Books, Movies, Music & Entertainment - your top ten rock albums/cd's for pure listening pleasure..

eliminating greatest hits, compilations, "twin-pak" albums
and multiple albums by the same artist,
what are your 10 favorite rock albums or cd's for pure listening pleasure?

i've got approx 3000 to choose from & i was able to narrow it down to about
60 fairly easily. after that, it was difficult. was surprised that coldplay's
viva la vida made it into my top 30, fleet foxes debut made into my top 25
and that paul simon's still crazy after all these years vs. rhythm of the saints
gave me more problems than the beatles white album vs revolver. sad that pet sounds
didn't make into my top ten...

10. bruce springsteen-born to run 1975-in all his glory.

9. dusty springfield-dusty in memphis (rhino reissue 1999?) 1969-how did some of these
tracks not make it onto the original release?

8. king crimson-in the court of the crimson king 1969-my favorite of the prog-rock with 3 yes
albums close behind. moments of sheer, nearly unmatched beauty here.

7. johnny cash-at folsom prison (any of the various releases) 1968-has any artist ever been
more in tune with their audience? the music & setting are so fantastic, they overcome any
limitations of any of the releases.

6. led zeppelin-physical graffiti 1975-side 3, nuff said.

5. the who-quadrophenia 1973-side 3, nuff said part two.

4. van morrison-astral weeks 1968-been listening to it since the age of ten and still not tired of
it. likely, the only album of these i will still listen to in retirement-if i make it there.

3. rolling stones-sticky fingers 1971-blotting out altamont and everything else...

2. pink floyd-dark side of the moon 1973-listening to it sober is still mind-blowing, i can only
imagine if there were substances involved...

1. beatles-revolver (uk or us release-it don't matter!) 1966-set the standard by experimenting
and excelling at different speeds & styles. hard to believe it's 40+ years old!!!

last album out of my top ten... u2's the joshua tree.

hmmm thats a tough one.

10. Simon & Garfunkle Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme. probably their most underrated LPs. Silent Night 6:00 news is hauntingly good.
9. Bonnie Raitt Taking my Time. Write me a few of your lines/kokomo blues and Guilty cinches this one for me, but it's a toss up with this and her first LP. Guilty is for me one of the most believable songs by any artist, Bonnie sings this one and I don't doubt a single word or note.
8. The Band Music from Big Pink Pure musical Genius.
7. Little Feat Waiting for Columbus yes it's a double LP, yes it's a 'greatest hits' compilation but damn. . . tough choice for me as this and "Get yer YaYa's Out" vie for my best Live recording ever.
6. Al DiMeola Elegant Gypsy Guitar fireworks, Flamenco greats, Ralph MacDonald and an unforgettable beat.
5. Who The Who Sell Out The LP where the Who go from being a 'singles' band to Rock heavyweights. Writing, vocals and a sense of humor.
4. Rod Stewart Every Picture Tells a Story Rod sings Amazing Grace, and it is. Mandolin Wind and Maggie Mae are two of my all time favorite songs.
3. Beatles Abbey Road I had a hard time picking my favorite Beatles LP, but side 2 of this one wins it for me.
2. Cowboy Junkies Trinity Sessions Margot Timmons, Margot Timmons' vocals recorded live, need I say more?
1. Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers a hard hitting drug induced rollicking good time. This is the LP
that 9 times out of 10 when I want something to listen to I'll cue up in it's entirety.

Today I have

Exile On Main Street
Del Lords - Howlin' At The Halloween Moon
Eric Ambel - Roscoe's Gang
Richard Thompson - Hand Of Kindness
Grateful Dead - Live Dead
Charles Earland - Black Talk
Ellington/Mingus/Roach - Money Jungle
Johnny Guitar Watson - Funk Anthology
El Vez - Boxing With God
Vaughan Brothers - Family Style

I know, an anthology in there, and a live one, and some non rock&roll, but I could go indefinitely with that.

hmmm thats a tough one.

