After we spoke yesterday I re-read the entire article. It’s so well written and I have to agree with The End by The Doors. It took me many years to see this as a standout - as you’ve mentioned - masterpiece. It’s partly because I was a bit too young to understand this group. I was far too much hitched to The Beatles. And of course, A Day In The Life is a masterpiece unlike any of their other songs.
I would include in the masterpiece category Kate Bush with Babushka. Perhaps I’m too close to the song and the period I was awakened to her, but it remains such a beautiful track.
Then there is Bohemian Rhapsody from Queen which cannot be denied as well as Jim’i Hendrix with Are You Experienced. He remains at the top of my favourite guitarists of all time Two other groups and tracks come to mind as well: New Order with Confusion and The Clash with The Magnificent Seven.
Masterpiece could mean so many different to so many different people but for me, this selection I’ve mentioned, turned a corner for me in so many ways it would be hard not to include them.
Hi Charles - I kinda feel the same way about New Order and The Clash. Same with The Beatles and they were the best group that shaped my musical tastes over decades. I left a it one of my favorite groups too - The Cure. So I have to include them now - although I know they are in a different league. I still love their mastery of a new sound that has endured. KC
Thanks KC. Bohemian Rhapsody is definitely on my list, though I didn't mention it in this article. I love all the artists you mentioned, though, like the Beatles, I think their greatness is more on account of their whole body of work rather than any particular piece. Thanks again!
I agree that the masterpiece title can be bestowed by individuals based on very personal experience and taste, though there are plenty of performances and pieces that have mass-masterpiece appeal.
Among the former for me is The Dream by David Sanborn. It just gets me. Starts tentative, haunting like this New Year, and works through beautiful stages into Epic… for me, every time. Now, especially following Sanborn’s death.
Thanks Alan, I love that piece and I have the album. I got to know Sanborn through him popping up on albums by just about everyone. When they needed a sax they called him!
Isn't a masterpiece something personal to the listener or viewer. What brings me to tears every time I hear it will not touch others. Just because everybody loves something doesn't mean I have to. The opposite is true.
To me a masterpiece is something personal to me. 'Let Go' by Frou Frou is a masterpiece to me as it touches something deep inside. I don't claim others will agree. But then why should I care. If a masterpiece has to be a majority decision we would only love The Beatles and Taylor Swift. So 'Alone Again Naturally' by Gilbert O Sullivan is a masterpiece because it touches me every time. 'DayDreaming ' by Band Maid touches me every time. It is not even my favourite song of theirs. But it is a masterpiece to me. I am moved by it.
We spend so much time wanting others to love what we love. That we forget to enjoy the personal masterpieces. Olivia Newton John singing 'I honestly love you'. Black Sabbath singing 'Spiral Architect' Get a majority decision on that lot.
A masterpiece to me is mine. I am overjoyed if others agree. But they don't have the experiences I have and I don't have theirs. So forget a universal agreement. You love what you love and to hell with musical snobs and critics. That goes for my masterpieces as well.
No argument here. It's ultimately personal. I found myself wondering what it is about certain pieces of music that does it for me, so being nerdy that way I came up with a list. I'm curious whether, if you thought about it that way, you would come up with something or somethings that your "masterpieces" have in common.
Interesting definition and worthwhile challenge. The wheels are turning and songs are coming and going in my mind. I'll come back once I have something to offer.
The Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman collaboration on Bat Out of Hell and Bat Out of Hell II produced several songs that could fit your criteria, with my favorite being Paradise by the Dashboard light. Coming out of the theater world, their songs were stories told in three acts with characters, universal themes, and dramatic emotions. Rock opera, if you will. Throw Todd Rundgren into the mix as a producer and you've got humor and innovation as well, for example with the sports announcer as Meat Loaf tries to make it around the bases to homebase. The other thing I love is that they bring in the woman's voice and perspective so we hear both sides. Most rock songs are performed by men, about the male perspective, and arguably for primarily male listeners. This album and song almost didn't get made, which I wrote about here -- https://rocknrollwithme.substack.com/p/bat-out-of-hell-by-meat-loaf-and?utm_source=publication-search. Kudos to Steve Van Zandt, Todd Rundgren, and Steve Popovich for rescuing it.
