The most influential albums in your life.

[trekkiedane]

Part of the 'ten most influential'-thread-fad!

Only, you don't have to have ten albums, it could be two or a hundred... just list the most influential albums (not singles) in your life (that you can think of right now)

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band -It one of the first LPs I realised was an actual album, and enjoyed as such.

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds -the very first album I ever bought! (back in those days I bought it in the most fantastic new-fangled format available: the compact cassette!! (had to send away for the inlay-booklet as that was made for the (then) obsolete format of LPs)

The White Album -which I actually bought as part of a box-set, together with the first mentioned of this list.

Out of the Blue ELO -Probably the album I've listened to most often ever.

Jazz Samba Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd -can't get through a summer without wanting to listen to it; it's just such a nice warm thing to have in your ears during the warm season.

The Art of Fugue J. S. Bach what can I say? -I just love it!

Nebraska Bruce Springsteen -the only one of his albums that I can actually stand listening to in its entirety, but I really love it.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Hey, great idea! I suppose when I think of albums and how "influenced" me the most, I have to think in terms of my guitar playing (and not necessarily my favorites), or at least the defining album of guitar players who influenced me the most. So with that in mind:

10. Let it Bleed -- Rolling Stones
09. The Long Run -- Eagles
08. Synchronicity -- The Police
07. Ice Pickin' -- Albert Collins
06. Full Moon Fever -- Tom Petty
05. Abbey Road -- Beatles
04. E.C. Was Here -- Eric Clapton
03. At Fillmore East -- The Allman Brothers Band
02. Electric Ladyland -- The Jimi Hendrix Experience
01. Meddle -- Pink Floyd (I first heard it when I was five. Changed my life forever.)

 

[1001001]

Good topic!

Candy-O - The Cars: The first album I ever bought with my own allowance. I walked to the record store with my $5.00 in hand. I thought Let's Go was the greatest thing ever, and Ric Ocasek was as cool as the other side of the pillow.

The Wall - Pink Floyd: Blew my 13 year old mind completely. I wore the grooves off that thing. I still have it in rotation. Roger Water's recent tour of The Wall was the best concert I've ever seen.

Moving Pictures/Signals - Rush: I include them both together, they were the soundtrack to my high school years, and the first time I ever experienced the sensation that the artist was speaking directly to me. "Be cool or be cast out..."

Making Movies - Dire Straits: Another one still in rotation after so many years. Mark Knopfler's guitar is still, to this day, the most beautiful sound I have ever heard.

The Joshua Tree - U2: I have a very clear memory of this. I was doing my junior year abroad when this album came out. I went down to the student union, bought the cassette, and popped it into my Walkman. The synth chords rising slowly, then the echoing guitar fading in....wow. A perfect album, IMHO.

Deadwing - Porcupine Tree: The first time in many, many years I "discovered" a new band. Some fellow Rush fanatics insisted I give them a try. I tore through their entire catalogue quickly thereafter. Very unique, wonderful and disturbing. For my money, a band that should be huge.

 

[trekkiedane]

The Wall - Pink Floyd.

How could I forget that?

It came out the year that I had a newly educated young english teacher and we did it as an 'intensive' text; The paper I wrote then has been influential in several other people learning to appreciate the album as I stored it in the cover

ETA:
Thinking of albums that I forgot: Strangely, The Dark Side of the Moon isn't my album, but Wish You Were Here is.

 

[Sci Fi Fan]

Interesting that most of the albums listed are from the "classic rock" era.

 

[trekkiedane]

Interesting that most of the albums listed are from the "classic rock" era.

^The era of the album!

-or maybe we're just ol' fogies

Oh, and do spoil yourself and watch this:

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em4kpy1YuNQ[/YT]​

(reading)

 

[RoJoHen]

Interesting that most of the albums listed are from the "classic rock" era.

^The era of the album!

-or maybe we're just ol' fogies

Well, I think a lot of people nowadays certainly listen to individual songs and playlists of different artists, but I definitely still listen to albums, even if they're downloaded onto my phone instead of on a record or a CD.

That said, I'll speak for the "younger people." While I'm certainly familiar with classic rock and can enjoy it if I hear it, it's never what I prefer to listen to. Here's my list...

