A Year in the Life--Album Style
Inspiration comes. Sometimes it doesn't. When it doesn't, I have found a nifty little trick is to steal from those in the blogging community. OK. stealing is bad. I'm borrowing, drawing inspiration, building upon the foundations that have been laid before me. I got this from Mr. Big Dubya who apparently got it from Jason who got it from a website he appreciates. You see, it's not really theft if the original dudes all get their due credit, right? Kind of like it ain't plagiarism if I put a footnote.
Anyway, the rules of this little exercise are pretty simple: pick your favorite album (or what would have been your favorite, had you been of age) from every year of your life. I fudged this just a tad. Although I would like to think of myself as someone with a very eclectic taste in music (no rap--no country--a guy has to have boundaries), my wife would argue that my tastes are pretty mainstream and ho-hum at best. Try as I may to argue with her--she's got a point. I am the musical equivalent of illiterate. So I picked many of what were or would have been my favorite albums and quite a few of what should have been my favorite albums. As you will see, I still need help. I welcome your suggestions. I must remind you though, no rap--no country.
This would have been much easier had I started this say--ten or fifteen years ago. But I didn't. I waited until now so I've got to track down forty three albums that count or would count as my favorite of the year. I was going to break this up into at least two posts but by the time I got finished I'd be trying to select well over fifty some odd albums (I tend to procrastinate.) and would have definitely lost all interest--as you no doubt will have by the time you reach the end of this post--if you haven't already.
Here goes. A year in the life--Album Style.
1965 A Charlie Brown Christmas Vince Guaraldi Trio (To this very day one of my all time favorites. In fact, my cd alarm clock is set to wake me to Linus and Lucy every morning.)
1966 Sounds of Silence Simon and Garfunkel
1967 Are You Experienced Jimi Hendrix (still makes it into the weekly playlist)
1968 The Beatles (White Album) The Beatles
1969 Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin
1970 Moondance Van Morrison
1971 Sticky Fingers The Rolling Stones
1972 Talking Book Stevie Wonder
1973 Dixie Chicken Little Feet (just try to listen and not tap your toes. I don't think it's possible.)
1974 The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway Genesis
1975 Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd (We're just two lost souls living in a fish bowl, year after year....one of my favorite all time lines in a song.)
1976 Chicago X Chicago (My wife thinks I'm a dork but I've always liked Peter Cetera's voice.)
1977 The Clash The Clash
1978 Van Halen Van Halen
1979 Toto Toto
1980 The Pretenders The Pretenders
1981 Face Value Phil Collins (In the Air Tonight--you know you play that drum line--you know you do!)
1982 1999 Prince
1983 Synchronicity The Police
1984 Purple Rain Prince and the Revolution
1985 No Jacket Required Phil Collins
1986 Graceland Paul Simon
1987 The Joshua Tree U2
1988 Vivid Living Colour
1989 Mother's Milk Red Hot Chili Peppers
1990 Shake Your Money Maker The Black Crowes
1991 Achtung Baby U2
1992 Us Peter Gabriel
1993 Are You Gonna Go My Way Lenny Kravitz
1994 Dookie Green Day
1995 (What's the story) Morning Glory Oasis
1996 Crash Dave Mathews Band
1997 Secret Samadhi Live (It was a toss up with the Foo Fighters second album this year--I went with Live)
1998 Car Wheels on a Gravel Road Lucinda Williams
1999 Supernatural Santana
2000 Parachutes Coldplay
2001 Rockin the Suburbs Ben Folds
2002 Up Peter Gabriel
2003 Unclassified Robert Randolph and the Family Band
2004 Hot Fuss The Killers
2005 From Under the Cork Tree Fall Out Boy
2006 Continuum John Mayer
2007 Raising Sand Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
2008 Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace Foo Fighters
Of the artists listed here I've only seen eight in concert. Bonus points for anyone that can correctly guess all eight.
Anyway, the rules of this little exercise are pretty simple: pick your favorite album (or what would have been your favorite, had you been of age) from every year of your life. I fudged this just a tad. Although I would like to think of myself as someone with a very eclectic taste in music (no rap--no country--a guy has to have boundaries), my wife would argue that my tastes are pretty mainstream and ho-hum at best. Try as I may to argue with her--she's got a point. I am the musical equivalent of illiterate. So I picked many of what were or would have been my favorite albums and quite a few of what should have been my favorite albums. As you will see, I still need help. I welcome your suggestions. I must remind you though, no rap--no country.
This would have been much easier had I started this say--ten or fifteen years ago. But I didn't. I waited until now so I've got to track down forty three albums that count or would count as my favorite of the year. I was going to break this up into at least two posts but by the time I got finished I'd be trying to select well over fifty some odd albums (I tend to procrastinate.) and would have definitely lost all interest--as you no doubt will have by the time you reach the end of this post--if you haven't already.
Here goes. A year in the life--Album Style.
