Readers Pick Favorite CDs
By Denise A. Raymo, The Press-Republican, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Jul. 13–The music lovers of the North Country sure have eclectic tastes.
We asked our readers to create a list of CDs or albums they could not do without if they were stranded on a desert island — with electricity and stereo equipment, of course.
We asked for the Top 5, and the entries we received covered hip-hop, country-western, classic rock and nearly every other musical genre in between.
We heard from music lovers all over the region: Tupper Lake, Altona, Morrisonville, Ellenburg, Peru, Cadyville, Elizabethtown, Willsboro, Lake Placid, Malone and Plattsburgh.
ADVICE FROM EXPERTS
As for my list, let me say from the start that I am a product of the 1970s, so a majority of my favorite music comes from that era.
But, if I were marooned with only five CD choices, the ’70s would not bring me the musical nourishment I would need to get me through until I was rescued.
To get me jump-started, I sought help from the real professionals: Rolling Stone magazine.
When it released its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time on Nov. 1, 2003, Rolling Stone chose "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band" as No. 1.
Its editors and staff called the Beatles’ 1967 release "the most important rock-and-roll album ever made, an unsurpassed adventure in concept, sound, song writing, cover art and studio technology by the greatest rock-and-roll group of all time."
At No. 2 was "Pet Sounds" by the Beach Boys, followed the Beatles’ "Revolver," Bob Dylan’s "Highway 61 Revisited" and the Beatles’ "Rubber Soul."
Excellent choices all, and no doubt any of them would be happily played on a desert island occupied by someone.
In fact, some of our readers selected some of these same albums.
But those who responded saw their Top 5 differently, and so did I. My suitcase would contain the "Live in Los Angeles" concert CD by The Three Tenors; "Carry It On," the boxed set by Peter, Paul and Mary; "So Far" by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; "The Stranger," by Billy Joel; and "The Main Event: Live At Madison Square Garden" concert by Frank Sinatra.
Here’s a random sampling of the responses we got:
JAZZ LOVER
Janet Blair of Tupper Lake chose "Romantic Jazz" by Jackie Gleason, calling it "the best album I ever purchased. Every number is done to perfection."
Next was "Saloon Songs Volume II" by Jimmy Rosselli, especially "When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New."
Frankie Laine’s "I’ll Take Care of Your Cares" and also his "You Wanted Someone to Play With (I Wanted Someone To Love)" also made her list, as did the 1958 album "Sail Along Silvery Moon" by Billy Vaughn and His Orchestra.
MIXING IT UP
Marie Quain of Rouses Point skipped all over the musical map to compile her list.
The full recording of Handel’s "Messiah" is a composition she finds uplifting and something she would never tire of hearing.
The song mix and accompanying vocals by Emmy Lou Harris make Bob Dylan’s "Desire" another favorite, as is the Rolling Stones’ "High Tide and Green Grass," which Quain describes as "a great compilation of the early Stones hits."
The island conditions would allow her to "sing along at the top of my lungs" to Meatloaf’s "Bat Out Of Hell." Her fifth choice was "North Country" from the Canadian group The Rankin Family.
HAPPY MUSIC
Kevin Bushey of Ellenburg Depot said it was tough to choose just five favorites, but he made his selections because they "make me feel good and happy."
He says the first Beatles album, the Beach Boys’ "Made in the U.S.A.," Elton John’s "Greatest Hits Volume I" and "Volume II" and the Eagles "Greatest Hits" would be all he would need, musically, on a desert island.
HOOKED ON BLUES
Plattsburgh State student Tats Kasama’s entry boldly announces: "I love blues music, and that’s why I came to the United States from Japan."
"Trouble in Mind" by Big Bill Broonzy captures the artist’s best years, "the transition from Mississippi Delta to Chicago style," said Kasama.
"The Complete Recordings" by Robert Johnson is another of his Top 5 favorites.
"This album made me extremely sleepy because each song sounded the same to me at first. But now I’ve gotten hooked on the King of the Delta Blues! This one is addictive."
At the same time, "Keith Richards is my lifetime favorite guitarist. I love the Rolling Stones. But this band — Keith Richards and the X-Pensive Winos — especially in live performance, ‘Live at the Hollywood Palladium,’ is heavier, blues-ier and more rocking."
Kasama also selected Shannon Curfman’s "Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions."
"I couldn’t believe that a 14-year-old girl could sing and play blues-rock like that. Since listening to this about 10 years ago, I’ve always said I like girls who play blues guitar."
His final choice, "BBC Sessions" by Led Zeppelin, was easy to include.
