Band albums - check: anyone up for top 5 solo releases ?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Spring doesn't qualify because...

Brian's name isn't on the cover and...
He lost interest pretty quickly. According to the most generous estimate (Marilyn's), there's maybe 25% BW there.

She and David Sandler made it seem like more to me. Desper said he wasn't there much but made a big difference when he was. Plus you can hear him singing on half the cuts.

The 25% is an actual quote from Marilyn, in interview by me in 1986 as a response to SWD's 5% claim. 

I find your use of the old man emoticon recently very funny...

Respect yer elders, sonny. 

[Fall Breaks]

1. OCA
2. BWPS
3. POB/Bambu
4. Postcard
5. WIRWFC

[rogerlancelot]

I have to admit that I have never heard any of the following:

- Any David Marks cd (I have to get them)

- "Unleash The Love" (I heard it's not too bad)

- "All I Want For Xmas" (I hate Xmas albums)

I have Surfin' Pajama Party on vinyl but no record player so I've never heard that. I downloaded one of Blondie's album a long time ago and don't remember anything about it at all (unlike "The Flame" which gets a regular rotation in my top 500 cds). Al's album was okay but didn't merit a second listen for me (must dig it out again). I really enjoyed GIOMH when it first came out but I have kind of lost the love for it over time. OCA only has 2 good songs on it in my opinion (title track and "San Francisco") which was disappointing to me as I am a fan of VDP and BW.

I guess in all fairness, I need to order the David Marks albums, find a download for Unleash The Love, get all my cds together and listen to them in chronological order to get a fair assessment. I still have a feeling that POB/Bambu (the 2008 2-fer) will come out on top but I am intrigued by the possibility of David Marks blowing away some of the others in my top 5. Thanks for starting this thread, Andrew. It's been kind of slow here lately.

[MBE]

Spring doesn't qualify because...

Brian's name isn't on the cover and...
He lost interest pretty quickly. According to the most generous estimate (Marilyn's), there's maybe 25% BW there.

She and David Sandler made it seem like more to me. Desper said he wasn't there much but made a big difference when he was. Plus you can hear him singing on half the cuts.

The 25% is an actual quote from Marilyn, in interview by me in 1986 as a response to SWD's 5% claim.  

No doubt but in 1995 and 2003 respectively they gave me a slightly (if not wholly) more generous impression.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Spring doesn't qualify because...

Brian's name isn't on the cover and...
He lost interest pretty quickly. According to the most generous estimate (Marilyn's), there's maybe 25% BW there.

She and David Sandler made it seem like more to me. Desper said he wasn't there much but made a big difference when he was. Plus you can hear him singing on half the cuts.

The 25% is an actual quote from Marilyn, in interview by me in 1986 as a response to SWD's 5% claim.  

No doubt but in 1995 and 2003 respectively they gave me a slightly (if not wholly) more generous impression.

Researcher's Golden Rule #3 - unless you have compelling evidence to the contrary, go with the source that's closest to the actual event.

[Rob Dean]

1) POB - Miles ahead of the others
2) TLOS
3) Brian Wilson
4) Orange
5) Postcards

[The Shift]

I hadn't listen to any David Marks' (except for Ultimate Collector's Edition, doubt that it counts), Blondie & Ricky's records yet, as well as Al's Live In Vegas (unfortunately) & Mike's unreleased albums (except for some individual tracks I found on the Inet). So my Top-5 solo ranking goes as next:

1. That Lucky Old Sun (the only song I dislike is Mexican Girl, everything else - great)
2. Brian's self-titled (marvellous! Well, maybe minus Let It Shine)
3. A Postcard From California (this is very close to #2, actually, very joyful & beautiful musical work)
4. GIOMH (there are many cool moments & I dig the duet tracks)
5. Surfin' Round The World (imo Bruce's greatest achievement is this album, not The Grammy for composing I Write The Songs)

This also raises a point… how much output has Ricky had since leaving the band (other than the Rutles).. I'd be interested to hear any solo material he's put out, very interested. I feel a chump for not knowing the answer myself.

[Mikie]

Bonnie Raitt.

[Rob Dean]

AND some Crowded House tracks

[Smilin Ed H]

5. Surfin' Round The World (imo Bruce's greatest achievement is this album, not The Grammy for composing I Write The Songs)

Have to admit, I find this a badly produced, underwritten tacky album. The one with the bonus tracks is slightly better.

[punkinhead]

1. BWPS
2. TLOS
3. POB
4. Postcard from CA
5. GIOMH (yeah, I do like it)

[Mike's Beard]

5. Surfin' Round The World (imo Bruce's greatest achievement is this album, not The Grammy for composing I Write The Songs)

Have to admit, I find this a badly produced, underwritten tacky album. The one with the bonus tracks is slightly better.

