| MY FAVORITE ARTISTS |
| 1. JAMES TAYLOR - It is a real toss-up between JT and the Beatles, but JT edges out the Fab Four because he is still creating wonderful music. I'm not sure whether it is his incredible voice and singing, his lovely guitar style, or his songs that I like the most. |
| 2. THE BEATLES and JOHN, PAUL, GEORGE, AND RINGO - See my JT entry. No music or musicians have dominated my life the way the Beatles did in the 60's and the individual members in the 70's. They were incredibly creative, intense and versatile. I really miss them. |
| 3. JACKSON BROWNE - Jackson's 70's albums are so incredibly personal and intense it is hard to separate them. I can't blame Jackson for changing as, like most of us, he had to go and grow up. |
| 4. THE BEACH BOYS and BRIAN WILSON - What can be said about Brian Wilson that hasn't already been said? He has created the most fun records ever made, and also some of the most beautiful. Much of his music sounds like it was recorded in heaven |
| 5. JIMMY WEBB - Jimmy is my all-time favorite songwriter. He is also the most under-rated performer in the world. True, he doesn't have a great voice, but it is very expressive, and the music, arrangements, and songs are so wonderful that it doesn't really matter. |
| 6. JONI MITCHELL - Joni Mitchell, a fantastic songwriter, singer, guitarist, and pianist. Her early 70's albums are unbelievably beautiful. She is still a great artist, but I must admit I like the early stuff best. Sorry, Joni! |
| 7. DAN FOGELBERG - Poor Dan gets no respect from the critics. I say to heck with those guys. Dan is a fine musician and songwriter. Anyway, I have always loved his music. |
| 8. CCR and JOHN FOGERTY - Great bluesy roots music and one of the all-time great rock 'n roll voices. He makes me feel like visiting a Louisiana swamp. Keep on chooglin', John! |
| 9. PAUL SIMON and SIMON AND GARFUNKEL - Very little music has affected me as greatly as Paul Simon's has. He is a great songwriter and guitarist. When he and Art Garfunkel sang together it sounded like a choir of angels. |
| 10. RANDY NEWMAN - I will admit that it is sometimes difficult for me to listen to Randy. However, the intelligence, sarcasm, arrangements, and melodies of his songs are irresistable to me. Let's drop the big one, Randy! |
| Honorable Mention - Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, and Carole King |
| MY FAVORITE LEGITIMATE ALBUMS |
| 1. JAMES TAYLOR - Sweet Baby James (1970) - When I first heard this album in the early summer of 1970 I just couldn't believe how good it was. Beginning to end great music. I loved every song, every note of this album. Still do! I was almost disappointed when JT became a massive success a few months later. |
| 2. BEATLES - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) - It is unfair to even list the Beatles here. They would (and should) have most of this top ten list. As such, I am just listing SPLHCB to represent the FABS. They may have recorded better songs consistently on other LP's, but never with such style. |
| 3. JACKSON BROWNE - Late For The Sky (1974) - Arguably, this is Jackson's finest moment. The depth of his lyrics and stark musical stylings fit together perfectly. Jackson should have adopted David Lindley. This album helped me through a really tough period of my life. |
| 4. BEACH BOYS - Pet Sounds (1966) - There is not much need to elaborate here. This is just a fabulous LP. If you don't already have it, buy yourself a copy of the new Pet Sounds Sessions Box Set. Probably Brian Wilson's crowning achievement. |
| 5. JIMMY WEBB - Suspending Disbelief (1993) - Yeah, I know. You're asking who is this Jimmy Webb guy. Anyhow, believe me, this album is full of intense, gorgeous music and songs. I once read that Jimmy's recordings are so super-romantic that he always goes for broke. Well, here he succeeds wonderfully. Besides, you have to hear "Elvis and Me," one of the greatest recordings of all time. |
| 6. JONI MITCHELL - Court and Spark (1974) - This was a transitional album for Joni and probably her best. The romantic intensity of her earlier work is still in full bloom; the music has matured greatly with the addition of elements of jazz. Listening to Joni here makes me feel like I almost understand what it is like to be a woman. |
| 7. JACKSON BROWNE - The Pretender (1976) - This is another classic from Jackson. It ties in neatly with Late For The Sky. Only very rarely have I experienced music so heartfelt and meaningful. Another album that helped me through my toughest times. |
