Crowd shot masthead ApologetiX Logo Keith Haynie plays bassBill Hubauer plays lead guitarJ. Jackson sings leadJimmy Vegas Tanner plays drums
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03.18.24Get Multiple Downloads for One Donation
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03.16.24Influential Albums: 1402-1408
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03.09.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
03.09.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
03.05.24This Week's News Bulletin
03.03.24New Single: '74 Solo Smashes
03.01.24A Serious Problem We're Trying to Address
02.29.24All About Our Next CD
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02.22.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.22.24Wayne Is Retiring, What's Next for Him and Us?
02.22.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
02.19.24This Week's News Bulletin
02.19.24New Single: Billy & The Beach
02.16.24Influential Albums: 1374-1380
02.16.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.16.24Remembering ApX Friend Paul "Doc" Nigh (1956-2024)
02.16.24Clues for 2024 Single #4
02.10.24Influential Albums: 1367-1373
02.10.24Fans Making Plans to Attend Our Big Show September 1
02.10.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.10.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
02.06.24This Week's News Bulletin
02.06.24New Single: '74 & '83
02.03.24ApX Lead Singer/Lyricist Shares His Testimony 36 Years Later
02.03.24Influential Albums: 1360-1366
02.03.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.03.24Latest CD Added to iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Etc.
02.02.24Clues for 2024 Single #3
01.29.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.26.24Influential Albums: 1353-1359
01.26.24How to Get the ApX Library, USBs, Multiple Downloads
01.26.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
01.26.24Flashback: J.'s Vision for ApologetiX in 2014
01.26.24J.'s Vision for ApologetiX in 2024
01.26.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
01.24.24Checking in With ApX Alum Drummer Fred Behanna
01.22.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.22.24New Single: '70s #1 Hits That Remade '60s Top 10 Hits
01.19.24Influential Albums: 1346-1352
01.19.24Encouraging Message from Longtime Fan in Oklahoma
01.19.24This Week's Bible-Reading & Rock Thru the Bible
01.15.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.12.24Influential Albums: 1339-1346
01.12.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
01.12.24Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
01.12.24New Testament Reading Started Wednesday
01.11.24New Worship Songs Available from ApX Alum Bill Rieger
01.08.24New Single: '81 & '83
01.08.24New CD BOGO Ends Sunday
01.08.24New USB Thumb Drives on the Way
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01.05.24Influential Albums: 1332-1338
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01.05.24This Week's Bible Reading & Rock Thru the Bible
12.29.23Influential Albums: 1325-1331
12.29.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
12.28.232023: A Record-Breaking Record-Making Year
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12.26.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.26.23New Single: 1974 & 2008
12.23.23Influential Albums: 1318-1324
12.23.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
12.23.23ApologetiX Updated Christmas Playlist
12.18.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.18.23New Samson CD Mailed to Fans, New Orders Sent as They Come In
12.16.23Influential Albums: 1311-1317
12.16.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
12.16.23New Story
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12.11.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.11.23New Single: '83 & '84
12.11.23ApX Apparel: Order by Tuesday with Express Shipping
12.07.23New ApX Apparel and More: Order Soon for Christmas
12.07.23Influential Albums: 1304-1310
12.07.23Just Reword CD Added to iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Etc.
12.07.23Clues for 2023 Single #25
12.04.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.02.23Influential Albums: 1297-1303
12.02.23This Week's Bible Reading & Rock Thru the Bible
12.02.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
12.02.23New Shirts & Other ApX Merch Coming Soon
12.02.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
11.28.23This Week's News Bulletin
11.28.23New Christmas Single: All '80s
11.24.23Influential Albums: 1290-1296

The 365-Day Album Challenge: Week 33
Sat., Dec. 26. 2020 2:25pm EST

J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX here again.

