I revisited the “Turnstiles” album by Billy Joel today. It was the first time I’ve given the record a spin in at least a decade and it fit me like a glove. I often marvel at how music has the power to bring you right back to what you were doing when you first experienced it. As I listened to the record, memories of my awkward 15 year old self came rushing back and instead of remembering the misery of being that age, it made me feel good. My friend, Gary Theroux, used to always say that “Nostalgia is the past with the pain removed” as we went about the business of putting together music collections for Reader’s Digest, and his words never rang truer. Listening to “Turnstiles” brought back memories of some of the other records I was listening to at the time: Bruce Springsteen “Born To Run,” David Bowie “STATIONTOSTATION,” Wings “Venus And Mars,” Patti Smith “Horses,” Stevie Wonder “Songs In The Key Of Life,” Bob Dylan “Desire,” Genesis “Trick Of The Tale,” Gentle Giant “Free Hand,” Joni Mitchell “Hejira,” Tom Waits “Small Change,” Led Zeppelin “Presence,” ELO “New World Record,” Steve Miller Band “Fly Like An Eagle,” Steely Dan “The Royal Scam,” Al Stewart “The Year Of The Cat,” Boz Scaggs “Silk Degrees,” 10cc “How Dare You,” Lou Reed “Coney Island Baby” – the list goes on and on. I still harbor a deep emotional connection with most of these records. What are your favorites from the class of 1975-76?
