Quicklists CDXX: Top 5 Albums That Changed Your Life

[cortez the killer]

These were all over my high school.

[Clams]

For the record, Appetite is a much better album than Use Your Illusion I or II, but URI II was what got me there.

If they had culled some songs and released just one UYI record instead of two, it might have come closer to Appetite.

[dime in the gutter]

many of my musical touchstones seem to have always been there. i don't ever recall a time when i did not know of kk, willie, cash, waylon, buddy holly, beatles, luke the drifter, ray charles, stones, elvis. old man was a hi-fi nut.

led zep/houses of holy....older bro forced me to buy it when i was 8. i wanted steve martin/martin bros comedy/banjo album instead. still have the vinyl to this day. been rocking my jock for 3 decades.

dash rip rock/self titled....1986. came into the world of college rock sideways. cracked opened the world of unbelievably great "not on the radio" music. still in heavy rotation. begat rem, husker du, replacements, etc.

queen/nite at the opera/day at the races (both)....age 9. sitting there with headphones for hours. staring at artwork. wondering what the fuck this mistachioed flapper was going on about. amazingly imaginative records.

ny/after the gold rush....my intro to shakey. 10 years old. he's cracking on the south. everybody i know hates his sorry, canadian, liberal hippy ass. i'm sold. lock, stock and barrel.

boss/nebraska....yet another gifting from my older brother. wore that mother fucking tape out. soon as i heard the guttural howl at the end of state trooper i was done. how could this famous dude be so pissed? why was he so sad? must have been getting a divorce from isbell.

sro....the very typical "cyrstalized growing up in south during the 70's." love me some duality.

acdc/highway to hell....shouldn't really need explanation. i'm going to hell for listening to this. fuck yeah.

ut/steel feel gone....intro to uncle tupelo. wow. dash with mad smarts. not my favorite of theirs, but my first.

[drtpants]

"wondering what the fuck this mustachioed flapper was going on about."

I just spit chocolate milk all over my monitor. Hilarious.

[drtpants]

"must have been getting a divorce from Isbell"

ya gotta stop. this is the only monitor i own.

[BigTom]

There are many albums that have changed my life and it would be hard to pick the top 5. So, except for AAW, I am listing the earliest (pre-teen) albums that changed my life. I know my first choice would probably fit better into the music blasphemy thread but it's the truth.

1. Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack - I was 10 when this album blew up. Everyone was seeing the movie but i wasn't allowed to because it was rated R. We lived in Baltimore and everyone would sit out on the stoop on hot summer nights and all you would hear was this album coming out of everyone's houses or their 8-track boom boxes. When my aunt (a teenager at the time) would babysit us she would always bring her records to play and would always play this. Before this album all I listened to was KISS, this album opened my ears to other types of music.

2. Some Girls, The Rolling Stones - There was this kid on my little league baseball team whose house we would go to to listen to KISS records before our games, his older brother would always turn KISS off and play something else. My friends older brother had just bought Some Girls and to my ten year old ears it was like porn. It was the nastiest, most obscene music I had ever heard. That's when I realized there was more to the Stones than Satisfaction and Jumpin Jack Flash.

3. The Wall, Pink Floyd - This was the first album that I ever bought with my own money. I was in the 5th grade at the time and Another Brick In The Wall part 2 was being played constantly on the radio. We had a dance at school and we were allowed to bring our records in to play at the dance so I brought this in. A bully in my class grabbed the album out of my hands and one of the records rolled out and broke when it hit the floor. I was kind of a whimpy kid and would never fight back then but this made me so mad that I just swung and punched him in the nose. Even though I drew blood I didn't get into any trouble but he did for breaking my record. This bully never really bothered me the rest of the year. Once we got to middle school he would go out of his way to avoid me.

4. Led Zeppelin II - When I was 12, I had a little bit of money from my paper route to buy my parents an xmas gift with but bought this instead. I had recentley heard Whole Lotta Love on the radio and loved how the trippy part went around from speaker to speaker. This was probably my first introduction to hard rock and my love through out my teenage years for Zeppelin. I still love this album but can't stand Whole Lotta Love anymore.

5. Alabama Ass Whuppin, Drive-by Truckers - I had read a review of SRO in the Washington Post. Went to Tower Records to buy a copy but they were sold out. All they had was AAW so I grabbed it. At first listen I thought it was pretty good but when I heard The Living Bubba I was floored. It hits close to home for me becuase of several friends who have died of this horrible disease, including my uncle. DBT have been my favorite band ever since.

[Duke Silver]

In chronological order.

