With all the votes in and counted the verdict is clear. Midnight Voices is made up of a very special breed of music lover. The voting embraced nearly every kind of musical style under the sun. What was interesting (and is not shown by this table) is the way that individual lists usually reflected more than one style at a time, showing the spirit of open-mindedness of the membership. There was a clear sense of continuous evolution - an original core of musical taste growing and developing constantly over the years (and some of us certainly go back a few years!)
Don't try to make too much of this data. Some respondants specified only a genre or school, which has not been listed here. Some made vague generalizations, and others made good use of 'etc' so their answers may not be a full reflection of their taste. The table lists only specific artists/groups/composers, not musical styles.
48 members submitted lists; of varying sizes and detail. Some gave quite lengthy notes to accompany the choices, others just sent a list. The lists were printed out and all decipherable names entered alphabetically. Notes have been entered at the editors' discretion. Most conform to the original sender's text, others I have added myself. The names of respondants have been filed off to protect the innocent. Please notify any errors to the author (email below). I have shown my ignorance once or twice when it came to interpreting entries - if you can catch me out please do! I do not claim to know, or even heard of, all of the artists represented, so there is a chance I may get it wrong.
I am not enough of a psychologist to explain this bit: More than 30% of those who answered put something along the lines of "... my choices will throw off the curve...." - and none of them did! The plain and simple fact is that every response showed a level of diversity and depth of interest that is far and away beyond anything I have ever come across before. In this group 'exotic' is 'normal'. I hate to think how far off left-field you would have to go to be 'weird' in The Midnight Voices. Another stand-out statistic is the high number of respondants with email addresses within the education sector. Make of that what you will. Perhaps we are not all balding 'IT' types after all? The Number of Votes column should be self-explanatory.
One aspect that caused me to pause was the way so many artists are linked so intimately to earlier groups - Pete Hammill and Van der Graaf Generator for example. Voters often mentioned them more as one than as two seperate choices, indicating a sense of continuity. I have generally listed them both individually, noting the link. When I have time I will try to do more with the data. In the meantime bask in the glow you will get when you realise what well-rounded people you mix with..
I would not like this table to become a source of merriment or derision among us. The choices shown here are sincere expressions of enjoyment, and not open for ridicule.
