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Classic Rock Discussion thread, including Catfish's Top 20 Lists.
catfish1957:
--- Quote from: berdie on May 17, 2024, 08:18:38 pm ---Bruce is an excellent pianist, imho. My brother has one of his later cds (no charting hits) that is really good. I'll have to remember to ask him the name.
On a personal note, I saw Bonnie Raitt and he backed her up several times during the concert. When she did I Can't Make You Love Me with him...it was so beautiful I darn near cried. And I'm not a weepy person. Her vocals were so pure and his playing was excellent.
--- End quote ---
Though I haven't been much of the genre, you are absolutely right about Raitt. She has that tone and sexiness that somewhat disappeared when Stevie Nicks stopped recording. At least I think she pretty much has stopped.
As far as soft rockers, as much as I hate his politics, Jackson Browne is my favorite when he goes in that direction I remember watching an Eagles documentary, and Frey/Henley were marveled and amazed at Browne's incredible ability to sit down at a piano and pull great music out of the thin air. Since the early 1980's, I think a lot of his life choices have rotted his brain. Incredible how many great musical artist nosedive after going ultra-activist. And I say that in sincerity, be it Jackson Browne, or Ted Nugent.
catfish1957:
Classic Rock Album of the Day- Meatloaf - Bat Out of Hell- (1977) **
There are certain albums/songs that kind of operate as theme songs or anthems of certain periods in social history. I think a lot of people would say that Meatloaf's Bat Out of Hell is a great example of what was blaring out of our 8-Track's in that 1977/78 timeframe. I for one, wasn't really a big fan of Meatloaf. At that particular time, it seemed more focused on gimmickry than substance.
It's operatic without really being a Rock Opera. Of course, the album is heavily centered around "the song", Even as a semi-Rock Opera, it def, had a very pointed theme, which is around relationship matters. A good percentage nicely hit the mark, but the operatic campiness just didn't gel with me who was blasting Zep, Boston, and Aerosmith at the same time. Another one of those different strokes deals.
But I do have to give this album props in a "broadway" kind of way. The songwriting is very sound, and in many ways really has done a nice job of straffing the fine line between pop and rock. Yes, there are strong moments, but also some that linger somewhere between sappy and cringeworthy. After listening to this thing to completion for the first time in over 45 years, I have come to the same conclusion as I did then. Is this an album you will listen to frequently? Nope. But you can't discount the cultural impact of what some of this LP conveyed.
1977 was a much different time, in how the media, music, and society dealt with sexuality. There were plenty of bands that double entendre-d sex in many ways. Some respectful, and some downright nasty and unacceptable under today's moraiity standards. I can't think of an album in the 1970's that better or more eloquently analyzed and dissected the social part of what teenage sex/love was. And the fact that Big Meat was able to land that curly haired cute bra-less brunette seemed cool no matter how implausible it seemed at the time. So you really have to juggle/manage the ridiculous with heartfelt.
There was a great amount of big names included in this effort too. These included Todd Rundgren, Roy Bittan, Max Weinberg (both-Springsteen, E-street band), and Edgar Winter. And that proficieny shows. This is a well performed LP. But in sum, I imagine there are a lot of folks who rate this much higher than I would It's all about taste. I mean some people even like Rap. In some ways, I like to file this under historical value, rather than musical. A few of these songs diid justice to defining the late 1970's. Being barely 17 and barely dressed seems like an eternity ago.
Fun fact (1): 14X Platinum. One of the larger selling LP's of the year. 14M besides Catfish bought this album
Fun fact (2): Meatloaf, the singer, acted in 47 movies, and appeared in 40 different televison shows.
Side 1-
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Bat Out of a Hell- Belts out a good opening, in very broadway like fashion. Meat's lofty tenor works well with some fine jam from the all star cast. Of course, it might seem like a diss, but he seemed to really overuse the same kind of phrasing in so much of this LP. Even opens take a page from a bit of variability. Still, from a musical contribution, this is a really good opening salvo. 2
You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)- Puzzling opening sans poetic like Shakespearen narrative start that works into a little more of the same themeing and phrasing as Bat. Twinged with a slight '50's feel that stays the course 4
Heaven Can Wait- Ballad swadled in strings. Pleasant, and heartfelt. You can kind of juggle ranking this with "Two Out of Three" which got overplay 5
All Revved Up and No Place to Go. - Could almost swear that Clarence Clemons does the sax in this one. This is more standard rocking than most of the rest of the LP. Well done. And just another example of where the playing outpaced the songwriting. 3
Side 2-
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Two Out of Three A'int Bad- Got sick of this one in the day Waaaaaay overplayed on the radio- Yes it was huge, but.... 6
Paradise on the Dashboard Light- "The Song" Amazing song that could chronicle any Saturday night in 1978. Great feeling and understanding of young sexual interaction of the day. Love the baseball analogies. Excellent backing vocals by stage performer Ellen Foley, who provides a great balance and response in this very powerful duet. Perfect culmination of vocals, emotion, well mixed jam that understandbly is an iconic song of that year. I am sure most have seen the video, but I am adding it..... just in case. 1
For Crying Out Loud- Torchlit, over blown, over-produced, over-performed. All the strings and orchestras in the world can't stop boring. 7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsQHVWBeTUU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C11MzbEcHlw
deb:
I listen to this Meatloaf album and am instantly transported back to high school. Thanks for the review.
