Van Morrison, the Clash, Sinatra and the Beach Boys for me Graham, with the Sun recordings EP, Duane Eddy, Dylan, Van Morrison and soft rock bohemoth Randy Newman for you. Is that a correct summary? I think that leaves you with one pick and two left for me
Last edited by Derby Tup; 30-10-2014 at 06:42 PM.
Poacher turned game-keeper
Wurzels
Smokie - Midnight Cafe
The Green God
Neil Young: His best album is probably Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere-his second, so he has been a long time declining- but I like After The Gold Rush because I think he has never improved on Southern Man as a rocker (although Like A Hurricane is sui generis) and with Only Love Can Break Your Heart- well the title says it all.Originally Posted by Derby Tup
And the greatest live album of all time is Five Live Yardbirds which changed the world of live recording.
Incidentally, I am always intrigued by people liking eg the Beatles, who they could not have heard in their time (because they were sometimes not even born). I did because it was impossible to avoid them but I never liked them.
When I write my master piece (yep it's a Dylan song) it will be about the distinction between music you like, maybe very much, but music you have come to later-and music that is part of your very being because of its significance in your life when you heard it.
I know I will like the Jamie recordings 1957-1962 (Not RCA Victor) of Duane Eddy or Dylan 1963-66 until the day I die because it isn't just music: it is a switch into my life.
I suppose it's like Buddy Holly: I know exactly where I was and to 10 minutes the time when I heard he had died but I cannot even tell you the year when Lennon died or, now I think of it anyone else; Sid Vicious, Redding, Cobain, Joplin, Mercury,...because I have never bought any of their stuff and their entire output means nothing to me.
Last edited by Graham Breeze; 31-10-2014 at 01:33 AM.
Fine post and a brilliant artist. I've been reading up on Danny Witten; what a waste
Poacher turned game-keeper
You are very kind. A final thought.
I also think there is a profound diffence between coming to an artist’s complete works and living contemporaneously with their development.
So if, say, you discover the 7 symphonies of Sibelius and you start with #7 you know that is the best Sibelius believed he could do, although he lived for many more decades. You might work back to his earlier symphonic work but all 7 are there before you as a whole.
But for Dylan and me and, say, his first 7 albums, which are probably his most important in terms of his transformation and growth as an artist and massive contribution to music , since he is only a few years older than me he was releasing those albums when I was at university (albeit not Minnesota) and so part of the musical bonding was wondering about and then enjoying every staggering change in musical direction. It was in real time.
And in terms of Sibelius #7, after the apogee of Blonde on Blonde we who were there were wondering where he could go next. And the reality was that Dylan did not know where to go next, so he just stopped working for several years.
And came back with John Wesley Harding: but enough already!
Last edited by Graham Breeze; 31-10-2014 at 10:30 AM.
I'm struggling with a rock steady or reggae album. They are not really genres that lend themselves to the long format. Willie Williams album Messenger Man is regarded by many as a key work and unusually in reggae a complete album, rather than a collection of recordings intended as single releases. It also contains one of the worst guitar wig outs (dread outs?) ever
However, I think I'm going with Heart of the Congos. Peak period Lee Perry production at the Black Ark. Some of the very best JA musicians, and vocalists so good that Cool Ruler Gregory Isaacs was a session back-up. Again a proper album and although I've spent way too long listening to Scratch productions this is so complex there's always something new to learn
Poacher turned game-keeper
I vividly remember the scramble for the longest toy plank in the playbox at primary school so you could mimic John or Paul instead of having to be Ringo at playtime! My parents had very little contemporary vinyl (my Dad was a huge Schwartzkopf and Wagner fan) but they did have the first Beatles EP. My Mum played it to death for me. I remember scribbling on the sleeve!!!!!!!!!!! Pristine copies are priceless now, I believe.
The 'switch' into my musical life came much later. Vision On had a young filmmaker competition. Someone had done an avantgarde film shot in colour negative and the soundtrack was 'On The Run' by Pink Floyd. That was it!
Marvin Gaye - What's going on. Safe choice, possibly? A bit muso/journo top 100 listy, well yeah. An all time fave, sure fire, desert island classic, obviously
Poacher turned game-keeper
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