XTC Album Ranking

One of my favorite music channels on YouTube is Sea of Tranquility. Lots of content on classic rock, prog, and heavy metal (well, two out of three ain't bad). This past week they posted video ranking the albums of XTC, who, if you know me, is one of my favorite bands. Here is the video, and beneath that is my ranking of the albums of XTC. 

So here is my list. 

12. White Music 

11. Go2 

10. Drums and Wires 

09. Wasp Star 

08. Apple Venus 

07. Nonsuch 

06. Oranges and Lemons 

05. The Big Express 

04. Mummer 

03. Skylarking 

02. Black Sea 

01. English Settlement 

The top 5 are so close, especially Black Sea and English Settlement. But even below that, I may not like the albums as much as a whole, but the songs I do like are masterpieces.

If you are a fan too, please share your list in the comments.

Some thoughts and stuff

 So, let me begin with some 'toons.

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It's now four days past election day and not all of the results are in. However, this morning various news media have declared Joe Biden as the official winner. If this turns out to be true, I shall be VERY disappointed. Not just in the election results, but that so many of our people believe so much crap. My further prayer is that the Republicans retain the Senate. We must have checks and balances.

Regardless, my God is firmly seated on His throne. And while my skepticism in the government remains higher than ever, I put my trust in Him.

Midweek Rant: Masks

I know many people have made up their minds about the "to mask or not to mask" issue. I respect both sides. The science is all over the place. And whereas, I have pretty much made up my mind about it, I keep reading on it. 

But more and more, I read conflicting "data" and "statistics", even from my favorite sources that I have found reliable for years. We have to face the face that we may never understand how it all works. Hindsight is ALWAYS 20/20. 

 So, here is my point. For everyone who is being pissy, judgmental, and condescending about it: GROW UP!! The world doesn't revolve around you. If someone, for example, me, has more than one "underlying condition" and want to play it safe, that's cool. Whereas I don't think I would die if I caught C19, I don't need or want to spend time in the hospital gasping for breath and feeling like crap. Personally, I do think A LOT of the hype is just that, hype. I look forward to being about to go out again. But I will do it cautiously.

My Top 40 Radio Pop Hits of the 1980's

One of the characteristics of 80s pop is the expanded use of electronic keyboards. This turned a lot of rock fans off. I didn’t make assumptions and judge each band on their own merits. As long as they were using the electronics in a creative way that appealed to me.  

So, here is my similar list or the 80s. These are in no particular order and my only restriction is only one entry per artist. There are many more other than these. But these are just a sampling.

  1.   Don’t Stand So Close to Me - The Police

  2.   Better Be Home Soon - Crowded House

  3.   Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds

  4.   There She Goes - The La's

  5.   White Wedding - Billy Idol

  6.   Love Is A Battlefield - Pat Benatar

  7.   Higher Love - Steve Winwood

  8.   Town Called Malice - The Jam

  9.   Addicted To Love - Robert Palmer

10.   They Don't Know - Tracey Ullman

11.   Wouldn't It Be Good - Nik Kershaw

12.   Stepping Out - Joe Jackson

13.   Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime - The Korgis

14.   Change - Tears for Fears

15.   In A Big Country - Big Country

16.   My Ever Changing Moods - The Style Council

17.   Breakout - Swing Out Sister

18.   Our House - Madness

19.   I Ran (So Far Away) - A Flock of Seagulls

20.   The Doctor - The Doobie Brothers

21.   Senses Working Overtime - XTC

22.   Lessons In Love - Level 42

23.   Everybody Have Fun Tonight - Wang Chung

24.   Fashion - David Bowie

25.   It’s My Life - Talk Talk

26.   Hazy Shade of Winter - The Bangles

27.   Back on the Chain Gang - Pretenders

28.   I Melt With You - Modern English

29.   Mexican Radio - Wall of Voodoo

30.   Voices Carry - Til Tuesday

31.   Tenderness - General Public

32.   Love Plus One - Haircut 100

33.   Under the Milky Way - The Church

34.   Overkill - Men at Work

35.   Come Back and Stay - Paul Young

36.   More Than This - Roxy Music

37.   Always Something There to Remind Me - Naked Eyes

38.   Pleasure and Pain - Divinyls

39.   Owner of a Lonely Heart - Yes

40.   Rio - Duran Duran

I'd love to hear your thoughts, additions, etc., in the comments.

