Favorite Albums - Part I

By nature, I am a very self-conscious person, though - like some cheeses - I am getting better with age. I have many passions, but have to admit that music would wind up toward the top of my list.

It's more than an escape, it is part of who I am, imperfect as I may be. As such, I have learned through the years to be somewhat guarded in revealing to casual acquaintances my favorite artists, songs and albums. An unkind word here, a smirk there, and I feel diminished as a person. Degraded. Lacking in depth and worth.

Revealing my musical tastes is revealing a deep and tender part of my soul, and is therefore something I only do with great caution for select, trusted friends* (* in the purest sense of that word).

Now one of my current favorite toys, along with the rest of the planet it seems, is my humble iPod. There is so much that I love about it. But especially, I love the vagabond nature of this device. It is a blast "playing Nero" on a frequent basis, arbitrarily deciding on whim whether a song continues life in my iPod, or is executed into obscurity.



But I am also pragmatic, and realize that there are negative consequences as a result of this new-found capability. One that immediately comes to mind is that it seems to devalue artists and their creations to some extent, because they are now reduced to commodities which can be instantaneously obtained and discarded. They become momentary concepts rather than tangible, treasured items to be lovingly touched (well maybe not the artist ...... boy, didn't I have to learn that particular lesson the hard way), examined, treasured, and stored with gentle care.

This is why I often fondly recall and even pine for the return of the record album. Tangible, lasting, an investment of money, and more importantly, time. Time for me to decide WHICH album is worthy of my hard-earned cash, time to travel to "ye old record shoppe" to pluck it from obscurity and bring it into my world, time ... well, I better stop the time nonsense, or I'll start plagiarizing The Byrds.


But I remember my vow to myself, that if I ever started my own blog, I would be truthful, honest, and reveal even those tender, protected slivers of my psyche to the world. I can't - no, I WON'T - be a chickenshit and bail out from what I set out to do.

Oh, one more thing. Before I do this , you must promise me that you will not be judgmental, unkind, or mean-spirited about what I am about to show you. It would crush me, and I don't know if I could even go on with this blog. I would be too humiliated.

Agreed? Okay, then, I'll trust you. Click on the link below (thank you, doggerel, for helping me with the link!) for some of my favorite albums.

My Favorite Albums - Part I