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Authentic "One Man Bands?"

#1
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7/3/07 at 3:00pm
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I only know of two albums that were recorded by just one person playing all the instruments themselves.

01: Centerfield by John Fogerty (1985)
02: McCartney by Paul McCartney (1970)

That impresses the hell out of me, for some reason. One person laying down separate tracks (drums/guitar/vocals) to make one complete song/album.

Are there any other "one man band" albums/songs out there that have escaped my notice?

"The power of love will keep you home at night" -Huey Lewis & The News

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#2
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7/3/07 at 5:18pm
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

If I'm not mistaken, Trent Reznor recorded the first Nine Inch Nails album Pretty Hate Machine himself. I'm not sure if he did with the others.
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#3
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7/4/07 at 5:53am
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Foo Fighters first album was all Dave Grohl
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#4
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7/4/07 at 7:19am
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

I think Phil Collins played everything on his first solo album. There are probably many others who could if they wanted to. Todd Rundgren comes to mind. He's also a talented writer, producer and engineer. O.K. I'll say it. He's a wizzard. A true star.
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#5
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7/4/07 at 8:19am
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

I'm pretty certain that Prince's first album was all him, and that he did this several times in his career.

Carl

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#6
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7/4/07 at 9:14am
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

I didn't know that about Paul McCartney; I need to check that out.

Another might be Mike Oldfield, specifically Guitars where all sounds including drum sounds were generated somehow from guitar-related means.

A close second of Oldfield's might be Tubular Bells, with the exception of the so-called nasal and girlie choruses, flutes, string basses and mc, where he played (summarized from tubular.net) Assorted Pianos, Glokenspiel, Assorted Organs, Bass Guitar, Assorted Acoutic and Electric Guitars, Assorted Percussion, Flageolet (a woodwind), Concert Tympani, Piltdown Man (referring to Oldfield's caveman-style singing portion). Such long lists seem to be common on Oldfield's early albums.
ac
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#7
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7/4/07 at 10:36am
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Paul did all the instruments on 1980's McCartney II as well, although it's worth pointing out that Linda provided harmonies on both it and McCartney. He also played all the instruments except for the orchestra on Chaos and Creation in the Backyard.

Quote:
Foo Fighters first album was all Dave Grohl

Except for one stray guitar solo in "X-Static."
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#8
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7/4/07 at 10:39am
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Quote:
Originally Posted by buttmunker

[b]01: Centerfield by John Fogerty (1985)

I didn't realize John was "solo" on Centerfied.
Thirteen years earlier he recorded my favorite work by him, and one of my top Desert Island Discs...The Blue Ridge Rangers.

Here's part of a review I found online:

"While touring with CCR in 1971 / 1972 John practiced steel guitar, fiddle and some other new instruments. After playing that evening's gig he, together with Stu and Doug returned to their hotel room where they would get drunk and play country tunes all night long (after consuming loadsa beer and renaming themselves ''The Shit-Kicker Three from room 73''. This is where John might have gotten the idea of doing an all country album. He also started wearing a white stetson all the time. Directly after the disbanding of CCR in 1972, he wasted no time recording some of his favorite country, bluegrass and gospel tunes.

Because he didn't have a band anymore, John played all the instruments himself. Careful over dubbing made us believe there was a real band at work here. This was also suggested by the album's front cover, showing five different men standing on a sunset- lit hill. Careful examination though shows they are all John Fogerty."

If you have any love for CCR and/or hard country, you need this album.


Henry
Bud: "Deanie, you're a nice girl." 
Wilma Dean: "I'm not. I'm not a nice girl."

-Splender In The Grass- (1961)
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#9
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7/5/07 at 9:48am
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Henry Gale
I didn't realize John was "solo" on Centerfied.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Henry Gale
Because he didn't have a band anymore, John played all the instruments himself. Careful over dubbing made us believe there was a real band at work here. This was also suggested by the album's front cover, showing five different men standing on a sunset- lit hill. Careful examination though shows they are all John Fogerty."
I believe Fogerty also played all the instruments on his self-titled 1975 album as well as his 1986 follow-up to Centerfield, Eye of the Zombie.

