This is part 45 of an ongoing series where the kind folk of the music business reveal their favourite album of all time.
Ask people in the music industry the seemingly simple and straightforward question, “What is your favourite album of all time?” and you’ll find that it’s not always easy. After all, my industry peers listen to hundreds of albums a month – thousands of songs during that time. Because the question isn’t the best album of all time or the one that’s made them the most money in sales, or the most clicked-on review, but the one release they personally can’t live without, that one title they have two copies of in several formats, in case one breaks. It’s also about that album that for them has the best back stories and the one that has the most meaning in their lives.
Jason Hann, Pennsylvania Music News
Pantera, Vulgar Display of Power
This album was released in a crucial time in the metal scene. Grunge was taking over and metal was being phased in and out. Phil, Dime, Vinny, and Rex pretty much said we aren’t going anywhere with is album. It’s exactly what metal should be.
Jens F. Laurson, Listen Magazine and Forbes
Alexandre Tharaud, Concertos Italiens
Apart from the so-named Concerto Italien, which is an original composition “in the style of”, Bach took Italian concertos and movements thereof which he admired and transcribed them for keyboard… either a clavichord or harpsichord, to be specific. Somewhere in this transference, which you would think is fairly straight forward, he bestowed the Bach-magic on it, which makes these ‘reductions’ shine and sparkle more than the originals. Part of that is also the doing of Alexandre Tharaud’s, a French pianist whom I consider the best of his generation (by far) for all kinds of miniatures. (He’s got a great career in France, a decent career in America, but almost unknown in Germany or Austria. Apart from plain prejudice and ignorance, it’s about the strange way managements and agents are connected.) Anyway, he gorgeously, impeccably, tastefully plays these works on a Steinway. When I put it on, for the first time — already attracted by the bright orange cover and the label’s reputation but not yet of the pianist — it grabbed me by the ears and never let me go. Tharaud charms, beguiles, and impresses from the first notes. Once you have listened to the concluding Andante from the G minor concerto, BWV 979, you will be elated and stunned at such pure beauty.
Kristi Craig, Belovery.com
Brand New, Deja Entendu
I’ve been listening to this album ever since I got it from my brother more than ten years ago. Brand New was incredibly influential on my teenage years, and gave me a true appreciation for the art of song writing. Deja Entendu is by far their best album, with a great mix of heart breaking acoustic tracks and cutting one liners (“If looks could really kill then my profession would be staring”). I am always in the mood for this album, and will never stop loving it.
Michael Dawson, Managing Editor, Modern Drummer
John Coltrane, A Love Supreme
I bought a bootleg copy of this record on a field trip in 6th grade because I was playing in the school jazz band and wanted to get some jazz tapes to listen to so I could learn more about the genre. I probably should have chosen something more digestible, like a Glenn Miller collection or the latest Harry Connick Jr release. But, no, I chose A Love Supreme, one of the most sophisticated, spiritual, and deeply human albums of all time. As a thirteen-year-old with immature ears, I was completely overwhelmed. But I kept listening, and listening, and listening, hoping that one day I would be able to finally make some sense of it. It probably wasn’t until I was about twenty-five that the true magic of A Love Supreme became clear. You have to live life a little before you can relate all the deep emotions pouring out of every block chord, wailing arpeggio, and guttural tom fill. Even if I only put it on once a month or once a year, A Love Supreme always be in my collection. It’s my religion.
Mike Luoma, Music Director of The Point, Vermont’s Independent Radio Network
Jethro Tull, Thick As A Brick
The album finally got its due on CD with the 2012 Remix/remaster job by Steven Wilson. This poor album has been sorely treated by the remix/remaster process prior to this – including being sped up ever so slightly in the remix prior to this one from 2007. And yes – I own them all. An original LP sleeve with the full fold-out newspaper, a vinyl copy for playing, the original CD release, 3 remix remastered versions…That’s why this album ultimately became my choice for favorite – your criteria of owning multiple copies certainly came to bear here.
