Rock and Roll Reminiscing - GGGG

Tour2ma · February 2003

Rock and Roll Reminiscing

23 February 2003 --- Letter Of The Week is G

For what this is about and some guidelines please click on the following link:

http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7234

Yes, its a long post, but please read, if you participate.

This week we are only discussing artists whose last name, and groups whose name begin with the letter G.

Note: The word The doesnt count, so for example The Allman Brothers Band belongs in the "A's" discussion and not in the Ts (guideline #5).

When possible, please supply complete title, format, company, year and catalog number when posting recordings.

And so our 26-week odyssey continues

Hope you come along for the ride

MxStYlEpOlKmAn · February 2003

I have one.....cant think of another......

Greenwheel

MxStYlEpOlKmAn · February 2003

wrong thread

joe6pak · February 2003

Great White. This name will now be more well known for the terrible fire in R.I. than their music. I liked their hit "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" but did not like much of their other stuff.

Guess Who. This 60's rock group from Canada was fun to listen to. No party was complete with out playing American Woman. These Eyes, No Sugar Tonight, Laughing, and No Time, plus others make their greatest hits cd worth a spin.

joe

avelanchefan · February 2003

I would like to submit Garbage

They first hit the scene with the self titled album Garbage. Some very good songs on this album. ****, Only Happy when it Rains, As Heaven is Wide, Milk, and Stupid Girl.

Their second effort Version 2.0 was a great if not excellent follow up. The CD starts of strong with Temptation Waits, I Think I'm Paranoid, and When I grow Up. Special, Push It, and You Look So Fine are also good songs.

In October 2001 the band strayed from their formula and took another direction musically with Beautifulgarbage. I Just could not get into this CD. I tried and tried, but there was just something missing.

Shiley Manson's voice is just leaves me wanting more. The effort may not have been there on their latest release, but Garbage's first two CD's showed how talented this group is. Still looking forward to their next release.

joe6pak · February 2003

Here is a double G with one band.

Grateful Dead/ Jerry Garcia. There are a lot of deadheads out there. Are there any here?

Another double G

Genesis/Peter Gabriel. Genesis when Phil Collins was just the drummer. These guys were a good example of theater rock. No top 40s stuff here. I saw them in concert in the early 70s. A real good show, with plenty of lights, and lots of smoke! I lost interest after Peter left and Phil took over the lead singing. They were still good, and more successful, but it just was not the same. If you like long concept type albums, Foxtrot is one of the best.

joe

stevew14 · February 2003

Not one of the original Deadheads but I did eventually jump on the bandwagon. Garcia's playing (and singing) often brought a tear to my eye. Such emotion! I'm sorry he's gone.

Please let me hear that someone other than myself remembers and appreciated Gentle Giant. A Brirish band that never gained the noteriety they deserved (in my opinion), but they were an excellent band. They pulled things off live that I never thought they would be able to. Simply amazing.

Yes to Early Genesis as well. I saw them several times back in the day and have followed Gabriel ever since. Love it!

shack · February 2003

Grand Funk Railroad - Closer To Home - 1970 - The third album by this band is probably the best. Good cuts include "Mean Mistreater", "I'm Your Captain" and "Aimless Lady". Grand Funk Railroad was a true "hard rock" band of the early 70s. Their studio albums and live albums sounded a lot alike. I still like to listen to them from time to time.

E Pluribus Funk - 1971 - This album was always easy to find in the record stack because it was silver and round like a coin. I like this one quiet a bit. "Upsetter", "Footstompin' Music" and "Loneliness" are the notable tracks.

We're An American Band - 1973 - This is my 3rd favorite of the bunch. The name has changed to simply Grand Funk. There is of course the title track "We're An American Band" which got tons of airplay and maybe became the bands "signature". Other good cuts are "Walk Like A Man", "Creeper" and "Loneliest Rider" (notice the lonely themes here?). As an interesting sidenote, Todd Rundgren produced this album.

