The website Whosampled has a fun new feature. Enter the names of two musical acts and it’ll tell you how many degrees of separation there are between them, and more interestingly, exactly what those links are. It’s quite addictive as you challenge it by trying to find a pair with four or more degrees; it turns out that only two separate James Last and Five Star, for instance. The only glitch is when you suggest an artist not in the database, but you can get pretty obscure for the most part. Tip: avoid artists that did a lot of covers, or stuff that’s been heavily sampled.
Disclaimer: This feature may take up a lot of your time. Bring snacks.
Metallica –> Don Estelle
Three degrees, via the Inkspots. Who knew!
Great game. Squirrel Nut Zippers to Patrik Fitzgerald got me a “That’s more like it… a challenge!” comment (four degrees).
Incredible String Band -> Roy Harper
Four degrees, via Mos Def. Interesting!
Choosing artists who haven’t been sampled much increases the likely degrees of separation, but then there’s cover versions, record producers etc…
That”s a pair that I would imagine to have been a lot closer.
This sounds just up my street. I’m going to try and find the most obscure connection I can!
I managed to get a four between Slipknot and someone else, but now I can’t remember who it was and I can’t find another four! I’ve tried everyone from Little Mix to Scott Joplin to Judy Garland.
Cockney Rejects to Elaine Paige on 3
This is bloody addictive! The Levellers to Maria Callas in 4…
I got a 4, but was so intent on beating it I didn’t make a note of who they were. Could be a while till I get another 4.
Thanks for this, by the way. I was on my way to bed half an hour ago. If I’m tired in the morning it’s your fault!
Fair warning was given! 😃
Impressive – only 3 degrees between Mahavishnu Orchestra and Vera Lynn. And worryingly only 2 between MO and Bazza Manilow.
I beat it Colin! MO and The Corries. The Corries are best known for Flower of Scotland which was written by the late Roy Williamson, one of the 2 members. I attended gigs by both in the 70’s – MO in Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall Arena & The Corries in Motherwell concert hall
Someone beat it last night with Corries vs someone else I forget. Seems the Corries didn’t mix well!
I’ve interviewed the living Corrie, Ronnie Browne. He saw himself as a purely professional musician. He has never once brought out the guitar for a bit of a social sing. I don’t know any other musician who doesn’t play for the fun of it. Funny man and good company though.
There’s one flamin’ obvious musician who doesn’t play for the fun of it, as he’s stated on a number of occasions.
Stand up Ivan George Morrison, for it is you of whom I speak.
On second thoughts better you don’t.
“It’s my work” he said ” I do it for pay”…. or was that someone else?
Which was the best gig, Calif?
Despite the fact that I am a proud Scot and the Corries sang some great songs including one of my faves, Kishmuls Galley, I would have to rate the whole MO experience as outstanding. My big brother who was 6 years older than me and a drummer and who introduced me to some great music, bought the tickets and invited me along. We arrived early and actually bumped into John McLaughlin who was ‘catching the vibe’ of the hall from the side of the stalls. Big brother said hi and John went on his way. It was June 18th 1973 and I still have the programme (10 pence). I love a drummer and Billy Cobham was breathtaking behind his transparent kit. A fond memory of time shared with my brother, Tom, who passed away in 1989.
Wonderful indeed.
Actually, away from the samples world, I can link the MO and Vera Lynn with one degree – in early 1960, John McLaughlin was a member of Big Pete Deuchar’s Professors of Ragtime. BBC Written Records reveal that they applied to appear on BBC TV’s Vera Lynn Show… and were turned down.
I can tell you without looking that it’s only one from MO to Schoolly-D, because sampling.
The most complicated music possible->the dumbest fuck who ever set foot in a studio. Marvellous.
That’s an extremely rude thing to say about John McLaughlin.
(And he was excellent in Twin Peaks).
From a song I quoted earlier elsewhere on the blog…
That’s right y’all
I’m a hell of a man
I walk down the street and I heard you say…. damn
I wanna be like Schoolly too
I make rap records and I say “fuck you”….
How does lightning-fast soloing and fiendish time signatures compare with such artistry?
This is the best time-waster of the week! Only three degrees between Lordi and Al Bowlly! And three between Elis Regina and Napalm Death.
But…four degrees between Ken Dodd and Steely Dan!! Ta ra!
Vintage Finnish tango king Olavi Virtu to the Humblebums was 4 steps.
As was Aussie yodeller Frank Ifield to Finnish folk band Värttina!
But with Danish pop singer Anne Linnet to reggae legend Gregory Isaacs, I beat it!
But that of course is just going to make me play with this all day!
You would beat it with Anne Linnet and the Beatles. I think you’ve got a ringer there.
Great! I have some tedious database mangling to do today.
What choice of sounds do you suggest?
Cambridge 105’s latest Kipper The Cat Show, where they play nothing but 78s, was part 2 of a V Discs special:
https://m.mixcloud.com/Kipperthecat/v-discs-part-2-the-kipper-the-cat-show-june-24th-2019-on-cambridge-105-radio/
Am assuming you’re up to date with Charity Shop classics, but here’s the archive:
https://m.mixcloud.com/CharityShopClassics/
And not forgetting the great We Buy Records podcast of course:
https://www.spreaker.com/show/we-buy-records
I know two presenters on 105, one was round mine the other week, but I’ve never listened to Kipper The Cat.
Oh no, I’m clearly going to have a look before too long. Off to work now, but can anyone do me a Harry Secombe to Sandy Nelson while I’m away, please?
Only 2 degrees R2. Stevie Wonder covered If I Ruled The World and Sandy Nelson covered Uptight.