10. Simon & Garfunkle Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme. probably their most underrated LPs. Silent Night 6:00 news is hauntingly good.
9. Bonnie Raitt Taking my Time. Write me a few of your lines/kokomo blues and Guilty cinches this one for me, but it's a toss up with this and her first LP. Guilty is for me one of the most believable songs by any artist, Bonnie sings this one and I don't doubt a single word or note.
8. The Band Music from Big Pink Pure musical Genius.
7. Little Feat Waiting for Columbus yes it's a double LP, yes it's a 'greatest hits' compilation but damn. . . tough choice for me as this and "Get yer YaYa's Out" vie for my best Live recording ever.
6. Al DiMeola Elegant Gypsy Guitar fireworks, Flamenco greats, Ralph MacDonald and an unforgettable beat.
5. Who The Who Sell Out The LP where the Who go from being a 'singles' band to Rock heavyweights. Writing, vocals and a sense of humor.
4. Rod Stewart Every Picture Tells a Story Rod sings Amazing Grace, and it is. Mandolin Wind and Maggie Mae are two of my all time favorite songs.
3. Beatles Abbey Road I had a hard time picking my favorite Beatles LP, but side 2 of this one wins it for me.
2. Cowboy Junkies Trinity Sessions Margot Timmons, Margot Timmons' vocals recorded live, need I say more?
1. Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers a hard hitting drug induced rollicking good time. This is the LP
that 9 times out of 10 when I want something to listen to I'll cue up in it's entirety.

always liked bookends a little more but art & paul go places that no one before or since have. when art's voice is "on,"you gotta stop whatever
you're doing & just listen.

those albums by the who, band, beatles, rod the mod & cowboy junkies all solidly in my top 50. enjoy music from the big pink more than the follow-up although both are great. trinity sessions may be the most "intimate" album i have. sounds like the band is performing right in front of you and only for you. sell out gets overlooked too often-"i can't reach you,""sunrise" & "rael"-wow! "mandolin wind," "tomorrow is such a long time" and "i know i'm
losing you" from every picture-wish more of rod's albums had the consistency of this one. side two of atlantic crossing (slow side) is a personal fave.

arguably "America" is one of my favorite Paul & Art songs, but like Sticky Fingers, PSR&T just holds together for
me better than Bookends (my 2nd favorite S&G lp).
Rod's Gasoline Alley is also pretty good stuff.

Marty

In no particular order off the top of my head – sure I’m forgetting some

The Who – Who’s Next (Quadrophenia would be close second)
U2 – Achtung Baby (toss up for me between this and Joshua Tree)
Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers
Paul Simon - Graceland
Dire Straits – Making Movies
The Beatles – Abbey Road
Bob Marley – Legend
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense
The Doors – LA Woman

Can't really give a definitive list it would change from day to day.

But here's some that would qualify for me:

Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde

The Who Who's Next

The Stones Let It Bleed

Beatles Revolver

King Crimson Lark's Tongue in Aspic

Neil Young Tonight's The Night

Quicksilver Messenger Service Happy Trails

The Band Music From Big Pink

Captain Beefheart Lick My Decals Off, Baby

Van Morrison Moondance

In no particular order off the top of my head – sure I’m forgetting some

The Who – Who’s Next (Quadrophenia would be close second)
U2 – Achtung Baby (toss up for me between this and Joshua Tree)
Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers
Paul Simon - Graceland
Dire Straits – Making Movies
The Beatles – Abbey Road
Bob Marley – Legend
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense
The Doors – LA Woman



graceland for "boy in the bubble, the title track & diamonds on the soles of her shoes" yes indeed! am i the only
one who found his follow-up-rhythm of the saints-to be a more even (and dare i say-better) production?

making movies-side one: "tunnel of love," "romeo & juliet" & "skateaway." some of dire straits' best stuff.

stop making sense-didn't i see an expanded version of this fairly recently? anyone got it? not a weak album in their
catalog till you get to naked-and even that has several keepers.

la woman-imho, is sounding the least dated and most consistent of their efforts. i don't care how many times classic rock
stations play "riders on the storm," the intro & outro hook me every time.

Can't really give a definitive list it would change from day to day.

