The primary way I build my digital music collection is by maintaining a playlist called, “The Rotation.” On this list, I load albums of artists I’m interested in hearing; mostly new-to-me artists or albums. Because I need some organizational principle to conduct this survey, I go by the alphabetical listing of the artist. I typically move from earlier records to later records, although there are exceptions. If I’m excited to hear a new album by a favorite artist I’ll add it in an apparent random placement to hear it sooner than later. From this list I’ll select tracks to add to my collection. It’s rare that I DNF a record, and uncommon for me to not select a single track from it. I’ve been doing this for a while and am currently on my 9th trip around the alphabet. Below are the albums heard in a given session and what thoughts, if any, I have about them. These are mostly first impressions, so don’t expect in-depth analysis.
Asterisks (*) after the album title indicate that it is a new-to-me record.
Sam & Dave: I THANK YOU (1968)*
I know most of this music, obviously, but this is my first time through the record.
Collected Tracks
- I Thank You
- Everybody Got to Believe in Somebody
- Wrap It Up
- Ain’t That a Lot of Love
Sam Cooke: NIGHT BEAT (1963)*
There’s really nothing to say about Sam freakin’ Cooke. It just is.
Collected Tracks
- Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen
- Lost and Lookin’
- Please Don’t Drive Me Away
Sammy Rae & The Friends: SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY (2024)*
A recent discovery for me. This is a really fun record.
Collected Tracks
- Coming Home Song
- Cool-Doug, At Night
- We Made It
- Good Time Tavern
- Luck of the Draw
Santana: AMIGOS (1976)*
There hasn’t been a bad Santana record yet!
Collected Tracks
- Dance Sister Dance (Baila Me Hermana)
- Take Me With You
- Gitano
Sara Bareilles: WHAT’S INSIDE: SONGS FROM WAITRESS (2015)*
I’ve become a big Sara Bareilles fan over the last couple of years and it was THIS MOMENT that I learned that she wrote the music for the WAITRESS musical. I’ve never heard the cast recording before, so this is my first dip into that pool. Looking forward to it!
Collected Tracks
- What’s Inside
- When He Sees Me
MusicHead 
Leave a comment