Poll

OK, everybody, setting aside our usual topics, here’s a question for you all:

What’s the greatest album of all time? (I originally wrote “rock album”, but let’s just make it “album”.) You only get to pick one.

All readers, even the most casual visitors, and all of you who usually stay on the sidelines, are invited to comment on this one.

50 Comments

  1. The best album of all time is a bootleg gospel album by David Lynn Jones that only I, my brothers, and a handful of other folks have heard.

    Jeffery Hodges

    * * *

    Posted July 2, 2011 at 5:50 pm | Permalink
  2. Spinal Tap’s Smell the Glove, a.k.a., The Black Album.

    Posted July 2, 2011 at 6:03 pm | Permalink
  3. over-nite sensation – f. zappa

    Posted July 2, 2011 at 6:27 pm | Permalink
  4. OK, Spinal Tap wasn’t really my pick. My serious choice is Tenacious D’s album, Tenacious D. This song and this song are the reasons why.

    Posted July 2, 2011 at 6:47 pm | Permalink
  5. the one eyed man says

    Mozart Clarinet Quintet K. 581

    Posted July 2, 2011 at 9:21 pm | Permalink
  6. the one eyed man says

    If the point of the question is which unique album (as opposed to which piece of music which is on many akbums), then my answer would be Kind of Blue.

    Posted July 2, 2011 at 9:31 pm | Permalink
  7. the one eyed man says

    And if the point of the question is the total album experience – the music and the album cover – then I would have to say Sgt. Pepper. Plus it came with those neat cut-outs.

    Although it’s hard to come up with a better album cover than Weasels Ripped My Flesh.

    Posted July 2, 2011 at 9:40 pm | Permalink
  8. (classical) Big Ludwig, Symphony #5, Vienna Philharmonic, Carlos Kleiber (1975)

    (classic) Boston (1976)

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 1:16 am | Permalink
  9. JK says

    Exile On Main Street.

    Then again as TheBigHenry too often makes me pause and reassess – he types “Boston” which leads me to recall Rebecca.

    However, I’ve still got the Stones album. The drawers Rebecca gave me eventually fell apart.

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 11:25 am | Permalink
  10. the one eyed man says

    I saw the Stones during the Exiles on Main Street tour. Opening performer was Stevie Wonder. The encore was Mick and Stevie together. Unforgettable.

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 11:49 am | Permalink
  11. JK,

    What did you put into Rebecca’s drawers?

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 11:55 am | Permalink
  12. JK says

    Yes Peter, excellent tour that one. So good I booked flights twice in order to see it three times.

    Well TheBigHenry, I never put anything into Rebecca’s drawers – I could have put mothballs in I suppose – but that would’ve negated the reason I asked for ’em as a birthday present.

    (And since I think I can figure where you’ll go next – I was getting transferred to The Land of Sand – Rebecca, being FDIC during the S&L thing, was gonna begin doing “fieldwork”… we figured we’d never see each other again. We were right.)

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 1:49 pm | Permalink
  13. Mothballs?

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 1:56 pm | Permalink
  14. I echo TBH, JK. Time for Rebecca to dust something off!

    Jeffery Hodges

    * * *

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 2:44 pm | Permalink
  15. the one eyed man says

    Moth balls must be really, really small.

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 3:13 pm | Permalink
  16. JK says

    Well TheBigHenry, yes, mothballs. I’m told mothballs preserve even cotton underdrawers. The problem for me is dyslexia – moths have six appendages (discounting wings) and even back then, the only reliably steady finger I had was my trigger-finger.

    And though I’m told I’m a fairly methodical guy – few have commented on my performing actions rapidly. So, even though the drawers were a heckuva lot smaller then, than the average I imagine current normally sized drawers take to perform the same function, it would have taken me quite a period of time to capture the appropriate number of ballbearing moths – nevermind neutering (dyslexia keep in mind) I’m fairly confident the guys making my decisions would have disallowed me making a leave request to capture, neuter, and properly numeritze however many it would’ve taken.

    Besides, given how slow I am, some media group would’ve become aware and publicized what I was doing so besides groups protecting whales and spotted owls there’d have been a mothballs protection society. Imagine where’d we’d be in our Libyan strategy if TheBigHenry were around then to question our strategic national interests.

