256. Talking Book

Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
1972

Tracks
1. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life 
2. Maybe Your Baby 
3. You And I 
4. Tuesday Heartbreak 
5. You've Got It Bad Girl 
6. Superstition 
7. Big Brother 
8. Blame It On The Sun 
9. Lookin' For Another Pure Love
10. I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) 


Honestly, just to be listening to anything other than bluegrass is a relief; I wouldn't care if it was someone scratching a chalkboard on loop.  However, I didn't risk listening to an album yesterday because it was my birthday and a bad album can put me in a horrible mood.  I am not sure if this is a good thing or not.


Anyway, everyone on Earth has heard of Stevie Wonder.  I myself have three songs on my iPod by him and that is saying something, since I am me.  Although you probably heard "Superstition" before, a lot of this album are unknown gems.  No one is as comforting or smooth as Stevie Wonder when he delivers a lyric.  Maybe these songs aren't the deepest ones he has ever come  out with (with the exception of "Big Brother") but it is still fun.  Check it out.

RATING: 4/5

255. Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Will The Circle Be Unbroken
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
1972

Tracks
1. Grand Ole Opry Song 
2. Keep On The Sunny Side 
3. Nashville Blues 
4. You Are My Flower 
5. Precious Jewel 
6. Dark As A Dungeon 
7. Tennessee Stud 
8. Black Mountain Rag 
9. Wreck On The Highway
10. End Of The World
11. I Saw The Light 
12. Sunny Side Of The Mountain 
13. Nine Pound Hammer 
14. Losin' You (Might Be The Best Thing Yet) 
15. Honky Tonkin'
16. You Don't Know My Mind 
17. My Walkin' Shoes 
18. Lonesome Fiddle Blues 
19. Cannonball Rag
20. Avalanche 
21. Flint Hill Special 
22. Togary Mountain 
23. Earl's Breakdown 
24. Orange Blossom Special 
25. Wabash Cannonball 
26. Lost Highway 
27. First Meetin' - Watson, Doc & Merle
28. Way Downtown 
29. Down Yonder 
30. Pins And Needles (In My Heart)
31. Honky Tonk Blues 
32. Sailin' On To Hawaii 
33. I'm Thinking Of My Blue Eyes
34. I Am A Pilgrim 
35. Wildwood Flower 
36. Soldier's Joy 
37. Will The Circle Be Unbroken
38. Both Sides Now


Oh dear god, the HORROR!!!!!  A pure bluegrass album complete with the twang, banjos, and songs about stupid subjects.  And it is extremely long.

Man, I haven't been this frightened since we listened to the Louvin Brothers.  This is probably of the most grating albums on the list.  I know I am not a hundred percent objective here, considering this is my least favorite genre.  I guess the best I can do is recommend listening to it if you want to track early bluegrass groups.

RATING: 1/5

254. Something/Anything?

Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
1972

Tracks
1. I Saw The Light 
2. I Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference 
3. Wolfman Jack 
4. Cold Morning Light 
5. Takes Two To Tango 
6. Sweeter Memories 
7. Intro 
8. Breathless 
9. Night The Carousel Burned Down 
10. Saving Grace 
11. Marlene 
12. Song Of The Viking 
13. I Went To The Mirror 
14. Black Maria
15. One More Day (No Word)
16. Couldn't I Just Tell You
17. Torch Song 
18. Little Red Lights
19. Overture 
20. Money/Messin' With The Kid 
21. Dust In The Wind 
22. Piss Aaron 
23. Hell It's Me 
24. Some Folks Is Even Whiter Than Me 
25. You Left Me Sore 26. Slut


This is one of those glorious hodge podges of pure gems.  I have no idea how to categorize this album; it represents so many genres.  This seems like it would be a Nina Simone-esque mess but it actually comes together beautifully.


