Favorite 7 bands and/or musicians

[Cliffy777]

Okay, we have talked books and adult beverages how about we discuss our favorite music, musicians, and/or bands.

Lets have your TOP SEVEN. It can be a style, (genre), of music or particular bands or musicians. Here are mine.

1. Yes - been a fan for a long time. Enjoyed concerts on four occasions. Their music consistently makes me smile and can pick me up out of the dumps.

2. Roxy Music - if I could only have one CD on the island I get stranded on, then it would be Avalon by Roxy Music. Enjoy every tune on it and never tire of it. Saw them once, two years ago and it was well worth the $$.

3. Todd Rundgren - solo or with a band. When I was younger I once saw Utopia five times in one summer. (Back when ticket prices were $15 or so!) Of all the times I have seen Todd, he only let me down once and he is forgiven for that.

4. Electronica - love synthesizers. My mom took me to a symphony when I was a little kid. 1970 or so. At the intermission they set up a Moog synthesizer that took 3-4 people to operate. Then a guy played a Theremin. Blew my little mind. Then mom bought me Switched on Bach. Love electronic music.

5. Los Lobos - these guys kick booty. Bought their first album and quite a few since then. I even dig the stuff in Spanish and my comprehension is muy poquito. I have seen them perform twice and had a blast.

6. J.S. Bach - mom exposed me to classical music and Mr. Bach is my fave.

7. Almost anything with a good slide guitar or harmonica player. (sure, I cheated a little and tried to stick two in the place of one - hey this is my thread and I can do what I wanna.)

How 'bout you? What do you like and why??

[kbasa]

OK, I may have the strangest grouping of anybody, but I'm glad you asked.

1. Soul Coughing. It's poetry with a fine beat to back it up. Creative and challenging, I hear something new everytime I listen to them. Ruby Vroom is probably my favorite.

2. Beethoven's 9th, the Eroica. Fantastic stuff, it was written after Ludwig went deaf. They still have trouble finding folks to sing the parts that are very, very high.

3. Public Enemy. Their albums Apocalypse 91 and Fear of a Black Planet are the high water mark for socially concious rap music. FoaBP is like the rap version of Sgt. Pepper's. If you think rap music is all about bitches and hos, this stuff predates that and is an invitation for the black community to get up, stand up and work for a better world. Revolutionary music that harkens back to mid 60s Dylan.

4. The Beatles. A full generation after they first appeared, they still sound like nothing else and nothing else sounds like them. I particularly like the White Album.

5. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue. It just doesn't get better than this. This was the first experiment with modality, in that Davis and the band set a mode for the music and worked within it.

6. Johnny Cash. Take your pick. The man proves that you don't need a terrific voice, just heart and soul to be a terrific vocalist. I grew up with him crooning on the stereo in our living room. Same with Beethoven, actually, which is why my musical tastes are so screwy.

7. Patsy Cline. Yeah, it's sappy, but jeez that woman had a voice.

I've got plenty more; Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, the Talking Heads, the Beastie Boys, assorted ska bands, Bob Marley, the Dead Kennedys, Black Flag and all kinds of sappy pop music, but those are the ones that get played most frequently by me.

But basically, if you've got any kind of heart and soul in your music, I'm willing to give it a listen regardless of the genre.

[RevWillie]

Well, here is my top 7-please, no comments about my mental state or sub-generational tar pits!

1. Allman Brothers Band. A band that started out hot and has been able to recapture some of that energy in some of their latest work. I always love good slide guitar work along with driving lead guitar riffs.

2. Dixie Dregs. A instrumental rock band that never caught on in the national spotlight. This band worked with all types of music styles with outstanding skills in their instrument playing. A amazing guitarist(Steve Morse), along with excellent violin,bass,keyboards and drum interaction. Excellent song construction.

3. Bruce Springsteen. Probably the best live performer that I have ever seen. His energy that he expends in his concerts is amazing, and his band is always giving their best in backing him up.

4, Arrogance. A local (Southeastern) band that matched catchy tunes with excellent musical performances. An acoustic band in the rock 'n roll arena, they were doing stuff that REM would later make lots of money from. The lead singer/bassist would later be co-producer of REM's first two albums (Don Dixon).

5. Grateful Dead. Yes, they did "noodle along" in some of their performances way too long, but they did write some memorable songs in their long tenure. They loved to perform and their audience loved to hear them. They were a great "good time" band.

6. David Grisman. Outstanding mandolin player with the ability to match himself up with some great musicians to make some excelled acoustic songs.

7. Little Feat. Talented musicians that crafted some excellent songs. There was a certain "fire" in their live performances that made you bounce. Good songs played by good players.

There is my seven--there are a lot more that deserve to make it to the list, but I just picked 7 that jumped into my mind at this point in time. I love all types of music and appreciate the master crafters of each style. These are just bands that seem to live in my CD player more than the others do. :D

[lorazepam]

Here are mine for what it is worth:

1. Little Feat. Not quite the same since the demise of Lowell George, but a hugely talented group of musicians.

2. Eagles. Death before Disco Heh, they got me through the 70's

3. Bottle Rockets. A midwestern country/rock band that make some great observations and tell great stories with their songs.

4. Afro Celt Sound System. A group that blends just what their name implies, celtic music with African rythms. Great road music.

5. Tom Petty. Another one who can write really well, and I lke the beat and it is easy to dance to.

6. Warren Zevon. A man who wrote some strange stuff, but also some really sensitive music as well. A lot of musicians owe him a lot for their success. Gone before his time, it is sad to say.

7. NRBQ. A new england based group that is probably the best time I have ever had at a concert, I have seen them many times, and they are the best when live, and definately not to be taken seriously.

there are many others as well... Johnny Winter, Etta James, Lizst, Tracy Chapman, Magic Slim, George Clinton, Frank Zappa, Aaron Copeland, Geez this is hard to pin down.

[YB in IN]

Yay a music thread!!!!! I'm a masters student in voice performance at Indiana University and hoping to have a career in classical music so this is right up my alley. In no particular order:

1. Romantic era (1800s) German Lieder. All of it was written by some of the best composers (Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, etc.) and best poets (Goethe, Heine, etc.) to ever walk the earth. Good stuff.

2. Wagnerian operas. The man single handedly changed the face of music with his stuff. If you can look past the fact that he was a complete and total creep, he really knew how to write. Few can match his orchestrations.

3. Led Zeppelin. How can you not love these guys? I know that a lot time rock gets a bad rap from the classical community, but these guys can freaking play. Always a good choice to rock out to.

4. My Morning Jacket. A band out of Louisville Kentucky. They have just started to really get some national exposure. Their album "It Still Moves" is an eclectic mix of Southern Rock, Neil Young, and the Beach Boys. Check them out.

5. Pete Yorn. Great music for when you're in a mellow mood, and just want to chill out. Also good for when you break up with your girlfriend (or for this board I suppose wife).

6. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Just plain good old hard rock. Nice to crank up when you're working on you bike or car. Also they have a really cool name. *BONUS QUESTION* Know where they got their name from?

7. Ralph Stanley. Bluegrass. True American Music (well with roots from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales). 'Nuff said.

BONUS SELECTION
Outkast, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is one of the best albums to come out in years. Good for long road trips. (Indiana to San Francisco for instance):)

[lorazepam]

Hey Garth, cah you make the track day? Hope to see you there!

[kbasa]

Originally posted by YB in IN
BONUS SELECTION
Outkast, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is one of the best albums to come out in years. Good for long road trips. (Indiana to San Francisco for instance):)

Oh yeah! Outkast rocks! :rocker

And Garth, thanks for correcting me on the Beethoven stuff - it's the 3rd, not the 9th.

[guitarian]

Most of the time listening is on planes or on the bike (Thanks, iPod). This is mostly what I like while riding.

1. April March- aka Elinor Blake (who was an illustrator for Ren and Stimpy in a previous life). Her album "Chrominance Decoder" is probably my most played CD of the last 5 years. She is heavily influenced by Serge Gainsbourg and his 60's "Ye Ye " Frenchy rock and roll but her music is so much more than that. Everyone I have played it for has bought the CD.

2. Yes. Been a huge fan since 1971 (I'm really old) and still like most of what they do. Good for the slab and rural roads but sometimes too much for riding in traffic.

3. Gotta agree with Outkast. A great CD from local talent!

4. Dido. She has such a great voice and her singing sounds so easy and natural. Sometimes I just want to chill, and I've played Sade too much recently.

