10 Best Albums of All-Time

[glynparson]

What do you guys think are the 10 best albums of all time. My list every album was released before I was born in 1972

1. Revolver- The Beatles
2. Astral Weeks- Van Morrison
3. Sgt. Peppers- The Beatles
4. Everyboby Knows This Is Nowhere- Neil young
5. Blonde On Blonde-Bob Dylan
6. White Light/ White Heat- The Velvet Underground
7. American Beauty- Grateful Dead
8. All Things Must Pass- George Harrison
9. Stand!- Sly and the Family Stone
10. Who's Next- The Who
Honorable mention to: Trout Mask Replica- Captain Beefheart, Stooges-Stooges, Psychedelic Sounds Of The-13th Floor Elevators, Plastic Ono Band- John Lennon, Axis Bold As Love- Jimi Hendrix Experience

[Beatles Guy]

I was born in 1974, so that hold pretty true for me as well.

"Abbey Road" - The Beatles
"Dark Side Of Moon" - Pink Floyd
"Revolver" - The Beatles
"Rubber Soul" - The Beatles
"Sgt Pepper" - The Beatles
"Grace" - Jeff Buckley
"Moving Pictures" - Rush
"Led Zeppelin II" - Led Zeppelin
"Dirt" - Alice In Chains
"Aenima" - Tool

"Houses Of The Holy" - Led Zeppelin (Honorable Mention)

[barrysloate]

There is so much to choose from that I had to do 15, plus one honorable mention:

Beatles- Sgt. Pepper's
Beatles- Rubber Soul
Beatles- Revolver
Miles Davis: Kind of Blue
Rolling Stones: Aftermath
Rolling Stones: Beggar's Banquet
The Doors: The Doors
Jefferson Airplane- After Bathing at Baxter's
Jefferson Airplane: Surrealistic Pillow
Grateful Dead: Anthem of the Sun
Jimi Hendrix: Electric Ladyland
Buffalo Springfield- Buffalo Springfield Again
Love- Forever Changes
Bob Dylan- The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Donovan- Sunshine Superman

Honorable mention: Meet the Beatles (very underrated album)

[novakjr]

I can't argue with any of the earlier lists. I'm gonna keep my list a little more on the newer side though..Well 80's-90's with a few stragglers.

Dirt-Alice in Chains
Vs.-Pearl Jam
Purple-Stone Temple Pilots
Grave Dancers Union-Soul Assylum
Whitesnake-Whitesnake
Vol. II-Hurt
Seeds-Brother Cane
From Beale Street to Oblivion-Clutch
Use your illusion 2-Guns n Roses
Album of the Year- Faith no More
**not their best, just a personal favorite**

Honorable Mention:Use your Illusion 1-Guns n Roses, Purple Rain-Prince, The Last Temptation-Alice Cooper, Bad Motorfinger-Soundgarden, IV-Led Zeppelin, Countdown to Extinction-Megadeth and One Hot Minute-Red Hot Chili Peppers. Plus the Robert Johnson complete recordings.

[Beatles Guy]

Seeds-Brother Cane

Nice mention, very underrated band.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by Beatles Guy

Nice mention, very underrated band.

I'd almost say criminally underrated. I've never understood why they were never really able to catch on.. Maybe the world just wasn't ready for a grungish band with a strong southern influence.

[Robextend]

David, great list we have a lot in common...I am a Brother Cane fan as well.

My favs:

Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
Live - Throwing Copper
Foo Fighters - Foo Fighters
Nirvana - Nevermind
Nirvana - Incesticide
Green Day - Dookie
Stone Temple Pilots - Purple
Alice in Chains - Dirt
Tom Petty - Wildflowers
Guns N Roses - Appetite for Destruction
REM - Automatic for the People

I know there are plenty more that I am neglecting to mention, but these come to mind first.

Anyone ever heard of a band called "For Squirrels"? They came out with an album in 1995, then they got into a horrible car accident and the lead singer died, maybe another band member too...not sure. Anyways...great album.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by Robextend

Anyone ever heard of a band called "For Squirrels"? They came out with an album in 1995, then they got into a horrible car accident and the lead singer died, maybe another band member too...not sure. Anyways...great album.

