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1. Dark Side of the Moon — Pink Floyd  [1973]

Dark and light, moony and magic, mysterious and beautiful. Almost perfect. Surely the highlights are moderately strong Time — which includes the best guitar solo of all times — and the real beauty one Us And Them.

Unfortunately B-side-opening Money kind of breaks that almost holy feeling attained previous. I don't know why that piece was picked up to album. Perhaps there were some commercial pressures and purposes at the time or guys just sticked to that cash register effect. Ignoring that the stuff is perfect.

And yes, I know that many people out there do not consider this album even the best of Floyd! Well, that's an opinion too. To me it will always remain as The Big One. As a teenager I used to listen to it constantly and so it kind of defined my musical years to come.

2. Led Zeppelin IV   [1971]

Black Dog, Rock And Roll, Stairway to Heaven...
Is it necessary to say more, for visitor here? Probably not — except when one is deaf or born after the year of 1985 with a ski cap on his head.

Back to the year of 1971. I was totally left my mouth open when I first heard Plant warbling on 'Dog'. Where the heck did that kind of sound came from! And more was to come. I don't recall when I first heard 'Heaven' but it really did the trick. It was so complete, nothing to add, nothing to remove or change; like some opera. Everything is there: nice slow starting, beautiful melody, growing theme, powerful drumming and Plant at his best.

Today this album has basically lost nothing from its power. Comparing to CCR above, naturally it's nothing like rock'n' roll or that kind of lightly swinging sound. It's blues based rock; heavy and rough, but somehow still very elegant. Mighty 'Heaven' might be slightly worn-out but I still love the album, especially mystically crawling Four Sticks.

3. Cosmo's Factory — Creedence Clearwater Revival  [1970]

So let's have some rock and roll with the Travelin' Band! Don't try this at home... Great CCR songs, impressive cover versions, irresistible swinging sound, soulful vocalization and — John Fogerty!

This album is certainly the peak of the bands career. At that point the future disagreements between the members were not shown yet. Band is tight and together and absolutely alive and kicking. It's easily tasted that the atmosphere in the studio was free and loose.

Mastermind Fogerty wrote a couple of classics, Who'll Stop the Rain, Up Around the Bend (with one of the best intros ever) and Berry-Little Richard pastiche Travelin' Band. Basically it's all rock'n' roll, no serious lyrics (Lookin' Out My Back Door is like some ) and only one ballad.

I still can recall very well when I first heard this hippie nonsence album in some parties, about the year of 1970. Back then I was thirteen. I just had to repeat Ooby Dooby and My Baby Left Me, time and time again. Just couldn't believe it — how an earth they made that swinging sound! I couldn't stand still. Those glory teenage days... 8-^

Today my faves are perhaps 'Rain' and opening track Ramble Tamble. Have to say too, nowadays 'Grapevine' sounds slightly corny with its endless 'jamming' and that mentioned ballad Long as I Can See the Light is pretty roughly performed.

Anyway, this album is perhaps my biggest vinyl treasure. I play it quite rarely, mostly using earphones, LOUD! — and always and only, completely. Sniff!

Sad to say: they don't make this kind of players, music and albums anymore...

4. Led Zeppelin II   [1969]

In the early days of the year 1970 there were a tiny discotheque in the cellar of the local swim hall here in Kaarina. My English language were pretty poor already then, so I didn't understand too much what I heard but it sounded something like: "wivo-pobo-labo-lamo-ando-fiftisent..." Ya, that was Plant starting Living Loving maid. And what a riff!

For sure, Whole Lotta Love is The Major One on this album. But strange it was and still is, I've never really liked that piece. Famous riff and good performance all right, but as an composition (and half stolen blues lyrics) I think it's quite boring.

Despite that, I consider the album as an interesting entity. Band's performance reflects relaxation and the diverse of the songs presents excellently its member's brilliance skills. Still like it, though I mostly ignore track one.

