Artists not playing their strengths

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pcqgod
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Artists not playing their strengths

Postby pcqgod » 24 May 2022, 22:02

Today I was listening to the Sundazed reissues of Dick Dale's 'Surfer's Choice' and 'King of the Surf Guitar,' and was reminded why I don't listen to these often. The latter especially is filled with humdrum vocal numbers. While Dick is a decent vocalist, his voice is more suited to occasionally shouting out "Shake and Stomp!" than crooning, and I'm wondering why he felt the need to present himself as a singer when his talents were clearly primarily as a guitarist.

Now I know that musical history is rife with examples of artists making artistic choices that seem questionable in retrospect, and artists frequently feel some compulsion to expand their horizons, but what are some examples of musical artists that you feel spent entirely too much time playing away from their musical strengths and giving us questionable product as a result?



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Nick Danger
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths

Postby Nick Danger » 25 May 2022, 01:26

I've never made it all the way through a James Brown ballad.

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Re: Artists not playing their strengths

Postby trans-chigley express » 27 May 2022, 09:42

Mike Oldfield has spent half of his career not playing to his strengths and attempting all kinds of styles that he is not very good at. When he finally did play to his strengths again on his last album it was a cracker

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C
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths

Postby C » 27 May 2022, 18:40

Interesting question.

Mike Oldfield seems a good choice. [Good lad Ray]

I'll offer:

Led Zeppelin.

They should have stuck to what they did well on the first four albums.

They took on too much after that - a bit of a dog's breakfast really but don't tell Diamond Dog I said that.

A lot of what comes after, to my ears, is somewhat tedious and styles that they aren't that great at.

Hey hey mama said the way you move
Gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove ..!


Now, that's more like it




.
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GoogaMooga
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths

Postby GoogaMooga » 28 May 2022, 00:30

Sometimes I wish the rockabilly phase of Elvis Presley could have lasted a little longer. And that the Hollywood period never happened.
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pcqgod
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths

Postby pcqgod » 29 May 2022, 19:10

C wrote:
I'll offer:

Led Zeppelin.

They should have stuck to what they did well on the first four albums.

They took on too much after that - a bit of a dog's breakfast really but don't tell Diamond Dog I said that.

A lot of what comes after, to my ears, is somewhat tedious and styles that they aren't that great at.

Hey hey mama said the way you move
Gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove ..!


Now, that's more like it




.


And everyone's just going to let this one pass without comment? :)








Truthfully, I'm surprised that more people don't share this opinion, though personally I like most of the later Zep albums just fine.
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robertff
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths

Postby robertff » 30 May 2022, 12:45

C wrote:Interesting question.

Mike Oldfield seems a good choice. [Good lad Ray]

I'll offer:

Led Zeppelin.

They should have stuck to what they did well on the first four albums.

They took on too much after that - a bit of a dog's breakfast really but don't tell Diamond Dog I said that.

A lot of what comes after, to my ears, is somewhat tedious and styles that they aren't that great at.

Hey hey mama said the way you move
Gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove ..!


Now, that's more like it


.




To a certain extent I agree with you C. and they probably should have called it a day after IV although PG is an excellent album, probably their best. HOtH has it’s great moments, although I never really understood why they didn’t include the title track, but overall it’s not great, whereas the final two, discounting Coda, are average and no better. They ran out of ideas, or lacked inspiration because they were all so out of it, one way or another.


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Lord Rother
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths

Postby Lord Rother » 30 May 2022, 16:50

Rod Stewart.

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robertff
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths

Postby robertff » 30 May 2022, 17:09

Lord Rother wrote:Rod Stewart.



Yep, I agree nevertheless he's done pretty well for himself hasn't he? Actually a couple of his more recent albums have been really pretty good, Time and the ones that came after. They're not in the same class as Gasoline, Every Picture and Never a Dull ... but still very enjoyable.


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Re: Artists not playing their strengths

Postby robertff » 30 May 2022, 19:42

Neil Young




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Re: Artists not playing their strengths

Postby Walk In My Shadow » 30 May 2022, 20:33

robertff wrote:Neil Young




.



seconded


much as I like the guy, he's put out some drivel in his time.

and why he insist of releasing every solo acoustic show he's ever done I'll never know.
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Walk In My Shadow
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths

Postby Walk In My Shadow » 30 May 2022, 20:36

Bruce Springsteen. A studio career that should've ended 20 years ago.
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pcqgod
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths

Postby pcqgod » 01 Jun 2022, 03:12

Jeff Beck himself has said that he devoted too much of his artistic output to jazz fusion, and I'm sure many fans wish he had stuck with the heavy/psychedelic blues style that first brought him notoriety. That being said, his jazz fusion albums from the 70's are quite good for the most part.
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Re: Artists not playing their strengths

Postby Quaco » 14 Jun 2022, 02:28

I think somehow Paul McCartney fits in here. He's always trying his hand at some experimental or classical thing or a '50s rock and roll album, when the main thing he's good at is 100% clear (nothing hidden), highly tuneful pop music. Even attempts to experiment lyrically fall flat. He's best at love songs and the occasional story.
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