P.S. I vehemently disagree with you on “Heaven Can Wait” and “For Crying Out Loud”. Loved the theatrics of both songs. The piano on FCOL is exquisite. But I’m a girl who likes love songs and theater. happy77
My first exposure to Mr Meatloaf was when he did vocals on a couple of Ted Nugent songs on “Free for All” album. He was excellent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5VbZ8lFxAM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhtZZa5ypzQ
catfish1957:
--- Quote from: deb on May 20, 2024, 10:20:16 pm ---I listen to this Meatloaf album and am instantly transported back to high school. Thanks for the review.
P.S. I vehemently disagree with you on “Heaven Can Wait” and “For Crying Out Loud”. Loved the theatrics of both songs. The piano on FCOL is exquisite. But I’m a girl who likes love songs and theater. happy77
--- End quote ---
I fully understand and agree. Music is so subjective. That is why I mentioned rap. I guess this genre of music to some peiople, but I just don't get it.
catfish1957:
Classic Rock Album of the Day- Bruce Springsteen- Born to Run- (1975) ** 1/2
In before "The Baws" books his Australian immigration flight. One concept term hat I haven't used too much in these reviews is "Hype" IMO, Bruce Springsteen is the most over rated rock act of all time. It is funny after listening tonight, is that Born to Run, in its entirety sounds a whole lot like my last review from Meatloaf. Joisey boy seems to be conveying one show tune after another that is propped up by some self imprtanced induced '70's street cred. When, in essence, after watching this guy for 50 years, I am betting he consistently got his ass kicked back in the day. Having a leather jacket back then, bending your lip and snearing wasn't proof you were tough.
Tonight is probably the first time I have listened to this LP since prob.about 1982. And honestly, it isn't even as good as I remembered. His songwriting isn't near a good as I reminisced . Springsteen is an entity that was entirely created and perpetuated by Rock Critic hype and bias. This is a good album, and it has some really good moments, but they aren't consistently conveyed here. Is my accusation of hype wrong? Take a moment and parse through his 21 studio albums. Outside this one (good), two mediocre (Darkness..., and Nebraska), this rock career was 18 albums too long. And one other point to ponder? I can't find the actual cost data, but at the time Born to Run had supposedly been given the biggest promotionial budget of any American rock album to that time. There was a lot more corruption in the record industry than anyone realized.
Back to hype... Bruce is the perfect example where and when factions of the rock critic punditry, convienenty place their thumb on the scale to dupe the record buying kids. . Rolling Stone, Creme, and others thought this guy was God. Given, I know and understand that musical taste is subjective, but when all the cards are put on the table, I can't imagine many honestly who could put Springsteen anywhere near or among the top 100 of all time. Rock artist through out time have ad political leanings. A lot of what was said and sung during the Vietnam era is strong evidence of that. But what just gave the critics an erection, was Springsteen taking that concept into the 1980's. He was the poster boy of waving the left wing flag. By Born (No.2-In the USA), he had gone full socialist slant I am certain this gave him that bias, and extra nudge to snooker the LP buying public that he was better than what he really was. And does anyone out there really think he'd a decent voice? :thud:
But as back to the subject at hand, Born to Run is (was) a good example of BS' work It is really the one album when the other pieces of the puzzle, including Clemons and other supporting cast were at their best. And I do have to give the late Clarence Clemons props. He was an excellent Saxophonist, and the reason I think why gave BS that extra intanglible nudge in stature. When you think about it, not many mainstream bands were routinely adding Sax in most of their cuts.
This album does have its share of filler, but there are some rocking and innovative moments that give it, it's deserving of purchase. This is a good album. Glad I didn't contribute though, and in my case, I think I got it cheap at the Pawn Shop. None the less, I hope BS' next album is called "Kangaroo Shuffle" Adios MOFO.
Fun Fact: Bruce- Airfare tickets from LAX to SYD are running as low as $323 this week
Side 1-
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Thunder Road- 50 years later this song comes across as an overblown show tune. And this is considered among the staples of the LP. Decently written, and performed. The problem? There was 50 other albums in this era that were as good or better. Like I said, BS doesn't have that great of a voice, and like Neil Young, it wears on you after a few minutes. 4
Tenth Avenue Freeze Out- R&B focused that misses- 7
Night- Another example of filler. Near histronic voicing is at least saved by some good Clemon sax runs. 6
Backstreets- Pre-hashed Hungry Heart. BS recycled a lot more of his material than people realized. His ballads are criminally annoying 5
Side 2-
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Born to Run- Bruce Springsteen's greatest tune, but was always perplexed wby BS strangely placed the title track on Side 2- Really good as anthem status, where all cylinders of the band are clicking. This is an example of not only good songwriting , but also has one of my favorite rock sax solos of all time And it has that knack lyrically of believability that is absent in so much of the rest of his catalog. This is the one song that made BS a star. 1
She's the One- Sleeper on the album. I normally don't like his crooning, but the piano accompanyment does such a nice job of giving this heart. Again punctuated by Clemons yakity saxing it up in fine fashion. Some added complexity added to, not normally seen in 4/4 Bruce. 3
Meeting Across the River- Wailing sorrowfull trumpet doesn't save this stinker. Sucks. 8
Jungleland- Way back, I like this as much as Born to Run- BS thinks that his storytelling makes him a poet laureate. While it is quaint, 50 years later it seems damned dated. Well hooked, but now it comes across like a cheap off broadway side number. OTOH, Has what I consider some of best guitar work.And Clemons? He cooks. Several pages back, a Briefer aptly menitoned how certain tunes are 3 minutes too long. This is a perfect example. 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo4EoCqMvp4
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