This is a little game that's going around on Facebook right now, but I thought people here might enjoy playing as well. Name the 10 albums that had the greatest effect on you and provide a little background as to why they are significant to you. I had a hard time limiting myself to just 10, so I cheated with an additional 10 honorable mentions. Submitted for your approval:

10 Albums that Changed My Life

1. The Beatles: Meet the Beatles
When I was probably in second or third grade, I was combing through my parents' record collection. I came across this old-fashioned looking album with black-and-white photos of four guys all dressed the same. Intrigued, I gave it a listen and experienced Beatlemania all by myself. I was hooked.

2. Queen: News of the World
There had been a popular song on the radio called "We Are the Champions." I didn't know who it was, but I liked it. My mother was going to the store and she asked whether I wanted her to bring me anything. I requested the single of this song. When she came home a few hours later, she gave me the album, saying she couldn't find the single. Up to this point, I had been listening to a lot of Abba. So this album really opened my eyes and ears to something very different. From "Dancing Queen" to "Sheer Heart Attack" was a pretty dramatic transition for me.

3. Jethro Tull: Heavy Horses
My uncle was a big fan of this obscure English group, and he sat me down one day to listen to the newest album. I did not like all of it, but the title track alone was enough to make me want to learn more about Jethro Tull. Today they're my favorite band.

4. Pink Floyd: The Wall
This album came out during the summer between my freshman and sophomore year of high school. I was blown away by the way the album told a story through song. And what songs they were! Absolutely earth-shattering for me and everyone I knew.

5. Led Zeppelin: In Through the Out Door
This may sound odd, but the packaging materials for this album really knocked me out. The album was covered in a plain brown paper bag, so you didn't know which of the six possible album covers you would get. The cover photo (designed by Hipgnosis) showed a sepia image of a man sitting alone at a bar, burning a paper over an ashtray; each version showed the same scene from a different angle. There was also a color swath across the center of the sepia image. This gave a clue to the watercolor inner sleeve that turned to color when you got it wet. On top of the innovative packaging, the music was also spectacular. I have whistled the tune of "Fool in the Rain" nearly every day since I first heard it.

6. Ludwig van Beethoven: Ninth Symphony (Leonard Bernstein)
My father gave me his love of classical music, but he was never much of a fan of choral works. After watching the movie A Clockwork Orange, I decided to listen to some of the source material. Of course, this means the glorious Ninth of lovely Ludwig van. Since I was studying German in high school, I responded to both the music and the lyrics. I would go around singing this at the top of my lungs during my senior year in high school, much to the immeasurable delight of my family.

7. Antonin Dvorak: Symphony #9 "From the New World" (Carlo Maria Giuliani)
This was the first CD I ever heard--it was in a rather high-end stereo store in Pasadena, Texas. I was blown away by the clarity of the sound. And of course, the music is great. Dvorak was the first Czech composer I ever heard, and he represented something different from the German composers I had grown up with.

8. Bedrich Smetana: Ma Vlast (Antal Dorati)
Smetana's "My Country" was my first introduction to the genre of the symphonic poem. It combines the same Bohemian spirit that I admire about Dvorak with the tone-poem sensibilities of Richard Strauss. If I could have only one CD on a desert island, it would be this one.

9. Mance Lipscomb: Vol. 4
I don't really remember when I started getting into the blues, but it was probably in the mid 1980s. I enjoyed Stevie Ray Vaughan and even some older stuff by Howlin' Wolf and John Lee Hooker. I found this album at a flea market in San Antonio. Mance Lipscomb had recorded seven albums in the late 1960s when he was already a very old man. They are all extremely primitive, but the performances are so soulful and unforgettable. He is my favorite blues artist. It's a shame he isn't more famous.

10. Red Elvises: I Want to See You Bellydance
I bought this as a novelty in 1998, but this is the finest example of "Siberian surf rock" by this eccentric group of Russian expatriates. The album is a delightful musical non sequitur of surf combined with East European motifs. And the band puts on a hell of a show as well.

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Honorable Mention:

The Marketts: The Batman Theme
My first "real" album and my early introduction to surf rock.

Electric Light Orchestra: Out of the Blue
Four sides of heaven and the best album cover ever.

Jesus Christ Superstar
Ian Gillen and Murray Head -- awesome!

Soft Cell: Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
Isn't it nice? Sugar and spice? Luring disco dollies to a life of vice?

Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense
They had me at the big suit.

W.A. Mozart: Exsultate Jubilate (Emma Kirkby/Christopher Hogwood)
The first CD I ever owned. I used to sit and listen to this for hours on end.

Kraftwerk: Die Mensch-Maschine
Wir funktionieren automatik / Jetzt wollen wir tanzen mechanik / Wir sind die Roboter.

The B-52s: Cosmic Thing
Hop in my Chrysler, it's as big as a whale, and it's about to set sail.

Frank Zappa: Joe's Garage
It wasn't very large. There was just enough room to cram the drums in the corner over by the Dodge. And a cheesy little amp with a sign on the front said Fender Champ. And a second-hand guitar--it was a Stratocaster with a whammy bar.

