Those of you who know me well have I'm sure been waiting for this list. It was much harder for me to make than my book list. For those who are not so familiar with me, I have over 2200 albums, over 20500 songs on my iPod. So narrowing it down to only 10 albums was nearly impossible. Last minute changes were made just this evening. But I now stand by my top ten. I will be presenting them in no particular order, so don't try and guess what goes where. Ok, you can try, but I won't tell you right or wrong. Here goes:
1. The Turning-- Leslie Phillips: In her last studio project for the Christian music market Leslie Phillips teams with genius producer T-Bone Burnett for one of the deepest, most introspective and honest albums to ever come from the Christian music market. It came out the year i graduated from Wheaton. A friend of mine there, who later took his own life, once told me this was the only Christian album he actually liked. A must have album for sure.
2. Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits: I mostly stayed away from greatest hits collections, but there was know way I could pick one S&G album over another, so I had to go with the Hits. Listened to this CD to death the summer I graduated college. My brother Dave was a huge S&G fan, and it is just one of many groups I like that I owe to him. For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her is one of the most haunting songs ever.
3. West Coast Diaries Volume 2-- Charlie Peacock: Peacock is a musical genius with styles from rock, blues, jazz, pop & worship. Each album is it's own magic. The magic of WCD2 is its simplicity. It is an acoustic trio with Charlie on piano and lead vocals, Jimmy A. on guitar and the late Vince Ebo on background vocals. If you don't know Charlie's music, check this one out!!
4.Quadrophenia-- The Who: The Who, for me is a band that either is phenomenal or just barely mediocre, depending on which album/song you happen to be listening to. None of their work can even come close to matching the power and beauty of this 2 disc set. It reaches its crescendo on Love Reign O'er Me, which I contend to be the greatest rock song ever written.
5. One-- Still Running: This is a beautiful indie project recorded by my dear college friend Jenna Reed and her band mate Mike Mercatante. There is such freshness and style. This CD would be enjoyed by fans of The Civil Wars, She & Him, but also Dylan or Simon & Garfunkel fans. I would count it on my desert Island albums just because it is a voice I actually know...and also, it's that good.
6. No Compromise-- Keith Green: All of Keith's music is powerful and convicting, but this album blows the rest away. When I bought this album, I played the first side over and over again for at least a week with tears streaming down my face. Finally after a week or more I could turn the LP over and play side 2.
7. Godspell-- Original Cast Recording: I have loved this musical since I found my sister Gloria's copy of this in her room. I played it over and over so much, along with her Jesus Christ Superstar that she eventually gave them to me (at least that's how I remember it...maybe I just took them) Anyway my love for this musical is still as strong today as it was as a child, and as it was in College when I worked the tech crew for this show.
8. Dark Side of the Moon-- Pink Floyd: This album might just be aural perfection. Must be played (for best results) under old fashioned over-the-ear headphones (earbuds won't do it justice). From the heartbeat, to the alarm clocks, to the old man at the end saying "There is no dark side of the moon really..as a matter of fact it's all dark". Each extra sound ads to the movement of the music. And what is so amazing is it was 1972. And to this day I don't think any thing compares sonically.
9. Come Join the Living World-- Brent Bourgeois: The front man of 80's band Bourgeois Tagg (who are doing some California area gigs this year) released one of the most amazing musical expressions of the mid 90's. His only project for the Christan music market before going on to be the A&R man for word records for several years. Every time I play it, it's like the first time.
10. The Beautiful Let Down-- Switchfoot: One of the few Christian bands to really ask the hard questions, both of us, and of God. From the powerful This is Your Life and Dare You To Move to the haunting On Fire and Twenty-Four. This album is amazing. During one of my darkest times, this album saved my life and kept me going.
Ok, so that's my top ten. I apologize to Raquel, I told you Joshua Tree would be here, and it did not make the cut. Also I do realize, before you tell me, there are no Beatles albums, and I my regret that as we enter phase 2 of my desert Island challenge, but that is coming in my next blog. If you still have not given me your desert Island lists, feel free to leave them in the comment section below. Top 10 books or CD's if you're stuck on a desert island.
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