GrogHeads Forum

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Each of the songs is paired up in order to determine who moves on to the next round.  I am unable to make an actual bracket, but, the pairings are set up in bracket style like the ones you fill out for the NCAA Basketball tournament.  So if you would kindly vote for one song of each pair, that would be greatly appreciated.

Now that I've got that out of the way, I can present this weeks bracket, 1980.  This is my third attempt, and it has gotten more difficult, not less.  Each song that I think is essential is quickly followed by another and another until I have waaaay too many.  The culling process, while arbitrary, is an exercise in, "How do I NOT include that?!?!?!?!??!!!"  Maybe I'll use them in a future bracket to determine wild cards.  Hmmmmm....

The 1/16





The 8/9





The 5/12





The 4/13





The 6/11





The 3/14





The 7/10





The 2/15

You put Talking Heads against Dire Straits? That's cold, man.

Yeah  >:(

GAH! Those are all tough matches.... must think harder... or more beer would also help.....  :pullhair:

Trying purposely to make them tougher.  Why should I be the only one to suffer? ;)

Seems like Breaking The Law and Crazy Train should have their seeds flipped...

No Joan Jett (Bad Reputation)?
No X (Soul Kitchen)?
Nothing from Loverboy?  (or are you waiting for '82 for that one?)

and seriously - no "Rappers Delight" from Sugarhill Gang?  Talk about cultural influence / pop music importance!

If I had the time to do it, I'd post all the ones I didn't include.  And no, none of them would be what you posted above.  In my defense, the references I am using are a bit more mainstream, the Billboard Hot 100 for that year as well as a list of albums released in that year courtesy of Wikipedia.  But I gotta tell ya', each year could be its own 64 song bracket and I am sure there would STILL be songs I left out that I thought needed to be in there.

And yeah, I thought about flipping the Ozzy/Priest seeds.  Figured I'd let you guys sort that out for me.

Everyone's a critic :P

Quote from: mirth on April 23, 2017, 06:34:16 PM
Everyone's a critic :P

we're grogs.  it's in the description

Crap, I must have hit the submit button by mistake, as it says I've voted.  I only had 2 selected.  If no one can clear my vote for me, then that's where the screw up is on the vote count MD. 

Sorry, Daddy-o.  It's either wipe the poll clean and start over, or take the two and go with it.  Going with the latter methinks.

All I have to say is l...



Fuck U2

Great songs all, but it's difficult to trump Cars in this decade. I mean, from a pure 80s electro-synth standpoint.

Quote from: MetalDog on April 23, 2017, 10:22:07 PM
Sorry, Daddy-o.  It's either wipe the poll clean and start over, or take the two and go with it.  Going with the latter methinks.

I agree.  Just wanted you to know why the count is goofy. 

Quote from: Banzai_Cat on April 24, 2017, 07:50:01 PM
Great songs all, but it's difficult to trump Cars in this decade. I mean, from a pure 80s electro-synth standpoint.

The Cars will make an appearance in their proper place.  There just wasn't anything worthy to put in 1980.  '79, yeah.  '81, absolutely.  '84, you betcha.  Nothing in 1980 though.

Perhaps the greatest video ever

Did you vote?

Quote from: MetalDog on April 24, 2017, 09:54:45 PM
Did you vote?

Early and often.

Then I'll let the unauthorized video stand.  And don't forget, the 1980 Final 8 starts tomorrow night.

Must of been tough narrowing that down. Notable absences, Clash, Joel, Petty, All i really remember was playing Back in Black over and over and hating the Benatar crap coming from my sister's room.

Quote from: MetalDog on April 24, 2017, 09:09:52 PM

Quote from: Banzai_Cat on April 24, 2017, 07:50:01 PM
Great songs all, but it's difficult to trump Cars in this decade. I mean, from a pure 80s electro-synth standpoint.

The Cars will make an appearance in their proper place.  There just wasn't anything worthy to put in 1980.  '79, yeah.  '81, absolutely.  '84, you betcha.  Nothing in 1980 though.

I think he meant the song "Cars" not the band The Cars.  I'm basing that on the qualifier "pure 80s electro-synth" which doesn't really describe The Cars but perfectly encapsulates the song

Totally right.  I read that wrong.    :-[

Quote from: -budd- on April 24, 2017, 10:37:34 PM
Must of been tough narrowing that down. Notable absences, Clash, Joel, Petty, All i really remember was playing Back in Black over and over and hating the Benatar crap coming from my sister's room.

