Top 100 of All Time 61-70

Fela Kuti

Fela is the king of world music. Inventor of Afrobeat, as it's called. It's a simmering amalgam of jazz, funk, soul, highlife, and protest music. His canon is extensive and well worth examining. I came to appreciate Fela's work somewhat tangentially, having been turned on to King Sunny Ade and wanting more African sounds. From his early "singles" period through his  later side-long funky jams, you WILL move your arse to this!

Recommended: Army Arrangement (1985), Afrodisiac (1973)

Leon Russell

Almost too legendary to describe. He has played with everyone, written songs that have turned everyone on. No restrictions of genre or time. 

My favorites: Carney (1972), Hank Wilson's Back (1973)

George Clinton/Parliament-Funkadelic

Tear the roof off the sucka! When we were kids, we made fun of this stuff. Boy, were WE dumb! 

Put your headphones on for: Maggot Brain (1971)

Miles Davis

My favorite jazz artist of all. Maybe the coolest dude who ever lived. Whatever--he has done everything in music. I can't diss Bird, 'Trane, nor any of the other greats, but Miles is IT.

Traffic

In my view, Traffic was one of the most original and versatile rock bands ever. The group was always in flux, but they rode it all out for a string of great albums. 

My faorite: The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (1971)

XTC

I nearly left them out because of their aversion to touring, but that would disqualify a lot of great artists. First experienced them in the film Urgh! A Music War. That paved my way for appreciating punk and "new wave" of all stripes. No one besides Big Star wrote catchier songs without having any real "hits." But it isn't about hits, but great songs and albums. They have lots of both.

Get into: Skylarking (1986)

The Pogues

It's just a coincidence that I am posting this on St. Patrick's Day. The Pogues are the quintessential Irish band: sloppy, angry, fiery, humorous, sincere. Maybe Shane MacGowan is more famous for getting drunk, but this is one band I so regret never having seen live. I had a chance to see Shane live at Guinness Fleadh in 1997, but passed so I could see Van Morrison on the main stage. I still agonize over that one!

You won't regret spinning If I Should Fall from Grace With God (1986)

Robert Johnson

You may have heard of him. Sold his soul to the devil to become the greatest bluesman ever. Well, that's an utter crock, but he probably was anyway.

Just get it: The Complete Recordings (1990)

Lucinda Williams

She deserves a spot for songwriting alone. But that voice!

Her opus grande: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998)

Paul Simon

Wrote oodles of great songs. Introduced the world to the wonders of African Music. Collaborated with a guy named Garfunkel.


Groove to: Graceland (1986)

Top 100 of All Time: 71-80

Bonnie Raitt 

Apologies to anyone who thinks my list is too heavily loaded with female artists, but I believe that the distaff side of rock (and blues, and funk, and jazz, and pop, and country...) has a lot to offer. Witness Ms. Bonnie Raitt. Slide guitarist extraordinaire. Great singer and interpreter, and not too shabby a songwriter.

Essential: Takin' My Time (1973)

Big Star

Never paid any attention until I heard Paul Westerberg sing, "Never travel far/Without a little Big Star." Ill-fated but great band whose influence on everyone from R.E.M. to the New Pornographers. 

Get it: #1 Record/Radio City (1972/1974; released as a two-fer in 1978)

Pink Floyd 

Gods of British Psych/pop. Their influence is nearly as great as their ouevre, even if the post-Roger Waters releases and tours were spotty. 

Can't live without: Wish You Were Here (70's masterpiece), and Piper at the Gates of Dawn (early gem).

Doug Sahm

Many groovy 60's hits with the Sir Douglas Quintet. Pioneered Tex-Mex sound and perfected it with Texas Tornados, his supergroup which included the great Flaco Jiminez and Freddy Fender.

Don't pass up: Mendocino (1969)

Buddy Holly 

Too many great songs to his credit to even start listing them. Not Fade Away!

Your collection is incomplete without Buddy Holly (1959)

King Crimson

Masters of the "prog" genre. Revolving door in their later years, but the output of their original lineup remains a landmark. 

Dig: In the Court of the Crimson King (1969), Red (1974)

Loudon Wainwright III 

Unfortunately best-known for a novelty hit ("Dead Skunk"), his career traces a rich tapestry of lyrical wit and eloquence.

Listen to: Attempted Mustache (1973)

Buffalo Springfield 

Neil Young gets in on his own, but the Springfield may have created country rock single-handedly. Too few albums, but a lasting impression nonetheless.

Just feast your ears: Buffalo Springfield (1966)

The Decemberists

One of the few "new" bands to make it, they are as transcendent live as any band I've seen. Studio polish, thankfully, does nothing to diminish this.

I insist you hear it all: The Hazards of Love (2009)

Jethro Tull 

Few have been able to merge rock, classical, folk, and jazz with quite the facility that JT has done. Again, later records have run the gamut of quality, but they established a place in the pantheon by 1975 and never looked back.


Don't be: Thick as a Brick (1972)--dig it!

Top 100 of All Time: 81-90

The Minutemen

Not many punk bands made my list. Not sure why, because there were so many great ones that I loved (Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Hüsker Dü, to name only a few). Maybe it was an issue of longevity (or lack thereof, or spotty output, or whatever). But the Minutemen, led by the great and dearly departed D. Boon, deserve a spot. They might deserve a spot based solely on their masterpiece double-LP, Double Nickels on the Dime.

Steve Forbert 

One of the many "new Dylans" to emerge in the 70's. His greatest album will always be his first, Alive on Arrival, but his career, both as a recording artist and live performer, has been remarkably consistent. "Romeo's Tune" aside, Steve has never succumbed to the trappings of commercial success.

Johnny Cash

'Nuff said. 

Del McCoury

Personifies bluegrass. And class.

Skatalites

Make no mistake. You can't NOT move your feet when these guys are playing. Many reincarnations of the band over the years haven't tarnished their worthiness. 

Recommended: Stretching Out.

Nick Lowe 

Producer, songwriter, bassist, Jesus of Cool! His work with Brinsley Schwarz is not to be neglected, either.

Prince

Despite his many forays into weirdness, the Purple One belongs. He could make a living just as a guitar slinger, but that would deprive the world of is many other talents. Funky as you wanna be!

Scott Walker/The Walker Brothers

It wasn't until only recently (the last few years) that I began listening to this kind of music--vocal pop, adult contemporary, whatever you want to call it. They're not brothers, and none of 'em are really named Walker, but their canon of work defines the genre. Scott as a solo artist goes way beyond what the Brothers were about. Weird. Brilliant. Inscrutable. 

Doc Watson

Could be the greatest guitarist ever. This can never be decided, but Doc is in the conversation no matter what.

Jimi Hendrix

Almost as good as Doc Watson...