60 albums, 60 years, zero regrets
On an undisclosed day this month, I will be turning 60.
It may have already happened as of this post.
Following in the footsteps of Contributing Author Ozmoe, I wanted to find a way to commemorate this milestone here at tnocs.com.
I thought of an article celebrating ‘One Great Bass Line’ for every year I’ve been alive.
…But I got exhausted just thinking about it. And I could almost hear it in my head:
“Yeah, rollerboogie:
we know. You love the bass.
Maybe time to move on.”
I then thought of picking one great song from every year I’ve been alive.
But that just caused much consternation and anxiety.
How to choose? By the time I would have completed that task, I probably wouldn’t be 60 anymore.
Then? There was the idea of compiling a list of songs with either “6” or “0” (zero) in the title.
I got as far as this and gave up:
And, “2112” by Rush because it adds up to the number 6. (I was told in high school that this was evidence that Rush was a Satanic band.)
I finally decided to just make a list of 60 albums that I have loved, and that I consider to be anywhere from great to greater-than-great.
…And No “Greatest Hits” albums.
I wrote a little bit about some of the ones that may not be familiar. Any of these albums that would make your list? Do share.
If you feel inspired to listen to any of these for the first time, let me know your thoughts.
Here they are in no particular order:
Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand (2005)
Discipline
King Crimson (1981)
Odyssey and Oracle
The Zombies (1968)
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill (1998)
Point of Know Return
Kansas (1977)
Long Lost
Lord Huron (2021)
The Soft Bulletin
The Flaming Lips (1999)
20th Century Folk Mass – Geoffrey Beaumont (1957)
- Composed by a British priest hoping to reach the youth of the day:
This setting of the Roman Catholic mass ends up instead sounding like it came straight from a Hollywood epic from the 40s. Complete with a huge chorus of singers and an orchestra. The Gloria really swings. Picture a tuxedo-clad crooner surrounded by dancing girls in big feathery costumes.
The Lamb of God sounds like it should be accompanying Esther Williams and a row of swimmers diving into a pool in perfect synchronization. If you can’t tell by now, I absolutely loved this the first time I heard it and still do.
Station to Station
David Bowie (1976)
Odyssey
Fischerspooner (2005)
Evergreen
Soccer Mommy (2024)
Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys (1966)
Revolver
The Beatles (1966)
The Trials of Van Occupanther
Midlake (2006)
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes (2008)
Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend (2008)
Radio City
Big Star (1974)
Three Flights from Alto Nido
Greg Laswell (2008)
Mass in F Minor – The Electric Prunes (1968)
- An authentically psychedelic rock setting of the Catholic Mass.
Howl on That Haunted Beat You Ride
The Go (2007)
Rockin’ the Suburbs
Ben Folds (2001)
Has Been– William Shatner (2004)
- Way better than you think it’s going to be. Still moves me.
Kind of Blue
Miles Davis (1959)
Ragnarok– Týr (2006)
- Viking folk-metal band from the Faroe Islands.
Ginger – Hello Mary (2020)
- Thankfully, someone forgot to tell these girls that rock is dead.
Triple Distilled
Graham Day and The Gaolers (2008)
The Bothy Band – The Bothy Band (1975)
- Traditional Irish stone cold jams
Faith, Hope, Love
King’s X (1990)
Deliverance – Deliverance (1989)
- Fundamentalist Christian thrash metal band. I don’t gel with the hellfire and brimstone theology here, but man does this thing shred from start to finish.
Il Momento Della Verità (soundtrack) – Piero Piccioni (1965)
- Really cool soundtrack from an Italian movie about a bullfighter. It’s exactly as it sounds.
A Love Supreme
John Coltrane (1965)
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Vince Guaraldi (1965)
Thick Skin – Tia Gostelow (2018)
- Wonderfully atmospheric pop with touches of ‘00s indie
Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin (1969)
Welcome Interstate Managers
Fountains of Wayne (2003)
Ricochet – Bay City Rollers (1981)
- Released long after the band’s heyday, with a new singer. Sounds nothing like the teenybopper version of the band.
Think late straight-ahead pop with more touches of prog rock and a little Toto thrown in. Bagpipes weave in and out of one of the songs. Practically no one has heard this album. That needs to change.
The Golden Age of Wireless
Thomas Dolby (1983)
Ghost in the Machine
The Police (1981)
Seventh Sojourn
The Moody Blues (1972)
Under a Blood Red Sky (Live) – U2 (1983)
- I’ve been told it captures the electrifying and spiritual energy of their early live shows. It completely hooked me in the first time I heard it.