5. Abbey Road — The Beatles  [1969]

Warm and beautiful swan song to the greatest band ever. Practically they were already split up but gathered »together» for the last time and somehow managed to reach that old time feeling. King is dead: long live the king.

Wholeness is the word. A couple of brilliance songs (opening Come Together, George's Something) and some of them not so good, but everything fits. It's not useful to estimate different pieces, all of them stick so well together — even that slightly corny jamming at the end of the B-side. (If you like, check out The Beatles Songs section).

To me this fine album very much represents those warm summers and innocent days in the sixties. It always make me cheerful and a bit of yearning as now living in today's modern, lousy and sinister world. Once it was different: Come together! Today more or less: »You never give me your money».

6. White Album — The Beatles  [1968]

Diversified, rich, nearly a masterpiece? Dull, overlong, should-never-have-made? Well... both, I think. They say the good carpet is the one with many colors. Many thinks then also that this White one should considered as rag one. Likely so. But I like this carpet on my floor.

Many great pieces and many stupid 'songs' and 'experiments'. Wide range for sure. Though, listening to this double you can't help thinking how wonderful it could be just as one record, leaving out all of those poor ones. But would it be then as colorful?

I have to say I don't often play this as a whole. But I also like many songs that usually are kind of discarded. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da might be silly and childish, but what a wonderful, simple intro and swinging sound. »Bungalow Bill» has always strangely attracted me and Happiness Is a Warm Gun is one of the best. Glass Onion swings well and after all Ringo smoothly wishes Good Night.

Probably The Who fellows nearly died for laugh listening to »heavy» Helter Skelter — it's really like a shaking skyscraper — and perhaps Paul nowadays ain't too proud about that »doing in the road». But who cares. Just take the good and interesting ones and enjoy them.

7. Machine Head — Deep Purple  [1972]

One of the vinyl treasures in my youth and still almost as powerfull as some thirty years ago. I say almost — obviously Smoke on the Water is long ago canonized and nowadays rather worn-out one. Discarding that, powerfull performance still today.

Back then we had this four kids gang and used to hang around in »Pikkukoppi». It was a tiny room with a couple of old chairs and a ramshackle table. On the table was drifting a small C-cassette player. The music mostly played was... right, this Purple one.

Opening track Highway Star presents it all: pure, hard, swinging rock. Pace ticks like a clock and Glover stands like a wall. Young Gillan goes high effortlessly while Lord paints stylish riffs and solo. And cream for the cake: demonic Blackmore drops tight riffs and flying solos. Excellent performance and primarily great songs.

Many memories are embedded in these songs: Finnish musician Kassu Halonen — at the very beginning of his career — tried to break his organ while playing Lazy in the local dance hall called »Brankku». This was the first album I ever recorded — by dragging my heavy reel-to-reel tape recorder about 3 mail to a friend name Timo Elonen (thanks). »Maybe I'm a leo» became the repeating saying for my best friend Sauli Isokoivisto. And »Highway» still somehow reminds me of those cold, starry winter nights in the front yard of Penikujas, full of the teenage angst.

This album is also the main reason why I at the time became a drummer. Ian Pace was really something else and nothing like all those billygobham-wannabes. He played so tight, economically and still lively and with great swing. I just HAD to try it. Well, you guessed right: I failed.

Still very affective album. Today my favourite track is perhaps that rolling Pictures of Home.

8. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band — The Beatles  [1967]

Uhh, what should I say about this one then. Everything is told already and also long time ago has the album canonized. Obviously it is nowadays like The Citizen Kane of the Rock Music.

I even have to admit I don't listen to it often. It's kind of uneasy. Though many of the songs are masterpieces, some are quite boring, e.g. Good Morning, Good Morning, Lovely Rita and Within You Without You. Hmm...

