Jeff's Top Ten Vinyl Records

A week spent excavating my vintage record collection generated nostalgic memories so strong that I had no choice but to share them on my blog. Each LP seemed to have it's own backstory. The covers brought to mind anecdotes that need to be told. So here is my ten most memorable records. These were my favorites during the vinyl era. Even though I have most of these on CD, I rarely listen to them. Most of them have seemed to have lost their luster. But I loved them all at one time. Sit back for my trip back to my youth!

1. More of the Monkees-The Monkees 1967
The first album I ever owned. It’s one of the biggest selling albums of the 60’s. I played this record a million times. “I‘m A Believer" was the big hit but as a kid I loved it all except for a lame Davy Jones spoken word track. Over the years I’ve received a vinyl re-issue and the various CD re-releases. Last Christmas, upon presenting me with the 2 CD Collector’s edition, my Mom asked, “Exactly how many versions of this album have I given you?” The answer is 5.

2. Up To Date-Partridge Family
Real men are not afraid to admit their embarrassing childhood interests. This record, like the other 7 releases from the lipsychning faux family band, featured music from the ABC-TV 70’s sitcom and I loved them all. I revisited these albums in the mid 80’s and beyond the singles, I found the music trite and uninspired. However, over the last few years I bought the CD’s and could not stop smiling as I listened to this polished pop from a simpler time and place.

3. A New World Record-ELO 1976
The catchy Beatlesque pop melodies of Jeff Lynne presented with a full orchestra and choir reached an apex with this release. The first radio hit “Livin’ Thing” caught my attention and then an appearance on Midnight Special performing other songs like “Telephone Line” and “Do Ya?” sold me. Instantly this became my favorite LP before being shortly replaced by #5.

4. Their Greatest Hits 1971-1976 -Eagles 1976
I bought this at K-Mart on the same day as “A New World Record” and it blew me away. I loved every song. Catchy, melodic country rock with intelligent lyrics. I had heard most of the songs on KHJ the top radio station in LA at the time but had never really paid much attention until I heard them all together. This is the biggest selling album of all time in the US but “Thriller” will probably pass it soon for obvious reasons.

5. Hotel California-Eagles 1976
Despite “New Kid in Town” hitting #1 on the charts it wasn’t until some of the other songs started getting a lot of airplay on FM stations that I was convinced about spending the $4. It was a bargain. The addition of Joe Walsh to the line-up made a good band great. The level of songwriting inspired this fledgling lyricist tremendously. This was my favorite album of the Vinyl era. I actually wore this album out by continuous playing. The mood and many of the themes and lyrics are really too dark for me now to enjoy. I haven’t listened to it in it’s entirety in many years. “New Kid in Town” is still a great song.

6. Out Of The Blue-ELO 1977
It was a cold November afternoon when my brother came to the rescue with a loan during a trip to Licorice Pizza in Downey. I discovered this 2 record set and realized I could not afford it so I brother kicked in some greenery. I had spent my money on tickets to a School dance and my parents had bought me a suit to wear. (A leisure suit! Hey, it was 1977!) I loved it so much( the record, not the suit) that I would not relinquish the record player for my brother to play his new record, some Jimi Hendrix thing. “Mr. Blue Sky” and “Sweet Talking Woman” still bring a smile to my face.

7. Hot Streets-Chicago 1978
This group has released 30 albums and this one was the only one not to have a number in the title and the only one to feature their mugs on the cove. It was their lowest selling album to date. In retrospect this was a pretty weak album, but I couldn’t get enough of it at the time. For days I anxiously awaited the group's appearance on “Dick Clark’s Live Wednesday” to promote this album. Just as the band took the stage to sing “Alive Again” the phone rang. My brother begrudgingly answered the phone and informed me that my youth pastor was the caller. A dilemma for young Jeff! Do I have my brother lie to the pastor or miss Chicago in the pre-VCR days. I did not want my brother’s nose to grow so I missed the performance. As I was writing this, I checked You Tube and found the clip and watched it for the first time. Check it out below.

8. All Things Are Possible-Dan Peek 1978
My first Christian album. My classmate Treasure (yes that's really her name) loaned her copy to me. I loved hearing songs about Jesus being sung by a familiar voice in a style that sounded cool. Peek had been a member of the group America. My Mom bought me my own copy that Christmas. The title track became the first song on a Christian label to make the Billboard charts.

9. The Innocent Age-Dan Fogelberg 1981
I hesitated at the hefty price tag this 2 record concept album came with but my Mom blessed me with the dough because I had been helping out so much at home while she tended to an ill relative. The eloquent singer songwriter hit his peak creatively and commercially with this LP. The writing stuck a chord in me and influenced my lyric writing quite a bit. It contained 4 hits including, “Leader of the Band” and “Same Old Lang Syne”.

10. Utopia -Utopia 1982
I almost didn’t buy this after being disappointed with their previous release. The bonus songs on the extra disc enticed me enough to throw down the cash. I bought this at Licorice Pizza in Bellflower and kept it spinning on the turntable for weeks non-stop. This album of premier Power-pop contained a couple of FM radio hits and a minor Hit Single. This was my favorite LP for many years. Utopia became my favorite band and I enjoyed their next 2 records as well but this was their best, by far. When I met my wife Chris, she scored major points by not only knowing who Utopia was, but she had seen them in concert in ’78. One of my first dates with Chris involved Pizza and watching a rented VHS video of Utopia performing these songs from the first ever Live Concert presented on Cable TV.

11. Inamorata-Poco 1984
The 11th album in my Top Ten. I had become a fan of this pioneering country rock band with their hit “Legend” LP in 1979. This album did not contain any country or much rock. Some have called it “Poco meets Toto” but it hit the pocket for me at the time. Three former members including Pastor Richie Furay and Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles returned to recreate the classic Poco harmonies. This is probably the least successful of any the records on my list. It’s lack of success led to the group losing it’s record deal. These songs were part of a mix tape that Chris and I listened to on an ill-fated Las Vegas trip. The transmission malfunctioned on the way and we spent 8 hours going 20 miles an hour with the Poco tape in repeat. Chris gets angry every time she hears any of the songs but I still sing along.

Chris severely chastised me for not including any Beatles albums on this list. She said that I should not be allowed to use the term "Beatlesque" if they are not included. My vow to my blog readers is to always tell the truth. So if "Beatles Love Songs" is number 12 it is not going to be in my Top 10 or 11. Hopefully she understands the integrity of a blog.

Please enjoy the videos below. I'm going to go listen to my IPOD.