"Zeppelin is my favorite band, and this album is the most rocking among their works. Don’t say it’s ridiculous because it has three takes of ‘Communication Breakdown.’ Each of them is great."
MOVING MUSIC
Phyllis Klein of Willsboro calls herself one of the "old folks" taking part in the contest and said she’s taking "A Hard Day’s Night" by the Beatles.
"Do I really need to explain why the Beatles must be included?" she wrote. "OK. They are the Fab Four, and there’s nothing more to be said except that they changed the face of music in the U.S. forever!"
Clifton Chenier’s "Bogalusa Boogie" — "This CD gets you up out of your armchair and moving in a way that senior citizens can handle. Besides, Zydeco music is underappreciated. It’s loads of fun to listen to, especially for Francophones."
Matisyahu’s "Live at Stubbs" is a favorite of Klein’s, who says, "Matisyahu is a charismatic, young Chasidic rapper whose words speak to your soul."
"In the Wee Small Hours" by Frank Sinatra and Luciano Pavarotti’s "Favorite Arias" round out her selections.
FAITHFUL LISTENER
Rose Anna Mousseau of Elizabethtown named faith-based music among her favorites to play on a desert island.
"Spoken For" by Mercy Me "is very peaceful," she says, because the performers "tell what the Lord has done for them in their lives."
"Josh Groban in Concert" and "Sacred Arias" by Andrea Bocelli are two more inspirational choices, but Mousseau also enjoys "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd. "I think this is my favorite, but there are other ones also."
The 1998 release "Santana" also tops her all-time favorites list.
"I love this music and never tire of listening to it," she says. Guitarist Carlos Santana "is a wonderful Christian man who always gives God credit if he wins an award."
ROCK CLASSICS
Bob Platt of Tupper Lake put his list in chronological order after declaring, "as one of the older folks you referred to, I think the greatest rock music came out of 1964-74, and I still have all my LPs, nearly each one still in mint condition."
"All Summer Long," the 1964 release by the Beach Boys, is No. 1 for him — "great summer album with ‘I Get Around,’ ‘Girls on the Beach’ and ‘Wendy.’"
The Beatles’ "Rubber Soul" — "just about every song on this record remains great," he says –, "December’s Children" by the Rolling Stones and "The Doors," the album that contains the long version of "Light My Fire" and "Crystal Ship," are No. 3 and 4.
No. 5 for Platt is "Crosby, Still and Nash" from 1969, which features "Wooden Ships" and "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes."
VARIATIONS
Homer Mitchell of Jay has one of the more eclectic lists submitted.
He starts with "Let it Bleed" by the Rolling Stones, which assures him that "rock and roll is here to stay on this island!" and "Civilization III" by Frank Zappa.
They are followed by violinist Yehudi Menuhin’s recording of Beethoven’s "Violin Concerto Romances No. 1 and 2," and composer Henryk Gorecki’s "Symphony 3, Sorrowful Songs," with vocalist Dawn Upshaw, and "Alina" by composer Arvo Part.
"A desert island affords an opportunity to appreciate silence, even with all that stereo equipment you’ve provided. Part’s music explores the relationship between being and nothingness. Shhh. Listen," Mitchell says.
YOUTHFUL VIEW
Ben Alberry, a 15-year-old from Morrisonville, made two of his choices based on his family ties.
"How Are We Getting Home?" by Gaelic Storm means a lot because "my family is Irish and loves all Irish things. Irish music can be soothing, tell stories and get you dancing like a wild person. The instruments are amazing, and the songs make you proud to be Irish."
"Little Town" by Tom Richter of Portsmouth, N.H., is special because the singer/songwriter is Alberry’s uncle.
"Hearing his music would be the closest I could get to family. His music and lyrics touch your heart, and it would make me feel like my family is near."
The teenager also chose the sound track to "Disney’s High School Musical" as a desert-island CD.
"I love to sing, and these songs are fun and easy to sing. Since I would be by myself, this CD would allow me to break out some dance moves that I would never do in public. In the end, I would improve my singing and dance skills."
Rascal Flatts’ "Me and My Gang" is also on Alberry’s favorites list, which concludes with Lynyrd Skynyrd’s "Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd" so he can hear "Freebird" whenever he wants.
"It would allow me to rock out when I am bored. They are truly an American band that puts out a message to kids and adults, and it would be awesome and a lot of fun to be stranded with their music to keep my spirits up."
draymo@pressrepublican.com
CHECK THE WEB
Visit our Web site at www.pressrepublican.com to see all the CD choices sent to us, as well as some entries from Press-Republican staff members.
We randomly drew a name from all the entries to be given a $50 gift card from Borders, just for the fun of playing. The winner is William Coolidge III of Altona.
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