So my business partner has a somewhat bookish uncle who, when asked what he might like for Christmas, replied: “I dunno… has there been any good music since the sixties?” My business partner has decided he’s going to take on the holiday challenge of educating his beloved uncle, over the span of one 20-track CD, on the crucial high points of rock and roll, from 1970 until today. Naturally, this wacky challenge made me think of all my nerdy friends at RTH — and so it is that I turn to you for guidance on his behalf. Here are the ground rules:
1. We’ve got 20 tracks to fill.
2. Each decade has to be represented by at least three tracks.
3. No single band gets more than two tracks (sorry, 2000Man!)
4. Nominate one track at a time, then wait for a “second” on your motion. Seconded nominations will move to the official track list, but may be bumped by a veto of more than three specific counter-votes.
I look forward to your responses.
HVB
Death or Glory by the Clash
Elvis Costello and the Attractions, “Pump It Up”
Wow, the 70’s might be filling up fast so in case 2kman doesn’t sign on soon: Rocks Off by the Stones
Human League, “Don’t You Want Me Baby,” possibly the only airtight, strong song to come out of ’80s synth pop
In the Street – Big Star
Smells Like Teen Spirit seems like an obvious choice for the 90s.
Am I allowed to ask for your business partner’s uncle’s musical tastes?
I’ll pass on seconding “teen spirit” for the 90s, because i think there’s a better nirvana song for the tyro.
I’ll nominate the catchy, charming “She don’t use Jelly.” by the Flaming Lips. What a fun song. Some of my most frequently dosed friends like that song, and so does my mother.
“Burning Airlines Give You So Much More,” by Brian Eno.
So far the only track we have seconded is:
1. Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
I’m sensing a lot of serious thought and pride in the lack of seconded nominations for this mix so far – as should be the case. It’s time I put forth the greatest guitar workout of the last few decades, one which I’m sure you’ll second:
Television, “Marquee Moon”
Who seconded “Smells Like Teen Spirit?” Saturnismine said he was passing on the opportunity.
Oats, this nerdy fellow’s music tastes are not relevant!
I second “Pump It Up”
1. Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana, 90s
2. Pump It Up, Elvis Costello, 80s
I add (Get Up, I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine, byt the almighty James Brown, for the 70s. Wraps up the whole sex-centric vibe of that “me decade,” along with the funk explosion that occurred at the same time.
You’re right, Mod. So far, our list is:
1. Pump It Up, 80s
Sitting Still by REM
Pump it Up came out in 1978.
Thanks, Oats and Hrrundi, for donning your respective Pince Nez.
I’d second “Sex Machine” IF – and this is a big IF – IF it was “rock ‘n roll.” I hate to play ’80s MTV programmer, but if we allow this song, then that means I’ve got to second it, then suggest Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” which would have to be seconded, leaving no room for a real ’70s rock ‘n roll song, like the Stones’ “Rocks Off,” which I’m considering seconding, or Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On,” which I considering nominating, once this James Brown mess is sorted out. Thanks.
Wait – there can be more than 3 songs from each decade, but my other concerns stand.
70s: G-I-R-L-F-R-E-N by Jonathan and the Mod Lovs.
I will second “sitting still.”
I second “In the Street.”
I will also urge rth’ers to remember that our list should ultimately form a response to the question: “was there any good rock music after the 60s.”
In other words, we’re not trying to replicate chart position, or create a time capsule of what this guy missed that may have been “important” or popular. We’re trying to make a cd that will answer his question in the affirmative: there IS good music from after the 60s.
I only issue this urging because some of us seem to have lost our way, or missed this as the mission of this thread. HVB, forgive me if I am stepping out of line, and correct me if I am wrong.
I’m gonna be a bigger man than you’ve already imagined me to be, hard as that may be to conceive…from The Holy Trinity of Rock, ’80s category… PRINCE, “1999.”
I hereby launch the first counter-vote against REM’s “Sitting Still.”
