strongly disagree with the statement “ (i.e. there’s almost no blackness in the music of Blondie or Elvis Costello or Joe Jackson).” Heart of Glass is a disco song. Rapture of course has a rap on it, an over-long rap but nonetheless. Listen to Elvis Costello’s Get Happy! then listen to Otis Redding or Sam Cooke. Joe Jackson’s swing and jazz albums owe more to Duke Ellington than to Benny Goodman. They might not sound like Sly Stone, but there’s plenty of groove in their music.
The Get Happy album was an apology for the racist comments he made and plays to me like a parody of that music and less a celebration. Agreed about Heart of Glass but it's not emblematic of Blondie hence "almost."
London Calling would make top 100 for the 70s, but I don't like their output afterwards. Sandinista! feels like the same but worse in every aspect to me.
well, setting aside the sheep-bleat filler, Sandinista ! is one of my favorite records. I can’t possibly say you’re wrong, it’s music, I just disagree. This may seem less jolly disagreement than I intend it’s hard for me to get any tone in the comments to a substack. But Get Happy! is more apology than parody, Watching the Detectives has a reggae beat, and he later (ok much later) did records with Allen Touissant and with The Roots. Blondie had four big hits in the US: Heart of Glass (disco); Call Me (disco beat); The Tide is High (reggae); and Rapture. So to say they have “almost no blackness” is a stretch. If you want to understand what I mean about Joe Jackson the album to listen to is Jumpin Jive. Appreciate your perspective, always good to get different ones.
"This may seem less jolly disagreement than I intend it’s hard for me to get any tone in the comments to a substack" --> Hey! I didn't take it to be any less than a fun conversation, so please don't take any of my responses back that way either!
Love this list! Prince having two entries in the top 5 speaks to his genius and his towering influence on the decade. Not to mention that they both contain some of the best pop songs ever. Bravo!
So many here are entirely new to me. It will be interesting to give them a listen, wondering if coming to an artist’s core work “cold” will be vastly different to your experience of enjoying them in the context of their entire output. Particularly interested in the minimalists, where I’ve hoovered up everything Glass has produced (energised by his film scores) but not really paid attention to anything else in the genre.
If someone 'cooler' had made the same record it wouldn't be nearly as transparently distrusted by some people. If I see the word 'appropriation' one more time in discussions about that album I may burst.
Yes, I mentioned the former; the latter I know about and is not what people who accuse the album of cultural appropriation refer to (it's also the worst song on the album fwiw)
That's one of the rare albums that I really have to thank RYM. When I first saw it in the charts ~6 years ago, I found no other information about it on the internet. A gem.
strongly disagree with the statement “ (i.e. there’s almost no blackness in the music of Blondie or Elvis Costello or Joe Jackson).” Heart of Glass is a disco song. Rapture of course has a rap on it, an over-long rap but nonetheless. Listen to Elvis Costello’s Get Happy! then listen to Otis Redding or Sam Cooke. Joe Jackson’s swing and jazz albums owe more to Duke Ellington than to Benny Goodman. They might not sound like Sly Stone, but there’s plenty of groove in their music.
(You may be right about Jackson. I'll revisit at some point.)
The Get Happy album was an apology for the racist comments he made and plays to me like a parody of that music and less a celebration. Agreed about Heart of Glass but it's not emblematic of Blondie hence "almost."
Also there’s a Clash-sized hole in your top 100. This suggests that music I like and music you like have a pretty narrow overlap.
London Calling would make top 100 for the 70s, but I don't like their output afterwards. Sandinista! feels like the same but worse in every aspect to me.
well, setting aside the sheep-bleat filler, Sandinista ! is one of my favorite records. I can’t possibly say you’re wrong, it’s music, I just disagree. This may seem less jolly disagreement than I intend it’s hard for me to get any tone in the comments to a substack. But Get Happy! is more apology than parody, Watching the Detectives has a reggae beat, and he later (ok much later) did records with Allen Touissant and with The Roots. Blondie had four big hits in the US: Heart of Glass (disco); Call Me (disco beat); The Tide is High (reggae); and Rapture. So to say they have “almost no blackness” is a stretch. If you want to understand what I mean about Joe Jackson the album to listen to is Jumpin Jive. Appreciate your perspective, always good to get different ones.
"This may seem less jolly disagreement than I intend it’s hard for me to get any tone in the comments to a substack" --> Hey! I didn't take it to be any less than a fun conversation, so please don't take any of my responses back that way either!
Thanks for the JJ rec.
Love this list! Prince having two entries in the top 5 speaks to his genius and his towering influence on the decade. Not to mention that they both contain some of the best pop songs ever. Bravo!
the real king of pop!
So many here are entirely new to me. It will be interesting to give them a listen, wondering if coming to an artist’s core work “cold” will be vastly different to your experience of enjoying them in the context of their entire output. Particularly interested in the minimalists, where I’ve hoovered up everything Glass has produced (energised by his film scores) but not really paid attention to anything else in the genre.
I normally go to the core work first anyway, and then backtrack myself if I'm interested enough!
Great list, and I fully agree with your take on Graceland.
If someone 'cooler' had made the same record it wouldn't be nearly as transparently distrusted by some people. If I see the word 'appropriation' one more time in discussions about that album I may burst.
Yeah 100%, seems totally misapplied in this case. Luckily, I've stopped paying attention to what's perceived as 'cool' in music many years ago.
that's the way to do it!
Simon broke the UN Cultural Boycott and stole from Los Lobos.
Yes, I mentioned the former; the latter I know about and is not what people who accuse the album of cultural appropriation refer to (it's also the worst song on the album fwiw)
I do, and I am a person.
right - the accusations of cultural appropriation usually hinge on him working with african musicians (hence why you brought up the boycott at all)
? I brought up the boycott because he broke the boycott and I support(ed) the boycott. Mindreading is not your thing.
Right. Honestly I original had a footnote about the LL thing but removed it because it was getting too wordy. Apologies for cutting it.
Fun list!
The "quality" of stealing is meaningless.
yes, i agree
yasimika mentioned!!!
That's one of the rare albums that I really have to thank RYM. When I first saw it in the charts ~6 years ago, I found no other information about it on the internet. A gem.