Top Ten Music Albums I Enjoyed Listening To While Growing Up

Who are the APO Hiking Society?

APO Hiking Society formerly known as The Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society or simply known as Apo is a Filipino musical group for almost 41 years in the Philippine music industry. They are composed of the trio Danny Javier, Boboy Garrovillo and Jim Paredes. They had released 22 albums in three decades of its career and continues to remain active.

Two hugely successful tribute albums were produced in 2006 and 2007 by its management group, featuring numerous young bands freshly reinterpreting Apo's expansive repertoire.

From friendship to love lost, from courtship to break-up, from economic crisis to socio-political issues they surely know how to stand and created it as an inspiration to create music as a platform to send out across the message through their own songs.

APO's songs became my anthem while growing up especially for those of us born in the 80's era where Original Pinoy Music (OPM) is at its peak of success and the stream of creative consciousness is flowing. There's much to talk about this group because they are seemed to act like the last men standing for being more than 40 years in the business, they maintain the level of their success while pursuing their own careers out in the music industry as well.

Who are Michael Learns To Rock?

Michael Learns To Rock known as MLTR is a Danish soft rock band composed of Jascha Richter, Kare Wanscher, Mikkel Lentz and Soren Madsen. They are formed in 1988 and become successfully a huge hit in Asia and currently has sold over 9 million records worldwide.

What I love about their music is that its easy listening, catchy melodies and lyrics.

Who is Alanis Morissette?

Alanis Morisette is a Canadian singer-songwriter who rose to fame with her countless hits and Grammy awards all through the years. This album marks her status as the real rock star chic with angst reflecting her emotion in most of the songs which she penned herself.

She mentioned in one of her interviews that while she's in the process of making of this album, Jagged Little Pill she went through a series emotional breakdown.

I remember seeing her live performance on TV and that was the year I was totally amaze by her looks as this long haired girl singing bare-footed and playing harmonica with such a nice rock singing edge to her voice. I thought she had offer a fresh sound into this genre where conservative won't take a bite to listen plus the idea that she can wrote her own songs with whatever emotion she felt. I was blown away since then!

Who are the Beatles?

The Beatles is a British rock band formed in Liverpool, England in 1960 composed of John Lennon (rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, vocals), George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals). They are the classic example of timeless oldies but goodies because their music live on after from generation to generation. Considered as the most highly successful rock bands of all time honored with 7 Grammy Awards, #15 in the list of the all-time top-selling Hot 100 artists to celebrate the US singles chart's fiftieth anniversary.

As I've said owning a Beatles album is very timeless as it never gets outdated after many decades past since the band launches its way to stardom. There's something about their songs that captivates your heart at the same time maintains that level of rock and roll vibe to whoever listens to it. My father used to own an old vinyl album versions of some of their old records that's why after accidentally listening to it I'm instantly became a fan!

Who are the Oasis?

Oasis are English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991 composed of Liam Gallagher (vocals and tambourine), Paul Arthurs (guitar), Paul McGuigan (bass guitar) and Tony McCarroll (drums, percussion), who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher (lead guitar and vocals). As of 2009, they earned over 70 million records worldwide and numerous accolades and awards in UK, US and the rest of Europe. Musically and lyrically, they have also cited bands such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, Bob Dylan, Sex Pistols, The Jam, The Smiths, David Bowie, Neil Young, The Stooges and The Stone Roses as their major influences.

Who is Patty Smyth?

Patty Smyth is an American rock singer who rose to fame as the band Scandal vocalist in 1982. Her second album with a title in the same name went gold because of her hit single "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" a duet with Don Henley of the Eagles which peaked at 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also produced two further singles in the opening track "No Mistakes" (Top 40) and another, albeit minor, hit in "I Should Be Laughing".

Who are The Carpenters?

The Carpenters consisting of siblings Karen Carpenter and Richard Carpenter instrumentalists and musician. They are considered to be the #1 selling American music act of 1970's and known with their distinctively soft musical style that made them one of the best selling artist of all time. Carpenters had three #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and fifteen #1 hits on the Adult Contemporary Chart. In addition, they had twelve top 10 singles (including their #1 hits). To date, Carpenters' album and single sales total more than 100 million units.

When it comes to easy listening songs, Carpenter's music is the most endearing sweet distinct sound. I considered them to be one of the 'pop icons' in the 70's due to the tremendous hit of their albums and songs released straightly to the Billboard's Chart. It is a real hit in my music collection that is the most overplayed songs even many years past.

Of course, many of you that listening to the Carpenter's songs brings back the memories of the 70's and the 80's. This can be bittersweet, both because Karen and some people I love are no longer among us, but when I can get past that "Rainy Days and Mondays", "Goodbye To Love", "Yesterday Once More", "Superstar", and so many others can be sweet tonic for a troubled soul. So, 26 out of 28 original mixes, six fine non-singles and seven bonus solo songs makes this the best Carpenters CD available today.

Who are the Eagles?

Eagles are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1971 by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. With five number one singles and six number one albums, the Eagles were one of the most successful recording artists of the 1970s. At the end of the 20th century, two of their albums, Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) and Hotel California, ranked among the 20 best-selling albums in the U.S. according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Hotel California is ranked 37th in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and the band was ranked #75 on the magazine's 2004 list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

One of the 1970's most famed rock groups, who broke up over disputes and promised not to reunite until Hell Froze Over, have come back together for their reunion concert and it's amazing. It's a stripped down, more intimate show than their first live album, but that's one thing that makes it so amazing. They have nothing but their instruments to make them sound good. And they sound awesome.

Who are the Bee Gees?

Bee Gees were singing trio brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. The trio were successful for most of their forty years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a harmonic "soft rock" act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as the foremost stars of the disco music era in the late 1970s. The group sang three-part tight harmonies that were instantly recognisable; brother Robin's clear vibrato lead was a hallmark of their earlier hits, while Barry's R&B falsetto became a signature sound during the disco years.

The Bee Gees made musical history for close to four decades with their magnificent vocal harmonies and ever-evolving styles. Masters of orchestral pop, blue-eyed soul and R&B, dazzling dance grooves, and disco fever alike-as well as uniquely blended hybrids of all these genres and more-the Bee Gees delivered album classics and top chart hits throughout their enduring career. On this newly remastered edition, the amazing genetics of their harmonies shine, as does the ongoing artistic evolution that's made them one of contemporary music's most successful and legendary acts.

Who are the ABBA

Swedish pop sensations ABBA formed in 1970 as the Festfolk Quartet in Gothenburg, Sweden, composed of Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Frida), Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson (the "B-boys") and Agnetha Faltskog (Anna). Anni-Frid and Benny were a married couple, as were Bjorn and Agnetha, although both couples later divorced. They remain a fixture of radio playlists and is one of the world's best-selling bands, having sold nearly 370 million records worldwide, making them the second best-selling band in history and the second best-selling pop artists in history.

There's no other singing group during my younger years than ABBA that that is so amazingly great how in incorporating a catchy song hooks, simple lyrics, sound effects (reverb, phasing) and a Wall of Sound achieved by overdubbing the female singers' voices in multiple harmonies. I know there is a whole new generation of kids listening (or perhaps pretending not to listen) to ABBA's music as interpreted by the new Swedish group, the A-Teens. I must say, I'll have to stick with these originals. If you think you need only one silly seventies pop-dance album, this may be the one for you.