But here's some that would qualify for me:

Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde

The Who Who's Next

The Stones Let It Bleed

Beatles Revolver

King Crimson Lark's Tongue in Aspic

Neil Young Tonight's The Night

Quicksilver Messenger Service Happy Trails

The Band Music From Big Pink

Captain Beefheart Lick My Decals Off, Baby

Van Morrison Moondance


ain't that the truth! really depends on your mood; couple of albums slip out and some others wriggle their way in.

bd-couldn't decide between bringing it back home, highway 61, blonde on blonde, nashville skyline or blood on the tracks.

ny-couldn't decide between everybody knows this is nowhere, after the gold rush, on the beach, tonight's the night & rust never sleeps.

some of mine that didn't quite make it in (that day):
beach boys-pet sounds
u2-joshua tree, war, unforgettable fire
beatles-abbey road, white album
stones-exile on main street, between the buttons, let it bleed
kinks-village green preservation society, lola vs. powerman & the moneygoround
air-premiers symptomes
belle & sebastian-boy with the arab strap
bob dylan-mentioned above
neil young-mentioned above
bob seger-night moves
boston-debut
brian eno-another green world
bruce springsteen-wild, innocent & the e street shuffle, nebraska
bryan ferry-boys & girls
byrds-younger than yesterday, notorious byrd brothers, sweetheart of the rodeo
cars-debut
clash-the clash, london calling
coldplay, rush of blood to the head, viva la vida
cowboy junkies-trinity sessions
derek & the dominoes-layla & other assorted love songs
doors-l.a. woman
elton john-goodbye yellow brick road, captain fantastic
english beat, i just can't stop it, special beat service
elvis costello-get happy!!, imperial bedroom, this year's model
fleet foxes-debut
fleetwood mac-rumours
galaxie 500-on fire
george harrison-all things must pass
harry nilsson-nilsson schmilsson
james-laid
jeff buckley-grace
jefferson airplane-surrealistic pillow
jethro tull-aqualung, stand up
hendrix-any of the 3 studio albums + band of gypsys
joe jackson-look sharp!
john cale-paris 1919
john martyn-solid air
joni mitchell-hissing of summer lawns, court & spark
king crimson-discipline
kraftwerk-trans europe express
lou reed-street hassle, coney island baby
lou reed & john cale-songs for drella
love-forever changes
love & rockets-express
marvin gaye-what's going on?
neko case-fox confessor brings the flood
nick drake-bryter layter
oasis-(what's the story) morning glory?
paul simon-rhythm of the saints, still crazy after all these years
peter gabriel-3 (melting face)
pink floyd-the wall, the final cut
pretenders-debut
r.e.m.-life's rich pageant, automatic for the people
radiohead-ok computer
rickie lee jones-debut
rod stewart-every picture tells a story
rush-2112, moving pictures
talking heads-any of the first 4 albums
television-marquee moon
van halen-one
van morrison-moondance, saint dominic's preview, veedon fleece
velvet underground-loaded, and nico
verve-urban hymns
who-sell out, who's next, live at leeds (expanded version)
yes-yes album, close to the edge, fragile
zappa-pretty much anything before bongo fury...

some others of mine that also 'just missed' the list
10cc Rubber Bullets
Beautiful South Golddiggas Headnodders & Pholk Songs for Don't fear the Reaper, gaze[quench[/u]
SRV The Sky is Crying and everything else he did.
10 Years After Ssssh and Watt
Roy Buchanan Rescue Me
Ralph McTell Streets of London
Elton John Tumbleweed Connection

marty

ain't that the truth! really depends on your mood; couple of albums slip out and some others wriggle their way in.

bd-couldn't decide between bringing it back home, highway 61, blonde on blonde, nashville skyline or blood on the tracks.

ny-couldn't decide between everybody knows this is nowhere, after the gold rush, on the beach, tonight's the night & rust never sleeps.

I feel bad for leaving out this forgotten classic - The Mighty Groundhogs: Who Will Save the World?

also Spirit: The Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus

I feel bad for leaving out this forgotten classic - The Mighty Groundhogs: Who Will Save the World?

also Spirit: The Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus

have never heard it but have always heard good things about it. will pick it up shortly.

