Originally Posted by Exo It's time for Exo to try another journal. It's easy. Top ten albums of each year starting at 1955 with some honorable mentions thrown in. I'm actually going to try to have a definitive list in descending order. Light description with each album. Perhaps a youtube link with a song. I'm not doing TH levels of writing here. Let's try it out!

Originally Posted by OccultHawk It’s a bold move. You want me to back off or can I pipe in with thoughts and opinions?

Fats Navarro
"Fats - Bud - Klook - Sonny - Kinney"

This is some early ass jazz. Young guys like Bud Powell, Sonny Stitt, and Kenny Clarke getting early exposure with the help of legend Fats Navarro who had already had a few albums come out. This is straight bebop and exciting bebop at that. Wish I could find a YT video for this but I can not.

#9



Stan Getz
West Coast Jazz

Super chill. Something you can throw on at night while you're talking to friends or your fam without overpowering the conversation. Not really west coast jazz which I think Getz was in on. Album features some standards like "Summertime" and "Night in Tunisia" but that opening track is always what makes me think of Stan Getz. That dripping cool style.

Originally Posted by OccultHawk It’s a **** load of work. I discovered lots from goofle’s journal.

#8



Julie London
Julie is Her Name

You're in a damp underground bar/club and some dame gets up on stage and it gets quiet and dark and this woman slowly stares into your eyes and sings "Cry Me a River". That's the stuff right there.

Julie London wasn't the most exciting singer during the 50's but neither was Chet Baker but they had this sad silky dreamy aura about them whenever they performed.

Not much instrumentation on here besides Barney Kessell lightly creating mood in the background. I like this record because it takes me to that dark basement and let's me imagine buying Julie a drink afterward.



#7



Dexter Gordon
Dexter Blows Hot and Cool

Another "cool" record which I guess was the theme of the mid 50's. Chill the f*ck out son. Ironically featuring another rendition of "Cry Me a River". This version is more buttery than London's smokey take. Nearly every take on this record features Carl Perkins in the background laying down some keys and Gordon plays over them beautifully. Album swings hard too like on tracks "Blowin' for Dootsie" and "Bonna Rue". His sax always sounds so, well, saxy.

Early record for the soon to be legend. Amazing album cover too.

Originally Posted by OccultHawk It’s real hard to decide who makes the cut. Even you’re #10 pick. Great pick but already I’m thinking “top ten???” It’s loaded though shonuff

don't want these lists scrutinized with a microscope