Great musicians of the 20th century

jls001 · Sep 7, 2011

ajay124 said:
I like Beatles, especially Eleanor Rigby, ..

Try this rendition of Eleanor Rigby by Petra Magoni and Ferruccio Spinetti (Musica Nuda). Ignore the loquacious anchor at the beginning. Play it loud, listen to the cello intro, and of course the great vocals:

Musica Nuda - Petra Magoni e ferruccio Spinetti - Eleanor Rigby - YouTube

ajay124 · Sep 7, 2011

Nice version Joshua, but I think the original is better

Recently I 'rediscovered' the Beatles after not having heard them for many years. Borrowed a few CD's from a friend. Spent an interesting evening playing their songs, singing along (I remembered most of the words) and reliving the time when I had first heard them.... 1976-1978.

Listening on a high fidelity system, for the first time , I understood the secret of their phenomenal success. Quite simply their best songs are near perfect pop songs, with infectious melodies, beautiful instrumentation, great vocals, and a touch of rebellion and youthful idealism. Unlike most of the 70's bands their rebellion and idealism never becomes jarring or screechy. Clean music always held center stage. Many songs sound simplistic and dated but their best tracks are among the best popular songs of the second half of the century. Their closest rivals would be the early Rolling Stones and the early Bob Dylan. All three of them made their best music between 62-70.

My favorite Beatles and Stones track.

The Beatles- Because - YouTube
The Rolling Stones - Mother's Little Helper (UK Vinyl Mono LP Mix) - YouTube

jls001 · Sep 7, 2011

One of the best renditions (IMHO) of Beatles happens to be by a bunch of American country stars: Amazon.com: Come Together: America Salutes Beatles: Various Artists: Music

Especially good is The Long And Winding Road by John Berry.

One of the worst I have heard is Get Back sung by Rod Stewart! (not on this album)

moktan · Sep 7, 2011

some Beatles cover i have liked:

strawberry fields - peter gabriel
Peter Gabriel - Strawberry Fields Forever (Beatles cover) - YouTube

norwegian wood- kurt elling from THE GATE
Kurt Elling - Norwegian Wood [ John Lennon / Paul McCartney / arr. K.Elling ] - YouTube

norwegian wood- herrbie hancock from THE NEW STANDARD

Herbie Hancock - Norwegian Wood - YouTube

moktan · Sep 7, 2011

ajay124 said:
Their closest rivals would be the early Rolling Stones and the early Bob Dylan. All three of them made their best music between 62-70.
]

The Beach Boys..their Pet Sounds (which seems to feature in almost everyone's Greatest Albums of all time list) was released the same year as Rubber Soul- my favourite Beatles album...

ajay124 · Sep 7, 2011

Two guys, or rather a guy and a girl, who sang the best covers of Beatles and Bob Dylan. Sometimes better than the originals. Richie Havens and Nina Simone.

Richie Havens "License To Kill" - YouTube

And the girl with the golden voice

Nina Simone - Just Like A Woman - YouTube

moktan · Sep 7, 2011

ahhh...and Joe Cocker...
Joe Cocker - With a little help from my friends - YouTube

ajay124 · Sep 7, 2011

Neil 'Young' . Still as full of beans as a teenager

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuAHAw_MHZU

ajay124 · Sep 7, 2011

Moktan

I have been familiar with the success story of Pet Sounds and the Beach Boys since childhood. But curiously I have never heard this album. This one flew over the cuckoos nest

But one song I have been familiar with since childhood, which would stroll into my list of 50 best popular songs:

Californian Dreaming -Beach Boys - YouTube

moktan · Sep 7, 2011

ajay124 said:
Moktan

I have been familiar with the success story of Pet Sounds and the Beach Boys since childhood. But curiously I have never heard this album. This one flew over the cuckoos nest

But one song I have been familiar with since childhood, which would stroll into my list of 50 best popular songs:

Californian Dreaming -Beach Boys - YouTube

back then (90s) there used to be an act called Wilson Phillips...
the Wilsons were the daughters of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, while Phillips' parents are John Phillips and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas....
the same Mamas & Papas whose California Dreaming had so many high profile covers by prominent musicians....curiously i always thought California Dreaming was a Beach Boys original...
another Mamas & Papas favourite of the hippie era vintage..."San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)"

ajay124 · Sep 7, 2011

The Mama's and Papa's version is equally good, but I always assumed that the Beach Boys version was the original???

Another 24 carat oldie

Eagles - Lying Eyes -HD - YouTube

jls001 · Sep 7, 2011

moktan said:
back then (90s) there used to be an act called Wilson Phillips...