My Top 40 AM Radio Pop Hits of the 1970's

I have never been a Top40 radio guy. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always “searched” for music that appeals to me. Sure, there has been music on the radio that I liked, but it was mostly earlier in my life. Even as far back as the 70s I was searching. Then, through the 80s and after, there was less on the radio and the search intensified. By the 90s I had given up on commercial radio completely.

Last night I was watching one of my favorite YouTubers (Sea of Tranquility/Pete Pardo) list the songs he remembered liking hearing come on the radio when he was a kid in the 70s. This guy, being a fan of heavy rock, surprised me with his “pop” favorites. This, of course, prompted me to consider the same.

So, here is my similar list. These are in no particular order and my only restriction is only one entry per artist. There are many more other than these. But these are just a sampling.

1. Venus - Shocking Blue
2. Brother Louie - Stories
3. Theme from Shaft - Isaac Hayes
4. American Pie - Don McLean
5. Green-Eyed Lady - Sugarloaf
6. Draggin’ the Line - Tommy James
7. Temptation Eyes - The Grass Roots
8. Diary - Bread
9. Alone Again (Naturally) - Gilbert O'Sullivan
10. Summer Breeze - Seals and Crofts
11. Ventura Highway - America
12. Rocket Man - Elton John
13. Shambala - Three Dog Night
14. Hello It's Me - Todd Rundgren
15. Jackie Blue - Ozark Mountain Daredevils
16. You're No Good - Linda Ronstadt
17. Fooled Around And Fell In Love - Elvin Bishop 
18. She’s Gone - Darryl Hall & John Oates
19. We Just Disagree - Dave Mason
20. Just Remember I Love You - Firefall
21. Feels So Good - Chuck Mangione
22. My Sharona - The Knack
23. Hold The Line - Toto
24. Lonesome Loser - Little River Band
25. Maggie May - Rod Stewart
26. Listen To The Music - The Doobie Brothers
27. Operator (That's Not The Way It Goes) - Jim Croce
28. Hitchin' A Ride - Vanity Fare
29. How Long - Ace
30. Ride Captain Ride - Blues Image
31. Rainy Night In Georgia - Brook Benton
32. Mr. Bojangles - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
33. I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash
34. Me And Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul
35. Without You - Nilsson
36. Drift Away - Dobie Gray
37. You're So Vain - Carly Simon
38. Stuck In The Middle With You - Stealers Wheel
39. Show And Tell - Al Wilson
40. Just You 'N' Me - Chicago

I may return to this theme with songs from the 80s, who knows?

I'd love to hear your thoughts, additions, etc., in the comments.

Ten Albums In Ten Days - Day 10

Ten Albums In Ten Days That Changed You 
or hold significant meaning for you. 

Day 10 - “Moondance” - Van Morrison (1970) 

I discovered this album very late in the game. I think it was 1978, again during my first semester at FSU. I was still living with my parents and the drive made it necessary to find places on campus to kill time or study when I had large blocks of time between classes or rehearsals. This was before portable music so I would go to the music library where I could listen to albums while studying. However, at the time, they didn’t have much to choose from for rock music. But I found “Moondance”, and I didn’t seem to have much of a choice anyway. I am so thankful I did. To me this is like a greatest hits album. Every single track is pure aural gold. There is pure soul in both Morrison’s voice as well as the songs. To listen closely one can hear instruments slightly out of tune or not quite playing together. But somehow it all works. 