90 day men - Panda Park
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Fugazi - Red Medicine
Mclusky - Do Dallas
Make Believe - Going to the Bone Church
Dinosaur Jr - Bug
Pinback - Summer in Abaddon
Shellac - At Action Park
Don Caballero - American Don
Minutemen - Double Nickels on the Dime

90 day men - Panda Park
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Fugazi - Red Medicine
Mclusky - Do Dallas
Make Believe - Going to the Bone Church
Dinosaur Jr - Bug
Pinback - Summer in Abaddon
Shellac - At Action Park
Don Caballero - American Don
Minutemen - Double Nickels on the Dime

own in the aeroplane over the sea but have just never "connected" with it. i'll put it on continuous play today & see.

forgot about mike & the boys. remember when double nickles came out in high school. a good friend was immediately convinced
that it was our white album. i think he may have been right.

Quadrophenia- The Who
The Wall- Pink Floyd
Close to the edge- Yes
Led Zeppelin- Led Zeppelin
Infidels- Bob Dylan
Harvest- Neil Young
Back in Black- AC/DC
Darkness on the edge of town- Springsteen
Rough mix- Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane
Tasty- The Good Rats

Quadrophenia- The Who
The Wall- Pink Floyd
Close to the edge- Yes
Led Zeppelin- Led Zeppelin
Infidels- Bob Dylan
Harvest- Neil Young
Back in Black- AC/DC
Darkness on the edge of town- Springsteen
Rough mix- Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane
Tasty- The Good Rats

"sweetheart like you" from infidels is a fave bob song.

last two songs from rough mix-"street in the city" & heart to hang onto"-gorgeous!
this album (along with pete's first solo effort-who came first) is a nice change of pace
from the who stuff.

had to look up the good rats. will research with the ears later tonight.:)

had to look up the good rats. will research with the ears later tonight.:)

The Rats are definitely an acquired taste. They were huge in NYC in the 70's and 80's and put on great live shows but never hit it big. They're still around (in name only) but are terrible in their current configuration.

Try to find an original recording as most of what I've seen floating around on Youtube is not from the original lineup.

The Rats are definitely an acquired taste. They were huge in NYC in the 70's and 80's and put on great live shows but never hit it big. They're still around (in name only) but are terrible in their current configuration.

Try to find an original recording as most of what I've seen floating around on Youtube is not from the original lineup.

i'll go with your o.g. recommendation-tasty.

Sheesh...this is extremely difficult...but...

In no particular order:

1. Talking Heads - 77'
2. Pixies - Doolittle
3. Kinks - The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society
4. Warren Zevon - Excitable Boy
5. Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde
6. Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted
7. Jason and the Scorchers - A BLazing Grace
8. Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life
9. Frank Black - Teenager of the Year (I hope this doesn't count as double with Pixies)
10. The Clash - The Clash

Stuff I can't believe I left off...

Velvet Underground - White Light/White heat
T Rex - Trax
Roxy Music - Siren
Stones - Sticky Fingers
Hollies - He Aint Heavy, He's my Brother
Prince - Purple Rain
NY Dolls - NY Dolls
Television - Marquee Moon
Elvis Costello - My Aim is True
Joe Jackson - Look Sharp

These might not be strictly rock, but are more or less (in no particular order):
Animals-Pink Floyd
The Yes Album-Yes
TNT-Tortoise
Automatic For The People-REM
OK Computer-Radiohead
Tubular Bells-Mike Oldfield
Discipline-King Crimson
Morrison Hotel-The Doors
All Over The World-ELO
Dark Side of the Moon-Pink Floyd

Sheesh...this is extremely difficult...but...

In no particular order:

1. Talking Heads - 77'
2. Pixies - Doolittle
3. Kinks - The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society
4. Warren Zevon - Excitable Boy
5. Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde
6. Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted
7. Jason and the Scorchers - A BLazing Grace
8. Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life
9. Frank Black - Teenager of the Year (I hope this doesn't count as double with Pixies)
10. The Clash - The Clash

Stuff I can't believe I left off...

Velvet Underground - White Light/White heat
T Rex - Trax
Roxy Music - Siren
Stones - Sticky Fingers
Hollies - He Aint Heavy, He's my Brother
Prince - Purple Rain
NY Dolls - NY Dolls
Television - Marquee Moon
Elvis Costello - My Aim is True
Joe Jackson - Look Sharp

yeah, this kind of list is almost better defined by what doesn't make the cut. so difficult to weigh
the enjoyment you get/inherent greatness of pink floyd vs the clash on a mid-week day at
7pm after a s***ty day at work or dealing with life's drudgery.