A staple for me during college days. The cassette I used to have of Wilson Phillips was very bright with very clear mids and highs, just the way I used to like it back then

I used to adjust the tape head for almost every cassette I play to give it a bright edge. Talk of people adjusting VTFs for every LP! I did it too on tape. Anyway my National 2-in-1 had no bass to talk of.

I have been searching for their CDs but haven't come across in any shop. Nostalgia.
Joshua

ssf · Sep 7, 2011

When we listen to songs, are the lyrics important ? Lying eyes is a beautiful song but quite sad considering what it conveys.

Is Don Henley trying to get us to think or is he just judging the poor girl who took a decision she regrets ? One wonders.

longshanks · Sep 7, 2011

Gabriel Faure is one of my favorite composer.

Faure - Op. 11 - Cantique de Jean Racine - YouTube

ajay124 · Sep 7, 2011

Sunil

Lying Eyes was jointly written by Don Henley and Glen Frey and sung by Glen Frey. Initially while listening to bands with multiple vocalists like the Beatles and Eagles, I used to be perpetually trying to guess who was singing a particular song. Lennon or McCartney? Frey or Henley? Mercifully there was no such confusion while listening to Rolling Stones, Led Zep, Doors, Traffic, Who and Queen. Mick Jagger, Robert Plant, Jim Morrison, Roger Daltrey and Freddie Mercury had very distinctive vocal styles and voices.

Dylan of course had the most easily identifiable singing style. Although some of my friends who had not joined the Dylan cult, did not consider what he was doing as 'singing'. I fought many pitched battles trying to defend his unique singing style. They readily accepted Mark Knopfler without realizing that his singing and songwriting was heavily influenced by Bob Dylan.

The music I used to like was primarily by singer/songwriters like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, John Lennon, Van Morrison, Bob Marley, Jim Morrison, Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell.

panditji · Sep 8, 2011

moktan said:
back then (90s) there used to be an act called Wilson Phillips...
the Wilsons were the daughters of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, while Phillips' parents are John Phillips and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas....
the same Mamas & Papas whose California Dreaming had so many high profile covers by prominent musicians....curiously i always thought California Dreaming was a Beach Boys original...
another Mamas & Papas favourite of the hippie era vintage..."San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)"

Wow, I remember Wilson Philips and this is good trivia...

ajay124 · Sep 9, 2011

jls001 · Sep 9, 2011

ssf said:
When we listen to songs, are the lyrics important ? Lying eyes is a beautiful song but quite sad considering what it conveys.

It is usually both. But only good lyrics, or only good music may also suffice.

Beautiful/intelligent/meaningful lyrics, sung beautifully, accompanied by great music = ideal song. e.g. Billy Joel's Piano Man. Or Diane Schuur's Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered - what vocals and what piano! And what variations in theme in the lyrics!

Beautiful/intelligent/meaningful lyrics, sung not so beautifully, accompanied by run-of-the-mill music = still cuts the ice with most people. e.g. Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen

Mediocre/opaque lyrics, sung beautifully, accompanied by good music = still cuts the ice. e.g. Meatloaf's Let's Be In Love track (completely base and carnal lyrics but sung rather beautifully with great music and backing vocals), or America's Ventura Highway track (nonsense and opaque lyrics, but nice vocals and great acoutic music). By the way, the term purple rain was first heard on this track, and to this day, no one really seems to know what it means. If anyone has any idea, do enlighten me too!

Mediocre lyrics, mediocre singing, mediocre music = Nicky Minaj's Pink album!

Downright crappy lyrics, crappy singing, crappy music = much of today's releases:lol: from USA, Europe and Bollywood.

Disclaimer: the above are purely my opinionated ramblings, and not meant to put down anyone's choice of music. Your opinions may differ. Do feel free to express

ajay124 · Sep 9, 2011

Joshua

'Purple Rain' might have been suggested by Purple Haze.

Trying to decipher pop songs is an interesting exercise. Especially with lyrics as riddle ridden as Bob Dylan's.

Take one of his best song, Visions Of Johanna. I can guess at what he is referring to in the lines:

"Even Mona Lisa must have had the highway blues, You can tell by the way she smiles".

But what does one make of :

" The ghost of electricity howls in the bones of her face"

ssf · Sep 9, 2011

To be honest, before I had access to the internet, I had no idea what most singers where singing except in bits and pieces !!! So I loved the songs without knowing what the song was all about. Access to internet has changed all that. Now if I wanted to, I could look it up.

But little has changed for me personally. I could still like a song without knowing what the lyrics are but in the rare occasion that I start singing Black Sabbath's 'Paraniod' when my wife is around could get me into trouble.

Great musicians of the 20th century

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