Don’t forget the songs--and the albums--that changed your life. We’ve all got bands and albums that made an impact on us. Here are mine. These are albums that made me feel a change or some new direction musically at least in my life when I heard them. In no particular order and trying to keep it to one album per artist, which was tougher than I thought it would be!
Image courtesy of Morguefile.com
Kiss--“Double Platinum”
I think this was the first cassette I ever owned. I was like 6 or 7 years old and used to listen to it on a crappy portable tape recorder. One of the few albums I had on tape, record, and eventually CD. I remember seeing Kiss on the Paul Lynde Halloween show in 1976, and being BLOWN AWAY. That’s probably my earliest music memory, and I think it set a bar. Love “Strutter,” “Rock N Roll All Night,” “Beth,” and “Do You Love Me.”
Pink Floyd--“The Wall”
Honorable mention to “The Final Cut” and “Wish You Were Here.” For a long time, “The Wall” was my favorite record. Teen angst, I suppose. Always thought “Final Cut” was underrated, and very Wall-esque, at least a pseudo sequel that fell a bit short of the mark. Eventually I was lucky enough to see Roger Waters perform “The Wall” live, and it bring it all full circle for me. I still whip this one out regularly. The only bummer about “The Wall” is that there are some great songs and versions of songs in the film that aren’t on the album.
Duran Duran--“Rio”
Honorable mention to “Duran Duran” and “Notorious.” “Rio” is their best and one of the best albums of the 80s. So cool, so underrated, marketed like a BRAND. The first album was a great debut, but I think “Rio” is the most Duran Duran sound—and the sound of the early 80s--rock, new wave, glam, all mixed up. “Music to dance to when the bomb drops.” I don’t think there’s a bad song on the album, and it had some huge hits. Besides all the hits, and everything else, “The Chauffeur” is an amazing song, and still stands out.
Depeche Mode--“Music for the Masses”
Not my FAV DM album, or their BEST album-- that would be “Black Celebration” or “Violator,” but “Music for the Masses” was the record that really got me INTO DM. I saw them live for the first time this tour. I remember hearing “Strangelove” for the first time on the radio, getting the 12” for the mixes, and then the album came out. A friend picked a vinyl copy up for me, and brought it to school. I carried it around all day and couldn’t wait to get it home to play.
David Bowie--“The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust”
Listened to this cassette while house sitting for an older neighbor. Thought it was amazing and unlike anything I'd ever heard. My first glam rock, and at the time I didn't realize a lot of the bands I was into had been hugely influenced by Bowie. Up to that point the only Bowie I knew was “Let’s Dance.” “Ziggy” introduced me to some of the older stuff, and showed me the influence Bowie had on a lot of the newer bands I was listening to in the early 80s.
Social Distortion--“Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell”
Helped get me into roots and rockabilly music, honorable mention to their entire catalog. Social D is very SoCal punk rock. But they were a punk band that evolved into something more—a roots rock, even rockabilly band. But that’s always been a part of the SoCal sound. For me they also represent a time in my life with a lot of good and bad. “When She Begins” is still one of my favorite Social D songs.
Mike Ness--“Cheating At Solitaire”
Perfect marriage of punk and roots music. This album came at a great time. I was into a lot of country, rockabilly and roots music, as well as punk. This was more of a punk/rockabilly than any of Social D’s records. Love the sound and feel of this album. Love “The Devil In Ms Jones,” and Ness’ cover of Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice” is a perfect example of the blend of Socal punk and rockabilly.
Pink Floyd--“The Wall”
Honorable mention to “The Final Cut” and “Wish You Were Here.” For a long time, “The Wall” was my favorite record. Teen angst, I suppose. Always thought “Final Cut” was underrated, and very Wall-esque, at least a pseudo sequel that fell a bit short of the mark. Eventually I was lucky enough to see Roger Waters perform “The Wall” live, and it bring it all full circle for me. I still whip this one out regularly. The only bummer about “The Wall” is that there are some great songs and versions of songs in the film that aren’t on the album.
Duran Duran--“Rio”
Honorable mention to “Duran Duran” and “Notorious.” “Rio” is their best and one of the best albums of the 80s. So cool, so underrated, marketed like a BRAND. The first album was a great debut, but I think “Rio” is the most Duran Duran sound—and the sound of the early 80s--rock, new wave, glam, all mixed up. “Music to dance to when the bomb drops.” I don’t think there’s a bad song on the album, and it had some huge hits. Besides all the hits, and everything else, “The Chauffeur” is an amazing song, and still stands out.
