Day 1: The Beatles "Abbey Road"

I've been enjoying the "post 10 influential albums" postings from Marc T and Joseph F. For the past several days I've been considering posting 10 without even being challenged. And unlike the challenge, I intend to add commentary because it gives me an opportunity to tag people who are in the stories behind some of the albums. Yes, Joseph F did just challenge me today but I'm going to add commentary to each posting.

My family watched the Beatles on their second, third, and fourth appearances on Ed Sullivan. My parents started buying singles for my sister and me. "I Want to Hold Your Hand", "She Loves You" and others. The only problem is that my sister and I threw the singles around the bedroom like Frisbees leaving marks on the wall and possibly gaining a spanking. A few of them broke. For my sister's birthday, we went to see the movie "Help" when it came out and then again a month or so later. So I have a bonafide early and long enjoyment of the Beatles.

My Dad won the International Frisbee Tournament (IFT) on the team "Foul Five" in 1967 and 1970. One of his teammates was a Sigma Nu fraternity brother at U of Mich back in the mid-50s: Hugh Anderson. In the fall of 1970, my family traveled to Lansing to visit Hugh and his family. He had three daughters. The eldest daughter, Laura, also liked the Beatles and had a recent album by the Beatles "Abbey Road". She played it for us and when I got home from that trip, I asked for it--probably for my birthday. I know I took "Abbey Road" to "show-and-tell" at grade school soon after. The math says this was fourth grade. Throughout grade school and into high school, I filled out my Beatles collection: Sgt Pepper's, Revolver, Rubber Soul, etc. "Abbey Road" started it all album-wise. Today, the track "The End" has the most impact on me.

Comments from others:
"Great Post!"
"Dam, you were a hippie in 4th grade!"
"Good writing. I just listened to an album called Abbey Road Revisited. By George Benson. Check it out."
   I replied "Have had it on CD for 25 years"

Day 2: Simon and Garfunkel "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

Day 2 of influential albums. My sister and I listened to a lot of top 40 on WLS 89 out of Chicago. WCFL 1000 also got some listening time. I know I was hearing "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "The Boxer" on the radio. We were visiting John and Joe H down the road (Church Rd) in Marengo and they had the album and played all of the cuts on there that they liked. So soon after, I got it too. So I ended up listening to a lot of Simon and Garfunkel and Paul Simon over the next few years. Picked up "Bookends", "There Goes Rhymin' Simon", and others. Also during this period, I listened to a lot of Cat Stevens off of a few different albums. I recall building a lot of model airplanes '71-'75 and I'd put a stack of albums on the Victrola and they would plop onto the platter one after another for hours of music.

I admit to not listening to Simon and Garfunkel or Cat Stevens in decades. But it was important during an early period of my music listening.

Comments from others:
"That's very cool. Occasionally I'll hear a song from that era and it will transport me back."
"I got to see them at the Dallas Cotton Bowl for their farewell tour."

Day 3: Neil Young "Decade"

I missed a day......Day 3 of influential albums. This one was a big one for me--a real turning point of getting away from radio and pop music. My sister came back from Occidental College in the spring of 77. My mom and I helped her move into an apartment in Oak Park, IL. While unpacking, she found this album and played "Sugar Mountain" for me and I was blown away. I went right out and bought the album. I became a huge Neil Young fan and have been one ever since.

In college, my roommate Ross P, and good friend Marc T used to poke fun at Neil Young's thin, nasally voice with a high horse whinny "Nee hee hee elll". I was defensive then. Marc, nowadays I say "Nee hee hee ell", too .

Sure, does Neil have some dud songs? Yes. But for a body of work, there sure are lots of quality songs in there. Somewhat more recently, from the album Greendale, I find "Carmichael" outstanding! When "Rust Never Sleeps" (The movie) came out freshman year in college, I went and saw it like 4 times. "Come on out here, Road-eyes--take a bow." I've always liked his long guitar solos--I like the phrasing and all of the notes aren't up high--he's all over the fretboard with growly ones, too. Anyway, this album "Decade" was very influential on me.

