A friend of mine recently asked on his blog what his friends top ten albums were. While this is a nearly impossible task - it was fun to try to think what they are. Below was my list in response to his blog. Anyone else have a top 10 album list? I would love to post it.
OK - here goes - this will no doubt be a little embarrassing.
Due to the difficulty of this these are in no particular order.
Pink Floyd - The Final Cut - this was my salvation during my teen angst years and now that I am older and look back at some of the music I listened too in my youth I am glad at least I had some good taste.
Fleetwood Mac - Rumors- this is the only album I am aware of where every song was a hit. Still blows my mind.
ABBA Gold - I told you it was embarrassing. Sometimes we can't describe what it is about the music that we love. I just know this album makes me feel good.
Tom Waits - Closing time. My adult angst album.
Nina Simone - I can't even pic an album - they are all amazing. When I first heard her cover of Just Like a Woman - I actually wept - she took a song and just because she sang it - she gave it a whole new story. She was amazing.
Free to be you and me - Marlo Thomas and friends - laugh if you must but I got this album in 4th grade and listened to it over and over. Shel Silverstein, Mean Joe Green, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Mel Brooks, Carol Channing, are just some of the talents who lent themselves to this album.
Other Voices Other Rooms - Nanci Griffith - this is a nostalgic music trip. Imagine if chicken pot pie and mashed potatoes were an album.
Simon and Garfunkel - greatest hits. maybe I spoke too soon when I said Rumors was the only album I knew of where every song was a hit - it goes for this one too. but this is a greatest hits album so maybe that doesn't count. Still - every track is poetry.
Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks - during the first time Dylan was Jewish before he went Christian and then came back - this album was created and g-d said it was good. Amen.
Avenue Q - did you think this list would be free of Musicals? Avenue Q defeated the odds by winning the Tony award for best musical against Wicked. It is hilariously clever and surprisingly touching. Download this: "Everyone's a little bit racist" and "I wish you could meet my girlfriend".
19 comments:
OK, this is tough, and no doubt will surprise you - something to think about during the Super Bowl. Thank you my friend:
1. Okay, see, I had Thriller here, but I must replace it with Aerosmith - Big Ones. Picking just ten is hard.
2. I, too, have about worn my Rumors CD thin after replacing the cassette. Good times.
3. Metallica - Metallica. See, I said you would be shocked. Love me some Alice in Chains, too.
4. James Taylor Live - 2 CD set. When Jamie was a newborn and still today, I play(ed) Sweet Baby James over and over.
5. Barbara Streisand - Back to Broadway, though I have issues that make me sad, and I can't listen to it anymore.
6. Black Eyed Peas - Monkey Business. Awesome car dancing possibilities.
7. The Cranberries - Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (Or really any) Such a unique sound.
8. Dixie Chicks - Home. Pure talent.
9. Wicked. Duh.
10. The Light In the Piazza. Again? Two big, gut-bustin' soprano roles. Sigh...someday when I'm old enough to play the mom.
Can you say eclectic? That was fun. Thanks JB.
wow - Lisa. some of these are shockers. You are a rocker chick. Thanks for taking the time to do this! :)
Yay, this is fun! I'm about to date myself...
1. Tapestry by Carole King. Wore it out in middle school.
2. Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd. I still want to try listening to this while watching The Wizard of Oz with the sound turned off.
3. Vocalese by The Manhattan Transfer. This is the kind of singing I most like to do.
4. Madman Across the Water by Elton John. His early stuff, before his ego became so inflated, was so good.
5. Hotcakes by Carly Simon. She and James Taylor were such a cool couple.
6. Gorilla by James Taylor. He and Carly Simon were such a cool couple.
7. Soundtrack to Mary Poppins. Made my mom play it for me every bloody night as I was going to sleep.
8. Soundtrack to The King and I. This is Rogers and Hammerstein's best score, in my opinion.
9. ABC by the Jackson Five. My first album! Got it for Christmas with the little stereo from Sears.
10. Innervisions by Stevie Wonder. He took Motown to a whole new level.
Aww, how cool for you to get to do that show (Tapestry) at the Mill. I love that she had a guest role on Gilmore Girls.
Lisa - what are you talking about? Something about Janine?
Yeah, Her #1 in her comment was the basis for a show she was in at the Mill. Sorry I wasn't clear.
Oh cool - thanks for clarifying
Going to date myself as well (not go out on a date with myself…you know what I mean…) Anyway, in no particular order…
Joe Jackson – Look Sharp. I simply can’t sit still if this album is on.