Good call with Prince but I nominate Never Take the Place of Your Man (and vote against 1999).
I second “1999”!
I nominated “Alex Chilton” by The Replacements
mod wrote: I hereby launch the first counter-vote against REM’s “Sitting Still.”
i write: oh pissy pooh! i am interested in why…but think you’re beginning to display major stick in the mud tendencies over this fine choice for “good” music from the 80s. oh what a lovely song it is “sitting still.”
I also vote AGAINST “1999,” and further declare that it only takes TWO votes against something to dump it from the list.
I “third” “Sitting Still.”
So far, after much tumult and shouting, we have exactly *two* tracks:
1. “Pump It Up,” 70s
2. “Sitting Still,” 80s
Wait, I’m confused. HVB gave thumbs up to R.E.M. and thumbs down to Prince? What next: Yay Morrissey, nay ZZ Top?
HVB, I seconded “In the Street.”
If it only take two votes to dump the REM song, kiss it bye bye. I have remembered to close the lid after disposing.
I third ‘In the Street’.
Sat, we’re trying to convince this guy that good music was made after the ’60s. I don’t even know the REM song by title, but I’m sure I wouldn’t find it “great.” One day you’ll all look back and thank me and a few of my mates for spotting the mediocrity of REM before anyone else. If we’re going to pick through all the “good” music, then the great music should get first dibs. Thank you for your support, meanstom.
“Little Red Corvette” is both a far superior song to “1999” *and* a song that a non-music nerd could probably get into. That’s the Prince track that gets my vote. I might also nominate “La Grange” for a worthwhile 70s number, but there are already a shitload of better 70s tracks being nominated.
So you don’t know what it sounds like and you still vote against it? Let me tell you something, this guy we’re making the cd for is NOT going to like Marquee Moon, dude!
Like just about all Prince songs, doesn’t “Little Red Corvette” go on too long, for no good reason? Does it even have cool little synth bass fills like “1999?” At least when you feel you’ve had your fill of “1999” some attractive person on the dance floor has not and you can justify waiting out the fade.
Mockcarr, first of all, do you know this guy’s uncle? Maybe his beef with post-’60s music is that there are not enough long solos and drummers riding the bell. Maybe “Marquee Moon” is just what he’s needed all these years. If you have “insider information” do tell!
Yes, I feel comfortable voting against every REM song but “Radio Free Europe” – that song’s good enough to be better than a lot of other good songs. Sat described this REM song you guys like as “lovely.” What’s that suppposed to mean, tender guitar arpeggios and Stipe emoting some mystical, Southern Gothic nonsense?
I called up “Sitting Still” on my iPod to jog my memory. R.E.M. have a history of snaring listeners with ’60s-type tastes — the discerning tastes of Mod and his mates, notwithstanding. I think this is just the right kind of R.E.M. song this guy would respond to happily. Thirded (which I believe is merely a symbolic gesture).
hmm….mod confuses his limited knowledge of early R.E.M. for authority on the quality of their output.
hvb, i motion that once something is seconded without any counter-votes, it’s IN. but if counter-votes are issued before a seconding, then status is pending until either the initial nomination or the counter-vote is seconded. and once either one occurs, then the song is either jettisoned, or slated for inclusion.
otherwise, we’ll be here ’til 2099.
I also motion that my the rules of motion be applied to a seconding or counter-vote of my motion.
who seconds or counter-votes my motion?
I’ll shut my trap on the REM song, all right? I try to be a bigger man and then get shot down by the guy who inspired my “growth spurt.” Now I’m asked to be bigger yet. I don’t have it in me. Hope this guy’s uncle loves The Byrds. More power to him!
Roxy Music: Thrill of it All
Is REM out altogether? Did Sitting Still make the cut? I’d veto that REM song in favor of Gardening At Night.
XTC: Runaways
I’ll second, or third, Marquee Moon if no one else has.
I’m basing these, btw, on tunes that are representative of the band/era but would also appeal to a fan of the 60s.