Twelve Girls Band: Eastern Energy
Absolutely transcendent.

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

I had heard many songs on the radio in the late 60's and early 70's - Beatles, Stones, etc. but......

1. Robin and the 7 Hoods (soundtrack) - cheesy 1960's musical with the Rat Pack, but great tunes. My Mom had this one on when I was very young - I always asked her to play it and I sang with the songs - I still know most heart.

2. Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac - got this one for Christmas from my older sister. It was my first album and I played it on her Sears Hi-Fi. I was hooked on rock and roll

3. Boston - Boston - I played this one for a "long time"

4. Ted Nugent - The Blue Album - I instantly became Ted's #1 fan - saw him in concert 4 times. Once with Legs Diamond, once with Pat Travers, once with Blackfoot and once with (I think) the Scorpions.

5. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes - Man! This album took me all the way through highschool and beyond. One great song after the other from THE mainstay in American Rock Culture

6. Rush - 2112 - I had never heard of Rush, took a chance, bought this album, then went back to the music store the same day and bought A Farewell to Kings, Caress of Steel, and Rush - those albums were on the turn-table for months and months.

7. Pink Floyd - The Wall - nuff said

8. Roy Harper - Greatest Hits - My first introduction to the great English songwriter. I continue to listen to him today.

9. Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays - As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls - give it a listen and you will be pleased. My first introduction to Pat, Lyle, and Jazz.

10. Eric Clapton - From the Cradle - I always like Eric and I knew that he was an icon but when I heard this album I was blown away. It is pure blues and Eric made me listen, now the blues is where it is at from me, I hear the blues in everything, everywhere, all of the time..........


There are so many others but I think this is my best recollection of the albums that impacted me and my life in the past 47 years.

Beaubs

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I Can't Explain

OK time for mine . Some of mine might seem odd

1. U2 "The Joshua Tree": It was the first album I can recall that broadened my musical landscape, which was very pop oriented at that point. Its just cover to cover good. "Exit" can still give me goosebumps.

2. Faith No More "The Real Thing": The album surprised me when i bought it. I sort of expected to just listen to "Epic" over and over. But i found myself listening to every song on it. More cover to cover goodness here. It just stood out in its time. Plus I LOVED that War Pigs cover (and I am no Sabbath fan by any stretch). Forget Iommi, give me Jim Martin any day.

3. Godspeed You Black Emperor "Lift Your Skinny Fists...": Wow. When I listened to this for the first time, I didnt know what the hell just happened to my ears. Its like i hadnt heard it at all. I had to go right back and listen again. This music is so cinematic. GYBE was my introduction to "post-rock". Not really a fan of the other post-rock artists. But I love GYBE

4. Nine Inch Nails "The Downward Spiral": This album confirmed to me in a MAJOR way that industrial music can really be deep, artistic, have feeling and flat out rock. No one has ever sounded like Trent. No one ever will.

5. U2 "Achtung Baby": Wow! Edge, where have you been hiding those electric guitars and pedals? He really came alive on this album. People can talk about Bono all they want, I say Edge carries this band. This album was a HUGE coming out party (maybe literally) for U2. They decided one day in Berlin "F--k it, lets just rock!". Big Edge fan

6. Joe Satriani "Flying In A Blue Dream". Phew! just like GYBE before, when i first listened to this I said "What the hell?". I never heard someone play that fast (besides EVH here and there). I kept listening to try to "get it". Now I do (or so I think) and Joe is easily my favorite guitar player. He is pure magic. Plain and simple.

7. De La Soul "3 Feet High and Rising": Yes a rap album. This taught me that rap really can be more then gangsta rap and rapping about hoes and money. Its jazzy and fun.

8. Peter Gabriel "Us": He finally got it right on this album. I knew he had an album this good in him. Everyone else says "So". i say "Us". Lady, kiss that frog!

9. Pink Floyd "Atom Heart Mother": Why oh WHY do they hate this album so much? Its just so different, but so damn cool. What group can put breakfast cooking sound clips into a song and make it sound cool? I love every song on this album.

10. World Party "Bang": I went to see 10,000 Maniacs in concert, the opening act "World Party" rolls out. Ok then. They start playing. I cant stop staring. Wow this stuff is GREAT. Its as if the Beach Boys, Stones, Beatles, Prince and Stone Roses all wrote songs together. You just have to hear it.


Well, theres my jumbled top 10. In no real order

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2008 PRS Mira vintage cherry
2008 Martin DM acoustic

Fascinating reading guys, some of my favorite albums have already been listed. But one that really changed my outlook on life, Solidair, by John Martyn. An absolute must for any collector of great music, just my humble opinon though. And bol316, if you like World Party, check out Goodbye Jumbo.

