So I did some digging and it seems that the Top 5 on Friday topic that I see over at Mini-Obs originates at The Music Memoirs, so if they don't mind I think I'll just join in on the fun and start doing this regularly.
This week's topic - Top 5 Acoustic Albums
oh - but there is a catch: Unpluggeds don't count
So here goes:
Michael Hedges - Aerial Boundaries
Michael is an extraordinary musician I've written about before and is truly a master of the acoustic guitar. Aerial Boundaries was the first I heard of him and it really was and continues to be an amazing experience every time I listen. I never had the chance to see him live, regrettably, before he passed in 1997 - but there is lot of material out there if you look around. If you don't have this album, buy it.
Warren Haynes - Live at Bonnaroo
It shouldn't surprise any regular reader of My Thermos to see this one here. Warren is a favorite of mine and this solo appearance in front of 80,000 at Bonnaroo is a great listen. Featuring stripped down versions of some Mule songs as well as a bunch of tasty covers including the Dead's Stella Blue, Radiohead's Lucky, Eagle's Wasted Time and U2's One - it really is a great performance. Buy this one as well.
Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Quite possibly the greatest album ever recorded. If this isn't in your collection, well, I don't even know what to say....
Billy Bragg & Wilco - Mermaid Avenue (Vol 1 & 2)
What happens when you take completed Woody Guthrie Lyrics and give them to Billy Bragg and Wilco to "collaborate" with Woody on the tunes. You get Mermaid Avenue - a mostly brilliant collection of songs. I couldn't choose between the two - neither should you.
Lyle Lovett - I Love Everybody
I know I seem to mention this album a lot but that's because it's just so amazingly brilliant. I guess this isn't 100% acoustic, but it largely is and certainly has that "feel" to it. Check the archives here for more on Lyle and this LP.
Honorable Mentions:
Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
Adam Hood - 6th Street (EP)
Randy Newman - Sail Away
Warren Zevon - Learning to Flinch
So how did I do?
Oh - and eliminating the unpluggeds wasn't really a big deal to me. I probably would have included the Paul McCartney Unplugged Official Bootleg but otherwise I find the typical unplugged collections pretty forgettable. Never could figure out why the Clapton one was so popular.
SB














As for Unplugged, I like Clapton's, especially Tears In Heaven, which is the #1 reason I think people love it so much. You know, his son's death was a pretty fresh wound when that unplugged version was released. Oh, and that unplugged version of Layla was kinda cool, too.
LOVE LOVE the Billy Bragg pick. I think I need to pull that out and give it a listen this weekend!
And that Hedges album is superb. Love it.
I certainly think it has it's moments (Tears in Heaven is heartbreaking for sure) but otherwise I found it to be a bit watered down for my tastes. Perhaps I need to revisit it, has been years since I listened.
Thanks as always for your visit and comments.
SB
Dave Van Ronk Sunday Street
Ry Cooder Jazz
Bread and Roses (The first album)
Stan Rogers Between the Breaks . . . Live
Jackie Washington Midnight Choo CHoo
SB