I don’t think I’ve ever done a list of my favorite debut albums. I’m surprised, because that would be a fun list to compile given the many directions it could go.
I’m writing that down as an idea for a blog theme to come. Stay tuned.
One thing I know is Tracy Chapman’s self-titled 1988 release would be on that list. I never followed Chapman’s career after this record, but it remains a stunner. Its songs are eye-opening and tear-jerking, often at the same time.
Today marks a numerical milestone for the blog: my 3,333rd post. The occasion prompted me to go back and look at the 1,111th and 2,222nd posts.
Song of the Day #1,111 was Christina Aguilera’s ‘Hurt’ and came during a week in which I wrote about each of The Voice‘s judges during its inaugural season (way back in 2011). Too bad that post didn’t fall on November 11, or it could have been Song #1,111 on 11/11/11.
Hard to believe it’s been 40 years since Talking Heads released its debut album, conveniently titled Talking Heads: 77. Of course, I was five years old in 1977, so it’s not as if I’ve been a fan of the band for that long.
This sound feels unique and new even today, let alone four decades ago. David Byrne and his bandmates were truly trendsetting artists.
When this song popped up as the next random selection from my iTunes library, I was certain I’d featured it on the blog before.
After all, it’s the first major single from Toad the Wet Sprocket’s breakthrough album, and I’ve blogged about Toad the Wet Sprocket songs 13 times before.
But no, somehow I’d never made it around to ‘Walk On the Ocean,’ the first song I ever heard, 25 years ago, by a band I still love today.
It’s been 9 months since I last featured Josh Joplin on the blog, and I feel pretty much the same way I did back then. Here’s what I had to say last October:
It’s been nearly three years since I last featured Josh Joplin on the blog, and I feel pretty much the same way I did back then.
To quote myself, “these are the Random Weekend selections I most enjoy — little blasts from the past that give me an excuse to catch up with an artist I’ve long ago forgotten.”
This is almost certainly the first time I’ve listened to the Josh Joplin Group since I wrote that post, and (let’s be honest) probably the last time until it pops up on another Random Weekend.
Meet Me In Montauk 