Music Gourmets Presents 60 Years of Great Music - 1959

[Ojai Sam]

Welcome to Week Three of the MG's "60 Years of Great Music" series!

I'm impersonating our host, Zeeba Neighba, who is on vacation.

Here's the rules:

Each Friday, We'll introduce a new year from 1957 through 2016. Each member selects an album released in that year with a few lines (or more) on why you picked it/enjoy it. Your selection does not have to be the most important release or the most admired release of that year (though it certainly can be), simply an album that grabs you and that you really love.

However, once an album is selected by a member, you must choose a different album.

After the close of the week, we will open the thread for Honorable Mentions, worthy albums that didn't quite make the cut.

Together we will compile quite the canon of "Great Music" and, who knows, maybe inspire each other to check out some new artists (or to revisit old forgotten classics).

This week - the albums of 1959.

My pick will follow later tonight but don't wait for me.

 

[JazzyRandy]

Each year gets more difficult. I had 15 and 13 albums from the first two years. For 1959, the count is up to 19. And, on average, it inches up year by year.

 

[axolotl]

For the inept among us:

https://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/album/1959

 

[axolotl]

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers ~ [Moanin']

Let 's get one thing out of the way. This album.

This is a great album, and it's not really entitled Moanin', although that is its acquired title, taken from the first track, which is a blockbuster first track, but still....



Personnel are: Lee Morgan, Benny Golson, Bobby Timmons, Jymie Merritt, and of course Blakey on drums, from back when they were called drums.

Of the first five on the 1959 list, it is my go-to album, surmounting Mingus Ah Um, which is next, and followed by Time Out, TSoJtC, and KoB. I admit: I'm weird that way.

 

[axolotl]

Each year gets more difficult. I had 15 and 13 albums from the first two years. For 1959, the count is up to 19. And, on average, it inches up year by year.

There you go, Randy. You only have 18 to choose from, now.

 

[LeslieC]

Henry Mancini - Theme from Mr Lucky

My Lucky was one of several programs created by Blake Edwards for which Henry Mancini provided the music. The pair had successfully collaborated on Peter Gunn, and when Edwards received the commission to produce Mr Lucky, contacted Henry Mancini again providing the musical accompaniment. While Mr Lucky may not rank alongside Mancinis other, better known work, there is still much to enjoy. The theme itself would become a minor hit single, peaking at #21 on the pop chart, while this particular album, would fall just short of the top spot, hitting #2 on the album chart for one week. It would spend a total of 70 weeks on the listings.

This also has a ton of memories of my Mom & Dad for me. I grew up with this album and it was my Mother's favorite.

 

[patrikc325]

John Lee Hooker -I'm John Lee Hooker

Contains several songs that became the basis for 60s and 70s Rock!

 

[lpfreak1170]

For the inept among us:

https://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/album/1959

Don't forget us lazy folks.

 

[axolotl]

Don't forget us lazy folks.

We're all-inclusive here.

 

[earcartoons]

Tough year, so Love Jackie Wilson's "Lonely Teardrops" almost had to go with his album.....but......

This may have been a compilation of singles and a album cover devised in a boardroom in 2 seconds, but Holy Crap! So influential of what was to come and so timeless.

Side one

1. "Almost Grown" (2:21) (American Graffiti memories)
2. "Carol" (2:48) (Stones Thank you)
3. "Maybellene" (2:23) (Johnny Rivers Thanks you)
4. "Sweet Little Rock & Roller" (2:22) (Rod Stewart Thanks you)
5. "Anthony Boy" (1:54) (Um...Graham Bonnet Thanks you?)
6. "Johnny B. Goode" (2:41) (Who didn't learn to play this when learning guitar? We all Thank you)

Side two

1. "Little Queenie" (2:43) (Stones Thank you)
2. "Jo Jo Gunne" (2:47) (The Band "Jo Jo Gunne" Thanks you)
3. "Roll Over Beethoven" (2:24) (George Harrison Thanks you)
4. "Around and Around" (2:42) (Stones and Animals Thank you)
5. "Hey Pedro" (1:57) (Napoleon Dynamite Thanks you)
6. "Blues for Hawaiians" (3:23) (Elvis Presley Thanks you)

 

[Nickyboy]

Since Axo didn't have the cojones:



doesn't get much cooler than this.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Spotify playlist is here:

https://open.spotify.com/user/ojaisam/playlist/5RZcExlmGwparnRODKfvLt

 

[Mattafett]

Johnny Cash - The Fabulous Johnny Cash
"Don't Bring Your Guns to Town" is a phenomenal song. The rest isn't bad either.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Down side of picking later in the week. Axo took one of my top choices. Nicky chose another possibility. Luckily, a tremendous year in music (I've often stated IMO 1959 is the greatest year in jazz). Still lots for me to pick - those who know me could guess what my leading option is...but gonna brood some more and pick after weekend.

 

[axolotl]

Down side of picking later in the week. Axo took one of my top choices. Nicky chose another possibility. Luckily, a tremendous year in music (I've often stated IMO 1959 is the greatest year in jazz). Still lots for me to pick - those who know me could guess what my leading option is...but gonna brood some more and pick after weekend.

Well, yes - but we hope that your time away will dull your unfounded admiration, somewhat...



Still, hope that your vacation in D.C. is splendiferous, despite your brooding. Enjoy your brood, instead.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

^
Funny. You better watch out or Sam will accidentally include that as an official pick

 

[Nickyboy]

^
Funny. You better watch out or Sam will accidentally include that as an official pick

Today's crossword puzzle had a clue "Theodore was one". Answer: chipmunk.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Today's crossword puzzle had a clue "Theodore was one". Answer: chipmunk.

Also a cleaver.

 

[axolotl]

^
Funny. You better watch out or Sam will accidentally include that as an official pick

True, dat. But, unless somebody nominates it who didn't nominate already, the best it can make is a HM, with a stern warning to me to knock off the shenanigans.

 

[Markonomicon]

Lots of classics, but "Kind Of Blue" is one of the best records ever.