotsa brooding doom....
+ Kate Bush: THE KICK INSIDE (1978) -- The best of this is brilliant. 2nd side's spotty. "Man With the Child in His Eyes," "Saxophone Song," "Strange Phenomena," "Kite," title song.
+ Kate Bush: NEVER FOR EVER (1980) -- Still brilliant & creative. "Delius," "Babooshka," "The Wedding List," "Violin," "Breathing."
+ Al Stewart: TIME PASSAGES (1978) -- A little TOO commercial, but a few gems: "Valentina Way," "Almost Lucy," "Life in Dark Water."
+ Kevin Ayers: ODD DITTIES (1976) -- This collection of singles, B-sides & vault songs may B deep-smooth-voice's best album. + lotsa art-rock guest stars (Soft Machine, Caravan, Mike Oldfield, Dave Bedford, allegedly Syd Barrett (?!), etc). "Connie on a Rubber Band," "Butterfly Dance," "Soon Soon Soon," "Gemini Child," & other silly charmers....
+ Alan Parsons Project: ULTIMATE best-of -- "You Don't Believe," "Days are Numbers (The Traveler)," "The System of Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether"....
+ Pink Floyd: WISH YOU WERE HERE (1975) -- A little cold & distant, but I love "Shine On" & the title track, hate "Have a Cigar" & "Welcome to the Machine"....
+ Gentle Giant: THREE FRIENDS (1972) -- Weak ending, but check out "Schooldays" & "Peel the Paint."
+ Synergy: SEQUENCER (1976) -- Melodic synth music from Larry Fast. "S-Scape," "Icarus," "Classical Gas."
+ Gryphon: COLLECTION best-of -- Edited versions of almost everything you'd ever need by these guys....
+ Steeleye Span: ORIGINAL MASTERS best-of (1977) -- Occasionally-great electric folk from the 2nd- or 3rd-best British folk-rock band ever. "Allison Gross," "All Around My Hat," "Thomas the Rhymer," "One Misty Moisty Morning," "Fighting for Strangers"....
+ Yes: DRAMA (1980) -- "Tempus Fugit," "White Car," "Into the Lens," "Machine Messiah" & a coupla Police-ish trax....
+ Manfred Mann's Earth Band: ANGEL STATION (1980) -- Falls apart on Side 2, til then pretty great. "Don't Kill it Carol," "Hollywood Town," "Belle of the Earth," "You Angel You," "Angelz at My Gate."
+ Beatles: REVOLVER (U.S. vinyl version) (1966) -- The updated-CD/import version's stronger, but still some great stuff: "Got to Get You into My Life," "Tomorrow Never Knows," "For No One," "Taxman"....
+ Camel: I CAN SEE YOUR HOUSE FROM HERE (1979) -- 3 great trax: "Who We Are," "Eye of the Storm" & "Wait." & the long guitar showcase "Ice."
+ Caravan: WATERLOO LILY (1972) -- Swingin' & jazzy, with a great 2nd side. "The World is Yours," "Aristocracy," "The Love in Your Eye," "Songs and Signs," title song.
+ Happy the Man: (1st) (1977) -- "Time as a Helix of Precious Laughs" is GORGEOUS. The rest is always at least pleasant, tho it takes awhile 2 get rolling....
+ Wigwam: HIGHLIGHTS best-of -- Good moments from the Finnish band. Great organ workout "Losing Hold," catchy "Tramdriver," 4 trax from the great NUCLEAR NIGHTCLUB album but NOT the classic "Bless Your Lucky Stars."
+ Blue Oyster Cult: AGENTS OF FORTUNE (1976) -- The good stuff's great ("Reaper," "E.T.I.," "Morning Final," "Debbie Denise," "Vera Gemini"), but 1/2 of it's really stupid....
+ Dixie Dregs: DREGS OF THE EARTH (1980) -- Nice guitar from Steve Morse. "Elsewhere," "The Great Spectacular," "Old World."
+ Dixie Dregs: WHAT IF? (1978) -- More nice gtr. "Night Meets Light," "Ice Cakes," "Take it Off the Top."
+ Yes: THE YES ALBUM (1971) -- "Your Move" is perfect, "A Venture" is intresting, but the rest sounds better on YESSONGS....
+ Yes: FRAGILE (1972) -- "South Side of the Sky"'s great, & "Roundabout" of course, but there's 2 much filler....
+ Soft Machine: THIRD (1970) -- 2-record set with 4 side-long trax. Summa these British jazz-rock themes will stick 2 yer ears 4 YEARS: "Out-Bloody-Rageous," "Slightly All the Time." With the CD reissue you get a bonus CD with 3 Xcellent long live trax....
+ Joan Armatrading: ME MYSELF I (1980) -- Very smooth, + 3 great songs: title track, "All the Way from America," "I Need You."
+ Spirit: BEST OF (1972, expanded on CD) -- You get 1/2 of SARDONICUS & other good stuff. Check out "Aren't You Glad?," the spooky "1984," & the brilliant gtr rocker "I Got a Line on You."
+ Supertramp: BREAKFAST IN AMERICA (1979) -- A little TOO smooth & pleasant, but some buried greats: "Just Another Nervous Wreck," "Child of Vision," "Gone Hollywood."
Coming Soon: More above-average stuff; The Best!; & Subjects for further research....
Again, in more-or-less descending order....
+ Moody Blues: EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR (1971) -- Mostly great 1st side, 2nd side's spotty. Best: "Story in Your Eyes," "Our Guessing Game," "One More Time to Live," "You Can Never Go Home."
+ Moody Blues: SEVENTH SOJOURN (1972) -- Programmed sideways, but 4 great trax: "You and Me," "For My Lady," "Land of Make-Believe," "I'm Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band."
+ Camel: BREATHLESS (1978) -- Great 1st side, spotty Side 2. Title song, "Echoes," "Down on the Farm," "Summer Lightning."
