Essential Rock & Roll Discs

[lostinamerica]

Lennon & McCartney are like WAY overrated.
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Is there anybody going to listen to my story,
All about the girl who came to stay?
She?s the kind of girl you want so much it makes you sorry,
Still you don?t regret a single day.
Ah girl, girl.
When I think of all the times I tried so hard to leave her,
She will turn to me and start to cry,
And she promises the earth to me and I believe her,
After all this time, I don?t know why.
Ah girl, girl.
She?s the kind of girl who puts you down,
When friends are there, you feel a fool,
When you say she?s looking good,
She acts as if it?s understood,
She?s cool - oh.
Ah girl, girl.
Was she told when she was young the pain would lead to pleasure?
Did she understand it when they said
That a man must break his back to earn his day of leisure,
Will she still believe it when he?s dead?
Ah girl, girl.

 

[EXTRAPOLATER]

geez ... I've been sidetracked by some sidetracks for a day or so.
my next step is to eliminate from the list those items that are pissing me off by their Presence (may be #412), e.g Eminem and others that I can tastefully submit that they are non-essential.

I haven't heard enough of them to know if they're anywhere to be found, but anyone here ever heard of PORCUPINE TREE?

I downloaded a couple of their tracks - kinda different; freaky progressive rock a la Dream Theatre or (some) King Crimson, from what little I've heard. European act.

Kansas, Styx, The Cars, and some other recent mentions might sneak a disc into the top 500 or so.

The Grateful Dead and Radiohead
(...and I don't even know it)
are 2 good examples of acts that I really couldn't stand the first few listens, and maybe haven't checked out enough (I know the have fans elsewhere - more the Dead, prob., as they've been around longer) due to this early repulsion.

Lotsa European acts still not mentioned.

I'm trying to put a list of probables together so that I can start laying out the first few pages (plan is one page per disc, with probably just the cover art on the opposite face). Indexing and footnotes are important for any reference work, and I'm hoping to be able to do most as I go. Got some good quotes from the performers together, about what they were trying to do. Should be cool if it works out. I've been known to get a little intense at times - always looking for perfection - so I'm prepared for the arduous journey that I may have begun. A year may not be enough time. Two years seems a little long. I'll have a more realistic idea within 2-4 weeks, Hendrix willing.

Thanks again for any contributions.
What is it that turns you on about your faves?

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When the still sea conspires in armour, and her sullen and aborted currents breed tiny monsters ... true sailing is dead. Awkward instance, and the first animal is jettisoned. Legs furiously pumping their stiff green gallop, and heads bob up.
Poised ... delicate
Oars consent in mute nostril agony
Carefully refined and sealed over
(Morrison-Doors-Horse Latitudes)

 

[EXTRAPOLATER]

Lennon and McCartney were huge in changing the popular music scene. As musicians ... sure, they weren't the greatest, in my opinion. Guitar and drum work gets a little more experimental, and a little better, during their later works: Sgt. Pepper, White album, Abbey Road in particular. They had the popularity that allowed them to take some chances, which they did (esp. White album).

They were generally a little too clean and friendly for my present tastes, but I often wonder what they might have produced had the Ono-no-no (or whomever you want to believe) not shredded them. All of them had/have success solo, but none of them really shone solo ... from my experience. Abbey Road was their last true studio work together (Let It Be was unreleased earlier stuff), and Abbey Road is like -410 to make my top 10.

So it shall be written

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When I hold you in my arms
And I feel my finger on your trigger
I know nobody can do me no harm
Because ...
(Happiness is a Warm Gun-Album White-seltaeB)

 

[JT]

I wouldn't consider this a "essential" but it is a personal favorite. Concrete Blonde's debut album. "Still in Hollywood" is one of the best rock song of the 80s in my humble opinion...

:shrug:

 

[kosar]

LOL- ok, man. I like your list, but REM didn't keep those bands off the radio. White Lion was never *on* the radio and Def Leppard and Bon Jovi both flourished at the same time REM was gaining popularity. You ought to set your guns towards the seattle-grunge nonsense if you wanna blame anything of the downfall of 80's-type rock. But like I said, I have all but 5 or 6 of the cd's on your list.

I think he wants Rock albums, not pansies that kept Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and White Lion off the radio

Some that are missing off the top of my head

Def Leppard - High n Dry
Def Leppard - Hysteria
Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi - New Jersey
Jawbreaker - Dear You
Dropkick Murphy's - Gang's All here
Goo Goo Dolls - Boy named Goo
Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
Ani DiFranco - Living in Clip
Blink 182 - Dude Ranch
Blink 182 - Enema of the State
Gin Blossoms - New Miserable Experience
Counting Crows - August and Everything After
Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville
Skid Row - Skid Row

 

[JT]

To keep the SoCal theme going there is always Los Lobos, Blasters and X.
As for Bon Jovi and White Lion, thank god that grunge nonsense sunk that sh*t.

 

[JT]

Robbie Robertson's debut album another personal favorite. Steve Earle also. Just to make your work that much harder.