My 125 Favorite Rock & Roll Artists, Day 3

I am back today for Day 3 of this narcissistic countdown. While I acknowledge how lame this series ultimately is, I needed it to rediscover my writing muse. Slowly, it is coming back to me as I have found new ideas to explore including my wanting to do an interview of an artist. The only thing keeping me from the interview right now is that I am still trying to attempt to write the kind of questions I would love to read artists reply to. I have a fear of failure that keeps me from doing things unless I am prepared to do them. For example, I was ready to coach from high school onward intellectually, but I needed to mature into being a leader.

Right now, I could conduct a high school journalism level of an interview, but I would love to be better than that, as to both introduce an artist to you my readers that conveys both their artistic vision and the obstacles in their way, all the while paying homage to my rock journalistic heroes.

Additionally, I would love to write a book. I have an idea that seems pretty good to those in my inner circle. The adage one usually hears is to write about which you know. So, it will probably involve track, music, education, coaching and science , not necessarily in that order.

Back in reality, I have a blog entry to write, so on with the show!

75. The Replacements – Best Album: Pleased to Meet Me (1986)

          Album Gem: Hootenanny (1983)

          Best Song: “Alex Chilton” (1986)

          Deep Cut: “I Will Dare” (1984)

74. Tears for Fears – Best Album: Songs from the Big Chair (1985)

          Album Gem: The Hurting (1983)

          Best Song: “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (1985)

          Deep Cut: “Advice for the Young at Heart” (1989)

73. Steely Dan* – Best Album: Aja (1977)

          Album Gem: Countdown to Ecstasy (1972)

          Best Song: “Deacon Blues” (1977)

          Deep Cut: “Dirty Work” (1972)

72. Pearl Jam* – Best Album: Ten (1991)

          Album Gem: Backspacer (2009)

          Best Song: “Black” (1991)

         Deep Cut: “Yellow Ledbetter” (1991)

71. Van Halen* – Best Album: Van Halen (1978)

          Album Gem: OU812 (1988)

          Best Song: “Dreams” (1986)

          Deep Cut: “Atomic Punk” (1978)

70. The Doors* – Best Album: The Doors (1967)

          Album Gem: L.A. Woman (1971)

          Best Song: “People Are Strange” (1967)

          Deep Cut: “Unknown Soldier” (1968)

69. Nirvana* – Best Album: Nevermind (1991)

          Album Gem: Bleach (1989)

          Best Song: “Smells like Teen Spirit” (1991)

          Deep Cut: “School” (1989)

68. Foo Fighters* – Best Album: There Is Nothing Else to Lose (1999)

          Album Gem: But Here We Are (2023)

          Best Song: “Time like These” (2002)

          Deep Cut: “Making a Fire” (2021)

67. Carpenters – Best Album: Close to You (1970)

           Album Gem: A Song for You (1971)

           Best Song: “Superstar” (1971)

           Deep Cut: “This Masquerade” (1973)

66. The Monkees – Best Album: More of The Monkees (1967)

          Album Gem: Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. (1967)

          Best Song: “Pleasant Valley Sunday” (1967)

          Deep Cut: “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” (1966)

65. Eagles* – Best Album: Hotel California (1976)

          Album Gem: One of These Nights (1975)

          Best Song: “One of These Nights” (1975)

          Deep Cut: “In the City” (1979)

64. The J. Geils Band – Best Album: Freeze-Frame (1981)

          Album Gem: Nightmares…And Other Tales from the Vinyl Jungle (1974)

          Best Song: “Love Stinks” (1980)

          Deep Cut: “Flamethrower” (1981)

63. Eurythmics* – Best Album: Touch (1983)

          Album Gem: Revenge (1986)

          Best Song: “Love Is a Stranger” (1982)

          Deep Cut: “Missionary Man” (1986)

62. Supertramp – Best Album: Breakfast in America (1979)

          Album Gem: Crime of the Century (1974)

          Best Song: “Take the Long Way Home” (1979)

          Deep Cut: “My Kind of Lady” (1982)

61. Depeche Mode* – Best Album: Violator (1990)

          Album Gem: Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993)

          Best Song: “Personal Jesus” (1990)

          Deep Cut: “Behind the Wheel” (1987)

60. Bob Marley & the Wailers* – Best Album: Exodus (1977)

          Album Gem: Uprising (1980)

          Best Song: “Stir It Up” (1978)

          Deep Cut: “War” (1976) 

59. Peter Gabriel* – Best Album: Peter Gabriel (aka III or Melting) (1980)

          Album Gem: Peter Gabriel (aka IV or Security) (1982)

          Best Song: “Sledgehammer” (1986)

          Deep Cut: “And Through the Wire” (1980)

58. Squeeze – Best Album: East Side Story (1981)  

          Album Gem: Cradle to the Grave (2015)

          Best Song: “Tempted” (1981)

          Deep Cut: “She Doesn’t Have to Shave” (1989)

57. Johnny Cash* – Best Album: At Folsom Prison (1968)

          Album Gem: American II: Unchained (1996)

         Best Song: “Sunday Morning Coming Down” (1972)

          Deep Cut: “The Wanderer” – U2 feat. Johnny Cash (1993)

56. Earth, Wind & Fire* – Best Album: That’s the Way of the World (1975)

          Album Gem: I Am! (1979)

          Best Song: “September” (1978)

          Deep Cut: “Reasons” (1975)

55. The Smiths – Best Album: The Queen Is Dead (1986)

          Album Gem: Hatful of Hollow (1984)

          Best Song: “Girlfriend in a Coma” (1987)

          Deep Cut: “Nowhere Fast” (1985)

54. My Morning Jacket – Best Album: Z (2005)

          Album Gem: Evil Urges (2008)

          Best Song: “One Big Holiday” (2002)

          Deep Cut: “Librarian” (2008)

53. Black Sabbath* (Ozzy Osbourne*) – Best Album: Paranoid (1970)

          Album Gem: Heaven or Hell (1980)

          Best Song: “Crazy Train” – Ozzy Osbourne (1980)

          Deep Cut: “Changes” (1974)

52. Led Zeppelin* – Best Album: IV (1971)

          Album Gem: In Through the Out Door (1979)

          Best Song: “Stairway to Heaven” (1971)  

          Deep Cut: “Achille’s Last Stand” (1976)

51. Joy Division/New Order – Best Album: Unknown Pleasures – Joy Division (1979)

          Album Gem: Technique – New Order (1989)

          Best Song: “Love Will Tear Us Apart” – Joy Division (1980)

          Deep Cut: “Bizarre Love Triangle” – New Order (1986)

And 50 more to go!