+ Yes: GOING FOR THE ONE (1977) -- Very solid, not a single bad track, but somehow not quite stunning. "Wonderous Stories," "Turn of the Century."
+ Genesis: A TRICK OF THE TAIL (1976) -- The last 2 songs R weak, but the 1st 6 R uncommonly gorgeous, dramatic, vivid. "Ripples," "Madman Moon," "Entangled," "Robbery, Assault and Battery."
+ Caravan: BLIND DOG AT ST. DUNSTAN'S (1976) -- Some silliness & 1 complete waste, but "All the Way" & "Can You Hear Me?" R especially gorgeous. They shoulda stopped here.
+ Moody Blues: ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM (1969) -- Falls apart at the end, but til then pretty great. "Lovely to See You," "Never Comes the Day," "Send Me No Wine." & Graeme Edge's "The Dream" is his best poem ever....
+ Gentle Giant: FREE HAND (1975) -- Starts & ends weakly, but the middle's great! "His Last Voyage," "On Reflection," "Time to Kill."
+ Genesis: ...AND THEN THERE WERE THREE... (1979) -- Almost sounds like a Moody Blues album, but features 6 great trax! "Undertow," "Deep in the Motherlode," "Burning Rope," "Snowbound," "Down and Out," "The Lady Lies."
+ Hawkwind: HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN GRILL (1974) -- Excellent heavy space-rock. "You'd Better Believe It," "Lost Johnny," "Paradox," "Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear in Smoke)."
+ Led Zeppelin: IV (1971) -- Is this Strange enuf? "Stairway to Heaven," "Battle of Evermore," & the cosmic, end-of-the-world "When the Levee Breaks." The hugest drum sound of all time....
+ Camel: ECHOES best-of -- Too much later commercial stuff, but most of the essentials R here, & the best of it's great: "Never Let Go," "Rhayader," "Rhayader Goes to Town," "Unevensong," "Breathless," "Echoes," "Drafted," "Sasquatch," "West Berlin," "Mother Road"....
+ Caravan: CANTERBURY TALES CD-best-of -- Too many weak later choices, but the best of it's great. "For Richard (live)," 1/2 of the great FOR GIRLS WHO GROW PLUMP IN THE NIGHT, "The World is Yours," "Songs and Signs," etc.
+ Caravan: LIVE WITH THE NEW SYMPHONIA (1974) -- Epic "For Richard," wonderful "Virgin on the Ridiculous," good "Love in Your Eye," & more....
+ Camel: THE SINGLE FACTOR (1982) -- 2nd side's perfect. 1st side's like plunging off a cliff. "Sasquatch," "Manic," "End Peace."
+ Genesis: ABACAB (1980) --1/2way Btween arty & commercial. "Like it or Not," "Keep it Dark," "No Reply at All," title song.
+ Spirit: 12 DREAMS OF DR. SARDONICUS (1970) -- Starts & ends strong. "Nature's Way," "Animal Zoo," "Nothing to Hide," "Morning Will Come," "Life Has Just Begun," "Soldier."
+ Kansas: (box set best-of) -- They include 5 songs from LEFTOVERTURE & miss the 3 best, but "Journey from Mariabronn" is here, + all the other essentials. Also a lot from MASQUE & SONG FOR AMERICA, & some ugly loud stuff....
+ Jethro Tull: SONGS FROM THE WOOD (1977) -- Their best folk-rock album. "The Whistler," "Ring Out, Solstice Bells," "Fire at Midnight."
+ Buffalo Springfield: RETROSPECTIVE best-of (1969) -- Solid sampler. "On the Way Home," "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing," "Bluebird," "Mr. Soul," "Rock and Roll Woman," "Broken Arrow."
+ Barclay James Harvest: GONE TO EARTH (1978) -- Probly their best, tho inconsistent as usual. 3 greats: "Hymn," "Spirit on the Water," & the defining "Poor Man's Moody Blues."
+ Supertramp: CRIME OF THE CENTURY (1975) -- "Dreamer," "School," "If Everyone Was Listening," title song. The rest is smooth & pleasant....
+ Judie Tzuke: STAY WITH ME 'TIL DAWN (1979) -- Probly just an arty singer-songwriter, but the huge production & drama sounds like Art Rock 2 me. Move the title song 2 the end of Side 1 & that side'd B perfect. + "Welcome to the Cruise," "These Are the Laws," "For You" & the real sleeper "Sukarita."
+ Manfred Mann's Earth Band: CHANCE (1980) -- Mechanical. & pretty solid. "Stranded," "Heart on the Street," "For You," & other oddities....
+ Kate Bush: THE WHOLE STORY best-of -- Good singles package with some stunning stuff: "Cloudbusting," "Running Up That Hill."
+ David Sancious and Tone: TRANSFORMATION (THE SPEED OF LOVE) (1976) -- The title track is 18 minutes of cosmic jazz-rock/synthesizer bliss. "Play and Display of the Heart" is a gorgeous 5-minute piano showcase. The rest ain't terrible....
+ The Who: TOMMY (1969) -- This is OK, it peaks at the end with "See Me, Feel Me" & "Listening to You," but generally I like their later stuff better....
+ Alan Parsons Project: I ROBOT (1977) -- 1st side's pretty great. Check out "Some Other Time."
+ Al Stewart: 24 CARROTS (1980) -- Heavily underrated. Check out the gorgeous "Rocks in the Ocean," "Running Man," hilarious "Mondo Sinistro."
+ Camel: RAIN DANCES (1977) -- Some hidden gems: "Unevensong," "First Light," title track....
+ Jethro Tull: STORMWATCH (1979) -- "Dark Ages," "Dun Ringill" & lotsa brooding doom....
