Desert Island Discs: Guilty Pleasures

Proof that every one’s guilty pleasure is their own: We reached almost no consensus on this particular version of Desert Island Discs, with only the Carpenters, the Electric Light Orchestra, Hall and Oates and Olivia Newton-John garnering more than one mention.

Newton-John and ELO actually intersect, with the soundtrack for Xanadu. Both of the Hall and Oates mentions are, inevitably, from their hair-sprayed 1980s era. Elsewhere, we sheepishly admit to crushing on Tony Orlando, the Monkees, Neil Diamond, the Bee Gees, the Archies, Michael Franks, Bread, the Partridge Family and Barry Manilow.

Make no mistake, however, several so-called “classic rock” acts also find a home here — including Lou Reed, the Beach Boys, Phil Collins and Foreigner, among others.

Here’s a peek at what we’ll be packing way in the back of our luggage – way, way in the back – before our fateful seafaring journey …


S. VICTOR AARON

1. THE CARPENTERS – THE SINGLES 1969-1973 (1974): Karen Carpenter’s voice might be a sedative but it’s also a comforting connection to a childhood that was simpler, more innocent and hopeful relative to life today; I listen to it and it’s “yesterday once more.” Richard’s arrangements remain the gold standard for soft rock.
2. MICHAEL FRANKS – SLEEPING GYPSY (1977): Claus Ogerman’s lush string arrangements, the bane of most of George Benson’s late ’70s albums, found a logical home in Franks’ softer, Brazilian-lite jazz-pop tunes.
3. HEATWAVE – CENTRAL HEATING (1978): If it’s gotta be disco, might as well go with the best all-around disco band. “Groove Line” still to me represents the apex of the genre.
4. HALL AND OATES – BIG BAM BOOM (1985): It’s not a guilty pleasure to like a Hall & Oates album from the ’70s. Well, this one is about as ’80s of a Hall & Oates album there ever was, but I still can’t enough of “Out of Touch.”
5. BASIA – THE SWEETEST ILLUSION (1994): Brazilian-lite like Franks, but with danceable grooves.




BEVERLY PATERSON

1. THE ARCHIES – ABSOLUTELY THE BEST OF THE ARCHIES (2001): Just because the Archies weren’t a “real group” doesn’t mean they sucked. Composed of seasoned studio musicians, the band operated exclusively as animated characters on a Saturday morning cartoon show. They still coughed up a series of nifty records brimming with clever structures, insanely catchy hooks and solid gold singing, resulting in a tugging tenor equal parts bubblegum pop and blue-eyed soul.
2. THE BAY CITY ROLLERS – THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION (2000): Pigeonholed a teenybopper act, serious rock fans and critics did not view the band with serious eyes or ears. But to heck with them, as the Bay City Rollers released a fair share of mighty fine nuggets sprinkled with references orbiting anywhere from the Beach Boys to Slade to Raspberries. Even the band’s flirtation with disco, “You Made Me Believe In Magic” exerted a cool factor.
3. THE GODZ – THE GODZ (1978): Bearing no connection to the band of the same name and same spelling of the previous decade, these fellows emerged from the Midwest and were taken under the wing of Grand Funk Railroad drummer Don Brewer, who produced this debut effort. Armed with a sound a bit similar to that of their knob twiddler’s band, the Godz were heavy, extremely loud and paid no mind to style or technique.
4. THE 1910 FRUITGUM COMPANY – THE BEST OF THE 1910 FRUITGUM COMPANY: SIMON SAYS (2001): Nursery rhythms nailed to a rock context were what the 1910 Fruitgum Company attained their claim to fame with. Leaders of the bubblegum brigade, the band echoed forth from radios from here to there in 1968 and 1969. To write and arrange songs as gripping as these pop pastries requires much talent, so what a shame it is the 1910 Fruitgum Company, in select quarters, are still looked upon as joke.
5. TONY ORLANDO AND DAWN – THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION (1998): I am proud to admit I am a first generation fan of Tony Orlando and Dawn, and have remained fiercely loyal to them since day one. Not only do their records warm the cockles of my heart, but their live gigs are as emotionally electrifying as well.


