ALBUMS

• CROWDED HOUSE: CROWDED HOUSE: 1986: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: A perfect pop music album. The debut album- with their greatest hit- “Don’t Dream It’s Over” which peaked at #2. Something So Strong also make the Top 40- a host of other songs should have been hits-Mean To Me, World Where You Live, Now We’re Getting Somewhere, Love You ‘Til The Day I Die… every song is a hit in my Top 40. A pop masterpiece. Also would be the highwater mark commercially for the band.

• JACKSON BROWNE: RUNNING ON EMPTY: 1977: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Fun fact- Jackson Browne’s real first name is Clyde. The first album I ever owned by Browne due to hearing Running On Empty which I think is his greatest song. A song that I could relate to then as a teenager and now as I am a bit older. Recorded live. This album is a great traveling album- when I go a vacation I will play it at least once on the road.

• LOU REED: NEW YORK: 1988: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Maybe not the best Lou Reed album ever but it’s my favorite.

• VIC CHESNUTT: WEST OF ROME: 1991: 4 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Vic Chesnutt’s second album. I saw him open for Bob Mould in Pittsburgh around this time. It was kind of freaky- my friend Daniel Johnston went with me-[artist- singer-songwriter} and between songs at one point Vic Chesnutt starts singing “I’m no Lenny Kravitz and I’m no Daniel Johnston.” Between sets I wanted to take Daniel up to meet Vic but I could tell Daniel was very upset by this so I let it be. This is my favorite Chesnutt album and my favorite Chesnutt song is on this one- Steve Willoughby”