Hey! Love your videos. American here--I am a massive Cardiacs fan since finding them in 2019 from the Tantacrul video, and now they are one of my all-time top 3 musical artists. Anyway, that algorithm'd me to your channel, which I really enjoy. Just wanted to let you know, you have blown my mind with the Baggy Trousers recommendation. In the States (as you perhaps know), Madness was a one-hit wonder with Our House. There was simply no awareness of their body of work. Now I'm listening to Baggy Trousers and plan to dig into their discography, starting with "Rise and Fall" (never even released in the U.S.), based on your interview with Jon Poole. Anyway, just wanted to thank you for doing the great work of helping people find music that they will truly love, but have not yet discovered because of quirks of personal or cultural history. Cheers! Aaron
I heard Jimmy Webb tell the story of "Wichita Lineman" in an interview once. Glen Campbell had become a very big star, with a popular TV show, and he had just had a hit with Webb's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," suddenly elevating the songwriter out of the obscurity he'd been working in. Campbell asked him to write another song specifically for him. This was a make-or-break opportunity, so Webb got to work to try to craft his very best song. He'd had an idea about a lineman missing his love and meditating on the long-distance conversations being carried on the phone lines he was working on.. He'd been fussing with it for some time and Campbell had been calling him every couple of days asking how it was coming. Webb wanted him to know he was taking his request seriously, so he sent him a letter explaining what he was working on with a draft of what he had so far. A couple of days later, the two ran into each other and Jimmy told Glenn that the song was coming along really well. Glenn said, "Oh yeah, Wichita Lineman! It's great! We recorded it yesterday!" "But it's not finished," said Webb. "It is now!" replied Campbell.
Great list Andy! It's interesting that you and others have mentioned that your list could change at any time and this is your favourite 10 today, as my 10 have pretty much been the same for the last 15 years or so, not sure what that says about me. 1. Paranoid Android - Radiohead - my favourite band doing my favourite song containing my favourite guitar solo off my favourite album; just brilliant in every way. 2. 21st Century Schizoid Man - King Crimson - As heavy as early prog got, great riff, solos, and is even improved in the early 70's live versions 3. Third Eye - Tool - great dynamics, masterful ebb and flow, a trip 4. Anyway Anyhow Anywhere - The Who - An ode to freedom and looking to do or go somewhere new, great drumming and feedback solo (especially live) 5. One - Metallica - the greatest heavy metal song, the build up, the super heavy bit, the solo, the dark lyrics (and unsettling music video) 6. Fools Gold - The Stone Roses - the greatest groove, funky beyond belief, great guitar solo 7. Bullet The Blue Sky - U2 - another great groove/beat, cool feedback use, ominous atmosphere 8. Astronomy Domine - Pink Floyd - cool psychedelic classic, the drumming, guitar and vocals all perfect psych 9. Manic Depression - Jimi Hendrix - such a cool beat, great guitar (of course) and solo 10. Tomorrow Never Knows - The Beatles - another cool beat, and a lot of neat tricks in this one, my favourite of The Beatles psych songs
I don't love or even like all the songs on the list (except fot the last 3) but I LOVE what the list represents and how you articulated it. Great video and looking forward to the lists of singers.
Wonderful Video Andy. So much more than a top ten list. I have nothing but respect for your leaning towards great songs that are not only great but also have historical and cultural importance. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Nice list Andy, and I agree with your premise/parameters. Mine (based on song itself/songwriting) would be this list below. The order of this listing is unimportant: And You and I (Jon Anderson/Bill Bruford/Chris Squire/Steve Howe) - Yes 1972 Autumn Leaves (Joseph Kosma/Johnny Mercer/Jaques Prevert) - Eva Cassidy 1998 Close to the Edge (Jon Anderson / Steve Howe) - Yes 1972 Netherlands (Dan Fogelberg) - Dan Fogelberg 1977 Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb) - Johnny Cash 2002 Roads to Moscow (Al Stewart) - Al Stewart 1973 If It Be Your WIll (Leonard Cohen) - Leonard Cohen 1984 The Rain Song (Jimmy Page / Robert Plant) - Led Zeppelin - 1973 The Gates of Delerium (Yes) - Yes 1974 A Day In the Life (Jon Lennon / Paul McCartney) - The Beatles 1967
Just commenting to help the channel, don't know what to say! I love your style, I hope the new content doesn't lose this charm. Your delivery is informative, cheeky, spontaneous, spiritual
10. Dirty Boy - Cardiacs 09. Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden 08. Ghosts - Japan 07. Hang on to a Dream - Tim Hardin 06. Little Green - Joni Mitchell 05. Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell 04. Embraceable You - Ella Fitzgerald 03. Nature Boy - Eden Arbez 02. St. James Infirmary - Louis Armstrong 01. Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday
That one artist was actually known as "Eden Ahbez." You're close enough for it to be clear who you're referring to, though! BTW, there is footage on TH-cam of him appearing on TV if you're curious.
Great stuff Andy. You're a scream. 😂😂😂😂. Love the harry casual style of your channel. Love your passion, and quite liked the way you brought some politics into a previous show. Europe and the UK are heading down a slippery slope towards fascism. Hope it changes soon. I've been watching Beato for a few years. Great channel. His huge fan base could get you some new punters. Worth a try. I'm always in a good mood after watching your channel. Ta very much.
A very personal choice mate. Here's mine ( which is always subject to change😁) In no particular order: Sting- Fragile Noel Gallagher- Council Skies Glen Campbell-Witchita Lineman The Beatles-Eleanor Rigby Shirley Bassey-The Fool on the hill The Carpenters-Superstar Procol Harum - A Whiter shade of Pale Sam Fender- Spit of you Genesis - I know what I like ( my gateway to prog!) Kate Bush - The Man with the child in his eyes. A close 11 is Japan - Ghosts 👍
My top 10: (And as a Beatle-maniac, I'm going to challenge myself and disqualify any tunes by The Fabs). - Stayin Alive, Bee Gees - Wanna Be Startin Something, Michael Jackson - Bad, U2 - She Drives Me Crazy, Fine Young Cannibals - There's No Other Way, Blur - Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana - Superwise, Goodness (Post-grunge Seattle band. Look them up.) - Jesus Etc., Wilco - Belated Promise Ring, Iron and Wine - Black Ballerina, Ariel Pink
Andy, I'll tell you a personal story about Dirty Boy. I've loved Sing to God for many years. The day after Tim Smith's passing, I'm sitting in my office in the evening. I was unaware that he had left us, but thankfully TH-cam's fancy algorithm had decided that Dirty Boy should be on my front page that night. I had my studio headphones on, and thought, sure why not have a listen? Little did I know what I was in for.. From the start, the song kind of set you straight in a strange mood, but it's when the singing comes in, that the process of taking you to heaven starts. It's a process that does not end for about 9 minutes. But it's not really heaven we end up in either, is it? It's somewhere else. Somewhere different, and nice, and warm, and weird! For 9 minutes, Tim had me in his grip, on this spaceship that was driving at full speed somewhere deep into space, to a place that no-one has ever gone before. For each minute that passed, my jaw dropped further and further down, and my mood shifted into this strange mix of sadness, curiosity, melancoly, and HOPE! With that magnificent cover shining at my face in all its glory, I was trying to picture Tim's mind. I saw a giant universe of stars and galaxies, and all the fantastically weird ideas popping in and out of existence. The ideas being there solely for Tim's grabbing, which he then would pull out, and give birth to in "our" world of mortals. The song felt as a warm good-bye, and as it was hitting its high peak, and I DO mean its high peak, I was left crying and in awe to this man with his beautiful musical mind. I was in a mind state I've never been before, and I can not even try to describe it. If there was a drug that would make me feel this way again, I'd take it every single day. After the song ended, I was just sitting there in silence, processing all these feelings and impressions. I finally read the first video comment, which said something like "RIP Tim". I'm not a spiritual guy, but I have no rational explanation of why this happened to me on the following day that he died. It had never happened before, or since, and it's an experience I will take with me until I die. Rest in peace, Tim.
