Pretty bold statement that 10 records (12 inch or 7 inch) or songs could change a persons life. So I wouldn’t say changed…. maybe influenced is a better term. These are in somewhat of a chronological order:
1 Gimme Dat Ding – The Pipkins – 1970. This is the first 45 I remember owning. My aunt Inis helped me decipher the lyrics. I was always into deciphering the lyrics so I could sing along to songs.
2 I think I love you – The Partridge Family – 1970. I loved the show and this song. This song brings back memories of my first crush on a girl namesd Melody in St. Louis. We were kinda boyfriend and girlfriend. This song also wanted me to be in a band like The Partridge Family. Still one of my favorite songs today.
3 American Pie – Don McClean – 1971. Another favorite song as a kid. I was 10 our 11 years old. One night my parents let me accompany our next door neighbor, who was a radio D.J., to his radio station and sit with him during his radio show. This was the night shift. I remember him dedicating American Pie to me and playing it while I sat next to him watching how he did his job, I think I fell asleep right after that.
4 Dressed to Kill – KISS – 1975. My first KISS album started a lifetime of fandom. I’ve discussed this album ad nauseam. Big influence on my music taste and life. I definitely wanted to be in a band after discovering KISS.
5 Alive! – KISS – 1975. The live album that started KISS on their road to superstardom. It was also the album that made me want to be a guitar player. I wanted to be Ace Frehley. I had taken acoustic guitar lessons during the summer of 1973, learning the basics and playing folk music. I then begged and got an electric guitar from the Army Air Force Exchange Service catalog for Christmas 1973. I lost interest in the guitar shortly after that until Alive! came out. But still guitar was not a focus until I met my best buddy Dennis in 1977. After that, guitar and music and playing in a band became a focus.
6 Physical Graffiti – Led Zeppelin – 1975, was my first Led Zeppelin album. This was my foray into more diverse and eclectic music. Before this album, I was all about crunch guitars, driving vocals and simple lyrics in the vein of KISS and Black Sabbath. Led Zeppelin opened my eyes to acoustic music and interesting songs with fantasy lyrics.
7 Ted Nugent – Ted Nugent – 1975. This album, bought in 1976, and the song Stranglehold would later be synonymous with my best friend Dennis who was the catalyst to all my music endeavors from 10th grade on. He reignited my love for playing guitar. He taught me pretty much every song I know on guitar. We formed our first band together in 1979. We played in multiple bands over the years. Sadly, he passed away in 2019. I miss him.
8 Wind and Wuthering – Genesis – 1976. Already discussed this album as an Album of the Month. My first concert I ever attended was Genesis’ Wind and Wuthering tour, with my high school best friend Bill. That concert was also the first time I partook of the devil’s lettuce. Sadly Bill has passed away many years ago.
9 Jesus Christ Superstar – 1975. the rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice that has Ian Gillan from Deep Purple singing the part of Jesus. Before this album I would not have considered Broadway music something I would listen to but this album changed that view and expanded my horizons. It is still a favorite that I can listen to at any time.
10 Follow You Follow Me – Genesis – 1978. This song is off the album …And then there Were Three…. The wife and I adopted this song as our love song. We started dating in 1980 and married in 1985. I always loved this song and when my wife heard it, she loved it too. So it became our song.
Retirement Ain't Easy 