Anyone else have an album that got you through some hard times?

[ScottR]

Just like the thread reads. Does anyone else have a album that got them through tough times?

Before I was ever able to play a single chord on guitar, I was obsessed with music for as long as I can remember. Music has been my first love, my best friend, my escape and it even saved me a few times. No matter how bad things EVER got, music got me through.

So I wondered, has anyone else been through tough times, and had a particular album or particular music for that matter, that helped you come out the other side?

Just curious to see what yours was if applicable.

Here I'll start. My dad had just sufferd a stroke, the rental house I was living in was being sold, I was struggling with "chemical dependance", and I was going through a nasty divorce (she even took my dog) . As much as it sounds like a bad country song...it was my life for a minute all those years ago. This one was my go to, and it will always be special to me. It reminds me of just how far I've come and to my ears, it sounds like hope.

 

[veinbuster]

Robbie Robertson: Storyville

 

[andy474x]

I had a nasty breakup sophomore year of college - that girl looking back I shouldn’t have liked as much/strongly as I did - she hadn’t gotten over her ex that continued to treat her like crap, and I held on despite way too much disrespect toward me. Really messed with my head, why wasn’t I good enough, only to realize later that some people just suck. It was necessary though, I think many people need to have that bad relationship and emerge from the other side with the realization that it’s not selfish to have standards for how they want to be treated, and people that don’t meet those standards aren’t worth being sad over.

Anyways, that album for me was “O” by Damien Rice. I have no idea how it happened that I found that album at that time, don’t think I’d ever heard it before then, but I must’ve listened to it multiple times a day for a couple months. Anyone who knows me, knows that isn’t my usual cup of tea, which just illustrates the headspace I was in. I don’t think it helped me get better, but I also don’t think it made me any worse… it was just something I leaned on. Haven’t listened to it in piece or entirety since, and it’s been 15+ years. Not that I have anything against it, just made it out of that time in my life.

 

[ScottR]

I totally agree on the bad relationships. I believe we (I) have to learn, then recognize what bad feels like in order to set the bar for the good we all are worthy of.

Thanks for the post Andy!

 

[ScottR]

Robbie Robertson: Storyville

Robbie is one of my all time favorites. So underrated. Amazing talent.

Thanks for sharing that my friend.

 

[WEDGE]

Van Halen. Hard to be down or upset when listening to their debut album.

 

[ScottR]

Van Halen. Hard to be down or upset when listening to their debut album.

Indeed! It's been a minute. I need to revisit it...now!

 

[Moondog Wily]

Don't really have an album for tough times, but "Trouble" by Cat Stevens is my go to song when I am feeling down! He actually wrote that song when he was going through some life threatening medical stuff and it really shows in the song IMO!! I have been playing that song a bit lately, but my voice compared to the Cat is like comparing a PRS PS to a Squier, so I don't know that I will ever perform it live!!!

Now when I am feeling good and want to get lost in some music, "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" is where I can always find smiles! Been listening to that album since the early 80's and love it every time I hear it!! It is almost like a hallucinogenic experience for me as I follow Rael through his other worldly journey!!! "Hunky Dory" is another "happy time" album for me!!! For Pink Floyd, my fav is "Obscured By Clouds"!!!!

 

[11top]

Train- “Drops of Jupiter”. The entire album, but especially “Something More”.
I’m more of a melody guy than a lyric one, but this album is poetry.

And cool thread topic, Scott.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

My best friend and musical soulmate died, my girlfriend dumped me, and my roommate was a dirtbag who got our gas shut off (again).

I was low AF, drinking myself into a stupor, and watching that 200 Cigarette’s movie on a sad VHS copy in my studio lounge. This song came on, and prolly saved my life. You can’t kill yourself to Kool &The Gang. Fact.

 

[Moondog Wily]

My best friend and musical soulmate died, my girlfriend dumped me, and my roommate was a dirtbag who got our gas shut off (again).

I was low AF, drinking myself into a stupor, and watching that 200 Cigarette’s movie on a sad VHS copy in my studio lounge. This song came on, and prolly saved my life. You can’t kill yourself to Kool &The Gang. Fact.

Get your back up off the wall!!!

