Love all the above music, but I think what should be included in the perfect album is the perfect recording.
I Got the T-Bone Walker Blues by Roy Gaines on Groove Note.
This is some excellent music accompanied by a direct to disc recording that has been given life. |
Achtung Baby
In addition to it being my favorite album musically I think it fits another generally desirable album characteristic by being a fresh step forward for a band. |
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Eagles Hotel California or Hell freezes over
Eric Clapton Unplugged
SRV couldn't stand the weather
Led Zeppelin 1 or 2 both are excellent |
I would never suggest that there is such a thing but here are a few that I can play almost anytime from beginning to end never tiring of their greatness. In no particular order with apologies to those not listed:
Kind of Blue
Heart Like a Wheel
Babes in the Woods
Abbey Road
Brandenburg Concertos
Dark Side of the Moon
Take Five
The Wheel
Close to the Edge
Movin'
Surrealistic Pillow
In the Wee Small Hours
The Four Seasons
Allman Bros Fillmore East
Texas Flood
Blood on the Tracks
Rhythm of the Saints |
blind faith and king crimson (court of the crimson king) |
Sargent Pepper's Lonley Hearts Club Band or Dark Side Of The Moon |
Garden State soundtrack. Perfect start to finish, good movie also. |
American Beauty, the Dead had mastered the whole vocal thing thanks to CSN&Y and made what might be their best studio album. The rose on the cover is now classic and the back photo on the bales of hay surrounding Jerry sum up the sound perfectly. |
The Lamb lies down on Broadway is a perfect concept album. The Kinks "School Boys in Disgrace" is a perfect concept album. The guitars on it are outstanding. |
Little Feat, The Last Record Album. Neon Parks vision of Vegas on the cover says it all. |
Robert Johnson... King of the Delta Blues
Miles Davis... Kind of Blue
Billie Holiday... Songs for Distingue Lovers
Beatles... Abby Road
Ellington/Armstrong... Together for the first Time
Springsteen... Nebraska
Peter Case... "Blue Guitar"
Heifetz... Beethoven Violin Concerto
Little Feat... Waiting for Columbus
Chuck Berry... Great 28 |
Brian Eno - Another Green World |
The Chills - "Submarine Bells"
The Waterboys - "This is the Sea"
Sugar - "Beaster"
Screaming Trees - "Sweet Oblivion"
Arvo Part - "Tabula Rasa" |
Dylan's Highway 61 amd Blonde on Blonde, Allman Brothers--Live at the Filmore, Miles Davis--Ballads and Blues, George Harrison--All things Must Pass, Roger Waters--Amused to Death |
--Has to be a great 'concept' album with good artwork.
Emerson Lake and Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
Yes - Close to the Edge or Relayer or Tales of Topographic Oceans
Beatles - The Sgt. pepper or Magical Mystery Tour
XTC - Oranges and Lemons
Genesis - Selling England by the Pound or Lamb lies down on Broadway
Alan Parsons - Tales of Mystery and Imagination
Ditto on the DSOM
Chicago II or III
Eagles - Desperado
Supertramp - Breakfast in America |
The Concert for Bangla Desh succeeds on several different levels. |
Tom Waits, Mule Variations
Anouar Brahem, Le Pas Du Chat Noir
Jordi Savall, Les Voix Humaines
Marco |
Oh yeah, can't bear leaving off Lucinda Williams' "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road."
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Just a few off the top of my head:
The Beatles, "Rubber Soul"
Van Morrison, "Astral Weeks"
Gram Parsons, "Grievous Angel"
Joni Mitchell, "Blue"
John Coltrane, "Love Supreme"
X, "Wild Gift"
The Band, "Music From the Big Pink"
Big Star, "Radio City"
Miles Davis, "Kind of Blue"
Husker Du, "Zen Arcade"
Freedy Johnston, "Can You Fly?"
PJ Harvey, "Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea"
Thelonious Monk, "Brilliant Corners"
The Clash, "The Clash"
The Replacements, "Let It Be"
New York Dolls, "New York Dolls"
Richard and Linda Thompson, "Shoot Out the Lights"
Neil Young, "Rust Never Sleeps"
All of these took me out and brought me back, but I wasn't the same when I returned.
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Stevie Wonder "Innervisions". Great jazz chord changes over a real funk clavinet and drums with all guitars rockin' to the great vocals.
Kate Bush "The Hounds Of Love". Delve deep in. There is not a note to be changed. And the last 3/4 of the album is really just a series of songs telling a longer story. Where are you Kate?
There really are so few but I could go on and on. |
g.d.- american beauty
sgt. pepper
csn&y- deja vu
r.l. jones- pop pop |
One that takes you out but brings you back. |
Ben_campbell- Thanks for your response. I'm certain that had I encountered this post earlier today my list would have been completly different. The lps that I did list are ones that were perfect for this afternoon (for me) and ones I do cherrish.
Happy listening,
Frank |
Television- Marquee Moon
Os Mutantes- Os Mutantes
Big Star- #1 Record
Michael Hurley- Snockgrass |
Ashra I was going to respond to the original post when I read your reply-a man after my own heart when a very nice selection of music from different genres and eras and I say that with the admission I have never heard some of the music you mention although I know of it.
Brightened my day on Audiogon. |
LOVE'S 'Forever Changes', Radiohead's 'OK Computer', Jefferson Airplane's 'After Bathing at Baxter's', Tom Waits' 'Small Change', Quicksilver's Shady Grove, Bebel Gilberto's 'Tanto Tempo', Pearls Before Swine's 'Pearls Before Swine'. |
What was I thinking - I should have mentioned this before - Santana, Abraxas. From the fantastic cover art to my first exposure to Latin tinged music, it's hard to imagine a much finer and consistent effort. |
I agree with Snofun. "Who's Next" is the most perfect Rock album that I can think of right now.....
Enjoy,
TIC |
Who's next. OK, the cover art is ah...unusual, but what an album.
Steely Dan - anything - try to find a bad album, from beginning to end, including the concept, the cover, the outrageous lyrics, etc.
Led Zep II. A masterpiece still. |
Back To Oaklnad by Tower of Power for me is the be all and end all. Not a mediocre tune on it. |
REM, Automatic for the People |
Robin Trower, bridge of sighs. |
Graham Parker's "Squeezing Out Sparks" every songs kicks ass. |
Quadraphenia is perfect, better than Tommy. |
The Wall is perfect from begining to end. The cover sucks. |
I was thinking of the mother's "were only in for the money." |
Bob Marley, Exodus
The Rolling Stones, Let It Bleed
Uncle Tupelo, No Depression |
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Pink Floyd, The Wall. It is hard to stop once the music begins. Can't say how many times I went to bed later than intended because I had to hear the ending.
This doesn't count as I'm only referring to one side, but side 2 of Abbey Road works the same magic.
I could name a few more but I'll wait to see what developes. |
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Frank Zappa - "Joe's Garage" |
Cheech and Chong Big Bamboo, Hey...its a 70's thing and I actually used the paper. |
