My Top Ten Albums of All Time

After reading my buddy Kevin's blog I thought I would sit down and come up with my top 10 albums of all time. I based my list on the criteria that if I had to go to a deserted island by myself what albums would I take. This deserted island would have an endless supply of beer by the way....Some albums may not be your favorites but that is why this is my list and not yours. I think if you listen to some of the albums on my list you will enjoy yourself a great deal:

10. Def Leppards's Hysteria--An album that had 8 singles and was the soundtrack for my teen years. My favorites on the album are two songs they didn't even release, "Don't Shoot Shotgun and Gods of War"..The album still takes me to that place even now. It is the perfect album for the perfect time.

9. Bruce Springsteen's The Rising--I really fought over this one and Born in the USA but this one held out because I think after 9/11 and the fact that I was getting older myself this album and it's message resonated with me....The message of redemption thru the greatest tragedy imaginable is a great lesson to us all.

8. Kiss' Alive 2--I know for most people that know me know that Kiss is my favorite group next to the Beatles and the group that really changed my life and taught me how to love the theater in music and that it is possible to have songs become a soundtrack to the show you are about to see. I got this album on November 27, 1977 and I was never the same. You Wanted the Best...You Got the Best...The Hottest Band in the World...KISS!!!! You're damn right.....nobody did it better and still doesn't....

7. Savage Garden's Affirmation--I am not much for modern music or the fact that I believe recent artists have no soul to them. I did not even like the first Savage Garden album. Hated it. This album though is the perfect pop album. There is not one bad song on the record. Some danceable tracks and some great ballads all add up to one great album. I am almost glad they broke up after this album because I don't know if they could top this one.

6. The Beach Boy's Pet Sounds--What else can you say about the perfect album in terms of sound and message and great songs. Brian Wilson still to this day is one of my favorites and it only stands to reason that he had mental problems because no mortal person could hear the beauty that he did in his head. The reality is that you have to listen to the whole record at one sitting to get how good it really is. It wasn't about the singles, it was about the trip you were on. I am still on it to this day.

5. Motley Crue's Shout at the Devil--While Dr. Feelgood is the best album they made, there is something about this record that represented what I wanted to become. It was raw, abrasive, in your face and all about kicking ass....if you don't believe me, listen to "Knock 'em Dead Kid" you will see. You could feel the sunset strip dripping in between the tracks. It made us metal heads dream about heading out to the Strip to see what paradise really looked like.

4. Boston's Third Stage--Most people love this band's self titled debut album. I mean how can you argue against 'More Than a Feeling" but Third Stage to me was so awesome it was beyond words. When I hear Brad Delp sing "HollyAnn" I still get teary eyed. I cried at the live show and I cry when it is on my stereo at home. That, my friend, makes a great album.

3. Reo Speedwagon's Hi-Infidelity--It was the album that I had to replace twice because I played thru the grooves. It was the tape I had to replace 3 times because I listened to it so much and the Cd I have replaced once because I ruined it listening to it so much. "Keep on Loving You", "Take it On The Run", "In Your Letter", wherever I am and those songs come on, I stop to listen and soak in how good that album makes me feel.

2. Sam Cooke's Greatest Hits--The worlds greatest singer. Period...Bar None....He used his voice like an instrument...It was sex appeal, a way to touch the hem of Jesus' Garmet, and a way to feel what it must have felt like to be on "The Chain Gang". He was and always be the greatest and will always have a place of honor in my home and life.

1. The Beatles' Abbey Road--Simply put, THE album I could not live without. The second side of Abbey Road is the greatest music ever. That isn't even taking into account how great the first side is. A band that was at the end of their journey provided all of us something that we can take forever on ours.

There you have it. It may not be perfect but man it represents everything I love about music and how it makes me feel. Feel free to add it with some of your choices. I can't wait to read it.