Came Across Some Good Stuff

[War Wagon]

the first REO Speedwagon...when they were actually a good rockin' band.

actually, they're still a good rockin' band, touring to this day and cranking out good jams. But I agree in that like so many other good bands of that era (Journey, Styx, Foreigner to name a few) they sold the fuck out to "pop" Top 40 radio.

Pisses me off, still.

[Jay in Phoenix]

Someone in here mentioned the Michael Stanley Band a while back. I'm gonna play this sucker tonight. Never really gave it much of a listen.

Yep Sam, that was me. MSB was always one of my favorite live bands. "Stagepass" captures the live feel of the band perfectly.

Let me know what you think after you play it. If you can find it, his "Live in Tangiers" is a solid acoustic set of his songs, with some nice surprises mixed in.

[Dinsdale]

Good old music I've recently (tonight) revisited:

One of the best written rock songs ever, before Gerry went to Scottish Valhalla (lends itself well to turning the bass up way too high... BTW-the song is about him, "be careful what you wish for"):




Amazing guitar work without stealing the spotlight:

[Dinsdale]

Todd Rundgren really doesn't suck (all the pics of his almost-daughter are cute... you know her as Liv Tyler):





One of the most jacked up, over-produced songs/albums of the era (Rundgren exploiting everyone in his path, as per usualm):

[Felix]

One of the best written rock songs ever, before Gerry went to Scottish Valhalla (lends itself well to turning the bass up way too high... BTW-the song is about him, "be careful what you wish for"):

always been a big Gerry Rafferty fan since his Stealer Wheels days.....great song writer



the second best song he ever wrote and again, an autobiographical piece.....his drinking exploits are legendary (probably second only to John Bonham) but soon discovered the human liver is not designed to process gallons of alcohol at a sitting

[Jay in Phoenix]

All in good time Sam. Whenever the muse suits you. My take on the Dinsdale selections:

Todd Rundgren is a great producer and very skilled songwriter. I've never been a big fan of his voice, but I appreciate his work, especially with Utopia. Meatloaf of course is a little dated, but some of his songs still resonate. That first album, "Bat Out of Hell" was a killer. Everything after it sort of limped along, with occasional bright spots, like the pretty but very syrupy "I'd Do Anything For Love". I actually like the guy as an actor better than as a singer. Check out either "Roadie", "Fight Club" or "Leap of Faith". Hell, the guy has been in dozens of movies and t.v. shows, just not as a star. As far as Jefferson Starship...eh. Airplane was better. Starship was at their best on 'Red Octopus', but 'Freedom at Point Zero' had its moments.

Wags likes to bring up REO Speedwagon on occasion and I was wondering if he knew who the original singer was. The guy's name is Terry Luttrell and he was sort of a Jon Anderson clone. How appropriate then, that he would go on to sing lead for the band Starcastle, itself a clone or ripoff, depending on your point of view and taste, of Yes. Starcastle was always sort of a "pocket band" for me. You know, a group most people haven't ever heard of, but you like 'em. I liked Starcastle in a guilty pleasure sort of way. Might just start a thread to list those bands that are guilty pleasures, bands that you know most people are embarrassed for you to be liking. Kind of like Mgo and MGMT. :grin:

Here's Starcastle and "Lady of the Lake"

[War Wagon]

Jay, I mention REO because I've probably seen them in concert more than any other band. As for Jefferson Starship, what's not to like?

I know it's too late now, but i wish i could go back in time and start all over somehow... get it right from the start.

[Van]

I actually like the guy (Meatloaf) as an actor better than as a singer. Check out either "Roadie", "Fight Club" or "Leap of Faith".

Let's not forget Mr. "Fat Out of Hell"'s zenith as an actor, which also happened to take place in a song that was much better than anything else he was ever involved in...

[Jay in Phoenix]

Van, I had never seen that video before, nice. Mr. Loaf can be pretty funny when he wants to be, and Tenacious D is always good for the funnah. Again, Mr. Aday isn't a consumate actor, but he plays decent characters, or rather, extentions of himself in parody. And he does have great musical chops, even if his catalogue as a whole is weak.

Wags, I've seen REO in concert twice, and both times the show was very good. But it has been at least twenty years or so since that time, so I can't speak for their current iteration. Jefferson Starship, as I said, just isn't as strong as Airplane. Hey, taste is subjective. I love the "Red Ocopus" album and they have other records worth merit. But they also have that albatross of "We Built This City" hanging over their heads. It is considered one of the most cliched and tired songs in history. Some critics call it one of the worst. In its day, it was very popular. Listening to it now makes me cringe.

Here's "Freedom at Point Zero". Having Ansley Dunbar from Journey on drums didn't suck.

[Jay in Phoenix]

Oh yeah, as Dins and Felix both mentioned Gerry Rafferty, one of the things that stood out about "Baker Street" of course was the tremendous and easily identified, iconic sax in the song. The song with the second most famous sax solo from that period was Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat". I was always a big fan of that folkie and saw him live three different times. He always reproduced his songs in concert in the same meticulous manner in which Alan Parsons produced them.

"Year of the Cat" - live at The Old Grey Whistle Test

[War Wagon]

ok, nothing much anybody can post that would trump "Year of the Cat"

great, great song and who didn't have a pair of bell bottoms?

[Felix]

Alan Parsons

swoon.....huge Alan Parsons fan

[Felix]

I actually like the guy as an actor better than as a singer. Check out either "Roadie", "Fight Club" or "Leap of Faith". Hell, the guy has been in dozens of movies and t.v. shows, just not as a star.

he did a turn in a somewhat obscure (although pretty funny) movie called Scavenger Hunt back in 1979 playing the leader of a motorcycle gang

[Jay in Phoenix]

swoon.....huge Alan Parsons fan

Oh yeah Felix, so am I. His touch as an engineer (on the Beatles "Abbey Road" and "Let it Be" to Pink Floyd and "Dark Side of the Moon") and producer (for Al Stewart, Pilot and Ambrosia for example) are legendary. But his work on his own efforts with Eric Woolfson on The Alan Parsons Project are what resonate with me still. From his first album, "Tales of Mystery and Imagination" to "Turn of a Friendly Card", his work was nearly perfect. If pressed to pick a favorite, I probably lean toward "I Robot", but "Eve" and "Card" and "Tales" all get into rotation just as often.

"The Raven"


"I Robot"

[Felix]

Why do I think this was put together just for Wags?



http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004B7 ... 465&sr=1-9

wtf????

Spirit in the Sky by Elton John?????
Carry On My Wayward Son by Starship?????

[Jay in Phoenix]

wtf????

Spirit in the Sky by Elton John?????
Carry On My Wayward Son by Starship?????

WTF??? indeed!
What about, "Scools Out" by Dave Mustane?
"Sweet Home Alabama" by the Outlaws?
"Free Bird" by Charlie Daniels?
"Jessie's Girl" by Faster Pussycat?
"Born to be Wild" by Blues Image? or
"Eye of the Tiger" by Great White?

Really? I know their supposed to be Mullet Anthems and all, but for fucks sake!

[Derron]

Love Dale Krantz's vocals.

Still sounded good last time I heard her in 2010, and I believe she is on the last 2 albums as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZsYKYUYZeE