My All Time Favorite Albums (or CD's)

Well, Under_Ling just posted a list of his favorite albums. I found it quite interesting to see what music adds flavor to his life. Although, it may not really be possible to know someone via his or her blog ---- his list of music made me feel as if I had deeper insight into he is and what he is all about. The same is true for one of my other favorite bloggers, Tim. Tim always posts his fave songs or albums on his blog. I find it fun to find out to what he is listening.

Music is so important to me. I am never without it. So, after being inspired this evening by Mr. Under_Ling --- I am now going to share my favorite albums. These are the ones I could not live without. I thought it would be easier for me to compile a listing. I have spent the past hour looking at my collection and the following is what I've come up with. They are in no particular order. I do not have a favorite CD

Oh, and if this sort of thing bores you, just skip this post and check back later. However, aren't we allowed to be totally self-indulgent in our blogs? I think we are!

First of all, I am unable to just include the music of Barbra into a group of other artists. No, she must have her own list. The following are my all-time fave Babs recordings.

Barbra!

1. The Barbra Streisand Album --- her first album! I think it might be close to her best, as well. Every track is just perfect -- partly because this was before she became obsessed with being perfect.

2. The Second Barbra Streisand Album --- I adore her covers of "Down with Love" and "When the Sun Comes Out"

3. Simply Streisand --- It is just simply barbra!

4. The Way We Were --- This album was released when I was in the first grade. I played it so much my father took it away from me for a while because he was sick of hearing it over and over again.

5. Funny Lady --- The soundtrack. Track 13, "If I Love Again" just breaks my heart every time I hear it.

6. Lazy Afternoon --- So relaxing and funky. Put it in the CD player on a rainy day or Sunday morning and just let the music surround you. My favorite track is "A Child Is Born"

7. A Star Is Born --- Evergreen, Lost Inside of You and Queen Bee and that way-cool afro do! 70's Babs at her peak!

8. Streisand Superman --- Great pop album from 1977! Love Comes From Unexpected Places is my fave track.

9. Yentl --- the soundtrack. I really think her voice was at its very best at the time this was recorded. And I love the LeGrande score.

10. The Broadway Album --- A bit overly-synthesized, but fantastic all the same!

My Other Faves!

1. Boys for Pele by Tori Amos and Dilate by Ani DiFranco --- bitter anger at every lover who ever fucked you over! For me, these two CD's took the place of NIN's Downward Spiral.

2. Vespertine by Bjork --- Oh, that nutty Bjork! I love listening to this CD on headphones with my eyes shut!

3. Hounds of Love by Kate Bush --- At the time that this album came out, it seemed so totally unique. I felt it had an intelligence factor one seldom finds in pop. The whole "Ninth Wave" cycle from side 2 is my favorite pieces from this work. However, I don't think you can listen just to one track from this album. Each song depends on the one that follows it. Come back to the Five & Dime, Kate Bush, Kate Bush!!! We need you, baby!

4. Welcome to my Nightmare by Alice Cooper --- I had such a huge crush on Alice when I was a kid! It is all a bit silly, but I love every bit of it!

5. Eat to the Beat! by Blondie --- Actually, I love every Blondie album ever made --- but this one is my favorite. Super cool even almost 25 years later!

6. Broken English by Marianne Faithfull --- A perfect rock album. "Why D'Ya Do It?" is the best track! Still shocks people when they hear it for the first time.

7. Tusk by Fleetwood Mac --- The Mac at their most experimental and disjointed. Great rock! I have many memories of getting stoned to this album. Unlike Pink Floyd records -- this one still seems cool to me. God, this came out in 1980. I was 13 and me and my troubled friends listened to this all of the time! Makes me think of Galveston.

8. OK, this is stoner mode #8 and it contains more than one album because I like each one equally: Bella Donna by Stevie Nicks, Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin, Dreamboat Annie by Heart and Horses by Patti Smith Group. These 4 recordings got me through high school.

9. Don't Cry Out Loud by Melissa Manchester --- Shut up! I am not even going to acknowledge your mockery! My Grandmother and I used to listen to this album all of the time. Makes me think of her. Makes me feel safe.

10. Tommy --- The 1975 movie soundtrack. This movie and this album occupied most of my 8 year old thoughts. There is no better Acid Queen than Tina Turner, by the way!

11. Bad Girls by Donna Summer and Diana by Diana Ross --- Disco was about to end, but not before we got these two awesome albums!

12. Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder and "Simple Dream" by Linda Rondstadt --- Perfect albums! I played them till you could almost see thru the vinyl.

13. Faster Than The Speed of Night by Bonnie Tyler and Bat Out of Hell by MeatLoaf --- Two perfect white trash rock operas from the warped mind of Jim Steinman! God, I love these two albums!!!

14. Rickie Lee Jones (self titled) and Ladies of they Canyon by Joni Mitchell --- I just link both of these albums together. I usually play one right after the other. I have always thought of Rickie Lee Jones as Joni gone all bad attitude. Great albums!

15. Haunted by Poe --- This CD flopped, but it is so damned good! "Hey Pretty" is a classic track! ...as is "The 5&1/2 Minute Hallway" ...the entire CD is inspired by her brother's horrific novel, "House of Leaves" which you should read if you like horror/sci-fi.

16. Felt Mountain by Goldfrapp --- dark, twisted and just plain neat! A great listen when you are lying all alone in the dark.

17. Lady in Satin by Billie Holiday --- a new discovery for me, but one of the most powerful recordings I have ever heard. It demands the listener to just stop and listen.

18. The Power of Pussy by Bongwater --- If you have never heard it or you do not own it. Then, something is wrong! No record collection is complete without this fantastic album!!!!

19. To Venus and Back by Tori Amos --- "1,000 Oceans" is one of the most beautiful and sad songs I have ever heard. I just love this CD.

20. Sexplosion by My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult --- decadent fun from the sick and twisted gay duo of Buzz McCoy and Groovie Mann. Sure, they are a bit on the satanic side --- but they know how to groove, baby!!! "Sex On Wheels" is an early 90's club classic!

The following CD's are turning into music I could never live without, but have not quite made it to that level with me yet. ...but we are close!

Morvern Callar --- the soundtrack to the cool and creepy Samantha Morton movie. Great compilation of music!

Portishead (self titled) --- their second album. It is just hypnotic to me.

Fantasmo by Crossover --- Wicked awesome NYC duo!

Five by Five by Pizzicato Five --- OK, so this is really an EP, but it is just perfect!

Dedicated to Nelson by Rosemary Clooney --- Awesome all the way 'round!

...anything by The Lords of Acid and The Miranda Sex Garden.