What would be your 10 song album that foot printed your music life ?

tempo_n_groove

Great thread. I love the cricket reference a while back. Very cool.

1-Wouldn't it be nice by the Beach Boys. My father sung this all the time. What a great song.

2-Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. Growing up all I knew was We will rock you. When I heard this my eyes opened and my ears were on fire!!! Man could Mercury sing.

3-Cliffs of Dover by Eric Johnson. The first time I heard this I wasn't aware that someone could play that FAST!!!

4-Stand Up by minor threat. The energy in this song, the first one I heard by them, sculpted my music tastes from here on out.

5-Anesthesia/pulling teeth by Cliff Burton. When I heard those famous words "bass solo take one" I was hooked! I wanted to play after hearing this!

6-Run to the hills by Iron maiden. The drum intro man, the drum intro! I later enjoyed a live version of Iron Maiden over this...

7-All Hell Breaks Loose by The Misfits. This song has everything, from the drum beat into the haunting guitar chords into the lyrics "I'll shake you by your collarbone". Who writes like this?!? AWESOME!!!

8-One Down Three To Go by The Meatmen. This song was about the Beatles at the time. This song and band made me not ever listen to the Beatles. This band also taught me that conformity was not for me...

9-Soul 2 Squeeze by The RedHot Chilli Peppers. You can put this song on anywhere at anytime and everyone is going to enjoy it. If they never heard it they are going to enjoy it...

10-Indifference by Pearl Jam Live in Atlanta closer. This version and this song is tattooed in my brain forever. Every note, the slight vocal changes, the bass. What a beautiful song...

Honorable mention: Breadfan-Metallica, Mount the Pavement-Rhorshach, Sliver-Nirvana, DJ's-Sublime, Rhymin n Stealin-Beastie Boys, Bombtrack-RATM and Bottom-Tool.

Tim Simmons

Amazed by small percentage of tracks post 2000. People haven't had tunes impact them deeply made in the past 15.5 years?

jjflash

Tim Simmons said:

Amazed by small percentage of tracks post 2000. People haven't had tunes impact them deeply made in the past 15.5 years?

It might be explained because many forum members, myself included, have been around since a few (ha!) years before Y2K and, while newer songs may be liked better, the foundational tracks occur at a younger age. While songs and artists may later make bigger marks on you, the keys that unlock the musical doors seem to happen earlier on. Music is like a family tree...you may have to trace forward or backwards, but as long as you're on a branch and wanting to climb you're doing alright :glasses:. That said, here goes in no particular order....

1. U2 -- Running To Stand Still. One of the first albums that I felt like was "mine." It was released when I was thirteen and in the 7th grade. The world was changing at Mach 3 and this helped make a little sense of it all.

2. Michael Jackson -- Billie Jean. What a base line. Michael was king and the world was along for the ride.

3. Grateful Dead -- Dark Star. The version off One From the Vault in particular. It was my gateway drug into the world of the Dead. I came on board a little late, Jerry was dead by then, and am still enjoying catching up on what I missed.

4. Stevie Ray Vaughn -- Pride & Joy. With this song SRV had me hooked and led me into not only his catalog but, more importantly, the magnificent world of the blues.

5. Fat Boys -- The Fat Boys Are Back. The best looking girl in school had recently moved to another city and we went to visit her family. Since moving she'd discovered the Fat Boys and played it for us on her jam box. It was the first rap song I'd ever heard and it blew my mind. Still love this song.

6. Pearl Jam -- Alive. As a freshman in college MTV's Buzz Bin (I think that's what it was called) was a great way to discover new music in those days. They aired a new video of a long-haired monkey man wearing a Jordan jersey swinging from the rafters of a small club. Shortly thereafter my body Steve gathers a few of us and played Ten in its entirety. Things have never been the same since:)

7. The Black Crowes -- My Morning Song. "If music got to free your mind...just let it go, baby, let it go." Nuff said. This whole album blew my mind. Man, I miss these guys and hope one day they'll make music together again.

