[Editor's note: This post is part of the Overheard on CNN.com series, a regular feature that examines interesting comments and thought-provoking conversations posted by the community.]
People love to talk about music. A story about Ken Caillat's new book covering the inside story behind the Fleetwood Mac album, "Rumours," had several readers gushing about their own favorite albums. Seems there are all kinds of "perfect albums" for all kinds of tastes.
Take a look at what readers said, and then let us know what "perfect albums" pop up into your mind. Do people still think albums are still a big deal? And, for that matter, what are the qualities that make a great album?
Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours' at 35: Still the 'perfect album'
"Rumours" takes this reader back.
mikrik13: "The first time I heard this album being played in a music store on the main drag in Morgantown, WV. I thought it was amazing. Purchased it at that moment. Everyone I played it for in Buckhannon, WV, thought it was magical. Anytime I wish to jump back into my college days in the early '70s, I play this music."
One reader gave their Top 5 list, including "Rumours."
JRJNJNY: "Besides all of the Beatles' perfect albums (i.e. "Abbey Road," " Sgt. Pepper," the "White Album," "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver"). there are five albums that I consider a journey or a perfect force in music from 1955 to today ... in order:
1. "Rumours" (Fleetwood Mac)
2. "Bat Out of Hell" (Meat Loaf)
3. "Led Zeppelin 4"
4. "The Joshua Tree" (U2)
5. "Dark Side of the Moon" (Pink Floyd)
MaynardKrebs: "I'll concur with the Meat Loaf, but I'd scratch the Zeppelin for 'Hotel California.' "
yohi60: " 'Paradise by the Dashboard Light' still gets a lot of play."
There were several votes for Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon."
derbymike: "A very popular album. I have to side with Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' coming out in early 1970s and staying on Billboard Top 100 until end of 1990s. Seems more what is the word, groundbreaking."
One reader wanted to report an "inaccuracy" of sorts in the article, even going so far as to critique the punctuation.
MrBones: "I think there's a typo in the article. It says "Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours' at 35: Still the 'perfect album'," but I'm pretty sure it was supposed to say 'Ramones' 'Rocket to Russia' at 35: Still the perfect album' (and no quotes around 'perfect album' in this context).
There were others who had thoughts on Fleetwood Mac.
AmLowLife: "I always liked Fleetwood Mac's 'Fleetwood Mac' album better than 'Rumours.' "
JAB62: "Compared to other stuff out then, this album was weak to a 15-year-old in 1976-77. Zeppelin was cranking, The Eagles, Boston, Foreigner, all had better stuff but the radio loved it. I never bought it and can't really stand it. Almost as much as 'Bat out of Hell,' which was utter garbage. And later, I had a band that used to play 'Rumours' stuff because we had male and female singers. Still didn't like it but I appreciated Lindsay's playing."
Sonner LeCloche: " 'Rumours' was an OK pop album; I preferred its predecessor. For that matter, I preferred all versions of pre-Buckingham/Nicks Fleetwood Mac AND 'Buckingham-Nicks' to the merged band. Maybe I just wanted two bands instead of one."
PaulBoomer: " 'Kiln House' and 'Then Play On' were Fleetwood Mac's best albums, by far."
But the "Rumours" album was the source of unforgettable memories for some.
CITADEL4U: "In 1977, looking for a new music cassette tape to try out in the radio of my just purchased used 1973 Jaguar XKE V-12 Convertible (absolutely the most beautiful car ever built), a guy at the University of South Carolina music store handed me a copy of the new, just release, Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours,' album cassette tape. He said it was great, and I would probably like it. Like it indeed: for over 35 years I still like it in: cassette tape, CD, MP3, MP4, iTunes; it just keeps getting better and better. I just wish I still had that old Jag, and the girls that came with it."
Emesis: "LOL. I had a customized Chevy van with a fridge and a bed in back. Had the overhead console with an 8-track, cassette, and a Cobra CB radio. I wish I had now just 1% of the girls I had back then!"
Indeed, several looked back fondly.
yohi60: "I miss the days when an album would come out ... Beatles, Dylan, Eagles, Stones. Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac ... and a big party would break out where the album in question would be played for hours. Music was a communal experience in those times."
