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Influential Albums: 1332-1338
Fri., Jan. 5. 2024 8:21pm EST
J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX here again.
Here are the latest entries in the "albums that influenced me" series I started writing in May 2020.
Note: Just because an album appears on this list doesn't mean I give it a blanket endorsement. Many of the secular albums on this list are mainly there because they wound up being spoofed by ApologetiX.
1332. The Very Best of Kiss - Kiss
In the fall of 2002, I was diagnosed with Graves' disease, which the Mayo Clinic defines as "an immune system disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism)." Some famous people who've had it include U.S. President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara; comedian Rodney Dangerfield; actor Mary Feldman; hip-hop artist Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott; television talk show host Wendy Williams; and former mobster Sammy "The Bull" Gravano. Although I used to jokingly refer to my condition as a "grave disease," it really could have had dire consequences if left undetected and unattended. Thankfully, the doctors were able to treat it using radioactive iodine that November. What does all that have to do with Kiss, you ask? Well, after receiving the treatment, it was suggested that I isolate myself from my family for a couple days to avoid overexposing them to the radiation, so I stayed at a local hotel. During that time, I drove to a Monroeville CD store and picked up The Very Best of Kiss, which had been released on August 27, 2002. There were 21 tracks, including eight of the group's Top 40 hits: "Beth" (#7), "Forever" (#8), "I Was Made for Lovin' You" (#11), "Rock and Roll All Nite (Live)" (#12), "Hard Luck Woman" (#15), "Calling Dr. Love" (#16), "Christine Sixteen" (#25), and "Shout It Loud" (#31). The only one missing was the least successful, "Rocket Ride" (#39), although the album did include Ace Frehley's much more memorable solo hit "New York Groove" (#13). I like all those tunes, but the ones that sounded the best on my car stereo while driving home were "Strutter," "Deuce," "Detroit Rock City" (the original A-side of the "Beth" single), "I Stole Your Love," "Love Gun" (#61), and "Lick It Up" (#66). ApologetiX has spoofed "Beth," "I Was Made for Lovin' You," "Rock and Roll All Nite (both the studio and the live versions), "Calling Dr. Love," "Christine Sixteen," "Shout It Out Loud," "Detroit Rock City," and "Lick It Up." And that's not just because of me; Kiss is our drummer Jimmy "Vegas" Tanner's favorite band. They're also an old favorite of our bass player, Keith Haynie. The Very Best of Kiss went to #52 on the Billboard 200, selling half a million copies. It's my favorite by far of the single-disc Kiss compilations I've owned — I also had Smashes, Thrashes & Hits (1988); You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!! (1996), and Greatest Kiss (1997) — but a two-CD set I purchased a couple years later would eclipse it. I plan to write about that one when we get to 2005.
1333. Best of Three Dog Night - Three Dog Night
Although its title was questionable at best — only six of Three Dog Night's 21 Top 40 hits were included among the 12 tracks — this 1992 LP still served an important purpose, helping to keep me awake while driving home from Kentucky with Lisa and our infant daughter Heather one night in late December 2002. In case you're wondering, my first iPod was still a year away. I picked up Best of Three Dog Night at a truck stop while refueling. I'd already owned three other Three Dog Night compilations that were better than this one — including the similarly (and much more accurately) titled 1982 The Best of Three Dog Night, which had 20 of their Top 40 hits. Alas, they were all long gone by then, and I needed my Three Dog that Night. Moreover, this cassette featured five fabulous non-hits that weren't on any of those albums: "It's For You" (written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney), "Lady Samantha" (written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin), "Heaven Is in Your Mind" (a cover of an old Traffic song), "Can't Get Enough of It" and "Mind Over Matter." ApologetiX did spoof three of the selections on Best of Three Dog Night: "Eli's Comin'," "Mama (Told Me Not to Come)," and "Joy to the World, which we did twice (1992 and 2003). I think I was inspired to do the second version after hearing that tune on this tape. For a complete track listing, go to https://www.discogs.com/release/14405228-Three-Dog-Night-Best-Of-Three-Dog-Night
1334. The Best of 70s Supergroups - Various Artists
The Best of 70s Supergroups had been around since 1988, although I picked up my copy during the first weekend of February 2003 at a store in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. ApologetiX played in Lanett AL on Saturday, February 1, but we had a show in Punxsutawney PA on Sunday, February 2 (yep, Groundhog Day). We took our own vehicles straight to the venue from the Pittsburgh airport. I remember driving up to Punxsy by myself and playing "We're an American Band" from this album on my CD player. I'd first gotten a parody idea for that song in November 2002, but I wrote a lot of the lyrics on the way to the concert that fateful February afternoon. The Best of 70s Supergroups also had "Taking Care of Business" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive and "Never Been to Spain" by Three Dog Night, two tunes we'd spoofed in the early '90s that I was hoping to revisit. We went on to do that in 2004 and 2007, respectively. There were four other songs on the collection that we eventually spoofed: "More Than a Feeling" (in 2008), "Come Sail Away" (in 2009), "Green Eyed Lady" (in 2018), and "American Woman" (2018). That's seven out of the 14 tracks ... not a bad return for a $10 CD. Plus I got the two most American #1 hits of the '70s — "We're an American Band" and "American Woman," even though the latter was by a Canadian band. For a complete track listing, go to
