Elvis Has Left the Building: Top 8 Favorite Solo Acts

I was afraid you would have grown weary of my music-centric posts and was planning to use some other topic for today's Top 8, but Ty convinced me that since he was anxiously awaiting my solo artist list, I should just post it now. So blame him if you're bored.

I am once again limiting myself to artists who started their careers before I was born. Sarah McLachlan and Vince Gill may have beautiful voices, but they wouldn't fit in my list. Maybe I'll do a "Modern Music That Doesn't Make Me Run Away Screaming" list sometime to give them their due.

To clarify, I consider a singer a solo act if the act could absolutely no longer exist if they were removed from the equation. For instance, I realize that at least one one of my artists (Jimi Hendrix, for instance) was backed by a stellar band. But once Jimi died, it wasn't like anyone was calling The Experience to book a stadium tour. Rush, if you don't like my parameters, you can make your own solo act list.

Also, I'm going to break my own rules and start my list with a duo--because Simon and Garfunkel don't really count as a "band" to me, and their harmonies are so tight they almost sound like one voice sometimes. And also because it's my list and I can do what I want.

So here you go...

1.) Simon & Garfunkel (yeah, yeah--see above)

2.) Eric Clapton

3.) Bob Dylan

4.) James Taylor

5.) Jimmy Buffett

6.) Van Morrison

7.) Marvin Gaye

8.) Janis Joplin

Feel free to compliment me on my excellent taste.

Did You Miss Me?

So much has been going on the last several days that it was all I could do to keep up with the comments on my own blog--and I barely did that. This morning was the first chance I had to read all of your recent posts and comments since Thursday or Friday. (I did read Ty's post, but I'm his sister and I'm contractually obligated.)

It's funny, I've only been doing this bloggy thing for 2 1/2 months, and it's already an important part of my day. I really missed reading what you all had to say--I felt kind of lonely no knowing what was going on in your fascinating brains. And I'm bummed that I missed my chance to comment on some of your now-long-past posts. Just know that my comments would have been ultra-witty, insightful, and in all other ways mind-blowing. ¡

Things at work are still busy in the most tedious way possible, so I might be a blip on the edge of the radar for a while. And camp is coming up, so you'll have to brace yourselves for silence from the Frost "kids" for about 10 days. I just wanted you to know so you could begin to prepare yourselves mentally and emotionally for the upcoming trauma.¡

Disturbing

My blogging about ridiculous celebrity baby names and Classic Rock has merged in my subconscious to create the most upsetting dream:

I was meeting a good friend's baby for the first time, and they proudly announced that they'd named him Lynyrd Skynyrd. They were just sure I would love it because I like "Freebird" and "Gimme Three Steps." All I could do was stand there, mouth a-gape, trying desperately to come up with a tactful response. All I could say was, "Really? Really? Oh. Like the band."

Ever notice how your diplomacy goes to sleep when you do, and wakes up a few hours after you do?