"Commit this to Memory" - Motion City Soundtrack (name of the band; not actually a soundtrack)

"There's a World Beneath These Fireworks" - Matt Nathanson

"The 59 Sound" - The Gaslight Anthem

"From Under the Cork Tree" - Fall Out Boy

"Transatlanticism" - Death Cab for Cutie

 

[1001001]

Interesting that most of the albums listed are from the "classic rock" era.

^The era of the album!

-or maybe we're just ol' fogies

Absolutely.



I think albums have more significance when they are attached to emotional times in your life (like high school, for example). The songs are tied to memories, and you experience more than just the aesthetics of the music itself.

So for me that's why most of my albums are from when I was 13-21.

 

[trekkiedane]

Well, I think a lot of people nowadays certainly listen to individual songs and playlists of different artists, /.../

Before the playlist there was the "mixed tape"

I think albums have more significance when they are attached to emotional times in your life (like high school, for example). The songs are tied to memories, and you experience more than just the aesthetics of the music itself.

So for me that's why most of my albums are from when I was 13-21.

Absolutely -but there's also something about your taste in music being formed in your 'formative years'... It took me decades to learn to appreciate jazz and 'classic'; in fact I'm just getting there!

 

[RoJoHen]

Well, I think a lot of people nowadays certainly listen to individual songs and playlists of different artists, /.../

Before the playlist there was the "mixed tape"

Well, yes, but those required so much more effort!

 

[trekkiedane]

Well, I think a lot of people nowadays certainly listen to individual songs and playlists of different artists, /.../

Before the playlist there was the "mixed tape"

Well, yes, but those required so much more effort!

Indeed, but back in the cassette-age (damn I feel old now) it was the ONLY thing! -and when the player became portable it was the dawn of the 'playlist age' -even if you had to copy the titles (before they were called 'files') live from radio

 

[RoJoHen]

Believe me, I'm familiar with the cassette age. I'm not that young.

 

[trekkiedane]

Believe me, I'm familiar with the cassette age. I'm not that young.

I know, 'twas just for the actual younglings

 

[HaventGotALife]

Thanks for doing this! My father had a turntable, I taped songs off the radio (and Star Trek episodes off the TV onto Audio casettes), I bought CDs from Record stores, I downloaded from Napster (before it was illegal), and I use Spotify (A GODSEND!) now.

I chose songs with albums that I know all the lyrics to, that I have listened to over and over again, and continue to enjoy today. I specifically chose albums that have songs with either a strong connection to my past, or songs that have expressed or influenced how I think today. No pretense here; you'll see a couple of Greatest Hits albums on this list. I'm into Country Music and R&B. So here goes:

"Earthen Vessels" - St. Louis Jesuits (1975)
"Gold" - Frank Sinatra (1990)
"Lot About Livin' (And a Little About Love)" - Alan Jackson (1992)
"Music Box" - Mariah Carey (1993)
"Blackhawk" - Blackhawk (1994)
"Dookie" - Green Day (1994)
"Kickin' it Up" - John Michael Montgomery (1994)
"Cracked Rear View" - Hootie and the Blowfish (1994)
"Jagged Little Pill" - Alantis Morisette (1995)
"II" - Boyz II Men (1995)
"The Woman in Me" - Shania Twain (1995)
"Fresh Horses" - Garth Brooks (1995)
"Daydream" - Mariah Carey (1995)
"Bringing Down the Horse" - The Wallflowers (1996)
"Star Trek: First Contact" - Jerry Goldsmith (1996)
"Sevens" - Garth Brooks (1997)
"Misguided Roses" - Edwin McCain (1997)
"Everywhere" - Tim McGraw (1997)
"Greatest Hits Collection" - Brooks and Dunn (1997)
"Sounds of Summer" - Beach Boys (1999)
"The Very Best of Ray Charles" - Ray Charles (2000)
"Weathered" - Creed (2001)
"Songs in A-Minor" - Alicia Keys (2001)
"Stripped" - Christina Aguilera (2002)
"The Diary of Alicia Keys" - Alicia Keys (2003)
"Feels Like Today" - Rascal Flatts (2004)
"Family" - Leann Rimes (2007)
"The Foundation" - Zac Brown Band (2007)
"Carnival Ride" - Carrie Underwood (2007)
"Learn to Live" - Darius Rucker (2008)
"Love on the Inside" - Sugarland (2008)
"My Kinda Party" - Jason Aldean (2010)

 

[trekkiedane]

Thanks for doing this!

