Sign O' the Times
This one is a really good double-album with nothing annoying on it, like some of his earlier work. (Admittedly this judgment comes from one in whose background jigs are considered dancing, and dancing has nothing whatever to do with shaking one’s hips). Some thought of it as the album of the decade (the 80s) which really isn’t saying that much. It’s not quite that high on my list, but it’s the one I put on when I want to hear the little guy. A Songs in the Key of Life for the 80s
A-
The record that taught me that I'm not ready for certain music no longer how long I wait. Talk about work! A big disappointment after Second Edition, because Keith Levine left his guitar home. I appreciate the rhythms more now, but given the choice I’d just as soon (or sooner) listen to Public Enemy. Has Johnny ever made two good records in a row? It's as if he's so full of contempt for everyone that if they like one record, he's got to make another one he knows they'll hate. And I almost do.
C+
Public Enemy: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
It’s hard to love Chuck D, but he’s got a lot to say and I’m willing to hear him out. The overall sound is a little too repetitive and that’s someone who likes the Ramones…. Another '80s album of the decade that isn’t quite there for me. It’s work to listen to this. That’s okay, work is good for us. But not a lot of fun.
B+
Otis Redding: History
I figure I'm about 55 years behind what I’ll call “black music”. Not counting Motown, of course. Love that late 50s jazz. I’m caught up on Aretha now. And although I got this best-of right after getting married I listen to it about once a year. It's all just too sad. Not the music, but the story. And it’s taken me this long to enjoy the singer as much as the song. That’s definitely on me.
A-
Lou Reed:
The Blue Mask:
My first LR album! And allegedly his first consistent one. It’s very atmospheric and yet varies in intensity and mood. The loud ones were a bit hard to take at first but as I learned that’s Lou for you.
A-
Legendary Hearts:
This one’s also consistent but it’s also where I learned that Lou just doesn’t sing melodies anymore. Again, that limited my enjoyment at first, but he and I have come to a truce. He could do much, much worse.
A-
REM: Fables Of The Reconstruction
First, a brilliant debut EP, a nearly perfect debut album, and a very good second album, this is where they start to lose me. They'd win me back in 1991 though. Perfectly good. Yawn.
B+
Rockpile: Seconds Of Pleasure
Pretty much as you’d expect. A fun record. You’d wonder how long they could maintain such a mood. And the answer was not long.
B+
The Rolling Stones: Now!
Why don’t I love this record? The band is great. They do Willie Dixon, Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry, etc. great. It’s Jagger who’s the problem here. He just hasn't come into his own and he's never really done a cover that's better than the original.
B+
Roxy Music: Roxy Music
Side one is catchy despite the weirdness, and side 2 is weird despite the catchiness. They’d soon balance this out, and then just go straight for the catchiness, but by then Eno was long gone.
B+
Doug Sahm: Doug Sahm and Band
This is a very easy going album so if you don’t expect too much from it, you’ll find it quite enjoyable. Boasting a stellar cast, including Dylan, there’s a lot of entertaining stuff. They do country, blues, country-blues, blue-country. In other words, all four kinds of music.
B+
Sam and Dave: The Best of
One of the great single album best-of’s out there. (The best probably being Sly.) It retains their intensity and the songwriting prowess of Isaac Hayes and David Porter. One can guess at the showmanship!
A-
Saunders Garcia: Live at the Keystone
This occurs just before the Dead s-l-o-w d-o-w-n, and so it’s pretty good, even though Jerry’s vocals are less than perfect.
B+
John Sebastian: Tarzana Kid
A wee laid back for me, but when I look at it, there’s really nothing wrong here. And "Face of Appalachia" is a gem!
B+
The Shirelles: The Very Best of
What a sweet record this is! How can someone listen to this and not sigh? Well, me, when I was twelve. Back then it was all about crunching guitars and deep progressive rock. So I scoffed at songs like "Soldier Boy". These days it makes me cry.
A-
Slave: Just a Touch of Love
Meh. Why these guys when you’ve got Parliament?
B-
Sly and the Family Stone: There’s a Riot Going On
Definitely a basement album. Hard, dark, brilliant.
A
Patti Smith: Horses
It aged quite well.
A-
Sonic Youth: Daydream Nation
When all the noise was totally worth it.
