Rock n Roll w/Strings

No Quarter - Jimmy Page & Robert Plant Unledded

While my original post was headed a different way, the ELO responses are most welcome. I'm not sure exactly how I feel about their use of strings, but I'd agree that IMHO Jeff Lynne is definitely a top tier Brian Wilson - Lennon/MacCa songwriting disciple.

One of my favorite "under the radar" singer-songwriters is named Parthenon Huxley (he mostly performs as P Hux). When Mik Kaminski and/or Bev Bevan reformed ELO as ELOII (later, after Jeff Lynne sued over the use of that name, they renamed themselves The Orchestra), they recruited P Hux to replace Lynne. If you want to hear a remarkable job of songwriting in someone else's style, try to hunt down the track "Jewel and Johnny" by The Orchestra.

When I first heard it, I would have sworn it was a Jeff Lynne-penned ELO top 10 hit. Were it released back in the day, I suspect that it would have been among their best known songs. I'd say it's worth checking out for Lynne fans.

Another interesting P Hux record is called Homemade Spaceship. It's entirely P Hux's acoustic covers of ELO songs. The songs are really transformed (tho, I'm sure, not to everyone's taste) by this treatment and that led to my earlier comment regarrding ambivalence about ELO's strings. Sometimes, I prefer the "unbowed" versions on Spaceship.

Marty

Mapman, there's nothing coincidental about you mentioning ELO and The Beatles in the same post. I seem to recall a Rolling Stone interview with Jeff Lynne (of ELO), in which he professed his great love and admiration for The Beatles and that his vision for ELO was to pick up where the Beatles left off. At the time I thought that was a bit arrogant, but I definitely hear Beatles' DNA in ELO's music. Full disclosure, I'm a life long ELO fan.

Yes, ELO and El Dorado specifically is seldom mentioned.

ELO I think broke new ground early on regarding use of string instruments in a rock band.

On teh Beatles front "Yesterday" of course was groundbreaking and most influential. Also "Martha My Dear" is another lesser known solid Beatles tune with nice string accompaniment.

I always liked the double string quartet arrangement on Eleanor Rigby.

It can be heard, without vocals, on the Anthology 2 release.

Early albums from Electric Light Orchestra. My favorite is "Eldorado" PLAY IT LOUD!!!!

Nirvana "Unplugged in NY", Charlie Daniels Band.....

Grand Funk Railroad used strings on occassion with nice effect.

Serge Gainsbourg - History of Melody Nelson

Just incredible! Cheers,
Spencer

Mark Knopfler, "Monteleone"

Wow. I'm happy other A'gon members have good words for Apocalyptica. I was thinking I was going to get a collective meh for that contribution.

Mapman made a very good call with Metallica's S&M IMO. Michael Kamen and the Sfso did a great job with keeping up with Metallica. If the OP does get this album definitely play For Whom The Bell Tolls at a nice loud level. The 1st 2 minutes will get the blood flowing.

Apocalyptica's first album of Metallica covers changed my perception of
Metallica's music and gave it a lot of credibility for the first time. It's
perhaps the purest example of strings mainly doing rock music
successfully. The cellos do a great job of delivering the power and attack
of the original electric guitar works.

Apocalyptica featuring Brent Smith of Shinedown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzRgl6OXeEY&feature=youtu.be

and this one too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzU7AbQr5SM&feature=youtu.be

Apocalyptica may rock a bit too hard for many tastes as it's right on the edge of Heavy Metal, but these guys are very talented indeed. Saw them in concert once when they backed Metallica. Wouldn't expect a string trio to work in a rock 'n' roll atmosphere, but it does. Quite impressively I might ad.

Thanks all for the responses. They've certainly covered a lot of ground!

Marty

PS Maxnewid - thanks for the heads up on Room of Songs. I thought that I owned everything Alejandro has ever recorded, but I must have missed that one somehow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atUBSc22WFA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMyBoHw0rsQ&feature=related

Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers. Very similar use of cello, maybe leaning harder to the rock/R+B side of things though.

Portishead

Caravan

Metallica

BEPs Union

yes

I saw Yes on that tour with orchestra at Wolftrap in DC and it was AWESOME, especially the version of TGOD that was performed!

appaloosa-(s/t)....the new york rock and roll ensemble-faithful friends...both are incredible.

I think Alejandro is one of the most gifted song writers performing today. If you don't have "Room of Songs," you are in for a treat. The "Boxing Mirror" also rocks.As far as rock and roll bands with violin players go, my favorites are the Dixie Dregs (I like Dregs of the Earth) and Roxy Music. The violin solo from Out of the Blue on Roxy's Country Life is a classic. Roxy Music Live from 2001 has some tasty violin work as well.

Moody Blues, Days of Future Passed

I don't know if you would consider this Rock N Roll w/ Strings but here is my contribution.

Apocalyptica featuring Corey Taylor - I'm Not Jesus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMLsF8ajI6U

The rock group Kansas. Not quite rock and roll but Jon Luc Ponty and Andreas Vollenweider did quite well with strings.

Buddy Holly had strings back in the fifties.

Just listened to Elton Johns 1st album, which I consider spotty as far as music quality, with some songs excellent and others not so much. However, quite a few songs have strings, some have harp, and one I believe has harpsichord.