I loved Time Passages as a little kid. And liked Year Of The Cat too. They're quite nostalgic for me. Like Dream Weaver.
Scotch Sampler
- Thread starter scotchandcigar
- Start date
Finally got around to this.
The only song on Grand Illusion I know well is "Sail". I scanned the rest. I like the riff on "Miss America".
The opener on Pieces of Eight is a rocker! I bet Savatage (and by proxy Trans Siberian Orchestra too) were inspired at least somewhat by this album. I already knew "Blue Collar" and "Renegade", they're radio staples and good ones too. My office mate loves "Renegade" and he's the same age as me (he's mentioned it in the past). The title track sounds good too. I'll have to explore this album further.
I bet if an older cousin had played them around me when I was 8 or 9, I'd still love them today. I'm gonna give Pieces a more thorough listen and see if it grows on me.
Another big contributor to the sound of the 70's was the great Gerry Rafferty, first with Stealers Wheel, then as a solo act. With the former, he had the 1973 hit Stuck in the Middle With You. Five years later, he released the platinum selling City to City. The 1978 album scored with several hits, including Right Down the Line, and these
Here's a cool live performance of his biggest hit; both the sound and the look are classic
Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street (live)
As a bonus track on their album The Colour and the Shape, Foo Fighters made an awesome cover
Foo Fighters – Baker Street
Another favorite from the album
Gerry Rafferty – Home and Dry
A year later, he released Night Owl, giving us the hits Days Gone Down, and this groovy tune
Gerry Rafferty – Get It Right Next Time
His next album failed to sell or produce a top 40 in the US.
Here's a cool live performance of his biggest hit; both the sound and the look are classic
Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street (live)
As a bonus track on their album The Colour and the Shape, Foo Fighters made an awesome cover
Foo Fighters – Baker Street
Another favorite from the album
Gerry Rafferty – Home and Dry
A year later, he released Night Owl, giving us the hits Days Gone Down, and this groovy tune
Gerry Rafferty – Get It Right Next Time
His next album failed to sell or produce a top 40 in the US.
IdRatherBeSkiing
Sherbert is NOT and NEVER WILL BE ice cream.
The saxophone player on "Baker Street" was a previous almost unknown player. This gig made him a hot commodity. Despite that, he and Gerry had a bit of a dispute about it and his importance in the track. One of the things this guy said when he came to the project the intro was just some guitar riffs and he said the sax tied it all together. Listening to the Foo Fighters guitar intro, it makes me realize he was probably right. Aside from that, the Foo Fighters version is good. Going to see if I can add it to my library. It's such a fricking great song. I love all Gerry's stuff. But "Baker Street" is probably my favourite (#37 in my 437). My second favourite was the first song of his I heard on the radio "Right Down The Line" (#51 on my 437). Both awesome songs. The thing I like about "Baker Street" is it never gets tiring for me. It is well played even to this day and I still enjoy hearing it, It also makes me a bit sad as the song is almost autobiographical in nature and his life and death was a tragedy almost outlined in the song.
I think one of the reasons the FF cover is so good, is because it's such a strong song melodically and structurally, those qualities carry through, even with a different interpretation.
First time hearing these two (I think).
I've liked "Baker" and "Line" for as long as I can remember.
It's all about a monster hook.
When it's that good, all you have to do is respect it and it will take care of the rest.
The first time through my favorites list, among the artists I left out (which I'm now covering) is Bob Seger, mainly because he was so well covered by others, but also because he kind-of belongs to Mrs. Scotch. But as they say in the old Irish Spring commercial, "Manly yes, but I like it too". Also, he's got a million hits, so I should point out my favorites.