I think the first time he recorded with a band other than Creedence was on his 1997 album, Blue Moon Swamp.


R.I.P. DVDSpot
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#10
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7/5/07 at 11:54am
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

I think 'Lightning Seeds' was/is only Ian Broudie.
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#11
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7/5/07 at 12:06pm
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Howard Jones

\"and no one seems to understand the glory of guitar, when out of tune, the off timing, the singers who can't sing, - the beauty of flaw!\"

"I apologize if there is anyone in this room I have not offended" - Brahms

My Band - The Bailout Plan

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#12
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7/10/07 at 11:02am
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

I think 'Lightning Seeds' was Ian Broudie too
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#13
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7/10/07 at 12:20pm
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Jon Brion's "Meaningless" album.
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#14
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7/10/07 at 4:24pm
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Grant-Lee Phillips made Mobilize all by himself. Prince made most of his last album by himself. I think there are about 2 cuts with others. Roy Wood has made several albums by himself. Todd Rundgren has made several albums by himself. A friend saw Todd on tour as a one mand band show. He had some kind of round bandstand where he could play guitar or keyboards to tapes. I wish I'd seen that.

Rachael, the big disc cat! I used to be looking for Hi-Vision Laserdiscs & D-Theater tapes, now I'm looking for HD-DVD's and Blu-rays.

I survived the AFI top 100 Film Challenge! I've seen them all.

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#15
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7/10/07 at 5:50pm
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Steve Winwood - Arc of a Diver

Another genius
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#16
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7/11/07 at 5:11am
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Marc Colella
Jon Brion's "Meaningless" album.

He is a virtual one-man band, but I believe there were a few guests on this album.
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#17
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7/11/07 at 9:20am
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

The new Ben Kweller CD comes to mind.

"Music is a magic carpet loaded with oils and other soothing potions, it's just what you need when you don't know what you need, when you've got more questions than answers." - Bob Lefsetz

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#18
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7/11/07 at 7:39pm
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Check out Keller Williams, he is the definition of a one man band.
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#19
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7/12/07 at 6:41am
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Quote:
Originally Posted by buttmunker
I only know of two albums that were recorded by just one person playing all the instruments themselves.

01: Centerfield by John Fogerty (1985)
02: McCartney by Paul McCartney (1970)

That impresses the hell out of me, for some reason. One person laying down separate tracks (drums/guitar/vocals) to make one complete song/album.

Are there any other "one man band" albums/songs out there that have escaped my notice?
As already mentioned McCartney did that a few times. His "McCartney II" was all him (awful album IMO but has its moments), as well as the vast majority of "Chaos and Creation in the Back Yard". Has Stevie Wonder done this?

Some musicians have a special talent for being able to pick up on many different instruments and learn / play / understand them. I believe Mozart was extremely gifted in this area.

Philip Hamm
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#20
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7/12/07 at 6:40pm
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Phillip - you may be right on Stevie, except for the horn section.... an album rock-umentary comes to mind, but they only show him jamming on keybds, drums, bass, gee-tar... They commented he did not do horns, though horns were only a minor rhythm contribution.

I believe the album had "I Wish" on it ????? Sorry, not a huge Stevie fan, though I definitely admire his talent.

As for "One Man Bands".... how about KT Tunstall ? While "Eye to the Telescope" has many artists, I believe most of her songs were originally written/performed with her playing all instruments (including percussion) simultaneously. A TRUE one-person-band. Feel free to correct me....

Cheers
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#21
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7/13/07 at 3:22pm
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

I thought that Roger Taylor's first album Fun In Space fit the bill until I checked the liner notes and found that "about 50% of the keyboards" were by David Richards, although all vocals, bass, guitar, drums and about 50% of the keyboards were done by Roger. (He was the drummer for Queen, BTW...) I seem to recall that he did the same thing on a couple tracks that he recorded with them (possibly "Fight From The Inside" from News of the World).
One of my favorite albums...

