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Nov 13
The Weekly Worthy List #1: Albums that changed my life
Hello folks! I don’t know if you have read any of my other blog posts, but if you have you know that I am a working Singer/Guitar player. Sometimes we get so busy growing the business that keeping content fresh on the blog can be a challenge…so I came up with a weekly list to get you the readers involved…and hopefully we can weave some long and interesting threads! Welcome to “The Weekly Worthy List.” This will be a posting spot for musicians and fans of music where we can explore facets of musical style, history, and virtuosity…heck, anything as it relates to music…and in groups of, well, this week how about grouped in 10? The format allows for 1-5 sentences to explain yourself after declaring something “worthy.” Please contribute! I look forward to your comments!!!
Topic: Albums that changed my life
- The Doors (The Doors, 1967) : Great lyrics, spooky energy, and great improvs. I could not stop listening to it my entire sophomore year of high school.
- Frampton (Peter Frampton, 1975): Thank you to my Aunt for giving me this when I was 6. This album is the reason I took up the guitar.
- Meddle (Pink Floyd, 1971) : I was so in awe of the soundscape of this album. This album and a few others made me want to explore extended arrangements and spacier sections that re-emerge as rocking climactic epicness!
- 4 Way Street (CSN&Y, 1971): Singer songwriters listen up! This is what you should aspire to!!! (according to me)
- Revolver (The Beatles, 1966): Oh man…get the headphones out and try to astrally project to Sgt Pepper!
- Europe 72 (The Grateful Dead, 1972): I love Bobby and Jerry on this album! The balance between those two is so perfect on this collection.
- The freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (Bob Dylan, 1964): There is something so pure about this album. I feel like I am in a living room listening to him play this live.
- Get yer ya ya’s out (The Rolling Stones, 1970): Bubbling with energy…dripping with decadence. Love in Vain is beautiful.
- Pickin’ up the pieces (Poco, 1969): Poco with Richie…rockountry with harmonies, I love it!
- Friends (The Beach Boys, 1968): I could have very easily picked Pet Sounds, but I want to give a nod to Friends, it is so delicate and intimate. Brian is not 100%, but he almost uses that to this album’s advantage!
Computing…..
Result: he is a throwback….
Albums Less than 30 years old?
- Is this it? (The Strokes, 2001): The Strokes’ first album…gave me a new faith in music.
- Without a Net (The Grateful Dead, 1990): I think this is their latest “official release” live album; they really seem to have great prowess and verve on this group of recordings.
- Amorica (The Black Crowes, 1994): I just love this album…so much texture.
- Harvest Moon (Neil Young, 1992): I love Neil…his heart is his sleeve.
- Tepid Peppermint Wonderland (The Brian Jonestown Massacre, 2004): Ok Anton, you’re a pretentious little loose canyon…but the genius is undeniable. You do almost as much with 4 chords as…
- A long way home (Dwight Yoakam, 1998): Dwight after his “prime” and in many ways I think this is his best album.
- Saturday night in Bombay (Remember Shakti, 2001): Light an incense and sit down for a while.
- Musicology (Prince, 2004): So happy to hear Prince in top form…“Call my name” is beautiful.
- The Dirty Boogie (The Brian Setzer Orchestra, 1998): Setzer just keeps me at the drawing board non-stop…it is I who am not worthy!!!!
- The Final Frontier (Iron Maiden, 2010): I am so impressed with these guys’ stylistic dedication and their never-ending flood of energy…bravo guys. You set the bar high for the over 40 crowd!
Don’t overthink it!!!! Join the conversation and tell me what albums changed your life in the comments!!!!
When he’s not enjoying fishing, road testing cables with his band, or fielding musical/instrument cable questions over the phone / e-mail, Michael handles operations and purchasing and is simply loving life. You can also follow Michael on Twitter!
Off the top of my head…
1- Rumours – Fleetwood Mac- I was 2, but I remember it clearly.
2- Buena Vista Social Club- Ry Cooder
3-Adele- 19
4-Duffy-Rockferry
5-Erasure- The Innocents
6-Ozomatli- Any of their albums, really
7-Julieta Venegas- Unplugged
8-Amy Winehouse- Back to Black
9-Susan Tedeschi- Just Won’t Burn, Wait for Me
10- Olivia Newton John- Physical
11-Jimmy Reed- Bluesmasters- This CD got me to sing on stage.
Nice list! Susan Tedeschi is awesome!
I don’t really have a top ten list, but I can think of a few albums that definitely had an influence on me.
1) The Greatest Hits – Journey. This was the first album I listened from beginning to end. Definitely opened me up to the world of rock. Don’t judge! Steve Perry FTW!
2) Dookie – Green Day. This was my gateway album into the world of Alternative music and I have been a fan ever since.
3) Smash – Offspring. This was the second album I listened to in its entirety after falling in love with Alternative music. Great album!
4) One Hot Minute – Red Hot Chili Peppers. At this point, I knew I was hooked and Alternative was always going to be a major part of my music tastes.
5) Bad Hair Day – Weird Al. What made this album so life changing was that, believe it or not, this album was the first album I had ever bought in my life. I never had an allowance so when I finally saved up some money in high school, this is what I got. I still remember my cousin shaking his head when he asked me, “You bought that?” This man is a genius and funny as heck.
6) The Bridge – Ace of Base. Now I had heard this album before I bought it, but I finally bought this album years after it came out and was the first album I bought after I turned 18. My first album purchase as an adult! Since then, I’ve embraced Euro pop/dance music like a warm sweater on a cold winter night.
7) My Head Is an Animal – Of Monsters and Men. While the albums I listed above are not indicative of my eclectic tastes in music, my interests in music almost run the full gamut of musical genres. It has actually been a few years since I last physically bought an album as most purchases these days are digital. But something about their folksy music made me want to physically own the album as if somehow that would impart more of its musicality to me. Great stuff and it definitely reminds me that there is always great music out there in our vast world.
8) (Last but definitely not least…) Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits – Creedence Clearwater Revival. To this day I am such a huge fan of CCR and this may be the album I listened to most often as a kid. At the risk of dating myself, I actually took the time to record the album onto tape so I could listen to it all the time in my Walkman. Good stuff!
The mark of a great (and influential) album I believe lies in the fact that every track is golden and its replay value is through the roof!
Wonderful list Sir!