+ Kate Bush: THE KICK INSIDE (1978) -- The best of this is brilliant. 2nd side's spotty. "Man With the Child in His Eyes," "Saxophone Song," "Strange Phenomena," "Kite," title song.
+ Kate Bush: NEVER FOR EVER (1980) -- Still brilliant & creative. "Delius," "Babooshka," "The Wedding List," "Violin," "Breathing."
+ Al Stewart: TIME PASSAGES (1978) -- A little TOO commercial, but a few gems: "Valentina Way," "Almost Lucy," "Life in Dark Water."
+ Kevin Ayers: ODD DITTIES (1976) -- This collection of singles, B-sides & vault songs may B deep-smooth-voice's best album. + lotsa art-rock guest stars (Soft Machine, Caravan, Mike Oldfield, Dave Bedford, allegedly Syd Barrett (?!), etc). "Connie on a Rubber Band," "Butterfly Dance," "Soon Soon Soon," "Gemini Child," & other silly charmers....
+ Alan Parsons Project: ULTIMATE best-of -- "You Don't Believe," "Days are Numbers (The Traveler)," "The System of Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether"....
+ Pink Floyd: WISH YOU WERE HERE (1975) -- A little cold & distant, but I love "Shine On" & the title track, hate "Have a Cigar" & "Welcome to the Machine"....
+ Gentle Giant: THREE FRIENDS (1972) -- Weak ending, but check out "Schooldays" & "Peel the Paint."
+ Synergy: SEQUENCER (1976) -- Melodic synth music from Larry Fast. "S-Scape," "Icarus," "Classical Gas."
+ Gryphon: COLLECTION best-of -- Edited versions of almost everything you'd ever need by these guys....
+ Steeleye Span: ORIGINAL MASTERS best-of (1977) -- Occasionally-great electric folk from the 2nd- or 3rd-best British folk-rock band ever. "Allison Gross," "All Around My Hat," "Thomas the Rhymer," "One Misty Moisty Morning," "Fighting for Strangers"....
+ Yes: DRAMA (1980) -- "Tempus Fugit," "White Car," "Into the Lens," "Machine Messiah" & a coupla Police-ish trax....
+ Manfred Mann's Earth Band: ANGEL STATION (1980) -- Falls apart on Side 2, til then pretty great. "Don't Kill it Carol," "Hollywood Town," "Belle of the Earth," "You Angel You," "Angelz at My Gate."
+ Beatles: REVOLVER (U.S. vinyl version) (1966) -- The updated-CD/import version's stronger, but still some great stuff: "Got to Get You into My Life," "Tomorrow Never Knows," "For No One," "Taxman"....
+ Camel: I CAN SEE YOUR HOUSE FROM HERE (1979) -- 3 great trax: "Who We Are," "Eye of the Storm" & "Wait." & the long guitar showcase "Ice."
+ Caravan: WATERLOO LILY (1972) -- Swingin' & jazzy, with a great 2nd side. "The World is Yours," "Aristocracy," "The Love in Your Eye," "Songs and Signs," title song.
+ Happy the Man: (1st) (1977) -- "Time as a Helix of Precious Laughs" is GORGEOUS. The rest is always at least pleasant, tho it takes awhile 2 get rolling....
+ Wigwam: HIGHLIGHTS best-of -- Good moments from the Finnish band. Great organ workout "Losing Hold," catchy "Tramdriver," 4 trax from the great NUCLEAR NIGHTCLUB album but NOT the classic "Bless Your Lucky Stars."
+ Blue Oyster Cult: AGENTS OF FORTUNE (1976) -- The good stuff's great ("Reaper," "E.T.I.," "Morning Final," "Debbie Denise," "Vera Gemini"), but 1/2 of it's really stupid....
+ Dixie Dregs: DREGS OF THE EARTH (1980) -- Nice guitar from Steve Morse. "Elsewhere," "The Great Spectacular," "Old World."
+ Dixie Dregs: WHAT IF? (1978) -- More nice gtr. "Night Meets Light," "Ice Cakes," "Take it Off the Top."
+ Yes: THE YES ALBUM (1971) -- "Your Move" is perfect, "A Venture" is intresting, but the rest sounds better on YESSONGS....
+ Yes: FRAGILE (1972) -- "South Side of the Sky"'s great, & "Roundabout" of course, but there's 2 much filler....
+ Soft Machine: THIRD (1970) -- 2-record set with 4 side-long trax. Summa these British jazz-rock themes will stick 2 yer ears 4 YEARS: "Out-Bloody-Rageous," "Slightly All the Time." With the CD reissue you get a bonus CD with 3 Xcellent long live trax....
+ Joan Armatrading: ME MYSELF I (1980) -- Very smooth, + 3 great songs: title track, "All the Way from America," "I Need You."
+ Spirit: BEST OF (1972, expanded on CD) -- You get 1/2 of SARDONICUS & other good stuff. Check out "Aren't You Glad?," the spooky "1984," & the brilliant gtr rocker "I Got a Line on You."
+ Supertramp: BREAKFAST IN AMERICA (1979) -- A little TOO smooth & pleasant, but some buried greats: "Just Another Nervous Wreck," "Child of Vision," "Gone Hollywood."
Coming Soon: More above-average stuff; The Best!; & Subjects for further research....
#579: "Ennnnh...."
Ghod help us all, here starts the dumping ground 4 all the Strange Music out there that's Merely Average. & there's a lot of it.
Some of these albums hava few Great Trax, some of 'em even have Great Sides -- just not enuf 2 add-up 2 a Great Album overall. I'll try 2 note the best trax along the way. Lemme know what you think.
These R listed in sorta-descending order, but it's a tough call. Away we go....
