I love it when he gets into a rant. Check out the video he did on jazz albums. I listen to jazz a lot nowadays so I know the albums he talks about. During that video the level of ranting rises to a level I fell from my chair from laughing😂😂
Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk was the first album recorded in digital. It was recorded on a first gen Sony digital tape machine. If it sounds a little dark, thin and sterile, that’s why.
I really dig "The Soft Parade". Shaman's Blues, Tell All The People, Wishful Sinful, and Runnin' Blue are great songs. I didn't think I'd like it at first but it really has grown on me.
Robert's presentation is excellent. He really knows the albums and evaluates them with a sense of humor thrown in by his words and gestures.. I much agree with his point of view although I have not heard some of the albums he discusses probably because they weren't that great anyway.
Agree, except Sandinista, love that album. Although it should have been double album. When it comes to that album it is actually easy to cast some songs away and have a great double album. The Magnificent seven is one of my favorite tracks by The Clash.
I've been looking at record review folks, and people who rank albums, and I stumbled across this channel. Best one yet. I knew I'd like it when "Eat to the Beat" was picked over "Parallel Lines" off the bat. Also, I like the word "disappointment" as an adjective over the word "bad." Sandinista wasn't a bad album, but it does sometimes disappoint. But, it's the Clash doing what punks do... what they want! Overall, good job, dude. Will look for more episodes. Totally enjoyed your commentary, and you were totally prepared. Thanks, man.
Thanks!! I'm glad you understand the concept of the video. Judging by some of the responses, a lot of people don't get what "disappointed" means, and I even explained it in the video. lol
Hey Robert! Ryan from Boulder here. Great video. Those are the only 2 Blondie albums I have. During the pandemic I watched the first 5seasons of SNL. Blondie was on and opened with Dreaming which absolutely kicked ass. I asked my roommate who works at the cool record store in town if he ever sees that album and he said not really. I told him if he saw it I want it. Well about 3 months ago he walks in and says here you go, an early Christmas present. A mint OG copy of Eat To The Beat. Great guy that John. I found in my reggae albums an early Paragons album with the original Tide Is High. It’s from about 67-68. Blondie played it pretty faithfully. Thanks for the great stuff. Rock On!
Hey Robert ... Could not agree more ... Revolution #9 has to stay on the White Album .. It fits so well on side 4. I never skipped it and never will .... I love listening to it in the car when I am stuck in traffic ...
I think its detractors- if they were honest- would at least have to admit Revolution No. 9 provides a focal point to an unfocused album. It's like all the ‘60s-gone-awry chaos buzzing beneath the previous 28 songs finally comes to a head. Then the house lights come on with "Good Night", and you find the Beatles have all left the building, except for Ringo who will stick around and sign autographs.
"Tusk" is my favorite Fleetwood Mac album. It took an adjustment period, I put it to cassette first omitting some of Lindsey's songs and I had people asking me where I'd gotten it. Christine's songs are pure gold, she doesn't need a big backing. As for Nicks her mystic gypsy/witch persona wore thin quickly for me, I don't even play her records anymore. Can't believe she's on Rolling Stone's list of 200 greatest singers but McVie isn't. She has a limited range in vocals as well as material. I agree on the Pink Floyd album, it's really a Roger Waters project, like "The Wall" but even more so. My biggest record disappointment: "Victim of Love" by Elton John. Until that point every album was must own, that was a cheap disco cash-in. It's 35 min. and only 7 songs, 6 by disco songwriter Pete Bellotte. The 7th track was 8 min. of 'Johnny B. Goode'. No Taupin/John songs at all, it's awful.
Agree on the Stevie-Christine dynamic on Tusk. Stevie needed an editor on this album badly: All of her songs go on one or two minute too long, including "Sara". Christine has the best material on this, and it isn't close.
I love classic rock and disco. "Tusk" is my favorite Fleetwood Mac album, too. I rewrote the title song as "Fusk" to be an anti-Putin, pro-Ukraine song to go with one of my photos, and it won an award in my social media. I absolutely love the whole Elton John "Victim of Love" album. I exercise to the whole thing; I just wish it was longer and that there was a CD version with bonus tracks. I was wishing Elton's farewell tour included. music from that and his excellent single "Ego." People have different musical tastes. I don't understand why people who hate "Victim of Love" feel they can read minds of everyone else when they warn them against it. I don't call it a cheap disco cash-in, I call it great disco itself! I think Pete Bellotte is a genius as is his former partner Giorgio Moroder.
You are freaking hilarious and I love that There were no cuts or edits. I subscribed immediately when you said it was like Nicholas cage made an album or something. I can't wait to check out the rest of your videos. I don't care much about the groups you picked but this was very entertaining and informative.
Definitely with you on the Final Cut, Tusk, and Panorama. Those were real-time disappointments for me also. One song from Panorama and two from Tusk are all I like to this day. Also the record that came after Tattoo You. Unmemorable. Good long episode, Robert. I could listen to you go on for hours. Thanks for the entertainment!
Always noticed the same thing about adding the presumptuous "volume one" to an album. I remember buying Lola Vs Powerman (in 1983, pre-internet) and loving it so much that I immediately went searching for part two. We all know how that went… A few years later I was stuffed inside a two-seater pick up truck riding down the highway with a couple of friends when Sweet Hitch-Hiker came on the radio. Mardi-Gras was the only Creedence album I hadn’t heard at that point and that track got me all excited to pick up a copy. We all know that went… Around the World in a Day, on the other hand, was one of my favorite Prince albums in the 80s. These days I can understand a bit more why so many people aren’t/weren’t so into it, but back then I thought all of you were out of your minds! (Oh, and kudos on the sly reference to Billy Joe’s obnoxious vocal affectation. I’ve always found that annoying.)
I love Sandinista so much. Is it as good as their debut or London Calling? No. Is it a great album? Probably not. It’s such a beautiful mess though. I lucked into a UK import when it was released and it’s been with me ever since. Recorded a copy on cassette and took it with me when I spent a semester abroad in London in 1981 and played it endlessly. Saw the Clash in London that fall and saw them perform many of those songs live. There was nothing better than listening to the album all the way through at 2am. A weird and wonderful journey.
I got a first UK pressing of Sandinista along with a first pressing of Zen Arcade and a few other things for 70 cents each at a thrift store several years back. All VG+ at least. They also had a bunch of Toto records in the glass case up front for ten bucks a pop.
@@clarenceboddicker9360 or Toad O as Zappa referred to them, I wouldn't pay 10 cents for all of em in the glass case! Congrats. nice score: just looking at those LPs is worth 70 cents!!
Robert, I love your videos and your no BS approach. It turns out though that Autoamerican is one of my favorite albums of all time. I hated it the first time I played it because it was like nothing Blondie had done before, but it grew on me big time. I have it on CD, vinyl, and Japanese vinyl. I also love Eat to the Beat, by the way. Fantastic record. Keep doing what you do, even when I disagree!
Around the World in a Day is the first Prince album I bought on day of release and have bought every album since on day of release. "Pop life" is one of my favorite 80's Prince singles, especially the 9:00 version! I like it a lot. Parade is my all time favorite Prince album though. Love your videos.
When Parade is good, it’s fantastic!! Funny how many people have different favorites. He said, “It’s still better than Lovesexy,” which is in my top 3 for sure. Very entertaining vid!
You know I used to feel the same way you do about Final Cut. When it first came out I thought it was so boring. I didn’t buy it for years and then I went back to it and played it a couple times and now I love it. There are things that jump out of it that are so good. Same with Roger waters amused to death. First time I played it I hated it. But now I love it.
Amused to Death is a hugely underrated album Heard an interview with Roger and he said he saw DSOTM The Wall and Amused to Death like a sort of trilogy..
