Battle of the '70's ballads

[Mr.Bluelegs]

Among the 4 classic '70's ballads (Only Women Bleed, I Never Cry, You & Me, and How You Gonna See Me Now?) which is your favorite and why? Guess I'll go first & it's not easy. Gotta say You & Me because of its theme and lyrics although Never Cry has my favorite song lyric ever- "Sometimes I drink more than I need."

[darkmenace]

Only Women Bleed is beautiful, one of Alice's best moments.

I also like How You Gonna See Me Now, a solid song and the definition of a power ballad.

My least favorites are INC and Y&M, could easily live without both although INC isn't a bad live song.

[Inmate]

HYGSMN is my favorite.

[dadascot]

They are all so good, ok Only woman bleed, I never cry, How you gonna see me now and you and me.

[scotty]

how you gonna see me now,for me personally. Like to see him pull that out next tour if it fits in! I think it was rehearsed in '96 for the fistful tour...

[mestreech]

Only women is the strongest song.

[Spot and Jerome]

As much as I can't stand ballads, OWB is an amazing song, with an amazing arrangement and orchestration, definitely AC's best ballad ever IMO.

[Desperado22]

I'm gonna go with I Never Cry. Not my favourite Cooper ballad, but easily my favourite out of those 4.

[tuneylune]

Love all of them, but am sick of OWB in concert, but agree it is amazing the way the song is arranged (and it also got my Mom off her "I hate Alice" kick enough for her to buy me SCHOOL'S OUT and BILLION DOLLAR BABIES at the same time!!). In order, I like HYGSMN, INC, YAM and OWB.

[Shoesalesman]

I Never Cry.

[TodayMueller]

I'm indifferent. Don't think Alice should do ballads at all. So, I guess I'll go for OWB beacuse that started it.

[TodayMueller]

I'm indifferent. Don't think Alice should do ballads at all. So, I guess I'll go for OWB beacuse that started it.

Well, that didn't make sence. What I meant was OWB is the worst IMO 'cause it started the ballad thing for Alice.

[old school vet]

I'm going for OWB, not only because I like it, but because of the amount of cover versions. It is obviously considered a top song from those in the know!

[cherrypie]

As much as I can't stand ballads, OWB is an amazing song, with an amazing arrangement and orchestration, definitely AC's best ballad ever IMO.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

[Diane D.]

I like all the ballads, from Alice and the other rock bands.

[Gunner]

It's a good question. Firstly, I DO like rock ballads - especially Cooper ones as he writes and sings them VERY well indeed. My favourite of the four is HYGSMN and I'm not too sure why....I think it is just the melody and lyrics. You and Me is cheesy lyrically (IMO) and just a bit too laid back (it's not rock ballad but just plain 'easy listening'; I never cry is a bit too mellow for me; and with OWB - well, I don't really like the lyrics - I have nothing against femanism whatsoever, but I don't want a ballad about female abuse.

[recoop]

Not sure about Alice and ballads at all... but if I had to choose one from these 4, it would be OWB..I like the part black eyes..he seems to turn into Neil Diamond at one point...but I feel ballads are things he should have written for others...I think the Carpenters could have covered OWB brilliantly...Im not sure if its a ballad but my favourite softer sort of song is No Tricks...that builds up powerfully like OWB..basically I suppose I like songs where Alice gets to growl and other shows the power in his voice (e.g. Build up to Hello Hurray "God I feel so strong")...any song written to allows Alice to show the power in his voice and sprinkled with some Mike Bruce chords and I'm happy...

[dadascot]

Not sure about Alice and ballads at all... but if I had to choose one from these 4, it would be OWB..I like the part black eyes..he seems to turn into Neil Diamond at one point...but I feel ballads are things he should have written for others...I think the Carpenters could have covered OWB brilliantly...Im not sure if its a ballad but my favourite softer sort of song is No Tricks...that builds up powerfully like OWB..basically I suppose I like songs where Alice gets to growl and other shows the power in his voice (e.g. Build up to Hello Hurray "God I feel so strong")...any song written to allows Alice to show the power in his voice and sprinkled with some Mike Bruce chords and I'm happy...

Personally, I love his ballads, they are genuinely emotional and show the variety of his voice as well as his versatility as a song writer. I think it also gives him respect in the non-rock fraternity, Sinatra covering you and me etc. Also I do think that an album is helped by songs with varying tempo's and genres. I love AC/DC but find I get bored listening to a whole album cos they are generally at pretty much the same tempo through-out. I love 'no tricks' but I think my favourite Alice ballad is The Quiet room.

[Diane D.]

It's a good question. Firstly, I DO like rock ballads - especially Cooper ones as he writes and sings them VERY well indeed. My favourite of the four is HYGSMN and I'm not too sure why....I think it is just the melody and lyrics. You and Me is cheesy lyrically (IMO) and just a bit too laid back (it's not rock ballad but just plain 'easy listening'; I never cry is a bit too mellow for me; and with OWB - well, I don't really like the lyrics - I have nothing against femanism whatsoever, but I don't want a ballad about female abuse.

I beleive that HYGSMN and You and Me were both written for his wife, Cheryl, so when you say that it's cheesy, you are insulting Cheryl. And maybe, you don't want to hear about female abuse, but it does exist, and maybe this song helped some women to get out of their abusive situation or has given them some comfort.

[Diane D.]

Not sure about Alice and ballads at all... but if I had to choose one from these 4, it would be OWB..I like the part black eyes..he seems to turn into Neil Diamond at one point...but I feel ballads are things he should have written for others...I think the Carpenters could have covered OWB brilliantly...Im not sure if its a ballad but my favourite softer sort of song is No Tricks...that builds up powerfully like OWB..basically I suppose I like songs where Alice gets to growl and other shows the power in his voice (e.g. Build up to Hello Hurray "God I feel so strong")...any song written to allows Alice to show the power in his voice and sprinkled with some Mike Bruce chords and I'm happy...

Frankly, when I want to hear some growling sounds, I just have to see my neighbor's dog, hi,hi.... When you talk about power in voice, then I would go see Alice, not the same thing.