“lovely” meant:
it’s got nice call and response between guitar and vocals, a catchy melody, a humble minimalism that conceals an impassioned vocal.
it’s quite a little marvel to my highly subjective ears.
i think our inquirer would enjoy it, too.
but hey…that’s just me…who the hell am i, maaaan? i’m just a speck in the dust emanating from the big bang’s behind who’s falling behind in grading papers….
I’ve no inside information whatsoever. If you can hate on mine, I can hate on yours. You will notice however I did not deem it necessary to VETO your choice.
I think Sitting Still is a good rock song, representative of the early 80s jangly indie world and REM while also having a little more power than other examples that were more “popular” from their greatest hits album or whatever that you might have heard twice. It’s just always been my REM favorite, and if feckin Stipe-hater Hrrundi can throw it a bone, it only strengthens my case.
I like Gardening At Night, too, but I think the mumblier vocals might be a bigger distraction.
There are bound to be a ton of songs on this list that I don’t know very well, but you can be sure I’m not going to kneejerk veto them because of THAT, man.
I’m not saying anything but Sorry…and that I will preemptively counter both “The Thrill of It All” and “Runaways”; each band has done better work that will likely be better appreciated by our assumed Byrds-loving uncle:P
I nominate the Flamin’ Groovies’ cover of “Feel a Whole Lot Better.”
Teenage Kicks by the Undertones
Besides, I always thought Bill Berry drums like Charlie Watts on that song.
I second “Teenage Kicks.” Let my personal HEALING begin.
“Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing”
Seconding “Teenage Kicks” — a nice healing move from mockcarr, to boot!
I nominate “Kool Thing” by Sonic Youth.
I second Political Song..
Thanks for having my back, Oats and Saturn. I was thinking of what a guy who considers the 1960s the endpoint to his listening, which may not be all that useful as a starting point, since HVB wants “crucial high points” from after then. I’m going to think about this a bit differently now.
I counter-vote Kool Thing.
I withdraw my nomination of I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man and I second Little Red Corvette.
80s: Million Miles Away – the Plimsouls
I know what 70’s and 80’s tracks people adore around here, I’m curious about the 90’s and00’s stuff that you think should be included:
90’s
Elliott Smith – “Waltz #2”
Radiohead – “Paranoid Android”
00’s
Yo La Tengo – “Our Way T Fall”
TV On the Radio – “Satellite”
Often people in your Uncle’s class of tuned-outedness are unreachable. If you really haven’t listened for thirty or forty years it is often hard for them to comprehend the context musicians are working in. They’ve fallen too far behind in the plot, in some sense.
-db
90’s: Casino Queen – Wilco Not my favorite of theirs by a long shot but this has to appeal to the classic rocker.
00: Wheezer – Burnt Jamb
Man! I can’t believe I missed all this fun. Thank you cdm for thinking of me. HVB, you have to give a bonus gift of Exile on Main St. It’s only the greatest thing ever!
I concur. Give him Exile, London Calling and a 12 pack. Come back in a few hours and he should be a changed man.
2Kman, I think you still needs to second RO or it could lose it’s slot.
And those would be?
Can we at least agree that Roxy and/or XTC have a place on the playlist? In fact it might be easier to decide bands, then songs. But there is a certain frantic energy to all of this shooting from the hip.
I’ll counter vote “Feel a Whole Lot Better” as this band has done better work that will likely be better appreciated by our assumed Byrds-loving uncle.
Seriously, it’s a Tyrd’s cover man! That’s cheap.
And I won’t puss out by not offering up an alternative as I do agree that The Groovies would likely be up this guy’s alley. “Shake Some Action” or “Teenage Head.”
I counter-vote “Little Red Corvette.” On a list of 20 songs from the last 38 years? You gotta be kidding.
I nominate “Precious.”
I’m on the borderline regarding a second of “Alex Chilton.” Oats, talk me into it. Why that one over “I Will Dare”? Why either one?
