I just want to live on an island make of cake and listen to music.
This is the second of my “Facebook friends asked me to do lists of things so here it is” series.
This time, the post was “Post your all time top ten albums”
I couldn’t do this with any honesty, so as always, I changed the rules:
Ok. My top ten albums*
Actually no. These are ten (and a couple more) albums that came to mind when
asked what my top ten albums were. There are hundreds more than flash through
my head even thinking about it again now, but I’m going with these ten because
they had a massive impact on my life and are still in rotation.
For example, I could
have added Madonna’s Immaculate Collection – which changed my life, but which I
rarely play now. I could have added Use Your Illusions 1 and 2 and Best of
Queen 1 and 2 (I came late to music and had to do some serious catchup) but again,
they’re not in constant rotation any more.
The Twelfth Man series,
Weird Al albums, especially Fat, Bill n Ted’s Bogus Journey, and The Muppets
Christmas (but I’ll leave that for my top ten Christmas albums post). And… why
aren’t Monty Python on this list?
You see what I mean? Anyway, here are the ten as posted in April 2018 on Facebook.
#10: They Might Be Giants Flood. I’ve seen them do it live. It never gets
old. I’ve talked about They Might Be Giants before. They bring me out of
a bad mood almost every time. I came back from Japan early to see They Might Be
Giants play and went two nights in a row because they were doing the Flood album
start-to-finish the following night.
#9: I’m saying Stormy Weather by Grace Knight. I just listen to it over and
over. It was the second CD I ever bought and by far the most played. After
posting this on Facebook I went out and bought it again on eBay. It’s still
good.
—
#8: Barenaked Ladies – Gordon.
If I had a Million Dollars is so catchy. I asked friends what
I should be listening to if I liked They Might Be Giants and they made me buy
this. That was maybe 1995. I’ve been listening to this album ever since. Again,
a life changer. It made me feel Canadian again.
—
#7: Doug
Anthony Allstars. Dead and Alive.
I used to listen to DAAS
on the Big Gig – I could almost see the TV from my room through two windows
into the loungeroom. I’d leave the door open so I could hear. I was absolutely
not meant to be watching it. It was brilliant.
Again, I came to DAAS properly just as they were wrapping up. Dead and
Alive was my first album and is still my favourite. The Last Concert and Icon
also get a lot of play but this one just has a great combination of music and
general mayhem.
—
#6: Tripod.
Open Slather.
The first Tripod I was exposed to. Still gets more play than any other
album. Dave played this at a party when we were living in Clifton Hill in
the apartment we called The TARDIS (it was bigger on the inside). From here we
started going to gigs at the Pat. They signed my VHS copy of Tosswinkle the
Pirate when Dave told them he was bringing it to me in Japan.
They are great. And Open Slather has always been my favourite album,
followed closely by Tripod versus the Dragon.
—
#5: Billy Joel.
An Innocent Man
This may not be the best Billy, but it is my Billy. It always makes me
feel better. It’s been a companion on many family trips, so it has
family connections as well as person connections. I’ve had it on tape, vinyl
and CD. The Stranger and River of Dreams come close seconds.
I’m very aware that these may not be the best albums. As I said, I came
to music appreciation late. My friend Craig introduced me to Queen in Year 12.
Dad played ELO and heaps of Beatles and Stones around the house.
But I was into Summer 87 and Through the Roof 85 and Funbusters.
and Rolf Harris.
And Bill Cosby.
Wow.
—
#4: Paul Simon – Graceland. An absolute ripper of an album with incredible
rhythms and melodies. Love every single song.
I remember
listening to this on trips up to Queensland. I know every word in every song.
It’s phenomenal. None of his other albums have hit me the same way.
—
#3: Carter USM – 1992.
The Love Album
It’s always a tossup between this and 30 Something but 1992
gets more airplay on my set list.
Dave played these guys to me. We would get drunk
and sing Is Wrestling Fixed and Who Killed Bambi (by Sex Pistols). Never been
hugely into punk, but these albums are fantastic.
—
2: Cake – Prolonging the
Magic.
I almost put Fashion Nugget (and had to fight between Cake
and Cat Empire and Bloodhound Gang) but Sheep Go to Heaven pushed me over the
edge. That song fires me up every
time.
Maybe Presidents of the USA should be in here too.
I think they’re more Dave than me, but the Dune Buggy album is still on regular
rotation around the house.
—
And in the top spot:
1. Whitlams – Eternal Nightcap
I listen to this almost weekly. It got into my brain at my
most musically susceptible and has never left. God it’s a good album.
And again, I
could have put Ben Folds Five in here, but it hasn’t stayed in my rotation.
So anyway, thirty or so albums in my top ten list. Go and
listen to all of them. Let me know just how bad my music taste actually is.
Finding Damo 