At my age I’ve started thinking about downsizing my record collection; not so much my CDs, but LPs, which I have the most of. Between age, other things I want to do with my life, and hope to some day move house again, I gotta wonder what I really want to listen to from here on in and how much I might actually get the time to. There are records I’ve kept for years, for decades, and things I’ve picked up in recent years that I’ve thought One day I will have the time to really get in to this and enjoy it much more. Well, that time is now, because I’ve gotten plenty of albums and catalogues that I still rarely pull out (if ever), And more so, I have catalogues of bands and artists I can pull out any day and enjoy, and would gladly add more to that catalaogue if there’s something more or new of interest. So, here is 10 bands or artists that I would be putting aside. It is important to look at quantity and quality too – I love Boston, but 6 Boston albums. I also include direct or significantly related works…..
Now that I struggled through this, I may do a part 2 eventually including some of those shorter catalogues). And then there’s the band’s catalogues that I don’t even know why I still have!
URIAH HEEP (Ken Hensley, David Byron, Peter Goalby, Phil Lanzon….solo)
Well, for me the most obvious….Uriah Heep have 25 studio albums, 20 (official) live albums, numerous non-LP tracks that have ended up on compilations or reissues. There’s been 5 lead singers, each adding a different appeal to the band. There’s also been a number of name keyboardists, drummers, and bass players pass through the band, with 2 keyboard players providing a major part of the songwriting during their time in the band. So, aside from the studio and live albums, I’d be including the most obvious solo releases from Ken Hensley, David Byron, Peter Goalby, and Phil Lanzon. Sure, there’s plenty more, but those are most signifigant IMO.
BLACK SABBATH (Ozzy, Dio solo)
Some of the first albums I ever owned were the early Black Sabbath albums, so I can easily live with those 8 studio albums with Ozzy. I loved the Dio albums (mainly the first 2), and subsequent albums with Gillan, Hughes, and Tony Martin are largely great by me. 20 studio albums (I’m counting the Heaven & Hell releases), 8 live albums (though I’m not crazy about all these). Throw in the post-Sabbath catalogues from Ozzy, Dio, Bill Ward, and Tony Iommi, and i’m happy.
MAGNUM
British hard-rock/Aor band Magnum have been releasing albums since the late 70s. Their last coming 2 years, around the same time as guitarist & songwriter Tony Clarkin passed away. Few of the band’s albums actually got released over here, so I’ve still got a few gaps to fill in, but 23 studio albums, 10+ live releases. Lots of classic British rock to be heard, and keep me busy.
RUSH
Well, another no-brainer…. For being just a 3 piece band, Rush released a ton of excellent albums in their catalogue. 19 studio albums, 10+ live albums, plus lots of must-have bonus material (largely live) on box sets and reissues. The band changed direction a few times, always trying to stay modern and fresh, so there’s one can;t get bored of the band’s massive output since 1974.
STYX (Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw solo)
Another band I got started with when I began collecting records. Styx released a string of hit albums from the mid 70s til 1981 Their catalogue though is worth having also for the band’s more obscure early releases, and most recent albums. 18 studio albums (albeit a few post-81 I am not keen on), plus 9 live albums (even though a number of these came after the band split with founding member Dennis DeYoung). But the has redeemed themselves in recent years with 3 excellent studio albums (w/ Lawrence Gowan). Not a lot of rarities in the band’s catalogue, but definitely worth keeping the solo albums from DeYoung and Tommy Shaw, as well.
PINK FLOYD (David Gilmour solo)
Since 1967, British psych and progressive band have released 15 studio albums, and 8 live albums (tho’ may of these are archived releases coming decades after the fact). I’m not crazy about the band’s earliest stuff, but the addition of David Gilmour, his guitar playing and vocals are the draw for me, largely. Pink Floyd did not record every year like most bands in the 70s, which seems to make many of their releases seem more like ‘events’. Love their 70s output (meh, not so crazy about The Wall), but also enjoyed 80s releases, and any David Gilmour solo releases, with his live albums always featuring a good chunk of Pink Floyd material. Roger Waters, well I like his first solo album.
ASIA (John Wetton solo, John Payne) ,
When Asia came out in 1982, that debut album was outstanding beginning to end! Rock, AOR, prog….a band consisting of 4 ‘name’ players, 3 big hit singles…. The follow ups were never as good, but I still liked them a lot. Featured the voice of John Wetton. Bu the band began to fall apart by the 3rd album, and endless changes occurred til Wetton left around 1990, and keyboardist Geoff Downes reformed the band around himself and new singer/bass player John Payne. The Payne era of the band, which released 8 studio albums of material and a number of live albums, never really caught on commercially and many fans simply overlook this period, but there is some excellent releases in there. The original band eventually reformed, released a couple of fine studio albums. Sadly Wetton passed away in 2017, but Downes has more recently regrouped with new guys, notably unknown singer/bass player Harry Whitley, who sounds remarkably like Wetton, and have (so far) released 1 live album and recorded 1 studio album, all sounding very promising. With the Asia releases, I’d include John Wetton’s solo records, and John Payne’s post-Asia solo , GPS and Dukes Of The Orient albums
LYNYRD SKYNYRD
Not a huge catalogue, especially what is considered the ‘real’ Lynyrd Skynyrd, the 70s stuff. But, as much as some of us (including myself on occasion) about this band continuing after the plane crash that claimed their leader and singer in 1977, there’s actually been some pretty good albums from the band, with Johnny Van Zant sounding close enough to late brother Ronnie, and enough originals or key guys there for years, that all make this a catalogue I’d be keeping and expanding on (especially archival releases). 13 studio albums (excluding the frigging Christmas album), tons of live releases (post reformation and archival), box sets, rarities releases….
APRIL WINE
One of my favorite Canadian bands. This band has been around since 1971, but there’s lots of gaps, so we only have 16 studio albums, 4+ live albums, a pile of compilations, though not a lot of rarities or related/solo material. But I can pull out these albums most days.
ALICE COOPER (band, solo…)
The original ALICE COOPER was a band, and my favorite American band. AC only released 7 studio albums in their day, before Alice went solo and has released over 20 solo albums. We also get solo and related albums from the other members over the years (Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith), as well as a reunion album, an archvied live album, a reunion live mini album, box sets, and numerous live and compilations from Alice, solo.