Some of our readers wrote extended comments about their views.
murkoscreen: "This is a good album, but I never considered it 'great'.' 'Gold Dust Woman' is the best song on here, although I like 'Dreams.' I think there is more hype here surrounding this album than music. Not to take away from Fleetwood Mac, it's good music, just not my taste. As for 1977, the fact that Slowhand by Clapton did not win the Grammy is a travesty. This is akin to giving the Oscar to 'Dances With Wolves' instead of 'Goodfellas.' Yeah, they're both good, but c'mon. SMH. As for other offerings in 1977, and I don't even like punk rock, you've got The Ramones, The Clash, Cheap Trick, Iggy Pop and The Sex Pistols dropping some serious new music on the scene. Perhaps the people of the time can be forgiven for lack of vision. Pink Floyd, 'Animals.' is a better album, and it's not their best, and so is 'Farewell to Kings' by Rush, again, not their best, but superior in my opinion. Both of those groups are so good they are in a class of their own, so Grammys could be forgiven for not awarding them. I just think Fleetwood Mac is sort of a dead end. It may be good listening for fans, and amenable to corporate promotion, but it's not the best music of the year or era, by far. By far! You also have Queen, Ted Nugent, and AC/DC dropping albums I would consider more important. The premier act of the year, Zeppelin, was on tour in 1977, selling out four, five, six and seven nights IN A ROW all over North America, and not getting much press for it. So yeah, I'm going to come on the Fleetwood Mac tribute article and mention other acts. Sorry (well, no I'm not.)"
pmalte: "I agree. For me, the bar was already set too high by groups like Crosby Stills & Nash for 'Rumours' to approach greatness. It still seems an archetypal late '70s AM sound - bland, easily digested, creamy and pleasant. Sung by nice looking, ultra-well-groomed people. Not a teaspoonful of rebellion or risk in that entire album, to my thinking. So, naturally it was very popular."
The following reader, and others, weren't so sympathetic.
"Sorry, Murk, I’m going to have to disagree with you. 'Rumours' was the best album of 1977. I will agree that Led Zeppelin was the better band (although not in 1977). Eric Clapton is also a greater artist, but he never really had that peak moment that could compare to 'Rumours.' Rush and Queen are in the same league as Fleetwood Mac, although the HoF doesn’t seem to give the Canadian trio their just due. Sex Pistols, Ramones and The Clash (Iggy Pop is garbage) were bringing us new and innovative music, which was great, but it wasn’t nearly of the caliber of Fleetwood Mac. Pink Floyd was an awe-inspiring band for about five years of their four decades as a band, but 'Animals' doesn’t compare to 'Rumours.' AC/DC was putting out great music at that time, and an argument could be made that they are the greater band. But their output in 1977 did not outdo 'Rumours.' Cheap Trick is just a very good band. Ted Nugent is a useless hack. I hated 'Dances With Wolves.' :)"
And again, we heard from Pink Floyd fans. And even a Yes fan.
Dr_Loomis: "I was with you until your blasphemy against Pink Floyd. May the ghost of Syd Barrett visit you in your sleep and steal all of your weed."
DemandSide: "I would pick 'Close to the Edge' "
What's your take on albums? Share your opinion in the comments area below and in the latest stories on CNN.com. Or sound off on video via CNN iReport.
Compiled by the CNN.com moderation staff. Some comments edited for length or clarity.
Kieth Jarrett. Koln consert. Sublime simply siblime
Perfect albums no particular order:
The Beatles – Revolver
The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper
The Beatles – The Beatles (White Album)
The Beatles – Abbey Road
The Who – Who's Next
Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti
CSNY – Deja Vu
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Eagles – Hotel Califormia
George Harrison – All Things Must Pass
Paul McCartney – Band on the Run
John Lennon – Walls and Bridges
Bruce Springsteen – Darkness on the Edge of Town
Yes – Close to the Edge
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
Pretenders – Pretenders (first album)
Badfinger – Wish You Were Here
Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
R.E.M. – Murmur
The Replacements – Tim
U2 – The Joshua Tree
The Posies – Dear 23
XTC – Mummer
Beach Boys – Pet Sounds
Big Star – #1 Record
The Pixies – Tromp le Monde
Throwing Muses – Throwing Muses (first album)
Elvis Costello – Armed Forces
Squeeze – East Side Story
Set aside a couple of hours and listen to "Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore East". Nobody plays live, that long or as well, to this date.
Great lists everyone, had to put in my .02 In no particular order, my top 10 are:
Pink Floyd The Wall
Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers
King Crimson In the Court of the Crimson King
Led Zeppelin IV
Steely Dan Aja
Alan Parsons Project I, Robot
Prince Purple Rain
Infected Mushroom Converting Vegetarians
Hanson Underneath
Lifter Melinda (everything was beautiful and nothing hurt)
I'm a little surprised that so many Floyd fans are picking Dark Side instead of Animals or Meddle.
Best album of the last decade – The Dirty South by the Drive-By Truckers
Yep.
Any of the first four Black Sabbath albums.
Black Sabbath – Heaven and Hell
Pearl Jam – Ten
Deep Purple – Machine Head
I only know of one perfectly flawless album: Ben Howard's Every Kingdom. You're welcome, America.
