I actually considered pursuing a radio gig back in the '80s (there was a school for broadcasters in the city in which I lived at the time), but I ended up working at the most enjoyable job I've ever had instead (as a chemist). So maybe, subconsciously, this UA-cam thing was a replacement for that radio dream I had. Haha!
Loving this series Jeff. I probably won't comment on them all as I watch a lot of videos on my phone these days...but enjoying the selection and it's sending me back to the shelves in some cases!
It was the most “labor of love” that I have ever done on this channel, James. These 50 CDs are the sweet spots of my life’s soundtrack. As I sat for the past months with limited ability as I recovered from surgery, it really sunk into my being just how much these albums meant, and continue to mean, to me. So I was really motivated to finally honor them somewhat. Again, these videos are in no way meant to be recommendations to others, but only personal tributes to my “best friend” albums. Funny thing is, in many cases, the albums that mean so much to me mean very little to the artists who made them. I can’t count the times I have read musician autobios or interviews and my favorite albums of theirs are never even mentioned. Must be a reflection on my bad taste. Ha!
Shock Treatment is a very underrated album! I love the first two Yes albums as much as their later ones, including Magnification and KeyStudio. Tormato is one of my favorites as I saw them on that tour.
Terje is one of my top favorite musicians of all time, but his albums are mood-dependent for me. I love them, but have to be in the mood for them. Same with my favorite composer Delius, of whose music I own even more CDs than that of Terje's. This list is of those CDs that I can listen to any day any time no matter what.....and over and over again each day.....
Songs for Drella is a great choice. Love how Cale highlights the Reed songs with his piano and Reed highlights the Cale with his guitar. "Goodbye, Andy," the album closer, even with that deadpan delivery is just so deeply moving. And Quadrophenia...dear God. An absolutely perfect record. I have three favorite albums, that one, Physical Graffiti and Station to Station, and my number one depends on which one I'm listening to at the time. When people wonder why I love both rock and opera, well, I usually point to bands like the Who and Led Zeppelin as the logical crossover between those two seemingly incompatible genres. So passionate, so larger than life, like Elvis on steroids! Il Trovatore and Carmen are the first true rock operas in my opinion.
I will never forget hearing Songs For Drella the first time. I bought the cassette when the album was released and started playing it in my car as I drove back to work from my lunch break (my lunch breaks then almost always found me at the nearest record stores). I literally had to pull the car over to get off the road because I was so overwhelmed by what I was hearing. It was that opening to the 2nd track, “Open House”. I wanted to just sit in the car and keep listening. I played that cassette nonstop for a month. My good friend Steve there at work loved music as much as did, but he couldn’t resonate with this (or any other) Lou album. Steve passed away a few years ago and I miss him bitterly. I lost four friends that same year. Magic & Loss is a work of stunning genius, and I think of Steve and Michael (another music loving friend who died) when I hear it. Anyway…..I simply HAVE to offer some kind of “review” (or personal tribute) to Quadrophenia soon. Thanks, Chris, as always. Jeff
@@CalicoSilver Yeah, Magic and Loss is another one. Really connected with it when I was younger, even more so now because, like you, well, it just seems as you get older the losses start to outnumber the magic! RIP your friends, and RIP Lou.
Songs for drella is just perfect. I would have thought you’d have New York No Stones?! I’d give Yes’ Drama a chance; no Jon but musically awesome Crazy you haven’t done a deep dive into Quad. It is daunting I’m sure
Almost all of the Lou Reed albums are on my top 200 list, I love them so much. I just chose Drella to be the top one for me at this time. I have Drama and just never cared for it. Not sure why, but there it is. The only Stones album I can listen to any time in any mood is Goats Head Soup, but it didn't make my top 50. My reaction to Quadrophenia has always been very personal and subjective so I'm not exactly sure if anything that I say about it would mean anything to anyone else....but it might.....so I definitely need to try reviewing it anyway. Thanks, James.
I love the album cover for that one. And yes, James Taylor in the early '70s was quite exceptional. He stood out among all the many singer-songwriters of that era.
@@CalicoSilver The album is unlike any of his, it’s a perfect blend of pop, jazz, blues and funk. The compositions are unique. John McLaughlin plays an acoustic solo on “Someone.” The end of the album strings several short songs together similar to Abbey Road idea. His compositions after this album became homogenized with only a couple exceptions, Shower the People and Mexico.
Goats Head Soup (yes, I know, but it is still my favorite ever since 1973) was on my 50-CD list right up until a day or so before making these videos.....I made a last-minute switch with another album.
Call me shallow, but I real can't stand Jon Anderson's voice....Yes are one of two bands that I would love if they had different singers...Rush is the other one. Consequently my favourite songs by these two bands are instrumentals! (ditto for the Dickinson periid Iron Maiden!)
I understand completely. There are bands I would love if it weren't for the singers' voices (Rush comes to mind, yes). So I get it. I actually kinda like Jon's voice, though. Sometimes he really moves me with his phrasing and his lyrics, believe it or not.
@@CalicoSilver tbf, "can't stand" is probably a bit strong....I can appreciate the quality of Anderson's voice, but it doesn't resonate emotionally with me.
You would be great on your own radio show. Your passion for the music is so evident.
I actually considered pursuing a radio gig back in the '80s (there was a school for broadcasters in the city in which I lived at the time), but I ended up working at the most enjoyable job I've ever had instead (as a chemist). So maybe, subconsciously, this UA-cam thing was a replacement for that radio dream I had. Haha!