I was just ready at the right time; you're welcome

"Earthen Vessels" - St. Louis Jesuits (1975)
"Gold" - Frank Sinatra (1990)
"Lot About Livin' (And a Little About Love)" - Alan Jackson (1992)
"Music Box" - Mariah Carey (1993)
"Blackhawk" - Blackhawk (1994)
"Dookie" - Green Day (1994)
"Kickin' it Up" - John Michael Montgomery (1994)
"Cracked Rear View" - Hootie and the Blowfish (1994)
"Jagged Little Pill" - Alantis Morisette (1995)
"II" - Boyz II Men (1995)
"The Woman in Me" - Shania Twain (1995)
"Fresh Horses" - Garth Brooks (1995)
"Daydream" - Mariah Carey (1995)
"Bringing Down the Horse" - The Wallflowers (1996)
"Star Trek: First Contact" - John Williams (1996)
"Sevens" - Garth Brooks (1997)
"Misguided Roses" - Edwin McCain (1997)
"Everywhere" - Tim McGraw (1997)
"Greatest Hits Collection" - Brooks and Dunn (1997)
"Sounds of Summer" - Beach Boys (1999)
"The Very Best of Ray Charles" - Ray Charles (2000)
"Weathered" - Creed (2001)
"Songs in A-Minor" - Alicia Keys (2001)
"Stripped" - Christina Aguilera (2002)
"The Diary of Alicia Keys" - Alicia Keys (2003)
"Feels Like Today" - Rascal Flatts (2004)
"Family" - Leann Rimes (2007)
"The Foundation" - Zac Brown Band (2007)
"Carnival Ride" - Carrie Underwood (2007)
"Learn to Live" - Darius Rucker (2008)
"Love on the Inside" - Sugarland (2008)
"My Kinda Party" - Jason Aldean (2010)

WOW I know only TWO artists (and have heard of only two others) in that list!!!
(should I:

)

 

[RoJoHen]

Which ones are you familiar with? There's only a couple there that I don't know.

 

[trekkiedane]

Sinatra and Goldsmith are the ones I know; Sinatra because it would be almost impossible not to know him. Jerry Goldsmith I know because I'm a sucker for a well made OST.

I have heard the names Alanis Morisette and Mariah Carey but wouldn't be able to recognize anything they've made as being by them. ETA: and I wouldn't bea ble to precisely place Ray Charles either)

 

[CorporalClegg]

I still have most of the mix tapes I made as a kid.

Roger Water's recent tour of The Wall was the best concert I've ever seen

That's really sad. I feel bad for you.

Between Waters lip-syncing most of the vocals and the glorified tribute band he had as backup (Smith is the only one with any real talent, and Kilminster is a walking cliché.), the performance was hugely lackluster.

While the LED screen may have been visually stunning in an flashy Avatar eye-candy way, it lacked the size, scope, and profound atmosphere of the original.

Seriously, if that's the best show you ever seen, you need to see more shows.

 

[HaventGotALife]

WOW I know only TWO artists (and have heard of only two others) in that list!!!
(should I:

)

I grew up with country and pop music. Those are not classics--just what I listened to (or listen to now). It's not a how-brow list, that is certain. I like my music to be blunt and I find most "classic" music, to be boring. I'm very bourgeois when it comes to music.

 

[trekkiedane]

WOW I know only TWO artists (and have heard of only two others) in that list!!!
(should I:

)

I grew up with country and pop music. Those are not classics--just what I listened to (or listen to now). It's not a how-brow list, that is certain. I like my music to be blunt and I find most "classic" music, to be boring. I'm very bourgeois when it comes to music.

All good and well, but with such a long list I feel that I should at least be familiar with a few of the artists
Oh, and when it comes to 'classic', I am only familiar with the pop-music; Beethoven an' such...