Agree with many of the lists ...but a few others that stand the test of time in repeated plays for me would need to include pure pop for now people period releases and others not yet listed or as obvious – Squeeze-Argybargy;Marshall Crenshaw-st;Pretenders-st;Joe Jackson-Look Sharp;Crowded House-st;Smithereens-EspeciallyforYou;the Smiths-Queen Is Dead;kd lang-Ingenue;Sinead O'Connor-I Do Not Want;Harry Nilson-NILSSONSCHMILSON;RufusWainwright-st;Lemonheads-ComeOnFeel;TPetty-DamntheTorpedoes;BTO-NotFragile;M'shelleN'degeocello-PeaceBeyondPassion;Blondie-ParallelLines;EltonJohn-Capt.Fantastic;(another nod) Paul/LindaMcCartney-Ram;ElvisCostello-several options;Raspberries-Side3 + OvernightSensation....etc
Who – Who's Next
Stones – Exile on Main Street
Bruce – Darkness on the Edge of Town
U2 – The Joshua Tree
Styx (yes, Styx) – The Grand Illusion
Boston – Boston
John Hiatt – Stolen Moments
R.E.M. – Reckoning
and in the criminally unrecognized category:
Marillion – Misplaced Childhood
Tommy Keene – Songs from the Film
nice list. like the grand illusion, great album from start to finish.
Def Leppard's Hysteria album is the best studio album I've ever heard. All 12 songs, 7 of which were hit singles, are excellent. l can't think of any other studio album (and I've listened to a countless number of them over 25 years) where I like every song on the album.
Hysteria isn't even in DL's top 2 - try High and Dry...
I think you misspelled "High And Dry"
Oh my, can't believe I forgot:
Van Morrison – Moondance
Frank Sinatra – In The Wee Small Hours
Fleetwood Mas – Rumours
The Beatles – Rubber Soul
The Rolling Stones – Exile On Main Street
Rush – Moving Pictures
The Cure – Disintegration
The Pretenders – Learning To Crawl
REM – Lifes Rich Pageant
Los Lobos – Kiko
Talking Heads – Speaking In Tounges
Dire Straits – Dire Straits
U2 – The Joshua Tree
Mile Davis – Kind Of Blue
Dave Brubeck – Time Out
Pink Floyd – Dark Side OF The Moon
Live perfection:
The Who – Live At Leeds
The Bodeans – Joe Dirt Car
Grateful Dead – Live Dead
Allman Brothers – At Fillmore East
Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense
The last perfect album I purchased:
Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
Oh man, c'mon!
Your name is Bob and you don't list Bob Dylan. Blasphemous.
Bringing It All Back Home
Highway 61
Blonde on Blonde
Blood on the Tracks
-Bob Freakin' Dylan
Tool's albums Aenima and Lateralus.
Metallica's Master of Puppets.
@Craig......you nailed it!!! Although I would have probably picked Back in Black rather than Highway to Hell. I am sooooo impressed that someone else picked Sinatra Swings!
Although Who's Next, Astral Weeks and Let it Bleed are almost flawless as well.
Nevermind, Pet Sounds, Dark Side, Abby Road, and Sticky Fingers are as close to perfect as it got.
Bruce Springsteen and E Street - Darkness on the Edge of Town.
The Who, "Who's Next" is the greatest lp ever recorded.
Echo & the Bunnymen's "Heaven Up Here".
Radiohead – Ok Computer and Kid A
Arcade Dire – Funeral
Spiritualized – Ladies and Gentleman We Are Floating In Space
The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper
Pink Floyd – Wish Tou Were Here
Bon Iver – For Emma
Simply perfection!
Bell Biv DeVoe – Poison
Dr. Dre – Nuthin' But a G Thang
Bobby Brown – Don't Be Cruel
Michael Jackson – Thriller
The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready to Die
No such thing as a perfect album (perfect can be boring), but I'd say The Clash's London Calling or The Stones' Exile on Main Street come damn close. A recent standout for me has been AWOLNATION's Megalithic Symphony – all killer no filler.
'
Overnite Sensation
Great choice but there are better Zappa out there, I'd go with One Size Fits All.
Radiohead – OK Computer
Tori Amos – Little Earthquakes
Tool – Aenima
Nirvana – Bleach
Alice In Chains – Unplugged
Soundgarden – Superunknown
Fair to Midland – Arrows & Anchors
Don't laugh, but my perfect album is the soundtrack to
THE LAST AMERICAN VIRGIN.
Seriously, I'm not lying. It has classic love songs and early hits by The Cars and U2.
Radiohead's – OK Computer....enough said!
Not counting The Beatles, these are all albums that you play start to finish, that means flipping them over....
