I was reading an article in the Wall Street Journal about a guy who sells very high-end audio equipment ($200,000 was mid-range) and it got me thinking about my musical tastes. It also got me thinking of the first albums I purchased with my own money that I earned on my own. (Probably mowing lawns or something) Looking back – I can see how my entire musical taste was formed by the purchase of these three albums. All bought at the same time. All released in 1970.

Sly and the Family Stone’s Greatest Hits.

This album had everything. Just look at the songs – it was enough to drive my parents crazy.  Drug references. Dance music. It had multiple Top Ten hits to make it approachable, yet enough cool R&B sounds to keep it interesting. I wore this album out.

1. I Want To Take You Higher
2. Everybody is a Star
3. Stand!
4. Life
5. Fun
6. You Can Make It If You Try
7. Dance to the Music
8. Everyday People
9. Hot Fun In The Summertime
10. M’Lady
11. Sing a Simple Song
12. Thank You (Faletinme Be Mice Elf Agin) *the actual spelling, not mine.

Woodstock – The Original Soundtrack

The concert happened in 1969. I bought the soundtrack as soon as it came out in 1970. I loved screaming the ‘F” word to Country Joe McDonalds ‘Fish’ cheer. This album began my lifelong love of Crosby, Still, Nash and Young, The Who, Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Sly and the Family Stone (again), Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix, and Richie Havens. I could never figure out how Sha-Na-Na made it onto the album and Janis Joplin did not.

Disc: 1

1. I Had A Dream (John B. Sebastian)

2. Going Up The Country (Canned Heat)

3. Stage Announcements

4. Freedom (Richie Havens)

5. Rock & Soul Music (Country Joe & The Fish)

6. Coming Into Los Angeles (Arlo Guthrie)

7. At The Hop (Sha-Na-Na)

8. The ‘Fish’ Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’- To-Die Rag (Country Joe McDonald)

9. Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man (Joan Baez featuring Jeffrey Shurtleff) Joe Hill (Joan Baez)

10. Stage Announcements

11. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes (Crosby, Stills & Nash)

12. Sea Of Madness (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)

13. Wooden Ships (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)

14. We’re Not Gonna Take It (from Tommy) (The Who)

15. Stage Announcements

16. With A Little Help From My Friends (Joe Cocker)

17. Rainstorm, Crowd Sounds, Announcements & General Hysteria

Disc: 2

1. Crowd Rain Chant

2. Soul Sacrifice (Santana)

3. Stage Announcements

4. I’m Going Home (Ten Years After)

5. Volunteers (Jefferson Airplane)

6. Max Yasgur Medley: Dance To The Music/Music Lover/I Want To Take You (Sly and the Family Stone)

7. Rainbows All Over Your Blues (John B. Sebastian)

8. Love March (Butterfield Blues Band)

9. Star Spangled Banner/Purple Haze & Instrumental Solo (Jimi Hendrix)

Elton John – Elton John.

I loved Elton John’s early music. Elton John (the album), Tumbleweed Connection, Honky Chateau, Madman Across The Water all earned very high marks in my record collection. Loved them all. I think I stopped buy his albums with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. He had changed. I didn’t like where it was going.  But his second album – Elton John – was filled with incredible tunes

1. Your Song
2. I Need You To Turn To
3. Take Me to the Pilot
4. No shoe strings on Louise
5. First Episode at Hienton
6. Sixty Years On
7. Border Song
8. The Greatest Discovery
9. The Cage
10. The king must die
11. Bad Side of the Moon
12. Grey Seal
13. Rock and Roll Madonna.

None of these three albums were the top sellers of 1970.  Bridge of Troubled Waters, Led Zeppelin II, Chicago, Abbey Road and Santana dominated that year.  By the way – the #11 album of 1970 was Crosby, Still, Nash & Young’s “Déjà vu.” I still love it today.

Please let me know you first purchase in the ‘comment’ area.

R

01.03.13