 Favorite tracks: "Moondance", "And It Stoned Me", "Into the Mystic", and "Brand New Day". 

 This is the last of my 10 albums, but there are so many more. Who knows, maybe I’ll do a “Part 2” sometime. Please comment with your albums that changed you. Questions are also welcome.

Ten Albums In Ten Days - Day 9

Ten Albums In Ten Days That Changed You 
 or hold significant meaning for you. 

 Day 9 - “War” - U2 (1983) 

 In the late 70s and early 80s, I spent a lot of my time playing in a rock band. Much of this time I was also attending worship at the FSU campus ministry, Campus House. A the time there wasn’t any commercial contemporary Christian music that interested me. All I heard was the super-sweet pop style or the real heavy rock style. I never heard anything in the middle and these didn’t interest me. The conflict of playing secular rock and being a Christian was always in my mind. One day I visited my friends, Tripp and Joann Andersen. Tripp was really into hard punk music. It was not a genre that I liked but our friendship transcended that difference. Tripps was one of the most beautiful souls I have ever met. Anyway, while there he put on a new album he just got. U2’s “War”. I was not familiar with it but he just let it play. As it played I started getting into the sound. After it finished, he played it from the beginning a second time with the sounds turned up a little more. The opening track is “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and I listened to the lyrics that described the horror felt by Bono if the troubles in their home in Northern Ireland. It was very powerful. But that’s not what caught my attention. At the end of the song, just before it faded out, Bono sings, “And the battle’s just begun to claim the victory Jesus won on [Sunday Bloody Sunday]. This was the first time I’d heard rock music with a Christian message without the band being a “Christian Band”. They were rock musicians that were Christian. Since then U2 has mostly drifted into a more “humanist” approach to Christianity. But at this time, they were more direct in their faith. I loved their music, but they helped me to believe that whatever I do as a career, even music, I can be an outspoken Christian too. I loved their first five albums before their style wandered into another direction. 

 Favorite tracks: "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "New Year's Day", "Two Hearts Beat as One", and "40".

25 Facts On Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon

1- ‘Brain Damage’ is the only track on The Dark Side Of The Moon which mentions the title of the album.

2 - ‘The Great gig In The Sky’ became the first Pink Floyd song to be used in a TV commercial; advertising Neurofen painkiller tablets.

3 - The chiming clocks heard on The Dark Side Of The Moon were originally recorded as a quadraphonic test tape by studio engineer Alan Parsons for EMI records.

4 - The Dark Side Of The Moon is a reference to the occult name for the subconscious.

5 - Roger Waters wrote all the lyrics on The Dark Side Of The Moon.

6 - The album was very nearly called Eclipse.

7 - ‘Money’ was released as a single with ‘Any Colour You Like’ on the B-side. A two-sided white label promotional version of the single, with mono and stereo mixes, was sent to radio stations. The mono side had the word ‘bullshit’ removed from the song – leaving ‘bull’ in its place – however, the stereo side retained the uncensored version. This was subsequently withdrawn; the replacement was sent to radio stations with a note advising disc jockeys to dispose of the first uncensored copy.

8 - An early working title for The Dark Side of The Moon album was – ‘Dark Side of the Moon – A Piece for Assorted Lunatics’.

9 - Roger Waters created the early demo tracks for the album at his Islington home in a small studio built in his garden shed.

10 - Pink Floyd devised and recorded unconventional sounds for the album such as an assistant engineer running around the studio’s echo chamber (during ‘On the Run’), and a specially treated bass drum made to simulate a human heartbeat (during ‘Speak to Me’, ‘On the Run’, ‘Time’ and ‘Eclipse’).

11 - Some of the profits from The Dark Side Of The Moon were invested in the film production of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

12 - Clare Torry who’s vocal can be heared on The Great Gig in the Sky has also performed as a session singer with Kevin Ayers, Olivia Newton-John, Shriekback, The Alan Parsons Project, Culture Club, Meat Loaf and Tangarine Dream. The singer also covered the Dolly Parton single ‘Love Is Like a Butterfly’ for the opening titles of the BBC TV series Butterflies, which ran for four series between 1978 and 1983.