-London Calling-Clash
-Deja Vu-CSNY
-Darkness on the Edge of Town-Bruce
American Beauty-THe Dead
Blood on the Tracks-Dylan
The Band
The Cars
Layla-Derek/Dominoes
Back in Black-AC/DC
Who's Next
The Crane Wife-Decemberists
I know my taste is different than most but:
The Lion and the Cobra by Sinead O'Connor;
Kick by INXS;
MCMXC a.D. by Enigma; and
Diesel and Dust by Midnight Oil
are all flawless albums.
rush – all the world's a stage
steely dan – aja
led zepplin- II
rolling stones – sticky fingers
lucy show – undone
john coltrane – my favorite things
willie dixon – i am the blues
maxwell – urban hang suite
iron maiden – live after death
Not in order but my "must haves"....Cold Roses-Ryan Adams, Born to Run- the Boss, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road- Elton John, Quadriphinia-The Who, Five Days in July- Blue Rodeo, CTA-Chicago, Dire Straight-Making Movies
W.A.S.P. – The Crimson Idol
Great album
R.E.M. – Automatic For The People
Crowded House – Together Alone
Sailor (Steve Miller Band)
Odyssey and Oracle (Zombies)
American Beauty (Grateful Dead)
Sticky Fingers, Let It Bleed, Aftermath, Between the Buttons (Rolling Stones)
Boogie With Canned Heat
"Abbey Road"
"Sgt Peppers"
"Rubber Soul"
"Revolver"
"Are You Experienced"
"Hotel California"
Any Steely Dan Album
Was in grade school (think 5th but could have been 4th) Rumours/Rumars/Ruhbarrb came out and only remember it because of the cover. My Faves for no reason
IIron Maiden Piece of Mind, Number of the Beast
Alice in Chains Would
Alanis Morrisette Supposed Inflatuation Junky
The Beatles Rubbersoul
For good measures,
Led Zeppelin Physical Graff, Presence,
Pink Floyd Works
Pearl Jam-Ten
XTC – Skylarking
Think what you want about the man. But, Michael Jackson's Thriller has to be in the list.
My personal favourites.
Talk Talk – Colour of Spring
Men at Work – Buisness as Usual
Santana – Axbraxas
Beatles – Sgt. Pepper
Nirvana – Nevermind
Limp Bizkit – Significant Other
Steely Dan – Aja
Stone Roses
"Pet Sounds" is not only a perfect album, it's the greatest album ever made.
Overnite Sensation
What's Goin' On-Marvin Gaye
Ram-Paul McCartney
Abbey Road-The Beatles
Cat Stevens-Tea For The Tillerman
Let It Bleed-The Rolling Stones
OOPS I forgot-
Candy-O- The Cars PERFECTION!!
Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel. The only album I can call perfect, start to finish. It was their Sgt. Pepper.
Oooooooooo Weeeeee! Lord hav mercy child! I gots to go wit anything by william shatner (especiallys when he sings lucy in da skys wit diamonds) or maybe any ting by Leonard Nimoy. Or what abouts wierd al yankmyvich? or maybe timy tim. day was real artist backs in dem days. Or what about any ting by morris albert. especially the album that hav da somg, "feelings". or what abouts something by jefferson starship especially da albumm that has "we built this city". Ooooooo Weeee! ol Leroy knows good music when he hears it.
There's always at least one a55hole one any subject on this blog.
Neil Young – Harvest
The Who – Who's Next
The Beatles – Abbey Road
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin I
Great choices Shane.
But those bizarre orchestra numbers make "Harvest" imperfect.
Excellent choices..all in my top 10.
Billy Squires "Don't Say No". Kudos to everyone for the great lists of albums!!!!
I don't think there is such a thing as a perfect album. The closest to perfect album I have ever heard is 'Graceland' by Paul Simon. Every song is unique and intriguing in its own way. The album was also probably most people's first introduction to worlld music. Funny thing, though, it is still not my favourite album. I have three top favourites – 'Born to Run' by Bruce Springsteen, 'Astral Weeks' by Van Morrison and 'Highway 61 Revisited' by Bob Dylan.
U2- Joshua Tree
Wilco- Being There
The Romantics
Still Bill- Bill Withers
Murmur- R.E.M
Learning To Crawl- The Pretenders
Damn The Torpedoes- Tom Petty
a few that may not have been mentioned:
echo & the bunnymen – ocean rain
...and you will know us by the trail of dead – source tags and codes
wire – 154
the cure – disintegration
T.Rex's 'Electric Warrior' and 'The Slider'.Classic albums of the early 70's!!
Little Feat-Dixie Chicken, Derek & the Dominoes-Laya and Other Assorted Love Songs, Allman Brothers Band-Idlewild South and Live at the Fillmore East, Jennifer Warnes, Famous Blue Raincoat (Songs of Leonard Cohen), Rolling Stones-Exile on Main Street, Jethro Tull-Thick as a Brick. Stuck in the past but that's what floats my boat
Agree with many of the albums already listed but would also include Bob Marley's Legend.
