Ten Favourites

Introduction

This is inspired by a thread started by a Facebook friend. "Who are your ten favourite bands?". My first problem is that many of my favourite albums and songs are not by my favourite bands.

It's said that your musical taste is set between the ages of fourteen and sixteen, and you will see that in many of my choices, but I prode myself in not limiting myself to that period, though I have known people who say they will not listen to anything but British Heavy Metal between the years of 1974 and 1976. I find that attitude quite limiting and strange.

My favourite book is "Imajica" by Clive Barker, but my favourite author is JG Ballard, so it's vaguely different criteria.

Similarly, my two favourite albums are not by my favourite bands, and they are here:

I have done pieces on some of my favourite bands, so I will start the list (in no specific order) with a song, a link to a piece I've written or both.

The Cure

So the first one is The Cure, who were not in existence in my 14-16 years. I remember in the early eighties I was working at Yorkshire Water and sold my vinyl copy of "Staring At The Sea" to a lovely girl called Frances Dibley, who I was working with, and we both loved The Cure, and "Catch" always reminds me of her, although we lost contact when I finished at Yorkshire Water.

My friend, the comedian and writer, John Scott, does Friday night gin-based discos, and the songs on the Cure list were his choices.

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd were probably my favourite band in the seventies, and "Echoes" is still one of my favourite songs ever, and it is perfectly used in the surfing film "Crystal Voyager". I still think these words by Dave Gilmour and Richard Wright are close to perfection:

Overhead the albatross

Hangs motionless upon the air

And deep beneath the rolling waves

In labyrinths of coral caves

The echo of a distant time

Comes willowing across the sand

And everything is green and submarine

Bob Dylan

I was first exposed to Dylan by The Byrds' gorgeous cover of "Mr Tambourine Man", but when I heard Dylan's original, it was like sandpaper after silk., I was not impressed. I then bought a book of lyrics, read and became impressed. Then I re-listened and am now OK with his voice. I loved the story of "A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall" when the Bay of Pigs incident made him think that nuclear war was imminent.

Hawkwind

Though they were formed in the sixties, they are still going today and their most recent album is still excellent, but I am annoyed I missed a recent gig of theirs at The Glasshouse.

They also got me into reading Michael Moorcock, who has collaborated with them a few times.

"Damnation Alley", based on the book by Roger Zelazny, is one of my favourites, although the film based on the book was atrocious.

David Bowie

David Bowie is David Bowie, and while he has been one of the most influential artists ever, I can't choose a favourite song or album, so I have included the brilliantly creepy "All The Madmen" from "The Man Who Sold The World"

Roxy Music

When I first heard Roxy, I was amazed that they combined my love of rock and roll with electronic and style. I bought the first album, joined the fan club and still love them.

"Mother Of Pearl" is still absolutely stunning so I have included that song for your delectation.

R.E.M.

I haven't written anything about R.E.M. Though I sang "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) " and a few others of their song. Their output has been remarkably consistent, and you probably had a favourite R.E.M. song in your collection.

Todd Rundgren

If you don't know Todd Rundgren, you probably know "Bat Out Of Hell" by Meatloaf, which Todd produced and played guitars on. Rundgren is, in my opinion, a musical genius, in the same realm as Prince. A multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and able to take on any style and I have included his excellent take on Gilbert and Sullivan's "Lord Chancellor's Nightmare Song" from the opera "Iolanthe" which appeared on his album "Todd".

Grateful Dead

"Estimated Prophet" from "Terrapin Station" was the first Grateful Dead song that grabbed me, although I knew of them. My piece digs a bit deeper into the life of this incredible musical phenomenon.

Jimi Hendrix Experience

The first three Experience albums are a conucopia of the most incredible music, but Jimi was one of "27 Club" and I included a Hendrix entry on my piece on the subject.

"May This Be Love" from the band's first album is a wonderful way to close this list.