13 - Recording the track ‘Money’ Roger Waters had created effects loops from recordings of various money-related objects, including coins thrown into a food-mixing bowl taken from his wife’s pottery studio.

14 - The Dark Side Of The Moon remained in the US charts for 741 weeks from 1973 to 1988, longer than any other album in history.

15 - Engineer Alan Parsons received a Grammy Award for ‘best engineered album’ for The Dark Side of the Moon in 1973.

16 - In 2000 The Squirrels released The Not So Bright Side of the Moon, which features a cover of the entire album. The New York dub collective Easy Star All Stars in 2003 released Dub Side of the Moon, in 2009 The Flaming Lips released a track-by-track remake of the album. The group Voices on The Dark Side released the album Dark Side Of The Moon A Cappella, a complete a cappella version of the album.

17 - ‘Us and Them’ was originally a 21 minute track intended for use on the Zabriskie Point soundtrack, but found it’s way onto the album.

18 - English saxophonist Dick Parry who played the parts on ‘Money’, started his career as a friend of David Gilmour and was part of a mid-1960s band also including Gilmour called Joker’s Wild.

19 - If you listen close to the end of ‘Eclipse,’ the album’s closing track, a passage from an orchestral version of The Beatles’ ‘Ticket to Ride’ can be heard; the song was apparently playing in the background at the studio while Abbey Road doorman Gerry O’Driscoll (who delivered the immortal lines, ‘There is no dark side of the moon, really. Matter of fact, it’s all dark. The only thing that makes it look light is the sun.’) was being recorded.

20 - The album was originally released in a gatefold LP sleeve and the band were so confident of the quality of Waters’ lyrics that, for the first time, they printed them on the album’s sleeve.

21 - During recording sessions for the album Roger Waters a supporter of Arsenal Football Club, would often take a break from recording to see his team compete.

22 - In a Rolling Stone readers poll ‘The Great Gig in the Sky’ was selected as the second greatest vocal performance of all time behind ‘Bohemian Rhapsody‘.

23 - The five tracks on each side of the album reflect various stages of human life, beginning and ending with a heartbeat, exploring the nature of the human experience, and (according to Waters) ’empathy’.

24 - Dark Side of the Moon: A Piece for Assorted Lunatics, as it was then known, was performed in the presence of an assembled press on 17 February 1972 – more than a year before its release – at the Rainbow Theatre,London, England and was mainly critically acclaimed. A review in Melody Maker was less enthusiastic: ‘Musically, there were some great ideas, but the sound effects often left me wondering if I was in a bird-cage at London zoo.’

25 - With estimated sales of over 45 million copies, The Dark Side Of The Moon is Pink Floyd’s best seller, and one of the best-selling albums worldwide.

Source

Ten Albums In Ten Days - Day 8

Ten Albums In Ten Days That Changed You 
 or hold significant meaning for you. 

Day 8 - “English Settlement” - XTC (1982) 

This one was a HUGE discovery for me. Once upon a time, there was a record store named The Record Bar. And like most record stores at the time, they would play albums on the store-wide sound system. I used to just go and casually hang out just drifting through the record binds and listen to what they played. Normally it wasn’t anything earth-shattering but I liked the environment. One day one of the store employees put on this now-classic. The first song, “Runaways”, caught my ear. I liked it very much. As I hung out, I listened to the entire album. The songs were very different from one another but were still wonderful. Needless to say, I walked out with the album (purchased, not stolen). My ear had been irrevocably changed for the better. 

Favorite tracks: "Runaways", "Senses Working Overtime", "Jason and the Argonauts", and "No Thugs in Our House".

Ten Albums In Ten Days - Day 7

Ten Albums In Ten Days That Changed You 
 or hold significant meaning for you. 

