The United Kingdom Faithfully Honors Rock Music
"There's a guy in my block, he lives for rock
He plays records day and night
And when he feels down he puts some rock 'n' roll on
And it makes him feel alright
And when he feels the world is closing in
He turns his stereo way up high
He just spends his life living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
He just spends his life living on the edge of reality
He just spends his life in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
He just spends his life living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
He just spends his life living on the edge of reality
He just spends his life in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
He just spends his life living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy"
"Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy" by Ray Davies of the Kinks
I just finished watching the UK Music Awards. So many of my favorite bands were honored on this show—The Who, Pink Floyd, The Kinks, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, and Bob Dylan.
I have decided to take those six bands/artists this week and give my favorite cuts (no more than two) and my favorite albums. Go out and celebrate the true gift our overseas cousins gave us and give these classic bands their due and a listen.
Jimi Hendrix—My favorite tracks are Voodoo Chile and Are You Experienced? Great fret work and an incredible sound. He makes a guitar moan for God’s sake! Best album—Are You Experienced? That was easy.
Bob Dylan—my favorite Dylan tracks are Subterranean Homesick Blues and Clean Cut Kid. Subterranean Homesick Blues is an obvious one, but Clean Cut Kid? I do not know why, but I love it. It reminds me of myself in youth. It is from the Empire Burlesque album—a highly underrated Dylan LP. Best Dylan album—has to be Blood On Tracks—arguably the best album made in the early to mid 1970s.
Black Sabbath—the best Heavy Metal band of all times. Paranoid and Am I Going Insane (Radio)? Are my favorite tracks—both minor hits. I give a nod to Volume IV, but Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is the best album in my opinion and probably their most “pop” oriented. Still, the heavy drone of Iron Man, War Pigs, Black Sabbath, Sweet Leaf, and Snowblind cannot be underscored. Even if you have a dislike for most metal, you have to admit Black Sabbath is an incredible band that truly made a genre.
The Kinks—I would safely argue one of the greatest bands ever from the UK. They are also, as noted in the Rolling Stones Record Guides, the most “British” of the British Invasion bands. My favorite tracks are You Really Got Me and Lola, but one can make arguments for a few dozen songs like Waterloo Sunset, Harry Rag, Village Green Preservation Society, All Of The Day and All Of The Night, Low Budget, Around the Dial, Destroyer, National Health, State of Confusion, Better Things, I’m Not like Everybody Else (my third favorite) and Sunny Afternoon. Simply put, a fantastic band. As far as an album, I would give a nod to Muswell Hillbillies, but their first You Really Got Me LP is a Mod/Punk Rock fan’s dream. Like the Jethro Tull blog, I will write my Kinks Tribute soon, as I agree with Pete Townshend of the Who, this group has been ignored for far too long.
Pink Floyd—Money and Pigs (from the Animal LP) are my favorite tracks and their best album by far is Dark Side of The Moon. Fantastic sounds, deep lyrics, and that production make this just about the best rock album ever made. Everything is perfect and as someone on the UK show noted, it is “a masterpiece.”
The Who—My all-time favorite band. Deciding on two tracks is like choosing between my cats. I will try. The first HAS to be Can’t Explain. Punky/Mod (in fact this song basically invented the genre of Mod with something for the punks to grab onto) and it is just infectious; this is nearly the perfect rock song. It just has this incredible sound. My next favorite track is probably Magic Bus (the LIVE version) from Live At Leeds. What incredible energy on this standout track. The WHO must be heard live—it is just one of those things. As far as the album, it has to be Who’s Next with such classic tracks as Baba O’Riley, Love Ain’t For Keeping, Won’t Get Fooled Again, Bargain, Getting In Tune, Behind Blue Eyes, and Going Mobile. This is, in my opinion, the GREATEST ROCK ALBUM EVER MADE, EVER!
My hats off to the UK selections of bands; it was a great show. Feel more than free to add your own choices if you desire.
