Non-classical artists that you cannot do without

[Daedalus]

I have recently been sorting through my CD collection and selling/giving to charity/giving away generally a great deal of my non-classical collection. This is to make space and raise funds for new classical music purchases. 

Among the CDs I have NOT thrown away, and that are firmly on the 'keep' pile for now, are the following artists:
Tom Waits
The Smiths
Morrissey
Sufjan Stevens
The Black Keys
Nick Drake
Gomez
Radiohead
Beck
Paul Weller
Maximo Park
Kings of Convenience
Super Furry Animals
Supergrass
Mansun
R.E.M.
Eels
Jimi Hendrix
The Doors
The Clash
Fleetwood Mac
The Jam
Joy Division
The Stone Roses
The Beatles
The Beach Boys

This is after a serious purging of hundreds of CDs that I collected in my youth as a young 'indie kid'. 

I would say that 90% of my listening is classical now, however, some of this music I still love.
But many of these artists I seem to be holding onto for nostalgic purposes only. Indeed some of them, I will probably never listen to again!

What about your collection? Any non-classical artists you still love or have you abandoned them all for classical music?

D.

[karlhenning]

My list is significantly shorter 

But I suppose (in alphabetical order):

Ian Anderson
Chick Corea
Eric Dolphy
Béla Fleck
Robert Fripp
Simon Jeffes
Charles Mingus
Thelonious Monk
Andy Summers
Doc Watson
Frank Zappa

[MN Dave]

Too many to list here.

[Daedalus]

Too many to list here.

Give us a taster! 

[MN Dave]

Give us a taster! 

A taster it is:

The Beatles
Elvis Costello
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Devo
Ween
Duke Ellington
John Coltrane
Louis Jordan
Mississippi John Hurt
Tampa Red
Various songs by multiple artists

I can't see tossing all my non-classical. Man cannot live on classical alone. Or at least this man can't.  0:)

[Haffner]

Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
Deep Purple
1970's Scorpions/Uli Jon Roth
Black Sabbath (all line-ups up to and including Glenn Hughes)
Judas Priest
Manowar

[karlhenning]

I can't see tossing all my non-classical.

Gosh, who suggested that? 

[MN Dave]

Gosh, who suggested that? 

The OP asked.

[karlhenning]

Ah, thanks; I'd forgot.

[71 dB]

S-Express
The Beatmasters
The Prodigy
Autechre
Tangerine Dream
Jonny L
Lowgold
Kashmir
Bel Canto
Mull Historical Society aka Colin MacIntyre
Standfast
Briskeby
Lemon Jelly
Sheila Chandra
Gotan Project

Mansun

I have considered this band but never bought anything...

[MN Dave]

Now I want to listen to non-classical but do not have any with me.

[The new erato]

do without is a flexible term....

I don't listen to a lot of pop/rock these days, but there are artists whom, if they never existed, would have made me another person than the one I am; ie they put their mark on me in some important stage of my life:

Primarily:

Beatles
Jimi Hendrix
Kate Bush

Lots of other good stuff mentioned in this thread; love the mention of Kings of Convenience from my home town, their first album is a knockout.

[Lethevich]

Can't go with classical 100% - it lacks foulness, and foul music is most suitable for foul moods.

[Daedalus]

Mansun - I have considered this band but never bought anything...

Mansun were one of my guilty pleasures as an angst-ridden teenager. I loved their lyrics - they were a kind of pseudo-intellectual Britpop band that wrote allegorical songs about how crap life is! I don't know whether I would recommend them or not - they are in my collection for nostalgia purposes only!  

D.

[Daedalus]

do without is a flexible term....

I don't listen to a lot of pop/rock these days, but there are artists whom, if they never existed, would have made me another person than the one I am; ie they put their mark on me in some important stage of my life:

Yes, true of quite a few of the bands I mentioned in my opening thread. For me, particularly the Smiths and Morrissey - as an alienated adolescent, I could really relate to this music. Radiohead were always a huge band for me too growing up - I am still very fond of them. They made intellectual statements and artistic music while all of the time producing great albums. I haven't heard their latest album In Rainbows though but I am told it is excellent. Does anyone know anything about it?

I loved Gomez for a long time as well. I fell in love with their 'exotic' americana and blues influences. They led me to Tom Waits, whom I loved for his voice and for the depth of his music and, again, it's strange and varied influences.

I always found Nick Drake's music very beautiful and poignant too.

Does anyone here enjoy the music of Sufjan Stevens. A very talented musician who writes beautiful songs and writes music for lots of different instruments. I find his music very engaging.

D.

[Daedalus]

Lots of other good stuff mentioned in this thread; love the mention of Kings of Convenience from my home town, their first album is a knockout.

Yes, they are fantastic - really lovely melodies. My fiancee especially loves the first album and we still listen to it often.

D.

[Daedalus]

Can't go with classical 100% - it lacks foulness, and foul music is most suitable for foul moods.

This is quite true, I am sure. 

However, I do not find much to enjoy among new pop music these days.

D.

[Joe_Campbell]

I agree with many of the choices, although I'd add Sting for his solo albums.

[Harry]

Pat Benatar, Hall & Oates, Mothers Finest, Clifford T Ward, Marvin Gaye, & Tammi Terrell, Laura Pausini, The Eagles, Abba, Bee Gees......

[MN Dave]

Pat Benatar, Hall & Oates, Mothers Finest, Clifford T Ward, Marvin Gaye, & Tammi Terrell, Laura Pausini, The Eagles, Abba, Bee Gees......

Harry! I thought you were classical through and through!