Try a (special) compilation...

Just a little game I have tried few days ago : make a compilation with each song I lile the less on each Brian's album. The result is... A real good rockin' CD. One more prove of the Brian's discography quality !

- JEANNIE, JEANNIE, JEANNIE
- (SHE'LL STAY JUST) ONE MORE DAY
- REBELS RULE
- AZTEC
- I WANNA CRY
- THE RAIN WASHED EVERYTHING AWAY
- EVERYBODY NEEDS ROCK N' ROLL
- BABY DON'T DRAG ME DOWN
- MY HEART IS A LIAR
- I FOUGHT THE LAW
- BYE BYE LOVE
- BALL & CHAINS
- HEY LOUIS PRIMA
- THIS OLD HOUSE
- GETTIN' IN THE MOOD
- SANTA ROSA RITA
- O HOLY NIGHT
- ST JUDE
- RAKIN' AND SCRAPIN'
- GETTIN' IN THE MOOD (FOR CHRISTMAS)
- BAD BAD GIRL (IN A BBAD BAD WORLD)
- HERE COMES THE BROAD

Finally, I've decided to keep this CD and to play it pretty often, just to try to better "enter" into this songs/tracks I have a little "neglected". Good experience...

Good experience and great idea ... but may I say there're some tunes I'll never like, even if I play them one hundred times a day?
May I?
OK, I said it...

FC

Of course you can Mr Frenchy !!

Hey Frenchmen!!
I am going to tell you about my compilation. this one is only by Stray Cats, and that's the CD I've burnt to my girl:

Cross of love (from Choo Choo)
Baby blue eyes
my one desire
bring it back again
cry baby
lust n love
Gina
two of a kind
hot rod gang
little miss Prissy
My heart is a liar
you don't believe me
I won't stand in your way
reckless
rockin' all over the place
stray cat strut
sexy + 17
Gene & Eddie
rock this town
I fought the law (B-side to Bring It Back Again)
Built for speed (live Toronto 1983)
Please don't touch

I left a few songs that, due to time constrains, i couldn't add: Runaway Boys, Fishnet Stockings, Ubangi Stomp, Cryin' Shame, Dig Dirty Doogie...

But in overall I think it's a nice CD, combining classics with some other good songs that have never been considered at all...

I think I couldn't do a single CD combining the very best of Setzer's career, though, let me mull it over a little bit and i'll write my songs in a tick!

I love the concept, Choo Choo - The Worst of Setzer. You're right, it still makes for a respectable compilation.

Got that, Jon? Therules of this game are: pick the song you like the least from each album and include it on the list.

Let me just say that there are certain albums, like Stray Cats, Rant-n-Rave, and Ignition where I feel terrible for putting any track on the list, but playing by the rules, I will still select one track from each album. I'm gonna skip the live albums, as they usually rock from beginning to end, and are usually "hits" oriented.

Storm the Embassy
She'll Stay Just One More Day
Dig Dirty Doggie
Aztec
I Wanna Cry (I really shouldn't count this, as Brian didn't play on this one - swap Change of Heart on the technicality)
Every Tear That Falls
Rockabilly World
Thing About You
Can't Go Back to Memphis
Your True Love (as much as people knock Original Cool, it was hard to pick a "worst" track on this one. It's not a great album, but it's not terrible, either.)
Ball and Chain
My Baby Only Cares for Me / Oooh! Can I pick Rocky Mountain Shakedown, from the Japanese version?
You're the Boss
Gettin' In the Mood
Johnny Kool Pt. 2
The Amens
Wild Wind
Lonely Wolf
Santa Drives a Hot Rod
Rock Your World - yes, it's even worse than Bad, Bad, Girl to my ears
1812 Overdrive

This was very weird. Some of these I still like a lot. I thought it would be a more fun process, but it left me feeling kinda "meh". The thing is, many of these tracks would be better than half the songs on most other artists' albums.

Not-So-Greatest-Hits-a-billy

Rickabilly, yes, I got it, but I couldn't think of any at that moment so that in the meantime, I added my favs, if that's fine... how many times have we changed the subject of a topic?? LOADS... and there hasn't been a single problem...

here goes the worst of the worse...

