Saturday, November 29, 2014

P-Funk Best Tracks Poll

Haven't done one of these in awhile.  A poll on Parliament/Funkadelic (and solo, etc.).
Was eligible to list up to 100, but I stopped at a solid 40.

1.  Tear The Roof Off The Sucker - Parliament
2.  One Nation Under A Groove - Funkadelic
3.  Flashlight - Parliament
4.  Bootzilla - Bootsy's Rubber Band
5.  Atomic Dog - George Clinton
6.  Maggot Brain - Funkadelic
7.  P. Funk - Parliament
8.  I'd Rather Be With You - Bootsy's Rubber Band
9.  Cosmic Slop - Funkadelic
10.  Knee Deep - Funkadelic
11. Up For The Down Stroke - Parliament
12.  Standing On The Verge of Getting Down - Funkadelic
13.  Mothership Connection - Parliament
14.  Aah The Name Is Boosty Baby - Bootsy's Rubber Band
15.  Free Your Mind - Funkadelic
16.   Let's Take It To The Stage - Funkadelic
17.  Aqua Boogie - Parliament
18.  Chocolate City - Parliament 
19.  I Miss My Baby - Funkadelic
20.  Bop Gun - Parliament
21.  Funkentelechy - Parliament
22.  Hollywood Squares - Bootsy's Rubber Band
23.  California Dreamin' - Eddie Hazel
24.  Motor-Booty Affair - Parliament
25.  Agony of DeFeet - Parliament
26.  America Eats Its Young - Funkadelic
27.  Pinocchio Theory - Bootsy's Rubber Band
28.  Music For My Mother - Funkadelic
29.  Dr. Funkenstein - Parliament
30.  Rumpofsteelskin - Parliament
31.  Stretchin' Out - Bootsy's Rubber Band
32.  Can You Get To That - Funkadelic
33.  Pleasure Principle - Parlet
34.  Theme From The Black Hole - Parliament
35.  Who Says A Funk Band Can't Play Rock?  - Funkadelic
36.  Cholly - Funkadelic
37.  Disco To Go - Brides of Funkenstein
38.  Jam Fan - Bootsy's Rubber Band
39.  Hardcore Jollies - Funkadelic
40.  Munchies For Your Love - Bootsy's Rubber Band

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Playlist for 11/23

Jack Bruce - Songs for A Tailor
Taylor Swift - 1989
Rancid - Honor Is All We Know
Jessie Ware - Tough Love
Luke James - s/t
Yusuf - Tell 'Em I'm Gone

Thursday, November 20, 2014

2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Predictions

The first 6 names are the ones I'm predicting get in.  Unless they do something sneaky with one of my picks,, then the #7 will be my next pick.  Hey, maybe the Hall will finally go big and induct 7 names this year, plus do something with Nile Rodgers.

Again these are predictions, not my personal picks.

Here's a link to my own choices:
2015 Rock Hall Personal Picks

Top 6 listed in alphabetical order:

1..  Chic - If all the current Hall members that Nile Rodgers has worked with voted for him, Chic would be halfway there.  It's the other voters that could be the problem.

2. Green Day - There was a time in the late 90's when this wouldn't have been possible, but American Idiot changed all that. 

3.  Lou Reed - Maybe he would have gotten in anyway.  He was last nominated in 2001. 13 years is a long time, and the voting bloc has changed. But Death is his ticket this time.

4.  Sting - So hard to pick against his name recognition, and I've gone back and forth on this more than any other act.  But maybe, just maybe,  this is that rare moment when a solo act from a legendary group gets passed over. Happened twice to Lou Reed over a decade ago.

5.  Stevie Ray Vaughan - Lots of people wondering when he'd get nominated.  Can't see how he doesn't walk right in.  Unless there's voters who think Johnny Winter should be in this spot.  

6.  Bill Withers - Who doesn't love Bill Withers?   One of the best singer-songwriters of the 70's.  Look beyond his hit singles, those early albums are great.  

Runner-ups  (A note on these names.  Most of these rankings are ones I might as well have charted as ties.  I'd say all of these are pretty much bunched up.  Which means my #15 could just as well be tied with my #9.)

7.  Spinners - Not favoritism, but an honest pick. I actually think they have a chance this year. Maybe too much to ask for on their 2nd try, though.   Okay, a little bit of favoritism.    
                                                               
8.  Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - She had some great moments at the 2014 induction ceremony.  And lack of female nominees could also work in her favor.

9.  Marvelettes - Not sure if the Motown magic will rub off on them.  They are certainly the most underrated group from Motown's golden 60's.