Day 7 - “Outlandos d’Amour” - The Police (1978) 

“Roxanne”. Possibly the catchiest of all new wave classics. I had just graduated from high school. I was in the middle of my first catastrophic semester at Florida State University (that’s another story). I’m sitting at the dinette table in my parent's house with the radio in the window. Suddenly the song begins to play and everything seemed to stop. I don’t remember if the DJ said anything about the song or not. But it stuck in my head and I couldn’t wait to check the record store for it. My love for The Police wained with each passing album, but their first three albums will always have a special place in my heart. 

Favorite tracks: "Roxanne", "Hole in My Life", and "Born in the '50s".

Ten Albums In Ten Days - Day 6

Ten Albums In Ten Days That Changed You 
 or hold significant meaning for you. 

Day 6 - “Born to Run” - Bruce Springsteen (1975) 

Some may be familiar with my story of how this album kept me from “giving up” on pop music in 1975. At a time where most of my access to music was commercial radio, the airwaves at this time were becoming more and more dominated by disco and terrible soft rock and pop. Even Elton John at this point was losing his “edge”. I was getting increasingly discouraged and wanted to, literally, just give up on music. So, talking to God about it, I said, “I’ll make a deal with you. I’m going to turn the radio on, if I like what is playing, I’ll stay with music. If I don’t like it, I’m chucking the radio and giving up.” Yep, I said that. So, with nerves humming, I turned on the radio. Coming through the speakers was the first time I’d ever heard the title cut to Born to Run. It completely grabbed me. After the song finished playing, I said to God, “Ok, I’ll hang on with music.” At least I knew there was something else out there. I just had to find it. 

Favorite tracks: "Born to Run", "Jungleland", and "Night".

Ten Albums In Ten Days - Day 5

Ten Albums In Ten Days That Changed You 
 or hold significant meaning for you. 

5. “Yessongs” - Yes (1973) 

My first real dive into progressive rock. Their first live album, I actually bought it out of sheer curiosity. The fact that it was three discs long was part of it. And whereas the recording is not exceptional technically, the performance certainly is. Composed largely of material from their two most recent albums (“Fragile” and “Close to the Edge”), it features the most iconic of Yes’ many member lineups. Yes is still, by far, my favorite progressive rock band to this day. 

Favorite tracks: "Heart of the Sunrise", "Close to the Edge", and "Starship Trooper".

Ten Albums In Ten Days - Day 4

Ten Albums In Ten Days That Changed You 
 or hold significant meaning for you. 

 Day 4 - “This Year’s Model” - Elvis Costello (1978) 

Elvis Costello’s second album came out just months before my high school graduation. It was my introduction to the new wave genre which, at the time, could only be found played college radio stations at the time (WFSU, anyone?). My late must mentor at the time, Skip Parvin, played this album for me to show off his massive component stereo system. The album and sound system blew my mind. Always in search for new and different sounds in music this pointed me in a whole new direction. A direction I pursued vigorously for decades to come. His early catalog continues to be a favorite of mine. 

 Favorite tracks: "Pump It Up", "Hand In Hand", and "Lip Service".

Ten Albums In Ten Days - Day 3

Ten Albums In Ten Days That Changed You 
 or hold significant meaning for you. 

Day 3 - “Aja” - Steely Dan (1977) 

Originally given to me by Jeanie Begley (if I remember correctly), it slowly blew my mind. I’d never heard jazz incorporated into rock in this way. It didn’t grab me instantly, but I couldn’t help but play it over and over, peeling back the layers with each listen. Like other artists, Steely Dan is one of my top 10 favorite artists ever. And this is them at their best. 

Favorite tracks: "Aja", "Peg", and "Home at Last".

Ten Albums In Ten Days - Day 2

Ten Albums In Ten Days That Changed You 
 or hold significant meaning for you. 

