INTELLECTUAL ROCK: My Favorite Listening Music

[DIRTYSECRET]

My friends there is such a thing. It makes you want to listen closely to the lyrics. My examples would be Emerson, Lake, and Palmer "From the Beginning". Then there's Elton with "Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters." Yes-"I've Seen All Good People and Rod Stewart's "Gasoline Alley". It makes your ears work a bit but worth it. Funny how it's mostly 70's music.

[Sirius Lee]

Trilogy I found an interesting Jazz-tinged interpretation here...

I can't believe you mentioned this! I came across this Jan & Den cover by accident a couple of years ago and immediately burned it to my iPod. I think it might be as good/well, different-better than the original. She does an amazing scat of Emo's synth solo. Plus she's "bangs" hot. Piano player is good too, although a bit repetitive in the licks dept.

[dfwgator]

Anything by The Alan Parsons Project.

+1

Especially "Pyramid".

[dfwgator]

This broke my heart when I first saw this video. This was Eric Woolfson, a few months before he passed playing some of his best known songs on the piano.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR3-rcYIO5A

Eric Woolfson WAS the Alan Parsons Project

[Sirius Lee]

A Trick of the Tail is a special album for me.

Post Gabriel Genesis gets a lot of grief, but I'd rather listen to every track on Trick than all of Lamb, for which I can only find joy in 4 or so tracks.

There's a point in Mad Mad Moon where, after the whole latin rhythm middle section winds up and ends on this leading tone sustained synth note that resolves to the home key that is just magical.

[dfwgator]

I love The Lamb.

But I love Trick even more, and yes Mad Man Moon is a great song. But every single song on Trick is great, every single one.

[Political Junkie Too]

I bought them all when they first came out on vinyl, but stopped after Turn of a Friendly Card. I only recently caught up with the later albums.

Years ago I replaced Tales, Robot, Pyramid, and Turn on CD, but lost track of Eve. I love Eve.

Ammonia Avenue and Vulture Culture are growing on me, too.

-PJ

[dfwgator]

And I believe this was the last song Hackett recorded with them, which didn’t make it onto W&W, and it’s just fantastic

Inside and Out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyeUizLp1rk

And I still think there were good moments after:

Duke had some great moments Behind the Lines/Duchess/Guide Vocal Heathhaze Dukes Travels/Dukes End, up there with anything they ever did.

[dfwgator]

Ammonia Avenue is a great album.

Stereotomy was ok, it was saved by the great Gary Brooker singing “Limelight”.

[Ammo Republic 15]

In the early 70’s I had The Inner Mounting Flame and Birds Of Fire on vinyl. Nearly wore the grooves out on those two!

I had a couple more albums with John McLaughlin that I can’t remember the titles now.

His album Friday Night In San Francisco with Paco de Lucia and Al Dimeola is fantastic.

[Lazamataz]

The Most Intellectual Song You Will Ever Hear

[dfwgator]

And Ian Bairnson is every bit as good of a guitarist as David Gilmour.

[Political Junkie Too]

Love that song, and Beaujolais.

And maybe Walrus, but I like Hawkeye better.

-PJ

[Political Junkie Too]

And it's all about that bass, with David Paton.

-PJ

[Political Junkie Too]

And it's all about that bass, with David Paton.

Right from the opening of Tales.

-PJ

[dfwgator]

And it's all about that bass, with David Paton.

You do know what band Bairnson and Paton were in before APP?

[Political Junkie Too]

No.

I know that Colin Blunstone was with The Zombies.

-PJ

[dfwgator]

I’ll give you a clue..

‘Ho Ho Ho, it’s Magic!!!’

Alan produced that song by the way.

[Sirius Lee]

Non-70's offerings that deserve a listen and old farts like me may have missed:

Spock's Beard - "Snow" the album was recorded live amazingly, before Neal Morse came out as a full blown Saved, and is basically a metaphor of the Christ story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi-ZsLTcSGc Neal is just an incredible songwriter. Great hooks within long form pieces.

The Enid - "Invictus" This is symphonic rock performed by one would never guess, a handful of musicians, even live, they sound like an orchestra and chorus. Here's a track from the follow up - and related album "Dust" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCJQTo9K5KM Tell me the lead singer doesn't have Freddy Mercury chops.

And most recently, Gleb Kolyadin in his debut album "I Am The Morning" from last year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u7ferl0TIE This guy blow Keith Emerson away, and I say that as the biggest Emo disciple on the planet who warms up with "Eruption" before practicing piano every night.

Epilogue offering by Mostly Autumn - "Unquiet Tears" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYXkZDe63t8 The lyrics are an unfolding vampire nightmare. Chilling.

[dfwgator]

I’ve recently discovered “Gentle Giant”, I knew of them, but never really listened to them a lot.

[Political Junkie Too]

Ok. I don't know much about that group, although I recognize the song.

I did read that Paton left after Stereotomy to join Elton John's touring band.

-PJ