Tag: blues rock

109. Small Faces / Faces

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(February 2017) I have completed episode 109 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: the SMALL FACES and FACES. Part of the mid-60s British R&B explosion, the mod-styled Small Faces, led by the soulful voice of Steve Marriott, soon followed contemporaries into the psychedelic age, recording one of its masterpieces (Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake). They disbanded and re-emerged as Faces, a blues/boogie band fronted by Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. In the late 1970s SF reformed for two forgettable albums.

Favorite album: Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake

Favorite Small Faces song: Afterglow

Favorite Faces song: Stay With Me

Favourite character: Happiness Stan

Compared to expectations: ↓

 

Small_Faces_-_Ogdens'_Nut_Gone_Flake.png

94. Eric Clapton

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(September 2016) I have completed episode 94 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography. This edition: ERIC CLAPTON (except the Yardbirds and Cream, which I did previously). While certainly deserving the Hall of Fame, I would rank him a couple notches below contemporaries who started in the 60s and continued until the present day (McCartney, Simon, Dylan, Bowie, Young) as his songwriting is relatively not as strong. For me, his songs provide the Sountrack to the 70s: Lay Down Sally, Cocaine, Wonderful Tonight, Let it Grow, Promises.

Favorite album: 461 Ocean Boulevard

Favorite song: The Core

Favorite Period: 1970-1977

Worst Album: Pilgrim*

Best late period album: Road to Escondido (with JJ Cale)

Compared to expectations:  same

461 ocean boulevard

* Pilgrim (1998) was chosen as worst album because, at a time when his contemporaries were putting out return-to-form or innovative work (McCartney’s Flaming Pie, Dylan’s Time Out of Mind, Ringo’s Vertical Man, Bowie’s Earthling), Clapton recorded this bland adult contemporary light rock mush.

91. The Yardbirds

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(July 2016) I have completed episode 91 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography. This edition: THE YARDBIRDS. Known best as the launching pad for Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, they also had several hits (you would recognize more than you think). They helped build the bridge from R&B to psychadelic, but their constant lineup changes limited their ability to establish a signature sound.

Favourite album: Yardbirds (Roger the Engineer)
Favourite song: Heart Full of Soul

Compared to expectations:  same

yardbirds-heart.png

84. Cream

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(May 2016) I have completed episode 84 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s complete discography. This edition: CREAM. The first supergroup refined blues rock and set the stage for hard rock and jam bands. And Eric Clapton.

Favourite album: Disraeli Gears

Favourite song: White Room

Special sauce: Jack Bruce

Compared to expectations: ↑

disraeli gears

42. Stevie Ray Vaughan

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(November 2014) I have completed phase 42 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s complete discography from beginning to end. This episode: STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN. One of the best guitarists ever. Taken too early.

Favorite album: Couldn’t Stand the Weather
Favorite song: Rude Mood
Special distinction: one of the few (only?) musicians who has respectably pulled off a cover of a Jimi Hendrix song (Voodoo Chile, Little Wing)

Compared to expectations: same

 

↑ ↓

SRVcouldntstandtheweather.jpg

11. Jimi Hendrix

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(September 2013) I have completed phase 11 of my “opus project,” wherein I listen to a band’s entire discography start to finish. This episode: Jimi Hendrix. (Note: includes the three original albums plus 15 posthumous studio and live releases.)

Favorite album: Are You Experienced?
Favorite song: Are You Experienced?
Low point: none that I could find

Compared to expectations: ↑ 

800px-Are_You_Experienced_-_US_cover-edit.jpg

3. The Rolling Stones

~ ernopepper ~ 1 Comment

I have completed phase 3 of my “opus project,” wherein I listen to the entire discography of an artist from start to finish: The Rolling Stones (this was a long one).
Favourite period: the big four albums (BB, LiB, SF, EoMS), plus a special affinity for their psychedelic songs
Favourite album: Beggars Banquet (68)
Favourite song: Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?
Lowest points: Black and Blue (76), Undercover (83)

Discovered gems: Between the Buttons (67), A Bigger Bang (05)

Special sauce: Keith Richards

Compared to expectations: same

BeggarsBanquetLP