10 Favourite Title tracks of all time!

[Zzzptm]

Oooooooh I was gonna also do that one. OK, I'll sub in one of my other picks later today. But, yes, Nantucket Sleighride is a real classic. Done live, it's a massive monster piece of instrumental wandering that never fails to captivate.

[Zzzptm]

My 4th pick for funk and soul is the wonderful "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye.

"War is not the answer / For only love can conquer hate"

Right on, Marvin. Right on! 

***

And for the rock and roll, I'll trot out my first replacement since KDC posted one of my planned picks, "Nantucket Sleighride."

I really love this tune. A friend of mine lent me a bunch of records he was getting rid of and said I could keep what I liked. This is one that I kept. I hadn't even heard of Strawbs before I got this album and gave it a spin.

It's definitely progressive, but I also find it highly accessible. It's phased like a good Rush or Jethro Tull song and avoids excesses of experimentalism. There's a harder-rocking part in the middle that makes a fit contrast for the intro and outro. It's in no danger of becoming a metal song, but is firmly camped in a hard prog area of the musical map.

"I hope your dreams / Are not like mine"

[Charger]

My 5th pick will be something not all that surprising...

HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN KING by SAVATAGE!

Honestly though this could have been ANY Savatage title track as they are all AWESOME! Power Of The Night, Dead Winter Dead, Edge Of Thorns...Gutter Ballet...but had to choose one and this is the most iconic one and this one does have the best riff too and Jon's vocals on this one...my goodness! This track is what lauched Savatage to the big leagues...and I have to say I don't ponder why.

[Zzzptm]

Awww yeah that's a rocker, there!

***

Funk and soul top title track for today is...

Harvest for the World by The Isley Brothers. It retains the funk aspects, but with a much softer surface than "Fight the Power" and other socially-aware songs they'd done. This one is heartfelt, warm, encouraging, uplifting, and brave. The soul in this song comes through clearly and cleanly. It is a call to action, and a stirring one at that. The vocals in Part 2 take it up a notch in energy and urgency, thereby maintaining the strength of the song to the end.

***

For my rock suggestion today, I choose...

Station to Station by David Bowie. This one I didn't even know until Billy Underdog told me to get into David Bowie by discovering his ages. Not all ages were for everyone, find the ones that worked and enjoy them. Bowie's Berlin trilogy were great and I love them, but this offering from The Thin White Duke enchanted me most. The steady beats of the opening that give way to the progression of the song to its energetic finish are some great stuff.

Thanks, Billy. Still thinking of you, brother. 

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Hall of the Mountain King is a pretty good song. Not otherwise familiar with them other than that album.

Pick 5

Hawkwind - Levitation

It's rare that they have title tracks but this is a great one (not sure the promo video does them any favours!!), I did toy with Quark, Strangeness and Charm, but marginally prefer this one.

[Zzzptm]

Some great Space Brock there.

[Vyn]

Next up, Metallica's "Ride the Lightning". The entire album was a fantastic progression from their debut, and remains a hot slab of metal. The title track is not my favorite from the album itself, but is a great song and if it was the only tune they ever made, it'd be a one hit wonder.

[Zzzptm]

Cliffburtontallica was the best.

[Charger]

Bowie's not my cup of tea never has been....but that Hawkwind track (which I had not heard before) is pretty rockin' tune! And ofcourse Ride The Lightning is a classic....that intro riff is iconic.


My 6th pick is

MASK OF THE DEVIL by SAVAGE MASTER

This is another rather recent find of mine...discovered this band few years ago by accident and what a pleasant surprise it was. Horror/occult themed rock with great riffing and soaring vocals.
This track I think is probably their best song and it is a real belter!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Pick number 6 for me

PIL - Public Image

After leaving the Sex Pistols John Lydon formed Public Image Ltd and released a fantastic album. Not quite punk, not quite art house, decidedly weird in places. Anyhow this was the first single and I really like it.

[Zzzptm]

Wow, that's got that goth-y feel to it that I really like. I need to look up PIL, I've been sleeping on that album, looks like.

Funk/Soul for today from me is...

Back Stabbers by The O'Jays. It's an epic piece, the band primed for their greatest successes.

***

For rock, I've got...

Shinin' On by Grand Funk. It's got a strong, steady, cooking groove that keeps it going. The bass line in it is a total gas, could listen to that for days.

[Vyn]

Next from me is "London Calling" from The Clash. Cast in the key of E minor to align with the song's theme of crisis and unrest, with a simple chord progression that does a great job tying together disparate styles, this song is iconic. Punk-o-rama in a three minute package!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Mask of the Devil is quite a fun little song! Of course London Calling is pretty good, the album as a whole is a little patchy (IMO), but there's some great stuff when it does work.

That Ojay's - Back Stabbers is blocked in the UK, but it's ok as I am familiar with and it is quite good.

I've finalised which of my remaining selections are going to make my Top 10 and which will be Honourable Mentions, so...

Pick Number 7

Megadeth - Rust in Peace... Polaris

While I've never been a huge thrash metal fan, this album seems to combine thrash with accessibility quite nicely, and this track in particular. The drum intro is rather good too.

[Vyn]

London Calling, the album, would have been a better overall release if it had been one disk. I think they were suffering from the hubris of people that think they have something to say (which they did) thinking everything they have to say is worth hearing (it isn't).

Turning the clock back a few years, we have James Brown letting us know he's mad and is looking for the payback. At one point he seems to indicate a distaste for back-stabbers. I've always liked this song. It has a ceaseless groove with these funky staccato-like interjections of sound. So, "The Payback" by James Brown:

[Charger]

Rust In Peace is another fine pick indeed! A killer track to say the least!


My #7 is

PAINKILLER by JUDAS PRIEST

I was thinking about leaving this one out but no sir...can't do it. This track is just amazing there is no two ways about it.