These might not be strictly rock, but are more or less (in no particular order):
Animals-Pink Floyd
The Yes Album-Yes
TNT-Tortoise
Automatic For The People-REM
OK Computer-Radiohead
Tubular Bells-Mike Oldfield
Discipline-King Crimson
Morrison Hotel-The Doors
All Over The World-ELO
Dark Side of the Moon-Pink Floyd

holy dookies! adrian belew, robert fripp, tony levin & bill bruford!
music for musicians; so much to grasp within this album...

I've always had the debate of if you had to be stuck on a desert island with only 5 albums for the rest of all time what would they be. Over the years my 5 have been relatively consistent

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Jimi Hendrix - Are you Experienced
Metallica - S&M
The Beatles - Sergeant Pepper's
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin 2


If I had to pick 5 more albums they would be

Pixies - Dolittle
Pink Floyd - Meddle
Dave Matthews Band - Live from Red Rocks
Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Neil Young - After the Gold Rush

holy dookies! adrian belew, robert fripp, tony levin & bill bruford!
music for musicians; so much to grasp within this album...

Prepare to be blown away: The Sheltering Sky (live) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgOZgn3Y4vo)

I've always had the debate of if you had to be stuck on a desert island with only 5 albums for the rest of all time what would they be. Over the years my 5 have been relatively consistent

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Jimi Hendrix - Are you Experienced
Metallica - S&M
The Beatles - Sergeant Pepper's
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin 2


If I had to pick 5 more albums they would be

Pixies - Dolittle
Pink Floyd - Meddle
Dave Matthews Band - Live from Red Rocks
Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Neil Young - After the Gold Rush

all excellent choices! "in the morning of the magicians" from yoshimi-simply stunning.

roger waters' bass from "one of these days"-ditto.

after the gold rush was, for many years, my least favorite of the "classic" neil young albums.
the "fragility" of most of the songs, i felt, was less than complimentary to the rest of his catalog.
guess i just wanted everything to sound like "southern man." funny now how i view that same
fragility as not a weakness but a strength. each one of those songs: "only love can break your heart,"
"don't let it bring you down," "oh, lonesome me," "after the gold rush," "birds" & "i believe in you"
are a perfect, self-contained cosmos-especially the last three. not sure i can elevate this album to
favorite status among neil's stuff but i certainly can't argue against someone else picking it as their fave.

Prepare to be blown away: The Sheltering Sky (live) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgOZgn3Y4vo)

a performance like this is why we both named king crimson as the (potentially) best band of all time in another thread.
belew & fripp in the same band? an embarassment of riches. "the sheltering sky" is my fave off that cerebral album. each one of those guys are just top-notch world-class players but together?-lights out.

To be honest, I currently do not possess all of the following, but have owned at one time or another. In no particular order:

Def Leppard- Hysteria (though Pyromania is right there)
Metallica- S&M.
Guns-N-Roses- Appetite for Destruction
Disturbed- Believe
Van Halen- 1984
Rush- 2112 (the first CD that I ever owned)
ZZ Top- Afterburner (just liked the sound better than that of Eliminator, which ain't no slouch either)
Ozzy- No More Tears (probably not his best, but the only I one I remember owning)
AC/DC- pretty much anything
Bon Jovi- Slippery When Wet

To be honest, I currently do not possess all of the following, but have owned at one time or another. In no particular order:

Def Leppard- Hysteria (though Pyromania is right there)
Metallica- S&M.
Guns-N-Roses- Appetite for Destruction
Disturbed- Believe
Van Halen- 1984
Rush- 2112 (the first CD that I ever owned)
ZZ Top- Afterburner (just liked the sound better than that of Eliminator, which ain't no slouch either)
Ozzy- No More Tears (probably not his best, but the only I one I remember owning)
AC/DC- pretty much anything

you could have done a lot worse! i often miss their "metal" phase vs the more polished arena rock.
"attention all planets of the solar federation. we have assumed control.":thumb:

