Double Albums/CDs, curse or blessing?


For no good reason, I have been thinking about the worth of double albums or cds that bands release. The only two that I can come up that make sense are the Who's Tommy and Pink Floyd's The Wall. These are obviously rock opera type albums that hang together. Excluding Greatest Hits which might make sense, are there others doubles that people think of highly?

Most other double albums (double cds more so) I am familiar with would have been much better if only the best material had made it onto a single disc. Examples in my view would be Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium, Guns N Roses Use Your Illusion I & II (at least they are sold separately).

While it may make the bands more money to issue doubles, I think that it generally cheapens the brand.

What do fellow agoners think?
dokosan
Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"...every song is wonderful and couldn't have been done a one record.
Just like everything in audio, some make sense and some do not.

I like Pink Floyd also and I particularly love their live concert recordings which often come in double CDs. If you don't have them already, try the "Delicate Sound Of Thunder", "Is There Anybody Out There?", and "Pulse"; all are excellent.

truth be told, most good double lps would be great edited down to a single. my short list of genuinely great double lps would include (in no particular order):
exile on main st.
blonde on blonde
layla
white album
bitches brew
warehouse songs and stories (husker du)
velvet underground 1970
fillmore east (allmans)
london calling
I think there are lots of examples (especially lp), how about:
Smashing Pumpkins Meloncollie
Zepplin Physical Graffetti
U2 Joshua Tree
Who Quadraphenia