* from the Stray Cats *
Jeanie Jeanie Jeanie
Wild Saxophone
She'll Stay Just One More Day
THE ENTIRE LET'S GO FASTER & ORIGINAL COOL

* From Setzer solo *
The Rain Washed Everything Away
Every Tear That Falls
Love Is Repaid By Love Alone

* from the BSO *
September Skies
Sammy Davis City
Jukebox
Americano
In The Mood
Scatman Jack
A LOT OF SONGS FROM THE XMAS ALBUMS & WOLFGANG'S...

*from 68CBS, Trio, Nashvillains *
Dreamsville
Blue Cafe
Johnny Kool 2
Sixty Years
St Jude
Wild Wind
When Hepcat Gets The Blues
The Hennepin Bridge Ave.
Mini Bar Blues
Really Rockabilly
Rackin' & Scrapin'
Blue Suede Shoes
Boppin' The Blues

Wow, that's a lot of stuff and sorry to mention all those songs but I coulnd't put my finger on less...

JonPascual wrote:

THE ENTIRE LET'S GO FASTER

I totally disagree on this. There are great tunes in it.



But of course, you have your opinion, and that´s fine with me.

I figured by following Choo Choo's example of limiting the list to one track per album, we could stem the tide of negativity that occasionally overwhelms the board.

But a topic that dwells on "The Worst" of anything is bound to leave a bad taste behind. I'm starting to regret my participation.

Like the metal bolt and switchblade comb hurled at Brian, this topic originated from France. Coincidence?

"Don't throw shit at me. I don't like it." - Brian Setzer

On a fan forum, I suppose those just might be words to live by.

No diplomatic immunity-a-billy

Rickabilly wrote:

I'm starting to regret my participation.

You can always "edit"

I can't believe the 'worst' songs that are picked

Sixty years rocks!!

Choo Choo actually had it the most politically correct - choose the song on each album you like the least. It doesn't mean you dislike the song. In a nutshell, the game goes like this:

1) Go through each album in the Setzer/Stray Cats catalogue.

2) Pretend you have to cut ONE and ONLY ONE song from each album. Which one would you cut? Of the 12-14 songs on each album, which ONE would go?

Thus far, it seems only Choo Choo and myself have complied with the rules of the game. You may dislike the entire "Let's Go Faster" album, but you only get to cut one song. But it's interesting to see how much our lists matched. I tried not to refer to Choo Choo's list when I made mine, and we picked a lot of the same songs.
It certainly wasn't meant to turn into a bitch session about EVERY Setzer song that makes you cringe. I made the mistake of calling it the Worst of Setzer - it's hardly that.

It's a pointlessly hypothetical exercise, but it's the kind of thing you do to pass the time when there's not much going on in Setzerland, and boredom "setz" in. It happens when there's no webmaster giving us new news, flashbacks, archival photos, trivia contests, music player updates, and going out of their way to make Setzer relevant 365 days a year.


Missed T eyed-a-billy

It being an established fact that my knowledge of everything and anything is beyond reproach,
I will now let you guys in on the correct opinion to have. There shall be no other !

From Stray Cat 1; Storm the Embassy (because it stood out like a sore thumb from the rest of this album.
Gonna ball ; She'll stay one more day , possibly though I like it alot.
Rant n' Rave ; Rebels rule ,purely for the innane lyrics
Rock Therapy ; One hand loose really was a lazy attempt at a classic.
I dont count I wanna cry as a Cats song since Brian aint on it.
Blast off ; Gene and Eddie. I HATE this song. It's the Cats worst and Brian wont stop playing it live. Flay me alive while reading Jon Pascauls posts , anything but Brian please dissassociate yourself from this mess.
Lets Go Faster ; This album does not have a WORST song ,just lousy production. Eh eh eh...No arguements.
Choo Choo Hotfish; Possibly it's version of Cross of love.
Original Cool ; Hmmm ? Chet Ditty , It must have been lunch time cause they never finished the song.

Due to time constraints ,what with phone conferences with various world leaders, frequent trips to the bathroom and smutty sites to be scrutinized , I will briefly throw in a few more worst of Setzer as they come to mind .
The Rain washed my underpants away
The BSO version of ROck this Town......it's a mess
Bad bad Girl is a bad bad piece of crap even worse than Gene and Eddie and I believe it contravenes to the Geneva conventiion .
Gettin in the mood , yeachy
Take the 5th from Wolfgangs night in Sing Sing. I like lots of this album but this track is boring.