= Moody Blues: IN SEARCH OF THE LOST CHORD (1968) -- Their most dated. Psychedelic/Indian/Far Eastern-influenced. Still some great trax: "Ride My See-Saw," "Legend of a Mind," "Voices in the Sky," "The Actor," "Departure." But LOTSA filler. & "Om" is their worst song ever.
= Gryphon: MIDNIGHT MUSHRUMPS (1974) -- 3 great trax, 1 is the dramatic side-long title piece. "Ploughboy's Dream" & "Ethelion" R 2nd-side standouts.
= Kansas: (1st) (1974) -- "Journey from Mariabronn" is THE great lost Kansas song, a classic moment. "Apercu" & "Can I Tell You?" R OK. But "Death of Mother Nature Suite" is UGLY.
= Roxy Music: FLESH + BLOOD (1981) -- Smooth, + the great "Over You," "Oh Yeah (On the Radio)," "Same Old Scene." But the '60s remakes R awful.
= Caravan: (1st) (1968) -- "Place of My Own" is freaking great, with marvelous keybs from Dave Sinclair. "Where But for Caravan Would I?" is their 1st epic.
= Kate Bush: LIONHEART (1979) -- Her rushed 2nd album. Very pleasant in spots. "Wow," "Hammer Horror," "Don't Push Your Foot on the Heartbrake."
= Steely Dan: AJA (1978) -- TOO SMOOTH! "Josie"'s the best, but "Deacon Blues," "Black Cow" & the title song all work....
= Beach Boys: WILD HONEY (1968) -- White R&B in limbo. "Mama Says," "I'd Love Just Once to See You," "Let the Wind Blow," "Country Air," "Darlin'." + lotsa filler....
= Beach Boys: SMILEY SMILE (1967) -- Very odd. "Good Vibrations," "Heroes and Villains," "Gettin' Hungry," "With Me Tonight," "Vegetables."
= Camel: MIRAGE (1974) -- Jam-band goes Prog. "Lady Fantasy" suite's great, "Freefall," "Earthrise" & "Supertwister" Rn't bad -- I just like their later stuff better.
= Beach Boys: HOLLAND (1973) -- Sludgy, but a few good trax: "The Trader," "California Saga (closing section)" almost sounds like old times, + "Sail On Sailor."
= Camel: MOONMADNESS (1976) -- "Spirit of the Water" is great. The rest has lotsa MOOD....
= Caravan: IF I COULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN I'D DO IT ALL OVER YOU (1971) -- Production's thin, but "And I Wish I Were Stoned" & "With an Ear to the Ground You Can Make It" stand out. "For Richard" debuts here, but the later live version makes this look like a blueprint.
= Gentle Giant: GIANT STEPS best-of (1977?): 2nd-string best-of with 1 big bonus, "The Power and the Glory" single apparently unavailable anywhere else. "Peel the Paint" does just that.
= Alan Parsons Project: EVE (1979) -- "I'd Rather Be a Man" has a gorgeous tune, but the lyrics SUCK. & the disc's men-vs.-women subject matter is pretty grotesque. "Winding Me Up"'s pretty good & "Secret Garden" is pretty. But you gotta ignore The Concept.
= Gong: YOU (1974) -- 2 trax clinch their spacey/jazzy/otherworldly rep 4 me: "Master Builder" & "A Sprinkling of Clouds." & the 2 long jams on Side 2 R OK....
= Alan Parsons Project: TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD (1980) -- Mostly pretty dull, tho smooth as usual. "The Gold Bug"'s the best thing here, & "Time" was a pleasant single....
= Renaissance: PROLOGUE (1972) -- "Rajah Khan" is the brilliant psychedelic standout. The rest is average-pleasant.
= Renaissance: A SONG FOR ALL SEASONS (1978) -- "Northern Lights" was a great catchy single & the 1st 2 trax R OK. The rest is pretty stuffy -- as usual.
= The Nice: ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS (1968?) -- Worth it all 4 "America," possibly Keith Emerson's best moment.
= Pink Floyd: THE FINAL CUT (1983) -- Dark & morbid, but the title track works & "Not Now John" is funny. Summa the same orchestral power of THE WALL is still here. But it's depressing....
= Sky: SKY3 (1981) -- Kinda dull & predictable, stuck in an endless 4/4, but "Meheeco" & "Connecting Rooms" liven it up.
= Kraftwerk: AUTOBAHN (1975) -- The title track makes a hypnotic full-side. "Kometmelodie 2" isn't bad....
= National Health: (1st) (1978) -- Hatfield and the North with longer songs. "Tenemos Roads" is pretty great.
= National Health: OF QUEUES AND CURES (1979) -- "Binoculars" & "Phlaketon" R hilarious. The rest is the same long, involved, meandering music -- short on memorable melodies.
= Strawbs: JUST A COLLECTION OF ANTIQUES AND CURIOS (live) (1970) -- High marks 2 Strawbs leader/songwriter Dave Cousins 4 writing a whole new batch of songs 4 this live gig. But the only 1 that works is the angry "Where is This Dream of Your Youth?" It's freaking great -- but it's mainly a showcase 4 Rick Wakeman....
= Hatfield and the North: (1st) (1974) -- 17 pieces over 2 sides, brief moments of hilarity & brilliance. Richard Sinclair's singing & lyrics R funny. Robert Wyatt & the Northettes brighten it up.
= Emerson, Lake and Palmer: TRILOGY (1972) -- "From the Beginning," of course. But Aaron Copland's "Hoedown" should rock harder. The rest is kinda forgettable. "Abaddon's Bolero" almost makes it....
= Waterboys: ROOM TO ROAM (1991) -- "A Life of Sundays" finally reaches the epic guitar-&-folk-orchestra music Mike Scott was reaching 4. There R a couple other pleasant spots.
= Kansas: SONG FOR AMERICA (1973) -- Title track's brilliant. The rest is pretty dark....
= Kansas: MASQUE (1974) -- Speaking of dark....