Wow, with that many posts, I was sure you guys would have this one sussed. I will second A Million Miles Away, Casino Queen and Rocks Off (I’m here to help get things done!). I’ll nominate The Jayhawks – Crowded in the Wings for the nineties because every time I have someone that really doesn’t care about music over and I play Hollywood Town Hall, they inevitably say, “What is this music? It’s really great.”
For this decade, I’m going with my boys from down the freeway and nominating The Black Keys – 10 AM Automatic because it just rocks.
I’ll second I Will Dare.
Sammy, I don’t think we can automatically agree that Roxy or XTC have a place on the playlist. We’re talking 20 best songs, not 20 songs representative of bands we love.
Alright by Supergrass? Maybe he’d like a throwback to that 60’s-ish pop.
We can do better than Supergrass.
Alright would not be the Supergrass song I’d put up. Also, Let’s Go Crazy would be the Prince song I’d put up, if I was putting up a Prince song.
’90s: Girlfriend – Matthew Sweet
I’m going to second the Black Keys because even though I’ve never heard a lick of their music, 2000 Man had my back on a number of suggestions so I owe him this much.
My love of the Replacements is well documented in these Halls but really, I Will Dare? That’s going to convince this guy that there is worth while music after 1969? You can’t shock this guy into having good taste.
And even though I think you were messing around, I counter vote Teenage Kicks just to be safe.
What’s so shocking about “I will dare?” It’s probably a good candidate for someone who’s into 60s music.
On an unrelated note, does anyone remember the post from a few weeks ago where some one was recommending albums available as a two-fer disc? I’m not having any luck searching for it.
If this guy isn’t sure if there is any good music past the ’60’s, I think he will find the music disheveled and the vocals too raw.
I’m starting to hate this guy.
So we’re agreed then, Hootie and the Blowfish for the 90s?
If all other seconds of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” have been withdrawn, then I will certainly second it.
I don’t think we should try to anticipate what this guy will think “good music” is. I think we should just give him good music, and if he doesn’t like it, I think we should tell him that he doesn’t know anything about good music. That’s the Rock Town Hall way.
I’m gonna second “Crowded in the Wings.” Not sure it’s my favorite Jayhawks songs, but for this set of 20 tunes, it’s as good as any of their others probably.
I’m gonna counter-vote on “Girlfriend.” I could be talked into taking it back if our 90s selections prove weak, but that song just ain’t all that.
cdm wrote:
Come on, who’s gonna call bullshit on this? I get KILLED for a counter-vote on an REM song I don’t know by name when I do, in fact, know more than enough REM to not like them, and now cdm and 2K get to trade political favors? I’m over it, though.
Mwall, you’re right about the Rock Town Hall way. And why are so many of you assuming this guy loves ’60s music from what he said? Maybe that’s the last bit of music he could enjoy and cite, the way some of us have trouble suggesting good songs after 1995 or so. Maybe he’s really into Andy Williams and Perry Como. Give the man what he NEEDS!
I’ll second the counter-vote for “Girlfriend”; “Evangeline” has a more stirring guitar solo.
I’m surprised no one’s nominated a song yet from that last Outkast album, the one from their movie. From the ’00s I’ll nominate Nick Lowe’s “Hope for Us All” – we need something fresh on this mix.
X: World’s a Mess or White Girl
Blondie, “Heart of Glass”
I’m on the road again in the morning, may not have a chance to check back into the Hal for awhile, or maybe I will, but today has been a blast.
I’ll second some X song for sure, and I love World’s A Mess but it’s not the right one because it needs the whole album before it to really sink in. How about “Los Angeles”? I can nominate that one.
I’ll gladly second “White Girl” and “Heart of Glass”!
90s. Crowded House: Kare Kare or Private Universe
So what’s in so far? Are you going to do an inventory at some point, hrrundi?
How about Yo La Tengo – Stockholm Syndrome?