Yes, Dirty Boy seems to have a big impact on people! It’s like the rock epic I was waiting for without realising it. Left me in a mess the first time too.
Andy - I had never heard Once In A Lifetime before! What an unbelievable song! Nostalgia, the passing of time and the more things changing remaining the same, in one song! Looking back at your story over years, at moments you thought forgotten, and that in 20 years this moment might be one of them!! Amazing!
Another compelling video Andy. I didn't go as far back as you but such fab choices on there. Cardiacs, Soundgarden, Japan, Joni, Glen Campbell. I heard Strange Fruit (and the story behind it) on a Marcus Miller album. Fantastic songs all round and as always there is a couple I need to check out. Best regards MT
Your #1 is such an incredible song!! On another level for sure. Billie was one of the all time greatest singers ever. Period. Very cool and diverse list Andy 👍
My favourite song is - Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun by Pink Floyd, 14th century Chinese poetry set to amazing rock music.........always loved it.
Wouldn't it be nice if it made the top ten. When I get around to doing this again I will do it again and wipe out one of my choices and put it in at 409
Andy, you have a deep knowledge of music and musicios. I love your channel and always look forward to new concepts and new insights of the music I love. Don`t concern yourself with Rick Beato. His channel is excellent and so is Pete Pardo`s. You are making a unique forum for Andy.( P.S. ever thought about teaching ... ha ha )
I am so delighted that I agree with you about the greatness of Ella, Joni as incomparably beautiful, the importance of Louis, but your Strange #1 is brilliant. Billy Holiday brings all the power to the greatest song of the 20th century. All the brutal reality is encapsulated in the soul of Ms. Holiday. Brilliant!
Wonderful video. I look at "Strange Fruit" as you do but also, in a wistful way. I grew up on her 1930's Columbia recordings. After "Strange Fruit" she became a torch singer. ( "Yesterdays", also on the Commodore label, is amazing.) She would rarely have the same bouyancy. She sang "Solitude" on Columbia, which was a precursor and she always had a blues tinge, of course. But I just loved that early voice.
looking particularly Trotskyesque today Andy. Nice list. Given your focus on songs lately. Have you listened to Fred Neil? Most know him as the composer of Everybody's Talkin, but he was a great singer too. Check out Little Bit of Rain, Merry Go Round, Look over Yonder, and his own Everyone's Talkin. His bluesy rendition of Merry Go Round is absolutely incredible on The Many Sides of Fred Neil
That Rick Beato sorta running joke made my day ;-) Beautiful video, by the way. I love the fact that we’re traveling from punk to 30’s jazz at the blink of an eye. Great cultural span.
Happy New Year Andy! And the best in 2023! It seems to me that you’re off to a great start. I enjoyed the 60 Prog Album series and I totally agree with your conclusion episode. By the way, the first time that I heard the Singularity album by Rain I got goose bumps (that’s the first time that’s happened in about 20 years). I listen to the album daily on Spotify, usually before bed using headphones. I have shared it with some of my musician and prog friends. It’s a superb album with superb musicianship. Your drumming is the glue that holds the whole thing together, fantastic job. I could say a lot more about the album, but I don’t want to bore you with another one of my essays. Thanks for the Joni Mitchell blurb on this episode, she is respected and admired by many musicians, but I fear that she is not understood by the general music listening public. So, any exposure that she gets, is certainly appreciated by me and others that admire her work. Keep up the great work! Jack G (from Canada)
very good about cardiacs - nothing can replace their healing qualities of making a man happy...and all the related bands around the artists, are amazing!!! keep on the good path,.
Great idea. It helps to define the direction of your commentary. Of anyone’s commentary. A counter argument would aim to define a narrower frame of reference for the list. Also, to suggest that to pick 10 is enough; and to construct a ranking order after that is a distraction (why not present them chronologically instead?). The history that I reference in my record collection is a blend of my own lifetime and the history of developments in the recording industry. The first is unavoidable. I would have to be a professional critic of recorded music to go through the time, effort and personal development, required to distance myself from my own life experience. Here, you have a special niche as a musician with a trained ear. Obviously, you can listen and hear in the music things that I cannot. I appreciate that through my own ‘trained eye’: I can look at art and appreciate things people who love Monet (etc.) just cannot. However, the second ‘the history of the recording of sound’, its sale and promotion, brings us both right up to the hearth where we can have a few moments of intense discussion together. More or less on equal footing. The history of recorded music is pretty intense, as we can witness living through the emergence of the LP (Elvis Presley 1956); the CD (Brothers in Arms or Tripping the Life Fantastic); and streaming (I don’t have a single ‘streamed’ song, I just borrow CDs from the library). Armstrong, Holiday, are not on the mainstream owing to the fact that the recording was done much too early to capture the full essence of their performance. They also belong to another gengre: Jazz. And I argue (with Northrop Frye) that we must ‘separate where we cannot divide.’ We can reach back to Louis Armstrong as an innovator in records; Ella dn Billie; or Frank Sinatra; but this is research. Their product will not pass the test of dropping down the needle in the groove and producing a sound that is instantly recognizable to music fans and aficionados. Of course it also fails the test of being created during the 1955-1990 period when the album reigned supreme; it was radio and not videos that were promoting the music (for better and for worse); and we did not have the wide open field for experimentation we have today. So here is a list of 20 as a suggestion (getting down to 10 would require a second pass, and a close listen, but is suggested with asterisks): Heartbeat - 1958 *Like a Rolling Stone - 1965 Whipped Cream - 1965 Good Vibrations - 1966 *Hey Jude - 1968 *Here Comes the Sun - 1969 Space Oddity - 1969 *You Can’t Always Get What You Want - 1969 *Bridge Over Troubled Water - 1970 Me and Bobby McGee - 1971 *Carey - 1971 *Stairway to Heaven - 1971 *Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - 1974 *Thunder Road - 1975 Bohemian Rhapsody - 1975 Sweet Caroline/Beautiful Noise - 1969/1976 *Go Your Own Way - 1976 Hotel California - 1977 *Skateaway - 1980 Unknown Legend- 1993 (Four Strong Winds; After the Gold Rush; Heart of Gold; Powderfinger) On the list, in some cases, other songs by the same artist are included, suggesting the need to dig a little deeper. Are we looking for an early or late work, for example? The strike of lightning, or the fruit of maturation? Chronologically, I’ve broken out a 10-year period that seems to dominate the list. From a personal perspective, it brakets with my high school years (1971-1976). However, from the perspective of the music industry, it represents the period where recording techniques matured (best seen by listening to live albums from the same period). And before the studio took over, with multi-tracking to the nth degree, synthetic sounds, and digital. It’s not a definitive list. It’s just a work in progress triggered by your work on this site. PS Some notable exclusions: Bob Seger, Boz Scaggs, Michael Jackson, Eurhythmics, CCR, The Who, Billy Joel, Steely Dan, Hendrix …
The only song on the list that I know is Tim Hardin's, but I know of some of the other singers. I half expected Jeff Buckley with Hallelujah on the list, as that is incredible. I love the way you talk about these songs with such clear and passion, Andy. Great video again.
Great video Andy. Thank you....I remember the Soundgarden tune but will obviously have to listen again along with a couple of others. Also I have one for you......I have no idea if you would know this song, but if not please seek it out. It has the stature of Strange Fruit, Nature Boy, Song to the Siren and Wild is the Wind, and is likewise a bit 'spooked' just like those songs. It sounds like a shamanistic ritual is being performed, it's lyrics deal with a strange transfiguration towards hope from murky/ambiguous events of the past with some added local colour, it has drums/percussion off the charts (tight? loose?), the arrangement is sublime, it is sung by two absolute legends of Brazilian music.....oh yeah....and it's totally prog: O Que Foi Feito Devera---Elis Regina and Milton Nascimento (1978). Number one on my list.
Amazing list Andy. Just love that you had the Cardiacs on it. I think Dirty Boy is my number one, it starts full on at 100% and keep building upwards from there. Ghost by Japan is brilliant.
