I am listening to Bryan Ferry's "Avonmore," which I quite like. But it also made me think, "Man, I wish he had one more record with balls in him. Enough with the dreamy crap."
This also reminded me of a post that I ran a few times over the years, asking, "If you had your druthers, what would you like to see from your favorite artists?"
I think a number of readers, including myself, wished for one last "real" Rolling Stones record. Maybe something stripped down. A blues record? That wish is now looming large, as "Blue & Lonesome" is set for a December release. Sadly, Don Was is hanging around still, so the first single is as our friend Chris Collins pointed out, "Dan Aykroyd blues. This doesn't feel organic or heartfelt- the only things we wanted from an album like this." But, we shall see. I have low hopes.
Here are a few of my musical hopes and wishes:
Todd Rundgren records with a band and not a laptop and allows an outside producer.
Same for Jeff Lynne.
Paul McCartney records an acoustic album, trying less to be modern and more like the guy who wrote "And I Love Her," "For No One" and "Blackbird."
Pete Townshend writes ten new originals that have nothing to do with each other, with no plans of a future opera or ballet. Just ten songs that comprise a new solo record.
Tom Waits retires the megaphone, xylophone, woodblocks and chimes, and releases a record of piano ballads and blues.
Al Green plus Joe Henry for one last great soul record.
One more record from The Jam.
How about you?
25 comments:
In no particular order:
Rush to go back to prog rock.
Aerosmith to go back to rock.
Queen to stop touring with Adam Lambert.
Tool to finally release something (oh wait, that might actually happen this year).
Axl Rose to retire and have Chris Cornell sing for Guns & Roses.
More Tom Morello (can never get enough).
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes with 10 new Steve VanZandt songs (with horns)
I started thinking about wanting so-and-so to do this-and-that but I pretty soon realised that what I really want is for it to be the 70s again when the bands I like best were at their peak and everything was ahead of me. I want to be reading proper music journalism and heading down to the local record store to flip through the bins and see what serendipity turns up. I want my infatuation with the Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead and the other West Coast bands, my prog rock love of Yes, ELP and Focus, my absolute delight with punk and new wave, especially Nick Lowe and the Clash, to be fresh and in the moment and not just a memory. I don't want to be staring down the barrel of old age with so much more behind than ahead. But such, as they say, is life.
Ok, I'm rambling, sorry, Sal, and not answering the question. All I can come up with is I'd like Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and Bob Dylan to get together and do a stripped down acoustic album of some of their classic songs with maybe a couple of songbook standards thrown into the mix too. Rick Rubin to produce please.
2nd Rockpile album, with Nick Lowe rediscovering his sense of humor
3rd Jellyfish album with or without Jason Falkner
Lucinda Williams records new material that doesn't veer into self-parody
Max Martin gets writer's block, and it infects all his co-writers
Kinks reunion
I second the Southside Johnny wish
Great idea/ideas! Thanks, Sal.
I want the same Tom Waits/Kathleen Brennan album (let's face it, we don't know who writes the songs anymore). I don't mind experimental stuff, but when the noise overwhelms the tune, foo. The Kinks - wish we could get the original Four back together (only in Heaven will that happen, though). Stones - release unreleased stuff with Brian Jones prominently in the mix - hell, the whole early catalog with Jones louder in the mix!
The 31 Springsteen songs demoed for Born in the USA that Columbia rejected.
A remix of Lou Reed's albums with Robert Quine, with Quine turned up in the mix.
Must run now - thanks again, Sal, you dreamer you. One of the things I most like aboutcha.
Shonna Tucker rejoins Drive By Truckers and contributes new songs
Kevin Shields and Bilinda Butcher record an MBV duo album
Eric Ambel coaxes Cheri Knight out of retirement for one more album
Serena Maneesh reform and use Todd Rundgren as a producer
Rod Stewart, Ron Wood, Ian McLagan and Kenny Jones record an album with RS Field as producer
Neil Young to write some songs like the guy who wrote 'Expecting to Fly', 'Broken Arrow', and 'Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing'...
Anything from any Stax Volt artist particularly Otis Redding backed up by Booker T & The MG's. And or a Sam & Dave lp with songs Hayes & Porter. Not really sure if that's what you meant. But I'd sure like it. Or how about a 3rd Flying Burrito Bros. with Gram Parsons of all classic c&w covers produced by Rick Rubin.
@soundsource
Well, a wish is a wish, but it would help if the people were alive. (see: new Rolling Stones record.)
I did I commented. For alive mmmmmm how about an Emmylou lp cover album of classic c&w with a bonus lp of classic c&w duets.
@soundsource
I know you commented. It was a joke. (see: Rolling Stones, as in, what happens when people aren't alive.)
Nevermind. Is this thing on? I'll be here all the week. Try the veal.
I wish:
For Robert Fripp to take the latest incarnation of King Crimson into the studio for one more masterpiece.
Reunions of XTC, The Jam, Barenaked Ladies, and/or Jellyfish while everybody is still alive and musical is all I ever wanted...
REM, I don't need. The Smiths would be nice, but, eh...
I'm going with lack of food from fasting for Yom Kippur as my excuse, but know that it's explained I get it and the veal was delicious
I wish Brian Wilson will get rid of those people around him and work with Andy Partridge or Lindsey Buckingham. I want to hear a real 'Brian Loves You' solo album.
Of all these wishes, King Crimson is probably the most likely to happen.
Elvis Costello and the Imposters put out another album in the vein of Momofuku
Another Bryan Ferry album like Frantic
And for that matter, another Roxy Music Album
A final Who album that captures the power and energy of their live shows
T-Bone Burnett producing a Bob Dylan album
Stones - more RL Burnside less Dan A.
Eve
Sal, I favor all of your suggestions. Man, that would be so cool. I would also love to hear some great new tunes from John Sebastian.
I'd like to see Bill Withers come out of retirement for one more album.
Avonmore sounds a lot better than I thought it would. Thanks!
I'm with the blokes who suggest another Roxy Music, Kinks or Faces album, hopin' and wishin' they'd live up to expectations if they were ever to come about. And blimey! What's all this with Ferry and "Avonmore"? "Dreamy crap" - Mr N. "Sounds a lot better than I thought it would" - Mr BBJ. I guess the record company won't be using those in the advertising.
Yes to Al Green and yes to Southside Johnny. For sure.
Iggy put out one last good album. I'd love to see Patti Smith and the Dolls do the same. I'd love one more solid Aretha album.
Tony Iommi- a blues and jazz instrumental record. Yes, I am 100% serious.
Something new and personal album from Joni Mitchell, reflecting her experiences over the past few years. (I'd say call it Black and Blue, but that would be in questionable taste...)
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