Other masterpieces for me -- that always make me stop what I'm doing to listen and I never grow tired of -- are:
Chicago's Make Me Smile
Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven
Bob Seger's haunting Turn the Page
Amy Winehouse's Tears Dry on Their Own
Carole King's It's Too Late
Crosby Stills Nash and Young's Woodstock
I'm sure there are more, but to me these songs are perfect and iconic.
And oh yes, Handel's Hallelujah Chorus -- sublime, profound, arresting.
Great list Ellen, thank you. Love the inclusion of the Hallelujah Chorus. When I was much younger, our choir performed the entire Messiah. Even though I'm not religious, it was profoundly moving to participate in that. Stairway makes a lot of people's list but I would pick Kashmir if I had to choose one Zeppelin song. Many of the songs and artists you named were part of our life soundtrack--hard even to think back to that era without hearing some of them play in my head! Re. bringing in the woman's voice: Looking forward to your series on women in rock!
It's a really interesting exercise as I listened to other songs and rejected them as masterpieces even though I love them.
There were also some artists I adore but I couldn't find a single song I would classify as a masterpiece.
There are a lot of songs I'd call perfect and wouldn't change a thing, but for various reasons wouldn't call them masterpieces either.
If I had to put my finger on it, for me there has to be a story, a musical or lyrical plot twist (a surprise), and a crescendo or some resolution that gives me a great deal of satisfaction and brings it home. A lot like a great novel or short story.
Absolutely forgot before New Order - Joy Division - Atmosphere. How could I forget this?
After we spoke yesterday I re-read the entire article. It’s so well written and I have to agree with The End by The Doors. It took me many years to see this as a standout - as you’ve mentioned - masterpiece. It’s partly because I was a bit too young to understand this group. I was far too much hitched to The Beatles. And of course, A Day In The Life is a masterpiece unlike any of their other songs.
I would include in the masterpiece category Kate Bush with Babushka. Perhaps I’m too close to the song and the period I was awakened to her, but it remains such a beautiful track.
Then there is Bohemian Rhapsody from Queen which cannot be denied as well as Jim’i Hendrix with Are You Experienced. He remains at the top of my favourite guitarists of all time Two other groups and tracks come to mind as well: New Order with Confusion and The Clash with The Magnificent Seven.
Masterpiece could mean so many different to so many different people but for me, this selection I’ve mentioned, turned a corner for me in so many ways it would be hard not to include them.
Thanks Charles for always keeping us tuned in! KC
Hi Charles - I kinda feel the same way about New Order and The Clash. Same with The Beatles and they were the best group that shaped my musical tastes over decades. I left a it one of my favorite groups too - The Cure. So I have to include them now - although I know they are in a different league. I still love their mastery of a new sound that has endured. KC
Thanks KC. Bohemian Rhapsody is definitely on my list, though I didn't mention it in this article. I love all the artists you mentioned, though, like the Beatles, I think their greatness is more on account of their whole body of work rather than any particular piece. Thanks again!
I agree that the masterpiece title can be bestowed by individuals based on very personal experience and taste, though there are plenty of performances and pieces that have mass-masterpiece appeal.
Among the former for me is The Dream by David Sanborn. It just gets me. Starts tentative, haunting like this New Year, and works through beautiful stages into Epic… for me, every time. Now, especially following Sanborn’s death.
Thanks Alan, I love that piece and I have the album. I got to know Sanborn through him popping up on albums by just about everyone. When they needed a sax they called him!