MARK SALESKI

1. DONNA SUMMER – BAD GIRLS (1979): As I’ve admitted many times before, I was something of a closet disco fan. And while I truly didn’t like how the genre kind of overtook the pop music landscape for a time, there were a few songs here and there that were just too much fun to ignore. Bad Girls is just full of ’em.
2. SHANIA TWAIN – COME ON OVER (1997): Part of me wanted to start out by saying that I totally love Shania because of her rebel stance toward Nashville, and how she achieved success despite being (at first) spurned by that establishment. But c’mon, you’re gonna call bullshit on me because you just know that I was won over by her hotness. You would not be totally wrong there. Ahem. On the other hand, I can’t say that I would have come along for the ride if it wasn’t for the ultra-fun to be had in songs like “You’re Still the One” and “That Don’t Impress Me Much.” By the way, I saw Shania Twain in Boston when she toured on this album. It was one of the loudest shows I’ve ever been to. Go figure!
3. LOU REED – METAL MACHINE MUSIC (1975): I can’t really explain why I like this big slab of music concrete. Maybe it’s the funny looks that appear on peoples’ faces when it starts to play.
4. MADONNA – LIKE A VIRGIN (1984): The first Madonna album I ever bought was The Immaculate Collection, purchased on the strength of the uber-slinky “Justify My Love.” I ended up finding Like a Virgin in the bins at a used record shop. It’s kind of amazing how organic this record sounds when compared to today’s dance/R&B fare.
5. PHIL COLLINS – FACE VALUE (1981): After “In the Air Tonight,” there’s plenty of R&B-laced fun here. It’s light. It’s breezy. It’s … uh, why do I like this?? Even if you profess to be a Collins-hater – because after Peter Gabriel left Genesis, Collins went on to “destroy” your favorite prog band – you probably dig “In the Air Tonight.” You might not admit that in public but please, you need to stop lying to yourself.




J.C. MOSQUITO

1. PARTRIDGE FAMILY – COME ON, GET HAPPY!: THE VERY BEST OF THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY (2005): The best moment here might actually be the lost gem “Together (Havin’ a Ball),”sung by the studio backing vocalists when David Cassidy couldn’t make the session. (He was probably hiding out in the back of the band bus with Susan Dey.)
2. THE OSMOND BROTHERS – GREATEST HITS (1992): On “Hold Her Tight,” they stole a chunk of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song.” There’s also a song title called “Double Lovin'”; let’s not even go there.
3. FOREIGNER – RECORD (1982): I’m digging myself into a pit here – “Urgent,” with its cut-and-splice Junior Walker sax solo, is pretty good – but after that, I might as well say I like Meat Loaf, as well.
4. MEATLOAF – BAT OUT OF HELL (1977): “You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth,” “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad.” Which leads to the final guilty pleasure …
5. BONNIE TYLER – FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF NIGHT (1983): Hey, I just tell people I bought it for the cover of Blue Oyster Cult’s “Going Through the Motions” … oooh – just ran out of room on my list.


