Click on a book to learn more about it.

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Bing Crosby’s First #1 – and Paul Whiteman’s Top 100 Songs

Paul Whiteman was born on March 28, 1890. With a slew of posts last week, I failed to acknowledge him on the 28th as I should have, but that is being corrected now. After all, today in 1928 proved significant as well – Whiteman’s version of “Ol’ Man River” hit the charts. The song ended up going to #1 – giving the bandleader’s singer – Bing Crosby – his first trip to the top of the charts. Read more about that song here.

Whiteman’s name may be unfamiliar to anyone who has grown up in the rock era, but he was one of the most important music makers of the first half of the 20th century. According to the DMDB, he ranks third on the list of top 100 pre-rock era music makers, behind only Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.

In Pop Memories 1890-1954, he’s called “the most popular bandleader of the pre-swing era.” According to that source, Whiteman also has an astonishing 32 songs which hit #1 (indicated below) and a whopping 163 top ten hits. By comparison, the top two artists of the rock era are the Beatles and Elvis Presley. The Fab Four had 20 #1 songs and 34 top tens while The King had 18 chart toppers and 38 top ten hits. Whiteman also has 17 songs which rate in the DMDB’s top 1000 of all time list (indicated below). There are other classics recorded by Whiteman (“Body and Soul”, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”, “Ol’ Man River”, “My Blue Heaven”, etc.) which made the DMDB 1000 list as well, but in versions recorded by other artists.

1. Whispering (1920) #1 DMDB 1000
2. Body and Soul (with Jack Fulton, 1930) #1
3. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (with Bob Lawrence, 1933) #1
4. Three O’Clock in the Morning (1922) #1 DMDB 1000
5. Valencia (A Song of Spain) (with Franklyn Baur, 1926) #1 DMDB 1000
6. Ol’ Man River (with Bing Crosby, 1928) #1
7. Rhapsody in Blue (with George Gershwin, 1924) DMDB 1000
8. Ol’ Man River (with Paul Robeson, 1928)
9. Somebody Loves Me (1924) #1 DMDB 1000
10. Lover (with Jack Fulton, 1933) DMDB 1000

Whispering

11. My Blue Heaven (1927) #1
12. What’ll I Do? (1924) #1 DMDB 1000
13. My Mammy (1921) #1 DMDB 1000
14. The Birth of the Blues (with Jack Fulton, Charles Gaylord, & Austin Young, 1926) #1 DMDB 1000
15. Wang Wang Blues (1920) #1 DMDB 1000
16. The Japanese Sandman (1920) #1 DMDB 1000
17. Hot Lips (He’s Got Hot Lips When He Plays Jazz) (1922) #1 DMDB 1000
18. Lover, Come Back to Me (with Jack Fulton, 1929) DMDB 1000
19. Among My Souvenirs (with Jack Fulton, Charles Gaylord, & Austin Young, 1928) #1 DMDB 1000
20. Stumbling (1922) #1 DMDB 1000

Three O’Clock in the Morning

21. All Alone (1925) #1
22. Say It with Music (1921) #1 DMDB 1000
23. Linger Awhile (1924) #1 DMDB 1000
24. Charleston (1925)
25. In a Little Spanish Town (‘Twas on a Night Like This) (with Jack Fulton, 1927) #1
26. My Angel (Angela Mia) (with Jack Fulton, Charles Gaylord, & Al Rinker, 1928) #1
27. Ramona (with Austin Young, 1928) #1
28. Great Day (with Bing Crosby, 1929) #1
29. Carolina in the Morning (1923)
30. Without a Song (with Bing Crosby, 1929)

Valencia (A Song of Spain)

31. Bambalina (1923) #1
32. Do It Again (1922) #1
33. Last Night on the Back Porch (with the American Quartet, 1923)
34. I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise (1922) #1
35. I Love You (1924)
36. The Man I Love (with Vaughn DeLeath, 1928)
37. You’re the Top (with Peggy Healy & John Hauser, 1934)
38. Indian Love Call (1925)
39. Crinoline Days (1923)
40. Song of India (1921) #1

Ol’ Man River

41. April Showers (1922)
42. Parade of the Wooden Soldiers (1923) #1
43. Just a Memory (1927)
44. I Get a Kick Out of You (with Ramona Davies, 1234)
45. After You’ve Gone (with Bing Crosby, 1930)
46. How Deep Is the Ocean? How High Is the Sky? (1932)
47. All of Me (with Mildred Bailey, 1932) #1
48. Side by Side (with Bing Crosby, Al Rinker, & Harry Barris, 1927)
49. I’m Just Wild About Harry (1922)
50. Way Down Yonder in New Orleans (1923)

