Before The Flood

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

This is a poll about John Peel's Festive Fifty, 1976. Just tick all the songs you like from the list of 50 (counting down from #50 to #1, as it happens). I've put it up because i) I'm curious about the results, ii) I'm probably writing a pitchfork column about the F50.

[Poll #1137239]

And some more general questions I'd like to think about - they're quite big questions though:

- What does rock do better now? What does it do worse?
- How does the stuff that won respect and adoration on this poll differ from the stuff that critics and fans enjoy now (a VERY broad formulation, I know)?
- Where's the modern equivalent of the audience suggested here - Pazz and Jop? the Pitchfork Readers Poll?
- What were Poco and can we eat them?

Comments

The highway is your girlfriend as you go by quick

[koganbot]

Lex, I keep linking it for you, and I don't think you ever listen, but you need to hear "Roadrunner":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDJShMk-r88*

They correctly give the album date as 1976, but the recording was 1971 (and the song is a self-conscious rip of the Velvet Underground's "Sister Ray," which was 1968).

Re: The highway is your girlfriend as you go by quick

[justfanoe.livejournal.com]

I debated for a while between this song, "Jumpin Jack Flash" and "White Rabbit" before deciding that "Jumpin Jack Flash" was, in fact, the best song on the list.

Re: The highway is your girlfriend as you go by quick

[koganbot]

You and I had the same best and the same worst!

Re: The highway is your girlfriend as you go by quick

[giddyoldgoat.livejournal.com]

Jonathan Richman re-recorded ROADRUNNER in '76 (w/ a diff. Modern Lovers and no John Cale production - it isn't as hard/driving as the original, but it does have a great space-out section towards the end) and I think that's the version that Peel played a lot (there's also a ROADRUNNER THRICE from the same era, a live b-side that is worth hearing)

Re: The highway is your girlfriend as you go by quick

[koganbot]

If this is the version on Beserkley Chartbusters, it's not remotely as good as the original Modern Lovers version (even if it isn't, it's likely not remotely as good as the original Modern Lovers version). Too much into preciousness and "innocence."

Re: The highway is your girlfriend as you go by quick

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

HEY THAT'S MIA!!!!! Gosh how did she ever hear a fantastic rhythmic hook in that. Am torn between being more impressed with 'Bamboo Banga' and disliking MIA a bit more for using this as a foundation.

(I don't like it. The voice! Aaagh. And the groove just...stays where it is and doesn't change.)

Re: The highway is your girlfriend as you go by quick

[skyecaptain.livejournal.com]

Haven't you ever had a slight head cold and then written the best song ever? (I picked it for my fave!)