8. Doobie Brothers -- Black Water. This song will forever remind me of my dad. On trips to the beach he'd play mix tapes and this was on one of them. The part of the song where the music fades and they harmonize "I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland"....ahh, what a great piece of music. Was stoked and surprised to see Pearl Jam cover the Doobies this tour. Although it was just aiight, the overlap of these two worlds made me smile.

9. Miles Davis -- So What. Is there a more memorable intro to an album ever? Miles cut the seam that for me opened the world of jazz. Still have much exploring to do.

10. Journey -- Separate Ways (Worlds Apart). Yeah..I know, I know. This was one that hit me during those seminal years where music was sowing an early landscape. It had the right amount of guitar plus Steve Perry's vocals and stayed at the top of my chart for at least a couple of years. A lot of songs have passed it since then but for a while there in my young world it hung the stars.

Great thread, OP. Thanks for the walk down memory lane

jjflash

Tim Simmons said:

Amazed by small percentage of tracks post 2000. People haven't had tunes impact them deeply made in the past 15.5 years?

It might be explained because many forum members, myself included, have been around since a few (ha!) years before Y2K and, while newer songs may be liked better, the foundational tracks occur at a younger age. While songs and artists may later make bigger marks on you, the keys that unlock the musical doors seem to happen earlier on. Music is like a family tree...you may have to trace forward or backwards, but as long as you're on a branch and wanting to climb you're doing alright :glasses:. That said, here goes in no particular order....

1. U2 -- Running To Stand Still. One of the first albums that I felt like was "mine." It was released when I was thirteen and in the 7th grade. The world was changing at Mach 3 and this helped make a little sense of it all.

2. Michael Jackson -- Billie Jean. What a base line. Michael was king and the world was along for the ride.

3. Grateful Dead -- Dark Star. The version off One From the Vault in particular. It was my gateway drug into the world of the Dead. I came on board a little late, Jerry was dead by then, and am still enjoying catching up on what I missed.

4. Stevie Ray Vaughn -- Pride & Joy. With this song SRV had me hooked and led me into not only his catalog but, more importantly, the magnificent world of the blues.

5. Fat Boys -- The Fat Boys Are Back. The best looking girl in school had recently moved to another city and we went to visit her family. Since moving she'd discovered the Fat Boys and played it for us on her jam box. It was the first rap song I'd ever heard and it blew my mind. Still love this song.

6. Pearl Jam -- Alive. As a freshman in college MTV's Buzz Bin (I think that's what it was called) was a great way to discover new music in those days. They aired a new video of a long-haired monkey man wearing a Jordan jersey swinging from the rafters of a small club. Shortly thereafter my body Steve gathers a few of us and played Ten in its entirety. Things have never been the same since:)

7. The Black Crowes -- My Morning Song. "If music got to free your mind...just let it go, baby, let it go." Nuff said. This whole album blew my mind. Man, I miss these guys and hope one day they'll make music together again.

8. Doobie Brothers -- Black Water. This song will forever remind me of my dad. On trips to the beach he'd play mix tapes and this was on one of them. The part of the song where the music fades and they harmonize "I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland"....ahh, what a great piece of music. Was stoked and surprised to see Pearl Jam cover the Doobies this tour. Although it was just aiight, the overlap of these two worlds made me smile.

9. Miles Davis -- So What. Is there a more memorable intro to an album ever? Miles cut the seam that for me opened the world of jazz. Still have much exploring to do.

10. Journey -- Separate Ways (Worlds Apart). Yeah..I know, I know. This was one that hit me during those seminal years where music was sowing an early landscape. It had the right amount of guitar plus Steve Perry's vocals and stayed at the top of my chart for at least a couple of years. A lot of songs have passed it since then but for a while there in my young world it hung the stars.

