I've had a great time reading everyone's "Top 50" threads. It's funny, I've always thought of myself as a very musically oriented/enlightened/diverse person. After reading many of the recent Top 50's, I'm starting to think I don't know shit! The diversity exhibited by a lot of you is absolutely amazing. In comparison, my list might seem very mundane and maybe even tame to some. I hope folks aren't bored to tears by it. Just a little background, for those who don't know me. I just turned 50, and I'm sure it will reflect, and explain, a lot of my choices. I'll stick with one album per artist, otherwise my top 20 will be probably 4 artists.. Where I might differentiate is that some of my albums may be Live albums and I might comment about the band in general beyond that specific album. SO! Let's get this shindig started shall we?
#50 Jefferson Airplane - Surrealistic pillow
February 1967This album really made an impression on me back in the late 70's, when I first heard it. Originally released just months before the unforgetable "Summer of Love". It played a huge role in the Frisco scene. Grace Slick's voice is just enthralling, it just grabs me by the soul and won't let go. By far to me the most captivating female rock vocalist. You'll notice, over the course of my Top 50, that I will acknowledge a LOT of so called "Hits". I know sometimes it's more en vogue to shy away from them and deal with the more obscure tracks, especially in this forum...LOL. But for me that's not always the case. This album is a good example of that. While I enjoy the lesser know tracks, like Plastic Fantastic Lover, and 3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds, the 2 BIG songs on this album rule the day. White Rabbit and Someone to Love are the epitome of the Haight-Ashbury scene in '67. Like true psychedelic anthems they suck you into a that infamous scene.
#49 Aerosmith - Rocks
May 3, 1976I've always loved older Aerosmith. In all honesty, I should have put the "Greatest Hits" album here, but I thought that would be a cop out. Rocks though is just chock full of all kinds of raunchy, groovy goodness. From Back in the Saddle, through Rats in the Cellar and Sick as a dog. Rocks delivers on all levels. Aerosmith was always a better band to me back in the day, than the newer, cleaner, version. To me Aerosmith is a tale of 2 bands . The Aerosmith I loved was the pre -1980 version. I've never bought into or even really enjoyed the 1980 to present day Aerosmith. But man... the 70's version was just plain old ass kicking rock and roll!
#48 Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced?
May 12, 1967What can you say? Jimi was the Master, and most of the greats that have followed probably owe a little something to Jimi. As far as the highlight tracks on this record...take your pick! It's one of the most classic records of all time. Being American, I'm going with the US release version. The track list is just mind boggling with the following highlights....
Purple Haze
Hey Joe
Manic Depression
The Wind Cries Mary
Foxy Lady
Fire
Are You Experienced
When I first heard Jimi, like many, I was just blown away. At the time I was big into Zeppelin and a Page worshiper, well, here was a guy who made me really stop and re-evaluate who was the primo guitar player of the time. Since then, as I got older and exposed to many more of the guitar players of that era, my opinions have fluxuated. I still think Jimi's innovations, distinct style and sound were King.
#47 Kiss - Alive 2
October 14, 1977My first real "Attention getter" album in the Metal genre. I remember listening to "God of Thunder" over...and over...and over. It just grabbed you by the nuts and didn't let go. I was 14 I think when this came out...ripe for the metal picking...
I had been listening to Zep, Sabbath and Purple, but Kiss was a whole different beast. Add to that the theatrics of Gene Simmons and the boys. This was my first Kiss album, I immediately went out and bought Hotter Than Hell and Destroyer, 2 seriously bad ass albums for a 14 year old metal neophyte. To this day.... it's that roar of "God of Thunder" that will always take me back to my "Metal" beginnings.
#46 Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
November 19, 1973One of my first exposures to the world of "Prog". I was just floored by Carl Palmer's drumming. I mean, all 3 of them are prog gods, but Palmer really got my attention. Brain Salad Surgery was an awesome album, add to that the cover art by H. R. Giger. Even though it's more a hit (Radio) song...Karn Evil 9, rocks. 7 virgins and a mule? Really?
For a mellower song, "Still you Turn me On" was awesome.