Loving this series Jeff. I probably won't comment on them all as I watch a lot of videos on my phone these days...but enjoying the selection and it's sending me back to the shelves in some cases!
It was the most “labor of love” that I have ever done on this channel, James. These 50 CDs are the sweet spots of my life’s soundtrack. As I sat for the past months with limited ability as I recovered from surgery, it really sunk into my being just how much these albums meant, and continue to mean, to me. So I was really motivated to finally honor them somewhat. Again, these videos are in no way meant to be recommendations to others, but only personal tributes to my “best friend” albums. Funny thing is, in many cases, the albums that mean so much to me mean very little to the artists who made them. I can’t count the times I have read musician autobios or interviews and my favorite albums of theirs are never even mentioned. Must be a reflection on my bad taste. Ha!
Shock Treatment is a very underrated album! I love the first two Yes albums as much as their later ones, including Magnification and KeyStudio. Tormato is one of my favorites as I saw them on that tour.
I agree, Larry. But then again, like you, I have really bad taste in music....right? Hahahaha!
@@CalicoSilver The worst! 😃
Thanks for making this series, Jeff!!!!
Thanks, Sean. It was something I wanted to do for a long time.
yes they are good yes -thanks
No Terje Rypdal?! You turned me on to him when I was isolating with Covid a few years ago. His tone and phrasing really affects me emotionally.
Terje is one of my top favorite musicians of all time, but his albums are mood-dependent for me. I love them, but have to be in the mood for them. Same with my favorite composer Delius, of whose music I own even more CDs than that of Terje's. This list is of those CDs that I can listen to any day any time no matter what.....and over and over again each day.....
Songs for Drella is a great choice. Love how Cale highlights the Reed songs with his piano and Reed highlights the Cale with his guitar. "Goodbye, Andy," the album closer, even with that deadpan delivery is just so deeply moving. And Quadrophenia...dear God. An absolutely perfect record. I have three favorite albums, that one, Physical Graffiti and Station to Station, and my number one depends on which one I'm listening to at the time. When people wonder why I love both rock and opera, well, I usually point to bands like the Who and Led Zeppelin as the logical crossover between those two seemingly incompatible genres. So passionate, so larger than life, like Elvis on steroids! Il Trovatore and Carmen are the first true rock operas in my opinion.
I will never forget hearing Songs For Drella the first time. I bought the cassette when the album was released and started playing it in my car as I drove back to work from my lunch break (my lunch breaks then almost always found me at the nearest record stores). I literally had to pull the car over to get off the road because I was so overwhelmed by what I was hearing. It was that opening to the 2nd track, “Open House”. I wanted to just sit in the car and keep listening. I played that cassette nonstop for a month. My good friend Steve there at work loved music as much as did, but he couldn’t resonate with this (or any other) Lou album. Steve passed away a few years ago and I miss him bitterly. I lost four friends that same year. Magic & Loss is a work of stunning genius, and I think of Steve and Michael (another music loving friend who died) when I hear it. Anyway…..I simply HAVE to offer some kind of “review” (or personal tribute) to Quadrophenia soon. Thanks, Chris, as always. Jeff
@@CalicoSilver Yeah, Magic and Loss is another one. Really connected with it when I was younger, even more so now because, like you, well, it just seems as you get older the losses start to outnumber the magic! RIP your friends, and RIP Lou.
Songs for drella is just perfect. I would have thought you’d have New York
No Stones?!
I’d give Yes’ Drama a chance; no Jon but musically awesome
Crazy you haven’t done a deep dive into Quad. It is daunting I’m sure
Almost all of the Lou Reed albums are on my top 200 list, I love them so much. I just chose Drella to be the top one for me at this time. I have Drama and just never cared for it. Not sure why, but there it is. The only Stones album I can listen to any time in any mood is Goats Head Soup, but it didn't make my top 50. My reaction to Quadrophenia has always been very personal and subjective so I'm not exactly sure if anything that I say about it would mean anything to anyone else....but it might.....so I definitely need to try reviewing it anyway. Thanks, James.
One Man Dog by James Taylor is exceptional.
I love the album cover for that one. And yes, James Taylor in the early '70s was quite exceptional. He stood out among all the many singer-songwriters of that era.
@@CalicoSilver The album is unlike any of his, it’s a perfect blend of pop, jazz, blues and funk. The compositions are unique. John McLaughlin plays an acoustic solo on “Someone.” The end of the album strings several short songs together similar to Abbey Road idea. His compositions after this album became homogenized with only a couple exceptions, Shower the People and Mexico.
No Stones!?!
Goats Head Soup (yes, I know, but it is still my favorite ever since 1973) was on my 50-CD list right up until a day or so before making these videos.....I made a last-minute switch with another album.
Call me shallow, but I real can't stand Jon Anderson's voice....Yes are one of two bands that I would love if they had different singers...Rush is the other one. Consequently my favourite songs by these two bands are instrumentals! (ditto for the Dickinson periid Iron Maiden!)
I understand completely. There are bands I would love if it weren't for the singers' voices (Rush comes to mind, yes). So I get it. I actually kinda like Jon's voice, though. Sometimes he really moves me with his phrasing and his lyrics, believe it or not.
@@CalicoSilver tbf, "can't stand" is probably a bit strong....I can appreciate the quality of Anderson's voice, but it doesn't resonate emotionally with me.