John Prime. His debut is perfect and his final, "Tree of Forgiveness" is perfect.
An Artist's Pinnacle
We've had so many threads about favorite releases by an artist, best debut recordings etc., but I'm don't think that I have seen anyone ask this before. My question is this: Pick one or more solo artists, or bands or music from any genre. What release do you think marked the pinnacle of their artistry?
I could think of many, but the idea was sparked in my mind yesterday when I was thinking once again that for REM, it was Life's Rich Pageant. They were once a favorite band, but I eventually got really tired of Michael Stipe's nonsense. Anyway, that's not the point. Continuing with the rock genre, I will say Dirt was the peak for Alice in Chains, and Rocks was the top for Aerosmith. Only thinking of those examples because I was just listening to them yesterday.
I'm really interested in everyone else's thoughts, and I'll have a whole lot more as I think about it.
I could think of many, but the idea was sparked in my mind yesterday when I was thinking once again that for REM, it was Life's Rich Pageant. They were once a favorite band, but I eventually got really tired of Michael Stipe's nonsense. Anyway, that's not the point. Continuing with the rock genre, I will say Dirt was the peak for Alice in Chains, and Rocks was the top for Aerosmith. Only thinking of those examples because I was just listening to them yesterday.
I'm really interested in everyone else's thoughts, and I'll have a whole lot more as I think about it.
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Every Picture Tells A Story - by Rod "the Mod" Stewart. I saw him twice: Central Park, July '69 with the original Jeff Beck Group. Later, in March '75 at San Francisco's Cow Palace fronting The Small Faces. Dynamite live performer! His previous recording - Gasoline Alley - can certainly occupy the top spot. Both have crack backing musicians and great songs! |
"Dirt was the peak for Alice in Chains, and Rocks was the top for Aerosmith. " roxy54-funny you should mention AIC-Dirt. A millennial had a T shirt with that album cover. I mentioned to him it was their best, but he never heard it. "Toys in the Attic" IMO will slug it out with Rocks as Aerosmith's peak. "Get your Wings" kills too. After Rocks-I punt. How about Tom Petty's "Damn the Torpedoes?" Who's Next? Rush-Moving Pictures Van Halen debut Ted Nugent-Ted Nugent Devo-debut Stuck in the 70's and unashamed |
@larsman: I'm speaking specifically of the original 3 LP "Europe '72' album. The vocal overdubs are common knowledge and very easily verified, now that the warts and all Europe shows are available (or were) in their entirety. The consistently in-tune vocals on the 3 LP set are a strong contrast with their more ragged, "unimproved" counterparts.
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Kate Bush - 'The Dreaming' Soundgarden - 'Superunknown' The Clash - 'London Calling' Elvis Costello - 'This Year's Model' Gang of Four - 'Entertainment' The Jam - 'Setting Sons' Love - 'Forever Changes' PJ Harvey - 'Let England Shake' Siouxsie and the Banshees - 'The Scream' Squeeze - 'Argybargy' Plenty more where those came from!
