Some people remember where they were and what they were doing when certain historically significant events occurred; the Twin Towers collapsing, the space shuttle exploding, JFK being assassinated, MLK murdered….

Although nothing musical competes with the worldwide impact of these events, there are a few pieces of music that left such an impression on me that I remember clearly when I heard them for the first time.

Here are three of them. I’ll keep the stories short, hoping you’ll spend the time to listen to the music instead of reading.

Title: Concerto de Aranjuez
Artist: Miles Davis & Gil Evans
Album: Sketches Of Spain

I was in college and just starting to get introduced to jazz. After hearing Miles Davis’ iconic Kind of Blue album, somebody recommended I check out Sketches of Spain, a symphonic, non traditional album orchestrated by Gil Evans, a genius I hadn’t yet heard of. So I got the album, went into my room, and gave it a spin as I lay in bed. The combination of beautiful sounds and the pre-sleep brain really brought the music to life, especially with the somewhat eerie vibe of the piece.

Title: Superstar/Until You Come Back To Me
Artist: Luther Vandross
Album: Busy Body

My girlfriend was a big Luther Vandross fan and introduced me to his music with this song when we were hanging out at her house. I was in high school. I didn’t remember ever hearing something so sad yet so beautiful. Somehow the sweet pain of listening to this track helped me sort through my own teenage emotions while at the same time getting a lesson in musical composition.

Title: Computer Blue
Artist: Prince
Album: Purple Rain

It was Christmas Day, 1984. I was a junior high kid visiting my grandmother. My cousin wanted me to hear his new tape, so we went down to the car for him to show me. It was a cassette of Prince’s Purple Rain. Of course I had heard some of the tracks already, but not the whole album. I hadn’t heard Computer Blue. I hadn’t heard the suggestive opening between Wendy & Lisa, the long instrumental stretch that pop songs don’t usually have, the soaring guitar lines, or the (at the time) cutting edge electronic sounds.

What songs hit you hard and left a big impression? Let me know in the comments.

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