Great thread, OP. Thanks for the walk down memory lane

inmyNC

10. "Coming Back to Me" Jefferson Airplane
9. "When the Music's Over" The Doors
8. "Tangled up in Blue" Bob Dylan
7. "Love ,reign o'er me" The Who
8. " I'm Your Captain" Grand Funk Railroad
7. " As" Stevie Wonder
6. "Bad" U2
5. " Why Should I Cry for You" Sting
4. " Penny Royal Tea" Nirvana
3. " Guaranteed " Eddie Vedder
2. " Heroes" David Bowie
1. " Alive" Pearl Jam

I could list hundreds... All have special places in my life ... These are just a few

tempo_n_groove

Tim Simmons said:

Amazed by small percentage of tracks post 2000. People haven't had tunes impact them deeply made in the past 15.5 years?

They have a much more different impact as you get older I guess?

So I'll throw out 5 that have really moved me.

1-Off He Goes by PJ NOLA 2000. Best live version of this ever!

2-Lazy Eye by Silversun Pickups. This song is GREAT to listen to loud. Love this and it always puts me in a good mood.

3-Buttons by The Weeks. First song that I heard from them. I've been hooked ever since. Another song that reminds me of where I was when I first heard it.

4-Block After Block by Matt&Kim. Listening to them makes me happy. Fun music that's energetic. This song puts me in a happy place every time.

5-Toe Cutter Thumb Buster by Thee Oh Sees. This song opened up a highway to new music I was searching for. This band and this song delivers a whallup upside my head. I love cranking this song...

jlj_swe

Mother’s Little Helper – The Rolling Stones
One of the first songs I remember really paying attention to. Being swedish I didn’t know much english as a kid, but my mom listened to the Stones, and when I heard this song, with the word “Mother” in it, I immediately took it to my heart.

Hey Jude – The Beatles
I was a kid, and this was probably the first time I got really sad listening to music…but it felt like a “good” sadness. Somehow I enjoyed it, and then when the song turned into the beautiful singalong at the end I got really happy instead and started dancing and singing along.

The End – The Doors
As long as I can remember this has been my number one song through all times. Hands down; it doesn’t get any better and more emotional than this.

Thank You – Led Zeppelin
The beautiful song me and my wife first danced to at our wedding. This will always have a special place in my heart.

The Clash – Police & Thieves
My best friend’s older brother played this a lot when I was a kid. I didn’t understand more than the title and we made up the rest of the words as we sang along. It felt exciting singing about thieves and we never got tired listening to it…I still haven’t.

Blind Melon – No Rain
My own song of summer. Every year when spring/summer arrives I change my phone signal to this and it marks the beginning new good times for me.

Pearl Jam – Alive
The first Pearl Jam song I heard and it totally floored me. I had never heard anything like it before and I instantly fell in love. I can still get that same feeling when I listen to it nowadays. I sort of travel back in time.

Lovage (Mike Patton) – Anger Management
This is just a beatiful and sensitive song that always gives me the chills. Need to get this on vinyl.

Soulsavers (w/ Mark Lanegan) – Some Misunderstanding
Actually a cover (and the original by Gene Clark is almost as good) that I can never ever get tired of. It’s like listening to the song for the first time every time. That guitar solo never ends… it’s just too much and makes me have to catch my breath afterwards. The closest to Mike McCready’s Maggot Brain solo I’ve heard.

Faith No More – Stripsearch
Summer festival in the 90’s. We arrived a few days early and just sat in the sun, drinking beer and enjoying life to the fullest. Everything is quiet except for some tape recorder playing, people talking and laughing, beers opening. Suddenly we hear the opening seconds of this song flowing through the air above our heads…really, really loud! They are testing the speakers of the main stage with the perfect song. Every time I hear it it reminds me of really good times in life…

tempo_n_groove

jlj_swe said:

Mother’s Little Helper – The Rolling Stones
One of the first songs I remember really paying attention to. Being swedish I didn’t know much english as a kid, but my mom listened to the Stones, and when I heard this song, with the word “Mother” in it, I immediately took it to my heart.

Hey Jude – The Beatles
I was a kid, and this was probably the first time I got really sad listening to music…but it felt like a “good” sadness. Somehow I enjoyed it, and then when the song turned into the beautiful singalong at the end I got really happy instead and started dancing and singing along.

The End – The Doors
As long as I can remember this has been my number one song through all times. Hands down; it doesn’t get any better and more emotional than this.