Looking forward to Sing To God special. My list today would be: Everso Closely Guarded Line - Cardiacs Koeeoaddi There - ISB Deacon Blues - Steely Dan Eleanor Rigby - Beatles Reasons For Waiting- Tull The Man I Love - Ella Kalimankou Dankou - Mystere Des Voix Bulgares The Trees They Do Grow High - Martin Carthy Worker’s Song - Dick Gaughan Anecdotes - Joanna Newsom
Loved this, great choices. Can't really argue with the number one. Nice surprise to see Ghosts in there, I kind of dismissed Japan at the time (they were very popular with girls) but rediscovering them now and I'd say this is probabaly their best song. More great work, I'd discovering lots of new music, thanks Andy
This is such a unique, heartfelt, and surprising compilation. Thank you for sharing these particular choices. I appreciate your inclusion of Ella, whose 'Angel Eyes' is also amazing, and for me, the best is 'The Nearness of You', which is an archetype of love, with a beautiful ambiguity between romantic and spiritual love. Ella seems unique in her ability to render tenderness, and her technique is tuned to this emotion. I was surprised and touched by your choice of 'Wichita Lineman' also. It has resonance for my generation I guess. Did not know about the Cardiacs and Japan but they are both very interesting, I got the grand hymn vibe from 'Dirty Boy' and the Bryan Ferry trill from 'Ghost', and had completely forgotten about Tim Hardin, who makes me wonder what your thoughts are about the sad poet types of the seventies like Scott Walker and Nick Drake. 'Chime of a City Clock', 'Northern Sky', and 'Saturday Sun', and many others are so great. Looks like I have to make my own list. Cheers and Happy New Year!
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer 30th century man is great and almost everything on Scott 4. Great career. But Nick Drake is special. Every album is perfect and otherworldly for me. Regards and Thanks for your work.
A list of favorites off the top of my head: Billie Holiday: Strange Fruit Bob Dylan: It's All Right Ma, I'm Only Bleeding The Clash: Complete Control Otis Redding: Cigarettes And Coffee Public Enemy: Bring The Noise Van Morrison: Into The Mystic Aaron Neville: Tell It Like It Is PJ Harvey: Man-Size Sex Pistols: Holidays In The Sun Marvin Gaye: Inner City Blues Mighty Diamonds: Tamarind Farm Joni Mitchell: Carey Tracy Chapman: Fast Car
I'm a Cardiacs fan. Love to be on your video explaining why I love'm so much. Songs for Ships and Irons is the album I like best even though it's a combination of two mini albums. I'm a Can super fan as well. Love to talk more aboit Can. Really great band.
Great choice. May I make one correction? You have selected the Ella Fitzgerald version of Embraceable You and rightly praise the arrangement by Nelson Riddle. This was included in the five 12 inch vinyl 1959 Verve release Ella Fitzgerald Sings The George And Ira Gershwin Songbook. The album cover that illustrates your selection is of the one 10 inch 1950 Decca/Brunswick release Ella Sings Gershwin on which she was accompanied by solo pianist Ellis Larkins. Although the album includes some lesser known Gershwin compositions such as Looking For A Boy, Maybe and Soon, it does not include Embraceable You.
Just found your channel. Love the vids, thanks 👍 When Wichita Lineman got a mention I had to comment. Fantastic song. By the time I get to Phoenix has similar pull - lyrics, voice, melody. Emotional combo.
I prefer your conversational style to the so-called “professional” channels, it’s almost like you’re having a chat with friends and often only reaching a conclusion at the end of the video. This is enhanced by the fact that you don’t look directly at the camera, so you never come across as lecturing your viewers. Please don’t change.
Top marks Andy you are a brave man. I have endured ridicule in the past for my unapologetic love of Japan. Ghost is indeed a beautiful haunted piece of music.
Strange Fruit is an amazing song. I was thinking about that song earlier today. I could quibble about your list. But it's hard to argue that Strange Fruit is not one of the most important songs of the 20th century. Really a chilling tune, particularly for someone like me from the American south. You mentioned Autumn in NY at the end of your list. Also an amazing song.... I also like How Deep is the Ocean, particularly the Diana Krall version. Interestingly, I think Rick Beato put out a video today saying that Wichita Lineman is the greatest country song. LOL Jimmy Webb was a helluva songwriter. There are so many great songs that I could not possible pare a list down to 10.
another great, great video - thanks Andy. maybe i'm misremembering, but i seem to recall someone from Napalm Death with a Cardiacs t-shirt on - many years ago. apologies to all if i've got this wrong!
Great vid Andy. Even if I could pick ten it would be changing every week/month/whatever. So, great job in pinning it down to ten for a vid. Specifically five of those tracks I would consider truly great songs, the others I’ve either not heard or not heard more than once so couldn’t evaluate in fairness. I’m starting to get a sense of what you consider to be a ‘ song’ as opposed to perhaps a ‘piece of music’ or track or whatnot. Given what I perceive to be your criteria I would have to say that a perfect example of brilliant composition/lyricism/performance,( despite it being butchered on many tv talent show), would be ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ sung by Judy Garland. Your consistent high standard continues 👍
Top 10 Favorite Songs Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen Imagine - John Lennon American Pie - Don McLean Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel A Day In The Life - The Beatles Blackbird - The Beatles Dust In The Wind - Kansas God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
Andy, how did I get to 59 without ever hearing the Cardiacs? I can not stop listening to Is This The Life. I feel that I have missed out. Thank you so much
Andy, the more dishevelled your hair, the more apparent your genius. I don't know most of these songs, but your brilliance forces me to accept your words as truth. My Top 10 includes Stairway, Hotel California (bloody Eagles...), I Am The Walrus, Werewolves of London, Mr Blue Sky, Comfortably Numb, God Part 2, Satisfaction (Devo), Magic Man and The Biggest Ball Of Twine In Minnesota. I am now ashamed at the narrowness of my list.
Right, it's off to the Big One after this video! Many thanks. p.s. I spent an evening listening to your video plus each of the songs on the list. As a result, I appreciated some music I would normally have passed over.
Superb review - It's really refreshing and heartening for a musician (and what I've seen, a brilliant one) to recognize how essential lyrics are. He's right, it's all about the song and in the conveying of it's meaning. Poetic and philosophical stuff
Well, that was deep and emotional! Choosing favourites is always a journey - and, on any given day (or maybe any given moment), it might go in a different direction. The sad personal stories behind most of your choices, and those singing them, say a lot about the pain that often goes into making a great song. I think my top song would be Jeff Buckley’s Hallelujah, but all of your choices would be up there, too. We’re so lucky that there are people writing and performing these amazing songs!
Having just shared your video with a friend, it was good to hear your final 6 top songs again. I need to explore your first 4, however. Now two questions from a confessed fanatic of Genesis and also Philip Collins. One: What do you think of Phil's song "Please Don't Ask"? Two: Do you have a handle on Peter Gabriel's lyrics to Genesis' album "A Lamb Lies Down on Broadway"?
Great to see Tim Hardin hasn't been completely forgotten, brilliant writer "Reason to Believe", "Hang on to a Dream", "Red Balloon" have been covered almost as much as "If I were a Carpenter" by people as varied as Rod Stewart, The Nice, Small Faces, Bobby Darin and his influence on Led Zeppelin is all over "Your Time is Gonna Come", "Thank You", "That's The Way" and "Going to California".
This list made me head back to my fathers records... Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday... I revisited strange fruit now... and man I think I'll have to agree with you.. combining the powerful lyrics with her backstory is one hell of an emotional punch... for me personally gives an additional response as my father was a bad man but with a very tragic backstory of his own.
That's crazy that Tim Hardin played with Can! I've got to find a copy of one of those bootlegs. I guess you must be familiar with the Nice's cover of "Hang on to a Dream."
WoW! Strange Fruit Whodda thunk? but who can really argue? As for those pholks agreeing with you on any of these things...top notch. Must be time to listen to my fave current band, The Hu.
