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Post by Kapitan on Jul 7, 2021 11:49:39 GMT
An idea stolen from a YouTube channel, but expanded upon: a series where we walk through the alphabet and for each letter, name our favorite artist/band, album, and/or song. So "A" might net us Aerosmith, Abbey Road, and "All Shook Up," to name a few.
But let's open it up and have fun with it, if you think "favorite" is too boring or everyone else is picking yours, go with another one you like, or think we might like, or want to expose more widely. Can't think of one that fits perfectly? Bend the rules, go by first name instead of last, or whatever! Pick all three for a letter, or two, or one. Chat a bit about your picks: easy one, hard choice? One you've always loved or just discovered?
I figure we'll spend a day or so per letter, but maybe more and maybe less depending on participation.
Let's get to it with my yet-incomplete listing for...
The Letter A
Artist: Album: Abbey Road
Song:
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Post by kds on Jul 7, 2021 12:18:01 GMT
The Letter A
Artist: AC/DC Album: Abbey Road Song: Aces High (Iron Maiden)
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Post by carllove on Jul 7, 2021 12:24:45 GMT
Artist: Alice in Chains - Love me some grunge. Dirt is one of those Albums I can listen to all of the way through and enjoy every bit. Album: Armed Forces - Elvis Costello. Great Album. Always forget how good this is. Saw him in concert about the time this was released, so I remember these songs sounding so good live. Song: At Last - Etta James. What can I say. One of the most beautiful songs ever.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 7, 2021 13:21:56 GMT
The Letter A
Artist: Album: Abbey Road
Song:
Still REALLY struggling with artist and with song, but for different reasons.
Artist, I can't think of any that I really love starting with an A! I'm sure one will come to me.
Songs, I can't narrow it down. Too many great ones. Here are several, in no particular order:
Alison - Elvis Costello Across the Universe - the Beatles American Trilogy - the Delgados Andy's Chest - Lou Reed Another Nail in My Heart - Squeeze Arnaldo Said - Wondermints
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Post by kds on Jul 7, 2021 13:29:06 GMT
Songs are going to be difficult for many letters in this exercise. I'm not even certain is Aces High is my #1 "A" song, but it was one of the first that sprung to mind.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 7, 2021 13:32:00 GMT
Definitely. Which is why, I suppose, we ought to not worry TOO much about getting it right and instead just have fun with it. Throw out suggestions, dark horse choices, personal connections, whatever.
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Post by jk on Jul 7, 2021 14:26:03 GMT
Cool idea, Cap'n. Mine will all vary between "favourite" and "like a lot":
Artist: Joan Armatrading Album: After the Goldrush ~ Neil Young Song: "Ain't No Doubt" ~ Jimmy Nail
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 7, 2021 15:22:00 GMT
Artist - Alice Cooper - I was just listening to "School's Out" and "I'm Eighteen" and it sounded so good! I'm glad he cleaned up and survived. Album - Agents Of Fortune by Blue Oyter Cult - I bought the album at the Jersey shore right after high school graduation. It still reminds me of summer. Agents Of Fortune signaled a change in the band's sound and, of course, got them on the radio with "(Don't Fear) The Reaper". Song - " Any Way You Want It" - the KISS version. I love that little drum fill by Peter. That was Peter wasn't it?
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 7, 2021 17:23:59 GMT
Artist: This might be cheating a little, my pick is Arnaldo Baptista, but as a member of Os Mutantes. As a solo artist, meh. One very decent/good album and not much else, so that's why I chose Os Mutantes' version of Arnaldo as my A artist. Two quick things:
That was exactly what I had in mind when I said it was OK to cheat a little. Last name, first name, whatever, as long as we get some things out there for discussion!
Second, it's funny that you chose the artist about whom my song (or one of my songs) was written. Wondermints' fantastic "Arnaldo Said" is indeed about Arnaldo Baptista.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 7, 2021 17:36:28 GMT
Gotta be. And frankly I am surprised the song is credited only to D. Sahanaja on the album. It is very clearly, uh, inspired by "Algo Mais." (And by inspired by, I mean borrows from ... or steals, if you prefer.)
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Post by jk on Jul 7, 2021 17:57:11 GMT
Of course, there will always be moments of "___, why didn't I think of that one?". That said, this is all in fun, and the more spontaneous and guileless the responses, the better. The reference work I fall back on where necessary is the Omnibus Press's Complete Book of the British Charts Singles and Albums. It's not what I expected when I bought it but it's proved invaluable over the years.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 7, 2021 18:02:14 GMT
To be fair, Os Mutantes "borrowed" LOTS of music during their prime years as well. I don't know how much of copyright stuff comes to the artists themselves to handle rather than their label, but I'm sure none of the Os Mutantes members would want to claim credits for a song like this Wondermints' one and become a hypocrite. Perhaps if the 'mints had more success with that album and made some real money... But as it is, I'd guess they would take it more as a compliment than anything. Now, had it been a #1 single? I'd see that as a compliment and a revenue stream, if I were them.
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Post by carllove on Jul 7, 2021 18:49:03 GMT
Artist: This might be cheating a little, my pick is Arnaldo Baptista, but as a member of Os Mutantes. As a solo artist, meh. One very decent/good album and not much else, so that's why I chose Os Mutantes' version of Arnaldo as my A artist. Album: Abbey Road is easily my favorite with the letter A. Well, every time a letter matches a Beatles album, that's probably going to be my choice. Song: Tough one, so many options. Today I'm going with A Day In The Life. I don't think I have to explain this one... --- The picks could've been totally different depending on the day though, these choices are more about what I'm remembering and feeling about them at the moment. Just to name a few songs that I instantly thought about: The Beatles - Ask Me Why The Beatles - And Your Bird Can Sing The Beach Boys - All Summer Long (was likely going to be the one had I not remembered ADITL) The Beach Boys - All I Wanna Do The Doors - Alabama Song George Harrison - All Things Must Pass Paul McCartney - Another Day I didn't pick Abbey Road since it had already been mentioned, otherwise it would be my #1. How did I forget about the Beach Boys on a Beach Boys message board? I think All I Wanna Do might win out over At Last, but it is a close one. I guess I needed more coffee!
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 7, 2021 19:42:11 GMT
OK, completing my offering, I am whittling down my song list to one, Bill Ricchini's lovely "Angela," from his similarly lovely album Tonight I Burn Brightly. (Really worth a listen!) And I'm adding my artist choice. I enjoy some AC/DC, some Aerosmith. Not so much the Allman Bros. I almost went with Paul "Ace" Frehley. But instead I'm picking a dark horse candidate. Artist: Arab Strap Album: Abbey Road - Beatles Song: Angela - Bill Ricchini
Arab Strap are a Scottish duo who mix electronic music with live guitars and mostly spoken, or a kind of sing-speak hybrid, recitation of lyrics. And what lyrics! It's a blur of parties, after-parties, booze, drugs, and all-around debauchery. And they're hilarious. I learned of them in the early '00s when I was big into Scottish indie scene, with them, Belle & Sebastian the Delgados, and others. Here is a video that gives the idea maybe better than all my writing ever could, the glorious "The Shy Retirer."
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Post by kds on Jul 7, 2021 20:02:06 GMT
Artist: ABBA Album: Abacab Song: Abracadabra
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