In no particular order: 1. Tom Waits – Rain Dogs (made me want to play guitar.) 2. Art Tatum – Solo Masterpieces (made me happy I didn’t start with piano. I listen to this any time I feel like I’ve gotten any good. Frank Zappa – Make a Jazz Noise Here (if not only because it’s the first record of his that I bought.
Zappa runners up would be Uncle Meat, You Cant Do That On Stage Anymore #2, One Size Fits All. Sonic Youth – Dirty (wore my SY tshirt every day of jr high. Sorry, kid who sat next to me. SY’s 6+9 and sus chords + fuzz run deep in my blood) 4.
DEVO – Are We Not Men (first and current favorite band of all time) 5. Sun Ra – Nothing Is (first of an endless collection of Sun Ra records/boots/live discs I have amassed) 6. The Move – Shazam / Wizzard – Wizzard Brew (heard them both the same day, instant favorites) 7.
Ethiopiques box set (which I listened to non-stop for a month when I first got it) 8. Jimmy Bryant + Speedy West – Stratosphere Boogie (duh) 9.
Ween – Pure Guava (might seem out of place, but was largely impactful none the less. For better or worse) 10. Aimee Mann – Lost in Space / Bachelor No.2 (both of which knocked my guitar socks off and both of which I ‘borrow’ from on a regular basis when recording. These 2 albums are master classes in how to use fuzz and echo on a ballad, and are regular spins around here) Runners Up: Anything ever touched by Jim O’Rourke or Jon Brion. Discovering Bobby Conn almost had me moving to Detroit to beg to be in his band. I have never skipped a Supergrass or Ramones song in my life.
Thanks you for your list. I will listen all of this music I haven’t heard previously. I made a short video of my top musical fragments, that touched me deeply List looks like 1.
Bill Evans at Village Vanguard with Scott La Faro 1961 2. Bartok – Adagio Tranquilo from “Music for strings” etc 1936 2a. Bartok – Music For Percussion, Celesta and Strings – 2nd part 3.
Miles Davis – Get Up With It (first track is absolutely great – what’s a tone of Gaumont!) 4. Shostakovich – Largo from Symphony No. Shostakovich – Piano sonata no. 2 – I consider it’s deep music 6. Tow Waits – Rain Dogs, Big Time and Night On Earth (thanks for your work!) 7.
Fleetwood Mac – Blues in B flat Minor from 1969 8. Webern – last part of 1909 String Quartet (version for Symphony orchestra) 9. Webern – Variatons for Orchestra, 1940 10.
Miles Davis – On The Corner 11. Duke Ellington – Blanton/Webster Band 12.
Bartok – Notturno no. 97 from Mikrokosmos 13. Pierre Boulez – Tonbeau from Pli Selon Pli 14. Stravinski – “Sacrifice” from ROS 15. Luigi Nono – Due Espressioni 1953 16. Khachaturian – 1940 Violin Concerto – slow part 17. Stan Kenton – late 40’s Pete Rugolo things like “Elegy for Alto” etc 18.
Not to fall to deep pression absolutelyit’s possibly Marvin Gaye’s “I want you” and Leon Ware’s “Musical Massage” – it’s subtle as I hear 19. Miles Davis – Bitches Brew track – (beginning) 20 Zvuki Mu – Traffic Policeman – 1989 Russian Band recorded by Brian Eno – this track is on youtube etc etc Thanks! No particular order. Eric Clapton 461 Ocean Boulevard. My first exposure to Clapton and still one of my favourites.
Fleetwood Macs greatest hits. The first incarnation of the Mac. PG at his height. John Renbourn-The Black Balloon. Renaissance, jazz, blues and folk from the mighty John Renbourn.
James Taylors greatest hits. Wore this one out figuring out the guitar parts. Bill Frisell. Good dog happy man. Amazing interplay between Frisell and Greg Leisz. Chicken Skin Music.
Still can’t play like him. Rickie Lee Jones.