Rhapsody in Blue

51. My Romance (1936)
52. China Boy (1929)
53. My Man (Mon Homme) (1921)
54. It Had to Be You (1924)
55. Louise (1929)
56. It’s Only a Paper Moon (1933)
57. Willow, Weep for Me (with Irene Taylor, 1932)
58. You Took Advantage of Me (with Bing Crosby, Jack Fulton, Charles Gaylord, & Austin Young, 1928)
59. Limehouse Blues (1924)
60. You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me (with Bing Crosby, 1930)

What’ll I Do?

61. Wonderful One (1923)
62. Whispering (new version, 1954)
63. Nobody’s Sweetheart (1930)
64. Together (with Jack Fulton, 1928) #1
65. Cherie (1921) #1
66. Bright Eyes (1921)
67. Make Believe (with Bing Crosby, 1928)
68. Moonlight on the Ganges (with Austin Young, 1926)
69. Wagon Wheels (with Bob Lawrence, 1934) #1
70. Makin’ Whoopee (with Bing Crosby, Jack Fulton, Charles Gaylord, & Austin Young, 1929)

My Mammy

71. Anything Goes (with Ramona Davies, 1934)
72. There’s Yes! Yes! In Your Eyes (1924)
73. Rose Marie (1925)
74. Make Believe (1921)
75. Let’s Put Out the Lights and Go to Sleep (with Red McKenzie, 1932)
76. It All Depends on You (1927)
77. I’m Coming, Virginia (with Bing Crosby, Al Rinker, & Harry Barris, 1927)
78. Oh, Lady Be Good (1925)
79. When Day Is Done (1927)
80. Manhattan (1925)

The Birth of the Blues

81. Mississippi Mud (with Al Rinker, Harry Barris, Jack Fulton, Charles Gaylord, Bing Crosby, and Irene Taylor, 1928)
82. Farewell to Arms (with Jack Fulton, 1933)
83. Dearest, You’re the Nearest to My Heart (1923)
84. Learn to Smile (1921)
85. Three on a Match (with Red McKenzie, 1932)
86. It Happened in Monterey (with Jack Fulton, 1930)
87. Broken Hearted (Here Am I) (with Jack Fulton, Charles Gaylord, & Austin Young, 1927)
88. When Buddha Smiles, 1922)
89. Get Out and Get Under the Moon (1928)
90. Chiquita (with Jack Fulton, 1928)

Wang Wang Blues

91. Why Did I Kiss That Girl? (with the American Quartet, 1924)
92. Do You Ever Think of Me? (1921)
93. C-O-N-S-T-A-N-I-N-O-P-L-E (with Al Rinker, Harry Barris, Jack Fulton, Charles Gaylord, & Austin Young, 1928)
94. Chansonette (1923)
95. I’m a Dreamer, Aren’t We All? (with Bing Crosby, Al Rinker, Harry Barris, & Jack Fulton, 1929)
96. Chloe (Song of the Swamp) (with Austin Young, 1928)
97. Dear Old Southland (1922)
98. Georgia (1922)
99. Trav’lin Light (with Billie Holiday, 1942)
100. Old New England Moon (with Jack Fulton, 1930)

The Japanese Sandman

Awards:

Resources and Related Links:
Posted by at 1 comment: Links to this post
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,
Reactions: 

Friday, March 30, 2012

The Top 67 Eric Clapton Songs







Eric Clapton was born on March 30, 1945. In celebration of his 67th birthday, Dave’s Music Database presents its list of his top 67 songs as a solo artist and with The Yardbirds (Y), John Mayall’s Blues Breakers (M), Cream (C), Blind Faith (B), Delaney & Bonnie (DB), and Derek & the Dominos (DD). Dave’s Music Database compiles best-of lists into an aggregate and also factors in sales, chart data, and awards. In the case of a specialized list such as this, appearances on compilations and best-of lists focused specifically on Eric Clapton are figured in as well.