Thank You – Led Zeppelin
The beautiful song me and my wife first danced to at our wedding. This will always have a special place in my heart.

The Clash – Police & Thieves
My best friend’s older brother played this a lot when I was a kid. I didn’t understand more than the title and we made up the rest of the words as we sang along. It felt exciting singing about thieves and we never got tired listening to it…I still haven’t.

Blind Melon – No Rain
My own song of summer. Every year when spring/summer arrives I change my phone signal to this and it marks the beginning new good times for me.

Pearl Jam – Alive
The first Pearl Jam song I heard and it totally floored me. I had never heard anything like it before and I instantly fell in love. I can still get that same feeling when I listen to it nowadays. I sort of travel back in time.

Lovage (Mike Patton) – Anger Management
This is just a beatiful and sensitive song that always gives me the chills. Need to get this on vinyl.

Soulsavers (w/ Mark Lanegan) – Some Misunderstanding
Actually a cover (and the original by Gene Clark is almost as good) that I can never ever get tired of. It’s like listening to the song for the first time every time. That guitar solo never ends… it’s just too much and makes me have to catch my breath afterwards. The closest to Mike McCready’s Maggot Brain solo I’ve heard.

Faith No More – Stripsearch
Summer festival in the 90’s. We arrived a few days early and just sat in the sun, drinking beer and enjoying life to the fullest. Everything is quiet except for some tape recorder playing, people talking and laughing, beers opening. Suddenly we hear the opening seconds of this song flowing through the air above our heads…really, really loud! They are testing the speakers of the main stage with the perfect song. Every time I hear it it reminds me of really good times in life…

Bravo on the Stripsearch memory!

markymark550

1. Elvis Presley - Jailhouse Rock
2. Chuck Berry - Johnny B Goode
3. The Who - My Generation
4. Led Zeppelin - Black Dog
5. Pearl Jam - Alive
6. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
7. Green Day - When I Come Around
8. Presidents of the USA - Lump
9. Soundgarden - Outshined
10. Ben Folds Five - Battle of Who Could Care Less

First 4 are definitely the influence of my father. Growing up, I pretty much listened to what he liked. He listened to the oldies station in the car (a lot Elvis and Chuck) and had a lot of great albums on vinyl (Who, Led Zep). I still regret my mom not letting me get the albums I liked after he passed away. The last 6 are what I discovered in middle/high school. I was a couple years late to the grunge/Seattle sound, but once I found it I was hooked. Ben Folds Five is kind of an outlier in this list, but I heard them in 97 or 98 in high school and just loved the sound. Been a fan of the group and his solo since then. Seems weird not having Alice in Chains, Sonic Youth, Sleater-Kinney, or Mudhoney (especially Mudhoney) in the list, but really got into those bands after I got to college.

