Twenty(Five) Life Changing Albums
I was tagged with this at Facebook, with the following instructions:
Think of 20 albums, CDs or LPs that had such a profound effect on you they changed your life; Music that affected you. Then when you finish, tag 20 others (or more), including me. Make sure you copy and paste this part so they know the drill. Get the idea now? Good.
It’s been a good 15-20 years since I believed that music can change my life, which is why this list clusters around 1979-80. List is ordered chronologically by when I discovered the album, but the year listed is year of actual release.This version adds five extra albums in the mix, and has some longer descriptions.
1. Johnny Cash – Live at Folsom Prison 1968/San Quentin 1969
These were my Dad’s, I now own the deluxe versions, and I’m pretty sure I still have the 45 of “A Boy Named Sue” in a box in the basement. Cash is a mainstay on my iPod. Never saw him live, although I had a few chances; I think I feared he couldn’t meet expectations. Probably should have given him the chance.
Thanks Dad.
“But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die”
2. Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 1973
35 tears later I still know all the words to most every song on this double album. More bands should cover “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” live.
“Your sister can’t twist but she got more soul than me”
3. Meatloaf – Bat Out Of Hell 1977
For some reason this bombastic, nonsensical work-of-genius still resonates with me. Todd Rundgren, Edgar Winter, Phil Rizzuto, Roy Bittan, etc. It’s a wonder that this ever got made.
“baby you’re the only thing in this whole world, that’s pure and good and right.”
4. Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks 1977
There is everything that preceded this, and everything that followed. It took me several hearings over a few months to get past the noise so I could appreciate it.
“She was a no one who killed her baby”
5. Elvis Costello – This Year’s Model 1978
On iTunes, I’ve rated about 14% of my songs with 5 stars. This album’s original track list has 9 of 12 at that rating. Best Saturday Night Love music appearance ever.
“there are some words that don’t allow to be spoken”
6. The Specials – The Specials 1979
Backbeat, porkpie hats, skinny ties, 2-tones.
“better think of your future”
7. Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures 1979
We all joked that this was music to commit suicide by, until the lead singer did.
“I guess they died some time ago”
8. Gang of Four – Entertainment! 1979
Useful Idiots making great music. They basically invented post-punk indstrial funk.
“She doesn’t think so but she’s dressed for the H-Bomb”
9. The Clash – London Calling 1979
Released at the very end of 1979, this was named top album of the 80s by Rolling Stone, which would mean they that decade had its best music behind it before it started. Famously promoted as “18 new songs from the only band that matters,” the boys held up their end (and added a joke) after marketing made the stickers. The opening chords still excite – the last hidden gem still sparkles.
“and you know what they sad, well some of it was true”
10. The Pretenders – Pretenders 1980
A “girl group” with just one girl who was more, much more, than a pretty face and voice. Good for Ray Davies.
“full of grace, you cover your face”
11. David Bowie – Scary Monsters 1980
Reinventing himself, old school glam, and MTV, all by himself.
“listen to me, don’t listen to me”
12. Squeeze – ArgyBargy 1980
Best songwriting duo since those Liverpool blokes.
“She made a call to a sympathetic friend and made arrangements”
13. Prince – Dirty Mind 1980
Nobody knew how to classify this; eventually we realized it didn’t matter.
“Oh girl, when U were mine, I used 2 let U wear all my clothes”
14. Psychedelic Furs – Talk Talk Talk 1980
Punk influenced pop. Strip away the British, anorexic pretty boy glam, and it presages early 90s grunge. Tough decision between this and the first album.
“you didn’t leave me anything that I can understand”
15. Michael Jackson – Off The Wall 1979
Ah, Michael, before all the weirdness, brought to perfection with Quincy’s help. Side One is unmatched, with 2 of the top 10 (maybe top 5) dance songs of all time.
“And when the groove is dead and gone, You know that love survives”
16. The dB’s -Repercussion 1982
Quirky power pop that never found its audience. Holsapple and Stamey would also rank in the top songwriting duos, except they didn’t actually write together. Their first album, “Stands for Decibels,” also could make the list.
“She left me here with just one word, The one thing that I heard”
17. Violent Femmes 1982
A primal folk punk scream. From Milwaukee.
“Nine for a lost god, and ten, ten, ten, ten, for everything.”
18. Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense 1984
Saw the show at Forest Hills tennis stadium, bought the vinyl, saw the movie, bought the CD, the VHS, and the DVD. A beat box and an acoustic guitar; the Catherine Wheel; “who’s got a match;” the Tom Tom Club; the P-Funk imports; the Big Suit; the backup singers’ slow motion limbo during the synthesized organ chords in “Once In A Lifetime.”
“and you love me till my heart stops”
19. Various – Stay Awake (Hal Wilner) 1988
Hal Wilner basically invented the tribute album, which nobody else has ever mastered. This is his most accessible, yet it’s still surprisingly dark. If you can find a copy, the liner notes are worth reading.
“all innocent children had better beware”
20. Wynton Marsalis – Standard Time Vol. 3 The Resolution of Romance 1990
The best one of his Standard Time series, with his dad Ellis on piano comprising half of a quartet that is spare and lush at the same time. “The Very Thought Of You” and “My Romance” stand out.
21. U2 – Achtung Baby 1991/ Soundtrack – Until the End Of the World 1991
When the end of the 20th Century meant the future. I always consider these a unit, with a surprising coherence.
“you miss too much these days if you stop to think”
22. Duran Duran – Duran Duran (The Wedding Album) 1993
A masterwork released about 4 years after everyone decided they were has-beens. I don’t think even they realized they had it in them.
“I turned on the lights the TV and the radio but still I can’t escape the ghost of you”
23. The Crow 1994
My Quake I soundtrack; if you don’t know what that means, you might be better off. Haunting music for a movie whose back story is more affecting than the movie itself.
“And the women crying and the children know, That there’s something wrong”
24. Fountains of Wayne – Utopia Parkway 1999
The last “new” band I’ve become a fan of – saying more about me than the state of current music, I’m sure. Another quirky power pop classic.
“Monday gonna take a ride on The N train down to Coney Island”
25. Sixpence None the Richer – Divine Discontent 2002
I’ve no idea why this is considered Christian pop; but then, I didn’t see what was Christian about the Narnia books the first time I read them, so I can be kind of dense. Just beautiful, gorgeous pop/rock.
“when I lose control, I can only breathe your name”