For Your Love (studio, 1965)



1. Layla (1970) DD (Click here to read blog post on this song from earlier this month.)
2. Tears in Heaven (1992)
3. Sunshine of Your Love (1968) C
4. Wonderful Tonight (1977)
5. Change the World (1996)

Rambling on My Mind/ Have You Ever Loved a Woman?
(live, 1983, but first performed with Mayall in 1966



6. I Shot the Sheriff (1974)
7. White Room (1968) C
8. Lay Down Sally (1977)
9. Cocaine (1977)
10. Layla (Unplugged, 1992)

Sunshine of Your Love (live, 1968)



11. Crossroads (live, 1968) C
12. Badge (1969) C
13. After Midnight (1970)
14. Bell Bottom Blues (1970) DD
15. For Your Love (1965) Y

White Room (live, 1968)



16. Promises (1978)
17. Forever Man (1985)
18. My Father’s Eyes (1998)
19. Let It Rain (1970)
20. Bad Love (1989)

Presence of the Lord (live, 1969)



21. I Can’t Stand It (1981)
22. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (1975)
23. Pretending (1989)
24. I’ve Got a Rock and Roll Heart (1983)
25. It’s in the Way That You Use It (1986)

Coming Home (1969)



26. Presence of the Lord (1969) B
27. I Feel Free (1966) C
28. She’s Waiting (1985)
29. Can’t Find My Way Home (1969) B
30. Strange Brew (1967) C

Layla (live, 1984; originally recorded in 1970)



31. Blues Power (1970)
32. Running on Faith (1989)
33. Hello Old Friend (1976)
34. Before You Accuse Me (1989)
35. Let It Grow (1974)

I Shot the Sheriff (live; original from 1974)



36. Have You Ever Loved a Woman? (1966) M
37. Riding with the King (with B.B. King, 2000)
38. Spoonful (1966) C
39. Tales of Brave Ulysses (1967) C
40. After Midnight (rerecording, 1988)

Lay Down Sally (live with Mark Knopfler; original from 1977)



41. Circus (1992)
42. Willie and the Hand Jive (1974)
43. Old Love (1989)
44. Tulsa Time (1978)
45. Little Wing (1970) DD

Wonderful Tonight (live, original from 1977)



46. I’m Tore Down (1994)
47. Swing Low Sweet Chariot (1975)
48. No Alibis (1989)
49. Anyone for Tennis? (1968) C
50. Good Morning Little School Girl (1964) Y

After Midnight (1988 rerecording, audio with photo montage)



51. Miss You (1986)
52. Coming Home (1969) DB
53. She’s Gone (1998)
54. Blue Eyes Blue (1999)
55. It’s Probably Me (with Sting, 1992)

Tears in Heaven (1992)



56. Motherless Child (1994)
57. Watch Out for Lucy (1978)
58. Wrapping Paper (1966) C
59. Only You Know and I Know (1970) DB
60. Motherless Children (1974)

Layla (Unplugged, 1992)



61. Further on Up the Road (1975)
62. Tearing Us Apart (with Tina Turner, 1966)
63. Knocking on Heaven’s Door (rerecording with Randy Crawford & David Sanborn, 1989)
64. Runaway Train (with Elton John, 1992)
65. My Back Pages (with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, and Neil Young, 1992)
66. Stone Free (1993)
67. Wanna Make Love to You (1987)

Change the World (1998)



Awards/Honors for Clapton:
Resources and Related Links:
Posted by at No comments: Links to this post
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,
Reactions: 

Thursday, March 29, 2012

The All-Time Top 100 Albums According to Billboard







Billboard magazine has long been the leading authority in the music industry when it comes to charting music. They provide a means of gauging quantifiable success of music. The DMDB has aggregated five different Billboard lists which measure the best albums of all time based on various factors such as weeks on the chart, weeks at #1, and sales. See the resources at the bottom of the page. But now – here’s the list:





1. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982)
2. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977)
3. Whitney Houston/various artists The Bodyguard (soundtrack, 1992)
4. Carole King Tapestry (1971)
5. The Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
6. Bee Gees/various artists Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack, 1977)
7. Garth Brooks Ropin’ the Wind (1991)
8. Whitney Houston Whitney Houston (1985)
9. MC Hammer Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em (1990)
10. Pink Floyd The Wall (1979)





11. The Beatles Abbey Road (1969)
12. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987)
13. South Pacific (cast album, 1949)
14. West Side Story (soundtrack, 1961)
15. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack, 1984)
16. My Fair Lady (cast album, 1956)
17. The Sound of Music (cast album, 1959)
18. Dirty Dancing (soundtrack, 1987)
19. The Music Man (cast album, 1957)
20. Hair (cast album, 1967)