I also left out .38 Special, The Police, some 1 hit wonders that were huge.  It's an exercise in what I think will make the bracket better and what I think you folks will like.  No matter the outcome, it pains me when I know there are more songs that should be in there.

Quote from: MetalDog on April 24, 2017, 09:09:52 PM

Quote from: Banzai_Cat on April 24, 2017, 07:50:01 PM
Great songs all, but it's difficult to trump Cars in this decade. I mean, from a pure 80s electro-synth standpoint.

The Cars will make an appearance in their proper place.  There just wasn't anything worthy to put in 1980.  '79, yeah.  '81, absolutely.  '84, you betcha.  Nothing in 1980 though.

I was referring to your choice of the song 'Cars,' not THE Cars (group), but your points are nonetheless valid.

It would be an interesting argument to validate which is more important - the cultural impact of a song, even if by a one-hit wonder band, or the impact of a band with more staying power. I think the latter is more important, obviously, because bands with staying power arguably influence other up-and-comers, or at least have a larger chance of doing so, but you can't easily dismiss one-hitters. Though I get you gotta draw the line somewhere.

I see where you're coming from, B_C.  I value a band with a proven catalog over one hit wonders for continual impact on music/culture/style/ whatever they end up influencing.  But the equalizing factor for one hits is that you almost invariably remember something associated with that song.  Where you were when you first heard it.  What you were doing when the song played all summer long.  That special girl you gave the ballad to.  Can you tell me the last time you listened to Tea For One by Zeppelin?  Or anything else about it as to how it influenced your life?  No, except for its inclusion in the body of work of the artists who made it.

I totally agree about memories linked to one-hits.

Since I'm a child of the 80s, most of my memories of 'new' music at the time came from MTV. Video Killed The Radio Star comes immediately to mind - that was some trippy shit back in 1984 or whenever I saw it on TV.

As for Tea For One...I'll be honest, I've not been a big Zeppelin fan. I've never owned any of their albums but I've heard all the mainstream tunes, and nowadays if I hear a song by them it's on Ozzy's Boneyard or Classic Vinyl or some such station on SiriusXM. I'd not heard of Tea For One before. I just looked up this song and am playing it now...very bluesy and emotional, like nothing I've heard by them before. Quite awesome, thanks. I'm going to have to buy Presence, if the rest of the album is this good.

I'll have to rethink my music library. My most recent purchases are probably pretty lame - I bought three CDs through Amazon, all 'Best Ofs.' Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Kansas, and Supertramp. I still like hard metal, and while I'll still listen to that, I'm finding more mellow stuff is more complimentary to a work day for me.

If you haven't already, sign up for Spotify.  I have heard more new music in the last year than I have in the last 20.  And it's because it's super easy to explore.  And glad you like Tea For One.  Presence has 'Hots On For Nowhere,' and 'Nobody's Fault But Mine,' as the songs you will know.  And the album is on Spotify ;)

Steppenwolf got a shot at the R&R HoF based on their one song...  yeah, yeah, Magic Carpet Ride was a minor hit, but they're famous for Born to be Wild, and that's it.

Lots of free music available for Amazon Prime members as well. Recently read where an astounding number of households are now AzPrime. It's how they landed Thursday Night NFL.

Not a Zeppelin fan myself, BC, never have been. Disturbed is more my speed   8)

Prime Music is pretty good. Nice added bennie on top of the video streaming and free two-day shipping.

Sorry to clog up this thread with dumb Zeppelin questions, but there's an 'Explicit' version of the Presence album on Amazon (a CD) for friggin' $119. There's a normal version for about 7 bucks for MP3 downloading through them, and then a Remastered version for about 10. How different is this explicit version? Just curious - no way I'm paying that much for an album.

I think I'll just get the Remastered version since I can download it.

I'll try Spotify, but usually I have other things I listen to as a staple while working, or try to. Faction Talk is starting to piss me off; Jason Ellis sucks IMO and that's about 1/3 of the listening day for that channel down the tubes. I need to branch out.