Pearl Jam, "Ten"
Bought this cassette on my 12th or 13th birthday at a mall record store (remember those?), probably Sam Goody or Music World, along with another tape that won't make this list (Aerosmith's "Get a Grip"). I was a preacher's kid. Hadn't been exposed to much music outside of church and whatever I heard at my non-churchgoing friends' houses. Something about this album made a lightbulb go on that hasn't gone out since. Followed these guys all through high school, and I think I can honestly say that their songs had a lot to do with finally kicking the legs out from under my religious upbringing. Vedder's songs made it feel ok to start asking the big questions. I played the shit out of this for years. Don't even need to listen to anymore since it's pretty much written into my DNA.

Stavesacre, "Speakeasy"
I went through an embarrassing Christian rock phase in high school. The less said about it the better. This album was important to me for many of the same reasons as "Ten." Like Vedder, Mark Salomon asked a lot of big, difficult questions, only he did it from a believer's perspective, which at the time made it all the more powerful for me. The music wasn't that bad, either...kind of Tool-lite.

Wilco, "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot"/I Am Trying To Break Your Heart (film)
Not my favorite Wilco album (might not even be top 3), but it was a big one for me. It was just after college. I was unemployed, with a lot of time on my hands. I'd been playing guitar for years, but songwriting was a mystery to me. Seeing the way Tweedy could take a simple, folky chord progression and build a song around it was a revelation. Led to me starting to write songs and eventually form a band, which led to a whole bunch of other stuff that changed my life in huge ways, but that's another thread...

Drive-By Truckers, "Decoration Day"
Youngest brother was a big fan. Decided to actually pay attention to him for once and check out this band he kept going on and on about. I was hooked immediately. These guys have defined my musical worldview for the last 4 years or so.

Have to think for a while about #5...

[Cubfan06]

How could I forget Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. That may have been #1 on my list.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

I can't think of a single album (or song) that has had a life changing effect on me. There are events that have occurred, tragic and otherwise that have changed my life but nothing music-wise.

[LuthierJustin]

The only one I can think of that really made me stand back and reevaluate how I look at music. When I bought it it was all I listened to for 3 or 4 months, 3 or 4 times a day.

[beantownbubba]

I can't think of a single album (or song) that has had a life changing effect on me. There are events that have occurred, tragic and otherwise that have changed my life but nothing music-wise.

I think you may be being a tad over-literal here, KG. Think "important," "influential," "provided new perspective", "opened new vistas," that sort of thing.

[drtpants]

I can't think of a single album (or song) that has had a life changing effect on me. There are events that have occurred, tragic and otherwise that have changed my life but nothing music-wise.

I think you may be being a tad over-literal here, KG. Think "important," "influential," "provided new perspective", "opened new vistas," that sort of thing.

...which i think all qualifies as life-changing. Other than being born,dying and seeing God it's all pretty mundane isn't it? Not to get all Camus about it or anything.

[Slipkid42]

drtpants wrote:

Complete Works-Robert Johnson
Scared the shit out of me. In a good way. Upon first hearing it I literally listened to nothing else for months. The sound of a man who truly believed he was going to hell. I don't think I can take anyone seriously who doesn't at least appreciate the crucial greatness of Robert Johnson and Charley Patton. Give me those two guys, Bill Monroe and the Carters and I really don't need any other music, if it came to that.

Good call, Mr. Britches

cortez the killer wrote:

1. Decade Neil Young - Got this on cassette my senior year in high school. I knew the "hits" via classic rock radio. I was blown away by stuff like "Down By the River," "The Needle and the Damage Done," and "Cortez the Killer." I know this is more a collection or a box set, but its impact cannot be understated.

Had all these tunes before that, but it sure was handy havin' 'em all together. Prolly the greatest greatest hits record(s).

Tequila Cowboy wrote:

2. Some Enchanted Evening- Blue Oyster Cult

I had just started my senior year in high school when my buddy Al Wiggs turned me on to this one. BoC immediately became my favorite band. I had been into music for years at that point but didn't really have a favorite band. After that I did. I got every record they had and saw them live. My first, but hardly last, rock and roll obsession.

It was Secret Treaties for me TC (though you can't go wrong w/BOC). I still see 'em regularly. Buck & Bloom are backed by some young studs (and they sizzle on occasion). Clams, these guys will have you o.d.ing on life itself if ya give 'em a chance.

scotto wrote:

. Count Basie Orchestra, E=MC2 (the Atomic album). Spring of 1994, I walk into The Music Exchange in Kansas City to do some record shopping and find a nice clean copy of Basie's "Atomic" album. When I take it to the counter, the cute record store girl engages me in idle chatter about the album and we have a nice conversation about music and records and interests. This June will be our 17th anniversary.

