The Eclectic Electric

"A Joyful Noise unto the Lord"

1970 Les Paul Custom

The major influences on my music are pretty diverse. My favorite artists range from J.S. Bach to Jimi Hendrix. I like Japanese music, classical Indian raga, Beethoven, Django Reinhardt, Robert Johnson, Eric Johnson and Harpo Marx(?!?), as well as many others. Below are a list of my favorite artists, and my favorite pieces or album/tape/CDs by them. 1. The Beatles, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (of course) 2. Jimi Hendrix, "Pali Gap" (from "Rainbow Bridge") 3. Robert Johnson, "Come On In My Kitchen" 4. Django Reinhardt, "Nuages" 5. Hildegard von Bingen, "O Euchari In Leta Via" 6. Les Paul, "Brazil" 7. Ludwig van Beethoven, 9th symphony (tied with Aaron Copeland's "Appalachian Spring") 8. Steve Camp, "The Other Side of the World" 9. Cab Calloway, "Minnie the Moocher" 10. Tennessee Ernie Ford, "These Hands" (what a voice!) 11. Eric Johnson, "Camel's Night Out" (from "G3 Live") 12. The Dixie Dregs, "Hereafter" (from "Dregs of the Earth")

Here is my list of the top dozen greatest albums. (It was a top ten list, but I just couldn't keep it to ten!) Just my opinion, now, if you disagree feel free to let me know.

1. The Beatles, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band"
2. Jimi Hendrix Experience, "Electric Ladyland"
3. Les Paul, "The New Sound" (this was three 45 rpm records in a box, the first multi-track recordings released)
4. The Moody Blues, "Days of Future Past"
5. Pink Floyd, "Meddle"
6. Jeff Beck, "Blow by Blow"
7. XTC, "Drums and Wires"
8. Bob Marley and the Wailers, "Rastaman Vibration"
9. Joni Mitchell, "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter"
10. Genesis, "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway"
11. Yes, "Yessongs"
12. Spirit, "The 12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus"

Honorable mention goes to King Crimson, for both "In the Court of the Crimson King" and "Discipline", and to the Beatles' "Abbey Road".

Here is my list of the dozen greatest guitarists. Again, just my opinion. By the way, "greatest" doesn't mean "best" in terms of skill. B.B. King, for instance, is not as "good" a guitarist in some technical senses as some of the others, but he is indisputably GREAT because of what he does. He plays with such elegance and perfection... He epitomizes the guitarist's aim of maximizing the good tone of one's natural sound on the instrument.
1. Andres Segovia
2. Jimi Hendrix
3. Django Reinhardt
4. Jeff Beck
5. Wes Montgomery
6. David Gilmour
7. John McLaughlin
8. Chet Atkins
9. Tuck Andress
10. Albert King
11. Eric Johnson
12. B.B.King
Honorable mention goes to Stan Hisaw (the greatest guitarist most people will never hear), Steve Morse, and to Eldon Shamblin, who really ought to be farther up on this list.

My vote for top dozen bands:
1. The Beatles
2. Jimi Hendrix Experience
3. Pink Floyd (all three of them)
4. Moody Blues
5. Patti Smith Group
6. The Sex Pistols
7. Yes (all of 'em)
8. Bob Marley and the Wailers
9. XTC
10. Dead Can Dance
11. Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys
12. Glen Miller Orchestra (tied with Cab Calloway's band)
Honorable mention goes to Nirvana, they really jump-started "punk" and rock in general again in their heyday. But Kurt obviously lied when he said he didn't have a gun.

Greatest rock and roll live show ever:
Pink Floyd, the "Delicate Sound of Thunder" tour;
the runnerup is Pink Floyd for the "PULSE" tour, which I didn't think sounded quite as good, but the light show was the best I've ever seen.

Greatest stage pyro:
Lunatech (aka Pyropack, of Owens Crossroads, AL) Hey, Tom!

Best lights:
Theatrical Light and Sound (Huntsville, AL) Hey, David!

Here is My Story

Technical stuff

HOME

LINKS