Tower of Song

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Mon May 17, 2004 5:01 am

My turn again? OK, if I must. One of my favourite reggae songs, even if it was recorded by four white Brummies (were they all Brummies, in fact were any of them, strictly speaking? Maybe I should say Black Countrymen or something), and features a truly appalling pun in its title. The sun is out, that's like four days without it turning cold and grey and wet again, an experience I'd almost forgotten, and with this playing you can have lots of good fun that is funny. Led Zep were my brother's thing, so I decided Bowie was infinitely superior and stuck to that, and Houses Of The Holy is the only LP of theirs in this house (bought by my 11-year-old son with his birthday money, in fact!), but boy is it good. Some great songs, loads of great riffs, and, of course, awesome Ludwigarama drumming, but one of those classics that is more than the sum of its parts.

Out: Richard Hell (his spurts have now ceased)
In: Led Zep

Specials - Do Nothing
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Prince - Sometimes It Snows In April
Eels - Novocaine for the Soul
Tom Waits - Time
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
Led Zeppelin - D'yer Mak'er
The Byrds - 5D
Mose Allison - Parchman Farm
Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams - You're Still Standin' There

Bob And Charlotte · Post by **Bob And Charlotte** » Mon May 17, 2004 7:29 am

Out: Mose Allison - Parchman Farm
In: An Astral Weeks Cut

Specials - Do Nothing
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Prince - Sometimes It Snows In April
Eels - Novocaine for the Soul
Tom Waits - Time
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
Led Zeppelin - D'yer Mak'er
The Byrds - 5D
Van Morrison - Sweet Thing
Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams - You're Still Standin' There

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Mon May 17, 2004 7:36 am

Nice choice, always room in the TOS for anything off that classic (which seems to get better every time I play it). Boy this Tower is hot.

bambooneedle · Post by **bambooneedle** » Mon May 17, 2004 9:26 am

It'd be hotter if the Blueches could just appreciate Fumbled Priest.

Otis - you might have some difficulty finding FP CDs. Looks like they've been deleted for now as they're being reissued soon, so I'd wait for those. http://www.fumbledpriest.com has been down for a while so no help there... The odd shop could have leftover copies but I doubt many fans would part with them for second hand ones.

Re a top 5, after an FP evening featuring neighbour complaints, here are mine:

1. Oliver's Request (3rd album, '92 - originally the songs were to be the basis for a '90 Nielsen solo album and tour, till put on hold when he was hospitalized again. The band got busy on it and even thought of replacing him... foolish as the songs comprise Nielsen's most accomplished and personal artistic statement).
2. In Dutch (infectious, raucous and melodic debut album, '87)
3. Wine, Cheese and Concubines (2nd alb - Bohemianly romantic. Poetic stories with great bluesy folk jam interludes feat. harmonica).
4. Justified Revenge (from violent to melancholy, the best of their electronic period (94-96)). Doof, granted it may have seemed a bit retro, but undeniably good songwriting on this album eg. Cocksure Coiffure.
5. All The Way To Arnhem (double album written and recorded on tour, mostly in Japan, also includes ambitious studio material. This is the tour I caught them on (97-98.), followed by a long break with ongoing speculation about their future, and, finally, by last year's faily good release Sabre Rattle.

Gillibeanz · Post by **Gillibeanz** » Mon May 17, 2004 10:47 am

Where are all the Bob Dylan songs that dominated the last tower that I was moaned at for striking out?

OUT: The Eels - only because its the only song in the list I dont know - all the rest are ok...

IN: Crowded House

Specials - Do Nothing
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Prince - Sometimes It Snows In April
Tom Waits - Time
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
Led Zeppelin - D'yer Mak'er
The Byrds - 5D
Van Morrison - Sweet Thing
Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams - You're Still Standin' There
Crowded House: Four Seasons In One Day

El Vez · Post by **El Vez** » Mon May 17, 2004 10:52 am

Gilli,

Blue and I just got tired of throwing our computers out the window. It was purely an economical decision.

DrJ · Post by **DrJ** » Mon May 17, 2004 11:18 am

There's nothing wrong with Neil Finn. Let's serrepticiously get another one on there...

OUT Prince - Sometimes It Snows In April

IN Split Enz - History Never Repeats

Specials - Do Nothing
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Tom Waits - Time
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
Led Zeppelin - D'yer Mak'er
The Byrds - 5D
Van Morrison - Sweet Thing
Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams - You're Still Standin' There
Crowded House: Four Seasons In One Day
Split Enz - History Never Repeats

However, I do love Eels, so maybe I'll just wave my computer out the window a little bit.

