Brightest but shortest artistic bursts in the sky


The new thread topic today regarding Artists who maintained the quality of their work for their entire careers brought me back to my realization that many of my favorite albums were made by exactly the opposite type of Artist---the one whose initial burst was the bright, but, alas, short. Here are the ones that spring to mind immediately:

- The Dwight Twilley Band. Their---and I say their because drummer/singer Phil Seymore was atleast as important to the group as was Dwight himself---debut album is unbelievably great. If you haven't hear the Sincerely album, you want to. Phil stayed only for the debut and second album---Twilley Don't Mind, then leaving for a solo career. Twilley needed Seymore as much as Lennon and McCartney needed each other. Dwight had some success as a solo Artist, but his stuff just isn't as good.

- Jellyfish. Only two albums, but oh man are they great. Power Pop of the highest order. Complex harmonies---part Brian Wilson, part Queen, and great musicianship.

- Rockpile. Only one official album, but it contains the playing and singing of pure American Rock 'n' Roll as good as has ever been made. All killer, no filler!

- Moby Grape. Great, incredibly great S/T debut, poor follow-up. Even worse third and fourth albums, then a return to form with the fifth---20 Granite Creek. Then it was over; Skip Spence was sent to the looney bin (acid casualty), bad management and lack of success bringing the band to it's end. By far the best of the San Francisco bands.

- Emitt Rhodes. Emitt spent a year recording what became his S/T debut album, playing every instrument and singing every part in his home studio. One of the greatest Pop albums ever released (it was better than McCartneys solo debut in many peoples---including mine, opinion), it was his only good one. He signed a terrible deal, in which he agreed to provide the label with a second and third album in six month intervals. When he didn't deliver the second on time, the label sued him for breach of contract. He finally gave them a second and third, but the experience soured Emitt on the music business, and he wasn't seen on stage again for a quarter of a century. I was privileged to be part of his band when he finally took the stage again in 1998. Emitt has a recent album which I haven't yet heard.

- Gram Parsons. Gram is just one example of Artists who were done in by their success at a young age. After being brought into The Byrds by bassist Chris Hillman, he lead them into their groundbreaking Sweethearts of the Rodeo album, which pretty much created the Country-Rock genre. He and Chris left to start The Flying Burrito Brothers, playing hardcore Country music. Gram then went solo, making two commercially modest-selling but artistically-influential albums that hold up to this day. Keith Richards liked his stuff a lot, and invited Gram to come over to France where The Stones were living and recording. You can hear Grams influence in Keiths writing and playing of the early 70's. What Gram got from Keith was a taste for heroin, which an overdose of did him in.

These are just a few of the hundred examples available. I'm sure ya'll have your own. 


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Of all the humans who have ever lived that title is held by Franz Schubert. Period .
As a doors fan every Album is classic and many out there would agree.
Their 1sr Album and Super classic light my fire long version . The Cornerstone of greatness.   Traffic another great band with several classics.
Not often mentioned The Guess Who fantastic songwriting. 
Nazareth remember the album Hair of the  dog ? Another guitar great 
Robin Trower, not evrn in the R&R hall of fame ,give me a break,his classic 
Bridge of sighs considered one of the top 100 albums of all time.
Steve Miller Band  70s greatness,  Marshall Tucker band great country rock band that gets  not much 
Respect ,as well as Charley Daniel's, and the Outlaws Green grass and high tides
One of the greatest  Blue grass guitar Picken songs Ever . I will be up all night just 
Catching up on  classics. That is why we are Audiophiles . Music to calm 
The Savage beast in all of us . the Doobee Brothers Classic album and one of the greatest album titles. What were once vices are now HABITS. 
ENJOY your music !!
"Waiting for the Sun" was one of the most disappointing LPs I ever bought. Even more disappointing than "Satanic Majesties Request" by the Stones. And while I would agree that both groups redeemed themselves by their later releases, particularly L.A. Woman, those two remain the two biggest letdowns of my youth. 

Every time I hear "Hello, I Love You", I still cringe.