There you have it folks , memorize the above, There will be a test.

I am sorry for all that mess !
I just wanted to share an experience who proved - one more time ! - the quality of Brian Setzer's whole discography. As Rick has perfectly explained it, take ONE track per album (Stray Cats, solos & BSO), the track you like the less and make a compil'. You might realize, as I've done it, that the record is pretty good.

Quote :

From Stray Cat 1; Storm the Embassy (because it stood out like a sore thumb from the rest of this album.

Yes it did stand out....with Runaway Boys.....as being the most original sounding song on the album! Just mho.

Quote :

choose the song on each album you like the least. It doesn't mean you dislike the song. In a nutshell, the game goes like this:

Quote :

1) Go through each album in the Setzer/Stray Cats catalogue.

2) Pretend you have to cut ONE and ONLY ONE song from each album. Which one would you cut? Of the 12-14 songs on each album, which ONE would go?

Stray Cats (Stray 1) - 'Crawl up and die'
Gonna Ball - 'Wicked Whiskey'
Rant and Rave - 'Rebels Rule'
Rock Therapy - 'Beautiful Deliah'
Knife Feels Like Justice - 'Aztec'
Live Nude Guitars - 'My temper sure is rising'
Blast Off - ''Rockin' all over the place'
Choo Choo Hot Fish - "Cry Baby'
Let's Go Faster - 'Give it to me'
Original Cool - 'Your True Love'
BSO 1st - 'Ball and Chain'
Guitar Slinger - 'My baby only cares for me'
Dirty Boogie - 'Nosey Joe'
Vavoom! - 'Jukebox'
Ignition - 'Hot Rod Girl'
Nitro burnin' funny daddy - Rat pack boogie'
Rockabilly Riot - 'Get Rhythm'
13 - 'Really Rockabilly'
Wolfgang - 'Here comes the broad'

Really difficult to take anything off any of his records, but i sat there at Rick requested with cds in hand - then i picked the tracks i play the LEAST....and that's my list. Any Setzer is good.....it's just that i feel the songs i've picked are good but not his best!

Yes. I did stray from the original concept of this thread. Apologies Choo Choo.
However ,if you compiled the tracks that I chose, it would still be a rockin CD.

I admit that I dont like Gene and Eddie ,Bad Bad Girl nor BSOs Rock this town. All the other tracks I mentioned ,I do like, even love. They're just my least favourite on thier particular albums.
I have introduced worms into the can , sorry.

Rickabilly wrote:

I'm starting to regret my participation.
No diplomatic immunity-a-billy

Rick, do not regret your participation : you are the only one, with Steve now, to really "play the game". Thanks a lot.


Don't leave me here dyin' on the...-A-Billy

OK, I am now playing by the rules. One least favourite song from each official album to make up a compilation that still rocks.

Storm the Embassy
She'll stay just one more day
Rebels Rule
One Hand Loose
Chains around your heart
Rockability
Gene and Eddie
Baby dont drag me down
Cross of love... Choo Choo Hotfish version
Somethin else....Original cool
Lady Luck
The legend of Johnny Kool
Lets live it up and/or Rock this town
Gettin in the mood
Take the 5th
Blue Christmas
Santa drives a hotrod
Blue cafe
Dont trust a woman
Real wild child
Bad Bad Girl

Rick,
I don't understand why you always have to be so picky and "politicaly" correct on every single issue.

We know the rules of the game but it's hard to decide one cut per album, so I'd rather tell you what I like the least, and that's it. No problems at all with breaking a little bit the boundaries of the topic and even changing the subject as many times we do... take it easy

As the topic starter I'd like you to "respect the rules". I mean, you can try to do the same, by the same way (than I) for we can exchange and talking about the results we have. Or if you don't want to do it (too long, too difficult...) we can just talk about the idea or my compil' etc...

For example, I find really interesting some results : with Rick, we have at least 5 songs in common ; but, in the same time, he has chosen some songs that I like almost the most (Rockabilly World, My Baby Only Cares For Me, The Legend Of JK part 2...) So, some sides of our compils seem to go in the same direction, and some other sides are really differents.

And it's the same with Steve and Vincent : Aztec or Bad Bad Girl are common choices but other choices like One Hand Loose (Vincent) or Really Rockabilly (Steve) are designing song among my top 15 !

