When we were Fab 4 x 3

Share a dozen albums that stick; "twelve is the golden age"

Don’t think too long. Twelve albums off the top of your head. Enduring picks. Not “classic, all-time” worn thin standards, but ones that your mental soundtrack cues.

Random order. Association. Train of thought rolling. Deep cuts, not the usual: I didn't let myself allow a repeated artist, but even I cheated in the songs (stroll down) as he helmed two different bands with different co-composers. Talent defies discrimination.

And how about another lost art for us armchair fans? What's your top album cover?

I asked my sons and two of their/my mentors, who I’ll deem Sage + Scientist. To orient, my boys are in their early thirties, I’m twice that, and Sage and Scientist settle about equidistant from my own age about eight years each direction. For fun, and a feminine perspective, I invited my college-on friend into our charmed cabal of initiates, with whom I once bonded over then-new wave, who (in blog-ese my wife and I both followed I refer to by in this case an acronym as I don't use real names for my trusted company) I’ll call Tamar. Here's their five tallies, with mine. I draft this on the Winter Solstice, unable to sleep…I welcome your suggestions, my dear distant readers.

In the holiday spirit I confess descends within me and above me at a sharply oblique angle this far North, as I’ve never been much for Christmas or New Year’s, I bravely resolve to try to spread cheer amidst drizzle. I intersperse images which may delight.

Son #2:

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN--NEBRASKA

THE CURE--DISINTEGRATION

KANYE WEST--YEEZUS

CAN--FUTURE DAYS

RADIOHEAD--KID A

DRAKE--NOTHING WAS THE SAME

MAZZY STAR--SHE HANGS BRIGHTLY

KANYE WEST--LATE REGISTRATION

PURE X--PLEASURE

UNWOUND--THE FUTURE OF WHAT

PAVEMENT--SLANTED + ENCHANTED

THE REPLACEMENTS—TIM

Son #1:

NINE INCH NAILS--THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL

HTRK-- PSYCHIC 9-5 CLUB

RHYTHM + SOUND s/t

WIRE--CHAIRS MISSING

DAVID BOWIE--LOW

BURIAL--UNTRUE

RADIOHEAD--RADIOHEAD--HAIL TO THE THIEF

THE FIELD—FROM HERE WE GO SUBLIME

THOSE NEW PURITANS--FIELD OF REEDS

BRIAN ENO: APOLLO, ATMOSPHERES + SOUNDTRACKS

JOY DIVISION—LIVE AT LES BAINS DOUCHES

Sage: (ten…)

ROLLING STONES--EXILE ON MAIN STREET

DAVID BOWIE--LOW

THE JAM--ALL MOD CONS

SANDY DENNY--LIKE AN OLD-FASHIONED WALTZ

MINK DE VILLE--LE CHAT BLEU

THE BLUE NILE--A WALK ACROSS THE ROOFTOPS

PREFAB SPROUT--JORDAN, THE COMEBACK

THE CURE--DISINTEGRATION

JACKSON BROWNE--LATE FOR THE SKY

THE REPLACEMENTS—TIM

Scientist: (ten; brownie point for Mono Lake gatefold Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here)

GRATEFUL DEAD--AMERICAN BEAUTY

VAN HALEN s/t

BLACK SABBATH—VOLUME FOUR

WILCO--BEING THERE

BOSTON s/t

PINK FLOYD--ANIMALS

RUSH--2112

LED ZEPPELIN--IV

RADIOHEAD--IN RAINBOWS

MASTADON--LEVIATHON

Me: (cover=Fairport Convention, Unhalfbricking, 1969. Singer Sandy Denny’s parents Edna + Ned, with band visible behind garden commons gates. St Mary’s, Wimbledon)

ROXY MUSIC s/t

FAIRPORT CONVENTION—WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAYS

HORSLIPS--BOOK OF INVASIONS, A CELTIC SYMPHONY

R.E.M.—MURMUR

BYRDS--THE NOTORIOUS BYRD BROTHERS

BUZZCOCKS--ANOTHER MUSIC FROM A DIFFERENT KITCHEN

THE MOVE--SHAZAM

THE WHO--QUADROPHENIA

SIOUXSIE + THE BANSHEES--THE SCREAM

THE LOUD FAMILY—ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE

BRIAN ENO--TAKING TIGER MOUNTAIN (BY STRATEGY)

Tamar: “Funny only in last five years have I discovered & love: CCR, Little River Band, Three Dog Night, Todd Rundgren, Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman & Harry Nilsson…”

My replies-I bought CCRs Cosmo’s Factory as my first LP on my 25c/week allowance; 3DN: massive on KHJ AM when we were pre-teens but few recall them now. I know nothing of Chris N and of Suzi Q only by her proto-Joan Jett look! Both my boys independently been smitten into Creedence recently, to my delight, a worthy pursuit.

I never got into studio obsessed Todd R (vaguely recall a couple hits as w/LRB) but his group The Nazz may intrigue as they were influenced by the late 60s British psych I lean towards.