Unbelievably good. Pink Floyd The Wall. Dark and mysterious. Donald Fagan The Nightfly. The Henry’s Desert Cure.
A recent find and an absolute cracker. Love your list, Joe! And I love that you are still going about the ‘Sympathy’ solo! My theory now is that it’s Steve Winwood: So much similarity to ‘Dear Mr. Fantasy’ – same producer, studio and basic chord sequence. Winwood is quite Claptonesque but with a faster vibrato – maybe they added tons of treble to ‘disguise’ it a bit.
Maybe I’m completely wrong and certainly off topic So here’s my list: 1. Jimi Hendrix Experience ‘Electric Ladyland’ Speaks for itself I’d say but what was side 4 of the vinyl is THE most perfect LP side for me: Still Raining, Still Dreaming House Burining Down Watchtower Voodoo Child (Slight Return) 2. Allman Brothers ‘Live At Fillmore East Duane Allman’s first solo on ‘Whipping Post’ feels like riding through the desert on a racehorse. Betts/Allman to me was the greatest guitar team of them all. In perfect sync and never in combat though different enough from each other to keep it exciting. Julian Bream plays Villa-Lobos: Guitar Concerto, London Symphony Orchestra, Andre Previn / Five Preludes Heard this on vinyl at a guitar store in the late 70s and got hooked from the first notes.
A neighbour just found a pristine vinyl of this ina thrifttstore and gave to me when I told him it was one of my fave albumsof all time. Jeff Buckley ‘Grace’ After decades of listening and playing music the ‘knockout’ moments seem to become rarer and rarer. When I first heard ‘Grace’ shortly after Jeff passed away it simply blew me away.
Amazing on so many levels, the harmonies and the sound quality being two of them. The Kinks ‘Face to Face’ As good as anything the Beatles ever did in my opinion.
Ray Davies is the greatest pop songwriter for my money and his brother Dave is a vastly underrated guitar great with the perfect blend of dirt and finesse. Led Zeppelin ‘Presence’ A close race with ‘Houses of the Holy’ for me but ‘Presence’ is so badass and tough. Bonham and JPJ were the greatest rhythm section of them all iIMO. ‘Bert Jansch’ His first album, recorded in a apartement in 1965. Magical, mysterious and haunting. Chris Whitley ‘Dirt Floor’ Magical, mysterious and haunting. Recorde in the late 90s.
It really has much in common with the Jansch record as it draws its power from solo performances with vocals that eschew any blues shouter cliches or folk melisma. Amazing songwriting and guitar playing. Steely Dan ‘Aja’ I always thought of this as a ‘feel-good’ record as it always puts me in a great mood despite the cynical and dark lyrics and detail-obsessive working methods of Fagen/Becker. Some of the greatest rhythm tracks captured on tape. Rolling Stones ‘Beggar’s Banquet’ Somebody once said that this album proves that acoustic guitars can sound dangerous.
This pretty much sums it up for me. Ten Albums that Made My Head Explode 1-Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus and Roach: Money Jungle. Three giants in a trio. Made me realize how much Monk came from Ellington. 2-Bill Frisell: Rambler.
Actually seeing him live with Percy Jones and Dougie Bowne in Stone Tiger made my head explode before I heard any recordings, but this one with Paul Motian on drums, Jerome Harris on bass, Bob Stewart on tuba, and Kenny Wheeler on trumpet, finished the job. 3-Nils Petter Molvaer: Khmer. Jazz mixed with electronica on ECM—heaven. Eivind Aarset reset my concept of guitar again. And it came with a second disc of remixes! 4-Jesse Winchester: Jesse Winchester.
Americana before there was such a thing. Produced by Robbie Robertson.
“Black Dog” the most metaphysically scary song I have ever heard. 5-Joni Mitchell: Hissing of Summer Lawns. The apogee of her ability to push the song form to its limit and harness the jazzbos to her will.