Another 90’s song. Como Te Extrano mi Amor by Cafe Tacuba.
And I third Smells Like Teen Spirit.
Ask and ye shall receive: the result of an in-depth review of all nominations, seconds, counter-votes and vetoes. Note that a large number of these are hanging on by the slimmest of margins, and could be jettisoned by a single counter-vote:
1970s
Pump It Up
In the Street
Marquee Moon
Rocks Off
Heart Of Glass
1980s
Teenage Kicks
Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing
Little Red Corvette
One Million Miles
I Will Dare
1990s
Casino Queen
10 a.m. Automatic
Smells Like Teen Spirit
2000s
Crowded In the Wings
Also note that at some point, nominations will have to be rejected for certain decades because they’ll be taking the place of songs that need to be included from less popular years.
Keep up te good work, lads — we’re almost home. But don’t be pussies, either! If you see something on this list that’s just not good enough, veto it!
My business partner’s Uncle thanks you for your time and effort.
HVB
New York by Ryan Adams
Do we really gain anything from having “Smells Like Teen Spirit” on this list. Is it in any way possible to hear that song anew? Can’t we assume that this guy has heard this song? It’s like putting “Born to be Wild” on a ’60s mix.
Oats, I love ya, but be a man! If you don’t like “Smells…” — vote against it!
“Can’t we assume that this guy has heard this song?”
Or at least “Godzilla”?
How do you make other people’s text appear in white when quoting them, by the way?
That’s what I was doing with that post. To be clear, I am voting against “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
’00s
Big Exit, PJ Harvey
Hey HVB, shouldn’t “Sitting Still” be on that ’80s list?
No offense to anyone, but I am launching a counter-vote against “One Million Miles.” If any other power pop needs to be on this mix beside Big Star, let it be “Starry Eyes” – not that I’m calling for that to be added.
We really need some more ’00s. How about a cool Sleater-Kinney song, like “You’re No Rock ‘n Roll Fun” – or does that date back to like 1999?
Oats, by my calculations, after all the back and forth, “Sitting Still” was eliminated.
Mod, re: your stand on “Starry Eyes”:
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n12/n60609.jpg
“No offense to anyone, but I am launching a counter-vote against “One Million Miles.””
How can I not take offense to that? Somehow in your mind you’ve mashed up your REM issues with my support of the Black Keys, and my vote against your beloved Undertones and now you are lashing out.
I plead with you to stop letting your personal feeling cloud your usually razor-sharp mind.
For the ’00s I’d recommend some LCD Soundsystem. Losing My Edge might be appropriate for our target audience, but maybe too extreme. I’d say either Yeah or Too Much Love.
cdm, Mod: when we’re feeling hurt and rejected, sometimes it helps to wrap our statements in “feeling paper.” So, for example, cdm might say: “Mod, your actions after I rejected ‘Teenage Kicks’ made me FEEL LIKE you were taking revenge against me.” Mod, your response might be: “cdm, I value your thoughts and feelings. Your response to my statements about “One Million Miles” made me FEEL LIKE you thought I was out to ‘get you’ or something, which is not true.”
Give this a try — you might come to agreement about this holiday song list before you know it!
Well played, HVB!
cdm, I’m a new man today – or should I say my usual self. I simply think power pop is best represented with one track in this mission we’re on. That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.
I am seconding “You’re Not Rock ‘n’ Roll Fun,” which is from 2000, Mr. Mod. I was trying to think of a good S-K song, one that wouldn’t scare this guy with Corin Tucker’s banshee wail. (We’ve created quite the scaredy-cat straw man for this guy.)
’00s
Nominating “Good Weekend” by Art Brut.
Hugs all around.
hrrundi, thank you for guiding us through this rough patch
Now, for more power pop, Cheap Trick – Surrender
Cdm, text appearing in white is the result of ‘blockquote’ html coding. It’s hard to demonstrate. First you put the word blockquote in brackets before what you want to quote, and then you put the word blockquote after it, also in brackets, but with a slash before the word. Use the preview button to see how it looks before sending the comment.