OK, here we go, in no special order:

Black Sabbath -- Paranoid
Led Zeppelin -- The Song Remains The Same & ZOSO
Boston -- debut album & Third Stage
Heart -- Brigade & Bad Animals
Journey -- Escape
Scorpions -- Love At First Sting
Alice Cooper -- Killer

Ah, WTH -- here's some more:

Alice Cooper -- Billion Dollar Babies
Black Sabbath -- Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Evanesence -- Fallen
Halestorm -- debut album
Pat Benatar -- Crimes of Passion
Loreena McKennitt -- The Book of Secrets
Queen -- A Kind of Magic (hey -- Highlander fan)
Meat Loaf -- Bat Out of Hell

OK, here we go, in no special order:

Black Sabbath -- Paranoid
Led Zeppelin -- The Song Remains The Same & ZOSO
Boston -- debut album & Third Stage
Heart -- Brigade & Bad Animals
Journey -- Escape
Scorpions -- Love At First Sting
Alice Cooper -- Killer

Ah, WTH -- here's some more:

Alice Cooper -- Billion Dollar Babies
Black Sabbath -- Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Evanesence -- Fallen
Halestorm -- debut album
Pat Benatar -- Crimes of Passion
Loreena McKennitt -- The Book of Secrets
Queen -- A Kind of Magic (hey -- Highlander fan)
Meat Loaf -- Bat Out of Hell

i thought i was the only one that actually admitted to enjoying third stage!
liked it way more than don't look back. the debut is among the all-time greatest
debut albums. I'll take "hollyann" from third stage anyday.

OK, here we go, in no special order:

Black Sabbath -- Paranoid
Led Zeppelin -- The Song Remains The Same & ZOSO
Boston -- debut album & Third Stage
Heart -- Brigade & Bad Animals
Journey -- Escape
Scorpions -- Love At First Sting
Alice Cooper -- Killer

Ah, WTH -- here's some more:

Alice Cooper -- Billion Dollar Babies
Black Sabbath -- Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Evanesence -- Fallen
Halestorm -- debut album
Pat Benatar -- Crimes of Passion
Loreena McKennitt -- The Book of Secrets
Queen -- A Kind of Magic (hey -- Highlander fan)
Meat Loaf -- Bat Out of Hell

interesting choice...i have the mask & the mirror but nothing else by her. proly time to change that.

Getting this list down to 10 felt like pulling off fingers. In the end, I present you with a Top 11, because pulling any of these off would be a completely arbitrary choice on my part.

Brian Wilson - Smile - Finding this was an unexpected pleasure. Who knew an abandoned project would be this good decades later?
Genesis - A Trick of the Tail - followed very closely by Selling England by the Pound, Three Sides Live, and Abacab
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon - with Wish You Were Here very close behind
Queen - A Night at the Opera - a studio masterpiece, without a doubt their finest moment
The Beatles - Abbey Road - This list would be half Beatles albums if I let it be.
Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends - A flawed yet perfect record.
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - the newer album The Captain and the Kid gives Yellow Brick Road a run for its money.
Joe Jackson - Look Sharp! - Amazingly, deceptively simple songs, performed with the awesome energy of youth
Yes - Close to the Edge - I also have a soft spot for Takes From Topographic Oceans
Kevin Gilbert - The Shaming of the True - Released posthumously, this rock opera is moving, powerful, and in places disturbing.
The Who - Quadrophenia (Live at Leeds and Who's Next have better songs, again, this hangs together better as a cohesive work. Tommy is a great album but the on Quadrophenia are better.)

Getting this list down to 10 felt like pulling off fingers. In the end, I present you with a Top 11, because pulling any of these off would be a completely arbitrary choice on my part.