21. Paula Abdul Forever Your Girl (1988)
22. Gigi (soundtrack, 1958)
23. Mary Poppins (soundtrack, 1964)
24. The Kingston Trio At Large (1959)
25. Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (1995)
26. Andy Williams Days of Wine and Roses (1963)
27. Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (1990)
28. REO Speedwagon Hi Infidelity (1980)
29. Santana Supernatural (1999)
30. Henry Mancini Music from Peter Gunn (soundtrack, 1959)




31. Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962)
32. Foreigner 4 (1981)
33. Mariah Carey Music Box (1993)
34. E Greatest Hits (1974)
35. Eagles Hotel California (1976)
36. Elvis Presley G.I. Blues (soundtrack, 1960)
37. Harry Belafonte Calypso (1956)
38. Elvis Presley Blue Hawaii (soundtrack, 1961)
39. Billy Ray Cyrus Some Gave All (1992)
40. The Police Synchronicity (1983)





41. The Monkees More of the Monkees (1967)
42. Vanilla Ice To the Extreme (1990)
43. James Horner Titanic (soundtrack, 1997)
44. Men at Work Business As Usual (1982)
45. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
46. The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night (soundtrack, 1964)
47. George Michael Faith (1987)
48. Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. (1984)
49. The Monkees The Monkees (1966)
50. Judy Garland Judy at Carnegie Hall (live, 1961)




51. Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987)
52. Grease (soundtrack, 1978)
53. Backstreet Boys Millenium (1999)
54. Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet (1986)
55. Peter Frampton Frampton Comes Alive! (1975)
56. The Kingston Trio Sold Out (1960)
57. Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Whipped Cream & Other Delights (1965)
58. Around the World in 80 Days (soundtrack, 1957)
59. Whitney Houston Whitney (1987)
60. Elvis Presley Elvis Presley (1956)





61. Mitch Miller & His Gang Sing Along with Mitch (1958)
62. Def Leppard Hysteria (1987)
63. The Beatles Meet the Beatles! (1964)
64. Lionel Richie Can’t Slow Down (1983)
65. Miami Vice (television soundtrack, 1985)
66. The Lion King (soundtrack, 1994)
67. Lawrence Welk Calcutta! (1961)
68. Enoch Light/Terry Snyder & the All Stars Persuasive Percussion (1960)
69. Footloose (soundtrack, 1984)
70. Hootie & the Blowfish Cracked Rear View (1994)





71. Usher Confessions (2004)
72. Dire Straits Brothers in Arms (1985)
73. No Doubt Tragic Kingdom (1995)
74. Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
75. The Beatles The Beatles (aka ‘The White Album’) (1968)
76. The Singing Nun The Singing Nun (1963)
77. Phil Collins No Jacket Required (1985)
78. Eric Clapton Unplugged (1992)
79. Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass What Now My Love (1966)
80. The Eagles The Long Run (1979)





81. Creedence Clearwater Revival Cosmo’s Factory (1970)
82. The Kingston Trio Here We Go Again! (1959)
83. John Cougar Mellencamp American Fool (1982)
84. Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
85. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
86. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
87. South Pacific (soundtrack, 1958)
88. Metallica Metallica (1991)
89. Garth Brooks No Fences (1990)
90. The Sound of Music (1965)





91. Pearl Jam Ten (1991)
92. Kenny G Breathless (1992)
93. Camelot (cast album, 1960)
94. Patsy Cline 12 Greatest Hits (1973)
95. Peter, Paul & Mary Peter, Paul & Mary (1962)
96. Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits (1980)
97. Exodus (soundtrack, 1961)
98. Nirvana Nevermind (1991)
99. Johnny Mathis Johnny’s Greatest Hits (1958)
100. Mario Lanza The Student Prince (1954)





Resources and Related Links:

  • Billboard’s “Top 100 Albums of All Time” (11/1/94)

    This special list was compiled for the magazine’s 100th anniversary issue.

  • Billboard’s Biggest #1 Albums in U.S. Chart History (11/15/10)

    List especially created by Dave’s Music Database. Ranks albums in the rock and pre-rock era based on weeks at #1. Sources: Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Albums, 1955-2009 (7th edition) and Top Pop Hits 1940-1954.

  • Billboard’s 100th anniversary issue. “Top 100 Albums All-Time” (1994)

  • Billboard’s “Albums of Longevity” (page 969) from Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Albums, 1955-2009 (7th edition: 2010)

    Top 50 list of albums which have charted more than 175 weeks on the Billboard 200 album chart.