= Wigwam: LUCKY GOLDEN STRIPES AND STARPOSE (1975) -- Very low-key, a few decent songs. "Never Turn You In," catchy "Tramdriver," silly "International Disaster," "Wardance." Nothing as good as "Bless Your Lucky Stars" off NUCLEAR NIGHTCLUB....
= Nilsson: SON OF SCHMILSSON (1972) -- Some of this is funny & some of it's just really odd, tho memorable. Hadn't heard it in 35 years when I picked-up a copy awhile back, & I remembered almost every song. Harry sings great. "Remember (Christmas)" is gorgeous.
= Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: WEASELS RIPPED MY FLESH (1970) -- 3 good songs & a whole LOT of noise. "Directly From My Heart to You," "Oh No," "The Orange County Lumber Truck."
= Pat Metheny Group: OFFRAMP (1982) -- "Eighteen" isn't bad. The rest's a little Too Light. "The Bat" messes up a decent tune with stupid sound effects.
= Renaissance: ASHES ARE BURNING (1973) -- "At the Harbour" is haunting. Mosta the others sound way better & way livelier in concert. These studio versions R a little stiff....
= Sky: SKY4/FORTHCOMING (1982) -- Even MORE stuck in 4/4. A couple pleasant trax, "Dies Irae" is best. The rest just floats away....
= Van Morrison: ASTRAL WEEKS (1968) -- Jazzy mood music.
= Al Stewart: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN -- Early best-of from Al's 1st 3 albums + a single. Some promising moments, but depressing overall -- & mosta the long story songs R pretty brutal. "Electric Los Angeles Sunset," "You Should Have Listened to Al," "Samuel, Oh How You've Changed," "The Elf."
= Al Stewart: THE EARLY YEARS (1978) -- Less of the same, with mosta the same standouts & mosta the long story-songs dropped, thank Ghod. + a coupla trax from Al's 4th album, ORANGE.
= Spooky Tooth: SPOOKY TWO (1969) -- "Feelin' Bad" is great, & "Hangman Hang My Shell on a Tree" is OK -- but "Evil Woman" is HILARIOUSLY BAD, so over-the-top it had 2 B a joke. You gotta hear it 2 believe it. Was Led Zeppelin listening...?
= Mark Isham: VAPOR DRAWINGS (1988?) -- 1 decent track, "On the Threshold of Liberty." Lighter-than-air New Age from the leader of (my heroes) Group 87.
= Mike Oldfield: HERGEST RIDGE (1974) -- Both sides build & build & BUILD 2 a great guitar solo ... that never happens. Not bad, just background music.
= Neil Diamond: JONATHON LIVINGSTON SEAGULL soundtrack (1973) -- Did I actually BUY this? Yes, back when I thot Neil Could Do No Wrong. "Skybird"'s not bad, "Flight of the Gull"'s OK, "Be"'s a little overdone. The rest is meandering, slushy soundtrack muzak. Jeez, I even went & saw the movie....
More, better stuff soon....
Some of these albums hava few Great Trax, some of 'em even have Great Sides -- just not enuf 2 add-up 2 a Great Album overall. I'll try 2 note the best trax along the way. Lemme know what you think.
These R listed in sorta-descending order, but it's a tough call. Away we go....
= Moody Blues: IN SEARCH OF THE LOST CHORD (1968) -- Their most dated. Psychedelic/Indian/Far Eastern-influenced. Still some great trax: "Ride My See-Saw," "Legend of a Mind," "Voices in the Sky," "The Actor," "Departure." But LOTSA filler. & "Om" is their worst song ever.
= Gryphon: MIDNIGHT MUSHRUMPS (1974) -- 3 great trax, 1 is the dramatic side-long title piece. "Ploughboy's Dream" & "Ethelion" R 2nd-side standouts.
= Kansas: (1st) (1974) -- "Journey from Mariabronn" is THE great lost Kansas song, a classic moment. "Apercu" & "Can I Tell You?" R OK. But "Death of Mother Nature Suite" is UGLY.
= Roxy Music: FLESH + BLOOD (1981) -- Smooth, + the great "Over You," "Oh Yeah (On the Radio)," "Same Old Scene." But the '60s remakes R awful.
= Caravan: (1st) (1968) -- "Place of My Own" is freaking great, with marvelous keybs from Dave Sinclair. "Where But for Caravan Would I?" is their 1st epic.
= Kate Bush: LIONHEART (1979) -- Her rushed 2nd album. Very pleasant in spots. "Wow," "Hammer Horror," "Don't Push Your Foot on the Heartbrake."
= Steely Dan: AJA (1978) -- TOO SMOOTH! "Josie"'s the best, but "Deacon Blues," "Black Cow" & the title song all work....
= Beach Boys: WILD HONEY (1968) -- White R&B in limbo. "Mama Says," "I'd Love Just Once to See You," "Let the Wind Blow," "Country Air," "Darlin'." + lotsa filler....
= Beach Boys: SMILEY SMILE (1967) -- Very odd. "Good Vibrations," "Heroes and Villains," "Gettin' Hungry," "With Me Tonight," "Vegetables."
= Camel: MIRAGE (1974) -- Jam-band goes Prog. "Lady Fantasy" suite's great, "Freefall," "Earthrise" & "Supertwister" Rn't bad -- I just like their later stuff better.
= Beach Boys: HOLLAND (1973) -- Sludgy, but a few good trax: "The Trader," "California Saga (closing section)" almost sounds like old times, + "Sail On Sailor."
= Camel: MOONMADNESS (1976) -- "Spirit of the Water" is great. The rest has lotsa MOOD....
= Caravan: IF I COULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN I'D DO IT ALL OVER YOU (1971) -- Production's thin, but "And I Wish I Were Stoned" & "With an Ear to the Ground You Can Make It" stand out. "For Richard" debuts here, but the later live version makes this look like a blueprint.