Comments from others:
"I was listening to “Hey Hey My My Into The Black just yesterday driving out of Milwaukee."
Marc T commented "I actually developed an appreciation for NY thanks to you and Axel. And, I still say “Nee hee hee ell” too. Think of you each time I do."

Day 4: Yes "Yessongs"

Day 4 of influential albums. I think it was Junior year of HS that Chuck K turned me on to Yes and Yessongs. Long songs. Plenty of busy, intense music with lots to listen to. I eventually got all of the Yes albums. I thought "Relayer" was particularly good. In my freshman year of college, I still didn't know anything (then) about another prog rock band: Genesis.

At U of Ill, the student station was WPGU. The training station for that was a carrier-based AM signal carried over powerlines to the dorm rooms. I think it was called WDBS. Freshman year, I signed up for that and got a 2-4 am shift one night a week. I recall that the guy who trained me liked both Genesis and Yes and he said "Genesis is better". Years later, in the Air Force, I ended up getting many Genesis discs just as CDs were coming out. I think both bands are good. Similar in some ways and different in others.

Comments from others:
"Love the artwork"
   I replied "Yup, that led me to pick up 3 books about album cover art. Roger Dean was prominent in the first two."
"Saw Yes many times live, The most memorable were the summer celebrations on the football field at EMU along with Tom Petty, Santana, Rush, and more. Just put down a blanket in the am and stayed till after dark. Dem were da days! I forgot I have all their LPs."
"Just found that album at a garage sale this weekend."
"You're on a roll!"

Day 5: The Who "Quadrophenia"

Day 5 of influential albums. Late in HS, while breaking free of Pop radio, I discovered an FM station over in Woodstock, IL playing album rock (as opposed to pop rock). It was called WXRD 105 and wasn't around all that long. The family Victrola also had an 8-track player in it. There was a blank tape lying around that I taped a bit off the air. Things like Pink Floyd's "Welcome to the Machine". And the big ones for me were The Who "5:15" and "The Real Me". They rocked! I ran out and got Quadrophenia and I've always said it is a "5-star" album.

Day 6: The Grateful Dead "Europe '72"

Day 6 of influential albums. Today and tomorrow are big ones. Freshman year at college I was exposed to a HUGE explosion of music on the dorm floor where I lived......and the residence hall across the street, too.

I was at Univ of Ill in the Pennsylvania Ave Rez Hall. Across the street was Florida Ave Rez Hall where my friend (from Northwoods) Marc T lived. Marc was assigned a roommate: Axel K. Sitting in their dorm room, I was turned on to the Grateful Dead via “Europe ‘72”.

Prior to this, I had not heard GD other than “Truckin’” on the radio. This was such AMERICAN sounding music via songs like “Tennessee Jed”, “Sugar Magnolia”, and “Cumberland Blues”. I had to rush right out and buy it. My favorite tracks have always been “Jack Straw” and the duo: “China Cat Sunflower/I Know You Rider”. The song “Jack Straw” led to my interest in the Great Northern Railroad, US railroad history, and even model railroading.

I saw the GD show at the Assembly Hall at U of I in 1981. Over the years, I caught four shows. I ended up collecting everything they put out and many of the live disks of the “Dick’s Picks” and “Dave’s Picks” series.

Thank you Axel K. for turning me on to the Dead. It’s really made my life richer with great listening.

Comments from others:
"There is a wealth of live show recordings at archive.org. Some pretty amazing! I saw them at the Assembly Hall on Feb. 21, 1973, as well as Dec. 2, 1981."
"That's a real good'un!"
"My favorites as well - Jack Straw and Chinacat.Sunflower, He’s Gone, etc. I’ve listened to collections of recordings from that tour and Europe 72 was still the best selections"
"Another good one."
"I like your taste in music very much, Bruce."
"My favorite songs are Bertha segueing into Good Lovin from some live concerts."

Day 7: Frank Zappa "Joe's Garage"

Day 7 of influential albums. This was from the same time period and venue as yesterday's. Over in Marc T's dorm room, someone, it may have been his roommate, Axel, played what were then new Zappa records like Sheik Yerbouti and Joe's Garage Vol 1. Sure the funny songs are what roped me in first. Then later the guitar solos. Later yet, the incredible bands he surrounded himself with and the compositions he crafted.