6-David Sylvian: Blemish. Who knew you could write a song to a Derek Bailey improvisation and make it work? A triumph of minimalism. 7-Aldo Ciccolini: Erik Satie. Aldo Ciccolini’s piano renditions of Satie took me to another world and made me require that of music henceforth. 8-Miles Davis: Miles Smiles. It’s a tossup.
I discovered both at the same time and learned that rhythm; harmony and melody could be turned inside out if you were good enough. 9-Robben Ford: Live With Jimmy Witherspoon. A 25-year-old guitarist combines great rock tone (out of a Florentine Super 400 no less) with jazz harmony, swing and sensibility for arguably the first time on record.
10- Sidsel Endresen/Stian Westerhus: Didymoi Dreams. Stian Westerhus had already made my head explode when he replaced Eivind Aarset in Nils Petter Molvaer’s band, bringing a more noise than ambient approach to the music, but when he joined sing Endresen for a Joe Pass meets Ella Fitzgerald duo from Mars, it put his genius in an even more astounding light. In no particular order – 1. Yuxo by Hans Reichel Avant-garde music played on an instrument Reichel invented, that’s like nothing you have ever heard, while still being recognizable music and hysterically funny. Deviations by Dominic Frasca Also fairly avant-guarde multi-part minimalist solo guitar that’s almost impossible for a human to play. At least, it sounds that way. Signs by the Kathryn Tickell band I suppose you might call this “New English Folk Revival”.
Orchestra Lumiere by Bob Brozman Multi tracked improvised world orchestral music by the late slide master. Soliloquy by Michael Manring Solo bass guitar. Fabulous solo bass guitar. Continuum by John Mayer Mayer doing what he does best.
Electric by Eric Johnson and Mike Stern Psychedelic Texas blues meets jazz fusion. Remember Shakti by John McLaughlin (and friends) Mostly east with a bit of west, Indian / jazz rock.
Stunning sound quality. Atom Shop by Bill Nelson Surreal pop guitar.
Have a taste of this by Tom Doughty Intimate solo acoustic slide and vocal which is just superb. And I didn’t even mention anything from Derek Trucks, Victor Wooten, Greg Koch, Jerry Douglas, Jimmy Hendrix or Jeff Beck. No particular order. Simply 10 albums that made an impact and, somehow, are still on my playlist. Mostly guitar oriented but not perse.
Rollin thru the Night – Evan Johns and the H-bombs. Wray meets Hendrix on a Johnny Cash song. Curtis – Curtis Mayfield. A soft spoken poet in a street that’s on fire. Free your mind – Funkadelic.
Awesome mix of funky ass beats and trippy mind grooves. Future Games – Spirit.
Randy California’s dreamy fuzz cuts it’s way through Star Trek and Kermit the frog. Francis the mute – The Mars Volta. Total chaos that makes sense somehow. Can I say adventure?
Chill out – The KLF. Transcendent Elvis. 6 L’imprudence – Alain Bashung. Yes, Ribot plays on this one. Ain’t it funky now – Grant Green.
Had to pick one. Grant never made one bad record. Then Play On – Fleetwood Mac. So you make a record with songs like Coming your way, Manalishi, Oh wel.
461 Ocean Boulevard – Eric Clapton. Kicking the habit never sounded so good.
Histoire de Melody Nelson – Serge Gainsbourg. I’m taking this quite literally, so these tend heavily towards psychedelia.
In approximate order of exploded mind. Apparently my mind was more easily blown in the ’70s. My mind has been exploded so many times that I can’t restrict the list to 10, so I’m providing 16, just because. Let’s see if I can put together a list that’s not too embarrassing There’s lots of albums that one may like, but which ones are the real mind exploders? First, let’s remove all the records from the “formative years”. After all, when you are young and know nothing, even listening to ABBA will alter your mind. Then, let’s remove the records one just enjoys at an animalistic level.
Again, ABBA goes out the window. What’s left would be the real brain expanders. In my case, I don’t think I will get to ten, but anyway, in no particular order: 1) Albert King — The Great King Albert. My introduction to the genius that is Albert King. All the records of his that I have are quite equivalent; this just happens to be the first I bought.
