Sirius Channel 12

[winston]

Sirius Satellite Radio channel 12 is devoted entirely to the music of The Rolling Stones. Every chance that I get I have been listening to it. I suppose that in elapsed time that it's been about a week since I started listening to them and I must admit that I find the experience somewhat fascinating.

To put this in perspective, I lost interest in the "Stones" when I felt that they strayed too far from their roots, back in the mid 70's. The odd song since has drawn me back to them on occasion but overall for me they became a band that had strayed far from their mission quest and had got lost. Consequently my interest in them waned.

I have to also admit that I am hearing music that I had "shut out" because of my intolerance to their change of direction, for the first time and it's like hearing them from a whole new and fresh perspective.

In retrospect, I suppose that I have become more flexible in my expectations of certain big name bands (they are not the only one that I lost interest in obviously) that disappointed me for a period of time and it's time for me to gravitate back towards listening to and rediscovering The Stones.

Comments and or thoughts?

[mgauction]

Me too, Brian. Basically after Sticky Fingers I lost complete interest in them. The music that followed did nothing for them or any of us other than expand their commodity as rock stars and bad boys. This happened to others also: Rod Stewart, to name one. I can't imagine what it took to throw out the man who initiated the band but after Brian Jones was ousted it became a different band. Maybe he was not particularly a super-talent but his input in arrangements with that band was unique, stood out and kept the band in a focus from where it started.

My take on listening to their 70s-present material now and enjoying it, is that there has been so much bad music in the last few decades that we now embrace what we consider mediorce then.

[winston]

Thanks Mike,

I am glad that I am not the only one who "turned a deaf ear" to some major artists who left their roots. Thanks to this channel I am discovering songs by the Stones that I had never heard before. Many of them are quite good.

Sirius also has a Grateful Dead channel and although I confess that I never liked that band, I have listened to the channel a bit to see if I can figure out the allure of their music. I have talked to many "deadheads" and I have come to believe that the party atmosphere of their concerts when Gerry was alive was the main draw.

[mgauction]

I forgot to tell you, Brian, that I also get Sirius and I am aware of the two channels you speak of for The Stones and The Dead. In my opinion, there was so much really good music in the 70s it wouldn't have been to hard to push The Stones music aside. I will give that channel another listen. They have always been able to come up with a good tune here, and there, out of the blue.

On The Dead - yes, I have asked the same of their followers and although I have a great respect for musicanship, several of their songs have a "jam" attitude which makes good for a party atmosphere. Something I like listening to very infrequently -- just not my cup. Probably like you, I can think of two songs from their catalog. I don't think, though, that I could ever force myself to listen to The Dead channel. I'd have to be pretty bored and driving a long, long, way.

You know, if we want to take this another knotch, I can add McCartney's early solo efforts. Some of his albums and many of his popular songs from the 70s are quite forgetable. Of course, he made a zillion pounds during that decade -- so who am I to judge?

[admin]

Brian: You have touched upon a point of view that seems to be universal when discussing our openness or hesitancy in listening to music. I too grew weary of the Stones material, checking back with each new release often finding disappointment.

To my way of thinking we are really stuck with two approaches. We may be willing to accommodate and rethink our position on a particular group by allowing the new material to sharpen our view and broaden our horizons. On the other hand, we may assimilate the latest recording into our global view of the group thereby distorting the merit of the recent information.

I would argue that accommodation allows for greater objectivity and a deeper level of understanding music, albeit somewhat harder on the head. I have always felt that a second or third look beats "don't confuse me with the facts my mind is made up."

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

Perhaps we expect nothing but towering greatness from certain bands. I always find it sad when people say they won't listen to certain music by some of their favorite bands anymore, because they have become disappointments.

But when bands make albums, I don't think they go about it trying to write the same "towering greatness" every time...or maybe they do, but things change. It seems to me that they just write, and we proceed to cast our judgments.

A band like the Rolling Stones deserves to be heard, I think. Among all the albums they have released since 1971, I think you will find, well, towering greatness in abundance. Clunkers, too...but nothing worth dismissing them over. It's still the Rolling Stones...only they continue to move on.

[phlemmy]

I prefer the 70s and 80s era of the Stones (minus Dirty Work). Once they started departing from that poppy bubblegum British sound, they came into their own and were able to reinvent themselves with each album while still retaining the certain Stones feel. I really do like their final 3 LPs from the 60s as well. The early stuff doesn't get the rotation in my player that the later era does. I need to do a review of their archives soon.

Also, it makes me want to get Sirius just to listen to that channel. *drool*

[winston]

Also, it makes me want to get Sirius just to listen to that channel. *drool*

Sorry about that Sean. Since I also bought a docking system, I can listen to Sirius in the house as well. It's well worth the few bucks a month. I got so tired of listening to three dj's each vying out do each other and trying to be the funny one on FM radio. Sirius broadcasts hardly contain any chatter at all and best of all, it's commercial free.

[phlemmy]

I rarely listen to the radio as my 1400+ CD collection keeps me well entertained. I refuse to get an ipod. Maybe one day I'll get Sirius/XM, but not sure if it's worth it for the 3 channels i would use.

[winston]

I understand your point of view entirely. I like a fair amount of variety, so cruising the channels in search of a new artist or genre works well for me.

[8mileshigher]

I think our Forum administrator Peter has a very elegant and profound writing style !! Sort of like the William F. Buckley approach, with colorful, multi-syllable words, to make the reader ponder his deeper meaning... instead of just saying the Stones got boring and predictable after their mid-70's albums !
I agree with that sentiment about the Stones, but Peter said it in such a better way !


Note to Brian --- instead of just "Sirius Channel 12" as a topic, how about starting or expanding to a thread in "Its Only Rock and Roll" on satellite radio stations XM and Sirius in General, and find out which stations the Forumites are listening to, what they like or dislike about satellite radio and that sort of thing. For example, do our Forumite friends in other countries have these same satellite stations ? What is happening with that XM-Sirius merger and what will be the impact on listeners ? A couple of the comments in this thread were starting to go down that road...

Cheers - Rich F.

[winston]

Rich,

That's a great idea. Feel free to start the topic. I'll certainly join in as well and give you my thoughts.

[winston]

Well my jury has given its verdict. The Rolling Stones are still cool even after such a great amount of time has passed since they first graced the airwaves with songs like "I Wanna Be Your Man" in 1963.

Sirius 12 is a great channel. It's a hit, especially with me.