5-10-15: This One Goes To 11…I Mean 40

Trying to remember the artists you were listening to at different points in your life is a good exercise, and more difficult than you might think. Although you probably know the Top 3 artists of your lifetime (for me probably Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel), picking artists from a particular year is hard. For the artists mentioned above, I have virtually every album them ever released, and I can listen to them at any time. But in between the years I definitely focused on some artists more than others. Here is my 5-10-15-20…up to 40.

5

Promised Land – Elvis Presley

One of the first artists I remember listening to was Elvis. My father had every album he ever put out, and we listened to them all. Although far from his best, Promised Land’s title track is one of the catchiest songs I’ve ever heard. Like many songs in Elvis’ catalog, the song was originally written by someone else (Chuck Berry), but Elvis put his own stamp on it. Elvis had the unique gift of making you believe he lived every moment of every song he sang, and "Promised Land" is no exception. You still see Elvis’ version of Promised Land popping up all over the place, like in the movie Men In Black. There are other great tracks on here that only a true “E” fan would know like “It's Midnight,” “Your Love's Been a Long Time Coming” and “You Asked Me To.”

Photographs & Memories – Jim Croce

Another artist who died too soon. This compilation was released after Croce’s death in 1973, and it is simply fantastic from start to finish. I would make my parents play “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” over and over until this album wore out (but it never did). The first time I saw Invincible in the theater and it opened with “I Got A Name,” I knew it was going to be a great movie. Some of my favorite songs on here are the lesser known one like “Lover's Cross” and “One Less Set of Footsteps.” Along with Bruce Springsteen (who had about 35 more years to prove his worth) probably the best singer/songwriter of his generation.

10

America’s Greatest Hero – Joey Scarbury

I’m going to keep it real here and not pretend like I was a critic for Rolling Stone at 10 years old. When I had a chance to buy my first record, it was the single of “Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not).” I couldn’t tell you one other thing this guy has done, but I still love this song whenever it comes on the radio.

Private Eyes – Hall & Oates

At this point in my life, I was all about 45” singles, and one of the other ones I wore out was “Private Eyes” by Hall & Oates. I couldn’t tell you another song on this album, but I had singles of “Rich Girl,” “Maneater” and many others by this classic Philly duo.

15

The Smiths and The Cure albums on Court’s list are definitely in my picks from this time. Here’s two more.

Pretty In Pink Soundtrack – Various Artists

My first introduction to a wide array of new wave artists. Besides being a huge fan of John Hughes and the film, I think this soundtrack really made a statement about the counter-culture at the time. The track listing below really says it all – The Furs, The Smiths, Echo, New Order…I defy you to find a better soundtrack for its time (except maybe The Lost Boys).

1."If You Leave" (Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark)

2."Left of Center" (Suzanne Vega/Joe Jackson)

3."Get to Know Ya" (Jesse Johnson)

4."Do Wot You Do" (INXS)

5."Pretty in Pink" (The Psychedelic Furs)

6."Shellshock" (New Order)

7."Round, Round" (Belouis Some)

8."Wouldn't It Be Good" (Danny Hutton Hitters)

9."Bring On the Dancing Horses" (Echo & the Bunnymen)

10."Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" (The Smiths)

Ocean Rain – Echo & The Bunnymen

So I was thrilled this past Christmas when my wife got me Rock Band 3 and “The Killing Moon” was on there. When I was 15 I played the air guitar to that one over and over. This is just a great record, and probably Echo’s best front to back. These guys were so ahead of their time. I still remember going to school and telling people just getting into U2’s Boy what I was listening to, and they had no idea what I was talking about. Two years later (when the self-titled Echo & The Bunnymen album came out), they knew. “Thorn of Crowns” is another personal favorite from this record.

20

Heart-Shaped World – Chris Isaak

Bleach – Nirvana

Storm Front – Billy Joel

Although all these albums technically came out in 1989, I wasn’t really focused on them until 1991. I had Bleach in 1989, but the buzz around Nirvana’s follow-up (Nevermind) was really starting to build at this time, and I started listening to it again. Obviously, Nirvana became one of the biggest acts in the world, but this album remains a great example of their power-punk roots. For me, Bleach is Nirvana at their purest; although Nevermind is certainly the better album, this record exemplifies what I will always remember about them.

