Rolling Stone recently put out the 2nd half of its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time (the 1st half can be found here). Inexcusably missing: Pink Floyd. This blows my mind. The list is supposed to represent the most significant artists of the past 50 years. Pink Floyd not only released some of the most popular albums of all time ("The Wall" is the 3rd highest selling album ever, "Dark Side of the Moon" holds the record for most weeks on the Billboard Album chart), but their innovations in the studio revolutionized the way albums were produced. And I defy you to name another group who managed to write a hit rock song in 7/4 time.
I have nothing against other artists who made the list, such as Gram Parsons, Frank Zappa, or The Drifters, but to say their importance to music is greater than Floyd is ludicrous. Even a band like Radiohead, who I think are brilliant, should take a backseat to them... would "OK Computer"even exist without Floyd's influence?
What a travesty.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
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2 comments:
RE: the song in 7/4 signature.
You mean "Money," right? It's not in that sig for the duration; the guitar solo section is actually a 4/4.
The interesting thing is that it was probably an accident, because they recorded it live. And I read somewhere that the bass and rhythm guitars were set an octave apart -- also pretty out there.
PS: "Solsbury Hill" is in 7/4. And the Dead's "Uncle John's Band" goes from a four-four to a 7/4. (I think.) But you said "hit," right?
Dave Gilmour once explained that his guitar solo switched to 4/4 because he wasn't a talented-enough musician to play it in 7/4.
However, you are correct about "Solsbury Hill." Good call.
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