Rich's 47th Birthday Year-by-Year Record Album Marathon
I just woke up on this, my 47th birthday, with a cool idea. I'm going to start listening to one album from each year since 1965, the one in which I was born. I'll report the results throughout the day right here on this blog (and on Facebook as well). Each of the records will be a favorite of mine, though not necessarily my favorite from that year.
I'll be starting with a classic album by a classic band and ending with the brand new release by one of my Phoenixville neighbors. How cool is that?
Of course, I can't listen to 'em all in one day, but let's see how far I get. I've got a pretty open day until our trip to the Colonial Theater this evening.
OK then. Happy Birthday to me! Let's go!
1965: Rubber Soul--The Beatles. I'm listening to the original British version, mostly because that's what I've currently got on my MP3 player. I grew up with a vinyl copy of the American version and that is actually what I prefer, since I think it retains an intimate folk-rock throughout, which is quite as apparent (to me, anyway) in the UK version. But, British or American, it's still one of the greatest albums ever.
1966: Pet Sounds--The Beach Boys. Appropriately, Brian Wilson has stated that Pet Sounds was inspired by Rubber Soul, so this is an excellent follow-up to the '65 album. Of course, the Beatles Revolver would be even better, I guess, but I'm setting the rule that each artist will only be represented once in the marathon. Any anyway, what better record to listen to on a nice June morning than Pet Sounds. I know some people who feel that this record (which still tops "greatest albums of all time lists") is overrated, but God only knows that I like it just fine.
1967: Are You Experienced?--The Jimi Hendrix Experience. My first exposure to Hendrix came via my dad, who was a fan. I think I may have been the one to give him the Smash Hits compilation, which was the go-to Hendrix album around our house. In fact, it was the only Hendrix album Dad owned, until much later, when I think I might have given him some of the other compilations that were released in the '90s. However, a few years ago, when Hendrix's studio albums were re-released, I felt like I needed experience Hendrix beyond the "hits" so I picked up the CDs and I'm very glad that I did. This one, the 1967 debut, is filled with songs I recognized from my early listening to Smash Hits--"Purple Haze," "Manic Depression," "The Wind Cries Mary," "Fire," the titanic "Hey Joe" and other epic tunes--but of course the whole album is worth hearing. I can only wonder what it was like to hear this album for the first time in the days after it was released in 1967. I imagine all these music fans walking around with their jaws on the floor after immersing themselves in Are You Experienced?.
1968: The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society--The Kinks. The Kinks are a band that I really do love but, for whatever reason, hardly ever listen to. So it made sense to let the Kinks prevail over some pretty heavy hitters to take the 1968 slot. Like Hendrix, I had been fairly content knowing just the Kinks hits but over the years, I wanted to hear more. I have to admit that it was the use of "Picture Book" in a commercial that tipped the scales toward me finally picking up Village Green. I remember being quite adamant in the '80s about disliking the use of classic songs in commercials, and I still don't like the practice all that much, but it sometimes serves a function other than persuading me to buy some product having nothing to do with the song in question. Anyway, all hail the Kinks!
1969: Nashville Skyline--Bob Dylan. This was one of Dad's favorite records so even if it wouldn't top any list of Greatest Dylan Records Ever, it stands to reason that it's one of my favorite records as well. I remember hearing this brief, country-influenced album playing many times around our house when I was young. Listening to it now, I realize how much I learned from Nashville Skyline, if only through osmosis: 1) it introduced me to Johnny Cash, who sings with Dylan on "Girl from the North Country; 2) it and the Greatest Hits album introduced me to Dylan himself; 3) it probably gave me a good first impression of country music, even if it isn't "hard country;" 4) it probably taught me, as I listened over the years, that a collected group of songs doesn't have to Make A Statement to make a statement, if you know what I mean; 5) it gave me the knowledge that Dylan enjoys spending his nights with Peggy Day and his days with Peggy Night; and, 6) it pointed out to me that Bob Dylan loves his country pie, whether it is raspberry, strawberry, lemon or lime (what does Bob care?). Mostly, listening to it at least 40 years after I first heard it, Nashville Skyline's greatest revelation to me is that memories involving music, home, family and one's early life are so strong and warm and real that they'll bring tears to your eyes if you let them. And why not let them now and then?
