I usually resist the Facebook fads, but this request sounded fun:
15 Albums The rules: Don’t take too long to think about it. Fifteen albums you’ve heard that will always stick with you. List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes.
Here they are, and yes, I am aware that some of them (Jock Jams) are completely terrible. I can’t help it! They are approximately in order of the time they are/were influential in my life.
The Beach Boys – Greatest Hits Sandi Patty – Sandi Patti and The Friendship Company Patsy Cline – Always Jock Jams, Volume 1 Three Doors Down – The Better Life Joss Stone – Joss StoneColdplay – x&y Jack Johnson – Brushfire Fairytales Mat Kearney – Nothing Left to Lose Daft Punk – Discovery John Butler Trio – Sunrise Over the Sea Paul Wright – Sunrise to Sunset Jason Mraz – We sing, we dance, we steal things David Crowder Band – Church Music The Rock Minneapolis – Born to Die
Andrew Peterson – Counting Stars
It was so hard to keep it to 15, so I will give honorable mentions to: John Mayer’s Continuum, Nichole Nordeman’s Brave, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors, James Blunt’s All the Lost Souls, RENT and Les Mis soundracks, DC Talk’s Jesus Freak.
I’m amazed at how just reading the names of these artists and albums can quickly transport me back to the times they were important to me. It’s fun to think back in time to the Three Doors Down era, sliding through the mud with my friends at 93X Fest. Or the Jock Jams years…Okay I admit – I owned volumes 1-4, but they were for cheerleading purposes! I can’t see the words “Beach Boys” without thinking about riding in my dad’s 1932 Model T Ford, no seatbelts and windows down, on our way to a car show.
Coldplay, Jack Johnson and Mat Kearney bring back memories of darker times when I was transitioning and didn’t know the future. Jason Mraz and The Rock worship albums bring the smile back to my face when I think about riding in the car, sunroof down, with my honey.