“Who’s Next” - The Who (1971) 

This one was discovered alongside on Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”, listening to it late at night on AOR radio. It was my first introduction to The Who, of whom I have been a strong fan of to this day. And this is my favorite of all their albums. Arguably, it includes their best and strongest songs ever. 

 Favorites: "Behind Blue Eyes", "Won't Get Fooled Again", and "Bargain".

Ten Albums In Ten Days - Day 1

Ten Albums In Ten Days That Changed You
 or hold significant meaning for you.

“The Dark Side of the Moon” - Pink Floyd (1973)

This album needs no introduction to any one of my generation, whether you like it or not. Mine was in high school from a new AOR radio station at the time. During a particular summer, I would spend the night at my friend Bobby’s house, his parents had one of those huge record cabinets. We would set up a pallet on the floor in front of it to sleep and listen to the station all night. One of the best things about the AOR format was they would play entire albums or sides of albums at a time. TDSOTM was one of those albums they frequently played this way. And to those of us that love the album, that’s the only way to listen to it. Absolutely mesmerizing.

Some Favorite Debut Albiums

I've been listening to music for over 50 years now. There have been so many artists, bands, and styles during that time. As most people, I suppose, as I've gotten younger, there is less "contemporary" music or artists that I like as time passes. And even though I keep searching, I usually end up going back to the "good stuff".

I've always loved discovering new artists. Especially when they break on to the music scene with am incredible debut album. Listening to such an album always fills me with hope and anticipation for future musical goodness from the artist. Many have fulfilled that expectation, but many have not.

But here are but a few of those albums over the last half a century. The order is alphabetical rather than by preference. Rating them would be almost impossible. Please list some of your favorites in the comments.

Amy Winehouse - Frank (2003)
Bad Company - Bad Company (1974)
Barenaked Ladies - Gordon (1992)
Billy Joel - Piano Man (1973)
Bruce Springsteen - Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. (1973)
Buffalo Springfield - Buffalo Springfield (1966)
Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority (1969)
Cream - Fresh Cream (1966)
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Crosby, Stills & Nash (1969)
Crowded House - Crowded House (1986)
Danny Wilson - Meet Danny Wilson (1987)
Derek and the Dominos - Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970)
Devo - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978)
Dire Straits - Dire Straits (1978)
Donald Fagen - The Nightly (1982)
Elvis Costello - My Aim is True (1977)
Elton John - Empty Sky (1969)
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1970)
Heart - Dreamboat Annie (1976)
Jackson Browne - Saturate Before Using (1972)
Jefferson Airplane - Takes Off (1966)
Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced? (1967)
Joe Jackson - Look Sharp! (1979)
Kansas - Kansas (1974)
King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969)
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin I (1969)
Michael Hedges - Breakfast in the Field (1981)
Paul Carrack - Suburban Voodoo (1982)
Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life (1976)
Phil Collins - Face Value (1981)
Pink Floyd - The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (1967)
Pretenders - Pretenders (1979)
R.E.M. - Murmur (1983)
Steely Day - Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972)

Stephen Stills - Stephen Stills (1970)
Talk Talk - The Party’s Over (1982)
Talking Heads - Talking Heads: 77 (1977)
Tears for Fears - The Hurting (1983)
The Alarm - Declaration (1984)
The Allman Brothers Band - The Allman Brothers Band (1969)
The Cars - The Cars - (1978)
The Doobie Brothers - The Doobie Brothers (1971)
The Doors - The Doors (1967)
The Fixx - Shuttered Room (1982)
The James Gang - Yer’ Album (1969)
The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed (1967)

The Police - Outlandos d'Amour (1978)
The Producers - The Producers (1981)
The Sundays - Reading, Writing and Arithmetic (1990)
The Vapors - New Clear Days (1980)
The Who - My Generation (1965)
Three Dog Night - Three Dog Night (1968)
U2 - Boy (1980)
Van Morrison - Blowin' Your Mind! (1967)
Yes - Yes (1969)

Again, let me know some of your favorite debut album in a comment. More content coming soon.