#89 Sounds of the 60s Box Set by Reader's Digest

Reader's Digest, year of issue unknown

Various Genres

I don't know how I came by this box set, and I'll admit, I didn't have high hopes. It sat on the shelf, waiting for me to judge it. One night when I was going through the collection, I put it on, figuring it wouldn't sound great and I'd have a good excuse to put it on the discard pile. I was wrong.

Not only is the sound quality good on these records, there is also a very diverse blend of genres and artists. Each record has a theme, and some of the themes reflect genres where my own collection is weak (like Latin music, for example). After spinning a couple, Stu and I unanimously decided it had to stay. It's a keeper - good job, Reader's Digest!

Comments

#71 The Stooges - Raw Power

Columbia Records, 2010 (remastered); original 1973 Early Punk, Hard Rock This album was a gift from Stu, and a most welcome one. I love this album, and listened to it regularly for years. Search and Destroy was my softball entrance music when I briefly played for the Gus' Pub Patties. When I lived alone in the woods I would plug in my IPad Mini and play the mp3s at high volume in the car after a rough teaching day, and feel like I'd vented to pals. For me, this album is the perfect mix of high spirits and cathartic emotional expression. It taps into the feelings of unbeloging that often punctuate human existence, and transmutes that doubt to power. Raw power. Perfect title.

#66 Harmonium - Les Cinqs Saisons

Celebration, 1975 Quebeqois folk-prog I had to include the full gatefold for this album, because it's so enticing. One thing I love about vinyl is how many ways a record can function as an art piece. The visual art is so much more satisfying than on a cd. This record was given to me by my dad. It's groovy, and interesting from a compositional standpoint. It's a record that I always enjoy while I'm listening to it, but which doesn't stick in my mind the way some others do. It's a solid piece, and worth many more words than I am offering right now. I also love having some representation for La Belle Provence in my collection, so it will definitely be staying.

#21 Blondie - Autoamerican

Chrysalis, 1980 Genre: New Wave Blondie is another CBGB band that walks a line between genres. I've always enjoyed listening to them, and this album. Debbie Harry was a bit of an idol for me in my younger years, because she was super cool and super gorgeous and fronted a band. I didn't really emulate her style-wise, but I WANTED to emulate her. My friend Megan was much better at harnessing her inner Debbie Harry, as she was generally more confident with clothes than me. I did allow Megan and Juele to convince me to bleach my hair blonde at one point, but as it was super long and quickly turned brassy, it didn't really have the desired effect. This is a standard for my collection. A good, reliable crowd pleaser, or enjoyable solo listen.

Complete Collection Countdown

Search This Blog