1965 A Charlie Brown Christmas Vince Guaraldi Trio (To this very day one of my all time favorites. In fact, my cd alarm clock is set to wake me to Linus and Lucy every morning.)
1966 Sounds of Silence Simon and Garfunkel
1967 Are You Experienced Jimi Hendrix (still makes it into the weekly playlist)
1968 The Beatles (White Album) The Beatles
1969 Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin
1970 Moondance Van Morrison
1971 Sticky Fingers The Rolling Stones
1972 Talking Book Stevie Wonder
1973 Dixie Chicken Little Feet (just try to listen and not tap your toes. I don't think it's possible.)
1974 The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway Genesis
1975 Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd (We're just two lost souls living in a fish bowl, year after year....one of my favorite all time lines in a song.)
1976 Chicago X Chicago (My wife thinks I'm a dork but I've always liked Peter Cetera's voice.)
1977 The Clash The Clash
1978 Van Halen Van Halen
1979 Toto Toto
1980 The Pretenders The Pretenders
1981 Face Value Phil Collins (In the Air Tonight--you know you play that drum line--you know you do!)
1982 1999 Prince
1983 Synchronicity The Police
1984 Purple Rain Prince and the Revolution
1985 No Jacket Required Phil Collins
1986 Graceland Paul Simon
1987 The Joshua Tree U2
1988 Vivid Living Colour
1989 Mother's Milk Red Hot Chili Peppers
1990 Shake Your Money Maker The Black Crowes
1991 Achtung Baby U2
1992 Us Peter Gabriel
1993 Are You Gonna Go My Way Lenny Kravitz
1994 Dookie Green Day
1995 (What's the story) Morning Glory Oasis
1996 Crash Dave Mathews Band
1997 Secret Samadhi Live (It was a toss up with the Foo Fighters second album this year--I went with Live)
1998 Car Wheels on a Gravel Road Lucinda Williams
1999 Supernatural Santana
2000 Parachutes Coldplay
2001 Rockin the Suburbs Ben Folds
2002 Up Peter Gabriel
2003 Unclassified Robert Randolph and the Family Band
2004 Hot Fuss The Killers
2005 From Under the Cork Tree Fall Out Boy
2006 Continuum John Mayer
2007 Raising Sand Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
2008 Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace Foo Fighters
Of the artists listed here I've only seen eight in concert. Bonus points for anyone that can correctly guess all eight.
Posted by Zoe's Dad at Wednesday, July 16, 2008 11:10 PM and is filed under Music,albums 1965-2008,top albums,really boring personal information 
It seems like you told me which bands you've seen in a comment, but that would be cheating- plus I'm lazy.
I did mention a few-- though most of those didn't make this top album of the year list.
Holy cow, how long did it take you to figure that out? But I like the idea, maybe I should figure mine out before I get too much older... Ya, I like this idea - Plus I love that you have the Clash up there!!
It took forever! I was so over it by the time I got finished that I almost just deleted the whole thing. But then I just decided, heck with it and published.
Oh, and the Clash--that was one of my should have been selections.
I can't believe you did not put the High School Muscial soundtrack on this list. What kind of dad are you
You've got some great albums here! I do admit, this white suburban momma does like a little rap now and then. And everyone in Texas does not like country, it drives me insane!
High School Musical was a really close second. Does it count that I can sing along with just about all of the HSM songs I and II?
Kudos for Alison Krauss, Lucinda Williams, Van Morrisson, Prince, and half of your U2 picks.
Unwittingly, you have selected two of the eight shows I've seen--Lucinda and Van. Nice work Xbox!
Very nice! Though I could do without Toto...
OK--leave out Rosanna. The rest of there stuff isn't so bad, is it?
You and I have very similar musical tastes. I'm a Chicago fan too. Love the horns.
Great list!
Thanks, man.
And speaking of horns--I left off of the list Tower of Power. Now there's some horns!
man, that's far too ambitious an undertaking for me I think. Great idea though.
Dude, it took forever! I say if do it now while your young. It only gets harder.
Holy crap, that's a lot of work! You have a few of my favs there too... Beatles, Prince, Chicago, Stevie, The Police, U2, The Killers, Cold Play, Green Day, Foo Fighters, Fall Out Boy, Oasis, Chili Peppers... If I ever do this, I am plagerizing most of YOUR list
Maureen, you have no idea!
Feel free to copy and paste away.
Very impressive list. Although, I was a bit surprised by Fall Out Boy making the list. Someday when I have time (soon is not likely), I'll have to assemble my own list.
I was in a really weird place that year.
I'd be including a few of those in mine too, but reading your comments I think I'll pass on that one.
My 15 year old thinks I'm too old to like Green Day and Linkin Park! I told him I'm a cool mum.
My oldest is seven, so fortunately, she hasn't found out what a dork I really am. To her, I'm still pretty cool.
Hope you finally made it to see Phil...and U2
Sadly--no.