Today I was listening to the Sundazed reissues of Dick Dale's 'Surfer's Choice' and 'King of the Surf Guitar,' and was reminded why I don't listen to these often. The latter especially is filled with humdrum vocal numbers. While Dick is a decent vocalist, his voice is more suited to occasionally shouting out "Shake and Stomp!" than crooning, and I'm wondering why he felt the need to present himself as a singer when his talents were clearly primarily as a guitarist.
Now I know that musical history is rife with examples of artists making artistic choices that seem questionable in retrospect, and artists frequently feel some compulsion to expand their horizons, but what are some examples of musical artists that you feel spent entirely too much time playing away from their musical strengths and giving us questionable product as a result?
Artists not playing their strengths
- pcqgod
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Artists not playing their strengths
Where would rock 'n' roll be without feedback?
- Nick Danger
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths
I've never made it all the way through a James Brown ballad.
- trans-chigley express
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths
Mike Oldfield has spent half of his career not playing to his strengths and attempting all kinds of styles that he is not very good at. When he finally did play to his strengths again on his last album it was a cracker
- C
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths
Interesting question.
Mike Oldfield seems a good choice. [Good lad Ray]
I'll offer:
Led Zeppelin.
They should have stuck to what they did well on the first four albums.
They took on too much after that - a bit of a dog's breakfast really but don't tell Diamond Dog I said that.
A lot of what comes after, to my ears, is somewhat tedious and styles that they aren't that great at.
Hey hey mama said the way you move
Gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove ..!
Now, that's more like it
.
Mike Oldfield seems a good choice. [Good lad Ray]
I'll offer:
Led Zeppelin.
They should have stuck to what they did well on the first four albums.
They took on too much after that - a bit of a dog's breakfast really but don't tell Diamond Dog I said that.
A lot of what comes after, to my ears, is somewhat tedious and styles that they aren't that great at.
Hey hey mama said the way you move
Gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove ..!
Now, that's more like it
.
mudshark wrote:Where is he anyway, that very soft lad?
- GoogaMooga
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths
Sometimes I wish the rockabilly phase of Elvis Presley could have lasted a little longer. And that the Hollywood period never happened.
"When the desert comes, people will be sad; just as Cannery Row was sad when all the pilchards were caught and canned and eaten." - John Steinbeck
- pcqgod
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths
C wrote:
I'll offer:
Led Zeppelin.
They should have stuck to what they did well on the first four albums.
They took on too much after that - a bit of a dog's breakfast really but don't tell Diamond Dog I said that.
A lot of what comes after, to my ears, is somewhat tedious and styles that they aren't that great at.
Hey hey mama said the way you move
Gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove ..!
Now, that's more like it
.
And everyone's just going to let this one pass without comment?
Truthfully, I'm surprised that more people don't share this opinion, though personally I like most of the later Zep albums just fine.
Where would rock 'n' roll be without feedback?
- robertff
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths
C wrote:Interesting question.
Mike Oldfield seems a good choice. [Good lad Ray]
I'll offer:
Led Zeppelin.
They should have stuck to what they did well on the first four albums.
They took on too much after that - a bit of a dog's breakfast really but don't tell Diamond Dog I said that.
A lot of what comes after, to my ears, is somewhat tedious and styles that they aren't that great at.
Hey hey mama said the way you move
Gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove ..!
Now, that's more like it
.
To a certain extent I agree with you C. and they probably should have called it a day after IV although PG is an excellent album, probably their best. HOtH has it’s great moments, although I never really understood why they didn’t include the title track, but overall it’s not great, whereas the final two, discounting Coda, are average and no better. They ran out of ideas, or lacked inspiration because they were all so out of it, one way or another.
.
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths
Rod Stewart.
- robertff
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths
Lord Rother wrote:Rod Stewart.
Yep, I agree nevertheless he's done pretty well for himself hasn't he? Actually a couple of his more recent albums have been really pretty good, Time and the ones that came after. They're not in the same class as Gasoline, Every Picture and Never a Dull ... but still very enjoyable.
.
- robertff
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths
Neil Young
.
.
- Walk In My Shadow
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths
robertff wrote:Neil Young
.
seconded
much as I like the guy, he's put out some drivel in his time.
and why he insist of releasing every solo acoustic show he's ever done I'll never know.
Beneluxfunkmeisterlurvegod
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths
Bruce Springsteen. A studio career that should've ended 20 years ago.
Beneluxfunkmeisterlurvegod
- pcqgod
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths
Jeff Beck himself has said that he devoted too much of his artistic output to jazz fusion, and I'm sure many fans wish he had stuck with the heavy/psychedelic blues style that first brought him notoriety. That being said, his jazz fusion albums from the 70's are quite good for the most part.
Where would rock 'n' roll be without feedback?
- Quaco
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths
I think somehow Paul McCartney fits in here. He's always trying his hand at some experimental or classical thing or a '50s rock and roll album, when the main thing he's good at is 100% clear (nothing hidden), highly tuneful pop music. Even attempts to experiment lyrically fall flat. He's best at love songs and the occasional story.
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