You have to love King’s approach: can’t afford to learn music? Just invent your own musical language, with its own grammar and vocabulary. 2) Grant Green, Sonny Stitt, Don Patterson — Brothers 4. My introduction to the genius that is Sonny Stitt. Remarkably accessible, listening to this record I suddenly realized that I could now understand bebop. Also, the good thing about Stitt is, there is always another album of his that I haven’t yet bought. 3) Ella Fitzgerald — Twelve Nights In Hollywood.
Another gateway to jazz. A succulent slice of the Great American Songbook in its natural habitat: played live in a small club setting. The band is cooking, the audience goes wild and now I understand why the standards are “the standards.” 4) Traveling Wilburys — Volume 1. OK, this one falls mostly in the “animal enjoyment” category, but I include it in the list because it was the record that signaled that the eighties had ended and we could all relax. And I guess that’s it. As I suspected, I’m not a very enlightened person.
Mostly I listen to styles of music that I already like, or stuff that try and end up not liking — the usual “I respect it but don’t enjoy it”. Lots of very intriguing albums mentioned in this thread; will be tracking down some of them to see if I can expand my horizons. A am relly happy to to learn here from tone junkieslistening nignt and day. It’s priceless resource. Some subtle “tones” that haunt me, I could add (possibly it will haunt some people) 1. Guitar Slim – “Suffering Mind” track – his tone is awesome. Zappa loved it.yes, it’s cool.
Elmore James – “Something inside of me” solo is crying right to the sky 3. Howling Wolf – “My Last Affair” – from 1952, his guitar player was true guitar poet and alcoholic as well:) 4. Miles Davis – “I loved him madly” track from “Get Up With It” – Dominique Gaumont is incredible, especially when band starts to swing a litle bit.
Bass tone near 15th minute and so on is awesome too Michael Henderson is cool. Frank Zappa – Transylvania Boogie track from 1969 – why not? His tone shines there 6.King Crimson only once mentioned here. “Sailor’s tale” Robert Fripp solo from “Islands”, “Fracture” track from “Starless.” (it haunted many paople here in Russia), Lark’s Tongues In Aspic Part 1 from 1973.
Robert Fripp is possibly genius. Henry Cow “Industry” track, opening from “Western Culture” 1978. Frith sound fine!
Abercrombie/Holland/Dejohnette – Gateway 2 – “Opening”, the beginning of the track, when bass and drums strat to play is a true gem. Terje Rypdal – “Midnite” from Odyssey 1975it’s cool almost like Miles’ stuff”open” musicnot dead stuff. As well as “Seasons” from Rypdal/Vitous/Dejohnette from 1979. It has some “open” atmosphere too 10. Miles’ “Decoy” track from 1983 has some subtle magic from Robert Irving III 11.
James Brown – Ain’t It Funkyit’s cool and original guitar stuff by his guitar player. Horns arrangements. It always make me smile!
Gerry Mulligan – “I want to live” great haunting arrangement by Mandel. His 1960 live version is even more trancedental.
He plays a couple of notes, like Milesit was great 13. Warne Marsh “Everything Happens to me” from “Music for Prancing”, 1957 great tone and logic 14. Lee Konitz early stuff like live from Storyville, he plays “These foolish things”I don’t know, it’s more subtle than Miles.
Johnny Hodges is unbelieveable in “Prelude for a kiss” from Ellington Indigos 1956 as well as “All of me” from 1959 Jazz Party. He’s on the sky there. Serge Chaloff – Stairway to the stars from “Blue Serge”bari tone is cool 17. Eberhard Weber’s track “Pale smile” track with Frisell from 1979, he plays a couple of notes that are completely trancendental. Early Weber’s ECM albums are among my favorite on the label. Lester Young!
It’s the president of subtle music His “Slow Motion Blues” from 1952 is completely amazing. First notes by John Lewis is like spiritual.”Undercover girl blues” too. “Pyramid” track by Modern Jazz Quartet is a gem, but mostly for John Lewis solo, i think. He was in heaven. Archie Shepp “Hipnosis” track from Sea of Facesit’s spiritual. Moncur III composition.