Here's the track list for the promo Sandinista Now. When I got this I was so psyched about how great Sandinista was gonna be, little did I know that THIS was the LP they should have released. Truth be told, I do like Lose This Skin. Police On My Back 3:16 Somebody Got Murdered 3:34 The Call Up 5:28 Washington Bullets 5:51 Ivan Meets G.I. Joe 3:05 Hitsville U.K. 4:22 Up In Heaven (Not Only Here) 4:32 The Magnificent Seven 5:31 The Leader 1:42 Junco Partner 4:52 One More Time 3:32 The Sound Of Sinners
That already looks much better. I would have switched out a couple of the tracks, but the best is how it starts with "Police On My Back", that's how disc 3 of "Clash On Broadway" starts. Much better than starting with "The Magnificent Seven".
Nice list, I would add Charlie Don't Surf & Lightning Strikes, Something About England and Up In Heaven too though... And now after naming so many tracks I like on this album I feel like this album is a misunderstood messy masterpiece
“The Final Cut” gives me the creeps. In a fascinating way. The death of Roger’s father, Roger’s hatred & disgust for the World Leaders at the time, The Falklands War, and, finally, the possibility of nuclear extinction are all in there. And Roger’s gruff vocals add to the discomfort. But, still, despite all that, I love & respect this album.
I get your points about Sandinista, and you're right in that it tails off badly towards the end, but if we're talking sheer numbers I would say somewhere between 25-28 of the 36 songs range from some of their best work too pretty damn good. Lyrically Strummer was at his absolute peak on Sandinista. Off the top of my head Magnificent Seven, Up In Heaven (Not Only Here), The Call Up, Charlie Don't Surf, Something About England, Somebody Got Murdered, The Street Parade, Washington Bullets and Rebel Waltz are all absolutely fantastic.
Agreed agreed agreed. Some of their best tracks which stand the test of time stem from Sandinista. Nothing against any of their other work, I'm a die hard Clash fan, but Sandinista has the accessibility and unobjectionable musical value without the necessity to be deep within the "punk craze", just straight out undying unflinching musical art
The 1st time I heard New York Dolls I thought what the hell is this!? But the more I listened the more it grew on me and they've become one of my all time favorites!
The Clash has been my favorite band since 1978. Sandinista is my favorite Clash LP. And I love the concept of bringing in so many musicians to play on the record. But it would definitely be better as a double album. There are great tracks that would have been better saved for singles or b-sides (like Junco Partner, If Music Could Talk and One More Dub) and there are bad tracks that should never have been released (Sound of the Sinners, the ones with the kids and Menforth Hill). Lose this Skin is a dreadful track that would have been great had Strummer been the singer.
Hi Rober, Haven't checked your channel for a while and I was happy to see your enthusiasm for Blondie. I totally agree with your verdict ! Love your passioante style. Keep up your good work.
I plan to one day revisit Joni Mitchell's Blue, because 10 years ago my first impression wasn't a good one, and I keep hearing it described as this desert island disc.
It's great but my favorite Joni album is the followup "For the Roses". Most of it is in the same confessional style but more mature singing and more sophisticated production without being overproduced. It tends to get ignored because the one after that is "Court and Spark" which is her most accessible.
In reading Shania Twain's autobiography, she gave a plausible reason why many popular artists/groups usually have followup albums not measuring up to their previous release: Concert touring. The time and exhaustive nature of performing live dong a concert tour; traveling from city to city, for months, takes away the creative juices from the artist/group when it comes to preparing to do a followup album. Yet, the artist/group are compelled to quickly produce a followup album to comply to the terms of the recording contract. Twain's mindset, when it comes to recording and touring, explains why her album releases were years apart.
You would think that spending hours and hours in buses would give musicians lots of time to write new material, but I’ve heard so many say that writing songs is the last thing you want to do when you're on the road.
Excellent point about never naming something Volume One 😁✌️ dude i could listen to you talk for hours. Edit: that old rock station you worked at sounds really cool.
When Sandinista came out I was working at a record store in San Diego. Their record company gave out a promo cassette 'Sandinista Now', the tape boiled it down to one disc worth of music. It is great.
You are freaking hilarious. I subscribed immediately when you said that the final cut was like Nicholas cage had made an album or something. I don't have a lot of interest in the albums or groups you mentioned but I will go back and check them out to see what you mean because I am familiar with all of them. If we all have our great musical disappointments So it is a great topic to discuss and I love your take. For me it was trick of the tail by Genesis after Peter Gabriel left and Firefly by Uriah Heep After they gave David Byron the Boot.
The dog is called TUSK. Springsteen recorded The River and then a management decision was that it was too depressing so all the uptempo rock'n'roll songs were written and mixed in. The Clash were very serious. I worked with back then and they thought they could do anything... When Strummer was younger, he used to babysit a friend of mine.
Springsteen & The Clash were on the same label (Columbia) and the Clash decided to one-up on Springsteen. Double lp vs triple lp. They’re saying “haha, Bruce, we got a TRIPLE album, nah nah boo boo lol.
Decided to just listen to Suzy and Jeffery after seeing your take on the Blondie album and liked it. That's what I like about these videos, it prompts me to go back and listen to some things I hadn't previously listened to.
Soft Parade is an odd one, but it has 'grown' on me over time. The Rolling Stones 'Between the Buttons" and Gene Clarks 'No Other' are also in that category but, again, have grown on me...Gene Clarks I think is pretty great.
Think I prefer Soft Parade to Waiting for the Sun. I personally love the horns, it's great to hear the Doors doing a more romantic album, it gives them a bit more range and the two following albums are great.
I like your opinions. Your critique of fleetwood mac was absolutely hilarious. A conversation with you about music would be cool! On a side note; thanks for giving the white album the praise that it deserves.
Great video and some good calls on this for sure I gave most of my Fleetwood Mac a spin over the previous two days and I enjoyed Tusk more than I remembered tbh, although it was the probably weakest album I listened to including all those by the classic line up, the classic Peter Green era and even the unheralded Bob Welch era albums. What I have found is as I’ve got older (I’m 50 now) I’ve got much, much better at listening to albums. The 30 year old me just wasn’t giving many of these a chance if I didn’t know the material - I blame the CD and the iPod. Now I listen to music pretty much all day, every day and I’ve come to appreciate many classic albums I just never gave a chance previously.
"It's like Nicolas Cage made an album"🤣 I worked at a music chain store when Van Halen III came out. Held the record for most shipped/most sent back till I left. Though, Gary Cherome is the current vocalist for the Joe Perry Project. Saw them twice. Solid show each time. The horns in "Tusk" is the USC marching band. Not a high school band. But I get your point. Those marching bands can get pretty aggressive, watch your back. Another enjoyable video. Thanks for sharing.
The Doors did a PBS special where they did Soft Parade songs without the orchestra and I prefer those versions. I find it interesting too that none of the songs Jim wrote have the big production.
For me , The Doors ( with Jim) didn't release a bad album. I do get being put off by Soft Parade. It's not their best even though it was the title track that made me want to explore more by them. I haven't heard the remixes. Probably best I don't The Wall is my favorite Pink Floyd album and I'm with you, other than Not Now John, I never play The Final Cut It's a damn shame you have to remind us that it's your opinion but I understand, some just don't understand that everyone has an opinion and it's ok if they differ. Love your videos and I'm always looking forward to your next. Take care :)
You are freaking hilarious and I love that you did the entire video without Edit just off the top of your head. I subscribed immediately when you said that the final cuts was like Nicholas cage had made an album or something. We all have our great musical disappointment so it is a great topic and I love your treatment. I have no particular inclination toward any of the groups or albums you mentioned but I will go and check them out because I am familiar with them all . For me it would be Trick of the Tail by Genesis after Peter Gabriel left and Firefly by Uriah Heep after they gave David Byron the boot.