Jackson Browne – Pretender
Leon Russell – Leon Russell
Bruce Sprinsteen Greetings From Asbury Park
We're talking "perfect" here. There are lots of great albums, but Gerry Rafferty's "City to City" is absolute perfection. Very simply, "City to City" combines GREAT writing, GREAT vocals, and GREAT instrumentals. I bought it for the hit "Baker Street", but after listening to this album for the very first time (many years ago), I knew it was perfect. Still is, always will be!!! Rest in Peace, Gerry. You achieved perfection.
There's entirely too much nostalgia in here. Here are a few 21st-century masterpieces:
Them Crooked Vultures – Them Crooken Vultures
Arctic Monkeys – Humbug
Queens of the Stone Age – Songs for the Deaf
Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part One
Felt – Felt 3
Bad Religion – The Empire Strikes First
Green Day – American Idiot
Amanda Palmer – Who Killed Amanda Palmer?
Gogol Bordello – Gypsy Punk
Dark Side of the Moon
Workingman's Dead
Abbey Road
Springsteen, Born to Run
In no particular order:
"Orbits" – Miles Davis
"A Love Supreme" – John Coltrane
"Bright Size Life" – Pat Metheny
"New Favorite" – Alison Kraus and Union Station
"Mingus" – Joni Mitchell
I know most of you guys are in your 50's and 60's but mine would have to be Nevermind from Nirvana it pretty much made the music of my generation and there was noone who wasnt listning to it when i was a teenager plus i grew up in that grunge era but not to mention Kurt Cobain was a musical genious and defined my genration and when someone does that they deserve to have the best album.
There has really only ever been one perfect album – Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan. It was even recognized at the time as something beyond imagination. Rolling Stone devoted an entire issue's reviews to the record. Name all of the records you want but this is the only one that is and was 'perfect'
I'd have to agree, and add Bleach to that list.
Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?" No question for me. When you listen to it straight through it just builds in terms of message and intensity. It still gives me shivers.
Moondance, very romantic
Exile on Main Street, for balls out R&R
Cosmo's Factory, for the sound
B.B. King's Electric Best, for the tunes and guitar playing
Any Richard Thompson, for the songwriting
U2 – Achtung Baby. A perfect, total album...musically, lyrically. The best.
Uhhhh... "London Calling", anyone?
My Bloody Valentine "Loveless"
Slayer "Reign in Blood"
Peter Gabriel: Passion (music from the last temptation of Christ)
AC/DC – Back in Black
PinkFloyd – Dark side of the moon
Nirvana- Nevermind
Purple Rain- Prince
Pink Floyd: The Wall
Billy Joel: Glass Houses
Songs from the Big Chair – Tears for Fears
The Eagles: Hotel California
Waits delivered Small Change in 1977, and Closing Time and Heart of Saturday Night right before that. Take your pick, any rate higher than F Mac. I would add to the mix Who's Next, Allman Brothers/ Live at the Ludlow Garage, Music from Big Pink, and Let it Bleed.
The Byrds - Mr Tambourine Man, Turn, Turn, Turn
Crosby, Stills and Nash, and CSNY Deja Vu
1. Rolling Stones – Exile on Main Street
2. AC/DC – Back in Black
3. Public Enemy – It Takes a Nation of Millions-to hold us back
4. Pat Travers – Live- Go For What You Know
5. Jimmy Hendrix – Electric lady land
6. Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death
7. Led Zeppelin – Houses of The Holy
8. The Clash – London Calling
9. Stevie Wonder – Innervisions
10. Red Hot Chile Peppers – Californication
#1.Led Zeppelin – 4 #2.PinkFloyd – Dark side of the moon #3.Boston – Boston #4.The Beatles – White Album #5 Michael Jackson – Thriller. Atleast those are the five i'd take if i was on a deserted island !
Bat out of hell: Meatloaf
Asia: Asia
Dark side of the moon: Pink Floyd
Joshua tree: U2
Boston:Boston
Who's Next: The Who
Special Mention:
Rebel Yell: Billy Idol, Perfect for the world, not exactly, but really good.
