the inquisitive techie

A long time ago I read an article in Rolling Stone Magazine (maybe).

The writer asked a bunch of rockstars what five albums (This was the 80’s people – no CD’s or iPods yet) they would take if they were to be stranded on a deserted island. And THERE WERE RULES to this list!

1. The album has to be an original release. A real album, not a greatest hits CD or compilation of any sort. – So sorry if you were going to choose The Eagles Greatest Hits (I think it’s the number one selling album of all time or something like that).

2. The album CAN be a double album if it was released that way. Elton John fans, the double album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road would count as one choice if you chose it. So would Tommy by the Who, The River by Springsteen, or any other double record/CD release.

3. Give a short explanation of why you picked your albums – what does it make you think of? Why could you listen to it in its small exclusive list of company among all of your other musical choices? This is my rule. I’m just curious that way.

here is my list -

1. U2 – Rattle and Hum – This soundtrack from the concert footage and movie documentary covers the full range of early music by the band, is a long CD, but most importantly, because the CD has been in every one of my cars since it came out while I was in college, and I can still listen to it at any time and love it. The live covers of the Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower”, and the Beatles “Helter Skelter”, performed on the previous Joshua Tree tour are outstanding.

2. The Who – Who’s Next – Because I once took a girl in college to see the movie “Tommy”, and she cried at the end. Oh, and then spent the rest of the summer kissing my with this CD in her cassette player. Michelle Hanratty made me love The Who by accident. This is by far their best CD, with the seminal Behind Blue Eyes, Baba Reilly, Won’t get fooled again, and many more. I have included Going Mobile on every road trip mix tape or CD I have ever made.

3. Bruce Springsteen – Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. – This was my most difficult choice. I love the Boss, I always have. Born to Run, Greetings from Asbury Park, Live at the Odeon, the list of my favorite Springsteen albums is long. I am easily picking Greetings though. I have always felt that most artists greatest work lies in their first work. Its the album they pour their heart and soul into making, the one that made them a star in all likelihood. Greetings has a wide range of songs from the poetry of Lost in the Flood, the deep groove of Spirit in the Night, and my all time favorite track Bruce track Growing Up. It also doesn’t get any radio airplay, so its always fresh.

4. John Coltrane – Giant Steps – A few years back I was trying to expand my jazz collection. Unfortunately I didn’t have too much experience in this genre. So I purchased a few of the “Original Master Recordings” collection of great jazz CD’s. This was one of them and has been in my car ever since. This record is a must own for any saxaphone lover, or anyone interested in learning about jazz. The title track, Giant Steps, has the craziest chord progression in any song I have ever heard and it works. The title of the album and the song come from the giant steps he makes in the chord progressions.

5. Lowest of the Low – Shakespeare My Butt – A “local” band from Ontario that played out a ton during my formative years. Great live shows with tons of energy. This album is full of pop-catchy tunes about the spanish civil war, drinking in the local pub, and friends. You can find more information on the band here at wikipedia. It doesnt hurt that the band played its last show here a few weeks ago.

Thats my list. What’s yours.

Mark

. . .

“I swear I found the key to the universe in the engine of an old parked car”

Bruce Springsteen – Growing Up – Greetings from Asbury Park, 1973