Grand Funk Railroad is one of the bands I truely enjoyed live as much as their studio work (in their case it is about the same). Live shows while often fun don't always reach the quality of studio work where they can rework a track until it is right. I was able to attend a GFR concert in 71 and it was one of the best I ever saw.

shack · February 2003

A few comment on artists already mentioned:

I have Garbage and Garbage 2.0 and the first is the better of the two. However my favorite cut is "Paranoid" from 2.0. Shirley Manson is a Babe and I love her voice. I'm almost ashamed to tell you how I found this band. There were a couple of songs on Playstation GTII that I liked while playing the game. One was from Garbage so I bought the album. Glad I did.

Genesis - Yes, I like the Peter Gabriel era but I also like the Phil Collins era as well. Abacab led the way with lesser releases like Genesis and Invisible Touch. This was more mainstream pop/rock but it is possible to like both the old and new.

Peter Gabriel - He is one of the most inovative artists of his era. I have most of his catalog so I won't go into albums but some of my favorite cuts are "In Your Eyes", "Games Without Frontiers", "Solsbury Hill", "Red Rain", "Don't Give Up", "Steam", "Diggin' In The Dirt", etc..etc... The new Up album is interesting and I am getting to know it better. I never cared for Passion.

Im not a Grateful Dead fan at all and don't own any of their music. Just a taste I never acquired I guess.

Guess Who is another fine band I enjoy a lot. I agree with Joe6pack.

joe6pak · February 2003

stevew14.

I saw Genesis on their Lamb Lies Down on Broadway tour. Not my fav album but a good show. I was scheduled to go when they were in their Foxtrot tour but was forced to cancel. I'm still pissed about missing that one. Did you see them do Supper's Ready? I heard that was just something else.

Gentle Giant. All Right! I was going to mention them next. I saw them open for Black Oak Arkansas. You are right. They put on a show. I was impressed when they had three guys play the same set of drums at the same time. I only have their albums titled "Gentle Giant" and "Three Friends." Have you ever heard the groups City Boy or Captain Beyond?

I'm not a big deadhead but I like a lot of the Greatful Dead Stuff.

Shack.

Yes its hard to beat Grand Funk. Rock & Roll! For some reason I have this strange tradition where every spring when I 1st take my boat out I have to play "Time Machine," "Footstompin' Music," and "The Loco-motion." Great music to kick off the lake season! Also a good test to see if the Polks in the boat made it thru the winter. Then every fall when I am totally bummed out and on my last lake trip before winterization, I play the same stuff again. Helps to ease the "cold lake blues" I guess. Damn I'm ready for spring!!!!

joe

stevew14 · February 2003

Joe,

I saw them when Selling England By The Pound was out and again on the Lamb tour. Both great shows! Then again once after that before Steve Hackett left. I liked them progressively less after that but still some good stuff.

I know I've heard Captain Beyond as well, but those days seem a bit fuzzy now and I'm not sure when it was. Maybe at a stay in a friend's dorm one winter???

I was in a band in junior and senior high, and at one time we had about twenty Grand Funk songs in our repertoire!! I loved the band, especially their first few albums. They were pretty easy to learn and play too. Great memories

shack · February 2003

OK..how about a couple of bands that started out as underground/punk and moved up the music ladder:

Green Day - Dookie - 1994 - This is the album that brought Green Day into the mainstream and made them "sellouts" to the punk fans that they had been playing to for many years. While they became outcasts to the hardcore punk crowd, Billie Joe Armstrong and the boys were probably able to get through it with the millions they made from their record sales. "When I Come Around" is a nice cut and probably the one with the most airplay.

The Goo Goo Dolls has had a fairly unusual journey. They started out as a college underground rock/punk band. They have a hit "ballad" and become the sweethearts of the teen set because Johnny Rzeznik is sooooo cute and all (how do I know this? Because I have 2 teenage daughters - thats how!). I actually like the Goo Goo Dolls. A Boy Named Goo - 1995 - has some nice cuts like "Eyes Wide Open", "Long Way Down", "Ain't That Unusual" and the above mentioned hit ballad "Name".

