Show 15 - Favorites Part II

[Rick and Roll]

Ringing in the new year with more of my favorite songs.

1) Supertramp - Give A Little Bit

Couldn't find it on the Moon, and only have it on vinyl, so I had to scramble a bit (thanks, Chris!). A very happy tune

2) Finch - Register Magister

When the door is opened to other countries, amazing things happen. The lead is Steve Howe on steroids.

3) Jean-Luc Ponty - Far From the Beaten Paths

I love Ponty's music, but most of his song structures were theme, solo, theme. This tune is arranged beautifully, and melodically special.

4) Frank Zappa - Uncle Remus

A straight tune, co-written with George Duke. Has a lot to say in a short time. "We'll be knocking the jockeys off the lawn"....

5) Queensryche - The Thin Line

I have a lot of favorite songs by non-Moon bands. Please allow me this indulgence.

6) Focus - Birth

From the harpsichord intro to the insistent beat, this song's got it all.

7) Peter Gabriel - San Jacinto

I don't think I have heard a song so devoid of straight melody that sounds...so melodic. And I'm a sucker for tunes about mistreatment of culture.

8) ELP - Pirates

For some reason, this song got flamed on some time back. Don't know why - it's so well written.

9) 801 - Diamond Head

This live tune reminds me of what it would be like ten minutes after the big bomb hits. Which is strange, because the studio version sounds so jumpy, like cliff diving. This version is slower and features a ripping lead by Manzanera.

10) Chicago - Beginnings

Contrary to what you heard on my promos, I can sing this one.

11) Iluvatar - Late of Conscience

Had a chance to hear this long before it was recorded. Kind of like a child you see grow up.

12) Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

If I had a choice, I'd rather listen to a lot of other Floyd tunes. I think the remake of this by some crudball (Fred Durst maybe?) and the repitition on the radio turn me off. But it's heartfelt.

13) Saga - You're Not Alone

Maybe the most underrated band around. A perfect mix of intricacy, pop, talent, and power.

14) Styx - Suite Madame Blue

There's a Judas Priest tune with exactly the same guitar chords on the verses. Same year...wonder which came first...anyway, proggies, forget that it's Styx - this is a winner of a song.

15) BOC - Astronomy

The version on Some Enchanted Evening is actually my preferred version. Alas, I couldn't find it. Another band that's "as prog as the wanna be".

16) Queen - Somebody to Love

Man it's impossible to pick a best Queen tune.

17) Al Stewart - Year of the Cat

What a smooth tune. Love the sound of the hands moving up and down the frets on the acoustic guitar.

18) Steve Hackett - Everyday

One of the best guitar leads IMHO. Can you believe I fell asleep for two minutes (while standing) during this tune in concert? Late night at a bar...oh well, the body rules the mind sometimes.

19) Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Visionary Mountains

Mick Rogers and Mann constructed a moving tune here. Some special musical moments.

20) Kate Bush - Cloudbusting

Strings and drums. That's all you need here. Builds and builds...

21) Guess Who - Share the Land

A hippie anthem. Don't care if it's pie in the sky or not, the great vocal and the jagged guitar really resonate.

22) Kansas - Miracles out of Nowhere

Song for America is also a good choice, but I've played that. Like a lot of Livgren's compositions, it's absolutely perfect.

23) Led Zeppelin - Since I've Been Loving You

The passion and the angst. Depressing and exhilerating at the same time.

24) Led Zeppelin - Achilles' Last Stand

Name another song that sounds like this. It's so different.

25) Grand Funk Railroad - I'm Your Captain

Grand Funk. That's a real band there!

Other favorites will be sprinkled among the forthcoming shows. Back to the themes next week!

[podakayne]

hummm..good name for a group. and as usual rick this sounds like a great show...you've got a lot of my favorite groups and good selections....hope to catch it from beginning to end.


lost in those Time Passages
poda