JERRY HENDRICKS
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Top Ten Albums - Vinyl |
| With a record collection in the thousands, it's somewhat ridiculous to single out the ten best, but these represent those that I have listened to the most. | |
1. |
Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys May 16, 1966 - Capitol Records |
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| Brian Wilson's answer to the Beatles "Revolver". Employing multi-layers and exotic sounds, but retaining the signature Beach Boys melodies and harmonies. It is one album I never tire of hearing. | |
2. |
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles June 1, 1967 - Capitol Records |
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The culmination of the Beatles sophistication and experimentation. Could have easily included Rubber Soul, Revolver, Abbey Road and The White Album, but I'll leave room for other artists.
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3. |
Tommy - The Who 1969 - MCA |
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I actually didn't like this much when it was released (too acoustic), yet it certainly stood the test of time. The subsequent movie was a disappointment, but it made a great Broadway play.
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4. |
We'er Only In It For The Money - The Mothers of Invention September 1968 - Verve |
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| Nominally, a freaks version of Sgt. Pepper, but mostly a hodge podge of satirical bits backed by Frank Zappa's still developing jazz-rock fusion. (Closely followed by Freak Out!, Uncle Meat, Hot Rats, Waka/Jawaka and Over-Nite Sensation.) | |
5. |
Aja - Steely Dan September 1977 - MCA Records |
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| Certainly not the first, but one of the best blends of jazz with rock. Complex arrangements, yet a cool, clean sonic delight. | |
6. |
Blood On The Tracks - Bob Dylan January 17, 1975 - Columbia |
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| A mostly poignant album, with the exception of the nasty "Idiot Wind". Still plenty of riddles, but the emotions are raw. Could have easily picked "Highway 61 Revisited", "Blonde on Blonde", "Bringing It All Back Home" ... | |
7. |
Liege & Lief - Fairport Convention December 1969 - A&M |
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| The best folk-rock album, British or American. The band reached their peak with Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny, Ashley Hutchings and Dave Swarbrick. Included classic songs Come All Ye, Matty Groves, Tam Lin and Crazy Man Michael. | |
8. |
My Spanish Heart - Chick Corea October 1976 - Polydor |
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| The best Latin jazz fusion album ever. Catchy tunes, Latin beat with a mix of brass, strings and synthesizers. Band included Stanley Clark and Jean Luc Ponty. | |
9. |
Between The Breaks... Live! - Stan Rogers 1979 - Fogarty's Cove |
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| Didn't discover Stan Rogers until after his death, but this album includes not only my top song, but a whole string of great tunes. | |
10. |
Close To The Edge - Yes September 13, 1972 - Atlantic |
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| Although it sounds somewhat pretentious now, at the time, I thought it was a masterpiece. I never quite got the mysticism, but the symphonic rock still sounds good when in the right mood. | |