Dizzy Up The Girl - 1998 - Good cuts are "All Eyes On Me", "Bullet Proof", "Slide", "Black Balloon" and their big hit "Iris". This song got a lot of airplay because of the movie "Ciy of Angels", but I think it a good song on it's own.

Has anyone given their latest album Gutterflower a listen? I haven't heard it and would be interested what direction they've gone in. More of the same or what?

F1nut · February 2003

RORY GALLAGHER - IRISH TOUR '74
1974 Capo Records X2-13130 CD and remastered 1999 Buddha Records 7446599650 2

A live recording from multiple performances in Ireland at a time when being there was dangerous to one's well being. An incredible guitar player and master of tones, this cd highlights his talent. The remaster sounds better, but they changed the cover art and the last song on the cd....bozo's!

Joe, good call on The Grateful Dead.
I'm a deadhead, but only have two of their cd's, American Beauty and Mars Hotel. I must have signed up at a concert in the early '70's and the scary thing is that everytime I've moved.....they find me!!!

Strong Bad · February 2003

Guns 'n' Roses: Appetite For Destruction

By far, this is one of the greatest rock albums to come out of the 80's...or any period for that matter.

GTR: GTR

This 1986 album didn't really score huge, but the song "When the Heart Rules the Mind" got some pretty good airplay. The 2 main men, Steve Howe and Steve Hackett I believe came from Yes (correct me if i'm wrong).

stevew14 · February 2003

Howe from Yes, Hackett from Genesis

George Grand · February 2003

Rory GALLAGHER playing Peter GREEN'S music. Actually, it's a compilation of many artists playing Peter Green's music, and it's on a double cd called "Rattlesnake Guitar". Some of the artists get it right, some don't. Rory absolutely NAILS it!

Only Fleetwood Mac albums worth owning feature Peter Green. The rest are "pop" albums, designed and executed to sell records. The ones with Peter Green light your soul on fire.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grand's)

Tour2ma · February 2003

Man yall are on a roll here

A few comments on the above.

I too was an original Genesis fan and followed Peter Gabriel in his solo career. My favorite Genesis tracks are 1 and 2 from The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, the title track and Fly on a Windshield. The segway from the first to the second is perfect and Fly is so hard driving I only wish theyd continued it for a few more minutes, way too short. BTW Behind the Music did an excellent show on Gabriel and Genesis. When Peter left Genesis I soon followed. Collins surprised me with the vocal quality he brought up front, but the band became too pop for my taste.

Grand Funk RRs Im Your Captain (Closer to My Home) medley was just brilliant. Although I liked a lot of their other stuff, nothing they did before or after came close. Its like the God of RnR smiled on them for just over 9-1/2 minutes. IMO it is such a strong track it carries the whole side to consideration for greatest album side of all-time list.

Im no Grateful Dead deadhead fanatic, but I like the listen of their hits, Casey Jones, et al. Side story: a college roommate was a true deadhead. He tried to get me to go to a concert in Cleveland back in 73, but I declined saying they just werent lively enough and I was afraid Id just fall asleep. He thought I was nuts, and went... and fell asleep

Big endorsement as well here for Green Day and the Guess Who.

Also a number of artists I passed over above. More buy list additions Now for my Gs:

Georgia Satellites (self titled) Vinyl (1986 Elektra 60496-1)
Great debut here with the hit, Keep your Hands to Yourself, but even better stuff elsewhere on the LP. Dave Bairds vocals are as addictive as his voice is distinctive. Even though they actually preceded GNR, I think the group was somehow dismissed as a GNR wannabe, but they had a lot going for them with their simple with straight ahead, four-piece RnR approach. Great listen here.

Arlo Guthrie Alices Restaurant Original Motion Picture Score (1969 United Artists UAS 5195)
I never saw the movie (I dont think many did), but the soundtrack is listenable and, of course, includes the indispensable, Alices Restaurant Massacre, both part 1 and the lesser-known part 2. Part 1 is a must in any folk-rock collection. I not sure how Woodie would have liked it, but its still a funny, irreverent look at the 60s relationship between long-hairs and law enforcement.

