Essential Studio Albums

[McParadigm]

Enjoy the trip. I look forward to popping in here to see what you’re listening to next week.

[liebzz]

Thanks. I should get through the CSN album today and maybe the next. That would be ideal.

[liebzz]

Crosby, Stills & Nash

The vocal harmonies and organic nature of this sound would apparently be a point of inspiration that leads to albums like Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty, meaning it had a pretty far reaching influence. The opener here is really the point of entry, Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, a wonderfully meandering classic encapsulating the folk rock sound of the late 60s. The dials are turned up a bit, which results for me always as highlights, when you get to Pre-Road Downs and Wooden Ships, and I am also enjoying Long Time Gone here as well. I often assume in my mind that these guys needed the Young to fill out its lineup but they certainly hold their own here without him. Speaking of which…

The Essential Track: Suite: Judy Blue Eyes

Up Next: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

[liebzz]

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

Ending on a high note, this album has long been a favorite of mine, mostly on the strength of 4 of the 7 songs that are amongst my favorite songs from this era: Cinnamon Girl, the title track, Down By the River, and Cowgirl in the Sand. It’s not that the remainder of the songs are bad by any stretch of the imagination, but these 4 songs are powerhouses in Neil’s vast catalogue, and perfect examples of stretching notes for ample effect, no fear in taking songs into the 9th and 10th minute if that’s what’s called for, and bringing a little undercurrent of twang on the title track over its infectious riff.

The Essential Track: could be any of the 4, but Cowgirl in the Sand is just something extra here.

Up Next: short break!

[Ello Sailor]

I agree with your big four (no shit), but "Down By the River" takes the cake for me.

[Farmer John]

I agree about "Down By the River" taking the cake.

The big four are undeniable, but those remaining three tracks are no slouches either.

Also, re: CSN, it annoys me that Crosby, Stills and Nash aren't sitting in the right order on that album cover.

[wease]

I agree about "Down By the River" taking the cake.

The big four are undeniable, but those remaining three tracks are no slouches either.

Also, re: CSN, it annoys me that Crosby, Stills and Nash aren't sitting in the right order on that album cover.

Haha! That’s always pissed me off too.

I know it won’t be included since it was only a single, but Ohio is far and away my favorite CSNY/ Young tune. It’s just so fucking raw and the harmonies are absolutely haunting. Goddamn I love that song.

[liebzz]

I always struggle between Down By the River and Cowgirl in the Sand. This listen the latter wins.

Ohio is a great great song.

I don’t tend to go into archives and alternate versions as much as others here, but every time I listen to a Neil Young album I am reminded how much I adore his music.

[liebzz]

Led Zeppelin

There are few more epic ways to introduce yourself than the one-two guitar drum blast of Good Times Bad Times. It’s emblematic from the start of big and heavy rock announcing itself out loud. The album stays in that heavy groove throughout, be it the heavy folk, blues, rock, psychedelics, or even a tinge of gospel. Robert Plant’s wails against those heavy drums and Page’s riffs redefine rock music for the next decade. My favorite here has been their cover of How Many More Times, but the impact of Dazed and Confused cannot be denied.

The Essential Track: Dazed and Confused

Up Next: Led Zeppelin II

[liebzz]

Led Zeppelin II

On the heels of their debut, their second album is even bigger, bolder and more epic than the first. The highs here are absolutely soaring, as in Whole Lotta Love, What Is and What Should Never Be, Heartbreaker, Ramble On, and Bring It On Home. It’s on this one that we similarly begin to contend with them occasionally taking things a little far (the squeeze my lemon Robert Johnson line and the excessive middle section of Moby Dick), but that is only brief moments of humanity amongst the superhuman riffage and raw power of this band and album.

