Greatest Band of the 20th Century

quote:

Originally posted by bhazen:
Kevin could have been a big star (v. talented, and he was better looking than Bowie, Jagger or Bryan Ferry), but he was too sane. The other Syd Barrett?

Just got the new Softs compilation, Out-Bloody-Rageous; the best stuff was, IMHO, the Kevin era or thereabouts.

If you can track them down then the Giorgio Gomelsky produced tapes released on vinyl as In The Beginning or on CD as Jet Propelled Photograph are worth the effort. This contains some wonderful stuff by Ayres, Wyatt, Hopper and Daevid Allen. I don't think there is any overlap with the Out-Bloody-Rageous compilation. Less interestingly I have the Wilde Flowers tapes, which contains very early Soft Machine and Caravan stuff - lots of different versions of Robert Wyatt's 'Memories'. I notice on OBR you have both sides of the first single 'Love Makes Sweet Music', which was one of the great singles.

However, my favouriye Kevin Ayres work is his third solo album Whatevershebringwesing - it has 'Stranger in Blue Suede Shoes' and 'Song from the Bottom of a Well' on it - although there are no bad Kevin Ayres records.

Kevin Ayres and Syd Barrett were friends and there are recordings where the two were together: 'Singing a Song In the Morning' on Joy Of A Toy being the most well known - although Syd's guitar is not apparent on the official album release. Soft Machine (post Ayres) also backed Barrett on tracks on Madcap Laughs.

IMHO Bowie, Jagger and Ferry are not really in the same league as Ayres and Barrett, but as you say Kevin was too sane for super star status. Though I like early Bowie stuff and Sir Mick is great entertainer.

So - enjoy Out-Bloody-Rageous - I haven't got this album, but do have in one form or another the tracks it contains and it is a superb collection.

All the best, Rotf

I'd love to get the "Stranger in Blue Suede Shoes" to pass out his cigarettes to the Republicans running this country...!!!

I will seek out Jet-Propelled Photograph. I understand Daevid Allen was still in the band then.

"Thank you...very much."

another vote for the beatles.
first real BAND in the modern way and also a bit like a peformance. very influential and modern (still, after all these years).


for me they are definitely more about "defining something new" (=the concept of being a pop band, being superheroes in a way and living that) as about their music though - they made great music!!

regards - blackforest

The Beatles, for sure; though I wish there could be a 10-year moratorium on "new" Beatles albums and books. I fear the younger generations (Y & Z?) may start to resent the Beatles because they're always having them shoved down their throats by us older folks. It's always so cool when a young'un is going through the parents' record collection, says "What's this?" and puts on Revolver for the first time...

ELO !?! Otherwise Pink Floyd

How can you say who is the best?

This is probably why I don't get envolved in the Music Room.

quote:

Originally posted by craig sidwell:
How can you say who is the best?

This is probably why I don't get envolved in the Music Room.

You can't say whose best because is far too difficult, but you can just say a group you like for the hell of it. I find it quite fascinating to see if anybody naims any groups that I really like. And surprisngly many do share my liking for a number of bands - though I think I'm the only one who puts Half Man, Half Biscuit in pole position - though I do like those other four lads from merseyside too (John, Paul, George and Ringo).

The formula I use for working out who is the best is

x = log{sin{1- } + f*arctanh{e**PI - sqrt(-1)}/(1 - )}

where f is Fabuloso constant.

Zen Guerilla

Well, as a philosophical issue, whoever possesses the "I" sensation (that is, being an individual ego inside a bag of skin) is the center of the universe; therefore, whomever you love the best is the Greatest Band of the 20th Century (or whatever the value judgement is). There can, of course, be consensus candidates (i.e. the Beatles, etc.), but music is a v. personal, oftimes private, thing.

I believe in Source First; by which I believe the "software" (CD, LP, digital file, radio wave, whatever originates the music) is the most important part of the hi-fi chain; when I realised this, I realised I wasn't an audiophile.

quote:

I believe in Source First; by which I believe the "software" (CD, LP, digital file, radio wave, whatever originates the music) is the most important part of the hi-fi chain; when I realised this, I realised I wasn't an audiophile.

Dear Bhazen,

I agree with you about the 'Source First', except to say;
that the music and the performance, of the recording artist (before it gets to the "software"), is more important.

And, yes 'audiophiles' aren't into music!

Craig

quote:

Originally posted by craig sidwell:
I agree with you about the 'Source First', except to say;
that the music and the performance, of the recording artist (before it gets to the "software"), is more important.

And, yes 'audiophiles' aren't into music!

Craig

Ouf! You are correct, sir (I didn't go far enough back the creative chain!).

The question was, who was, is, the greatest band of the 20th century, it's so fucking easy, if you ever saw them live you would know. THE E STREET BAND, makes every other band sound mediocre in comparison.

quote:

Originally posted by jake stead:
The question was, who was, is, the greatest band of the 20th century, it's so fucking easy, if you ever saw them live you would know. THE E STREET BAND, makes every other band sound mediocre in comparison.