He plays records day and night
And when he feels down he puts some rock 'n' roll on
And it makes him feel alright
And when he feels the world is closing in
He turns his stereo way up high
He just spends his life living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
He just spends his life living on the edge of reality
He just spends his life in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
He just spends his life living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
He just spends his life living on the edge of reality
He just spends his life in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
He just spends his life living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy"
"Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy" by Ray Davies of the Kinks
I just finished watching the UK Music Awards. So many of my favorite bands were honored on this show—The Who, Pink Floyd, The Kinks, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, and Bob Dylan.
I have decided to take those six bands/artists this week and give my favorite cuts (no more than two) and my favorite albums. Go out and celebrate the true gift our overseas cousins gave us and give these classic bands their due and a listen.
Jimi Hendrix—My favorite tracks are Voodoo Chile and Are You Experienced? Great fret work and an incredible sound. He makes a guitar moan for God’s sake! Best album—Are You Experienced? That was easy.
Bob Dylan—my favorite Dylan tracks are Subterranean Homesick Blues and Clean Cut Kid. Subterranean Homesick Blues is an obvious one, but Clean Cut Kid? I do not know why, but I love it. It reminds me of myself in youth. It is from the Empire Burlesque album—a highly underrated Dylan LP. Best Dylan album—has to be Blood On Tracks—arguably the best album made in the early to mid 1970s.
Black Sabbath—the best Heavy Metal band of all times. Paranoid and Am I Going Insane (Radio)? Are my favorite tracks—both minor hits. I give a nod to Volume IV, but Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is the best album in my opinion and probably their most “pop” oriented. Still, the heavy drone of Iron Man, War Pigs, Black Sabbath, Sweet Leaf, and Snowblind cannot be underscored. Even if you have a dislike for most metal, you have to admit Black Sabbath is an incredible band that truly made a genre.
The Kinks—I would safely argue one of the greatest bands ever from the UK. They are also, as noted in the Rolling Stones Record Guides, the most “British” of the British Invasion bands. My favorite tracks are You Really Got Me and Lola, but one can make arguments for a few dozen songs like Waterloo Sunset, Harry Rag, Village Green Preservation Society, All Of The Day and All Of The Night, Low Budget, Around the Dial, Destroyer, National Health, State of Confusion, Better Things, I’m Not like Everybody Else (my third favorite) and Sunny Afternoon. Simply put, a fantastic band. As far as an album, I would give a nod to Muswell Hillbillies, but their first You Really Got Me LP is a Mod/Punk Rock fan’s dream. Like the Jethro Tull blog, I will write my Kinks Tribute soon, as I agree with Pete Townshend of the Who, this group has been ignored for far too long.
Pink Floyd—Money and Pigs (from the Animal LP) are my favorite tracks and their best album by far is Dark Side of The Moon. Fantastic sounds, deep lyrics, and that production make this just about the best rock album ever made. Everything is perfect and as someone on the UK show noted, it is “a masterpiece.”
The Who—My all-time favorite band. Deciding on two tracks is like choosing between my cats. I will try. The first HAS to be Can’t Explain. Punky/Mod (in fact this song basically invented the genre of Mod with something for the punks to grab onto) and it is just infectious; this is nearly the perfect rock song. It just has this incredible sound. My next favorite track is probably Magic Bus (the LIVE version) from Live At Leeds. What incredible energy on this standout track. The WHO must be heard live—it is just one of those things. As far as the album, it has to be Who’s Next with such classic tracks as Baba O’Riley, Love Ain’t For Keeping, Won’t Get Fooled Again, Bargain, Getting In Tune, Behind Blue Eyes, and Going Mobile. This is, in my opinion, the GREATEST ROCK ALBUM EVER MADE, EVER!
My hats off to the UK selections of bands; it was a great show. Feel more than free to add your own choices if you desire.
posted by Eric Sweetwood at 9:38 AM
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