My own choices are included, but with little indication of 'ownership'. I voted first, to avoid being influenced by the incoming lists.
...The Elephant Child never can get enough answers to satisfy his 'satiable curtiosity. This exercise has provided answers, but ten times more questions - such as "...what the heck is a 'bowed bicycle wheel'?!"
Thank you for not spanking me for asking what the midnight voicer has for dinner! Bless you, oh best beloved.
| Group/Artist/Composer | Votes | Notes: |
|---|---|---|
| ABBA | 3 | |
| ABC | 1 | |
| Adams, Ryan | 2 | |
| Aerosmith | 1 | |
| Akkerman, Jan | 1 | |
| The Albion Band | 2 | |
| The Amazing Rhythm Aces | 1 | |
| Amitri, Del | 1 | |
| Amon Duul 2 | 1 | |
| And One | 1 | |
| Andrews, Harvey | 2 | |
| Andrews, Julie | 1 | |
| Anekdoten | 1 | |
| Anonymous 4 | 1 | |
| Apoptygma Berzerk | 1 | |
| Arden, Jan | 1 | |
| Armatrading, Joan | 1 | |
| Armstrong, Louis ('Satchmo') | 1 | |
| Artisan | 1 | |
| Association | 1 | |
| Audience | 1 | (specifically the '70s one with Howard Werth) |
| Avant Garde | 1 | |
| Aziza Mustafa Zadeh | 1 | |
| Bach, J.S. | 11 | Three voters gave special mention to specific works |
| Badfinger | 1 | |
| Badly Drawn Boy | 1 | |
| Baez, Joan | 1 | |
| Baker, Anita | 1 | |
| The Band | 1 | |
| Barber, Chris | 1 | |
| Barclay James Harvest | 1 | |
| Barenaked Ladies | 3 | |
| The Beach Boys | 1 | |
| The Beat Farmers | 1 | |
| The Beatles | 8 | One voter expressed additional liking for 'Rutles' album, another specially mentioned 'The Magical Mystery Tour' (US import on Capitol) [is this the same as the new CD release? EDITOR] |
| Beborn Beton | 1 | |
| The Bee Gees | 1 | (early) |
| Beer, Phil | 1 | |
| Beethoven, Ludwig van | 4 | One voter specified 'The 9th Symphony' |
| Belle, Marie-Paule | 1 | |
| Ben Folds Five | 1 | |
| Bebop Deluxe | 1 | |
| Betjeman, Sir John | 2 | (The words&music recordings with Jim Parker) Editors Note: I first heard this on (gulp) The John Peel Show! |
| Big Star | 1 | |
| Bilk, Acker - Paramount Jazz Band | 1 | |
| Bird | 1 | |
| Blodwyn Pig | 1 | (voter specified 'Getting to this') |
| Blowzabella | 1 | |
| Blunstone, Colin | 1 | |
| Bonzo Dog Band | 2 | |
| Borodin | 1 | |
| Bottine Souriante, La | 1 | (voter specified 'Rock and Reel' |
| Bowie, David | 3 | |
| Bowlly,Al | 1 | |
| Brady, Paul | 1 | |
| Bragg, Billy | 2 | |
| Brahms, Johannes | 1 | |
| Brel, Jacques | 2 | |
| Brinsley Schwarz | 1 | (not 100% sure of spelling!) |
| Brown, Greg | 1 | |
| Browne, Duncan | 1 | |
| Browne, Jackson | 4 | |
| Brubeck, Dave | 1 | |
| Bruce, Jack | 1 | |
| Bruford, Bill | 2 | (voter specified ALL non-Yes/King Crimson work) |
| Bruntnell, Peter | 2 | |
| Buchanan, Roy | 1 | |
| Buckley, Tim | 1 | |
| Buffalo Tom | 1 | |
| Butterworth, George | 1 | (special mention for 'The Banks of green Willow') |
| Cabrel, Francis | 1 | |
| Cale, J.J. | 1 | |
| California Guitar Trio | 1 | |
| Camel | 1 | |
| Campbell, Glenn | 1 | |
