6/26/2009

Choosing the indispensable rock albums of all time is a difficult task, but here are the chosen few

By Gary Demuth

Salina Journal

The Essentials of Cultural Literacy is a Journal series that explores what it means to be culturally literate. In this installment, we look at the essential albums of the rock era.

Whether played on turntables, cassette or CD players or even on ancient 8-track tape players, rock albums have been the soundtrack of people’s lives for at least four generations.

But what are the essential albums of the rock era?

The Journal asked a number of Salina rock musicians to name what they believed to be the most influential rock albums of all time — albums that changed their lives, inspired them to become musicians and are must-haves for every serious music lover’s audio library.

For most of the musicians, the biggest difficulty in selecting essential albums was narrowing them down to just a few.

“If you have a couple of hours, I’d be glad to talk about great albums,” said Loren Banninger, bassist for the Salina-based rock/horn band the Blades.

Unsurprisingly for a man who plays in a horn band, Banninger said two of his “essential” albums come from two of the most acclaimed horn bands in rock history: 1972’s “The Best of Blood, Sweat & Tears” (which includes “You Made Me So Very Happy”), and Chicago’s first album “Chicago Transit Authority” (1969), which features “Beginnings,” a standard in the Blades’ repertoire.
Banninger’s other selections spotlighted two of the greatest folk/rock performers in music history: James Taylor’s “Sweet Baby James” (1970), which featured the classic “Fire and Rain,” and Jim Croce’s greatest hits collection, “Photographs & Memories” (1974), which includes “Time in a Bottle,” “I Got a Name” and “Big Bad Leroy Brown.”

Taylor’s successful career has lasted nearly 40 years, while Croce was killed in a plane crash in 1973 at the peak of his career at age 30.

“They’re both great albums with intimate, heartfelt songs,” Banninger said.

Other Salina musicians pitched in with their own album choices and comments:

Beatles, Stones, Cream
Tom Wilbur (Salina banker and guitarist/vocalist for Last National Band)

n  The Beatles, “White Album” (1968) — “The four lads from Liverpool were responsible for me playing guitar and forming a rock band in fourth grade at Meadowlark Ridge (Elementary School).”

n  The Rolling Stones, “Exile on Main Street” (1972) — “The texture and deviousness of the album is what makes it great.”

n  Cream, “Disraeli Gears” (1967) — “The power of a three-piece supergroup led by Eric Clapton. This was an album I played over and over until the needle fell off my record player.”

n  Radiohead, “The Best of Radiohead” (2008) — “I saw Radiohead at Red Rocks (Colo.) with my son, Brock, and they were incredible. Radiohead defines the undefinable in music and makes passionate statements about life, the way we live and the challenges of relationships.”

n  U2, “The Joshua Tree” (1987) — “U2 started as a Christian band, and they have always been influenced by their core values, even as it almost tore them apart. Passionate and alive, U2 can rock a stadium.”

Elvis lives, Otis Redding

Chris Petitjean (guitarist/vocalist for Imminent Domain)

n  Blink 182, “Enema of the State” (1994) —  “Easily my favorite band ever, and  (the reason) I fell in love with music.”

n  Elvis Presley, “68 Comeback Special” (1968) — “I was basically raised on Elvis, and he looked so badass in the all black leather suit.”

n  Oasis, “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory” (1995) — “It makes me think of summer.”

n  Otis Redding, “Dock of the Bay” (1968) — “Anything with Otis or Ray Charles or Clarence Carter always gets me groovin.’ ”

n  Outkast, “Aquemini” (1998) — “This was a huge CD, and I think did big things for the hip-hop scene. Reminds me of junior high and starting to like rap and the hip-hop sound.”

Joni Mitchell, Tom Petty
Aaron Householter (lead singer/guitarist for the Soul Preachers)

n  The Beatles, “Revolver” (1966) — “This is where the Beatles changed from a pop group to a more experimental band. It has none of their obvious hits, but it has great songs and is the pinnacle of 4-track high fidelity (recording).”

n  Joni Mitchell, “Court and Spark” (1974) — “A transitional album from a great singer/songwriter. Her other songs had been acoustic-based, and on this one she worked with a full band and other great musicians.”

n  Tom Petty, “Wildflowers” (1994) — “I like the mood of it. It’s easy, accessible and can be listened to as one complete thought.”

Often, Householter said, a band’s essential work can be captured through its greatest hits album. His “Greatest Hits” picks are Eagles (1976), Steve Miller (1978), The Band (2000) and Creedence Clearwater Revival (2005). “You know nearly every song is a hit,”

he said.

