Why doesn’t anybody make proper music any more ?

I know I’m going to get pounced on by my younger blog readers when I say this, but why doesn’t anybody make proper music any more?

I went in for a swim this morning (80 laps = 2km) followed by breakfast at the gym, and on the way home in the car I was listening to a Supertramp CD, that I haven’t listened to for ages. I listened to Supertramp almost non-stop at university, I still love their music. I got thinking that there really aren’t many bands these days that use much more than the standard lead & bass guitar and drums. How many bands have stand-out keyboard players these days. So much of the richness of Supertramps music is from the piano / keyboards, Richard Wright’s keyboards are such an integral part of Pink Floyd’s music, as is Jon Lord’s keyboards on Deep Purple tracks. How often do you hear the saxaphone in modern music, again Dick Parry’s saxophone is so much a part of so many Floyd tracks, and I love the sax on Gerry Rafferty’s Baker Street.

My thoughts drifted to other music and tracks I’ve loved in the past, the uniqueness of Ian Anderson’s flute in Jethro Tull’s music, the classical / rock mixture of Sky and Emerson, Lake and Palmer that so often used to eminate from a neighbours room at university college. Aah, the memories.

Anyway, I’ve included a few links below if anyone doesn’t know what I’m talking about. And, you younger ones, I challenge you, tell me about some “proper music” that has been more recently released – I’d really like to give it a try.

Supertramp – Crime of the Century

Jethro Tull – Thick as a Brick

Sky – Toccata

Manfred Mann – Blinded by the Light

Emerson, Lake and Palmer – Fanfare for the Common Man

Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street

Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb

Whilst on a musical note (sorry about the pun), the other night I put on a Syd Barrett CD and I don’t know how but I pressed the repeat button. Then I got distracted by a work phone call and it played about 15 times. Kate was the only other one home, and she wasn’t impressed. For those that haven’t had the pleasure, Syd was a founding member of Pink Floyd. His music is quirky and catchy, with somewhat dubious vocals. This was the song that played 15 times!

Syd Barrett – Here I Go

Anyway, in addition to my swim this morning, I also fitted in a 6km run tonight before the weather closed in. A cold but pleasant run at an average 4:55 min/km pace. Straight after the run I did a short core workout.