\u00a0 <\/p>\n
OK…<\/p>\n
Let’s get the formalities over with.\u00a0 My List\u00a0of the Best Groups and Artists will not be a pure ranking as both Rolling Stone <\/em>& Zack has done… admirable efforts on both parts.\u00a0 I won’t even come close to listing 100… not by a mile, sorry.\u00a0 But I will try to give a mostly literate exposition on those included herein.<\/p>\n Ranking them into a “top 100”?\u00a0 It just ain’t me.<\/p>\n Next… I really have to tip my hat to Zack who has acquired and impressive knowledge of music that extends over decades and music trends.\u00a0 I am envious.\u00a0 You will note from my listing that I suffer from Arrested Development <\/em>(I think that might actually be the name of a group; but in my case it refers to the fact that I didn’t reach puberty ’til the age of 34).<\/p>\n “My Music” saturation took place from just before entering college to just after leaving it.\u00a0 I continue to love music, particularly from that era…\u00a0and there are tunes that catch my ear today from the newer groups and artists… I am less attached to them and not as familiar with their body of work or performance… so in most cases, for me, they are the music equivalent of a “one night stand”.\u00a0 Sorry.<\/p>\n So… for my purposes the list below is purely personal and is\u00a0not an attempt to create a true hierarchy.\u00a0 I have organized\u00a0my list as follows… there is a Number 1<\/strong>, then a group of “Biggies”<\/strong> with no numeric ranking, followed by a group of “Premiums”<\/strong>, similarly with no numeric ranking, and then a special category of\u00a0“Sure They’re Great”<\/strong>;\u00a0<\/strong>but I simply don’t care for them all that much, regardless of how great they were or are.<\/p>\n I will have a few comments on the other side…<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n THE GROUPS & ARTISTS<\/p>\n Number One.<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Rolling Stones.<\/strong> The first record I owned was Flower Drum Song<\/em>.\u00a0 OK, I loved Broadway stage productions, and still do… shoot me.\u00a0 I ignored popular music for years, in much the same way that I turned my back to the other “teen age” things that my peers were involved in.\u00a0 It was finally in 1966\u00a0when I discovered two things… girls (and that be Ellen) and rock music (and that be the Rolling Stones).\u00a0 I listened to the Stones for the first time over at Gary Moss’.\u00a0 My first two rock albums were Aftermath <\/em>and High Tide & Green Grass.<\/em><\/p>\n Ellen and the Stones…it was a good year… I was lucky on both accounts.<\/p>\n Back then you more or less made a choice between loving the Stones or the Beatles… in much the same way growing up in New Haven you made a choice for pizza between Pepe’s or Sally’s.<\/p>\n For some reason I rejected the more polished image of the Beatles for the more rustic edgy look of the Stones.\u00a0 But more important I preferred their music… more bluesy.\u00a0 I also preferred Jagger’s rich vocal to the pretty harmonies of the Beatles.<\/p>\n Their body of work is tremendous…and at this point you can pick songs from five different decades and applaud their continued musicianship.\u00a0 Satisfaction <\/em>was an anthem for a generation… but from their earlier book I loved the dark Paint it Black<\/em> with Brian Jones picking up the sitar (which if memory serves preceded George Harrison doing the same thing), or Under My Thumb.\u00a0 <\/em>I think I could listen to those two songs back to back into eternity.<\/p>\n Gimme Shelter <\/em>is a song that both Zack and I have singled out as their best.<\/p>\n But don’t forget this… they put on outstanding concerts… over five decades… they have never stopped being a live band (although I have never seen them).\u00a0 Next, Jagger and Richard wrote some impressive music.\u00a0 Next, they knew what songs to cover… and they knocked the shit out of those songs.\u00a0 Next, they are great musicians.\u00a0 Jones was terrific, followed by Mick Taylor and then Ron Wood on guitar… all first rate.\u00a0 Charlie Watts has to be the most under rated drummer in the business.