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Post by kds on Jan 21, 2021 16:20:27 GMT
I was trying to decide whether or not to include King Diamond's Abagail album, but by and large King is probably more well known as a solo artist than he was with Mercyful Fate. They only released two albums before he went solo.
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 21, 2021 18:48:04 GMT
WAY harder than I'd have guessed, and I didn't even really do anything you could consider definitive even of my own perspective. It turns out there aren't really all that many people who had been members of successful bands who then put out solo albums I even liked, much less loved.
I might have a list something like the below. Note, I didn't assume the artist had to be known mostly for their prior bands, just that they had to have been in successful ones. But a few of these people went on to megastardom, even bigger solo stardom, than their groups had.
John Phillips (Mamas & the Papas) - John, Wolf King of LA
Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley) - Rabbit Fur Coat
Adrian Belew (King Crimson, Zappa bands, Bowie bands) - Mr. Music Head David Ruffin (Temptations) - My Whole World Ended
George Harrison (Beatles) - Living In a Material World Aimee Mann (Til Tuesday) - Mental Illness
Beyonce (Destiny's Child) - Lemonade John Lennon (Beatles) - Imagine, POB
David Ivar Herman Dune (Herman Dune) - Yaya
Iggy Pop (Stooges) - Lust For Life Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) - BWPS, TLOS
Gram Parsons (Flying Burrito Bros, Byrds) - GP / Grievous Angel
Michael Jackson (Jackson 5) - Thriller Freddie Mercury (Queen) - Barcelona
Lou Reed (Velvet Underground) - Transformer Paul Simon (Simon & Garfunkel) - Graceland
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Post by kds on Jan 21, 2021 19:01:48 GMT
You know what's funny? I actually own two copies of the Barcelona album. One was one of the very first CDs I ever had when I was gifted a copy, and another when I bought a small box set of all Freddie's solo material. To this day, it's the only album I own that I've never once listened to.
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 21, 2021 19:37:08 GMT
To this day, it's the only album I own that I've never once listened to. You've never listened to it at all, or just you have one of those two copies that you haven't listened to?
If at all, I recommend you try it. Though frankly I don't think it's to your taste, it is a good showcase of his vocals--especially his baritone range on a few tunes. I think that's where his voice is underappreciated, as people get hung up on his higher range. But it was a full, strong baritone, too.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 21, 2021 20:07:11 GMT
Top Ten Solo Albums
1. Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue 2. Paul McCartney - Band On The run 3. Ray Manzarek - The Golden Scarab 4. Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs 5. Brian Wilson - No Pier Pressure 6. Lou Reed - Transformer 7. Johnny Thunders (And The Heartbreakers) - LAMF 8. Paul McCartney - Flaming Pie 9. Carl Wilson - Youngblood 10. Ray Manzarek - The Whole Thing Started With Rock & Roll Now It's Out Of Control
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 21, 2021 20:15:10 GMT
Top Ten Solo Albums
2. Paul McCartney - Band On The run I was going to include this but didn't know if I'd catch hell since it was "and Wings." But honestly I consider all of Paul's post-Beatles output to be solo output. Not to disrespect the abilities or contributions of the other members of Wings or his bands over the years, but it's nothing like the Beatles or a more democratic band.
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Post by kds on Jan 21, 2021 20:23:49 GMT
To this day, it's the only album I own that I've never once listened to. You've never listened to it at all, or just you have one of those two copies that you haven't listened to?
If at all, I recommend you try it. Though frankly I don't think it's to your taste, it is a good showcase of his vocals--especially his baritone range on a few tunes. I think that's where his voice is underappreciated, as people get hung up on his higher range. But it was a full, strong baritone, too.
I've listened to bits and pieces, but have never listened to either of my copies, nor any other. Musically, it's just not my thing even if I can appreciate the vocals.
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Post by kds on Jan 21, 2021 20:24:52 GMT
Top Ten Solo Albums
4. Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs
I think if you took the best songs from this and Barrett, you'd have a pretty decent album.
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Post by kds on Jan 21, 2021 20:26:06 GMT
Top Ten Solo Albums
2. Paul McCartney - Band On The run I was going to include this but didn't know if I'd catch hell since it was "and Wings." But honestly I consider all of Paul's post-Beatles output to be solo output. Not to disrespect the abilities or contributions of the other members of Wings or his bands over the years, but it's nothing like the Beatles or a more democratic band. I was trying to decide if Band on the Run or 461 Ocean Blvd would occupy my #10 spot, but I think I used variety as my tiebreaker as I already had two Beatles, two Floyds, and two Sabbaths.
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 21, 2021 20:28:08 GMT
I was going to include this but didn't know if I'd catch hell since it was "and Wings." But honestly I consider all of Paul's post-Beatles output to be solo output. Not to disrespect the abilities or contributions of the other members of Wings or his bands over the years, but it's nothing like the Beatles or a more democratic band. I was trying to decide if Band on the Run or 461 Ocean Blvd would occupy my #10 spot, but I think I used variety as my tiebreaker as I already had two Beatles, two Floyds, and two Sabbaths. I not-so-sneakily avoided doing an actual Top 10 list, including I think something like 17-18 albums from about 15 artists, not even ranked! I really ought to take a serious stab at it, but I feel like to be fair (since I haven't listened to a lot of those in a long while) I'd have to go back and make it a whole big thing...
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Post by kds on Jan 21, 2021 20:58:04 GMT
For Queen, I was actually considering Brian May's Back to the Light. There's some very good songs on there. But, it's been years since I've listened to it in full. Also, I think had Brian brought in a lead singer, it would've benefitted the album greatly. May's a good singer in small doses, but not enough to carry a full album's worth of songs, some of which are heavier rockers, which he didn't even tackle during his time in Queen.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 21, 2021 21:01:54 GMT
I was going to include this but didn't know if I'd catch hell since it was "and Wings." But honestly I consider all of Paul's post-Beatles output to be solo output. Not to disrespect the abilities or contributions of the other members of Wings or his bands over the years, but it's nothing like the Beatles or a more democratic band. I was trying to decide if Band on the Run or 461 Ocean Blvd would occupy my #10 spot, but I think I used variety as my tiebreaker as I already had two Beatles, two Floyds, and two Sabbaths. IMO I think Band On The Run is Paul's best post-Beatles' album...easily.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 21, 2021 21:03:24 GMT
Top Ten Solo Albums
4. Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs
I think if you took the best songs from this and Barrett, you'd have a pretty decent album. The Madcap Laughs is so flawed but it still contains some moments of greatness. I think Barrett is better produced but a step down in song quality. But, you're right. Combine the two and you really have something - which I've done, actually.
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 22, 2021 0:03:58 GMT
9. Arnaldo Baptista (Os Mutantes) - Lóki? I didn't know there was such a thing. I'm going to have to look this up.
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Post by kds on Jan 22, 2021 13:11:52 GMT
I was trying to decide if Band on the Run or 461 Ocean Blvd would occupy my #10 spot, but I think I used variety as my tiebreaker as I already had two Beatles, two Floyds, and two Sabbaths. IMO I think Band On The Run is Paul's best post-Beatles' album...easily. Oh, I think so too. I don't even think it's close.
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