Essential Studio Albums

[tragabigzanda]

[wease]

I think a soundtrack would certainly qualify as an album. Indeed I think there are a few that belong in your list of albums for this journey.

[liebzz]

I think a soundtrack would certainly qualify as an album. Indeed I think there are a few that belong in your list of albums for this journey.

Let’s get a list going…

[wease]

Saturday Night Fever
FM- not sure this one has the cultural significance as the other two, tho.
Singles

[liebzz]

Yeah I added those and a bunch more. A bunch from the 90s were pretty big deals, like The Crow and Pulp Fiction.

[oasisfan35]

Yeah I added those and a bunch more. A bunch from the 90s were pretty big deals, like The Crow and Pulp Fiction.

[VinylGuy]

what about Empire Records? Thats a good one and it sure feels like a portrait of its time. Reality Bites too. Of course Judgement Night, probably the soundtrack is more famous than the movie.

Man there are so many!

[liebzz]

I think I have those accounted for as well.

[liebzz]

Toots and the Maytals - Funky Kingston

If the last album kind of sets the table, this is one that hits the essential mark pretty hard. Toots is an infectious and engaging singer, on pure charisma, and his band more than well backs him up - the sort of thing where it makes you wonder why he wasn’t the massive superstar. Funky Kingston is a wonky and interesting take on reggae more keys driven than guitar, while Pressure Drop is pure energy. He drops a few ballads, some more solid reggae, a fun reggae-fied cover of Louie Louie. This one has it all for a reggae album.

The Essential Track: Pressure Drop

Up Next: Stevie Wonder - Innervisions

[liebzz]

Stevie Wonder - Innervisions

On the last couple of Stevie Wonder albums I have talked about, the complaint I had creeping up was his devotion to disposable love songs at all costs, as if hitting the mark on a couple of those across an album would suffice, and it generally ends up feeling stale after a bit. So it is with quite open arms to welcome Innervisions, a snapshot look at life and struggle in the inner city, at the time a place forgotten and abandoned by suburban flight. The change in theme gives his singing, and his music drive and purpose - you know, what I had been waiting multiple albums for. Some of his best songs, Living For the City and Higher Ground, sit here. The trio of songs that open, Too High leads into Visions, which then sets up Livong For the Ciry, is a stroke of genius in sequencing. Higher Ground blasts above Golden Lady, and Don’t Worry About a Thing is adventurous and hooky. Finally!

The Essential Track: Higher Ground

Up Next: Bob Dylan - Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

[liebzz]

Bob Dylan - Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

It’s been a while since we’ve talked about Bob Dylan, and what we get after a considerable absence is a soundtrack proper. Most of the album is a soundscape of a very Dylan aesthetic working with that sort of western motif, but again unmistakably Dylan. Billy 1, 4, and 7 are different sonic takes on the same song, and all are really quite good. And of course there’s Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door, an all-time classic from Dylan sitting here, but to ignore the instrumentals would be a mistake here - it might be the thing that draws in repeated listens, but it’s an avenue into the musicality of Dylan, often overlooked in his poetry. It’s a good place to sit for a while.

The Essential Track: Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door

Up Next: Grateful Dead - Wake of the Flood

[tragabigzanda]

[wease]

Innervisions is me favorite Steve album. Songs in the Key of Life is a close followup; the ballads there hit harder.

Agreed on both counts.

[liebzz]

Innervisions is me favorite Steve album. Songs in the Key of Life is a close followup; the ballads there hit harder.

Agreed on both counts.

I’d like to believe my patience is paying off.

[Happy Trees]

Golden Lady is the shit. I can sing it, and I put it on and use the modulation at the end to warm up my voice. And my dick grows 10 inches longer every time.

[VinylGuy]

yeah probably mine too but Talking Book was a surprise when i listened deep to Stevie.

[liebzz]

Grateful Dead - Wake of the Flood

This seems like maybe the exact moment that Dead albums became underrated because of the live show they had perfected. With Skull & Roses and Europe ‘72 under their belts, maybe the studio albums started feeling beside the point - and don’t get me wrong - the live shows are the reason for super fandom. That said, Wake of the Flood is an excellent album, and their initial transition out of their more folkier vibe into their explorations of fusing with jazz and prog allusions. Granted, the Grateful Dead never seemed to fully embrace any sound all the way to its end, perhaps preferring to use these forms as springboards for their own artistic explorations. Here Row Jimmy isn’t a reggae song, but they play with those chords structures in a slowed down ballad pace. Mississippi Half Step Uptown Toodeloo is pure mid period Dead mixing all sorts of stuff together. Stella Blue is a beautiful slow piece that is foreboding. Eyes of the World is the purest form of the Dead incorporating jazz into their sound while delivering a killer hook, and Weather Report Suite, particularly the last few minutes of Let It Grow, seem to suggest a future leaning into prog rock - a little tease. It’s a band that can do so many things and they sort of run the gamut here without running amok.

The Essential Track: Eyes of the World

Up Next: The Rolling Stones - Goats Head Soup

[liebzz]

The Rolling Stones - Goats Head Soup

This is another album I think is generally underrated, maybe because of its proximity to Exile and Sticky Fingers. I mean, the prior 4 albums are all astoundingly great, and this one doesn’t pack the song star power those other albums seem to have, yet in its grit, it’s quite an excellent album delivering a sound they hadn’t quite done yet. Do Do Do Do Do (Heartbreaker) and Dancing With Mr. D are the sort of gritty examples that is exciting in its groove, Angie the epic ballad, and in between you have highlights here like 100 Years, Coming Down Again, Silver Train and Hide Your Love that all keep things interesting. The sleaze never gets sleazier than Star Star. The Rollinf Stones were never a band you could take home to your parents, but here any permission slip better be revoked.

The Essential Track: Do Do Do Do Do (Heartbreaker)

Up Next: Jethro Tull - Aqualung

[liebzz]

Jethro Tull - Aqualung

Time for more epic riffs and flute solos. This one’s got killer classics - Aqualung, Cross-Eyed Mary, and Locomotive Breath. It’s got big rock in Hymn 43. It’s got the renaissance faire vibe. It’s really a varied but consistent album that rocks in its spots and jams in its spots and does all the things a 70s rock album should do.

The Essential Track: Aqualung

Up Next: Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon

[lvc]

I think a soundtrack would certainly qualify as an album. Indeed I think there are a few that belong in your list of albums for this journey.

Let’s get a list going…

I mean Purple Rain has to be on there.