Just vinyl--I guess that's what I was thinking when I started getting rid of my record collection. The money and extra space seemed more important at the time. Then, after getting rid of over half of my records amassed over a period of several decades, I decided that some were worth keeping and I stopped selling off the rest of them. I kind of wish I still had the records I have gotten rid of, but it's just vinyl I have to tell myself. It's just more stuff that maybe I don't need. But then again. When are things worth keeping?
I got rid of my Joe Jackson album, but I never listened to it much anyway. Same with Rick James. But I probably should have kept my album by the James Gang--I still remember the day I got that album in the mail from the record club. Jan and Dean definitely held a lot of memories for me in the two albums I had by them and now those albums are just memories. At least I did keep the following albums in the J section...Links to the music are included throughout the post if you want to hear the music.
Michael Jackson "Thriller" (picture disc) (1983) I now don't even recall when, where, or why I bought this picture vinyl. But apparently I did. Since it seemed like sort of a collectible item I've kept it. I got rid of my original "Thriller" album, but I kept this one that I don't think I've ever actually played. Maybe I should frame it or something.
Jefferson Airplane (and other Jefferson incarnations) "After Bathing at Baxter's" (1967) I've liked the music of Jefferson Airplane and their successive transformations from the beginning and still enjoy their music. They were among the best of the psychedelic bands and the "Baxter's" album is one of my favorites of all. I hung on to all of the albums I owned by this collaborative effort from San Francisco and added to those with a number of their CDs including a great boxed retrospective. Once I even had an 8 track cartridge by the group but that is long gone.
Elton John (1970) should have representation in any respectable vinyl collection. I've only got this earliest album in my collection, but John's first albums prior to 1972 were the best in my opinion. Since I have a number of his albums on cassette and CD I have plenty of Elton John music to listen to when I want a dose of it, but having this early album on vinyl is nice for my collection.
Jethro Tull "Thick as a Brick" (1972) I enjoyed Tull's music early on, but this album cinched a place in my favorite artists for this group. "Thick as a Brick" is a prog rock masterpiece. Jethro Tull also put on one of the best concerts that I've seen. My late friend Steve had won two front row tickets to see the group in spring of 1975 at the Knoxville Coliseum and he invited me to go with him. It was a real treat to see this masterful group up close like that. The concert was amazing. Later that same year I saw the group again in Terre Haute Indiana. The seats weren't as good, but the performance was again superb. I got rid of a couple of other Tull vinyls, but I've got several of their albums on cassette and CD so they are still well represented in my music library.
Keith Jarrett "The Koln Concert" (1975) The link I've used is actually an interpretation of the original performed by Tomasz Trzcinski but I think it's pretty true to the original. I couldn't seem to find the original by Jarrett on YouTube. This is an album that was introduced to me by my second wife Susan. Though I knew the name of Keith Jarrett, I didn't know his music. This album is serious solo jazz piano that probably should be equated more to classical perhaps. The album has attained a legendary status so I figured I should keep it.
Jesus Christ Superstar (1970) This album was released amidst fanfare and controversy. The idea that it would be a fusion of classical and rock excited me so I put this album on my 1970 Christmas list for my mother. Naturally the wrapped album was under the tree later that Christmas. My mother always seemed to come through in helping me build up my record collection. This is an excellent album original recording of what has become a classic of modern stage musicals.
Which of these albums do you remember? Do you have any picture discs and if so, what have you done with them? What are some of your favorite J artists?
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