I owned that Prince Two-on-One cassette. Loved it to death. I think I was around eleven years old and for some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to play it in the car on the way to Sunday mass. My father got wind of "Sister" and threw it out of the window. Then he proceeded to ask "What the hell is wrong with you, listening to music like this?" I was pissed off, to say the least. Great artists can't stay in one place for too long; that certainly was the case with Prince. "Tambourine" - come on, give the album a little love. 100% in agreement with the Doors.
Interestingly successfully I hid the 2 on 1 Prince cassette while still living with my parents. I'd only play it when they were not at home. One day I snuck a quiet playing of "jack u off" when they were home. The next day my father liked a tune with synthesizers and a loud Guitar solo that had that 50's sound. That very song was the ONLY cut in my entire music library he could been talking about. I made up that some new wave band on t.v. was doing that. From then on, I'd only play it when home alone. Sorry about your copy, Mr. 802 man. Hope you replaced yours.
I haven't heard several you listed which is surprising to me because I have an eclectic collection from the 60's to today. But thanks for saving me from wasting money on them. As you were closing and mentioned Door to Door by the Cars it hit me that I also remembered being disappointed in it. I love the Cars and have their debut on my list of the best debut albums but Door To Door was a disappointment and I couldn't tell you whats on it worth mentioning. Great episode, thanks! Ps, I just remembered, I was disappointed in Springsteens "Nebraska ". I'd recommend it for cases of insomnia.
I was very disappointed with The Cars "Panorama" when it was new back in 1980, but it's the only Cars album I still own and enjoy listening to now. I love the cover to it, too.
Even though I disagree somewhat about Tusk, I remember I had similar feelings when I first heard it. Only after listening to these deeper cuts on the 4cd Chain box set in 92, mixed with all their other stuff, did I begin to appreciate them. " save me a place" sounds like someone strumming 1 chord with no changes, but the payoff is the great chorus. " what makes you think you're the one" sounds like calamity, but was a precursor to the way 90s music would sound. The whole point of the album was experimentation. They knew they couldn't top Rumours, so they let Lindsay do his thing. He must have been listening to Pet Sounds and that era, before making Tusk, and I do admit the experimentation comes to fruition better on those, than Tusk
God, you are so right about those Doors remixes. I hate them, but what is worse is that when the remixes came out, somehow the original mixes became inaccessible. Terrible!!
Fantastic video!! I watched the entire thing, I usually don't watch long videos.. lol bro so many of these albums you mentioned I absolutely agree with you.. I remember when that Blondie album came out and how disappointed I was. I also remember when the final cut came out and I was a huge fan of the wall I love that album, I win the final cut came out I was such a disappointed fourteen-year-old kid...lol
I didn't have the CCR album Mardi Gras, but they were the first concert I ever saw (73?). Disappointing- the quality of their playing was good, but they played a bunch of songs that weren't popular instead of hits. When it was almost over they finally played Bad Moon Rising. It was also the loudest concert I ever saw. Just about made my ears bleed, lol. This is the first of your videos I've seen and I must say you are hilarious! I almost peed my pants laughing when you were talking about Tusk. I'm definitely subscribing. I'm too tired to think about my most disappointing album, but I'll think on it and get back to you later.
Oh Man you nailed that!!! All those. Spot on. 😂 The coke comment about Tusk..uh yeah! I saw them live during that period and there were snow flurries. And Blondie's Auto American was such a disappointment. It was the first place I heard someone rap. Still not into it. I liked Sandinista but they did need to edit it better. There were good tracks but a lot of clunkers. Al Green takin' me to church? Halleloo! I'll go with you, but the Clash? Nope. That was a very satisfying rant you gave. I want to go smoke a cigarette now (and I don't smoke!)
Sir you are like the Lewis Black of album reviews. I agree with your selections and your content is fantastic. Thank you for laying the truth on Tusk. Never got that record...but Sara is a great song!
Thanks for this video. It was so entertaining, I loved it. My favourite quote was about the Final Cut with Roger waters screaming - “it was like Nicolas Cage made an album or something” classic!!
I can't believe I actually bought "The Spaghetti Incident" when it came out. Oh, and I had to Google it, but I'm glad The Traveling Wilburys put out a followup to Volume 1 even if it was Volume 3.
ROBERT THANK YOU I SWEAR TO GOD I THOUGHT IT WAS "WONT YOU RIDE ON MY FACEEE" FOR YEAAAARSS hahahaha holy shit when you brought that up i spit my water out
There's a lot to the story of why Sandinista! ended up being a triple album and why it sold for a bargain price... same with London Calling being a bargain priced double album. I'd love to see someone do a piece on that whole dispute between The Clash and CBS.
😂😂 This was truly hilarious. I usually get taken aback by your humorous take on music, especially when I disagree. THIS video won me over, dude. My stomach ached from laughter! Thanks!
i got Autoamerican new when I was 9 years old. As a kid, I enjoyed the different styles on the album, some were new to me. Looking at it now, it's not a great album, but "Angels on the balcony" screwed with me as a kid and still does. Killer track.
Great Vid as usual. Agree with everything except Pink Floyd. I thought you were going to say it was RW solo lp like everyone else does. But you didn't so extra points for you. IMO its The Wall part 2 and THE last Pink Floyd lp before Gilmour really lowers the bar. TFC is in my Top 5 PF lps. It really does seem to be a diversive subject. Keep up the good work Rob!
I made the mistake of buying LA Woman on cd last year and it turned out to be the remixed version. It was promptly sold. I hate how remixed versions are now the defacto version (though the record company will attest). Try going into a new record/CD store and finding an original mix of a Beatles album now..
@@SPAZZOID100 I bought it gave it a couple of spins. I like it as an alternative listen but I like the feel and dark sound of the original Animals mix.
I just discovered your channel today- Sorry for me it took this long! Your music knowledge is vast which gives credibility to your opinions & comments. I too have a similar background as a radio DJ years back and a music connoisseur & collector - cassettes to vinyl to CDs and now back to vinyl (even dabbled in 8tracks & r2r’s) I have a bunch of catching up to do with your numerous videos. Thank you for your great work…keep the content coming!
Ironically, the best version I ever heard of Tusk (the tune) was an all-instrumental version performed by a college marching band in 1979...that should tell ya something right there...ofc, not to be out done by Cliff Nobels & Co's "The Horse" (also recorded by Dennis Coffey) ...I need to get more often...agree w your list there Robert...
@@billedwards4285 you're referring to the video here on YT but, this was actually a record of various university marching bands performing Tusk...I'll have to dig and see if I can find it somewhere...
SImply Pathetic: the Best of Extreme...Vol. 1. LOL!!!! Man, you give the rawest reviews! As a life long Prince fan myself, who go as far back as getting his first single (Soft and Wet), I had the same real time experience with Prince and the Revolution 'Around the World in a Day', really was confused when i first heard it. But it quickly grew on me and I now I think it's one of this best. I love that it was so oppostie of Purple Rain and 1999 and the more "radio friendly" stuff. Here's a controversy choice for me of an album that really dissapointed me: Rolling Stones' 'Beggars Banquet'. I know it's a "classic" and I always heard that it was THE Rolling Stones album to get but for the most part it just boring to me compared to their other 60's albums (Their Satanic Majestry request is NOT a Dissapointing album...it's just BAD). But Outside of 'Sympaty for the Devil ' and 'Street Fighting Man' the rest a "challenge" to listen to although Jigsaw Puzzle is growing on me.
Although I didn't buy a ton of music as a kid, you have somehow hit on quite a few albums I bought in real time: Blondie, Cars, G'nR, Fleetwood Mac, Van Halen, Pink Floyd. I agree with you on every single one of them.
Blondie was under intense pressure from their manager to change direction. He got the upper-hand and forced them into the mainstream and away from their New Wave roots. I also lost interest in Prince after the earlier masterpieces. Cheers.