Brian Wilson - Smile - Finding this was an unexpected pleasure. Who knew an abandoned project would be this good decades later?
Genesis - A Trick of the Tail - followed very closely by Selling England by the Pound, Three Sides Live, and Abacab
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon - with Wish You Were Here very close behind
Queen - A Night at the Opera - a studio masterpiece, without a doubt their finest moment
The Beatles - Abbey Road - This list would be half Beatles albums if I let it be.
Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends - A flawed yet perfect record.
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - the newer album The Captain and the Kid gives Yellow Brick Road a run for its money.
Joe Jackson - Look Sharp! - Amazingly, deceptively simple songs, performed with the awesome energy of youth
Yes - Close to the Edge - I also have a soft spot for Takes From Topographic Oceans
Kevin Gilbert - The Shaming of the True - Released posthumously, this rock opera is moving, powerful, and in places disturbing.
The Who - Quadrophenia (Live at Leeds and Who's Next have better songs, again, this hangs together better as a cohesive work. Tommy is a great album but the on Quadrophenia are better.)

yes it is. personally, i feel something approximating guilt when i think about the ones i just couldn't park in the top ten or like letting down an old friend or a stinging critique that damages your perception of self.

i think many of us knew/suspected that smile in its' originally intended format (before brian shelved it) was gonna be fantastic.
the (finally) finished product is great but can you imagine what it would have sounded like with the beach boys in their prime?-even better.

part of my selfish motives for starting this thread was to-surprise!- find some new stuff to listen to that others felt passionate about. have never even heard of kevin gilbert, so this definitely qualifies.

some great listening material there in your list.:thumb:

I couldn't do ten so I threw in a few live ones.

Minor Threat -- Minor Threat
Minor Threat -- Out Of Step
Fugazi -- 13 Songs
Ministry -- In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up (live)
Green Day -- Bullet In A Bible (live)
The Cure -- Wild Mood Swings
NOFX -- Punk In Drublic
Pennywise -- Live at the Key Club
Social Distortion -- Live at the Roxy
Steel Panther -- Feel The Steel

^^nice to have some younger (album) perspective in the thread!
gives us something to contemplate other than the usual suspects.

i thought i was the only one that actually admitted to enjoying third stage!
liked it way more than don't look back. the debut is among the all-time greatest
debut albums. I'll take "hollyann" from third stage anyday.

No doubt; some of 3rd Stage is a bit repetitive, Scholz got a little anal, but overall worth the wait for it. DLB sucked canal water!


interesting choice...i have the mask & the mirror but nothing else by her. proly time to change that.

The Book Of Secrets is liable to make you toss Mask and Mirror! It's that much better! I have that one, as well, and will take Secrets any day.

Roy Buchanan Rescue Me



I never get tired of listening to Livestock.

[/U][/I][/B]


graceland for "boy in the bubble, the title track & diamonds on the soles of her shoes" yes indeed! am i the only
one who found his follow-up-rhythm of the saints-to be a more even (and dare i say-better) production?

I'm partial to Graceland overall but do like Obvious Child by itself better than any of the songs on Graceland.

yeah, the drums in "the obvious child" are special. the hugh masekela flugelhorn
and randy brecker trumpet in "further to fly" and the guitar/bass interplay in
"cool, cool, river" are both fantastic as well. the lyrics contained in
the rhythm of the saints album have a pure poetic feel that many of his
albums have touched on but not to this level.

Wow, this is tough but I'll do the best I can as of today-this changes daily. In no particular order
1) Rolling Stones-Let it Bleed (Sticky Fingers is second choice)
2) Tool- 10,000 Days --their best musical album (Aenima is second choice)-if you like King Crimson and metal try it
3) Greatfull Dead-100 years Hall (one of their old concerts released recently--PigPen just jammed --some of these songs ended up on Europe '72)
4) U2-Unforgettable Fire
5) Rush-Moving Pictures--overplayed, but still my favorite.
6)Led Zeppelin-In Through the Out Door (or maybe Houses of the Holy-- I can't decide)
7) The Clash-London Calling (I love a lot of Sandinista! since it was my first Clash album-yes a triple album- but some of the songs just suck)
8)Alice in Chains--Dirt
9)Pink Floyd--Dark Side of the Moon--no explanation needed
10) Stevie Ray Vaughn-Couldn't Stand the Weather--I can't be on a desert isle without SRV.