Back in May, two friends asked me to share 10 albums that influenced me on Facebook. I narrowed it down to 365. I post the cover art for a different album every day with a brief explanation of how/why they influenced me. Fans have asked me to include them in the newsletter, too. Here are the entries for the past month:

226. The Greatest 64 Motown Original Hits – Various Artists
I was already a big Motown fan, having purchased a three-record Supremes anthology and a number of Motown reissue 45's while in high school, but this was a four-album set loaded with goodies — many of which I already knew and loved but didn't own, and others I'd heard of but hadn't heard. Thanks, Tom Dellaquila, for letting me borrow and tape it. I have a feeling Tom probably inherited/borrowed it from one/some of his older siblings. I listened to this a lot in early 1984. Then in the summer of '84, the big Motown 20th Anniversary television special reignited the general populace's love for that music. Of course, The Big Chill soundtrack album in the fall of '83 didn't hurt, either. For a complete track listing, go to https://rateyourmusic.com/release/comp/various-artists/the-greatest-64-motown-original-hits/

227. War – U2
I should have mentioned this one quite a bit sooner, too. We're in early 1984 here, and I first heard it in early '83. I already knew and liked the song "I Will Follow" from U2's debut album, thanks to Gerard Dominick. Then I heard "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day" and loved 'em both. I bought the latter tune on a 45. That summer, I heard "Two Hearts Beat as One" and even learned it on bass. Eventually, I'd hear the whole thing. My favorites are "Surrender," "40," and "Seconds."

228. Changesonebowie – David Bowie
I was late to the Bowie brigade, although I'd always loved the song "Changes." What finally did it for me was watching an HBO concert special of his Serious Moonlight tour, which aired in February 1984 and included many of his previous hits. I borrowed and taped this compilation of 1969-76 Bowie hits from a friend at college. I thought "Golden Years" was exquisite, and I still do. ApologetiX has spoofed three songs off this album, "Suffragette City," "Rebel Rebel," and "Ziggy Stardust."

229. "Weird Al" Yankovic In 3-D – "Weird Al" Yankovic
I didn't own this album, but it obviously influenced me. The guys in my apartment sophomore year all loved "Eat It," "King of Suede," "I Lost on Jeopardy," and "Brady Bunch" on the radio and in the videos we'd see on HBO. I had already been writing parodies for many years by the time this album came out, but I probably never would have considered it a viable career if Al hadn't blazed the trail first. I'm still not sure it's a viable career, but I've been told it's a valuable ministry. Sleeper pick on this album: "That Boy Could Dance." Irresistible.

230. K-Tel's Out of Sight – Various Artists
I can't remember where and when I picked this album up, but I think it was in a bargain bin, probably at a department store, while I was in college. Released in 1975, this record featured 18 Top 40 hits by various artists, including the #1 hits "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" (BTO), "Rock the Boat" (Hues Corporation), and "Kung Fu Fighting" (Carl Douglas). It also had such standouts as "I Got the Music in Me" (Kiki Dee), "Beach Baby" (First Class), and "Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)" by Reunion. And don't miss the rollickin' "Kings of the Party," Brownsville Station's lesser-known follow-up to "Smokin' in the Boys Room." For a complete track listing, go to https://hercsktelalbums.blogspot.com/2013/10/out-of-sight-1975.html

231. Cool for Cats – Squeeze
My third Squeeze album was actually their second. I found a used copy of this record at Backstreet Records at IUP. It contained four of their U.K. hit singles: "Goodbye Girl," "Cool for Cats," "Up the Junction," and "Slap and Tickle." As was the case with Argybargy, the non-hits like "Hop, Skip & Jump," "Revue," and "It's Not Cricket" are generally just as catchy.

232. K-Tel's The Beat – Various Artists
K-Tel released this collection of 14 new-wave selections in 1982. I found and bought it used at Backstreet Records at IUP, probably in 1984. The big hits were by "I Ran" by A Flock of Seagulls, "We Got the Beat" by The Go-Go's, and "Hot in the City" by Billy Idol. Those were all great tunes, but I'd already heard them countless times by then. My favorite tracks were "Dreaming of Me" by Depeche Mode, "Kids in America" by Kim Wilde, "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow, and "I Predict" by Sparks. For a complete track listing, go to https://hercsktelalbums.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-beat-1982.html

Note: The albums are not listed in order of preference or excellence, but in chronological order of when they influenced me. Also, just because the albums on my list influenced me back then doesn't mean I give them all a blanket endorsement now.

I started actively listening to music in the early 70's and didn't become a born-again Christian until early 1988, so it's going to be a while before we get to the Christian albums, but there will be many of those when the time comes (literally).