My goodness. It has been far too long since I posted here.
There are many silly challenges issued on Facebook.
But this one got me thinking: name your top ten favorite albums. And I started
thinking “Can I name just ten?” Well, I can’t. Oh, well. But it was fun to look
and determine which ones are my current favorites. The newest album on the list
is actually from 1995, so these have all stood the test of time in my life. And
there are so many from 1967-1974. One would think that this was a great era in
rock music. (It was).
There are quite a few I could listen to over and over again
(desert island albums), but I narrowed it down to my top ten, and then a second
ten. No greatest hits compilations were listed. I will have to follow up with a favorite songs list sometime. That will be bigger challenge.
So here goes the first ten (in no particular order):
Kind of Blue—Miles Davis
Time Out—Dave Brubeck
Close to the Edge—Yes
Tapestry—Carole King
Chicago Transit Authority
Wish You Were Here—Pink Floyd
My Favorite Things—John Coltrane
Caravanserai—Santana
Prisoner in Disguise—Linda Ronstadt
Bridge of Sighs—Robin Trower
My second ten (honorable mention) are:
Texas Flood—Stevie Ray Vaughan
South of I-10—Sonny Landreth
Eat A Peach—The Allman Brothers Band
Holland—The Beach Boys
Boston—Boston
Desperado—Eagles
Brain Salad Surgery—Emerson Lake & Palmer
Layla and Other Love Songs—Derek and the Dominoes
Led Zeppelin IV (Untitled)
Who’s Next—The Who
Let me introduce the top ten, again, in no particular order:
1.
Kind of Blue is probably the best jazz album
ever. It’s full of great rhythms and catchy tunes that stick in my head and I
don’t mind. Miles and band were really cooking on this one.
2.
Time Out is Brubeck’s exploration of alternative
time signatures and pitting one time signature against another discordant time
signature. Take Five is the showpiece, with Dave playing in 5/4 on piano while
the rhythm section is playing 4/4 against it. Again, some wonderful earworms
here.
3.
Close to the Edge was the first magnum opus by
Yes. Only three songs on the album, but to me they were marvels of composition
and performance. Who cares if the words don’t make sense; the vocals were
considered the fifth instrument. And the musicians all perform far beyond my
level (another plus). Down at the end, close by the river.
4.
Tapestry augmented my commitment to the piano by
showcasing its value as a lead instrument. I learned some of the songs when I
was young, and love to hear them. Do you feel the earth move?
5.
Chicago Transit Authority was the double debut
album for Chicago. This album is more jazz than rock, but it’s a good mix of
the two. This was a new band finding their way in a marvelous way. Lots of good
improvisation, and where else will you find trombone solos in rock? Does
anybody really know what time it is?
6.
Wish You Were Here was Pink Floyd’s follow-up to
the incomparable Dark Side of the Moon. I first heard it in the apartment of
one of my youth leaders from church. To be honest, this was a favorite
soundtrack to dental school studying because it was sufficiently mellow, and
full of instrumentals. But I still love listening to it. By the way, which one’s
Pink?
7.
My Favorite Things was John Coltrane’s take on
the Rogers and Hammerstein tune. This just floored me the first time I heard
it. It is a great pick-me-up tune, but not for the faint of heart. This was a
good hard bop approach, and the counterpoint in the rhythms spoke to me.
8.
Caravanserai is a highly underrated album by
Santana (their fourth, I believe). It is has a very jazzy feel to it. Full of
improvisation. It is not as heavily Latin as Abraxas, but it is obviously
Santana. Also good study music. Just in time to see the sun.
9.
Prisoner in Disguise was from Linda Ronstadt’s
heartache era, along with Don’t Cry Now, Heart like a Wheel and Simple Dreams.
A favorite because she taught me harmonies. I still love to sing along with
this. Especially the challenge of singing J.D. Souther’s part on the title
song. And when Linda sings I will always love you, you can feel the emotion
(unlike Whitney Houston’s just blasting it: hideous).
10. Bridge
of Sighs by Robin Trower was definitely the blues, which I have always loved,
but it was a spacey kind of blues with a power I hadn’t heard before. The title
song captured the feel of one’s last walk across the bridge of sighs. Living in
the day of the eagle!
Now let me introduce the second ten, also in no particular order:
11. Texas
Flood was the first effort by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. I was
introduced to this in Texas and fell in love with the music. Raw, powerful
blues played with feeling. From beginning to end, this grabbed my attention.
She’s my sweet little thang; she’s my pride and joy.
12. South
of I-10 came from Sonny Landreth, a slide guitar player from Louisiana who
combines the blues with a smidgen of zydeco and Cajun and creates a wonderful
musical gumbo. He has a unique style of playing, and a decent voice. Another
desert island choice. Been to New Orleans, sho’ had a wonderful time.
13. Eat
A Peach was the Allman Brothers’ effort in the midst of tragedies that struck
the band in rapid succession. Virtuosic guitar and bass work combined with the
Hammond B-3 and dual drummers. Our neighbor across the street introduced me to
this one. I loved Mountain Jam (two whole album sides), and Ain’t Wastin’ Time no
More. Last Sunday morning, the sunshine fell like rain.