 

[Aahzz]

April 5, 1997. I married Lisa, the drummer of my band at the time. We had a friend, Bob, staying with us at the time we got married, as he was going through a bad breakup and had been a good friend, 11 days after the wedding, I went to work, and Bob and Lisa went to bed. Lisa told me a few days later that she'd cheated, but didn't tell me it was Bob. I figured it was, but I was a freaking mess. Anyway, 3 weeks after the wedding, I filed for divorce. I was living in CT at the time, and you can only get an annulment if something was done wrong with the paperwork, which was unfortunately perfect. The band broke up.

I survived the first couple of months almost entirely due to the Black Crowes album "Three Snakes and One Charm". Particularly the song "Good Friday", which I quoted in the "thank you" notes I sent to all of the wedding guests, in which I detailed exactly what Lisa and Bob had done. I had been out of the apartment we shared for less than a week before Bob moved in, and all of the lies crumbled. I am genuinely convinced that I would have killed myself except for that album, which I wore out.

Several months later, Bob skipped out on Lisa, stealing 5 grand from her.

In the meantime, I had met Dee 2 weeks before I married Lisa. About three months after it all went down, we ran into each other at a friend's house. It was supposed to be a one night stand. 25 years, 2 kids, several dogs and a couple cats later, she still hasn't gone home, so it all worked out for me in the end. Still, I thank the gods of music for that album, that got me through those couple months.

It's still one of my favorite albums

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Matchbox 20 - Mad Season

Especially - You Won’t Be Mine

I won’t bore you with my life, but suffice to say I allowed myself to get hurt.

This track personifies how some people can breeze through and create a trail of destruction around them.

 

[ScottR]

Get your back up off the wall!!!

Dance c'mon...

Those are pretty specific instructions for happiness.

 

[ScottR]

Train- “Drops of Jupiter”. The entire album, but especially “Something More”.
I’m more of a melody guy than a lyric one, but this album is poetry.

And cool thread topic, Scott.

Agreed. That's a great one! I watched a live performance on a MTV World Stage last week. They've still got it.

 

[CandidPicker]

Harry Chapin - "Cat's in the Cradle."
Paul Simon - "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
Pete Seeger - Folk Melodies

My Dad loved these songs and was very much how he viewed his own life, regretfully. When he wasn't there for us boys, he'd sit in his study den working on his USAR military commander training courses. And when us boys moved away, and Dad & Mom were empty nesters, he'd drink Whiskey Manhattans at home, maybe 3 a night, before he'd call it quits about 1 or 2 AM.

My Dad wasn't a violent or immoral man, but he had a strong sense of right and wrong, discipline, and intolerance for foolishness.

I think my playing the electric guitar may have disappointed him, because Dad only encouraged my acoustic playing. And it reminded him of how busy his own life was, and it brought tears to his eyes. I think secretly, Dad hoped I'd never marry because of what married life would do to my mindset.

And sadly, Dad never prepared us for marriage, and allowed us to make our own mistakes until we'd ask Dad for help solving or correcting them. There were many times when we wouldn't do things according to Dad's advice, and when things went awry and we cried out for help, Dad reminded us "You should have listened." But Dad would forgive us and we would return to doing what Dad expected of us. And we'd do well for a time, until we'd fall away from what Dad required. The pattern repeated itself many times in our lives.

I don't know how Dad put up with us for that long a time. I valued my relationship with my Dad very much, and it's been many years since I last saw him, "sleeping" peacefully in a funeral casket.

Yeah, I get a bit misty-eyed thinking about the old guy. But life goes on, and now I'm two years older than my Dad was when Dad kicked up his heels and passed. I'm just happy that my Mom's side of the family had the good genes, and that Mom is 85 y.o., in very good health, save for some hearing aids and almost fully recovered from a busted hip.

I think I'll go have a cuppa tea and a couple cookies. I've got nothing else to do this evening.

 

[ScottR]

And cool thread topic, Scott.

Missed that part, thanks buddy!

 

[garrettb]

The Derek & the Dominos Layla album has gotten me through hard times. One of my all-time faves.

 

[11top]

The Derek & the Dominos Layla album has gotten me through hard times. One of my all-time faves.

Just learned “I Looked Away”. Playing the hell outta it. One of my all-time favorite songs. Reminds me of college days, too.

 

[Mike J.]

Got divorced in April of 1993. My ex (whom I have since forgiven) put me through hell mentally and financially. I was broke, demoralized and felt totally worthless. Although I kept the house the next few years were very lean.

Sad music was the last thing in the world I needed, so I found myself listening to Van Halen's first and second albums a lot. Most of those songs are just flat out fun! "I'm The One" really comes to mind as one of the most upbeat and fun songs that helped me.