5. Squeeze. Anything. All good.

6. Rolling Stones, but mainly up to 1978. I really love listening to the early stuff. It's fun to hear bunch of pasty English teenagers interpretation of black American Blues stars. But it's great stuff.

7. Sneaker Pimps. Becoming X is a very interesting album and I love the female voice. Too bad they fired her before they recorded their latest album. It blows.

I love classical sometimes, like on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's almost like a soundtrack to go with the scenery.

[BMWRider]

Some fascinating groups mentioned so far and I'm amazed at how much in agreement I am with so many of the choices.

1) The Beatles
I'm a fan of their early stuff moreso than the psychadelic era material but it's all good. When I hear the opening drum riff for "She Loves You", it still sends chills up my spine 40 years after I first heard it.

2) Jethro Tull
Ian Anderson is prolific and brilliant. I liked the plodding concept albums A Passion Play and Thick As A Brick as well as their classic Aqualung and virtually all their albums up until about the mid-80s.

3) Squeeze
British pop at its best. Great melodies, wonderful harmonies, sharp playing and clever lyrics.

4) 10cc
Another great Brit pop band, sometimes called the British Beach Boys. Clever wordplay, incredible harmonies, simply wonderful pop tunes. The early stuff prior to the breakup of the band when all four originals were still in tow is by far the best, before Godley and Creme left to make videos and promote weird instruments. My favorite: The Original Soundtrack.

5) Leo Kottke
While occasionally prone to finger exercises, he writes and performs some simply stunning acoustic guitar pieces. Once again, I like his earlier stuff the best. (Notice a pattern here?)

6) Jimi Hendrix
I've still never heard anybody play a guitar like Hendrix. And probably never will. Underrated songwriter too, although some of his stuff is total crap, depending on much acid he'd dropped that day, I suppose. Listen to the wah-wah work in "Still Raining, Still Dreaming" and tell me it's not stunning.

7) Ludwig von Beethoven
While not a stark, raving classical fan, nothing moves me like a Beethoven piano concerto. Simply genius. Untouchable. The best composer and keyboard player ever, IMHO.

8) Dave Brubeck Quartet
The classic Time Out is, to me, the best album ever produced. Period. Paul Desmond's sax and Brubeck's piano, whether together or at counterpoint, are breathtaking. Very complex rhythms by Joe Morello on drums ... way ahead of its time and unduplicated even today.

9) Todd Rundgren
From soft ballads to rock anthems to instrumental noodling that's still fascinating, Todd has done it all, as well as being a producer, incredible guitarist and keyboard player as well. I like his Utopia stuff especially but his early solo work is good too. Rundgren uses chords that nobody else does ... interesting stuff.

[kbasa]

I think I'm with you, 'Rider. I'm amazed at how similar the results are from person to person, but also how varied they are.

And I totally agree on Time Out. It's just outstanding. Brubeck was playing at the Mondavi Winery in Napa last summer, but I was too late for tickets. It would have been magical to sit outside on a nice Napa evening watching Brubeck playing as the sun went down.

[BMWRider]

Originally posted by KBasa
I think I'm with you, 'Rider. I'm amazed at how similar the results are from person to person, but also how varied they are.

And I totally agree on Time Out. It's just outstanding. Brubeck was playing at the Mondavi Winery in Napa last summer, but I was too late for tickets. It would have been magical to sit outside on a nice Napa evening watching Brubeck playing as the sun went down.

That would have been simply amazing, KBasa. I'd give my right <strike> arm ... eye ... </strike> rearview mirror to experience that, man.

It does seem that there's a common appreciation for great musicianship here. :thumb

[lorazepam]

Hey, is it ok if I replace the Eagles with Ry Cooder? I had a brain fart and forgot one of my true heros in music.

[BMWRider]

Originally posted by lorazepam
Hey, is it ok if I replace the Eagles with Ry Cooder? I had a brain fart and forgot one of my true heros in music.

Gawd, I should have stuck Cooder in there too. :uhoh
Into The Purple Valley, Jazz and Boomer's Story are three of my all-time favorite albums.

[RevWillie]

Originally posted by BMWRider

6) Jimi Hendrix
I've still never heard anybody play a guitar like Hendrix. And probably never will. Underrated songwriter too, although some of his stuff is total crap, depending on much acid he'd dropped that day, I suppose. Listen to the wah-wah work in "Still Raining, Still Dreaming" and tell me it's not stunning.

.

I got to see a guy that had played with Jimi before he died, but this guy had the good sense to survive to this day. His name is COOL JOHN FERGUSON, and I swear, if you close your eyes, you would believe that Jimi is playing! This guy is one of the best guitarists that I have ever heard (a opinion that Taj Mahal also maintains). He is playing little clubs in the Southeast--I saw him in a little, (less than 200 people) club about 2 weeks ago. He has 2 albums out that are pretty good, but his live show with the Hendrix covers are amazing. Wow, imagine if Jimi had made it to his Fifties...........:rocker

[Ironhorsecowboy]

I like many varieties of music and individual musicians and their bands but here are a few of the ones I always never get tired of hearing.

Delbert McClinton--Good ole bar room blues,rock,soul with a little jazz thrown in. He sings about lifes stories and troubles and things that really happen.

ZZ Top
Lynard Skynard

Big Mike Griffin--And I mean big! this guy is huge in person. He's 6' 8" and about 400 lbs. He plays Biker Rock and Roll and Blues.

Black Diamond and the Heavy D's--awesome blues

Candy Dulfer--Sax player with a great bunch of backup. Jazz,Rock and Blues

Some Country and Bluegrass, and some Southern Gospel.

[DesertRider]

Originally posted by KBasa
2. Beethoven's 9th, the Eroica. Fantastic stuff, it was written after Ludwig went deaf. They still have trouble finding folks to sing the parts that are very, very high.


Dave,

I'm a huge fan of Beethoven's Ninth as well, but that's not the Eroica. The Eroica is Beethoven's Third symphony, originally written in tribute to Napoleon Bonaparte, but renamed in anger by Beethoven when he became disgusted by some of Napoleon's hijinks.

The Ninth Symphony is called "Ode to Joy," but sometimes just known as "The Choral Symphony" (for obvious reasons).

My apologies for being pedantic, thought you might want to know.

[BradfordBenn]

To give you a bigger taste, check out my cd list. (http://www.bradfordbenn.com/cdlist.htm) I think I have a few.

So in somewhat of an order...

1) Peter Gabriel
Not just the new poppy stuff, but all the stuff going back to the album peter gabriel. Some amazing sounds. For a real hoot, listen to the third album with Phil Collins playing on there, and you can here the first Phil Collins drum sound. Just like the lyrics and the textures.

2) King Crimson
Yup, a band that has been around 35 years. Take a look at the influences and band members that have gone through the band. It is pretty fricking incredible. My personal favorite out of all of the albums is Discipline fun and profound lyrics most of the time. There are a few albums of their's that I have not played in a long time.

3) California Guitar Trio
They are what their name says. Very cool band, if you get a chance go see them live.

4) Robert Fripp
You might have seen a trend from above. If you have not heard the album Exposure you have missed something. This man has been involved with bands ranging from Talking Heads to Blondie to .... just see King Crimson above.

5) Bloodhound Gang
Their music has pop and humor. Great cover songs. A little off color for some people.

6) Nine Inch Nails
True Industrial and the first album, Pretty Hate Machine (http://www.bradfordbenn.com/music/phm.htm), was a breakthrough in the sound of music on par with the emergence of rap. Plus the second album and so on did not come through a sophmore slump

7) BB King
The Blues live with BB and Lucille.

The list could go on and on, things I was trying to put in... Springsteen, Clapton, Living Colour, Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno, Talking Heads... and the list goes on. There is a reason I have close to 1,000 CDs (only 861 releases, a box set counts as one release).

[kbasa]

Originally posted by DesertRider
Dave,

I'm a huge fan of Beethoven's Ninth as well, but that's not the Eroica. The Eroica is Beethoven's Third symphony, originally written in tribute to Napoleon Bonaparte, but renamed in anger by Beethoven when he became disgusted by some of Napoleon's hijinks.

The Ninth Symphony is called "Ode to Joy," but sometimes just known as "The Choral Symphony" (for obvious reasons).

My apologies for being pedantic, thought you might want to know.

Thanks! Garth, YB in IN and our resident opera singer, sent me a nice note correcting me.

