never leave a man behind
Nick Tabor
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Arts
Kids who grew up on classic rock radio hold certain advantages over those who didn't. All those hours spent in the backseat of our parents' cars steadily educated us about the best times and the worst times in '60s and '70s rock 'n' roll.
But it came with a price.
Think about all those famous artists whose best material never made it to the radio and whose radio material fell far short of their best work. This presented a stumbling block in those formative years: we dismissed those artists, and in some cases, we never found out how great they really were.
So, here's a handful of artists whose popular material deceives us, whom we overlook all too often.
1. Neil Young: I once considered "Keep on Rocking in the Free World" another corny salute to America, freedom and rock 'n' roll. But Neil meant it as a complex commentary on the George H.W. Bush administration.
The song typifies his two greatest strengths: his songwriting - usually marked by folk sensibilities, sharp political and social commentary and emotional catharsis - and his ability to rock harder than, like, anyone. As far as I can tell, he invented the noisy, dissonant guitar solo, a la "Ghost Is Born"-era Jeff Tweedy. Go buy "Rust Never Sleeps" for a taste of his folk side and his rock side on the same album.
2. Randy Newman: I'm not sure I want to live in a country where "You've Got a Friend in Me," which Newman wrote for the "Toy Story" soundtrack, receives more attention than "Political Science," from Newman's 1972 album "Sail Away."
Still, the two songs reminds us that he could write sentimental songs exceptionally well, but he also had a drier and more biting sense of humor than the "South Park" writers. He spared no one: the United States, Christians, midgets. And he crafted terrific melodies. Imagine a more sarcastic, less profane Ben Folds. Check out any of his first four albums (i.e. anything released before 1975).
3. Otis Redding: He recorded "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" just three days before he died. It may top every other single he recorded previously, but it still sounds substantially different than most of his catalogue. He's one of the greatest soul singers we've ever had. Listen to "The Immortal Otis Redding" or "In Person at the Whiskey a Go Go."
4. Bruce Springsteen: I hope I don't sound like a broken record here. To reiterate: "Born in the U.S.A." is trash, and so is almost every record that followed it. Go back to "Born to Run" and "Darkness on the Edge of Town" for some incredible American rock music.
5. Harry Nilsson: You probably don't know who he is, right? He wrote that "Lime in the coconut" song. No one becomes famous by writing lyrics like "I sang my balls off for you, baby," or by recording Irving Berlin songs, or by recording albums right after rupturing his vocal cords. Nilsson did all those things.
Still, when John Lennon and Paul McCartney declare you their favorite American artist, you can do almost anything you want.
6. John Mellencamp: Just kidding. Writing a song called "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." should be outlawed. It should be punishable by hanging. You can say President Bush dragged the United States' reputation through the mud by taking us to war, but I think this song did greater damage.
Hillsdale College Collegian
But it came with a price.
Think about all those famous artists whose best material never made it to the radio and whose radio material fell far short of their best work. This presented a stumbling block in those formative years: we dismissed those artists, and in some cases, we never found out how great they really were.
So, here's a handful of artists whose popular material deceives us, whom we overlook all too often.
1. Neil Young: I once considered "Keep on Rocking in the Free World" another corny salute to America, freedom and rock 'n' roll. But Neil meant it as a complex commentary on the George H.W. Bush administration.
The song typifies his two greatest strengths: his songwriting - usually marked by folk sensibilities, sharp political and social commentary and emotional catharsis - and his ability to rock harder than, like, anyone. As far as I can tell, he invented the noisy, dissonant guitar solo, a la "Ghost Is Born"-era Jeff Tweedy. Go buy "Rust Never Sleeps" for a taste of his folk side and his rock side on the same album.
2. Randy Newman: I'm not sure I want to live in a country where "You've Got a Friend in Me," which Newman wrote for the "Toy Story" soundtrack, receives more attention than "Political Science," from Newman's 1972 album "Sail Away."
Still, the two songs reminds us that he could write sentimental songs exceptionally well, but he also had a drier and more biting sense of humor than the "South Park" writers. He spared no one: the United States, Christians, midgets. And he crafted terrific melodies. Imagine a more sarcastic, less profane Ben Folds. Check out any of his first four albums (i.e. anything released before 1975).
3. Otis Redding: He recorded "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" just three days before he died. It may top every other single he recorded previously, but it still sounds substantially different than most of his catalogue. He's one of the greatest soul singers we've ever had. Listen to "The Immortal Otis Redding" or "In Person at the Whiskey a Go Go."
4. Bruce Springsteen: I hope I don't sound like a broken record here. To reiterate: "Born in the U.S.A." is trash, and so is almost every record that followed it. Go back to "Born to Run" and "Darkness on the Edge of Town" for some incredible American rock music.
5. Harry Nilsson: You probably don't know who he is, right? He wrote that "Lime in the coconut" song. No one becomes famous by writing lyrics like "I sang my balls off for you, baby," or by recording Irving Berlin songs, or by recording albums right after rupturing his vocal cords. Nilsson did all those things.
Still, when John Lennon and Paul McCartney declare you their favorite American artist, you can do almost anything you want.
6. John Mellencamp: Just kidding. Writing a song called "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." should be outlawed. It should be punishable by hanging. You can say President Bush dragged the United States' reputation through the mud by taking us to war, but I think this song did greater damage.
Hillsdale College Collegian
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