Day 24: Fictional Bands...It's not as easy as it looks...

When selecting my five top fictional bands, I discovered that narrowing down the field to five required a rigorous definition process. To whit...what do I mean by a "fictional band."

For the purposes of this post, the band name (not a fictional performer) must be the title of a song. (There will be a Spotify Playlist link below)

Therefore fictional bands in movies, TV, novels, and comic books aren't included.

Some fictional solo artists and great tunes will  have to wait for another post. (Oh don't worry, they'll be covered).

"Johnny B Goode"

"Ziggy Stardust"

"Shooting Star" (Bad Company)

"Eddie (Into the Great Wide Open)"

Very honorable mention goes to Creedence Clearwater Revival for "Down on the Corner." When

Credence performed this tune in 1969, they really had the jug band instruments referred to in the song. It is a thrilling moment in fictional band history but alas not eligible in this post. Still, you can enjoy the video with this LINK


Now for my top five. 

#5: This was recommended several years ago by one of my Berkeley friends. Among his many interests are playing ukulele and having an affinity for songs that are even older than we are. He suggested, Alexander's Rag Time Bag. Penned in 1911 by Irving Berlin, years after Scott Joplin popularized the genre, the tune went on to sell a million copies of sheet music in that year. Hear Ray Charles on my Fictional Band Playlist below.







#4: In 1973 Bernie Taupin and Elton John were enmeshed in the world wide music scene. They already had four top ten albums (Don's Basement Award Points for naming the albums) and were thinking about the 'glam rock' era. Elton and the record company did not "hear a single," in Bennie and Jets and instead they wanted to put out "Candle in the Wind" (whatever that was) as the 'A' side.  However, WCSX, a Windsor, Ontario (home to a long time DB fan) soul music radio station played the tune and received a great response. It hit #1 on the billboard charts in 1974.

#3: This position will be controversial in some circles, notably the "Repeat Offenders," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Okay, maybe the eponymous 1967 album changed the direction of popular music ushering in  concept albums, progressive rock, glam rock, and it is rated as the greatest album of all time by Rolling Stone. It did take awhile for the single to chart...finally getting to #71 in 1978 when it was released along with the not so great movie that year. What can I say...not everything can be #1 in the basement.

Don with artifact from 1992 Chicago Beatle Convention

#2: In 1977 Marc Knopfler went a pub in Deptford, South London and heard a jazz band who have been described as lousy, mediocre, hopeless or just plain dowdy. When they had completed their set, the lead singer announced, "Good night and thank you, We are the Sultans of Swing." So inspired by this contrast,  Knopfler composed one of my favorite singles of all time. It did not chart until 1979 peaking at #4





#1: In 1969  I was a freshman at the University of California, Berkeley. I had discovered the turbulent effects of psychedelic drugs. Soaring highs and gut wrenching lows. WTF, I could well have coined. Often my trips were accompanied by Live Dead  a double album which included only 7 songs. At times ragged and feedback laden but always trippy, the album figured prominently whilst I was spaced at a various dorm rooms. Then in 1970, comes Working Man's Dead. This for me was the welcoming place to come down. Peacefully, tunefully, and promising. The opening lines of Uncle John's Band, summed up my college experience...and many others as well. It peaked at #69 on the charts but wow man, charts are just a number.