1. THE WALL, "We don't need no education" was my theme song in 7th grade. This album grew with me, I bought it for the ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL single and as I grew older, I realized that it was a story and it helped me grow musicaly and helped me in some tough times. PINK FLOYD has a never ending list of great albums, however THE WALL is the pinnacle.
2. KISS ALIVE 1: This was the first album that I owned, I got it for CHRISTMAS 1976 along with my first stereo. The energy on this album is unreal. Shoot, the cover blew me away. I was a huge KISS fan for a long time.
3. VAN HALEN 1: This album blew me away. I couldn't believe my ears, ERUPTION was like nothing before or since. I had no idea that a guitar could sound like that. EDDIE VAN HALEN redefined rock guitar.
4. TED NUGENT DOUBLE LIVE GONZO: I loved the guitar sound and CAT SCRATCH FEVER, GREAT WHITE BUFFALO, and STRANGLEHOLD. are instant classics.
5. RUSH 2112: I bought this one from a guy at school and loved GEDDY LEES bass playing, he is unreal. I loved the story too.
6. RUSH MOVING PICTURES: The first really hard song that I learned was LIMELIGHT. I started off playing bass and switched to guitar later.
7. JIMI HENDRIX SMASH HITS: Unforgetable music, I liked every song on the album.
8. AC/DC BACK IN BLACK: The riffs and BRIANs voice were so heavy.
9. PINK FLOYD DARK SIDE OF THE MOON: Great music and concept album.
10. STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN COULDN'T STAND THE WEATHER: His guitar work was stunning.

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2008 FENDER STRATOCASTER USA HIGHWAY ONE HSS.
2004 FENDER SQUIRE CYCLONE
2009 OVATION CELEBRITY DELUXE BLUE BURST QUILTED MAPLE
2008 PEAVEY VALVEKING VK112
"IT'S NOT ABOUT LOVING WHAT YOU WANT, IT'S ABOUT LOVING WHAT YOU'VE GOT."= SHERYL CROW

I think russianracehorse and I are exactly the same age.

I'll have to give my own list some thought, but I know the first one - the "Blue" Album, which I received for my 12th birthday and it kicked off my own little private Beatlemania.

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2008 MIM Strat w 3-tone sunburst
2002 LP Special Ebony Faded
2008 G-Dec
'59 Reissue Bassman 4x10 combo
TS 808
DS 1
Gretsch 6120DS (on loan)

Hi, Ellen. In the interest of full disclosure, I'll be 45 in April. You don't have reveal your own age. However, I also had the blue album...and the red one too!

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

bol316, kind sir you have some excellent picks there.

46 in June - I don't mind saying, as I've already revealed it in the "Old and Dim" thread...

I got the Red album too, six months later, for Christmas that year, and it was the first album I owned that I wanted to listen to so much that missed it when I left the house. Now I feel that way about my Strat

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2008 MIM Strat w 3-tone sunburst
2002 LP Special Ebony Faded
2008 G-Dec
'59 Reissue Bassman 4x10 combo
TS 808
DS 1
Gretsch 6120DS (on loan)

i've always worried if i was really from planet x and my family has always assured me that i was born in chicago, but, only one of my albums is picked on this thread, are you bros just scaring me for fun? just kidding, first album is really a series of 78's that i loved :
honky tonk parts 1 and 2-bill dogget, blueberry hill-fats domino, hound dog-elvis presley (can't remember the b-sides of the last two).
meet the beatles - the beatles
i feel good - james brown
sgt. peppers lonely hearts club band - the beatles
absolutely free - mothers of invention
the doors - the doors
are you experienced - jimi hendrix experience
fresh cream - the cream
our satanic majesty's request - rolling stones
surrealistic pillow - jefferson airplane
thats ten and i'm not past '67 from '56 on is way incomplete i'm pretty sure any of these would influence some one in a good musical way (i hope)
this will have to be it for now.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Derek & The Dominos..The Layla album was great, but I like a lot of SRV albums too.

Hey Solid. I think that's the fun of it. We all come from different backgrounds and we're different ages, so our musical influences are very different. There are some cultural touchstones we all share (like Meet the Beatles for you and me), but it's the quirky little variations that make us unique. There's no right or wrong answer.

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

RRH , thanks bro , meet the beatles was like that rainbow after a summer shower . i do really appreciate you forum bros putting up with my quirkiness here .

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Metallica- Ride the Lightning
Monster Magnet- Spine of God
MC5- Kick Out The Jams
Iggy & The Stooges- Raw Power
Blue Cheer- Vincebus Eruptum
The Mike Gunn- Durban Poison/Hemp For Victory
GBH- The Clay Years
Black Sabbath- The Best of...
Anything by the Glenn Danzig-era Misfits
Ozzy Osbourne/Randy Rhoads- Tribute

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RAMA LAMA FA FA FA

The Beatles-"Revolver"
Elvis Costello-"My Aim is True"
The Who-"Who's Next"
Jimi Hendrix-"Are You Experienced"
Lone Justice-"Lone Justice"
Rockpile-"Seconds of Pleasure"
Little Feat-"Waiting for Columbus"
The Clash-"Sandinista!"
Spirit-"Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus"
Sly & the Family Stone-"Greatest Hits"
have a few more but these are the ones that really standout.