Back in May I discovered a magical box that contained the last vestiges of my record collection. I posted a sampling of the music that I purchased during my High School years. (link here)
The eldest FOMLs asked me to hurry up and write part two, with a recap of the records I bought during my college days. These are records from 1979 to 1984, before I was able to make the switch to CDs. So, in essence, this is my final vinyl. As I mentioned before, much of the most important music from those years is not necessarily in my vinyl collection. My friends and I were masters at taping each other’s albums, and living off of cassettes. We especially loved taping from the kids lucky enough to have CDs. (The technology was too new to even consider the morality of copying the music.)
So, here is a baker’s dozen of my college albums:
Led Zeppelin “In Through the Out Door”
I wore this record out. My roommates were good sports about it.
Rush “Permanent Waves”
Could have just as easily chosen “Moving Pictures” but I always thought the girl was cute.
Oingo Boing “Good For Your Soul”
Who woulda thought that Danny Elfman would end up a big-time movie composer?
Phil Collins “Face Value”
Where I learned that the best art usually has its roots in pain.
Apparently he was quite happy later, when he wrote Sussudio.
Apparently he was quite happy later, when he wrote Sussudio.
The Pretenders “Learning to Crawl”
When Chrissie Hynde sang “I’ve got a kid, I’m 33” I thought, man, she’s OLD!
(I have always found the name “Chrissie” strangely alluring.)
INXS “The Swing”
INXS was a dominant force through my life in the ’80’s. Actually saw them perform at BYU Marriott Center. I think a lot of girls that went to that concert visited with their bishops the next day because Michael Hutchence made them think really bad thoughts.
Kenny Loggins “Keep the Fire”
Saw Kenny perform twice at the Smith Fieldhouse on consecutive nights. He made me appreciate that one of the keys to a great performer is the ability to seem like you are truly enjoying what you are doing. He was amazing. Spent an awful lot of time in D.T. playing Loggins on the guitar freshman year.
Simple MInds “Once Upon a Time”
I do remember that this was part of a Columbia House promotion where you would get 15 albums for 1¢, then spend the next two years trying to get out of the contract.
Gary Numan “Dance”
Strange and wonderful stuff. Thanks JB.
Rickie Lee Jones “Pirates”
Quirky, jazzy, completely unique. Exactly what you would expect a college boy to stay away from.
Amadeus Soundtrack
I worked at a theater that showed this movie, and saw it about 50 times. Loved the music, still listen to it often. Because of this soundrack, I am a sucker for Mozart.
John Cougar “American Fool”
This is before John Mellencamp has his cougar removed. I thought this was good, but the next one was “Scarecrow“. It was truly an important album, and I proceeded to buy his next 10 CDs.
Sting “Dream of the Blue Turtles”
Sting’s first post-Police solo album. This was his best, and every album afterwards got progressively less impressive. (Yet I still bought them.) I did see him perform at Park City while touring for this album, and it was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. Perhaps the best.
So, there is a selection of what I owned. In retrospect, I think I had pretty good taste in music and women. Still do. I love my wife, and hate “The Tallest Man on Earth.”
Discover more from Thus We See...
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I assume you would appreciate that Rush finally made it into the Rock and Roll hall of fame! Go Canada!
The Columbia House contract wasn’t nearly as difficult to get out of as the Living Scriptures contract was…
These are all my husbands favorites too! Hey, wait a sec, are we married? Is that you, honey?
Wait a minute. Kenny Loggins sang more than just Footloose? Darn this rock I live under.
Not sure why, but I’ve always considered Sting to be the epitome of coolness.
You’ve got great taste, or you had great taste. I think that is my favorite Zepplin album. Really love the song “Fool in the Rain”.
Okay, great taste on all albums except Phil Collins. Ugh.
Michael: You are obviously a few years younger than I – or you wouldn’t be dissin’ Kenny.
Crystal: I like to think that I still have good taste in women and music, but since I have a wife and teenagers, both are irrelevant.
Well done with the Oingo Boingo. Did not see that coming. It almost makes up for having Kenny Loggins in the mix.
Very cool. Very very cool. I’m a sucker for Mozart too. And Sting. 🙂
Best line thus far from you: “In retrospect, I think I had pretty good taste in women and music.”
Gotta love those glory days, huh? Me too. I had/have good taste. 🙂 Men though.
I remember Columbia House, oh what a trap that was. I still have my vinyl of Dream of the Blue Turtles … once upon a time I was really impressed with Sting. I saw him in concert at Nassau Coliseum.
I actually own most of these — on vinyl, even!
Pearl
Oh how fun! Seeing that Kenny Logins album up really flooded me with memories!