Suckiest bands that made it big...sort of.

[Swish]

I don't want to step on anyone's toes.... b/c my poly-ethnic-slamgrass tastes are not accepted by the masses, so I'm sure others like what I consider "crap" (like modern R&B, Country/Western, etc)

We kind of enjoy that thing here at RR. Makes for some rousing conversation. Yes, I think a lot of modern R & B, rap and modern country is worthless, but not all. If you want to name a particular band that fits your view of 'suckiest', go for it. I'm sure a few will rip me a new one for some of the things I typed, but I don't really give a rat's rump.

Swish

[SlumpBuster]

Yeah, I got some suckjob artists that alot of people will disagree with and honestly I'm not trying just to be contrarian :

Elton John - 40 year career and one good song (Tiny Dancer - is that the name?) Proof of suckitude exists in Benny and the Jets (God that song never ends "B-b-b-b-ennie"), Crocidile Rock (WTF!), and Candle in the Wind (Biggest selling sucky single of all time).

Paul McCartney - Just an embarrassment. I've never liked the Beatles (save Ringo's and George's solo stuff), I just don't get what all the fuss is about over Lennon-McCartney. McCartney always reminds of some douchy friend of my dad that thinks he's hip by saying "Man" all the time and being open about always holding a little weed. Band On the Run is like nails on a blackboard to me. The whole Wings thing just seems ill concieved. I wonder if Linda's musician's union card said "Tambourine" under "Instrument"?

Led Zepplin - Yes, every year a new crop of 12 year old boys discover Zep and think "****, where have I been?!" And I can't deny having "gotten the Led out" on a few occasions. But, enough already. We get it. You found a crate of blues records, so what? Robert Plant can't sing. The best example is admittedly from his solo work, but the point still is made: That crappy suckfest "Lighten up baby I'm in love with you" song from the 80s. Come on now, if that came up in the Ipod rotation, you know you'd skip it.

[PeruvianSkies]

Yeah, I got some suckjob artists that alot of people will disagree with and honestly I'm not trying just to be contrarian :

Elton John - 40 year career and one good song (Tiny Dancer - is that the name?) Proof of suckitude exists in Benny and the Jets (God that song never ends "B-b-b-b-ennie"), Crocidile Rock (WTF!), and Candle in the Wind (Biggest selling sucky single of all time).

Paul McCartney - Just an embarrassment. I've never liked the Beatles (save Ringo's and George's solo stuff), I just don't get what all the fuss is about over Lennon-McCartney. McCartney always reminds of some douchy friend of my dad that thinks he's hip by saying "Man" all the time and being open about always holding a little weed. Band On the Run is like nails on a blackboard to me. The whole Wings thing just seems ill concieved. I wonder if Linda's musician's union card said "Tambourine" under "Instrument"?

Led Zepplin - Yes, every year a new crop of 12 year old boys discover Zep and think "****, where have I been?!" And I can't deny having "gotten the Led out" on a few occasions. But, enough already. We get it. You found a crate of blues records, so what? Robert Plant can't sing. The best example is admittedly from his solo work, but the point still is made: That crappy suckfest "Lighten up baby I'm in love with you" song from the 80s. Come on now, if that came up in the Ipod rotation, you know you'd skip it.

YOU ARE CRAZY!!!!

With regards to Elton John you need to venture into his less known and worn out songs, like CURTAINS or FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND perhaps.

With regards to Led Zeppelin the same applies, I am not a huge fan of their popular songs, but I love stranger songs like BRON YR STOMP or GALLOWS POLE, and even TRAMPLED UNDERFOOT.

[Swish]

Yeah, I got some suckjob artists that alot of people will disagree with and honestly I'm not trying just to be contrarian :

Elton John - 40 year career and one good song (Tiny Dancer - is that the name?) Proof of suckitude exists in Benny and the Jets (God that song never ends "B-b-b-b-ennie"), Crocidile Rock (WTF!), and Candle in the Wind (Biggest selling sucky single of all time).

Paul McCartney - Just an embarrassment. I've never liked the Beatles (save Ringo's and George's solo stuff), I just don't get what all the fuss is about over Lennon-McCartney. McCartney always reminds of some douchy friend of my dad that thinks he's hip by saying "Man" all the time and being open about always holding a little weed. Band On the Run is like nails on a blackboard to me. The whole Wings thing just seems ill concieved. I wonder if Linda's musician's union card said "Tambourine" under "Instrument"?

Led Zepplin - Yes, every year a new crop of 12 year old boys discover Zep and think "****, where have I been?!" And I can't deny having "gotten the Led out" on a few occasions. But, enough already. We get it. You found a crate of blues records, so what? Robert Plant can't sing. The best example is admittedly from his solo work, but the point still is made: That crappy suckfest "Lighten up baby I'm in love with you" song from the 80s. Come on now, if that came up in the Ipod rotation, you know you'd skip it.

