Have you ever listened to an album/CD/long playing and thinked- this one is just magic, they build a whole world I can travel to? Here's my magic ones, they're still on my mind...
1966 - Fred Neil - Fred Neil
1968 - Van Morrison - Astral weeks
1970 - Nick Drake - Bryter layter
1975 - Bruce Springsteen - Born to run
1976 - Rino Gaetano - Mio fratello è figlio unico

...

Nick Drake - Way to blue
Van Morrison - Astral weeks
Leonard Cohen - Songs of Leonard Cohen
Joni Mitchell - Song to a seagull
Serge Gainsbourg - Du jazz dans le ravin

oh! I'm not alone seeing the magic...

Well with Nick Drake it's really hard to decide, he didn't record that much, but everything he did record is magical1

These are records that I definitely get lost in, every time:
• Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
• Guided By Voices - Alien Lanes
• Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
• Caribou - Andorra
• Brian Eno - Another Green World
• Harry Nilsson - Pandemonium Shadow Show
• The Roches - Moonswept

Yeah, it's more than 5. So what?

bad, bad boy ;-) now you've to delete 7-5=2
I knew neutral milk hotel & harry nilsson ones - very strange and beautiful works

Sorry. Can't do it.
Those are all records that, once I put them on, I have to listen to all the way through. Or, rather, if I am interrupted while listening, it is startling to have to come back to where I am sitting at that time.

Oh, and that Roches record is from 2007. Amazing that they are making such astonishing music still nearly 30 years after their debit.

Blood on the Tracks - Bob Dylan
Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
Summertime Dream - Gordon Lightfoot
Warren Zevon - Warren Zevon
The Ghosts that Haunt Me - Crash Test Dummies

Scott

@todd: yes I know that feeling...
Ciao Scott, thanks for joining - If I had another one, would have choosen the same by Dylan.

Can't think of five right now but I'll name one

Live at The Greek - Neil Diamond

First album I completely memorized.

I will put on your bill two from Todd's list ;-)
thanks

"Mar Azul" CESARIA EVORA
"Argus" WISHBONE ASH
"Jews With Horns" THE KLEZMATICS
"Bayou Country" CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
"Garcia/Grisman" JERRY GARCIA & DAVID GRISMAN

LOVE Cesaria Evora!
Nice pick Kurt. (Although I don't know that particular album.)

thanks kurt! not cosmo's factory?

In terms of building a whole world you could travel to, no other CCR album comes close to "Bayou Country". It has a vibe all unto itself. "Cosmo's Factory" had a bunch of radio hits (and a bunch of blues and rock 'n' roll covers) but it's not even in my Top 3 Creedence albums.

This list would be more like 500 than 5 for me The Beatles alone
could fill it. And then you could just fill it with Jazz alone or a few other genres. But "Rock" alone can do the trick a hundred times over.

1976 - Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder
1966 - Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles
1978 - And Then There Were Three - Genesis
1973 - Dark Side Of The Moon - Pink Floyd
1975 - Born To Run - Bruce

One of my best friends and music collaborators produced Born To Run

Geez, Queen, The Stones, Zeppelin,Bee Gees all have some magical albums. "Some Kinda Blue" Miles Davis man there's enough GREAT stuff in the past to last forever!

@kurt - I understand... cosmo's quite more eclectic (but seen from far far Italy it seems as a whole as an american flag)
@mike - talking about the nice face of J. Landau? so you came close to the magic...

anyway Born to run gains 3 magic stars ;-)

Counting Crows -- August and Everything After
Jackson Browne -- For Everyman
Rod Stewart -- Never a Dull Moment
Van Morrison -- Too Late to Stop Now
Rolling Stones -- Exile on mainstreet

thanks kevin, I was waiting someone to pick up Exile on mainstreet!!!! and now Van morrison is 3 magic stars too, but I dont know the one you choose (is it 'live'?).

Yes, it is a 2-LP live one. Tough to choose a "best" Van Morrison album. By they way, I have astral weeks -- and I only consider it OK. If I didn't have it, I wouldn't buy it.

My favorite Van album is "St. Dominic's Preview".

His Band & The Street Choir for me.

It's incredible we are 4 and we have 4 different 'van morrison's. but I think he is great for this reason also.

Buffalo Springfield - Retrospective
Rickie Lee Jones
The Blues Project - The Blues Project
Supersession
Bratz - Rock Angels

Tom

Love that Rickie Lee Jones album. Her "Ghostyhead" is a piece of art as well. Beat poetry set to trip-hop.