jburneyko

I like this thread... These aren't my favorite songs, or the best songs, but they bring me back to certain places and times in my life, good memories of my Dad who has passed, and have been important songs throughout the 41 years of my life... I suppose this is in the order of my age when I heard these songs...
Pink Floyd - Time (my Dad used to put headphones on me when I was 7(?) to make me listen to those alarm clocks going off)
ELO - Turn To Stone (just reminds me of my Dad's record collection.. I used to study his record collection like books, and ELO Out of the Blue was a gatefold that opened up to the inside of a spaceship.. it was the coolest thing ever. I used to study that album cover, and this was my fav song)
Michael Jackson - Thriller (man, this song was a television event when the video first aired on MTV.. I remember the whole family being in front of the tv for it when it aired, incredible)
Cheap Trick - Surrender (soundtrack song from the movie 'Over The Edge'... first real teenage angst song I had heard... I must have seen that movie a million times as a kid, this song just always stuck with me from that movie)
Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA (first concert I ever saw, parents took me at age 10, 1985 Giants Stadium... hometown NJ show... he opened with this, 60,000 people jumped to their feet, and I've lived for concerts and live music every day since)
U2 - Where the Streets Have No Name (U2 was the first band I got into on my own, without my parents persuasion... I was in 8th grade when Joshua Tree came out, and the entire school was into this album)
Faith No More - Epic (The Real Thing was the first cd I ever bought on my own.. FNM is still my second fav band, and they have tons of songs waaaay better than this... but this one got me hooked back then)
Pearl Jam - Evenflow (first heard Alive on Seton Hall college radio in 91... then saw a video for Evenflow on MTV 120 Minutes/Headbangers Ball, and would wait up every Saturday night at 1 a.m. to see it... never saw or heard anything like it.. this one started it all with PJ for me. bought Ten, joined the 10C after the seeing the address in the liner notes (non lapsing member - thank you for the fan club seating!) Remember calling my Dad to the tv to show him this new band that I was into... took my parents to see them a few times as our concert going experiences came full circle with me taking them to shows.
Incubus - Redefine (started to going to club shows in NYC 96/97, saw a band Shootyz Groove in a small NYC club, and some band Incubus was the first of 4 bands on the bill.. I have no idea why I was in the building so early.. it was 2/3 empty... but these guys came out and opened with this song, had a dj, a didjerdoo, and were un-be-lievable... ran over to the merch booth the second they finished and bought their newly released cd SCIENCE, stickers, shirt... i'm not much into their newer stuff, but after this show I got to see these guys at least ten times in tiny venues before they hit it big)
Billy Joel - Piano Man (I took my (then) 7 year old son 2 years ago to see Billy Joel at his MSG run (he's a big fan since he takes piano lessons ), and to sing along word for word with my 7 year old son during Piano Man was pretty damn cool, just like my father had gotten me into music listening to Pink Floyd when I was 7.. just a special moment for us)
and lastly The Who - Baba O'Riley, just because its my favorite song ever.

rollings

The Banana Split Theme Song
Afternoon delight
Bring Back that Loving Feeling--Hall & Oates
Earache my eye--cheech & chong
After the Gold Rush- -- Neil Young
Thank you -- Led Zeppelin
Rainy Woman # 14 & #35--Dylan
Scarlet Begonias--Grateful Dead
Unthought Known--Pearl Jam
Hypocritical Kiss--Jack White

pljam

Great read the depth and insight to the OP with so many responses
It's amazing how music connects or more reconnect's in so many ways such as some posts here explaining a particular song is a treasured memory to the loss of a loved one or step back to those youthful days
Enjoyed reading your stories
Peace to all✌️

jlj_swe

jlj_swe said:

Mother’s Little Helper – The Rolling Stones
One of the first songs I remember really paying attention to. Being swedish I didn’t know much english as a kid, but my mom listened to the Stones, and when I heard this song, with the word “Mother” in it, I immediately took it to my heart.

Hey Jude – The Beatles
I was a kid, and this was probably the first time I got really sad listening to music…but it felt like a “good” sadness. Somehow I enjoyed it, and then when the song turned into the beautiful singalong at the end I got really happy instead and started dancing and singing along.

The End – The Doors
As long as I can remember this has been my number one song through all times. Hands down; it doesn’t get any better and more emotional than this.

Thank You – Led Zeppelin
The beautiful song me and my wife first danced to at our wedding. This will always have a special place in my heart.

The Clash – Police & Thieves
My best friend’s older brother played this a lot when I was a kid. I didn’t understand more than the title and we made up the rest of the words as we sang along. It felt exciting singing about thieves and we never got tired listening to it…I still haven’t.

Blind Melon – No Rain
My own song of summer. Every year when spring/summer arrives I change my phone signal to this and it marks the beginning new good times for me.

Pearl Jam – Alive
The first Pearl Jam song I heard and it totally floored me. I had never heard anything like it before and I instantly fell in love. I can still get that same feeling when I listen to it nowadays. I sort of travel back in time.

Lovage (Mike Patton) – Anger Management
This is just a beatiful and sensitive song that always gives me the chills. Need to get this on vinyl.