Graham Moncur composition “Nomadic” from 1964 is great original tune with Miles’ guys. Trancedental too as for me. It’s like chess plaiyng. Possibly they listened to Monk “Purple shades” 22.
Herbie Nichols plays “Mine” by Gershwin. He’s absolutely beautiful Mind, i think.
Japan – “Lovers on main street” – starting guitar riff is amazing! Sparks from guitar. They’re so young and impudent But not their later albums. Not a big fan of his modal singing 24. Was really amazed with yours with Ralph Carney Mancini album with Oranj Symphonette very cool, as for me, it’s better than Zorn’s soundtracks – swings crazy! And Ellington’s Satin Doll. Some guys here in Russia never heard this project – they were really amazed!
Soundtracks Morricone “Tema Di Ada” from Novecento touches me deeply, it reminds me Prokofiev beginning of 2nd piano concerto – haunting stuff. Herrmann “Taxy Driver Theme” when it comes to trumpet – it thrills me, as well as his “The City” from Psycho, it’s Honegger’s 2ng Symphony recollections. Deep thrilling war music, he was genius in writing for strings. Btw – “Funeral March” by Britten from “Frank Brigde variations” – so deep in it’s simplicity!
What a haunting tone of Menuhin, playing Bartok’s First Violin Sonata. Really “God is in house” as Einstein told.
Only Menuhin’s. Music to die forHot sure it’s on web – I’ve got old USSR vinyl, his Moscow concert. Solo Monk from 1965 – Ask Me Now, it so haunting, i have read Tom Waits’ top 20. I have never listened this album before, but it’s impressed me 29. Buddy Guy guitar solo from “Are You Losing Your Mind?” track – “Stone Crazy” album.
Not only cool raw tone but how he plays with rhytm! As for me it’s greatest blues solo since T-Bone’s 1947 “Stormy Monday” 30. Charlie Parker tone in “Laura” from “Bird” soundtrack.
It’s so rich arrangement and – in contrast – so touching “living” tone of poor Charlie Parker. It almost makes me cry every time I listen to it.
“Lament” composition by J.J. Johnson is wonderful. Not only in Miles’ Ahead album, but with Milt Jackson in 1983, another version. Art Pepper plays “Goodbye” from Village Vanguard 1977. It’s unbelieveable solo. Like the “Sound of the human spirit breaking”.
Pauses like Miles’ ones 33. Bill Evans’ “Lover Man” from 1963 At Shelly Manne’s hole – his improvisation near the end of the track. Even tragical from beginning. Never heard such a fantastic subtle spontaneous composer. Sorry, it’s possibly too much. I don’t know if the whole album could be good for me. I like fragmentsreally don’t know which of them is top fo me.
I am not so tone specialist, but I am big junkie for listening to subltle tones and trancedental music too. Thanks all the musicians here! Tone field is really great place to discover new subtle tones. So much talented people here Reading all the posts and learning everyday. Is it bad that this list is so focused on me and my guitar? Is there a narcissism filter on this blog? Pixies – Surfer Rosa.
I literally drove around town for hours listening to this album as it rewired my head. Television – Marquee Moon. I honestly don’t know why this album hasn’t been ripped off a thousand times; it reinvented rock guitar as far as I’m concerned. Butthole Surfers – Locust Abortion Technician. Probably my first real exposure to noise music, and quite the giggling hellscape. DEVO – Are We Not Men? Surely one of the most important records of all time.
I vaguely remember it coming out and being confused at the time. Big Black – Atomizer and Songs About Fucking.
I had no idea guitars could sound like that. Then I tried to get that sound for years.
– Bug and You’re Living All Over Me. The return of the guitar hero, in a form I could relate to. Definitely tried to rip off J. Mascis, a lot. Sonic Youth – EVOL and Sister.
