Rick Wakeman's 10 Favorite 70s Rock Songs (and Roc
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Topic: Rick Wakeman's 10 Favorite 70s Rock Songs (and Roc
Posted By: MortSahlFan
Subject: Rick Wakeman's 10 Favorite 70s Rock Songs (and Roc
Date Posted: November 26 2020 at 17:03
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“I never left the seventies,” the keyboard legend admits, “It was such an explosive era for music.” Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall When I was living in Switzerland there was a wonderful pub in Montreux called The White Horse and every musician that worked at https://www.loudersound.com/features/queen-albums-ranked-from-worst-to-best" rel="nofollow - Queen 's Mountain Studios spent their lives there. It was a phenomenal place. Absolutely buzzing in every respect. It had a jukebox and that was where I first heard Another Brick In The Wall. I went straight over, put it on multiplay and waited for people to complain. Nobody did. Everybody loved it... It's very unFloyd. The Faces - Stay With Me Another Swiss memory. Where I lived was halfway up a mountain in a place called Les Monts-de-Corsier and my car journey down the winding road to the studio took exactly the same length it took to play Stay With Me. I absolutely love the Wurlitzer electric piano on it. https://www.loudersound.com/features/ian-mclagan-last-orders-please" rel="nofollow - Ian McLagan was a great player and a very under-rated player. One of the hardest things for keyboard players is playing the right thing, and he had the knack of playing the right thing. Argent - Hold Your Head Up Rod (Argent) is a good friend, and I'm not just picking people because they're my mates, I'm picking this because it's brilliant. The organ solo in Hold Your Head Up is, for me, one of the finest organ solos on a record. It's brilliantly put together, and from an era where you couldn't go back and correct notes and redo things. It's a true solo. A little work of art, so it has to go in. It's just brilliant, so good. Free - All Right Now Another track that has to go in because of a solo. https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-short-life-and-tragic-death-of-paul-kossoff" rel="nofollow - Paul Kossoff 's guitar solo's really good, but what I really love is, as the solo finishes and you come back into the chorus again, there's probably the simplest drum break you ever heard. Most drummers would do something absolutely ridiculous at the end of a solo like that, but not Simon Kirke. He just did a really simple da-dum da-dum da-dum-dum-dum. Simple, but brilliant. Stealer's Wheel - Stuck In The Middle With You They were on the same label as me. A&M Records; the last of the truly great independent labels, because (label co-founder) Jerry Moss encouraged a real diversity of music. A&M was the equivalent of jazz label Blue Note or classical label Deutsche Grammophon. If you bought something on A&M you were pretty sure it was going to be good. The production levels had to be very, very high and Stuck In The Middle With You, a simple song, is totally unique. The Moody Blues - Question The https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-top-10-best-moody-blues-songs" rel="nofollow - Moody Blues were such a great band both live and as songwriters. They were also one of the first real users of the Mellotron, the famous I-can't-keep-it-in-tune instrument that all keyboard players have, but they used it really well, and although they employed it most famously on Nights In White Satin, they used it here in a way that nobody had ever used it before. A good melody, a great song and a unique use of the dreaded Mellotron. Deep Purple - Black Night A phenomenal solo from https://www.loudersound.com/features/archive-jon-lord-s-last-stand" rel="nofollow - Jon Lord . Not a synth lover, but he loved his organ and electric piano. He got a load of different guitar effects and built this long string that went from his amp to both the Leslies and his cabinets so he could create a really unique organ sound that would cut through while doing a solo. Being great friends we discussed it at length and Jon said “I just wanted to see what I could do with the instrument rather than just do what it did”. He did that right up to his dying day. An absolute genius. Status Quo - Rocking All Over The World https://www.loudersound.com/features/remembering-rick-parfitt-october-12-1948-december-24-2016" rel="nofollow - Rick Parfitt and I used to get into serious trouble together, I was living in Surrey at the time and we'd go out to a very dodgy snooker hall in Putney, then on to very dodgy clubs until the early hours of the morning, then come back and tell everyone we'd been working hard on music. He was a good lad, I loved Rick to bits. Quo