https://www.discogs.com/master/1118658-Various-The-Best-Of-70s-Supergroups
1335. All Killer No Filler - Sum 41
Canadian rock band Sum 41 released their first full-length LP, All Killer No Filler, on May 8, 2001. It had a pop-punk sound reminiscent of Green Day and Blink 182. However, the big single, "Fat Lip" (#66 U.S. pop, #1 U.S. alternative, #8 U.K., #2 U.K. rock), also incorporated elements of The Beastie Boys, especially the vocals. Off kilter, no filter. Moreover, the opening and closing numbers, "Introduction to Destruction" and "Pain for Pleasure," seemed to be tongue-in-cheek homages to theatrical metal acts like Dio and Iron Maiden. Those two tracks were written and voiced by drummer Steve Jocz. Rhythm guitarist Deryck "Bizzy D" Whibley wrote and sang all the other songs, although Whibley, Jocz and lead guitarist Dave Baksh co-wrote and shared lead vocals on "Fat Lip." I bought the album upon the recommendation of an ApologetiX fan who had suggested we spoof "Fat Lip." Two other singles from All Killer No Filler did decently on both sides of the pond — "In Too Deep" (#10 U.S. alternative, #13 U.K. pop, #1 U.K. rock) and "Motivation" (#24 U.S. alternative, #21 U.K. pop, #3 U.K. rock). The album itself made it to #13 on the Billboard 200, selling over 1.5 million copies in the United States. We considered all three of the singles as parody candidates, eventually settling on "Fat Lip," which we recorded and released in 2003.
1336. Toxicity - System of a Down
Released on September 4, 2001, Toxicity was the second LP by alternative-metal band System of a Down. It had a unique sound, possibly at least partially attributable to group's roots (all four members are Armenian Americans). The same ApologetiX fan who had suggested we spoof "Fat Lip" by Sum 41 also recommended this album's first single, "Chop Suey" (#76 pop, #12 mainstream rock, #7 alternative), so I bought a copy, as did six million other Americans. There were two subsequent singles — "Toxicity" (#70 pop, #10 mainstream, #3 alternative) and "Aerials" (#55 pop, #1 mainstream, #1 alternative). We did indeed wind up spoofing "Chop Suey" ... as a parody about Rachel's sister, Leah, and her mismatched marriage to Jacob in Genesis 29. We called it "Downer of a Sister," and it became so popular that we eventually did an official video for it. I had the dubious honor of playing Jacob and Leah. That was Karl's idea; not mine. I had a stunt double (a chemist named Phil) for the scenes in which both Jacob and Leah appeared. My wife, Lisa, played Rachel. Toxicity reached #1 on the Billboard 200, but System of a Down would release two more albums in 2005 that would top that chart — Mezmerize (in May) and Hypnotize (in November).
1337. America Town - Five for Fighting
Five for Fighting sounds like a band, but it's actually a singer-songwriter and pianist named Vladimir John Ondrasik III, who took the name from a hockey term (for a five-minute major penalty given for participating in a fight). His second LP, America Town, was released on September 26, 2000, although its big hit single, "Superman (It's Not Easy)," didn't enter the Hot 100 until 13 months later, October 27, 2001. The wait was worth it, as the song peaked at #14 on the Hot 100 and went all the way to #1 on the Adult Top 40 chart. Furthermore, it was the #2 song of the year for 2002 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart. Another single, "Easy Tonight," initially went to #26 on the AC chart in 2000 and then to #18 on the same chart after it was reissued in 2002. Two other tracks were released as singles, "America Town" and "Something About You," but did not chart. The America Town album went to #54 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum for sales of a million units in the United States. ApologetiX spoofed "Superman" in 2003, two years after we spoofed "Kryptonite" by Three Doors Down. Both of the originals were first released in 2000, but obviously we had to put some space between "Kryptonite" and "Superman."
1338. By the Way - Red Hot Chili Peppers
By the Way was the eighth studio LP by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Released July 9, 2002, it contained 16 tracks, most notably the hit singles "By the Way" (#34 pop, #1 mainstream rock for seven weeks, #1 alternative for 14 weeks, #2 U.K.), "The Zephyr Song" (#49 pop, #16 adult Top 40, #14 mainstream, #6 alternative, #11 U.K.), and "Can't Stop" (#57 pop, #15 mainstream, #1 alternative for three weeks, #22 U.K.). Two other cuts charted — one each on either side of the Atlantic — "Dosed" (#13 alternative) and "Universally Speaking" (#27 U.K.). Mostly mellow, the album also featured plenty of non-hits that were eminently listenable and instantly likable, including (but not limited to) "Midnight," "Tear" (with Beach Boys-style backing vocals), "Minor Thing," "Warm Tape," and the closing track, "Venice Queen," which may be my favorite of them all musically. By the Way sold over three million copies in Europe and over two million in the United States, going to #2 on the Billboard 200 — the Chili Peppers' highest-charting album up till that point. It has also been called their most melodic overall. ApologetiX spoofed the title track in 2003, by the way.
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