The nominees for Most Requested Live Al Song (i.e., those that the voters most want to hear Al do in concert) are, in alphabetical order:
Don't Forget Me (FLW) -- An also-ran in the Best Modern Al Song race, but one whose lush, jazzy instrumentation makes it a natural for an in-concert performance. We at Al Poll Central agree that this might be a 'One Stage Before' song - an OK studio song that comes alive on stage.
End Of The Day (TP) -- This is one you don't have to ask Al twice to play. He and Peter both love it, and they include it in most of their playlists. You cannot appreciate Peter White's guitar brilliance on 'End' until you see him do it in front of you.
Modern Times (MT) -- If you've ever heard this one live, count yourself lucky. Al hasn't played it on stage for years. The bittersweet lyrics, not to mention what Peter and Dave could do during the song's two minute instrumental finale, would make a bootleg live tape of 'Times' a true collector's item.
Post World War II Blues (PPF) -- Al's autobiography of sorts, this is another song that only the very lucky have ever heard him do live. As long as we're wishing, here's our real quixotic dream from left field: 'Blues' live with an additional verse or two concerning Al's life since he wrote the song in 1972.
Roads To Moscow (PPF) -- Al will do this one live once in a while, usually as a guitar duet with Peter. This and 'Nostradamus' are perhaps the two songs you'll hear yelled from the audience most often. He's done it as an encore on the current tour, and a fine live version appears on INDIAN SUMMER.
The News From Spain (O) -- The Classic Al Song champion is one that a few ASML'ers would like Al to dust off in concert. Al _rarely_ does a Classic song on stage - once in a while you can talk him into 'A Small Fruit Song' or 'Clifton In The Rain', but that's about it.
Two seven-minute narratives share the honor of Most Requested Live Al Song. Diane Fisli has already passed on to Peter that fact that Modern Times was high on the request list, and he said he'd bring it up with Al. (We sincerely hope he does it when Greg Hadzinski, 'Times' #1 fan, is in the audience, and that Greg's companions bring smelling salts.) The other four nominees finish in a four-way tie for third.
1994 ASML "BEST OF AL" POLL -- TOP FIVE CONCERT REQUESTS # SONG ALBUM VOTES 1t Modern Times MT 4 1t Roads To Moscow PPF 4 3t Don't Forget Me FLW 2 3t End Of The Day TP 2 3t Post World War II Blues PPF 2 3t The News From Spain O 2
OTHER AL SONGS RECEIVING VOTES: Antarctica, Electric Los Angeles Sunset, Feel Like, Love Chronicles ("Might as well get my money's worth" - Jeff Johannes), Manuscript, Nostradamus, On The Border, Red Toupee, The Candidate, The Dark And The Rolling Sea, The Gypsy And The Rose, The World Goes To Riyadh, Trains, Where Are They Now.
Pollster's notes: We are tempted to declare 'Modern Times' the winner for two reasons. One, we voted for it. And two, at least there's a live version of 'Roads' available on INDIAN SUMMER, while there's nothing whatsoever for 'Times'. The most imaginative vote was by Patrick LaPlagne, who cited Paul Simon's 'You Can Call Me Al'. That'd make a good medley with 'You Should Have Listened To Al'. In a similar vein, Chris Conway suggests that 'American Pie' might be amusing sung in a lowland Scottish accent. - NS