\u00a0 Wyman was\u00a0more than capable\u00a0and his bass riff on Satisfaction <\/em>gives me chills.\u00a0 And Keith Richard is a living monument to how far you can go on drugs and expensive cognac.<\/p>\n The Biggies<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Who. <\/strong>I was lucky to have seen The Who pre-Tommy, Tommy & post Tommy.\u00a0 What a group, what a sound generated by just three musicians (only to be surpassed by the Cream live).\u00a0 I don’t think I will ever see a drummer hit the skins as hard as Keith Moon.\u00a0 The album Who’s Next <\/em>maybe be the most complete and perfect rock album ever made.<\/p>\n Cream. <\/strong>I had the chance to see them on their farewell tour.\u00a0 My gosh, I hesitate using the label because there was a group known as T-Rex… but the Cream was the <\/em>Tyrannosaurus Rex of their brief day.\u00a0 Nobody, and I mean nobody could match them.\u00a0 Clapton, who is God, on guitar; Ginger Baker on drums… his drum kit looked like a redoubt; and the best bass player on the planet in Jack Bruce.\u00a0 He also sported choir quality tenor vocals.\u00a0 Crossroads <\/em>has to be the finest live recording ever made.<\/p>\n Traffic. <\/strong>Without Dave Mason their sound was more economical, with him they added a dimension that mirrored what happened when Neil Young was added to CSN… they got a guitar, a vocal and another songwriter.\u00a0 Still the group will be remembered as a show piece for Steve Winwood.\u00a0 Is there an instrument he couldn’t play?\u00a0 The John Barleycorn Must Die <\/em>album is superior stuff, sans <\/em>Mr. Mason.<\/p>\n John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. <\/strong>The alumni of this band reads like a Who’s Who <\/em>of musicians.\u00a0 Let’s begin with guitar legends like Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor… on Bass we’ll put John McVie and on drums Mick Fleetwood.\u00a0 His bands always featured talented musicians who really could play.\u00a0 Their playlist was a combination of covers, which they handled almost without equal, and Mayall originals.\u00a0 I have always enjoyed the “music” behind Mayall’s tunes… some of the subject matter and lyrics didn’t hit the mark for me.\u00a0 You know the “blues” should be about women who did us wrong & not environmental issues like dirty water.\u00a0 Still\u00a0his bands always cooked… and my goodness, the guy is a legend.<\/p>\n Kinks. <\/strong>As much as I loved the Stones, it is this group that I am sorry that I have missed\u00a0seeing live.\u00a0 I understand that Ray Davies was famous for coming on stage after consuming copious quantities of Jack Daniels or Chivas Regal and then performing thru an alcoholic haze.\u00a0 Be that as it may, they were a terrific group from the get go… You Really Got Me, All Day and All of the Night <\/em>and Tired of Waiting For You <\/em>were great songs; but their niche\u00a0developed\u00a0in social commentary… Dedicated Follower of Fashion\u00a0<\/em>and Well Respected Man\u00a0<\/em>and then Victoria <\/em>on their\u00a0opus Arthur — Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire<\/em>.<\/p>\n The Animals. <\/strong>If Gary Moss was the person who introduced me to the Stones, it was Art Riccio who introduced me to the Animals.\u00a0 And I include them in this august group of “Biggies” because of Eric Burden and his monster treatment of It’s My Life, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood<\/em> and the ultimate slow song of my era House of the Rising Sun.\u00a0 <\/em>Burden’s later effort in War, or as a cheerleader for Jimi Hendrix do not diminish his work with the original Animals.\u00a0 They performed at Union the year before I got there. Shame.<\/p>\n B.B. King. <\/strong>What a voice, rich, round & silky.\u00a0 He had great emotion in his renditions and marvelous vocal phrasing.\u00a0 And, by the by, he could play a little guitar here and there.\u00a0 I have seen him play at Fillmore East and most recently at the Stamford Palace; but it was seeing him at Union that was the best.\u00a0 In between sets I summoned the courage to go back stage to shake his hand.