Nirvana and Lauren Hill

Jessica Lewis (rhythm guitarist and vocalist for The Liquid Kids)

n  Nirvana, “Nevermind” (1991) — “They were very real for me and everyone in my band. I always listen to it for inspiration.”

n  Foo Fighters, “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace” (2007) — “Fun and energetic, amazing all the way around.”

n  Lauren Hill, “The Miseducation of Lauren Hill” (1998) — “I like artists that are real and don’t take themselves too seriously.”

n  Alanis Morrisette, “Jagged Little Pill” (1995) — “That album was a huge influence — a girl doing rock, singing with anger and passion.”

Twisted Sister, Metallica

Eli McGinnis (Salina concert promoter and member of Wichita-based rap group Scrub Club)

n  Twisted Sister, “Stay Hungry” (1984) — “The very definition of an 1980s hair band.”

n  Metallica, “Master of Puppets” (1986) — “Quintessential heavy metal band. I think they suck now, but this is one of the hardest-hitting albums of all time.”

n  Pantera, “Vulgar Display of Power” (1992) — “Southern heavy metal, and the singer can sing like no one you know.”

n  Mindless Self-Indulgence, “Frankenstein Girls Seem Strangely Sexy” (2000) — “Not quite mainstream, and a mix of everything under the sun. Most people think it’s a mess, but I’ll defend it. It’s the next evolution in rock music.”

Sly and Hendrix
Joseph Fears (bassist and vocalist for the Zafajo Band, a rhythm and blues ensemble)
n  The Beatles, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (1967) — “It’s an essential expression that helped cause a movement that changed young people’s lives.”

n  Sly & the Family Stone, “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” (1971) — “A trendsetter that said things that couldn’t be said then, with material that had a great groove.”

n  Elvis Presley, “Live in Hawaii” (1973) — “This was Elvis at the end of this midterm career, already a legend, and this is one of his greatest moments.”

n  Jimi Hendrix Experience, “Are You Experienced?” (1967) — “You ask any musician who the top guitarists of all time are, and Hendrix will be one of the top, if not at the top.”

Boston, Van Halen

Les Lankhorst (swing singer who specializes in songs of Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin)

n  Boston, “Boston” (1976) — “The album is constructed like a musical drama, and there’s no denying Brad Delp’s tenor vocals. No one comes close to that. The album is thoughtful and pristine — and it rocks.”

n  Van Halen, “Van Halen” (1978) — “I remember my brother and cousin playing this album full blast when I was a kid. Eddie Van Halen is a guitar virtuoso.”

n  The Police, “Sychronicity” (1983)  — “I knew there was something special about this band when I first heard them in the sixth grade. I can’t believe how tight this band was.”

n  Rush, “Exit Stage Left” (1981) —  “I can’t believe a single Rush album wouldn’t be on anyone’s top list. Just deciding which one to pick is the problem. That three guys from Canada can put together the sound they do just blows my mind.”

Kansas, The Doors

Curt Krob (sculptor, graphic artist and drummer for Jimmy Lewin and the Kingtones)

n  Kansas, “Song for America” (1975) — “It was the first time I’d ever heard an electric violin in rock. Add that to powerful guitars and driving drums, and they struck a chord in me.”
n  John Mellencamp, “Uh-Huh” (1983) — “Straight-ahead Midwest rock ’n’ roll. Hit me where I lived right here in Kansas.”
n  The Doors, “Weird Scenes From the Gold Mine” (1972) — Compilation album that “really showcases Jim Morrison’s lyrics and Ray Manzerek’s phenomenal keyboards. I played in cover bands that covered ‘Roadhouse Blues’ and ‘Light My Fire.’ ”
n  ZZ Top, “Tres Hombres” (1973) — “Just a driving guitar, bass and drums, good old Texas rock ’n’ roll.”
Bonnie Raitt, Clapton
Steve Hanson (guitarist and owner of Steve Hanson Music)
n  Eva Cassidy, “Songbird” (1998) — “A big influence on my guitar playing during the last five or six years. She died in her early 30s, but she had a big influence on a lot of (musicians).”
n  Bonnie Raitt, “Collection” (1990) — “A lot of her earlier songs are on this. I like her arrangements, a cross between blues and rock.”
n  Hank Garland, “Jazz Winds from a New Direction” (1961) — Session guitarist who played with Elvis Presley isn’t known by many, but “There’s a few of us who know about him and more should.”
n  Eric Clapton, “Unplugged” (1992) — “This has influence me more than any other album I’ve listened to. He let the music breathe. I also liked that it was a live album. If they made a mistake, they laughed and moved on, and that’s what musicians should do.”
Bon Jovi, Def Leppard
Kaci Neeley (singer/songwriter of group Neeley)
n  Bon Jovi, “Slippery When Wet” (1986) — It’s power rock with a great sound.”
n  Def Leppard, “Hysteria” (1987) — “All the girls liked them, including me.”
n  Daughtry, “Daughtry” (2006) — “An ‘American Idol’ finalist that’s really good. I like his vocal range, and he has great songs.”

n Reporter Gary Demuth can be reached at 822-1405 or by e-mail at gdemuth@salina.com.