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are certain albums that I think every songwriter should listen to at least once.
foundation of something before you can build on it. The albums listed below are
some of the building blocks of modern day songwriting as we know it and that's
why it would be a good idea for you to check them out whenever you have the time
if you haven't already.
a bad songwriter!) Everyone's tastes are different. That's what makes music so
great. So as you listen to them, don't worry about it if you don't care for
something. Try to concentrate on how the songs were written and why they are
considered to be so ground breaking for their time.
them, then go home and listen to them back to back! Just take a look at the list
and see what looks familiar to you, what you've heard, and what maybe you
haven't. And the next time you are at the CD store, think about getting one of
them. Who knows, you might even discover something you really like that you
were missing out on before!
me and countless other songwriters, so I hope you enjoy them!
it's easy to see why. This is very much a concept album with some of the best
written songs in music history included on it. At the time, "Day in the Life"
changed popular music forever with its lyrical content and structure. Although the
songs by themselves are outstanding, the real magic of 'Sgt. Pepper' is how they
flow together from beginning to end, giving you the overall feeling that you've just
been somewhere.
doors in music and writing. It was a transition record for the group as well as
music in general. Things were beginning to change and so were the topics of
the songs. McCartney, Lennon, and Harrison all took their writing to a whole new
level and perfectly bridged their previous music with what was to come in a
prolific way on 'Revolver.'
broken up and decided to get back together just for this one record. They did it
because of the music. 'Abbey Road' is one of the best examples of diversity you
will ever see as the songs on it are so different, but they still somehow seem to
fit together. And it has one of the greatest endings of an album (maybe the
greatest) I've ever heard. What an inspirational way for them to say goodbye.
in his bedroom. It's the ultimate songwriting showcase. Just him and an
acoustic guitar. The quality of the album rested solely on the songs themselves
and Bruce delivered big time. It not only showed how strong he was as a writer,
but as a musician as well. My favorite track is "Atlantic City".
genius of his writings. Many of them are not just songs, but great compositions.
If you look at the sheet music for some of them, you'll see what I mean. There are
some classical pieces that aren't as complicated as what Billy Joel has written as
the musical backpieces for his songs. Lyrically, he has a style that everyone can
relate to and you can't help but want to sing along. All of that plus perfect pitch
and a one of a kind, powerful voice and it's the complete package.
some of his trademark piano/vocal songs with some surprises too. Some of the
band arrangements are amazing and he had some of the best musicians of that
time contributing to his albums. Unfortunately, I don't think his contributions to
music will ever be fully appreciated until many years after we're all gone. I've
always thought he was the most underrated songwriter in music.
the time was ready or prepared for what Paul Simon was about to release. The
lyrical content on this record raised the bar for all others. Simon has always
been a very subtle musician. There's nothing flashy or flamboyant about him, it's
all about the music. You can tell that he has a lot of fun with it, but takes it very
seriously at the same time. That's a fine line to walk in music and 'Graceland'
demonstrates exactly how it's done. And it's also one of the best albums to
listen to for road trips too.
least once before they die. And who am I to argue with Paul McCartney? What
makes this album so special is the way it was produced. The songs are great
and they represent an important time in the Beach Boys' career, but the
innovative recording techniques are what made everyone sit up and take notice.
They used tricks that had never been done before. And those tricks produced
some of the most original sounds you'll ever hear. This album is a fantastic
example of how being just as creative in the production of a record as you are in
its writing can pay off. Of course, The Beatles have also opened many doors
and introduced us to countless new worlds when it came to pushing the
envelope in producing an original album. So Paul knew exactly what he was
talking about.
Let me know!
mail@songsrevealed.com
