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My Guess
After yearsmonths weeks of counting down its listeners' 885 All Time Greatest Artists (what, no Van Gogh?) WXPN-FM has eight to go before ending with a party, broadcast from the World Cafe Live this afternoon.
Number nine is playing now - Pink Floyd. Joni Mitchell was No. 10.
Unless my ear is really wrong, these folks below remain.
Who can put them in the right order?
First person to nail it gets a CD from my collection at work. (I'll read off what's available. You pick. And not just The Best of Trini Lopez!) One entry per person, please.
Here's my guess, which is likely off:
springsteen
beatles
bob dylan
rolling stones
U2
neil young
led zeppelin
grateful dead
Update: Gonna make it easy. They had Neil Young at 8, the Dead at 7. Zep at 6. I'm already wrong. You may be right.
Second update: U2 at 5. The Boss at 4. You've got THREE artists to put in the right order now. Someone gets to pick from a dumpster of CDs. All sorts of classical, jazz, rock. One is yours for the picking.
No. 3: The Rolling Stones
No. 2: Bob Dylan
Which leaves those lovable mop tops....
No. 1: The Beatles
which means ...
Michael P. Cronin, come on down! You e-mail me Tuesday at work. We go diving together.
His choice? Very nice.
bob dylan beatles rolling stones springsteen U2
I'm listening to "Kashmir" as I'm trying to do my job, remembering an old Chicago radio dj doing his imitation of a Led Zeppelin fan. It consisted solely of him taking 10 seconds to say: "Oh, excellent."
Zeppelin was higher than I thought. But I think I'm living in denial if I thought that Springsteen would beat out the Beatles. After some review (and a little chunky soup vomiting) I'm thinking that The Beatles will wind up #1. Even after all these years, nobody comes close. I think Ben's list is probably closer to being right. I'm surprized they came up with 885. How many votes were cast?
more than 6,000 ballots, says david dye.
I wish I could listen, but my workplace bans streaming audio/video, and the concrete and steel keeps radio at bay. Bastards. It's interesting that the Top Ten contains so few current artists. I heard Hendrix at #11 driving in this morning, which means 5 of the top 11 aren't around anymore, and more than a few of them are deceased. My Top 10 list would have had a few more artists still making new music. AT least five of them would be out, mostly because I'm not that big a fan. I wonder if it's a comment on the current state of music or just the fact that most of the music we like stays with us for so long?
"I wonder if it's a comment on the current state of music or just the fact that most of the music we like stays with us for so long?" It's more the main demo for XPN - they've gone from college radio to a safe haven for aging boomers who want a bit of edge along with the favorites of their glorious mis-spent youth. Beatles (5 of the top 10 albums last year makes this a gimme) Springsteen Dylan (tough placement between 2nd and 3rd here) U2 (token modern music artist, if 20 years old is modern) Stones (Please, after the countdown, move them back to MMR and make room for something recorded within the last 10 years).
Proof that the only people who listen to XPN are white old farts.
"Proof that the only people who listen to XPN are white old farts." Used to listen to them as a white young fart. They've bleached out the programming over the years, but they still suck less than any other radio station on the dial.
Dan, I'll pass on the Trini Lopez, but if you have a copy of that Garth Brooks concept album from a few years back hangin' around, hook a sister up.
I probably should throw open the lp closet too. Somewhere deep in some corner are Atomic Rooster, Frijid Pink, Moby Grape, Code Blue, Ultimate Spinach and Romeo Void.
Wait, I'm having a major GenX Freakout moment here...listening to "11 O'clock Tick Tock" and totally remembering seeing that Live at Red Rocks video for the first time. A total turning point in the life of a young rocker grrl. It's why Bono is my Springsteen.
Here is my guess at the top 5:
1. Bob Dylan
2. Beatles
3. Springsteen
4. Rolling Stones
5. U2
I personally wouldn't put Springsteen that high, but its what I think will show up.
I've yet to hear Dread Zeppelin or the Bobs. Don't rule them out. I think Dylan takes it.
db: I figured on the demographics playing a part, which is why I was surprized to see Joni Mitchell come in at #10. At most other stations, she's a blip. James: That's probably the demo, but what I was curious about was the bigger issue of why these old-timers would still make a top 10 list. Dan: Atomic Rooster? Vincent Crane ROCKS! What, no Van de Graaff Generator?
I'm going with the Beatles for Number One. A lot of the Y-Rockers will have put them high on their ballots, which is something I don't think Dylan could claim.
ben garvey's in first so far, but there's lots of room for a winner still
the Beatles were the first boy band. bob dylan wrote too many crap songs to make up for the handful of good songs he has put out. i hate countdowns like this because its always the same old dusty "rock and roll" rounding out the top ten.
1) The Beatles 2) Bob Dylan 3) Bruce Springsteen 4) U2 5) Rolling Stones Thanks.
1) Beatles 2) Bob Dylan 3) Rolling Stones Dumpster Diving.....here I come!!
Beatles Rolling Stones Bob Dylan I'm as good as in the dumpster right now.
I just want you to know how fabulous this will be. Imagine, getting a phone call from Mr. Blinq, himself, and having him describe each of the CDs filling this garden of disposable delights. There are goodies such as the live version of Love's Forever Changes. Some Prokofiev. Fragile by Yes. The mind boggles, the mouth waters.
1 - Beatles 2 - Stones 3 - Dylan
Looks like my list is still in the lead.
Dylan Beatles Stones
Seriously, can I have the Yes album?
Picking Dylan over the Beatles is like giving the ball to Matt Schobel with the game on the line. You look like a genius if you win, but an idiot if you lose.
Alternative list. 1. The Nields 2. Dar Williams 3. Rusted Root
More Alternative Rock: 1 - The A's 2 - Gov't Mule 3 - Flash
"Some Prokofiev." Symphony #5 in B-Flat Major? Hmmm ... that or Romeo Void. Tough choice. Not.
Damn! I guess I'm an idiot. Seriously, is there anyone who thinks U2 is better than Zeppelin?
Ben: I don't think Dylan is better than #100.