  • Billboard’s “Best Selling Albums” (page 970) from Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Albums, 1955-2009 (7th edition: 2010)

    A list of all albums certified by the RIAA to have sold 10 million or more copies.

Posted by at No comments: Links to this post
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Reactions: 

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Madonna's Top 50 Songs

This list was first posted on the DMDB Facebook page on 8/16/11 in honor of Madonna’s birthday. Thanks to a Billboard post celebrating her upcoming MDNA album, this list has been revised. Note: a day after this post, the UK Official Charts Company released its list of Madonna’s top 40 most downloaded tracks so this list underwent minor revisions again on 3/29/12.

As with most DMDB lists, this one consolidates chart figures, sales, awards, and placement on best-of lists – both general DMDB lists and Madonna-specific lists (see resources at bottom of page). In addition, appearances on compilation albums are factored in.

As of the 12th edition of Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Singles (2009), she ranks #4 all time in regards to her success on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The DMDB ranks her in the top 10 acts of all time. “Like a Virgin”, “Into the Groove”, “Like a Prayer”, “Vogue”, “Take a Bow”, and “Ray of Light” all make the DMDB’s list of the top 1000 songs of the 20th century. “Music” and “Hung Up” make the DMDB’s list of the top 100 songs of the 21st century.

Like a Virgin

1. Like a Prayer (1989)
2. Like a Virgin (1984)
3. Vogue (1990)
4. Music (2000)
5. Ray of Light (1998)

Material Girl

6. Take a Bow (1994)
7. Hung Up (2005)
8. Into the Groove (1985)
9. Crazy for You (1985)
10. Papa Don’t Preach (1986)

Papa Don’t Preach

11. Borderline (1984)
12. Holiday (1983)
13. Material Girl (1984)
14. Live to Tell (1986)
15. Justify My Love (1990)

Like a Prayer

16. Open Your Heart (1986)
17. This Used to Be My Playground (1992)
18. 4 Minutes (with Justin Timberlake, 2008)
19. Express Yourself (1989)
20. Cherish (1989)

Express Yourself

21. La Isla Bonita (1987)
22. Frozen (1998)
23. Don’t Tell Me (2000)
24. True Blue (1986)
25. Secret (1994)

26. Beautiful Stranger (1999)
27. Don’t Cry for Me Argentina (1996)
28. Angel (1985)
29. You Must Love Me (1996)
30. Lucky Star (1984)

Vogue

31. I’ll Remember (1994)
32. You’ll See (1995)
33. Who’s That Girl? (1987)
34. The Power of Goodbye (1998)
35. Dress You Up (1985)

Justify My Love

36. American Pie (2000)
37. Rain (1993)
38. Oh Father (1989)
39. Keep It Together (1990)
40. Deeper and Deeper (1992)

Ray of Light

41. Erotica (1992)
42. Sorry (2006)
43. Human Nature (1995)
44. Causing a Commotion (1987)
45. Die Another Day (2002)

Music

46. Rescue Me (1991)
47. Hanky Panky (1990)
48. Me Against the Music (with Britney Spears, 2003)
49. Sooner or Later (1990)
50. What It Feels Like for a Girl (2001)

Hung Up

Awards:
Resources and Related Links:
Posted by at No comments: Links to this post
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Reactions: 

Monday, March 26, 2012

The Top 100 Albums According to the BBC







Over the years, the BBC has released a few best-of album lists. When averaged together into an aggregate list, here are the resulting top 100 albums of all-time according to the BBC:





1. The Beatles: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
2. The Beatles: The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (1968)
3. U2: The Joshua Tree (1987)
4. Radiohead: OK Computer (1997)
5. Oasis: Definitely Maybe (1994)
6. Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
7. The Verve: Urban Hymns (1997)
8. The Beatles: Revolver (1966)
9. Oasis: What's the Story Morning Glory (1995)
10. R.E.M.: Automatic for the People (1992)





11. The Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977)
12. Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here (1975)
13. Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
14. The Beatles: Abbey Road (1969)
15. Michael Jackson: Thriller (1982)
16. The Smiths: The Queen Is Dead (1986)
17. Bob Dylan: Blood on the Tracks (1975)
18. The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds (1966)
19. Marvin Gaye: What's Going On (1971)
20. David Bowie: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)





