Friday, June 15, 2018

Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits

Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits. Columbia Records, 1967.


It took me awhile to appreciate Bob Dylan. I've always understood his significance and his genius as a songwriter, but for whatever reason I didn't really listen to his music. It may have been his voice, or that his music was too slow and folky (there was a time in my life where I only wanted to listen to music that was heavy and fast). As time has gone by I have learned to love his music - perhaps the greatest of the American songwriters. This compilation album has some of his biggest songs: "Blowin' In the Wind," "The Times They Are A-Changin'," "Like a Rolling Stone," and more. He was the voice of a changing generation, and I can only imagine the feelings a teenager experienced listening to "The Times They Are A-Changin'." For that matter, I can only imagine the feelings a parent experienced listening to that song. It so perfectly sums up the distance between generations during the turbulence of the 1960s. His incredible songs have been covered by countless artists, none better in my opinion than Jimi Hendrix's cover of "All Along the Watchtower."

This album was purchased at Charley's 33s & CDs in Albuquerque, a fun little record store a few miles from the UNM campus. They didn't have the greatest selection of records, but I've been able to pick up a few good ones the few times I've been there.

This copy even came with the original poster:


Other notable albums from 1967:
Glen Campbell - By The Time I Get to Phoenix
Carryin' on with Johnny Cash & June Carter (includes a cover of Dylan's "It Ain't Me, Babe")
Johnny Cash - Greatest Hits Volume 1

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Muddy Waters - The Real Folk Blues

Muddy Waters - The Real Folk Blues. Chess Records, 1966.


The Blues. A uniquely American sound, born in the postbellum South through African-American musicians. The Blues. The music that gave birth to rock and roll. Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, and countless others took their cues from the blues. My first introduction to blues music came from B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Muddy Waters, born McKinley Morganfield, known as the "Father of Modern Chicago Blues," is one of the giants of the genre. This is a fantastic compilation of some of his best songs.

I purchased this album at All That Music & Video in El Paso, Texas when we lived in Las Cruces, New Mexico. All That is one of my favorite record stores; they always had good stuff at reasonable prices. I especially appreciated the good hard rock and heavy metal albums they always seemed to have on hand. All That is located in central El Paso, which made it about a 2 hour drive from Las Cruces, through terrible El Paso traffic. I only made the occasional trip down there, which is probably a good thing for the bank account.

If you haven't listened to much blues music and are interested, Muddy Waters wouldn't be a bad place to start.

Other notable albums from 1966:
Louis Armstrong - Louis
The Righteous Brothers - Soul and Inspiration
Nat King Cole - Unforgettable

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass - Whipped Cream & Other Delights

Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass - Whipped Cream & Other Delights. A&M Records, 1965.


This one's all about the cover. This is one of the most famous and iconic album covers in music history. Collectors all over the world want this record in their collection simply for the cover. I've never quite been able to figure out why... 😊 Fortunately for anyone who wants one they're pretty much a dime a dozen. Walk into any thrift store and the odds are you may come across a copy. This one came out of my parents' collection. As for the music itself, it's certainly not something I'd listen to much, and that's probably the way it is with most people. Like I said, it's all about the cover.

Other notable records from 1965:
Roger Miller - Golden Hits
Pete Seeger - Sings Little Boxes and Other Broadsides