Ten Albums In Ten Days That Changed You
or hold significant meaning for you.
“Who’s Next” - The Who (1971)
This one was discovered alongside on Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”, listening to it late at night on AOR radio. It was my first introduction to The Who, of whom I have been a strong fan of to this day. And this is my favorite of all their albums. Arguably, it includes their best and strongest songs ever.
Favorites: "Behind Blue Eyes", "Won't Get Fooled Again", and "Bargain".
Friday, January 31, 2020
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Ten Albums In Ten Days - Day 1
Ten Albums In Ten Days That Changed You
or hold significant meaning for you.
“The Dark Side of the Moon” - Pink Floyd (1973)
This album needs no introduction to any one of my generation, whether you like it or not. Mine was in high school from a new AOR radio station at the time. During a particular summer, I would spend the night at my friend Bobby’s house, his parents had one of those huge record cabinets. We would set up a pallet on the floor in front of it to sleep and listen to the station all night. One of the best things about the AOR format was they would play entire albums or sides of albums at a time. TDSOTM was one of those albums they frequently played this way. And to those of us that love the album, that’s the only way to listen to it. Absolutely mesmerizing.
or hold significant meaning for you.
“The Dark Side of the Moon” - Pink Floyd (1973)
This album needs no introduction to any one of my generation, whether you like it or not. Mine was in high school from a new AOR radio station at the time. During a particular summer, I would spend the night at my friend Bobby’s house, his parents had one of those huge record cabinets. We would set up a pallet on the floor in front of it to sleep and listen to the station all night. One of the best things about the AOR format was they would play entire albums or sides of albums at a time. TDSOTM was one of those albums they frequently played this way. And to those of us that love the album, that’s the only way to listen to it. Absolutely mesmerizing.
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Some Favorite Debut Albiums
I've been listening to music for over 50 years now. There have been so many artists, bands, and styles during that time. As most people, I suppose, as I've gotten younger, there is less "contemporary" music or artists that I like as time passes. And even though I keep searching, I usually end up going back to the "good stuff".
Amy Winehouse - Frank (2003)
Bad Company - Bad Company (1974)
Barenaked Ladies - Gordon (1992)
Billy Joel - Piano Man (1973)
Bruce Springsteen - Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. (1973)
Buffalo Springfield - Buffalo Springfield (1966)
Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority (1969)
Cream - Fresh Cream (1966)
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Crosby, Stills & Nash (1969)
Crowded House - Crowded House (1986)
Danny Wilson - Meet Danny Wilson (1987)
Derek and the Dominos - Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970)
Devo - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978)
Dire Straits - Dire Straits (1978)
Donald Fagen - The Nightly (1982)
Elvis Costello - My Aim is True (1977)
Elton John - Empty Sky (1969)
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1970)
Heart - Dreamboat Annie (1976)
Jackson Browne - Saturate Before Using (1972)
Jefferson Airplane - Takes Off (1966)
Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced? (1967)
Joe Jackson - Look Sharp! (1979)
Kansas - Kansas (1974)
King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969)
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin I (1969)
Michael Hedges - Breakfast in the Field (1981)
Paul Carrack - Suburban Voodoo (1982)
Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life (1976)
Phil Collins - Face Value (1981)
Pink Floyd - The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (1967)
Pretenders - Pretenders (1979)
R.E.M. - Murmur (1983)
Steely Day - Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972)
Stephen Stills - Stephen Stills (1970)
Talk Talk - The Party’s Over (1982)
Talking Heads - Talking Heads: 77 (1977)
Tears for Fears - The Hurting (1983)
The Alarm - Declaration (1984)
The Allman Brothers Band - The Allman Brothers Band (1969)
The Cars - The Cars - (1978)
The Doobie Brothers - The Doobie Brothers (1971)
The Doors - The Doors (1967)
The Fixx - Shuttered Room (1982)
The James Gang - Yer’ Album (1969)
The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed (1967)
The Police - Outlandos d'Amour (1978)
The Producers - The Producers (1981)
The Sundays - Reading, Writing and Arithmetic (1990)
The Vapors - New Clear Days (1980)
The Who - My Generation (1965)
Three Dog Night - Three Dog Night (1968)
U2 - Boy (1980)
Van Morrison - Blowin' Your Mind! (1967)
Yes - Yes (1969)
I've always loved discovering new artists. Especially when they break on to the music scene with am incredible debut album. Listening to such an album always fills me with hope and anticipation for future musical goodness from the artist. Many have fulfilled that expectation, but many have not.
But here are but a few of those albums over the last half a century. The order is alphabetical rather than by preference. Rating them would be almost impossible. Please list some of your favorites in the comments.
Bad Company - Bad Company (1974)
Barenaked Ladies - Gordon (1992)
Billy Joel - Piano Man (1973)
Bruce Springsteen - Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. (1973)
Buffalo Springfield - Buffalo Springfield (1966)
Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority (1969)
Cream - Fresh Cream (1966)
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Crosby, Stills & Nash (1969)
Crowded House - Crowded House (1986)
Danny Wilson - Meet Danny Wilson (1987)
Derek and the Dominos - Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970)Devo - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978)
Dire Straits - Dire Straits (1978)
Donald Fagen - The Nightly (1982)
Elvis Costello - My Aim is True (1977)
Elton John - Empty Sky (1969)
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1970)
Heart - Dreamboat Annie (1976)
Jackson Browne - Saturate Before Using (1972)
Jefferson Airplane - Takes Off (1966)
Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced? (1967)
Joe Jackson - Look Sharp! (1979)Kansas - Kansas (1974)
King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969)
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin I (1969)
Michael Hedges - Breakfast in the Field (1981)
Paul Carrack - Suburban Voodoo (1982)
Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life (1976)
Phil Collins - Face Value (1981)
Pink Floyd - The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (1967)
Pretenders - Pretenders (1979)
R.E.M. - Murmur (1983)
Steely Day - Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972)
Stephen Stills - Stephen Stills (1970)
Talk Talk - The Party’s Over (1982)
Talking Heads - Talking Heads: 77 (1977)
Tears for Fears - The Hurting (1983)
The Alarm - Declaration (1984)
The Allman Brothers Band - The Allman Brothers Band (1969)
The Cars - The Cars - (1978)
The Doobie Brothers - The Doobie Brothers (1971)
The Doors - The Doors (1967)
The Fixx - Shuttered Room (1982)
The James Gang - Yer’ Album (1969)
The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed (1967)
The Police - Outlandos d'Amour (1978)
The Producers - The Producers (1981)
The Sundays - Reading, Writing and Arithmetic (1990)
The Vapors - New Clear Days (1980)
The Who - My Generation (1965)
Three Dog Night - Three Dog Night (1968)
U2 - Boy (1980)
Van Morrison - Blowin' Your Mind! (1967)
Yes - Yes (1969)
Again, let me know some of your favorite debut album in a comment. More content coming soon.
Monday, August 19, 2019
Giving Up Another Dream
One of the hardest things about growing old is giving up dreams. I've had to do that many times over the last twelve years.
Now I find myself having to give up another dream. It's sometimes hard for me to do. I am, by nature, a dreamer; having been taught from an early age to dream big, envision those dreams, and to work hard to achieve them.
I wish giving up dreams was easy, like throwing or putting something away. But it's not because our dreams are a part of us. A part of our mind, and often, a part of our heart. And, of course, some are easier to give up than others.
So, here I am again. I am asking God's help to let this dream go. To just take it from me. He can do that if He wants. I think it's what He wants me to do. And, therefore, I trust Him that whatever follows will be better.
God has blessed me abundantly throughout my life. Even in this, my most difficult time. Someone told me the other day, "just hang on", which is what I always tell others. I said that I will. I must. I don't know what else to do. There is only one way I could abandon God, and that is unthinkable. There is too much at stake.
And as my heart is very heavy at the moment, a part of that weight is for a few of my friends that are struggling too. Some even more than I am. Some know Christ personally, but some don't. I wish I could swoop in and "save" them. But we know that's not possible. So I continue to pray constantly for God to show me who or what He wants me to be in their lives. And for me, that can be tough because it's so much easier to "fix" someone else's life than it is our own, right? 🤦♂️
Tomorrow I go back to see my counselor for the first time in about two years. Probably this is long overdue. I have ALWAYS felt better after my sessions. So why have I waited so long? Partly because it feels as if nothing has progressed in my life since then. Any real progression has been in the negative. And, whereas I know I will feel better, I won't be "healed". The next day will come and everything will probably be the same. But as perspective becomes more difficult to see, through the lens of depression and anxiety, my counselor is invaluable in regaining that perspective.
I continue to pray for my friends. I continue to pray that I see myself and others through God's eyes alone. I pray for guidance and a job where I can be productive again, and regain my footing financially and economically. I pray for the peace and joy that I've been missing for a long time. That I can help my friends the way that they have helped me. And I pray for a new dream that I yet may still live the rest of my life with my own family. I had such a small taste of that before it was taken away. I gave up on that for years following. But I'm taking up that dream again. It may not happen. And whereas I feel I have a lot to offer, the woman for me would have to be very special indeed. Not because I'm so "wonderful", but because I'm so weird. (I know some of you are probably nodding your heads right now)
Friday, October 12, 2018
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Poli-toons for September 26, 2018
It's getting to the point that I'm almost afraid to check the news anymore. When I do, I don't recognize the world any longer. I'm praying that if it be Gods will, Kavanaugh will be confirmed and seated on the bench. But the realization is that either way, our society remains to decline. But for now, let's try to find a little humor in it all.








Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Friday, September 07, 2018
Thursday, September 06, 2018
Wednesday, September 05, 2018
Monday, August 20, 2018
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Wednesday, August 08, 2018
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