Posted by marcstuart on 4/26/2021 8:04:00 PM (view original):
Not sure I agree. Elvis C, Freddy Mercury, these performers had such tremendous talent first of all. When you say DNA, I'm thinking of that undefinable (and certainly original) amalgam that John, Paul, George and Ringo were able to forge while learning their craft in places like Hamburg. This led to a whole new art form. The 3 minute pop record. The "band" concept, genius and revolutionary recording techniques, gorgeous harmony, and of course new techniques on the electric guitar. These later artists definitely benefitted from the Fab 4 forging a new path but still stand on their own.

You can't overlook that the Fab 4 had to curtail their live performances almost completely by the time they'd become famous. Those others really shone on the stage. ESPECIALLY Queen.

If you wanna talk shared DNA, I'd go more with the other holy grail groups like the Stones, Who, Kinks, maybe Zeppelin.

I’m talking about natural approach to life and music and life in music and music in life.
for example Elvis has the acerbic witty great wordplay
and edginess of Lennon and a wonderful sense of melody like Paul and John. It is just innate.
and Bowie also has a bond with the 70s Lennon to some extent which led to them collaborating.
they just seem to breath the same musical air.

Elvis as a bard is also of course comparable to Dylan but in subject matter he is much more akin to Lennon.

It is very difficult to name a favorite Beatles song but if pushed to answer with one I will have to go with Strawberry Fields.

Ending my survey of the Beatles in the 70s
this is my ranking of the 5 star albums

1. Plastic Ono Band - John - 1970
2. Band On The Run - Paul - 1974
3. All Things Must Pass - George - 1970
4. Ram - Paul - 1971
5. Imagine - John - 1971
6. Living In The Material World - George - 1973
7. Walls And Bridges - John - 1974
8. McCartney - Paul - 1970
9. Red Rose Speedway - Paul - 1973
10. Sometime In New York City - John and Yoko - 1972
11. Venus And Mars - Paul - 1975
12. Ringo - Ringo - 1973
13. Rock And Roll - John - 1975

I’ve got a phenomenal jazz album for you from 2020.

Maria Schneider Orchestra - Data Lords

although I am certainly a rock and roll fan and always will be I also maybe equally love the great vocalists and great jazz.

of all music I can see color most when I hear really great jazz.
Maria Schneider and her orchestra could be the best there is today.
unlike in rock and roll where the artists are like athletes and have a similar prime with some exceptions jazz musicians and composers can be late bloomers and get better with age like fine wine.

Maria Schneider is like that. She learned her craft under the mentorship of the one the most revolutionary and innovative developers of cool jazz and a modern orchestrated arranged jazz sound - The great Gil Evans.
she didn’t burst onto the albums scene for herself until the 1990s when she was in her 30s. She has been acclaimed ever since and was lauded and loved by none other then David Bowie.

Her latest album which came out in 2020 called Data Lords is considered by many to be her finest and a culmination of of her creative history.
The album has a theme about technology and high tech and its influence in modern society and music and it is a sprawling double lp album of deep, penetrating and sometimes dark or somber but also colorful melodies.
imagine a dash of miles and a dash of coletrane and Oliver Nelson and a whole lot of Gil Evans laced with Gustav Mahler.

Turn off the lights and put on the headphones or just use your ears and close your eyes and be transported to an intergalactic trip...pick your worm hole and you just might navigate through time.
that’s what this elevated sublime senses awakening music can do.

Maria Schneider Orchestra - Data Lords

I would love to know if anyone who reads this thread has bought any non used cds or lps in the last 6 months.
and if so from what type of establishment.
what you got would of course be very welcome.

Yes. Zia Records, Tucson (for one)

Btw - Data Lords is by far and away the jazz album garnering best of the year by the most prestigious jazz publications.

I’m doing mostly jazz and vocalists for a while.
at some point during the summer I’ll do ratings with discussion of the Sinatra capitol albums.
that will be fun.
in the fall I’ll do the Sinatra Reprise albums.

The field of vocalists is certainly not what it was in the years of 1939 - 1979 but there are a few good ones and coming up I will tell you about the new it girl in jazz and pop vocals to look out for.
in the world of female vocalists Barbara Streisand is of course still the grand master and the current great under her is Diana Krall but there is a new star rising.
story tomorrow.

My daughter introduced me to Bruno Mars' music. Not bad.

Attn - K Mart Shoppers

For all fans of The Black Keys -
There is a fairly new Canadian duo called The Blue Stones and they are quite good... they have some really good psychedelic vibes in their garage rock.

recommended.

An interesting Beatles Podcast called Another Kind of Mind (a different kind of Beatles podcast ).
the episode on now is a study into female protagonists in McCartney songs.

Haven’t seen mention of The Tragically Hip.

Blow at High Dough
So Hard Done By
Little Bones
New Orleans is Sinking

I could go on...

so I will

Last of the Unplucked Gems
Poets
Long Time Running
many more

Great band who I think is not given their due

They are a great band and one of the best from Canada.
I saw them in concert on a bill with Jellyfish.