Original Broadway Cast Jonathan Larson - Rent
I received the Rent CD during the holidays at the end of 1996. Throughout 1997, I played it almost every single day and eventually memorized all the songs. My sister got into it around this time and we’d listen to it together whenever I was home for breaks. It took me a while to figure out what was happening during the songs, but eventually I pieced it all together. I blasted “La Vie Boheme” from my car speakers anytime I was driving. When I finally got to see it on stage for the first time, it felt like I was visiting with old friends. I also loved how more context was added to what I already knew. My emotions were heightened the entire time and I probably laughed and cried louder than I should have. I saw it on stage many more times after that, even waiting outside in the cold all day (with my sister and a friend) one time for $20 front row seats. I still listen to this CD now and have introduced it to my older son, who is also memorizing the songs. (He even dressed as Mark Cohen one year for Halloween.)
Nirvana - Nevermind
I got the Nevermind cassette toward the end of sophomore year of high school. It then kept me company on the bus rides to and from school (until I got my license and could listen in my car) and on my trip to England that summer. I could just listen to it over and over and the music, as edgy and raw as it was, felt comforting. As the years went by, I’d only play it on occasion, but then I started listening a lot more again after finding out the tragic news about Kurt Cobain toward the end of my senior year. I even used one of the lesser-known songs in a play I directed for one of my classes. The music from this album stuck with me over time and years later I finally got the CD. I still love listening to it and it takes me right back to the feeling I had when I first started playing it.
"This album got me through
my first breakup"
Jewel - Pieces of You
Toward the end of sophomore year of college, one of my friends introduced me to Jewel’s music. When I got home for summer break, I bought this cassette and listened to it all the time. The songs had an indie vibe and told stories. Jewel’s voice was beautiful and heart-wrenching. This album got me through my first breakup and helped me unwind after a long day working at a horrible waitressing job. It was easy to sing along with, as well. I was in this social action theater group in college and came up with the idea of getting a few people to sing the different parts of the title song, as it was about stereotypes.
Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill
What Gen X woman has not jammed to this album? It’s such a centerpiece of ‘90s music. There’s even a musical based on the songs! This album always takes me back to the first time I heard it. I had this friend whom I would go on long car rides with in the summer between freshman and sophomore year of college. (And then we’d go to this really good Greek fast food place each time.) She had just bought the cassette and started playing it for me. I was hooked right away, as it was so good. Of course, “You Oughta Know” was the first one she wanted me to hear. I got the cassette when I went back to college and listened to it all the time. It definitely reminds me of being in college whenever I hear it. I especially love the hidden track, as it’s so melancholy. It’s great to sing a cappella. My favorites are some of the B-sides, like “Wake Up” and “Not the Doctor.” Thanks to the musical (which I still want to see), my older son and daughter are now into Alanis’s music too.
Various Artists - Sing!
When I was in 8th grade, I fell in love with the movie Sing! I loved the music so much and knew I had to get my hands on the soundtrack. However, it was really, really, really hard to find. After driving around to music stores with my parents, I finally got my hands on it. The store only had one in stock. I couldn’t get enough of it and would make up dance routines in the basement to all the songs. (Well, except for the Simon and Garfunkel song.) I just wish Life Ain’t Worth Living (When You’re Dead) was on it. Even so, it’s just such a great soundtrack and I still listen to it 31 years later. My friend even sent me the sheet music for the songs when I was graduating from 8th grade. Such an awesome present!
Richard O'Brien, Richard Hartley - The Rocky Horror Picture Show
When I was close to graduating high school, I started going to midnight showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. When I first started, I had no idea it would consume my life for the next few years, to the point where I performed as Magenta in front of the movie screen. My friend who got me into it sent me the soundtrack and I’d constantly listen to it in my car while saying all the callback lines during the songs. Another friend of mine thought I was talking to myself. Around the same time, I got the Shock Treatment soundtrack. While the music from that is even better than Rocky Horror, it doesn’t hold the same meaning for me. Even though I haven’t gone to see it since I was in my mid-20s, it’s still such a part of me anyway. I could still say all of the (outdated) callback lines if I wanted to. The soundtrack is missing a couple of songs, including The Sword of Damocles and Wise Up, Janet Weiss. I always notice that when I’m listening.
Sherie Rene Scott and Norbert Leo Butz - Jason Robert Brown/The Last Five Years
I received this soundtrack a few days before my wedding. Ironic, since it’s about a couple who gets divorced shortly after getting married. However, it did not put a curse on my marriage, so I’m thankful for that. Instead, it became more of an obsession for me, as I could never find a place to see a live performance of it until ten years after I first started listening. And I got to see it with the friend who got me the soundtrack. The music in this show is just so unique. The story itself is unique too. It goes back and forth in time, where Cathy’s story starts at the end and goes backwards and Jamie’s story starts at the beginning and moves forward. They meet in the middle once. That’s the only time they’re actually singing together. I introduced this musical to my older son and he loves it too. We usually listen to the movie soundtrack, but there are some things I really love about the original cast recording. In my favorite song, A Part of That, there’s this one tiny instrumental part in the middle that gives me chills every time. My son will sometimes play that part on repeat when we listen together. We also had a funny moment one time where someone was talking about their husband and inadvertently said a line from a song. My son and I just looked at each other with these huge grins and we still joke about it.
Jill Sobule/Jill Sobule
This is another album that saved my sanity during the summer after sophomore year of college. My sister had introduced me to it and I would play it every night while checking emails and chatting with friends. I eventually started to memorize the words to the songs and would get them in my head all the time. She’s most famous for I Kissed a Girl which came before Katy Perry’s version. (I actually like Jill’s version better anyway. It’s cute and quirky.) A lot of the songs on this album tell a story too, such as Margaret, Karen By Night, and The Girl in the Affair. It also has Supermodel, which I love from the Clueless soundtrack. The music stylings are fun and also comforting to listen to. I recently found the CD at a thrift store and bought it, since I had it on cassette prior to that. Playing it in my car brought back so many memories. Aside from the breakup and the horrible job, it was a decent summer. I have some friends to thank for that and this album reminds me of one of them, even though we never listened to it together. And yes, we are still friends. My sister and I still reminisce over this album, as well. I’m thankful that she brought it into my life when I didn’t even know how much I would need it!
Bio
Melissa Amster is 40-something and lives in the DC area with her husband and three kids. She’s a bookaholic who runs Chick Lit Central and also does book publicity and editing work. Melissa loves listening to music, especially Broadway and 90s. She also is happy to go bowling anytime. Find her at Twitter and Instagram.
