Posts by Dr. John

  • 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:

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

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    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.

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

    Another artist I was hoping to get to. Will try my own list soon.

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

    Quote from Backdrifter

    I might have to investigate your list as this is a band I've never liked. But I should say that most of my problem lies with the (to my ears) monotonous nasal voices of the two women and the strangulated utterances of that Fred bloke, rather than the "look, aren't we kooky and fun?" nature of their hits. So hearing more obscure stuff might not save them, but I'll give it a go.


    EDIT - I'd never have liked Love Shack anyway but after hearing it played at countless student parties I went to, I loathed it.

    Fred Schneider's non-singing is an acquired taste. It is very mannered and you either like it or hate it.


    Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson are fantastic singers in my opinion. They can be kooky and avant-garde, making all kinds of weird and abrasive noises. They can also be joyous or poignant, with a fantastic sense of harmonies. How monotonous they sound can depend more on the song. Legal Tender is more on the monotonous side. But Deadbeat Club has a wonderful melody and their signing captures the nostalgia and tenderness of the lyrics.

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

    I know that some people perceive The B-52s as novelty band, with quirky hits like Rock Lobster and Love Shack. I actually really like them a lot and think there is more to discover with them:


    Girl From Ipanema Goes to Greenland

    Dry County

    52 Girls

    Housework

    Juliet of the Spirits

    Legal Tender

    Give Me Back My Man

    Revolution Earth

    Private Idaho

    Deadbeat Club

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

    Another artist I was thinking of. Some great picks here, including some early ones. Here is another album's worth:


    Thunder

    New Position

    Le Grind

    Endorphinmachine

    It's Going to Be Lonely

    Irresistible Bitch

    Tamborine

    Housequake

    Release It (I know The Time is the main performer, but Prince wrote it, it's on a Prince album, and he sings back-up)

    Erotic City

    DMSR

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

    Ooo, I was also thinking about Van Morrison, but you beat me to it. And you've covered his last 2 decades, which I don't know that well. This list is a great starting point for more exploration.

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

    Quote from Backdrifter

    As the original suggestion was to suggest an album of lesser-known stuff, I default to thinking of a pleasing track sequence that'd make a good album with nice shape and flow. For me, chron sequences are never that.

    It is also hard for me to think of all the songs without looking through my CDs chronologically. I will try to re-order them in a more pleasing sequence in the future.

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

    Another favourite artist for me is The Band. Although they have great original songs, they also have many unique takes on covers, often in live performances:


    Ain't No More Cane

    Long Black Veil

    When You Awake

    Rockin' Chair
    The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show

    Daniel and the Sacred Harp

    When I Paint My Masterpiece

    Don't Do It (live)

    (I Don't Want to) Hang Up My Rock 'n' Roll Shoes (live)

    Acadian Driftwood
    Georgia On My Mind

    Atlantic City

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

    Quote from FeelItComing

    I suppose Led Zeppelin's catalogue is one of the most familiar of all. Nevertheless....


    Wearing & Tearing

    Wearing and Tearing is such a fun song - it shouldn't have been relegated to Coda.


    Love Train Leaves Here This Morning. I would also add Midnight Flyer to your collection.

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

    REM was going to be another one for me to do, so now I have to avoid your choices (Untitled and Perfect Circle are two of my favourites):


    Sitting Still

    Pretty Persuasion

    Life and How to Live It

    I Believe

    Disturbance at the Heron House

    King of Birds

    Hairshirt

    Near Wild Heaven

    Me In Honey

    Sweetness Follows

    New Test Leper

    At My Most Beautiful

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

    Your Beatles list has many that were on my short list.

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

    We've talked endlessly about great albums and classic songs by many different artists. However many artists have incredible depth and even their lesser-known and sometimes obscure songs can be amazing. So my suggestion is for you to compile an album's worth of songs (number may vary based on the length of the songs) by an artist composed of great songs that weren't singles, weren't radio hits, and would generally not be recognized by the casual music listener. Let's exclude Genesis from consideration as we've had plenty of discussion about their lesser-known gems.


    I'll start us off. Here's my suggestion for a compilation by The Beatles:


    This Boy

    I'll Be Back

    Bad Boy

    I'm Down

    I'm Looking Through You

    If I Needed Someone

    Rain

    She Said She Said

    The Inner Light

    It's All Too Much

    Hey Bulldog

    Happiness Is a Warm Gun

    Mother Nature's Son

    Savoy Truffle

    Two of Us


    You'll note that it is mainly Lennon and Harrison songs. I think this is because Paul was so good at writing catchy material that more of his songs are fairly well known.