Lynyrd Skynyrd – One More from the Road. I was ashamed of being a southern rock fan for a long time. I’ve learned to embrace it. I could do a whole list of my favorite southern rock albums – yes, that’s embarrassing.
Cake – Comfort Eagle. “Short Skirt / Long Jacket” – probably among my top 5 favorite songs of all time (it was recently featured in the movie “Waitress.”)
Barenaked Ladies – Gordon. This band is just fun and they were funnest on this their first album.
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon. I did the Wizard of Oz thing at the Byrd like 10 years ago and for my money, it didn’t quite work. The album still rocks though.
Paul Simon – Graceland. One of the first three CDs I ever bought. I like Simon & Garfunkel but I think Paul rewrote the book with this one.
James Taylor – I would say his first Greatest Hits album but that seems like cheating a little. And actually I have probably played “New Moon Shine” more often. “JT” and “Never Die Young” are also pretty awesome. Going to have to go with “New Moon Shine.” For now…
Neil Young – Decade. This also feels like cheating since it’s a compilation of his best early work. Could also say “Harvest.” Or “Rust Never Sleeps.” Oy.
“The Commitments” soundtrack. If you’ve never heard it, it’s awesome. Great covers of some of the best songs of the 1960s.
U2 – Achtung Baby. So much U2, so little time.
Lyle Lovett – Pontiac or Lyle Lovett and his Large Band. See below.
k.d. Lang – Absolute Torch and Twang. Lyle and k.d. always go together in my mind because I first heard them at the same time and they both seem like incredible artists who don’t take themselves too seriously. I like that.
OK, I know it’s twelve. But I just couldn’t stop. And I refrained from even mentioning the Beatles. Sorry to run on...
okay, I'll try and come up with ten...
Dave Matthews Under the Table and Dreaming
U2 The Joshua Tree
The Indigo Girls Closer to Fine
The Black Crowes Shake Your Money Maker
Squeeze Singles
John Mayer Room For Squares
The Connells Fun & Games
drivin n cryin whisper tames the lion
James Taylor Greatest Hits
REM Lifes Rich Pageant
wow - thanks guys - I hope you had as much fun with this as I have. It is fun to see your different choices and your similar choices too.
Oooo Dave, I LOVE the Commitments. Great movie, and I had it on cassette, so I haven't heard it in years. I'll have to remedy that. Thanks!
Love this post JB. Now I have lots of tunes to check out.
Dave - I am so impressed with your Skynyrd confession. Very hot and southern. And you reminded me how much I LOVE Lyle Lovett- Pontiac, Joshua Judges Ruth and I love Everybody are all great albums.
and Leli - I knew John Mayer was going to be on your list - I was just surprised anyone else made it on there. :)
1. The Wiz (1975 Broadway Cast)
2. Dreamgirls (Broadway Cast)
3. The Color Purple (Broadway, but I'd like to add that song from the movie "God is trying to tell you something")
4. Billie Holiday all albums
5. The Mills Brothers greatest hits
They're listed in no particular order. I didn't notice the theme until I had finished my list, but these seem to have something in common. Chalk it up to it being Black History Month.
you need 5 more Sissy!
My next 5 (I was supposed to list 10) are
6. That classical Peter and the Wolf album we had as kids (does anyone know what that was or where I can find it?)
7. James Taylor's Greatest Hits
8. Grease (movie soundtrack)
9. Sonny and Cher's Greatest Hits
10. Steve Miller Band's Greatest Hits
Okay - here goes (in no particular order)....
1. Alanis Morrisette - Jagged Little Pill. I still listen to this on long car trips and sing at the top of my lungs. It ain't pretty.
2. The Cure - Standing on the Beach. Unbelievable guitar and vocals. Robert Smith is a genius.
3. Paul Simon - Graceland. 'Nuff said.
4. Jane Siberry - The Speckless Sky. In the vein of Laurie Anderson, but happier.
5. Vanessa Carlton - Be Not Nobody. Love love love this album!
6. Alan Davis - Blame it on Me. What a voice! Especially on the song 32 Flavors.
7. Color Purple Broadway Soundtrack. Makes me cry.
8. ABC - The Lexicon of Love. Quintessential 80's and oh-so-smooth.
9. Because I Said So Movie Soundtrack. So-so movie but an excellent soundtrack.
10. Crosby, Stills, & Nash - Self Titled Debut Album. Judy Blue Eyes might be one of my favorite songs of all time...
Wow! This was tough, but very thought provoking... Thanks Schmill Schmari!
Number 6 - Alan Davis is actually supposed to be ALANA Davis.... Sorry Alana!
Thank you Mr. Sparki. There is stuff I have never heard of on your list. I must investigate.
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