Got an off-beat F to go back and add there Later

abmarsh · February 2003

David Gilmour, of Pink Floyd, did a solo album in the late 70s that was really good.

Golden Earring did some good stuff.

In a more modern vein, I like the Gin Blossoms a lot.

danger boy · February 2003

Originally posted by avelanchefan
I would like to submit Garbage

They first hit the scene with the self titled album Garbage. Some very good songs on this album. ****, Only Happy when it Rains, As Heaven is Wide, Milk, and Stupid Girl.

Their second effort Version 2.0 was a great if not excellent follow up. The CD starts of strong with Temptation Waits, I Think I'm Paranoid, and When I grow Up. Special, Push It, and You Look So Fine are also good songs.

In October 2001 the band strayed from their formula and took another direction musically with Beautifulgarbage. I Just could not get into this CD. I tried and tried, but there was just something missing.

Shiley Manson's voice is just leaves me wanting more. The effort may not have been there on their latest release, but Garbage's first two CD's showed how talented this group is. Still looking forward to their next release.

Loved Garbages' first CD. great rock music. I didn't follow up and buy any of there other cd's. Sounds like Version 2.0 is worth checking out at least.

danger boy · February 2003

Although this isn't rock, I do really like Gloria Estefan. So many hits, some romantic, some ballads, some pop and some good dance hits.

heavyismymetal · February 2003

Most of these I dont have info on any more....due to moving alot and my younger brother raping my collection after I left home. But noteworthy bands for me would be:
Great White (does anyone remember their first record,, before they got popular?)
Godsmack

Paul Connor · February 2003

Another second for Green Day. Recently took the Polks out for some excercise with Dookie. I have most of their other stuff.

Forgot about Arlo. I have Alices Restaurant on vinyl. Had to sneak into the theatre to see the movie when I was in Jr. High. In retrospect, it was probably not a good thing for an impressionable young boy.

Tour2ma · February 2003

Two for the road here:

The Go-Gos Beauty and the Beat (1981 I.R.S Inc. SP 70021)
OK, I know actually I think this was my daughters. We Got the Beat wasnt that good for all the airplay t got, but it was catchy and got them noticed. Belinda Carlisle was cute and had an acceptable voice (although no one saw fit to mention her solo effort in the Bs) and she got hotter later on. She can even act a little. Some of the cuts were pretty good, Our Lips are Sealed for one.

And while compilations are a bit problematic
Selections from the Soundtrack of The Girl Groups The Story of a Sound (1983 Motown 5322ML)
This is from a documentary based on a book by Alan Betrock. It has a few Diana Ross and the Supremes #1 hits, three by the Shangri Las (Leader of the Pack, Remember (Walkin in the Sand)), two by the Dixie Cups (Chapel of Love), Mary Wells My Guy, The Marvelettes Please Mr. Postman, and The Angels My Boyfriends Back.
All groups based on the same formula, some distinctive some virtually indistinguishable from one another, but in all, just great sampler of stuff from a bygone era.

I have a feeling things are really going to pick back up in the Hs

And see, I told you she got hotter:p

Tour2ma · March 2003

Kind of blurring the lines here, but weve done it in other letters so I need to add two soul artists to the Gs.

Al Green
The now Reverend Al is simply one of the best crooners of the soul era. Magnificently sweet voice.

All you really need is Call Me. It is a fantastic album/CD (may even be a remastered release by now) and comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED., Call Me, Here I Am, Stand Up, Jesus is Waiting and on and on not a weak track here.

I also have a hits collection Motown put out in their Compact Command Performances series. It fills out, but is no sub for Call Me. There are alternate takes for two of the Call Me tracks and no others are duplicated. It adds Love and Happiness, Im Still in Love with You, Tired of Being Alone and other worthwhile tracks.

If I had to choose but I didnt, and neither do you.

Marvin Gaye
Greatest Hits on Motown Lets Get It On, I heard it Through the Grapevine, "Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology Song)", Whats Going On and more Indispensable stuff from another great voice.