Great work (again) Andy! I won't quibble with your list - as you state, it's YOUR preference that's being reported. In my top 10 list, I'd include a few alternatives; anything by Laurie Anderson (I'd narrow that down to O'Superman, or Strange Angels), anything by Rickie Lee Jones (but, how about "Last Chance Texaco" to start), "Long Neck Bottles" by Captain Beefheart and "Mississippi Goddamn" by Nina Simone. Anyway, I'm all-in on your videos! PS - How about a "History of Jazz Fusion" as a compliment to your Prog series?
Andy I have to thank you once again for I didn’t know Strange Fruit, thank you my friend. Coltrane has a few versions of Nature Boy, the first version in the album The John Coltrane Quartet Plays… (freaking long title that album has) is my all time favourite, sure you know it but if not just try it I’m sure you will appreciate it cheers 🙏❤️🌈
Come on Andy, ten minutes in and no offer on the Edward's Book? Love how you are not Rick Beato, I find him hard work and, as a teacher, not always a great educator. As a teacher, I want to share the joy, not show off my knowledge. More natural hair too 🤣 Thank you for sharing the joy Andy.
That is a strange list of favs , Glad you had the awareness to include "Wichita Lineman" ..which I consider the best song of All time ... yes these lists are always subjective , I would suggest (Whole of the Moon ) Waterboys , Timeless-Rick Derringer, Love of the Common man-Todd Rundgren, Baby Blue - Badfinger, Josie- Steely Dan, Alex Chilton- The Replacements, I am the luckiest - Ben Folds,
You picked it. My favourite songs are generally uplifting, transcendent and spiritual, whether you believe in God or not, that speak to love, selflessness, hope, freedom and unity. So, Amazing Grace,Auld Lang Syne, Summertime, The Man I Love, Singing in the Rain, Sinnerman (Nina Simone), Brown Earth (Laura Nyro), Stoned Soul Picnic (Laura Nyro), Woodstock (Joni Mitchell). Joni uses going to the festival as a metaphor for a spiritual quest, an idea she may have gotten from Stoned Soul Picnic because she uses some of Nyro's lyrical ideas, golden, dust, nature, God. Song to the Siren, Tim Buckley live on the Monkees show. Yep, Tim Hardin is great. Also try David Blue, Judee Sill, David Ackles (Montana Song, epic very complex).
Music for me above all is Harmony-Melody and Emotions. So a song that brings me all that, a song with vocals but no lyrics, my absolute favorite, is... "THE GREAT GIG IN THE SKY" by Richard Wright (music) and Clare Torry (vocals). Some other Great Songs that i like... YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS YOUNG - Shirley Bassey THE WAY WE WERE - Barbra Streisand OH MOTHER AND OH SISTER MINE - Manos Hadjidakis (composer) YOUR BLUE LETTERS - George Hadjinasios (composer) FROM SOUVENIRS TO SOUVENIRS - Demis Roussos AUTUMN LEAVES - Nat King Cole ALL BY MYSELF - Eric Carmen ( based on the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff from his second Piano Concerto - Part II) and many more...
Great video I think when choosing a personal list of top songs all logic and reason goes out the window It’s got to be song from a time and place in your life Everyone could fill up lists with Beatles , Dylan , Hoagy Carmichael , Elvis Costello etc. so why is it that Jeff and Tim Buckley , Fred Neil and the likes fill the comments ? I am not throwing out a list but I will put forth 2 songs that make my Dest Island list West One ( Shine on Me ) The Ruts Stay with Me : Lorraine Ellison Why ? not saying but that’s what makes music so wonderful
Fascinating. My list would be completely different, but I know its similar to friends of mine who are also music obsessed. My friend said to me "all great songs contain a feeling of YEARNING" and to me, that's exactly right. My fave song will always be Ashes to Ashes by David Bowie. How's that for yearning. His song was Tracks of My Tears and I like that, too.
9:40 Andy, when you talk about the grunge-rock era of the late 80s-early 90s, did you notice the band King's X and their album Gretchen Goes To Nebraska 1989. I bought a copy back then and what an album! Certainly on par with Soundgarden and much better than Nirvana
There is a well known group among the psychedelic circles, called Gandalf, that issued one great record containing versions of two of the songs of the list, well worth listening to.
Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice and Chains were not grunge music, they were more like serious classically trained musicians or metal folk music as I call it. The Grunge sound was 3 chord punk bands by artists like Tad. Skin Yard, Melvins, Mud Honey, Nirvana, and Bam Bam.
Nice to see Ghosts on there amongst other more established classics. Also nice that you avoided the big artists with cliched choices like Stairway to Heaven.
I think the most important song ever, which really has all music history in 1 perfect song is Summertime. There are great great versions of it. Louis and Ella, Janis, Love Sculpture, and more. It's the single most important song in the 20th centrury. IMHO. But.... A great list. Super interesting, compelling and deep. Brilliant, lovely, dunn... See ya on ya next video, bye.
There is a wonderful version on the debut album of Dutch band Brainbox, the band Jan Akkerman was in before joining Focus. They also did a great version of Scarborough Fair on that album.
Supper's Ready - too obvious. Be Bop Deluxe Crying To The Sky. Gentle Giant Memories of Old Days. Wilco Impossible Germany. Jorma Kaukamen's song Genesis. These list changes all the time...
"Crying to the sky Weeping like a silver fountain..." Be Bop and Bill are sooo underrated. Wait, it's the internet! They are "criminally under rated!" 🙂
Since you mentioned Be Bop Deluxe, I always thought Maid in Heaven was as close to a perfect song as possible - blistering playing, hummable melody... does so much but doesn't outstay its welcome.
Thabks for adding Once in a lifetime
Hey! Love your videos. American here--I am a massive Cardiacs fan since finding them in 2019 from the Tantacrul video, and now they are one of my all-time top 3 musical artists. Anyway, that algorithm'd me to your channel, which I really enjoy.
Just wanted to let you know, you have blown my mind with the Baggy Trousers recommendation. In the States (as you perhaps know), Madness was a one-hit wonder with Our House. There was simply no awareness of their body of work. Now I'm listening to Baggy Trousers and plan to dig into their discography, starting with "Rise and Fall" (never even released in the U.S.), based on your interview with Jon Poole.
Anyway, just wanted to thank you for doing the great work of helping people find music that they will truly love, but have not yet discovered because of quirks of personal or cultural history.
Cheers!
Aaron
I heard Jimmy Webb tell the story of "Wichita Lineman" in an interview once. Glen Campbell had become a very big star, with a popular TV show, and he had just had a hit with Webb's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," suddenly elevating the songwriter out of the obscurity he'd been working in. Campbell asked him to write another song specifically for him. This was a make-or-break opportunity, so Webb got to work to try to craft his very best song. He'd had an idea about a lineman missing his love and meditating on the long-distance conversations being carried on the phone lines he was working on.. He'd been fussing with it for some time and Campbell had been calling him every couple of days asking how it was coming. Webb wanted him to know he was taking his request seriously, so he sent him a letter explaining what he was working on with a draft of what he had so far. A couple of days later, the two ran into each other and Jimmy told Glenn that the song was coming along really well. Glenn said, "Oh yeah, Wichita Lineman! It's great! We recorded it yesterday!" "But it's not finished," said Webb. "It is now!" replied Campbell.
In his book, Tunesmith, Jimmy says he still agonizes over the approximate rhyme of time -- line. With Sondheim, one of my favorite composer/lyricists.
The verse where the bass gets the tune was intended as a temporary fill. (Hardly an obscure fact but somebody out there might not have heard it.)
If I ever hear a cover of Strange Fruit where the singer goes for 'pastORal' in the newish shit way, I'll fall into spasm.
Ghosts by Japan is world-stopping great. I go back to it all the time and I'm still in awe of it.
Thank you Andy, great video. At 62, I have so much to learn.
I had to pause your video right off the top to listen to Dirty Boy. What a great song!
Great list Andy! It's interesting that you and others have mentioned that your list could change at any time and this is your favourite 10 today, as my 10 have pretty much been the same for the last 15 years or so, not sure what that says about me.
