Albums that influenced me

I, like many others on Facebook, were given a task to choose ten albums that greatly influenced my taste in music. One album per day for ten consecutive days. It was supposed to be just album covers.  However, I could not resist a few comments.

*  Billy Joel’s brilliant The Stranger. 26 million and counting copies have been sold worldwide.
The vivid story telling of Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song) is brilliant. One never tires of the description of Italian American Brooklyn. Only one of the great songs that are featured.

“Anthony works in the grocery store
"Savin' his pennies for someday”

*  One of the great English artists riding the wave of the British Invasion of the Sixties was Joe Cocker. He made his mark by redefining the Beatles ‘With a Little Help from my Friends'. However, this album, simply called Joe Cocker pointed the way for the rest of his career. A major interpreter of other writers’ songs. Listen to Delta Lady on this LP (Leon Russel’s song) and John Sebastian’s Masterpiece, Darling, Be Home Soon. A love song I wish I had written.

*  My introduction to Fusion Rock was this next album, The Mahavishnu Orchestra with The Inner Mounting Flame.
Amazing sound. I saw them in Toronto, the opening act was Weather Report. What a line up.
Listen to this with headphones... it will fill your brain.

*  The amazing Rolling Stones Let it Bleed. Christmas 1969 I played this constantly as I prepared to emigrate. You can’t always get what you want. At that juncture, I had little clue as to what I really wanted. A change; seemed simple enough, do not know why I had to move continents!
Never regretted that decision, nor have I tired of this album.

*  The amazing Joni Mitchell and Blue. Also on many other friends’ top 10 list.
What can I say.. Universal emotions yet something very Canadian for me to relate to.

*  Here is THE ultimate Otis Redding album, Otis Blue.  Recorded in less than 48 hours straight, between shows. Backed by the amazing Booker T & the MG's plus Memphis horns. What soul and RnB was all about in the Sixties. I have never stopped playing it.

*  THE album that turned everyone on to psychedelic rock was Surrealistic Pillow. At first I did not “get” it. Now, it remains on my everyday playlist. Jefferson Airplane’s 2nd LP but first with Grace Slick. The instrumental Embryonic Journey from this LP was used in the closing scene of the last 'Friends' episode..

*  Here is THE album that lead me to be a life-long devotee of this group & each member within.
At school, we all wondered how an instrumental could ooze so much soulfulness... no words, just an aching bluesy organ line then a wicked guitar break. Green Onions by Booker T & the MG's.

*  Now THE album that lead me to begin a 60 year admiration for Bob Dylan, Freewheelin'.  It captivated me back in 1963, won over my friends- - and a whole generation.

*  Here is one of the first vinyls I acquired. A birthday present for a 12 year old boy. Benny Goodman and his Orchestra, Trio and Quartet Live Radio Performances.  I loved big band music.
(I still have this LP down in the locker room in the Condo.)