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So today I finally listened to a Steve Vai album, something I should have done years ago. This got me thinking, what other artists or bands have passed you by, that you want to listen to properly but haven’t got round to it. There’s so much great music out there to discover, if you have the time. My suggestions:
Frank Zappa. Heard a few songs briefly which sound like he’s taking the piss, but I haven’t heard the deep cuts or guitar playing he’s renowned for.
King Crimson. Never listened to them, read a lot about Fripp.
Captain Beefheart. I really should listen to Trout Mask Replica, just to know myself how bad/mad/good/bad it is.
Rush. Not familiar at all, no idea if I would like them.
Jeff Beck. The recent discussion left me realising I hane not heard much, bar the obvious one of course.
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I listened to nothing but Zappa for about six months and haven't listened to it much since, but not because I didn't like it. It's just very different from rock music, much more complex and sophisticated. It takes a bit of work.
It's incredibly diverse, but I think the stuff from the early to mid '70s is most accessible - Over-Nite Sensation, Apostrophe('), Roxy & Elsewhere, One Size Fits All, Zoot Allures.
Also don't separate the studio albums from the live ones, it's all one big thing. He'd frequently take bits from live recordings and work them in to studio tracks.
Definitely worth exploring, and presumably now you can stream it all for free!
Lots of bands I need to catch up on. I'm particularly into catching up with Rush these days. I was a big fan late 70s-early 80s, but gave up on them after Hold your fire which did not interest me in the least at the time. I think that they were a fantastic band, I wish I'd seen them live at some point (Peart has just retired).
EDIT: Also IQ. I bought their first two albums when they came out early 80s and have nothing since. Prog is my main thing and they seem to be highly rated so I need to catch up.
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For Zappa my recommendation is start with Zappa Plays Zappa, I think the live concerts are on YouTube. It's far more accessible to a modern audience ( or even to me) as it's closer to being a best of and doesn't have the awful editing of the old Zappa live concerts and films. Frank was a hard man to like whereas Dweezil seems to be the nicest man in the world.
I think every artist mentioned in the OP has had a long and varied career ( ok, Captain Beefheart not so much). With Rush I'd probably start with a compilation as they could write a surprisingly catchy tune. The big ones are albums like 2112 and Hemispheres but many people find then pompous and boring. I wouldn't avoid the live albums or DVDs ( probably on YouTube by now) as a way in. So much prog rock seems to be by people who apparently don't like rock music very much ( that may include Zappa) that it may as well be Andrew Lloyd Webber. But, to me, Rush knew how to rock out a bit and they clearly loved Zeppelin and all sorts of sixties rock and that comes across. So, live they could give it some welly.
Signals (82)
Grace under pressure (84)
Power Windows (85)
Many think that Signals has too many keyboards, but I love it. Their best selling album is Moving Pictures. 2112 got them fame but it sounds a bit dated now. Hemispheres still sounds good to me and has my fave Rush track the epic (9 minute?) instrumental La Villa Strangiato. I think that it is one of the best ever instrumentals, it runs through various sections before returning to the main theme at the end.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge all, I will work my way through the suggestions gradually. With an Apple Music subscription I can listen to anything I like
As to Zappa, I've dived in with You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 3. Why? Because in the 80's an older American cousin of mine came to stay and he had this with him, I clearly remember the green cover. I'm enjoying it. The first song Sharleena is a duo lead guitar fest.
Flying burrito brothers
The Band
Frank Zappa
Grateful Dead
More Springsteen, I tried getting into Steely Dan a while ago after listening to some amazing guitar in a vinyl shop and the chap said it was Steely Dan, bought the best of and just not the same. Any suggestions there appreciated!
Interesting. I would pick the two albums which came just before Signals - Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures.
They came just after the prog, flares and kaftans period but just before the synths period which lasted most of the '80s. Moving Pictures is probably THE Rush album, but I prefer Permanent Waves which was the first one I bought (on the day of release) and I still love it to bits and know all the words.
They've never made a really bad album though. Hold Your Fire's my least favourite, ironically that tour was the only time I saw them live.
Thinking of people with back catalogues I haven't explored.... Buckethead.
He's released about twice as many albums as Frank Zappa, so it would be a daunting task.
I've watched a lot of clips on YouTube. Obviously he's a shred guy which isn't necessarily my kind of thing, but he has some good tunes and there's something about his style which really appeals (I like his solos on Chinese Democracy). But I've yet to listen to any of his albums.
... when you realise that it's nearly all unlistenable twaddle. *whistles*