Music has always been an integral part of my world, giving me a language to speak that which is in my soul. I can't play an instrument nor carry a tune, but I can appreciate and appreciate I do. The following is a list of 10 albums that I keep coming back to again and again, and should I be forced to winnow down my collection of CD's to only 10, these are the ones I would choose.
Norma - Bellini - Joan Sutherland - Marilyn Horne - John Alexander
For anyone who is not familiar with this opera it is a story of Druids, Romans, priestesses, love, betrayal, and sacrifice. This particular recording contains what I consider to be one of the greatest duets ever performed, no matter the genre; "Mira, O, Norma" as sung by Sutherland and Horne. These two towering operatic voices do not compete, but rather meld together with exquisite results.
Closing Time - Tom Waits
A voice that is full of gravel, heart ache and late night blues, this recording has some of my favorite Tom Waits gems. "Ol' 55" speaks to the wanderlust that I inherited from both my parent; "Martha" tells of the bittersweet nostalgia of long lost love; "Little Trip to Heaven" is a sweet paean to all the little moments of being in love.
Afro-Peruvian Classics - The Soul of Black Peru
This is a compilation CD that was obviously put together by someone with great taste and sensitivity as all the selections flow one into the other like the merging of streams into a mighty river. From the moment the first track begins until the last notes of the final cut fade away, this CD has me moving to the music.
Other Rooms, Other Voices - Nanci Griffith
My friend Scott introduced me to many different types of music during our time together in college. When he died at the young age of 32, I inherited this CD from his collection. It is a selection of songs by an outstanding group of folk songwriters and Nanci Griffith's voice gives many of them a haunting quality. In particular, "Across the Great Divide", "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness", "Comin' Down in the Rain" and "Morning Song for Sally" were songs that helped me mourn the loss of a dear friend and now allow me to feel his spirit around me.
Black Sand - Ledward Kaapana
Hawaiian slack-key guitar is a style of playing that is unique, rich and melodic, and Kaapana has to be one of the most talented performers in this genre. This CD gets put on when I need to take a brief vacation from stress and worry. The music transports me to a warm and calm place, and allows all the tension to drain from my body.
All-Time Greatest Hits - Louis Armstrong
My Uncle Frank and I agree that Louis Armstrong is quite possibly the greatest performer who ever lived. Of all the Louis CD's I own, this is the one that gets played again and again. The selections truly showcase his sheer genius with the trumpet, and also his instantly recognizable vocal style. For a quick reminder of what is truly important in life there is "What a Wonderful World"; for slow dancing with your honey in the living room, try the wonderfully romantic "La Vie en Rose"; for a little passion there is "Kiss of Fire"; for something that will get you swinging and swaying nothing beats "Skokiaan"; and for a shaft of sunlight on a dreary day, "Sittin' In the Sun" will warm even the most chilly heart.
Maori Songs - Kiri Te Kanawa
Most people who are familiar with Kiri know her for her beautiful operatic performances. This album is not opera, rather it is a journey into her Maori roots. I tend to listen to this CD when I am driving, and once it gets put into the player it tends to stay there for weeks at a time.
My Life - Iris Dement
Simple, honest, direct songs that speak to universal life experiences. Her voice is unique and honest, and pure in a downhome kind of way. I have all her CD's but this one tends to be my first and most frequent choice.
30 by Ella - Ella Fitzgerald
If I could only choose one CD, this would be the one. Each of the 6 tracks is a medley, artfully arranged and smoothly executed, this is Ella at her finest. And for me, there is no voice greater than hers.
Looking back over the list, I see so many artists I adore that are missing - Edith Piaf, Bob Marley, Norah Jones, Monserrat Caballe, Billie Holiday, Bette Midler, Sarah Vaughn, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Linda Rondstadt, Dinah Washington, Jacqueline Dupree, Diana Krall, Stan Getz, Astrud Gilberto - I could go on and on, but these are truly my top ten, wouldn't want to live without albums.
So, now I would love to know what albums are on your list.
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Comments: 11
While I can't pick the actual albums out (but for a few) here are my choices:
1. Vivaldi - The Rites of Spring
2. Joni Mitchell -Court and Spark (the album that carried me through Mom's death)
3. Jackson Browne - I'm Alive (my divorce album - I love everything he does)
4. Ella Fitzgerald - anything, really - can't pinpoint which one
5. Santana - Abraxas (or anything he does for that matter)
6. Led Zeppelin - anything
7. Eric Clapton - Layla
8. Crosby, Stills, and Nash - first album entitled the same
9. BB King - anything
10. Luther Vandross - anything
There are others of course: Melissa Etheridge, Shawn Colvin, Roseann Cash..an endless list, too many to choose from.
As a side note, this summer my husband and I had a chance to go to a concert our newly elected Congressman John Hall (or Orleans fame) was hosting for his campaign. It was called A Circle of Friends and featured Jackson Browne (swoon), Roseann Cash, John Loventhal (her husband), Jon Pousette-Dart, Steve Earle AND Nanci Griffith. It was a marvelous concert! I never heard of Nanci Griffith, or if I did I didn't make the connection at first, but she was marvelous and I am a new fan. I had a chance to meet her and Jackson Browne after the concert - she was lovely and nice, and he was amazing...I have pictures of me with him here on Gather. Both wonderful, loving and giving spirits...I am still recovering from having a picture taken with him - Pina, 51 going on 17!!!
I couldn't live without my recording of Rosina Lhevinne's Mozart's piano concerto. I would also have to have Joni Mitchell's "Blue" and Cat Stevens' "Tea for the Tillerman." I love the early Emmylou Harris as well.
Ivo Robic: Croatian, but also sings in German and a few songs in English. After hearing his 1959 German hit Morgen, which became a #1 almost everywhere I just had to go out and buy everything he had ever recorded!! Some of the stuff was hard to find, but I found a brilliant Croatian website, where I was able to purchase all of his Croatian recordings on CD.
The Red Army Choir, and also Vladimir Vysotsky (nothing to do with the RAC but also Russian), favourites of my Sweetheart and mine. There's just something wonderful about Russian culture.
Gerhard Wendland (German singer) his music reminds me a lot of the Danish and German stuff my Mormor and Morfar used to play for us, when we were growing up
All all kinds of stuff, but those jump out at me right now.
Joni Mitchell is always my fall-back girl. I once played "A Case of You" over and over again for three and half hours while laying alone on the floor waiting for the phone to ring. And once I got that disappointment out of my system, I celebrated with Erika Badu.
The others I will have to check out.
This article is a wonderful review.
Pina - what a thrill to have met Jackson Browne, and I would love to see Nanci Griffith in concert someday - sounds like a great experience.
Joanne - I also love early Emmylou - I have a 3 disc set that gets played frequently.
It is interesting to me to see that there are others who love opera as well - I always considered myself a little different because of that but I appear to be in really good company with amanda and Debra - would love to hear what are your favorites.
Leah - the Red Army Choir is magnificent - will have to check out the others you mentioned.
Cheryl - Barbers Adagio is a favorite piece of mine as well - I have been looking for the perfect recording - can you make a recommendation?
Joy - you obviously have good taste ;-)