No real order here:
1. Zepplin IV
2. The Who - Quadraphenia
3. Boston
4. The Rolling Stones- Goats Head Soup
5. Rush - 2112
6. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
7. The Beatles - The White Album
8. The Eagles - Hotel California
9. Meat Loaf - Bat out of Hell
10. Guns-N-Roses - Appetite for Destruction

Wow, this is tough but I'll do the best I can as of today-this changes daily. In no particular order
1) Rolling Stones-Let it Bleed (Sticky Fingers is second choice)
2) Tool- 10,000 Days --their best musical album (Aenima is second choice)-if you like King Crimson and metal try it
3) Greatfull Dead-100 years Hall (one of their old concerts released recently--PigPen just jammed --some of these songs ended up on Europe '72)
4) U2-Unforgettable Fire
5) Rush-Moving Pictures--overplayed, but still my favorite.
6)Led Zeppelin-In Through the Out Door (or maybe Houses of the Holy-- I can't decide)
7) The Clash-London Calling (I love a lot of Sandinista! since it was my first Clash album-yes a triple album- but some of the songs just suck)
8)Alice in Chains--Dirt
9)Pink Floyd--Dark Side of the Moon--no explanation needed
10) Stevie Ray Vaughn-Couldn't Stand the Weather--I can't be on a desert isle without SRV.


moving pictures is overplayed 'cause it don't have a single weak track on the damned album. we're not worthy, we're not worthy...


what if you edit sandinista down to a single album? it's pretty tight when you do that. feel like i could listen to "the street parade" every day.:)

moving pictures is overplayed 'cause it don't have a single weak track on the damned album. we're not worthy, we're not worthy...


what if you edit sandinista down to a single album? it's pretty tight when you do that. feel like i could listen to "the street parade" every day.:)

Hey, that's why Moving Pictures made the cut.

And re: Sandinista, that is exactly what I did! (but then the whole album can't make the list!)

i think that anyone that's ever owned sandinista would understand if you named it
with a little addendum-judiciously edited. moments within that work of brilliance mostly
surrounded by thoughts of "just because the tape was rolling doesn't mean they had to
include it in the finished product." i guess the bright side is we won't ever be suckered into
buying a "remastered & expanded" version since they threw all the crud into the pot the first time.

Wow, this is tough but I'll do the best I can as of today-this changes daily. In no particular order
1) Rolling Stones-Let it Bleed (Sticky Fingers is second choice)
2) Tool- 10,000 Days --their best musical album (Aenima is second choice)-if you like King Crimson and metal try it
3) Greatfull Dead-100 years Hall (one of their old concerts released recently--PigPen just jammed --some of these songs ended up on Europe '72)
4) U2-Unforgettable Fire
5) Rush-Moving Pictures--overplayed, but still my favorite.
6)Led Zeppelin-In Through the Out Door (or maybe Houses of the Holy-- I can't decide)
7) The Clash-London Calling (I love a lot of Sandinista! since it was my first Clash album-yes a triple album- but some of the songs just suck)
8)Alice in Chains--Dirt
9)Pink Floyd--Dark Side of the Moon--no explanation needed
10) Stevie Ray Vaughn-Couldn't Stand the Weather--I can't be on a desert isle without SRV.

"monkey man" & "gimm(i)e shelter." :)

No real order here:
1. Zepplin IV
2. The Who - Quadraphenia
3. Boston
4. The Rolling Stones- Goats Head Soup
5. Rush - 2112
6. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
7. The Beatles - The White Album
8. The Eagles - Hotel California
9. Meat Loaf - Bat out of Hell
10. Guns-N-Roses - Appetite for Destruction

"try and love again." :)

"monkey man" & "gimm(i)e shelter." :)

Gimm(i)e shelter is one of my go to songs. If I hear it on the radio, I cannot turn it off until it is done. The only other Stones song that I like that much is "Can't you hear me knockin'"

Gimm(i)e shelter is one of my go to songs. If I hear it on the radio, I cannot turn it off until it is done. The only other Stones song that I like that much is "Can't you hear me knockin'"

yeah, they both shred big-time. between movies & classic rock radio, "gimm(i)e shelter" is on all the time. normally when a song
reaches that particular plateau it becomes dead to me; the whole song is fantastic but the intro gets me in a trance every time.

^^
Especially if you see some footage of Altamont at the same time.