This week’s entry comes courtesy of a Facebook trend I thought was a good idea to turn into a post. Rather than simply have a status update with a list I would flesh it out a little with a sentence or two about each album and why it is included.
Here are the directions as initially posted: List 10 albums that made a lasting impression on you as a TEENAGER, but only one per band/artist. Don’t take too long and don’t think too long.
I sat down and quickly made my list, then I had to go back and cut it down to 15. Then cut it again. After this was done I arranged my list and wrote in my personal bits. And so, I present to you, my list of top 10 albums that have left a lasting impression on me as a teenager – IN ORDER OF EXPOSURE OR WHEN I CAME ACROSS THEM.
The Beatles
Meet The Beatles
Alright, so I’m immediately breaking the rules of this exercise. Isn’t that what Rock & Roll is about? I grew up listening to this album and it remains the standard by which all others are measured. To me this is the gold standard of rock and roll. (And yes, I know canon is now With The Beatles.)
Bill Withers
Just As I Am
Another one from my childhood that still affects me. This man can write a song like nobody else. This album, along with What’s Goin’ On by Marvin Gaye and a few others would form my ongoing love for soul music. This is simply great songwriting and emotional delivery done right.
Neil Diamond
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
I know, right? What an odd choice. But this book, movie and soundtrack still strikes a chord with me. I mean I always kind of liked the guy, and this is not his best album by any stretch of the imagination, but this album calls to mind the open spaces that are central to the story of the book and movie. A book I read every couple of years.
Def Leppard
On Through The Night
In middle school my best friend was from England. He had this album and it would be my introduction to the whole British new wave of metal that was coming. I still have not seen them live, nor do I have many of their albums, but Def Leppard remains one of my favorite “hard rock” bands.
J. Geils Band
Freeze Frame
This album was given to me for my birthday and was the first new “pop” album that I owned myself. It might have made a lasting impression on me in a bad way, but it still makes the list. I started listening to radio about this time and getting into “new” music.
Blue Oyster Cult
Extra Terrestrial Live
My best friend from high school had this. I can directly trace my interest in other bands such as Yes, Pink Floyd, Rush and the like to this band, and specifically this album because it was the first one I heard by them.
The Police
Ghost In The Machine
My best friend in high school played this over and over and over. I became a Police fan, a position that was solidified when their next album came out, but it was this one which really got me into them.
DEVO
New Traditionalists
I have written about this album and band before. It serves as my gateway to DEVO and many other “new wave” artists, and probably all of alternative rock in general. It still stands the test of time and sounds fresh.
The Clash
Combat Rock
This was so different from everything else I was listening to at the time. Sure there are the singles that people have heard, but it was the rest of the songs on the album that have stuck with me as that album was so far reaching and wide ranging in its scope.
The Dead Milkmen
Big Lizard In My Backyard
I remember picking this album up in the record store, looking at the cover and thinking this album would be fun. I had heard “Bitchin’ Camero” on the radio (I was listening to alt-rock college radio type stuff almost exclusively by this point in time) and wondered if the band could sustain that level of sardonic wit for a whole album. Turns out they have made a whole career out of it.
Prince
Sign O the Times
This album came out just months before I turned 20, so this counts. We listened to this endlessly and while I was somewhat familiar with Prince, this was the album that made me a fan. “Housequake” remains one of my favorites to this day.
Shut up already.
Damn.