'let's Get It On' Is A Classic

On First Listening, Joni Mitchell's 'court And Spark,' The First Truly Great Pop Album Of 1974, Sounds Surprisingly Light; By The Third Or Fourth Listening, It Reveals Its Underlying Tensions.

Elton John Can Be A Master Of The Sleight Of Hand. The Arrangements Make It Seem Like There Are Substantial Melodies Underneath The Tracks - But Almost Nothing Demands Repeated Listenings. Similarly, He Always Sounds Like He's Singing Up A Storm, But His Voice Glosses Over The Material, Reducing Most Things To An Uninteresting Sameness.

Ringo Starr May Not Have Much Of A Voice, But When He Sang A Song On A Beatle Album, It Had Its Own Special Charm.

The Stones Were Always Exemplary Of One Of The Best Of All Rock Qualities: Tightness. They Have Always Been Economical, The Opposite Of Ornamental. Having A Very Clear Idea Of What They Wanted To Say They Could Go Into A Studio And Make It All Up On A Three Minute Cut.

Everyone Eventually Winds Up Writing About Themselves - The Problem Is Finding The Best Way To Go About It. To Write About Oneself Literally, In The First Person, Presumes A More Interesting Personal Life And Philosophy Than Most Rock Lyricists Possess. John Lennon Was Good For One Great Album Based On Musical Direct Address, 'plastic Ono Band.