| Can | 1 | |
| Caravan | 6 | (one voter stated "except 'Waterloo Lily'", another gave special mention to 'In the land of grey and pink') |
| Carlos, Wendy (formerly Walter) | 1 | |
| Carpenter, Mary Chapin | 3 | |
| Carthy, Martin | 2 | |
| The Cate Brothers | 1 | |
| Cave, Nick | 1 | |
| Cetera, Peter | 1 | |
| Chapin, Harry | 2 | |
| The Chieftains | 2 | |
| Chemical Brothers | 1 | |
| Chicago | 1 | |
| Chopin | 2 | |
| Cipollina, John | 1 | |
| Clannad | 1 | |
| Clapton, Eric | 2 | (One voter specified 'Unplugged' - not sure this meant the Album, or a preference for his acoustic work in general) |
| The Clash | 2 | |
| Clinton, George | 1 | |
| Clooney, Rosemary | 1 | (voter specified pre-Concord work) |
| Cobalt 60 | 1 | |
| Cohen, Leonard | 2 | |
| Collective soul | 1 | |
| Colosseum | 2 | |
| Coltrane, John | 1 | |
| Colyer, Ken | 1 | |
| Colvin, Shawn | 2 | |
| Cooder, Ry | 3 | |
| Coope, Boyes and Simpson | 1 | |
| Copland, Aaron | 1 | |
| The Corries | 1 | |
| Costello, Elvis | 5 | (one respondant specified '1st half dozen albums') |
| Cousins, Dave | 1 | One voter linked him with The Strawbs in one vote |
| Counting Crows | 1 | |
| Covenant | 1 | |
| Coward, Noel | 1 | |
| Cream | 3 | |
| Croce, Jim | 2 | |
| Crosby, 'Bing' | 1 | |
| Crosby, Stills and Nash | 1 | |
| Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young | 1 | |
| Crowded House | 1 | |
| Cutler, Adge (& the Wurzels) | 1 | (The original band) |
| Daily Planet | 1 | |
| Dando Shaft | 1 | |
| David Bromberg Band | 1 | |
| Davis, Miles | 4 | (one respondant specified " all up to 'Bitches Brew'", another specified 'In a silent way' & 'Kind of Blue') |
| De/Vision | 1 | |
| Debussy, Claude | 5 | |
| Deep Purple | 1 | |
| The Del Fuegos | 1 | |
| The Delgados | 1 | |
| Dempsey, Kevin | 1 | |
| Denny, Sandy | 5 | |
| Depeche Mode | 1 | |
| di Meola, Al | 2 | (one voter specified 'The Infinite Desire') |
| Dio | 1 | |
| Donegan, Lonnie | 2 | |
| The Doobie Brothers | 1 | special mention for 'What were once vices are now habits' |
| Dowland | 1 | |
| Drake, Nick | 2 | |
| The Dransfields | 1 | |
| Dream Theater | 1 | |
| The Drifters | 1 | |
| Durutti Column | 1 | |
| Dury, Ian | 1 | |
| Dylan, Bob | 8 | |
| Dyson, George | 1 | "The Canterbury Pilgrims" |
| The Eagles | 1 | |
| Earle, Steve | 2 | |
| Edmunds, Dave | 1 | |
| Electric Light Orchestra | 2 | |
| Elegant Machinery | 1 | |
| Ellington, Duke | 2 | |
| Emerson, Keith | 1 | (specifically in ELP and The Nice) |
| Eurythmics | 1 | |
| Everly Brothers | 1 | |
| Fairport Convention | 5 | |
| Fanny | 1 | |
| The Fifth Dimension | 1 | |
| Fisher Z | 1 | |
| Fitzgerald, Ella | 1 | |
| The Flaming Lips | 1 | |
| Flanders and Swann | 2 | |
| Fleetwood Mac | 3 | (ALL THREE respondants specified 'early'!) |
| Focus | 1 | |
| Foley, Ellen | 1 | |
| The Four Season | 1 | |
| The Four Tops | 1 | |
| Franklin, Aretha | 1 | |
| Front 242 | 1 | |
| Gable, Bill | 1 | |
| Gabriel, Peter | 2 | |
| Gallagher, Rory | 1 | |