| 8. PAUL SIMON - Hearts and Bones (1982) - I always loved everything Paul Simon did. OK, so I wasn't knocked out by his world music excursions, but I was by this one. I can't understand why this seems to be everyone's least favorite Paul Simon album. I even heard Paul himself more or less apologizing for this album in a television interview. Amazing! Hearts and Bones is a great collection of songs! |
| 9. JONI MITCHELL - Blue (1971) - This is the ultimate folk-influenced album, the best of Joni's very early albums. I defy anyone to find a more affecting love song than All I Want or A Case Of You. Or how about a better homesick song than California? Joni's dulcimer playing and James Taylor's guest appearances on guitar add another dimension to Joni's music. |
| 10. JAMES TAYLOR - New Moon Shine (1991) - If you want a disc full of great songs and one that shows you what JT sounds like in the 90's, this is the one for you. Any record that contains Copperline, Shed a Little Light, and Frozen Man is an instant classic. |
| Honorable Mention - GERRY RAFFERTY - City to City (1977), |
| MY FAVORITE BOOTLEGS |
| 1. BEATLES - The Complete BBC SessionsSimply put, this is the most impressive unreleased collection I have ever seen or heard. Collected here are about 240 recordings, all unreleased prior to Apple's double CD "Live at the BBC" a few years back. The Apple release merely scratches the surface of this vast treasure trove of great music. While the sound isn't always great the performances are. Included are interviews, the Beatles fooling around, live concert material, and studio recordings made exclusively for the BBC. This is everything a bootleg should be. This music is of great historical importance and needs to be preserved, so we do it here. |
| 2. JAMES TAYLOR - Syracuse 2-5-70This is JT solo and on the brink of stardom. He had just finished recording Sweet Baby James and, I assume, couldn't yet afford a back-up band. Here you get to experience JT's unadorned music and self-effacing humor. There is also a great stash of songs James has never released on a legimate record. James has never sounded better or been more enjoyable than this. |
| 3. BEACH BOYS - SmileThere is nothing much I can say that hasn't already been said better than I can. This is Brian Wilson at the apex of his musical powers. Come on, Brian, PLEEEEASE let Capitol release this!!! |
| 4. BEACH BOYS - LandlockedThis is a great recording with excellent sound and material. It was recorded about 1970 and is far, far better than most other Beach Boys releases of the 1970's. Loop de Loop and the extended version of Til I Die alone would make this a must-have, but there's lots of other good stuff, too. |
| 5. JAMES TAYLOR - Roses For CaroleThis is a wonderful, very early JT concert. The first time I saw James live was Feb. 27, 1971, at Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio. This CD is basically the same show I saw so I suppose that is one reason I love it so much. Great early JT! |
| 6. BEATLES - Ultra Rare TraxThe early volumes of this series are unbeatable for alternate performances. The sound of these is even better than the legitimate Beatles CD's. The performances are exceptional of a lot of rare and unreleased material. What more could a Beatles fan want? |
| 7. JACKSON BROWNE - Rated XThis was one of the first bootlegs I ever bought back in the early 70's. The sound is adequate but the material is astounding. It is vulgar and extremely funny at times. This material is a 180 degree turnaround from the records Jackson was releasing at the time. It is still hard for me to believe that Jackson allowed some of this material to be recorded. I can only conclude that he was too messed up at the time to either realize it or care about it. Unbelievable! |
| 8. JAMES TAYLOR - Got Some FriendsTrue, there is very little unreleased material on this disc. However, the sound is stunning. It sounds much better to me than the official James Taylor Live release. This bootleg was taken from a DAT radio special recorded by, I assume, Sony. Anyway, an extremely professional recording. |
| 9. JOHN LENNON - Lost Lennon TapesYeah, I know. This is another multiple volume set which may not be fair. Still, this 35 LP or CD set is a comprehensive set of rare John Lennon recordings, along with a fair amount of Beatles work, too. Tell me of more significant music that needs to be preserved and I will eat my tape deck. |