Well, maybe this album just has to appear on the chart like this; because of its importance in a retrospective view. First album with "theme" (actually, as known, no theme exists, only the impression due to fading the silence between the tracks), first album with lyrics printed, revolutionary cover art. And ya — some unforgettable songs: A Day in the Life, Peppers, With a Little... (beautiful Ringo-performance) and Lucy.

So perhaps I bit of sang out of tune here.

9. Green River — Creedence Clearwater Revival  [1969]

Many say, the best CCR album. Surely that is the case if asked opinions from so called professionals like the Rolling Stone magazine editor's. But they live on their own world. This excellent album amazingly lies usually in the positions like 90th or so [sic]. Hello-a. Wake up!

No straight rock numbers this time but more blues and country influences. Feelings are also rather gloomy and melancholic. This guy is stuck in Lodi with shadowing tombstones, sinister purposes resulting the inevitable conclusion »hope you're quite prepared to die.» Uffs. Was JF paranoid or was this just the real America at the time?

However, John Fogerty perhaps was writing better than ever. Many classic ballads like Lodi which to me is the second best he ever wrote. Superb lyrics about playing endless gigs and finally stuck in Lodi — a spot, small town in the map of America but also a metaphor for something you don't have to end up. Catchy melody, strong vocal, nice guitar work. Just a perfect piece.

As said, more than a half of songs are somewhat dark but the title one is different. Although you might stuck in some Lodi sometimes, there's still an alternative. »If you get lost come on home to Green River.» It's a magical childhood place where everything is right; the sun is always shining and all you have to do is sit beside the river and perhaps do a little fishing. No Vietnam, no bombs, no senators. Instead »barefoot girls dancin' in the moonlight.» Innocent escapism. Why not, I know I'll sit there.

Bad Moon Rising, the most famous song on album, is already a part of folklore but also slightly worn-out one. However, it's still a very strong number in concerts and was rocking like hell when Fogerty was performing in Turku, Finland in Mar. 1th, 2005. Wrote a Song for Everyone is a raw ballad with convincing vocal and is very similar to the later songs like Long as I Can See the Light and Hideaway.

Unfortunately, in my view, three pieces on album do not reach the same quality as others. I know I might sit on the wrong side of the river on this but can't help it. Anyway, classic Creedence album which should always get better positions than 90th, whatever the chart is!

9. Love Rustler — Delbert McClinton  [1977]

One of the pure diamonds on my vinyl record shelf.

Sometimes you just happen to be in the right place at the right time. It was propably the year 1979 when I was meeting my then-girlfriend in her hometown Helsinki. We were just wandering around as youngsters always do. Checking up clothes, books or whatever. And finally vinyl albums, too.

I can't recall why I picked up this one. Surely it was a cut rate record but more or less it was just another shot in the dark. See, I was some 20+ and this guy's name meant nothing to me. Never heard. But when I heard it I knew it right away: I was holding a vinyl treasure in my hands. Thanx, Krisse. 8-^

This is a cover album when only one song is written by Delbert himself. Who cares. When Mr. Delbert McClinton starts to sing it really doesn't matter whose original song it is. After the magic McClinton touch everything sounds like his own. And what a sound! His voice is raspy, strong, full of energy but also very gentle if required. And always inimitable and unique — surely one of the best rock voices ever.

Highlights then. As an perfect opening number the title song kicks on with tremendous, pumping riff and Delbert conjures up a superb vocal performance. This genius piece of funky rhytm palette should have done the trick in any discos at the time. Under Suspicion sounds very much like better known I Heard It Trough the Grapevine but feels more sophisticated and mysterious. And Delbert's version from Turn on Your Lovelight grooves like hell. Splendid stuff.

Diverse is the word. Soul and funk is the word. And groove is the Big Word. If one likes good, swinging blues-based rock'n' roll-rockabilly with some nice soul and disco influences, it's all there. Just put the record on and dance the devil out of you.

Soul, man!

More Delbert McClinton on Rockweb: Album details for Love Rustler.

[Not yet even close to be complete this section, more coming].

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