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ROCK AND ROLL! => All Them Other Guys => Topic started by: Zzzptm on February 13, 2025, 11:17:31 AM
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Using a quote from Gandhi to set up this thread... not just peace between nations, but peace between people. Settling differences. Feeling at peace with the world. Making peace with one's past. Coming to terms. Arriving at serenity. Songs that make you feel like, well, everything's gonna be all right. Things will work out. We got hope.
Not to be confused with happiness or joy - exuberant exclamations of positivity. Peace is a quiet smile, a comfortable warmth, a low fire at night.
For me, one of the best songs about inner peace that I've loved for decades is none other than Spiral Architect by Black Sabbath:
Going for a live version did not disappoint, not one bit. Wondering who the roadie is that they roped in to play the mellotron or if it's a sound being piped in as Iommi solos... no, I think it's being played live, which is amazing in and of itself, those things were so damn finicky!
Love the changes Ozzy makes on the last chorus... wow, that made my day. I haven't heard this version before, but I'm glad that I did.
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My first pick, and the first song to spring to mind when I saw your little write up was...
The Stranglers - Golden Brown
From the 1981 album La Folie, this became the bands biggest hit single peaking at #2 in eal=rly 1982 (held off the top spot by The Jams - A Town Called Malice). It emerged that the song was about Herion which would have caused it to be banned if the bosses at the BBC had realised sooner!
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Well I'm gonna kick things off with the one that I know the best before someone snaggs it away from me.
MEGADETH and PEACE SELLS
Speaking of live versions this one comes from a bit of a forgotten era of the band during the System Has Failed Tour...and I dig this version...it's different.
This maybe not so much about peace as about the acts needed to get to peace...or about the notion of peace.
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Number 1 from me is a Nick Lowe composition, originally done by Brinsley Schwarz, but I think done much better by these dudes:
Elvis Costello & The Attractions - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding
It's about peace, and the pain of watching a world that rejects and mocks those who desire it.
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My second pick is about the peace world will have after the mankind has destroyed itself.
This is from CATHEDRAL and it's called UTOPIAN BLASTER
Listen carefully to the solo as you might find the soloist quite familiar. :guitar:
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Sweet Iommi solo there! Enjoyed also The Stranglers - every now and then I misheard "Gordon Brown" for added fun. Elvis Costello doing a Nick Lowe number is a treat and that live version of Peace Sells totally rocked! (I'd say killed, but this is the peace thread!)
My second is "One Brown Mouse" by Jethro Tull. I would sing this as a lullaby to my kids, along with "Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day."
A bit of nostalgia tugs at my memory, but it's overall a pleasant feeling to recall those days and to be glad I had them.
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Peaceful, Easy Feeling by the Eagles comes at number 2.
One of the few songs by anyone I can actually sing (used to, anyway). A song about finding peace and satisfaction with what one has.
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Third:
Closer to the Heart by Rush.
I've always liked this song.
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My 3rd one comes from ANTHRAX!
This is about striving for peace by figuring out we are all one people and ONE WORLD
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"Well, Kilo, that song was a *bit* boisterous, you should consider..."
CHARGER POSTS ANTHRAX TRACK THAT MATCHES THEME
"Never mind, fits perfectly!" :)
Peace is found in all volumes, it would seem. :)
Vyn deffo has that 70s vibe going, and that got me to recall a great track from Smokey Robinson, one of the best songs for driving around the neighborhood on a happy afternoon.
... or maybe other relaxing afternoon activities... :smug:
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Ok... removed, quite rightly... I shall whip myself with barbed wire for this transgression!!
Pick number 2, still NMA but a different track
New Model Army - Paekakariki Beach
It's peacful enough, not entirely sure it is "Peace" as such!
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I don't think there are any "wrong" answers here, feel free to put it back. :)
Today I turn to an old Grateful Dead tune from American Beauty, and I love this version with just Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir:
I got into the Dead back in college and they've got a number of songs that just fit me like a glove when I want to chill out and be happy.