I'll be starting with a classic album by a classic band and ending with the brand new release by one of my Phoenixville neighbors. How cool is that?
Of course, I can't listen to 'em all in one day, but let's see how far I get. I've got a pretty open day until our trip to the Colonial Theater this evening.
OK then. Happy Birthday to me! Let's go!
1965: Rubber Soul--The Beatles. I'm listening to the original British version, mostly because that's what I've currently got on my MP3 player. I grew up with a vinyl copy of the American version and that is actually what I prefer, since I think it retains an intimate folk-rock throughout, which is quite as apparent (to me, anyway) in the UK version. But, British or American, it's still one of the greatest albums ever.
1966: Pet Sounds--The Beach Boys. Appropriately, Brian Wilson has stated that Pet Sounds was inspired by Rubber Soul, so this is an excellent follow-up to the '65 album. Of course, the Beatles Revolver would be even better, I guess, but I'm setting the rule that each artist will only be represented once in the marathon. Any anyway, what better record to listen to on a nice June morning than Pet Sounds. I know some people who feel that this record (which still tops "greatest albums of all time lists") is overrated, but God only knows that I like it just fine.
1967: Are You Experienced?--The Jimi Hendrix Experience. My first exposure to Hendrix came via my dad, who was a fan. I think I may have been the one to give him the Smash Hits compilation, which was the go-to Hendrix album around our house. In fact, it was the only Hendrix album Dad owned, until much later, when I think I might have given him some of the other compilations that were released in the '90s. However, a few years ago, when Hendrix's studio albums were re-released, I felt like I needed experience Hendrix beyond the "hits" so I picked up the CDs and I'm very glad that I did. This one, the 1967 debut, is filled with songs I recognized from my early listening to Smash Hits--"Purple Haze," "Manic Depression," "The Wind Cries Mary," "Fire," the titanic "Hey Joe" and other epic tunes--but of course the whole album is worth hearing. I can only wonder what it was like to hear this album for the first time in the days after it was released in 1967. I imagine all these music fans walking around with their jaws on the floor after immersing themselves in Are You Experienced?.
1968: The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society--The Kinks. The Kinks are a band that I really do love but, for whatever reason, hardly ever listen to. So it made sense to let the Kinks prevail over some pretty heavy hitters to take the 1968 slot. Like Hendrix, I had been fairly content knowing just the Kinks hits but over the years, I wanted to hear more. I have to admit that it was the use of "Picture Book" in a commercial that tipped the scales toward me finally picking up Village Green. I remember being quite adamant in the '80s about disliking the use of classic songs in commercials, and I still don't like the practice all that much, but it sometimes serves a function other than persuading me to buy some product having nothing to do with the song in question. Anyway, all hail the Kinks!
1969: Nashville Skyline--Bob Dylan. This was one of Dad's favorite records so even if it wouldn't top any list of Greatest Dylan Records Ever, it stands to reason that it's one of my favorite records as well. I remember hearing this brief, country-influenced album playing many times around our house when I was young. Listening to it now, I realize how much I learned from Nashville Skyline, if only through osmosis: 1) it introduced me to Johnny Cash, who sings with Dylan on "Girl from the North Country; 2) it and the Greatest Hits album introduced me to Dylan himself; 3) it probably gave me a good first impression of country music, even if it isn't "hard country;" 4) it probably taught me, as I listened over the years, that a collected group of songs doesn't have to Make A Statement to make a statement, if you know what I mean; 5) it gave me the knowledge that Dylan enjoys spending his nights with Peggy Day and his days with Peggy Night; and, 6) it pointed out to me that Bob Dylan loves his country pie, whether it is raspberry, strawberry, lemon or lime (what does Bob care?). Mostly, listening to it at least 40 years after I first heard it, Nashville Skyline's greatest revelation to me is that memories involving music, home, family and one's early life are so strong and warm and real that they'll bring tears to your eyes if you let them. And why not let them now and then?