Heart-Shaped World was really an anomaly at the time. Most people wrote Isaak off as a one-hit wonder for “Wicked Game,” but this album (and his sound) is so much more. Mixing rockabilly with rock and country in the style of Elvis and Roy Orbison while still adding something new and different is what makes Isaak great. I’ve seen him many times and his live show is not to be missed.

I’d been into Billy Joel since 1988 (along with Bruce Springsteen), but Storm Front and the ensuing tour really put me over the top. He did a stretch of six concerts at the Spectrum in Philly in this time frame, and I think I went to three. Seeing songs like “Captain Jack” and “Vienna” live in my hometown along with new classics like “We Didn’t Start The Fire” and “The Downeaster Alexa” was really when I came to see that Joel had the talent and charisma of a superstar.

25

Blind Melon – Blind Melon

The song “No Rain” really just reminds me of this time in my life. Out of college, but not really set in the world. I remember going to see these guys at the University of Baltimore right after this album came out. This album has so many great songs, “Change” being one of the greatest songs that never really got radio airplay. An album that always makes me happy.


Third Eye Blind – Third Eye Blind

Another album that is nothing but pure joy to listen to - “Semi-Charmed Life” is the hook that gets you, but you keep playing this album for the deeper cuts like “I Want You,” “The Background” and “Motorcycle Drive By.” One of my favorite lyrics of all time comes from this record: “New York City’s evil, the surface is everything, but I could never do that, someone would see through that.” An album that will always remind me of summers at the Jersey Shore.

Stranger Than Fiction – Bad Religion

I was listening to this album and every other album Bad Religion had put out at this time. The title track and “Better Off Dead” being my favorites. I saw them every time they were in town. I particularly remember a great show at the 9:30 Club in DC. Without question, the greatest punk band of all time.

30

Tracks – Bruce Springsteen

This is right before The Rising came out and Bruce was touring relentlessly. I’ve been a fan of Bruce for a long time, but during the tours in support of Tracks Bruce was playing songs he hadn’t played in over 20 years, and it really made me rediscover his whole catalog and appreciate him in a way I hadn’t before. Take a song like "From Small Things" for example, it could have been a hit for any other artist, but Bruce didn't think it was good enough to include on any of his albums. That's what make Bruce so great, his attention to detail.


Morning View – Incubus

A great band with a really unique sound. I started listening to them right before this album came out and have been hooked on them ever since. “Mexico” is a beautiful song.

Maroon – Barenaked Ladies

A band that is all about good times, and that’s what I remember about their music - spending good times with friends. The kind of good times you can’t really get back once you have children of your own. For me, BNL will always be about those times. Credit to my wife for really loving this band and making me love them more.

35

Stadium Arcadium – Red Hot Chili Peppers

A double album is something few (if any) bands can pull off. Stadium Arcadium should be a blueprint for bands trying to put out a double album. So many different sounds and fantastic musicianship. I could listen to “Wet Sand” ten times in a row and not get bored.

From Under The Cork Tree – Fall Out Boy
 

When I say Fall Out Boy to most people I don’t get a positive reaction right away, especially from music snobs. “Sugar We’re Going Down” made me buy this album, but I love this album for every other song. Fall Out Boy are like musical candy - the more you listen, the more you want.

40

Well, I’m not 40 yet, but I will be soon, so here’s what I’m listening to right now.

American Slang – The Gaslight Anthem

I And Love And You – The Avett Brothers

American Slang is not the musical classic that is The ’59 Sound, but its pretty close - I can’t find one person who doesn’t like “The Boxer.” The Avett Brothers are still relatively unknown, but when songs like “January Wedding” and “Tin Man” are your ‘B-sides’ they won’t be for long. Buy both of these albums immediately - you will not be disappointed.