personal interests the arts music favorite performers
I tend to like distinctive voices, harmony, memorable melodies, sophisticated instrumentation, and songs that tell a story... with feeling...
Below is a partial list of my favorites...
unless noted otherwise all images copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
THE ASSOCIATION - One of those once in a lifetime discoveries before they were famous... the Glendale Ice House in the 60s... before their first record.
They went on to become the #1 group of 1967... remembered for "Cherish," "Never My Love," "Windy," "Along Comes Mary"...
One group that had a winning sophisticated live show before they had a hit. Seen live multiple times and places.
BOSTON - Their first album, "Boston," has got be the best example of true rock music... excellent instrumentation, memorable melodies...
A group I somehow "missed" the first time around...rediscovered only lately playing "Rock Band"...
BRYAN ADAMS - His "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" is in my all-time top ten songs... Listen to it in the context of the movie "Don Juan DeMarco."
CHRIS DE BURGH - Often over-looked because his lack of exposure in the US and his tendency toward "theatrical" music productions...
His "Lady in Red" is one of the best love songs ever written... his music paints mini-landscapes in "The Snows of New York," and "Say Goodbye To It All,"... A true story teller.
BERTIE HIGGINS - His story-telling music of the tropics is seldom matched, including the efforts of Jimmy Buffet.
Some of his best... "Just Another Day In Paradise," "Casablanca," "Key Largo," "Port O Call," and "Heart Is the Hunter"...
DR HOOK - An unexpected pleasure of strong vocals, singable tunes, humor, and good rowdy entertainment...
Their concert at Knott's Berry Farm in California was the very first live concert we took our kids to see.
CHRIS ISAAK - Discovered by me relatively lately, his "Wicked Game" is another in my all-time top ten...
His mellow tones and range, not unlike Roy Orbison, are remarkable.
KRIS KRISTOFERSON - A genius of a composer who apparently had a hard time living with success...
Still, one of the best musical story-tellers around... "Sunday Morning Coming Down," "Help Me Make it Through the Night," and "For the Good Times," are classics.
MARK KNOPFLER/DIRE STRAITS - Great guitar work, simple, sophisticated lyrics, memorable tunes...
Another genius musician and story teller I "missed" the first time around. Seen live at the Greek Theater.
CAROL LAURIE - A mostly unknown French Canadian actress and singer with a "campy," teasingly sensuous singing style...
Her "Anybody with the Blues," "To Know Him Is to Love Him," and "Butterfly," are campy little gems.
MEATLOAF - Nothing matches the dynamic, musical story-telling of Meatloaf doing Jim Steinman's music and lyrics...
From the rebellious "Bat out of Hell," the tramatic "Objects in the Rearview Mirror," the beautiful "Heaven Can Wait", to the teasing "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights,"
nobody can successfully build on a cliche the way Jim Steinman can. (other great works: Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart," and Air Supply's "Making Love Out of Nothing At All."
One of my family's strongest memories of travel in Europe was me playing a new Meatloaf album at full blast and singing along while driving through the German countryside.
CHRIS NORMAN - The original lead singer for Smokie, his and Smokie's music are my favorite to listen to now days...
I liked it so much that I made a special point to attend one of his concerts when I visited England in 2019.
ROY ORBISON - From "Only the Lonely" to "Crying" to "Running Scared," his musical interpretation stands alone in range and temperment...
SMOKIE - A great 70s sound I only discovered a couple years ago. The music Chin and Chapman is great... "Stumblin' In," "If You Think You Know How to Love Me,"
"Living Next Door to Alice," "Oh, Carol," "Needles and Pins"...
From Smokie, I started listening to Chris Norman who was the original lead singer... great.
ROD STEWART - A distinctive voice with a lot of talent... "Maggie May," "Reason to Believe," "Downtown Train," and "You're In My Heart" for a few.
As I have gotten older, I even appreciate his latest albums of older classics.
BARBARA STREISAND - Nobody can match the force and beauty of her vocal range... apparently a smart business woman...if she could only hide her political ignorance ...
Favorites include "Guilty," "Woman In Love," "What Kind of Fool"...
TINA TURNER - The embodiment of energy packed talent... a classy lady with power.
"We Don't Need Another Hero" and "Taxi Dancer" are only a couple of my favorites.
WALK OFF THE EARTH - Unique music and beautifully crafted harmonies with a strong beat. Their music videos are something special...
Seen live at Portland's Crystal Ballroom.
copyright d holmes chamberlin jr - architect
page last revised august 2019