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Nah! The other song is more suitable!
My 3rd pick, and one from a group I thought would have many peaceful songs... but no, a handful at best!
Yes - Wonderous Stories
From 1977s Going for the One - they don't get much more peaceful than this!!
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From 1971 comes my number 5:
Peace Train by Cat Stevens
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For my 4th pick I'll go with an OZZY song...might actually be the first one I've picked ever in these...
Not a massive fan of the song BUT it does however talk about how the threat of mutually assured destruction has helped keep the peace...so Ozzy says THANK GOD FOR THE BOMB!
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Pick Number 4... a list without Rush would seem wrong!
Rush - The Garden
The last song from their last album Clockwork Angels. A lovely, restful way to go. This is a pretty good live version, Geddy's voice holds up well.
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My fifth one is more about striving to find inner peace.
It's a mellow tune from CATHEDRAL and it's about CATS, INCENSE, CANDLES & WINE...pretty much all you need to find inner peace.
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Cat Stevens is definitely a peaceful dude to listen to.
Cat Stevens - "Oh Very Young"
My mom got Buddha and the Chocolate Box and played this song. She started crying as she played it and me, a little kid, asked mommy why she was crying. She said this song was about me. I was 6 and able to read, so I read the lyrics. Some went over my head back then, but I got the core of the song even then. Since then, I've come back to it, played it again, listened again, got something deeper from the lyrics.
My mom is 80 now, in the rehab wing after surgery, and the song is still about me. I think I'll let her know that. 51 years later, the song is still about me. :)
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Pick number 5
Motorhead - Capricorn
This is probably as mellow as anything Lemmy ever managed. I think I night prefer the live version on No Sleep to this studio version.
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Number 6:
Only recently heard this but has a nice sense of peace in self-discovery and knowledge.
Journeyman by Iron Maiden
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That's a great tune! Very different from Maiden but still rather awesome.
For my 6th I'll go with the Metal Queen
This is a track about a warrior who doesn't want to fight anymore all she wants is peace...It's called I LAY MY HEAD UPON MY SWORD
Now I have to say I am running out of peace themed songs...I think I have one more....maybe two if I'm gonna stretch it a bit... I suppose I can find some PEACEFUL songs but I'm not sure if works here...
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Number 7:
A song that is meditative, reflective...peaceful. It's been out for 24 years and I still think of it as, "that new shit the kids are listening to".
Disposition by Tool
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Pick number 6 - I was thinking of this song even before the death of Rick Buckler announced earlier today...
The Jam - The Place I Love
It's more uptempo than I remember, but that's ok, it's the lyrical sentiments that count.
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For my 7th one I'm stretching the rules a bit but I kind of have to already...
This is BLACK LABEL SOCIETY talking about the ILLUSION OF PEACE...
Zakk's solo on this one is blisteringly good!
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No 8
From Fever Tree's second LP, "Another Time, Another Place," comes Peace of Mind
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Pick number 7 - and it's from am artist I have little time for (at least after his 70s output), but I rather like this:
Chris de Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling
A Christmas story of sorts, it comes from his 1975 album Spanish Train and Other Storues.
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That is a name I have not heard in ages! Cool pick from someone I never got into either.
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No 9:
Anathema's A Simple Mistake strikes me as being a song about finding emotional peace. Starts slow then builds up.
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Ooops, I was only on my 5th pick and Vyn is up to 9!
I blame Civilization VII... :smug:
OK, I'll get back on the wagon and post my pick number 6:
Steely Dan - "Aja"
Perfect for mellowing out in the afternoon right before taking a nap. Best listened to on a sofa with a light blanket with natural northern light streaming in from behind a cloud or two after a nice lunch. Speaking from experience.
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^^^
I just assumed Texas had gone off grid!
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For my 8th pick - a video game sound track....
Tomb Raider 2 - Venice Violins
In the mid- maybe late 90s, I loved playing the Tomb Raider games. And when in TR 2 Lara Croft gets to the Venice streets and canals section this Vivaldi-esque tune starts up, perfect moment the game. This is a live performance which faithfully replicates the soundtrack.