Except Blondie’s roots were punk and not new wave. And their mainstream was Parallel Lines and “Heart of Glass”, not these two albums which had a lot of different styles on them.
I first started collecting music (records, CDs) about 1980 when I was about 20 yrs old. Yes, some I thought were weak or silly back in the day. You could say the same about any media -- movies, TV shows, books -- you grew up with. Not everything is gonna be great. I'm now 62 and revisited many of the albums I thought were marginal or bad, and, surprisingly, almost to an album I've re-appraised the works and softened my initial reaction. We have to remember the best artists evolve and take chances. They don't repeat themselves. That's what made the Beatles so great, for just one example. No two Beatles albums sound the same. They hated formula and cookie cutter styles and always seemed to develop new sounds and song structures. Neil Young also comes to mind. Some work misses the mark, but I applaud the attempt at creativity and the desire not to retread a successful blueprint on every album.
Jonie Mitchell is a good example. I love Court and Spark and Blue but subsequent albums didn't appeal to me at all. Ideally, all artists should evolve. However, based on their previous success, record companies would much rather their artists do more of the same. They thinks it's fail safe - it isn't. Music executives, who are basically ignorant, focus on shifting product instead of artistic quality.
My biggest disappointment was "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" from the Smashing Pumpkins. It was aptly named, because that's how I felt when I ran back to my dorm room and put it on, expecting "Siamese Dream" part 2 but got a double dose of letdown.
That endless river crap put out by pink floyd was misleading. Everyone was mislead into believing it was an actual pink floyd album. All it was were outtakes from the division bell sessions.
In fairness to GNR TSI was recorded during their long winded UUI tour. Per Duff's autobiography that tour was brutal and they were all spent. As for Soft Parade the doors were having a lot of interpersonal issues at the time. Prior to Soft Parade each song was credited to all members, it was on Soft Parade that individuals are credited w songs. As a consumer it sucks to pick up a shitty album, like Risk by Megadeth. But, you have to consider the many factors beyond the music, such as label pressure, band interpersonal relations, substance abuse issues, ongoing side projects, desire to stay relevant, etc.
I’m 60 and spent my lifetime thinking I owned all of CCR’s albums, couple months ago I found out about Mardi Gras and bought it. Your right, It’s awful.
AGREED! Revolution 9 is essential to the White Album. Amongst other things, it poses the question, "Which is better?" or "Which is more difficult? - the pure pop blue colkar working class music hall comic story of 'Ob La Di', or the avant-garde musique concrête of 'R9' approved of by intellectuals? At the time, John Lennon was saying avant-garde is French for BS. Of course, 'Ob La Di' has Molly as the singer in the band, with Desmond staying at home and doing his pretty face while minding the children - which was unusual at the time.
if Prince had waited just a few months longer and included three tracks from 1985 into "Parade" that would've been a great follow-up to Purple Rain. maybe curating his own output a bit better, like he did with Sign O The Times also... but according to Susan Rogers he was always in a rush
i love how he starts out all calm and analytical, and gradually works himself into a rage as he goes along haha
Agreed🤣🤣
lol this dude is a character!
I love it when he gets into a rant. Check out the video he did on jazz albums. I listen to jazz a lot nowadays so I know the albums he talks about. During that video the level of ranting rises to a level I fell from my chair from laughing😂😂
Had a blast with this, you're hilarious man! Also nice to see someone else appreciate Strange Days for it's status as the best Doors album!
Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk was the first album recorded in digital. It was recorded on a first gen Sony digital tape machine. If it sounds a little dark, thin and sterile, that’s why.
The story of the competitors having the Van Halen album and taunting your station had me in stitches. Love the channel. Keep the videos coming!
I really dig "The Soft Parade". Shaman's Blues, Tell All The People, Wishful Sinful, and Runnin' Blue are great songs. I didn't think I'd like it at first but it really has grown on me.
I ❤️The Soft Parade!
My fave Doors Album.
The title track is like 4 songs for the price of one.
I liked it from the first listen. EVERY song ....
@@jasonlamoureux7909 👍👍
You nailed it with your review of Tusk. I've tried to love it so many times. It's not horrible, just not up to par with most of their other material.
Another hilarious video! Love the radio insights that most listeners would never know about. Keep up the great work.
I see Fithen upload. I click open. I watch. Life is good.
Thanks!!
Same here. I also click the “like” button before I have even watched the video because he’s never made a video I didn’t enjoy!
Robert's presentation is excellent. He really knows the albums and evaluates them with a sense of humor thrown in by his words and gestures.. I much agree with his point of view although I have not heard some of the albums he discusses probably because they weren't that great anyway.
Agree, except Sandinista, love that album. Although it should have been double album. When it comes to that album it is actually easy to cast some songs away and have a great double album. The Magnificent seven is one of my favorite tracks by The Clash.
I agree! they could have whittled it down to a double album.
Yeah, I like that album too, but I agree, should have been a double album.
You know what’s funny??? Around The World In A Day is my favorite album by Prince. Lol. Great video!
Mine too lol
“Do I look like the kind of person who has Extreme in their library?” 😂😂🤣
😂😂
I've been looking at record review folks, and people who rank albums, and I stumbled across this channel. Best one yet. I knew I'd like it when "Eat to the Beat" was picked over "Parallel Lines" off the bat. Also, I like the word "disappointment" as an adjective over the word "bad." Sandinista wasn't a bad album, but it does sometimes disappoint. But, it's the Clash doing what punks do... what they want! Overall, good job, dude. Will look for more episodes. Totally enjoyed your commentary, and you were totally prepared. Thanks, man.
Thanks!! I'm glad you understand the concept of the video. Judging by some of the responses, a lot of people don't get what "disappointed" means, and I even explained it in the video. lol
Hey Robert! Ryan from Boulder here. Great video. Those are the only 2 Blondie albums I have. During the pandemic I watched the first 5seasons of SNL. Blondie was on and opened with Dreaming which absolutely kicked ass. I asked my roommate who works at the cool record store in town if he ever sees that album and he said not really. I told him if he saw it I want it. Well about 3 months ago he walks in and says here you go, an early Christmas present. A mint OG copy of Eat To The Beat. Great guy that John. I found in my reggae albums an early Paragons album with the original Tide Is High. It’s from about 67-68. Blondie played it pretty faithfully. Thanks for the great stuff. Rock On!
I really enjoy your videos! I am looking forward to more of them.
Thanks!!
Hey Robert ... Could not agree more ... Revolution #9 has to stay on the White Album .. It fits so well on side 4. I never skipped it and never will .... I love listening to it in the car when I am stuck in traffic ...
listening to that song in a big empty house at night is an experience
I think its detractors- if they were honest- would at least have to admit Revolution No. 9 provides a focal point to an unfocused album. It's like all the ‘60s-gone-awry chaos buzzing beneath the previous 28 songs finally comes to a head. Then the house lights come on with "Good Night", and you find the Beatles have all left the building, except for Ringo who will stick around and sign autographs.
@@DeflatingAtheism Cool, man.
Revolution #9 is a technical demo
@@adrianmaule7128 My favourite Beatles track.
"Tusk" is my favorite Fleetwood Mac album. It took an adjustment period, I put it to cassette first omitting some of Lindsey's songs and I had people asking me where I'd gotten it. Christine's songs are pure gold, she doesn't need a big backing. As for Nicks her mystic gypsy/witch persona wore thin quickly for me, I don't even play her records anymore. Can't believe she's on Rolling Stone's list of 200 greatest singers but McVie isn't. She has a limited range in vocals as well as material.
I agree on the Pink Floyd album, it's really a Roger Waters project, like "The Wall" but even more so.
My biggest record disappointment: "Victim of Love" by Elton John. Until that point every album was must own, that was a cheap disco cash-in. It's 35 min. and only 7 songs, 6 by disco songwriter Pete Bellotte. The 7th track was 8 min. of 'Johnny B. Goode'. No Taupin/John songs at all, it's awful.