\u00a0 And what a hand it is… it completely encompassed mine.\u00a0 I put it right up there with shaking Johnny Unitas’ hand. And the thrill is not gone!<\/p>\n Police. <\/strong>This is a group from my “post college” days.\u00a0 Don’t ask me when I first heard them, or what I first heard them play. But this became evident… I thought that Sting was a good vocalist, and I liked every song I listened to.\u00a0 It’s that simple.\u00a0 So what if I can’t tell you who the other band members are, or anything else about them.\u00a0 Message in the Bottle <\/em>is a monster track.<\/p>\n Simon and Garfunkel. <\/strong>I think that Paul Simon is a brilliant songwriter… a talent that extended beyond his association with Art Garfunkel.\u00a0 But the music written for their “group” that featured the high parts for Garfunkel is extraordinary. Bridge Over Troubled Water <\/em>and For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her<\/em> are masterpieces for Garfunkel’s clear voice.\u00a0 In their collection of work I don’t think there has ever been better vocal harmonies.\u00a0 And in terms of “poetry” for my time<\/em> there is a marvelous line in Sounds of Silence<\/em>: “The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and the tenement halls.”<\/p>\n Billy Joel. <\/strong>I think it was about a year ago that I caught a Billy Joel concert on the tube.\u00a0 It might have been with Elton John or with another piano player who was going to perform his classical music.\u00a0 No matter.\u00a0 But here\u00a0comes Joel\u00a0on stage, and he brings a humongus 3 ring binder with his music & proceeds to sit down at the piano and play thru some of his tunes.\u00a0 He would leaf thru the book, and then on a whim he would say… “oh, here’s a good one…” In reality there was never a bad <\/em>one… and without hesitation you can pick favorites\u00a0that span\u00a0eras of his musical log.\u00a0 Zack and I both pick Scenes From an Italian Restaurant<\/em>… and I have a huge sentimental weakness for his Lullaby… <\/em>it’s the song I danced to with Shaina at her Bat Mitzvah.<\/p>\n James Taylor. <\/strong>His voice is so good it’s scary.\u00a0 And I don’t think he has dropped an inch in quality in 35+ years.\u00a0 His music has always soothed my spirit, and treat of treats I will finally get a chance to see him live.\u00a0 I just picked up tickets for his gig at Jones Beach this summer.\u00a0 And this is not really important… he looked good when he was young with long hair… and he looks good today mostly bald… and the smile is just the same!<\/p>\n Dire Straits. <\/strong>Sultan of Swing… Sultan of Swing… Sultan of Swing.<\/em> If for no other reason, I think I would put this group here.\u00a0 It is one of my favorite tunes… and it emerged in my post-college days.\u00a0 Mark Knopfler is the only name connected to band that means anything to me… he is the song writer and I believe the lead guitar and vocalist. I love the throaty sound to his voice and the more I listened to their music, the more I liked their sound… to\u00a0a point\u00a0where\u00a0a week does not go by when I don’t listen to the Money For Nothing<\/em> album.\u00a0 Every song save Twisting by the Pool <\/em>a winner.<\/p>\n Joe Cocker. <\/strong>This is a late entry.\u00a0 I have been listening to Joe Cocker Ultimate Collection<\/em> over and over again.\u00a0 The tracks are ordered chronologically and I am struck by the quality of each layer of his music decade by decade.\u00a0 His early music was backed by some of the finest session men of the day (from both sides of the Atlantic).\u00a0 His later recordings I was mostly unfamiliar with ’til stumbling upon this CD.\u00a0 And far from disappointed, I think he has added depth and richness to his material.\u00a0 This guy is a star.<\/p>\n The Premiums<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Supremes. <\/strong>Or is it Diana Ross and <\/em>The Supremes?\u00a0 No matter.\u00a0 I actually preferred the Four Tops to this group.\u00a0 But this group had the pizazz.\u00a0 They had the glitz.\u00a0 The style.\u00a0 The amazing gowns.\u00a0 The hand gestures.\u00a0 And Diana Ross’ dazzling smile.