    For that reason I’m changing my favorite album. My favorite – I can’t really decide between the two. It’s either:

    The Singing Nun

    Alvin and the Chipmunks

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 3:27 pm | Permalink
  17. No offense intended, bro. I was just keeding

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 3:32 pm | Permalink
  18. JK says

    Jeff.

    If Rebecca lives – and if she retains her, er, “housekeeping skills” – there’ll be no dusting necessary.

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 3:58 pm | Permalink
  19. JK says

    With you TheBigHenry – I couldn’t imagine me taking offense. “Keeding” or not.

    We’d probably be better off apologizing to Malcolm for [again] hijacking his always seriously intended thread.

    He’s always doing research you realize. Always for seriously scientific purposes. Look – he’s got readers like hbd chick.

    That’s indicative.

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 4:07 pm | Permalink
  20. I have already registered a standing apology with Malcolm for all past, present, and future transgressions.

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 4:10 pm | Permalink
  21. JK says

    Sweet Jesus TheBigHenry – give me a link to the form.

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 4:37 pm | Permalink
  22. “Sweet Jesus …”

    I’m sure your intention has been duly noted by Malcolm.

    BTW, my friends refer to me as “The Big Jew in the Sky” …

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 4:47 pm | Permalink
  23. the one eyed man says

    I thought that was Norman Greenbaum.

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 5:21 pm | Permalink
  24. Have you ever seen me and Norman together in the same room?

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 5:23 pm | Permalink
  25. JK says

    Just got used to capitalizing T,B and H.

    I’d use those initials but I’d get confused (there’s three DoD sites where those get used pretty often)…

    TheBigHenry? Anyway you and I can work out an acceptable nickname? I’d almost go with SoD – but a Brit friend uses that to refer to his kid. IDAF maybe?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa3uNiUCrp0

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 5:31 pm | Permalink
  26. “Call me irresponsible …”

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 5:37 pm | Permalink
  27. “Do my foolish alibis bore you? Well, I’m not too clever; I’ll just ignore you.”

    Just keeding, bro. Got to go, though. Catch you later …

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 5:49 pm | Permalink
  28. JK says

    Heck with it. Exile On Main Street

    T. Rex [Bang A Gong one].

    Every Good Boy Deserves Favor

    Abraxas – still fondly recalled because the map was the first time I recall having “Mescaline Boulevard” on the grid.

    Canned Heat and Ten Years After.

    Mostly, I remember Rebecca. She had abit more than the zero musical talent I ever had – but damn she smelled nice. She made a barroom smell good, even when she was flashing creds and the venue wasn’t too filled with vomit.

    Cherokee and Regret.

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 6:53 pm | Permalink
  29. the one eyed man says

    What is our host’s favorite album?

    Inner Mounting Flame? Watermelon Man? Trout Mask Replica? Or could it be … Inna Gadda Da Vida?

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 7:35 pm | Permalink
  30. Malcolm says

    Hi all,

    The lovely Nina votes for Abbey Road.

    I’m going with Close To The Edge.

    Pretty pathetic turnout, given the large numbers of visitors I know are passing through here every day. It’s not like it’s a Ph.D.-level question.

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 8:51 pm | Permalink
  31. the one eyed man says

    You once described Jon Anderson’s voice as “reedy” and liked the way Chris Squire used RotoSound strings. But I’ll go with Nina on this one. Personally I think Yes has pretentious music and lacks soul. But what of that. As Duke Ellington said: “if it sounds good, it is good.”

    Posted July 3, 2011 at 9:59 pm | Permalink
  32. The Clash: London Calling.

    Posted July 4, 2011 at 8:20 am | Permalink
  33. Ron D says

    My vote is for an album recorded at Power Station (Malcolm’s old stomping ground) by jazz guitarist Pat Metheny called “Offramp” back in 1982.

    Honorable mentions go to Weather Report’s “Heavy Weather”, Steely Dan’s “Aja”, Donald Fagen’s “The Nightfly”, and Chick Corea’s “Three Quartets” where Michael Brecker and Steve Gadd never sounded better. And of course, Miles Davis “Kind of Blue” is always tops my list, since my jazz background is clearly evident in my list.