That's, in my opinion, what makes the experience interesting.

I agree Choo Choo. I find it interesting to analyse the consistances and the vast differences too! I hope many more people will air their lists. It only takes a few minutes, and the more we have, the more results we can compare.

Interestingly both Vincent and Rick have gone with taking 'Storm the embassy' off Stray 1. That took me back to 1980 for a moment when i was spinning Stray 1 for the first time.....'Runaway Boys'.....oh yeah....next tracks.....oh yeah.....Storm the Embassy.....WOW! I had bought the album on the strength of Rock this Town'....
so i was really surprised that Stray Cats weren't just a one trick pony (Only play Rockabilly) - and 'Storm the Embassy' and the brilliant 'Stray Cat Strut' never left my record player for years!!!
So it just goes to show that one man's meat is another's poison!

Vincent Blackshadow wrote:

Yes. I did stray from the original concept of this thread. Apologies Choo Choo.
However ,if you compiled the tracks that I chose, it would still be a rockin CD.

I admit that I dont like Gene and Eddie ,Bad Bad Girl nor BSOs Rock this town. All the other tracks I mentioned ,I do like, even love. They're just my least favourite on thier particular albums.
I have introduced worms into the can , sorry.

Ah, Vincent. Your understanding of the topic at hand was exemplary, as usual, from the word go. If you left a few albums out due to your busy schedule preserving order in the world, no worries. I rather enjoyed your first post on the topic, as it included entertaining justifications.

Jon, I have no problems derailing threads - we all do it. The "game" threads are a little different. Games tend to be more fun when you have the added challenge of playing by the rules. I just wanted to see a few more lists before this thread disintegrated into everyone debating one or two people's lists. People were responding only to your list, and it didn't exactly comply with Choo Choo's intent of the topic. If you want to start a list of all the songs or albums you dislike, feel free to start your own thread.

I don't dislike Storm the Embassy - I just thought it would fit better on a Clash album than one so rooted in classic rock-n-roll. It definitely did make the album more well-rounded.

I do like My Baby Cares for Me on Guitar Slinger - that's why I changed my choice to Rocky Mountain Shakedown - it seems pretty out of place, even as a bonus track. It might have been more at home on an album like The Knife Feels Like Justice.

I suppose I could have chosen Town Without Pity on the Let's Go Faster album, if I were looking for tunes that sounded out of place on the album. I just happen to like the contrast - it's like the last remnant of retro on the album.

It was a near impossibility to pick a tune from Choo Choo Hot Fish. I would never have chosen My Heart Is a Liar - that song has, in my opinion, one of the great Setzer vocals ever. I thought Can't Go Back To Memphis would sound more at home on a Big Country record, so it ultimately had to go on my list.

Keep 'em coming.

Another Man's Poison-billy

RickaBilly ,Your understanding of my understanding may be misunderstood by those who stand over rather than under the original game plan.

Thank you Rickabilly, Hub, Steve, and Vincent!

You have given me hope that "witty banter" is somehow still alive and well...albeit not visiting these boards too often these days...

Carry on (I'm still working on my list...this is HARD!),
hrg

Hello HRG, nice to read you again !
Thanks for your nice words. Can't wait for your list...

Okay, here it goes...

I have to say it was hard, but I stole someone's idea of choosing the tracks that I least play. I gotta admit, I do like these songs, I just don't play them that much.

Jeanie, Jeanie, Jeanie
She'll Stay Jone One More Day
Runaway Boys (sorry, I'm just sick of it)
Dig Dirty Doggie
Knife Feels Like Justice
Change of Heart
Every Tear that Falls
Bring it Back Again
Cross of Love
My Heart is a Liar
Your True Love
Ball and Chain
Johnny Kool
Rock This Town
Gettin' in the Mood
Johnny Kool pt. 2
The Amens (I really like this song, but I have to be in the mood for it)
Don't Trust a Woman
Real Wild Child (I didn't really like this song by the "original artist", just my thoughts)
Gettin' in the Mood for Christmas
Bad, Bad, Girl
Take a Break Guys (This one really doesn't count, as I play all of WBNO equally)

And after a while, these may change. It's just how I'm feeling about the songs right now. It's definitely harder to choose which ones I like the least, over my favorites! But my favorites change too.

Hey, it's a girls prerogative to change her mind.