Daily Dose for August 23, 2007
By Bruce Warren, Program Director of WXPN
Over pop music’s vast history there have been many memorable musical moments involving key band members (i.e. lead singers) striking out on their own to do their own solo projects. I submit to you a list of some of these moves; you’ll agree that some of them have been memorable - although in the case of David Lee Roth, they are better forgotten. You decide and please submit your comments.
Sting or The Police?
Mick Jagger’s solo career or The Rolling Stones?
Peter Gabriel or Genesis?
Phil Collins or Genesis?
David Lee Roth or Van Halen?
Jonatha Brooke or The Story?
Bruce Springsteen with or without The E Street Band?
John Doe or X?
Elvis Costello with The Attractions or The Imposters?
Donald Fagen solo or with Steely Dan?
The Beatles solo or The Beatles?
Paul Weller solo or with The Style Council or The Jam?
Rhett Miller or The Old 97’s?
Paul Westerberg or The Replacements?
Bob Mould or Husker Du?
Thom Yorke solo or Radiohead?
The solo simultaneous releases from each member of Kiss or Kiss?
Frank Black (and various other solo projects) or The Pixies?
Kim Deal with The Breeders or The Pixies?
Belinda Carlisle or The Go-Go’s?
David Byrne or Talking Heads?
Talking Heads vs. Tom Tom Club?
Method Man or Wu-Tang?
Bobby Brown or New Edition?
Diana Ross with or without The Supremes?
Michael Jackson with or without his brothers?
Justin Timberlake or N’Sync?
All due respect, but the Beatles solo may be the best available illustration of the maxim “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
August 22nd, 2007 at 10:31 pmAlthough Genesis managed the ,at the time thought to be unmanagable, task of continuing on successfully without the inimitable Prog Rock God Peter Gabriel.I can’t help but imagine what could have been if they had continued to successfully merge the unmatched musical proficiency of messrs Hackett,Collins,Banks and Rutherford with the creative genuis of the one and only Gabriel.Yes a seminal moment in Rock history for what could have been and what both Genesis and Gabriel became in there own right.
August 23rd, 2007 at 6:30 amI have to agree with respondent #1. Solo Beatles are fine…and Sir Paul, if you’re reading this—I love you. But together, they changed (a) music and (b) my life.
August 23rd, 2007 at 6:44 pmSame with Mick alone vs. with the Stones.
I think Bruce is better with E Street Band, but that’s because I have a soft spot for Clarence and Silvio…I mean Little Steven, who has one of the worst birthdays a Baby Boomer can have—November 22.
GoGos over Belinda solo
Supremes over Diana because she wasn’t “Miss Ross” back then
Sting playing the lute on “Studio 60″ was better than the Police on the Grammy Awards, so Sting wins that one.
The one I’m having the most trouble with is David Byrne with & without Talking Heads. I like his solo work. But I love Talking Heads.
Almost without exception, I think the solo artists did their best work with their original bands. The ones I’d concede would be John Lennon, probably George Harrison, Michael Jackson, Jonatha Brooke, and Peter Gabriel. Sting vs. Police is a toss-up - I do like at least his earlier solo work, but the band still has the edge. Same goes for David Byrne.
August 28th, 2007 at 7:51 pmSome of these are easy to answer.
Sting or The Police? Um. Police. Sting solo is a douchebag.
Mick Jagger’s solo career or The Rolling Stones? Stones all the way. No doubt. Mick alone is an embarrassment (most of the time).
Peter Gabriel or Genesis? Gabriel.
Phil Collins or Genesis? Little difference. I kind of hate both.
David Lee Roth or Van Halen? Van Halen with Roth!
John Doe or X? X.
The Beatles solo or The Beatles? While they all (even Ringo) did some fine work solo, I’ll go with the group. That said, it’s sort of a song by song basis. I mean, “Live and Let Die” slams “Octopus Garden” any day.
Paul Weller solo or with The Style Council or The Jam? The Jam. No doubt.
Paul Westerberg or The Replacements? Sadly, I think all the Replacements are better as a group of alkies, rather than solo drunks.
The solo simultaneous releases from each member of Kiss or Kiss? The group. That said, I inexplicably love “New York Groove”.
Frank Black (and various other solo projects) or The Pixies? Duh. Pixies.
Kim Deal with The Breeders or The Pixies? I really like both.
Belinda Carlisle or The Go-Go’s? Belinda Carlisle solo is so sucky. I prefer fat, pissy, coked-up ex-cheerleader Belinda to the one who got skinny and reclaimed her popular girl roots.
David Byrne or Talking Heads? Both are cool.
Talking Heads vs. Tom Tom Club? Both are cool.
Method Man or Wu-Tang? Wu-Tang. However, ODB solo is another story. RIP, ODB.
Bobby Brown or New Edition? That’s a tough one. However, “Candy Girl” trumps “My Prerogative”. Just barely.
Diana Ross with or without The Supremes? Depends on era and individual song.
Michael Jackson with or without his brothers? Toughest one on the list. Adore both.
Justin Timberlake or N’Sync? N’Sync. No doubt.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:25 am[[Belinda Carlisle or The Go-Go’s? Belinda Carlisle solo is so sucky. I prefer fat, pissy, coked-up ex-cheerleader Belinda to the one who got skinny and reclaimed her popular girl roots.]] - This was the version that I fell in love with in college.
[[The Beatles solo or The Beatles? While they all (even Ringo) did some fine work solo, I’ll go with the group. That said, it’s sort of a song by song basis. I mean, “Live and Let Die” slams “Octopus Garden” any day.]] -
If only they had the wisdom and maturity to keep egos in check and keep it together!.
In 1971 Lennon told BBC’s David Wigg:
“There’s no reason why we should ever play together. Listen to the music. Would George have ever flourished like that if we’d carried on with the group? No chance.
If people need The Beatles so much, all they have to do is to buy each album and make a track out of it.
Put it on tape, track by track. One of me, one of Paul, one one of George, one of Ringo. If they really need it that much. Because otherwise the music is just the same, only on separate albums.
Instead of having The White Album or Abbey Road where I sing a song, George sings a song, Paul sings a song, Ringo sings a song. Wam, wam, wam, wam, like that. Now we make an album each. That’s the only difference. And it’s far better music because we’re not suppressed in the Beatles.”
August 30th, 2007 at 11:51 am