21. Van Morrison: Astral Weeks (1968)
22. Simon & Garfunkel: Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
23. The Clash: London Calling (1979)
24. The Who: Who’s Next (1971)
25. Paul Simon: Graceland (1986)
26. Kate Bush: Hounds of Love (1985)
27. Velvet Underground & Nico: Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
28. Bruce Springsteen: Born to Run (1975)
29. The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland (1968)
30. Meat Loaf: Bat Out of Hell (1977)





31. Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells (1973)
32. Blur: Parklife (1994)
33. Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
34. The Stone Roses: The Stone Roses (1989)
35. Radiohead: The Bends (1995)
36. Nirvana: Nevermind (1991)
37. Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (1977)
38. Miles Davis: Kind of Blue (1959)
39. Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill (1995)
40. Massive Attack: Blue Lines (1991)





41. The Beatles: Rubber Soul (1965)
42. The Rolling Stones: Exile on Main Street (1972)
43. Primal Scream: Screamadelica (1991)
44. Pink Floyd: The Wall (1979)
45. Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms (1985)
46. U2: Achtung Baby (1991)
47. Queen: A Night at the Opera (1975)
48. Joni Mitchell: Blue (1971)
49. Joy Division: Closer (1980)
50. The Pixies: Doolittle (1989)





51. The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced? (1967)
52. Leftfield: Leftism (1995)
53. Bob Dylan: Blonde on Blonde (1966)
54. Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin II (1969)
55. Dido: No Angel (1999)
56. Pulp: Different Class (1995)
57. Madonna: Ray of Light (1998)
58. Jeff Buckley: Grace (1994)
59. Spice Girls: Spice (1996)
60. Portishead: Dummy (1994)





61. Coldplay: A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)
62. The Rolling Stones: Let It Bleed (1969)
63. R.E.M.: Out of Time (1991)
64. The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
65. Roxy Music: For Your Pleasure (1973)
66. Love: Forever Changes (1967)
67. David Bowie: Hunky Dory (1971)
68. Lou Reed: Transformer (1972)
69. AC/DC: Back in Black (1980)
70. Nick Drake: Bryter Layter (1970)





71. John Lennon: Imagine (1971)
72. Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti (1975)
73. The Clash: The Clash (1977)
74. The Band: The Band (1969)
75. Carole King: Tapestry (1971)
76. Prince: Sign 'O' the Times (1987)
77. Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures (1979)
78. George Harrison: All Things Must Pass (1970)
79. Patti Smith: Horses (1975)
80. Television: Marquee Moon (1977)





81. Eagles: Hotel California (1976)
82. Blondie: Parallel Lines (1978)
83. Paul McCartney & Wings: Band on the Run (1973)
84. The Prodigy: The Fat of the Land (1997)
85. Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
86. David Bowie: Aladdin Sane (1973)
87. Oasis: Be Here Now (1997)
88. Scissor Sisters: Scissor Sisters (2004)
89. Coldplay: X & Y (2005)
90. Bruce Springsteen: Born in the U.S.A. (1984)





91. The Strokes: Is This It (2001)
92. Madonna: Like a Prayer (1989)
93. Madonna: Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
94. Coldplay: Parachutes (2000)
95. Neil Young: Harvest (1972)
96. Michael Jackson: Bad (1987)
97. Manic Street Preachers: Everything Must Go (1996)
98. Green Day: American Idiot (2004)
99. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band: Trout Mask Replica (1969)
100. David Gray: White Ladder (2000)





Resources and Related Links:
  • BBC News The Music of the Millenium (1/24/98)

    Top 100 ranked list. No commentary.

  • BBC News Top 50 Albums of Last 50 Years (6/02).

    Ranked list. No commentary. Link goes to an article about the list and includes a dead link which supposedly links to the entire list.

  • BBC Radio 2 Music Club Top 100 Albums (8/28/06)

    Top 100 ranked list of voters’ favorite #1 albums on the UK Album Chart, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the UK album chart.

  • Stuart Maconie’s Critical List (2006)

    BBC radio show in which Maconie presented albums which he suggested every popular music aficionado should have in their collections.

