ALBUMS
- CAROLE KING: TAPESTRY: 1971: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Carole King’s breakthrough album as a performer- she was 29 and already a famous songwriter- it was her second album- and of all the singer-songwriter albums from the era it has to be the most famous and the best. The first time I ever heard the album it seemed to me like every song on it must have been a hit- although of course they weren’t all hits- some were for her- and some of the songs were hits for others artists. This album cleaned up at the Grammy’s in 1972- album, song, record and best female pop vocal performance.
- THE BEATLES: PAST MASTERS II: 1988: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS:
- BRIAN WILSON: BRIAN WILSON:1988: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Beach Boy Brian’s debut album- at the time he had an autobiography out- and this his first new music in years. The hype machine was in full gear at the time. It turns out that at the time he wasn’t as well as his crazy therapist Dr. Eugene Landy was claiming. Anyhow- for all the hype its a pretty good album but not as great as everyone was thinking at the time when everyone was just happy Brian was back. Favorite songs- “Love and Mercy”, “Baby Let Your Hair Grow Long”, “Meet Me In My Dreams Tonight” and “Rio Grande .”
- DAVID BOWIE: DAVID BOWIE: 1967: 2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Bowie’s debut album- it doesn’t sound like the Bowie that we would come to know let’s put it that way. I don’t think If I were around in 1967 and heard this album that I’d be predicting superstardom for this artist.
- MIDNIGHT OIL: BLUE SKY MINING: 1990: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Midnight Oil in the late 80’s early 90’s with Diesel and Dust and Blue Sky Mining were in their peak years as far as popularity in America. Blue Sky Mining, Forgotten Years, King Of The Mountain and One Country favorites. Not as strong an album as Diesel and Dust.
slicethelife 
This surely looks like a great lineup of records!
I’m a huge fan of the “Tapestry” album, which was one of the very first records I ever heard as an eight-year-old or so. And while at the time I didn’t understand a word Carole was singing, the power of her voice and music grabbed me right away – it still does that to this day! It’s also truly remarkable when you realize how many hits she wrote with her husband Jerry Goffin before she became famous as a solo artist!
The Beatles, my favorite band of all time, require no further explanation.
As for David Bowie, this is a charming early album. My all-time favorite remains Ziggy Stardust.
Christian, I agree with you on Tapestry. You don’t even need to know the words to appreciate how good her voice and the music is.
Glad you mentioned ‘Bay Let Your Hair Grow Long’ – dumb lyrics but it’s still a great track.
Hans, what about that opening guitar on River Run Red on Blue Sky Mining? That’s one of my favorite openings for a song ever!
Early Bowie is cool. I can’t take Carole King’s voice.
Midnight Oil has been played to death.