In the quest to know more, hear more, possess more music, are there artists you’ve thought might be the limit to your music buying, that one toke over the line, so to speak? In other words, for all your passion for digging deep into the music, is there an artist you feel compelled to stop short of checking out?
In a few hours I will roll out the first part in my possibly mind-blowing examination of whether Rod Stewart‘s output, including his work with The Faces, from 1969 through 1976, is as good as or better than that of The Rolling Stones. A lot of Rock Nerd Points are going to be riding on this study, so I want to make sure we’re clear on the ground rules and methodology.
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Check out the cat’s reaction at the 1:07 mark!
Seriously, this is a perfect example of a song that – Look aside – goes from being a good Rush song on the verses to a bad XTC song on the choruses. The intersection of the relatively positive comparison to a band I don’t like with a negative comparison to a band I love is too small for me to hang onto.
On second thought, I’d rather keep the focus on the cat’s reaction shot. Peace!
Today’s rock-ish birthdays:
June 19, 1921, Louis Jordan
June 19, 1936, Tommy de Vito (Four Seasons)
June 19, 1936, Shirley Goodman (Shirley & Lee/Shirley & Co.)
June 19, 1942, “Spanky” McFarlane (Spanky & Our Gang)
June 19, 1950, Ann Wilson (Heart)
June 19, 1953, Larry Dunn (Earth Wind & Fire)
June 19, 1959, Mark DeBarge (DeBarge)
June 19, 1963, Paula Abdul
May not be too much to be proud of here BUT you are bookended by Paul McCartney, June 18 and Brian Wilson, June 20.
Now don’t get all sensitive and/or hung up on me: Are there artists whose images alone, at a certain point in their career, you are happy to gaze at until you snap out of it when some drool drips onto your shirt? I suspect Don’t Look Back-era Bob Dylan has this effect on more than a few of us. I’ve been known to space out watching John Lennon as well, just thinking how cool the guy was. This is an innocent question about an innocent phenomenon. Don’t get freaked out thinking that I’m questioning your sexuality, which we all know is as manly as it comes. Of course, if your sexuality comes into play, that’s fine too.
A recent Rock Town Hall poll question may have tipped you off to the inner workings of the Rock Town Hall Research and Development department.
From 1969 through 1976, Rod Stewart, including his work with Faces, released music on par with or better than the Rolling Stones, during that same period.
False: 68% (17)
True: 16% (4)
Mmmm, I need to think about that…: 16% (4)
Total Votes: 25
Coming soon, I will make the case that, I believe, will satisfy those who need to think about this issue as well as support those who think it’s true. Feel free to use this entry to prepare for this potentially mind-blowing examination. Thank you.