produced fantastic stuff with the limited chord progressions they used, some amazing things that nobody else did, and there's a real art-form in that. Alice Cooper - School's Out Alice has always managed to come up with songs with a broad appeal. School's Out was a classic example; a song that mums and dads liked and were quite happy for their kids to listen to despite the fact he went on stage with snakes up his rectum and God knows what else. I mean, even though he'd be a good person to have around at Halloween, he speaks well and writes good tunes that are very relatable. I've got a lot of time for him, he's great. The Rolling Stones - Brown Sugar The one thing every kid playing music in their room wants to hear is their parent shouting “Turn that bloody racket off!” up the stairs. It's the seal of approval. Music is the first thing any kid owns: parents choose their clothes, school, what they do, eat, where they go, but their music? That's theirs. There must have been millions of parents who shouted “Turn that bloody thing off” as the Stones played on Dansette Majors and kids fist-pumped the air in their bedrooms thinking 'Yes! Thank you!'. Brown Sugar encapsulates that feeling. https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=38569&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.co.uk%2F70s-Rock-Down-Various-Artists%2Fdp%2FB08LQXG6J3%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-21%26ascsubtag%3Dloudersound-gb-3390099285267303400-21" rel="nofollow - 70s Rock Down: The Ultimate Rock Anthems is out this week . 70s Rock Down: The Ultimate Rock Anthems tracklist CD1 Queen Killer - Queen Kiss - I Was Made For Lovin’ You Elton John - Pinball Wizard Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - Old Time Rock And Roll Paul McCartney & Wings - Live and Let Die Free - All Right Now Argent - God Gave Rock & Roll To You Blue Oyster Cult - (Don’t Fear) The Reaper Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son Golden Earring - Radar Love Tom Robinson Band - 2-4-6-8 Motorway City Boy - 5.7.0.5 Yes - Wonderous Stories Emerson Lake & Palmer - Fanfare For The Common Man Bachman Turner Overdrive - You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet Ram Jam - Black Betty Jo Jo Gunne - Run Run Run Gary Moore & Phil Lynott - Parisienne Walkways Jethro Tull - Life Is A Long Song Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird (full version) CD2 Status Quo - Down Down The Who - Who Are You Focus - Hocus Pocus Deep Purple - Black Night Thin Lizzy - The Boys Are Back in Town Rainbow - Since You Been Gone Hawkwind - Silver Machine Bad Company - Can’t Get Enough ZZ - Top La Grange Taste - What’s Going On Heart - Barracuda Rory Gallagher - Bad Penny Slade - Cum On Feel The Noize The Knack - My Sharona McGuiness Flint - When I’m Dead and Gone Steve Miller Band - Fly Like An Eagle America - Ventura Highway Stealers Wheel - Stuck in the Middle With You Climax Blues Band - Couldn’t Get It Right Canned Heat - Let’s Work Together CD3 Fleetwood Mac - Don’t Stop Alice Cooper - Schools Out Eric Clapton - Lay Down Sally Mott the Hoople - All The Young Dudes The Faces - Stay With Me Joe Walsh - Life’s Been Good Manfred Mann’s Earth Band - Blinded By The Light Foreigner - Cold As Ice Santana - Black Magic Woman Python Lee Jackson - In A Broken Dream Uriah Heap - Easy Livin’ Dr Feelgood - Roxette The Allman Brothers Band - Jessica The Moody Blues - Question Mink DeVille - Spanish Stroll Roger Daltrey - Giving It All Away Nazareth - Love Hurt 10cc - Rubber Bullets Rick Wakeman - Catherine of Aragon
John Miles - Music https://www.loudersound.com/features/rick-wakemans-10-favourite-70s-rock-songs ------------- https://www.youtube.com/c/LoyalOpposition https://www.scribd.com/document/382737647/MortSahlFan-Song-List |
Replies:
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: November 26 2020 at 17:21
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This shows why Wakeman is such a class act. He's always been a real rocker at heart, as his list shows. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: November 26 2020 at 18:04
| I suppose he could have picked "morning has broken", "space oddity" "roundabout" and "life on Mars." Glad to see he didn't take the easy way out. ;) |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: November 26 2020 at 20:24
Funny, I had the exact same thought! Interesting that his selections didn't necessarily hew to the "keyboard hero" model, although the Argent tune does - a fine selection. ------------- I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!! |
AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: November 26 2020 at 22:21
He has gone on record saying that he thinks that has the best keyboard solo on it so not surprised he would choose that one.
