Back Catalogue Advice Centre, Which album should I get first? Options

[Ade]

Howdy folks!


Thinking of delving into Frank Zappa's back catalague? Not sure where to start your exploration of Led Zeppelin's oeuvre? Or maybe you are a total newbie to the product of Beatles/Beach Boys et al. Then post your hesitant ponderings here, and ask for other forumites' advice on where to start your odyssey into the musical maelstrom of the unknown.

I didn't believe there was an existing 'umbrella' thread in a similar vein, and I figured it would be a tidier way of keeping the music section from potentially becoming littered with umpteen individual request threads.


I'll start things off then, by asking if anyone here has any thoughts on the output of Fish (erstwhile frontman of prog outfit Marillion). What sing he? Where go I? And why?

[Sostie]

Fish! Why? I don't know.

Where?

Well the resources I always find useful... YouTube, MySpace and surprisingly Amazon.com. Amazon, for most CDs, has small snippets of tracks on albums which is always good for a pre purchase taste. Like licking a lolly before paying the ice cream man!

[Ade]

YouTube, MySpace and surprisingly Amazon.com.

As indispensible as they are, they've taken all the fun out of asking people here first.


I wasn't strickly askin' for where to look - I was more after prompting people to personally opine on any given artist, should they so wish (albeit in a Tom Bakery Little Britain-esque fashion.... which slightly backfired). But I appreciate the reminder of the aforementioned resources, sah!

[Sostie]

As indispensible as they are, they've taken all the fun out of asking people here first.
I wasn't strickly askin' for where to look - I was more after prompting people to personally opine on any given artist, should they so wish (albeit in a Tom Bakery Little Britain-esque fashion.... which slightly backfired).  But I appreciate the reminder of the aforementioned resources, sah!

I humbly apologise.

If it is any consolation I can do a very poor Fish impression (which in my head sounds really good, like my Roger Moore one) which I will perform for you next time we meet and if I have some drinks in me.

[Ade]

I humbly apologise.

If it is any consolation I can do a very poor Fish impression (which in my head sounds really good, like my Roger Moore one) which I will perform for you next time we meet and if I have some drinks in me.

No apologisyness required sir. Drunksostiefish is already a winner.

[maian]

After Sostie stuck ''Jackie'' on his last Tape Loop mix, I've tracked down Scott 2 by Scott Walker and really like it. However, I am now at a loss as to what album to get next due to the rather large back catalogue now confronting me.

Can anyone suggest where I should look next?

[Starscream`s Gho...]

After Sostie stuck ''Jackie'' on his last Tape Loop mix, I've tracked down Scott 2 by Scott Walker and really like it. However, I am now at a loss as to what album to get next due to the rather large back catalogue now confronting me.

Can anyone suggest where I should look next?

You could always try listening to Jacques Brel himself, the foul-mouthed charmer that he is.

I'd recommend it.

[Ade]

After Sostie stuck ''Jackie'' on his last Tape Loop mix, I've tracked down Scott 2 by Scott Walker and really like it. However, I am now at a loss as to what album to get next due to the rather large back catalogue now confronting me.

Can anyone suggest where I should look next?

I haven't listened to Walker in a while actually, good call. My gut reaction would be go for Scott 4, if only for the wonderment that is 'The Old Man's Back Again (Dedicated To The Neo-Stalinist Regime)' - gives me goosebumps. The rest of the album is really rather excellent too - listening through it now, I'd forgotten just how good.

Glenn's heads-up for Brel is a worthy note too - something I need to look into as well.

[Sostie]

Any of the numbered Scott albums are worth getting. After that he gets a bit avant garde as the years go on. And don't neglect The Walker Brothers either...some very lovely gloomy pop.

I second Brel.

[maian]

Any recommendations on a specific Brel album? From what I can tell there are literally hundreds of different versions floating around.

[Sostie]

I'd go for a best of. Not heard too much of his stuff, the little I have I've liked.

[Serafina_Pekkala]

Fish lives outside Edinburgh near my mate. We always keep an eye out for him when I visit but yet to see the big man yet. If I do, maybe whorage will summount itself.

As for Brel, there are tons of various 'best of' collections out there. More than original albums in fact. There is one called 100 Chansons or something. Probably a good place to start.

My niece cannot say my name so she calls me Titine and that prompted several french people to sing Mr Brel's ballad of the same name. Amusant.

[maian]

Well, this might be a big one to tackle, but could anyone recommend a good album to start on to investigate the work of the Rolling Stones? I know their hits pretty well but have never really invested in an album. Where do I start in terms of proper albums? I've already got a best of so really I just want to delve a bit deeper.

[Stella MM]

My gut reaction would be go for Scott 4, if only for the wonderment that is 'The Old Man's Back Again (Dedicated To The Neo-Stalinist Regime)' - gives me goosebumps.

Ooh yes, and also The World's Strongest Man. Such a beautiful voice.

[dandan]

Well, this might be a big one to tackle, but could anyone recommend a good album to start on to investigate the work of the Rolling Stones? I know their hits pretty well but have never really invested in an album. Where do I start in terms of proper albums? I've already got a best of so really I just want to delve a bit deeper.

well, my favourite stones album is 'their satanic majesties request', which is a little weird at times, but has some absolute corkers on it. probably not the best place to start if you're after more of their early stuff though...