Your Typical Personal Blog Entry

Over the last few weeks, I've been downloading all my music from my CD collection to my ipod as well as purchasing music through iTunes... I figure I'll never have be in a better place to name my alltime favourite CDs. I've avoided listing greatest hit collections with the notable exception of one and one live CD...

The true test is that these have been on my CD player/Ipod often through the years and today, as I never seem to get tired of them, the emphasys is on the CD/the collection, and not so much the artist... So, here they are:

1. Subtlety & Passion - Robert Lamm (Pop)
2. The Essential Miles Davis Collection - Miles Davis (Jazz)
3. The Rising - Bruce Springsteen (Rock/Pop)
4. Abbey Road - Beatles (Rock/Pop)
5. Chicago Transit Authority - Chicago (Rock/Pop)
6. Revolver - Beatles (Rock/Pop)
7. Johnny Lang - Lie To Me (Blues/Rock)
8. Band On The Run - Wings (Rock/Pop)
9. Higher Ground - The Blind Boys Of Alabama (Gospel/Folk/Blues)
10. The Healing Game - Van Morrison (Pop)
11. All Things Must Pass - George Harrison (Rock/Pop)
12. 90125 - Yes (Rock/Pop)
13. The Lincoln Howlin' Wolf Sessions - Clapton/Winwood/Wyman/Watts (Blues)
14. This Is How Men Cry - Marc Jordan (Jazz)
15. Lighthouse Live - Lighthouse (Rock/Pop)
16. Spoken Moments - John Hiatt (Folk/Blues/Country)
17. Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman (Folk/Pop)
18. Blue Train - John Coltrane (Jazz)
19. Even In The Quietest Moments - Supertramp (Rock/Pop)
20. Moondance - Van Morrison (Pop)

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Some observations, looking over the list

• Ten years ago I would never have included Blues or Gospel or Country.
• Lot of stuff from the 70s, I suppose it reminds me of happier times.
• I still have a place in my heart for Beatles and Paul and George.
• Most, if not all, are permanently linked to a particular era in my life (e.g. the YES CD takes me back to the feelings I had with the passing of my parents, The Healing Game reminds me of a failed relationship in the early 90s, Subtlety & Passion with the chaos and confusion prior to my departure to Taiwan, and with Band on the Run - it's 1974/5 and I'm in the back seat with my brother of my dad's Ford LTD on the 401 heading somewhere - probably the happiest time in my life.)
• Speaking of my bro, about half of the CDs are directly or indirectly influenced by him.
• Both Blue Train and Miles to me - are serious, active drug trips - they take me somewhere where I can't be reached, and the road there, is fraught with complexities.
• John Hiatt makes me feel both wonderment with sweet and profound sadness. I'd like to seek out more artists who do that.