| 10. PAUL McCARTNEY - Cold CutsI know there are a lot of people who think McCartney is a wimp since he went solo. I agree to a point. However, if you look at Paul from the opposite side, you have to admit that he has created some of the most incredible pop music of our time. This bootleg contains much of the best unreleased McCartney "pop music" with excellent sound. Hey, I just can't write him off. He is just too talented a songwriter and performer to do that. |
| Honorable Mention - JACKSON BROWNE - Syracuse 1970 |
| MY FAVORITE MOVIES (as if you really wanted to know) |
| 1. 2001: A Space OdysseyThis film has some technical flaws but is still my favorite. Large issues are confronted in subtle ways. The silence of space travel is portrayed in a believable way. (Does anyone really think we will ever be zipping around the stars like most scifi movies portray?) The enigmatic ending only heightens the effect of this movie. I believe that when we do eventually discover intelligent life out there in the universe, it may well be of some sort we haven't yet imagined instead of a cute little ET or a menacing Alien. |
| 2. CasablancaThis great film has something for everyone. There is romance, mystery, intrigue, politics, and did I mention romance? This is Bogie's finest moment as well as Ingrid Bergman's. The supporting cast is wonderful and the story is terrific. If you haven't seen this one you don't deserve to call yourself a movie fan. |
| 3. NashvilleI like this Robert Altman film even better than his M*A*S*H*. This one has 24 main characters cavorting around "Music City" over the period of a few days. The send-up's of country music and politics apply way beyond the city of Nashville. Not only that, but it is alternately extremely funny and moving in the treatment of its characters. A great under-rated masterpiece. |
| 4. Dr. StrangeloveThe second Stanley Kubrick film on my list. This has got to be the ultimate black comedy. The insanity portrayed is absolutely hilarious if you watch this with the right attitude. Slim Pickens has the role of his career. George C. Scott gives an awesome portrayal of the ultimate hawk, General Turdgison. You must see this to believe that nuclear annihilation can be fun. |
| 5. A Hard Days' NightI first saw A Hard Days' Night in the summer of 1964 when I was 13 years old. I had a terrific time watching the Beatles romp around London and playing great music. I still do when I watch it. Maybe my love for this film is largely due to my Beatles fixation, but that's OK with me. Rarely have I had so much fun. |
| 6. The GraduateThis film is so great because it greatly unmasks the American Dream. Dustin Hoffman's Ben Braddock is perfect. He just can't get a handle on anything. Nothing makes any sense to him. This movie is meaningful, hilarious, and sad all at the same time, sort of like real life. |
| 7. JawsDon't dismiss this one just because it's a Steven Spielberg spectacular. This movie has some truly terrifying moments, but it also has a great understated sense of humor. A number of Spielberg films fit this description, but I still like this one best. This is fun entertainment of the highest order. |
| 8. Field of DreamsThe story is totally unbelievable. Not for a moment can I believe this story could really take place. Yet rarely have I been so totally engrossed in a film. When someone describes a movie as "magical" this is what they are talking about. A "feel good" movie for everyone. |
| 9. Forrest GumpI can't pinpoint exactly why I love this movie so much. Obviously, it is one of the more humorous films you will ever see. Also, having grown up during the times depicted in Forrest Gump, I get a real kick out of how Forrest is constantly tied in to the events of the day. I suppose that when you get right down to it I love it because Forrest is a good person who triumphs in a time when society has so many different definitions for success. |
| 10. ContactI begin and end my list with films dealing with mankind's first encounter with intelligent alien life. Jodie Foster is absolutely great as an obsessed sky-watcher who gets the opportunity to fulfill her dream. This highly intelligent film is great entertainment. One of my daughter's friends (both are 12) went with my children and myself to see Contact last September and still claims that it is her favorite movie. |
| Honorable Mention - That Thing You Do |