[ian408]

Saw Brubeck a couple of years back. Awesome. He has gotten
on in years and was slow getting to the piano. But once he sat
down, it was like he was 20 years younger. When they played
Time Out I was in 7th heaven. Taylor Eikstein (sp?) came up on
stage too. Great show and if you have the chance, jump on it!

My trouble with lists is that I am on a rolling list. Some things
fall off as new stuff comes on. So without further adue and
in no particular order:

[list=1]
Pietasters -- Awesome Mix Tape #6
The Three Pickers -- Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson and Ricky Skaggs
Emma Shapplin -- Eternal
Cowboy Mouth -- Tomorrow Never Knows
Chuck Prophet -- No Other Love
Calexico -- Feast of Wire
Tom Scott -- Reed My Lips
[/list=1]

Ian

[SCDorman]

Kind of in order:

1. Richard Thompson - no-doubt-about-it all-time favorite. Astounding tunes, better guitarwork, and has become a great live performer over the years. Finally won a Grammy when the Del McCoury Band covered his "1952 Vincent Black Lightning."

2. Van Morrison - seems like one of his discs is always in my changer. "Tupelo Honey" gives me chills every time I hear it.

3. P.W. Long - little-known acoustic-country-blues-metal. What Son House would be like if he were alive today.

4. Lucinda Williams - love all of her albums with the possible exception of "Essence."

5. Richard Buckner - really talented singer-songwriter. Good stuff for late night drives, alone with your thoughts.

6. Muddy Waters - first heard him when I bought "The Last Waltz". "Mannish Boy" blew me away.

7. Greg Brown - Iowa guy, seen him bunches of times, folky-cool lived-in music.

Bonus: 8. The Chieftains - my old next door neighbor makes and plays uillean pipes and turned me on to Irish trad. These guys are a bit too mainstream for his taste, but I love 'em.

Favorite live performer is still the Boss. He just rocks.

Cheers,

Steve, grateful for someone making me think through this tonight. Thanks Cliff.

[knary]

Originally posted by KBasa
It would have been magical to sit outside on a nice Napa evening watching Brubeck playing as the sun went down.

I like a wee bit more grit in my jazz.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000I14Z.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

ah, yes. Mingus is da man.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000007NAA.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg




I'm just trying to get over the idea of BMW Rider listening to Squeeze. Everyone I know that liked them was a cupee doll wannabe sorority girl. :lol

[knary]

Ok. Top 7 - musician or composer or group or whatever? How about a top 10? in no particular order...and off the top of my head...

1. Mingus
2. Radiohead
4. Horowitz
5. Stravinsky
6. Neko Case
7. Billie Holiday
8. Coltrane
9. PJ Harvey
10. Cesaria Evora

...the list keeps growing. It all depends on the mood and the place. Sorta need Verdi's requiem. And how can you not include Bartok? or Beth Orton? or Etta James? or Shostakovich's 5th...

[Cliffy777]

This is cookin' good. I have read many that should have been on my list of seven. That is the fun of this 'cuz there is no way I could choose just seven, so now I get to see my real list coming on from all of y'all.
"I repeat myself when under stress.
I repeat myself when under stress."

[snoone]

1. the Dead (or anything with Garcia on it) , it never gets old.
2. Beatles (some of the greatest music ever made)
3. Van Morrison(someone else I can listen to all day long and never be bored)
4 Lyle Lovett ( Love his original music and how he covers other great poet / writers
5. Led Zepplin (Take a listen to How the West Was Won)
6. Anything David Crosby from CSNY to Crosby/Nash to CPR to all his solo stuff.
7. The Band (Rick Danko, Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson and Levon Helm) Their body of work speaks for itself.

The list could go on and on and on, Warren Zevon, Nanci Griffith, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne , Simon and Garfunkel , the Allman Bros.and the Boss.

[guitarian]

Originally posted by Cliffy777
This is cookin' good. I have read many that should have been on my list of seven. That is the fun of this 'cuz there is no way I could choose just seven, so now I get to see my real list coming on from all of y'all.
"I repeat myself when under stress.
I repeat myself when under stress."

I have to agree with that. My list would probably very different in next week.
I wonder how many of us have a few "secret" favorites that might be a little too uncool for their public list? I will admit that I HATED ABBA when they were popular and would never let one of their songs play on my radio for more than 3 seconds, but when Apple started their Music Store my first 4 downloads were ABBA songs.
I love it when the iPod is set to random play and "Lark's Tongues in Aspic III" finishes followed immediately by "Fernando".

This is a great thread.
The more I look at it the more I like it! I do think it's good!

[guitarian]

Originally posted by knary

I'm just trying to get over the idea of BMW Rider listening to Squeeze. Everyone I know that liked them was a cupee doll wannabe sorority girl. :lol

Interesting. I would list them as one of my all-time top ten bands. The songwriting tem of Difford/Tilbrook was one of the best. Great melodies, very tasteful guitar, and intelligent lyrics. Yeah, a few songs had goofy lyrics. It isn't Ginastera or Monk, but can one listen to Ob La Di, Ob La Da or Yellow Submarine and judge the Beatles by that? You need to listen to Squeeze again. Or maybe not.

Incidently, the B52's are one of my favorites too, even though lots of cupee doll sorority girls liked them.

[BMWRider]

Originally posted by knary

I'm just trying to get over the idea of BMW Rider listening to Squeeze. Everyone I know that liked them was a cupee doll wannabe sorority girl. :lol

Well, I liked hangin' with kewpie doll wannabe sorority girls. :D

[BMWRider]

Originally posted by guitarian
Interesting. I would list them as one of my all-time top ten bands. The songwriting tem of Difford/Tilbrook was one of the best. Great melodies, very tasteful guitar, and intelligent lyrics. Yeah, a few songs had goofy lyrics. It isn't Ginastera or Monk, but can one listen to Ob La Di, Ob La Da or Yellow Submarine and judge the Beatles by that? You need to listen to Squeeze again. Or maybe not.
Awww, knary's hopeless. He's an "artist". :stick

Incidently, the B52's are one of my favorites too, even though lots of cupee doll sorority girls liked them.

How can anybody listen to Love Shack and not either sing along or dance? :D

[kbasa]

Originally posted by guitarian
Incidently, the B52's are one of my favorites too, even though lots of cupee doll sorority girls liked them.

Tonight's the night.
For love, under the light.

I love those guys. When I bought their first record (yeah, a record), the label in the middle said "Play Loud" on one side and had the songs listed on the other.

Tina and I saw them when they toured to support their second album. We were at the Orpheum theater in Boston. They came out, beehives and all, played about two notes and everybody in the place stood up and danced for two hours.

What a show.

[knary]

Originally posted by guitarian
Interesting. I would list them as one of my all-time top ten bands. The songwriting tem of Difford/Tilbrook was one of the best. Great melodies, very tasteful guitar, and intelligent lyrics. Yeah, a few songs had goofy lyrics. It isn't Ginastera or Monk, but can one listen to Ob La Di, Ob La Da or Yellow Submarine and judge the Beatles by that? You need to listen to Squeeze again. Or maybe not.

Incidently, the B52's are one of my favorites too, even though lots of cupee doll sorority girls liked them.

I was just relating my experience. They were very very popular with the sorta cute graphic design girls that would complain about getting dirty in a ceramics course when I was an undergrad. I don't dislike them, they just never pressed my buttons. If anything, that he likes them adds a new dimension to my image of Dan (BMW Rider) - this is a very cool thing. It's getting harder and harder to write him off as a right-wing wacko from Ohio.
:bliss

To put this in a little perspective, another group that is very popular with that group of girls is Toad the Wet Sprocket. But I can't badmouth them, I met my wife at one of their concerts (I was there under duress, but it wasn't a bad show) and she has everyone of their albums.

[Cliffy777]

For some great music you won't run into at Target or Best Buys, try CD Baby. You can shop a bunch of different ways: by genre, or even by looking at the CD artwork like you were in a store.
They have 2 minute long "samples" from several songs on each CD - it varies by artist. Some of them you can hear two minutes of every song on the CD others just one or two.
I have made several purchases and am very, very pleased. Fast service and quality merchandise that you can try before you buy!

(NOTE: No, I am not a shareholder in CD Baby nor does a family member own it.)

www.CDBaby.com

[kbasa]

Dunno if you guys have a Borders near you, but the one here has this neat station with headphones. YOu walk up to the station with a CD in your hand and scan the bar code. The station then presents you with the entire content of the CD. You can listen to every track and decide whether you want to buy it or not.