| Garfunkel, Art | 1 | (especial vote for his interpretations of Jimmy Webb) |
| Garner, Errol | 1 | |
| Gaugin, Dick | 2 | |
| Gaye, Marvin | 1 | |
| Genesis | 3 | one voter specified up to, and including, 'Selling England...' |
| Gentle Giant | 3 | |
| George, Lowell | 1 | (both solo and with Little Feat) |
| Gershwin, George | 1 | (not sure if this covers George and/or Ira) |
| Gilbert & Sullivan | 1 | |
| Gillespie, Dizzy | 1 | |
| Giltrap, Gordon | 1 | |
| Glencoe | 1 | |
| Gomez, Marie | 1 | |
| Grandaddy | 1 | |
| The Grateful Dead | 2 | |
| The Green Pajamas | 1 | |
| Gregson, Clive | 1 | |
| Grey, Richard | 1 | |
| Griffith, Nanci | 2 | |
| Gringo | 1 | |
| Grossman, Stefan | 1 | |
| Gryphon | 2 | |
| Hackett, Steve | 2 | |
| Hallett, Sylvia | 1 | |
| Hammill, Peter | 2 | see also van der Graaf Generator |
| Hansson, Bo | 1 | |
| Harper, Roy | 1 | |
| Harris, Emmylou | 5 | (one voter specified 'early' |
| Harrison, George | 1 | |
| Haslam, Annie | 2 | See also 'Renaissance' |
| Hatfield and the North | 1 | |
| Havens, Richie | 2 | |
| Hawkins, Colman | 1 | |
| Hedges, Michael | 1 | |
| Hellberg, Per | 1 | |
| Hendrix, Jimi | 3 | |
| Hitchcock, Robyn | 1 | "... with or without the Eygptians" |
| The Hollies | 2 | (early) |
| Holly, Buddy | 2 | |
| Holst, Gustav | 1 | |
| Hornsby, Bruce | 1 | |
| Horse | 1 | |
| The Housemartins | 1 | |
| The Humblebums | 1 | |
| Incredible String Band | 4 | |
| Innes, Neil | 1 | |
| Iron Maiden | 1 | |
| Jayhawks/Mark Olsen | 2 | (joined in one list given) |
| Jethro Tull | 4 | (one voter specified 'Benefit', and another specified "only up to and including Aqualung") |
| John, Elton | 1 | (early) |
| Jones, Nic | 3 | |
| Joplin, Janis | 1 | |
| Joy Division | 1 | |
| Joy of cooking | 1 | |
| Kansas | 1 | (early) |
| Keen, Speedy | 1 | |
| Kelly, Jonathan | 2 | |
| King, Carole | 1 | |
| King Crimson | 4 | (one voter specified 1974 live line-up) |
| The Kinks | 1 | |
| Knopfler, Mark | 1 | |
| Kottke, Leo | 2 | |
| Krall, Diana | 1 | |
| Kristina, Sonja | 1 | (Both as solo and with Curved Air) |
| Lavin, Christine | 2 | |
| Led Zeppelin | 2 | |
| Lehrer, Tom | 6 | |
| Lewis, George | 1 | |
| The Light Crust Dough Boys | 1 | |
| London, Julie | 1 | |
| Love | 1 | |
| Lovin' Spoonful | 2 | |
| Low | 1 | |
| Lowe, Jez | 2 | |
| Lynne, Shelby | 1 | |
| Lynyrd Skynyrd | 2 | (voter specified Ronnie van Zant period) |
| McLaughlin, John | 2 | (one voter joined him with Mahavishnu Orchestra) |
| McLean, Don | 1 | |
| McTell, Ralph | 1 | |
| MacColl, Ewan | 1 | |
| MacColl, Kirsty | 1 | |
| McCutcheon, Martine | 1 | |
| McGarrigle, Kate and Anna | 1 | |
| Madder Rose | 1 | |
| Magna Carta | 1 | |
| Mahavishnu Orchestra | 1 | (one voter joined John McLaughlin with group) |
| Mahler, Gustav | 1 | |
| The Mamas and the Papas | 2 | |
| Man | 1 | |
| Mann, Aimee | 1 | |
| Mangione, Chuck | 1 | |
| Marillion | 1 | (sometimes!) |
| Marra, Michael | 1 | |
| Martyn, John | 5 | (one voter specified acoustic material only) |
