Day 0546 - Born in the USA

Bruce Springsteen "Born in the USA" (1984) - got it

Following the moody and downbeat "Nebraska", the record company were putting pressure on Bruce to produce something a bit more commercial.   An expectation that he lashed out at lyrically in "Dancing in the Dark" but at the same time, one that he ended up meeting in crafting one of the biggest hits of his career.

Even as Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was dropping off the number 1 spot in the charts, Bruce took over that position for the next stretch of time.  As both artists were signed to CBS subsidiaries, that label must have been popping champagne... and probably some cocaine, being the 80s and all.  Like that other album, this one is almost entirely populated with hit singles, making it seem as much a greatest hits as stand-alone album.

"Dancing in the Dark" wasn't the only song with hidden undertones.  The title track seems like a cry of patriotism, but was actually a criticism of the Vietnam war and how America had gone on to treat veterans of that conflict.

This album is a monster.  I was not a rabid Springsteen fan by any stretch of the imagination, but I enjoy every song on this album, including the few songs that haven't been thrashed on the radio!  Ended up picking up copies of this album and Nebraska as a result of doing this list.

Day 0364 - Ramones

Ramones "Ramones" (1976)

One of the original punk albums that totally lives up to its hype.  Right out of the gate, it's a blistering stampede of raw rock.  Stripped of grandiosity complex virtuosity that had become prevalent in certain areas of rock, to present an "anyone can play" style of music.

There are so many great tracks here, 'Blitzkrieg bop', 'Beat on the brat', 'Today your love, tomorrow the world', 'Havana affair', and the surprisingly dark '53rd and 3rd' written about a street hustler taking violent action... legend/rumour suggested that Dee-Dee Ramone was writing in a somewhat autobiographical frame.

Surprisingly for an early punk album, it was fairly well received critically on its release, though not with the sales to match.

Day 0267 - The Rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

David Bowie "The Rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" (1972) - got it

As with a few of the albums on the list, I didn't really need to listen to this one specifically for the 1001 albums thing, because it's indelibly printed on my synapses.  Having said that... I'll take any excuse to listen to some Bowie.

It's a lush, interesting, and immaculately crafted pop album.  All the more impressive that (aside from some sax and trumpet) it is pretty much just the standard "drums, bass, guitar, piano/keyboard and vocals".  Speaking of the vocals, they do really feel like they help to flesh out the arrangements.  Much of the shift from 'intimate' to 'grandiose' that comes when the choruses of "Starman" kick in comes from Bowie swinging between octaves in best "Somewhere over the rainbow" fashion.

Bowie's voice is sometimes gentle and confessional, sometimes brash and glammy, occasionally desperate and howling.  'Five years' has an almost Marlene Dietrich feel to it.  There's the gospel feel of 'It ain't easy', and 'Rock n roll suicide' might be the most perfect album closer ever conceived, going from a burnt out acoustic jam and building to a cathartic crescendo.

With the quality of music, it's no wonder that this album was a success in the US and UK, and lednew fans back to "Hunky Dory" and other previous releases.

Bowie reinvented himself and, with his androgynous alien persona, reinvented the idea of what a rock star could be. The black and white photo tinted after the fact just adds to the sci-fi/alien vibe that Bowie is putting out.

Day 0112 - Os Mutantes

Os Mutantes "Os Mutantes" (1968) - got it

The original Mutantes line-up centred around the three Baptista brothers, one of whom didn't really perform, but built a lot of the band's electronic instruments.

They took the popular Brazilian music forms such as bossa-nova and jammed it together with the mod and psychedelic music of the US and UK, and to be honest, kind of made something better than a lot of those bands were able to.

The Mutantes ended up being hated for a time in their homeland (along with much of the 'Tropicalia' movement) by conservatives for their outlandish, hippy appearance, and by bossa nova aficionados for their subversion of the genre.

As a complete aside, I saw the Mutantes live at a festival in 2008.  They were the last act that night, so were allowed to play for over 2 hours.  Nobody wanted them to stop, it was a brilliant and magical show!

Day 0053 - A Love Supreme

John Coltrane "A Love Supreme" (1965) - got it

I love this period of music history, where pop/rock albums could sit side by side in popularity with instrumental jazz records and other genres.  I honestly hadn't realised that 'a love supreme' was released this late though!

One of the more popular jazz albums ever released, and, like Miles' "Kind of blue" it's an exploration in modal jazz.
I somewhat prefer Coltrane's "giant steps" album for its concise, hooky yet virtuosic bop.  Also, some of his later more exploratory releases, but a love supreme is still an amazing record.   Coltrane's band at the time was unsurpassed, especially his drummer Elvin Jones... mindblowing ability!