1001 Albums #30

Sunday at the Village Vanguard from jazz pianist and composer Bill Evans another live album to make it to the list of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. There are a lot of jazz albums on the list and the reason is that jazz musicians had been able to accomplish what the rock and […]

1001 Albums #29

At Newport 1960 is the second live album on the list that is recorded at Newport. McKinley Morganfield better known as his stage name Muddy Waters must have heard Duke Ellington’s Ellington at Newport and was inspired to do the same. In general, I am not a fan of live albums. I do not like the talking and the cheering between songs or during a song. There is one exception for a live album. In […]

1001 Albums #28

I will ask you the age old question. Which came first the headache or Jimmy Smith’s Back at the Chicken Shack? I think I should have eaten first so I did not get a headache at the same time as I listened to this album. Why did Jimmy Smith cross the road? To get Back at the Chicken Shack. I am not sure why he getting back at the Chicken Shack. What did the Chicken Shack ever do to […]

1001 Albums #27

I have heard of The Everly Brothers, but not really any of their music, except maybe “Cathy’s Clown” their biggest hit. The good thing about their album A Date with the Everly Brothers is that it is a short date. All of the songs are under three minutes. The Bee Gees, Oasis, The Carpenters, The […]

1001 Albums #26

Miriam Makeba aka Mama Afrika was completely unknown to me. As I listened to her self-titled, debut album I read some history about her life. She was born Johannesburg in 1932. She toured around the world bringing the message of apartheid which caused her government blocking her from returning home. She became popular in the USA, but was eventually put under investigation when she […]

1001 Albums #25

Elvis Is Back! This is the second entry on the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Of course Elvis Presley has a least two albums on the list; he is the King of Rock and Roll. This is his first album after his discharge from the U.S. Army in March 1960. Presley is in top form on this album. His voice is […]

1001 Albums #24

I am surprised Joan Baez is the first white female to make the list. I have never heard of her music, but I am not into folk music. I was excited for the 60s to arrive, but Baez’s self-titled album made me regret it. She is not horrible if you like female chipmunks singing. Or […]

1001 Albums #23

I am hoping this is the last jazz album for a while. Dave Brubeck Quartet is the essence of cool jazz and Time Out is filled with seven cool tunes to close out the 50s era of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. I do not have a lot to say about this […]

1001 Albums #22

I have never heard of Marty Robbins and from the cover of the album Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs I thought this is definitely not my type of music. I am not a gunslinger. In fact, I have a fear of guns. And if you know me I hate country music. As I listened to […]

1001 Albums #21

Miles Davis again. There are a few artist who will be on this list a few times. Davis’ second entry Kind of Blue is very different than his first one Birth of the Cool. I do not think of the colour blue as depressing as most people do. When I think of blue, I think of the water, the sky, and you. When Davis thinks of blue he is […]