I have no idea what an 'Explicit,' version would entail.  And as much as I love Zep, there's no way I am paying a hundred and nineteen dollars for ANY music!  Ok.  That's not entirely true.  I pay more than that for concert tickets.  But that's different.  And really more stupid.  All you get to keep is the ticket stub and a memory.  At least with the album you have something tangible.

Quote from: Steelgrave on April 25, 2017, 08:24:09 PM
Not a Zeppelin fan myself, BC, never have been. Disturbed is more my speed   8)

Speaking from my own experience, it's possible to like both Zeppelin and Disturbed.

Mine as well.  Although, age, instead of narrowing my musical likes, has actually led to a itch for discovery of things I haven't heard before.  That's why Spotify has been such a godsend to me.  Only Spotify can tell you how much time I have logged in to their site listening to tunes, but, they sent me an email in December showing that I have listened to enough Van Morrison, of Montreal, Genesis, The Beatles, and Roxy Music to be in the top 1% of listeners to those bands.  I also logged 13,709 minutes, 252 artists and 2,123 unique songs.  And that was from June when I signed up.

I'm with Steelie and Trailrunner - I do like Disturbed, and a lot of darker metal, but I can also listen to cheesy 80s music like Supertramp and be just as happy.

'Breakfast In America,' is one of the cleanest sounding records I have ever played.  I have a friend who uses it to set the levels on his stereo.

Nice!  O0

Quote from: MetalDog on April 25, 2017, 09:00:14 PM
'Breakfast In America,' is one of the cleanest sounding records I have ever played.  I have a friend who uses it to set the levels on his stereo.

When Steely Dan's Aja came out, it made all of our stereos sound so much better.

'Aja,' is also one of my favorite albums.  Saw Steely Dan a few years ago and it was one of the best shows I ever saw.

Aja is a great album.

I'm burnt out on Van Halen, BJ (The band that MD will not allow to be named) and AC/DC. Just heard too much of their stuff repetitively to like it.

I also hate the primary radio songs of Kiss and Ramones (Rock and Roll all night and Sedated, respectively) however I do like a lot of their other stuff.

Of course I will also listen to Bela Fleck when the mood strikes.

If you like Disturbed then definitely listen to Type O-; Peter Steele was a god among men in the deep voice category and taken from us way too young.

Regarding the list I'm somewhat disappointed at no Ratt or Quiet Riot. Body Talk and Metal Health were head banger anthem's from the 80's.

Quiet Riot will most definitely be in 1983.  Ratt will almost definitely be in 1984.

Quote from: MetalDog on April 25, 2017, 10:14:14 PM
Quiet Riot will most definitely be in 1983.  Ratt will almost definitely be in 1984.

O0

Any chance the Hooters, Mr Mister or Tear For Fears will make the cut in the appropriate years. 

I definitely intend to include Tears.  Don't know yet if The Hooters and Mr. Mister will make the cut.  Guess you'll have to stay tuned to find out ;)

Quote from: MetalDog on April 25, 2017, 08:47:44 PM
Mine as well.  Although, age, instead of narrowing my musical likes, has actually led to a itch for discovery of things I haven't heard before.

Ditto, brother. My sons used to turn me on to new music, nowadays I'm likely to find something new first and turn them onto it. And Spotify is a Godsend....love it!

As a kid, my first musical influences were my parents.  My mom liked pop music and the Beatles.  Dad liked oldies and Motown.  And disco became huge and affected me by osmosis.  So now, when I go looking for new stuff, it's a lot of singer songwriter stuff or horns and a beat you can dance to.  Although I don't dance.  At least where noone can see ;)

I don't dance or sing where anyone can see or hear. You're welcome, world.

It's the lounging around with your robe open that troubles me.

Quote from: MetalDog on April 27, 2017, 10:34:14 PM
As a kid, my first musical influences were my parents.  My mom liked pop music and the Beatles.  Dad liked oldies and Motown.  And disco became huge and affected me by osmosis.  So now, when I go looking for new stuff, it's a lot of singer songwriter stuff or horns and a beat you can dance to.  Although I don't dance.  At least where noone can see ;)

It's funny to me...my mom absolutely adores the Beatles. Growing up, it didn't really impact me; I didn't like them at all. But as I've gotten older, strangely, I do enjoy listening to them.