I mentioned in my previous post about the music pre-millennium... here's a few brief outpourings of love for some of my pre 2000 favourites
The Stranger - Billy Joel
Whenever I tell people how much I adore this album, I am always greeted with a look of disbelief. Billy Joel is a voice of pure escapism. This album in particular, though filled with cliches, is a mental hug: it is the wormhole to transport to wherever the listener needs to be, out of the present and into the Italian Restaurant or to being beautifully serenaded. The album is full of heartfelt tracks that have such a serene feel, it is an instant escape from the world.
Album Highlights: Scenes From An Italian Restaurant, Vienna, She's Always A Woman
Paradise Theatre - Styx
Everyone knows how strongly I feel about albums with storylines: I love an album with a clear narrative. Even the album cover tells a story here. The album is about the closing of the Paradise Theatre, and reminisces over the good old times when it was buzzing and at the height of business, before the album tone drops back to the present reality of the closing. To anchor this further, the front cover of the album is of the thriving theatre, while the back cover is dilapidated. For me, I
think this is extremely powerful and representative of life, how 'Nothing ever goes as planned'. One thing I love about this album is that when listened to with closed eyes, you can almost see the flashback as the songs all merge into one narrative strand and lead the listener on a journey.
Album Highlights: AD 1928/Rockin' The Paradise (One things for certain, if I ever get round to playing the piano... or even have enough co-ordination to play the piano... this would be one of the first songs I would want to learn)
The Best of Bill Haley and His Comets - Bill Haley and His Comets
50s perfection. The dance halls, the carefree nature, the dresses... need I say anymore? Bill Haley, for me, sums up the 50s and everything I love about the era. A collection of Rock and Roll perfection... what more could a girl want?
Album Highlights: Rock around the Clock, Shake Rattle and Roll, Rudy's Rock
Tears In Heaven - Eric Clapton
There are no sufficient words in the English Dictionary to describe the depth of emotion, beauty and pain felt through this track. This song holds so much weight and is just perfection. There has never been a song more beautiful, more heartfelt or more raw that resonates on such a level as this one.
I don't need to write anymore, the track speaks for itself.
Fantastic - Wham
On a lighter note, this album is full of 80s favourites. There is not a single Wham song that won't put a smile on my face from this album. I have often been known to break into the bridge of 'Young Guns' whenever there is a microphone present and do not regret a moment of it... even when there is no music playing (sorry to the neighbours of a close friend at her party last year... the same one I debuted my high note of A-Ha's 'Take On Me' on a microphone but that's a story for another day...). Wham do also have some killer bass lines that cannot go unnoticed here.
Album Highlights: Bad Boys, Love Machine, Young Guns
I couldn't write a post on some pre 2000s favourites without including at least one 80s album, but seeing as the 80s was easily one of the best decades of music I have a feeling I may have to do a separate 80s post... watch this space
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