If you follow my Twitter, you know that a few weeks ago I started working my way through the 2005 edition of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. And I won’t lie, it has been humbling. I thought I knew the classics pretty well, but after going through the list of albums, I realized I had only heard about 75 of them cover-to-cover. Not the stats you’re probably looking for in a guy who writes about music. So to regain my admittedly-small amount of credibility, I’ve been working through the list like it’s my job. Which, if the live music industry stays shut down, might actually become a reality.
Believe it or not, getting through 1001 albums takes a while. So instead of waiting until I’m finished with the list, I’ve decided to write updates for each ten year chunk as I finish them. Because the book’s range spans from 1955 to 2005, those chunks won’t be based on decade, as you might expect. I’m also not going to be covering every single album. There’s a whole book for that. Instead, I’m going to focus on artists that I really should have been familiar with by now. Hopefully, you’ll walk away with a few discoveries yourself. And if not, you can at least have a nice laugh about how musically ignorant I am.
Today’s albums were released between 1956 and 1965.
The Crickets, The “Chirping” Crickets (1957)
Look, I promise I’m not stupid. But for years and years, I never stopped to consider that Buddy Holly was a real person and not just the inspiration for a Weezer song. I mean, I knew he was a real person, I just never made the connection that I could type his name into Spotify and listen to his music.
When I finally did, though, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed his music (or in this case, his music with The Crickets). I actually recognized “That’ll Be The Day,” and I particularly enjoyed “Maybe Baby” because I use the phrase “maybe baby” all the time. Most of all, it was just cool as a rock fan to hear the genre in its earliest form.
Favorite Tracks: “That’ll Be The Day,” “Maybe Baby”
Little Richard, Here’s Little Richard (1957)
I had similar thoughts about Little Richard as I did about The Crickets, but I think I liked Little Richard even more. He’s a little (ha) more charismatic, his music is a little higher-energy, and in general the music feels more timeless. Of the two artists, I can see myself revisiting Little Richard more in the future.
Also, I know I have decades more Little Richard material to work through. This is just the tip of the iceberg. But I’ll save that for after the hundreds of albums I still have left on this damn list.
Favorite Tracks: “Tutti Frutti,” “Can’t Believe You Wanna Leave,” “Ready Teddy”
Billie Holiday, Lady in Satin (1958)
For most of these albums, I’ve just been listening through once, saving my favorite tracks, and moving on. Lady in Satin was the first one I felt compelled to come back to. Billie Holiday’s voice, while limited in range, carries a bittersweetness that instantly captures you. The songs on Lady in Satin may have been jazz standards, but Holiday’s emotional delivery makes it hard to believe the words are coming from anyone but her.
Favorite Tracks: “I’m a Fool to Want You,” “Glad to Be Unhappy”
The Sonics, Here Are The Sonics (1965)
Why the hell did no one ever tell me about The Sonics? I am a HUGE fan of Nirvana, the White Stripes, and many of the countless other bands they influenced, but I’d never heard so much as a note from them. It’s almost eerie to listen to The Sonics and hear so clearly the proto-punk characteristics some of my favorite bands would adopt and develop, but it’s by far my favorite moment in the first leg of this musical voyage. If you love the fuzzy, aggressive style of grunge and modern garage rock as much as I do, this is a must-listen.
Favorite Tracks: “The Witch,” “Strychine”
Bob Dylan, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963), Bringing It All Back Home (1965), Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
Before you pull out the pitchforks: I knew who Bob Dylan was before 1001 Albums. But until now, I had barely listened to him. It wasn’t for any good reason; I’d heard enough Dylan songs to understand why he’s so revered. I just never got around to diving in. But after finishing The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, I was hooked. I was converted to a Dylan disciple for the same reasons everybody is: his humor, his unconventional voice (this one might just be me), and his wisdom. And although his songs run long, which I typically don’t enjoy, I feel more like I’m being taken on a journey than forced to complete a chore. That being said, I might need a little more time before I’m ready to tackle “Murder Most Foul.”
Favorite Tracks: “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” “Like a Rolling Stone”
And with that, I’ve officially closed out the first ten year chunk of this Herculean task. Up next is the late 60s and early 70s, the era I’m most excited for. With that excitement comes the knowledge that it’s only going to get more and more embarrassing not knowing albums. Oh well. Pretty soon, I’ll know them all.
Lyle B.