Best ballad - some feedback

[Guilbert]

I asked for people's favorite ballads a week or so ago.

I made a list and have started to download as many as I can find on the
internet (ones I had not heard before).

I have downloaded about 20 so far, and at the moment the best I have
heard is Ribbon in the Sky by Stevie Wonder. Mainly piano, backed by some
subtle stand up bass and drums, with a lovely lilting vocal from Stevie.
Beautiful song.

Others I like are Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls, Metalica with Nothing else
mattters (and I am usually no fan of heavy metal groups, but it is a bit like
Stairway to heaven), Your eyes by Peter Gabriel, Never tear us apart by
INXS, and Darkest Dreaming by David Sylvian.

More than words by Extreme is good, but every so often they seem to sing
off the right note, cant explain it.

Some I do not like are:
Beasts of Burden by the Stones, a bit of a dirge, just goes on and on
November Rain by Guns and Roses (Powerful song, but I do not like ballads
where the lead singer SHOUTS - Tina Turner always had that problem,
contrast with Stevie Wonder above)

[Rude Boy]

"Beasts of Burden by the Stones"

I think I bigged that one up, sorry you don't like it. I can't believe I forgot "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division. Not a ballad per se but an incredible lyric by Ian Curtis and it's a killer love song with off the scale bass playing by the mighty Peter Hook.

If you're digging that Metallica power ballad then also check out "The Unforgiven" from the same album, it's got similar dynamics and on their album with the San Francisco orchestra there is another fucking killer track called "Outlaw Torn."

I'm not a huge Metallica fan but they do this light and shade stuff superbly well.

Check out some Blue Nile stuff too if you can be arsed, killer vocals from Paul Buchanan.

[Pervert]

Only recently discovered the Blue Nile, after catching Buchanan's vocals on Gabriel's Ovo. The man has a wonderful voice, and some of their stuff is out of this world.

[Deuce Bigolo]

Try Gun n Roses 'Patience'
A Classic Ballad with no screaming vocals that detesters of heavy metal/rock bands even like

For romantic ballads..I'll let you be the judge as to wether their class or not

Peter Framptons 2 classics 'Baby,I love your way' & 'show me the way'

Styx with 'Babe'

Phil Collins 'Against all Odds' is brilliant if only because of the film of the same name

Simply Red 'If you don't know me by now'

Honeydrippers(Robert Plant) Sea of Love

cheers
B....OZ

[Deuce Bigolo]

Then theres

Bostons 'Amanda'

Stevie Wrights 3 part Evie(2nd parts the ballad)

cheers
B....OZ

[lovemunkey187]

I haven't read the other thread, so apolgies for duplicating any suggestions.

Behind Blue Eyes - The Who (I think) but also well worth a listen is the cover version by Limp Biskit

This Love -
Cemetary Gate - Both of these tracks are by Pantera which were probably one of the heaviest bands on the planet, but even so give them a listen. They're also 2 tracks off of my "All-time Top 20".

[IdolDroog]

Cemetary Gates is my favourite song of all time....is that enough of a recommendation for everyone?

Albeit a fairly blatant nod towards Fade to Black (Metallica) in terms of style, arrangement, riff etc....but then thats kinda a nod towards Children of the Damned (maiden)...so who cares

[steve56]

wind of change-scorpions.