This one is connected to a post for KCRW I’ll be putting the finishing touches on next week..Each of these records represent the pinnacle of early 1970s Rock’n'Roll and all of them have gotten the reissue treatment recently. Most record critics regard Exile On Main St. (1972) as the Rolling Stones greatest album, many critics regard Raw Power (1973) as the best pre-cursor of punk and underground classic Teenage Head (1971) is a record so good that Mick Jagger himself supposedly admitted that it was better than the Stones’ own Sticky Fingers, also released in 1971.

But is it better than Exile On Main St.? What about Raw Power? Tough decision if you ask me, Teenage Head is the most consistently enjoyable listen, Exile On Main St. finds the Stones at the height of their considerable powers and Raw Power is truly a raw and powerful elemental force of a record with perhaps the best song in “Search & Destory.” So, the question is, of these three exceptional records, pound for pound, which one is the best? Let me know what you think…

Just in case you need some remindin’…

The Flamin’ Groovies – Teenage Head

Rolling Stones – Rocks Off

Iggy & the Stooges – Search & Destroy

I’ve been thinking alot about samples of late as I prepare a post for KCRW’s Top 5 blog on “Most Iconic Hip-Hop Samples.” If you’re gonna put together a list of important samples, you figure it would have to include at least one track from James Brown. But which one should it be? In my mind there are two JB related tracks that stand above the many songs of his that have been sampled, “The Funky Drummer” and “Think (About It)” from Lyn Collins.

Both of these tracks feature absolutely monster breaks, both have been sampled countless times, but pound for pound which of these two James Brown related cuts is the more iconic, the more important sample in Hip-Hop history?

Just in case you need to be reminded…first up is Lyn Collins “Think.” Such a classic song, from start to finish, but the breaks at 1:22 & 2:15 in the video below make it an all-timer.

Probably THE #1 song people think of when they think of the break from “Think” has to be Rob Base & DJ E.Z.Rock “It Takes Two”

Here is one of my favorite tracks that uses a different break within the same song, Slick Rick’s “I Shouldn’t Have Done It”

On the other hand we have James Brown’s “Funky Drummer,” quite possibly the most sampled song of all-time. So many different samples, from all those grunts from JB, the “1-2-3-4 Get It” call just before the drums hit (at about 5:20 in the vid below), and then there are those drums, courtesy Clyde Stubblefield…

In terms of a song that samples “Funky Drummer,” this one might be the only one to rival “It Takes Two” in universal appeal.

This track, Eric B. & Rakim’s “Lyrics of Fury,” is probably my favorite use of those massively funky drums.

I could go on and on with this for days…question is what do YOU think? Which is the more important and more iconic sample???

Here’s two bands that I’m very thankful for, though I don’t even know where I’d begin making a decision on this one…two of the most influential rock’n'roll bands to ever come out of Michigan, maybe two of the most important 60s American bands of all time. Legendary groups, legendary sounds but pound for pound…who would come out on top? The Stooges or The MC5? Let me know what you think!

Here’s some clips of both bands in their prime to help you decide.

The Stooges – “TV Eye & “1970”

The MC5 – “Kick Out The Jams”

Who's the Best Girl Group of All Time?

Last week as I was driving home from doing my radio show, I was blown away by “Remember (Walking in the Sand)” the first single by the Shangri-Las. Throughout much of my life I would have unequivocally said that the Ronettes “Be My Baby” was the quintessential girl group song, by the quintessential girl group. Getting back into the catalog of both groups, I started to question that, and it seemed like the perfect match-up for pound for pound. Really this could be a three way pound for pound, Which was the best girl group, the Ronettes or the Shangri-Las? Better yet, who is the original bad girl of rock’n’roll, Ronnie Spector or Mary Weiss ? (incidentally, both still perform and record) Or, who was the better producer, Phil Spector of Shadow Morton? (more…)

Personally, I think Jeff was a better guitarist and Tim was a better songwriter, but the real question is, pound for pound between father and son, which of the legendary Buckley’s was the better singer?

Tim Buckley vs. Jeff Buckley

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With MJ’s passing I know that I’ve been revisiting a lot of his music and I’m sure many of you have as well, so this seems like an apt discussion. Pound for pound, which is REALLY Michael’s greatest record???

1979’s Off The Wall, his first record with Quincy Jones and fully away from the Motown sound, or 1982’s  Thriller the highest selling record of all time? I’ll be interested to hear what you think…