Posted by at No comments: Links to this post
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Reactions: 

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Top 50 Composers from Broadway and the Early 20th Century







In celebration of the births of two of Broadway’s most celebrated composers (Stephen Sondheim: March 22, 1930; Andrew Lloyd Webber: March 22, 1948), the DMDB presents this list of the top Broadway composers of all time. Earlier this month, the DMDB presented its list of The Top 100 Songwriters of the Rock Era, so this list includes songwriters and composers from the first half of the 20th century in addition to Broadway composers to make this a companion to that earlier list. Without further ado:

The Top 50 Composers from Broadway and the Early 20th Century


George Gershwin



1. George Gershwin
2. Richard Rodgers
3. Stephen Sondheim
4. Andrew Lloyd Webber
5. Oscar Hammerstein II

Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II



6. Irving Berlin
7. Cole Porter
8. Leonard Bernstein
9. Jerry Herman
10. Alan Jay Lerner

Stephen Sondheim



11. Tim Rice
12. Frederick Loewe
13. Cy Coleman
14. Frank Loesser
15. Stephen Schwartz

Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice



16. Jerome Kern
17. Sheldon Harnick
18. John Kander
19. Charles Strouse
20. Lee Adams

Irving Berlin



21. Marvin Hamlisch
22. Harold Arlen
23. Jerry Bock
24. Betty Comden
25. Adolph Green

Cole Porter



26. Jule Styne
27. Ira Gershwin
28. Richard Adler
29. Jerry Ross
30. Fred Ebb

Leonard Bernstein



31. Woody Guthrie
32. Lorenz Hart
33. E.Y. “Yip” Harburg
34. John Phillip Sousa
35. Burton Lane

Jerry Herman



36. Harold Rome
37. Kurt Weill
38. Johnny Mercer
39. Bob Merrill
40. Noel Coward

Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe



41. George M. Cohan
42. Alan Menken
43. Richard Sherman
44. Robert Sherman
45. Dorothy Fields

Jerome Kern



46. Pete Seeger
47. Jonathan Larson
48. Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter
49. Fats Waller
50. Irving Caesar





Resources and Related Links:
Posted by at No comments: Links to this post
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Reactions: 

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

DJ Alan Freed hosted the first rock ‘n’ roll show: March 21, 1952





The first Moondog Coronation Ball was held in Cleveland. The event is generally considered the first rock ‘n’ roll show in the U.S. Featured acts included a mix of black and white performers intended to attract a racially mixed audience. Among the acts were Paul Williams’ Hucklebuckers, Tiny Grimes’ Rockin’ Highlanders (featuring Screamin’ Jay Hawkins), The Dominoes, and Danny Cobb. At the time, nearly all performances, radio stations, and record labels were racially segregated.



DJ Alan Freed, who conceived and promoted the event, is credited with coining the term “rock and roll.” The event took its name from “Moondoggers” – the nickname he gave his listeners. Freed came to Cleveland’s WXEL-TV in April 1950 and began his late-night, rock-n-roll-themed Moondog show on WJW radio in July 1951. He went to New York in 1954 and left the business in 1959 after involvement in a payola scandal. He died in 1965 at age 43.





The event, held at the Cleveland Arena, proved a bit of a fiasco as promoters continued selling tickets long after they’d reached the venue’s roughly-10,000 seat capacity. At least some of the additional tickets have been attributed to counterfeiting. It was estimated that 20,000 fans showed up. When they couldn’t get in, the crowd broke down the doors to storm the arena. Local authorities shut down the concert after the first song for fear of rioting.

Resources and Related Links:
Posted by at No comments: Links to this post
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Reactions: 

Sunday, March 18, 2012

The Top 50 Live Albums of All Time



On March 9, 2010, I posted a list of the top 20 live albums of all time on the DMDB Facebook page. I expanded the list to a top 50 a year later. I’ve reworked the list yet again to present it on the DMDB blog. The list was compiled by aggregating 37 lists (see resources at bottom of page) focused specifically on the best live albums of all time. Those points were added to the points the albums accumulated in the overall Dave’s Music Database. Here are the results:




1. James Brown Live at the Apollo, Vol. 1 (1962)
2. The Allman Brothers At Fillmore East (1971)
3. Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison (1968)
4. Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York (1993)
5. Peter Frampton Frampton Comes Alive! (1975)





6. The Who Live at Leeds (1970)
7. Neil Young Rust Never Sleeps (1979)
8. Eric Clapton Unplugged (1992)
9. B.B. King Live at the Regal (1964)
10. The MC5 Kick Out the Jams (1968)





11. Johnny Cash At San Quentin (1969)
12. Kiss Alive! (1975)
13. Grateful Dead Live/Dead (1969)
14. The Rolling Stones Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out (1969)
15. Bob Marley Live! (At the Lyceum) (1975)