Now that is a life changer. Nice. Is Count Basie the guy in the Blues Bros. movie?


beantownbubba wrote:

Late For The Sky

Woulda been on my list, but I figured that I already blown my JB wad for the week.

[Clams]

Prolly the greatest greatest hits record(s).

hmmmm

[Slipkid42]

Prolly the greatest greatest hits record(s).

hmmmm

And what pray tell is REALLY the greatest greatest hits record?

[cortez the killer]

cortez the killer wrote:

1. Decade Neil Young - Got this on cassette my senior year in high school. I knew the "hits" via classic rock radio. I was blown away by stuff like "Down By the River," "The Needle and the Damage Done," and "Cortez the Killer." I know this is more a collection or a box set, but its impact cannot be understated.

Had all these tunes before that, but it sure was handy havin' 'em all together. Prolly the greatest greatest hits record(s).

Really? Down to the Wire, Winterlong, Deep Forbidden Lake, Love Is a Rose, and Campaigner were previously unreleased.

[drtpants]

Cab Calloway is the guy in The Blues Brothers.

[Slipkid42]

cortez the killer wrote:

1. Decade Neil Young - Got this on cassette my senior year in high school. I knew the "hits" via classic rock radio. I was blown away by stuff like "Down By the River," "The Needle and the Damage Done," and "Cortez the Killer." I know this is more a collection or a box set, but its impact cannot be understated.

Had all these tunes before that, but it sure was handy havin' 'em all together. Prolly the greatest greatest hits record(s).

Really? Down to the Wire, Winterlong, Deep Forbidden Lake, Love Is a Rose, and Campaigner were previously unreleased.

Jeez, you got me. I guess I figured since I had Buffalo Springfield, CSN&Y, Stills/Young, & solo albums (incl @ one time Tonight's the Night), that I had it covered. Pretty sure I knew Down To The Wire, Winterlong & Love Is A Rose before Decade came out, but maybe I'm geezin'. I will try to minimize my embellishments in the future.

[Clams]

I will try to minimize my embellishments in the future.

I hope we all don't have to do that.

[alicedmillionaire]

In chrono order:

Motley Crue: Theatre of Pain: I was about 8 years old and revolting against my parents music, you know, Stones, Skynyrd, Rush, Dead, Beatles, etc. I had very young and very hip parents, but I had to rebel before coming back to my senses. I remember making a "guitar" out of a shoe box with rubber bands stretched across (cut a hole out of the top to increase the sound) and a wiffle ball bat for the neck. Thankfully, mom bought me a tobacco sunburst Harmony out of the Sears catalog for Xmas that year. Still have the guitar, body is in good shape, but I can wrap the neck around a pole, no problem.

Blues Traveler: Travelers and Thieves: Two words, Bobby Sheehan. I had never heard a bass played like a lead guitar throughout an entire album. His style was unlike anything I had heard before or have since. I should add his name to the "Died Too Soon" quick list. At the time I was also beginning to write my own songs and Popper's lyrics are well thought out, melodic and rhythmic with a delivery that can take your breath away if you try to keep up.

Pearl Jam: Ten: Like many people who have already posted, this was a MAJOR album for me. I remember many a late night house party with the parents out of town belting out these songs in drunken revelry with friends I now know I will never see again.

BB King: King of the Blues Box Set: I found this one early my freshman year in college. I had listened to the blues throughout my life, but this retrospective of his career from the early days doing radio promos through the early nineties was a complete game changer for me. The soul he can pull out of just a few notes overwhelmed me. Completely changed the way I play guitar. I still love the Dead, Phish and similar bands who noodle endlessly, but give BB 12 bars of slow blues in B-flat and he can still make me stop dead in my tracks.

DBT: The Dirty South: I just relocated from Boston to San Diego for work, but was back in Beantown to wrap a few loose ends. I went to Newbury Comics in Harvard Square and bought an album by a band I had only read about in Mojo. I stopped by a liquor store, picked up a sixer of Harpoon IPA and went back to the hotel. I played that album on the little clock radio/CD player in the room and from the opening chords of "Where the Devil Don't Stay" I was in awe. This is what Rock and Roll is supposed to sound like. These are stories of people I know, people I have lived with my entire life. I am pretty sure I destroyed the speakers in that little clock radio, but it is kind of a blur as I finished the sixer then had room service send up another. I haven't been the same since. I turn everyone I know onto what I believe to be the best damn band in Rock and Roll today. Period.

[scotto]

Is Count Basie the guy in the Blues Bros. movie?

You're thinking of Cab Calloway. Basie is the guy leading the swing orchestra out in the middle of the desert when Clevon Little rides by:

[cortez the killer]

I will try to minimize my embellishments in the future.

Nah! I just like to bust chops. We're all guilty of a little diarrhea of the mouth from time to time.