= Gentle Giant: GIANT STEPS best-of (1977?): 2nd-string best-of with 1 big bonus, "The Power and the Glory" single apparently unavailable anywhere else. "Peel the Paint" does just that.
= Alan Parsons Project: EVE (1979) -- "I'd Rather Be a Man" has a gorgeous tune, but the lyrics SUCK. & the disc's men-vs.-women subject matter is pretty grotesque. "Winding Me Up"'s pretty good & "Secret Garden" is pretty. But you gotta ignore The Concept.
= Gong: YOU (1974) -- 2 trax clinch their spacey/jazzy/otherworldly rep 4 me: "Master Builder" & "A Sprinkling of Clouds." & the 2 long jams on Side 2 R OK....
= Alan Parsons Project: TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD (1980) -- Mostly pretty dull, tho smooth as usual. "The Gold Bug"'s the best thing here, & "Time" was a pleasant single....
= Renaissance: PROLOGUE (1972) -- "Rajah Khan" is the brilliant psychedelic standout. The rest is average-pleasant.
= Renaissance: A SONG FOR ALL SEASONS (1978) -- "Northern Lights" was a great catchy single & the 1st 2 trax R OK. The rest is pretty stuffy -- as usual.
= The Nice: ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS (1968?) -- Worth it all 4 "America," possibly Keith Emerson's best moment.
= Pink Floyd: THE FINAL CUT (1983) -- Dark & morbid, but the title track works & "Not Now John" is funny. Summa the same orchestral power of THE WALL is still here. But it's depressing....
= Sky: SKY3 (1981) -- Kinda dull & predictable, stuck in an endless 4/4, but "Meheeco" & "Connecting Rooms" liven it up.
= Kraftwerk: AUTOBAHN (1975) -- The title track makes a hypnotic full-side. "Kometmelodie 2" isn't bad....
= National Health: (1st) (1978) -- Hatfield and the North with longer songs. "Tenemos Roads" is pretty great.
= National Health: OF QUEUES AND CURES (1979) -- "Binoculars" & "Phlaketon" R hilarious. The rest is the same long, involved, meandering music -- short on memorable melodies.
= Strawbs: JUST A COLLECTION OF ANTIQUES AND CURIOS (live) (1970) -- High marks 2 Strawbs leader/songwriter Dave Cousins 4 writing a whole new batch of songs 4 this live gig. But the only 1 that works is the angry "Where is This Dream of Your Youth?" It's freaking great -- but it's mainly a showcase 4 Rick Wakeman....
= Hatfield and the North: (1st) (1974) -- 17 pieces over 2 sides, brief moments of hilarity & brilliance. Richard Sinclair's singing & lyrics R funny. Robert Wyatt & the Northettes brighten it up.
= Emerson, Lake and Palmer: TRILOGY (1972) -- "From the Beginning," of course. But Aaron Copland's "Hoedown" should rock harder. The rest is kinda forgettable. "Abaddon's Bolero" almost makes it....
= Waterboys: ROOM TO ROAM (1991) -- "A Life of Sundays" finally reaches the epic guitar-&-folk-orchestra music Mike Scott was reaching 4. There R a couple other pleasant spots.
= Kansas: SONG FOR AMERICA (1973) -- Title track's brilliant. The rest is pretty dark....
= Kansas: MASQUE (1974) -- Speaking of dark....
= Wigwam: LUCKY GOLDEN STRIPES AND STARPOSE (1975) -- Very low-key, a few decent songs. "Never Turn You In," catchy "Tramdriver," silly "International Disaster," "Wardance." Nothing as good as "Bless Your Lucky Stars" off NUCLEAR NIGHTCLUB....
= Nilsson: SON OF SCHMILSSON (1972) -- Some of this is funny & some of it's just really odd, tho memorable. Hadn't heard it in 35 years when I picked-up a copy awhile back, & I remembered almost every song. Harry sings great. "Remember (Christmas)" is gorgeous.
= Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: WEASELS RIPPED MY FLESH (1970) -- 3 good songs & a whole LOT of noise. "Directly From My Heart to You," "Oh No," "The Orange County Lumber Truck."
= Pat Metheny Group: OFFRAMP (1982) -- "Eighteen" isn't bad. The rest's a little Too Light. "The Bat" messes up a decent tune with stupid sound effects.
= Renaissance: ASHES ARE BURNING (1973) -- "At the Harbour" is haunting. Mosta the others sound way better & way livelier in concert. These studio versions R a little stiff....
= Sky: SKY4/FORTHCOMING (1982) -- Even MORE stuck in 4/4. A couple pleasant trax, "Dies Irae" is best. The rest just floats away....
= Van Morrison: ASTRAL WEEKS (1968) -- Jazzy mood music.
= Al Stewart: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN -- Early best-of from Al's 1st 3 albums + a single. Some promising moments, but depressing overall -- & mosta the long story songs R pretty brutal. "Electric Los Angeles Sunset," "You Should Have Listened to Al," "Samuel, Oh How You've Changed," "The Elf."
= Al Stewart: THE EARLY YEARS (1978) -- Less of the same, with mosta the same standouts & mosta the long story-songs dropped, thank Ghod. + a coupla trax from Al's 4th album, ORANGE.
= Spooky Tooth: SPOOKY TWO (1969) -- "Feelin' Bad" is great, & "Hangman Hang My Shell on a Tree" is OK -- but "Evil Woman" is HILARIOUSLY BAD, so over-the-top it had 2 B a joke. You gotta hear it 2 believe it. Was Led Zeppelin listening...?
= Mark Isham: VAPOR DRAWINGS (1988?) -- 1 decent track, "On the Threshold of Liberty." Lighter-than-air New Age from the leader of (my heroes) Group 87.
