What two records have had a major impact on you, and why?

[John]

I was driving home from work today when a record came on that is guaranteed to hit me hard. Mike & the Mechanics The Living Years. Just after it finished I got to wonder what two records have had major impacts on you and why.

The Living Years had a major impact on me nearly twenty years after something else knocked me for six.

I am adopted and my adoptive Father was a very Victorian Father and thought nothing of hitting me for the slightest reason. My adoptive Mother wasn’t allowed to have an opinion and as I grew older I grew to hate him with a passion. So much so that I left home when I was only 16 years old.

Over the next few years I got married and we had our first child. In all that time I still never grew close to my Father, although we visited on a regular basis. There was always tension between us and I felt that even living away from him he had a hold on the way I conducted my life.

In 1969 he was taken seriously ill and died in the June. I hardly felt a thing about it until I went to the morgue to say my goodbyes and it was then that I broke down in floods of tears, guilt welling up inside of me, wishing that I had done something in the way of buildings bridges between us.

Move onto 1988 when the Living Years was released. When I first heard the record it threw me back to that day at the morgue and I broke down again. The words stating my feelings far better than I could ever say. It totally portrayed my feelings as if I had written it and whenever it is played I still get upset.

The second record hit home for very different reasons. Johnny Cash’s version of the Nine Inch Nails hit, Hurt.

In a way it is a bit of a cheat because although the record itself makes a vivid impression on me the video of him singing it really hits home hard.

When I first heard it I was at the computer. My ex was flicking through the TV channels and came across one of those music channels. Now I can take or leave Johnny cash. Some I like, some I don’t but all of a sudden Hurt started to be played and after a few words I just had to stop what I was doing and move over to watch it. I was shocked at how old and aged Johnny Cash looked. It had been a while since I had seen him but this video just didn’t prepare me for the shock of what looked a broken man singing about lost things in his life. It even had a scene where his Mrs walked down the stairs, stopped, then watched sadly over him. The words were poignant and the flash backs of his life on video were well in tune with the words and the song is very powerful and moody.

As soon as it finished I searched the net for it and found it. Straight away I downloaded the video and I frequently play it and as yet it still hasn’t lost its impact on me.

Well, a bit long winded I know, but those are the two records that have made an impact on me.

What are your two records, and why?

John

[Gaina]

'Don't worry, be Happy' by Bobby Macferrin because it never fails to get me out of a rotten mood and I love Robin Williams in the video for the song. I love 'Trampoline' by The Mavericks for the same reason, though my Mum can't stand it - I always have to turn it up when we're in the car and it comes on the radio .

Anything by Slipknot, because that's the music that started my songwriting again and also it's the music I need to listen to in order to get 'psyched up' for walking .

[Jez]

Originally Posted by John

I was driving home from work today when a record came on that is guaranteed to hit me hard. Mike & the Mechanics The Living Years. Just after it finished I got to wonder what two records have had major impacts on you and why.

The Living Years had a major impact on me nearly twenty years after something else knocked me for six.

I am adopted and my adoptive Father was a very Victorian Father and thought nothing of hitting me for the slightest reason. My adoptive Mother wasn’t allowed to have an opinion and as I grew older I grew to hate him with a passion. So much so that I left home when I was only 16 years old.

Over the next few years I got married and we had our first child. In all that time I still never grew close to my Father, although we visited on a regular basis. There was always tension between us and I felt that even living away from him he had a hold on the way I conducted my life.

In 1969 he was taken seriously ill and died in the June. I hardly felt a thing about it until I went to the morgue to say my goodbyes and it was then that I broke down in floods of tears, guilt welling up inside of me, wishing that I had done something in the way of buildings bridges between us.

Move onto 1988 when the Living Years was released. When I first heard the record it threw me back to that day at the morgue and I broke down again. The words stating my feelings far better than I could ever say. It totally portrayed my feelings as if I had written it and whenever it is played I still get upset.

The second record hit home for very different reasons. Johnny Cash’s version of the Nine Inch Nails hit, Hurt.

In a way it is a bit of a cheat because although the record itself makes a vivid impression on me the video of him singing it really hits home hard.