These remain my two favorite SY albums. It’s an understatement to say that they altered the way I (and everyone) looked at a guitar. My Bloody Valentine – Loveless. I think I got two bands out of chasing that sound. Luckily for my hearing I wasn’t chasing the volume part. English Beat – I Just Can’t Stop It.
This record halted a slide into endless grunge and stoner rock. Suddenly I wanted to hear happy, percussive guitars a lot!
Brian Eno – Here Come the Warm Jets. Took me a while to realize what was happening here, but when it clicked, it did so in a big way, and influenced how I look at collaboration and song creation and atmosphere. Probably more about me and my path, but here goes chronologically: 1.
Live Cream Volume II – Tracks 1 -4 2. Electric Ladyland – Hendrix (although Axis was probably first) 3. Scary Monsters – Bowie Side 1 The 80s begin with a bang 4. Pretenders II 5. Speaking in Tongues – Talking Heads 6. Fables of the Reconstruction – REM 7.
Live Aid – Miles Davis’s set with Robben Ford (not technically a record but I wish it was) 8. Miles Davis Best of The Capitol/Blue Note Years – Earlier stuff but I love it 9. Erroll Garner – Saw a clip of him on a cable access “arts” channel and was transfixed.
Have yet to find a recording that is quite as mind blowing (Concert by The Sea is good but not the same). Sweet Relief – Victoria Williams & friends – love the lyrics and with Victoria covers are better.
Currently digging Umphrey’s McGee’s Live at Lollapalooza 2006 The guitars are what I would do if I were better. And looking forward to checking out some of the others on this list! Ten Albums That Made My Head Explode Beauty In the Beast – Wendy Carlos Music like you’ve never heard, the beauty of these cuts is breathtaking, beyond words. ‘Just Imaginings’ features a 144 note per octave scale.
This album is all electronic folks, but EDM it ain’t. Wendy has got to be one of the best composers to ever live. It’s like inventing completely new colors before you start painting because the “normal” colors won’t paint your picture. But don’t think this album is a bunch of academic noodling. It’s more like a highly developed electronic folk-music from an undiscovered planet.
No 12 note even tempered scales were used on this album. Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares – by The Bulgarian State Radio and Television Female Vocal Choir I know, the group title sounds like you’re in for an excruciating hour of police state approved music by the State Ministry for Musical Propaganda. Nothing could be further from the truth. Like the Beauty In the Beast album, this one has the effect of putting my brain in an almost altered state, mentally levitating me off the couch. You’ve not lived until you’ve experienced the beauty of non-western harmonies. A few quotes from the liner notes; “two voices track each other in parallel intervals astounding to our ears-seconds, sevenths, and ninths.
For us the diaphonic seconds want to resolve; for them, they simply float.” 3. Romantic Warrior – Return to Forever Very composed music for “jazz.” An epic album that influenced my playing and compositional concepts like no other. Wonderful, wonderful music at such a high level of development that even Chick or RTF have not since equaled. Almost the creation of a new genre of music, a real fusion. Aspects – The Eleventh House featuring Larry Coryell (featuring Larry my left little toe, featuring is not a strong enough term. It’s more like Larry Coryell melting the frets off his guitar with the stellar support of The Eleventh House.) Funk Jazz at it’s zenith IMHO. The album opens with ‘Kowloon Jag’ which showcases the jaw dropping ferocity of Larrys ring modulated/fuzzed/phased/?
Guitar solo over an insane 11/4 groove. While most of the rest of the album sticks to 4/4 funk groves the intensity never lets up. It’s funk, so the harmonic framework is limited. However, Larry never fails to disappoint offering track after track of searing lead work with a guitar tone as sharp as a razor. Killer grooves, intense guitar solos, world class musicians. What more do you need? Discipline – King Crimson Interlocking guitar and Chapman Stick parts built on limited thematic “germs” in different permutations abound.
Sometimes each player is in a different time signature playing their rotating part over a 4/4 bass drum groove. A record that’s not just heard, it’s experienced. Meditative and mind-melting all at the same time. Songs In The Key of Life – Stevie Wonder Simply the best “Pop” record ever made. Socially conscious & meaningful lyrics accomplished without being pretentious. Booty shaking grooves.
