If I were stranded on a desert island in the middle of Colorado ;) I would take with me:
NUMBER 1
"AJA" by Steely Dan
I never get tired of hearing this album. It's clean. It's perfect. It's musically creative. It's cool, hot, funky and smooth. I remember where I was when I first laid ears on it. Steely Dan is the rock and jazz musicians' music. They are known for perfection and quality. This is their legendary album.
The title song, Aja, is a tapestry. It features one of my favorite drummers, Steve Gadd. I do remember where I was when I first heard this album. I was on vacation in northern Idaho - Coeur d'Alene- in 1978, I believe. (beautiful country) I bought that cassette and put it to listen. I remember where I was - exactly - when I first heard this music.
As a drummer, I also never get tired of playing with this album.
NUMBER 2
"Take Five"
Dave Brubeck Quartet
This album is simply revolutionary. Pure and simply a masterpiece if ever one was recorded. Again, I never get tired of hearing even one of the tracks. Innovative is an understatement. Perfection. Creative. Colorful jazz. Simple yet extremely complex at the same time.
Brubeck had a fun time playing with odd time signatures. Instead of the standard four beats per measure (rock & roll, swing, dixieland, etc...) he went out of bounds...writing tunes with 5 beats per measure "Take Five." He also mixed and matched time signatures. "Three to Get Ready" is based on two bars 3/4 2 bars 4/4. "Blue Rondo a la Turk" is based on 3 bars 2/4 1 bar 3/4 - with a few twists and turns included. Flawlessly performed by his quartet, it includes laid back swing jazz, morphing into multi-time-signature-cross-beats...all while a melodic tune is being played on top. You must listen to this album.
NUMBER 3
"THE BEATLES" White Album
This is where it gets complex. I am not just a fan of this album and The Beatles, but I also took a college course on The Beatles. This is a tough album for a lot of people to listen to - in its entirety. That is because it is the Beatles at their peak of artistic freedom.
To explain this album, requires a set-up and explaination of the Beatles' musical revolution. I will try to do it quickly (agghh.) The Beatles began in the early 1960s playing standard Rock and Roll. They wrote some great standard rock and roll songs, played on the Ed Sullivan Show, and were instantly hugely popular amongst the teenagers. They were cute, and were playing rock and roll with new energy. Their songs were melodic, harmonic, had a good beat, and were easy to dance to.
Then the Beatles started writing some great music, including outstanding love songs and ballads. Some of the compositions (Yesterday, Norwiegan Wood, Eleanor Rigby, In My Life etc...) were getting the attention of the intellegent musical crowd. Those who were studied composers and musically trained, had to take notice of these teen sensations...because they were now writing sophisticated music and lyrics. The Beatles (McCartney, Lennon, Harrison) were each taking rock and roll into new territory. They were not only writing "respectable" songs, but also incredibly unique and beautiful music.
The Beatles then started experimenting with drugs. Alcohol and marijuana in the early years. LSD later on. This led to a new sound. With producer, George Martin, they experimented musically with sounds, lyrics and melodies. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was a brilliantly produced and written album. Never before had anyone written or heard anything like it. George Harrison brought "world" music into U.S. homes. This type of music earned the respect of the "art" or "creative" crowd.
So, the Beatles had earned the repspect and attention of teenagers, intellengent musicians, composers, creative artists. Now what would they do next?
The White Album is the culmination of their journey as revolutionary musicians/popular song writers. On this album, one minute you will hear some of the most beautiful songs (Mother Nature's Son, Julia, Blackbird, I Will) then the next minute hear perhaps the first ever heavy metal song "Helter Skelter," a totally advant guard non melodic piece "Number 9," plus great blues songs, "Yer Blues" "Revolution," great storytelling "Rocky Raccoon," fun songs "Ob-la-di Ob-la-da," and everything in between. McCartney's positive melodic songs "Martha My Dear" were a stark contrast to Lennon's heroin induced songs "Happiness is a Warm Gun." No album before, or since, that I know of, contains such an eclectic mix of songs. But that isn't why it is such a great album.
This album, and the Beatle's catalogue up to this point, had revolutionized popular music. They redefined it. They changed it. Nothing before them had ever sounded like this. They had absolutely no boundaries, for better or for worse. They took rock music and infused country, ballads, blues, heavy metal, world music, symphonic orchestration, and whatever else they desired. If they had been "average" song writers, it would have been one thing. But they were exceptionally talented songwriters. Combined with the history of the time (war, civil rights movement, drug use, psychadelic art) the Beatles were the most influencial musicians of our time. The White Album is so ecletic, it captures multi facets. That is why I appreciate it so much. It's not simple. It's very complex.
"My Aim is True"
Elvis Costello
I hestitate to pick my "favorite" past the first three. The first three are rock solid picks, due to their revolutionary music and perfection as artistic achievments. Now, I am simply going through albums and CDs, listening and deciding which ones are my favorites. There might be no particular order, but I will start listing them anyway.
After recently listening to Elvis Costello's debut album, I realized why that album was Rolling Stone's Album of the Year in 1977.
What makes "My Aim is True" special? The drive. The feel. And the tunes. There are bouncing shuffle tunes, driving rock, reggae, and one stand out ballad. The drummer drives this album from beginning to end. That "drive" can be felt in each song. I do not listen to lyrics so I do not judge an album by the words. (Perhaps I should) I simply listen to the music. These are short, to the point songs that have a strong, upbeat drive to them. Many have a a shuffle, or bouncy feel (Pay It Back) Others a fast drive (Mystery Dance, I'm Not Angry) The reggae "Watching the Detectives" stands out. Then, after one short melodic blast after another, Costello throws you the curve ball change up. "Allison" is one of the most distinct ballads written. If you had to use a sports analogy...this album would be like a great pitcher. It has energy, speed, curves, sliders, and every pitch is a strike.
Once again, this is an album that I can listen to from beginning to end, and still want more. That qualifies it as special. But just because I love this album, does not mean I have not been an Elvis Costello fan since it came out. I am not. So this is odd. This first album is worth listening to.
I did see Elvis Costello play a few tunes, including "Watching the Detectives" from this, his first and best album. It was about the year 2003 at a free record store appearance. He came in, sat down, plugged in his guitar and sang. Unfortunatly, the sound quality was too raw and distorted to really appreciate. I got what I paid for.
Pink Floyd - ANIMALS
Dreamy. Spacey. Driving. Hypnotic. And sounds of pigs and dogs...mixed in. This is a great album. The thing that makes it a great album...is that there is not a spot during it when I want to stop listening. It brings back memories. I again, never have listened to the words...so I have no idea what the lyrics are saying. I am a drummer and listen to the music. This music tells a story. I have no idea what it is, but I like it.
Here are other albums which are on my favorite list: The Doobie Brothers "Toulouse Street" This is vintage 1970s classic rock with a lot of soul. The sound is awesome on this recording. James Taylor "Sweet Baby James" A timeless classic.
Van Halen "Van Halen" Their first album is classic, because nobody had ever heard anyone play guitar like Eddie Van Halen before this album. I remember where I was when I first heard it. I had the chance to see the reunion tour with David Lee Roth. They played 9 songs from this album. After 24 years of waiting, the reunion was worth the price of the ticket. It is one of the best rock albums of all time.
Little Feat "Time Loves A Hero" This album is full of laid back funk, rock, blues and fusion. Great musicianship and great songwriting.