When I first heard it I was at the computer. My ex was flicking through the TV channels and came across one of those music channels. Now I can take or leave Johnny cash. Some I like, some I don’t but all of a sudden Hurt started to be played and after a few words I just had to stop what I was doing and move over to watch it. I was shocked at how old and aged Johnny Cash looked. It had been a while since I had seen him but this video just didn’t prepare me for the shock of what looked a broken man singing about lost things in his life. It even had a scene where his Mrs walked down the stairs, stopped, then watched sadly over him. The words were poignant and the flash backs of his life on video were well in tune with the words and the song is very powerful and moody.

As soon as it finished I searched the net for it and found it. Straight away I downloaded the video and I frequently play it and as yet it still hasn’t lost its impact on me.

Well, a bit long winded I know, but those are the two records that have made an impact on me.

What are your two records, and why?

John

That's very moving and completely open John.

[yellowhammer]

Just two? That's difficult.

Ok, Fade Into You by Mazzy Star as it makes me think of an oppurtunity missed and a love lost, although not, perhaps, permanently. At least I live in hope. And Heatwave by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, simply because it's my favourite song And if I'm drunk enough to sing it, the ladies seem to dig my mojo

[JennyS]

Can't pick a track from it but Jefferson Airplanes album 'Baron Von Tolbooth and the Chrome Nun' (how's that for an obscure mouthful!) and The Incredible String Bands track 'The Circle is Unbroken'.......

[seamusagleann]

neil young's After The Goldrush....."look at mother nature on the run in the twenty first century"...how very true, and when we heard Bryan Adams ,The Summer Of '69.thats when me and my daughter discovered that our musical tastes were simaler bringing us that bit closer .Now years later, and about ten concerts on,i think of this every time i hear it..

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by John

I was driving home from work today when a record came on that is guaranteed to hit me hard. Mike & the Mechanics The Living Years. Just after it finished I got to wonder what two records have had major impacts on you and why.

The Living Years had a major impact on me nearly twenty years after something else knocked me for six.

I am adopted and my adoptive Father was a very Victorian Father and thought nothing of hitting me for the slightest reason. My adoptive Mother wasn’t allowed to have an opinion and as I grew older I grew to hate him with a passion. So much so that I left home when I was only 16 years old.

Over the next few years I got married and we had our first child. In all that time I still never grew close to my Father, although we visited on a regular basis. There was always tension between us and I felt that even living away from him he had a hold on the way I conducted my life.

In 1969 he was taken seriously ill and died in the June. I hardly felt a thing about it until I went to the morgue to say my goodbyes and it was then that I broke down in floods of tears, guilt welling up inside of me, wishing that I had done something in the way of buildings bridges between us.

Move onto 1988 when the Living Years was released. When I first heard the record it threw me back to that day at the morgue and I broke down again. The words stating my feelings far better than I could ever say. It totally portrayed my feelings as if I had written it and whenever it is played I still get upset.

The second record hit home for very different reasons. Johnny Cash’s version of the Nine Inch Nails hit, Hurt.

In a way it is a bit of a cheat because although the record itself makes a vivid impression on me the video of him singing it really hits home hard.

When I first heard it I was at the computer. My ex was flicking through the TV channels and came across one of those music channels. Now I can take or leave Johnny cash. Some I like, some I don’t but all of a sudden Hurt started to be played and after a few words I just had to stop what I was doing and move over to watch it. I was shocked at how old and aged Johnny Cash looked. It had been a while since I had seen him but this video just didn’t prepare me for the shock of what looked a broken man singing about lost things in his life. It even had a scene where his Mrs walked down the stairs, stopped, then watched sadly over him. The words were poignant and the flash backs of his life on video were well in tune with the words and the song is very powerful and moody.

As soon as it finished I searched the net for it and found it. Straight away I downloaded the video and I frequently play it and as yet it still hasn’t lost its impact on me.

Well, a bit long winded I know, but those are the two records that have made an impact on me.

What are your two records, and why?

John

Both great songs John. First few times I heard the Cash song it really moved me- a record with so much soul, even more emotional when I saw the video. I've never heard the original by Nine-inch Nails, but was aware that had originall recorded it.