Liza Minnelli, "Results" 
(One Broadway Icon + Pet Shop Boys = a guilty pleasure dance classic!)
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#22
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7/13/07 at 4:59pm
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

So, Eric, shall we put you down as a, "NO"?
Bud: "Deanie, you're a nice girl." 
Wilma Dean: "I'm not. I'm not a nice girl."

-Splender In The Grass- (1961)
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#23
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7/14/07 at 8:54am
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

I think Roy Wood is the most vesitile musican that I can think of. Of course, he played guitar, bass, banjo, and drums. He can peck on keyboards some too. What really impresses me is that he can also play oboe, sax, french horn, cello, and violin. I'd bet that I'm forgetting a few instruments. I thought he played drums better than the other musicans who made albums by themselves. When Mccartney and Rundgren made solo albums, I thought the drumming was atrocious.

Rachael, the big disc cat! I used to be looking for Hi-Vision Laserdiscs & D-Theater tapes, now I'm looking for HD-DVD's and Blu-rays.

I survived the AFI top 100 Film Challenge! I've seen them all.

favourite saying: hard feelings are for park benches... sit on that!

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#24
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7/15/07 at 7:00am
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Wasn't J Mascis' Dinosaur Jr. a one man band?

"Music is a magic carpet loaded with oils and other soothing potions, it's just what you need when you don't know what you need, when you've got more questions than answers." - Bob Lefsetz

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#25
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7/15/07 at 7:51am
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

I heard Brian Dobbs recorded all of the instruments for The History of Recorded Music and not only documented the whole process on video, but also remixed the entire thing for 6-channel DVD-A.

He also created an entire website, The Solo Album, which shares his insights into producing such an ambitious project.

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#26
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7/16/07 at 1:10pm
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Todd Rundgren needs more props.

Check out "Something/Anything?" - he wrote, produced and played everything himself on sides 1-3. Pure pop genius.
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#27
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7/16/07 at 1:26pm
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fudge
Todd Rundgren needs more props.

Check out "Something/Anything?" - he wrote, produced and played everything himself on sides 1-3. Pure pop genius.

I tend to agree but would you want him for your drummer. The drumming is the weakness of sides 1-3 IMO.

Rachael, the big disc cat! I used to be looking for Hi-Vision Laserdiscs & D-Theater tapes, now I'm looking for HD-DVD's and Blu-rays.

I survived the AFI top 100 Film Challenge! I've seen them all.

favourite saying: hard feelings are for park benches... sit on that!

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#28
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7/19/07 at 4:48pm
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Quote:
Has Stevie Wonder done this?

Yes, I believe so, on one or more of his early-70s albums. (Music of My Mind? Not sure which others)
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#29
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7/19/07 at 7:55pm
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Gardiner
Yes, I believe so, on one or more of his early-70s albums. (Music of My Mind? Not sure which others)

That may not be true, I think they just told Stevie he was alone in the studio.
Bud: "Deanie, you're a nice girl." 
Wilma Dean: "I'm not. I'm not a nice girl."

-Splender In The Grass- (1961)
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#30
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7/20/07 at 10:56am
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Re: Authentic "One Man Bands?"

Quote:
Jon Brion's "Meaningless" album.
I thought Jon had some help on that album, but I could be wrong. I'll check my copy when I get home.

But talk about one-man band and Jon Brion, in his Largo shows he often brings up his echoplex (which records and loops instruments at the command of the user) onstage and performs an entire full band song by himself. He'll go to the drums, lay down a beat and loop it. Then he'll pick up the bass, lay down a track, loop it. Then to the guitar, lay down a rhythm section and loop it. Then he'll stay on the guitar, maybe lay another rhythm track down, maybe not, and then start singing and playing lead. Before you know it, he's filled up the entire club with this full band sound, all by his lonesome. Awesome.
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