Hey hrrundi, do these all have to be songs? Or in lieu of a song, is there room on that disc for the photo of Linda Ronstadt’s “chicken foot”
I’d at least second the idea of LCD Soundsystem being one of my favorite acts of the oughts, but they hinge on having an affection for dance-y rock of the 80’s, perhaps a hard sell here.
I remember taking a long ride home trying to figure out what Depeche Mode/New Order/OMD-style 12″ I’d recorded on the cassette until I realized it was the “Something Great” from their 2007 release SOUND OF SILVER. It’s amazing the way he boils that era down into little parts mixes them up and then puts them back together again.
HVB, The Black Keys 10 AM Automatic is from 2004. I agree with mwall on “The Rock Town Hall Way.” If the obvious awesomeness we come up with doesn’t faze the guy, then it’s obviously his fault and not ours.
cdm, here’s a funny video for 10 AM Automatic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-CukK3eYt0
I don’t thik we need to come up with a definitive, or Top 20 list, do we? We just need to prove that there’s all kinds of good music, and with that in mind, I counter vote whatever Matthew Sweet song is currently up, and preemptively counter vote anything by the guy. He’s not Eagle bad, but he’s like Fruit Stripe gum – a great initial burst of flavor but nothing loses it’s flavor nearly as fast as that stuff. I lose interest in him by the 1:00 mark all the time.
Oats, I counter vote Art Brut. Sorry, I just gotta. I’ll second Sleater/Kinney, though. I’d understand if it gets bounced from the 00’s list, but I really like them and that song seems perfect for someone that’s been ignoring The Rock for so long.
I’d love to have a Replacements song on there, but there’s no way I could be the decider on that.
How about The New Pornographers for the 00’s? Like The New Face of Zero and One?
Jockey Full of Bourbon by Tom Waits. Don’t make me second this myself.
I’m like 0-20 here.
’90s
Cotton Mather, My Before and After
(Hook-rationing be damned!)
This isn’t personal. Just business. And my understanding is that my counter-vote is only 1 of 3 or 4 necessary. I don’t want to blackball anyone (except maybe that Plimsouls’ song)
1970s
Pump It Up (OK)
In the Street (OK)
Marquee Moon (OK)
Rocks Off (Grudging OK)
Heart Of Glass (Counter-vote this and anyting by Blondie. I like Blondie but we can do better.)
1980s
Teenage Kicks (Mega OK)
Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing (Puhleeze. Counter-vote this any Minutemen. See Blondie reasons.)
Little Red Corvette (Counter-vote. See Blondie again)
One Million Miles (If this is that Plimsouls song I’ll drop a log on this one as well)
I Will Dare (OK)
1990s
Casino Queen (Counter vote all Wilco)
10 a.m. Automatic (Counter vote all Black Keys)
Smells Like Teen Spirit (Counter vote. This is not nearly the best Nirvana song. How about Come As You Are from the Unplugged album?)
2000s
Crowded In the Wings (Counter vote all Jayhawks)
The 70s MUST have a Roxy song. Mod shat on Thrill of It All. So I’ll pose Amazona, Love is a Drug, Both Ends Burning, Virginia Plain.
If you must something representing the Alt-Country thing how about something off of Anodyne? Long Cut?
For 90s how about something from Pavement? I’ll toss out Elevate Me Latter.
Flame on.
Do we have a third for White Girl?
All those Roxy Music songs are from the ’70s, numbnuts.
I don’t think you should be able to counter-vote an entire band’s discography.
Except The Eagles – we can counter vote anything Eagley, right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Rr5em91JoU
Yeah. That’s what I said, no-nuts.
We can do them song at a time if you want.
I think Love Is The Drug would be a good choice, but we have too many 70s songs already. If we want 80s Roxy, there’s More Than This.
