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When You Really Think About It, Jefferson Starship May Have Produced a Stronger Quartet of Songs Than Any Four Songs by Jefferson Airplane

Nov 052009

It’s been a little more than 11 months since I first posted this controversial view. One of the characteristics I most admire in our Townspeople is our ability to reconsider past views and objections. Now may be as good a time as ever for each of us to reconsider our initial opinions and for newer members of Rock Town Hall to chime in on this issue.

Frankly, I was surprised at the lack of support my query elicited. I didn’t expect the majority of Townspeople to hear things as I heard them, but I surely didn’t expect that the closest thing I got to agreement was a vote for plain, old Starship! Why don’t you join me in reviewing our first discussion of these matters, replaying the supporting video clips, and sharing any new insights that may have resulted from your growth as a music listener? I look forward to your comments.

This post initially appeared 11/30/08.

Granted, Jefferson Airplane is a favorite whipping band among certain segments of Rock Town Hall – and I don’t believe anyone who’d hang here like Jefferson Starship, but when you really think about it, Jefferson Starship may have produced a stronger quartet of songs than any four songs by Jefferson Airplane.

I speak specifically of a quartet of mid-70s Jefferson Starship songs:
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Sound Alikes

Posted by cherguevara

Nov 052009

Listening to a Nina Simone compilation yesterday, a strange rendition of a tune caught my attention. I looked up this song, “Everyone’s Gone To The Moon,” and found the the original rendition of the song was more tuneful than Simone’s (though less campy, and thus, entertaining to me). But as I listened, the song began to remind me of something else….

Is it me?

Or does this song sound remarkably like…
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Most Conspicuous Band Member Who Likely Had Little Influence Within His or Her Band?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Nov 042009

Who is it?

Before you make the jump, please consider the following question:

Who is this man, a musician who in the proper context is highly conspicuous by his presumed lack of influence within his best-known group?
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This Is Your Rock Town Hall!

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Nov 042009

Townspeople,

This is your Rock Town Hall!

If you’ve already got Back Office privileges and can initiate threads, by all means use your privileges! If you’d like to acquire such privileges, let us know. If you’ve got a comment that needs to be made, what are you waiting for? If you’re just dropping in and find yourself feeling the need to make your voice heard, don’t hesitate to register and post your thoughts. The world of intelligent rock discussion benefits from your participation. If nothing else, your own Mr. Moderator gets a day off from himself. It’s a good thing for you as well as me!

Interview Liars

Posted by Oats

Nov 032009

Hey everyone, let’s name some notable rock folks who almost certainly tell lies frequently when being interviewed. Steely Dan have long mastered the art of turning Q&As into their own personal Marx Brothers routines. I am convinced that Paul Westerberg routinely changes his answers to questions about The Replacements, possibly out of boredom. I bet both PW and the Dan learned their craft by studying Bob Dylan interviews.

Also, who should start lying more when being interviewed? Rollins, yes. The Boss, sure. Paul McCartney, definitely.

(I’ll admit that my interest in this topic is partially due to disenfranchisement with the whole interviewing thing, the idea that you can get an even minor rock star to provide a “teachable moment” by revealing something about themselves and their art. It’s not so much that it’s impossible, but do people care anymore? Maybe some rockers may reveal more of themselves when they’re covering up their tracks.)

The Kids Are Alright

Posted by The Back Office

Nov 032009

Succumbing to the voluminous, daily requests from the legion of our younger audience, Rock Town Hall is now on Twitter and Facebook. It’s mostly pops and buzzes to us in The Back Office but dang if it didn’t come in handy today to let folks know that the blog was down for a bit. (Down because we messed up the Twitter and Facebook links…)

Got ’em workin’ now by-gummit. You’ll see the links in the right column. Looks something like:

So sign up and gaze upon our man-tweets, or take a poll or ring our doorbell or tell us what breakfast cereal you’d be.

What Genre Do You Most Prefer Relative to the Original, “Authentic” Form When Done by “Inauthentic” Musicians?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Nov 032009

A simple enough question, I believe: What genre do you most prefer relative to the original, “authentic” form when done by “inauthentic” musicians?

In your heart of hearts, for instance, relative to authentic reggae, would you rather listen to The Clash play “Police and Thieves” and their other reggae covers?

Can you take or leave authentic Chicago blues, yet you seek out any early Fleetwood Mac album involving Peter Green?

Is your country music collection primarily made up of albums by bearded Columbia University graduates living in Brooklyn?

Is your interest in rock ‘n roll so weak that you prefer hearing it handled by the French?

Something else? Do tell!

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