1. Slint - Spiderland
This remains an enormous record in alternative music twenty years on. I just got round to listening to it for the first time a couple of days ago and I think it's magnificent.
Influenced by - countless American underground groups of the eighties but I can also hear traces of Wire there.
Influence on - countless underground bands. Too many to mention. Mogwai certainly.
2. Big Star - Number 1 Record (or in fact any of their three albums)
An obvious one. Sold zilch at the time though it was respected critically. Almost impossible to get in the eighties.
Influenced by - The Beatles & The Byrds
Influence on - R.E.M., Replacement, melodic powerpop bands and then Teenage Fanclub who they probably could have taken to court for Bandwagonesque (even the cover looks as if it might have been inadvertently influenced).
3. Opal - Happy Nightmare Baby
Still not very known this one. I recommend it highly. Vinyl copies are worth quite a lot nowadays. I'm not selling mine. Made up of Kendra Smith and David Roback, refugees from The Dream Syndicate and The Rain Parade
Influenced by The Velvet Underground with Mo Tucker or Nico singing. 60s psychedelia.
Influence on Mazzy Star who Roback went on to form
4. Skip Spence - Oar
I don't know this whole album but it has developed a huge reputation. Ex-Moby Grape, he was hospitalised shortly after attacking his ex-band with an axe which is probably due cause for sectioning. An American Syd Barrett.
Influenced by - Blues
Influence on - I suspect Will Oldham's heard this record. Johnny Marr really likes it.
5. Nick Drake - Pink Moon
Another obvious one (again could be any of his three but this has specific resonance). A melancholy poet (sounds glib but an accurate description). I remember vividly hearing him for the first time in the eighties at my brother's flat in North London a time when he was virtually unknown. It was a revelation. One of the few times in life, they don't happen very often when you're completely stopped in your tracks. Had a similar moment with Spiderland a couple of days ago. Now Brad Pitt is a huge fan which kind of says it all. Not much good to poor Nick. His sister was in Crossroads.
Influenced by - Folk & Van Morrison
Influence on - almost anyone who picks up an acoustic guitar nowadays
6. The Blue Orchids - The Greatest Hit (Money Mountain)
Still not a very well known album and a greatly underrated band.
Influenced by - The Fall where the band emerged from. Mushrooms.
Influence on - Roddy Frame. Aztec Camera did a cover of this.
7. Link Wray - Link Wray
This is worth having just for the record itself if you can track it down. It opens around Link's face. Great album too.
Influenced by - American roots music
Influence on - American roots music
8. Shuggie Otis - Inspiration Information
The new Stevie Wonder. Except he wasn't. Great, great music though.
Influenced by - American soul
Influence on - American soul
9. Michael Head & The Strands - The Magical World of the Strands
Make a point of hearing the whole thing. Now deleted and costs a bomb. Ex-Pale Fountains and Shack. I get a bit tired of the vocals now but it's a great album.
Influenced by - Love
Influence on Noel Gallagher (not their fault) and lots of other bands from Liverpool and Manchester from the nineties and now (really, it's not their fault! The Head brothers are a talented pair even if the shadow of Arthur Lee looms over virtually everything they've done).
10. Galaxie 500 - Today
Also could be any of their three albums (On Fire their second is most highly rated critically but I prefer this). Incredible how much influence they've come to have on the softer side of indie. But they were out on their own in sounding like this when they released their records in the late eighties.
Influenced by - The third Velvet Underground album.
Influence on - Thousands of introverted indie souls.
There are lots more but I'll stop there. Part 2 at a later date.
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