It's pretty cool. It also shows you other selections by that artist and allows you to browse and listen to those entire CDs as well.

It's pretty cool.

Now, back to "Who's your top 7?"

[RebeccaV]

In no particular order:

LUCINDA WILLIAMS - I'm thoroughly enjoying the evolution of this artist - especially her songwriting. 'World Without Tears' blows me away.

CHRIS WHITLEY - 'Living With The Law' is my favorite of his. I listen to it once a week and have for at least two years - sort of recalibrates me or something.

MORPHINE - Love 'em

KD LANG - 'Ingenue' and earlier especially 'Shadowland' and 'Absolute Torch and 'Twang'.

LYLE LOVETT - I love Lyle. I love everything he's ever done. Amazing to see live.

THE PIXIES - I love the Pixies. I love everything that they've ever done. Amazing to see live.

BECK - If I could pick one artist and their body of work to have with me on a desert island it would be Beck. I can't say enough about the range of his work - each CD is different. Great songwriting. Truly a great artist.

***Desperate plea: does anyone know where I can get my hands on a copy of Ted Hawkin's CD titled "The Ted Hawkins Story: Suffer No More"????

[snoone]

Boxergrrlie

Ted Hawkins is available on amazon.com and you're right Lyle is unbelievable. Take another listen to Step Inside this House

[kbasa]

Morphine. Ya have to love those guys.

French fries.
With Pepper.

You like the Violent Femmes, BG?

[RebeccaV]

Thanks snoone - the only copy of that CD at Amazon is a used copy and they guy wants $100.
Hawkins CD at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000346A/qid=1077229895/sr=1-13/ref=sr_1_13/102-6635865-3767352?v=glance&s=music)

-BG
Desperately seeking reasonably priced Hawkins CD....

[RebeccaV]

Originally posted by KBasa
Morphine. Ya have to love those guys.

French fries.
With Pepper.

You like the Violent Femmes, BG?

Believe it or not, I went to high school with Gordon Gano. I like them OK.

[snoone]

http://gemm.com/q.cgi?rb=ANDYBURNETT&wild=Hawkins%2C%20Ted

Ted Hawkins Suffer no more used at $16.49??

[BradfordBenn]

Originally posted by Cliffy777
"I repeat myself when under stress.
I repeat myself when under stress."

I knew there was something I liked about you Cliffy

Cliche
Commentary
Criticism

Diatribe
Dialgoue
Doo a long

[knary]

Originally posted by boxergrrlie
In no particular order:

LUCINDA WILLIAMS
MORPHINE
THE PIXIES
BECK

:clap

Morphine is still my preferred driving music and Beck's Sea Change is purrrfect for a groggy morning.

Didya hear about the Pixies getting back together? very cool.

[knary]

Originally posted by KBasa
You like the Violent Femmes, BG?

I saw them at a little outdoor festival in New Orleans in the early 90's. After a series of punk-pop bands such as the Offspring, the Femmes came out onto the stage on that hot muggy summer day in perfectly pressed suits. A few measures into the first song, the crowd started pelting the lead singer with dense dark Lousiana mud churned up from the mosh pit. Needless to say, they didn't play very long.

[BMWRider]

Originally posted by knary
I was just relating my experience. They were very very popular with the sorta cute graphic design girls that would complain about getting dirty in a ceramics course when I was an undergrad. I don't dislike them, they just never pressed my buttons. If anything, that he likes them adds a new dimension to my image of Dan (BMW Rider) - this is a very cool thing. It's getting harder and harder to write him off as a right-wing wacko from Ohio.
:bliss


See, Scott, I'm more multi-dimensional than I might first appear. :D
:thumb

I have a wide range of musical tastes; classical, jazz, metal, pop rock, and bluegrass. I'll confess I've never taken to rap at all ... although this Outkast "Speaker Boxx" CD sounds interesting ... :1drink

[mgraced]

U2
Pink Floyd (did some really good drugs to these guys!)
New Order
Rolling Stones
Crystal Method
Beethoven
Mozart

[ian408]

Originally posted by KBasa
Dunno if you guys have a Borders near you, but the one here has this neat station with headphones. YOu walk up to the station with a CD in your hand and scan the bar code. The station then presents you with the entire content of the CD. You can listen to every track and decide whether you want to buy it or not.

It's pretty cool. It also shows you other selections by that artist and allows you to browse and listen to those entire CDs as well.

It's pretty cool.

Now, back to "Who's your top 7?"

The one here always complains the disks I want don't exist :)

Ian

[RebeccaV]

Originally posted by snoone
Ted Hawkins Suffer no more used at $16.49??
Wow. Thanks snoone. I'll have it by this time next week!!!:bliss Now I can get on with my life! I'll let you know how it is.
Originally posted by ian408
The one here always complains the disks I want don't exist :)

maybe snoone can find them for you, Ian!

[lorazepam]

My favorite morphene tune is "Mile High"

So BG, What about the Ape Hangers?

[The_Veg]

Overall I am into *WAYYYY* too much to make a list of seven. Some of my all time faves are locals/regionals I knew in college, such as Kilgore Trout, Club Wig, The Penetrators, Opus Dopus, The Woggles, Hillbilly Frankenstein, Flat Duo Jets, The Phantom 5ive, Tarantella, The Crying Jags, Conspiracy A-Go-Go, Lucky And The Hot Dice, The Inlaws, The Quadrajets, Man Or Astro-Man?, Southern Culture On The Skids, The DT's, Follow For Now and many more! Some I played with or opened for, some I roadied for, but all I enjoyed. And I mss them all too.
If you look in my CD rack these days, you'll see about 300 discs ranging from Dvorak to Carl Perkins to iron Maiden to The Ventures to AfroCelt to just about everything. I've discovered a lot through my brother, who seems to have this innate sense of discovery when it comes to world and eclectic sorts of music. He's recently got me interested in Colin Hay's solo work among other things.



My tastes are too diverse for words.

I agree with many choices already stated. lately I have been a pretty big Richard Thompson fan although he is one hard cat to catch live- I hope I get to someday. He really has a way with his songs, and I find him to be sort of like single-malt Scotch- a perfect balance of refinement and excitement!
I've been into Electric Light Orchestra for more years than I can remember. I've got my flame-resistant suit on for this one. But there is something there in their music that a small few of us can find, way down underneath all the 'pop sensibilities' that make them the bane of so many listeners. Check out the non-hit-single album tracks. Good escapist stuff, and Jeff Lynne's work with The Idle Race and with The Move is worth a listen.
Some others worth mentioning include The Killdares, a really RIPPING Celtic-rock band her in Dallas. If their version of Big Country's Fields Of Fire doesn't make you want to jump or dance or sing along loudly or ride 300 miles an hour or something, you must be DEAD!
Reverend Horton Heat- a true psychobilly freakout! I was a sinner until I saw the rev'rend...NOW I"M GOING STRAIGHT TO HELL!
Victor- a 1995 solo project by Rush's Alex Lifeson. Damn good disc! "Promise" got some radio airplay.
David+David- they only did one album, studio project back in '86 but it's still one of my favourites! "Welcome To The Boomtown" is one of my favourite songs to just drift with and let my imagination's colours run.
Any TRUE surf music! This does not include Beach Boys and such. The real surf music was Dick Dale, Paul Johnson, etc., that guitar-shredding instrumental stuff inspired by nature's fury. I've seen and met Dick Dale and he's the genuine article.
Fishbone- need I say more?
Swamp Zombies- don't know anything about 'em, but this one CD I bought back in college is pretty cool.
Polaris- these are the guys who did all the music for The Adventures of Pete and Pete on Nickelodeon. Five years after the show's cancellation the CD finally came out. If anybody has tapes of old P&P episodes I can get copies of PLEASE speak up!!!
Jonathan Richman- this guy is great! Richman was the forntman for The Modern Lovers way back when, and his nifty whimsy really sparkles.
SPINAL TAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
24-7 Spyz- sorta like Fishbone but less well-known.
Urge Overkill- this Chicago trio almost broke through in the '90s and they just plain rocked.

Anyway you get the idea. I work in pretty much all musical directions!

[R75_7]

Well lessee here,

Galactic. Really flippin' my wig right now. Better live. Saw 'em at Tipitina's last year at NOLA Jazzfest.

Led Zepelin. Love to get the Led out.

Pink Floyd. The laser show at Griffith Park Observatory. And a few times live and high. Seems like another me.