To this day, I've still never heard "Victim of Love", but certainly have heard a lot about it.
Even 'Leather jackets' ?
@@RobertFithen You're one of the lucky ones then. AVOID AVOID AVOID!
Agree on the Stevie-Christine dynamic on Tusk. Stevie needed an editor on this album badly: All of her songs go on one or two minute too long, including "Sara". Christine has the best material on this, and it isn't close.
I love classic rock and disco. "Tusk" is my favorite Fleetwood Mac album, too. I rewrote the title song as "Fusk" to be an anti-Putin, pro-Ukraine song to go with one of my photos, and it won an award in my social media. I absolutely love the whole Elton John "Victim of Love" album. I exercise to the whole thing; I just wish it was longer and that there was a CD version with bonus tracks. I was wishing Elton's farewell tour included. music from that and his excellent single "Ego." People have different musical tastes. I don't understand why people who hate "Victim of Love" feel they can read minds of everyone else when they warn them against it. I don't call it a cheap disco cash-in, I call it great disco itself! I think Pete Bellotte is a genius as is his former partner Giorgio Moroder.
You are freaking hilarious and I love that There were no cuts or edits. I subscribed immediately when you said it was like Nicholas cage made an album or something. I can't wait to check out the rest of your videos. I don't care much about the groups you picked but this was very entertaining and informative.
Definitely with you on the Final Cut, Tusk, and Panorama. Those were real-time disappointments for me also. One song from Panorama and two from Tusk are all I like to this day. Also the record that came after Tattoo You. Unmemorable.
Good long episode, Robert. I could listen to you go on for hours. Thanks for the entertainment!
Thanks!! I do like "Undercover" though.
Goat's Head Soup was a such a disappointment to me after the masterful Sticky Fingers.
Yikes! Goat's Head Soup and Undercover are my two favorite and most played Stones albums.
I found this video challenging! Seriously, I love your style and agree with most of your choices.
Always noticed the same thing about adding the presumptuous "volume one" to an album. I remember buying Lola Vs Powerman (in 1983, pre-internet) and loving it so much that I immediately went searching for part two. We all know how that went…
A few years later I was stuffed inside a two-seater pick up truck riding down the highway with a couple of friends when Sweet Hitch-Hiker came on the radio. Mardi-Gras was the only Creedence album I hadn’t heard at that point and that track got me all excited to pick up a copy. We all know that went…
Around the World in a Day, on the other hand, was one of my favorite Prince albums in the 80s. These days I can understand a bit more why so many people aren’t/weren’t so into it, but back then I thought all of you were out of your minds!
(Oh, and kudos on the sly reference to Billy Joe’s obnoxious vocal affectation. I’ve always found that annoying.)
Thanks!! You're the first person to mention the Billy Joe reference. lol
I think when White Zombie did Volume 1 it was funny because it was just to make the album name longer.
Van Halen: Greatest Hits VOLUME ONE
(they only released two more albums, often found at the bottom of rankings)
I love Sandinista so much. Is it as good as their debut or London Calling? No. Is it a great album? Probably not. It’s such a beautiful mess though. I lucked into a UK import when it was released and it’s been with me ever since. Recorded a copy on cassette and took it with me when I spent a semester abroad in London in 1981 and played it endlessly. Saw the Clash in London that fall and saw them perform many of those songs live. There was nothing better than listening to the album all the way through at 2am. A weird and wonderful journey.
If you LOVE the Clash, then you can never get enough, like on Sandinista!!!!
It's gotten better with age. It's a lovely mess. I go back to it more than any Clash lp.
I got a first UK pressing of Sandinista along with a first pressing of Zen Arcade and a few other things for 70 cents each at a thrift store several years back. All VG+ at least. They also had a bunch of Toto records in the glass case up front for ten bucks a pop.
@@clarenceboddicker9360 or Toad O as Zappa referred to them, I wouldn't pay 10 cents for all of em in the glass case! Congrats. nice score: just looking at those LPs is worth 70 cents!!
@@davidstanton1261 I was really excited to even see that just sitting among the junk from grandma's attic.
Tusk is my favorite FM album. At least I’m not of sick of hearing it on the radio.
This was entertaining and funny over my coffee this morning, and clearly "from the heart". Well done!
Thanks!!
Robert, I love your videos and your no BS approach. It turns out though that Autoamerican is one of my favorite albums of all time. I hated it the first time I played it because it was like nothing Blondie had done before, but it grew on me big time. I have it on CD, vinyl, and Japanese vinyl. I also love Eat to the Beat, by the way. Fantastic record. Keep doing what you do, even when I disagree!
Thanks!!
Around the World in a Day is the first Prince album I bought on day of release and have bought every album since on day of release. "Pop life" is one of my favorite 80's Prince singles, especially the 9:00 version! I like it a lot. Parade is my all time favorite Prince album though. Love your videos.
Parade has the best Minneapolis super group every
When Parade is good, it’s fantastic!! Funny how many people have different favorites. He said, “It’s still better than Lovesexy,” which is in my top 3 for sure. Very entertaining vid!
Around the World in a Day BLEW MY MIND when it came out! An amazing album.
Confusing to say the least..
You know I used to feel the same way you do about Final Cut. When it first came out I thought it was so boring. I didn’t buy it for years and then I went back to it and played it a couple times and now I love it. There are things that jump out of it that are so good. Same with Roger waters amused to death. First time I played it I hated it. But now I love it.
Pros and cons of hitch hiking is a fantastic album by Roger.
Amused to Death is a hugely underrated album Heard an interview with Roger and he said he saw DSOTM The Wall and Amused to Death like a sort of trilogy..
The absolute best description of Pink Floyds Final cut I've ever heard.
"It's like Nicholas Cage made an album"
"The Final Cut" is so unrelenting disappointing. Roger Waters on his own just reeked in self indulgence.
The Final Cut is Pink Floyd's worst album BUT it's Roger Waters best solo album.
Absolutely agree!!!! With "The Wall" he put all his best ideas and had nothing left in the tank creativity wise.
Bahahah! Epic.
Hey Rob, good pics!! A lot of those records, through me off too... I like the Final cut though , it really got the imagination running...
Here's the track list for the promo Sandinista Now. When I got this I was so psyched about how great Sandinista was gonna be, little did I know that THIS was the LP they should have released. Truth be told, I do like Lose This Skin.
Police On My Back 3:16
Somebody Got Murdered 3:34
The Call Up 5:28
Washington Bullets 5:51
Ivan Meets G.I. Joe 3:05
Hitsville U.K. 4:22
Up In Heaven (Not Only Here) 4:32
The Magnificent Seven 5:31
The Leader 1:42
Junco Partner 4:52
One More Time 3:32
The Sound Of Sinners
That already looks much better. I would have switched out a couple of the tracks, but the best is how it starts with "Police On My Back", that's how disc 3 of "Clash On Broadway" starts. Much better than starting with "The Magnificent Seven".
That’s awesome - Hitsville UK, wondering if that was released as the primary single if at all. That right there is a great LP front to back!
Nice list, I would add Charlie Don't Surf & Lightning Strikes, Something About England and Up In Heaven too though...
And now after naming so many tracks I like on this album I feel like this album is a misunderstood messy masterpiece
“The Final Cut” gives me the creeps. In a fascinating way. The death of Roger’s father, Roger’s hatred & disgust for the World Leaders at the time, The Falklands War, and, finally, the possibility of nuclear extinction are all in there. And Roger’s gruff vocals add to the discomfort.
But, still, despite all that, I love & respect this album.
David gilmour's endless Rivers way WORSE!! for a Pink Floyd release 👎
Two sun in the sunset ain't bad. The album has a dark feel to it.