= Mike Oldfield: HERGEST RIDGE (1974) -- Both sides build & build & BUILD 2 a great guitar solo ... that never happens. Not bad, just background music.
= Neil Diamond: JONATHON LIVINGSTON SEAGULL soundtrack (1973) -- Did I actually BUY this? Yes, back when I thot Neil Could Do No Wrong. "Skybird"'s not bad, "Flight of the Gull"'s OK, "Be"'s a little overdone. The rest is meandering, slushy soundtrack muzak. Jeez, I even went & saw the movie....
More, better stuff soon....
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
#578: The Worst!
Here's the 1st part of that mega-list, focusing on The Worst Strange Music Albums that I've actually heard all the way thru. Getting all the way thru is the key 4 these lists. If I couldn't get all the way thru it, I can't claim it.
I trust that what I call "Strange Music" will become clear -- it might B prog, rock, jazz, off-the-wall -- just something diffrent from "the mainstream." There's a lot of Really Bad Prog out there -- you'll find some of it listed below.... Some of my heroes R also mentioned....
I also caution that these lists represent ... oh, maybe a week of thinking & researching by Your Humble Blogger. Management reserves the right 2 update these lists at any time 2 add obvious stuff we somehow forgot about.
Onward with The Bad Stuff, in more-or-less descending order of "quality"....
- Emerson, Lake and Palmer: WORKS VOLUME 1 (1977) -- 4 long sides, 3 great trax!
- Caravan: CUNNING STUNTS (1975) -- 1 pretty-good side ("The Dabsong Conshirtoe"). The rest is pretty dull.
- U.K.: DANGER MONEY (1979) -- 2 good songs, & a waste of talent. The cover's hideous too.
- Rare Bird: EPIC FOREST (1972) -- Title track & "Birdman" R prog classics. The rest is absolutely flat, no inspiration, nothing distinctive. Not truly terrible, just REALLY average & boring.
- Camel: STATIONARY TRAVELLER (1985) -- Very Alan Parsons Project-ish. 2 or 3 decent songs, best is "West Berlin." The rest is pretty dull.
- Moody Blues: OCTAVE (1978) -- 3 or 4 decent songs. The rest is sludge.
- Gentle Giant: GIANT FOR A DAY (1978) -- Kinda silly & WAY commercial. 3 songs R keepers. NOT the worst album ever....
- Beach Boys: FRIENDS (1968) -- Music 4 Brian Wilson 2 nod-off by. Their weakest. 1 good "song," "Passing By." A few pleasant fragments: "Be Still," "Little Bird," "Anna Lee the Healer," "Meant for You." The rest is pretty awful.
- Steely Dan: GAUCHO (1980) -- Mostly lethargic & boring, 2 decent songs. The title track's great!
- Moody Blues: SUR LA MER (1988) -- "I Know You're Out There Somewhere"'s pretty great, & "No More Lies" is OK. The rest is garbage -- especially "Deep," 1 of their stupidest songs ever.
- Strawbs: GRAVE NEW WORLD (1972) -- Mostly dull & sludgy. "Oh Me, Oh My" is cute but 2 short. "New World" is shockingly bitter.
- Group 87: A CAREER IN DADA PROCESSING (1983) -- Boring, lifeless instrumental jazz-rock without even a decent beat. 1 decent track. Buy their (1st) album instead, it's great!
- Jethro Tull: A PASSION PLAY (1973) -- 1 good 4-minute segment ("Edit #8") over 2 LONG sides....
- Yes: TORMATO (1978) -- SILLY! & REALLY busy-busy, as if the guys were all on uppers. "Release, Release" is almost good.
- Moody Blues: STRANGE TIMES (1999) -- "English Sunset" is almost good....
- Renaissance: AZURE D'OR (1979) -- "Jekyll and Hyde" isn't bad. The rest is completely forgettable.
- Caravan: BETTER BY FAR (1977) -- Embarrassing, especially the opener "Give Me More."
- Camel: ON THE ROAD 1972 -- Boring live-concert noodling. Nothing jumps out.
- Matching Mole: LITTLE RED RECORD (1972) -- Ugly, silly, muddy production from Bob Fripp -- but I wouldn't mind hearing it again.
- King Crimson: ISLANDS (1972) -- "A Sailor's Tale" is almost impressive. "Ladies of the Road" is almost good. The rest is boring, pretentious, muddy. Even great saxist Mel Collins is wasted. This band sounds WAY better on the LADIES OF THE ROAD retrospective.
- Barclay James Harvest: OCTOBERON (1977) -- Not 1 redeeming (or even melodic) song. Some of it's pretty offensive. BJH's XII is pretty bad, too....
- Asia: (1st) (1982) -- Good Ghod, did I listen 2 ALL of this?
- Genesis: DUKE (1980) -- Sludgy, dull, endless. "Turn it on Again" is as good as this gets....
- Traffic: MR. FANTASY (1969) -- Mostly lethargic & muddy psychedelic songs. Overrated.
- Weather Report: BEST OF (1980?) -- Stiff, lifeless versions of tunes that finally came alive in concert.
- Moody Blues: KEYS OF THE KINGDOM (1991) -- YEEZUS, not 1 decent song....
- U.K.: LIVE/NIGHT AFTER NIGHT (1979) -- Pure profit-taking. Every single live track sounded better in the studio.
- Pat Metheny: ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SILENCE -- VERY LOUD ELECTRIC GUITAR NOISE! No melodies, just noise.
- Borbetomagus: (1st) (1980) -- Takes punk-jazz noise in2 a whole new realm.... Not a single melody in 40+ minutes.
- Gong: EXPRESSO/GAZEUSE (1977) -- Even with all the extra guest talent (guitarist Allan Holdsworth, etc.), completely forgettable. Cute song titles tho.