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I'm gonna stretch the rules to include songs that bring me peace while listening to them as otherwise I don't have full 10.
So I'm gonna go with number 8 :
RAINBOW - CATCH THE RAINBOW
This is one of the most mellow songs I know. And it's got some great vocal delivery from Ronnie...
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^^^
Yeah, I've definitely been selecting peaceful stuff not necessarily songs about peace.
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Catch the Rainbow is truly a beautiful song.
I'll do my 7 and 8 today.
7th will be "Our Lady" by Deep Purple. It's heavy, but flowing. No solo, just a song with a brilliant Gillan lyric.
I'll also mention that "The Aviator", mentioned in the vehicle thread is another great relaxing Deep Purple tune. Just brilliant.
Number 8 for me will be some Robin Trower...
Robin Trower - "Twice Removed from Yesterday"
There are three guitarists I consider to be the true heirs of Jimi Hendrix: Eddie Hazel, Ernie Isley, and Robin Trower. The guitar work is impeccable on this one and it always sends me to a good place.
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Always liked Mr. Trower's guitar work, and Jimmy Dewar is sorely underrated as a singer.
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For my 9th pick I'm going with one I had looked to include in the horror thread... yes it's peaceful... if creepy!!
Hawkwind - Virgin of the World
And the abrupt ending is where Angels of Death starts.
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No 10
This is the first song that came to mind for this list. It needs no introduction:
John Lennon - Imagine
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My 9th pick is from the "Hard Gospel" genre. In the 1940s and early 1950s, a number of gospel composers began to break with the constraints of traditional church music being basically built off of the methodology of Hadyn, Handel, and composers of their like from the 18th century. There were some religious songs of the 1800s that had more of a folk feel to them, but they were still kept within certain bounds of tempo, instrumentation, vocal delivery, and so on. Basically, they were "tame" songs of expression.
But the composers of what came to be known as Hard Gospel crossed those lines and introduced songs that could be faster, more energetic, louder, more rhythm-driven, more expressive of the feelings of the soul. And if that makes it sound like rock and roll, you're right. Hard Gospel fed directly into the rock and roll sound. And so, I explore it as part of what I play on my radio show.
One week, I was looking for Gospel of the late 40s and saw this title and gave it a whirl. I was impressed with its singular capability to resonate with a soul in sorrow and pain and bring it peace.
The Dixie Hummingbirds "Lord Come See About Me"
This song grabbed my attention and connected with me immediately. There is voice only, no instruments, but the power in the assembled voices is amazing. Even if you don't care for a religious song, the rhythm and vocalizations themselves are amazing to listen to. I've known this for less than a year, but it's a real gem in my collection.
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I can't decide on my last pick... may post it tomorrow
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Ok, I've deciided!
Pick 10
The Damned - Beauty of the Beast
A song about the great horror actors of the golden era of scary movies!
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I'll throw in one more...
My last pick is another song that just gives me some peace when listening to it...
This is the title track of SARAH BRIGHTMAN's HAREM
Love the old persian feel of the song.
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If you like that, Charger, then you're in for a treat with my final track...
Natacha Atlas "Manbai"
Atlas is a multi-lingual performer, most of her work in Arabic and French. I first heard her work like 22 years ago when my students turned me on to Goa Trance and I loved the heck out of it. This piece has an energetic beginning that engages my mental focus - I forget the world around me and the music takes over my mind. It's certainly a self-hypnosis session that helps my breathing to deepen and my muscles to relax more. When the piece concludes, it's absolutely blissful release. It's 100% legal, as most music is, and works just about every time.
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Check out some of her stuff of you're into Arabic tunes, I believe she is Lebanese:
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oooh do we need to do an Arabic music thread? :)
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You have just been introduced to my entire Arabic music knowledge via Ms. Shbeir. Arabic/Perisan-influenced tunes I might have more than one performer :)