Wow

Lots of albums have made me go "wow" but the one that had the biggest effect on me was "Unknown Pleasures", which I bought the day it came out in June 1979 (I was 16 at the time). I didn't even go "Wow", I was just speechless.

I must have played that album 10 times that first day, and could hardly bear to listen to anything else for weeks.

This would be the first Album with that affect , hadnt heard anything like it before and and played it loud non stop much to my parents annoyance  and sanity . in my opinion the best debut album released but that is probably for another thread ..

As a ten year old lad Dark side of the Moon had just been released and I remember hearing on a family friends stereo system that summer, that was the first wow LP for me, I then saved my pocket money and got myself a copy which I still have to this day.There have been many more since then but that was somehow very special.

I can remember, although coming to them late approx 1978 hearing Hemispheres by Rush and being blown away, then collecting all their studio albums and DVDs.

They still fill a large section of my music listening.

There have been many WOW! moments over the years. My earliest recollection of such a moment was when as a teenager I listened to the first two tracks of Santana Abraxas in one of those pegboard listening booths. It was so different at the time.

Tomas Luis de Victoria: Lamentations & Tenebrae Responsories

Choir of Trinity, Cambridge/Richard Marlow

Conifer CDCF188 (now out of print, but relatively cheap on the s/h market)

I'd heard various bits and bobs of renaissance polyphony by the age of 17 when I first heard this, but I wasn't ready for this. I still find it staggeringly moving, especially in this interpretation.

The Pious Bird of Good Omen by Fleetwood Mac

Borrowed it out of the library thinking it was the same group who recorded "Rumours" etc. Well, it was and it wasn't, in a way. It was the first time I had of heard Peter Green.

Redmires,

I hope it opens up a whole new world of 1960's British blues for you.

Enjoy,

Richard

Peter Green was King for me as a teenager and IMO no British Blues guitarist has ever come close since that golden period.

And still pretty good in recent times.

Roy Buchanan - Second Album.

'A Day In The Life' off this little known album....

I've not heard that one Graham. Is it good? 

Richard

That WOW moment was about 35 years ago, and it did indeed open up a whole new world

Not bad Steve, but don't think it will stand the test of time 

I'm having my latest wow moment with this LP. I haven't played it for a while and well before I had the Kandid and 500 installed. The live side 2 just takes me back to my student days and the SQ is such that you feel you're there now. Awesome. 

The amazing thing about "Abbey Road" is that despite the countless times I've listened to it, I still get that WOW feeling at 'The End' .

Paul Simon's "Graceland" also makes me say WOW, but for different reasons. I'm not exactly certain why, but it has to do with the pop LP's diversity of non-pop musical influences, the compiling of so many talented contributing artists, the vastness of the vocals on "Homeless", and the quality of recording, production and mastering. Like "Abbey Road", you feel like you've been on a musical journey once you get through "Graceland".

There was recently a "vocals only" version of the side two medley doing the rounds on the internet. 16 minutes of WOW factor and goose bumps all rolled into one. I don't know if you had chance to hear it but I think it's been pulled now. Worth checking out though.

As others have said, there have been many wow moments from DSOTM to now. One of my very favourites is this:

the opening languid guitar lines on track one are from another world and are just astonishing. They still give me goose bumps.

There have been many over the years some of which are;

Pink Floyd DSOTM

Mike Oldfield Crises

Eagles Greatest hits 71 to 76

jesus and mary chain Psychocandy

Sex pistols Never mind the Bollocks

Joe satriani Flying in a blue dream

Paradise Lost Symbol of life

Boston Boston

To name but a few. Will think about it and try and come up with more.

Regards

donald

Same here with regard to this album. Still my favourite album.

This is another album that produced a Wow moment

On Steve J's system!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Nightfly by Donald Fagen

The best covers album in my collection.

It was definitely a 'Wow' moment from the first play and still delivers one of the most uplifting listening sessions when I play it

In fact, I'm Gunnar play it now

Info - http://pergunnareriksson.se/cover57.htm 

Saw them live twice before the little pixie became a superstar and the only time I ever saw her playing the drums. Good job she decided to  stick to singing. Exquisite lyrics and very punchy beats.

Let's keep it our secret.