KIT O’TOOLE

1. VARIOUS ARTISTS – XANADU (1980): Yes, the film was a train wreck, but the soundtrack has held up quite well. Olivia Newton John’s “Magic” and “Suddenly” (a duet with Cliff Richard) remain pure pop confections, while ELO’s contributions such as “All Over the World” are just fun.
2. OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN – TOTALLY HOT (1978): Fresh off of Grease, Newton-John sported a racier image on her followup disc. While the songs may not be the epitome of cool, they are solid and catchy productions nicely showcasing her powerful voice. Need examples? Listen to “Deeper Than the Night” or “A Little More Love.”
3. BARRY MANILOW – BARRY MANILOW LIVE (1977): This is a sentimental favorite, as it’s one of the first albums I ever bought. Manilow was at the peak of his popularity, so his concert includes hit after well-known hit. He may be considered uncool now, but “Weekend in New England” and “This One’s for You” are lovely, well-written ballads.
4. BREAD – THE BEST OF BREAD (1973): People like to ridicule the soft-rock movement of the 1970s. But David Gates and Bread did record songs like “Diary,” which thoughtfully tells a story that tugs at the heartstrings. One of my childhood babysitters loved this group and would play this album in my house; this was my initial introduction to the band.
5. HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS – PICTURE THIS (1982): Before they hit it big with Sports, this group released this underrated fusion of rock and pop. “Do You Believe in Love” is as good a pop song as you can get, profuse with a sing-along chorus and Huey Lewis’ gritty, blue-eyed soul vocals.


CHARLIE RICCI

1. THE CARPENTERS – A SONG FOR YOU (1972): No. 1 guilty pleasure of all time. Karen Carpenter’s gorgeous voice sings very nice covers of Bacharach/David, Carole King, and more. The LP showed what Karen and Richard Carpenter could do with good material. Richard’s own “Goodbye to Love” almost rocks. Leon Russell’s title track is outstanding.
2. HERMAN’S HERMITS – THEIR GREATEST HITS (2006): I have no idea why I like these guys. They were too cute for their own good and they even made Paul McCartney look sinister by comparison. However, Peter Noone could sing and they did some cool songs, especially “A Must to Avoid” and “No Milk Today.” This 16-song album is all you’ll ever need.
3. THE MONKEES – MORE OF THE MONKEES (1966): I know that they weren’t a real band at this stage of their career but any album with “When Love Comes Knocking at Your Door,” “I’m a Believer,” and the great rocker “(I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone” is OK by me.
4. CHICAGO – HOT STREETS (1978): I hated this album when I first heard it but over the years it has really grown on me. Donnie Dacus was actually a pretty good guitar player, although he couldn’t sing like Terry Kath. In the end, it’s one of the band’s very few listenable albums from the post-Kath era. “Alive Again” and the title song were the standouts.
4. AMERICA – HERE AND NOW (2007): America never abandoned their basic formulaic sound, but with Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne and James Iha of Smashing Pumpkins producing you knew there wouldn’t be a “Muskrat Love Part 2.” Included among the Beckley and Bunnell originals were songs by My Morning Jacket and Nada Surf. The sidemen included Ryan Adams and Rusty Young. Their best album since the ’70s.




GORDON HAUPTFLEISCH

1. THE BEACH BOYS – LOVE YOU (1977): The slapdash lyrics and throwback subject matter of the songs are no great shakes, but this raggedy glorious and unassuming album is a good reminder that Brian Wilson’s pop instincts were still intact.
2. ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA – A NEW WORLD RECORD (1976): I can’t get it out of my head. All strings attached.
3. SPARKS – KIMONO MY HOUSE (1974): Mile-a-minute displays of wit and wordplay set to terminally infectious tunes, almost undermined by seemingly helium-infused vocals – but not quite.
4. NEIL DIAMOND – CLASSICS: THE EARLY YEARS (1983):Ear candy for the soul. Not even the chair disagrees.
5. GLEN CAMPBELL – THE BEST OF GLEN CAMPBELL: CAPITOL (1976): I clean my gun and listen to “Galveston” and some great Jimmy Webb hits, among others.


