There's Something About Musicians Now Over 50...

While I have been listening to modern radio, I have also completely raided my parents vinyl collection. It contains some gems, ladies and gentlemen. Hardcore original vinyls of classics. These albums have found me new artists, made me rediscover old favorites, and broaden my tastes. In addition to these vinyl discoveries, I've also fallen in love with some classics that I have on CD that I had never really paid any attention to before.

The Police
          My mom has always loved them, and I know all the words to the popular songs. "Roxanne," "Every Breath You Take," "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic," and "Message in a Bottle." It wasn't until I really listened to the album "Synchronicity" that I realized how good they actually are. The rediscovery, I guess you could call it, had something to do with a music video for a little song called "Wrapped Around Your Finger." The Police at their best! The album "Synchronicity" truly is awesome. I've also managed to listen the heck out of "Zenyatta Mondatta," which we also have on vinyl. There it's a tie between "Don't Stand So Close to Me" and "Driven to Tears." While I was freaking out over the quite possibly the best album of all time, I saw another video featuring Mr Matthew Sumner, aka Sting, on TV. This one is "Fortress Around Your Heart." The song is brilliant, seriously check it out.

"Jungleland"
          So, I watch a lot of TV. On one of the music channels about a month ago they were showing a Springsteen concert, and I just happened to catch one of the most awe-worthy performances I have ever seen. The Boss and the E Street Band were playing "Jungleland," a performance that was filled with so much emotion that I couldn't look away and my eyes welled up with tears. I have the "Born to Run" album, I just never really listened to this song. This song has like every emotion known to man in it. The piano, the sax solo, the guitar, the lyrics. Goodness gracious, this song is ahh-mazing.  The song is beautiful. It's perfect. It's poetic. It's everything. The whole song builds to the end where it's powerful. Clarence Clemons makes the saxophone cool, and his performance on this song kicks butt. Needless to say, "Jungleland" is my favorite song.

"Because the Night"
          Written by Bruce Springsteen, made popular by Patti Smith, and performed at the Rock and Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary concert by U2, Springsteen, and Smith. Forgot how brilliant this song was until I watched all of those legends perform it on one stage.

Elvis Costello
          Mom loves The Police, Dad is a huge fan of Elvis Costello. The reason why we have genuine Costello vinyls in a box downstairs. I was pretty much set on not liking this guy very much, he had a weird voice. Then I listened to "My Aim is True" about five times in a row. After that it was "Get Happy!!" Too good to stop listening. All of the classics, I can't get over "Watching the Detectives." Over "Alison," "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes," and "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down." There's something about that reggae beat and those lyrics.

"Songbird"
         The last song on the first side of the legendary "Rumours" album. One of the songs that you hear and it's like you just have to stop what you're doing for the duration of the song. Simply put, this is the best Christine McVie song, hands down.

The Doors
      I've always heard about the infamous appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, then I watched it. I was hooked. This band is exceptional. "When the Music's Over" is my favorite.