@@miguelcruz2682 That one shouldn't even count. It's stuff that didn't make the cut for Division Bell, which isn't exactly top tier Floyd.
F*ck all that.
@@lpc1231000 oh yeah ( FUk all that!!)" Not now John" track RIGHT!!??... GOT IT!!!.
I get your points about Sandinista, and you're right in that it tails off badly towards the end, but if we're talking sheer numbers I would say somewhere between 25-28 of the 36 songs range from some of their best work too pretty damn good. Lyrically Strummer was at his absolute peak on Sandinista. Off the top of my head Magnificent Seven, Up In Heaven (Not Only Here), The Call Up, Charlie Don't Surf, Something About England, Somebody Got Murdered, The Street Parade, Washington Bullets and Rebel Waltz are all absolutely fantastic.
Agreed agreed agreed. Some of their best tracks which stand the test of time stem from Sandinista. Nothing against any of their other work, I'm a die hard Clash fan, but Sandinista has the accessibility and unobjectionable musical value without the necessity to be deep within the "punk craze", just straight out undying unflinching musical art
Good Job Robert!! Although I Like "Soft Parade" I See Your Point!! Jim Would Have Enjoyed Your Road On Fire Story!!!! Peace Brother!!!
The 1st time I heard New York Dolls I thought what the hell is this!? But the more I listened the more it grew on me and they've become one of my all time favorites!
I'm glad I stumbled upon your channel Robert. Again that was interesting and entertaining. Keep it up!!!
Thanks!!
Loved that Blondie album. Had it on LP. Gave it away (after recording to a cd) and would love to get it on the real cd.
The cd comes with a dvd of great videos.
absolutely spot on. Especially "Tusk" 😄 . As you did, I warmed (big time) to around the world in a day, the rest stayed awful...
Sandinista! is my favorite Clash album. Not every song is great, but even the filler tracks give the album a personality that makes it stand out.
Oddly enough, I agree.
Sandinista is their masterpiece!
I love "Sandinista!", it sounded like a revolutionary call to arms, no doubt inspiring U2 "Rattle and Hum" and Public Enemy "Fear of a Black Planet".
The Clash has been my favorite band since 1978. Sandinista is my favorite Clash LP. And I love the concept of bringing in so many musicians to play on the record.
But it would definitely be better as a double album. There are great tracks that would have been better saved for singles or b-sides (like Junco Partner, If Music Could Talk and One More Dub) and there are bad tracks that should never have been released (Sound of the Sinners, the ones with the kids and Menforth Hill). Lose this Skin is a dreadful track that would have been great had Strummer been the singer.
Hi Rober, Haven't checked your channel for a while and I was happy to see your enthusiasm for Blondie. I totally agree with your verdict ! Love your passioante style. Keep up your good work.
I plan to one day revisit Joni Mitchell's Blue, because 10 years ago my first impression wasn't a good one, and I keep hearing it described as this desert island disc.
Not a bad idea. I don’t have it, but has always been on mind to buy.
I like it, but prefer some of her other albums.
It's great but my favorite Joni album is the followup "For the Roses". Most of it is in the same confessional style but more mature singing and more sophisticated production without being overproduced. It tends to get ignored because the one after that is "Court and Spark" which is her most accessible.
Just bought the CD recently, maybe I need to put more time in on it..
I read somewhere that Joni took a lot of flak for her OTT singing on Blue.......
for me tho maybe the greatest solo album ever put out by a woman !
Great video, Robert! Agree with most of these (but I love Tusk).
In reading Shania Twain's autobiography, she gave a plausible reason why many popular artists/groups usually have followup albums not measuring up to their previous release: Concert touring.
The time and exhaustive nature of performing live dong a concert tour; traveling from city to city, for months, takes away the creative juices from the artist/group when it comes to preparing to do a followup album. Yet, the artist/group are compelled to quickly produce a followup album to comply to the terms of the recording contract.
Twain's mindset, when it comes to recording and touring, explains why her album releases were years apart.
You would think that spending hours and hours in buses would give musicians lots of time to write new material, but I’ve heard so many say that writing songs is the last thing you want to do when you're on the road.
Excellent point about never naming something Volume One 😁✌️ dude i could listen to you talk for hours. Edit: that old rock station you worked at sounds really cool.
When Sandinista came out I was working at a record store in San Diego. Their record company gave out a promo cassette 'Sandinista Now', the tape boiled it down to one disc worth of music. It is great.
I should make a playlist of the track listing for that and hear how it sounds.
@@RobertFithen All of my cassettes are currently in storage. If I can find easily, I'll post the track list here.
@@edwardmarks4293 You don't need to go through all that trouble, but I appreciate it. I can just get it from Discogs.
You are freaking hilarious. I subscribed immediately when you said that the final cut was like Nicholas cage had made an album or something. I don't have a lot of interest in the albums or groups you mentioned but I will go back and check them out to see what you mean because I am familiar with all of them. If we all have our great musical disappointments So it is a great topic to discuss and I love your take. For me it was trick of the tail by Genesis after Peter Gabriel left and Firefly by Uriah Heep After they gave David Byron the Boot.
The dog is called TUSK.
Springsteen recorded The River and then a management decision was that it was too depressing so all the uptempo rock'n'roll songs were written and mixed in.
The Clash were very serious. I worked with back then and they thought they could do anything... When Strummer was younger, he used to babysit a friend of mine.
Springsteen & The Clash were on the same label (Columbia) and the Clash decided to one-up on Springsteen. Double lp vs triple lp. They’re saying “haha, Bruce, we got a TRIPLE album, nah nah boo boo lol.
@@kelhard I used to work with The Clash and I met Springsteen a couple of times and... no.
Decided to just listen to Suzy and Jeffery after seeing your take on the Blondie album and liked it. That's what I like about these videos, it prompts me to go back and listen to some things I hadn't previously listened to.
Soft Parade is an odd one, but it has 'grown' on me over time. The Rolling Stones 'Between the Buttons" and Gene Clarks 'No Other' are also in that category but, again, have grown on me...Gene Clarks I think is pretty great.
I like the soft parade myself. Wishful sinful great song.
I feel that way about Satanic Majesties
Think I prefer Soft Parade to Waiting for the Sun. I personally love the horns, it's great to hear the Doors doing a more romantic album, it gives them a bit more range and the two following albums are great.
The Doors, after a stellar first two albums, delivered Soft Parade. What a disappointment.
I like your opinions. Your critique of fleetwood mac was absolutely hilarious. A conversation with you about music would be cool!
On a side note; thanks for giving the white album the praise that it deserves.
I agree with your entire list! The one I enjoyed the most out of those at the time was Prince. I used to say it was “mello”
Great video and some good calls on this for sure I gave most of my Fleetwood Mac a spin over the previous two days and I enjoyed Tusk more than I remembered tbh, although it was the probably weakest album I listened to including all those by the classic line up, the classic Peter Green era and even the unheralded Bob Welch era albums. What I have found is as I’ve got older (I’m 50 now) I’ve got much, much better at listening to albums. The 30 year old me just wasn’t giving many of these a chance if I didn’t know the material - I blame the CD and the iPod. Now I listen to music pretty much all day, every day and I’ve come to appreciate many classic albums I just never gave a chance previously.
"It's like Nicolas Cage made an album"🤣 I worked at a music chain store when Van Halen III came out. Held the record for most shipped/most sent back till I left. Though, Gary Cherome is the current vocalist for the Joe Perry Project. Saw them twice. Solid show each time. The horns in "Tusk" is the USC marching band. Not a high school band. But I get your point. Those marching bands can get pretty aggressive, watch your back. Another enjoyable video. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks!!
Your reviews are great When you talked about Creedence I was rolling on the floor Keep it up
Thanks!!
Yeah that Creedence album was a turkey, but I always liked Someday Never Comes.