[rscott74]

My 2 are Wuthering Hights by Kate Bush and A Love Like Yours Dont Come Knocking by Cher/Nilsson.
The first even now sounds fantastic and remains unique. I saw KB in Sunderland on her only national tour (about 1974) and she was phenomenal. The second is one only a few will have heard. It was on Phil Spectors Greatest Hits (early 70s?) and doesn't appear to have ever been released on CD. I always admired Nilssons vocal style and it works well with early powerful Cher. The vinyl LP has long gone but after an online enquiry I managed to get a copy from a chap in Holland.
Perhaps the early 70s were a good time for me - I'll now wonder why!

[aeshna5]

Must confess music is as important to me as natural history so difficult to pick 2 songs.

Temptations "Papa was a rolling stone" just knocked me off my feet, it was so different to anything I'd ever heard before, the long stark intro, Norman Whitfield's amazing arrangement, the voices, the brass, the lyrics.

Harry Chapin's "W.O.L.D" struck a chord with me, a great story song about a dee-jay who was considered too old + about his life's predicaments. Perhaps because I did a lot of hospital radio for c15 years I really related to the lyrics. Also love his song "Cat's in the Cradle"

[John]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Both great songs John. First few times I heard the Cash song it really moved me- a record with so much soul, even more emotional when I saw the video. I've never heard the original by Nine-inch Nails, but was aware that had originall recorded it.

I got my originals mixed up. Nine Inch Nails recorded Creep whereas Trent Reznor wrote the original of Hurt.

For anyone that has never heard it or hasn't seen the video here is a link to it on You Tube. Unfortunately it isn't a full sized screen so you miss some of the visual impact but it at least gives you an idea.

YouTube - Johnny Cash Hurt

John

[jdurbo]

I have quite a few songs that have a major impact on me some really soppy songs as i am a romantic
I used to think some 60's songs were a little morbid..like Tell laura i love her and leader of the pack as they were about people dying in crashes.
But the song called "HONEY" by Bobby goldsboro..its an old song 1968 (before i was born) my 1st husband used to really love this song..(for the benefit of those that don't know it, its about a man singing about his dead wife)Im not sure why he liked this song so much but i think its quite ironic that he died so young himself.
It never fails to bring tears to my eyes

jen xxx

[rscott74]

Isn't it strange that sad songs are so prevelant. 'Pop' songs are generally happy yet the one's which affect us most are just the opposite.
Regarding Hurt, I believe that JC's wife died before he recorded the video and her inclusion and the way it is made adds a real depth to the song's theme.

[naturelover]

no one has to be ray charles ( i cant stop loving you ) and cliff richards ( we dont talk anymore )sad arnt i.

[paulchandler6]

There are many as music is a major influence in my life as much as wildlife, but my two have to be "Thank You" by Led Zeppelin and "Nothing else matters" by Metallica.

Paul

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by naturelover

no one has to be ray charles ( i cant stop loving you ) and cliff richards ( we dont talk anymore )sad arnt i.

Ray Charles has to be one of greatest singers of all time. I can't claim to be a huge Cliff fan, but that's a good pop song you mention. Not sad at all!

[rscott74]

Having said that sad songs seem to be memorable the mention of Ray Charles takes me back to my early teens when life was simple and carefree, Take These Chains always hits home with me. At that time summers always seemed sunny and the songs I remember are associated with thoughts of relaxed warm days - Things (Bobby Darin), Speedy Gonzales (Pat Boone) and Rambling Rose (Nat King Cole) also things by Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly. Some of the songs were sad but only good times are remembered.

[toadpole]