All right, so the "game" he comes up with in the middle of the album is really strange.  Still, I think this is one of the best albums of the 70s.  He has a very sweet voice, whether he is singing a ballad or a fast song.  My personal favorite was "I Wouldn't Have Made A Difference" which is really bittersweet:

A really fun album that is hard to describe so check it out! RATING: 5/5

253. Clube Da Esquina

Clube Da Esquina
Milton Nascimento and Lo Borges
1972

Tracks
1. Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser
2. Cais 
3. O Trem Azul
4. Saidas E Bandeiras 
5. Nuvem Cigana 
6. Cravo E Canela 
7. Dos Cruces 
8. Um Girassol Da Cor De Seu Cabelo
9. San Vincente 
10. Estrelas 
11. Clube Da Esquina No 2 
12. Paisagem Da Janela
13. Me Deixe Em Pas
14. Os Povos 
15. Saidas E Bandeiras (2) 
16. Um Gosto De Sol 
17. Pelo Amor De Deus 
18. Lilia 
19. Trem De Doido
20. Nada Sera Como Antes
21. Ao Que Vai Nascer


More international music which is always a treat; we are exposed to it so little.  There are a lot of musical languages out there and I hardly think English tops the list.  This time it is Portuguese!


I cannot speak a word of Portuguese.  In fact, I don't think I have ever even heard someone speaking Portuguese, except of course, in this journey.  Maybe I just need to get out more!  Anyway, the language is already beautiful but setting it to music is like a poetic explosion.  Of course, I can't understand the lyrics but from what I looked up, the lyrics are just as beautiful as the music.


The book says that this band was heavily influenced by the Beatles and it is clearly seen throughout this album that their main source of inspiration was Sgt. Pepper.  Check it out; this is certainly another treasure I wouldn't have experienced without the list.


RATING: 5/5

252. Home Is Where The Music Is

Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
1972

Tracks
1. Part Of A Whole
2. Minawa
3. The Big Apple
4. Unhome
5. Maseru
6. Inner Crisis
7. Blues For Huey
8. Nomali
9. Maesha
10. Ingoo Pow-Pow (Children's Song)


Well, the hand surgery is over and it has seemed to affect me in a way I can't quite put my finger on (no pun intended).  I just feel overwhelmingly apathetic to almost everything, even reading and watching movies.  I am trying to push through it, of course, starting with this album.  And, as luck would have it, it is jazz.  FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Not just jazz.  Really long tracks of jazz that was extremely hard to find.  We here at the 1001 blog (me) are familiar with this guy because he was married to a much loved favorite, Miriam Makeba.  Yes, it was interesting to hear a African twist on American jazz.  But not exactly the welcoming hug I was hoping for.  I might have to scroll through the sunshine pop archives.

RATING: 3/5

251. Transformer

Transformer
Lou Reed
1972

Tracks
1. Vicious
2. Andy's Chest
3. Perfect Day
4. Hangin' 'Round
5. Walk On The Wild Side
6. Make Up
7. Satellite Of Love
8. Wagon Wheel
9. New York Telephone Conversation
10. I'm So Free
11. Goodnight Ladies


I have surgery tomorrow that I am really nervous about.  All I want to do is get my mind off it, read my book, and listen to some good music.  Maybe have some cupcakes too.


This album has a big personality, which you have to respect, whether you like it or not.  I happened to like it.  Once David Bowie got popular, he concentrated his efforts on making his friends popular, like Lou Reed.  You can definitely hear Bowie's influence in this album.  This may seem surprising from the cover, but Lou actually has a really calming voice which I need right now.


His songs were wild and fun.  Definitely something you should check out.

RATING: 5/5

250. Close To The Edge

Close To The Edge
Yes
1972

Tracks
1. Close To The Edge
2. And You And I
3. Siberian Khatru


250!!  The goal has officially been reached, ladies and germs.  We are one-fourth of the way through this remarkable journey.  This calls for cake and pink champagne.  Unfortunately, neither one of these things are in my reach right now.  This calls for someone else to bring me cake and pink champagne.  Step to it!


While I wait for you to bring me these things, we can talk about the Yes album.  More progressive rock.  Don't let the three tracks fool you; these songs are incredibly long.  Surprisingly, it is not as pretentious as you think it would be.  "Close To The Edge" is actually a pretty catchy track and I really don't feel like they are playing down to us or trying to push an intellectual message.  It is just good music.


Fun and innovative.  Happy one-fourth of the way through day!


RATING: 4/5