Artists best known for poor examples of their craft

What a waste! What a waste! But I don't mind.

You're being far too precious. A musical snob if you will.

They're both superb quirky songs that stand up to anything else he did.

I love Razzle in my Pocket but there are too many to single out. Anything that got him noticed is fine by me.

Don't get me wrong. They're both great tracks but for someone who was a great lyricist they don't get close to the best of his work. This means most people would have him down as a quirky pop disco act rather than the genius urban poet he was.

Jonathan

Mention Melanie and most people say ....oh yes 'Brand New Key'

But she did a lot of fantastic albums during the 70s and 80s and still recording now.

The double cd edition of 'Photograph' is one of her very best and up in my alltime top 10.

Underworld who most people know for 'Born Slippy. NUXX'

Lyrically it is good, if you listen beyond the 'Larger, larger' chant, but is is far less melodic than much of their work, and doesn't hit the power of some of their more dancy techno tracks.

The original instrumental track 'Born Slippy' is really good, one of their best, but very different indeed. 'NUXX' is the vocal version that most people just know as 'Born SLippy'.

Sometimes it is great live, and I really get into it, but I would still rather hear 'Kittens' or 'Dirty Epic'.

quote:

Mention Melanie and most people say ....oh yes 'Brand New Key'

not tuning my guitar or lay down (candles in the rain) or leftover wine or ring the living bell ..... a brilliant singer/songwriter of the highest order IMHO - why why why don't they re-release Garden in the City, Stoneground Words and Madrugada - I only have these on cassette.

Hi ROTF,

In have a vinyl copy of 'Garden in the City' with the scratch 'n' sniff cover... and it still works.

I love all her stuff.

Best Regards,
Mark Dunn

There are way to many folks who know Zappa just because of 'Bobby Brown'.

Add to that Lou Reed for 'Walk on the Wild Side'.

Queen. Take your pick!

Jeff Beck.

I'm off to see him later in the year, but when I mentioned this the other day at work, I got the usual "Oh, "Hi-Ho Silver Lining", him?".

Jeez, I hope I never hear that song again.


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Originally posted by munch:

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Originally posted by MilesSmiles:
There are way to many folks who know Zappa just because of 'Bobby Brown'.

Add to that Lou Reed for 'Walk on the Wild Side'.

Oliver,
You have to know Zappa well to pick out Bobby Brown imo.
It was never out as a single.
Dynamo hum was never a single.
Billy the mountain was never a single.
Frank never had a bad example of his craft imo.
He never did a thing wrong music wise IMO.
Stu

Bobby Brown was a club anthem in my days, maybe I just went to the wrong clubs.

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Billy the mountain was never a single.

That would have been a long single - Chunga's Revenge excepted, I don't think Frank's collaboration with the Turtles was good for either; I love the Turtles and am a big fan of Mr Z, but I'm not convinced they were happy together.

My favourite Zappa single is probably Big Leg Emma - though I do seem to remember that on juke box jury Katie Boyle voted who are the brain police? a miss: she was right too - great song nonetheless.

quote:

Originally posted by Shayman:
Listening to several consecutive Ian Dury albums in the car today it struck me that he is best known for two songs which pale into insignificance in comparison to 90% of his output.

"Sex and Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll" and "Hit Me with your Rhythmnstick", whilst having titles that caught the public's imagination, just don't stand up to the vast majority of his back catalogue.

There must be other bands that suffer the same lack of true recognition of their work? Does anyone have any examples?

Jonathan

To hear those two songs at their best, as with all ID&tB, it has to be a live experience.

That, sadly, is of course no longer possible (though The Blockheads are a superb band in their own right, and of course wrote the hallmark music, if not the lyrics. I was fortunate in catching them not too long ago featuring Phill Jupitus on vocals, who was excellent - not a doing an ID impression, but singing his songs).

But I do recommend the live album, 'All the Best Mate - live, warts n all'.



As for other bands, ELP are very much beter than 'Fanfare for the Common Man' and 'I believe in father Christmas'...

The common public impression of Billy Bragg is of his political work ('I Was A Miner...' etc) but his work includes many exceptional personal songs; often funny, almost always acutely observed and full of great lines.

If you want a real lump in the throat download 'Tank Park Salute' from the album 'Don't Try This At Home'.

Bruce

(With regard to the post above, did you ever see Ian Drury and Jeremy Clarkson together?)

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:

If you want a real lump in the throat download 'Tank Park Salute' from the album 'Don't Try This At Home'.

Bruce

Just buy the whole album. It is a classic.

Also in the spirit to the thread Kirsty MacColl was massively under-rated by the public.

Jono

Chris Spedding - 'Remember You're A Womble'.

quote:

Originally posted by Adam Meredith:
Chris Spedding - 'Remember You're A Womble'.

I didn't know Chris did that ... I'll have to order a copy; no tell a lie, I won't have to order it as I have the Wombles greatest hits vol 4 and it's on that - on vinyl too.

Nickleback

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Actually I am slightly off topic. It's all cr*p.