Believe it or not, I was just planning to add them to the list myself. They were apparently big in the New York club band scene (where their double-bill shows with Blues Traveler were the stuff of legend) and then among the boogie-band scene before their brief ascent of the charts. I saw them back in 1994, and they kicked my ass.
Unfortunately, the last I heard, Chris Barron had some sort of vocal cord pathology that did a lot of damage to his voice. That was a long time ago, though.
Dr. J
PS: No greatest hits compilation would be complete without “I’m All Out of Partially Hydrogenated Corn Syrup”.
I’m back after a while–my old browser wouldn’t work with the new boards.
First, the Osmonds: They began performing professionally and recording albums in the early '60s and honed their skills as singers and showmen for years. By the time they made “One Bad Apple” (the best Jackson 5 cut that isn’t by the Jackson 5) they had their act down solid. In my earlier post I referred specifically to Donny & Marie Osmond’s version of “Deep Purple,” which–I’m telling you–kicks ass. The song is an old pop standard that was revived in a rock-oriented version by brother-sister duo April Stevens & Nino Tempo in 1963 and went to #1. Donny & Marie covered that version in '74 and made the Top 15. Donny sings the fire out of it while Marie sounds like the girl next door. I dislike a lot of the music the Osmonds made, but “One Bad Apple” and “Deep Purple” are good.
As for Milli Vanilli, personally, I am intrigued by the history of prefabricated pop groups and the challenges they pose to critical notions of authenticity and integrity, which are will-o-the-wisps anyway. The Monkees and the Partridge Family have enjoyed a little bit of a critical renaissance since people have started to look beyond the plastic veneer and appreciate things like production, songwriting and concepts. I think Milli Vanilli were judged too harshly at the time considering that pop music chicanery (including crediting records to people who don’t actually appear on them) goes back several decades. If you try to listen without prejudice (which is hard, especially for snobs!), that Milli Vanilli record isn’t too bad. In fact, there are a couple of cuts that I think are pretty good. For the record, I never bought that album until years after the fact, so I don’t have any nostalgic attachment to it.
Oh, and a “shout out” here to Air Supply, Elton John’s Tumbleweed Connection and the Spin Doctors. And ELO, too, at least the first album with Roy Wood. I haven’t listened to much they did after that.
You’re a good man. Or woman. Either way. But for this one admission you will be spurned and hated and chased out of the village. They shall call you “Monster!” and other cruel things.
These are sad times in which we live if one cannot give shout outs to Air Supply. The other Dopers are, indeed, All Out of Partially Hydrogenated Corn Syrup.
Are the B-52s snob music? If not, I’d nominate them. The first album (especially the first few cuts) are songs you can dance to, but they’re also demented genius. It’s so off-kilter you can’t tell if it’s supposed to be angry, funny, parody, or something else. I can’t believe somebody managed to merge dance music, kitsch, B-movie sci-fi, and punk music - yes, believe it or not, this is punk, at least as much as it’s anything else. Starting your album with the theme from Peter Gunn is genius, especially when it morphs into Planet Claire, which sounds like it’s making fun of airheads (but Fred Schneider sings/speaks “But she isn’t!” with so much passion you have to wonder if he’s a little heartbroken, too). What is there to say about Rock Lobster? “It’s fucking great,” that’s what. I doubt I can top AllMusic.com’s commentary on the song anyway, so read that.
I agree about Tom Petty. He’s been making honest, energetic rock and roll for more than 20 years, and he’s somehow managed to neither repeat himself nor change too much to suit the times. I’ve seen him in concert twice, and I knew almost every song even though I own almost none of his stuff. He probably got WAY too didactic with his latest album, but at least you know he means what he says on it even if he says it too much and too bluntly. He’s likely to lighten up a bit and return to form whenever he releases the next one anyway.
Although I hate them both with a passion… I was wondering if one of you affectionados could tell me the difference between Air Supply (mentioned here several times) and Journey (as yet, unmentioned)?
Air Supply was pop music throughout, while Journey (who did find helluva success with some ballads) was mainly rock. Journey’s Open Arms and Faithfully (two of the music snobs’ most abhored songs) were only a small part of their catalogue. Journey is more akin to Foreigner than anything like Air Supply.
Air Supply, on the other hand, has almost always been about love songs. Very rarely have they done anything similar to their Vanishing Race song off of their Vanishing Race album.
I go away for the long weekend and this thread goes interesting places…
mouthbreather - I am so there. Big Ben, this here’s Rubber Duck and I’m about to put the hammer down…glad to know we’ve reached a detente…
SkipMagic - If the SDMB wasn’t all about tolerance and diversity and stuff, I would seriously be considered some sort of orthodox, self-righteous persecution on you - you are fomenting dissent and disorder with this Air Supply advocacy! We are snobs! We must have united views which don’t include include sappy treacle! My brain is starting to leak out my ears just thinking about it. I am clearly all out of partially hydrogenated corn syrup for you…
Live Better Electrically! - wow, I commend your passion, even if I can’t comprehend its focus…call me closed-minded, but I don’t see myself overcoming the barrier that is Donny and Marie to find a way to like those tracks. Again, the Partridge Family maybe (hey, they had my all-time teen crush, Susan Day, going for them) and the Monkees (great songs), but D&M - I can’t hear it…
And vl_mungo - I mentioned Journey in the OP - something along the lines of “if you love Journey’s “Open Arms” - move along, nothing to see here”. Bottom line? Both Journey and Air Supply are an affront to the ears, but Journey is more hateful because in their earlier incarnation (pre Steve Perry) there was hope they might end up someplace worth listening to. They betrayed us, man!
Absolutely the most overlooked band, ever. They didn’t create the rap/rock genre, but they were the first to make a habit out of it. They did create the synth/hard rock sound you hear from so many bands now- Linkin Park, P.O.D., Saliva, Econoline Crush, Orgy, Stabbing Westward, etc…
And they covered Englebert Humperdink’s Spanish Eyes and managed to make it better and funny at the same time.
Triva: The great James Jamerson played bass on “Rock the Boat,” so I think that gives music snobs license to like it.
And nobody needs license to like the Chi-Lites, but they didn’t do the hit version of “It’s Too Late To Turn Back Now.” That was the Cornelius Brothers (and Sister Rose.)
