When we were around fifteen and sixteen years old, my closest friends and I had an almost obligatory playlist whenever we got together. In fact, during that chapter of our lives, we did little else other than listen to music (and smoke dope). I am not exaggerating when I say we listened to a core set of albums hundreds of times.
Here’s mine/ours:
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
To our budding existentialist ears, the lyrics, in particular, were just amazing (“Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules. The fate of all mankind, I see, is in the hands of fools” OR “When every man is torn apart with nightmares and with dreams.”). But, the music itself was just as wonderful. To this day, thirty-five years later (ouch!!), I still find some of the melodies quite beautiful, and the arrangements lush and enveloping.
Mothers of Invention – Uncle Meat
I don’t think it was because we were, invariably, stoned when we listened to it (although that helped), but we genuinely appreciated Zappa’s social commentary and satire. In no small way, this album (along with so much of the early stuff by the Mothers) influenced us to not be captives of fashion and fad, not to be superficial, to be independent thinkers, and above all, not to become “plastic people”. It’s especially ironic, then, that we became snobs as a result and would look down on anybody we perceived as being “plastic”. We condescended not because their hair was too short or too long, but because it had been styled. Likewise, we sneered at some people not because their clothes were cheap or were not in fashion, but because of the opposite – their clothes were expensive or were “designer” type.
Deep Purple – Deep Purple in Rock
I’ve probably listened to “Child in Time” a thousand times. I still listen to it nowadays. Nothing like a breathtaking electric guitar solo to get your energy level back up. No, no deep messages or adolescent philosophy in this album - just plain old hard rock.
Pink Floyd – Ummagumma
This is the album where we discovered Pink Floyd. The beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Rolling Stones – Let it Bleed
The most “normal” album on our playlist. Actually, though, we knew even then that this was something special. Not at all normal. What other album could get us self-conscious guys to sing out loud? Enthusiastically and unashamedly at that. I remain convinced that this is the best Stones album ever.
Obviously, there were other albums on our obligate playlist – Jefferson Airplane (Bless its Pointed Little Head), Jimi Hendrix (Electric Ladyland), Uriah Heap (Salisbury), Jethro Tull (Benefit) … but the five listed above are the prototypes. The embodiment of the music of our youth.
Did you have a default, routine “playlist” at such an impressionable and important age (15/16)? Do you remember it? Please tell. But, for the sake of space (and the hamsters), please limit your response to no more than five tracks. OK? Thanks.
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