Isn't a masterpiece something personal to the listener or viewer. What brings me to tears every time I hear it will not touch others. Just because everybody loves something doesn't mean I have to. The opposite is true.
To me a masterpiece is something personal to me. 'Let Go' by Frou Frou is a masterpiece to me as it touches something deep inside. I don't claim others will agree. But then why should I care. If a masterpiece has to be a majority decision we would only love The Beatles and Taylor Swift. So 'Alone Again Naturally' by Gilbert O Sullivan is a masterpiece because it touches me every time. 'DayDreaming ' by Band Maid touches me every time. It is not even my favourite song of theirs. But it is a masterpiece to me. I am moved by it.
We spend so much time wanting others to love what we love. That we forget to enjoy the personal masterpieces. Olivia Newton John singing 'I honestly love you'. Black Sabbath singing 'Spiral Architect' Get a majority decision on that lot.
A masterpiece to me is mine. I am overjoyed if others agree. But they don't have the experiences I have and I don't have theirs. So forget a universal agreement. You love what you love and to hell with musical snobs and critics. That goes for my masterpieces as well.
No argument here. It's ultimately personal. I found myself wondering what it is about certain pieces of music that does it for me, so being nerdy that way I came up with a list. I'm curious whether, if you thought about it that way, you would come up with something or somethings that your "masterpieces" have in common.
Interesting definition and worthwhile challenge. The wheels are turning and songs are coming and going in my mind. I'll come back once I have something to offer.
Thanks Ellen. Now I'm wondering what you'll come up with!
I've finally had some time to think about this.
The Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman collaboration on Bat Out of Hell and Bat Out of Hell II produced several songs that could fit your criteria, with my favorite being Paradise by the Dashboard light. Coming out of the theater world, their songs were stories told in three acts with characters, universal themes, and dramatic emotions. Rock opera, if you will. Throw Todd Rundgren into the mix as a producer and you've got humor and innovation as well, for example with the sports announcer as Meat Loaf tries to make it around the bases to homebase. The other thing I love is that they bring in the woman's voice and perspective so we hear both sides. Most rock songs are performed by men, about the male perspective, and arguably for primarily male listeners. This album and song almost didn't get made, which I wrote about here -- https://rocknrollwithme.substack.com/p/bat-out-of-hell-by-meat-loaf-and?utm_source=publication-search. Kudos to Steve Van Zandt, Todd Rundgren, and Steve Popovich for rescuing it.
Other masterpieces for me -- that always make me stop what I'm doing to listen and I never grow tired of -- are:
Chicago's Make Me Smile
Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven
Bob Seger's haunting Turn the Page
Amy Winehouse's Tears Dry on Their Own
Carole King's It's Too Late
Crosby Stills Nash and Young's Woodstock
I'm sure there are more, but to me these songs are perfect and iconic.
And oh yes, Handel's Hallelujah Chorus -- sublime, profound, arresting.
Great list Ellen, thank you. Love the inclusion of the Hallelujah Chorus. When I was much younger, our choir performed the entire Messiah. Even though I'm not religious, it was profoundly moving to participate in that. Stairway makes a lot of people's list but I would pick Kashmir if I had to choose one Zeppelin song. Many of the songs and artists you named were part of our life soundtrack--hard even to think back to that era without hearing some of them play in my head! Re. bringing in the woman's voice: Looking forward to your series on women in rock!
It's a really interesting exercise as I listened to other songs and rejected them as masterpieces even though I love them.
There were also some artists I adore but I couldn't find a single song I would classify as a masterpiece.
There are a lot of songs I'd call perfect and wouldn't change a thing, but for various reasons wouldn't call them masterpieces either.
If I had to put my finger on it, for me there has to be a story, a musical or lyrical plot twist (a surprise), and a crescendo or some resolution that gives me a great deal of satisfaction and brings it home. A lot like a great novel or short story.
I think we are on the same page in that regard. A song that's bigger than a song! I went through the same process. Thank you!