Kinks - Face to Face
Donovan - Catch the Wind
Buffalo Springfield - Retrospective
Blind Faith - Blind Faith
Beatles - Rubber Soul

Rick Norton!!!!

How the hell are you?
I love your photo lol

Hey Mike. Been lurking in the shadows. Haven't done much musicwise, except playing my guitar from time to time. Too many projects around the house and outdoor activities.

Rick

Hey Rick

Complete opposite No outdoor activities,LITERALLY,actually no indoor activities either. ONLY playing the guitar and hitting that drum pad.

Nice to see ya though!

Tough one, but these are magic to me:

George Harrison - All things must pass
Ry Cooder - Ry Cooder (his first from 1970)
Robert Cray - Midnight Stroll (yeah, it's an 80'ies album!)
ZZ Top - Eliminator
Elvis' first album from 56' (I still love it)

David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust
Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks
Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon
The Beatles - Rubber Soul
The Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed
And soooo many more,that was hard choosin' Max!

thanks michael, I know, but this could be one of the best 'super lists' ever seen (I'm collecting all of your entries ;-)

no more?

Sure there are.

December - George Winston
Rocky Mountain High - John Denver
11-17-70 - Elton John
End of the innocence - Dan Fogelberg
How did you find me here - David Wilcox

1971 - Yes - Fragile: Simply the best listening ever.
1972 - The Allman Brothers Band - Eat A Peach: the last recordings of Duane Allman.
1976 - Boston - Boston: "Peace of Mind" my favorite song.
1978 - Bruce Springsteen - Darkness On The Edge of Town: First time I ever heard Bruce.
1983 - Michael Stanley Band - You Can't Fight Fashion: "My Town" another one of my favorite tracks, plus their from Ohio...

Sgt Peppers
Ricky Lee Jones
Retrospective - Buffalo Springfield
SuperSession
Blues Project


Tom

thank you all! I'm glad J. Denver is in the list, would have choosen myself but only 5 entries (I'm doing harm to myself)

David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust (yeah Michael...my favourite all time album)
Chris de Burgh - Spanish Train & Other Stories (a classic by a great singer songwriter)
Harmonium - Harmonium (brilliant French Canadian band-too bad you don't know them-though you could "youtube" them)
Eagles - Hotel California
Various - 30 Years Of Stony Plain (technically, a compilation from a Canadian label, Stony Plain...but what magic on this one.

In a rush this AM...2 come to mind immediately:

"Pink Panther" (Soundtrack Album)..Hank Mancini
"Monster"..REM
MOST all of the Early STONES Albums gave me Satisfaction...

Best Wishes/Big Hugs,
Stan

I'm not much of an album guy..there's just one for me. It's an old Country album:

"Night Life" - Ray Price (about 1962)

Every song on that album touches my life in way or another.

Like Al, I just never was one to collect and listen to albums and that was probably because I was too broke to buy one!

Thank you John-Stan-Al-Samuel!

Aint no more?

ps... holy.. the PINK PANTHER!!!!!! you crazy man ;-)
"harmonium" I'll go for it ( nothing to do with K&A mcgarrigle?)

This will get you there max

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ-wR-8oQyc

So many magic albums, so I'll pick 5 newer ones:

Beck - Sea Change
Blitzen Trapper - Furr
Dead Weather - Horehound
Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Kaiser Chiefs - Employment

It's a wonderful list. Here's the result - if someone wants to add (or change an entry detail): just post the below list modified. I found out several interesting titles ;-)