16. Cheap Trick At Budokan (1978)
17. Talking Heads Stop Making Sense (1983)
18. U2 Rattle and Hum (studio/live, 1988)
19. Jackson Browne Running on Empty (1977)
20. Judy Garland Judy at Carnegie Hall (1961)




21. Bob Dylan The Royal Albert Hall Concert – The Bootleg Series Volume 4 (1966)
22. Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys/Live at Fillmore East (1970)
23. Deep Purple Made in Japan (1972)
24. Muddy Waters At Newport (1960)
25. Benny Goodman Complete Legendary 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert (1938)




26. U2 Under a Blood Red Sky (1983)
27. Bruce Springsteen Live 1975/1985 (1985)
28. Cream Wheels of Fire (live/studio, 1968)
29. Thin Lizzy Live and Dangerous (1977)
30. Garth Brooks Double Live (1998)





31. various artists Woodstock (1969)
32. Motorhead No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith (1981)
33. The Band The Last Waltz (1976)
34. Eagles Hell Freezes Over (1994)
35. Duke Ellington At Newport (1956)





36. Little Feat Waiting for Columbus (1978)
37. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young 4 Way Street (1970)
38. Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club (1963)
39. Erroll Garner Concert by the Sea (1955)
40. Quicksilver Messenger Service Happy Trails (1969)





41. Neil Young Live Rust (1979)
42. James Brown Sex Machine (1970)
43. Bill Evans Trio Sunday at the Village Vanguard (1961)
44. Bill Evans Trio Waltz for Debby (1961)
45. Jerry Lee Lewis Live at the Star Club, Hamburg (1964)





46. Keith Jarrett The Koln Concert (1975)
47. Led Zeppelin How the West Was Won (1972)
48. Metallica S&M (1999)
49. Luciano Pavarotti/Placido Domingo/Jose Carreras: The Three Tenors in Concert/Mehta (1990)
50. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band Live Bullet (1975)





Resources and Related Links:
Posted by at No comments: Links to this post
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Reactions: 

Thursday, March 15, 2012

My Fair Lady opened on Broadway: March 15, 1956







My Fair Lady is “the crowning achievement” AZ for lyricist Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe. Some consider it to be “the most perfect stage musical ever.” CL “It boasts a magnificent score…witty, intelligent, beautiful, and romantic.” NRR This is “a collection of performances that long ago became a ubiquitous and indispensable fixture of American musical theater.” AZ

The musical was an updated version of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, a story about “the mythic Greek figure who falls in love with his sculpture.” TM In My Fair Lady, the story focuses on “the relationship between an elocutionist” R-C and “pre-World War I London flower girl Eliza Doolittle, who aspires to a better accent and the social advantages that will come with it.” R-S Its 2,700 performances “gracefully spanned the Eisenhower and Camelot eras, then begat a wildly popular film version, whose 1965 Best Picture Oscar capped the show’s decade of prominence.” AZ





The cast album “captures landmark performances by Julie Andrews, Rex Harrison and Stanley Holloway.” NRR Andrews was a “twenty-year-old revelation” ZS as “the fairest of all ladies,” ZS making the “loverly…score soar” ZS with her “glorious voice and emotional range.” ZS Harrison is “effortlessly charming” ZS in his recreation of the stage role as “Professor Henry Higgins (he had also appeared in the film adaptation of…Pygmalion.” R-S

“The show yielded an astounding number of songs that became standards, including the luminous I Could Have Danced All Night and I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.” TM Among the other gems in this “embarrassment of riches,” AZ including On the Street Where You Live, The Rain in Spain, Wouldn’t It Be Loverly, and Why Can’t the English?.



For the movie version, Harrison and Holloway were back again, but Andrews wasn’t deemed enough of a star although “embarrassingly, by the time the movie opened, Mary Poppins had made her more than enough of a star to do so.” R-S Audrey Hepburn stepped into the role with the singing voice dubbed by Marni Nixon, who “was an accomplished Hollywood voice ghost, having previously sung for Deborah Kerr in The King and I, Natalie Wood in West Side Story, and Rosalind Russell in Gypsy.” R-S

Ultimately the soundtrack paled to the cast recording, which was considered critically and commercially more successful. The cast recording sold 8 million copies in the U.S. and topped the Billboard charts for 15 weeks. It also spent 19 weeks atop the UK charts.



Awards:
Resources and Related Links:
Posted by at No comments: Links to this post
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,
Reactions: 
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)