Eric B. and Rakim. Brought rap to the next level for me.

Johnny Cash. Saw him at the House of Blues. Really love the American Recordings. Sin and Redemption.

Blind Melon. A real tragedy.

Pearl Jam. I still remember when I first saw the video for Jeremy. I was in belgium in the miltary. Blew me away. Never saw anything like it.

Bonus: THE WHO

Thanks,
Michael

[knary]

Originally posted by R75/7
Well lessee here,

Galactic. Really flippin' my wig right now. Better live. Saw 'em at Tipitina's last year at NOLA Jazzfest.


Galactic!
My wife went to school with some of them, back when they were called "Galactic Prophylactic". Great great white boy funk. I guess they had to change the name to be more bankable/bookable?:dunno

[James O]

1. Dave Mathews Band
2. REM
3. AC/DC
4. Robert Palmer (before the top 40 pop, but thats Ok too)
5. Earth Wind & Fire
6. Marvin Gaye
7. The Baby's
8. Mothers Finest

[kbasa]

Originally posted by James O

8. Mothers Finest

Holy Moly! Are they still around? That band could rock the house and I played the daylights out of their record Another Mother Further.

[lorazepam]

Does anyone like Bela Fleck and the Flecktones? I saw them live, at Jazoo, and they were awesome! Very different sound and highly talented.

[lancew]

wow... great topic....

1) Delbert McClinton- Delbert really has been all the way up and all the way down. The guy just turns it on at every show, everywhere, and is as approachable as anybody ever. Come see him in Richmond on April 28, and stay with me if you want. Really. Can't say enough. If you're a real Delbert-head, keep an eye on www.delbert.com for the "Tater House Jam" in Kinston NC next fall for the absolute best concert venue ever.

2) Lyle Lovett. Another candidate for coolest-ever all-time live show and live album. See him in a good venue like Atlanta's Fox Theater and it'll make you go buy every album he ever did. Rides Beemers too.

3) Asleep at the Wheel. They may be broken up, but Very Best Of is a great album to ride, drive, think, drink, or chill to. If you can see them in concert(they still do a few), it is about the best live show of the Western Swing genre.

4) The Blues Brothers. Belushi and Akroyd were NOT a joke- they loved the music. Catch Ultimate Collection or Briefcase Full of Blues, it will turn you on to the best blues there is.

5) Bonnie Raitt. She means it.

6 & 7) The Rolling Stones and U2. There is a reason these two bands have been around so long- they just plain kick ass in concert.

Geez, there are so many others... you CA guys need to catch Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps, and tell her Lance said hi, she's the best. Also... John Hiatt, Bruce, John Mellencamp... Widespread Panic... Government Mule (they ROCKED before Woody died, haven't seen 'em since)...

at first I thought seven was too many to ask for... now I think it's way too few.

Anybody seen Norah Jones? I get the feeling she is also one of the best...

[Cliffy777]

Yup. Roger. Affirmative on Bela and his Tones. We saw them at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival summer before last. That sumbitch rocks on the little ole gitar thang he plays.
Wait, got too many strangs and hits too small for to be a gitar.

Speaking of John Hiatt, he was the last act for the first night of the Bluegrass Fesitval at Telluride. He had his band the Goners and they rocked the house. He made multiple jokes about being the least bluegrass act there. I was listening to his greatest hits all day in the store today.

[lancew]

Ah, John Hiatt's greatest reminds me- Roseanne Cash is also in a league of her own (she did the haunting duet on "This is the way we make a broken heart"). Go see her.

I saw John Hiatt acoustic at the Roxy in Atlanta a few years ago- he joked about how now that he's old, his hair is fading from the front of his head and migrating down the back of his neck to meet the hair that is also migrating upwards from his butt. He also came out that night with just a guitar and a harmonica (mandolin for "Cry Love") and just plain kicked A for three hours.

[ian408]

Originally posted by lorazepam
Does anyone like Bela Fleck and the Flecktones? I saw them live, at Jazoo, and they were awesome! Very different sound and highly talented.

Yup. Bela is pretty good. String Cheese Incident too.

Ian

[BradfordBenn]

Originally posted by lorazepam
Does anyone like Bela Fleck and the Flecktones? I saw them live, at Jazoo, and they were awesome! Very different sound and highly talented.

Little Trivia for ya. Bela was the first all digital CD commercially available in the US. There was also Flim and the BBs but they were recorded analog.

We now return you to the thread already in progress....

[James O]

Kbasa

Although from Georgia, Mothers Finest really got their best air time in California. From there it filtered back to us here in the south. Kicking band. Still sounds great today and is a mainstay at most of the parties that I attend.

"Get it, get it, get it, yeah,,,get,get,get,get,get, oww"

[kbasa]

Thanks to the folks here, I visited Galactic's website and they gave me some MP3s.

Wow. Those guys are fun.

Anybody listening to the new Alicia Keys? Man, what a voice....

[R75_7]

She sounds as good as she looks. Bee-u-ti-full!

[The_Veg]

Saw Fleck ten years ago in a bar in my hometown. Great show! His bassist Victor Wooten has done some some really great solo work too.

Saw Hiatt around the same era at a HUGE outdoor music festival they have in Birmingham. I'd never heard of him at the time and thought he was just another self-important baby-boomer with a guitar that I'd have to wait through for whoever was next on that stage that I wanted to get a good spot for. In the intervening years I've learned a little more and grown some respect for the man.

Somebody mentioned Bonnie Raitt as well. Saw her a couple of times and she's go to be the most genuine person ever to grace a stage! The first time I saw her, Keb Mo' opened the show (also a really great performer!!!) and she came out and helped him with a song. As she left the stage afterward he said she was the kindest woman he knew. I also noticed her dancing to his music all through his set in the dark shadows off stage. He returned the vocal favours during her set too.

[LegendGirl]

This may make your head hurt....sorry!

KISS - I'm a child of the '70s.

Lycia

black tape for a blue girl

Unto Ashes

This Ascension

Sarah McLachlan

Paul van Dyk

I'm afraid my CD collection looks like a schizophrenic did the buying. :D

[kbasa]

Mmmmm....Sarah McLachlan.....

[ian408]

Originally posted by LegendGirl
This may make your head hurt....sorry!

Paul van Dyk

I'm afraid my CD collection looks like a schizophrenic did the buying. :D

John Digweed

Looks to me that most people here are pretty diverse in their
musical taste. I see there are some bands I must investigate :)

Ian

[R75_7]

KISS"Destroyer" was the first new album I got when I was a kid. My aunt Dorthy drove from somewhere between Portland OR.(her house) and Spokane WA.(my dads). I was spending the summer up there with my dad and it was my birthday. I loved KISS they were my favorite until Iron Maiden.

[Cliffy777]

for schizophrenic CD buying.
Bravo for John Digweed.

[crvalley]

Great Thread...

Here are my favorites...

1) JJ Cale

2) Stevie Ray Vaughan (brother Jimmie, too)

3) Freddie King

4) Tom Petty (and his guitarist, Mike Campbell)

5) Nirvana

6) Dick Dale (gave me a guitar pick and signed my greatest hits CD at Slims two years ago...)

7) AC/DC

For those about to ride, I salute you!

[The_Veg]

Nice to know Dick Dale is still at it! He signed my CD in '93. He's the real stuff.

[ian408]

I believe in taking the occassional chance on music. Adds a
little kick every once and a while.

Tonite, I picked up an album that could be classified as
"alternative" but in reality is mellow and a nice listen to
boot.

The band is Interpol and the album "Turn on the Bright Lights".

ian

[magwa]

Can't do it.

Here are some favorite albums and performers:

Beatles - Abby Road

Van - Astral Weeks

CSNY - Four Way Street

Santana - Abraxas

Allman - Laid Back

JC Young - Song for Julia (because he's a friend and I helped)

N. Young w/Crazy Horse

Most any Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley

Sappy, butt I like a bunch of James Taylor. Carli in "So Vane", too.

Tom Waits in short bursts

SRV Rocks...can only take it for a while

Allison Krause

Tracy Chapman, ditto on the "Waits" thing, tho.

Too many to choose from.

[LICK MY BRICK]

1.HOUSE music-deep house,tech house ect. ect.