NICK DERISO

1. CHIC – RISQUE (1979): Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards were the shag-carpeted Babyfaces of their day, talented musicians with a golden touch at producing, too. I bought it all, but have come back most often to this throwback disco delight. There’s “My Forbidden Lover,” “My Feet Keep Dancing” and (always, always) “Good Times” – perhaps the most sampled song in hip-hop history. I really struggled with putting this one over Hall and Oates. But, then, there was this: Clams on the half shell … and rollerskates. Rollerskates!
2. HALL AND OATES – PRIVATE EYES (1981): After years of fiddling with everything from dewy-eyed singer-songwriter acoustics to glam-pop overkill, Hall and Oates finally found their sweet-spot synthesis with Private Eyes. Even the throwaway songs here might have been smash-hit earworms for lesser acts – and, of course, there were plenty of those too. It’s been a very long time since these guys were cool. But give up Hall and Oates? No can do.
3. THE BEE GEES – MAIN COURSE (1975): John Travolta’s disco film, with its zeitgeist- (and paint can-) swinging cultural reverberations, was still two years away. Yet, for me, this sleek Arif Mardin-helmed groover – highlighted by “Nights on Broadway” and “Jive Talkin'” – outshines all of what followed. My roller-skating rink, not to mention the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album, would never be the same again.
4. SYRO GYRA – BREAKOUT (1986): This album always rips my jazz street-cred to shreds. No matter. Every time I cue up the still-fun opener “Bob Goes to the Store,” written by former bassist Kim Stone, I’m stuck. For all of their canny musicianship, “Bob” doesn’t take itself too seriously. Ultimately, that’s the song’s – and this comfort-food album’s – enduring charm.
5. RUPERT HOLMES – PARTNERS IN CRIME (1979): Of course, there’s the chart-topping “Escape” – which includes the helpful addendum (as if any fool, ahem, who knows all the words, cough, could forget): “The Pina Colada Song.” But don’t forget about “Him,” which would later go to No. 6 despite its similarly laughable implausibility. This time, Holmes has a cuckold becoming thoughtfully pensive — rather than furniture-smashingly violent — after noticing another man’s cigarettes on the nightstand. I know; I shouldn’t like any of this. It’s true, he was nobody’s poet. Then it comes on the radio, and I’m singing along like a damn fool.

Something Else!

7 Comments

  1. Something Else! Reviews says:

    MORE FROM AROUND THE WATERCOOLER AT SER TOWERS …

    BEVERLY PATERSON: A heap of hype was hoisted upon the Bay City Rollers. Hailed the second coming of the Beatles, the band, costumed in tacky Tartan wear to honor their Scottish heritage, never quite matched the phenomenal success, artistic or otherwise, as the Liverpool lads, but did habitually visit the charts between the years 1974 and 1977. Toting chirpy pop songs more aligned with “Love Me Do” than “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds,” the Bay City Rollers catered mainly to elementary and junior high school age girls.

    FRED PHILLIPS: Victor, sad to admit I listened to a lot of Big Bam Boom … secretly. 🙂

    NICK DERISO: It was no secret with me back then. Now? Well, that’s another story. Heh.

    S. VICTOR AARON: I was pretty open about my love for this record. ‘Big Bam Boom’ didn’t seem quite so gaudy then but it sure did date quickly

    KIT O’TOOLE: Great picks, Victor! I’m not ashamed to admit liking Michael Franks or Basia; in fact, I’ve seen them both in concert.

    S, VICTOR AARON: I actually did see Franks in concert too once in the 80s and his opening act was a pre-“Don’t Worry By Happy” Bobby McFerrin. Bobby kicked Michael’s ass. Franks, despite a great backing band that featured Bill Evans (sax), was a stiff on the stage. He’s just more of a studio guy, I suppose, and that’s OK. I think what I liked about Heatwave was that the rhythm section were jazz musicians, the Wilder brothers were great complementary singers (like how they swap out the lead vocals so well on “Groove Line”) and Rod Temperton is probably the most underrated songwriter in RnB history.

    KIT O’TOOLE: And Hall & Oates? I love me some blue-eyed soul! I still have Big Bang Boom on vinyl and break out “Method of Modern Love” periodically.

    S. VICTOR AARON: I like “Method Of Modern Love” too and I think both of Oates’ songs are real sleepers. “Possession Obsession” wasn’t a big hit but it’s one of my favorites.