Many consider the album Whats Going On to be a classic. It marked the beginning of black artists injection of social commentary into their music. Motown fought its release fearing its content would alienate black and white followers of the Motown sound, but relented. The albums success paved the way for other black artists to add meaning to their music, e.g., Stevie Wonder.

Marvins life unraveled through his middle years, largely due to Cocaine addiction. At the age of 45 he was shot and killed by his father. A tragic ending to a great musical spirit.

shack · March 2003

I started not to include this artist in a R&R thread since she is very hard to classify: Folk, Country, Rock/Pop, Rockabilly, Folkabilly. However, this is Tour2ma's gig and he chose to expand the boundries by including two hardcore R&B names (Al Green and Marvin Gaye - with my wholehearted concurrence).

Nanci Griffith - The MCA Years : A Retrospective - 1993 - This is an out of print CD that includes some of her best work when she was recording for MCA in LA after leaving Nashville and covers 5 albums. She has an unusual and distinctive voice. She is a very good song writer and performer. There are several very good songs on this album...some studio work and some live. "From A Distance" is a song made popular by Bette Midler but Nanci did it first and better IMO. "Listen To The Radio" and "Ford Econoline" are county rockers. "I Don't Wanna Talk About It" and "Late Night Grande Hotel" are beautiful ballads. "Drive-In Movies And Dashboard Lights" has a pop influence. "Deadwood, South Dakota", "I Wish It Would Rain" and "It's A Hard Life Wherever You Go" have definite folk roots. She has some of the finest musicians from County and Rock work with her such as: Rod Argent, Bela Fleck, Emory Gordy, Phil Everly, Mac McAnelly, Russ Kunkel, Junior Huskey and Bernie Leadon. As you can tell, I like this artist and this album very much. After this album she left MCA for Elektra to record more folk and county and produced some good music...but this is her best stuff.

I have been fortunate to see Nanci several times over the years...usually in halls with less than 1000 people and her concerts are every bit as good as her albums. If you get a chance to see her on Austin City Limits or listen to her work you might enjoy it. Her style is similar to Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Tour2ma · March 2003

And glad I did... thanks Shack..

half.com strikes again...

Order Summary
The MCA Years-A Retrospective Nanci Griffith (Music) Factory Sealed
CD, Release Year: 1993
Item: $12.40 Media Mail $2.49 TOTAL: $14.89

Still a few listed....

HBombToo · March 2003

Here! Here! for Tour!!! these are a great sequence of posts which are most enjoyable.

With Respect
HBomb

Tour2ma · March 2003

Thanks for the good words HBomb... I appreciate it and I'm glad you're enjoying it... I'm having a blast.

And I want to in turn thank all the Clubbers that have contributed. Thanks for:
- All the quality posts packed with experiences and information;
- All the respect for other's opinions you've shown (not one pissin' contest that I can recall); and
- All the humor thrown in at no extra charge.

Y'all are making it work...

Only downside is it's costing me money... so many musical gaps to fill, that I didn't even know existed...

Tour2ma · March 2003

Originally posted by shack
I started not to include this artist in a R&R thread since she is very hard to classify: Folk, Country, Rock/Pop, Rockabilly, Folkabilly.
Nanci Griffith - The MCA Years : A Retrospective - 1993

shack
A BIG thanks for this post. Just finished my inaugural listen and it is everything you said it was. Plus the sound quality, even on the live tracks, is just gorgeous.
Glad I found it on half.com.
Didn't think I'd ever heard her before , but "From a Distance" changed my mind about that. Probably heard it on our local PRC station.
This CD is going to be around my house for a while...

shack · March 2003

I'm glad you like it...This is what I like about these threads. I've gone back and listened to music I'd forgotten about and picked up some tips on some stuff I'd like to hear. I've been getting restless about the quality of recent R&R offerings and this gives me the opportunity to find NOS. (an automotive term - New Old Stock - ie: finding a brand new original rim blow steering wheel for a 69 Mach 1)

**Rock and Roll Reminiscing - GGGG**

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Rock and Roll Reminiscing - GGGG