Willow ,'Chosen'
There's a lady plays her fav'rite records/On the jukebox ev'ry day/All day long she plays the same old songs/And she believes the things that they say/She sings along with all the saddest songs/And she believes the stories are real/She lets the music dictate the way that she feels.
Here are some of the other 80s epics Mojo cited, most of them unfamiliar to me.
Associates - Sulk (anybody know this?)
Virginia Astley - From Gardens Where We Feel Secure (or this?)
Scott Walker - Climate of the Hunter (I've read about this at least)
David Sylvain - Brilliant Trees (I'm familiar with his Japan work only)
Blue Nile - Hats (this one I know, though I don't own it. I own their first one)
Associates - Sulk
I bought this in on vinyl bargain bin sometime in the 80's. I don't think I ever made it through it all in one sitting. Very gloomy synth music, IIRC correctly. Joy Division-y, but not as good.
Virginia Astley
Did she play the flute by any chance? I think she was a classical musician or singer or something like that.
David Sylvain - Brilliant Trees
I'm sure I've heard this, but I cannot remember what it's like.
Right now you're cherry picking the country musicians that are most palatable to rock and roll ears.
Hey, I listen to a lot of different styles of music, not just rock, and I do like Hank Williams. I just... don't want Garth Brooks, you know? (Er. Not that there's anything wrong with that.)
Thanks for the suggestions. I shall add them to my list of things to check out the next time I want to go to Best Buy and have the clerk say, "You must like music." (And next time someone says that, I'm going to say, "Oh, no, I hate it. When I get home I'm going to burn these as a ritual sacrifice, and then have pie.")
I could email you some songs by various musicians as a sampler if you like.
That would be awesome!
I'd be glad to submit some bad-ass country, too. Some people don't understand my sincere love of Dolly Parton's music, at least until they hear it.
Mention of Johnny Cash has reminded me: when it comes to getting hold of his work, which I'd like to start doing in a more serious fashion, what albums are key? Most of what you can actually purchase (ergo, most of what's downloadable from the Internet) is greatest hits albums, which I detest, and the American series, which are fine per se but aren't going to give me the well-rounded experience I'm looking for. I defer to the hivemind's wisdom to make me a knowledgeable Cash fan.
With old school country artists, the general prejudice against greatest hits albums (which, in my opinion, is wholly correct in the rock context) doesn't work. Many of Cash's great early stuff is only going to be found on a singles collection. That said, there's a few early albums like Songs of Our Soil that're great, and you definitely can't go wrong with the live albums At San Quinten or At Folsom Prison.
With old school country artists, the general prejudice against greatest hits albums (which, in my opinion, is wholly correct in the rock context) doesn't work.I had a feeling this would be the case, somehow, but preferred to err on the side of caution, particularly with someone this prolific. Ta for the suggestions.
David Sylvain - Brilliant Trees (I'm familiar with his Japan work only)
This was closest of his solo work came to the late Japan sound, but it was more delicate/filigreed. That latter got emphaisized as he went on, at least until the album he did with Fripp (Damage - Fripp also turned up on a few of his solo albums).
Frank Oz is completely unaware of his profound influence on the death-metal genre. [link]
I'd be glad to submit some bad-ass country, too.
I'd be glad of any suggestions!