DrJ

pophead2k · Post by **pophead2k** » Mon May 17, 2004 11:27 am

Hmm....and another......
OUT: Byrds
IN: Our newest Aussie idol

Specials - Do Nothing
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Tom Waits - Time
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
Led Zeppelin - D'yer Mak'er
Neil Finn - Try Whistling This
Van Morrison - Sweet Thing
Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams - You're Still Standin' There
Crowded House: Four Seasons In One Day
Split Enz - History Never Repeats

cosmos · Post by **cosmos** » Mon May 17, 2004 12:37 pm

Out: Split Enz
In: The Minister

Specials - Do Nothing
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Tom Waits - Time
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
Led Zeppelin - D'yer Mak'er
Neil Finn - Try Whistling This
Van Morrison - Sweet Thing
Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams - You're Still Standin' There
Crowded House: Four Seasons In One Day
Al Green - Love and Happiness

Boy With A Problem · Post by **Boy With A Problem** » Mon May 17, 2004 1:05 pm

Out - Crowded House
In - Woody Guthrie

Specials - Do Nothing
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Tom Waits - Time
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
Led Zeppelin - D'yer Mak'er
Neil Finn - Try Whistling This
Van Morrison - Sweet Thing
Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams - You're Still Standin' There
Woody Guthrie: Blowin' Down The Road (I Ain't Gonna Be Treated This Way)
Al Green - Love and Happiness

wehitandrun · Post by **wehitandrun** » Mon May 17, 2004 2:31 pm

Out - Led Zeppelin
In - Coldplay

Specials - Do Nothing
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Tom Waits - Time
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
Neil Finn - Try Whistling This
Van Morrison - Sweet Thing
Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams - You're Still Standin' There
Woody Guthrie: Blowin' Down The Road (I Ain't Gonna Be Treated This Way)
Al Green - Love and Happiness
Coldplay - Everything's Not Lost

Post by **BlueChair** » Mon May 17, 2004 3:25 pm

bambooneedle wrote:It'd be hotter if the Blueches could just appreciate Fumbled Priest.

Despite not having heard of this group, I am not denying anything about whether or not they are a great band with great songs. But.... you can only expect songs by groups few of us have even heard of to last on the tower. It's just the way it is. Just as some people will eliminate songs by obvious groups such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, so will people remove songs they have never heard of. Don't take it personally, it's just how it is. And I don't recall removing Fumbled Priest more than once, despite there having been several songs by them on the Tower thus far.

Uncomplicated · Post by **Uncomplicated** » Mon May 17, 2004 5:21 pm

...Otis, that was my very fav Zepp song! nice pick!

Out: Coldplay - Everything's Not Lost
In: Style Council - Boy Who Cried Wolf

Specials - Do Nothing
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Tom Waits - Time
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
Neil Finn - Try Whistling This
Van Morrison - Sweet Thing
Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams - You're Still Standin' There
Woody Guthrie: Blowin' Down The Road (I Ain't Gonna Be Treated This Way)
Al Green - Love and Happiness
Style Council - Boy Who Cried Wolf

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Mon May 17, 2004 5:44 pm

Thanks, Unc. Shame to see it out so quickly, and for a lame Coldplay song, which you're right to ditch.

'Fraid I can't return the compliment. I either don't know or don't recall that SC one, but I was thinking recently (after hours of listening to The Jam) that I can't think of one SC song I ever really liked. I mean some were OK, er, Shout to the Top, Long Hot Summer, but for me none of it would compare to a few moments of inspiration from All Mod Cons. It was hard to take that tedious 80s fake image after the total no-bullshit Jam approach and most of the music followed the direction of the weaker parts of The Gift (which I've only just heard for the first time in its entirety, and much of it is crap, e.g. the title track). Paul Weller solo is an improvement, but not a huge amount. It's a shame that Weller's awesome abilities as a 20-year-old haven't continued into his later years. After years of being underwhelmed by him, I'd really forgotten how brilliant he was in his prime. Someone tell me I'm wrong! I'd like to find more to like in his post-Jam work, honest.

selfmademug · Post by **selfmademug** » Mon May 17, 2004 7:46 pm

Otis Westinghouse wrote:Thanks, Unc. Shame to see it out so quickly, and for a lame Coldplay song, which you're right to ditch.

Yeah, this is why I won't come within ten miles of the TOS.

wehitandrun · Post by **wehitandrun** » Mon May 17, 2004 8:25 pm

Heh, that's fine. I, for one, don't think that is a lame Coldplay song.

Led on the other hand... very lame.

bobster · Post by **bobster** » Mon May 17, 2004 9:19 pm

Out -- Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams (an act of pointless revenge against my thank-goodness-extremely-temporary-alt.country-obsessed roommate, who is probably off on another removing board Elvis C.'s songs in a similar spirit)
In (and in obeying the general tenor of times in) The Only Other Led Zep Song I Ever Really Liked, even though I made a point of hating them way back when....

