MIDWESTERN GENTLEMAN’S TOP 5 Vinyl Albums

1. Bob Seger – Live Bullet

2. Van Morrison – Moondance

3. Bob Dylan – Bob Dylan

4. The Band – The Last Waltz

5. John Prine – John Prine

Our list gives us our favorite albums from three Midwest natives, John Prine (IL), Bob Dylan (MN) and Bob Seger (MI). The Last Waltz is a classic in any collection and Van Morrison? Well… The video below says it all. These albums can set the mood in any situation and sound their best when rolling on a turntable.

In a world of downloads, mp3s and auto tune, the genuine sound of music seems to be slipping away. A Midwestern Gentleman loves to rock, but doesn’t need 180 decibels of sound shattering the windows around him. The crackling beginnings of a 33rpm vinyl set the tone for a great time. There is nothing more nostalgic than laying back with a brew and cranking “Live Bullet” or The Band’s “The Last Waltz” on a classic turntable. Today artists are more worried about producing a hit single than they are a great album.

Back in the day, you couldn’t hear a song on the radio and go download that single song. You had to save up some dough, get on your bike and ride to the record store in order to purchase the album. Once you had it, there were no repeat buttons, you put that thing on and listened to it all the way through. It was fun to look through the lyrics and the art work printed on the cover. It not only brought the album to life but was a part of a package, not a file. It is unfortunate that households with a turntable are few and far between but any Midwestern Gentleman knows that his house is the exception.

The crackling of a vinyl is the beautiful sound that generations of Midwestern Gentleman have enjoyed as their favorite albums are laid to the needle. A good time isn’t measured by how loud the speakers blast but by the visuals of the song you play in your head. You put yourself in the song and in the moment, throwing in an air guitar as the solo kicks in. We feel that the Crosley Traveler Turntable is perfect because of its mobility. Although the mp3 dock is handy, it doesn’t feel the same as a turntable rocking in the background. Take it out to the deck, on the dock, up north or to the lake.  The turntable is the original, timeless, elegant and real. The next time you gather friends for a get together up north, have a turntable ready. The sound will take everyone back and guarantee a great time.

Note: We originally had “Moondance” behind Midwest native Bob Dylan, but this jam gave him a bump to the #2 spot.

Cheers…