Nicko

The OP asks if they are your favourite, that's an easy question to answer. As for are the Beatles the "best" band ever that would require you to define best. They are the most successful, they are arguably the most influential and they were hugely popular both when they were a band and for a long time after. Some of it is self perpetuating though, Oasis claim that the Beatles were great so Oasis fans start buying and listening to their records. I note that no BCer is currently wanting to take any of their tracks to a desert island (Your Desert Island Discs..? thread) although it's a small sample at the moment.

Au Fond du Temple Saint - (The Friendship Duet from the Pearl Fishers) Bizet Like a Rolling Stone - Live version by Jimi Hendrix You Only Live Once - The Strokes Welcome to The Black Parade - My Chemical Romance Soul To Squeeze - Red Hot Chillies Rockit - Herbie Hancock Forbidden Colours - David Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto Since I've Been Loving You - Led Zep Book - Crime and Punishment (I've read it before but it would keep me going for a while. and by the time I finished it would probably have forgotten the beginning which isn't difficult because not much happens but it's beautifully written). Luxury item a never ending bottle of cold Viognier (assuming its a hot desert island). Can I also have a lighter so I can burn the Shakespeare which I detest.

Yes but also a lot of self penned - I think about 50% on most albums.

Didn't the Everly Brothers do that first though?

I think the Beatles are a bit over rated. Some of their stuff is OK but I find a lot of it utter shite. I hear all this stuff that without the Beatles we wouldn't have modern rock music but Jimi Hendrix and Lou Reed surely weren't a result of the Beatles and defined genres of music that came later. And if I had to choose a band from the 60/70s pop scene I think I prefer the Kinks.

I'm assuming S Club are at 7?

Can't help with the ID but that is one fugly looking guitar.

Well, I never saw that coming.

I have played guitar for 40 odd years and still don't really like playing solos. I often end up playing them because the song demands something but I'd prefer to do rhythm.

Motorcycle Emptiness - Manics

No, still not a fan of the roadworn look.

Holiday in Cambodia - Dead Kennedys

Al Capone - Prince Buster

Liquidator - Harry J All Starts

Nice pic, but I'm not going to get an entry in this month. I'll be following as I think there's a lot of inspiration in the image. You'll all be pleased to know the turkey is already cooked though.

My Ding A Ling - Chuck Berry

Erm, Could It Be Magic - Take That

Classical Gas- Mason Williams

I don't practice I only learn songs. If learning new songs I will sit and listen - mostly with tab in front of me which may or may not be correct. In most cases it will be mostly right and I'll try to work out the notes that are missing (without a bass in hand). For me the most important aspect of learning a song is internalising the parts and structure and this is the key stage. I suppose it's ear training as well. Sometimes where the tab is so obviously wrong I'll try to tab it myself by ear. Then I'll try to play the song which might involve figuring out the fingering deciding whether to use a pick or fingers, changing the notes I thought were right. If I'm learning scales or modes I will only do it on guitar cos I might as well have the whole fretboard figured out and just forget about the top two strings when I go to bass but to be honest I don't do that very often. I'll sometimes come up with a song idea and have to work out what key/mode it's in and I think I've only ever consciously sat down and though "I will use ionion for this section and locrian for that" when I was looking for a specific feel.

Damn, I missed the vote deadline - it might have broken the deadlock but well done to the winners.

The Swiss rejected membership of the EU narrowly. I wonder if they are still whingeing about it.

Hounds of Love - Kate Bush

I'm afraid James got there first.

As described - I'll even post it for free.