June 2020 Record Challenge Thread (The RAFFLE continues!)

Day 9 - Gatefold Art

Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds In Country Music

I chose this one not so much because it’s my “favorite” gatefold art, but it is a good example of gatefold art that is far far better than the actual album cover. The colors and style of the gatefold, water-colored psychadelia on an egg-shell background, fits the feeling of the music so much better than that 1800’s photo with the cheap tattoo shop design around it. If I could remake the album sleeve I would put this gatefold pic on the cover and have all back cover printed in the same color and font as the lyrics in the gatefold. Oh what could have been....

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Day (11) – Hype up a bassist or keyboardist that doesn’t get enough credit
The Dresden Dolls - The Virginia Monologues (2015)

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I was going to go with Tori Amos today but it felt like a safe choice. She's a kick-ass piano player anyway.
So I went with Amanda Palmer on piano and Brian Viglione on drums, a.k.a. The Dresden Dolls, a cabaret punk duo that, as Neil Gaiman appropriately described once, don't play instruments but HIT THEM HARD.
Amanda has a very particular way to play/hit the piano, and it's evident on songs like "Sex changes" or "Modern moonlight". I am not a fan of their slow songs (that is, when they're not hitting the instruments but playing them), but they're fine. If you never heard these people, you should. They're crazy AF.
 
Day 10 - Puberty a.k.a. Rebellious Youth

Guns N Roses - Use Your Illusion II

I’m cruising through albums today and they’re all sounding great. Good day to play catch-up.

So, this album has the honor of being my very first cassette tape that I bought for myself (well, had my aunt buy, because I wasn’t old enough) and also the very first compact disc I bought for myself (well, had my aunt buy, because I wasn’t old enough). A friend and I made a deal that if he bought Use Your Illusion 1 I would buy 2, so that we could listen to both. Although 1 has November Rain and Coma, I still think I won on that deal because 2 has Estranged, You Could Be Mine, Knockin On Heaven’s Door, Civil War and (one of my favorite, most underrated, GnR songs) Breakdown.

The rebellious part was that we probably listened to Get In The Ring more than any other song back when I first got it on cassette. We just liked the swears.

You be rippin off the fuckin kids while they’re payin their hard earned money to read about the bands they wanna know about. You wanna antagonize me, antagonize me, motherfucker! Get in the ring, motherfucker! And I’ll kick your bitchy little ass...........punk!
So unnecessary yet so exciting for a 12 year old and his friends. Hahaha.

...and in this corner....weighing in at 850 lbs......Guns N Roses.....
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Day 11 - Hype up a bassist or keyboardist that doesn’t get enough credit

Paul McCartney - Pure McCartney

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I know what you're thinking...

Paul McCartney is one of the most famous musicians EVER! How could he be underrated?

I'll argue with anyone that he is still underrated as a pure bass player.

As a bass player, bass teacher, music grad, music nerd, student of bass, and bass bonehead - Paul is my favorite bass player. He is creative, innovative, melodic, funky, thoughtful, and has a killer tone. He does all of this while not showboating - limited if any bass solos. He truly serves the music he writes to which is harder than it seems.

Bass highlights: "Something, Dear Prudence, Golden Slumbers, Day In The Life, Taxman, Come Together"

Not to mention, Paul can rock the ivories as well. You might have heard the songs "Let It Be, Hey Jude, Lady Madonna, Golden Slumbers, (really the entire Abbey Road B-Side medley) and, of course the great stand-out, Martha My Dear"

Not wavering on this! I am passionate here! <3
 
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Day 11 - Hype up a bassist or keyboardist that doesn’t get enough credit

Howard Jones - Human’s Lib

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Many people know Howard Jones for his many hits like What is Love?, Things Can Only Get Better, New Song, No One is to Blame, etc but I’m here for his more contemplative piano work on songs like Hide and Seek, which he chose to play at Live Aid instead of one of his more well known songs. Howard is a trained classical pianist and I think that often gets over looked as he came up in the synth age (plus he could rock a keytar like no other)

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Day 11: Bassist Hype

I’m not sure if underrated is a right term for him, but the name that immediately came to my mind for this theme was Louis Johnson, session bassist and one half of The Brothers Johnson!

He played the bass line on Michael McDonald’s “I Keep Forgettin’”, he played on Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and a few other tracks on “Thriller”, and on a number of other albums in the late ‘70s and ‘80s (a lot of which were produced by Quincy Jones), including all but one track on Michael’s solo breakthrough...

Michael Jackson - Off the Wall

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He also co-wrote “Get On the Floor“.
 
scotthilk said:
Day 11 - Hype up a bassist or keyboardist that doesn’t get enough credit

Paul McCartney - Pure McCartney

View attachment 51457

I know what you're thinking...

Paul McCartney is one of the most famous musicians EVER! How could he be underrated?

I'll argue with anyone that he is still underrated as a pure bass player.

As a bass player, bass teacher, music grad, music nerd, student of bass, and bass bonehead - Paul is my favorite bass player. He is creative, innovative, melodic, funky, thoughtful, and has a killer tone. He does all of this while not showboating - limited if any bass solos. He truly serves the music he writes to which is harder than it seems.

Bass highlights: "Something, Dear Prudence, Golden Slumbers, Day In The Life, Taxman, Come Together"

Not to mention, Paul can rock the ivories as well. You might have heard the songs "Let It Be, Hey Jude, Lady Madonna, Golden Slumbers, (really the entire Abbey Road B-Side medley) and, of course the great stand-out, Martha My Dear"

Not wavering on this! I am passionate here! <3
Click to expand...

I was going to go with Macca too. Future generations will marvel how we lived on the planet at the same time as him and didn’t give him the praise he is truly due. Listened to Pipes Of Peace album recently, real solid. The guy just knows music.
 
Murfocakes said:
I was going to go with Macca too. Future generations will marvel how we lived on the planet at the same time as him and didn’t give him the praise he is truly due. Listened to Pipes Of Peace album recently, real solid. The guy just knows music.
Click to expand...
Nice! Which were you going to post? I appreciate you replying.

I saw him last year - definitely one of the highlights of my entire life.
 
Day 11 - Gimme That Bass

The Dap Kings - A Closer Look at the Dap Kings
Featuring Bosco Mann (aka Gabriel Roth)

As a drummer I have the utmost respect for bass players, especially players as talented as Bosco Mann. The Dap Kings are heroes of mine, no question...always so tight, smart, funky and smooth.

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I resisted posting my band yet again, but I'll throw in a mention for my homie and great friend,
bass player extraordinaire Johnny Dick. 🍻
 
Day 11: Underrated Keyboardist

He's the guy that replaced Brian Eno in Roxy Music. He's also the keyboardist that plays on my favorite stretch of Roxy Music albums - Stranded, Country Music, Siren, Viva!.

He played with Zappa for a year or so, original member of U.K., played with Jethro Tull, Brian Ferry, Phil Manzanera.

This album is considered his first solo - Zinc was the backing band, but they didn't play on most of the tracks.

Eddie Jobson / Zinc ‎– The Green Album
Capitol Records ‎– ST-12275, 1983

Canadian pressing

Pressed at Capitol Records-EMI Of Canada Limited

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Day 11: Bass and/or Keys

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Jackie Mittoo "The Keyboard King of Studio One"

Underrated AND a king? Hell yeah! Founding member of The Skatalites (at 15!!!) who helped invent ska and who were the house band at Studio One! Even after they disbanded he continued to do session work for Studio One and helped usher in Rocksteady and eventually Reggae! This is a nice comp I can never get tired of!

This is a jam:

 
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