2.Miles davis,and John Coltrane

3.black sabbath

4.U2

5.YES

6.the police

7.phil collins(genesis)

8.Rush


jayson

[dzimbric]

I seem to have aquired difficulty in obeying speed limits while listening to Little Feat. Got a set of custom earplugs with the speakers and they rock.
Queen just played on the radio and they rock too.
So many great bands out there,
Sting especially his earlier work with the Police
Pink Floyd, I used to have a complete collection including bootlegs.
I found the album, "that is a flat plastic disk, Bradford" Low Spark of High Heeled Boys by Traffic in excellent condition, including the the inner jacket for a quarter last summer.
Led Zeppelin
Aerosmith, my kid told about this great band that had a new CD out called "Toys in the Attic" a couple of years ago and my wife and I just looked at each other and then him with a strait face before she named all of the songs on the album.
John Prime, can anybody find a copy of his bootleg prison tape?
Jeff Beck
Curt Elling, this man has a voice and he sure can do SCAT.
I guess the bottom line is that with the exception of Rap, I like them all from classic to country with a lot of ROCK AND ROLL and of course the blues and jazz music too.

[beemerred]

1- the beatles-they changed rock`n`roll into an art form with a rythm, message, and passion. john lennon carried that message with him thru 3 decades

2-johnny cash- any pickers out there knows that his recordings at sun records added that blues thumb/bass cadence into the R&R era

3-marvin gaye- he could make any song his own

4-james taylor- changed music by his chord structures and poetic phrasing and storytelling

5 the rest are just bands i like-the subdudes, the band,the ramones ,violent femmes, tom russell , U2 and others

[R75_7]

Another great Jazzfest year(my 8th in a row). I saw an unannounced show with Greg Dulli the leadsinger of The Afgan Wigs. Chris Robinsons new band New Earth Mud with Warren Haynes(Farmer) jamming with them. Galactic with Jurassic 5 also played toge5ther. The Iguanas a must see every year. At the Fest; The Funky Meters, Steve Miller Band With too many guests to list, Allen Tousaint, Santana, and a buch of smaller Blues, Jazz, Gospel, and South African Bands to name. Anyone else seen any cool shows since the las time this thread went around?

[Cliffy777]

Just enjoyed Yes (the original crew complete with Rick Wakeman) three nights ago on their 35th anniversary tour.
Loved the show. The started at 7:40 and played until 11:45 with a 25 minute intermission. Pretty impressive for their age.
Always have enjoyed this group. There was one song that didn't do much for me, but other than that these old dudes put on a heck of a show IMHO. I love the way Steve Howe can switch from country-ish slide to accoustic-classical to screaming rock lead guitar (toss in the occasional lute, 12 string and what have you) with seamless ease. Chris Squire put "lead" bass playing on the map and continues to demonstrate how it is done.
Alan White is tight! How he can navigate through the complexities of Yes music without a click track is beyond me. I know Wakeman was having a good time on account of he smiled at least five times!!
We are looking forward to David Byrne being here this summer.
(Actually this post should be on the "concert experiences" thread, but who cares.)

[gambrinus]

In no certain order, here are some of my favorites:

-Bad Religion
-The Police
-New Model Army (going to see May 20)
-Rush (seeing at RedRocks in June)
-Hank Williams III
-ALL of the hip swinging groove cat tunes from "The Rat Pack" and their ilk. Frank and Dean Martin are probably my favs.
-The Replacements

[oldcarkook]

Stuff that doesn't die:
- Dire Staights (an old buddy- Jack- played rhythm)
- The Police (Eddie Murphy's "Roxanne" in the jailhouse is me)
- Steely Dan
- ZZ Top
- Santana
- Oldies mixes

New that I like:
- Chris Isaak
- Hip hop - nobody in particular

There's a lot of good new music out there.

[IndyGT]

This thread really has legs.
Here's my 2¢ worth:

1. The Who - Their last heroic hurrah was the post-9/11 Concert for New York City. Their set was inspiring - full of fire and righteous rage. Sadly, John Entwhistle can never be replaced, so the dream is over. Quadrophenia is my "desert island" album.
2. Bob Dylan - The voice of a generation and the unofficial Poet Laureate of the United States.
3. Jimi Hendrix - A giant.
4. Steely Dan - Hip, smart and immaculate production values.
5. The Rolling Stones - They're really a blues band, you know...
6. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds is unparalleled ear candy.
7. John Mellencamp - Deeper than anyone knew.

[Tzrider]

I have to change this to 7 favorite CDs

1 Crusaders - Free as the Wind- Jazz fusion, has been my favorite for the last 26 years.

2 Jean-Luc Ponty - Enigmatic Ocean- Jazz fusion

3 Dave Weckl - Master Plan- Jazz fusion, He used to be the drummer for Chic Corea

4 Jimmy Smith - The Organ Grinder's Swing- Jazz, hey, I'm a keyboard player

5 Crosby Stills Nash & Young - Deja vu - In my opinion the greatest rock album ever

6 Santanna - Moonflower - If you like live jams, this is it.

7 Too many to pic from, Nekter - Remember the Future, George Benson, Yellow Jackets, Moe, Phish, Gerald Albright, on and on

[TrailingJack]

Is this still going?
* Richmond Fontaine - dark storytelling from an alt-country band from Portland... bonechilling
*Drive By Truckers - loud southern rockers with a Skynyrd fixation
*Marah - Philly boys learn how to write like Springsteen from Steve Earle
*Ryan Adams/Whiskeytown - he can act like a spoiled rock star, but he sure can write catchy tunes
*Gram Parsons - 30 year old songs sound just as good now (especially since no one paid attention to them then) - the beginning of the future
*Keith Richards/Stones - Keith IS the Stones
*Replacements/ Paul Westerberg - fun while it lasted
*Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers- post NY Dolls Keith Richards imitation (only he didn't make it past addiction)
*Johnny Cash - R.I.P.

[Cliffy777]

of this thread. It is now the Energizer Bunny Thread.
What I think is cool is that I find one or two in everyone's post that I wish I had put in my list (course that would make my list about 749 by now.....)
Saw Jean Luc Ponty in concert once, that was great.

[FRubio]

Holy smokes you guys!!!!
I feel 25 years younger reading some of the names you've posted.
Let chime in with:
Beatles - I remember sitting in my parents living room watching their first Ed Sullivan show.
Rolling Stones - they showed us more of how to push the line, if you know what I mean.
Tommy James and the Shondels - gave a concert at my high school in Chicago.
Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons - taught us how to treat the ladies.
Iron Butterfly - would not have been what they were without Ginger Baker.
Jimi Hendrix - I don't think there is a man out there that can make a guitar cry like he could. Can you imagine Ginger Baker, Jimi, and Keith Richards on the same band.....!
Eagles - wow!
I could go on and on.
Thanks for the memories guys!

[Cliffy777]

If my memory serves me right, then a dude named Ron Bushy played drums for the Iron Butterfly. Don't think Ginger Baker had the time (wasn't he playing with Cream about then????)
Inna-gadda-da-vida was the first LP I ever purchased. I think I was in the 4th or 5th grade and my buds were listening to The Archies and whatnot, but I had an older brother to show me the way!!

Here is a link for you to double check me:
http://www.ironbutterfly.com/bio/

Ron Bushy, Lee Dorman, Doug Ingle and ......(who was the fourth guy in Iron Butterfly???)

[FRubio]

I was having so much fun reminiscing I never placed much thought, but you are correct.
I was an Andy Frain usher, at the Chicago Stadium when Cream gave a concert. More specifically I was in charge of the dressing room entrance and got close to Ginger Baker. Man, was he wasted....but could he play!!!!!
Fernando

[Brickhead]

My favorites are always changing, but here's a snapshot - random ranking:

1. The Stooges - "Raw Power"
2. Herbie Hancock - "Head Hunters"
3. Johnny Cash - "Live at San Quentin"
4. The Pixies - "Surfer Rosa"
5. The Wailers - "Survival"
6. The Specials - "The Specials"
7. The Clash - "London Calling"
7A. The Beatles - "Revolver"
7B. Velvet Underground - "Loaded"
7C. Led Zeppelin - "4"

[Emoto]

1. The Grateful Dead
2. The Grateful Dead
3. Eric Clapton
4. The Grateful Dead
5. The Allman Bros.
6. Miles Davis
7. Albert King
8. Otis Rush
9. Yes
10. Jimi Hendrix
11. Leo Kottke

"But it goes to eleven!!!"