Depeche Mode--“Music for the Masses”
Not my FAV DM album, or their BEST album-- that would be “Black Celebration” or “Violator,” but “Music for the Masses” was the record that really got me INTO DM. I saw them live for the first time this tour. I remember hearing “Strangelove” for the first time on the radio, getting the 12” for the mixes, and then the album came out. A friend picked a vinyl copy up for me, and brought it to school. I carried it around all day and couldn’t wait to get it home to play.
David Bowie--“The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust”
Listened to this cassette while house sitting for an older neighbor. Thought it was amazing and unlike anything I'd ever heard. My first glam rock, and at the time I didn't realize a lot of the bands I was into had been hugely influenced by Bowie. Up to that point the only Bowie I knew was “Let’s Dance.” “Ziggy” introduced me to some of the older stuff, and showed me the influence Bowie had on a lot of the newer bands I was listening to in the early 80s.
Social Distortion--“Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell”
Helped get me into roots and rockabilly music, honorable mention to their entire catalog. Social D is very SoCal punk rock. But they were a punk band that evolved into something more—a roots rock, even rockabilly band. But that’s always been a part of the SoCal sound. For me they also represent a time in my life with a lot of good and bad. “When She Begins” is still one of my favorite Social D songs.
Mike Ness--“Cheating At Solitaire”
Perfect marriage of punk and roots music. This album came at a great time. I was into a lot of country, rockabilly and roots music, as well as punk. This was more of a punk/rockabilly than any of Social D’s records. Love the sound and feel of this album. Love “The Devil In Ms Jones,” and Ness’ cover of Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice” is a perfect example of the blend of Socal punk and rockabilly.
The Cult—“Electric”
Fantastic production by Rick Rubin, incredible sound on the album. The sound is huge on this record. Honorable mention to “Love.” Sorry, “Sonic Temple.” “Electric” is their masterpiece. It’s just balls out rock with attitude, and was a drastic new direction and sound for the band that worked. There’s not a band song on this record, though I could do without the “Born to Be Wild” cover. They had some b-sides and outtakes that would have fit better.
Oingo Boingo--“Dead Man's Party”
Boingo's best album to me. Honorable mention to “Boingo Alive,” “Nothing to Fear,” and “Good for Your Soul.” It’s an album about life and death, perhaps more about death. It’s a ver dark album. Another one without a weak song. Amazing live band. This was my intro to them, and what a great intro it was.
U2--“Achtung Baby”
“Joshua Tree” will go down in history as the better album, but “Achtung Baby” means more to me. Few bands have albums this classic in them, but U2 did. “Achtung” was such a new direction for them and so good that when they went on tour, they played every song from the album live from the very first shows because they could. They knew it was that good. It’s stood the test of time.
Fantastic production by Rick Rubin, incredible sound on the album. The sound is huge on this record. Honorable mention to “Love.” Sorry, “Sonic Temple.” “Electric” is their masterpiece. It’s just balls out rock with attitude, and was a drastic new direction and sound for the band that worked. There’s not a band song on this record, though I could do without the “Born to Be Wild” cover. They had some b-sides and outtakes that would have fit better.
Oingo Boingo--“Dead Man's Party”
Boingo's best album to me. Honorable mention to “Boingo Alive,” “Nothing to Fear,” and “Good for Your Soul.” It’s an album about life and death, perhaps more about death. It’s a ver dark album. Another one without a weak song. Amazing live band. This was my intro to them, and what a great intro it was.
U2--“Achtung Baby”
“Joshua Tree” will go down in history as the better album, but “Achtung Baby” means more to me. Few bands have albums this classic in them, but U2 did. “Achtung” was such a new direction for them and so good that when they went on tour, they played every song from the album live from the very first shows because they could. They knew it was that good. It’s stood the test of time.
Iron Maiden--“Number of the Beast”
Honorable mention to “Powerslave” and “Live After Death.” My friend's older brother used to play us metal albums while we played Dungeons and Dragons--Maiden, Priest, Dio, Scorpions. Maiden had songs that told epic stories, basoed on epic stories, and had three guitars! Bruce Dickenson is an amazing singer, arguably the best in metal. I remember thinking a band singing about Satanic rituals was so evil in a good way, and so interesting.
AC/DC--“Back in Black”
I bought this album after moving back to the US from Germany. I still had the turntable we bought over there. It played everything a 2X the speed it was supposed to be played at because of the frequency difference. For years I thought this album was twice as fast as it is! Imagine AC/DC rocking TWICE as much! Even at normal speed, it’s one of the greatest and best selling rock albums of all time. In later years I got to a point where I preferred Bon Scott AC/DC, but this album is still epic.