Soulsavers (w/ Mark Lanegan) – Some Misunderstanding
Actually a cover (and the original by Gene Clark is almost as good) that I can never ever get tired of. It’s like listening to the song for the first time every time. That guitar solo never ends… it’s just too much and makes me have to catch my breath afterwards. The closest to Mike McCready’s Maggot Brain solo I’ve heard.

Faith No More – Stripsearch
Summer festival in the 90’s. We arrived a few days early and just sat in the sun, drinking beer and enjoying life to the fullest. Everything is quiet except for some tape recorder playing, people talking and laughing, beers opening. Suddenly we hear the opening seconds of this song flowing through the air above our heads…really, really loud! They are testing the speakers of the main stage with the perfect song. Every time I hear it it reminds me of really good times in life…

Yesterday I listened to the HAIR soundtrack and it struck me that I had left out one of the most important songs ever!

HAIR Soundtrack - The Flesh Failures/Let The Sunshine In
This is the song that defines my vision of how I want the world to be. The song of peace, happiness, freedom and love.
Summer, harmony, music, people together...more love!

pljam

Bump

Thirty Bills Unpaid

jburneyko said:

I like this thread... These aren't my favorite songs, or the best songs, but they bring me back to certain places and times in my life, good memories of my Dad who has passed, and have been important songs throughout the 41 years of my life... I suppose this is in the order of my age when I heard these songs...
Pink Floyd - Time (my Dad used to put headphones on me when I was 7(?) to make me listen to those alarm clocks going off)
ELO - Turn To Stone (just reminds me of my Dad's record collection.. I used to study his record collection like books, and ELO Out of the Blue was a gatefold that opened up to the inside of a spaceship.. it was the coolest thing ever. I used to study that album cover, and this was my fav song)
Michael Jackson - Thriller (man, this song was a television event when the video first aired on MTV.. I remember the whole family being in front of the tv for it when it aired, incredible)
Cheap Trick - Surrender (soundtrack song from the movie 'Over The Edge'... first real teenage angst song I had heard... I must have seen that movie a million times as a kid, this song just always stuck with me from that movie)
Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA (first concert I ever saw, parents took me at age 10, 1985 Giants Stadium... hometown NJ show... he opened with this, 60,000 people jumped to their feet, and I've lived for concerts and live music every day since)
U2 - Where the Streets Have No Name (U2 was the first band I got into on my own, without my parents persuasion... I was in 8th grade when Joshua Tree came out, and the entire school was into this album)
Faith No More - Epic (The Real Thing was the first cd I ever bought on my own.. FNM is still my second fav band, and they have tons of songs waaaay better than this... but this one got me hooked back then)
Pearl Jam - Evenflow (first heard Alive on Seton Hall college radio in 91... then saw a video for Evenflow on MTV 120 Minutes/Headbangers Ball, and would wait up every Saturday night at 1 a.m. to see it... never saw or heard anything like it.. this one started it all with PJ for me. bought Ten, joined the 10C after the seeing the address in the liner notes (non lapsing member - thank you for the fan club seating!) Remember calling my Dad to the tv to show him this new band that I was into... took my parents to see them a few times as our concert going experiences came full circle with me taking them to shows.
Incubus - Redefine (started to going to club shows in NYC 96/97, saw a band Shootyz Groove in a small NYC club, and some band Incubus was the first of 4 bands on the bill.. I have no idea why I was in the building so early.. it was 2/3 empty... but these guys came out and opened with this song, had a dj, a didjerdoo, and were un-be-lievable... ran over to the merch booth the second they finished and bought their newly released cd SCIENCE, stickers, shirt... i'm not much into their newer stuff, but after this show I got to see these guys at least ten times in tiny venues before they hit it big)
Billy Joel - Piano Man (I took my (then) 7 year old son 2 years ago to see Billy Joel at his MSG run (he's a big fan since he takes piano lessons ), and to sing along word for word with my 7 year old son during Piano Man was pretty damn cool, just like my father had gotten me into music listening to Pink Floyd when I was 7.. just a special moment for us)
and lastly The Who - Baba O'Riley, just because its my favorite song ever.

I like your Springsteen description. Would have been an awesome experience.