Not saying these are the best, the most timeless, but they’re the ones I’ve played front to back to the most times in my life:
When I was 12, hoeing weeds around risers, my uncle gave me the keys to an old Nova. It had this in the deck. First song, that I still listen to first thing every morning: “Still the Same.” And, this intro for “Against the Wind,” where they’re going to play something “new,” man. Can you imagine having heard this there for the first time? I do. Constantly.
This was the tape in my walkman in 6th grade, for lawn mowing my grandparents’ ten acres — with a push mower. Well, it and Metal Health. They were my introduction to hair metal. It’s where I still live and breathe.
Also 6th grade: I got cast as Danny Zuko for a play, so, everyday after school, the cast would walk over to Tandy’s trailer to play this record and try to learn every single word. Play got cancelled (content), but I still know every line, every breath.
One of the all-timers. Seriously, man: this album. This band. Got to two-step to them playing Waylon once, at a wedding reception, and it was one of the most magical moments of my life. With my wife, of course. And a Galaga machine right there alongside.
Guess this one’s also 1984. Hm. Weird. Or, not at all weird. Anyway, I stole this tape from that same uncle, and just wore it out. Some good stuff here. “Knoxville Courthouse Blues” is still the only song I can recite all the lyrics to.
Steely Dan’s my hero band. They can do no wrong, for me. And, yeah, Aja‘s the one I’m supposed to champion. And, it’s good. But, for my money, this one’s where it’s really at. I still cue this one up all the time.
Maybe my favorite of all the live albums, ever. Mark Oliver Everett is so, so amazing, and the songs for this, man. I first heard “Railroad Man” on one of my student’s radio show. Thanks, Eric, for the introduction. It’s changed me.
Man, did I run the needle through this one. It’s the album I had in my (wired) headphone the first time I ruptured my Achille, so always associate it with that. And I still play it all the time.
Every single track here is the best one ever. Went through about three years where it felt like this was the only album I listened to, because . . . why need another, right?
1983, phew. Anyway, this one’s like Can’t Buy a Thrill: every track, right? Not sure how an album can get any better than this one, really. It’s got it all, every time I play it. One for the, you know, Ages.
What can Ween not do, right? Thanks to one of my brothers for the intro, here. Maybe Sky, maybe Sulac? It was one of you.
Heard “Sleeping My Day Away” on KBAT in Midland, Texas, in probably 1989, and have never looked back. I don’t know why every album can’t just be this album.
