Walking the Berkshires asks the question:
What were the 10 most influential albums of your formative teenaged years? I’m not talking about the ones that defined everyone else, but the ones that to a large extent defined you, and are still discernible musical influences.
Ahh, this is a difficult question. I didn’t listen to a lot of music as a teenager. I know, this sounds abnormal. I was abnormal. I’m much better at saying which books/authors defined me (Stephen King, Robert Heinlein, Anne Rice, Isaac Asimov, Douglas Adams, and Joseph Heller – those pretty much define high school for me.)
High School (1984-1987)
1) Grateful Dead: American Beauty/Truckin’
I hadn’t yet seen a concert, but my sister made me a cassette tape of these two albums. I played it over and over.
2) Tom Lehrer: Songs of Tom Lehrer
His first album, recorded in the 50s. Discovered in my parent’s collection. It would be many years before I was introduced to Dementia and Filking, but I have always enjoyed humor, and Lehrer was an expert.
3) Capitol Steps: Danny Boy
I had several of their albums, but I decided to pick the one they named after the Vice President that made everyone laugh. Enjoyed for the same reason I enjoyed Lehrer. Humor. Political Humor.
4) Eagles: Greatest Hits
One of the first albums I was given as a gift my my more musically fashionable siblings. So the songs have a nostalgic value for me today.
5) Les Miserables Soundtrack
This is a stretch. I was a Freshman in college when I first saw the musical, but I would have been 19, so I was still a teen, right?
I can’t think of anything to add to the list. I know: pitiful.
I would be introduced to a lot more music in my 20s.