The Doors did a PBS special where they did Soft Parade songs without the orchestra and I prefer those versions. I find it interesting too that none of the songs Jim wrote have the big production.
I believe the backing band on Tusk was the University of Southern California marching band not some high school band.
For me , The Doors ( with Jim) didn't release a bad album. I do get being put off by Soft Parade. It's not their best even though it was the title track that made me want to explore more by them.
I haven't heard the remixes. Probably best I don't
The Wall is my favorite Pink Floyd album and I'm with you, other than Not Now John, I never play The Final Cut
It's a damn shame you have to remind us that it's your opinion but I understand, some just don't understand that everyone has an opinion and it's ok if they differ.
Love your videos and I'm always looking forward to your next. Take care :)
Thanks!! I hadn't heard the Final Cut in more than a decade until last week.
You are freaking hilarious and I love that you did the entire video without Edit just off the top of your head. I subscribed immediately when you said that the final cuts was like Nicholas cage had made an album or something. We all have our great musical disappointment so it is a great topic and I love your treatment. I have no particular inclination toward any of the groups or albums you mentioned but I will go and check them out because I am familiar with them all . For me it would be Trick of the Tail by Genesis after Peter Gabriel left and Firefly by Uriah Heep after they gave David Byron the boot.
I owned that Prince Two-on-One cassette. Loved it to death. I think I was around eleven years old and for some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to play it in the car on the way to Sunday mass. My father got wind of "Sister" and threw it out of the window. Then he proceeded to ask "What the hell is wrong with you, listening to music like this?" I was pissed off, to say the least. Great artists can't stay in one place for too long; that certainly was the case with Prince. "Tambourine" - come on, give the album a little love. 100% in agreement with the Doors.
Yeah, there were definitely songs I would play only when no one else in the house could hear them.
Interestingly successfully I hid the 2 on 1 Prince cassette while still living with my parents. I'd only play it when they were not at home. One day I snuck a quiet playing of "jack u off" when they were home. The next day my father liked a tune with synthesizers and a loud Guitar solo that had that 50's sound. That very song was the ONLY cut in my entire music library he could been talking about. I made up that some new wave band on t.v. was doing that. From then on, I'd only play it when home alone. Sorry about your copy, Mr. 802 man. Hope you replaced yours.
I haven't heard several you listed which is surprising to me because I have an eclectic collection from the 60's to today. But thanks for saving me from wasting money on them.
As you were closing and mentioned Door to Door by the Cars it hit me that I also remembered being disappointed in it. I love the Cars and have their debut on my list of the best debut albums but Door To Door was a disappointment and I couldn't tell you whats on it worth mentioning.
Great episode, thanks!
Ps, I just remembered, I was disappointed in Springsteens "Nebraska ". I'd recommend it for cases of insomnia.
Thanks!
I was very disappointed with The Cars "Panorama" when it was new back in 1980, but it's the only Cars album I still own and enjoy listening to now. I love the cover to it, too.
Even though I disagree somewhat about Tusk, I remember I had similar feelings when I first heard it. Only after listening to these deeper cuts on the 4cd Chain box set in 92, mixed with all their other stuff, did I begin to appreciate them. " save me a place" sounds like someone strumming 1 chord with no changes, but the payoff is the great chorus. " what makes you think you're the one" sounds like calamity, but was a precursor to the way 90s music would sound. The whole point of the album was experimentation. They knew they couldn't top Rumours, so they let Lindsay do his thing. He must have been listening to Pet Sounds and that era, before making Tusk, and I do admit the experimentation comes to fruition better on those, than Tusk
God, you are so right about those Doors remixes. I hate them, but what is worse is that when the remixes came out, somehow the original mixes became inaccessible. Terrible!!
Kind of like what happened with ZZ Top on CD. It sucked when they still had CD jukeboxes in bars, and one of those remixes came on.
@@djhrecordhound4391 That's right! I forgot about that. Terrible!
Good reviews- pretty right. I like how you put clear words for why things dissapoint us( like not raw but sloppy)
Fantastic video!! I watched the entire thing, I usually don't watch long videos.. lol bro so many of these albums you mentioned I absolutely agree with you.. I remember when that Blondie album came out and how disappointed I was. I also remember when the final cut came out and I was a huge fan of the wall I love that album, I win the final cut came out I was such a disappointed fourteen-year-old kid...lol
I remember The Final Cut as being the one Pink Floyd that was always in the bargain bins.
I didn't have the CCR album Mardi Gras, but they were the first concert I ever saw (73?). Disappointing- the quality of their playing was good, but they played a bunch of songs that weren't popular instead of hits. When it was almost over they finally played Bad Moon Rising. It was also the loudest concert I ever saw. Just about made my ears bleed, lol. This is the first of your videos I've seen and I must say you are hilarious! I almost peed my pants laughing when you were talking about Tusk. I'm definitely subscribing. I'm too tired to think about my most disappointing album, but I'll think on it and get back to you later.
Love the Magnificent Seven! The Clash is one of my all time favorite bands!
Oh Man you nailed that!!! All those. Spot on. 😂 The coke comment about Tusk..uh yeah! I saw them live during that period and there were snow flurries. And Blondie's Auto American was such a disappointment. It was the first place I heard someone rap. Still not into it. I liked Sandinista but they did need to edit it better. There were good tracks but a lot of clunkers. Al Green takin' me to church? Halleloo! I'll go with you, but the Clash? Nope. That was a very satisfying rant you gave. I want to go smoke a cigarette now (and I don't smoke!)
Robert, agree with you concerning Blondie's 'Eat to the Beat'. Clem Burke's percussion work on Union City Blues, is supreme!
I always thought Clem was a criminally underrated drummer. I love his style!
Yeah I always appreciate drummers and clems pretty wonderful 👏 eat to the beat is very good 👍 gazz
Blondie's best album is still Plastic Letters. As much as I love Parallel Lines I think Plastic Letters is more edgy and raw.
Great video. Enjoyed the radio stories. You can easily do a part 2 on this or "another ten" video.
SANDINISTA is FANTASTIC, even the filler. TUSK is certainly laid back and (Lindsey’s stuff) quirky.
Sir you are like the Lewis Black of album reviews. I agree with your selections and your content is fantastic. Thank you for laying the truth on Tusk. Never got that record...but Sara is a great song!
Thanks!!
Thanks for this video. It was so entertaining, I loved it. My favourite quote was about the Final Cut with Roger waters screaming - “it was like Nicolas Cage made an album or something” classic!!
I can't believe I actually bought "The Spaghetti Incident" when it came out. Oh, and I had to Google it, but I'm glad The Traveling Wilburys put out a followup to Volume 1 even if it was Volume 3.
Still, technically, no "Volume 2". lol
Good to know that I'm not alone. :) I guess not knowing that The Spaghetti Incident was a tribute cover album, didn't help either.
ROBERT THANK YOU I SWEAR TO GOD I THOUGHT IT WAS "WONT YOU RIDE ON MY FACEEE" FOR YEAAAARSS hahahaha holy shit when you brought that up i spit my water out
There's a lot to the story of why Sandinista! ended up being a triple album and why it sold for a bargain price... same with London Calling being a bargain priced double album. I'd love to see someone do a piece on that whole dispute between The Clash and CBS.
😂😂 This was truly hilarious. I usually get taken aback by your humorous take on music, especially when I disagree. THIS video won me over, dude. My stomach ached from laughter! Thanks!
😂😂😂😂😂your videos are the best!!! “Sounds like Jim Morrison in 1974” This video had me crying in laughter!!!
Thanks!!
i got Autoamerican new when I was 9 years old. As a kid, I enjoyed the different styles on the album, some were new to me. Looking at it now, it's not a great album, but "Angels on the balcony" screwed with me as a kid and still does. Killer track.
More of this please, you are hilarious 😂.
Thanks!!
