On the list of musicians who actually have talent and completely threw it away, Rod Stewart probably ranks right at the top. “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy”? Number one, no. Number two, even when my kid was five and had a speech impediment, he knew how to spell and pronounce “do.”
top 10
Rockpile/Brinsley Schwarz/Dave Edmunds/Nick Lowe
The complicated history of these players and groups deserves a blog of its own. But my mom likes Dave Edmunds, and Nick Lowe released an album called Pinker and Prouder Than Previous, which sounds like a gay anthem, even though I’m pretty sure he’s not gay. So that must count for something.
Rockabilly
How is “rockabilly” different from “early rock and roll”? Is rockabilly different from early rock and roll? No idea. But I like the song “Summertime Blues,” so I needed a way to get it onto a list somehow.
Robyn Hitchcock
See Jonathan Richman. Swap in “Robyn Hitchcock.”
Bonus points for the lyric, “And balloon man/Blew up/In my hand.” What does that even mean?
Robert Johnson
The devil may have gotten Johnson’s, but clearly the real winners from that deal are anyone who loves music that comes from the soul. Pretty much every artist and genre that gets a list on this blog (except the prog rockers and, you know, Madonna) can trace their lineage back to this one man and his guitar. To be honest, I think the devil got shafted.
Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones once told an interviewer that she was no-way-not-at-all-not-one-bit-how-dare-you-even-suggest-it influenced by Joni Mitchell.
Rickie Lee Jones is in denial. Or lying.
Richard Thompson/ Richard & Linda Thompson
When your cheeriest lyric is about being “Nearly in Love” and your cheeriest melody is in a song about riding the “Wall of Death” … let’s just say, I bet Richard Thompson is a hoot at parties.
Replacements
The only time I ever did a stage dive was when I went to see the Lyres in Providence. I mention that here because the same guy who turned me on to the Lyres also introduced me to the Replacements. For which I am forever grateful. (Plus, I get to blow my kids’ minds with the image of their dad doing a stage dive.)
R.E.M.
For their first 10 albums or so, R.E.M. were pretty much the best American rock band out there. Then they, uh, weren’t. Bonus points for coming back strong with their last couple of records before calling it quits for good.
Regina Carter
My son Mark, who is black, is a violinist. That’s impressive enough. But throw in “female” and “jazz,” and you see why Regina Carter is in her own category of awesome.
Playlist of the Day 