Well … the universe is right again. For my birthday yesterday, Texas Tech gave me everything I wanted. The university signed a new $12.7 million contract extension with the “Wizard of No Wood” — coach Mike Leach out on the barren South Plains.
And, it got better as the day progressed. My friend Ben unknowingly gave me another perfect birthday gift. He sent to me yet another list from FaceBook, this one tailor made for me — the list of your all-time favorite LPs, CDs, albums … whatever.
As a non-recovering music-holic, yes I overindulged. The note instructed me to limit the list to 15. Well I did, but, several entries have two recordings by one artist “smuggled” into one. Oh … and down at the bottom, strangely, there is not one but seven #15s on my list. Hey … it was my birthday … I did what I wanted.
I digress …
It’s a fun game and my picks made me wonder if: A) music is substandard these days; B) my birthday was the big 8-0; C) I have failed to make the technology leap from 8-track tapes; D) Will peeps think I have a little rebellion issue; or E): ah %&*!#& — I am too old to remember what E) was!
So, i encourage you all to play the game. And if you want to see how your tastes stack up against “the experts,” here is a link to Rolling Stone magazine’s esteemed list “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time,” enjoy:
And, while I was on a music binge, I made a few quick observations:
My faves, The Clash (London Calling), weighed in at #8 — not bad, considering the list dates from the beginning of time until the end of the word … or “Armagideon Time” as The Clash would say … LOL.
In music circles, you always hear that the recording “Pet Sounds” was The Beach Boys‘ “Sgt. Peppers” (The Beatles recording that became synonymous with a band’s most creative, liberated effort) … so of course those two recordings are atop the list at one and two, although not in that order. NOTE: Blue Oyster Cult‘s Buck Dharma, interviewed on this site, refers to their “Sgt. Peppers” and their “Pet Sounds.” See the interview in VIPeeps section.
U2 appears a little lower down at #26 for “Joshua Tree” which seems about right. Even Bono credits Joe Strummer (Clash) as a major influence. Second NOTE: Also see Joe Strummer interviewed here on PingWi-Fi, in the VIPeeps section …
If you want to see where Radiohead, and that band that sounds like them (Coldplay … I mean) fit in … well you gonna haft read the list fo yo own self.
There are more Beatles albums on there — more than you can shake a stick at — and rightly so. They pepper the list.
Ouch! Get this Michael Jackson‘s Thriller is #20. That is is … well … insane. Great music video. Landmark music? … I think not.
American punk made the list at #33, with The Ramones self-titled effort.
The Band (with Robbie Robertson) snuck in at #34 with “Music From Big Pink.” Pink Floyd, however didn’t show up until #43 for “Dark Side of the Moon.” Someone transposed their numbers or got their pinks mixed up, methinks. In fact, how could DSOTM appear anywhere but the top 10?
Bob Marley made the list at #46 with “Legend.” Excuse me sirs, isn’t that a greatest hits recording? Where is my “Kaya” or “Uprising” … or even “Babylon By Bus?” (If I hear “Buffalo Soldier” one more time, played by someone who has finally discovered Marley … well … I might throw up a little in my mouth.)
Just a few more observations … I promise …
The Zombies (no, not the dancers in “Thriller”) — forgotten greats of the British Invasion appear at #80 … “What’s your name? Who’s your daddy? Is he rich? Is he rich like me?”
Oh … I almost overlooked #17. Put the sleeping pills down … on the table, I mean. Nirvana smells like #17 with “Nevermind.”
The worst recording in the group: “Back In Black” by “AC/Deucy” — crap I say! It’s the band’s weak attempt to replace singer Bon Scott, after he lost a terminal bout with drunken vomit. I am amazed at how many “diehard AC/DC fans” haven’t a clue that this is a cheap imitation. Do you self a favor. Check out “Let There Be Rock!”
The first lady (of soul) — Aretha Franklin — goes back-to-back at #83 & #84. RS, do yourself a favor, take back the two listed and exchange them for Aretha‘s “Sparkle” produced by Curtis Mayfield (Shaft! … “shut yo mouth” … no wait, that was Isaac Hayes). Note to guys: get this recording and play it on Valentines Day, or whenever you need a little help in the mood category.