Beatles-Rubber Soul, Revolver, White Album, Abbey Road, A Hard Days Night
Rolling Stones- Beggars Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main Street
Bob Dylan- Highway 61 Revisited, Blonde on Blonde, Blood on the Tracks
The Smiths- Meat is Murder, The Queen is Dead
REM- Murmur, Fables of the Reconstruction, Automatic for the People
Marvin Gaye- What's Going On
The Kinks-Village Green Preservation Society
Beach Boys- Pet Sounds
Nirvana- Nevermind, In Utero
The Clash-London Calling
Radiohead – The Bends, OK Computer, and Kid A
A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory
Niiice. Good call
The Clash, "London Calling"
Hands down Steven Seagal's "Songs from the Crystal Cave"
Public Enemy-"It Takes a Nation of Millions"
The Clash – London Calling
Beatles – Rubber Soul
Bob Dylan- The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Van Morrison- Astral Weeks
Big Star – #1 Record/ Radio City
Beach Boys – Pet Sounds
Rolling Stones – Exile On Main Street
Nick Drake – Pink Moon
David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust
Jimmy Hendrix- Electric Ladyland
Television – Marquee Moon
Suicide
Velvet Underground – White Light White Heat
Rammones
Some of my favorite "entire" albums (in no particular order):
Prince – Purple Rain
Meatloaf – Bat Out of Hell
Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral
The Beatles – Rubber Soul
Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
It took me a while to scroll down and find OK Computer on the list, and just as I was about to comment on it...you reminded me that Purple Rain might just be the most perfect album I've ever heard.
With the Beatles
Hard days night
beatles for sale
help!
rubber soul
revolver
sgt. pepper
magical mystery tour
white album
abbey road
let it be
unsurpassed masters 1
unsurpassed masters 2
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say you might be a Beatles fan.
Fleetwood Mac (and Steely Dan's late-70s groove) was the apex of non-offensive snooze pop, barely qualifying as rock. (Hey look, Lindsay Buckingham used an electric guitar on Go Your Own Way!) How "fresh" or "timeless" was it? Well, it's still a favorite in dentist offices and elevators 35 years later, for whatever commentary that implies. Only Zeppelin really was fresh, and just in the early 70s, at that, but that's probably more a reflection that the oldest member (Page) was only 25 as the decade broke. But it is sad at how quickly even Page and Plant started wearing Fat Elvis-like rhinestone clothes. Cameron Crowe summed up music in the 70s best in Almost Famous when he had Lester Bangs say, "It's just a shame you missed out on rock 'n' roll. It's over. You got here just in time for the death rattle."
Oasis – Be Here Now
Many good suggestions here. I agree with about 98% of them. I need to add one more, probably gonna take some heat, but... Annie Lennox – Diva from 1992 is an amazing album.
welcome selection.
These kinds of lists are always subjective. That notwithstanding, here's my two cents.
1. Public Image Limited - Metal Box
2. The Beatles - The White Album
3. Elvis Costello - This Year's Model
4. Leonard Cohen - Songs
5. Lou Reed - Berlin
6. Bob Dylan - Desire
7. David Bowie - Low
8. The Velvet Underground - Peel and See
9. Tom Waits - Small Change
very cool list. Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits are legends. Cheers for good taste.
"Jetsetter Jazz: The Persuasive Sounds of Nutty"
If you love 70s rock music, then you will absolutely go bonkers for this new album. Songs like "Purple Panther" that take Hendrix' Purple Haze and blends it with Mancini's Pink Panther. Or Manteca in a Bottle, that takes The Police hit and fuses it with Dizzy's Manteca. It is available at CD Baby. Or google, Nutty Jazz. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/nutty2
good list, but this one's better:
Songs in the Key of Life- Stevie Wonder
Joshua Tree- U2
Aja- Steely Dan
Purple Rain- Prince
Hot Buttered Soul- Isaac Hayes
Van Morrison – Astral Weeks
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway by Genesis (the greatest band ever)
Sometimes I feel like a fly waiting for the windshield.
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
Dire Straits – Dire Straits
Steely Dan – Aja
George Harrison – All Things Must Pass
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
Passion – Peter Gabriel
Moving Pictures – Rush
Violator – Depeche Mode
Ghost in the Machine – The Police
Mental Jewelry – Live
Derick and the Dominoes – Layla and Other Assorted Lovesongs
Jethro Tull – Stand Up
In no particular order...
REM: Automatic For the People
Steely Dan: Aja
Beatles: Rubber Soul
Pink Floyd: The Wall
The Who: Who's Next
While their 4th album is may favorite, Blondie's 3rd album, Parallel Lines (1978), is the perfect pop/rock album.
Perfect album to me is different than an album that has a lot of great songs. For example "Exile on Main Street" has a lot of great songs but "Some Girls" is a perfect album. The way it starts with "Miss You" ushering in the new disco groove of the day and the way it ends with "Shattered" a nod to the underbelly of disco: punk. Fleetwood Mac's Rumours is their one perfect album. Though their earlier incarnations have legions if fans and I for one love Tusk the most, Rumours has a start-middle-finish that is undeniable. So I'm thinking "perfect album" really means where a band or artist not only nailed the times they were creating in but maintained complete magic throughout an entire album. A game I enjoy playing is the "Smackwater Jack" game. Tapestry is pretty much a perfect album except for the corny and dated "Smackwater Jack" song. I've noticed almost every album seems to have a "Smackwater Jack". Ok. Thanks. Great article.