    BEVERLY PATERSON: From 1968 to 1971, the Archies knocked out one juicy ditty after another, with tunes such as “Bang-Shang-A-Lang,” “Jingle Jangle,” “Sugar Sugar” and “Feelin’ So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y. D.O.O.)” receiving the heftiest airplay of the bright and bouncy bunch.

    S. VICTOR AARON: JC – the Osmond Brothers note made me laugh out loud.

    BEVERLY PATERSON: From 1970 to 1976, Tony Orlando and Dawn boasted an incredibly high profile and even had their own television program. Be it the corny sentimentalism of “Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree,” the bubblegum bop of “Knock Three Times,” the silky smooth pop of “Summer Sand,” the cheesy rock groove of “Steppin’ Out (Gonna Boogie Tonight)” or the vaudeville flavorings of “Who’s In The Strawberry Patch With Sally” and “Say Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose,” Tony, Joyce and Telma always maintained an entertaining pose exposing their love and passion for the music.

    KIT O’TOOLE: Herman’s Hermits did have some fun hits; I saw them once minus Peter Noone, believe it or not. As for Chicago’s “Hot Streets,” is that the one with “Street Player” on it? If so, that was decent disco.

    GORDON HAUPTFLEISCH: An honorable mention – As as big Kinks fan, I overlooked the pleasure I find in even their more theatrical mid-seventies concept albums: ‘Preservation: Act 1,’ ‘Preservation: Act 2,’ ‘Schoolboys in Disgrace,’ and even ‘Soap Opera’ (including “Ducks on the Wall”).

    BEVERLY PATERSON: 1978’s Godz erupts with silly but admittedly effective rock cliches, ranging from fire breathing vocals to stomping beats to chugging guitars shrieking and screaming with venom. Not exactly philosophical, the lyrics, dealing with fast women, drinking and rock and roll, nick a cue from the likes of Foghat and Kiss. Dumber than dumb, but a ton of fun, The Godz trembles and thunders with exaggerated metal maneuvers left and right. A true Spinal Tap moment.

    KIT O’TOOLE: Hey, Mark – I’m not embarrassed to admit liking ‘Face Value!’ That and ‘Hello, I Must be Going’ are Phil Collins’ best solo works, IMHO. ‘No Jacket Required’ has its guilty pleasures, though–“Sussudio,” anyone?

    BEVERLY PATERSON: “Simon Says,” “1,2,3 Red Light,” “Goody Goody Gumdrops,” “Indian Giver” and “Special Delivery” were the 1910 Fruitgum Company’s biggest hits, which represent everything there is to dig about bubblegum music. Roller rink organs, strapping choruses, twitching guitars and sugar-fueled energy charge the tunes with color and excitement.

  2. Speaking of guilty pleasures does anyone remember this really cool one hit wonder from 1972? Another group that wasn’t a real band but it’s a cool song. Did you know that Kim Carnes sang on this almost forgotten Sugar Bears song?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsdLJSFbqAk

  3. I never feel guilty listening to Donna Summer, who was a truly gifted singer. I do feel guilty if I say I like the first Wilson Phillips CD, but the harmonies are really great. I don’t feel particularly guilty about pop from 1965-70 and folks like Herman’s Hermits or especially the first Bee Gees LP (dig “Massachusetts”). Finally, I couldn’t get enough of the San Francisco bands of the late 60s, but I do feel a twinge when one is the Sopwith Camel (“Hello Hello”).

  4. Kit:

    “Street Player” was on Chicago 13. <->Hot Streets was the album before 13.

    Is anyone surprised that John Denver didn’t make this list? His first hit album, Poem, Prayers, and Promises was actually pretty good. For what it’s worth Herman’s Hermits just sold out 2 shows at a theater near me and back in ’72 my future wife had me take her to see The Carpenters twice as well as John Denver.

  5. Mark Saleski says:

    i could never take John Denver’s monotone delivery.

  6. Alas, I must admit to the Association’s Greatest Hits (such a lush harmony sound).

  7. I just took a closer look at the selections……. there are some truly, awful, awful albums there…….. and they sold a whole bunch in their day.