:D

[dzimbric]

Hey man,
Like you forgot the Grateful Dead:dunno :dunno

[Grey Matter]

I really had to give this some thought. In the mood I am in today I would have to say:

1. Beatles
2. Tom Petty
3. Cowboy Junkies
4. Johnny Cash
5. King Crimson
6. Nickel Creek
7. Los Straightjackets
8. NRBQ – The greatest bar band in the world.

Honorable Mention: Rolling Stones, Who, Simple Minds, The Clash, The Firm, Larry Carlton/Crusaders, Steely Dan, Yellow Jackets, Bruce Springsteen.

Wow that was tough.

[mcholt212]

My first post!! Yay! And it's about music, the only other thing I love as much as riding my bike. Here's my 7 all-time essential band list:

Foofighters-what can I say. Dave Grohl is the man. Period. I've never heard such sweet noise come from only 4 guys. I try to make all shows possible when they tour-I'm at 13 and counting.

Peter Gabriel-this stems from my growing up during the 70's. After you get over the pain of his leaving Genesis, you finally see if was for the better, allowing his musical style to keep on branching out and away from the mainstream. He is a musical genius, incorporating a vast collection of sounds from cultures around the world into his work.

Nirvana-everybody knows Curt Cobain, Dave Grohl and Krist Novacelik woke up a sleeping post 80's musical world and defined a generation with their music-besides without Nirvana, there might not have ever been any Foos.

Blues Brothers-I still have my Briefcase Full of Blues VINYL record I got when I was in 8th grade. John Belushi really could sing! What a great collection of other artists, too. Their rendition of Delbert McClinton's B-Movie Boxcar Blues is one of my all-time favorite songs.

Blood, Sweat & Tears-I love David-Clayton-Thomas' voice. And I got a thing for some tight brass mixed into rock and roll, anyway. I used to beg my Dad to play Spinning Wheel over and over when I was a kid. I never got tired of that song, but I bet he did.

Eric Clapton-old Slowhand is the guitar king...hands down. I only wish I could play 1/2 as good as him. He has grown into a distinguished, wise and very talented entertainer. His Crossroads center in Antigua is a blessing to those unable to defeat addictions.

Garbage-I dig girl rockers, too. Sheryl Crow, Liz Phair...chicks that can play guitar really turn me on, but none as much as Shirley Manson. If I'm gonna get into trouble, I want to be punished by Ms. Manson. Garbage takes rock and fuses it with a danceable beat while Shirley's lyrics and singing give the whole package a naughty but nice feel to it.

Rock (and ride) on!

[TrailingJack]

Originally posted by Brickhead
My favorites are always changing, but here's a snapshot - random ranking:

1. The Stooges - "Raw Power"
2. Herbie Hancock - "Head Hunters"
3. Johnny Cash - "Live at San Quentin"
4. The Pixies - "Surfer Rosa"
5. The Wailers - "Survival"
6. The Specials - "The Specials"
7. The Clash - "London Calling"
7A. The Beatles - "Revolver"
7B. Velvet Underground - "Loaded"
7C. Led Zeppelin - "4"

Good call, Brickhead! I would have to add your #'s 1, 7 and 7B to my list...

[Cliffy777]

"My first post!! Yay! And it's about music, the only other thing I love as much as riding my bike."

Better not be your last post - Peter G did do much better on his own IMHO, so Amen to that.....
Keep on ridin' and postin'. (and votin')

[kbasa]

London Calling was probably the best rock album made during the 80s. Absolutely stellar.

Elevator - goingggggg up!

[Gnome]

Ted Nugent

Led Zepplin
AC/DC
B-52s
R.E.M.
Moody Blues
Golden Earring
Hank Williams
Bob Dylan
John Denver
Jimmy Buffet
Debussey
Fredrick freakin Chopin
BR-549
Derailers
Dwight Yokam
Del McCourey Band
Osborne Brothers
Falt and Scruggs
Arlo Guthrie



(I've got my spine and I've got my orange crush)

[mcholt212]

Originally posted by KBasa
London Calling was probably the best rock album made during the 80s. Absolutely stellar.

Elevator - goingggggg up!


Amen. R.I.P. Joe Strummer.

[KAW]

As others have said, too difficult to name a definitive seven. Here's what comes to mind today.

1) Rush - Have liked all of their work since the first album I heard, "2112" when I was a child. Last concert I saw was these guys in Northern VA, 06/02. Still put on a great show.
2) Neil Young, solo or w/ Crazy Horse - Tied for best live concert I have seen, Charlotte Ampitheatre, 08/96.
3) Jane's Addiction - Not a whole lot of depth lyrically, but Perry Farrell's voice and Dave Navarro's guitar work go great together.
4) Pat Metheny - Best guitarist I have heard. Try "Missouri Sky" (all acoustic instrumentals) or "Imaginary Day" for starters.
5) Grateful Dead - Tied for best live concert, RFK Stadium, 06/90. Went with some friends shortly after graduating from high school, not knowing much about their music. Knocked my socks off.
6) The Replacements - Someone once wrote an article in the 80's describing them as "the last true rock-n-roll band".
7) Dwight Yoakam - Modern country that sounds like the classics.

Bonus:

Prince - Alright, a lot of his stuff is not to my liking, but the first tape I ever purchased was "1999". He produced some of the best pop music ever during the 1980's.

[Tzrider]

Went to Bonnaroo

Best shows seen, Vida Blue, Ani DiFranco, Acoustic Syndicate

Worst shows seen, Dylan, Dave Mathews & Friends

Just OK, The Dead, Puimus, Gov't Mule, String Cheese Incident

[jdcoffman]

;) My favorites are

1. Petra Rocking Christian Music
2. Beethoven 1-9, Mozart 40-41, Tchakovsky 1812, Nutcracker, Rossini William Tell overture (Lone Ranger song for those who inhaled.
3. Beach Boys
4.DC Talk Rapping Christian music.
5. Johnny Horton
6. Maranath Praise singers Mellow Christian worship songs
7. Phil Keagy

Honorable mention: Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, Herb Albert and the Tijanan Brass, Glenn Miller, Elvis

Favorite Cycle tune "I don't want a Pickle I just want to ride my motorcycle" Arlow Gunthre

[BeerTeam]

Interesting picks, various tastes just like the thread
Unlimited $ - Now build a stable of 6 bikes (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12522)

:thumb

.

[tourunigo]

not sure about seven but my taste runs....and not in this order at all

most zydeco
Steve Earle
Beatles
early Elvis
Jimmy Buffett
David Allen Coe
Waylon Jennings

.... dang, that's seven. oh well. - Bob

[markclark]

I did this empirically by checking the Most Played list on my iPhone:

1. Iggy Pop with/without stooges
2. Velvet Underground
3. Eno/Fripp/Talking Heads (I know, this isn't "a band" but had a hard enough time narrowing down to 7)
4. Replacements/ Paul Westerberg (came of age in MPLS in late 70s/early 80s so actually got to see these guys play lots of times! glad to see they're on so many favorite lists here)
5. Sigur Ros
6. White Stripes/Raconteurs/Dead Weather and anything else Jack White chooses to come up with in the future.
7. Sonic Youth

[MCRyder]

Since you just asked for 7....

1. Neil Young (I can tell his guitar in one chord)

2. Rush (3 guys, one incredible sound)

3. Trapeze (obscure, but I love "Coast To Coast")

4. Beethoven (what can I say?)

5. Steely Dan (yes, I know what the name means)

6. Todd Rundgren (musician, songwriter, producer; does it all)

7. David Gilmour (his debut solo album immediately hooked me)

and many, many more....

[squiffynimrod]

not sure about seven but my taste runs....
most zydeco


Yeessss!!

The most fun, danceable music ever played.

You must be familiar with the works of Stanley Dural Jr.?
AKA.................................?

[althotos]

Rock & Pop & Jazz:
1) Pink Floyd :dance
2) Steely Dan
3) Led Zeppelin
4) Jean Luc Ponty
5) Frank Sinatra
6) Supertramp
7) Antonio Carlos Jobim

Classical:
1) Wagner :buds
2) Puccini
3) Bach
4) Debussy
5) Tchaikovsky
6) Ravel
7) Beethoven

[BubbaZanetti]

London Calling was probably the best rock album made during the 80s. Absolutely stellar.

Elevator - goingggggg up!

1979, December, IIRC

just a bit before i was born.:brad

[tessler]

London Calling was probably the best rock album made during the 80s. Absolutely stellar.

Elevator - goingggggg up!Probably, but not likely.

