Post 200: Music Update

I am exactly half of the way through Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die. Of the first 500, 395 have agreed with me. The other 105 weren't so hot, including:

"Toxic" by Britney Spears
Living with the Law by Chris Whitley
Rapture by Anita Baker
Psycho Soundtrack by Bernard Herrmann
The Ballad of Baby Doe by Douglas Moore and John Latouche
Joshua Judges Ruth by Lyle Lovett
Short Sharp Shocked by Michelle Shocked
Live in Japan by Sarah Vaughn
Hello Dolly! by Jerry Herman
Wild Gift by X

and many more. Some of the awesome winners that I was introduced to include:

John Barleycorn Must Die by Traffic
The Complete After Midnight Sessions by Nat King Cole and His Trio
N'ssi, N'ssi by Khaled
Inspiration Information by Shuggie Otis
The Best of Carlos Gardel
Turandot by Giacomo Puccini
Balkanology by Ivo Paposov
The Blues and the Abstract Truth by Oliver Nelson
Chester and Lester by Chet Atkins and Les Paul
Emperor Tomato Ketchup by Stereolab

and many more. I hope this percentage continues throughout the second half of the work.

In other music news here are the 2011 nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Kindly note that the people I want inducted (Gram Parsons, Kraftwerk, and Roxy Music) are still absent.

Alice Cooper - I can only think of "School's Out".

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique is a masterpiece.

Bon Jovi - Sure.

Chic - No disco please.

Neil Diamond - Meh.

Donovan - Is no worse than some others.

Dr. John - I own two of his albums: Gumbo and Gris-Gris.

J. Geils Band - Who? Apparently some Worcester band that had some hits...in the '70s...

Darlene Love - Background singer.

LL Cool J - I guess Radio is a classic.

Laura Nyro - Oh man, Eli and the Thirteenth Confession is a good album.

Donna Summer - No disco!

Joe Tex - Apparently a fore-runner to rap.

Tom Waits - Blech.

Chuck Willis - An early bluesman? They have a whole separate category for guys like this...


There were far too many this year I had to look up. The only three I really want to win are Laura Nyro, Beastie Boys and Dr. John. Pad that with Bon Jovi and Donovan and we'll be cool. The worst list would be Tom Waits, Chic, Donna Summers, J. Geils, and Chuck Willis, at which point I may lose faith in the R+R HoF.

So that's where I stand.