Posts by Dr. John

  • Create an album of lesser-known gems by any artist

    Thank you! Also love all the collaborations with Elvis Costello, including You Want Her Too and particularly That Day Is Done.


    I tend to think of his Wings output the same as his solo output - I even file them all in the same spot. I know there are a few writing contributions from other members, but for the most part it is still him as the main artist.

  • Create an album of lesser-known gems by any artist

    Quote from Backdrifter

    By 'album' you presumably mean Skylarking but again, I never knew it as a track on that - I think it was added to later editions as a result of its popularity. Consider 'Jump' (a Mummer b-side) as a replacement.

    Yes, I didn't get Skylarking until years after its release - the CD includes Dear God.


    Quote from Backdrifter

    A footnote to XTC: in my list, Your Dictionary is one of the saddest songs they ever did. It's a reflection of the breakup of Andy Partridge's marriage, and while (very) grimly humorous in a way, it's acidly despondent. But it poses an interesting question: would it get airplay, indeed has it ever had any? I wonder because it spells out words that are generally unbroadcastable, but doesn't actually say them.

    I love the song and don't know if it ever got airplay. Clever and poignant.

  • Create an album of lesser-known gems by any artist

    I detect a particular emphasis on the Tug of War album, which is one of my favourites. That said, how could you leave out What's That You're Doing? A far superior collaboration with Stevie Wonder than the other one they did on that album.

  • Create an album of lesser-known gems by any artist

    This is also great. But isn't Dear God fairly well known? I had heard the song and seen the video long before I heard the whole album.


    Thanks also for your other list. More to explore.

  • Create an album of lesser-known gems by any artist

    I have not explored enough XTC albums, so this is great for me.

  • Create an album of lesser-known gems by any artist

    Quote from FeelItComing

    Pretty good, although I would have thought Dead Flowers was one of their best loved tracks, same for Sweet Virginia which I actually saw them play. I would add Rain Fall Down, which I love.

    Fair. Definitely Stones fans would list those two among classics. I think that casual fans wouldn't really know those two songs unless they had those albums. Other songs on those albums get more radio exposure or inclusion on playlists. Rain Fall Down is great too. Maybe you should make a second Stones list?

  • Your favorite GENESIS studio albums (pick three)

    I'm 54 and while Abacab is not one of my top 3 albums, I have a very healthy respect for it. All of my favourite artists branched into new territory with each album. Abacab is a great example of this, sounding quite different than Duke and being light years away from Trick of the Tail and Wind and Wuthering just a few years before. I'm not sure I would have cared much if Abacab had simply been Wind and Wuthering version 4.0.

  • The PETER GABRIEL anniversary year 2022: Part 1: PG1 / Car

    Quote from DecomposingMan

    On another note, I don't really share the opinion that the original "Here Comes the Flood" is overproduced, although I'll admit I haven't listened to any alternate version.

    Here is the version from Robert Fripp's Exposure album:


    Here is a solo piano version from a Kate Bush special:


    I find the starkness makes the song more haunting, but no less powerful. The booming drums and guitars are just too much for me in the studio version. My guess is that Peter himself preferred starker versions as this how he has mainly played this song live ever since.

  • Create an album of lesser-known gems by any artist

    Do you mean songs that are derivative of other songs, not as original? Certainly some songs I have listed are not musically unique.


    This Boy uses a fairly standard progression and 12/8 feel, but then many great songs from this era used the same chord progressions again and again. What distinguishes a song for me is more the emotion and feel and I think This Boy has that in spades, particularly John's singing in the bridge.


    So Sad About Us uses a very similar chord progression and, at least to me, seems a bit derivative of The Byrds, but I still find the melody winning and Keith Moon's drumming propels it to a higher level.


    I don't find Erotic City sounds like much else other than Prince. It is sort of similar to other Prince songs from the era, but I still find its feel different enough to be worth it to me.