1. Boston: Boston
2. Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense
3. Traffic: The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
4. Yes: Close to the Edge
5. Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick
6. Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells
Beatles – Abbey Road, Rolling Stones – Exile on Main Street, Led Zeppelin – 4, Frank Sinatra – Sinatra Swings, Chuck Berry – The Great Twenty Eight, Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed, Beatles – Sgt. Pepper, Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon, ACDC – Highway to Hell, Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced,
The Talking heads stop making sense video is so far ahead of its time. Such genius....great to pop in at a party
Exile on Main St, Sticky Fingers, Some Girls
game, set, match
Pat Travers, "Go For What You Know", live.
Pearl Jam – Ten. Only album that comes to mind as "perfect". Just turn it on and let it play. Any track will do.
Greatest of all time:
Derek and the Dominoes Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
This one never gets old. Start to finish wonderful
Cabaret Voltaire – The Voice of America
Because it is the reality of popular music strangling an innocent soul-with earnest intent.
Best albums of all time:
Eagles – Hotel California or Desperado
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Street Survivors
Zeppelin – Physical graffiti
Boston – Boston
Foreigner – Double Vision
Derek and the Dominoes
George Harrison – All Things...
Floyd – Dark Side
But enough living in the past the new GREATEST ALBUM of all time is
Blackberry Smoke – The Whippoorwill
If you have not heard these guys, do yourself a favor and pick up this album or pick up their first Little Piece Of Dixie. A great little band!!!
The perfect album?
My top 5 are:
1. The Who – Quadrophenia
2. Lou Reed – Rock n Roll Animal
3. David Bowie – The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust
4. Drive By Truckers – Southern Rock Opera
5. Joni Mitchell – Court and Spark
Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie
Songs in the Key of LIfe
Dylan's Blood on the Tracks
Bee Gees Spirits Having Flown, The BEST!
Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.
if you've heard it, you know it.
Woodface by Crowded House – front to back an excellent album.
Dude, if you are saying ANY music from the 80s that is not GnR or Van Halen (Roth) is amongst the best, then you really need to listen to better music.
Fleetwood Mac is a yawnfest musically. Some things are subjective and can be debated. Some things are objective and beyond debate. Calling Rumours a perfect album is sheer lunacy. There is no perfect album, true, but to even begin the discussion with ANY Fleetwood Mac album is wrong-headed. Not even CLOSE to a perfect album. Not even in the top 10 albums of '77!
Rose. Coloured. Glasses.
Many to chose from for sure. I would add:
Thick as a Brick
Days of Future Passed or Seventh Sojourn by the Moodie's
DSOT of course but saddly overlooked Animals and Wish You Were Here as well. All better than The Wall.
Can't talk about perfect albums without mentioning The Beach Boy's Pet Sounds.
Frank Zappa's Joe's Garage
The Who – Tommy
Pink Floyd – The Wall
To me, the perfect album tells a story and these are the best of the best "It looks just like a telefunkin U47"
Nice call with the "Joes Garage"!
If you go by the Billboard crap then I guess some of these LPs are correct. I like some of them but I wasnt really into the Billboard rating stuff or what was popular on the radio. I look at music a little different. I agree that earlier Fleetwood Mac was much more my taste.
But one of the best bands and albums of all time is LIVE AT FILLMORE EAST by The Allman Brothers. simply amazing Rock.
I have to agree with,
Aja – Steely Dan
I would also add,
Songs from the Big Chair – Tears for Fears
Hysteria – Def Leppard
I saw Tears for Fears on this tour...amazing!
What no Madonna, Lady Gaga, Katie Perry or Britney Spears mentioned? Of even Michael Jackson?
Ha!! Not mentioned for all the right reasons.!! : 0 )
There are millions of "opinions" as to which is a perfect album. But what is a perfect album? Is it one that you happen to like every song on? If so then it's YOUR perfect album. Doesn't mean someone else will agree. There are thousands of recordings I like but for me, a perfect album takes me on a journey, like "Dark Side...". Seventh Soujourn is another. Re-living a personal experience makes an album more special to me. Most recordings from The Fillmore East concerts for example. I like EVERY song on Talking Heads "Speaking in Tongues". Until we define what a perfect album is, all we'll get are personal likes.
"Modern" or "alternative" rock has produced several perfect albums: someone mentioned Arcade Fire already, but I'll add to that Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation (and Goo...front to back, it's flawless) and My Bloody Valentine's Loveless.
The 2 "Best" albums to come out, ever !!!
1 ) The Beach Boys – Surf's Up THE BEST WAR PROTEST ALBUM EVER
2) ANYTHING by The Kinks. THE first rock and roll band to create stories on their albums. Nuff said !
