The first episode can be found here
There were so many albums and artists which had me under their spell that deciding which ones impacted me the most is proving to be a diabolical task.
I believe the actual challenge was one's Ten Best Albums ... now the difficulty here is how does one separate personal subjective experiences and emotions associated with an album, and focus purely on what one believes is sheer technical and musical brilliance across an entire album?
Examples... I think Mike Oldfields's Tubular Bells was a brilliant composition yet Stevie Wonder's Hotter Than July although technically middle of the road means more to me and rates higher in my 'album list'.
Thankfully neither of these are in my Top 10 albums (influence / impact wise )
Master of Reality - Black Sabbath
Sweet Leaf - Black Sabbath
There are so many good reasons why this album is in my top 10, mostly around where I was at that time in my life but also because it was just so damn enjoyable played loud. Expressed much better than I ever could .... from that excellent publication Allmusic.com..
Much more than that, Master of Reality essentially created multiple metal subgenres all by itself, laying the sonic foundations for doom, stoner and sludge metal, all in the space of just over half an hour. Classic opener "Sweet Leaf" certainly ranks as a defining stoner metal song, making its drug references far more overt (and adoring) than the preceding album's "Fairies Wear Boots." The album's other signature song, "Children of the Grave," is driven by a galloping rhythm that would later pop up on a slew of Iron Maiden tunes, among many others.
Children of the Grave
Astral Weeks - Van Morrison
I know this may not be every ones cup of tea; I also know that this album must be LISTENED TO and for me it is definitely one of my top 10 if not the number one album!! There... I have said it...
Van Morrison's paints pictures for me... I see what he is singing about in every tune. No ther artist has managed to do this fr me in five decades.
Madame George
An absolutely amazing song ... sends me straight down the music and memory rabbit hole.
Part of the power in this compilation is that after listening to it frequently for almost 50 years I still feel amazed, intrigued and joyful as if listening to it for the the first time... it never gets stale
Besides You
That's it for today .... the afternoon is now done.. music rabbit hole 1 - woodwork 0.. I must go pack my tools and wood away.
Thanks for stopping by, it is appreciated. I hope that at least one person has discovered a new artist to appreciate.
Until tomorrow .... in the meantime, love your loved ones, live mindfully and be safe !