Greetings music lovers,
Today’s blog is about 25 albums you should own and has the following parameters:
- Album must have been recorded/released prior to 1990
- No duplication of artist
- No live albums or greatest hits (kind of an all encompassing copout to include either)
- Listing of my favorite track from said album (This is not so much a parameter but a mere bonus for your reading pleasure)
Twenty Five albums you should own! (In no particular order):
| Artist |
Album |
Song |
| U2 |
The Joshua Tree (1987) |
With or Without You |
| Bob Dylan |
Oh Mercy (1989) |
Most of the Time |
| Bruce Springsteen |
Nebraska (1982) |
Nebraska |
| Paul Simon |
Graceland (1986) |
You Can Call Me Al |
| James McMurtry |
Too Long in the Wasteland (1989) |
Angeline |
| Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers |
Hard Promises (1981) |
The Waiting |
| Guns N’ Roses |
Appetite for Destruction (1987) |
Mr. Brownstone |
| The Eagles |
Hotel California (1976) |
The Last Resort |
| Pink Floyd |
Wish You Were Here (1975) |
Have a Cigar |
| Robert Earl Keen |
No Kinda Dancer (1984) |
Rolling By |
| Eric Clapton |
Journeyman (1989) |
Running On Faith |
| The Who |
Quadrophenia (1973) |
Love Reign O’er Me |
| Elton John |
Madman Across the Water (1971) |
Tiny Dancer |
| Metallica |
And Justice For All (1988) |
Dyers Eve |
| R.E.M |
Document (1987) |
It’s the End of the World As We Know It (and I Feel Fine) |
| The Pixies |
Surfer Rosa (1988) |
Where Is My Mind |
| John Mellencamp |
Scarecrow (1985) |
Minutes To Memories |
| The Band |
Music from the Big Pink (1968) |
The Weight |
| Van Morrison |
Moondance (1970) |
And It Stoned Me |
| Lynyrd Skynyrd |
Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin- Nerd (1973) |
Simple Man |
| Beastie Boys |
Paul’s Boutique (1989) |
Shake Your Rump |
| The Traveling Wilburys |
Vol. 1 (1988) |
Congratulations |
| Warren Zevon |
Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School (1980) |
Play It All Night Long |
| Townes Van Zandt |
Townes Van Zandt (1969) |
Lungs |
| The Rolling Stones |
Let It Bleed (1969) |
Gimme Shelter |
| Jackson Brown |
The Pretender (1976) |
The Pretender |
So, there you have it, another list of musical bliss. Take your time, check them out and let me know what you think.
Great music awaits!
1 Comment | tags: And Justice for All, Angeline, Appetite for Destruction, Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School, Beastie Boys, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Congratulations, Document, Dyers Eve, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Gimme Shelter, Graceland, Guns 'N' Roses, Hard Promises, Have a Cigar, Hotel California, It's the End of the World As We Know It (and I Feel Fine), Jackson Brown, James McMurtry, John Mellencamp, Journeyman, Let It Bleed, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Madman Across The Water, Metallica, Minutes To Memories, Moondance, Most of the Time, Mr. Brownstone, Music from the Big Pink, Music you should be listening to!, Nebraska, No Kinda Dancer, Oh Mercy, Paul Simon, Paul's Boutique, Pink Floyd, Play It All Night Long, Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd, Quadrophenia, R.E.M., Robert Earl Keen, Rolling By, Running On Faith, Scarecrow, Shake Your Rump, Simple Man, Surfer Rosa, The Band, The Eagles, The Joshua Tree, The Pixies, The Pretender, The Rolling Stones, The Waiting, The Weight, The Who, Tiny Dancer, Tom Petty, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Too Long in the Wasteland, Townes Van Zandt, U2, Van Morrison, Vol. 1, Warren Zevon, Where Is My Mind, Wish You Were Here, With Or Without You, You Can Call Me Al | posted in Alt/Country Music, Alternative Music, Austin Music, Country Music, Folk Music, Heavy Metal Music, Music, Pop Music, Rock Music, Southern Rock, Texas Music
Robert Earl Keen is a Texas born singer/songwriter who has built a cult following of both fans and musicians alike. He is a better writer than singer but that is not meant to damn with faint praise. After all, he was journalism major in college. Many of the musicians from in and around Texas credit Keen with being the grandfather of the Texas music scene.
In 1984 Keen self financed the release of his debut album No Kind of Dancer features The Front Porch Song, which he wrote in college with Lyle Lovett. In 1986 he made the trek to Nashville but was unable to score a recording deal. In 1989, Keen released his national debut West Textures contains his now signature song, The Road Goes On Forever. With the release of 1993’s A Bigger Piece of Sky, Keen gained a larger fan base and some critical acclaim which in large part can be attributed to his rigorous touring schedule of almost 200 dates per year that he kept up in the 90’s.
Keen’s music is bathed in humor, the hills and landscape of Texas as well as the cast of characters he has met along the way. His 1994 album Gringo Honeymoon has Keen covering the great Steve Earle’s Tom Ames’ Prayer. His 1997 release Picnic features the duet Then Came Lo Mein with Cowboy Junkies’ Margo Timmins as well as his cover of James McMurtry’s Levelland.
Robert Earl Keen Discography:
- No Kind of Dancer
- The Live Album
- West Textures
- A Bigger Piece of Sky
- Gringo Honeymoon
- No. 2 Live Diner
- Picnic
- Walking Distance
- Gravitational Forces
- Farm Fresh Onions
- The Party Never Ends
- Live from Austin
- What I Really Mean
- Live at the Ryman
- Best
- Marfa After Dark
- The Rose Hotel
Top Five Robert Earl Keen Songs:
- Mariano (West Textures)
- Lynnville Train (Gringo Honeymoon)
- Rolling By (No Kind of Dancer)
- Shades of Grey (Picnic)
- Road to No Return/Carolina, New Life in Old Mexico, Still Without You (Walking Distance) This is actually a trilogy(Tracks 7-9) of songs and perhaps the finest work he has ever done
Keen began an annual music fest, Texas Uprising that showcased local talent and took place in a variety of locations around Texas. I believe that this, in addition to his great music, is why so many of the bands that have been lumped in the Texas music scene feel such reverence for Keen and his music.
Check out Robert Earl Keen at www.robertearlkeen.com
Robert Earl Keen’s music is available at iTunes, record stores, and www.robertearlkeen.com.
Great music awaits!
2 Comments | tags: A Bigger Piece of Sky, Best, Cowboy Junkies, Farm Fresh Onions, Gravitational Forces, Gringo Honeymoon, James McMurtry, Levelland, Live at the Ryman, Live from Austin, Lyle Lovett, Lynnville Train, Marfa After Dark, Margo Timmins, Mariano, Music you should be listening to!, New Life in Old Mexico, No Kind of Dancer, No. 2 Live Diner, Picnic, Road to No Return/Carolina, Robert Earl Keen, Rolling By, Shades of Grey, Steve Earle, Still Without You, Texas, Texas Uprising, The Front Porch Song, The Live Album, The Party Never Ends, The Road Goes On Forever, The Rose Motel, Then Came Lo Mein, Tom Ames' Prayer, Walking Distance, West Textures, What I Really Mean, www.robertearlkenn.com | posted in Alt/Country Music, Austin Music, Country Music, Live Music, Music