Dance Mania
Tito Puente (1957)
A Tropical Tribute to the Beatles – Various Artists (1996)
- Beatles hits covered in salsa, merengue, bachata, and more by an all-star Latin cast.
The Sweetest Illusion
Basia (1994)
Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66
Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66 (1966)
Sour
Olivia Rodrigo (2021)
Rumours
Fleetwood Mac (1977)
Aja
Steely Dan (1977)
Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra in E-flat minor, Op. 1
Yngwie Malmsteen (1998)
Canadiana Suite
Oscar Peterson Trio (1965)
Nuff Said – Ike & Tina Turner (1971)
- Somewhat forgotten scorcher of an album that will peel the paint off your walls.
Who’s Next
The Who (1971)
Boston
Boston (1976)
Past Forward – Grazyna Auguscik featuring Jarek Bester (2003)
- A lush and intoxicating fusion of jazz and European folk from a Polish singer:
Who uses her voice as another instrument in the band, sounding unworldly and like no one else I’ve ever heard. And Jarek Bester will make you love the accordion, if you don’t already.
Somewhere My Love – Ivan Rebroff (1971)
German singer who claims Russian descent (often disputed, never disproved.)
With a bigger than big voice and an incredible range of four octaves. Belts out Russian folksongs with great gusto, like there’s no tomorrow, sometimes sounding slightly inebriated. Love this guy so much.
Saturday Night Fever
Original Soundtrack (1977)
The Mambo Kings
Soundtrack (1991)
I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin (1967)
What’s Going On
Marvin Gaye (1971)
Every Picture Tells a Story
Rod Stewart (1971)
Jesus Christ Superstar
The Original Studio Cast (1970)
Happy Birthday…
To me!
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Happy birthday, RB! I enjoy seeing the varying ways we’ve all musically approached that particular milestone. (I can’t remember whether you were on board yet when I tackled it.) Anyhow, 60 LPs is a lot to consider, so way to go for taking on the challenge. Some of these I know nothing about and am intrigued enough to learn more. (The Catholic ones may get my attention first.) Have a great day.
Thank you, cst! If I recall, you did an extended series to commemorate your 60th.
The 20th Century Folk Mass has had a fluid presence on Spotify which has been, shall we say, spotty and difficult sometimes to find.
You can hear it here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXDqe4zWy6o
“The Trials of Van Occupanther” is terrific – don’t sleep on that one.
Hope the next 60 are just as good
Happy belated and/or upcoming birthday! This is a really good list.
At first I thought there’d be one album from each of the past 60 years. I was wrong, which is good because it allows for both Who’s Next and What’s Going On.
And choosing one album per year would be a more difficult task, but it gives me an idea for my upcoming birthday….
Happy Birthday my dear brother! The eclectic gathering of artists in this list does not disappoint. I’m so happy to see a celebration of the “album” as the deeper cuts are what usually appeal to me most. I don’t know where to begin investigating but pretty sure it’s going to be “Past Forward – Grazyna Auguscik featuring Jarek Bester”
I must inquire why no ELO made this list? Specifically, “Face the Music” feels very Roller Boogie to me but I’ve only known you 57 years LOL. Happy 60th! I Love you
Happy Birthday! An interesting and eclectic list. Some I’m very familiar with, some are entirely new.
I saw Soccer Mommy last month. It was fine if a little underwhelming. Hopefully it was just an off night as she’s got some great songs. Whereas Ben Folds is someone that knows how to work a crowd.
I’ll be checking out Tia Gostelow and The Go to start with and see where I get to from there.
Happy 60th Birthday Bro, (RB)! Great idea! The variety of your 60 albums is crazy! What, no Alice Cooper? I was also surprised that Horslips, “Man Who Built America” didn’t make the cut. 😉 I was glad to see the Moody Blues made it, but I thought it would have been Days of Future Passed.
Happy birthday! Several of these would be on any list that I made as well. Some I have never heard of and will definitely investigate further.
I just knew The Sweetest Illusion would make the cut!
So glad that I inspired this great blog and that you’re up to my age now, rollerboogie! Welcome to the 60 club, you’re gonna love it! And as for your picks, man, what an eclectic this is! I’ve heard maybe no more than a third of these albums, so I’ve got some more learning to do, Lord help me.
And for everyone else on here, no pressure to do the same sort of top 60 list when you turn our age too, OK?
Happy birthday, sir – this is a tremendous list.