Vinyl Records I Highly Treasure That Might Surprise People Who Know Me

 

The people I grew up with, the people I attended concerts with, they probably assume that my favorite records are the certain singer/songwriters and jazz artists that they've heard me talk about many times before. They might just be surprised at some of the other records that I've felt a connection with over the years.

Discovering new sounds has always been vital to me. These records were never spoken about between us. They may know of them and appreciate them as I do but we never shared that information. I tend to think that some of these records are my discovery only. 

Come and sit with me for an hour or two and I will play records for you. It would be a pleasure. I'll tell you a story that I've never shared with you before. I'll hope that you hear and feel what I hear and feel ..... or that you'll hear something that you find exciting in your own way. 

I find power in all these records. I feel the musicians pouring their emotions into the recordings. Even decades or half a century later. I try to recall what I heard of felt upon my first listen ..... and what I feel now. There's power and emotion behind all these recordings. 

Peter Gabriel Playlist

I don't usually do a musician specific playlist ..... Why? Because everyone else does that. But I suppose I could include one now and then ..... So for anyone interested, a Peter Gabriel playlist:

• Red Rain ..... Fascinating visual imagery in the lyrics.
• No Way Out
• This Is the Picture (Excellent Birds)
• Games Without Frontiers .... Powerful use of images in the official video.
• Burn You Up, Burn You Down
• Digging In the Dirt .... "Digging in the dirt, to find the places we got hurt."
• Shock the Monkey
• I Have the Touch
• Here Comes the Flood
• Solsbury Hill .... I was trying to avoid what in my eyes is the most obvious choice but just couldn't hold out.
• That Voice Again
• Mercy Street .... "There in the midst of it, so alive and alone, words support like bone." 
• Kiss That Frog

I might as well include the entire "So" album. Depending on the day I'm asked, the greatest album of all-time. 

Sky Blue

There's perfect timing and a place for everything it seems. I've always enjoyed this song but now I'm finding myself obsessed with it, listening more closely than ever before. There's power in its notes, progression and ending. 

'Sky Blue' by Peter Gabriel 

Its beginning is reminiscent to my ears to two songs, 'Mercy Street' and 'Red Rain' from his classic 1986 album, 'So.' And the ending, when The Blind Boys of Alabama, held in reserve until the final moment, then entering and blending their voices for the powerful closing chorus, is perfection. I can't help but to join in.

 

Jason Isbell

As I've entered my senior years of life, there's a small group of musicians and bands releasing new music in recent years, that I've become a loyal follower of ..... Son Volt, The Jayhawks, The Feelies, The Bats, Yo La Tengo, Hiss Golden Messenger, (maybe one or two others that I'm forgetting) ..... and Jason Isbell!!

On my doorstep today, the new one titled 'Weathervanes' by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.

I've refrained from listening to song samples beforehand because I wanted to experience the record for the first time like it was done long ago. By sitting down and taking in each song in its entirety. I'll go out on a limb ahead of time and say it's going to be great. I've come to trust over the past decade(s), the quality and consistency of the songwriting. And I know that I'm going to be 'feeling' the vibe of each song.