A Break From The Usual - Must-Have Music And Musicians

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 4:43 am

I'll keep this short and sweet:
If you're doomed to an eternity of Barry Manilow's "Copacabana" on repeat, or your favorite artists on repeat, who's in those artists?
Here are a few of mine. And, yes, I'm all over the place.

Jackie Wilson - Why? Eight to Nine Octave vocal range before the era of electronic production. Sounded better live than he did recorded.
The Four Tops - Why? The original "power vocalist", Levi Stubbs.
Marty Robbins - Why? Every recording sounds edited. And many were recorded in the 1950's. Yes, his voice was that good whether singing his music or someone elses.
Led Zeppelin - Why? I can't imagine this one needs explanation.
The Beatles - Why? If you toss out the early years pop garbage McCartney wrote, the Beatles did some amazing things.
The Platters - Why? Along with the Rays and the Orioles, although the Platters are far more well-known, they created the multiple vocals sound.
The Stylistics - Why? If you've heard Russell Thompkins, Jr. and Airron Love live, it's smoother than melted butter.
Rush - Why? Gary Lee Weintraub, a.k.a. Geddy Lee could remain silent (and some people wish he would), and instrumentals by this group would rival the best instrumental groups, such as the Ventures.
Alice In Chains - Why? Layne Staley got all the notoriety, but Jerry Cantrell's guitar and vocals and Mike Inez's bass are what makes this group. They're better live and acoustic than they are recorded and electric.
Iron Maiden - Why? Steve Harris alone is reason enough. Anyone who's heard Jacko Pastorius or Cliff Burton knows they listened to Steve Harris. Then add to that Bruce "The Foghorn" Dickinson, whose voice never cracks, even on an eight octave scale song performed live and that's enough reason for me.

I've got about 3500 more I could list but I said I would keep this short.
So, who have you got?

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:30 am

Agree on several of these. Especially Rush. As a drummer, how can you not like anything Neil Peart does. I even have his jazz recording of pieces of eight. Then there's YYZ, particularly of the 'Exit Stage Left' album. And of course Tom Sawyer, written in 7/8 measure. When I was a sophomore in High School, I played quads in a Percussive Arts Society competition at Towson. I was the only non-college student in the quads competition and I won, mostly because we had to do an improvisational "solo" and I was singing the 7/8 Tom Sawyer riff in my head and playing along with it. That and my double paradiddle was off the hook, because instead of playing on one drum, I moved it around all four. They liked that. But I digress...

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:38 am

JansenFan wrote:Agree on several of these. Especially Rush. As a drummer, how can you not like anything Neil Peart does. I even have his jazz recording of pieces of eight. Then there's YYZ, particularly of the 'Exit Stage Left' album. And of course Tom Sawyer, written in 7/8 measure. When I was a sophomore in High School, I played quads in a Percussive Arts Society competition at Towson. I was the only non-college student in the quads competition and I won, mostly because we had to do an improvisational "solo" and I was singing the 7/8 Tom Sawyer riff in my head and playing along with it. That and my double paradiddle was off the hook, because instead of playing on one drum, I moved it around all four. They liked that. But I digress...

I had a friend once tell me he didn't like Neil Peart because Peart overplays everything.
I started laughing at him and said, "Only because he can."
Well, that and because Lee and Lifeson can keep up with him.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:44 am

GSPODS wrote:I had a friend once tell me he didn't like Neil Peart because Peart overplays everything.

Spoken like a man (or woman) who can't play Peart.

VetSkinsFan · Post by **VetSkinsFan** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 3:06 pm

I'm a bit younger than you, so a lot of those I've heard of, but were the stuff that Dad ran us out of the house with.

My list is as follows:
Warning: I'm a bit of an 80s metal head

Metallica- the genre standard to which all others were compared from 93-92+
Slayer-only metal band I know that stayed true to their music from start to finish
NIN: after he got cleaned up, he still put on an awesome show.
Kiss: They've been putting out rock as long as I've been alive. Also the most true to studio sound live in concert I've ever heard.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 3:42 pm

VetSkinsFan wrote:I'm a bit younger than you, so a lot of those I've heard of, but were the stuff that Dad ran us out of the house with.

My list is as follows:
Warning: I'm a bit of an 80s metal head

Metallica- the genre standard to which all others were compared from 93-92+
Slayer-only metal band I know that stayed true to their music from start to finish
NIN: after he got cleaned up, he still put on an awesome show.
Kiss: They've been putting out rock as long as I've been alive. Also the most true to studio sound live in concert I've ever heard.

We're probably about the same age then, because I still listen to all ofthe above in my collection. I've got almost a GB of NIN mp3's.

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 3:53 pm

JansenFan wrote:
VetSkinsFan wrote:I'm a bit younger than you, so a lot of those I've heard of, but were the stuff that Dad ran us out of the house with.

My list is as follows:
Warning: I'm a bit of an 80s metal head

Metallica- the genre standard to which all others were compared from 93-92+
Slayer-only metal band I know that stayed true to their music from start to finish
NIN: after he got cleaned up, he still put on an awesome show.
Kiss: They've been putting out rock as long as I've been alive. Also the most true to studio sound live in concert I've ever heard.