...although much of it gets little air play so you may not be familiar. Madman Across the Water also had Levon, Razor Face and the title track, all very good songs, Honky Chateau from 1972 was decent with Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters, and my favorite, Tumbleweed Connection that was released in January of 1971, with Come Down in Time, My Father's Gun, Country Comfort, and Burn Down the Mission. This was all before he started doing the really goofy stage antics and so forth, and I never gave a rat's arse for him after that.

As for Paul McCartney, I wasn't much of a fan of his solo work, and some of it was rather embarrassing if you ask me; 'Someone's Knockin' at the Door', 'Ebony and Ivory' (with Stevie Wonder). His work with the Beat;es, though, is mostly beyond reproach, so I won't go there.

Led Zep gets no sympathy from me. Yeah, I liked them a bit as a kid, but I couldn't care less if I never heard them again.

Swish

[SlumpBuster]

Swish, your right. Its only radio Elton that I know, I've just never been compelled to investigate further. But here is a serious question: If Elton made say 3 good albums in the first three years of a forty year career, does that make him a sucky artist with a few good records, or a good artist that got derailed? i.e. Chicago - had some good eras and the Cetera Karate Kid era. Sucky band or sucky periods?

[Jim Clark]

Hmmm, where to draw the line between sucks and I just plain don't like? And make it big, how big is required before it can be said they made it big? Air Supply is an obvious contender of course but what about Christopher Cross? For a while, he was everywhere from your television to radio, and not always singing. 60 minutes did a piece on him long after the winds died down from Sailing. Vinyl scroungers have a vague idea of how many albums the man sold. Clearly not in the category of a Jim Nabors or Sing Along With Mitch, but a lot of albums.

And who pioneered that whole genre anyway? It would probably be remiss to not mention the Capitan and Tenille who remain pop icons via guest appearances which by and large seem aimed at making just a much fun of those of us that know who they are as the music the duo created. And while I'm on the subject of making fun, all I can say is the brothers Gibb. Jive Talking? Are you kidding me? In falsetto no less. They took lameness to a whole new level that for a time became the new cool. I still don't think they could have done any of it without Travolta who remains cool personified. Travolta recovered, learned how to act (kind of) and continues to reinvent himself. The Glibb boys remained lame as it's all they knew and all they where capable of. But I digress...

Lot's of viable candidates here. Slumpbuster could be my kid brother and I'm not going to argue any of his choices. Throw in a Bob Dylan and that list could be mine. Over the years however I think I've come to make some kind of internal distinction between music that sucks and music I just don't like. Billy Joel's music is lame (be honest, you know it's true), and I just don't like the Beatles. Madam Elton remains a true enigma for me. Right now I'm giving 50-50 odds on the lame/don't like call. Pick'em.

jc

[Swish]

Hmmm, where to draw the line between sucks and I just plain don't like? And make it big, how big is required before it can be said they made it big? Air Supply is an obvious contender of course but what about Christopher Cross? For a while, he was everywhere from your television to radio, and not always singing. 60 minutes did a piece on him long after the winds died down from Sailing. Vinyl scroungers have a vague idea of how many albums the man sold. Clearly not in the category of a Jim Nabors or Sing Along With Mitch, but a lot of albums.

And who pioneered that whole genre anyway? It would probably be remiss to not mention the Capitan and Tenille who remain pop icons via guest appearances which by and large seem aimed at making just a much fun of those of us that know who they are as the music the duo created. And while I'm on the subject of making fun, all I can say is the brothers Gibb. Jive Talking? Are you kidding me? In falsetto no less. They took lameness to a whole new level that for a time became the new cool. I still don't think they could have done any of it without Travolta who remains cool personified. Travolta recovered, learned how to act (kind of) and continues to reinvent himself. The Glibb boys remained lame as it's all they knew and all they where capable of. But I digress...

Lot's of viable candidates here. Slumpbuster could be my kid brother and I'm not going to argue any of his choices. Throw in a Bob Dylan and that list could be mine. Over the years however I think I've come to make some kind of internal distinction between music that sucks and music I just don't like. Billy Joel's music is lame (be honest, you know it's true), and I just don't like the Beatles. Madam Elton remains a true enigma for me. Right now I'm giving 50-50 odds on the lame/don't like call. Pick'em.

jc

Sorry, I make so many typos here that I take pure joy in busying the balls of anyone else who does it. I don't know that I can include them because they really weren't 'big' by Air Supply standards. Heck, they were nearly a one hit wonder. I agree with you on Christopher Cross, but he was close to a one hit wonder too. Billy Joel started out ok but turned into total crap, as did Phil Collins. In fact, I would say Phil belongs for sure, but at least Billy had a couple decent records ala Elton John.

Boy Dylan remains an icon in the industry, and calling him sucko or any other derisive term is utter nonsense. Yes, I like him, but come on! Give the man his due. He will be remembered as one of the greatest ever for generations to come. Ditto Johnny Cash who many don't like. The talent is undeniable.

Swish