Choose One: Desert Island Rock Voices

 Posted by
May 262009
 

Before departing for your desert island, you’re allowed to choose ONE of the variety of rock voices typified by each of the following singers. Once settled on the island, all recordings featuring that singer will be sung in the one style you have chosen. You won’t lose any songs in each artist’s catalog, just any voice in which they sang that song other than the one style you have chosen. Got me? Now, choose wisely!

Mick Jagger: Typical Jagger (eg, “Satisfaction” or “Rock Off”) style that all garage singers would attempt to mimic or “blackface” style employed on occasion in late-60s and early-70s.

Debbie Harry: “Tough chick” style of “One Way or Another” or high-pitched, dreamy style of “Heart of Glass” and “Dreaming”?

Roger Daltry: Coolly menacing Mod style of “Can’t Explain” or the bare-chested, anthemic, shouting style perfected at Woodstock and throughout Who’s Next?

Paul McCartney: Little Richard-derived rock belt; high-energy melodicism of “Magical Mystery Tour” and the rocking parts of the best Wings songs; or jaunty showman’s voice of “When I’m Sixty-Four”?

David Bowie: Slyly rockin’ voice of earlier rockers like “Queen Bitch” and “Rebel Rebel” or the Anthony Newly-inspired voice of “Heroes” and various ballads?

Following your choices, please feel free to add your own split-personality vocalists for us to consider.

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Journey, Styx, and REO Speedwagon Align Forces

 Posted by
May 232009
 

Time to strap on a dynamite belt?

In a recent thread Townsman Chickenfrank made the following comment that is worthy of bringing to The Main Stage, as part of our occasional Rock Crimes series. His comment may still qualify as May’s Comment of the Month (I’ll have to consult with the judges), but until then, this is too important a topic not to bring to the fore.

Chick wrote:

CNN has an article about classic rock bands reuniting and recording new material together. The photo of Journey, Styx, and REO Speedwagon all together seems akin to Hitler, Pol Pot, and Idi Amin miraculously being together simultaneously. If I were to strap on a dynamite belt and eliminate either of those trios, would the country celebrate a 3-day weekend for me?

Stay tuned for new songs by Chicago and Earth Wind and Fire together. I assume Tower of Power was busy that weekend.

Chick’s question raises a number of other questions that may be worth discussing here:

  • If his dynamite belt could eliminate only two out of three of these heinous bands, which one would (to be clear I ask would not should) survive?
  • In the Steven Speilberg film of this historic event, who would play our real-life hero, Chickenfrank?
  • Which band is Mussolini and who in the rock industry is Chamberlain?

I’m sure you’ve got thoughts of your own on these questions as well as others. On this Memorial Day weekend, I think it’s only right that you share. Thanks!

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Consult the Orockle: Tell Me Something Else That’s Anywhere Near This Good

 Posted by
May 222009
 

Who among us hasn’t been amazed by the wisdom of The Hall? For as many knowledgeable individuals who dazzle with their rock knowledge, it is the collective wisdom of our participants that I find most dazzling.

It is in this spirit that I want to continue a feature that was launched a couple of months ago, not only for the people but by the people.

As originally described, the concept is simple. This is a place to seek specific wisdom from the collective intelligence. These are not to be philosophical queries but rather to seek advice and wisdom on specific rock questions. It may be a place to seek listening and purchasing recommendations.

Today I have a simple request, for The Orockle, one that may spark lengthy conversation, or not, but will hopefully illicit some sage advice.

As always, when any of us consult The Orockle, the opportunity exists for folks to ask similar questions and receive similar advice. The topic shouldn’t necessarily focus just on my topic.

Here’s the question I would like to ask The Orockle:
Continue reading »

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Sons of Champlin

 Posted by
May 222009
 


In seeking out some tracks and an entire album by Jefferson Airplane last night, I came across an album by another SF band I’d always heard about but never heard, Sons of Champlin. The album I stumbled across is called Follow Your Heart. After checking it out last night, I’m tempted to say that I’ve finally found a SF band I can sink my teeth into: really soulful singing, nice ensemble playing, little of the melodrama that has always bogged me down with Jefferson Airplane. Along with the title track, I was impressed by “Children Know,” “Before You Right Now,” “Hey Children,” and “Child Continued.”

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The Incredible Disappearing Post
UPDATE #5

 Posted by
May 202009
 


UPDATE #5: The Back Office thinks the transfer to the dedicated server may have taken! You’ll already notice that some of your snazzy comments from the past 48 hours are not appearing. This is exactly as The Back Office told us would be the case! So, kiss those snazzy comments and embarrassing confessions goodbye. As the veteran Townspeople among us poke around, let us know is anything is out of whack. Thanks for hanging in there!

Previously…
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The Perfect Storm

 Posted by
May 192009
 


Lately, I’ve been coming across a lot of articles online that attempt to show neophytes and the hippie-averse how to learn to love, or at least approach, The Grateful Dead.


How To Get Into The Grateful Dead

Resonant Frequency #59: Broken Thoughts and Hand-Me-Downs

Dead Reckoning: What Your Favorite Grateful Dead Song Says About You

For some reason, I love to read these articles, even as I remain apprehensive about listening to The Dead. But that’s neither here nor there.

I’m wondering what other artists that could serve as the subject of these kinds of articles. I surmise: Not that many. This is because The Grateful Dead are the Perfect Storm of bands.

The Reasons:

1) They jam. And even beyond that, there is something in the organization of their sound, something about the laid-back-ness perhaps, that easily turns a lot of people off.

2) They have a voluminous catalog, especially with all the bootlegs and whatnot. Steely Dan turn a lot of people off with their jazz chords and tasty licks, but they do not have a legendary live career and tapers’ community.

2) Their fans are hippies. Zappa doesn’t get as much hatred as the Dead, I think partially because people respect his lifelong disdain for hippies.

But I’d love to be proven wrong. Is any other band such a Perfect Storm of love and hate as The Grateful Dead? Did I miss any other aspects of The Dead’s Perfect Storm? Do let me know.

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