A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a column about albums I own that, while not necessarily considered masterpieces, landed in that category as far as I was concerned. I asked readers to send in lists of their personal "masterpieces."
Many did.
"As an aging baby boomer that grew up on Southern and California rock," began Albert Waterhouse of Waterhouse Public Relations, Jackson Browne's "Late for the Sky" (also on my list) was a masterpiece to his ears.
"The fact of the matter is, I listen to the same music from 30-40 years ago today, and so does my 35-year-old son," he said.
John Reis picked a wide variety of music, from the blues/rock of "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs" by Derek and the Dominos, pop-flavored rock on "Everybody's in Show-Biz" by The Kinks, the reggae "Catch a Fire" by Bob Marley and the Wailers, the carefully crafted "Aja" by Steely Dan, the prog of "Obscured by Clouds" from Pink Floyd and the country rock of "Grievous Angel" by Gram Parsons.
"The albums I'd like to nominate as masterpieces will surely reflect my age (1970s)," he wrote.
Benny Daigle of Cleveland, Tennessee, first listed John Prine's "German Afternoons" and said the album's "'Paradise' is my go-to karaoke song." He also likes Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall," but added the caveat: "Before the weirdness - before the madness really - this was the album and the music that made Michael the coolest guy on the planet."
Jim Perota was a deejay for 30 years and admits his list of personal masterpieces is a long one. He started with 15, but said, "I'm sure there are others I could list - usually anything by Paul Simon and Elton John and Carole King - but this is a start."
His list: "The Pretender" by Jackson Browne, "Come On Come On" by Mary Chapin Carpenter, "Short Stories" by Harry Chapin, "Into the Light" by Chris de Burgh, "Broken English" by Marianne Faithfull, "Between the Lines" by Janis Ian, "The Stranger" by Billy Joel, "Rickie Lee Jones" by Rickie Lee Jones, "Photograph" by Melanie, "Court and Spark" by Joni Mitchell, "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession" by Laura Nyro, "Get Here'" by Brenda Russell, "Silk Degrees" by Boz Scaggs, "No Secrets" by Carly Simon and "Innervisions" by Stevie Wonder.
Steve Hiatt wrote: "Funny you should mention 'Abbey Road' first thing in your column. When I sat down for my morning coffee and CTFP (Chattanooga Times Free Press), I booted up 'Abbey Road' and am now enjoying 'I Want You (She's So Heavy).' The 2019 mix, BTW."
Shawn RyanContact Shawn Ryan at mshawnryan@gmail.com.