First and foremost, I love music. Add to that, I have been infected with the collector’s gene. So it was only a matter of time before I stood gazing at the collection of records I’ve accumulated over the years and tried to make some sense of it. Growing up in the 70’s of Southern California, the pursuit of music was always in play. From spending all my paper route money at Island Records, Licorice Pizza, and Peer Music, to sneaking a radio under the covers (no flash light required), to the AM radio faithfully tuned to the Mighty 690 mounted on the handlebars of my Schwinn, music and the importance it’s played in my life, has been a constant. It did not matter that my first portable player was the brick-like Sears knock-off of the Sony Walkman, all I cared about was that it put tunes in my ears.
I grew up in a time when records were had for a few dollars, songs were recorded off the radio, and camping out for concert tickets was as easy as the next-door sleep-over. I didn’t have older siblings to introduce me to the good stuff and my parent’s taste in music was still rooted in the ultra-conservative 50’s generation they were part of. Fortunately I’ve had a number a friends throughout my life that have introduced me to much of the music you’ll find here. A list of amazing souls that now include my daughter and son.
When I began this undertaking, I laid out some ground rules for how I’d assemble the list of candidates. I had to have a digital copy for consideration. There are no greatest hits on here, only original recordings made in the moment by a group of musicians with enough conviction to come up with a band name. The music made would have to be predominately their own as well, eliminating a few records in my collection consisting entirely of covers.
The asterisk recognizes that despite the declaration in the title of this blog, there will be some glaring omissions. I know this. I know that once revealed, there will be a good number of seminal recordings by important artists that are noticeably absent. And I want to be reminded of this. I want to know what’s missing, what I’m crazy to have overlooked or missed out on. Any perceived slight, isn’t. The records listed here are in some order, but it’s not a hard and fast listing in order of best or better.
Bottom line, it’s not meant to be anything other than the musings of a fifty something kid still listening to the songs that poured forth from that radio as I rode all over the Newport Beach of my youth. It isn’t a time capsule either. Despite many of my contemporaries feeling the 80’s was the height of music and permanently tuning into classic rock radio, I’d like to think I’ve continued to seek and evolve my tastes. I feel this list reflects that. I truly believe we are living through the beginning of the golden age of music. The democratization of the industry has provided for countless opportunities for anyone willing or wanting to contribute to do so. No one with a passion and something to say is beholden to an A&R rep for their ticket to ride. Guitar and pen indeed.
When it’s all said and done this list will evolve, I’m already making notes and looking forward to the next recordings that will demand to be included. I hope you’re a part of the journey and will take some small joy in helping form the next versions of the GBS 500. In the meantime, I sincerely hope there are a few records you agree with, but more than that, I hope there are a few you’ve never heard of that immediately become obvious and part of your own list. Be well, and all the best.
“If you get confused, listen to the music play.”
-Kreutzmann, Garcia, and Hunter