I Fall Asleep With the Radio On....

If you've paid attention to my blog playlist over the years, you've probably noticed that I enjoy a wide variety of musical styles. I haven't written much about music here, though, so I thought, for my monthly off-topic post, I'd share a little more about my tastes.

Most relaxing voices
Frank Sinatra and Erin Bode always relax me. I can (and do) listen to them all day. Sinatra, of course, is my favorite singer of all time, and I really think that the beginning of my love affair with jazz started when I heard Erin Bode singing on A Prairie Home Companion.

Most relaxing song
You won't laugh will you? Well, I guess it's okay if you do - after all, it's a pretty odd choice, but after a long day, when I'm tired and tense, nothing relaxes me better than when I turn up Queen's "Hammer to Fall."

Favorites from the pre-teen years
There is a lot of music in my house - and I mean A LOT. We have multiple drawers and shelves that are overflowing with CDs and old tapes, and then there's the music that we've downloaded onto the computers. You never have to worry about finding music to listen to in this house, and there are some albums and artists that have been favorites of mine since my brother and I went rummaging through our parents' collection - which is extensive.

Lyle Lovett - He's essential in this household. He's easily my favorite Texan celebrity. Yes, he even trumps Ginger Rogers.
Buddy Holly - I don't know what to say about Buddy Holly - he's just wonderful, and I love his music so much.
Aretha Franklin - We have a two-disc album of Aretha's called "Jazz to Soul," and I've been hooked since I first popped it in the CD player.
Hank Williams - I know, I know - most of his songs sound exactly alike, but, hey, it's a good sound and he makes it work for him.
Lynyrd Skynyrd - You're not southern if you don't like Lynyrd Skynyrd. Period.
Creedence Clearwater Revival - You're probably not southern if you don't like CCR, either.
The Carpenters - I've listened to the Carpenters more times than I can count. The songs are so beautiful, and Karen Carpenter had one of the most beautiful voices ever heard.

Favorite soundtracks
The 1980s through the early 2000s were great years for the movie soundtracks. As far as original soundtracks, I'm in love with While You Were Sleeping, Sabrina, and (my favorite) Somewhere in Time, but most of my favorite soundtracks are the ones that use a lot of classic rock. The Big Chill soundtrack has been playing in this house for years, and I'm in love with it. Other good movie soundtracks are from Runaway Bride and Return to Me, which is the soundtrack that made me fall in love with Dean Martin. "Good Morning Life" is still my favorite Dino song.

Current obsession
Lately I've been listening to Jenna von Oy's "Coffee and Men" quite a lot (read: almost every day). The lyrics and music are fun and interesting, and I love her voice. Waylon Jennings has also been getting played a lot lately.

Listening with my parents
I'm really lucky to have parents with such great taste in music, and a lot of my taste is owed to them. Although my mom loves jazz, too, I think I definitely got that gene from my dad. His CD collection includes Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra and, in the genre of blues, B.B. King. Raiding his stash started me off on my own and led me to singers like Nancy Wilson,  Helen Forrest, and Ella Mae Morse. Most of the southern rock in our house is because of him, too.

On the other side of spectrum, my mom has helped shape my taste in the classic rock and folk music. I owe my love for Billy Joel, Elton John, The Mamas and the Papas, Loggins and Messina, and Peter, Paul and Mary to her. We both love the Doobie Brothers, too. Oh, and I can't forget James Taylor. My mom and I both love him, and she used to sing his songs to me as lullabies when I was a baby.

Other highlights from my collection
Scanning my CD collection, you'll see couple of Martina McBride albums (yeah, I know - but I went through a phase a few years ago and these are leftovers), some Michael Bublé, Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole (R&B and jazz), Doris Day, Jaimee Paul, Sara Bareilles, Bobby Darin, Julie London, and other assorted artists and soundtracks. Needless to say, Sinatra dominates my collection.

I hope you found this interesting to read - I know I had fun writing it. This is just a sample of the music and artists I love - I actually left out a lot because this post is just supposed to give a good idea about the kind of music I like, not a comprehensive list. Anyway, thanks for reading, and have a great day!