Specials - Do Nothing
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Tom Waits - Time
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
Neil Finn - Try Whistling This
Van Morrison - Sweet Thing
Woody Guthrie: Blowin' Down The Road (I Ain't Gonna Be Treated This Way)
Al Green - Love and Happiness
Style Council - Boy Who Cried Wolf
Led Zeppelin -- Fool in the Rain

Tim(e) · Post by **Tim(e)** » Mon May 17, 2004 9:38 pm

Out -- Style Council; I always loved the Jam but after seeing them live (for wont of a better word) and amost falling asleep, to this day I am unable to stomach the SC .
In (in a somewhat similar vein, but far more palatable) Dana Bryant and Ronny Jordan mixed by the wonderful DJ Krush

Specials - Do Nothing
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Tom Waits - Time
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
Neil Finn - Try Whistling This
Van Morrison - Sweet Thing
Woody Guthrie: Blowin' Down The Road (I Ain't Gonna Be Treated This Way)
Al Green - Love and Happiness
Led Zeppelin -- Fool in the Rain
Dana Bryant and Ronny Jordan -- The Jackal

El Vez · Post by **El Vez** » Mon May 17, 2004 10:30 pm

bobster wrote:Out -- Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams (an act of pointless revenge against my thank-goodness-extremely-temporary-alt.country-obsessed roommate, who is probably off on another removing board Elvis C.'s songs in a similar spirit)

I try so hard to be good.

Uncomplicated · Post by **Uncomplicated** » Tue May 18, 2004 12:26 am

I was "introduced" to The Style Council before the Jam. I definitely can see how someone who knew The Jam first would not care for TSC. But I love 'em! And will expound further on The Jam thread when I have more time.

Out: Neil Finn - Try Whistling This
In: The Clash - Lost In The Supermarket

Specials - Do Nothing
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Tom Waits - Time
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
The Clash - Lost In The Supermarket
Van Morrison - Sweet Thing
Woody Guthrie: Blowin' Down The Road (I Ain't Gonna Be Treated This Way)
Al Green - Love and Happiness
Led Zeppelin -- Fool in the Rain
Dana Bryant and Ronny Jordan -- The Jackal

Gillibeanz · Post by **Gillibeanz** » Tue May 18, 2004 1:08 am

El Vez wrote:Gilli,

Blue and I just got tired of throwing our computers out the window. It was purely an economical decision.

Gillibeanz · Post by **Gillibeanz** » Tue May 18, 2004 1:13 am

At the fear of being booed may I also state for the record that im quite fond of Coldplay too? *running for cover*

In the words of that great man Popeye "I tells it like it is! ug ug ug!"

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Tue May 18, 2004 1:18 am

I was quite impressed by parts of the first LP wjem I first heard it, the first 4-5 songs, and thought Yellow was a wonderful single, but Parachutes ran out of steam towards the end (with boring tosh like Everything's Not Lost). LP2 was hyped up to a ridiculous degree, as if a large, secret conference had decided they were to be bigger than U2, and suddenly their name was out of all proportion to their quite limited talents. I think they have some positive points, but overall are very unimaginative and limited, and I have joined the ranks of Coldplay slaggers as they simply don't deserve to have got as far as this. And calling your daughter Apple says it all.

Mike Boom · Post by **Mike Boom** » Tue May 18, 2004 1:26 am

Out - Talking Heads (tired of that song sorry)
In - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers

Specials - Do Nothing
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Tom Waits - Time
Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers - Pablo Picasso
The Clash - Lost In The Supermarket
Van Morrison - Sweet Thing
Woody Guthrie: Blowin' Down The Road (I Ain't Gonna Be Treated This Way)
Al Green - Love and Happiness
Led Zeppelin -- Fool in the Rain
Dana Bryant and Ronny Jordan -- The Jackal

Bob And Charlotte · Post by **Bob And Charlotte** » Tue May 18, 2004 7:16 am

Out: Dana Bryant and Ronny Jorkal -- The Jackal
In: Bob Dylan - Not Dark Yet

Specials - Do Nothing
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Tom Waits - Time
Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers - Pablo Picasso
The Clash - Lost In The Supermarket
Van Morrison - Sweet Thing
Woody Guthrie: Blowin' Down The Road (I Ain't Gonna Be Treated This way)
Al Green - Love and Happiness
Led Zeppelin -- Fool in the Rain
Bob Dylan - Not Dark Yet

Glad to see Woody in here! Thanks BWAP

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Tower of Song

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