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Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 00:32
Why would he pick something he played on? ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 02:00
You do know he played on all those songs?
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Posted By: MortSahlFan
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 04:42
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"Pinball Wizard" isn't even by Elton, and his re-make isn't as good as
The Who. But Elton had a TON of fine songs. I hope he looked at the
discography before choosing and not on some park bench ------------- https://www.youtube.com/c/LoyalOpposition https://www.scribd.com/document/382737647/MortSahlFan-Song-List |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 05:03
It is a pretty good version of Pinball Wizard to be fair.
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Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 07:07
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Wakeman picked the list of 10, not what is on the CD compilation. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Manuel
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 07:10
| I like a lot of songs of his list, but as expected, I wold make a lot of changes to it. As the saying goes, "To each his own." |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 07:15
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But the list is to see the mind and likes of Wakeman only. Not all prog or stuffy classical. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 07:37
Hi, Such pucky!!! The best "Pinball Wizard" is by Roger Ruskin Spear ... and he was so good that Ken Russell couldn't even fit him in the movie instead of an overblown .... whatevah! ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: triptych
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 07:38
| Rick Wakeman and his musical prowess has always appealed to me. I remember watching a long concert of his where he played the most HUMONGOUS keyboard set ever to be arranged on a stage :):) |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 07:45
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I'm surprised that Rick didn't pick a Sabbath song, having guested on one song once on record. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: triptych
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 08:37
| Yes, Rick and Tony Iommi where friends. |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 10:57
I do, but young listeners may not, and that would be the most obvious choice. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 10:59
"Sabbra Cadabra" on Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Progosopher
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 11:45
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I appreciate the earthiness of these selections - no snobbery, no self-aggrandizement, just a list of rock-solid rockers. He knows a good song when he hears one. I would be interested to see his favorite Prog songs that he has not performed on. Rod Argent is clearly one of his favorite keyboardists. I wonder who else he likes. ------------- The world of sound is certainly capable of infinite variety and, were our sense developed, of infinite extensions. -- George Santayana, "The Sense of Beauty" |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 12:09
Can't say I'm overly impressed with his choices..there are several on his list that are mediocre tracks imho and many great rock tracks not listed....no...not gonna say which ones. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 12:10
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------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 12:22
Hi, Agreed. But stranger than his fiction is that for someone that talks so much rubbish and some B and C rated comedy, that he could not list somethings that are far better (or naughtier!) ... no Bonzo Dog Band! An incredible shame! I'm not sure I would choose half the things listed before some stuff by Incredible String Band and Fairport Convention ... the whole thing just seems so poorly chosen ... mostly his "friends", and that (normally) has little to do with musicianship. Also strange that he would pick Rubber Bullets for 10CC ... when they have far better songs in their next 4 albums to show for it. But I think that what it says is ... that Rick could not have listened to anything else ... he was too busy being a star to know any more music!
------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: The Anders
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 13:11
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A 3CD with classic rock songs from the 70's, and there is nothing by David Bowie? Also, with America, the first song I come to think of is "A Horse With No Name", but I guess that is too easy.
