Scotch Sampler

HecticArt

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If you didn't catch it, when Townshend introduces the cover to the audience, he talks about the guitar tuning for the song. Interesting.
I'm on a guitar forum where people talk about that tuning quite a bit. It was a revelation to guys that had been playing it close, but not quite right. It drove them nuts.
 

HecticArt

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This is my universe Scotch.
My brothers had 2112 which was my first exposure to the band. I liked it, and listened to it loud quite a bit. Then they got Kings and Permanent Waves. Waves was when I really started to bond with them though. Moving Pictures was when I became addicted to them.
I started to fade shortly after Hold Your Fire too. They were still playing great stuff, and I liked the heavier edge that came back, but there wasn't as much hook or orchestration that went into the songs. I think they were just more relaxed and having fun rocking out. I missed the proggyness.
 
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sadchild

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For me it was "Distant Early Warning" that got me interested, then "Big Money" hooked me. First album I bought was Hold Your Fire (still love it) then A Show Of Hands (that's when I started to appreciate some older stuff like Moving Pictures, but still didn't and don't get into their prog stuff). I loved "Show Don't Tell" so I bought Presto, but I only liked a few songs on it. Their next three albums (Bones, Counterparts, Echo) I liked a few songs off of each as well, but didn't buy any of them.
 
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scotchandcigar

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The supergroup Asia was formed from members of Yes, ELP, and King Crimson. They had a brief run of popularity in '82 - '83, mainly from their self-titled debut album. For me, the novelty of having these guys play together, and seeing these legendary musicians live (which I did), was the main attraction. Hits included Heat of the Moment and Only Time Will Tell - which both sound kind-of dated now - and my favorite

Asia – Sole Survivor
 

IdRatherBeSkiing

Sherbert is NOT and NEVER WILL BE ice cream.
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She had many other hits .... just not in the USA. I only have passing recollection of her for the 2 hits you mention at the time. I have heard more of her on SXM/XM much after the fact.
 
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HecticArt

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While we're on the topic of period bands that didn't age well, there's this one-off I liked. Kim Wilde had a big hit in 1981 with Kids in America. Her other chart-topper was in '86 with a cover of You Keep Me Hangin' On.

06-81 Kim Wilde – Kids in America

I still like that song. I keep trying to get the band to play it.
It's funny to me, because we're old farts now.
 

scotchandcigar

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I still like that song. I keep trying to get the band to play it.
It's funny to me, because we're old farts now.
I always wonder how bands can suspend logic and continue to sing these teen angst songs when they're in their 60's. Like Surrender by Cheap Trick, or Jack & Diane by Mellencamp.
 

scotchandcigar

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I'm going to wrap-up today's installment with none other than...... you guessed it...... Duran Duran. Yes, they're pop, and sappy, but also they have talent, and good rhythm, and some really nice songwriting. And hey, it was the 80's.

They hit the scene with Girls on Film, then exploded with 1982's Rio album; with the title track, Hold Back the Rain, New Religion, and of course

Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf



and this
Duran Duran – Save a Prayer (Live Aid ‘85)



The next few albums had hits like Union of the Snake, The Reflex, The Wild Boys, A View to a Kill, and Notorious, but we have to go all the way out to '93 for this great song

Duran Duran – Ordinary World (live)
 

HecticArt

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I always wonder how bands can suspend logic and continue to sing these teen angst songs when they're in their 60's. Like Surrender by Cheap Trick, or Jack & Diane by Mellencamp.
We aren't that old.....yet.
Lyrically, they're not Bob Dylan, but those guys were great musicians and good songwriters. I always thought Duran Duran was way better than they get credit for.
The bass playing is wicked awesome.
 
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sadchild

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I did the band bio for Asia on genius.com and I thought it was an interesting story. This edited down excerpt sums up what happened after their peak:

Tensions had been growing in the band before the release of Alpha. Geffen was pressuring the band to follow up their radio-friendly hits with more of the same. Also, personal conflicts began tearing the band apart. Cracks began to show when Wetton left the band weeks before a sold-out December 1983 show in Tokyo, forcing the band to replace him quickly with Palmer’s ex-bandmate Greg Lake.

Wetton returned in 1984, but soon after starting work on a third album, Howe left to form GTR with Steve Hackett of Genesis. Krokus guitarist Mandy Meyer replaced him and Astra came out in late 1985, but its success paled in comparison to the two previous albums. Soon after, the members of Asia all moved on to other projects.

After a failed 1987 attempt to reunite by Wetton and Downes (the demos of which were later released in 2001), Wetton, Palmer and Downes officially reunited in 1989, adding guitarist Pat Thrall, and recorded four new songs that made up most of the ‘Now’ section of the 1990 compilation Then & Now – their final album for Geffen. When Wetton left the band again, Downes invited John Payne to replace him in 1991.


Asia top 5:

1. Only Time Will Tell
2. Heat Of The Moment
3. Don't Cry
4. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
5. Go

--

Duran Duran was one of those bands I casually liked high school, but wouldn't admit it because they were a band "all the girls all liked" and I was headbanger (small-minded, yes). I really got into Rio as a complete album in the late 80s and then fully embraced being a fan (not a huge fan, but a fan for sure). Heck, I even liked "Violence Of Summer" ANNNND still think it's b-side "Yo Bad Azzizi" is pretty cool!

The line “yo bad azizi as a nuclear war” is a corruption of the lyric “You’re ‘bout as easy as a nuclear war” from DD’s earlier song “Is There Something I Should Know?”. Legend has it that frontman Simon LeBon was inspired by a fan letter asking what “Yo bad azizi” meant.

And yes the bass in DD rips!

Duran Duran top 5:

1. A View To A Kill
2. The Chauffeur
3. I Don't Want Your Love
4. Come Undone
5. Ordinary World
 

IdRatherBeSkiing

Sherbert is NOT and NEVER WILL BE ice cream.
Oct 11, 2008
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Duran Duran will be my next top 10. Will save my ranking then. "Rio" was big at the roller rink. By that time, they would bring down the video screen for some songs and play the video which you could watch when you were going in that direction. Rio was one of the songs they always played the video for.
 

scotchandcigar

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This is one I've been really looking forward to. As the 80's kicked-off, Zappa alumni Warren Cuccurullo and Dale and Terry Bozzio formed Missing Persons, and in 1982 released the monster album Spring Session M. It was the perfect vehicle to transport the music world from punk to new wave, from guitar rock to electronica; all with the MTV-friendly style of the 80's. I listened to this album from beginning to end, for months. Every song was great. And it generated four hit (though not top 40) singles, with a top 20 selling album.

Dale was a trendsetting front woman, while Terry was an animal on the drums. The band was tight, the lyrics were meaningful, and the melodies were memorable. Here are their 4 singles

Missing Persons – Destination Unknown



Missing Persons – Windows



Missing Persons – Walking in L.A. (live)



Missing Persons – Words (live)
 

scotchandcigar

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sadchild

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I liked "Words" and "Destination" back in the day, still shocked they weren't top 40s. Article says she was (is?) living right up the road from me (just over an hour away). PSA: If you're gonna rescue cats, don't lock 'em in your house then desert them.
 
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