I saw this on Threads and decided to steal it.
Pick an artist/band you like and choose four songs that would be a good introduction for someone who might not have heard anything. Just ONE.
Neil Finn:
Split Enz- Message To My Girl
Crowded House- I Feel Possessed
Neil Finn- She Will Have Her Way
Finn Brothers- Won't Give In
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Drive safe.
Those are excellent choices.
ReplyDeleteSecond the notion that those are A+ selections; especially like the Finn Brothers album and that cut in particular.
ReplyDeleteMott the Hoople:
ReplyDeleteSweet Angeline - Brain Capers
All The Way From Memphis - Mott
Roll Away The Stone - The Hoople
Sucker - All The Young Dudes
Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteAgreed with your Neil Finn choices. I might've substituted World Where You Live or Weather With You somewhere in there... and Better Be Home Soon, Distant Sun, Fall At Your Feet, Four Seasons In One Day, Into the Sunset....
ReplyDeleteXTC is another toughie for me, but I'd suggest
Love On a Farmboy's Wages
Earn Enough For US
Senses Working Overtime
Vanishing Girl (Dukes of Stratosphear)
"I might've substituted World Where You Live or Weather With You somewhere in there... and Better Be Home Soon, Distant Sun, Fall At Your Feet, Four Seasons In One Day, Into the Sunset...."
ReplyDeleteOr Nails In My Feet, I Got You, Private Universe, Iris, Last One Standing, Human Kindness, or...or...or...
XTC, great one.
ReplyDeleteI’d go
Senses Working Overtime
Generals and Majors
Mayor of Simpleton
I’m the Man Who Murdered Love
Cleveland Jeff
Thinking about this a bit, should the introduction to an artist be four songs that cover all the ground the artist covers, or what best represents the artist, or your four favorites even if they don't best represent the artist?
ReplyDeleteMy four XTC picks would be:
Stupidly Happy
Harvest Festival
Senses Working Overtime
We're All Light
Not sure what these four do except make me happy.
Hey Sal, there's this cat that nobody has heard of, initials TR.
ReplyDeleteThe Ballad (Denny & Jean)
Couldn't I Just Tell You
Black And White
Onomatopoeia
Check this guy out, he's got tons of stuff, a lot of which is pretty good!
I can't believe how in sync we are.... Stupidly Happy, but especially Harvest Festival are at the top of my XTC list, and Neil Finn is my favorite artist all-time.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't pick Harvest Festival as an introductory song to the band. I think it's more of a "if you like ____, you should hear this one." But damn, that whole "longing look you gave me" line slays me every time. And I love The Wheel and the Maypole more than anyone should.
happy thanksgiving all...let the 30 day eat-a-thon begin!
ReplyDeleteLevel 42...
Sleep Walkers
The Sun Goes Down (livin' it up)
Physical Presence
Dune Tune
@bombshelter slim
ReplyDeleteThanks. Gonna look into this guy called TR.
;)
Oooooo, that's a tough one. But I'm up for it.
ReplyDeleteHere's one that may be hard to find an entry-point on ~ unless you're an obsessive like me ---
Cocteau Twins:
Athol-Brose - from Blue Bell Knoll, 1988
Tishbite - from Milk & Kisses, 1996
Golden Air - from Sun's Signature, 2022
Pink Orange Red - from Tiny Dynamine, 1985
and it's funny, XTC was my first thought - 'til I saw the responses and decided to switch.
But for me, the XTC four would be:
Then She Appeared - from Nonsuch, 1992
King For A Day - from Oranges & Lemons, 1989
The Troubles (Home Demo) - B Side, 1986
We're All Light - from Wasp Star (Apple Venus, Pt. 2), 2000
I would pick Weather With You to introduce someone to popular music in general, not just Finn.
ReplyDeleteAny yardstick is fine, but I'm picking four songs to convince someone to listen to more music by the artist. So...
PREFAB SPROUT
Faron Young
Goodbye Lucille #1 aka Johnny Johnny
Hey Manhattan
One Of The Broken
Hawksley Workman
ReplyDeleteJealous Of Your Cigarette
Autumn's Here
We'll Make Time ( Even When There Ain't No Time)
The City Is A Drag
I need some time to think about this one after all the cooking. Maybe I'll do Juliana Hatfield, Sloan or Robyn Hitchcock for our host. :-)
ReplyDeleteMessage To My Girl is a perfect song and the album it comes from, Conflicting Emotions, is superb.
ReplyDeleteFor Crowded House fans, you'll want to check out this set of acoustic tracks that I came across last week on a blog I check now and again. Very good sound and performances. http://albumsthatshouldexist.blogspot.com/2023/11/crowded-house-acoustic-radio-sessions.html
- Paul in DK
This is great! I'll play. Album titles in parentheses.
ReplyDeleteMichael McDermott:
Bells (s/t album)
No Matter What (What in the World)
20 Miles South of Nowhere (Last Chance Lounge)
A Wall I Must Climb (620 W Surf)
Happy Thanksgiving!
Also - Sal, I dig your Neil Finn starter pack, especially Message To My Girl ... damn, what a song. Personally I'd have to find a way to get "Anything Can Happen" from the Finn Brothers in 2004 into the mix.
ReplyDeleteMichael Giltz great picks for Prefab Sprout. I was basically unaware of them until a couple of years ago when Natalie Prass did what I consider a sublime cover of Wild Horses - dig it:
Natalie Prass - Wild Horses
XTC choice:
ReplyDeleteScience Friction
Making Plans for Nigel
Scissors Man
Living through another Cuba
Thanks Noel! That's a great cover but she should really do a medley w that and the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses." :)
ReplyDeleteDan Baird:
ReplyDeleteYounger Face
Cemetary Train
Shake It 'Til It's Sore
Woke Up Jake
As always, I'm thankful for Burning Wood and the work you put into it, Sal.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Randy
Michael Glitz--great Prefab Sprout list. One of the Broken is one of my top songs.
ReplyDeleteXTC for me:
All of A Sudden (It's Too Late)
Grass
Mayor of Simpleton
Pale and Precious (Dukes of Stratosphear)
Adding in a new one:
Lloyd Cole with and without Commotions
Forest Fire
Love Ruins Everything
Pay for It
Night Sweats
Bill, who's full of turkey and gravy
Is this the son of the prior 6 pack series?
ReplyDelete