# Artists who arguably have produced BOTH the best AND the worst in their field **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 4, 2020, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937 "2020-01-04T16:31:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/41 "2020-01-05T14:30:57Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > What about George Clooney? > > He was absolutely amazing in Up in the Air and O Brother Where Art Thou while also bringing us Return to Horror High and Return of the Killer Tomatoes. > [@Michael Caine](#): > > I have never seen it, but by all accounts it is terrible. However, I have seen the house that it built, and it is terrific. I’m a little inclined to give actors a pass - although Clooney (nor Caine) probably didn’t the money, sometimes you just want to work and/or have a bit of fun (the latter apparently explaining most of Sandler’s work these days). ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/42 "2020-01-05T14:39:15Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > And then there’s **A Boy Named Sue**. Speechless. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > Cash may have sung “A Boy Named Sue,” but it was written by Shel Silverstein, and is right in his wheelhouse (e.g., “The Unicorn,” “Sylvia’s Mother” (and most of Dr. Hook’s earlier work), and _The Giving Tree_). A footnote to “A Boy Named Sue.” It was inspired by Silverstein’s friend, [Jean Shepherd](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Shepherd), writer, radio host, and raconteur extraordinaire, whose writings are the basis for the movie _A Christmas Story_. Named after his father, Shep had to live with a female-sounding name, and the scene in _ACS_ where a distant aunt sends Ralphie a bunny suit may be a nod to a similar incident in Shep’s childhood, caused by the relative’s not being clear on Jean’s gender. (Footnote to a footnote: Shep also inspired the scene in _Broadcast News_ in which Howard Beale tells people to go to their windows and yell, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.” Shep actually did that in one of his late night radio broadcasts (although not with that exact phrase), and reportedly some listeners obeyed.) > [@Lamoral](#): > > GEORGE. LUCAS. > > Thread over!!! [Agreed.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=21519783) ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/43 "2020-01-05T14:40:36Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Considering his field includes folks like Ed Wood, he has never made anything remotely close to the worst. So you haven’t seen Episodes 1-3? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/44 "2020-01-05T14:58:43Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > (Footnote to a footnote: Shep also inspired the scene in _Broadcast News_ in which Howard Beale tells people to go to their windows and yell, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.” > > … > > ) Sorry to nitpick, but that was _Network_. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/45 "2020-01-05T15:24:00Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Sorry to nitpick, but that was _Network_. :smack: Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/46 "2020-01-05T15:59:47Z")
The Who recorded “Baba O’Riley” _and_ “Boris the Spider”. So there you go. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/47 "2020-01-05T16:04:11Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Without his solo career, we would not have [the greatest drum solo of all time](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ft954vXPa4). Indeed. That fill is one of the defining musical moments of the 80s. Hell, I’d say one of the defining moments of pop/rock music history. He did do some reasonable stuff solo, but, yeah, I find most of his solo work if not among the “worst,” just terribly pedestrian and “beige” for lack of a better description. Just elevator pop. Madonna might work for me, as well. At the top of her game she was the queen of her pop / dance music genre. I _still_ love “Like a Prayer.” And then she puts out a turd like her cover of “American Pie,” which is definitely on my list of worst covers ever by a popular artist (and I’m not even much of a fan of the original, so it’s not like I’m slamming it for not living up to the original.) ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/48 "2020-01-05T16:28:15Z")
Speaking of actors, in “[The Golden Turkey Awards](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Turkey_Awards),” Michael and Harry Medved gave the worst actor award to Richard Burton, who had been nominated for seven Oscars. > [@](#): > > While conceding he is sometimes brilliant, the authors claim Burton’s "occasional triumphs only serve to highlight the pathetic waste in most of his films; for every Equus in which he appears there are at least a half-dozen Cleopatras or Boom!s. The authors state that “when he is bad … well, he’s just the pits” and list several “bad” films in which he has appeared: The Sandpiper, Hammersmith Is Out, The Voyage, The Medusa Touch and The Assassination of Trotsky. Another Burton film, Exorcist II: The Heretic, is the book’s first runner up in the Worst Film of All Time award based on reader response. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/49 "2020-01-05T18:04:04Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The Who recorded “Baba O’Riley” _and_ “Boris the Spider”. So there you go. Yer’ killing me dude. BTS has a great catchy bass guitar that carries the song. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/50 "2020-01-05T18:16:17Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I really think you don’t understand the question. Clapton is God! Proven by his playing in Cream, Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominos. The original version of _Layla_ is a deserved classic, but the reimagined Unplugged version is utter trash. No angst, no pain, no unrequited love, no soaring solos. Uggh! ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/51 "2020-01-05T18:22:40Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The Who recorded “Baba O’Riley” _and_ “Boris the Spider”. So there you go. I’ll go with _Live At Leeds_ / “Happy Jack” ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/52 "2020-01-05T19:28:00Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > Yer’ killing me dude. BTS has a great catchy bass guitar that carries the song. Yeah!! That song is nowhere _near_ the realm of the “worst” songs. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/53 "2020-01-05T19:29:32Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > I’ll go with _Live At Leeds_ / “Happy Jack” Do you feel the same way about Beatles songs like _Octopus’s Garden_? Happy Jack is seriously the “worst in their field?” You _really_ believe that? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/54 "2020-01-05T19:36:10Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > Do you feel the same way about Beatles songs like _Octopus’s Garden_? Happy Jack is seriously the “worst in their field?” You _really_ believe that? It was #4 in Germany! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/55 "2020-01-05T20:02:51Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > I’ll go with _Live At Leeds_ / “Happy Jack” …And the shivs continue. 🙂 ‘Live at Leeds’ is excellent. I like “Happy Jack” though. OK, it’s got a weird-ish song structure, but I love the kick-ass instrumental jam sessions that puntuate the verses. Almost as it’s a de-facto “chorus” for the song. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/56 "2020-01-05T20:13:11Z")
Frank Zappa. Which of his pieces are “genius” and which are “pure dogshit” are matters of opinion. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/57 "2020-01-05T23:11:58Z")
And speaking of actors… have you seen the fabulous Joan Crawford in her final movie, _Trog_? ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/58 "2020-01-05T23:27:30Z")
I’ll enter two performance notes. 1. Clapton was a good guitarist. Then I saw him at a 1974 stadium show - after the Byrds, with WAY too much treble! In the next Freddie King set, Slowhand staggered onstage to the mic, muttered “I’m Eric Clapton and I’m bloody drunk,” and fell over. He played for shit too. 2. I loved DON’T FEAR THE REAPER. I dashed to a 2017 Blue Öyster Cult casino show. They fucking phoned-in their pathetic 45-minute empty snoozefest. I guess they skipped the stimulants. Yes, just as any artists can produce inconstant works, so any performer can have a bod day. But if you’re paid to be on stage, I want you to at least PRETEND you’re trying. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/59 "2020-01-05T23:44:56Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > Do you feel the same way about Beatles songs like _Octopus’s Garden_? Happy Jack is seriously the “worst in their field?” You _really_ believe that? I’d come close to making that comparison considering I don’t feel that “OG” is a very strong showing, either. Sure, they’re more “children’s” songs, I spose, and they’re maybe not the shittiest shit I’ve ever heard, but, at the very least, I’d rank them at the bottom of the bottom. I’d posit it’s _their_ worst stuff. > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > It was #4 in Germany! 😃 Remnding me of one of their (George’s?) got-to cracks “But it was number three in Sweden.” > [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Frank Zappa. Which of his pieces are “genius” and which are “pure dogshit” are matters of opinion. Well put. I was contemplating him earlier, and realised that my dislike of, say, the _Studio Tan_ lp and my preference of _Sheik Yerbouti_ and _One Size Fits All_ doesn’t quite adhere to the OP in a way I find convincing. A very curious mix of (quite often) virtuoso musicianship and unfiltered\* lyrics. \*For lack of a better way of putting it. Maybe not the best euphemism. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937/60 "2020-01-06T01:04:32Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > **Phil Collins.** He took part in writing some of the best music of all time with early Genesis. Then he later embarked on a solo career. > > **Jon Anderson** , **Steve Howe** , **Rick Wakeman** : Some of their solo stuff is the most insipid crap ever made. After listening to it, it’s hard to believe these are the same people who created _Close to the Edge_. I disagree, yes Phil made pop music, but it was damn good pop music. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-arguably-have-produced-both-the-best-and-the-worst-in-their-field/845937.md?page=4)