I applaud your enthusiasm, sir.

quote:

The question was, who was, is, the greatest band of the 20th century, it's so fucking easy, if you ever saw them live you would know. THE E STREET BAND, makes every other band sound mediocre in comparison.

Depends if you are talking about it from a quality of music, or musician's virtuosity point of view, or from the point of view as entertainment value.

I've seen SPRINGSTEEN and the E STREET BAND live, and although it was one of the best concerts I've ever been to, I wouldn't say that it was the best music or the best musicians, I've heard from a band, in the 20th century.

I would put the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Who, Genesis (early- with Peter Gabriel), Supertramp, Steely Dan, Little Feat and the Eagles musical contribution to the 20th century before that of the E STREET BAND.

Craig

CRAIG
With all do respect sir, I happened to see the Who, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones live, and though their contribution to music is unquestionable, they all pale, Except the Who, you can never use that term when describing the Who live! to Springsteen live. To be honest, Led Zeppelin sounded horrible live, the Stones were just OK, the Who phenomenal, they deserve the title of greatest rock and roll band!

But-there has never been a band that plays as a whole like the E Street band, please purchase the DVD of the 75 show in London, Hammersmith, and also try to get a copy of a bootleg from 78, especially listen to the intro to "Prove It All Night", nothing compares!

Other great live shows that I have seen in the past,to name just a few, have actually seen much more, that are worth mentioning, the Guess Who, highly underrated, Joe Cocker, Van Morrison, actually in awe for that show, Clapton with Stevie Ray the night before he died at Alpine Valley, Fleetwood Mack,Pearl Jam, The Doobie Brothers, and of course Jethro Tull, his early shows from 73 to 78 were unbelievable. Some great shows, but the only way I could describe seeing Springsteen and the E Street band live for the first time in 75, then in 78, could only be compared to, or described as a religious experience.

Guys, I'm chocked to read just a few lines regarding Deep Purple
The combination of:
- great melodies
- brilliant musicians (and signers)
- their ability to play together
- great on both records and as a live band.
is unbeaten.
For me… they created true magic emotional music!

Please compare Beatles "help" with Deep purple version.
One version sound like "we are on our way to the beach" the other screams fear...sorrows...

What tune creates most emotions?

quote:

Originally posted by JanÅ:
Please compare Beatles "help" with Deep purple version.
One version sound like "we are on our way to the beach" the other screams fear...sorrows...

What tune creates most emotions?

Well, given the choice between fear & sorrow, or on my sunny way to the beach, I'll take the latter!

JanÅ

Although I prefer the Beatles version of 'Help' and, indeed, of 'We Can Work It Out', I do share your enthusiam for Deep Purple. Book of Taliesyn with that superb track 'The Shield' remains my favoutite album of that august ensemble. The fact that the group recorded 'Hush', 'Mandrake Root','Kentucky Woman','Anthem', 'Black Night', 'Speed King', Child In Time', 'Strange Kind Of Woman', 'Fireball', 'Highway Star', 'Some Pn The Water', 'Woman From Toyko' and 'Burn' only reinforces your view that they were a helluva band.

I'd sooner listen to Purple than Spingsteen any day of the week, but that's way I am. Just don't get Spingsteen, but understand his really nice guy - so good luck to him.

quote:

Originally posted by bhazen:

quote:

Originally posted by JanÅ:
Please compare Beatles "help" with Deep purple version.
One version sound like "we are on our way to the beach" the other screams fear...sorrows...

What tune creates most emotions?

Well, given the choice between fear & sorrow, or on my sunny way to the beach, I'll take the latter!

Even if the tune is about crying for help?

Eagles
Queen
Pink Floyd
Supertramp
Dire Straights - tongue in cheek maybe
Elton John and Co

quote:

Originally posted by JanÅ:
Even if the tune is about crying for help?

The idea behind blues music is to make you feel better about feeling bad; extrapolating that into pop, I'll go with the Beatles' definitive version!

Oasis...

just kidding, it's the Beatles.

quote:

Originally posted by naimtheday:
Dire Straights - tongue in cheek maybe

I don't know about "greatest" but they're certainly one of the best. I suppose I'd enter a plea for Steely Dan too.

By the way, could everyone who nominated Queen book themselves in for therapy please; a course of colonic irrigation should solve the problem. Any votes for Staus Quo?

EW

quote:

Originally posted by Earwicker:

quote:

Originally posted by naimtheday:
Dire Straights - tongue in cheek maybe

I don't know about "greatest" but they're certainly one of the best. I suppose I'd enter a plea for Steely Dan too.

By the way, could everyone who nominated Queen book themselves in for therapy please; a course of colonic irrigation should solve the problem. Any votes for Staus Quo?

EW

I'm prepared to say I prefer Status Quo to Dire Straits - Picturesque Matchstickable Messages from the Status Quo, Spare Parts, Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon and Dog of Two Head are the Quo albums in my collection. After that the tracks on the later albums did tend to sound just a tad alike.

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:
I'm prepared to say I prefer Status Quo to Dire Straits

There are some things to which one should never admit in public!

Does anybody like the Alex Harvey band?

'The Impossible Dream' is one of my favourite albums.

I think they were an incredibly talented band.