SO YA DIG BEN FOLDS FIVE?

Then run out and buy these fine albums that either influenced or sound similar or whatever to Ben Folds Five. Basically, I think you would like this stuff if you like BFF.

INFLUENCES:

1. BADFINGER: Magic Christian Music (1970)

2. JOE JACKSON: Jumpin' Jive (1981)

3. JOE JACKSON: Night and Day (1982)

4. JOE JACKSON: Body and Soul (1984)

5. BILLY JOEL: Cold Spring Harbor (1972)

6. ELTON JOHN: Elton John (1969)

7. ELTON JOHN: Tumbleweed Connection (1970)

8. ELTON JOHN: Madman Across the Water (1971)

9. ELTON JOHN: Honky Chateau (1972)

10. ELTON JOHN: Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973)

11. ELTON JOHN: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)

12. ROBERT LAMM: Skinny Boy (1974)

13. PAUL McCARTNEY: McCartney (1970)

14. NAZZ: Nazz (1968)

15. QUEEN

16. THE RASPERRIES

17. TODD RUNDGREN: Runt (1970)

18. TODD RUNDGREN: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren (1971)

19. TODD RUNDGREN: Something/Anything (1972)

20. TODD RUNDGREN: A Wizard, a True Star (1973)

21. NEIL SEDAKA: Sedaka's Back (1974)

22. STEELY DAN: Countdown To Ecstasy (1973)

23. THUNDERCLAP NEWMAN: Hollywood Dream (1969)

24. TRAFFIC: John Barleycorn Must Die (1970)

25. TRAFFIC: Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys (1972)

A few bands that also consist(ed) of keyboard, bass, and drums:

1. THE CARPENTERS. Only originally...they won the Battle of the Bands at the Hollywood Bowl in 1967 with this lineup.
2. EMERSON, LAKE, AND PALMER. Probably the worst, most lifeless band of all time, despite all three members' mind-boggling technical prowess. Ca. 1970.
3. THE NICE. The Nice formed in England in 1967 and originally included a guitarist, but he left after the first album because future ELP-leader Keith Emerson had become the star. Great band.
4. SOFT MACHINE. The first true progressive rock band, along with Pink Floyd. They were more jazz than pop or rock, but they put out two incredible albums under this lineup. Ca. 1968.
5. MEDESKI MARTIN & WOOD. Nice little jam band. But they don't sound like BF5 or anything...

RECOMMENDED CONTEMPORARIES:

1. BARRY BLACK (1995)