Great Vid as usual. Agree with everything except Pink Floyd. I thought you were going to say it was RW solo lp like everyone else does. But you didn't so extra points for you. IMO its The Wall part 2 and THE last Pink Floyd lp before Gilmour really lowers the bar. TFC is in my Top 5 PF lps. It really does seem to be a diversive subject.
Keep up the good work Rob!
I made the mistake of buying LA Woman on cd last year and it turned out to be the remixed version. It was promptly sold. I hate how remixed versions are now the defacto version (though the record company will attest). Try going into a new record/CD store and finding an original mix of a Beatles album now..
It was sad that classic rock radio stations started playing those versions, too.
Some remixes blow away the original mixes. Check out the 2018 remix of “Animals”.
@@SPAZZOID100 I bought it gave it a couple of spins. I like it as an alternative listen but I like the feel and dark sound of the original Animals mix.
My simplicity wud direct me to old record shops and buy original lp.. I just can't help been a simpleton
I just discovered your channel today- Sorry for me it took this long!
Your music knowledge is vast which gives credibility to your opinions & comments. I too have a similar background as a radio DJ years back and a music connoisseur & collector - cassettes to vinyl to CDs and now back to vinyl (even dabbled in 8tracks & r2r’s)
I have a bunch of catching up to do with your numerous videos.
Thank you for your great work…keep the content coming!
Thanks!! I appreciate it.
The soft parade was like the first doors album I ever listened to and I think it’s fuckin cool it gets too much hate
My fave Doors album.
I don't know why this dude is in my suggested but I'm here for it. Great video.
Ironically, the best version I ever heard of Tusk (the tune) was an all-instrumental version performed by a college marching band in 1979...that should tell ya something right there...ofc, not to be out done by Cliff Nobels & Co's "The Horse" (also recorded by Dennis Coffey) ...I need to get more often...agree w your list there Robert...
Not That Funny to me was the best track on there
Wasn’t a high school band, I believe it was USC marching band (Trojans)
@@billedwards4285 you're referring to the video here on YT but, this was actually a record of various university marching bands performing Tusk...I'll have to dig and see if I can find it somewhere...
“Tusk” took me more than one listen, but I’ve learned to love it. I still thoroughly enjoyed your video , the first of yours I’ve seems 😊
SImply Pathetic: the Best of Extreme...Vol. 1. LOL!!!! Man, you give the rawest reviews!
As a life long Prince fan myself, who go as far back as getting his first single (Soft and Wet), I had the same real time experience with Prince and the Revolution 'Around the World in a Day', really was confused when i first heard it. But it quickly grew on me and I now I think it's one of this best. I love that it was so oppostie of Purple Rain and 1999 and the more "radio friendly" stuff.
Here's a controversy choice for me of an album that really dissapointed me: Rolling Stones' 'Beggars Banquet'. I know it's a "classic" and I always heard that it was THE Rolling Stones album to get but for the most part it just boring to me compared to their other 60's albums (Their Satanic Majestry request is NOT a Dissapointing album...it's just BAD). But Outside of 'Sympaty for the Devil ' and 'Street Fighting Man' the rest a "challenge" to listen to although Jigsaw Puzzle is growing on me.
I definitely wasn't disappointed by Beggar's Banquet. I still remember the first time I heard it.
Although I didn't buy a ton of music as a kid, you have somehow hit on quite a few albums I bought in real time: Blondie, Cars, G'nR, Fleetwood Mac, Van Halen, Pink Floyd. I agree with you on every single one of them.
Blondie was under intense pressure from their manager to change direction. He got the upper-hand and forced them into the mainstream and away from their New Wave roots. I also lost interest in Prince after the earlier masterpieces. Cheers.
I think they considered "Eat To The Beat" a failure because it didn't have a "Heart of Glass" on it.
Except Blondie’s roots were punk and not new wave. And their mainstream was Parallel Lines and “Heart of Glass”, not these two albums which had a lot of different styles on them.
"Prince" died after the release of 1999...
@@egglady "Eat To The Beat" still holds up. Not as strong as Plastic Letters and Parallel Lines but a lot of good solid work.
@@donpietruk1517 Far as I'm concerned, it's the best album of their entire career.
I first started collecting music (records, CDs) about 1980 when I was about 20 yrs old. Yes, some I thought were weak or silly back in the day. You could say the same about any media -- movies, TV shows, books -- you grew up with. Not everything is gonna be great. I'm now 62 and revisited many of the albums I thought were marginal or bad, and, surprisingly, almost to an album I've re-appraised the works and softened my initial reaction. We have to remember the best artists evolve and take chances. They don't repeat themselves. That's what made the Beatles so great, for just one example. No two Beatles albums sound the same. They hated formula and cookie cutter styles and always seemed to develop new sounds and song structures. Neil Young also comes to mind. Some work misses the mark, but I applaud the attempt at creativity and the desire not to retread a successful blueprint on every album.
Jonie Mitchell is a good example. I love Court and Spark and Blue but subsequent albums didn't appeal to me at all. Ideally, all artists should evolve. However, based on their previous success, record companies would much rather their artists do more of the same. They thinks it's fail safe - it isn't. Music executives, who are basically ignorant, focus on shifting product instead of artistic quality.
My biggest disappointment was "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" from the Smashing Pumpkins. It was aptly named, because that's how I felt when I ran back to my dorm room and put it on, expecting "Siamese Dream" part 2 but got a double dose of letdown.
True, their (or Jimmy Corgan´s) big hit was "1979" and all the rest was hilariously overrated. I had their albums.
Yeah, I'm thinking about picking up the four LP box set as an investment. I have it on CD and haven't even listened to that.
Them blo gotez
That endless river crap put out by pink floyd was misleading. Everyone was mislead into believing it was an actual pink floyd album. All it was were outtakes from the division bell sessions.
Tusk is a masterpiece. One of my favorite albums.
Storms is one of the greatest songs ever recorded.
Agree
Beyond the title track I just don't get it either.
@@KabobHope cocaine.
Listen to "Abba Zabba" by Captain Beefheart and you'll know where "Tusk" came from.
Mardi Gras was designed by Fogerty to force the other CCR members to write songs, so he could dissolve CCR and go solo.
There are different stories based on which member is telling it, but that's the one I believe.
In fairness to GNR TSI was recorded during their long winded UUI tour. Per Duff's autobiography that tour was brutal and they were all spent. As for Soft Parade the doors were having a lot of interpersonal issues at the time. Prior to Soft Parade each song was credited to all members, it was on Soft Parade that individuals are credited w songs. As a consumer it sucks to pick up a shitty album, like Risk by Megadeth. But, you have to consider the many factors beyond the music, such as label pressure, band interpersonal relations, substance abuse issues, ongoing side projects, desire to stay relevant, etc.
I’m 60 and spent my lifetime thinking I owned all of CCR’s albums, couple months ago I found out about Mardi Gras and bought it. Your right, It’s awful.
Check out the "Trainwrecords" channel on UA-cam. He does a great episode on this album.
I recall when the Mardi Gras album was in the record store cutout bins for $1.99 in the late 1970s.
AGREED! Revolution 9 is essential to the White Album. Amongst other things, it poses the question, "Which is better?" or "Which is more difficult? - the pure pop blue colkar working class music hall comic story of 'Ob La Di', or the avant-garde musique concrête of 'R9' approved of by intellectuals? At the time, John Lennon was saying avant-garde is French for BS. Of course, 'Ob La Di' has Molly as the singer in the band, with Desmond staying at home and doing his pretty face while minding the children - which was unusual at the time.
The Creedence Mardis Gra does have an elegant cover.
if Prince had waited just a few months longer and included three tracks from 1985 into "Parade" that would've been a great follow-up to Purple Rain. maybe curating his own output a bit better, like he did with Sign O The Times also... but according to Susan Rogers he was always in a rush