[beagle001]

I'll stick with the ones that come to mind first
I have stated that 3 albums ultimately opened my eyes to... something different for lack of better terms.. I was a sophomore in high school, just got my drivers license, had a girl, the whole sha-bang, typical, average small town living listening to basically anything country, but only because I didn't know there was anything else out there accessible to me... because GOLLY GEE did I hate the direction was, and still is going. watered down bastardized "country," with people trying to sing, and most not write, the next Country Boy Can Survive. I strived for something else. Granted I loved a lot of southern rock type stuff and really cut my tooth with Marshall Tucker Band (first show me and BrettAC1 saw together).
Yet somewhere deep inside I needed and yearned for something more, something personal, something real. That was when I found 3 albums at our shack in the woods, which BAC had sent out there. With no guidance whatsoever I put in:
Whiskeytown~ Stranger's Almanac
Son Volt~ The Retrospective
Uncle Tupelo~ No Depression
Wow was I floored! So Brett hooked me up with more of all three and I really dug it.
On these same adventures into my mind, I did listen to The Dirty South and liked it a lot but it didn't hit me like the other 3 (for the record I think TDS is my fav. DBT album now)
couple years later after High School was done and I was digging into the Red Dirt Country type stuff and listening to Ragweed and the like, and my 4 yr relationship with the girl ended and college life was underway, I once again began looking for something deeper.
On a whim Brett asked me to go see Jason Isbell, who he informed me used to be with the Drive By Truckers, so on a whim I went. #1 life changing moment. Absolutely amazed. Speechless and half deaf from the monitors I pleaded for more. Ask and you shall recieve, and recieve I did. Brett gave me a bunch of new stuff to check out, like Ryan Bingham's "Mescalito" and some Chris Knight, Will Hoge (who opened for Isbell that night) and the next two albums on my life changer list
Jason Isbell~ Sirens of The Ditch
Drive By Truckers~ Brighter Than Creations Dark
Now I gave BTCD a lot of play time, and we spent a few drunken nights listening to it and The Last Waltz til the sun came up when it really started to click... few weeks later, we saw the Truckers at Summerfest (Life changer #2) and from then on I was completely sold. they had me by the balls and I followed without second thought

[Iowan]

I'll stick with the ones that come to mind first
I have stated that 3 albums ultimately opened my eyes to... something different for lack of better terms.. I was a sophomore in high school, just got my drivers license, had a girl, the whole sha-bang, typical, average small town living listening to basically anything country, but only because I didn't know there was anything else out there accessible to me... because GOLLY GEE did I hate the direction was, and still is going. watered down bastardized "country," with people trying to sing, and most not write, the next Country Boy Can Survive. I strived for something else. Granted I loved a lot of southern rock type stuff and really cut my tooth with Marshall Tucker Band (first show me and BrettAC1 saw together).
Yet somewhere deep inside I needed and yearned for something more, something personal, something real. That was when I found 3 albums at our shack in the woods, which BAC had sent out there. With no guidance whatsoever I put in:
Whiskeytown~ Stranger's Almanac
Son Volt~ The Retrospective
Uncle Tupelo~ No Depression
Wow was I floored! So Brett hooked me up with more of all three and I really dug it.
On these same adventures into my mind, I did listen to The Dirty South and liked it a lot but it didn't hit me like the other 3 (for the record I think TDS is my fav. DBT album now)
couple years later after High School was done and I was digging into the Red Dirt Country type stuff and listening to Ragweed and the like, and my 4 yr relationship with the girl ended and college life was underway, I once again began looking for something deeper.
On a whim Brett asked me to go see Jason Isbell, who he informed me used to be with the Drive By Truckers, so on a whim I went. #1 life changing moment. Absolutely amazed. Speechless and half deaf from the monitors I pleaded for more. Ask and you shall recieve, and recieve I did. Brett gave me a bunch of new stuff to check out, like Ryan Bingham's "Mescalito" and some Chris Knight, Will Hoge (who opened for Isbell that night) and the next two albums on my life changer list
Jason Isbell~ Sirens of The Ditch
Drive By Truckers~ Brighter Than Creations Dark
Now I gave BTCD a lot of play time, and we spent a few drunken nights listening to it and The Last Waltz til the sun came up when it really started to click... few weeks later, we saw the Truckers at Summerfest (Life changer #2) and from then on I was completely sold. they had me by the balls and I followed without second thought

Not sure why, but I really dug this story. Good stuff.

[dime in the gutter]

17 year old mind. skunk weed. cheap beer. making the loop thru town.....around by the jitney jungle, past the bank and then thru the sonic, and back around again....over and over. word.

should be in greatest compilations thread also.