Best rock album of the 1980s has to be a tie between:

Zen Arcade by Hüsker Dü (84)
Double Nickels on the Dime by The Minutemen (85)
Atomizer by Big Black (86)

[BubbaZanetti]

Probably, but not likely.

Best rock album of the 1980s has to be a tie between:

Zen Arcade by Hüsker Dü (84)
Double Nickels on the Dime by The Minutemen (85)
Atomizer by Big Black (86)

I thought you didn't like music from west of the Hudson.:)

[tessler]

I thought you didn't like music from west of the Hudson.:)Well Johnny Cash and Frank Zappa certainly weren't from east of the Hudson!

:wave

[535is]

http://pic.phyrefile.com/s/st/stevanford/2009/11/16/holy20thread20resurrection.jpg

Over five years! Still, "The Song(s) Remains The Same". Dates in color are when I saw them perform...

1. The Who. Always my #1. No one else is even close. A more unlikely set of "geezers" (Daltrey's word) could never be found to produce what these guys came up with - at least as long as Moon was conscious and alive. Never ones to bring their studio sound to the stage (Thank God!), I am not the only one to consider them the best live rock band - ever*. '71, '79, '82, '89

2. Mott the Hoople. Maybe this is an infatuation with me. I never saw them live, but wish I had. Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson (1989) carried this band's great work forward and upward - at least until we lost Ronno. :( Another band much better live than pasteurized on record.

3. Queen. I 'discovered' them just before they first came to the US - opening for Mott, no less - and I knew they'd be magnificently huge. One of those rare bands to be able to bring most of their brilliant and complex studio work to the stage almost unchanged. '77, '78, '80, '82

4. Boston. I get a lot of flack for this one, but I don't care. Tom Scholz never could get on track to be a huge success after that stunning debut album, but still managed to turn out something once a decade, on average. What you heard on vinyl you heard in concert. Scholz is a perfectionist genius and the late Brad Delp was the perfect complement. Otherwise, they could barely keep a band together around them. Right out of the gate (their second show outside Massachusetts, at the Cleveland Agora in 1976), they were brilliant. It could only go downhill from there. 2008

5. Faces. What a lovely drunken trainwreck of a band! Before Rod Stewart became a totally self-involved disco twit. Before Ronnie Wood left to become Keith Richards' twin. Before Tetsu Yamauchi (who?) badly filled in for Ronnie Lane. Before Kenney Jones found no one could ever fill Keith Moon's shoes. This is the band you wanted to find in any bar you walked into - and usually did. "Maggie May", anyone? 1972

6. Meat Loaf. Another one like Boston. A thunderous start that could never be matched compounded by a split with his songwriter. Still, Meat is the Fat Texas White Guy equivalent of James Brown: an incredibly powerful performer. 1978

7. Blue Öyster Cult. OK; these guys are often off the list, replaced by someone else for the moment. I saw them too many times to ignore, but never owned an album of theirs. It's kind of a love-apathy relationship. Buck Dharma is simply amazing - even without a 10-foot-tall Godzilla breathing fire at the back of the stage. '76-'77 (New Year's Eve show), '82, '89

Occasional others include Zeppelin (that I found too self-indulgently pompous in 1977), The Cars ('84), The Beach Boys ('82), Patty Smyth & Scandal, and AC/DC. So why couldn't we afford a list of 10? :scratch

* OK; not the 1989 tour. On that one, they well and truly sucked.

[lilredroadster]

Pink Floyd
Aerosmith
Chris Daughtry
Led Zeppelin
Grateful Dead(OF COURSE)
Gov't Mule
The Who
I could go on and on but that is 7
:groovy

[timay]

John Digweed

You beat me to it!

In no particular order...

1. John Digweed is responsible for 4 or 5 slots on my list of "top 10 most incredible musical experiences of my life." Consistently amazing. (I'm a huge electronic music fan.) Also Danny Howells, Steve Lawler, Deep Dish, Dubfire, Nick Warren, UNKLE, King Unique, Rulers of the Deep, John Graham, Sasha, etc.

2. Redbird, especially Peter Mulvey (folk-ish), who I've followed since I first heard his music playing on the house speakers as "filler" in between band sets at Canal St Tavern in Dayton, OH.

3. Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO), one of my all time favorite Jam bands. Always a great show that burns up the dance floor. (Jam bands are another favorite genre)

4. Miles Davis, esp. Kind of Blue. John Coltrane, and of course Dave Brubeck!

5. Vladimir Horowitz

6. Jack Johnson

7. Only 7? I've already blown it! More buffer overrun: Bach, Beethoven, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Beastie Boys (they do jazz!), Amy Winehouse, a little Phish (but certainly not all of it), STS9, a little String Cheese...

[tessler]

1. John Digweed is responsible for 4 or 5 slots on my list of "top 10 most incredible musical experiences of my life." Consistently amazing. (I'm a huge electronic music fan.) Also Danny Howells, Steve Lawler, Deep Dish, Dubfire, Nick Warren, UNKLE, King Unique, Rulers of the Deep, John Graham, Sasha, etc..+ 1,000! :thumb

We need to start a new thread. :) Also a big fan of Amon Tobin, Air, Kruder+Dorfmeister, Luke Vibert, Squarepusher and of course Kraftwerk. Trip, Chill, Down Tempo... you name it.

[timay]

LOL @ 535is

[timay]

+ 1,000! :thumb

YEAH! :bliss

[535is]

LOL @ 535is
At ME or at BATMAN? :scratch

[timay]

At ME or at BATMAN? :scratch

The Batman pic/quote is hilarious - and completely appropriate!

[lilredroadster]

OK so I already listed 7 bands/musicians b4, but I hadda put a few more on the list
Stephan Lynch (hysterical, offensive and musically great):thumb
Genesis
Jimi
3 Doors Down
Chili Peppers
Van Morrison
Lynard Skynard
Thats all folks!! (for now)
:groovy

[glenfiddich]

Wow, this thread is still alive! :thumb

Steve Earle and The Del McCourey Band
Eric Johnson is a phenomenal guitarist (Cliffs of Dover)

Pete

[criminaldesign]

usual suspects...

- Clash: Especially Sandinista

- Rancid: Dig that bass.

- John Prine: Sincere, humorous and down to earth. His version of 'Never Can Tell' blows Chuck Berry's out of the water.

- CCR: Genuine and no glitter. These guys were the first punk band.

- Waylon Jennings/Willie Nelson: These guys are great, together or apart

- Tom Waits: Can't be beat. Rough around edges. Modern day troubadour

- Pogues: Killer ballads and unique rock.

On a side note I agree with 535is on Meatloaf. Bat Out of Hell is one heck of a record beginning to end. Max Weinberg drummed on a number of the tracks.

[pffog]

+ 1,000! :thumb

We need to start a new thread. :) Also a big fan of Amon Tobin, Air, Kruder+Dorfmeister, Luke Vibert, Squarepusher and of course Kraftwerk. Trip, Chill, Down Tempo... you name it.

Not into the tecno, but dig the old school electronic music, so you have to include Keith Emerson in the electronic music pioneers.

My list, not in any real order

Jethro Tull
ELP
CSN&Y
The Who
Tom Petty
George Thorogood
Genisis

But listen to a lot of esoteric music

[tessler]

Not into the tecno, but dig the old school electronic music, so you have to include Keith Emerson in the electronic music pioneers.Yes, I would agree that some of the repetitive electronic dance and house-style music found in a lot of Electronica (including but not limited to Techno) is not to everyone's taste.

Have been a great fan of Keith Emerson since my dad turned me on to The Nice and ELP when I was a kid in the early 70s. A great musician! (In fact I'll be seeing him and Greg Lake play here in NYC this May):thumb

Hats off to other electronic Music pioneers Raymond Scott (who was working with Bob Moog in the 50s and who wrote that great staple of Bugs Bunny cartoons "Powerhouse") and Wendy (Walter) Carlos (who did the Moog-based "Switched on Bach"). On the Jazz side, Joe Zawinul and Herbie Hancock were doing incredibly tasty things with synthesizers in the late 60s-early 70s, too.

[rik]

CSN&Y....beauty

Judy Collins....sweetest voice ever

Roy Buchanan....the best

Genesis....had their own special way

The Pogues....Shane McGowan....Po"g Mo Tho'n....the best half of me is Irish the other half is alcoholic....go figure

The Pixies....Surfer Rosa

Andrea Bocelli....his voice makes me cry and want to cook tuscan food....hey, i became Italian when i married the most gorgeous and wonderful woman in the world. just ask her.