Jim Kirkwood Top Ten
Here you go, an absolutely brilliant Top Ten from the absolute legend that is Jim Kirkwood.
1. Bo Hansson - Music Inspired by Lord of the Rings.
(This was so inspirational and inspiring for me. And still is! I had a vinyl copy which I played to death. There is something about this music that creates a mood in me whenever I play it. The combination of the LOTR and synths set me off on a path away from mainstream rock. I still played rock/metal/ progrock but the desire to write it took an extended holiday.)
2. Tangerine Dream - Encore - Poland - Logos
(Yes I know that is three albums but honestly, I could have picked dozens. Their catalogues is huge. My first experience of Berlin School EM came courtesy of TD's Alpha Centauri. Huge influence and still is. And for the record, I like the latest incarnation of TD. Even though no original members remain.)
3. Klaus Schulze - X - Mirage - Royal Festival Hall Vol 1-2
(Another huge influence. And too many albums to select just one! One guy surrounded by banks of Analog synths! What's not to like.)
4. Compilation no1 - Yes - Gates of Delirium, ELP - Karn Evil Nine, Mountain - Nantucket Sleigh ride, Rainbow- Stargazer, Hawkwind - The Golden Void, Alice Cooper - Welcome to my Nightmare, Transatlantic - The Whirlwind. Clannad - The Theme to Robin of Sherwood. The list goes ever on and on.
(Yeah, A bit of a cheat. So sue me, hah.)
5. The Moody Blues - The first seven albums. Days of Future Past to Seventh Sojourn.
(I don't know how many hours I spent listening to this music. Probably a lot more than I ever did working an honest job)
6. Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down
(IMHO! The best Genesis album. I also liked Selling England by the Pound, Foxtrot, and Nursery Crymes. They also did another more obscure number Twilight Alehouse. I think it may have been a b side to a single. Phil Collins was no substitute for Peter Gabriel. Huge concept album with so much great music. It really is a treasure. I don't listen to anything that came after Lamb Lies Down)
7. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graphitti.
(I was into all sorts of weird and occult stuff at the time, so Jimi Page and Led Zep came up on my radar.) Led Zeppelin 4 should also get a mention. So many classic tracks.)
8. Vangelis - China
(I can't claim to be a big fan of this artist but I really liked this album. Mask was another good one. OK, Chariots of Fire was another great album. Jean Michel Jarre was also never an influence even though I liked Oxygene)
9. Black Sabbath - Vol 4 - Sabbatage
(Couldn't decide between these two so you buy one get one free. Had to have a bit of metal. It doesn't get any heavier than Sabbath. There are darker bands playing metal but to my ears they lack finesse and after a while begin to sound the same. I would like to mention Dream Theatre (superb musicians) who gets a regular play and also Metallica.)
10. Compilation no2 - Dvorak - New World Symphony, Vaughan Williams - Lark Ascending, Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition, Jon Lord - Durham Concerto, Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring, Rimsky Korsakov - Scheherazade, Sibelius- Finlandia.
(Classical and folk music is the very roots and soul of Prog rock, and Berlin School EM. I can't remember a time when I wasn't listening to Classical and Experimental Classical music)