I'm from a time when you bought an LP, and listened to it, in order, first to last track, and were immersed in a full story. Where tracks were placed was important. Which tracks came before others. Which followed others. Which songs ended with a hard stop, and which songs faded into the next one. And while listening to the album, you pored over every tiny detail of the cover art, the back with the credits, and (if you were lucky) inserts with lyrics and other information! So almost every album I purchased is set in a time and place in my mind. Listening to a new record was an experience... like seeing your first Star Wars movie. But there are some that are more memorable than others. A short list... Kruder & Dorfmeister, The K&D Sessions. Motorhead No Sleep Til Hammersmith Black Sabbath Master of Reality Simon and Garfunkel Sounds of Silence Ministry The Mind is a Terrible thing to Taste Billie Eilish When we all fall asleep, where do we go? Macy Gray On How Life Is Each of these albums, if I hear even one track, I need to go back to the first song, first side, and listen to the whole thing through. (Except Billie Eilish. I just listen to her entire catalog, end to end. No album to 'consume and analyze' there.)
This is a generational thing that you and I grok, but my kids just stare at me in bewilderment about... although my daughter bought a record player recently and has been thumbing my collection a bit. It's fun to "catch" her sitting in her room looking at cover art while the music is playing. EDIT: and thanks for the albums. Giving the Macy Gray a listen now.And while listening to the album, you pored over every tiny detail of the cover art, the back with the credits, and (if you were lucky) inserts with lyrics and other information!
I don't think we've got any gramophones 'ere grandad. ____________________ First. I've already mentioned the connection between Candlemass and Hulme before: But in the spirit of what goobster said of course it's the whole album that transports me. Epicus Doomicus Metallicus Next is the odd one out because it's a single track. Donna Summer's State Of Independence (New Radio Millennium Mix) Takes me directly back to Sydney and the early rave scene there. That article takes me back too - as much as the song. Sugar Ray, Ming D, Joe 90, Sheen... - I've no idea how they've tracked down so many flyers and dates and places from that era.... Finally, I guess the last one is not just a place but a specific event - I got bitten by a mosquito in Hong Kong and the bite got infected. I was bedridden in agony for a week with a huge swollen, puss filled neck that ended up with a hospital trip to get drained. Had this album on almost constantly the whole time. Do you hear a cow? Searching with my good eye closed from Badmotorfinger