Hank williams Sr. - because I was born and raised in Texas, and I have no choice in the matter.

Chuck Berry - because he started it.

Robert Johnson - he is important, but Charlie Patton is more important.

hank williams sr. - because "Hey good Lookin" actually got me a girlfriend
chuck berry - because when I think of his name, I think of the indirect reference to him in "Back to the Future"
robert johnson- Because he sold his soul to the Devil. That's kinda like Slayer and they suck.

tmidgett wrote:
ok, here is a serious rank, to see what you are like as a person:

hank williams sr.
chuck berry
robert johnson

thats a tight fit. i say:

Robert Johnson, for the boogie
Hank Williams, set a high standard for alcoholics everywhere
Chuck Berry, chronologically CB is in 3rd

tmidgett wrote:nelson mandela, for he seemed to lead s.africa out of apartheid despite a) being in jail most of the time, and b) having a wife who was completely batshit

willie nelson, for writing 'crazy' and making some very good music on his own! don't change willie!!!!

ricky nelson, who had james burton play guitar for him but otherwise was maybe 1/4 as good as elvis

Ans: Willie Nelson, Nelson Mandela, Rick Nelson. willie is first cause he's from TX. yeehaw.

justinc wrote:thats a tight fit. i say:

Robert Johnson, for the boogie
Hank Williams, set a high standard for alcoholics everywhere
Chuck Berry, chronologically CB is in 3rd

I believe this is the correct ranking. Boogie before booze, then and now. I can't decide whether to add or subtract value for Mr. Berry's peeing-on-the-ladies episodes, but either way, he's third.

Ans: Willie Nelson, Nelson Mandela, Rick Nelson. willie is first cause he's from TX. yeehaw.

I go:

Nelson Mandela
Willie Nelson
Ricky Nelson

I was told by a friend that Willie Nelson was actually born in New Jersey. A quick online check has assured me that he is from Abbot, Texas, so that isn't an issue. He wrote "Crazy," and I think there should be a statue of him somewhere for it. He is also still at it, and he blows my mind every few years.

Nelson Mandela has publicly associated with the Spice Girls, which makes me cringe a little. Regardless, I think Nelson Mandela's status as the Martin Luther King of post-colonial Africa is more important in more ways than writing "Crazy," so I have to give it to Mandela.

Ricky, well, other than dying spectacularly, I can't say he has impressed me that much.

-best,

1 "Nina"

Nina Simone
Nina Nastasia
Nina Hagen

2 "Foreign Language"

Yo La Tengo
Pere Ubu
Kraftwerk

3 "Base Feelings/Attitudes"

Tom Petty
Joy Division
negativland

Nina Simone- 'Lilac wine'
Nina Nastasia- 'I Say That I Will Go'
Nina Hagen- Absolutely nothing of merit; Deutscher scheiss

Kraftwerk- Fahren, fahren, fahren on the Autobahn. Deutscher genie
Yo La Tengo- Lovely music for picking out wallpaper--I say this as a good thing
Pere Ubu? He's a good friend of mine

Joy Division- Don't think I need to explain myself on this one
Tom Petty- Quite a good collection of tunes
Negativland- Never heard 'em

How about...

Will Oldham
Will & Grace
Will Smith

Gram Parsons
Graham Coxon
Graham Chapman

1) Because he grows a ridiculous beard and plays an autoharp. His songs aren't too bad either
2) Cute, cuddly show about gay people. Beats that 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' shit
3) Released an album called 'Big Willie Style'

1) GP/Grievous Angel, Flying Burrito Bros.
2) Brilliant guitarist, some interesting solo recs, covered Mission of Burma
3) Not the funniest Monty Python guy, but very funny when dressed in drag

John Wayne Gacy-the reason why "kiddie clowns who are really psycho" broke nationally.

Ed Gein-Man, I GOTTA move out of this podunk town

The Zodiac Killer-Serial Killing in your spare time

"Rise" by PIL (I could be wrong, I could be right...)
You May be Wrong by Billy Joel
Bloody Well RIght by Supertramp

The key to the answer above will depend on the rank for the following

Late stage Public Image Limited
Altered Images
Altered States

Biznono wrote:"Rise" by PIL (I could be wrong, I could be right...)
You May be Wrong by Billy Joel
Bloody Well RIght by Supertramp.

"Rise" by PIL (I could be wrong, I could be right...) - Is the tops because of the irony of Tony Williams and Steve Vai playing on the same song for John Lydon.

"Bloody Well Right" by Supertramp - umm...can't really think of any original thought regarding this band, but the song is pretty quirky in comparison to "It's Raining Again."

Both of those songs are head and tail above:

"You May be Wrong" by Billy Joel - This song really hammers in how terrible piano-driven rock music is.

I am Right.

And speaking of right, rank these:


Richard Wright
Steve Reich
Steven Wright

Nina Nastasia, whose music has given me more pleasure than that made by

Nina Simone, whose singing is a bit overripe for my taste

Nina Hagen, she is krazy kraut who has irritated me at least as much as klaus nomi

----------------------------

Pere Ubu, by a warbling nosehair over

Kraftwerk, who have many great things to their credit

Yo La Tengo, whose album called "president" i have liked back in the day

-----------------------------

>>3 "Base Feelings/Attitudes"

i don't understand! but that's great!

Joy Division, for i think their music is singular, generally timeless, and often terrifically stirring

Tom Petty is tied for second with negativland--you have hit upon two completely different things that are somehow exactly equivalent in my mind!!!
==================
here's another one from the vaults:

rush
bush
lush