| Mazzy Star | 1 | |
| The Mekons | 1 | |
| Mealticket | 1 | |
| Mel C | 1 | |
| Metallica | 1 | |
| Metheny, Pat | 1 | |
| Mitchell, Joni | 10 | (one voter specified 'early', another gave special mention to 'Hissing of Summer Lawns', one specified "only up to and including Blue") |
| Moby | 1 | |
| The Modern Jazz Quartet | 1 | |
| The Moody Blues | 2 | |
| Moore, Christy | 1 | |
| Morris, Carmel | 1 | **MVer, yet to release a CD, but already with a following.** |
| Morrison, Van | 5 | |
| Moxy Fruvous | 1 | |
| Mozart | 4 | (one voter specified 'Synfonia Concertante') |
| Mussorgsky | 1 | |
| The Mutton Birds | 1 | |
| Nardini, Peter | 1 | |
| Neutral Milk Hotel | 1 | |
| Nesmith, Mike (Michael) | 1 | |
| New Order | 1 | (up to 'Brotherhood') |
| Newman, Randy | 3 | |
| Nirvana | 1 | |
| No Small Dreams | 1 | |
| Noxx, Sara | 1 | |
| Nucleus | 1 | (voter specified 'Elastic rock') |
| Numan, Gary | 1 | |
| Nyro, Laura | 1 | |
| Oasis | 1 | |
| Oldfield, Mike | 3 | |
| Oldham, Will | 1 | |
| Olive | 1 | |
| Orange Juice | 1 | |
| Otway, John | 1 | |
| The Oyster Band | 1 | |
| P.F.M (Premiata Forneria Marconi) | 1 | |
| Palestrina | 1 | |
| Parker, Graham - and the Rumour | 1 | |
| Parsons, Alan | 1 | |
| Penguin Cafe Orchestra | 1 | |
| Pentangle | 3 | |
| Phillips, Shawn | 1 | |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | |
| Poco | 1 | |
| The Pogues | 1 | |
| The Police | 1 | |
| Portishead | 1 | |
| Presley, Elvis | 1 | |
| Pretty Things | 1 | |
| Previn, Dory | 4 | |
| Price, Alan | 1 | |
| Prior, Maddy | 1 | |
| Procul Harem | 1 | |
| Prodigy | 1 | |
| Pucinni, Giacomo | 2 | |
| Purcell | 1 | |
| Queen | 1 | |
| Quicksilver Messenger Service | 1 | |
| Rachmaninov, Sergei | 2 | (one voter specified 'Isle of the Dead') |
| Racing Cars | 1 | |
| Radiohead | 1 | (OK Computer) |
| Rafferty, Gerry | 3 | (one voter said "City to City, anyway") |
| Rainbow | 1 | |
| Raitt, Bonnie | 1 | |
| Rare Bird | 1 | |
| Ravel | 1 | |
| Redding, Otis | 1 | |
| Reichel, Hans | 1 | |
| Reid, Terry | 1 | |
| REM | 3 | |
| Renaissance | 4 | (see also Annie Haslam) |
| Renbourn, John | 1 | |
| Return to Forever | 1 | |
| Rhodes, Emitt | 1 | |
| Rich, Buddy | 1 | |
| Riley, Howard | 1 | |
| Robeson, Paul | 1 | |
| Robinson, Smokey | 2 | |
| Rodgers, Richard & Hart, Larry | 1 | |
| Rodney Rude | 1 | |
| Rodrigues, Virgina | 1 | |
| Rogers, Stan | 1 | |
| Rossinni | 1 | (The thieving magpie) |
| Roxy Music | 1 | |
| Rundgren, Todd | 2 | (one voter specified 'early') |
| Rusby, Kate | 2 | |
| The Rutles | 1 | (see note for 'The Beatles' |
| Sainko | 1 | |
| Santana | 3 | |
| Satie, Eric | 2 | |
| Savage Garden | 1 | |
| Scaggs, Boz | 1 | |
| Scarlatti, Domenico | 1 | 1685-1725 |
| Schubert, Franz | 1 | |
| Schumann | 1 | (Piano Impromptus) |
| Scot, Colin | 1 | |
| Second Decay | 1 | |
| Sensational Alex Harvey Band | 1 | |
| The Sex Pistols | 2 | |
| Shack | 1 | |
| Shadowfax | 1 | |
| The Shadows | 1 | |