His first success was with the 1969 song Ramblin' Gamblin' Man, off the album of the same name. (By the way, Seger is the king of apostrophes in song titles.) His next hit tune was Turn the Page, first released in 1973 on the Back in '72 album, but it didn't chart until later released as a live version. In '75 he put out the Beautiful Loser album, which went double platinum, and featured this (one of many) rock-standard dance tune
Bob Seger – Katmandu (live audio)
A year later, he put out his first live album, and the first branded as Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band; the 5x platinum Live Bullett, featuring Travelin' Man, and the live version of this one
Bob Seger – Turn the Page (live)
Later in '76, he released the first of a string of top selling albums, the 6x platinum Night Moves, with hits such as Mainstreet, Rock and Roll Never Forgets, The Fire Down Below, and of course the title track
Bob Seger – Night Moves
1978's Stranger in Town album also went 6x platinum, and it gave us Still the Same, We've Got Tonite, Till It Shines, Old Time Rock and Roll (everyone's favorite cover), and these great tunes
Bob Seger – Hollywood Nights (live audio)
I seem to like the "straining the nutsack" songs the best
Bob Seger – Feel Like a Number (live audio)
His first success was with the 1969 song Ramblin' Gamblin' Man, off the album of the same name. (By the way, Seger is the king of apostrophes in song titles.) His next hit tune was Turn the Page, first released in 1973 on the Back in '72 album, but it didn't chart until later released as a live version. In '75 he put out the Beautiful Loser album, which went double platinum, and featured this (one of many) rock-standard dance tune
Bob Seger – Katmandu (live audio)
A year later, he put out his first live album, and the first branded as Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band; the 5x platinum Live Bullett, featuring Travelin' Man, and the live version of this one
Bob Seger – Turn the Page (live)
Later in '76, he released the first of a string of top selling albums, the 6x platinum Night Moves, with hits such as Mainstreet, Rock and Roll Never Forgets, The Fire Down Below, and of course the title track
Bob Seger – Night Moves
1978's Stranger in Town album also went 6x platinum, and it gave us Still the Same, We've Got Tonite, Till It Shines, Old Time Rock and Roll (everyone's favorite cover), and these great tunes
Bob Seger – Hollywood Nights (live audio)
I seem to like the "straining the nutsack" songs the best
Bob Seger – Feel Like a Number (live audio)
In 1980, he went in a somewhat different direction with the 5x platinum Against the Wind album. It was his only #1 album, but was also panned by several critics. In addition to the title track, it contained Fire Lake, You'll Accomp'ny Me (now he's just screwing with us and the apostrophes), The Horizontal Bop, Her Strut, and this retro rocker, shown here in a rare (and marginally watchable) live video
edit: won't play. Here's the album version
Bob Seger – Betty Lou’s Gettin’ Out Tonight
1981's 4x platinum Nine Tonight was his 2nd live album, but it gave us a few new songs; Tryin' To Live My Life Without You, and the title track, another nut-strainer
Bob Seger – Nine Tonight (live audio)
This was followed by 1982's The Distance, an album that had lower sales, and no more favorites for me. Songs include Shame on the Moon, Even Now, and Roll Me Away. After that, things went downhill "like a rock", if you know what I mean.
edit: won't play. Here's the album version
Bob Seger – Betty Lou’s Gettin’ Out Tonight
1981's 4x platinum Nine Tonight was his 2nd live album, but it gave us a few new songs; Tryin' To Live My Life Without You, and the title track, another nut-strainer
Bob Seger – Nine Tonight (live audio)
This was followed by 1982's The Distance, an album that had lower sales, and no more favorites for me. Songs include Shame on the Moon, Even Now, and Roll Me Away. After that, things went downhill "like a rock", if you know what I mean.
IdRatherBeSkiing
Sherbert is NOT and NEVER WILL BE ice cream.
You know how I feel about Bob. My favourite albums are "Stranger In Town" and "Against the Wind". In my opinion, those albums have 100% singles and no filler. I like all his stuff up to his only #1 "Shakedown" but to a lesser extent after "The Distance".
I think Get It Right The Next Time is an Art Bell song. I know Baker Street is.
Get it right reminds me of the Schoolhouse Rock 12 song.
My first vivid memory of Seger starts right where you end. I remember "Old Time R&R" on the radio a lot because of it's inclusion in Risky Business.
My other two favs of his are 1991 and 1987, But I do like a whole lot of his older stuff too, leaning more toward the upbeat ones. I like "American Storm" "Feel Like A Number" "Hollywood Nights" and "Even Now". I think these all qualify as nut strainers...?
You know you're getting old when you start identifying with Bob Seger lyrics.
Because Nobody Asked, My Bob Top 10. (Order changes on occasion)
1. Get Out of Denver (Live)
2. Trying to live my life without you - (live)
3. Shame on the Moon (Originally written by Rodney Crowell, aka Johnny Cash's ex-son in law, covered nicely by Mr. Seger).
4. Ramblin' Gamblin' Man
5. Still the Same
6. Brave Strangers
7. Night Moves
8. Beautiful Loser
9. Fire Lake
10. You'll Accompany Me
Because Nobody Asked, My Bob Top 10. (Order changes on occasion)
1. Get Out of Denver (Live)
2. Trying to live my life without you - (live)
3. Shame on the Moon (Originally written by Rodney Crowell, aka Johnny Cash's ex-son in law, covered nicely by Mr. Seger).
4. Ramblin' Gamblin' Man
5. Still the Same
6. Brave Strangers
7. Night Moves
8. Beautiful Loser
9. Fire Lake
10. You'll Accompany Me
According to Wikipedia, Rafferty is the sole songwriter for Baker Street. There's no mention of Art Bell on his page. I have no idea who Art Bell is.
Art Bell. Created Coast To Coast AM.
Here’s a playlist of songs he would use as bumper music for his show.
Bumper Music
IdRatherBeSkiing
Sherbert is NOT and NEVER WILL BE ice cream.
Regarding "Turn The Page", I think I have always heard the live version. I heard the non-live version the other day and it seemed wrong and passionless. The live version is a ***** song for me. It's funny how the same song can be so different.
Off the top of my head, I'd say the same about McCartney's Maybe I'm Amazed, and Frampton's Do You Feel Like I Do.
I was just thinking this morning about how I've never heard a studio recording of Opus "Live Is Life", only the live one. And I wonder if a studio version exists, is it lame? Without the audience singing along and the whole hippie-vibe?
Yes I have very random 6am thoughts.
Yes I have very random 6am thoughts.