The Magnificent Seven

THE RULES:

1. Post your list of the seven best albums, the seven bloggers you will tag, a copy of these rules, and a link back to this page.
2. Each person tagged will put a URL to their Blogger Album Project post along with a list of the seven best albums in the comment section HERE.
3. Feel free to post the “I Contributed to the Blogger Album Project” Award Graphic on your sidebar, along with a link back to this page.
4. Post a link back to the blogger who tagged you.

The Blogger Album Project (Left of Centrist) is collecting a list of what we think are the very best albums.

Border Explorer tagged me for this, and I do love to make these lists, but it is very difficult. I am not the most decisive person around, and my list is constantly changing, so here goes. About half of it goes back to what I think was the greatest time for popular music, the late 1960s (very early 1970s). There was something in the air, something in the water, and whatever it was, there was a great surge of music that came out that has stood the test of time as well as thousands of spins. I am only picking one album per artist, because several of these artists could each easily fill out my 7 best by themselves. I have linked to the albums' wiki entries.

Eric Johnson - Venus Isle (1996) ...as fine a guitar player as anyone on the planet. Most people pick his Ah Via Musicom, the one that went platinum and got a Grammy, and it's a fine one too, every bit as good, but Venus Isle is still my favorite. Eric Johnson was born in Austin, Texas, and still lives here.

Nickel Creek - self-titled (2000). This album simply turned me upside-down. Incredible playing, perfect harmonies, I fell in love with the mandolin, and it was probably the first time I found my musical idols to be over 30 years younger than I was. They have broken up, but we are going to see the Watkins' (Sean and Sara) with Glen Phillips this weekend.

Loreena McKennitt - The Mask and Mirror (1994). Loreena creates a perfect blend of Middle-Eastern and Celtic sounds, with a very ancient feel. The Book of Secrets is really every bit as good as this one, and I love The Visit just as much too. I was dying to see Loreena playing live for many years, and she finally did a tour a couple of years ago - but now I have no funds for pricey shows in Houston. Those days are gone.

Moody Blues - To Our Children’s Children’s Children (1969). It's nearly impossible to pick the best Moody Blues album, especially if you are picking from what they call the "Core 7." Seven albums released between 1967 and 1972, all flawlessly brilliant, not a skip-over track in the bunch. I could pick all of these as the "best," but since I’m trying to limit myself to 7...
Core 7: Days of Future Passed • In Search of the Lost Chord • On the Threshold of a Dream • To Our Children's Children's Children • A Question of Balance • Every Good Boy Deserves Favour • Seventh Sojourn

Yes - Close to the Edge (1972). This is a real masterpiece. Incredible instrumentals and vocals, and so tight! This album is like a journey rather than a song collection. Turn it up. Now LOUDER. Perfect. Jon Anderson has had some health problems lately that have kept him from singing, and sadly, the band has decided to tour without him. No… it’s not Yes. They are filling in with a singer from a Yes tribute band, but to me it's not Yes without Jon Anderson. This goes right along with the other bit of recent Classic Rock news that Led Zeppelin will tour without Robert Plant. That IS a Heartbreaker.

The Beatles – White Album (1968). Impossible to pick just one Beatles album. There isn't a bad track on most of these albums, and I could have as easily picked Rubber Soul or Sgt. Pepper or Abbey Road. They are all very special.
Please Please Me · With The Beatles · A Hard Day's Night · Beatles for Sale · Help! · Rubber Soul · Revolver · Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band · The Beatles · Yellow Submarine · Abbey Road · Let It Be (well, Let It Be may not be up to standard of the others)

Joni Mitchell – Clouds (1969). Again, with Joni Mitchell, it’s nearly impossible to just pick one because she has so many albums that are perfection. Clouds is Joni in her most raw, folk singer/songwriter form. There’s a lot of melancholy here, combined with joy, and so much beauty. You can say that about a lot of her music.

TAGGING:

...Oh boy, I think a lot of people I can think of have already been tagged, so I am not going to have seven tags.

I am tagging MandoMama, maria*maria, Ingrid. Of course, please participate voluntarily if you want, or feel free to untag yourself if you want.