Five Albums For Eternity

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***Idea ”borrowed” from author Andrew Cotto, who actually is going to team up with me for a continuous back and forth conversation about race at The Good Men Project in a couple of weeks***

The scenario: Monkeys have overtaken the planet, and you’re forced to flee to a deserted island where you’ll stay for the rest of your life. You’ll have all the amenities, a nice house, a full wait staff, and the mate of your choosing. (No cute monkeys, though)

The catch: You’re not able to listen to any new music for the rest of your life. But, you are allowed to bring five albums with you, and these are the only songs you’ll be able to hear.

The question: Which albums would you bring?

Things to consider before answering

1. You probably shouldn’t bring your five favorite albums. Why? Well, if you’re anything like me, your favorite albums might all belong to the same genre. In my case, three of the five are Wu-Tang records. And while I love Liquid Swords, Supreme Clientele, and Wu-Forever to death, if I can only listen to five albums for the rest of my life, do they really all need to have basically the exact same sound and function?

2. Try not to be too self-conscious when making these choices. I mean, if Bohemian Rhapsody is your all-time favorite song, don’t be scared to take A Night at the Opera with you. Nobody is going to judge you for loving Queen.

3. With that in mind, you actually probably shouldn’t choose an album just because it has your favorite song on it. I mean, if it’s going to be me and these five records for the rest of my life, I’d rather choose something with 13 songs I really like instead of two songs I love and the rest I can skip through.

My choices

Supreme Clientele (Ghostface Killah)

Still my choice for the best rap album ever made, it makes the cut because of Ghost’s energy and imagination and the fact that you can listen to it straight through without skipping any songs or skits.

Things Fall Apart (The Roots)

I know I just ignored my suggestion about including multiple choices from the same genre, but between the production, the guest spots, and even Ursula Rucker’s poem at the end, Things Fall Apart has so much stuff going on that I can’t not include it.

What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye)

Can never get tired listening to the greatest album ever made.

Jesus Christ Superstar (various artists)

I have a slight problem with this choice. Yes, the album is definitely making the cut — it’s totally awesome, the way it explores the relationship between Jesus and Judas is equally awesome, and it’s the only album where I know every word to every song — but I prefer the way the songs are sung in the movie version. I guess I’d find a way to work around that.

Kill Bill soundtracks (various artists)

Narrowly making the cut over the Goodfellas soundtrack, the Kill Bill soundtracks (I include them both because I consider volume 1 and 2 to be the same movie) are coming with me because, well, I loved the movie(s), I loved the music, I love movie soundtracks, and I’m a f*cking weirdo.

Anyway, people of VSB.com, you’ve heard from me. Which five albums would you choose to take with you? (And why?)

—The Champ

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  • SororSalsa

    1. Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Key of Life

    2. Prince – Sign O’ the Times

    3. Maxwell – Urban Hang Suite

    4. Prince – 1999

    5. Kiss – Alive (don’t judge me!)

    • http://GenevaGirl.net Geneva Girl

      Except for #5 I want to be on your desert island.

    • WayUPThere

      Urban Hang Suite is crack. I’m still addicted to that album.

  • http://twitter.com/wavecapwillis Wave Cap Willis

    This…is tough.

    • http://twitter.com/wavecapwillis Wave Cap Willis

      So…no compilation albums, right? If that’s the case, then…

      Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Key of Life
      -Lyrical complexity meets excellent melodies AND harmonies.

      Mos Def – Black on Both Sides
      -Talib’s lyrics generally are better than Mos Def’s, but Mos Def has always had a flow that is more expressive and more pleasant for listening. Plus this album had better producers than Reflection Eternal did.

      Stan Getz & Luiz Bonfá – Jazz Samba Encore!
      -Passionate, emotive, contemplative. And acoustic.

      Fela Kuti – Shakara
      -So. danceable.

      Sonicflood – Sonicflood
      -Christian rock that’s beautiful and expertly made.

    • http://twitter.com/wavecapwillis Wave Cap Willis

      Honorable mentions:

      Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head

      Daft Punk – Discovery

      Daft Punk – Homework

      Ghostface Killah – Supreme Clientele

      Pharcyde – Labcabincalifornia

      Kanye West – Graduation

      Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

      Marvin Gaye – I Want You

      Michael Jackson – Off the Wall

      Miles Davis – Kind of Blue

      Nas – Illmatic

      Pete Rock – Petestrumentals

      Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – The Main Ingredient

      Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – Mecca and the Soul Brother

      Radiohead – OK Computer

      Redman – Dare Iz a Darkside

      Stan Getz & João Gilberto – Getz/Gilberto

      Weezer – Blue Album

      Willie Colon & Ruben Blades – Siembra

      Zero 7 – Simple Things

      • Mo-VSS

        Simple Things by Zero 7 is much slept on. Love it!

