Vinyl Recommendations

What I did on my summer vacation. 

By Mark Nowak

This summer I bought a shit load of records. 

(these are my favorites that I found)

Honerable Mention: Queen A Night At The Opera

10. Janis Joplin Pearl

9. Electric Light Orchestra A New World Record

ELO will continue to be the best rock and roll group ever. EVER.

8. The New Pornographers Twin Cinema

My favorite indie pop album that came out of the last decade.

7. Elton John Honky Chateau

After moving into my new apartment (which my roommate and I fell in love with) we immediately named the place "The Honky Chateau".  After realizing this I went back to the record store I came from days earlier and purchased this album.

6. Cat Stevens Tea for the Tillerman

(these next 5 actually jolted me when I saw them)

5. Santana Abraxas

This album is cliched by many stoners.  But it really is one of the best pieces of progressive rock.  So fluid and the latin influence of percussion is the cherry on top.

4. The Beatles Revolver

I can't believe I actually found this, and I can't believe I actually found this for under $10.

3. Merle Haggard Mama Tried

With the limited availability of classic country on vinyl, I was shocked to see this.  This is truly the most twangy the Bakersfield sound gets, even if the top of the album just has a random picture of a disappointed mother.

2. Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison

When I found this I made eye contact with Cash's pointing black ones, I immediately noticed how it cost as much as the three I was going to buy, proceeded to put away my other records, and went up to the counter with just this album.  

1. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon

I'm pretty sure the entire reason I started collecting records was to eventually find this album, probably in my late 30s, and declare it to be the happiest day of my life.  I found this the week after I found the Cash.  It was the happiest two consecutive weekends of my life.