    Ron D

    Posted July 4, 2011 at 10:42 am | Permalink
  34. “Pretty pathetic turnout, …”

    I resemble that remark, Malcolm :)

    In any case, although most responses (including my own) ignored your “only get to pick one” specification, perhaps that was problematic for some of your visitors?

    Posted July 4, 2011 at 2:41 pm | Permalink
  35. chris g says

    I vote soundtrack to the film, “Midnight Cowboy.”

    Posted July 4, 2011 at 8:54 pm | Permalink
  36. bob koepp says

    I needed several days in the north woods to properly fog my mind while thinking about the poll.
    Sticky Fingers; the initial British release.

    Posted July 5, 2011 at 2:01 pm | Permalink
  37. Nick says

    Oh dear, I can’t really answer this properly. I’ll just throw in 5 unquestionable masterpieces:

    Led Zeppelin – IV
    Soundgarden – Superunknown
    The Who – Live at Leeds
    The Beatles – Sgt. Peppers’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
    Yes – Close to the Fragile Edge (couldn’t decide…)

    And one that I will be the only fan of…

    Opeth – Blackwater Park

    Do forgive me for my occasional enjoyment of abrasive, heavy, and loud music.

    Posted July 6, 2011 at 12:49 pm | Permalink
  38. Sorry, sorry, late again, but as Americans you should all be ashamed of yourselves. There is only one winner by a golden mile:

    Songs for Swinging Lovers: Frank Sinatra

    Posted July 6, 2011 at 2:49 pm | Permalink
  39. Mike Z says

    Yikes! This is easy!

    I’m glad to see agreement with a number of my favorites, but Led Zeppelin IV is it, sorry.

    – MikeZ

    Posted July 11, 2011 at 12:15 pm | Permalink
  40. MikeZ says

    I’m surprised to not see any Pink Floyd suggested here. Dark Side Of The Moon? The Wall?

    – M

    Posted July 14, 2011 at 10:07 am | Permalink
  41. It changes from day to day but when I regard my life in entirety I would have to say that Alice Cooper’s Killer has had the longest lasting influence on me, and my musical taste. That or ELO’s New World Order.

    Posted July 15, 2011 at 4:01 am | Permalink
  42. Sorry, A New World Record, not order.

    Posted July 15, 2011 at 4:02 am | Permalink
  43. See this is the problem with these sorts of things. Have to add New Order’s Brotherhood album and All Day Long as my fav single.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuHNXoZvlgg

    Posted July 15, 2011 at 4:06 am | Permalink
  44. You’ll note the baroque rococo.

    Posted July 15, 2011 at 4:09 am | Permalink
  45. Malcolm says

    New Order! Haven’t listened to them for about 25 years.

    Yep, a good single, if a tad 80s-y-sounding by now…

    Welcome, by the way, Pat — don’t think we’ve seen you over here before.

    Posted July 15, 2011 at 8:51 am | Permalink
  46. New Order is a sound all of it’s own that may have defined the 80’s for the excellence that they produced.

    One of the most inspirational songs from one of the most inspirational albums:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x0BehBmIwk

    Posted July 15, 2011 at 10:04 am | Permalink
  47. Bob Dylan, Highway 61 Revisited. Simple as that.

    Posted July 19, 2011 at 3:56 pm | Permalink
  48. Charlie says

    Phil Ochs, Pleasures of the Harbor.

    Posted July 21, 2011 at 9:37 pm | Permalink
  49. GW says

    I remember being involved with a brilliant record in the ’90s. I was being particularly struck by the deeply moving lyrics:

    You work hard
    To try to look younger
    You look odd
    Like Felix Unger

    Face lifts
    And liposuction
    Leave Scars
    Where you’ve been tucked in

    Where is that brilliant poet today.

    Posted July 22, 2011 at 4:00 pm | Permalink
  50. Malcolm says

    Goodness! Is that Freddy Felch?

    Posted July 22, 2011 at 4:03 pm | Permalink

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