Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers:

Hard Promises:(1981)

Southern Accents:(1985)

I think I was thirteen when I got turned onto Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, actually it was a cut from Full Moon Fever, solo it was a solo Petty track (well, as solo as he gets). I was just at the age to start really getting into music. The closest place to buy music, cassettes were my choice medium at the time, was forty miles away, or there was a mall ninety miles away. So, I really had to work hard to remember what I wanted to buy when we went. My godfather had made me a mix tape with a bunch of things on it, and the Petty cut was one of them. Free Falling, I think was the track on there. So I first bought Full Moon Fever, I remember the case had a weird plastic smell when I unwrapped the shrink wrap. It smelled like a combo of plastic and tortillas. From there, I went on one of those fantastical journeys you have, mostly when you're young, exploring an artists back catalog. A particular favorite period of the Petty catalog for me, is the three albums that came out between '81 and '85; Hard Promises, Long After Dark, and Southern Accents. These are the two pieces of vinyl I currently hold.

Roy Orbison:

Mystery Girl:(1989)

There has never been a singer like Roy Orbison. Never! Now, sure his earlier hits; Pretty Woman, Cryin' etc, are amazing, but this is a great later day album. And, a great album to go out on, as this was Orbison's last. I don't even want to write much about this record, I just want to listen to it. From the exquisite title track, penned by Bono, to one of my personal favorites, The Only One, written by Orbison and Mike Campbell, this album is a gem.

  

The New York Dolls:

New York Dolls:(1973)

One of the bands that helped usher in Punk, ladies and gentlemen, the New York Dolls. This album is so good. This album is also a bridge. Unlike the Stooges, who created something so totally new, the Dolls really did serve as a link between the garage rock of the sixties, the glam of the seventies, and the harder rock that soon would be called Punk coming out of New York. I venture to say, even if you've never heard this band, if you dig Rock'n'Roll, you'll dig this album.

The Music Explosion:

Little Bit O'Soul:(1967)

Best known for their number two hit, Little Bit O'Soul, this is the debut (and only) album by Ohio band, The Music Explosion. Since I was little, I have loved the song Little Bit O'Soul. I found this album in a fifty cent bin at a thrift store, and was floored to finally have a copy. If you're going to be a one hit wonder, well, this is a pretty rockin' hit to be remembered by. 

Mountain:

Climbing!:(1970)

If the late sixties, early seventies was good at one thing, it was producing guitar heavy rock bands. It was in that climate that this, Mountain's debut album, was released. Like so many, I've always been a sucker for Mississippi Queen. Great guitar riff! I've always heard that Leslie West was playing Jack Bruce's psychedelic Fender Bass VI on this track. Not sure if that true, but makes for a good story. 

Mott The Hoople:

Greatest Hits:(1976)

"Mott The Hoople, and the Game of Life", words sung by Michael Stipe in the R.E.M. song, Man in The Moon. Well, here's Mott the Hoople. If you know one song of theirs, there a good chance it's All The Young Dudes. Which David Bowie wrote for them. Personally, I dig the Bowie version best, although they sound damn near identical. If I was reaching for a song to listen to off this collection, I'd most likely go with All The Way From Memphis, or Foxy Foxy. All in all, this is a great slice of Seventies Rock'n'Roll. 

Van Morrison:

His Band And Street Choir:(1970)

Too Late To Stop Now:(1974)

Veedon Fleece:(1974)

A Period of Transition:(1977)

Into The Music:(1979)

Poetic Champions Compose:(1987)

This man is one of the all time best singers, songwriters, and interpreters of songs. Period. I've always been enamored with how Van seems to be ad-libbing lyrics on so many of his songs. I know he's not, but he seems so in the moment, almost like he's just channeling some divine spirit. But, I suppose that's why his songs are so affecting on me. Now, that said, these albums are not equal to me. Some are so much stronger than others. So goes the artistic life. I'm sure there's an album of his that I don't care for that he would consider a great accomplishment. Right now I'm just enjoying some Van Morrison music.  

Moby Grape:

Moby Grape:(1967)

 WOW:(1968)

My folks had both of these albums in their collection, although, I don't recall them listening to them much when I was a kid. But, they must have at some point, because they're a little trashed. The album covers always intrigued me. Particularly the WOW cover. When I started listening to these records in my teens, I pointed out to my parents that Don Stevenson was flipping off the camera on the cover of the first album, they were both shocked that they had never noticed. 

