Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site cornell.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!vax135!cornell!doug From: doug@cornell.UUCP (Douglas Campbell) Newsgroups: net.music Subject: The best rock & classical music (to me) Message-ID: <6073@cornell.UUCP> Date: Fri, 3-Feb-84 20:11:28 EST Article-I.D.: cornell.6073 Posted: Fri Feb 3 20:11:28 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 8-Feb-84 04:51:14 EST Organization: Cornell Computer Science Lines: 84 I've tried to restrain myself, but I can't. Here's my comments on my favorite rock and classical music. Rock first, then classical. First, my list of indispensable, absolute favorite rock albums: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes - The Yes Album Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon Fragile Close to the Edge King Crimson - Court of the Crimson King Brian Eno - Another Green World Soft Machine - Soft Machine Soft Machine Volume II Beatles - White Album (The Beatles) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Explanations of the choices: Yes: These three Yes albums have been correctly identified by others on the net as their best. This is the peak of sophisticated art rock, especially Close to the Edge. Brian Eno: Though I usually find Eno too weird and unimaginative, this album is lyrical (for him) and emotionally pleasing. It even gets (dare I say it?) *funky* at times. Beatles: I refuse to discuss the Beatles for political reasons. Pink Floyd: Dark Side is possibly the greatest bluesy rock ever made. My favorite tune is Any Colour you Like. It's a shame that Gilmour and the rest faded out and Waters took over with his pretentious drivel. (Shields on, Scotty - flames ahead.) King Crimson: The only album from them that I like, this disc has excellent haunting imagery. Sort of a mixture of Yes and Pink Floyd. Soft Machine: Soft Machine in the '70s has turned into a progressive jazz group. This is not the Soft Machine that I like, though jazz fans have told me that it is good jazz. The Soft Machine albums I like were made in '68 and '69 when they were an experimental rock group like Pink Floyd, but much more talented and imaginative. Unfortunately, these are now out of print. I managed to get them packaged together from ABC's Command records label (RSSD 964-2) in a cut-out bin. If your tastes are similar to mine, you should try desperately to get a hold of them. Random Comments: This list does not cover every bit of rock I like, just the peaks. I've noticed that a disturbingly high percentage of rock music I like was done before 1974. Anyone else notice a 10 year drought? And now, classical. Much classical music has been covered well on the net - I have only a few suggestions of albums not yet mentioned: Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra - Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic This recording finds my favorite bunch at their best. Karajan is especially good with his string section in this record - they cry out yearningly. The rest of the orchestra is in top form. Wagner: Orchestral Masterpieces from the Ring - Leopold Stokowski, LSO The second side of this record has Sigfried's Rhine Journey and Siegfried's Death and Funeral Music performed gorgeously. The first side ain't bad, either. Available as a London Treasury reissue STS-15565. Beethoven 3rd Symphony (Eroica) - Otto Klemperer and the Philharmonia Orch. I've had a hard time finding a good Eroica, but this one seems to capture all the emotional depth. On the Angel label. Random Comments: Thanks to all you netters that contributed to the intelligent, informative discussions on Mahler. Let's have more of the same dealing with some other composers, e.g. Richard Strauss, Wagner, Beethoven ... Still looking for a good Beethoven 9th, Doug Campbell ARPA: doug@cornell UUCP: cornell!doug