Throwing Copper was a great choice, I can't believe I forgot about that one. Anyways, my old guitar player and I were actually hanging out and listening to a bunch of stuff, including For Squirrel's "Example" a few months back. They were a very solid band. Anyone remember "Son's of Elvis"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYaSdSm5Z7A

[dstraate]

No particular order

Metallica-Black-The only album guaranteed to add 10lbs to your bench.
Steve Earle-Trancendental Blues - Best lyricism in country music
Bob Marley-Legend - You can't feel bad listening to this album. Not possible
Willie Nelson-Red Headed Stranger - You can't feel bad sitting in his tour bus
Nirvana-Nevermind - Probably No. 1 if I'm ranking them
Sheryl Crow-Tuesday Night Music Club - Not one word guysthat's my girl
Red Hot Chile Peppers-Stadium Arcadium
George Straight-Latest Greatest Straightest Hits (are hits albums illegal?)
Pearl Jam -Ten - No matter what Kurt Cobain Said.
Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series Disc 6-Though they're all good.

Honorable Mention - Bruce Springsteen, Born in the USA
Johnny Cash - Man in Black
Green Day - Dookie

[dstraate]

Damn Rob,

I was writing mine and thought I had all these great unmentioned gems. Then, by the time I'm done I've copped half your list.

[Griffins]

Sgt Peppers- The Beatles
Harvest- Neil Young
Out of Time- REM
Physical Graffiti- Led Zep
Take 5- Dave Brubeck
Long May You Run- Stills Young Band
Rastaman Vibration- Bob Marley
Kaya- Bob Marley
Holland- The Beach Boys
Kind of Blue- Miles Davis

[Griffins]

Originally Posted by dstraate

No particular order
Bob Marley-Legend - You can't feel bad listening to this album. Not possible

Party foul, that is his greatest hits! But agree with your assessment, on all of his albums.

[Beatles Guy]

Yeah, I totally forgot "Master of Puppets" by Metallica.

[barrysloate]

You can roughly guess the age of the poster based on the records he chose. Nearly all of mine were issued between 1966 and 1968, and none later. So I'm older than most of you.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

You can roughly guess the age of the poster based on the records he chose. Nearly all of mine were issued between 1966 and 1968, and none later. So I'm older than most of you.

a pattern of classic rock band will generally age someone at over 50. Hair bands, or thrash metal, around or over 40(some may default to classic rock though). Grunge/Alternative, around or over 30. If someone has a good mix of hard-rock and rap, around or over 20. Now if anyone mentions Justin Bieber, it's a safe assumption that they are a 14 year old girl.

[barrysloate]

I'm older than 50.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I'm older than 50.

And I'm over 30...
2 for 2 so far.

[Beatles Guy]

I'm 36 but mine is about 50/50 between stuff released before I was born and stuff that came out during my "prime". But, I do see how your theory works most of the time

[Robextend]

I am 29 so it is pretty much spot on for me.

Although my love for 60's music as well comes directly from my dad...

[tiger8mush]

Doubt these are "the best", but if I could only take 10 albums with me to a deserted island right this second ...

Rise Against - Siren Song of the Counter Culture
Rise Against - Revolutions per Minute
Rise Against - The Unraveling
Anti-Flag - Die for your Government
Tat - Soho Lights
Rancid - ... And Out Come the Wolves
Millencolin - Pennybridge Pioneers
Strung Out - Twisted by Design
Marilyn Manson - Eat Me Drink Me
Eminem - Recovery

Honorable mention:
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
Rancid - Lets Go!
Nirvana - Nevermind
AFI - Sing the Sorrow
The Used - self-titled
Good Riddance - For God and Country
Strung Out - Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues
Rise Against - The Sufferer and the Witness
Marilyn Manson - Mechanical Animals
Fugees - The Score
Snoop Dogg - Doggiestyle
Dr Dre - Chronic / Chronic 2001
Social Distortion - (almost any of their old stuff)

Rob

[judsonhamlin]

Subject to my whims, today's top 10 are, in no order:

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel
Sgt. Pepper's - Beatles
Nightfly - Donald Fagen
Hounds of Love - Kate Bush
White Pepper - Ween
Rhenium - Parliament
Seconds of Pleasure - Rockpile
Body & Soul - Joe Jackson
Titanic Days - Kirsty MacColl
Making Movies - Dire Straits

but also:
Yell Fire - Michael Franti & Spearhead
Village Green Preservation Society - Kinks
Court of the Crimson King - King Crimson
Hitchhike to Rhome - Old 97's
EEE - Don Dixon

[novakjr]

Yeah, the Classic rock is in everyone's blood from our parents. Plus, it was kinda trendy in the mid to late 90's. It was the AIC and tool that gave you away though Beatle's Guy.