1. Paranoid Android - Radiohead - my favourite band doing my favourite song containing my favourite guitar solo off my favourite album; just brilliant in every way.
2. 21st Century Schizoid Man - King Crimson - As heavy as early prog got, great riff, solos, and is even improved in the early 70's live versions
3. Third Eye - Tool - great dynamics, masterful ebb and flow, a trip
4. Anyway Anyhow Anywhere - The Who - An ode to freedom and looking to do or go somewhere new, great drumming and feedback solo (especially live)
5. One - Metallica - the greatest heavy metal song, the build up, the super heavy bit, the solo, the dark lyrics (and unsettling music video)
6. Fools Gold - The Stone Roses - the greatest groove, funky beyond belief, great guitar solo
7. Bullet The Blue Sky - U2 - another great groove/beat, cool feedback use, ominous atmosphere
8. Astronomy Domine - Pink Floyd - cool psychedelic classic, the drumming, guitar and vocals all perfect psych
9. Manic Depression - Jimi Hendrix - such a cool beat, great guitar (of course) and solo
10. Tomorrow Never Knows - The Beatles - another cool beat, and a lot of neat tricks in this one, my favourite of The Beatles psych songs
Fools Gold…long time personal favorite. Nice choice.
I don't love or even like all the songs on the list (except fot the last 3) but I LOVE what the list represents and how you articulated it. Great video and looking forward to the lists of singers.
Wonderful Video Andy. So much more than a top ten list.
I have nothing but respect for your leaning towards great songs that
are not only great but also have historical and cultural importance.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Many thanks!
Nice list Andy, and I agree with your premise/parameters. Mine (based on song itself/songwriting) would be this list below.
The order of this listing is unimportant:
And You and I (Jon Anderson/Bill Bruford/Chris Squire/Steve Howe) - Yes 1972
Autumn Leaves (Joseph Kosma/Johnny Mercer/Jaques Prevert) - Eva Cassidy 1998
Close to the Edge (Jon Anderson / Steve Howe) - Yes 1972
Netherlands (Dan Fogelberg) - Dan Fogelberg 1977
Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb) - Johnny Cash 2002
Roads to Moscow (Al Stewart) - Al Stewart 1973
If It Be Your WIll (Leonard Cohen) - Leonard Cohen 1984
The Rain Song (Jimmy Page / Robert Plant) - Led Zeppelin - 1973
The Gates of Delerium (Yes) - Yes 1974
A Day In the Life (Jon Lennon / Paul McCartney) - The Beatles 1967
You‘re such a great guy, thanks.
Just commenting to help the channel, don't know what to say! I love your style, I hope the new content doesn't lose this charm. Your delivery is informative, cheeky, spontaneous, spiritual
Great video as always Andy, your channel deserves a much wider audience, and hopefully 2023 will be the year it happens!
10. Dirty Boy - Cardiacs
09. Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
08. Ghosts - Japan
07. Hang on to a Dream - Tim Hardin
06. Little Green - Joni Mitchell
05. Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell
04. Embraceable You - Ella Fitzgerald
03. Nature Boy - Eden Arbez
02. St. James Infirmary - Louis Armstrong
01. Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday
That one artist was actually known as "Eden Ahbez." You're close enough for it to be clear who you're referring to, though!
BTW, there is footage on TH-cam of him appearing on TV if you're curious.
Great stuff Andy. You're a scream. 😂😂😂😂. Love the harry casual style of your channel. Love your passion, and quite liked the way you brought some politics into a previous show. Europe and the UK are heading down a slippery slope towards fascism. Hope it changes soon. I've been watching Beato for a few years. Great channel. His huge fan base could get you some new punters. Worth a try. I'm always in a good mood after watching your channel. Ta very much.
@@chrisfactmanolitsis5070well said!
A very personal choice mate.
Here's mine ( which is always subject to change😁)
In no particular order:
Sting- Fragile
Noel Gallagher- Council Skies
Glen Campbell-Witchita Lineman
The Beatles-Eleanor Rigby
Shirley Bassey-The Fool on the hill
The Carpenters-Superstar
Procol Harum - A Whiter shade of Pale
Sam Fender- Spit of you
Genesis - I know what I like ( my gateway to prog!)
Kate Bush - The Man with the child in his eyes.
A close 11 is Japan - Ghosts 👍
What a list. Beautifully thought out, thank you.
My top 10:
(And as a Beatle-maniac, I'm going to challenge myself and disqualify any tunes by The Fabs).
- Stayin Alive, Bee Gees
- Wanna Be Startin Something, Michael Jackson
- Bad, U2
- She Drives Me Crazy, Fine Young Cannibals
- There's No Other Way, Blur
- Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
- Superwise, Goodness (Post-grunge Seattle band. Look them up.)
- Jesus Etc., Wilco
- Belated Promise Ring, Iron and Wine
- Black Ballerina, Ariel Pink
Andy, I'll tell you a personal story about Dirty Boy.
I've loved Sing to God for many years. The day after Tim Smith's passing, I'm sitting in my office in the evening. I was unaware that he had left us, but thankfully TH-cam's fancy algorithm had decided that Dirty Boy should be on my front page that night.
I had my studio headphones on, and thought, sure why not have a listen? Little did I know what I was in for..
From the start, the song kind of set you straight in a strange mood, but it's when the singing comes in, that the process of taking you to heaven starts. It's a process that does not end for about 9 minutes. But it's not really heaven we end up in either, is it? It's somewhere else. Somewhere different, and nice, and warm, and weird!
For 9 minutes, Tim had me in his grip, on this spaceship that was driving at full speed somewhere deep into space, to a place that no-one has ever gone before.
For each minute that passed, my jaw dropped further and further down, and my mood shifted into this strange mix of sadness, curiosity, melancoly, and HOPE!
With that magnificent cover shining at my face in all its glory, I was trying to picture Tim's mind. I saw a giant universe of stars and galaxies, and all the fantastically weird ideas popping in and out of existence. The ideas being there solely for Tim's grabbing, which he then would pull out, and give birth to in "our" world of mortals.
The song felt as a warm good-bye, and as it was hitting its high peak, and I DO mean its high peak, I was left crying and in awe to this man with his beautiful musical mind. I was in a mind state I've never been before, and I can not even try to describe it. If there was a drug that would make me feel this way again, I'd take it every single day.
After the song ended, I was just sitting there in silence, processing all these feelings and impressions. I finally read the first video comment, which said something like "RIP Tim". I'm not a spiritual guy, but I have no rational explanation of why this happened to me on the following day that he died. It had never happened before, or since, and it's an experience I will take with me until I die.
Rest in peace, Tim.
This is a brilliant description of mthe power of this song
Yes, Dirty Boy seems to have a big impact on people! It’s like the rock epic I was waiting for without realising it. Left me in a mess the first time too.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer By the way, if you need a Cardiacs fan for a video, I could give it a go 😀
Andy - I had never heard Once In A Lifetime before! What an unbelievable song! Nostalgia, the passing of time and the more things changing remaining the same, in one song! Looking back at your story over years, at moments you thought forgotten, and that in 20 years this moment might be one of them!! Amazing!
Another compelling video Andy. I didn't go as far back as you but such fab choices on there. Cardiacs, Soundgarden, Japan, Joni, Glen Campbell. I heard Strange Fruit (and the story behind it) on a Marcus Miller album. Fantastic songs all round and as always there is a couple I need to check out. Best regards MT
Your #1 is such an incredible song!! On another level for sure. Billie was one of the all time greatest singers ever. Period. Very cool and diverse list Andy 👍
My favourite song is - Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun by Pink Floyd, 14th century Chinese poetry set to amazing rock music.........always loved it.
Thank you for including Witchita Linemanas a true classic but God only knows how you managed to overlook Brian Wilson's perfect pop song.
Wouldn't it be nice if it made the top ten. When I get around to doing this again I will do it again and wipe out one of my choices and put it in at 409
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Andy, we need you to make a pun video now.
