Random Access

One of the recommended gifts for music fans this year on those annual gift guides published everywhere is a book called The Top 100 Canadian Albums, written by CBC arts reporter Bob Mersereau.
It's a survey of 600 music writers, artists and other "experts" who listed their top albums. Mersereau then produced his list by giving points to each record marked in a certain position: i.e. 10 points for top pick, seven for second, etc.
The problem with this is self-evident by the winning album, Neil Young's Harvest. While this is a good album, it's nowhere near his best work in my humble opinion and is a mixed bag of themes and quality, compared with some of his much better work.
It says here that Everybody Knows This is Nowhere (#16) of eight Young albums on Mersereau's (most of any artist) on the count is far superior. Would rank several other Young albums ahead of Harvest as well, such as Tonight's The Night, Comes a Time, Zuma and Live at Massey Hall, which just came out this year and was not included in the survey.
As part of the buzz about the book, Mersereau has started a web site which allows people to post their own top 10 albums, which is fascinating.
If you're curious, check the page at: www.gooselane.com/100_albums/?page_id=9.
Over the past few weeks I've been leafing through my old vinyl, mulling over what my list would look like.
First of all, let me make it clear that I am talking about mainline pop, rock, folk and combinations thereof. Always seems kind of cheesy to me to include a token jazz album, like Oscar Peterson's Night Train, which is on Mersereau's list, or a Glenn Gould album, which is also there. Same thing with Rolling Stone Magazine's Top 100 list which I got for Xmas last year. Kind of Blue by Miles or A Love Supreme by Coltrane don't belong on the same list with The Stones or The Beatles.
Anyway, here is my personal top 10 which is based on no survey and no expertise, but is based on a lifetime of listening. As you'll see and, as with most people, my lists run strongly to the music of my youth.
Going to reverse the order, so the suspense builds.

10. Comes A Time, Neil Young (1978) — Neil's voice always sounds best when contrasted with a willowy female partner, in this case Nicolette Larson. Best version of our unofficial national anthem, Four Strong Winds, outside of Ian and Sylvia's.

9. Go Cat Go, Amos Garrett (1980)— the Midnight at the Oasis man is so versatile and so accomplished on guitar, he masters all genres, as he demonstrates here.

8. Gordon Lightfoot (1966) — so many wonderful songs including the ones that started it all, Here's What You Get for Lovin' Me and Early Morning Rain.

7. All This Paradise, Fraser and Debolt with Ian Guenther (1971) — Guenther's violin weaves its way in, out, over and about the delicious melodies. Constant changes of pace abound with the alternately calm, and then delirious, warbling of Alan Fraser and Daisy Debolt.

6. Elyse, Elyse Weinberg and the Band of Thieves (1969) — Another album of discombobulated rhythms and a different voice you learn to just love. Great cover of Bert Jansch's Deed I Do. "Sweet Poundin' Rhythm" indeed.

5. Jesse Winchester, Jesse Winchester (1970) — Draft dodger Jesse picks up some guys named The Band to jam with and pulls off a superb debut. Robbie Robertson's guitar at its best. Best cut: Payday. Also some Mississauga content here as Al Cherney of Erindale Woodlands played some violin.

4. Blue, Joni Mitchell (1971) — This belongs on the top five list of all artists from all countries. An album of pain and beauty. We could all drink a case of this and still be on our feet.

3. Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, Neil Young (1969) — Everybody knows this is as good as it gets. Try to listen to Bobby Notkoff's violin on Runnin' Dry without getting goose bumps.

2. The Band, The Band (1969) — We showed the Yanks (with a little help from Levon Helm, Ronnie Hawkins' buddy from Arkansas) what Americana should really sound like. A home-made sound with superb singing and playing by Bob Dylan's house band. The Hawks come home to roost.

1. Great Speckled Bird, Ian and Sylvia (1973) — It really doesn't matter if this was the start of country-rock or the Byrds' Sweetheart of the Rodeo was. This is music beyond category with some of Tyson's most raucous and most poignant singing. Some country, some rock, some folk. Amos Garrett on guitar and Buddy Cage on steel are superb. Still sounds just as fresh today.