I’ll gladly second More Than This, in an effort to put this whole ugly Roxy scene behind us.
I’m taking my song suggestions and leaving.
Hrrundi, whats his address? I going to send him the following: (it may not be the most diverse set but it conclusively proves that there is good music after 1970.)
70s
1.Rocks Off – Stones
2.Long Way to the Top If You Wanna Rock And Roll – AC/DC
3.Death or Glory – Clash
4.Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
5.Move On Up – Curtis Mayfield
6.Young Americans – David Bowie
7.My Old School – Steely Dan
8.I Got Your Number Written on the Back of My Hand – the Jaggs
80s
9.Can’t Hardly Wait – The Replacements
10.Jockey Full of Bourbon – Tom Waits
11.Don’t Dream It’s Over – Crowded House
12.One Story Town – Tom Petty
13.Copperhead Road – Steve Earle
90s
14.Stockholm Syndrome – Yo La Tengo
15.Casino Queen – Wilco
16.Blue – The Jayhawks
17.Fifty Years After the Fair – Aimee Mann
00s
18.Glad Girls – Guided By Voices
19.Burnt Jamb – Wheezer
20.The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine – Spoon
I Second – “crowded In the Wings”
I would like to nominate
Left Of the Dial – The Replacements
Racing In The Street – Bruce Springteen
I’ll second “Glad Girls.” I FEEL LIKE cdm and I have reached a point of healing. Thanks, Hrrundi.
I just noticed “Glad Girls” above right after I wrote the following:
“for the ’00s, i’ll submit GBV’s “Best of Jill Hives.””
i prefer my nomination…i always thought glad girls and the album it’s on are overrated. but “hives” is is one of those “shoulda been gigantic hits” songs.
gee…we sure do know alot of post-60s good music, don’t we?
This is fun, but committee thinking sucks, and this cd will probably blow.
I’ll third Glad Girls, but this guy, whoever he is, is going to think we’re power pop nerds. Assuming he knows what a power pop nerd is. Which he wouldn’t. Never mind.
Hmmm…. That didn’t work.
Anyway, that’s why I branched out on my own.
Also, I think Jill Hives is a pretty good song but not as good as I was lead to believe by reviews and such.
cdm: You need to use the
<>signs, not []. I’ll fix it for you.Second “My Before And After”
I’m not healed.
So after sammy pissed in the pool, have we got anything? Unvoting on my Black Keys even after they were in has set me back!
I agree that committeethink generally sucks, but I think HVB was kind of getting around that with his seconded, or countered approach, but he’s got to figure out where we’re at.
I think we can do better than Roxy Music for the 80’s, too. Their 70’s stuff is exceptional, but their 80’s didn’t compare.
I believe that there has to be 3 or 4 counter votes to remove anything that has been seconded. So it appears to me that I’m just pissing myself.
Mod seconded White Girl and if that makes the list, I will refrain from any further urination.
Looking back over what we’ve got, it looks like there are some unstated rules at work artists should be aware of if they want to be on this list:
1) Be British or American, but preferably American
2) Be white
3) (American) Southerners need not apply
4) Avoid synthesizers if at all possible
There may be a couple of exceptions to these rules, but not many.
VERY insightful, BigSteve! I for one am dismayed that nobody (including me) thought to include any Skynyrd. Let’s fix that. I nominate “You Got That Right” to rectify that situation.
I’d also like to point out that I nominated a black guy, but was shot down on stylistic guidelines. Finding a black “rock and roll” artist outside of the 50s and 60s is a tough one — I refuse to consider Living Colour!
I’ll second “Surrender.”
REM got shot down with vetoes I think. Tom Petty was suggested but not seconded I believe. Damn Yankees. Big Star at least is there. I hate Skynyrd, so I will refrain from backing hvb up there.
TV on the Radio would be a good oughts band, irrespective of race. I feel quite sure that whatever song I suggest will be met with the perennial “that’s not their best song” objection, but I will suggest I Was A Lover anyway, even though the new one, Dear Science, may be my record of the year, certainly top ten.
