America has spoken, and they wanted to know my Top Ten Albums that shaped my teen years, so sure, I’ll play along:

 

10) London Calling – The Clash: Unemployment, racial conflict, social displacement, drug use. Did any band tackle it all with snappy tunes like the Clash? Kids today will need their own Clash in Trumpmerica, that’s for sure. The addition of Topper Headon on drums really brought the band together, briefly.

 

9) Romantic Warrior – Return To Forever: Al DiMeola, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White and Chick Corea? Nothing more needs to be said.

 8) Matching Tie and Handkerchief – Monty Python: Classic bits (Bruces, The Cheese Shop, Oscar Wilde and Friends) and Side B was double grooved, so you never knew if you were going to get the side with The Fight of The Century or the side with Taking In The Terrier.

 7) Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John: I’ll tell you how strong that album was, Harmony wasn’t even released as a single because there was no room after Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Candle in The Wind (or The Dead Blond Song) and Bennie and the Jets.

 

6) Cosmo’s Factory – Creedence: After all the questions about who actually played on Willy and The Poor Boys. The band got together for the last really great album. I had this on 8-Track in my little Peugeot 307 constantly.

 

5) The Fine Art of Surfacing – The Boomtown Rats: This was before Geldof became a saint. Someone’s Looking At You stands as one of the best songs Mutt Lange has ever been standing around next to…

 4) Joe’s Garage Acts 1,2 & 3 – Frank Zappa: Commercial pop, jazz noodling and naughty lyrics all in one package. What more could a teen want?

 

3) Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder: It was either this or Innervisions. Sir Duke sealed the deal for me.

 2) I’m Everyone I’ve Ever Loved – Martin Mull: A comedy album featuring Chuck Rainey, Frank Foster, Ron Carter among several others. Who does that? Martin Mull, that’s who.

 1) My Aim Is True – Elvis Costello: Contains the greatest line in Rock History, “I said I’m so happy, I could die. She said Drop dead, the left with another guy”. Pretty much sums up my teens.

And yours?