#5: Birth of the Cool - Miles Davis (1956)

In 1947, Miles Davis began forming larger jazz groups as an alternative to the small groups typical to contemporary jazz at the time. The nine piece band he started performed very briefly in '48, and when he was contracted the following year to produce a number of 78 rpm singles for Capitol Records, he got the band back together. Eight of the songs were originally released as singles in 1950, but were compiled in '56 with three unreleased tracks on the LP Birth Of The Cool. A vocal song, "Darn That Dream" was added to a re-release in 1971, though, in my opinion, it was not needed and felt a little out of place.

I've always been a fan of Miles Davis, but I don't think I've ever really listened to this album before. I was stuck in traffic on my way home from a very long day at work when I listened to it for the first time. I'm listening to it again right now trying to wrap my head around just how he was able to get that sound out of a trumpet. I tried playing the trumpet once. It wasn't pretty. I'm in awe of the way the nine different instruments play off each other to create such beautiful emotions. This is the perfect album to unwind to after a long day of building websites for the Mouse.

And, yes, this is Lisa Simpson's favorite album. Favorite Tracks: "Move," "Venus de Milo," "Boplicity" and "Moon Dreams"

#4: Songs for Swingin' Lovers - Frank Sinatra (1956)

Just one year after In The Wee Small Hours, Sinatra returns with a decidedly different kind of romantic album. Instead of morose songs about lost love, Frankie sings hipper, jazzier versions of existing pop standards.

He was teamed with new arranger Nelson Riddle and together they recreated the songs of a previous generation in a new light and created new pop standards in the process. My favorite track is without question the legendary Cole Porter song "I've Got You Under My Skin." It starts off as a relatively subdued, brooding love song that climaxes with an out of control slide trombone solo. I'm also partial to the line "wake up to reality." What a great piece of advice.

Favorite Tracks: "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Makin' Whoopee," and "Anything Goes."

#3: Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley (1956)

The historical significance of this album is unquestionable. It was Presley's first full-length LP; it was the first rock 'n' roll album to reach #1 on the Billboard charts; and it was the first rock LP to sell a million copies. So, it's no wonder that it made the list of the 1001 albums.

Oh, and the album cover inspired The Clash's London Calling, among others.

The songs are a weird mix of countrified leftovers from his sessions at Sun Records, and rock versions of then-recent rhythm & blues tracks, most notably "I Got A Woman" by Ray Charles and "Tutti Frutti" by Little Richard. It also contains his cover of the Carl Perkins song "Blue Suede Shoes."

Growing up in my household, it was difficult not to like Elvis. My mom's Elvis records are the only albums I remember her owning. I remember being in awe of the blue vinyl of Moody Blue and thinking he looked like a sad Gomer Pyle on the cover of How Great Thou Art. Go ahead. Google it. I don't remember her owning this particular album, but listening to it does make me think of her and what wild taste in music she had back in the day.

Favorite Tracks: "Blue Moon," "I Got A Woman" and "Money Honey"

UP NEXT: Frank Sinatra, again

#2: Ellington at Newport - Duke Ellington (1956)

I've never been the biggest fan of jazz instrumentals. I think I was traumatized in junior high band. I vividly remember that stupid assembly at Dunson Elementary in the 6th grade when some guy was there peddling musical instruments to unsuspecting pre-teens. (Wasn't that the plot of Music Man?) Anyway, I begged my mom to let me get the trombone because you could make this really cool slide noise with it. Well, let me tell you, that got really old really fast. Just ask my mom. She made me practice outside. It never caught on and I quit on the first day of Band Camp in 9th grade, so I don't have any awesome Band Camp stories.

As I was saying, I've never been the biggest fan of jazz instrumentals, but I definitely found myself tapping my foot to this record. I pictured myself in a crisp black suit, smoking a cigarette and downing my 3rd martini... before noon... and I don't smoke or drink martinis. This concert was recorded in 1956 at the Newport Jazz Festival, and let me tell you, those folks got pretty rowdy. The concert started off calmly enough, but after Duke & his orchestra performed "Crescendo In Blue," featuring trumpeter Cat Anderson, the crowd began to come unglued! Duke tried to calm them by introducing a couple of saxophone pieces, but they wouldn't disperse. It was quite fascinating. There's a track actually called "Riot Prevention." The band finally ended the show with a drum solo and Duke thanking everyone while the band played "Mood Indigo."

As I was saying, I've never been the biggest fan of jazz instrumentals, but I definitely found myself tapping my foot to this record. I pictured myself in a crisp black suit, smoking a cigarette and downing my 3rd martini... before noon... and I don't smoke or drink martinis. This concert was recorded in 1956 at the Newport Jazz Festival, and let me tell you, those folks got pretty rowdy. The concert started off calmly enough, but after Duke & his orchestra performed "Crescendo In Blue," featuring trumpeter Cat Anderson, the crowd began to come unglued! Duke tried to calm them by introducing a couple of saxophone pieces, but they wouldn't disperse. It was quite fascinating. There's a track actually called "Riot Prevention." The band finally ended the show with a drum solo and Duke thanking everyone while the band played "Mood Indigo."

UP NEXT: Elvis Presley

#1: In the Wee Small Hours - Frank Sinatra (1955)

Contrary to popular belief, I have not already heard all of the albums listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Listen To Before You Die. So, yesterday, inspired by Julie & Julia, I decided that I should listen to all 1001, and write about them.

Yes, I know I'm not the first person to think of this. If I was, I would have written the book.

Before this album was released in 1955, most LPs were just randomly compiled collections of the artist's hits. This was the first "concept" album. The songs were written, recorded and sequenced specifically for this album.

All of the songs are ballads and focus on lost love (which I later discovered was supposedly due to Sinatra's separation from Ava Gardner).

I wouldn't recommend playing this on a road trip. No, this album is perfect for those nights battling insomnia or when you want to relax with a glass of wine after watching the latest episode of Mad Men.

Favorite tracks: "In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning," "Mood Indigo," "I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)" and "Dancing on the Ceiling" (which is NOT the same as the Lionel Richie track by the same name).

UP NEXT: Duke Ellington