Forever Changes is one of my favorite recordings, but the best recording of any kind of music in Western Civilization it is not.

I liked that part as well. It's a difficult recording to describe, and that might be the best I have seen.

If you don't have it already, you really should get a copy of the Forever Changes DVD,

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Well, all I said was a argument can be made that it is the greatest... Everyone has different tastes, but when it comes to the ground it covers, or I should say the emotion it covers, it stands tall...

I would be glad to debate it against any other album in any other genre (except classical as I am not an expert in that genre)... But, to be honest, without the use of perhaps the greatest instrument of all (the human voice) classical music often comes up short in my book... And don't give me opera, there is far too much of a painful shrill to most every opera I have ever heard... But that is just my taste...

There can't really be a winner in this type of debate, but I would be glad to go into any musical war having Forever Changes as my ammo...

So, bring it on Satch if ya want to... It could be a fun thread...

I actually am going to do a public radio documentary on "A Search for the Greatest Album ever recorded"... Can you guess where the search will end, lol...


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I don't think, there is any Pop and that includes Jazz and Blues related recording that compares to the Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, etc....



I would take a great many Jazz recordings over it. All of whom more influential, one of which I am pretty sure you know about, since you're doing a documentary on the musician responsible.


As a genre, I actually don't think Rock comes anywhere close to Jazz in general. It's interesting to point out most of the best bands/muisicans in Rock, all have some Jazz influence in them. That includes Love/Forever Changes.

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I actually was a bit upset when I read that article because the writer did a better job of describing it (in one paragraph) then I ever have, and I have been trying to describe it properly (in order to promote it) for 25 years... Actually his description when disected can be improved, but only because that writer set a good platform in which to expand upon (of which I will, from now on out)... I have done a decent job of describing it over the years but never so well in one paragraph...

I have found that people into very hard rock and metal are often very dissapointed in the album (even if they are Sgt. Pepper fans)... Not sure why that is... I figured anyone who like Pepper would love Forever Changes...

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I will let Arthur speak for himself about how important Jazz, and Beethoven were to him. You could use the parts about Coltrane for your documentary.


http://arts.guardian.co.uk/homeenter...141678,00.html

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I am not talking influence... Forever Changes (while influential to a select few musicians) is not one of the most influential recordings... It is just one of the greatest one-volume recordings of songs...

As far as classical music goes, I realize the complexities and beauty of the classical masters is universally considered superior to anything in the rock domain, but of course a ton of what makes rock music great are ideas first explored in classical music... And I (as well as many) often prefer the electrified nature of rock music as opposed to the mostly organic sound of orchestral music... Plus as I said before, the human voice adds an element to music that I feel often helps put any style of music that incorporates it to a plane that non-voacl music just can't compete with... The human voice is able to express and/or communicate emotion better than most instruments and when complimeted with instrumentation the voice can be magical...

As far as jazz I really think some of it is amazing... Same is true for classical music... But rock music at its best transcends both classical and jazz simply due to technology (electrification of instruments and studio craft)... The core of what makes rock great are the influences from previous forms(classical, jazz, blues). Great rock music takes the best of those forms and elevates it... Of course there are a ton of simplistic rock songs (some of which are great because of their simplicity), but in my ears the greatest achievment in music has come from the melting pot of rock... That is my goal in life, to not only spread the gospel of great rock music but to show why it is art at its highest level...



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Did you read that article? Lee equates himself to Beethoven... Like they were musical brothers... Lee gives credit to his influences and properly (although unusually arrogantly for a living person) makes it clear he was on the same musucal wavelength as Beethoven and Charlie Parker... And the truth is I agree with him... He didn't create the lavish timeless beauty and power that Beethoven did, and is not in the same world in terms of influence, but he did create a selection of songs that for one collection (Forever Changes) were as great as any ever created...

That album was his response to Sgt. Pepper... Sort of like he was saying "hmmm, The Beatles have shocked the world with Pepper, well I'll show the world what I have to say"... And he did... Too bad most of the world didn't know it then, and still relatively few do today...

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To make things easier, lets just say I feel "Forever Changes" is the greatest recording of original materail since 1900...

That way I don't have to defend it against Classical music, although like I already posted I think I can make a stance for Forever Chagnes against anything... But it is easier to debate it against any genre post 1900...

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