Anyways, according to that theory. Staate had a pretty good variety in his list, but at the heart of it, I'd guess he was around or a few years over 30. Tiger's probably in his early-mid 20's, and Griffin's is probably around 50ish. Judson may be around or early 40's. Am I incorrect about anyone yet?

We really should get this back to the original purpose of the thread though.

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by novakjr

Anyways, according to that theory. Staate had a pretty good variety in his list, but at the heart of it, I'd guess he was around or a few years over 30. Tiger's probably in his early-mid 20's, and Griffin's is probably around 50ish. Judson may be around or early 40's. Am I incorrect about anyone yet?

I'm 32, but I do act 22

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

I'm 32, but I do act 22

For some reason I had a feeling you'd be the guy to throw this whole thing off. The Rise Against was the killer. There's a good amount of people our age that are pretty big into them.

[judsonhamlin]

Originally Posted by novakjr

Yeah, the Classic rock is in everyone's blood from our parents. Plus, it was kinda trendy in the mid to late 90's. It was the AIC and tool that gave you away though Beatle's Guy.

Anyways, according to that theory. Staate had a pretty good variety in his list, but at the heart of it, I'd guess he was around or a few years over 30. Tiger's probably in his early-mid 20's, and Griffin's is probably around 50ish. Judson may be around or early 40's. Am I incorrect about anyone yet?

We really should get this back to the original purpose of the thread though.

Pegged it at 42 for me - there was a theory going around that whatever you listen to at age 19 is probably what you stick with. I like to think that I've kept an open mind and ears - and having a younger bro-in-law who had a record label for a while (Harvey Danger and Luna) helped - has kept me interested in newer stuff - Decembrists, Arcade Fire, New Pornographers, Architecture in Helsinki, Minus the Bear, etc... But, admittedly, only four of my top 15 are post 1995

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by judsonhamlin

Pegged it at 42 for me - there was a theory going around that whatever you listen to at age 19 is probably what you stick with. I like to think that I've kept an open mind and ears - and having a younger bro-in-law who had a record label for a while (Harvey Danger and Luna) helped - has kept me interested in newer stuff - Decembrists, Arcade Fire, New Pornographers, Architecture in Helsinki, Minus the Bear, etc... But, admittedly, only four of my top 15 are post 1995

The age 19 rule is pretty good. Mine is generally, that if someone were asked to list their favorite all time albums, a good chunk of the albums listed will probably fall within a 3-5 year window. That window is usually age 14-19 for that individual.

I graduated HS in '98 thus my preference for the Grunge/Alternative bands, but I generally like a little of everything. Old-new, light-hard, if it's good, it's good. But our preferences always stand tall..

[TUM301]

Not In Any Qrder,
Aja- Steely Dan
Made In japan-Deep Purple
White Album-Beatles
Sticky Fingers-Stones
American Beauty-Dead
London Calling-Clash
Let There Be Rock-AC/DC
Zep II
Shaboo Shaboo-INXS
Boy-U2

[barrysloate]

For the albums I chose between 1966 and 1968, I was at the ages 14 to 16. The theory holds.

[nolemmings]

1. Dark Side of the Moon
2. Who's Next
3. Sgt. Peppers
4. Low Spark of High-heeled Boys
5. Blood on the Tracks
6. Born to Run
7. The Joshua Tree
8. Hotel California
9. The Doors
10. Houses of the Holy

Hon. mention--pop
Goodbye Yellowbrick Road--Elton John
The Pretender--Jackson Browne
Pretzel Logic--Steely Dan

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by novakjr

The age 19 rule is pretty good. Mine is generally, that if someone were asked to list their favorite all time albums, a good chunk of the albums listed will probably fall within a 3-5 year window. That window is usually age 14-19 for that individual.