The Essential Track: Whole Lotta Love

Up Next: The Who - Tommy

[liebzz]

The Who - Tommy

There are a handful of albums where the individual tracks make nearly no sense without the whole. This is one of those albums, where yes there were singles like Pinball Wizard, and a few standalone tracks like I’m Free that might exist without the whole, but are really exceptions. There are always more layers to explore on this album 55 years in so this really never gets old to me. And it’s here that Daltrey really seems to find much of his voice, though it would gain even more power over the following two albums.

The Essential Track: We’re Not Gonna Take It

Up Next: The Kinks - The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society

[liebzz]

The Kinks - The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society

We return for another exceptional album from the Kinks. This one isn’t burning down any barns, but delivers a coherent and consistent set of songs that makes for a layered and interesting listen. The favorites for me here are still the ones that feel like they are turning up the dial, specifically the title track, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, and Wicked Annabella, but there’s nothing weak here, just solid songs across 40 minutes that breeze by, especially considering the 15 track length.

The Essential Track: Last of the Steam-Powered Trains

Up Next: Blind Faith

[liebzz]

Blind Faith

There are moments here where I wonder where this album has been all my life, and where I finally get the Clapton worship, as he and Steve Winwood play really well together on this album. Had to Cry Today is a revelation, and it’s perfectly juxtaposed against Can’t Find My Way Home. If these were the only two songs they ever did, they’d even more be the great lost band of this time. And granted the rest of the album is pretty good with Sea of Joy and Do What You Like (or at least the moments that serve as the bread in the drum solo sandwich), and Presence of the Lord is the hit - that jam in the middle or the song really pulling that song up. Really an overall fantastic record that delivers some big highs, though nothing equates with those first two songs.

The Essentual Track: Had to Cry Today

Up Next: Elvis Presley - From Elvis In Memphis

[wease]

Can’t Find My Way Home is one of my all-time favorite songs.

[Higgs]

Blind Faith

There are moments here where I wonder where this album has been all my life, and where I finally get the Clapton worship, as he and Steve Winwood play really well together on this album. Had to Cry Today is a revelation, and it’s perfectly juxtaposed against Can’t Find My Way Home. If these were the only two songs they ever did, they’d even more be the great lost band of this time. And granted the rest of the album is pretty good with Sea of Joy and Do What You Like (or at least the moments that serve as the bread in the drum solo sandwich), and Presence of the Lord is the hit - that jam in the middle or the song really pulling that song up. Really an overall fantastic record that delivers some big highs, though nothing equates with those first two songs.

The Essentual Track: Had to Cry Today

Up Next: Elvis Presley - From Elvis In Memphis

I didn't recognise the cover there - it was very different in my brothers vinyl collection!

I love Ginger Baker. Aroma of Man alumni.

[VinylGuy]

I cant believe how good Led Zep were. Untouchable band really.

[liebzz]

Elvis Presley - From Elvis In Memphis

It’s been a good 11-12 year gap between Elvis albums on this thread, and probably with good enough reason that while I certainly can enjoy the biggest singles, Elvis was never a guy I ever thought of as an album artist. On rudimentary research and the suggestions here, I threw this in to check in on where he’s at. On From Elvis in Memphis, I’d argue he sounds even better here, more vital as a grown up pulling soul music into this cocktail of rock and country. Album highlight Power of My Love nearly reaches into the real classic soul and rock of a James Brown (he doesn’t quite get there), and well, probably in more authentic hands In the Ghetto would be pretty great, minus of course now the epic lampooning of the song by Eric Cartman. The subsequent addition on Spotify including Suspicious Minds does sweeten the pot a little bit.

The Essential Track: Power of My Love

Up Next: Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul

[Happy Trees]

I didn't recognise the cover there - it was very different in my brothers vinyl collection!

There were two covers made at the time. The one above was the less common, non-pedo version.

[liebzz]

Ah I see the other one. Glad I posted the one I did.

[McParadigm]

Elvis Presley - From Elvis In Memphis

Wearing That Loved on Look is my absolute favorite Elvis recording