Best of "original" solo-artist's IMHO

[Niels (Mod)]

Well, by "original", I mean artist's, that for the most part started up as a solo-artist or at least had/have a BIG career as a solo-artist, and most people think of them, not as a part of a band, but as a solo-artist. That means no Lennon or McCartney in this list. For once, I'm noly going to post 10 artists/songs:

 

 

I must say, that I'm a fan of Tom Waits. Every time, he put's out a new album, I'm going to buy it, and if I had the chance to see him live, I was willing to pay a lot of money for it. This song is kind of "normal" sounding, coming from him. From his very first album, released in 1973.

 

1. TOM WAITS - MARTHA 

 

 

There's no chance in h..., that I'll ever get to see Frank Zappa live, but I would love that too. What a genius!! I know, it can be rather difficult, to liste to his music, and he probably made around 50 records, while he was alive, but the man was smart, funny, cool and an exellent guitarist, composer and bandleader.

 

2. FRANK ZAPPA - COSMIC DEBRIS 

 

 

 

It's not that many years, since I "discovered" the genius of Bob Dylan. Like most people(?), I've was annoyed by his singing-voice, but after seeing the documentary made by Martin Scorsese, I went out and bought 10 cd's or so, in the following months. For a few years, I was sure, that he made his best music before 1967, but then I bought "Tell Tale Signs" and what a great double-cd full of outtakes and unreleased songs from the past 15 years or so. It became album of the year for me in 2008.  

3. BOB DYLAN - MISSISIPPI

 

 

 

I was a big Mellencamp-fan in the 80's, and I know, that Mike has played a lot of his music lately, but not this song, and it's my favorite Mellencamp-song.

 

4. JOHN MELLENCAMP - CHECK IT OUT 

 

 

 

I'm not a Springsteen-fan, but I really like the "Born to run"-album, and especially this song. 

 

5. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - THUNDER ROAD 

 

 

 

Again, I'm not a fan of Kate Bush, but this song is IMHO the 3rd best song ever written, and I DO like her "Lolita-vocals". 

 

6. KATE BUSH - WUTHERING HEIGHTS

 

 

The 2nd. best song ever written IMHO is "Life on Mars". I have a few Bowie-records and have read a book about him, but as far as I'm concerned, his best work was before 1980, and also he was a genius in the 1970's.

 

7. DAVID BOWIE - LIFE ON MARS  

 

 

 

I was going to post a track from "goodbye Yellow Brick Road", but it ain't that many weeks ago, that RJhog had it in a special (I think?) AOTW, so therefore this, not that often played song.

 

8. ELTON JOHN - MONA LISA AND MAD HATTERS 

 

 

If I should choose one Elvis, it would'nt be Presley, but Costello. This song is from his collaboration-album with the great composer Burt Bacharach, and my favorite Elvis costello-song. It IS a very quite number, but man, does he sings good on the track, well imho anyway!!

 

9. ELVIS COSTELLO (and Burt Bacharach) - THIS HOUSE IS EMPTY

 

 

 

This is my absolute favorite Neil Young-track. I never ever get tired of this song.

 

10. NEIL YOUNG - OLD MAN 

 

 

If you want to listen to some (kind of) easy listening music, click here:

 

http://www.podsnack.com/playlists/a4b2512e1c994c597d0b072f4a272893

[RJhog (Admin)]

Hey Niels, I only know 30 per cent of this playlist, so I'm really looking forward to listening.  Probably tomorrow.

[TageRyche]

No Warren Zevon? For shame!

[Niels (Mod)]

Nope. I don't own a record with Zevon.

[TageRyche]

You should be ashamed of yourself!

[Niels (Mod)]

I'm not.

[Jon]

Nice list, but you haven't changed my mind about Tom Waits, Bruce Springsteen or Elvis Costello. As for Kate Bush, which version is better, hers or the remake by Pat Benatar?

[Niels (Mod)]

You don't mean that, do you? There's NO version better than Kate Bush's first version. She even tried herself, and made a "new" version of the song in 1988, for a Greatest hits-album, but why mess with perfection??!!!

But what about Frank Zappa, then? The "special effect-sounds" on the song, cracks me up!! 

[Jon]

Frank Zappa is the epitome of cool. Some might think he's too weird, but you  really need to sit down and listen. There's amazing stuff on his albums.

 

And yes...I like Benatar's version better.  

[RJhog (Admin)]

I'll do this a little at the time:

 

Tom Waits - I think this is an wonderfully written song.  It's beautiful.  But I would have a hard time getting past his singing voice. 

 

Frank Zappa - I'm sorry, I know people worship Zappa, but I just don't get it.  Maybe other songs are better, but I just can't get into this.

 

Bob Dylan - Kind of the same comment as for Tom Waits, but I think the Waits song is better. 

 

John Mellancamp - Not my favorite Mellancamp song, but it's been a while since I heard it, and I do think it's a good song.  My personal favorite by him is Minutes To Memories off of the Scarecrow album.

 

Bruce Springsteen - Great song.  This is one of my favorite Springsteen tracks. 

 

Kate Bush - I don't know what to say about this.  I'm somewhere in the middle, I don't hate it but I don't love it.  I do like the guitar at the end.  I'm not sure what to think of her voice.

 

 

[RJhog (Admin)]

David Bowie - I'm not a huge Bowie fan, but I do like some of his hits like the Major Tom song, Changes, Little China Girl and so on.  This is okay but not great. 

 

Elton John - I've actually heard this before, I just didn't recognize it by name.  I don't think it's his best work, but I do think it's good.

 

Elvis Costello - Another artist that I have a hard time getting into.  This is kind of like the Waits song, it's a beautiful song.  But I wouldn't mind hearing someone else cover it.

 

Neil Young - Another superb song.  Funny thing is, I don't think he has a great voice, but for some reason, I really like it.  One of his best for sure.

 

Nice playlist Niels.