Blue Oyster Cult –“Fire of Unknown Origin”
Crazy sc-fi fantasy rock. A friend's sister made a cassette of this and told me to listen to it. Still awesome. Any album with a song called “Joan Crawford Has Risen From the Grave” must rock. Also the unofficial soundtrack for the animated rock n roll fantasy film “Heavy Metal.”
“Pretty In Pink” Soundtrack
Got this from the Columbia Record Club. This soundtrack introduced me to New Order, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Smiths. It also changed my life, and my musical direction. It introduced me to alternative music beyond the MTV darling New Wave bands I listened to. And it changed my life because it introduced me to The Smiths.
The Smiths--“Queen Is Dead”
Honorable mention to “Strangeways…” and “Louder Than Bombs.” I knew of The Smiths, but when a friend made me a cassette with “Queen…” on one side and “Strangeways…” on the other side, I was hooked for life. I don’t think I’d ever heard more personal and sincere lyrics I could relate to so much.
Nine Inch Nails--“Pretty Hate Machine”
“Downward Spiral” is a more polished and a better record, but “Pretty Hate Machine” was amazing when it came out. This album introduced me to industrial music, and was a blend of genres I loved. A lot of electronic music wasn’t heavy or fast enough for me, and a lot of punk and metal didn’t have the intelligence or relatability that this music had.
Love and Rockets--“Express”
I LOVED this record, and played "Kundalini Express" over and over. This is a rocking, underrated record.
Dead Kennedys--“In God We Trust, Inc”
Still among the most intense 20 minutes ever recorded. I used to listen to this on my walkman every night as I went to sleep. Honorable mention to “Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death.”
Fear--“More Beer”
THIS was the first real punk record I ever heard. “The Record” is a much better album, but this album was my intro. It was loud, obnoxious, fast, and fun.
Johnny Cash--“Live At San Quentin”
Much better than the more vaunted “Live At Folsom.” Reintroduced me to Cash, and showed me country could be hardcore. It was interesting to see how “punk rock” a lot of old country and rockabilly guys could be. Country songs tell amazing stories, harder core than a lot of the stuff I’d heard.
“Downward Spiral” is a more polished and a better record, but “Pretty Hate Machine” was amazing when it came out. This album introduced me to industrial music, and was a blend of genres I loved. A lot of electronic music wasn’t heavy or fast enough for me, and a lot of punk and metal didn’t have the intelligence or relatability that this music had.
Love and Rockets--“Express”
I LOVED this record, and played "Kundalini Express" over and over. This is a rocking, underrated record.
Dead Kennedys--“In God We Trust, Inc”
Still among the most intense 20 minutes ever recorded. I used to listen to this on my walkman every night as I went to sleep. Honorable mention to “Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death.”
Fear--“More Beer”
THIS was the first real punk record I ever heard. “The Record” is a much better album, but this album was my intro. It was loud, obnoxious, fast, and fun.
Johnny Cash--“Live At San Quentin”
Much better than the more vaunted “Live At Folsom.” Reintroduced me to Cash, and showed me country could be hardcore. It was interesting to see how “punk rock” a lot of old country and rockabilly guys could be. Country songs tell amazing stories, harder core than a lot of the stuff I’d heard.
Lucy's Fur Coat--“Jaundice”
Perfectly encapsulates an era in my life when San Diego music ruled, I saw awesome shows all the time. Also the first record put out by guys I knew and talked to at shows. A lot of the San Diego bands during this time were very open and accessible. You’d talk to the guys in the bands and get to know them.
Rolling Stones--“Sticky Fingers”
Got me into the Stones and showed me classic rock was cool. A dark drug induced album, with songs like “Brown Sugar,” “Bitch,” and the amazing “Sister Morphine,” probably the closest a song could be to an OD.
Steve Martin--“Wild and Crazy Guy”
Snuck my Mom's cassette as a LITTLE kid and listened to it over and over. Still has my all time favorite joke. This album had a huge influence on my humor, even though I didn’t get a lot of the jokes at the time, including my all time favorite!
Perfectly encapsulates an era in my life when San Diego music ruled, I saw awesome shows all the time. Also the first record put out by guys I knew and talked to at shows. A lot of the San Diego bands during this time were very open and accessible. You’d talk to the guys in the bands and get to know them.
Rolling Stones--“Sticky Fingers”
Got me into the Stones and showed me classic rock was cool. A dark drug induced album, with songs like “Brown Sugar,” “Bitch,” and the amazing “Sister Morphine,” probably the closest a song could be to an OD.
Steve Martin--“Wild and Crazy Guy”
Snuck my Mom's cassette as a LITTLE kid and listened to it over and over. Still has my all time favorite joke. This album had a huge influence on my humor, even though I didn’t get a lot of the jokes at the time, including my all time favorite!
What albums changed YOUR life? Or what bands changed your life?
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