\u00a0 But the music was good and so were their vocals.\u00a0 Real good.\u00a0 Classic Holland, Dozier & Holland tunes.\u00a0 Smooth as silk, and as exciting as a sequined gown fitting close to the hip.<\/p>\n Crosby, Stills, Nash (Young). <\/strong>I think their first album (Mr. Young yet to join) was one of the best made.\u00a0 This was the “ultimate” super <\/em>group combining “star” players from the Buffalo Springfield, the Hollies and the Byrds.\u00a0 Talented song writers, great vocalists and in Stills’ case, a Goddamned good musician.\u00a0 Their harmonies were spot on and when Neil Young came on board he magnified their collective talents.\u00a0 Monster group.<\/p>\n Rod Stewart. <\/strong>This is an artist of “Biggie” stature who did too much commercial quality stuff in his “in between” years.\u00a0 Too bad.\u00a0 Early Stewart was tremendous.\u00a0 Check out his work with Jeff Beck and with the Faces.\u00a0 His first two solo albums were huge quality… with #2 Every Picture Tells a Story <\/em>being one of the best albums made.\u00a0 At the other end of the time line stands the American Song Book <\/em>series… two out of three which are sensational.\u00a0 He can do it all… ballads, rockers & tunes… even wrote a song or two.<\/p>\n Madonna. <\/strong>She chooses good material, or she is given good material.\u00a0 So what?\u00a0 The same could be said for Frank Sinatra.\u00a0 And big time presence and talent she has.\u00a0 And maybe if I hadn’t seen videos of her she would be a footnote to this listing.\u00a0 But I have seen her.\u00a0 And my God can she move.\u00a0 So here it is.\u00a0 She knows and picks great music.\u00a0 She interprets it like hell.\u00a0 She moves in ways that stirs the soul.\u00a0 And unless you are a persimmon, you know you want to take her to bed.\u00a0 Now maybe if you’re a woman that doesn’t count.\u00a0 Sorry.<\/p>\n U2 <\/strong>This group was huge long before they were on my radar.\u00a0 There were probably years when they were the biggest grossing act on the planet.\u00a0 My hat goes to them.\u00a0 Beautiful Day <\/em>is a wonderful song, sweeping theme and completely uplifting… and because of that song I started to pay attention to their other songs… my, what a log.\u00a0 And while I know them the least of the artist\/groups describes in these pages, I am no fool… I see a group of magnitude.\u00a0 This is definitely a group of big time weight.<\/p>\n Sure They’re Great<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Beatles. <\/strong>What can I say? They made some truly great music spread across a spectacular variety of musical genres.\u00a0 But I am a Stones guy, and praising the Beatles too much would be the equivalent of growing up in New Haven and rooting for Harvard.\u00a0 You know, yes, it’s a great University… but fuck them!<\/p>\n Bob Dylan. <\/strong>I am going to create the “Dylan Scale”.\u00a0 It measures the greatness of the music against vocal presentation.\u00a0 And Dylan will set the standard of marvelous music (check out who covers him) with nasal nails-across-the-chalkboard vocals.\u00a0 My apologies to Philip DeCostanzo.<\/p>\n The Band. <\/strong>I had their\u00a0second album.\u00a0 Yes, it was terrific.\u00a0 And The Last Waltz <\/em>was a tour de force.\u00a0 But I include them here because Zack and Will think the world of them.\u00a0 And both those boys (as does the group itself) deserve respect.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Alright.\u00a0 It’s like this… I left alotta artists and groups off this piece and I am not going to list them here.\u00a0 Maybe I just didn’t won’t to write about them.\u00a0 So please, no letters asking why this or that person or group wasn’t put in. Just live with it… I’m not getting paid to do this.<\/p>\n OK… class is out.\u00a0 Go listen, go breathe.\u00a0 Walk by open windows & look both ways when you cross the street.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0 OK… Let’s get the formalities over with.\u00a0 My List\u00a0of the Best Groups and Artists will not be a pure ranking as both Rolling Stone & Zack has done… admirable efforts on both parts.\u00a0 I won’t even come close to … Continue reading