| Show of Hands | 2 | |
| Sileas | 1 | |
| Simon, Paul | 6 | |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 4 | |
| Simone, Nina | 1 | |
| Sinatra, Frank | 5 | |
| Six Hands in Tempo | 1 | |
| Sixteen Horsepower | 1 | |
| Sky | 1 | |
| The Small Faces | 1 | |
| Smith, Judge | 1 | |
| The Smiths | 1 | |
| The Soft Machine | 1 | (voter specified 'Third' & 'Softs') |
| Sondheim, Steven | 1 | |
| Sparklehorse | 1 | |
| S.P.O.C.K | 1 | |
| Split Enz | 1 | |
| Spock's Beard | 1 | |
| Springsteeen, Bruce | 1 | |
| Steeleye Span | 3 | (one voter specified 'early) |
| Steely Dan | 8 | |
| Stewart, Al | 3 | (on voter specified 'Year of the Cat') |
| Sting | 4 | |
| Stravinsky | 2 | |
| The Strawbs | 5 | (see also Cousins, Dave) |
| Sweeney's men | 1 | |
| Tabor, June | 1 | |
| Talking Heads | 2 | |
| Tanaka | 1 | (traditional japanese instrumental) |
| Tangerine Dream | 1 | ("well, the live stuff, anyway") |
| Taylor, Allan | 1 | |
| Taylor, James | 2 | |
| The Teardrop Explodes | 1 | |
| Teenage Fan CLub | 1 | |
| Television | 1 | |
| 10 c.c. | 1 | |
| Terry and the Pirates | 1 | |
| Thackray, Jake | 6 | |
| Thompson, Linda | 2 | (2 respondants listed her with Richard, but here listed as an artist in her own right) |
| Thompson, Richard | 7 | |
| Thorogood, George | 1 | |
| Tilston, Steve | 1 | |
| Tippett, Keith | 1 | (one voter specified 'Dedicated to you but you weren't listening') |
| Tir Na Nog | 1 | |
| Torme, Mel | 1 | |
| Townshend, Pete | 1 | |
| Traffic | 1 | |
| Triumvirat | 1 | |
| Trout, Walter | 1 | |
| Tuck and Patty | 1 | |
| Tyrrell, Gordon | 1 | |
| Tyson, Ian and Sylvia | 1 | |
| Tzuke, Judie | 3 | |
| The Undertones | 2 | |
| Vaartina | 1 | |
| Van der Graaf Generator | 2 | (..both linked to Peter Hammill's solo albums.) |
| Vaughan-Williams | 2 | |
| Vega, Suzanne | 2 | One voter specified "1st two albums only" |
| Vinegar Joe | 1 | |
| Vivaldi | 1 | (One specified NOT 'The Four Seasons', another wanted ONLY the 'Four Seasons'! another gave special mention to 'Concerto for strings in G minor') |
| VNV Nation | 1 | |
| Wagner, Richard | 4 | (one voter specified 'Tristan and Isolde' only) |
| Wainwright III, Loudon | 2 | |
| Wakeman, Rick | 1 | (1 voter did not specify which Wakeman, assumed to be Rick.) |
| Waldren, Michael | 1 | |
| The Wallflowers | 1 | |
| Walker, Scott | 1 | |
| The Waterboys | 2 | |
| Webb, Marti | 1 | |
| Wedlock, Fred | 1 | |
| Ween | 1 | |
| Welch, Gillian | 1 | |
| Westerburg, Paul | 1 | |
| Whippersnapper | 1 | |
| Whiskeytown/Ryan Adams | 2 | (joined in one list given) |
| The Who | 2 | |
| Williams, Paul | 1 | |
| Wyatt, Robert | 1 | |
| XTC | 1 | |
| Yearwood, Trisha | 1 | |
| Yes | 4 | (one voter specified 1st four albums only) |
| Young, James | 1 | |
| Young, Neil | 4 | (one voter specified 'Ragged Glory') |
| Zappa, Frank | 3 | (one voter specified 'The Yellow Shark','Hot Rats' |
| Zero | 1 | |
| Zevon, Warren | 2 | |
| The Zombies | 1 |
An Elephant Child Production
DISCLAIMER