Andy, you have a deep knowledge of music and musicios. I love your channel and always look forward to new concepts and new insights of the music I love. Don`t concern yourself with Rick Beato. His channel is excellent and so is Pete Pardo`s. You are making a unique forum for Andy.( P.S. ever thought about teaching ... ha ha )
Agree, Joni's early folk stuff is unreal.
Great clip. Beautiful passion in the presentation.
Thank you very much!
I am so delighted that I agree with you about the greatness of Ella, Joni as incomparably beautiful, the importance of Louis, but your Strange #1 is brilliant. Billy Holiday brings all the power to the greatest song of the 20th century. All the brutal reality is encapsulated in the soul of Ms. Holiday. Brilliant!
Wonderful video. I look at "Strange Fruit" as you do but also, in a wistful way. I grew up on her 1930's Columbia recordings. After "Strange Fruit" she became a torch singer. ( "Yesterdays", also on the Commodore label, is amazing.) She would rarely have the same bouyancy. She sang "Solitude" on Columbia, which was a precursor and she always had a blues tinge, of course. But I just loved that early voice.
Your educator hat is strong on this one. Loved this!
glad you talk about joni so positive ,most of the time when i put a record on from here ,people just something negative about her voice
looking particularly Trotskyesque today Andy. Nice list. Given your focus on songs lately. Have you listened to Fred Neil? Most know him as the composer of Everybody's Talkin, but he was a great singer too. Check out Little Bit of Rain, Merry Go Round, Look over Yonder, and his own Everyone's Talkin. His bluesy rendition of Merry Go Round is absolutely incredible on The Many Sides of Fred Neil
He is one of the secret favorites, secret forever
@@narosgmbh5916 yeah, it's like a secret society
A really interesting list! Great to see Japan on the list!! The first band I ever saw!! ❤️
That Rick Beato sorta running joke made my day ;-)
Beautiful video, by the way. I love the fact that we’re traveling from punk to 30’s jazz at the blink of an eye. Great cultural span.
holy moly, Andy you have achieved Vulcan Mind Meld with Rick ..he is just NOW doing Witchita Lineman ...this is more than a coincidence
Yes...this is a strange coincidence
Happy New Year Andy! And the best in 2023! It seems to me that you’re off to a great start. I enjoyed the 60 Prog Album series and I totally agree with your conclusion episode. By the way, the first time that I heard the Singularity album by Rain I got goose bumps (that’s the first time that’s happened in about 20 years). I listen to the album daily on Spotify, usually before bed using headphones. I have shared it with some of my musician and prog friends. It’s a superb album with superb musicianship. Your drumming is the glue that holds the whole thing together, fantastic job. I could say a lot more about the album, but I don’t want to bore you with another one of my essays.
Thanks for the Joni Mitchell blurb on this episode, she is respected and admired by many musicians, but I fear that she is not understood by the general music listening public. So, any exposure that she gets, is certainly appreciated by me and others that admire her work.
Keep up the great work!
Jack G (from Canada)
Its fantastic to know people are listening so intently to Singularity. Our next album is released in 3 weeks time....
very good about cardiacs - nothing can replace their healing qualities of making a man happy...and all the related bands around the artists, are amazing!!! keep on the good path,.
Great idea. It helps to define the direction of your commentary. Of anyone’s commentary. A counter argument would aim to define a narrower frame of reference for the list. Also, to suggest that to pick 10 is enough; and to construct a ranking order after that is a distraction (why not present them chronologically instead?).
The history that I reference in my record collection is a blend of my own lifetime and the history of developments in the recording industry. The first is unavoidable. I would have to be a professional critic of recorded music to go through the time, effort and personal development, required to distance myself from my own life experience. Here, you have a special niche as a musician with a trained ear. Obviously, you can listen and hear in the music things that I cannot. I appreciate that through my own ‘trained eye’: I can look at art and appreciate things people who love Monet (etc.) just cannot.
However, the second ‘the history of the recording of sound’, its sale and promotion, brings us both right up to the hearth where we can have a few moments of intense discussion together. More or less on equal footing.
The history of recorded music is pretty intense, as we can witness living through the emergence of the LP (Elvis Presley 1956); the CD (Brothers in Arms or Tripping the Life Fantastic); and streaming (I don’t have a single ‘streamed’ song, I just borrow CDs from the library).
Armstrong, Holiday, are not on the mainstream owing to the fact that the recording was done much too early to capture the full essence of their performance. They also belong to another gengre: Jazz. And I argue (with Northrop Frye) that we must ‘separate where we cannot divide.’ We can reach back to Louis Armstrong as an innovator in records; Ella dn Billie; or Frank Sinatra; but this is research. Their product will not pass the test of dropping down the needle in the groove and producing a sound that is instantly recognizable to music fans and aficionados.
Of course it also fails the test of being created during the 1955-1990 period when the album reigned supreme; it was radio and not videos that were promoting the music (for better and for worse); and we did not have the wide open field for experimentation we have today.
So here is a list of 20 as a suggestion (getting down to 10 would require a second pass, and a close listen, but is suggested with asterisks):
Heartbeat - 1958
*Like a Rolling Stone - 1965
Whipped Cream - 1965
Good Vibrations - 1966
*Hey Jude - 1968
*Here Comes the Sun - 1969
Space Oddity - 1969
*You Can’t Always Get What You Want - 1969
*Bridge Over Troubled Water - 1970
Me and Bobby McGee - 1971
*Carey - 1971
*Stairway to Heaven - 1971
*Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - 1974
*Thunder Road - 1975
Bohemian Rhapsody - 1975
Sweet Caroline/Beautiful Noise - 1969/1976
*Go Your Own Way - 1976
Hotel California - 1977
*Skateaway - 1980
Unknown Legend- 1993 (Four Strong Winds; After the Gold Rush; Heart of Gold; Powderfinger)
On the list, in some cases, other songs by the same artist are included, suggesting the need to dig a little deeper. Are we looking for an early or late work, for example? The strike of lightning, or the fruit of maturation?
Chronologically, I’ve broken out a 10-year period that seems to dominate the list. From a personal perspective, it brakets with my high school years (1971-1976). However, from the perspective of the music industry, it represents the period where recording techniques matured (best seen by listening to live albums from the same period). And before the studio took over, with multi-tracking to the nth degree, synthetic sounds, and digital.
It’s not a definitive list. It’s just a work in progress triggered by your work on this site.
PS
Some notable exclusions: Bob Seger, Boz Scaggs, Michael Jackson, Eurhythmics, CCR, The Who, Billy Joel, Steely Dan, Hendrix …
The only song on the list that I know is Tim Hardin's, but I know of some of the other singers. I half expected Jeff Buckley with Hallelujah on the list, as that is incredible. I love the way you talk about these songs with such clear and passion, Andy. Great video again.
Andy, thanks so much for the introduction to the Cardiacs. What a truly excellent band.
Inca Roads is the best song for me. And Debussy's Clair de Lune is perhaps the most beautiful composition ever....
Great video Andy. Thank you....I remember the Soundgarden tune but will obviously have to listen again along with a couple of others. Also I have one for you......I have no idea if you would know this song, but if not please seek it out. It has the stature of Strange Fruit, Nature Boy, Song to the Siren and Wild is the Wind, and is likewise a bit 'spooked' just like those songs. It sounds like a shamanistic ritual is being performed, it's lyrics deal with a strange transfiguration towards hope from murky/ambiguous events of the past with some added local colour, it has drums/percussion off the charts (tight? loose?), the arrangement is sublime, it is sung by two absolute legends of Brazilian music.....oh yeah....and it's totally prog: O Que Foi Feito Devera---Elis Regina and Milton Nascimento (1978). Number one on my list.
Amazing list Andy. Just love that you had the Cardiacs on it. I think Dirty Boy is my number one, it starts full on at 100% and keep building upwards from there. Ghost by Japan is brilliant.
