I was recently invited to take part in the album challenge currently making the rounds on FaceBook. This is where you are invited, by a friend, to choose 10 albums which greatly influenced your taste in music, simply sharing the covers without explanation or review.

I duly chose my 10 albums, but as I fancy myself a bit of a writer, I struggled with the fact that I couldn’t share the reasons behind my choices, so I thought I’d come here to find a loophole and provide the explanations for each choice.

Steps One – Steps

This was the album of my childhood, I even had a Steps themed birthday party and enjoyed my first concert when Mum took me to Manchester to see them live. To this day I still remember most of the routine for ‘5,6,7,8’, but at the time it was the video to ‘Last Thing on My Mind’ which I was completely obsessed with. I also think I experienced my first heartbreak the day the group broke up in 2001, but as any true fan I returned to them when they reformed a few years ago, and hope maybe to see them in concert once again if they ever embark on another tour.

A Night at the Opera – Queen

My Dad is a huge Queen fan, so growing up in a house where they regularly featured as a soundtrack was bound to rub off on me. In truth, Queen have so many hits it’s hard to narrow it down to a single album choice (without going for the obvious Greatest Hits options). How do you choose between ‘I Want To Break Free’, ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, ‘The Show Must Go On’, ‘Who Wants to Live for Ever’ and ‘Bicycle Race’? Easy… you choose the album that features the one song that made Queen legends then and legends now… ‘A Night at the the Opera’ featuring the brilliant ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. I defy anyone not to sing along when that one comes on!

Progress – Take That

While Dad’s influence took the shape of Queen, Mum’s was introducing me to Take That when they returned in 2006, after all you can’t really go wrong listening to a bit of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald, Jason Orange and, in this case, Robbie Williams. I spent hours listening to ‘The Flood’, ‘Kidz’ and ‘Happy Now’ while studying for my A Levels, all those years ago, and was lucky enough to see the Progress Tour Live at Wembley for my 18th Birthday (thanks to my Aunt & Uncle) and boy do Take That know how to put on a show!

The Piano Guys – The Piano Guys

I first got hooked by classical music when I watched The Piano Guys inventive Star Wars soundtrack YouTube video. For a teenager the stuffy reputation of the genre was blown away and the archives of classical music suddenly became accessible and interesting. I love this album for it’s mix of traditional pieces and classical interpretations of modern hits, such as Adele’s ‘Rolling in the Deep’ and ‘Michael (Jackson) meets Mozart’. As a way into classical music this album is second to none!

Wild Rose Soundtrack – Jessie Buckley

Wild Rose was my number one film of 2019 (narrowly beating Avenger’s Endgame) both because of it’s powerful story-line and it’s incredible music. It opened my eyes to the brilliance of country music and it’s emotional connection to our lives. From the foot-tapping hits like ‘Outlaw State of Mind’ and ‘Born to Run’, to the powerful ballads of ‘Peace in Our House’ and ‘Glasgow (No Place Like Home)’. I dare you not to be moved as our everyday struggles and desires are laid bare.

Sunshine on Leith Soundtrack – The Proclaimers

The other soundtrack on my list also has a Scottish theme as the musical celebrates the work of The Proclaimers. Truth be told this album is on my list simply because the songs are impossible to get out of your head once heard, and never fail to bring a smile to your face. You simply can’t feel down while belting out ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 miles)’, while ‘Letters From America’, always a favourite of mine, seems particularly apt right now as we all seek ways to stay connected.

Happiness Begins – The Jonas Brothers

I wasn’t much of a Jonas Brothers fan when they were first around, preferring the likes of Busted and McFly, but from the moment I first heard their new single ‘Sucker’ I was hooked, buying the album as soon it was released and loving the variety it provided listeners. I suppose the album spoke to me as it covers the difficult move we all make into adulthood while still trying to hold onto some of the childishness of youth, a journey with which I am very familiar. And as much as I love ‘Sucker’, when it comes to my favourite track, it has to be ‘Only Human’, closely followed by ‘Hesitate’.

The Best of Me – Bryan Adams

I first fell in love with Bryan Adams when I heard ‘Everything I Do, I Do It For You’, at the end of Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. In fact, I love his music so much that I found it impossible to choose a single album, so cheated and went for his compilation, The Best of Me, because how can you choose between ‘Summer of 69’, ‘Run to You’ and ‘Can’t Stop This Thing We Started’. I was also lucky enough to see him live a few years ago at the Ageas Bowl near Southampton, and he was absolutely amazing live, the music was brilliant and Mr Adams proved to be an entertaining showman who had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand as he revelled at playing a concert in a cricket ground.

Rooftop Sessions – Dreamer’s Circus

While The Piano Guys served as my introduction to classical music, Rooftop Sessions by Dreamer’s Circus only confirmed my love for the genre. I first heard the single ‘Kitchen Stories’ on Scala Radio, the new classical channel that is now my go to radio station and instantly fell in love with it’s bright energetic beauty, downloading the album shortly afterwards and regularly listening to it on repeat during the day, both to celebrate the songs and to form the soundtrack to my day, whether, i’m working, reading, or in the case of ‘Then We Waltzed’, imagining I’m attending an Austen Ball with my very own Mr Darcy!

Night Visions – Imagine Dragons

If my life ever depended on being able to name my favourite band there would be no hesitation… I have loved Imagine Dragons ever since i head the opening verse of ‘Radioactive’, a song I routinely sing at full blast in the shower! The earthy rock vibe holds a power that speaks to me every time I hear it, so I’ll also be the first to buy a new song or album the moment i hear it’s been released, while seeing them live and in person features highly on my bucket list!

But…

Before I go, just a few honourable mentions for those albums which didn’t make the top ten but which have also played a part in shaping the soundtrack to my life; 25 – Adele, Evolution – Alexis Ffrench, Under Stars – Amy McDonald, Wild World – Bastille, Breakaway – Kelly Clarkson, To Be Loved – Michael Buble, #3 – The Script.

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