LCD Soundsystem do a sly cover of what I think of Ray Liotta’s “the helicopter song” in the soundtrack for Goodfellas. I love Harry’s delirious “Jump Into the Fire” as the bassist began to detune while the tape is running…my wife hated it but I liked to “play” along as it matches my limitations on said sad instrument…

I’ll insert my comments as your nostalgic 12 brings out my inner rock critic, evoking “when we were fab,” as my favorite Beatle looked back without anger, then (as I taught in my Science Fiction course), “the golden age is twelve” for our default portable neural jukeboxes. We tend towards where we let the needle drop then, later pressing the play button (though I avoided flimsy cassettes), the Discman, the arrow on the iPod, Today, Spotify streams from digital waves surrounding us, background cosmic radiation d/l. What the Greeks lauded as the music of the spheres, and Love + Rockets as Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven, which I told Sage I've deemed skillful dharma.

Newgrange Solstice “Neolithic Irish passage tomb to the light” video (start 54:04)

12 STICKY LP’S (“Tamar”)

-JANIS JOPLIN - PEARL

I always thought more singers should let loose, listening to Siouxsie as I type this and one reason artsy punk appealed to me as a teen was that energy to not care about technical prowess vs pent-up demand to free one's muse. I used to often spin the Big Brother Cheap Thrills—talk about LP art—and her untimely death to heroin foreshadowing a bard of similar bluesy powers who let it loose on stage, Jeffrey Lee Pierce of L.A.’s The Gun Club. I missed him like my peers did the Smart Beatle.

-JIM CROCE - PHOTOGRAPHS & MEMORIES/HIS GREATEST HITS

This brings back jr high when he died; another thoughtful composer who probably would have rivaled Billy Joel?

-CAT STEVENS - TEASER & THE FIRECAT

Another standout in the guitar-singer-songwriter market before he (drugs?) drifted off; ideal for the hippie morning after comedown when denim, beige, avocado, Naugahyde, Watergate, and velour ruled. But before leisure suits, gas lines, smiley faces, stagflation, or the Ford Administration.

-GINO VANNELLI - BROTHER TO BROTHER

Had to look him up; don't recall hearing him but Pope JP2 liked him; Montreal-homme homie despite the moniker.

-JOHN LENNON - IMAGINE

As w/Bowie, I respect JL more than play him; mixed feelings about his impact and message (hedonism vs idealism? Cruel to be kind?) but an inescapable presence and formidable character looming over us all, gone far too soon. I once resembled him.

-ELO - THE VERY BEST OF/ALL OVER THE WORLD

Note that the Move whom I included morphed into ELO, “Can’t Get It Out of My Head” is a deft "earworm" song; need to check out Eldorado and II. Bev Bevan a keen drummer but Jeff Lynne tended towards over production although given his Beatles fixation (& Wilbury) it makes sense, and you may want to try his 60s outfit The Idle Race—trippy psychedelic if too Austin Powers flower power “fey”: oh yeah, as my blog title comes from a posthumous album by ExP's Elliot Smith, who also boasted a Beatles melodic gift in his later recording, I think you'd cotton to him. I judge his beginning brittle lo-fi, pre-major Kill Rock Stars label when he lived in Portland as his peak, as awkward junkie. If those tempt, his previous output with Heatmiser which is brasher and louder may please: my preferred Smith. (Don’t get me started on Mark E.)

-CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG - DEJA VU

HS frosh fond memories with that Joni M drawn cover; David Crosby quit Byrds during LP I included above.

-LOGGINS + MESSINA - SITTIN’ IN

They reminded me of Steely Dan if sincere. I felt embarrassed for Kenny after his Seventies’ success pitching his legacy on Eighties infomercials but he rebounded when Willie Nelson and his ilk survived to keep country/rock cool in the Heartland and suburbs both. We couldn't all keep tuning into whatever bro-hip-hop blared. And my trivial Rolodex brain somehow knows Jim was born in the unlikely burb of blue-collar Maywood, just southeast of downtown L.A. a dozen miles from Laurel Canyon.

-THE BEATLES - WHITE ALBUM

Congratulations for avoiding the usual; there’s inviting niches in cuddly nooks where perch “Julia, Martha, Mother Nature,” and “Hey Bulldog “ all dj’d by me on KXLU; my Siouxsie pick covers “Helter “; they did “Dear Prudence” later.

-BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN--BORN TO RUN

Look up Yahrzeit La Tengo, my year's commemoration of my wife, 21-fun salute playlist. It numbers “She’s the One.” Wonderland a portal the Boss opens for us.

-THE MOTELS - THE MOTELS

Por supuesto as I’d always associate them with you in spite of that cover (not my favorite but it sticks indeed, as they sported a vivid eye for catchy neon visuals)

ELTON JOHN - GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD

Spot synchronicity on; I hesitated over this on my stash only ‘cos I need to hear it carefully and have been saving it up for a righteous stereo; this in 7th grade was deeply engraved on my psyche down to its characters in art and inimitable colorful liner notes; I think I’ll play it loud at my son when not in the apartment on New Years Eve in your/ Sir’s honor as he was my top 2025 Spotify artist thanks to the run (six solid studio discs of varying promise--pre-GBYBR, Tumbleweed Connection sturdy and nearly seamless holds up steadiest--anticipated by a kickass roadhouse-rowdy 17-11-70 NYC live tape with only Nigel Olssen on drums, Dee Murray as my Platonic Idea of a chunky but fluid bass) from his self-titled LP through '73.