It's one of the greatest surfing albums ever IMO. It's suprising to hear Bruce rocking so much. For anyone who hasn't heard it, if you can listen to Surfin' USA without saying "Oh god not another surf instrumental", then this album is for you!

[Alan Smith]

I hadn't listen to any David Marks' (except for Ultimate Collector's Edition, doubt that it counts), Blondie & Ricky's records yet, as well as Al's Live In Vegas (unfortunately) & Mike's unreleased albums (except for some individual tracks I found on the Inet). So my Top-5 solo ranking goes as next:

1. That Lucky Old Sun (the only song I dislike is Mexican Girl, everything else - great)
2. Brian's self-titled (marvellous! Well, maybe minus Let It Shine)
3. A Postcard From California (this is very close to #2, actually, very joyful & beautiful musical work)
4. GIOMH (there are many cool moments & I dig the duet tracks)
5. Surfin' Round The World (imo Bruce's greatest achievement is this album, not The Grammy for composing I Write The Songs)

This also raises a point… how much output has Ricky had since leaving the band (other than the Rutles).. I'd be interested to hear any solo material he's put out, very interested. I feel a chump for not knowing the answer myself.

He composed the score for an Australian film called Spotswood, 13 tunes. A listening can be arranged if yer keen.

[AndrewHickey]

1) Smile
2) That Lucky Old Sun
3) Orange Crate Art
4) Gettin' In Over My Head (yes, really -- half of it's dire, but there's some stunningly good stuff in there)
5) Pacific Ocean Blue

(and just because I feel bad leaving off there, 6 through 10:
6) Brian Wilson
7) Postcard From California
Pet Sounds Live
9) What I Really Want For Christmas
10) Carl Wilson)

[BergenWhitesMoustache]

1/ Pacific Ocean Blue
2/ BW/ 1988
3/ Does orange crate art really count given that it's basically a VDP record? Still, that.
4/ Going Public

The rest of them I can't bring myself to care about because in my opinion they are all tasteful and dull with none of the bad but wacky qualities even the lamest BB material had, up to a point. Going public makes the cut because there is something brilliantly perverted about the disco version of Deidre.

[donald]

I wish I could hear what everyone loves so much about POB.  Reminds me of trying to learn to like watermelon as a kid because everyone else seemed to love it and but I just couldn't develop a taste for it. 

[Andrew G. Doe]

I wish I could hear what everyone loves so much about POB.  Reminds me of trying to learn to like watermelon as a kid because everyone else seemed to love it and but I just couldn't develop a taste for it. 

If we all liked the same things, the world would be a very tedious place. Peaceful, but most tedious.

[matt-zeus]

My favourites - though I would say only the first two get regular airings...

1. Orange Crate Art
2. Reimagines Gershwin
3. Brian Wilson
4. Imagination
5. That lucky old sun

[Jon Stebbins]

Dennis -Pacific Ocean Blue - Better than all but a handful of the BB's group albums too.
Brian -TLOS - A distant 2nd, but good.
Dave Marks- I Think About You Often - A fine and underrated solo album
BW 88- good songs, bad production
BWPS- pales compared to the BB's version, but still really cool

[Loaf]

Apart from #1, the other positions are all subject to change, but this morning i'll go with:

1 - POB (it just has to be)
2 - BWP Smile
3 - Reimagines Gershwin
4 - Brian Wilson
5 - Imagination

[phirnis]

POB, BW88, and BWRG are the ones I play regularly. Loved both BWPS and TLOS when they came out. Does the Pet Projects compilation count? Would be tough for me decide between that one and POB when it comes to the #1 spot. Orange Crate Art is great but to me it sounds like a VDP album first and foremost. Definitely a favorite though!

[Smilin Ed H]

"if you can listen to Surfin' USA without saying "Oh god not another surf instrumental", then this album is for you!"

I can do that, but the charms of Bruce's album escape me.

[Outtasight!]

1. BWPS
2. Lucky Old Sun
3. Reimagines Gershwin
4. BW88
5. POB

To add to the POB debate, I enjoy that album but simply listen to those above it on my list (far) more often. I also listen to Orange Crate Art more than POB but that's not a solo BB's album.

[gfac22]

Dennis -Pacific Ocean Blue - Better than all but a handful of the BB's group albums too.

   Hear hear!

[Mikie]

Agreed, Jon. Been listening to POB since the Summer of '77 and it's far and away the most played of all my BB solo albums (CD's) and I still never get tired of it