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Three more... Wishbone Ash: Argus. I've sampled a few other W. A. titles, but to my ears, nothing else comes close. The fusion of lyricism and power make this an underrated Rock (no-- it's not Prog) masterpiece, IMHO. Fleetwood Mac: Then Play On. It's a shame that P. Green was losing his grip on reality just as Danny Kirwan was coming into his own but nevertheless, I'd assert this recording comprises the band's artistic peak, along with the Live in Boston recordings. While I very much enjoy Kirwan's work on Kiln House, Future Games and Bare Trees, I much prefer P. Green's playing and compositions to those of J. Spencer and B. Welch. Janis Joplin: Pearl. I realize there are an awful lot of folks who, preferring the recordings with Big Brother, characterize Pearl as a "sell out" and "too slick". The fact is, Pearl shows off the best singing of Joplin's career. She's arguably less caught up in and hampered by, the "little girl lost" persona and she's singing from a place of greater personal strength, confidence and stability. Her mastery of dynamics, phrasing and vocal technique as means of conveying emotion were never more evident than on these recordings. |
@stuartk - where did you see that the Grateful Dead overdubbed vocals on Europe '72? Not saying they didn't, but I've got the box set of the entire Europe '72 tour - I know there weren't any overdubs on THAT! 😃 I loved that 2nd album from The Band, too - Jerry Garcia Band used to cover 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down', and very, very well, too... |
Three examples spring to mind, immediately The Band's second album. For me, this is their best collection of songs and studio performances. Music From Big Pink sounds less artistically mature and Stage Fright is disappointingly inconsistent (attributed by R. Robertson to the impact of drug use), both in terms of performances and material. Although others will disagree, I'd assert this is the best Americana album ever made, despite the fact that most of the members were Canadian. Hendrix: "First Rays of the New Rising Sun"...for my taste, songs such as Night Bird, Angel, Drifting, Freedom, Straight Ahead, etc. constitute his artistic peak. With the incense and Patchouli cleared away, what is left is a more focused, grounded, mature artist. His ability to structure compositions with multiple guitar parts is stunning and the music comes across as much more direct and personal. G. Dead: Europe '72. The musicianship speaks for itself. I could never be a deadhead-- the band's maddening inconsistency drives me nuts-- but fair's fair, even allowing for the fact that they went back and overdubbed the vocals. And this "Americana" phase in their songwriting is my favorite. They were mining a very similar vein as The Band and that's a very good thing, indeed.
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Electric Light Orchestra: Face the Music This thread reminds me of something I’ve been pondering about musical groups/artists. They appear and in their first several albums develop their talent, and then at some point (if they are lucky/talented) became really popular but also their work becomes too e.g. poppish, diluted, not sure exact words. ELO New World Record sold 5 million and I did like some of the songs, and yet somehow Face The Music, is better, more real, more purely them for me. Renaissance Turn of the Cards. You could argue Song for All Seasons.
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The Beatles: Revolver Brian Wilson: Smile The Band: s/t (brown album) Neil Young: Harvest Randy Newman: Good Old Boys The Flamin' Groovies: Shake Some Action Procol Harum: A Salty Dog AC/DC: Back In Black The Ramones: Road To Ruin Moby Grape: s/t debut (sad but true) Fleetwood Mac: Kiln House (my favorite, at least) The Kinks: Something Else By Gram Parson: Grievous Angel The Byrds: Sweethearts Of The Rodeo John Hiatt: Bring The Family Fortunately, most of my current faves are still on the ascend. |
Roxy: Yes, you are correct as "Sara Smile" was later on. Memory is an odd thing, but with your prod I now recall where I was living when it (the song) was often/continuously played on radio, which would place it to the mid 70's. Never owned any of their LP's, but this particular song (as well as a handful of others) have been earwigs that live with me to this present day. In the late 70's I did an off the cuff instrumental of "Sara Smile", in a dive bar on East Sunset in Hollywood during a band break, and the audience loved it (I was backed by a killer keyboard player who also did not take smoke/other breaks). This became a regimen @ this bar and the keyboard player eventually brought in a few Beatle'ish songs to blend with "Sara Smile". One was "Baby I'm Amazed" and I don't recall the title of the other, but LOVE was in the chorus. We also did a LOUNGE version of "Over the Rainbow". I was always a mediocre musician, but sometimes had moments when playing with stellar/IMO musicians. What's your opinion of the version (from Daryl's House) with the young girl from Fritz's band? Based upon his series "Daryl's House" I have gained the utmost respect for Daryl Hall, which is odd (for me) as I've always been an R&B fanatic, though apparently with limited exposure to later works. I'll have to think about other artists and Jeff Beck/Clapton would perhaps be a good place to start. DeKay |
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Interesting dekay. As a longtime fan of there earlier work, ending with Beauty on a Backstreet, I consider War Babies as their pinnacle, although it's not typical of their blue eyed soul as some called it. I think Sara Smile was on Bigger than Both of Us, their third or fourth. I love Abandoned Luncheonette from the early period. |
Hall and Oates never again achieved the artistry of "Sara Smile", which I believe was on their very 1st album. Here’s an awesome version from Daryl’s House. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQEwpS8_uZY DeKay |