This is some crazy 1960s Rock'n'Roll. If I was picking a favorite track, I'm going with Murder In My Heart For The Judge.  

Joe Meek:

The Emotional, Cosmic & Occult World of Joe Meek:(2014)

Record producer, studio innovator, songwriter, oddball... All seem to hit Joe Meek. In 1962 he dreamed up the instrumental hit Telstar, which for the first time landed a British act at number one on the US Hot 100 Chart. I first heard this reissue compilation album when a friend brought over some records for a day of porch drinking, and vinyl listening. It is a nice cross section of Meek's body of work from the Rock'n'Roll melodrama of John Leyton's Johnny Remember Me to the abstractions of the Blue Men.  

Steve Miller:

Sailor:(1968)

Number 5:(1970)

Fly Like An Eagle:(1976)

Book of Dreams:(1977)

Yes, yes, we all know the hits this man has had. But, the first Steve Miller album I had, and was familiar with was Sailor. A Glyn Johns produced bit of psychedelia that is dream like, and subtle. Clearly it was created in a time before the band hit on their chart topping formula that would land them as a permanent fixture on radio for decades to come. However, by the mid-seventies the band had tidied themselves up to give us Take The Money and Run, and Jungle Love. I wouldn't say I'm a huge Steve Miller fan, but you put on a record of his, and I'm probably going to sing along, or at least think, 'damn, I dig this tune.' 

John Mellencamp:

Uh-Huh:(1983)

The Lonesome Jubilee:(1987)

Say what you will about John Mellencamp, and some of it is probably true, but I stand by that he is an underrated songwriter. I'm not sure it's ever been cool to like Mellencamp, but records have been sold, and people know the lyrics. Now, as much as I dig the hits on these earlier albums, I've got to say, the stuff he's been putting out in recent years is some of his all time best. Go check out No Better Than This, and Plain Spoken. Anyway, these are the two pieces of Mellencamp vinyl I own. Now, maybe I'm wrong, but these represent the man at the height of his popularity, so I'm sure you know the songs. 

A concert promoter that used to book me once said, that he figured the work of John Mellencamp would be in much higher estimation in about twenty or thirty years when people look back, and realize how honestly and unpretentiously he wrote about middle America. 

Paul McCartney:

McCartney:(1970)

I love this, somewhat, lo-fi album. This was one of the first albums I heard, and though, 'hey, I could record an album at home'. Not to mention, I rank Maybe I'm Amazed as one of the greatest love songs ever. That said, Hot As Sun/Glasses might be my favorite track.

Ram:(1971)

This album is a fucking masterpiece. I own two vinyl copies of this one. It's just so interesting, and layered, and Ram On. I recently read a piece that made the argument that this album was the first Indie-Rock album. Possibly. It might be a valid point. The only real box this album fits into, in the context of 1971, is the box of McCartney. A man, who at this time, was reinventing his arsenal of colors with which to paint. 

"Wild Life":(1971)

Some people say, McCartney is too 'Pop' for their liking... Fair enough. But, there is "Wild Life". This is a weird experimental rock album. There's really nothing poppy on this record. 

Red Rose Speedway:(1973)

Red Rose Speedway is another album, more polished than "Wild Life", but kind of in the same vein. However, on this album McCartney is starting to get back into crafting the well written Pop tunes, as only he can. I'm talking about, My Love. A tune so saccharine sweet it attracts bees when it's played. It also contains a killer guitar solo by Hugh McCullough.   

Band on The Run:(1973)

OK, so here's another album of which I own two vinyl copies. It's just so damn good. McCartney and Wings seem to be so far at the top of their game here, it's ridiculous. How many classic tunes are on this record? Four? Now, as much as I love, Jet, Mamunia might be my favorite track.

Wings At The Speed of Sound:(1976)

It might have been a jab at McCartney to say all he did was write silly little love songs, but he turned it into a helluva hit song. Like he does. But, even though I dig that tune... I always hear the horn riff as a bit of lift from Willie Mitchell's horn arrangement on Al Green's L-O-V-E. 

London Town:(1978)

There are cool tunes on this album, but... This album always felt a little light to me. It's cool in the context of the catalog of a prolific artist, but it's not an album I reach for a lot.

Wings Greatest:(1978)

So, obviously, I keep Wings in the Paul McCartney section of my collection. And, why not? After all, Paul is the driving creative force in all he does, no matter who's playing behind him.

