Willie Nelson's <i>Phases and Stages</i> was released one year prior to Wainwright's <i>Unrequited</i> and takes a somewhat similar artistic approach. It is clearly a concept album with two distinct, but closely related, sides.

I also picked this one up at Boomerangs. At the time, I knew nothing about Melanie Safka. Looking at the front cover, I must have immediately thought, <i>hmm… psychedelic hippie music</i>, or something like that. I also noticed that it was released by Buddah Records who I <i>was</i> familiar with for their work with Captain Beefheart and Rodriguez. Turning to the back, I was intrigued by Melanie's liner notes, which pretty much told me that this chick is crazy.

There's a strange similarity between La Lupe and Melanie. They are both clearly passionate, to say the least. I've read that La Lupe's live shows had that certain danger to them that only the greatest rock performances can manage. On stage, her hands went wild like pigeons exploding into the summer sky: Lupe would poke at her face, tug at her clothes, and throw her shoes into the crowd.

I purchased this album, simply titled <i>Elvis</i>, at the ARChive of Contemporary Music's winter record fair. This album immediately followed his RCA Victor debut, <i>Elvis Presley</i>. Both were released in 1957 and both went gold. By the end of the year, I suppose he was so successful that a single name was enough. My copy is a 50th anniversary reissue special.

It's a very tough call, but <i>Darkness</i> may be my favorite Springsteen album. See him there, looking so damn ready to prove it all night.

This album was obviously named after me.