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Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 13:14
You've not read Rick's two Grumpy books. They're hilarious. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Intruder
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 17:02
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The set lists sound like the groovy jukebox at your local poolhall circa 1977. ------------- I like to feel the suspense when you're certain you know I am there..... |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 17:20
From America I would choose The Last Unicorn... though that one is not a typical America song, nor one of their better known ones, nor was it even released in the 70's. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 17:37
| His list on the whole looks like pretty standard fare for classic rock radio. I quite easily could imagine it being pulled straight from the playlist of one of my local radio stations. Not a very interesting, international enough, or eclectic list per my tastes, but kudos to him that it comes across as down to earth and he doesn't seem to be trying to impress with an arcane list to demonstrate how erudite he is. This might seem a back-handed compliment coming from someone trying to impress on others my sophistication, but said sophistication should be a given. ;) |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: November 27 2020 at 17:42
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Wrong. If he was really down to earth he would listed some songs by the Clash. ;) ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: November 28 2020 at 08:50
I hope they are better than his list of songs... ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: November 28 2020 at 09:23
Hi, I have the largest collection of English humor you will never know ... Rick is 3rd rate! Sorry. I would never consider him before Spike, Peter and Harry or Pete and Dud, Jonathan Miller and the others that became history of English Theater. The Bonzo's were magnificent and then when Neil Innes went to Monty Python, you got even more ... Grumpy is not a comedian ... sorry! ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 28 2020 at 09:44
I've read Rick Wakeman's two Grumpy books and they're much funnier than the deliberately offensive Pete & Dud "comedy" partnership.
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Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: November 29 2020 at 08:32
Hi, You need some more Derek and Clive, then! You must think that 2 blokes from the highest standard universities in the world would do/say a little more than just bar crap ... and they do, even though at times, yeah ... ad nauseum ... but then you didn't play that album to realize what grand stuff is there ... try the horse race for starters ... ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: November 29 2020 at 14:07
I guess that's confirmation you've not read his two books. They're aren't transcriptions of comedy routines. The books consist of stories from his musical past, and if you think they aren't the slightest bit funny, you may want to have a physician check your pulse! ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: November 29 2020 at 14:32
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: November 30 2020 at 09:06
Really..? No Who..no Led Zep.....and Status Quo and Stealers Wheel?...and his choices from the other bands is not what I would have chosen...yes I know we all have our favorites.....well, I will agree with you I would love to have a pint or two with him and talk about music at any rate. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: November 30 2020 at 09:23
As it happens he didn't pick anything for 10cc because as someone has already said, he didn't pick the songs for the CD compilation. And if he had picked it, why would it be strange? Just because it's different to your choice?
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: November 30 2020 at 09:26
You rarely if ever see Led Zep on these sort of rock compilations, I'm guessing it's a copyright thing?
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Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: November 30 2020 at 09:30
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: November 30 2020 at 09:38
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I'm only referring to Wakeman's choices, not that cd list. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: November 30 2020 at 09:42
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Again, it's only 10 songs. Who knows what else he likes. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: November 30 2020 at 23:58
TBH I stayed out until now because I thought his entire list was unimpressive, it almost feels rushed tbh. Glad I'm not the only one LOL. ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: December 01 2020 at 02:38
I don't think anyone's putting Rick in the same league as professional comics (although I've seen him twice and he is a very funny guy, I'd rather listen to his jokes than those of some people I could mention). His story about being mistaken for Richard Clayderman is hilarious, as was his telling of being whacked in the face by Trevor Rabin's guitar.
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Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: December 01 2020 at 03:57
------------- Soldato of the Pan Head Mafia. We'll make you an offer you can't listen to. http://bandcamp.com/jpillbox" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp Profile |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: December 02 2020 at 15:42
The tale of his chicken dinner being picked at by the other Yes-men (minus Howe) who were all doing the fake veg shtick was funny as hell. And his former guitarist Anthony, who could play a guitar but do little else right. And then the "Religious Bridge" and the chain-farting.  Rick needs a biopic!!! ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |