In your CD player
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Three dog night greatest hits
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Texas Troubadour - Townes Van Zandt 2005. A budget price 4CD box set of his 7 studio albums released between 1968-1978, plus some studio outtakes and eight live recordings from 1973. If I was to pick a favorite It'll be "Townes Van Zandt" from 1970, featuring several re-recordings from his 1968 debut but with richer arrangements at times bordering on the baroque. I don't know much about his range as a singer, he sounds a bit limited in technique to me, but he knows how to address a mood and take you on a trip with his songs and stories. A classic singer/songwriter.
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It's All Too Much - Beatles
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Something for the Weekend... Paul McCartney's Glastonbury Groove - Various artists 2004. A compilation compiled by McCartney for the music magazine Uncut featuring some of his favorite songs plus a Radioslave remix of "Temporary Secretary" and his classic composition "Spiral" performed by London Symphony Orchestra. I'm kind of an artist and album type of listener and I don't play various artist compilations all that much, but featuring McCartney's own personal choices I thought it was well worth getting hold of. It's quite varied, new and old and stylistically diverse. Famous artists and not so famous. Yet easy on the ear, I'd say. Here is the tracklist: 1. James Taylor - Mean Old Man (James Taylor) 2. Brian Wilson - God Only Knows [live] (Brian Wilson, Tony Asher) 3. Chinmaya Dunster & Vidroha Jamie - Chance Meeting (Chinmaya Dunster, Vidroha Jamie) 4. Nitin Sawhney - Sunset (Nitin Sawhney) 5. Nat King Cole - The Very Thought Of You (Ray Noble) 6. Maria João Pires - Nocturne No. 2 In E Flat Major (Frédéric Chopin) 7. Colin Hay - Going Somewhere (Colin Hay) 8. Paul McCartney - Temporary Secretary [Radioslave mix] (Paul McCartney) 9. Steadman - Carried (Steadman) 10. The Julian Bream Consort - Galliard (Benjamin Britten) 11. George Harrison - Marwa Blues (George Harrison) 12. London Symphony Orchestra - Spiral (Paul McCartney) 13. Glenn Aitken - The Way (Glenn Aitken) 14. Donovan - Sunny Goodge Street (Donovan) 15. Fred Astaire - Cheek To Cheek (Irving Berlin) 16. Frank Sinatra - A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening (Jimmy McHugh, Harold Adamson) 17. Paul McCartney - Calico Skies (Paul McCartney)
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Born in the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen 2014 remaster. 1984 original release. Damn, this album is catchy. And I never tire of it. Springsteen was reluctant to establish himself as a commercial pop/rock singer in the 70s and every song that sounded like a hit, he refused to release. "Hungry Heart" on "The River" was a breakthrough in this regard for including more catchy kind of songs on his albums and "Born in the USA" is all "Hungry Heart" from start to finish. It was like he waited until the moment felt right for him and recorded one of my favorite blockbusters of all time. I call it Springteen's "A Hard Day's Night". It's so catchy yet substantial or what to say. Real songwriting craft. Well, I love to it. The E Street Band...
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Trout Mask Replica - Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band 1969. My favorite -out there- album ever. Well, if out there is the right word. It's more like illogical and asymmetrically and f**ks with your brain. In a good way, I'd say. It's art and appeal to the imagination. I've met people who enjoy "Trout Mask Replica" but mostly it's been an album I've had a bit to myself. Captain Beefheart was a true original to my likings and I rather listen to his nonsense than many others bullshit.
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Christmastime - Aimee Mann & Michael Penn
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Help! - The Beatles 2009 stereo remaster. 1965 original UK release. You gotta love "Help!". It is perhaps not the most important album in a whole or the most representative of the album as an art form in itself, but on a good day it may still be my favorite. Everything here is like a breath of fresh air. If you pick the it apart. Some believe the cover songs on their earliest albums is just filler but I think one should not underestimate the art of interpreting others' material. "Act Naturally" is Ringo's number and "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" rock with roll .
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The Times They Are A-Changin' - Byrds
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Listening to songs that will be on the Tug of War boxed set
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Where The Streets Have No Name - U2
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Duke - Genesis LP. 1980. Inspired by a Phil Collins discussion in another thread I decided to play some Collins with and without Genesis since I have a respectable vinyl collection. It's records I haven't played in years. "Duke" was a favorite in the 80s and I still prefer it to later Genesis albums. It's an entertaining combination of future pop Phil and their prog rock past.
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Face Value - Phil Collins LP. 1981. His first solo album. You can hear that it is the Genesis guy but less pompous maybe and with more room for soul and r&b and less is more. I also think it was made in the aftermath of a divorce. Always liked this one a lot. A little bit "McCartney II" like (only wih guest musicians) and at home in the kitchen experimental. That "In the Air Tonight" was a hit is quite original. It ends with a cover of "Tomorow Never Knows". It's not as good as The Beatles original but is an interesting choice.
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Photograph Smile -Julian Lennon
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Abacab - Genesis LP. 1981. I remember "Abacab" as very popular in school, in the early 80s when I was about 14. It's a record I've heard a lot even though it's not the most played on my stereo. In the long run I've probably played 70s Genesis and "Nursery Cryme" more than "Abacab" or 80s Genesis but Phil Collins pop/rock version of the band was more popular than Peter Gabriels more artistically acclaimed intellectual version.
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Three Sides Live - Genesis LP. 1982. A live album. It's a record I can't remember to have played a whole lot. I checked the status of quality and the vinyl looks almost unplayed. Well... I decided to give it a new chance and put on side 2 with two songs from my personal favorite "Duke". These guys are fine musicians and live they sound more organic and less (over)produced. I realise that all these ealy 80's Genesis and Phil Collins albums involve Hugh Padgham, who produced "Press to Play", in one way or the other. Producer and engineer. I knew he'd worked with Genesis but not as extensive.
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Hello, I Must Be Going! - Phil Collins LP. 1982. Follow-up to "Face Value". His solo music overlap Genesis but is more pop and sometimes use horn section ala Motown recordings. "You Can't Hurry Love" is a catchy cover of The Surpremes. I remember playing it quite a lot when it came out. I liked maybe variation. A good record this.
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Genesis - Genesis LP. 1983. Another popular Genesis album. I wonder if they reached a new generation in the early 80s. I remember we (teenagers) discussed the two different eras with Phil Collins vs. Peter Gabriel. Progressive rock and the 80's did not go hand in hand but the pop songs of Phil Collins and the way they were incorporated into the Genesis sound worked probably fine. This album also has a state of the art production with drum machines. Perhaps not their most timeless and "Mama" has always been melodramatic but "That's All" and the silly "Illegal Alien" is still catchy songs.
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No Jacket Required - Phil Collins LP. 1985. Ha-ha, NOW we are in the 80s, su-suss-sudio! I probably bought this album the week of release, played it when I came home and one man's smash hit is another man's dust collector... Well, it's not the only Collins/Genesis record I haven't played since the 80s. Or much at all. Fun enough to play through all chronological. Just like in the 80s, I prefer still "Hello, I Must Be Going!" to "No Jacket Required".
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Somewhere I Belong - LINKIN PARK