It has been a long time since we have really talked about music. A long while back I promised to have a post on the greatest rock album of all time. This is obviously another huge debate. I have thought about it long and hard and I think that there are 5 major criteria for greatness when it comes to a great album.
1) Wholeness – Some albums have a great start, or great parts, but it is hard to listen to the whole thing. A truly great rock album will be demand a full listening to. It will suck you in, hold your imagination and leave you wanting more.
2) Excellence – Excellence on these albums will be demonstrated in one or two or even more songs that truly shine forth and make this a legendary album. They take it from being an average, good or really good album to be a must have album. Many great albums never had the really great song to push them over the top. These albums will be way over the top of greatness.
3) Context – Sometimes the significance of an album is connected to the time when it was released. Was something significant happening in the world that the album captured? Was this a turning point in the life of the band? Did it clearly outshine other albums that came out at the same time?
4) Sustainability – Does this album continue to sell copies and remain popular? Is there a track record of excellence that goes beyond just the original time and place when it was released?
5) Magic – What mysterious qualities and legend surround the album? Sometimes in Rock there are albums whose aurora takes them to a different place. Sometimes it is because of controversy, drama, or just some mysterious magic at work in their production. This is the X factor for any album.
The following things won’t be the ultimate evaluative measures.
1) Billboard Hits – A lot of great Rock never did well on the charts. That is fine. Mass public appeal isn’t the ultimate measure of greatness. But, there will need to be some name recognition among those who really love rock.
2) Album Art- This can add to the X Factor, but ultimately won’t be what puts one over another.
3) Other great albums by the same artist – Some artists are legendary because of the scope of their work over many decades, but never had a legendary album. They may have had huge hits from albums, but the whole product wasn’t quite as legendary. Some groups were a flash in the pan, but for one album they had it. They had the greatness we are looking for.
4) Don’t even think about nominating a greatist hits album, don’t test me on this!
That is the criteria. Here are the beginning of the list as I have compiled.
Born in the USA – The Boss
Back in Black – AC/DC
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles
Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd
Highway 61 Revisited – Bob Dylan
Are you Experienced – Jimi Hendrix
Dejavu – CSNY
Appetite for Destruction – Guns N Roses
Led Zepplin II and IV- Led Zepplin
Joshua Tree – U2
Who’s Next – The Who
Boston – Boston
Ziggy Stardust – David Bowie
Parnoid – Black Sabbath
Ten – Pearl Jam
Van Halen – Van Halen
Harvest – Neil Young
The Black Album – Metallica
Hotel California -The Eagles
Rumors – Fleetwodd Mac
Pronounced Leh’-nerd Skin-’nerd – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Toys in the Attic – Aerosmith
Strange Days – The Doors
Running on Empty – Jackson Browne
London Calling – The Clash
Velvet Underground and Nico – The Velvet Underground
Blood on the Tracks – Bob Dylan
Never mind the bollocks, here’s the Sex Pistols – The Sex Pistols
Sticky Fingers – The Rolling Stones
At Folsom Prison – Johnny Cash
Remain in Light – The Talking Heads
Aja – Steely Dan
Pretenders – The Pretenders
(More to come later today)
Let’s hear what you got….
December 20, 2006 at 7:17 pm
I think you’ve nailed the list. I would say that Back in Black, Folsom Prison, Hotel California, and the Black Album would get my top votes.
December 20, 2006 at 9:19 pm
Oh boy…you’ve opened up a big post here! Back in Black was one of the first ones that crossed my mind too along with Zep’s untitled album (IV). I will have to think of some others but I have to veto the Black album…Metallica sold out on that one (sorry shannon). I’m gonna think of some others here…
December 22, 2006 at 3:47 pm
Greg,
Great list man. Did you do that off the top of your head. It’s hard to add any but here are a couple additional I would put on my list
Blues Traveler: Four
Counting Crows: August and Everything After
Living Color: Vivid
R.E.M.: Out of Time
The Police: Synchronicity
Extreme: Pornograffiti
No Elton John on your list?
Keep your ligther in the air, brother.
Peace dude,
Brian
December 22, 2006 at 9:57 pm
Brian,
Yeah the list come out of my twisted mind. It has obviously been filled with a lot of music. Thanks for the Police edition. Synchronicity is definitely on the list. I debated the REM albums. I think Green is their best album, but was unsure whether or not it fit what I was looking for. Four is the best Blues Traveller’s album, I would agree. I will consider it more. And no, I am not a big enough Elton John fan to actually know the name of any of his albums. If anyone has a suggestion for one, I am all ears.
December 23, 2006 at 2:05 pm
No way on The Police: Synchronicity because “Mother” is on it and no one can listen to that whole song without pressing skip or forward. It’s awful. My head is beginning to hurt just thinking about it. This come from a police fan. I was there–live in Syracuse, NY. Oh, the 80s where did they go???
December 23, 2006 at 4:43 pm
Mags,
I don’t remember that track from Synchronicity, I will have to go back and listen again. Any other Police suggestions? How about some other great 80′s albums, that is your specialty right?
Peace-
G
December 23, 2006 at 8:48 pm
You got Chili Peppers? For Police I think Ghost in the Machine is a better choice. Always liked Peter Gabriel’s So and Paul Simon’s Graceland. I know they won’t hit your top list but they are good over all. Always glad to see Joshua Tree. I say no to REM.
Paul has already picked the winner. We’ll see if he is right. Waiting, waiting, waiting…
December 23, 2006 at 8:51 pm
Oh and…Born to Run is better than Born in the USA. 1975 were you born to run or whatever you do yet?
December 27, 2006 at 10:02 pm
REM – Green & Out of Time (both are excellent, please revisit)
Neil Young – Harvest Moon, Live Rust, Rust Never Sleeps, After The Gold Rush, ZUMA (Greg when in dout go back to the book)
Tom Petty – Wild Flowers
Beck – Odelay
Bob Dylan – Nashville Skyline (Bob and Johnny together, brings tears to my eyes)
U2 – Achtung Baby (not one bad song)
Dave Matthews Band -Remember Two Things (Back in the beginning)
Greg Brown – Dream Cafe (Unknow, but really good)
I have a few more.. We really need to get away from the light metal and buzz balets…
December 27, 2006 at 11:08 pm
Robbie,
Good to hear from you. I like the addition of Harvest Moon, and Live Rust. (I have never been a Zuma or a Zima guy)
Achtung Baby has got to be there. I think you are right, there isn’t a bad song, and the whole album is greater than the individual pieces.
I loved remember 2 things, but think Under the Table which had more studio time and some refinement is a better album.
Peace-
G