- Pierre Moerlen's Gong: EXPRESSO II (1978) -- 2 song titles sum it up: "Sleepy" & "Boring." Background music without a foreground, even with the special guests (Steve Winwood, Mick Taylor, etc).
- David Bedford: STAR'S END (1974) -- 1 gushy, melodramatic orchestral phrase is repeated over & over & OVER 4 40 minutes. Pointless.
...More, better stuff Coming Soon. Let me know what you think....
I trust that what I call "Strange Music" will become clear -- it might B prog, rock, jazz, off-the-wall -- just something diffrent from "the mainstream." There's a lot of Really Bad Prog out there -- you'll find some of it listed below.... Some of my heroes R also mentioned....
I also caution that these lists represent ... oh, maybe a week of thinking & researching by Your Humble Blogger. Management reserves the right 2 update these lists at any time 2 add obvious stuff we somehow forgot about.
Onward with The Bad Stuff, in more-or-less descending order of "quality"....
- Emerson, Lake and Palmer: WORKS VOLUME 1 (1977) -- 4 long sides, 3 great trax!
- Caravan: CUNNING STUNTS (1975) -- 1 pretty-good side ("The Dabsong Conshirtoe"). The rest is pretty dull.
- U.K.: DANGER MONEY (1979) -- 2 good songs, & a waste of talent. The cover's hideous too.
- Rare Bird: EPIC FOREST (1972) -- Title track & "Birdman" R prog classics. The rest is absolutely flat, no inspiration, nothing distinctive. Not truly terrible, just REALLY average & boring.
- Camel: STATIONARY TRAVELLER (1985) -- Very Alan Parsons Project-ish. 2 or 3 decent songs, best is "West Berlin." The rest is pretty dull.
- Moody Blues: OCTAVE (1978) -- 3 or 4 decent songs. The rest is sludge.
- Gentle Giant: GIANT FOR A DAY (1978) -- Kinda silly & WAY commercial. 3 songs R keepers. NOT the worst album ever....
- Beach Boys: FRIENDS (1968) -- Music 4 Brian Wilson 2 nod-off by. Their weakest. 1 good "song," "Passing By." A few pleasant fragments: "Be Still," "Little Bird," "Anna Lee the Healer," "Meant for You." The rest is pretty awful.
- Steely Dan: GAUCHO (1980) -- Mostly lethargic & boring, 2 decent songs. The title track's great!
- Moody Blues: SUR LA MER (1988) -- "I Know You're Out There Somewhere"'s pretty great, & "No More Lies" is OK. The rest is garbage -- especially "Deep," 1 of their stupidest songs ever.
- Strawbs: GRAVE NEW WORLD (1972) -- Mostly dull & sludgy. "Oh Me, Oh My" is cute but 2 short. "New World" is shockingly bitter.
- Group 87: A CAREER IN DADA PROCESSING (1983) -- Boring, lifeless instrumental jazz-rock without even a decent beat. 1 decent track. Buy their (1st) album instead, it's great!
- Jethro Tull: A PASSION PLAY (1973) -- 1 good 4-minute segment ("Edit #8") over 2 LONG sides....
- Yes: TORMATO (1978) -- SILLY! & REALLY busy-busy, as if the guys were all on uppers. "Release, Release" is almost good.
- Moody Blues: STRANGE TIMES (1999) -- "English Sunset" is almost good....
- Renaissance: AZURE D'OR (1979) -- "Jekyll and Hyde" isn't bad. The rest is completely forgettable.
- Caravan: BETTER BY FAR (1977) -- Embarrassing, especially the opener "Give Me More."
- Camel: ON THE ROAD 1972 -- Boring live-concert noodling. Nothing jumps out.
- Matching Mole: LITTLE RED RECORD (1972) -- Ugly, silly, muddy production from Bob Fripp -- but I wouldn't mind hearing it again.
- King Crimson: ISLANDS (1972) -- "A Sailor's Tale" is almost impressive. "Ladies of the Road" is almost good. The rest is boring, pretentious, muddy. Even great saxist Mel Collins is wasted. This band sounds WAY better on the LADIES OF THE ROAD retrospective.
- Barclay James Harvest: OCTOBERON (1977) -- Not 1 redeeming (or even melodic) song. Some of it's pretty offensive. BJH's XII is pretty bad, too....
- Asia: (1st) (1982) -- Good Ghod, did I listen 2 ALL of this?
- Genesis: DUKE (1980) -- Sludgy, dull, endless. "Turn it on Again" is as good as this gets....
- Traffic: MR. FANTASY (1969) -- Mostly lethargic & muddy psychedelic songs. Overrated.
- Weather Report: BEST OF (1980?) -- Stiff, lifeless versions of tunes that finally came alive in concert.
- Moody Blues: KEYS OF THE KINGDOM (1991) -- YEEZUS, not 1 decent song....
- U.K.: LIVE/NIGHT AFTER NIGHT (1979) -- Pure profit-taking. Every single live track sounded better in the studio.
- Pat Metheny: ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SILENCE -- VERY LOUD ELECTRIC GUITAR NOISE! No melodies, just noise.
- Borbetomagus: (1st) (1980) -- Takes punk-jazz noise in2 a whole new realm.... Not a single melody in 40+ minutes.
- Gong: EXPRESSO/GAZEUSE (1977) -- Even with all the extra guest talent (guitarist Allan Holdsworth, etc.), completely forgettable. Cute song titles tho.
- Pierre Moerlen's Gong: EXPRESSO II (1978) -- 2 song titles sum it up: "Sleepy" & "Boring." Background music without a foreground, even with the special guests (Steve Winwood, Mick Taylor, etc).
- David Bedford: STAR'S END (1974) -- 1 gushy, melodramatic orchestral phrase is repeated over & over & OVER 4 40 minutes. Pointless.
...More, better stuff Coming Soon. Let me know what you think....
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