When it comes to the notes Frank plays, I can't say that I "get" them like I get Neil Young, Will Sergeant, Dean Wareham, and Robby Baker. But over years and years of listening to Frank's playing, I at least can finally follow along as they are.

I ended up collecting just about every Zappa album, although I've not kept up with all recent releases from the archives. I am, however, enjoying a box set of "Hot Rats" which has many of the recording session takes on it. Interesting to see how the compositions came together.

Frank Zappa has been a big influence on me. When I had an opportunity to upgrade my Ham Radio callsign from my old KE9QT, there weren't any QT's or BR's (my initials) available. But I noted W9FZ was. So I put in for it as my first choice and was awarded it. I've been W9FZ since 1996. Sometimes I use "Frank Zappa" for the phonetics instead of Foxtrot Zulu. More recently, a local ham friend has dubbed me "Fuzzy Zipper".

Well, I must include a lyrical snippet from "Packard Goose":
[Bridge: Voice Of Mary]
Hi! It's me, the girl from the bus
Remember?
The last tour?
Well
Information is not knowledge
Knowledge is not wisdom
Wisdom is not truth
Truth is not beauty
Beauty is not love
Love is not music
Music is the best!
Wisdom is the domain of the Wis (which is extinct)
Beauty is a French phonetic corruption
Of a short cloth neck ornament
Currently in resurgence

Comments from others:
"Really enjoying your 10 best comments. You're a hair older than me musically but so far you have the classics covered nicely!"
"I saw him live up here. Great guitar solo!
"Hello Bruce, I have Joe's Garage in vinyl of course. Listened to it recently actually. One of my favorites is Watermelon in Easter Hay. Frank definitely had a message huh? "
"Saw him in '78? '79? Don't remember. BUT, I remember he was INCREDIBLE."
"The girl from the bus!"
"With leather"
   I replied "It looks just like a Telefunken U-47."
"This LP made me a Zappa fan forever. Hearing his xenohrony in full force on Toad-O Line was a game-changer for me."
"Zappa was a wildman, in a very good way."

Day 8: Echo and the Bunnymen "Porcupine"

Day 8 of influential albums. Echo and the Bunnymen: Porcupine. The MTV generation arrives. Senior year in college, we had a TV. And through "cable" had access to MTV. It tipped the music world. Sure, U2's "New Year's Day" video got me into all of U2. The Cure's "Let's Go To Bed" video got me into, eventually, all of The Cure. Later, in the Air Force, not really via MTV, but through progressive record stores, I discovered first New Order, and then backward to Joy Division.

But the one that was influential for me was Echo and the Bunnymen video "The Cutter". That led to finding this album "Porcupine" over in Woodstock, IL while home from college. "The Cutter" and "Back of Love" are easy to like. "Clay", "Ripeness", and others were a little harsh, initially, but grew on me.

I saw EATB live probably 6 or 7 times. While in the Air Force, I flew cross-country to LA to see Marcia and go to an Easter show at Universal Amphitheater. The Bunnymen are about my age. They had/have an abundance of creativity. I don't have that and I appreciate them and their music for that.

I'll also riff a little now about how personal art can be. What zings me might be completely uninteresting to you. The first 7 days had albums that many of you could relate to. In the next few days, I'll likely post some things that aren't as universally known or loved. But I'll tell the story from my view.

Day 8: Addendum--Other influences from big kids

I'll make two postings about influential albums today. As my musical horizons broadened in HS and college, I often would see what the "big kids" listened to--that would be people two to ten years older than me. For instance, while still in HS, I visited my sister at the Univ of Ill and a friend of her's--Michael S--had a big record collection. I had heard of Jeff Beck but didn't know anything about him. I liked the cover of "Wired" and Michael put the record on for me. I was hooked.

Often, in other big kids record collections, I'd find albums by the band Traffic. They'd play them for me and then I'd go out and get them. "Low Spark" was first, but I also picked up "Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory" and "John Barleycorn Must Die". So these two albums aren't part of the 10-day challenge but the influence of "big kids" broadened my horizons. There are many more I could add to this posting but these two are representative.