Completely failed on Marvin Rainwater to Peters & Lee. Cuh.
It seems that James Last is a common step between disparate bands.
But I beat it with Stump and Kraftwerk.
Motorhead to Keith Harris & Orville in 3.
The database is obviously unaware of Orvilles cover of Ace Of Spades from the album Orville Goes Heavy Metal Quackers
Only two from Steeleye Span to Steely Dan.
All Around My Peg
Just 3 between Mrs Mills and Anal Cunt
Only 2 if you go for Nana Mouskouri.
Fat Mattress to Thin White Rope (4)
Alien Sex Fiend to Virgin Prunes (4)
The Sisters of Mercy to The Four Brothers (4)
Schoolly D to Val Doonican in…..3.
This is witchery!
Overlord X to Noel Coward in 3, thanks to one of James Brown’s appalling album-filler covers.
Diamond head (Japanese band) to Paul Whitman and his orchestra (4)
OMC to OMD in 3.
Chuck Berry to Buck Cherry in 3
Shampoo to Haircut 100 in 4
Oh very good!
Kevin Keegan to The Velvet Underground in 4 via Smokie and a producer
Beautiful.
England World Cup Squad 1970 to Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band 4
West Germany clearly weren’t impressed when England took the “fast ‘n bulbous” approach in the quarter-final in León.
….England lost in the end because they still had the Old Four Four Two At Play.
Yeah – in the absence of Gordon Banks, Alf Ramsey had assumed that Peter Bonetti would be as Safe as Milk…
He also assumed that substituting Bobby Charlton was a good move. Herr Beckenbauer had other ideas…
Wor Berb was no Hair Pie.
Howard Jones to John McLaughlin 3 steps via Phil Collins, Slick Rick (no me either) and The Mahavishnu Orchestra….
You are none the poorer. Slick Rick is/was an utterly terrible (but mysteriously revered) hip-hop artist from the 80s who raps in a voice like a crap impersonation of Snagglepuss. He spent some time in nick but not, as natural justice demanded, for crimes against music. I was an omnivore when it came to hip-hop in the late ’80s but even I drew the line there.
Billy MacKenzie to John McLaughlin 3 steps via a producer and Massive Attack….
After several 4s:
Decemberists > Mrs Mills
Nils Frahm > The Fureys (via Vader Abraham)
Trembling Bells > Laura Veirs
Dawes > George Formby
I beat it with Karine Polwart > Styx. Better do some work now … oh, it’s lunchtime already
Kaiser Chiefs to Saint Etienne in 3 steps (Stephen Street & Pet Shop Boys)
Silvio Rodriguez and Dawes in 4 via Shakira, Kidz bop Kids and Counting Crows. Great fun.
Eric Church…Jerry Lee Lewis….Eddy Arnold….Kit Kat Club…Ken Dodd.
This is insane, I have just spent an hour throwing obscure jazzers against unaccompanied trad arrs against 1930s bluegrasses against blind aboriginals against one hit wonders. It beats me every time
It is like that movie Edge of tomorrow, Retro. One has to keep on trying and learn which cards it is likely to play for a certain artist (producers, covers, etc) and then try to find ways around them.
But I agree, it is infernally ingenious, It did Captain Beefheart to Captain and Tenille in 3!
So many jazz cover versions. So many trad. Arr. songs and tunes. No good results to be found there.
Find two relatively obscure artists who don’t cover other people’s songs/tunes and whose songs/tunes have not been covered. But watch out for prolific record producers and session players.
That was 30 mins well spent – Who knew Christy Moore did a solo cover of ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’?
Me. It’s nearly as good as the one by Alpha Blondy
http://www.covermesongs.com/2018/05/the-best-pink-floyd-covers-ever.html
Al Bowlly -> Neil Young in 2! (Via Patsy Cline.)
Lard to Laraaji – 5 steps. So near.
Crispy Ambulance to the Fire Engines in 4.
From Hank to Hendrix is only two steps, contrary to old Shakey’s impression.
Unbelievably it involves comedy band Wolfmother.
PS) I got a four!
Age of Chance -> The Dooleys
also
King Kurt -> Johnny Ray
Managed a 5 Tinariwen to Thomas Truax.
Six!!
Colin Bass to Tinariwen.
My life is complete.
Managed 6 degrees for Henry Cow to Kathleen Ferrier! I am impressed they managed that.
Metallica to Terry Wogan in 4
Stevie Ray Vaughan to Ken Dodd in a chilling 2
Clan of Xymox to Clannad in three
Five steps to get from Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard to Mrs Mills!
Sounds as though you have found a chink in its armour, Kid.
5 steps for me for Norwegian folk rockers Valkyrien Allstars to French pop princess Alizee.
But only 4 for Konono No 1 to both Max Bygraves and James Yorkston!
I keep getting a James Last sandwich. The blokes covered everything!
I’ve just read that back and it doesn’t sound good.
5 to get from the Goodies to Tinariwen – via The Troggs of course.
Nice! I think Tinariwen is a good starting point… I’ve had a few 4s with them.
Beat it!
Jane Weaver to This Is The Kit –
Ner, ner, ner, ner, ner, ner
However, it can actually be done.
I first asked it to get from Jane Weaver to The National, which it did via Coldplay, and Sigur Ros.
Then tried Jane Weaver to This Is The Kit as I had linked This Is The Kit to The National subconsciously.
It’s only another degree of separation from The National to This is The Kit.
So my victory is a hollow one.
Gilbert O’Sullivan to Gilbert & Sullivan in 3 steps via David Foster and the Minions.
The Who to Them in 2 steps via Patti Smith
Took me over 30 minutes to get a 4
The Family Cat to Jaques Bultinck