Amazon Vinyl of the Month Club: The Golden Era - Vinyl Subscription

There's something special about vinyl. I don't know what, nostalgia, size, artwork? I can't put my finger on it, but I like it. My enjoyment of vinyl prompted me to give the Amazon vinyl club a try. For US$25/month, they send you an album that they believe is worth owning.

Kraftwerk's Autobahn (not from the club).

Amazon describes the club this way:

Get an essential album, every month - Join the club and receive one must-own record from the Golden Era of Vinyl (1960s-1970s) each month, handpicked by the experts at Amazon Music.

I joined in 2021 and so far am happy with the club. My goal is to be exposed to music that I would be unaware of or unlikely to pick on my own. Sometimes we are too much creatures of habit. My musical tastes lean toward rock but I also like pop. Big band and jazz are enjoyable but I know less about them, and on rare occasions I even enjoy classical music. International music of almost any sort is also nice to hear, giving a taste of other cultures.

That brief background gives you an idea of my musical tastes to put the following mini reviews in context. No one likes reading long reviews, anyway, do they?

• 2021

  Jun: The Clash, London Calling

  I really like this. Not on my Top 10 List, if I had one, but definitely will get repeat play.

  Jul: Pink Floyd, The Wall

  One of Floyd's three biggies: Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and The Wall. Excellent, if not exactly uplifting. :-)

  Aug: The Who, The Who Sell Out

  This is a fun album. I like The Who but never picked up this one. The "sells out" (to advertising) theme offers a smile, and the album includes the famous "I Can See for Miles."

  Sep: Creedence Clearwater Revival, Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits

  CCR is one of those bands you hear all the time on rock stations. I never followed them, not out of dislike just wasn't drawn to them, and this album makes me realize the large number of hits they had.

  Oct: [returned] Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon

  I already had this on vinyl and returned it. A fantastic album everyone should own.

  Nov: John Lennon, Imagine

  I'm a Beatles fan, so this special edition version of a classic album is prized!

  Dec: Creedance Clearwater Revival, Live at Woodstock

  Someone at Amazon loves CCR. A good album, but at at this point I was beginning to wonder if the club was a mistake. Everything was the same vein of classic rock, things I could pick out on my own, and I hoped to be exposed to different types of music.

• 2022

  Jan: Jimi Hendrix, Are You Experienced

  A classic! I never would have thought to buy the mono version. My interest in the club was revived.

  Feb: The Supremes, Number Ones

  The first record is great, second not so much, but no complaints for $25.

  Mar: Simon and Garfunkel, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

  A low key, relaxing album. Perfect when you want a little quiet time.

  Apr: Aretha Franklin, Amazing Grace

  This is her best selling album and recorded in a church. I was hoping for something like the famous Respect. Not at all a bad album, but probably will get only occasional play.

  May: Nancy Sinatra, Boots

  This is an unexpectedly fun album, just the sort of thing I hope for in the club. Nice liner notes, actually booklet, too.