1956 - Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley
1963 - Night Life - Ray Price - country
1963 - Pink Panther - Henry Mancini - soundtrack
1965 - Beatles - Rubber Soul - rock
1965 - Beatles - Rubber Soul - rock
1965 - Donovan - Catch the Wind - folk
1966 - Beach Boys - Pet Sounds - rock
1966 - Fred Neil - Fred Neil - folk
1966 - Kinks - Face to Face - pop rock
1966 - The Beatles - Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band - rock
1966 - The Beatles - Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band - rock
1967 - Harry Nilsson - Pandemonium Shadow Show - pop
1967 - Leonard Cohen - Songs of Leonard Cohen - folk
1968 - Bloomfield/Kooper/Stills - Supersession - blues
1968 - Joni Mitchell - Song to a seagull - folk
1968 - Van Morrison - Astral weeks - folk rock
1968 - Van Morrison - Astral weeks - folk rock
1969 - Blind Faith - Blind Faith - blues rock
1969 - Buffalo Springfield - Retrospective - folk rock
1969 - Buffalo Springfield - Retrospective - folk rock
1969 - Buffalo Springfield - Retrospective - folk rock
1969 - CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL - Bayou Country - southern rock
1969 - The Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed - rock
1970 - Elton John - Elton John - folk
1970 - George Harrison - All things must pass - rock
1970 - Nick Drake - Bryter layter - folk
1970 - Ry Cooder - Ry Cooder - blues
1971 - Yes - Fragile - prog
1972 - David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust - rock
1972 - David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust - rock
1972 - Rocky Mountain High - John Denver - country
1972 - Rod Stewart - Never a Dull Moment - folk rock
1972 - Rolling Stones - Exile on mainstreet - rock
1972 - The Allman Brothers Band - Eat A Peach - rock blues
1972 - The Blues Project - The Blues Project - psich. Rock
1972 - WISHBONE ASH - Argus - hard rock
1973 - Dark Side Of The Moon - Pink Floyd - rock
1973 - Dark Side Of The Moon - Pink Floyd - rock
1973 - Jackson Browne - For Everyman - folk
1974 - Harmonium - Harmonium - folk
1974 - Van Morrison - Too Late to Stop Now - folk rock
1975 - Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks - folk
1975 - Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks - folk
1975 - Bruce Springsteen - Born to run - rock
1975 - Bruce Springsteen - Born to run - rock
1975 - Bruce Springsteen - Born to run - rock
1975 - Chris de Burgh - Spanish Train & Other Stories - folk
1975 - Brian Eno - Another Green World - ambient
1976 - Boston - Boston - rock
1976 - Eagles - Hotel California
1976 - Gordon Lightfoot - Summertime Dream - folk
1976 - Rino Gaetano - Mio fratello è figlio unico - folk
1976 - Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life - pop
1976 - Warren Zevon - Warren Zevon - rock
1977 - Neil Diamond - Live at The Greek - rock
1978 - And Then There Were Three - Genesis - prog
1978 - Bruce Springsteen - Darkness On The Edge of Town - rock
1979 - Rickie Lee Jones - Rickie Lee Jones - rock
1979 - Rickie Lee Jones - Rickie Lee Jones - rock
1982 - December - George Winston - folk
1983 - Michael Stanley Band - You Can't Fight Fashion -
1983 - ZZ Top - Eliminator - blues rock
1989 - End of the innocence - Don Henley (&Dan Fogelberg) - rock
1989 - How did you find me here - David Wilcox - folk
1990 - Robert Cray - Midnight Stroll - blues
1991 - CESARIA EVORA - Mar Azul -
1991 - Crash Test Dummies - The Ghosts that Haunt Me - folk rock
1993 - Counting Crows - August and Everything After - alt rock
1994 - Nick Drake - Way to blue - folk
1994 - REM - Monster - alt rock
1995 - Guided By Voices - Alien Lanes - indie rock
1996 - JERRY GARCIA & DAVID GRISMAN - Garcia/Grisman - folk
1996 - Various : 30 Years Of Stony Plain - country
1997 - Serge Gainsbourg - Du jazz dans le ravin -
1997 - THE KLEZMATICS - Jews With Horns - Yiddish
1998 - Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - folk rock
2002 - Beck - Sea Change - alt rock
2002 - Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots - dream pop
2005 - Bratz - Rock Angels - alt rock
2005 - Kaiser Chiefs - Employment - new wave
2007 - Caribou - Andorra - electronica
2007 - The Roches - Moonswept - folk
2008 - Blitzen Trapper - Furr - alt country
2009 - Dead Weather - Horehound - alt rock

the format is: year - artist - title - genre

That's a great record...especially the spoken intro where Ray says "me and the Cherokee Cowboys are knockin' on your record player one more time..."

1973 The Who Quadrophenia Rock
1972 Yes Close to the edge Artsy Rock
1974 Jackson Browne Late for the Sky Lyrical genius rock/folk
1962 Tony Bennett I left my heart in San Francisco Jazz
1974 Joni Mitchell Court and Spark Jazzy Rock

If I had to put something more recent in there it would be the first CD from Pink Martini

I think I have met more of these artists than really listened to the albums listed. Very interesting.

I was thinking of putting together a top 100 JPF Album list from our awards for people to check out. Same with songs. It's hard to compare voting from one year to the next plus the growth each year makes it problematic. I wonder if we could find volunteers to help compile such a list?

Brian

Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan
Sweet Revenge - John Prine
Old Five And Dimers Like Me - Billy Joe Shaver
Kristofferson - Kris Kristofferson
Seeger Sessions - Bruce Springsteen
Empire Burlesque - Bob Dylan

and a sleeper: Moon Eyes - Getsuei Geisha