10.   N.W.A. -  No matter how badly the NomCom wants them, I keep thinking they are always a few votes shy.

11.  Smiths - 80's Indie Rock legends.  Sold a lot of records in England, but in the U.S. they were more influential, rather than big sellers.

 12.  War -  Check out some of their early 70's albums to get an idea how original they were.  But most voters will probably think they only had a few good singles.

13.   Nine Inch Nails -  Probably have them too far down this list.  If voters like new names on the ballot, then Trent Reznor could pick up quite a few votes on his first try.

14.  Kraftwerk -  I'm always seeing quotes from current voters saying how much they like them.  But still don't think there's enough of those voters out there.

15.  Paul Butterfield Blues Band -  Don't know why the NomCom put them on the same ballot as Stevie Ray.   I hope they are doing better in the voting than my #15, though.  

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Personal Picks

These aren't my predictions, but my own choices.

Maybe we'll get lucky and the Hall will induct 7 names this year.  But usually they stop at 6.  Still, consider all names below #7 ones that just missed the cut.

I actually like all these artists, but some mean more to me than others.

Here's a link for my predictions:
2015 Rock Hall Predictions

My personal picks:

1.  Spinners - My favorite R&B vocal group of the 70's.  But everyone knows that by now.

2.  Chic - Oh, how I'd love to see the anti-Disco voters bow to Nile Rodgers & Co.

3.  Stevie Ray Vaughan - He had to wait while Albert & Freddie King got inducted.  But he's finally here.

4.  Smiths - The best British Indie-Rock band of the 80's.  Maybe the best Indie-Rock band of the 80's.

5.  War - Nominated for the 3rd  time.  Not sure why they don't get more respect.  There 70's singles & albums cut a pretty powerful rhythm on the charts.

6.  Bill Withers - You know the hits.  Now go back and listen to the rest of his catalog. Especially the early 70's albums.

7.  Marvelettes -  I know some will say they are only getting nominated because of the Motown magic.  But they were one of the best girl groups of the 60's.

8.  Paul Butterfield Blues Band -  Listened to their first 2 albums quite a lot this year, and can finally hear what made them so special.  If you've overlooked them, I suggest going back to those records to hear what made them so unique.

9.  Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - Gave the Top 40 in the 80's  a great blast of girl power punk.

10.  Green Day -  Does anyone think they are one of the great Rock bands of all time?   Lots of good songs and one great album, Dookie.  Still better than most bands that came out of the 90's

11.   Kraftwerk - Their electronic dance sounds have grown, not just on me, but on an entire EDM generation.

12.  N.W.A.  -  Maybe they were more influential for the way they changed the Rap landscape than they are for their own music?

13,  Nine Inch Nails - Never wholly bought Trent Reznor's pain.  Even if I did like some of the sounds that went with it.

14.  Lou Reed - Neither death nor the decade since he was last nominated has changed my opinion that his solo years aren't Hall worthy.

15.  Sting -  I bet even he doesn't think his solo career is Hall caliber. Wait, this is Sting we're talking about.  I take that back.

Friday, November 07, 2014

Fave TV Shows (Fall 2014 Updated)

Shows I watch, updated for the Fall 2014 season.

Listed in random order:

Walking Dead
Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown
Portlandia
Louie
Justified
Little Couple
Game of Thrones
Shameless
Episodes
Parks and Recreation
Saturday Night Live
Homeland
Sherlock 
Falling Skies
Lilyhammer
Orange Is The New Black
House of Cards
House of Lies
Veep
Girls
Episodes
New Girl
Raising Hope
Glee
American Idol
The Voice
So You Think You Can Dance
American Pickers
Little Couple
Silicon Valley
In The Flesh
Whitechapel
Strike Back
Americans
Hell on Wheels
Real Time with Bill Maher
Mad Men
Rectify
Moone Boy
Lilyhammer
The Fall
Orange Is The New Black
Ray Donovan
Masters of Sex
30 for 30
Key & Peele
Silicon Valley
Derek
Sleepy Hollow
Newsroom
POV
Frontline
Nova
How We Got To Now
Independent Lens
Dan Rather Reports
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel
Banshee
Ripper Street
Vikings
Orphan Black
New Girl
Mindy Project
Girls
Looking
Da Vinci's Demons
Red Sails
Veep
Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Conan
Late Show with David Letterman
60 Minutes Sports on Showtime
Maron
Broadchurch
Vice
Knick
Affair
Flash
Outlander
Please Like Me
Transparent
Alpha House

Wednesday, November 05, 2014

Playlist for 11/5

Neil Diamond - Melody Road
Bob Seger  - Ride Out
Jerry Lee Lewis - Rock & Roll Time/Knox Phillips Sessions
Aretha Franklin - Sings The Great Diva Classics
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