For UK nominations, there’s the opposite geographical bias. Shouldn’t something like Blue Monday, I Wanna Be Adored, or How Soon Is Now? be on there.
[Let the vetoes begin.]
Also, a case could be made for Bob Marley as the greatest artist of the 70s, and reggae is more a genre of rock than a separate genre (“roots rock reggae” and all that). So I’ll suggest Rock It Baby (Baby We’ve Got a Date).
I’ll second some Skynyrd, but I’d rather pick something besides You Got That Right. Maybe Whiskey Rock A Roller or Tuesday’s Gone? It’s your call. I’ll second You Got That Right if that’s the one you like. Have you figured out what we have so far?
Catching up after a few busy days…
128 comments on this thread (a great one by the way) and no one has nominated a Talking Heads song?
And how about anyone’s version of Hanging On The Telephone? Just been listening to the Nerves original so I’d suggest that.
RE Skynyrd: I was considering adding That Smell to my solo effort. Perhaps I could nudge out the Jaggs to make room for it. Also, I ran out of room before I could add Is Anybody Going to San Antone by Doug Sahm. Sorry Big Steve, but tough choices had to be made.
I’ll second “That Smell”!
As for the lack of black artists, isn’t Prince black, and didn’t I suggest one of his songs first before having it vetoed?
By the way, I don’t think I vetoed “Sex Machine,” just asked for clarification on whether it was eligible. Had it been I was set to second it and I had a fine Marvin Gaye song lined up next.
This continues to be a painful process, but I know we’re strong enough to get through it together. What really concerns me is cdm breaking off and preparing his solo mix. The quality of his mix is outstanding, but shouldn’t we been in this together? As a show of solidarity, I’m willing to back whatever cdm’s “solo” mix is as a group. He’ll lose the solo props due him, but we’ll all be stronger.
Prince is half black, though I’m not sure which half. So is Marley, come to think of it.
n.p. My recently acquired deluxe edition of Marley’s Rastaman Vibration. The second disc is a live concert contemporary with the album. It’s loose and wild and it rocks as hard as the studio album is clean and self-controlled. Recommended to those who want to lively up themselves.
For the record: sammymaudlin vetoed a whole shitload of songs other folks had finally agreed on, so I now have no idea what’s left on the list — and it would take far more gumption to create the new, accurate, much shorter list than I’ve got.
My business partner already burned the list *he* wanted to put together, anyhow — though he was amused by the frantic efforts to reach non-consensus that took place here. I think the next stage in this sad saga is to post the list of songs that are actually going to make it into his uncle’s ear-bones. Then at least we can have fun being incredulous about the songs that made the cut. It’s a lot easier to tear down than it is to build up, isn’t it? Hell yeah — it’s the RTH way!
It’s interesting to me that the *one* song nobody whined about was “Pump It Up” by EC.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. According to the rules
If I thought I had sole veto power, I would have refrained. I’m much more comfortable being an asshole in a group of assholes.
No, no, chill. What I meant was that your “no” votes were the *second* vetoes for a number of songs (you may remember I changed the rules to reduce the number of “no” votes required to deep-six a nomination), and that I have no stomach for a thorough review of exactly which songs you effectively bumped.
I’d rather be posting about Pringles anyway.
OK. As long as I’m not the lone asshole.
Thank you Mr Mod for the vote of confidence. I was a little unsure about breaking from the pack. At first I was concerned I might be going a bit too “Ayn Rand”, but ultimately I decided that you simply can’t rein in a maverick.
I demand that we develop the 20-song list that this post called for. Start the job, finish the job. We were pretty close to done, so I see no reason to pull the plug at this point. Besides, we’re gonna need this compilation every time someone’s business partner’s uncle says good music stopped in 1969.
One Pince Nez. “Teenage Kicks” is from ’78
I’ll second or third “Los Angeles”