Best CLASSIC albums of all time...not in any order...
The Who: Who's Next
Fleetwood Mac: Rumours
Simon & Garfunkel: Bridge Over Troubled Water
Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers and Exile On Main St
Billy Joel: The Stranger
Rush: Moving Pictures
Journey: Escape
Led Zeppelin IV
AC/DC: Back in Black
The Cars: The Cars
Boston: Boston
The Eagles: Hotel California
U2: The Joshua Tree/Achtung Baby
Yes: The Yes Album
Take out Rush and replace it with The Beatles – Revolver and I'm on board with this list.
City to City by Jerry Rafferty
Nice choice. That may be the one with the Baker Street song on it.
"Ultimate Manilow" has got to be up there too. The Man is music, and he writes the songs.
If we are just talking 1977 then Aja by Steely Dan is one of the best jazz/rock albums ever and is the bands best albums. Going For The One by Yes is also a great record, may not be the bands best but it is a great progressive rock album when punk was coming into the fore. Awaken is one of the best rock music songs ever written. Peter Gabriel's first is still my favorite and most diverse album. So is a better record but his debut is very good indeed. I would pick any one of these over Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. Honorable mentions to Cheap Trick's and Talking Heads debut, as well as News of The World by Queen.
I'll second "Close to The Edge"; a masterpiece.
"The Dreaming" by Kate Bush. A masterpiece for the ages.
Rumours definitely qualifies as one of the best albums of all time and probably the best of 1977. The music is timeless, thought not necessarily innovative. Well crafted and radio friendly, it may not have captured the rebelliousness of the Clash or Elvis Costello, or the progressive feel of Rush, but it was perfect for the summer and beach parties and high school dances. I love the way it can bring me back to a less complicated time in my life every time I pop the CD in to my car's music system. The music still sounds great today.
In no order:
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
Van Morrison – Moondance
Derek & the Dominoes – Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs
The Beatles – Abbey Road
Then my personal bias:
Rush – Counterparts
Yes – Talk
Derek Trucks Band – Already Free
Pearl Jam – Ten
wow- it took entirely too long for someone to mention pearl jam's TEN. I agree!
yes, ENTIRELY too long to not mention 'ten'. i also agree with an earlier post: Beach Boys – Pet Sounds. PERFECT ALBUM!
3: Van Morrison, Van Morrison
After the Gold Rush, Neil Young
Who's Next, The Who
Agree with Who's Next.... alos LOVe "Feats Dont' Fail Me Now" by Little Feat – one of the tightest and boogiest bands ever.
I think Queen's "A Night at the Opera" belongs in this discussion.
Eric Claptons "Journeyman" and Soulhats "Good to be Gone."
Graceland, Blonde on Blonde and Turnstiles are three albums I would take to the desert island.
I've got another copy of the perfect album..it's called Exile on Main Street.
Emerson Lake and Palmer – Brain Salad Surgery
Chicago – Chicago Transit Authority
Steely Dan – Aja
Boston – Boston
Led Zeppelin II
The Who – Who's Next
Jethro Tull – Thick As A Brick
Looking much more recently, Arcade Fire's "Funeral" is the perfect album of the 2000's.
David Bowie "Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars"
And this isn't coming from a complete Bowie fanatic; there's at least a dozen other artists/bands that I hold in higher regard. This single album though, is just almost perfection. It's the perfect blend of acoustic and electric rock. And Bowie was doing some incredible things with production and backing vocals. Great keyboards as well.
Simon and Garfunkel – Sounds of Silence
Gotta go with The Stone Roses.
Agree.
Well, I'll have to add AC/DC Back in Black. And it is on the top 10 all time best selling albums of all time. I always say, Shook Me All Night Long, is gonna be my funeral song.
Is this a "Why Do You Hate Fleetwood Mac?" blog? I love all of FM, back to the Peter Green days (my favorite era, even though I'm a huge fan of Danny Kirwan as well.) But Rumours is kind of a landmark, an album with no weak tracks by a group with three songwriters (and all three wrote big, big hits), three great vocalists and four extraordinary musicians. If the music is not to your taste, then fine, you'll never like the record. But to dismiss the achievement contained within this record is ridiculous. This version of FM was a true supergroup.
"an album with no weak tracks by a group with three songwriters (and all three wrote big, big hits), three great vocalists and four extraordinary musicians."
I don't mean to say that Rumors wasn't great, but that description fits a number of Beatles albums.
I've got a copy of the perfect album. It's called "Who's Next."
Ditto. "Who's Next" is the greatest!
Typo, What is in 'serarch'.
I'd throw Led Zep 3 in there ...as hearing the acoustic side of a band like Zep was unique at that time and in some ways hold up better than 1 and 2 over time.