Looking forward to Sing To God special. My list today would be:
Everso Closely Guarded Line - Cardiacs
Koeeoaddi There - ISB
Deacon Blues - Steely Dan
Eleanor Rigby - Beatles
Reasons For Waiting- Tull
The Man I Love - Ella
Kalimankou Dankou - Mystere Des Voix Bulgares
The Trees They Do Grow High - Martin Carthy
Worker’s Song - Dick Gaughan
Anecdotes - Joanna Newsom
Amazing video, Jazz holds incredible songs. Thank you very much for your thoughts on this 🙏
Love your perfectly balanced snobbery. Keep hitting it mate
Loved this, great choices. Can't really argue with the number one. Nice surprise to see Ghosts in there, I kind of dismissed Japan at the time (they were very popular with girls) but rediscovering them now and I'd say this is probabaly their best song. More great work, I'd discovering lots of new music, thanks Andy
This is such a unique, heartfelt, and surprising compilation. Thank you for sharing these particular choices. I appreciate your inclusion of Ella, whose 'Angel Eyes' is also amazing, and for me, the best is 'The Nearness of You', which is an archetype of love, with a beautiful ambiguity between romantic and spiritual love. Ella seems unique in her ability to render tenderness, and her technique is tuned to this emotion. I was surprised and touched by your choice of 'Wichita Lineman' also. It has resonance for my generation I guess. Did not know about the Cardiacs and Japan but they are both very interesting, I got the grand hymn vibe from 'Dirty Boy' and the Bryan Ferry trill from 'Ghost', and had completely forgotten about Tim Hardin, who makes me wonder what your thoughts are about the sad poet types of the seventies like Scott Walker and Nick Drake. 'Chime of a City Clock', 'Northern Sky', and 'Saturday Sun', and many others are so great. Looks like I have to make my own list. Cheers and Happy New Year!
I'm a big Nick Drake fan. River Man could have made this list. No Regrets by Scott is preety good too
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer 30th century man is great and almost everything on Scott 4. Great career. But Nick Drake is special. Every album is perfect and otherworldly for me. Regards and Thanks for your work.
A list of favorites off the top of my head:
Billie Holiday: Strange Fruit
Bob Dylan: It's All Right Ma, I'm Only Bleeding
The Clash: Complete Control
Otis Redding: Cigarettes And Coffee
Public Enemy: Bring The Noise
Van Morrison: Into The Mystic
Aaron Neville: Tell It Like It Is
PJ Harvey: Man-Size
Sex Pistols: Holidays In The Sun
Marvin Gaye: Inner City Blues
Mighty Diamonds: Tamarind Farm
Joni Mitchell: Carey
Tracy Chapman: Fast Car
"Complete control"...I couldn't agre more !
Thank you so much !!!
I'm a Cardiacs fan. Love to be on your video explaining why I love'm so much. Songs for Ships and Irons is the album I like best even though it's a combination of two mini albums.
I'm a Can super fan as well. Love to talk more aboit Can. Really great band.
Eclectic and brilliant as usual
Great choice. May I make one correction? You have selected the Ella Fitzgerald version of Embraceable You and rightly praise the arrangement by Nelson Riddle. This was included in the five 12 inch vinyl 1959 Verve release Ella Fitzgerald Sings The George And Ira Gershwin Songbook.
The album cover that illustrates your selection is of the one 10 inch 1950 Decca/Brunswick release Ella Sings Gershwin on which she was accompanied by solo pianist Ellis Larkins. Although the album includes some lesser known Gershwin compositions such as Looking For A Boy, Maybe and Soon, it does not include Embraceable You.
Just found your channel. Love the vids, thanks 👍
When Wichita Lineman got a mention I had to comment. Fantastic song. By the time I get to Phoenix has similar pull - lyrics, voice, melody. Emotional combo.
The great Mick Karn definitely played on 'Tin Drum'...
Some nice surprises on this list - my band plays St James' Infirmary and it always makes the pub go quiet and listen
I’ve just heard Martin (Jethro Tull) Parrish’s version of Dirty Boy and I was stunned! A clean & pristine hymn. 🥲
Cant argue with any of that:all great!! My favourite song is early libre by billy cobham but theres at least 50 in my top10.. great vid as always 👍
I prefer your conversational style to the so-called “professional” channels, it’s almost like you’re having a chat with friends and often only reaching a conclusion at the end of the video. This is enhanced by the fact that you don’t look directly at the camera, so you never come across as lecturing your viewers. Please don’t change.
I love his style too. I think many who "are looking straight at the camara" are reading their script off a screen.
Yes I like that about him
I Completely agree.
Very much agree. He has a nice cadence.
Top marks Andy you are a brave man. I have endured ridicule in the past for my unapologetic love of Japan. Ghost is indeed a beautiful haunted piece of music.
Strange Fruit is an amazing song. I was thinking about that song earlier today. I could quibble about your list. But it's hard to argue that Strange Fruit is not one of the most important songs of the 20th century. Really a chilling tune, particularly for someone like me from the American south. You mentioned Autumn in NY at the end of your list. Also an amazing song.... I also like How Deep is the Ocean, particularly the Diana Krall version. Interestingly, I think Rick Beato put out a video today saying that Wichita Lineman is the greatest country song. LOL Jimmy Webb was a helluva songwriter. There are so many great songs that I could not possible pare a list down to 10.
Just heard the Cardiacs tune for the first time and it's freakin amazing.
I have served my purpose then :)
another great, great video - thanks Andy. maybe i'm misremembering, but i seem to recall someone from Napalm Death with a Cardiacs t-shirt on - many years ago. apologies to all if i've got this wrong!
Perhaps their bass player Shane Embry? He is a huge Cardiacs fan?
great list
Nice list, fantastic discussion!
Love Wichita Lineman. I'd say Glen's Gentle on My Mind perfectly describes a soul mate relationship in 3 minutes.
Love it. Keep on Andy 😅
Great vid Andy. Even if I could pick ten it would be changing every week/month/whatever. So, great job in pinning it down to ten for a vid. Specifically five of those tracks I would consider truly great songs, the others I’ve either not heard or not heard more than once so couldn’t evaluate in fairness.
I’m starting to get a sense of what you consider to be a ‘
song’ as opposed to perhaps a ‘piece of music’ or track or whatnot. Given what I perceive to be your criteria I would have to say that a perfect example of brilliant composition/lyricism/performance,( despite it being butchered on many tv talent show), would be ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ sung by Judy Garland.
Your consistent high standard continues 👍
Top 10 Favorite Songs
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Imagine - John Lennon
American Pie - Don McLean
Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel
A Day In The Life - The Beatles
Blackbird - The Beatles
Dust In The Wind - Kansas
God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
Andy, how did I get to 59 without ever hearing the Cardiacs? I can not stop listening to Is This The Life. I feel that I have missed out. Thank you so much
You and I both...I never heard them when I was young.
Andy, the more dishevelled your hair, the more apparent your genius. I don't know most of these songs, but your brilliance forces me to accept your words as truth. My Top 10 includes Stairway, Hotel California (bloody Eagles...), I Am The Walrus, Werewolves of London, Mr Blue Sky, Comfortably Numb, God Part 2, Satisfaction (Devo), Magic Man and The Biggest Ball Of Twine In Minnesota. I am now ashamed at the narrowness of my list.
Right, it's off to the Big One after this video!
Many thanks.
p.s. I spent an evening listening to your video plus each of the songs on the list. As a result, I appreciated some music I would normally have passed over.
Superb review - It's really refreshing and heartening for a musician (and what I've seen, a brilliant one) to recognize how essential lyrics are. He's right, it's all about the song and in the conveying of it's meaning. Poetic and philosophical stuff
Interesting show and great choices, Andy. Bowie's Nature Boy was from Moulin Rouge, right director though.
Close....
Well, that was deep and emotional! Choosing favourites is always a journey - and, on any given day (or maybe any given moment), it might go in a different direction. The sad personal stories behind most of your choices, and those singing them, say a lot about the pain that often goes into making a great song. I think my top song would be Jeff Buckley’s Hallelujah, but all of your choices would be up there, too. We’re so lucky that there are people writing and performing these amazing songs!
Billie's version of #1 is one of the few songs that can bring me to tears.
