Author: mystro2b

You’re a Wolf by Sea Wolf.

A perfect combination of acoustic and non-acoustic instruments. Or keyboards imitating acoustic and non-acoustic instruments. (It’s better than my lame description…)

Tennessee Stud by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Doc Watson.

Did I mention I got to see Doc Watson play at RockyGrass in 2005 along with:
Alison Krauss and Union Station • Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder • Sam Bush Bluegrass Band • Del McCoury Band • Béla Fleck Acoustic Trio featuring Casey Driessen and Bryan Sutton • Tim O’Brien Band • Peter Rowan and Tony Rice • The Drew Emmitt Band • The Greencards • Seldom Scene • John Cowan, Pat Flynn and Darrell Scott • Shawn Camp • Chatham County Line • Noam Pikelny and Friends • Bluegrass Etc. • Bearfoot Bluegrass • The Kruger Brothers • Andy Statman • Hit and Run Bluegrass • The Hickory Project

If you could only have one Bluegrass album in your collection, it should be this one (actually it would be two since it’s a double album…).

The Blues Keep Falling by Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet.

Classic slow blues tune. I love that laid back triplet feel in the piano. You can talk about what it sounds like, but you have to listen to be truly educated. Blues educated.

Creatures (for awhile) by 311.

Compression and distortion. Great combination for electric guitars.

Love Potion No. 9 by Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass.

This track sounds like the theme song that goes with that alluring album cover. This was one of about five Tijuana Brass albums my dad had in his collection growing up, Like every pre pubescent teen boy whose dad owned this album, this was my favorite.

The record spent 141 weeks on Billboard’s Top 40 albums chart. In later years, at concerts, Alpert would tell audiences, “Sorry, but I can’t play the cover for you.”

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/herb-alperts-whipped-cream-lady-now-76-living-in-longview-and-looking-back/

I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2.

Regret I never saw them live. My friend Greg reminds me of this every time I see him: “Do you know how many times I have seen U2 live? Uh-maz-ing show! Every time.”

Dust in the Wind by Kansas.

When rock bands figured out that an acoustic guitar ballad with some strings thrown in for good measure could be a thing, a new style was born.

I originally wrote “Dust in the Wind” as a finger-picking exercise. My wife was listening to me play it one day and she said, ‘You know, that’s really pretty. You should make a song out of that.’ I didn’t think it was a Kansas-type song. She said, Give it a try anyway. Several million records later, I guess she was right.

https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/kerry-livgren-of-kansas

Every Little Thing She Does is Magic by The Police.

“EEE OH-OH” X 16

Black Dog by Led Zeppelin.

What, you guys? This project is called “Rock Band.” I’m talking about bands that rock; Led Zeppelin!……Don’t tell me you guys have never gotten the “Led” out? Jimmy Page, Robert Plant? Ring any bells? 

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/school_of_rock/quotes/

Cast Your Fate to the Wind by Vince Guaraldi Trio.

Jazz trio 101. Guaraldi’s piano voicings are magical.

“Vince was a very positive player. I don’t know if that can be analyzed. The rhythmic component obviously is part of it, and the fact that he created melodies that tended to be sunny, not neutral or morose. But also, you can sense a musician’s personality and attitude when they’re playing, and anybody who hears most of Vince’s music will sense a positive quality. He was a good, solid musician. Anybody who listens to his music 50 years from now will appreciate it for the same things we appreciate it for today. He wanted to be a success, in a very profound way, and to be remembered for the happy quality of his music. He succeeded.”

http://jazzprofiles.blogspot.com/2014/08/vince-guaraldi-at-piano-by-derrick-bang.html