Frank Sinatra, #100? Did they mean years old? What’s he doing here? Hell … you might as well list the Four Tenors for their contribution to rock, while you’re at it!
Cream‘s “Disraeli Gears” doesn’t show up until 112? (Probably Eric Clapton‘s best work!)
Ozzie rears his ugly head at #130, “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath (a personal favorite I must admit … a “guilty pleasure” I think is the term).
Old school pimps, with one of the best band names ever — N.W.A. “Straight Outta Compton” is “one-fo-fo,” on the list, yo.
Public Enemy‘s “Fear Of A Black Planet” is representin at #300, just beneath Dolly Pardon‘s “Coat Of Many Colors”! That ain’t right!
KISS made the list, and that is all I am going to say about that right now (posers).
Devo‘s “Are We Not Men?” … another favorite title, barely made the list at #447, which is curious. Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh is the king of music lists. If you have loved a retro soundtrack froma film, he probably compiled it or may have scored it. (I would give back my monkey tail to interview him … de-evolution joke …)
On my personal list, I cited “Meat Is Murder” by The Smiths. Rolling Stone brings Morrissey into the picture at #216, but with The Smiths‘ “The Queen Is Dead.” I concede. I should have picked that recording over MIM. And while I am being melodramatic, The Cure‘s “Boy’s Don’t Cry” doesn’t show up until #442. I will pout for days on end on that note! I LUVs me’s some Cure!
Speaking of dead meat and queens …
This is perhaps the most glaring oversight on Rolling Stone‘s monumental effort. Let’s do a build up.
Picture yourself in a sports arena. It could be baseball. It could be soccer. It could be football. I suppose it could be squash, cricket or competitive swimming. Now imagine the sounds. Can you hear it? It’s the thousands of fans clapping in unison. It get’s louder. The fans are kicking the backs of the seat in front of them too.
BOOM-BOOM, chink. BOOM-BOOM, chink … BOOM-BOOM, chink! I don’t know the criteria for making the magazine list, but I would think recording the most played (and perhaps misused) song of all time, would get you on there somewhere.
“Buddy make a noise” … something, something … “you’re gonna be a big man” … something, something … “every body sing: we will, we will, rock you!” BOOM-BOOM, chink!
“A Night At The Opera,” excellent in its own right shows up at #230 from the late Freddie Mercury and Queen. Did you know that Queen guitarist Brian May has a PhD in Astrophysics? There is a movement to get him knighted by The Crown as well. “Well, ‘Sir/Doctor May,’ you are just quite the multi-tasker, now aren’t you?”
But where, I ask you, is “News Of The World,” featuring the Queen songs everyone knows: “We Will Rock You” and “We Are The Champions!”? Somebody explain that! No, not my favorite either … but certainly earned it’s place in (stadium) rock history!
In summary, perhaps the most difficult position on the list is the last — for me and my “15” list — and for RS and their 500. Your mind rushes to all of the people you might leave out. It is a tough, tough call. In fact, Rolling Stone apparently just pulled a name out of hat, placing Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart and The Eurythmics‘ “Touch” in the final spot. I own that, but, I literally laughed out loud when I read it.
Well … regardless, hat’s off to Rolling Stone for a great stab at an impossible task (albeit several years ago). Have you tried to pick your 15 favorites yet? Just wait. Someone on FaceBook will ask you to soon.
And so … I end yet another diatribe on PingWi-Fi with these words of wisdom — compliments of lyricsfreak.com — which I will dedicate to Mike Leach, Texas Tech and anyone sitting on a hard chair in an arena:
“Buddy you’re a boy make a big noise
Playin in the street gonna be a big man some day
You got mud on yo face
You big disgrace
Kickin your can all over the place
We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you
Buddy you’re a young man hard man
Shoutin in the street gonna take on the world some day
You got blood on yo face
You big disgrace
Wavin your banner all over the place
We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you
Buddy you’re an old man poor man
Pleadin with your eyes gonna make you some peace some day
You got mud on your face
You big disgrace
Somebody better put you back in your place
We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you”
Know what I sayin?
