The first 15 albums that come to mind. Sheesh, I wonder what this means.
1. Steve Miller Band, "Book of Dreams." My childhood best friend and I listened to this over and over and over. I still think the cover is cool.
2. Diane Schuur & the Count Basie Orchestra. Deedles can swing it & this album is pretty much perfect. "Travelin' Light," "You Can Have It," "We'll Be Together Again."
3. Joan Armatrading, "Track Record." Noted for "Willow," (spare & sweet) "Weakness in Me," (angst) and "Love & Affection" (for the sexiest opening ever "I am not in love, but I'm open to persuasion...").
4. Patti Austin "The Real Me" - among many gems, a lively take on "I Can Cook, Too."
5. Lyle Lovett "Pontiac." "If I had a Boat." I'm the kind of mom who sings Lyle Lovett songs as lullabies to her babies.
6. Diana Krall "All for You" - for "Frim Fram Sauce," "Deed I Do." I discovered Diana Krall about the time of her fourth cd, so her early work is just one big album to my ear. Which is why I must mention "Love Scenes" for "All or Nothing at All."
7. "The Sound of Music" movie soundtrack for the reasons everyone does, but especially "I Have Confidence."I love musicals - "My Fair Lady" and "The Sound of Music" are my favorites. Be careful - I know all the words and will use them if I have to.
8. Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle "Spirituals in Concert" - two awesome voices deliver powerful songs. "Ride on, King Jesus" "There is a Balm in Gilead,""Gospel Train."
9. k.d. lang "Shadowland" produced by Owen Bradley. I know it's not the popular choice from her discography, but the combination of songs and singer leaves me breathless. "Lock, Stock and Teardrops" and "Sugar Moon" are faves, and I have a weakness for "Black Coffee."
10. Madness "Madness" - from a time when music was fun.This album does not include the novel (ty?) "My Name is Michael Caine," but the cover is stamped on my brain stem. Consider it a stand-in for all the mid-80s ska, reggae and Euro-pop that I listened to in college - English Beat, Human League, ABC, Flock of Seagulls.
11. Lyle Lovett "Joshua Judges Ruth." When the preacher gets long-winded, I think of the chorus of "Church," -
"To the Lord let praises beIt's time for dinner now let's go eat.
We've got some beans and some good cornbread
Now listen to what the preacher said."
12. Split Enz "True Colours." Ah, the Finn Brothers.
13. Dan Fogelberg "Netherlands" and "Souvenirs." It must be the cooler weather - I always think of Dan Fogelberg in autumn. I chose the Souvenirs album cover because of the soulful portrait - why is he holding a feather? And, I miss him - he died too young!
14. Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel "Bridge over Troubled Water" maybe it's not my generation, but that hardly seems the point. The classics stand forever.
15. "Chieftains" "the Long Black Veil" - I know, wild card, but once I heard Mick Jagger on the title song, I had to hear more. Warning on Tom Jones' rendition of "The Tennessee Waltz" - great the first few times, serious earworm after that.
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jlsathre
Jonathan Wolfman
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