We're probably about the same age then, because I still listen to all ofthe above in my collection. I've got almost a GB of NIN mp3's.

You haven't lost me yet. Yes, even a 58 year old knows who Trent Reznor is. And Metallica (I miss Cliff Burton), and Slayer (Reign In Blood is the heaviest of the heavy), and Pantera (Miss Darrell, too), and (insert thrash / death metal band here). I do have children. I listen to their music, and they listen to mine.

LOSTHOG · Post by **LOSTHOG** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:55 pm

Pearl Jam is a must for any collection. I just drove down to Columbia,SC on the 16th to watch them live. Awesome show. Next week on the 26th the Insane Clown Posse will be in Charlotte. A little edgier, but it is worth the price of admission to see all the freaks that show up. I would also throw in STP and maybe even Rehab as must haves.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:41 pm

LOSTHOG wrote:Pearl Jam is a must for any collection. I just drove down to Columbia,SC on the 16th to watch them live. Awesome show. Next week on the 26th the Insane Clown Posse will be in Charlotte. A little edgier, but it is worth the price of admission to see all the freaks that show up. I would also throw in STP and maybe even Rehab as must haves.

Are you a dead body man?

BTW, ICP's "cover" of Eminem's "My Name Is" is classic.

LOSTHOG · Post by **LOSTHOG** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:11 am

JansenFan wrote:Are you a dead body man?

BTW, ICP's "cover" of Eminem's "My Name Is" is classic.

They have a lot of classics. I guess my fav is "If I Were A Serial Killer"

BTW, they will be in Baltimore tonight (19th), Richmond Tuesday and Norfolk Wednesday. Like I said it is worth the price of admission just to see the crowd.

BearSkins · Post by **BearSkins** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 12:37 pm

Lot of bands mentioned here that I have a lotta time for - 'tallica, Slayer, Rush, Maiden etc etc. although these dyas you'll find me more often listening to Dylan, Springteen and some alt.country.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 7:37 pm

alt.country—are you a fan of Wilco, BearSkins?

Desert island discs are fun to think about. I usually have to stick with Mozart, but if the question was "if you could only listen to X artist in the car from now on..." I'd be saying something more like Bob Marley, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, or perhaps even Ravi Shankar :shock:

.

BearSkins · Post by **BearSkins** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 2:39 pm

I like the earlier stuff by Wilco. A Ghost is Born and Sky Blue Sky are not for me though.

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:04 pm

My wife is forcing me to listen to "Poison" against my will. Please make it stop.

Fios · Post by **Fios** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:15 pm

Here is my iTunes list (my at-work collection) by artist (I have more but these are on heavy rotation):

2Pac; Allman Brothers; Arctic Monkey

s; Black Crowes; Beatles; Beck; Beethoven; Ben Harper; Collie Buddz; Earth, Wind & Fire; Gnarls Barkley; Gorillaz; Gov't Mule; Kaiser Chiefs; Kings of Leon; Lauryn Hill; Led Zeppelin; Molly Hatchet; Mozart; Radiohead; Shooter Jennings; Silvertide; Supergrass; Ted Leo; The Black Keys; The Clash; The Darkness; The Doors; The Strokes; Thin Lizzy; Tom Waits

I can easily recommend albums for each of those. I also have some friends in a band, which I know is typically a horrific opening statement, but these guys are very, very solid. Book of Job ... no, they are not a Christian rock band.

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:41 am

GSPODS wrote:My wife is forcing me to listen to "Poison" against my will. Please make it stop.

Sometimes, old man, when you rob the cradle, there is a price to be paid. :lol:

Your's seems a little steep, though. :wink:

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:57 am

LeeAnn Rimes, Allman Brothers, Alabama, Jethro Tull, America, The Guess Who, The Mamas and the Papas, The Eagles, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Cat Stevens, Pink Floyd, Clapton/Cream, Crosby, Stills, Nash / Young, Dianna Ross, Don MacLean, The Doors, The Hollies, Led Zep, Marvin Gay, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Bob Seger, The Beatles, Queen, REM, The Temps, U2, ZZ Top.

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:19 pm

Countertrey wrote:LeeAnn Rimes, Allman Brothers, Alabama, Jethro Tull, America, The Guess Who, The Mamas and the Papas, The Eagles, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Cat Stevens, Pink Floyd, Clapton/Cream, Crosby, Stills, Nash / Young, Dianna Ross, Don MacLean, The Doors, The Hollies, Led Zep, Marvin Gay, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Bob Seger, The Beatles, Queen, REM, The Temps, U2, ZZ Top.

I see you're a singers & songwriters kind of guy.

I think some of the best music of any kind came out of the singers & songwriters era. I saw CSN live in 1969. They sounded better live than recorded, as did Three Dog Night and a very few other groups.

I'll add I really like the Marvin Gaye / Tammy Terrell duets and the Roberta Flack / Donnie Hathaway duets. Great Stuff. Right up there with Al Green. The Guess Who was the best thing to come out of Canada since ice hockey. Burton Cummings had a great voice. Not in the same sense as say, Jackie Wilson, but he had a great voice for rock, much like John Fogerty or David Clayton Thomas.