well appart from my animals... and my wildlife ....my music is one of greatest *loves*i dont think i could survive without them...they have all helped to keep me going in the most awful of situations and now with severe athritis it sure helps to brighten my days ./..but to choose 2 ....now thats a problem no 1 would have to be Marvin Gaye ''Whats going on ''all about what is happening to our world ..wars ,greed ,conservation and how we treat each other ...i played this record when i got married in my teens( and was expecting my first child )every single day as i had moved into a new area miles from home with no tv or phone or friends come to that ......i used to talk to my baby and got comfort in him hearing a beautiful song each day ..unfortunately when i was 3 months pregnant my husbands darker side came to the surface and he turned very violent towards me ...i was to ashamed to go home to mum and be told i ''told you so'' so i endured all he did with hope that when my baby was born things would all be better ....but sadly at 9 months pregnant the doctors found something seriously wrong and told me my baby would not survive when he was born ...i was devastated beyond belief and treasured the the next few days with him still alive in me ....and that last week the only song i heard on the radio was Art garfunkel ''I only have eyes for you ''and i managed to buy it on vinyl and along with Marvin Gaye those were the last pieces of music my baby boy heard before he was born and they have stayed in my mind for the last 32 yrs which is how long ago my son died (Oct 7th )i dont think i will ever get over losing him ....but music is a powerful thing and gets you through bad times and comforts you .....and can then make you happy walking around with a smile on you face like my latest fave single Axwell '' happy that i found you ''

[John]

Jeez Toadpole. That is some experience you had had to go through and unless anyone has experienced anything like this first hand I doubt if they can begin to understand the pain in both a violent relationship, then the death of your child, can bring.

The Marvin Gaye record you mentioned is a pretty special record by anyone's standards, even if you had nothing in your life to link it to, but when it is linked to the circumstances you mention then I can fully understand why it (and the Art Garfunkel record) must have had such a big influence on you.

A very sad tale Toadpole and thank you for sharing it with us. I hope it goes some way to easing the pain you must have gone through to post it to us.

John

[Fourwings]

Wow, there's some pretty intense stuff here, I admire you guys for sharing stories like that, it cannot be easy to recount them even after the passage of time.

For me there are two records that fall into this catagory.

1 - Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin, a musical masterpiece that was an absolute favourite of myself and my friends when we were studying for A levels. During that period one of my best friends was killed whilst riding pillion on her boyfriends motorbike, they played this song at her funeral, such a sad day, and yet now everytime I hear it I can see her big grin and remember the good times we all had back in the early 80's.

2 - My Ding-a-Ling by Chuck Berry, ok so you may be laughing at this but it was the first record that I ever bought and I still love it, its a great mixture of tongue in cheek inuendo and blues based rock & roll. No matter how racked off I am feeling one listen to this and the smile is back on my face.

Finally I have to agree with a comment made earlier by Gaina, there is nothing better than a bit of Slipknot for getting the adreneline running, they may not be to everyones taste but their unique brand of high octane heavy metal, along with their side project Stone Sour, has completely restored my faith in modern rock music, after all you're never to old to mosh!!

[PMG]

Thank you to those who have shared the traumatic reasons for certain peices of music - its nice to share - good and bad - and be able to say something openly is not easy I'm sure . . .

For me . . . well . . . the first would be Marvin Gayes 'I heard it thro the grapevine' - it takes me back to my teens and recreates the feeling of the '60's - how I felt - how much I thought was in store for me - how on the brink of everything - I can't describe it properly - but I experience the same mental connections and ideas no matter how often I hear it - or how old I'm getting!

The second would be Gerry Rafferty's 'Baker Street' that opening brass 'Daa, da, da, da, da, Daaa' makes my hair stand on end - always has and always will I think! It transports me straight back to 1978, a holiday in the Isle of Arran with my first husband and my parents, and rekindles all the associated emotions that followed with the breakdown of that marriage (which incidentally went to the 'tune of Abba' around 1982-ish).

Its amazing isn't it - just how much music - a certain song - recreates your feelings and experiences as surely as if you well still in that period - it does it so strongly you'd swear you could taste it . . .

And the other thing I find ammusing is finding that I can appreciate Queen and esp Bohemian Rhapsody - at the time I couldn't abide it or them and my young neighbour drove me frantic playing it day and night. Now I have their albums and when in a certain sort of mood will happily play and enjoy and credit just how creative Freddy and the band was . . .

Pauline

[nightshade]

I cannot pick two there are so many records so many occasions (usually girls)
but Monkees, Then I saw Her Face and Sugar Sugar,were playing when I met
the lioness at a party.I used to see her on a bus stop as I passed on my Velocette
Venom and was smitten then there were Rockets Bells and Poetry.
Thanks to greedy people,alas, now it it is ; Pulled Down Paradise put up a parking lot