Having just shared your video with a friend, it was good to hear your final 6 top songs again. I need to explore your first 4, however.
Now two questions from a confessed fanatic of Genesis and also Philip Collins.
One: What do you think of Phil's song "Please Don't Ask"?
Two: Do you have a handle on Peter Gabriel's lyrics to Genesis' album "A Lamb Lies Down on Broadway"?
Nice to hear Mick Karn get a name check.
Such an interesting approach to bass playing. I always wondered if he was the one with an interest in jazz.
He played woodwind instruments
Great to see Tim Hardin hasn't been completely forgotten, brilliant writer "Reason to Believe", "Hang on to a Dream", "Red Balloon" have been covered almost as much as "If I were a Carpenter" by people as varied as Rod Stewart, The Nice, Small Faces, Bobby Darin and his influence on Led Zeppelin is all over "Your Time is Gonna Come", "Thank You", "That's The Way" and "Going to California".
This list made me head back to my fathers records... Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday... I revisited strange fruit now... and man I think I'll have to agree with you.. combining the powerful lyrics with her backstory is one hell of an emotional punch... for me personally gives an additional response as my father was a bad man but with a very tragic backstory of his own.
Cardiac... Superb. Thanks Richard Gorbutt.
I applaud your #1 choice👏 hats off
That's crazy that Tim Hardin played with Can! I've got to find a copy of one of those bootlegs. I guess you must be familiar with the Nice's cover of "Hang on to a Dream."
WoW! Strange Fruit Whodda thunk? but who can really argue? As for those pholks agreeing with you on any of these things...top notch. Must be time to listen to my fave current band, The Hu.
Great work (again) Andy! I won't quibble with your list - as you state, it's YOUR preference that's being reported. In my top 10 list, I'd include a few alternatives; anything by Laurie Anderson (I'd narrow that down to O'Superman, or Strange Angels), anything by Rickie Lee Jones (but, how about "Last Chance Texaco" to start), "Long Neck Bottles" by Captain Beefheart and "Mississippi Goddamn" by Nina Simone. Anyway, I'm all-in on your videos! PS - How about a "History of Jazz Fusion" as a compliment to your Prog series?
I have done an 8 episode history of jazz fusion but its on my Patreon...th-cam.com/video/vBL83Z4_w7w/w-d-xo.html
Andy I have to thank you once again for I didn’t know Strange Fruit, thank you my friend. Coltrane has a few versions of Nature Boy, the first version in the album The John Coltrane Quartet Plays… (freaking long title that album has) is my all time favourite, sure you know it but if not just try it I’m sure you will appreciate it cheers 🙏❤️🌈
Come on Andy, ten minutes in and no offer on the Edward's Book? Love how you are not Rick Beato, I find him hard work and, as a teacher, not always a great educator. As a teacher, I want to share the joy, not show off my knowledge. More natural hair too 🤣
Thank you for sharing the joy Andy.
That is a strange list of favs , Glad you had the awareness to include "Wichita Lineman" ..which I consider the best song of All time ... yes these lists are always subjective , I would suggest (Whole of the Moon ) Waterboys , Timeless-Rick Derringer, Love of the Common man-Todd Rundgren, Baby Blue - Badfinger, Josie- Steely Dan, Alex Chilton- The Replacements, I am the luckiest - Ben Folds,
You picked it. My favourite songs are generally uplifting, transcendent and spiritual, whether you believe in God or not, that speak to love, selflessness, hope, freedom and unity. So, Amazing Grace,Auld Lang Syne, Summertime, The Man I Love, Singing in the Rain, Sinnerman (Nina Simone), Brown Earth (Laura Nyro), Stoned Soul Picnic (Laura Nyro), Woodstock (Joni Mitchell). Joni uses going to the festival as a metaphor for a spiritual quest, an idea she may have gotten from Stoned Soul Picnic because she uses some of Nyro's lyrical ideas, golden, dust, nature, God. Song to the Siren, Tim Buckley live on the Monkees show. Yep, Tim Hardin is great. Also try David Blue, Judee Sill, David Ackles (Montana Song, epic very complex).
Music for me above all is Harmony-Melody and Emotions.
So a song that brings me all that, a song with vocals but no lyrics,
my absolute favorite, is...
"THE GREAT GIG IN THE SKY" by Richard Wright (music) and Clare Torry (vocals).
Some other Great Songs that i like...
YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS YOUNG - Shirley Bassey
THE WAY WE WERE - Barbra Streisand
OH MOTHER AND OH SISTER MINE - Manos Hadjidakis (composer)
YOUR BLUE LETTERS - George Hadjinasios (composer)
FROM SOUVENIRS TO SOUVENIRS - Demis Roussos
AUTUMN LEAVES - Nat King Cole
ALL BY MYSELF - Eric Carmen ( based on the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff from his second Piano Concerto - Part II)
and many more...
Great video
I think when choosing a personal list of top songs all logic and reason goes out the window
It’s got to be song from a time and place in your life
Everyone could fill up lists with Beatles , Dylan , Hoagy Carmichael , Elvis Costello etc.
so why is it that Jeff and Tim Buckley , Fred Neil and the likes fill the comments ?
I am not throwing out a list but I will put forth 2 songs that make my Dest Island list
West One ( Shine on Me ) The Ruts
Stay with Me : Lorraine Ellison
Why ? not saying but that’s what makes music so wonderful
Fascinating. My list would be completely different, but I know its similar to friends of mine who are also music obsessed. My friend said to me "all great songs contain a feeling of YEARNING" and to me, that's exactly right. My fave song will always be Ashes to Ashes by David Bowie. How's that for yearning. His song was Tracks of My Tears and I like that, too.
p.s. I love Straighten Up & Fly Right best of NKC
Ok I respected your opinion very much, then you mentioned Soundgarden and now I respect it even more
9:40 Andy, when you talk about the grunge-rock era of the late 80s-early 90s, did you notice the band King's X and their album Gretchen Goes To Nebraska 1989. I bought a copy back then and what an album! Certainly on par with Soundgarden and much better than Nirvana
There is a well known group among the psychedelic circles, called Gandalf, that issued one great record containing versions of two of the songs of the list, well worth listening to.
Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice and Chains were not grunge music, they were more like serious classically trained musicians or metal folk music as I call it. The Grunge sound was 3 chord punk bands by artists like Tad. Skin Yard, Melvins, Mud Honey, Nirvana, and Bam Bam.
Black hole sun, what an incredible song. Definitely high up on my top 10
Nice to see Ghosts on there amongst other more established classics. Also nice that you avoided the big artists with cliched choices like Stairway to Heaven.
Nightporter is my favourite Sylvian song, he pulled that out of nowhere on the third album completely out of character at the time, as you noted.
Have you also seen the film Night Porter? The melody comes from that
@@jonathanwoodvincent no but I will find it
It's borrowed from Erik Sartie's Gymnopedie
I think the most important song ever, which really has all music history in 1 perfect song is Summertime. There are great great versions of it. Louis and Ella, Janis, Love Sculpture, and more. It's the single most important song in the 20th centrury. IMHO.
But.... A great list. Super interesting, compelling and deep. Brilliant, lovely, dunn... See ya on ya next video, bye.
There is a wonderful version on the debut album of Dutch band Brainbox, the band Jan Akkerman was in before joining Focus. They also did a great version of Scarborough Fair on that album.
Supper's Ready - too obvious. Be Bop Deluxe Crying To The Sky. Gentle Giant Memories of Old Days. Wilco Impossible Germany. Jorma Kaukamen's song Genesis. These list changes all the time...
"Crying to the sky
Weeping like a silver fountain..."
Be Bop and Bill are sooo underrated. Wait, it's the internet! They are "criminally under rated!" 🙂
Supper’s Ready and Crying to the Sky …. Both very different but both great 👍
Since you mentioned Be Bop Deluxe, I always thought Maid in Heaven was as close to a perfect song as possible - blistering playing, hummable melody... does so much but doesn't outstay its welcome.
Over the Rainbow - The Greatest Song Ever!!!!