After that underestimated stint (exhaustion? coming out? dumping crack backing lineup? drugs?), he slowed as “camp” and celebrity (cf the decline of Rod Stewart in parallel at precisely this same period, if only three good solo albums in) had overshadowed true talent. An unexpected choice, as I'm sure many who know me would be surprised at his prominence on my playlist lately. I'd never heard these pre-GBYBR releases until this introspective year. EJ tips into mawkish arrangements and Bernie Taupin's lyrics tilt into pomposity, yet his genial, less grandiose, ambitions remain listenable. I find his gospel and country flirtations (except a vitriolic ironically titled ”Texas Love Song” which makes Neil Young’s “Southern Man” decorous by contrast) intelligent, even poignant. I mellow with age, like certain Beatles?

And they say that dementia may trigger a regression to the tunes we cherished in childhood: that too what we cued up in adolescence no matter its uncool swagger or leaden incompetence endures longest in our mental jukebox...poignantly or eerily…

Beatrice Glenavy, Our Lady Ironing. “Elizabeth and Lily Yeats, a talented duo who founded Cuala Industries in 1908 – a female-led enterprise in Churchtown, Dublin that almost exclusively employed and trained young women.” Yes, that/those Yeats.

KRIS KRINGLE'S CHRISTMAS BONUS: SEVEN STICKY SONGS (“TAMAR”: after my rambling ruminations on her hand, I’ll toss out my clutched stack in turn)

MELANIE—BRAND NEW KEY

All I can diplomatically say is that I’m just grey enough to have had clunky black leather shoes that a roller skate could clasp and be secured with key, thus ensuring I get in maturity its metaphor if not innuendo when five years old back then. I guess I could politely aver that she presaged the rise of Poly Styrene or Riot Grrrls in her, uh, range.

-NORMAN GREENBAUM - SPIRIT IN THE SKY

Like many Xmas tunes, or the Godspell star, created by a savvy Jew! Not a bad riff and what being stoned seemed to portend when I heard it around fifth grade not stoned. A spacy aura and delay pedals channelled charismatic Jesus Christ Superstar pre-rapture.

-ERIC CLAPTON - LAYLA

Sorry but while the Allman Brothers (Duane guests) gain my raised lighter this has been too overplayed in my headspace as “classic rawk” but the album art is graceful. A harbinger of longer radio singles...”Freebird...Stairway…Kashmir…”

-LED ZEPPELIN - D’YER MAK’ER

I was told while dj’ng [at our alma mater Loyola Marymount U. 88.9 left of the dial] KXLU that “girls don’t like Zeppelin” so glad you defy that stereotype; a quirky track as “deep cut”

-BREAD - MAKE IT WITH YOU

Like 3Dog, the craft of a hit once upon an innocent time. The richly mellow, autumnal languid headiness of longing from the bell bottom moodring daze beckons from youth.

-DAN FOGELBERG - MAKE LOVE STAY

He has a moving tribute (title eludes me) to his father I respected; lazy feel of KLOS-KMET-KWST AOR wafting by.

-BOB DYLAN - STUCK INSIDE OF MOBILE WITH THE MEMPHIS BLUES AGAIN

I admit (see Byrds & Fairport who both issued their fine compilations of all Dylan covers) I’d rather hear Bob in the mouth of other singers, but like Lennon a monolith one cannot deny the dominance of. But Joni M sure hates him.

Can’t discern what lurks beneath the masks Bob dons successfully in endless secession but that’s his schtick and since 1960 at least he’s sticking with it.

You've charted a sharp eared selection from Bob…I was writing a review of a Dante edition (!) before you posted this and his line from “Tangled Up in Blue” came to mind, rousing me hearing that on FM in ‘75 as one of the still few times the overused f-word was used appropriately (I got busted at LMU for airing same f-bomb in “Working Class Hero” in ‘80). I’m a famously fussy music fan as is far fussier in his delineation Son #1’s lists but you passed A+ ⭐️ 🎸 Welcome to the lit huddle of serious sonic joy.

MY SEVEN SONGS…

Shakespeare’s seven ages of man sprang to mind. I can't square mine with his stark chronology, as neither birth nor infancy conjure up associated tunes, and as we live longer than they did six centuries ago, I need to adjust the actuarial spectrum. But roughly, my suggestions span the ebb and flow of a life lived nowadays, at least mine.

-R.E.M.—RADIO FREE EUROPE (inspiration)

ELLIOT SMITH--ROSE PARADE (disillusion)

PAVEMENT--HERE (maturity)

GAME THEORY—WYOMING (quest)

CLANNAD--COINLEACH GLAS AN FHÓMHAIR (yearning)

THE CURE--A FOREST (acceptance)

THE LOUD FAMILY--ONE WILL BE THE HIGHWAY (evanescence)