If you've spent anytime on Facebook recently chances are you seen several "15 Albums in 15 Minutes" posts. The concept is simple, you've got 15 minutes to come up with 15 albums that will always stick with you for whatever reason. Now you could break the 15 minute rule and take about 2 hours to come up with a respectable list that doesn't include anything your friends would give you a hard time about, but where's the fun in that? So I set my timer for 10 minutes and this is what I came up with...crap and all.
1. Rush - Moving Pictures
Not only was it the first album I thought of, it was the first album (cassette) I remember going out and actually buying for myself. I even remember where I bought it, Wal-Mart in Pekin, IL, and that I was with my best friend Brent Oest when I made the purchase. In fact he made fun of me for buying it, which is funny to me now because if I remember correctly was he was buying a Stryper cassette.
2. Rush - 2112
Honestly I could have probably just listed 15 Rush albums and called it a day, but I decided to limit myself to two. So 2112 has to make the cut thanks to 20 minutes of awesome that is the title track.
3. Apaches of Paris - Fireman's Daughter
I spent the summer after I graduated High School in Austin, TX with my Aunt and Uncle. And the entire time my Uncle was taking me around to bars so we could check out some live music. One of our stops was at the Saxon Pub and that's where I discoverd the Apaches of Paris. I bought the CD that night and have been listening to it for the past 15 years. In fact it's in my car right now. The picture on the left was from an Apaches of Paris reunion show that I drove 16 hours to see.
4. Better than Ezra - Deluxe/Bush - Sixteen Stone
I'm counting these albums as one because I bought both of them the Summer I stayed in Austin and as soon as I thought about the Apaches of Paris album these two popped into my mind.
5. Storyville - Bluest Eyes
Once again another album courtesy of Austin, TX...which truly is the Live Music Capital of the World and a must visit for any music fan. Malford Milligan's vocals are insane and when you can back them up with the rhythm section from Double Trouble you have near perfection.
6. The Empire Strikes Back
My list of 15 albums that will always stick with me wouldn't be complete without it. Now this was literally the movie on vinyl...all the dialogue and everything. I must have listened to this thing 3 times a day and because of it I can still recite most of the dialogue when I watch the movie.
7. Van Halen - 1984
So what's more epic? The album or the album cover?
8. Pearl Jam - Ten
Nirvana may get all the credit for killing hair metal and ushering in the grunge sound, but it was this album that really introduced me to it.
9. Warrant - Cherry Pie
This one only makes the list because of the fact that I ended up buying the cassette at least four times because I kept breaking it. Maybe someone was trying to tell me something...
10. The Grease Soundtrack
I'm not ashamed to admit that I not only own, but also enjoy the soundtrack to Grease. It's also because of this movie/play that I got into theatre which has been a big part of my life.
11. Stone Temple Pilots - Core
Love this band, love this album and love the fact that Scott Weiland has managed not to kill himself yet.
12. Skid Row - Skid Row
Me - Mom, I want a CD player for Christmas.
Mom - CD's are too expensive, you'll never have enough to make a CD player worth it.
So I bought my own CD player and made Skid Row's debut my first CD purchase of what would eventual turn into a collection of around 1000. My point being, mom's don't know everything.
13. Poison - Flesh and Blood
Yes, I was a Poison fan...so why Flesh and Blood and not Open Up and Say Ahhhh? Well, I had tickets in the 17th row for the Flesh and Blood Tour but couldn't go because my boss at the local gas station wouldn't give me the night off. Looking back I should have walked out that night and told him to suck it.
14. Beatles - Sgt. Pepper
My dad is a HUGE music fan with a pretty impressive collection of vinyl. Most of it he wouldn't let me look at let alone touch, but he had two copies of Sgt. Pepper...the key word being had. I wore that record out.
15. Sesame Street Merry Christmas
Hell it didn't have to be Christmas, when I was younger I listened to this bad boy all year round! But what makes this really unforgettable is the fact that I had this on 8-Track. Nothing quite like enjoying a good old Sesame Street Christmas only to have it interupted by the song break so it could switch tracks. Good times.
So that's it, my 15 Albums in 15 (actually 10) Minutes. Not all of them are pretty but they are definitely ones that will stick with me forever.
1. Rush - Moving Pictures
2. Rush - 2112
3. Apaches of Paris - Fireman's Daughter
4. Better than Ezra - Deluxe/Bush - Sixteen Stone
5. Storyville - Bluest Eyes
6. The Empire Strikes Back
7. Van Halen - 1984
8. Pearl Jam - Ten
9. Warrant - Cherry Pie
10. The Grease Soundtrack
11. Stone Temple Pilots - Core
12. Skid Row - Skid Row
13. Poison - Flesh and Blood
14. Beatles - Sgt. Pepper
15. Sesame Street Merry Christmas