        • http://www.twitter.com/ronbronson RB

          Agreed.

      • chanelle

        daft punk is pretty cool

      • thenameisyonna

        Have you been in my iPod snooping?
        Daft Punk, Zero 7, Weezer and Radiohead are all-time faves. :)

        • thenameisyonna

          …and Coldplay. How did I miss them?

      • http://www.fromraewithlove.com Rae

        I think I am in love with your musical selections…

      • http://dietynyota.wordpress.com/ DietyNyota

        YOU FVCKING ROCK Wavecap!! You must have hacked my iTunes LOL.

    • Sula

      Ain’t it though? I have been scratching my list and rewriting it, you would think I was writing to Santa.

      Still trying to come up with the final cut. :)

  • KneeCee

    First off, I hate having to choose. You suck for this.

    ATCQ – Low End Theory
    Nancy Wilson – I Know I Love Him
    Miles Davis – Kind of Blue
    Carly Simon – Anticipation
    Al Green – I’m Still In Love With You

    That’s it. Until I change my mind.

    • KneeCee

      My bad….make that The Best of Carly Simon.

    • http://www.pinchmycheekie.wordpress.com Cheekie

      YASSSSSS @ Nancy Wilson!

  • http://Twitter.com/legaldrugdlr Sugarwater

    1. Erykah Badu- Baduism
    2. JayZ- The Blueprint
    3. Soundtrack to West Side Story
    4. Green Day- Dookie
    5. Marvin Gaye- I want you

    • http://asiyah3.wordpress.com Asiyah

      Green Day! Love!

  • Tx10inch

    I dunno why I thought this was Pjack’s post until I read “champ” at the bottom. Guess the album talk threw me off. *shrugs*

    I have to really think about my 5…..might be back lata.

    • http://www.pinchmycheekie.wordpress.com Cheekie

      LOL, I straight up just told PJ the same thing. That this seemed like a post he’d write. They pullin’ the switcheroo on us… ;)

  • elle

    Mary J Bige-My Life
    Nas-Illmatic
    Donny Hathaway-Everything Is Everything
    Jill Scott-Who Is Jill Scott Vol 1 Words and Sounds
    Mos Def-Black on Both Sides

  • SheWhoReads

    Very tough…

    I’d take:

    R. Kelly’s Happy People (It really does make me smile)
    The Waiting to Exhale soundtrack
    Jill Scott’s Beautifully Human
    Kanye West’s Late Registration
    And a mixed CD that I made several years ago when folks still made mixed CDs.

    • MsMelissa

      I still make mixed cds… and give them random names so I know what’s on them…
      for example my Hoodrat Divas CD called “3 Deez”

      • Kidsister

        I use too make CDs all the time and name them by how I was feeling at the time. Much like the “some type of way” playlist on my iPod…lol

      • http://twitter.com/SweetDivaLove Mia

        MsMelissa: Excuse me what songs are on that Hoodrat Divas Cd??! I think everyone should have a cd/playlist of ratchet songs. Lol

      • SheWhoReads

        Girl, I have a Hood Hop mixed cd, which is a bunch of low class rap music. Then I have Brokenhearted, which is a mix of “leave him alone” type songs and lots of other random ones. I actually still listen to my mixes too.

      • Monique

        My friends and I have a stank mix with 137 songs on it named Stankonia. It’s magical.

  • http://www.dedicatedtotheBlackman.wordpress.com WonderWoman

    1. The Essential Michael Jackson – Michael Jackson

    2. Embrya – Maxwell

    3. 20/20 – Trip Lee

    4. The Best of Genesis – Genesis

    5. Oh Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith – Aerosmith

    • WayUPThere

      I made a comment about another Maxwell comment upthread, but his older stuff far outpaces the last album he put out, and that includes “Embrya” and “Now” along with “Urban Hang Suite.”

  • CrisUntilIFindaCleverName

    GREAT QUESTION!!

    (not in any particular order)
    Purple Rain Soundtrack
    Off the Wall
    Paid In Full
    Amazing Grace ( Aretha )
    Songs in the Key of Life

  • organiker

    Miles Davis – Kind of Blue

    Glenn Gould – Bach: The Goldberg Variations

    Jamie Cullum – Twentysomething

    Lady Saw – Raw

    Buju Banton – Til Shiloh

    • Sula

      Jamie Cullum – Twentysomething

      Love this!

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