14. Holland
was a unique album by the Beach Boys. This was introduced to me by another
youth leader in church, and I fell in love with it. Besides Sail On, Sailor and
Leaving this Town, my favorite is California Saga. It featured the poetry of
Robinson Jeffers, and includes some great old Beach Boys harmonies. Get
yourself in that cool, clear water.
15. Boston
debuted in 1976 with an album that was top notch from beginning to end. More Than
a Feeling and Long Time were two of the highlights. Incredible chemistry in a
debut album. There was something about you that brought a change over me.
16. Desperado
was the Eagles sophomore effort. It compared the life of a rock star to the
gunfighters of the Wild West, and pulled it off in grand style. To me, there
are no weak points in this album. I loved learning the harmonies and even some
of the instrumentals. Take another shot of courage.
17. Brain
Salad Surgery was ELP at their peak. Karn Evil 9 was a magnum opus of sorts for
the band, and it introduced me to the British hymn Jerusalem. Some called it
bombastic, but I liked their combination of classical themes with good rocking.
It spoke to me as teenager, and still does. Welcome back my friends to the show
that never ends.
18. Layla
and Other Love Songs was an amazing compilation of blues songs, old and new.
Layla caught everyone’s attention, but I soon fell in love with Bell Bottom Blues
and Anyday. The interplay between Clapton and Allman is almost unequaled in
recorded rock. And I enjoy Bobby Whitlock’s organ work, too. There are two
tunes now that I can listen to anytime: Have You Ever Loved a Woman? and Nobody
Knows You When You’re Down and Out. Blues that can make me feel good on bad
days. Gonna hang on to it until that old eagle grins.
19. Led
Zeppelin IV is a favorite that goes beyond Stairway to Heaven. Rock and Roll
was one that always got me up. I loved the mystical Battle of Evermore, and the
beauty of Going to California. But the clincher for me was When the Levee Breaks.
The power of the drums, then the wailing of the harmonica floored me the first
time I heard it. Zep introduced me in a roundabout way to many of the older
blues musicians and their songs. Going to California with an aching in my
heart.
20. Who’s
Next and Quadrophenia were a tossup in my mind. But the music from their Lifehouse
project is the best. I think this one was good from beginning to end. Yes,
there are the usual favorites Baba O’Riley and Behind Blue Eyes, and of course,
We Don’t Get Fooled Again. But The Song is Over and Getting in Tune struck a
chord with me, perhaps because of their introspective nature. And Pure and Easy
is probably the best reject ever (it didn’t make the album). I’m singing this
note coz it fits in well with the way I’m feeling.
I couldn’t stop with just 20. Even college football
has a top 25 now.
21. The
Lord’s Prayer was in our home for many, many years. I grew up on this one. I
wish the Mormon Tabernacle Choir would consider recording this one again. The
arrangement of O, My Father still brings tears to my eyes. It introduced me to
Handel’s Messiah with For Unto Us a Child Is Born. It features the Wilhousky
arrangement of Battle Hymn of the Republic, with Alexander Schreiner rocking
the Tabernacle organ (they do it with orchestra now, and it isn’t the same).
The highlight for me is Blessed Are They That Mourn from Brahms’ Requiem. Mine
eyes have seen the glory …
22. Harvest
was Neil Young’s breakthrough. Our bus driver loved this one, and I came to
love it, too. It covers Neil’s many moods, from folky to rocking to ballads and
he does it all well. Old man, take a look at my life.
23. Rumours
demonstrates a truism that conflict can produce great art. Another album that
is great from beginning to end. Great harmonies and great musicianship, but
more on my level than many of the others. And this album spawned another great “reject:”
Silver Springs. If you don’t love me now you will never love me again.
24. Cosmo’s
Factory was Creedence Clearwater Revival’s tribute to their musical influences.
Of course, I didn’t know that when I first got it. I just liked the songs and
the way the band interpreted them. The rhythm section was unique, but I didn’t know
why. And I wonder, still I wonder, who’ll stop the rain.
25. The
Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys is an album by Traffic that has provided me with
some moments of serious enjoyment. Steve Winwood is an amazing talent, and
Chris Wood soloing on sax with a wah-wah pedal was brilliant. The man in the
suit has just bought a new car with the profit he made on your dreams.
This was difficult to distill down to just a few
favorites, but I think that these albums represent those that I can listen to
over and over again, as well as those that have had meaning in my life. After
all, isn’t a classic something that is timeless?
The reader will note some omissions. There are no
Beatles’ albums, nor are the Rolling Stones included here. I couldn’t pick out
a best by Ray Charles, B.B. King or Buddy Guy. I did not include any classical
albums, either. These were strong influences, but it is hard to pick out
individual albums.
I am certain that anyone who reads this will feel
that I didn’t include one of their favorites, or that I included something they
particularly dislike. That’s fine. It’s all a matter of taste, anyway.
What are your favorites? If you are commenting,
please limit it to three to five albums, please.
