The Non-Rolling Stones Side of My Record Collection (Part 1)

This series of blog post will let you have a look inside of my record collection...That is the non-Rolling Stones records that are in my collection. [Keep a look out for blog posts about the Rolling Stones records that are in my collection at a later date!] Every week I will pick out five records from my collection and write a little about them, provide pictures of them, and tell you what I like about each record that I have selected. 

1: Boys & Girls by Alabama Shakes 

Don't mistake this white album as The Beatles. The Alabama Shakes are an American rock band from Alabama...Would have never guessed that right! The members are Zac Cockrell, Heath Fogg, Brittany Howard, and Steve Johnson. This album titled Boys & Girls is the debut studio album from the Alabama Shakes and was released on April 9, 2012. The album reached number six on the US 200 Billboard charts and number three on the UK Album Chart. It was also #34 on Rolling Stone's list of the Top 50 albums of 2012. The album is very blues-rock influenced and has a soulful vocals by Brittany Howard. Her vocals are one of the main reasons I like listening to the Alabama Shakes. 

I started listening to the Alabama Shakes on recommendation from my brother. I picked up this record after their second album was released. Even though I like the whole album my three favorite songs are "Hang Loose", "I Ain't the Same", and "On Your Way". 

2: Whispers by Passenger 

Whispers is the fifth studio album released by Passenger (AKA Mike Rosenberg). It was released in June 2014. This album's geners is a little of pop but mostly folk. I love how Mike writes songs that are stories of someone he met on tour, his own life, or someone he already knew like the songs "Bullets" and "Riding to New York", which are two of my favorite songs on the album. However, my favorite song on this album is "Hearts of Fire" especially the version he did with Ed Sheeran in an empty arena two years before the album was released.(linked below) Mike said that "Hearts on Fire" is the oldest song that he wrote on this album. 

Aside from the songs on Whispers lets talk about the album art. Within the record sleeve there is a beautiful water color piece that I fell in love with when I first received it, and to this day when I open it to listen to it on my record player I still find myself in awe of how beautiful it is. This is by far my favorite thing about the Whispers record.

3: The London Chuck Berry Sessions 

Side one of this record consists of songs that were recorded at a studio in London, England while on side two are songs that were recorded at the Lanchester Arts Festival in Conventry, England. On the studio recordings it featured Ian McLagan and Kenny Jones of The Faces.This record was released in October 1972 on Chess Records. "Johnny B. Good" from the the festival recording is my favorite song on this record. I love how the crowd interacts with Chuck Berry during the performance. This album was the only album of Chuck Berry's to certified by the Recording Industry Association of America(RIAA). With over 1,000,000 record sells in less then a month of its release making it certified a gold record. 

4: Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits 

This is Bob Dylan's best selling album in the United States. It is certified five times platinum by RIAA. It was released on March 27, 1967 and is the first compilation album released by Dylan. It is a collection of every Top 40 single that Bob Dylan released in 1967. What drew me to listen to Bob Dylan is his folk sound and his use of the harmonica in his songs. This influenced me to try and learn to play the harmonica myself, which I am still working to this day. My two favorite songs off this album is "Blowing in the Wind" and "Like a Rolling Stone". 

5: The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions 

This was the first record I have ever owned and it was a gift from my brother for one of my birthdays. This compilation album was released in 1985 and is the first of many that is released by Elvis Costello. Costello is an English singer-songwriter, and The Attractions was his back up band from 1978-1986 and 1994-1996. Elvis Costello genre is described as pub rock, punk rock, new wave, and power pop. "Alison" and "Radio, Radio" are my favorite songs off of this album. Another song that I like by Elvis Costello is "(I Don't Want To Go) Chelsea". (linked below)