Grace Bowers: 10 Albums That Changed My Life

Feature Photo courtesy of Grace Bowers

Though she’s not yet 20 years old, Grace Bowers is making huge waves with her group, Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge. To that end, if you’ve heard the group’s single, “Tell Me Why U Do That,” which dropped on April 22, 2024, you’ll know that while Bowers might be young, she’s got it dialed in when it comes to rock ‘n’ roll.

Few can play like Bowers, who, with a vintage Gibson SG in hand, conjures the ghosts of the players she has been influenced by, such as Leslie West, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eddie Hazel, and more. Indeed, it seems that Bowers is an old soul, backed up by her list of albums that changed her life, which she was kind enough to share with us here at ClassicRockHistory.com.

And so, in no particular order, what follows is Grace Bowers’ ten albums that changed her life. Can you spot any of your favorites here?

(Editor’s Note – The last guitar player that turned my head this fast was when I heard Derek Trucks for the first time. Grace Bowers is a real special player. Make sure to check out her music at the end of this article.)

Fresh by Sly and The Family Stone (1973)

I truly don’t think there is a bad song on this record. It was my first introduction to the more R&B side of music and my introduction to this band. This whole album is a vibe.

Maggot Brain by Funkadelic (1971)

I love Funkadelic’s first few albums the most. As soon as I heard “Hit It and Quit It” off Maggot Brain, I was hooked. George Clinton and this band are the ones who got me into funk and soul.

Crosby Stills & Nash by Crosby Stills & Nash (1969)

This is one of those albums that can never be recreated. It’s so perfectly imperfect. Some of my favorites are “Pre-Road Downs,” “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” and “Long Time Gone.”

The Slider by T. Rex (1972)

I love Marc Bolan—everything from his music to his non caring attitude. I was 14 when I first heard this album, and I just could not stop listening to it. Bolan may not have been the best guitar player or singer, but that’s what I love about him. He owned it and created some of the most iconic songs ever.

Santana by Santana (1969)

If I put this on, I have to listen to it from top to bottom. I love how some songs fade into each other so seamlessly. It inspired my own music in a lot of ways and taught me to think outside the box.

Singin’ the Blues by B.B. King (1957)

This was the first time I ever heard the blues at the age of 13. Specifically, “Sweet Little Angel.” I had it playing nonstop; it became background noise for me!! I learned so much about the guitar just from learning what he played on this record.

I Wrote a Simple Song by Billy Preston (1971)

Soul, gospel, R&B, funk… this album is such a great mix of all these things and more. A great example of an artist reaching across multiple genres.

Climbing! by Mountain (1969)

Whenever someone asks me who my favorite guitar player is, the answer is always: “Leslie West.” He’s iconic. Everything, down to his riffs to his tone, is something you can recognize instantly. “Mississippi Queen” was one of the first songs I ever learned.

Band of Gypsys by Jimi Hendrix (1970)

Even though it only has a total of six songs on it, I would consider every single one of them a masterpiece. My band covers “Who Knows” all the time. This album also features Buddy Miles on drums; he’s one of my favorite musicians as well!

Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin (1975)

This is my absolute favorite Zeppelin album. I remember working so hard to teach myself “The Rover.” I love how much they experimented on this album, with songs like “In My Time of Dying” being over 11 minutes long!

Thanks Grace!

Check out Grace Bowers and the Hodge Podge’s brand-new single “Tell Me Why You Do That.” This is really good stuff. Grace is the real deal, and the band is killer!

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