Beatles, The: The White Album
Okay, so it’s not easy to pick ONE Beatles album. Isn’t it obvious that I had to go with the one that contains “Martha My Dear”?
Bloom, Luka: Riverside
Speaks to my love of folk music, but this guy can take an acoustic guitar and make it fill a room with big fat glorious sounds. "Delirious" is incredibly infectious. It's not on this record, but he also does a cover of LL Cool J's "I Need Love" that rocks my world.
Chapin, Harry: Legends of the Lost & Found
A double live album never released on CD (much to my chagrin). “Greatest Stories Live” (which came later) contains all the hits. “Legends” contains one of my favorite all time songs: “Corey’s Coming”… long and sappy and I love it. Saw Harry at Augustana College about six months before he died. One of my first concerts. He stood at the merch booth afterward signing autographs and French-kissing all the women. I’ll never forget the way he looked at me after we kissed.
Cockburn, Bruce: Stealing Fire
The other Bruce in my life. I love this album from start to finish. Definitely Bruce’s most commercial venture. “Rocket Launcher” was the hit, but I love songs like “Peggy’s Kitchen Wall”. Only Bruce could make politics so palatable. “Nicaragua” is my favorite song of his.
Crowded House: Temple of Low Men
While “Woodface” is probably the better all around record, I just can’t get past songs like “Into Temptation” and “When You Come”. When they played the latter live I could hardly keep from exploding.
Davis, Miles - Kind of Blue
When I reach for a jazz CD nine times out of ten it ends up being this one. What can I say? A classic is a classic.
Davis, Sammy, Jr.: The Sounds of 66 or Best of Sammy Davis & the Mike Curb Congregation
When I was about eight years old I wanted to BE Sammy. “Sounds of 66” is the ultimate, but if you want the cheesiest of all Samola go with the Mike Curb Congregation stuff.
Etheridge, Melissa: Melissa Etheridge
When this record came out she was singing straight to everything going on in my life at the time. Who knew she was singing about chicks? So powerful and passionate. Don’t like the subsequent albums as much, I'm afraid they quite simply don't have the balls.
Finn, Neil: Try Whistling This
The guy could sing the phone book and I would be enthralled. Simply can’t wait to see what he does next. I think I’ve listened to “Sinner” about two thousand times in a row.
Franklin, Aretha: I Never Loved a Man The Way I Love You
Who can argue with “Respect”? The woman can sing… and sing for all women. Although “A Change is Gonna Come” is one of my favorite songs, I prefer Sam Cooke’s version.
Gabriel, Peter: So
I picked this PG album because I beat it to death (BEFORE radio killed it). “Red Rain” is amazing. But his other records are probably better. Even though he’s not the greatest singer in the world, there’s a quality in his voice that I adore.
Joel, Billy: Turnstiles
I love this man. I think he writes some of the best all around pop/rock songs out there. This contains classics like “New York State of Mind” although my favorite is “Summer, Highland Falls”.
Lovett, Lyle: Lyle Lovett & His Large Band
Although his first record “Pontiac” contains what I might just call my number one favorite song of all time “If I Had a Boat” (okay, so it flip flops with “Thunder Road”), “& His Large Band” is phenomenal. His live show is one of the best I’ve ever seen.
Newman, Randy: Sail Away
Tough to pick a favorite Randy album. “Political Science” is my favorite song of his. Though the title cut on this one is so great!
Nilsson, Harry: The Point
Okay, so this is a kid’s story. But what great pop tunes!!! “Think About Your Troubles” is my favorite here.
Police: Synchronicity or Outlandos d'Amour
Tough choice between these two. While Synchronicity is probably a more cohesive record, there is a raw energy to Outlandos d'Amour that I just can't resist.
S/T: 1776
Here comes that show tune influence. Get my brothers and I in a room and chances are we’ll sing this thing from start to finish, laughing our asses off the whole time. Be forewarned though, it's likely to be followed by our demented version of the Sound of Music.
S/T: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
I don’t think I’ve ever cried as much as when my little brother accidentally shattered my first copy of this LP. Now I take comfort in my CD. I’m a kid again!
Sexton, Martin: Black Sheep
This guy really blows me away! An amazing live performer as well as a talented singer, guitarist, rhythmatist and songwriter. I'm perpetually intrigued by the way he uses a variety of genres and ideas in his music... he's always stretching the boundaries in new ways.
Smithereens, The: Especially for You
I so love these guys. Of all the rock bands I’ve met, they are the most fun and down to earth bunch of guys around. “Time & Time Again” is a blast, especially live.
Springsteen, Bruce: Nebraska, BTR, Tunnel of Love, Tracks
There’s no way I can pick one record of his. Simply impossible. But these four are the ones I tend to gravitate toward. “Thunder Road” saved my life. I came into the Bruce flock late (read “Born in the USA”), but the timing was perfect. I used to cut my college classes to go home and listen to his records. Far cheaper and more successful than any other therapy I've experienced. His live show is unparalleled.
Tenacious D: Tenacious D
These guys will rock your f-ing socks off... acoustically, no less! AND make you laugh so hard you'll pee on yourself. I think that deserves a stronger parental warning than the fact that they swear a lot and deal with "mature subject matter". Jack Black's vocals are so astounding they make my genitals sing. It's quite a duet, really.
Townshend, Pete: Empty Glass, All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes
Have to flip a coin to pick which one goes in the jukebox. Depends on whether I want to hear “I Am An Animal” and “A Little Is Enough” or “Somebody Saved Me” and “Slit Skirts”.
Zappa, Frank: Sheik Yerbouti
Another favorite for my brothers and I. Actually danced to “Broken Hearts Are for Assholes” at my older brother’s wedding. Also a big album for my high school crowd. Driving around in “Bird Car” after sneaking out to see “Rocky Horror Picture Show” for the fiftieth time…
Zevon, Warren: Sentimental Hygiene, Excitable Boy
Another coin toss. What a sharp wit this guy had. He wrote some really great songs.