Back To The Egg:(1979)

I like this album, I really do. It's just that it feels like the band is running out of steam a bit. And, it would be the last Wings record. This is also around the time when the production starts getting a little too slick. Rain water runs right off it. Old Siam, Sir is a killer track. As is, Arrow Through Me.

Give My Regards to Broadstreet:(1984)

Dave Mason:

Alone Together:(1970)

Headkeeper:(1972)

It's Like You Never Left:(1973)

These three albums pretty much represent the early part of Dave Mason's solo output, and are excellent slices of 1970's Rock'n'Roll. Great guitar work on all three, as expected. These are an example of why I started this whole blog thing. I know these records are in there, I just, for whatever reason, never get them out, and listen to them. When I do, I'm always like, 'hey, these are great, why don't I listen to them more often?' So, on this morning, I've been very much enjoying having ears to peep to Dave Mason.

Lynyrd Skynyrd:

Second Helping:(1974)

One More From The Road:(1976)

Street Survivors:(1977)

Usually I fob off my owning of Lynyrd Skynyrd records on the fact that I was young, and didn't know any better. But, truth is, I do enjoy some of their tunes. However, there are some I skip over every time. Sweet Home Alabama being one of them. I just can't stand this song, and cultural status it has attained. I do like their version of JJ Cale's Call Me The Breeze. And the lead lick from I Know A Little was one of the first licks I learned at thirteen. So, yeah, there's my Lynyrd Skynyrd records.

Nick Lowe:

Labour of Lust:(1979)

Singer, songwriter, producer, raconteur, Nick Lowe. I first learned his name from his production on Elvis Costello records, and his name on a great song like (What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding. In fact, Elvis makes an appearance on this record singing on the stand out track American Squirm. That said, Cruel To Be Kind is probably the tune most would recognize from this album, and it is a pretty great pop rock song. Diggin' deeper however, you come to gems like You Make Me, a super quiet love song like only Lowe writes. Another song that I love on the album is Cracking Up, which I first heard covered by Tom Petty on the Playback box set. 

I made an American squirm

And it felt so right

 

Little Steven:

Men Without Women:(1982)

Voice of America:(1984)

One of the most soulful members of the E Street Band, I'm sure that even if you haven't heard these albums, you can imagine what Little Steven brings to his first two solo albums. You can tell that Steven and Bruce grew up listening to the same records. However, while Springsteen sometimes dances around a tough political issue, Little Steven is right there in your face. Which might be a part of why his solo albums aren't more widely regarded. All I know is, I really dig both these records. Oddly enough, I was turned onto Little Steven's solo work by the Jackson Browne cover of Steven's I Am A Patriot. Steven also has one of my favorite quotes about music in politics, it goes something like, "What's more personal than your political beliefs?" 

Little Feat:

Dixie Chicken:(1973)

Feats Don't Fail Me Know:(1974)

Waiting For Columbus:(1978)

My Dad was big Little Feat fan, so I heard these three albums quite a bit growing up. I remember being very intrigued by the tomato woman on the cover of Waiting For Columbus. I also remember thinking the song Dixie Chicken was just a funny little tune, and not the seamy tale of a hooker. As I grew up, I kind of disregarded Little Feat as some kind of soft rock. This image was cemented by seeing a modern day incarnation of the band at a festival in Santa Cruz. I think there was maybe one original member, and it was lame. So, flash forward to the age of about twenty, I'm getting into Elvis Costello in a big way, and I find out that he was such a big Little Feat fan that he wanted his first album to sound like them. I pulled out these old records, and finally discovered how cool Lowell George was as a songwriter, and guitar player. Not to mention the rest of the original lineup. So, yeah, there's my kind of uninteresting Little Feat story. Now go listen to Fat Man In The Bathtub. 

Jerry Lee Lewis:

Original Golden Hits, Vol. 1:(1969)

She Still Comes Around (To Love What's Left of Me):(1969)

Roll Over Beethoven!!!:(1972)

Jerry Lee Lewis:(1979)

The Killer! One of the originals, and one of the last ones standing. Most hear his name, and immediately think of Great Balls of Fire, as well they should. His Sun sides are so damn good. But, his country records are pretty cool too. The man is just a great talent period. 

John Lennon:

Plastic Ono Band:(1970)

Imagine:(1971)

Mind Games:(1973)

How much more is there to say about John Lennon's body of work? It still evokes the same feelings and spirit that, I'm sure, it did when it first came out. That's genius, and it's what makes certain artists timeless. Songs off of these albums are still, unfortunately, relevant. Right now, go put on Bring On The Lucie (Freda People)... See?