Day 9: Kate Bush "Hounds of Love"

Day 9 of influential albums. Kate Bush "Hounds of Love". MTV had an influence here, also. I was in the Air Force now and CD's were out and now I was buying CDs. This day and tomorrow's have the distinction of all the CDs I own, they have been played more often than any others. I kid that I played them so much that I wore them out.

I think I'll go rip this to .mp3 for my phone. I've always liked the fretless bass in the last track "The Morning Fog". I just went and listened to it on YouTube. Looks like I’ll be “going to eleven” days on this album challenge.

I added a comment:

Kate Bush's "The Sensual World" followed four years later in 1989. Both "Hounds of Love" and "The Sensual World" are 5-star albums in my view. I just watched "Love and Anger" on YouTube and it gave me goosebumps. David Gilmour on guitar helps.

Comments from others:
"That's it. Buy me some NA beer, get out the vinyl, and let's party. Your choices are superb."

Day 10: David Sylvian "Secrets of the Beehive"

Day 10 of influential albums: David Sylvian "Secrets of the Beehive". I was in a record store in 1987 that was playing this album over the sound system. I ended up getting everything David Sylvian has done. It led to his and others Ambient music. And this CD, just like yesterday's, has been played far more than all the rest (except for Kate Bush "Hounds of Love"). It should be worn out.

This is where taste in music starts to be more specialized and probably not universal. I could see where this would not "move" many people. Situation; the times; one's state of mind all play in influence on what clicks for a listener.

One more posting tomorrow. I'll name drop a few that won't get their own posting: Talk Talk, and Bettie Serveert (a band not a her). In the modern era, The Decemberists, My Morning Jacket, Shearwater, and others have moved me. But I'm in a different place now--broad tastes with lots of likes and less time.

Day 11: The Tragically Hip "Fully Completely"

Day 11 of the influential album postings--this will be the last one. The Tragically Hip "Fully Completely". In 1993 and 1994, I was living in Belleville, MI, and flying for Mesaba Airlines out of DTW. (I also was commuting to Milwaukee to fly C-130s with the 95th AS just about every free moment.) In the Detroit radio market, the alternative music station was/is CIMX located in Windsor, Ontario. Due to Canadian Content laws, radio stations were (are?) required to play a certain percentage of Canadian artists. Fortunate for me; this exposed me to The Tragically Hip. They had two songs in rotation getting airplay: "Courage" and "At the Hundredth Meridian". I thought they sounded ok so snapped up the disc the next time I was out shopping for CDs.

The disc was in the CD player on repeat at a not-too-loud volume while I was working on some electronics projects. Snippets of lyrics would catch my ear, and I'd go get the liner notes to see what I was hearing. The album grew on me. I fell in love with the next three albums this way—repeated listenings at low volume, and musical or lyrical snippets would catch my ear and rope me in.

I went to about 20 Hip concerts. What a band! I always wanted to thank them for their creativity, art, and hard work that made my life richer.

Remember my comments on how personal art is? Many years ago, I raved about the Hip to a pilot training classmate and he bought one of their first two discs (not one of the ones I recommended) and he thought it sucked (certainly unremarkable). I just listened (again) to their last (final) album and it is only three stars--maybe. But for me, they have a stretch of 5-star albums beginning with Fully Completely then progressing through Day for Night, Trouble at the Henhouse, and Phantom Power.

Art makes life richer. Thanks for letting me share eleven or more influential albums (for me) with you.

I added 5 comments to my posting:

1994 "Day for Night" 5-star!

1996 "Trouble at the Henhouse" 5-star!

1998 "Phantom Power" 5-star!

"When people ask me what the Hip are like, I say they are like REM in longevity and breadth. Just like REM started out as a jangly guitar rock band, they became much more. I think the Hip started out more bluesy rock but became much more."
There's a line in a song of theirs called "Escape is at Hand for the Travellin' Man". The line is "You yelled in my ear, this music speaks to me". As you can tell, this music speaks to me.

Comments from others:
"Hockey Night in Canada cut away from hockey to cover their last concert, which is the highest compliment they could get."
"New Orleans is Sinkin’ man, and I don’t wanna swim"