# File Under A (All bands/artists/composers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 29, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-under-a-all-bands-artists-composers/498062 "2009-05-29T18:46:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-under-a-all-bands-artists-composers/498062/21 "2009-05-30T08:27:07Z")
[Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb9r7AKxJKY) [Änglagård](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO6ENHCLwxI) [Ayreon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-TlaY56Bdc) ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-under-a-all-bands-artists-composers/498062/22 "2009-05-30T08:47:07Z")
I find it bizarre that people do the Lastname, Firstname thing with their filing! Afro Celt Ahmond Alanis Morissette (I guess you file this under M) Alicastro Aloha Sex Juice Allison Amy Ray (I guess this is R for you) Ani DiFranco (ditto) Anna Nalick (…) AR Rahman (…) Arcade Fire Artists Unknown (itunes artifact lol) Avril Lavigne (…) ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-under-a-all-bands-artists-composers/498062/23 "2009-05-30T14:37:05Z")
Angel > **[Angel (disambiguation)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_(band))** > > Angels are a type of creature present in many mythologies. > Angel or Angels may refer to: I file by first names also…cept’ Frank goes under Z 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-under-a-all-bands-artists-composers/498062/24 "2009-05-30T14:41:42Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > A Perfect Circle. Maynard’s more melodious band. > [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Allen, Lily – Cheeky London music + superfluous third nipple = pure entertainment gold. Big seconds. I’ve always liked A Perfect Circle and Lily Allen (and the rest of the cheeky London music crew) make fantastic music. I’ll add **All American Rejects**. No, I’m not kidding. Awesome pop rock. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-under-a-all-bands-artists-composers/498062/25 "2009-05-30T17:04:30Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > I find it bizarre that people do the Lastname, Firstname thing with their filing! Libraries, stores, etc. have long filed by last name. If you wanted to find, say, Bob Dylan in the record store, you’d look under D, but if you wanted David Bowie, you’d look under B. And you’d really confuse people if you put Mozart under W. So yeah, by all that is right and good and holy and sensible, Lily Allen is an A; Avril Lavigne is an L. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-under-a-all-bands-artists-composers/498062/26 "2009-05-30T17:42:19Z")
Adam Ant Aesop Rock (rap) Al Green Alice Cooper (he’s supposed to be good or something) Allman Brothers, The Ann Wilson (From Heart. She has a solo album. Great covers of Bad Moon Rising and Immigrant Song) Aquabats (if you like ska) Aretha Franklin Atmosphere (rap) ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-under-a-all-bands-artists-composers/498062/27 "2009-06-01T02:59:14Z")
Thanks all! I made some great additions that I had either forgot about or had never heard of. I’ve got a Rhapsody account so I was able to get thorough previews of these artists and they’re now part of my “family”: Ace of Base Acoustic Alchemy Adele Adderley, Cannonball Affinity Air Supply Alien Ant Farm Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah All-American Rejects Allen, Lily Aloha Ambrosia American Analog Set Anastasio, Trey Andersen, Eric Anderson, Laurie Andreone, Leah Andrews Sisters Android Lust Animal Logic Ant, Adam Antony and the Johnsons Apocalyptica April Wine Aquabats Archer, Tasmin Archers of Loaf Arctic Monkeys Argent Asleep at the Wheel Ass Ponys Assembly of Dust Asylum Street Spankers Audioslave Auger, Brian and Julie Tippette and Azure Ray ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-under-a-all-bands-artists-composers/498062/28 "2009-06-01T14:03:09Z")
My only contribution would be The Afghan Whigs. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-under-a-all-bands-artists-composers/498062/29 "2009-06-01T17:37:59Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Libraries, stores, etc. have long filed by last name. If you wanted to find, say, Bob Dylan in the record store, you’d look under D, but if you wanted David Bowie, you’d look under B. And you’d really confuse people if you put Mozart under W. So yeah, by all that is right and good and holy and sensible, Lily Allen is an A; Avril Lavigne is an L. I just mean with regard to music artists. Filing authors or employees or any other system where all the entries are people’s names, it makes sense. But with band names you essentially have two _different data types_. And the person’s name in my opinion is being used more like a band name than a conventional name. It’s essentially a phrase title. And then you get into the issue of band names that are ambiguous - it’s a two word name that may or may not be an actual person’s name, especially if they have an odd stage name. And of course singers with only one name - are they like Madonna, or is that the name of the band itself? Just easier or more sensical to treat them the same as other band names and not mix up the order. I’ve been to stores that organize CDs without screwing around with the order of the names and I much prefer that. Saves me from having to know in advance which of the two data types a title is when everything is filed as a single consistent data type. The thing I occasionally waver on is whether or not to include things like “the” and “a” because having a long series of bands in a row starting with “The” can be odious, but usually i come down on the side of inclusion, otherwise things like > [@bink](#): > > Los Amigos Invisibles end up under “A”. And don’t get me started on lists that alphabetize the space between words! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-under-a-all-bands-artists-composers/498062.md?page=1)