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Another Top 5 List

Not much going on in my personal life. I have been pretty busy at work so I'll just take the easy road and give you a Top 5 List. This time, the subject is "Best Backing Band". When an artist attaches their name -- and only their name -- to the name of the entire band it's not only 'ballsy' but it tends to make you forget that there's an entire band behind them. With that in mind, here are some of my favorites:







5. Cyndi Lauper - Even thought the music she decided to make was sometimes quirky and the lyrics a little weak, you can never say she didn't have a good band behind her. They had to know they weren't making award-winning music but they played their hearts out. In fact, they played so well together they decided to strike out on their own. You know them better as "The Hooters".






4. Pat Benatar - As a younger man I used to watch videos on MTV (remember when they used to show videos?). I remember seeing Pat Benatar's videos and thought to myself, 1) She's wearing entirely too much makeup, 2) She has a really good band behind her, and 3) Her drummer has the reddest hair and wildest gyrations of any drummer I've seen so far. You just can't deny they made beautiful music together -- and I'm not just talking about when she married her lead guitarist.





3. Sade - You probably wouldn't guess by looking at me, but I'm a huge Sade fan. I have every one of her CD's -- except her "Best Of's" which I don't need because I have the originals. I think it's great that she allows her band mates to help her write her songs. It makes her seem less controlling and more like a normal person. I like the smooth, cool, hip jazz they make together. I also have to admit that she's not so hard on the eyes either. Just look at her! Look!





2. Bruce Springsteen - this particular entry goes against my original methodology (due to the inclusion of "and the E Street Band" on some albums), but I don't care. Any band that can run a tour of concerts that last 3 hours each and with the level of quality that they do gets my respect. When these guys get together and play they're actually having fun. When Bruce called for a reunion a few years ago not one of them turned him down -- that should tell you something.
The Boss!!






1. Sting - My man. I have seen Sting in concert several times -- each with a different line-up. It doesn't matter who he brings he seems to be able to put together a show that just (musically) blows me away each time. It's like he has a great secret how to do this and he reveals it to whomever he brings on stage. I'm not even including his time with The Police just everything from "Dream of the Blue Turtles" on. Amazing.

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