I’ve got it on wax, CD, and the Najee all instrumental cover album. Not many true geniuses in music. Steveland Morris is one of them. Heavy Weather – Weather Report An ear-opening experience for me. Zawinul wrote the book on how to use synths in jazz. And what can you say bout Jaco the musician?
Insane chops, like Clark or Wooten, but no one’s playing is as lyrical as Jacos was. This is what “fusion” jazz really is, a totally natural mix, not a record company marketing ploy. Irakere – (by) Irakere My introduction to jazz/funk Cuban style. Polyrhythms anyone? Eat a Peach – The Allman Brothers Band Get’s my nomination for the best southern rock album ever.
Django ’35-’39 – The Quintet of the Hot Club of France (I’ve got twice as many fretting fingers as Django, so how come I’m not even half as good?) How can 70+ year old music sound this fresh? Easy, when music is this naturally spontaneous it’s automatically timeless. Improvisation at it’s best. Django and violinist Stephane Grappelly were born to play together. HONORABLE MENTION: (no particular order, I don’t have five hours to decide) These are excellent albums that I love to this day, but not quite up to head explosion levels.
Pamela Frank
Bartok The Six String Quartets – Guarneri Quartet Switched-On Bach and Clockwork Orange – both albums by Walter (Wendy) Carlos Computer World – Kraftwerk No Mystery – Return to Forever Funk/Jazz RTF style. Dayride, Jungle Waterfall, and Sofistifunk are some of my favorite tunes to this day. Rags to Rufus – Featuring Chaka Khan The deeply soulful music of Chaka in her prime. And the band Rufus took a backseat to no one in laying down funky grooves for her.
Royal Rappins – Millie Jackson & Isaac Hayes If someone ever asks you to define real R&B, don’t say anything, just hook them up with a copy of this record. Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants – Stevie Wonder Not your usual Stevie Wonder album. Very experimental using some of the latest electronic instruments of the day. Critics mostly hated it, even calling it goofy. I’m goofy as well. Beyond Standard – Hiromi / Hiromi’s Sonicbloom Time Control – Hiromi / Hiromi’s Sonicbloom Brain – Hiromi Hiromi is the only “new” fusion artist I’ve heard that really excites me.
Where Does Harry Belafonte Live
There may be others, so much music, so little time. A Chick Corea level composer. Off the top of my head and maybe in chronological order; Mile Davis- Kind of Blue This is the album that first opened me up to jazz. It’s a classic, and a great introduction to the world of jazz.
Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968 Everything on here is fantastic. It’s a great historical document of what was going on in rock music at the time. Plus it has Spazz by the Elastik Band on it, which is one of the strangest/greatest songs ever. Motown- 64 Greatest hits Impossible to choose just one Motown album, but this collection has a cross section of some of the fantastic stuff coming out of Detroit at the time Zeppelin III A perfect departure from their first two albums. I love Page’s acoustic style and his usage of open tunings, it has been very influential on my development as a player. The Immigrant Song (I remember reading a story that the song was about a concert at a university in Denmark? that the school tried to cancel but the students banded together to put the show anyway.
It was a great story, kind of made the song for me.) Tom Waits- Heart of Saturday Night The first three albums are masterpiece’s from beginning to end. Chose this one because it really builds on Closing Time so well, without rehashing everything on it.
The Ramones- All the stuff and more Vol. 1 The first three Ramones Albums on one disc!
Don’t think it can get much better. I’ve always appreciated the stripped down approach to music the Ramones took. The songs are all so simple, but so good. Sonic Youth- Self-titled EP Not my intro to SY by any means, but they are a huge influence on me as a musician.
Gordon, and Ranoldo’s vocals on I Dreamed I Dream are among the best in their catalog. Plus it opened up my eyes to the SY/ Ferris Buller’s Day Off Connection 😉 Brainiac- Bonsai Superstar This one is.