A-
Sphere: Four in One
Recommended by Friend Mike, I didn’t quite get it at first. But once I got to learn about Thelonious Monk this kicked in just fine.
A-
Spirit:
Spirit
It retains a bit too much of the stench of the 60s but otherwise holds up pretty well.
A-
Clear
Side one is annoying as they go hard rock. Side two gets better as it settles back into their tuneful weirdness.
B+
Bruce Springsteen: Nebraska
His version of Tonight’s the Night, and not nearly as self-involved.
A-
Steppenwolf:
Monster
I always loved the title cut even though it sounds a little trite now. And the rest is Steppenwolf at their almost best. Great production. Bad sign: several of these are old songs they had lying around.
B+
7
And this is when they run out of songs.
C
Squeeze: East Side Story
Good but limited because they were only occasionally brilliant, I hear this is their best. Unless the Best of counts.
B+
Talking Heads:
Speaking In Tongues: I respect more than love. Nine songs with David Byrne singing in more or less the same manner throughout is a bit much. The band sounds great, though.
A-
True Stories:
Certainly not bad and pretty rocking but I always prefer them being a little weirder than this.
B+
James Taylor:
Sweet Baby James: This is a very impressive record but represents the retreat from rock and roll (those sweaty shirtless hippies) to "rock", and soft rock at that (those sad, sensitive junkies).
B+
Walking Man:
This has the distinction of sounding good exactly one time because it confirmed that a preamp I was connecting in fact worked. Other than that it’s the epitome of emasculated rock music. One of those perfectly pleasant-sounding records that no one can understand why Jaybee hates.
C
They Might Be Giants: They Might Be Giants
One of the more unique voices of the 80s. Who says an accordion can’t rock? Probably me, but I was wrong.
A-
Three Dog Night: It Ain't Easy: A fun sounding record that I don’t go out of my way to put on, despite the hits.
B
The Troggs: Love is all Around
A real 60s album, in the sense that, aside from the hit, the rest is meh.
B
Music from 2001: A Space Odyssey
I got is from someone. This one reeks of Record Club. But after almost 50 years I can enjoy both the classical and more modern (ie., weird) vocal-oriented cuts.
B+
U2: October: The first two cuts are fine but after that it’s kinda boring. I wasn’t crazy about the first one either, though.
Vanilla Fudge:
Vanilla Fudge: Veering between awesome (You Keep Me Hanging On, Take Me for a Little While) and awful (a lot of the remainder) in a span of seconds.
B-
Near The Beginning: Great musicianship. Self-indulgent but better than outright bad.
B
Loudon Wainwright: III
A little low key but this does hold up after all this time. He’s got a good little band here, too.
A-
Dionne Warwick: Dionne
Glop goes the diva.
C+
Weather Report:
Fusion. It could be worse.
B
Kurt Weill: Lost In The Stars
Various artists somehow manage to make this sound whole.
A-
The Wild Tchapatoulas: The Wild Tchapatoulas
One of those records that at first sounds generic to idiots like me but now sound seminal. Put it right next to that A History of New Orleans Rhythm N Blues.
A-
Stevie Wonder:
Looking Back: This three-LP retrospective (in 1970!) is almost too much young Stevie.
B+
Songs in the Key of Life What can one say? The lyrics are not always great, but the music is excellent throughout.
A-
Yes: The Yes Album
Prog with guitars beats prog with organs.
B+
Neil Young:
On the Beach: Side one is a bit flawed but side two is a mini-masterpiece. It's my humble opinion that we're reliving the 70s.
A-
Hawks and Doves: Slight but oh, so Neil.
A-
Frank Zappa:
Hot Rats: Good guitar, but an almost glitzy band.
B+
Waka Jawaka: Here he's trying to stick to jazz and it almost works.
B
Warren Zevon: Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School
It's really almost as good as his first two, marred only by one boring love song. And "Wild Age" and "Bed of Coals" almost make it great.
B+
So that’s it.
I've tried everything from A-Z (on vinyl, that is.) to keep reality at bay, but it kept peaking in, thanks to Sly and Neil.
And then George Floyd died, and things got even worse.
It was meant as my way of escaping the inescapable. And it’s going to keep going on, so I may as well get used to it and get some new music, that hopefully can handle the association and not get dragged down by these awful times.
