| My four favorite musical artists came about pretty boring ways.
They are: Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Band.
Bob Dylan was really my first introduction to classic Rock: my mother was watching The Last Waltz on PBS about 5 years ago and I saw this ugly, awkward, extremely Jewish man wearing an outfit out of a John Wayne Movie, playing Forever Young, and I coulndn't get enough of it. The next day I purchased The Essentials: Bob Dylan, and within a year had purchased over 15 albums of his (I now own 28). Suffice it to say, I consider him to be the single most monumental artist of all nonclassical music ever. Blonde on Blonde is his greatest album .
But, with that, I then decided to immerse myself in what I had been told was the greatest band ever, The Beatles. I purhcased the Greatest Hits set and fell in love with their late period stuff (which, in my previous ignorance, barely knew existed). My favourite album of theirs is Abbey Road, with the medley of songs at the end being the most cathartic experiance to be had in Rock music.
And, after listening and loving the Beatles so much, it was only natural to check out the band that has been (unfairly) labled their rebellious doppleganger, The Rolling Stones. Boy, these guys sure do like those guitar riffs, huh! Well, purchased Forty Licks, loved it, then bought their four "serious" albums, from Beggars Banquet to Exile on Main St., and loved each and every one. Exile's encyclopedaic approach to Rock Music has certainly left an indelible impression on me and is currently my favorite album of all time.
And The Band... Well, they did back Dylan back in 66', so pruchasing their albums seemed to be sort of logical. All very professional and very rootsy. All very good. My favorite album of theirs is Music From Big Pink, but it could easily be their self titled second album; I can't really decide. |