I graduated HS in '98 thus my preference for the Grunge/Alternative bands, but I generally like a little of everything. Old-new, light-hard, if it's good, it's good. But our preferences always stand tall..

Similarly, I graduated in '96. But at the time, music wasn't huge for me, so I'd listen to top-40 and hip hop and whatever dance/rap/R&B was playing in the clubs. After I got married in 2004, something changed and I started listening to more alternative/punk and wish I had started earlier cuz I like a lot of the stuff that came out in the '96-early 2000s timeframe. Fast, melodic, and aggressive. And if it has a good message, all the much better!

[teetwoohsix]

You all already nailed the classic rock albums (I don't think I saw Jimi Hendrix "Are You Experienced" though...).......so I'll go off the norm to some of my all time favorites-
No certain order-

Sepultura- Beneath The Remains

Slayer-Hell Awaits, Reign In Blood, South of Heaven

Black Sabbath- Black Sabbath, Paranoid, Master of Reality, Black Sabbath Vol.4, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

Black Flag- Damaged, My War, Slip It In

Metallica- Ride The Lightning, Master of Puppets, And Justice For All

The Accused- The Return of,,,Martha Splatterhead

Verbal Abuse- Just An American Band, V.A. Rocks Your Liver

Johnny Cash- Greatest Hits

[teetwoohsix]

Here are some non metal/punk albums I really like (I like all kinds of music)...

Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention- Over Nite Sensation, Zoot Allures

Little Feat- Dixie Chicken

Boston-Boston

Paul McCartney/Wings-Band On The Run

AC/DC- Every album with Bon Scott singing,,and first three albums with Brian Johnson singing

[barrysloate]

Clayton- my favorite Mothers of Invention is their first album, Freak Out.

[dstraate]

Little Feat. That's a band I wasn't expecting to see on this thread. I got to see them in concert last year and have been hooked ever since. Have you heard "Join the Band"? The collaboration list reads like a Grammy Awards registry.

[teetwoohsix]

Barry- You are right," Freak Out" is great !! In fact, I like most all of their older stuff........" Over-Nite Sensation" has the song "Dirty Love" which is great....and "Zoot Allures" has a song I like called "Wino Man",,,,,I like the rest of the songs on the albums too.

David- I haven't heard "Join The Band", in fact the album "Dixie Chicken" was one I had when I was a lot younger, and I haven't heard it in quite awhile. I just always thought to myself "this is a great band here", and when I think of albums that are great pieces of work, this one comes to mind.

Apologies to the OP,,,,,,,,didn't mean to take this thread in the wrong direction. I have so many albums I like in so many types of music this thread was easy for me to "sidetrack" on.......my apologies.

Sincerely, Clayton

[bmarlowe1]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

There is so much to choose from that I had to do 15, plus one honorable mention:

Beatles- Sgt. Pepper's
Beatles- Rubber Soul
Beatles- Revolver
Miles Davis: Kind of Blue
Rolling Stones: Aftermath
Rolling Stones: Beggar's Banquet
The Doors: The Doors
Jefferson Airplane- After Bathing at Baxter's
Jefferson Airplane: Surrealistic Pillow
Grateful Dead: Anthem of the Sun
Jimi Hendrix: Electric Ladyland
Buffalo Springfield- Buffalo Springfield Again
Love- Forever Changes
Bob Dylan- The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Donovan- Sunshine Superman

Honorable mention: Meet the Beatles (very underrated album)

Barry - it's interesting you mentioned Forever Changes. I always thought it was pretty obscure. A few years back my son bought the CD plus a more recent reunion live CD. It was kind of a concidence as he wasn't aware that I had it in vinyl.

[barrysloate]

Mark- Love is one of those bands that is almost entirely forgotten, although they were briefly in the news about five years ago when Arthur Lee died. They had other good albums too, especially Da Capo.

[glynparson]

Da Capo would have made my list had I given 5 more honorable mentions. Along with Marquee Moon-Television, Bryter Later-Nick Drake, Desire-Bob Dylan, and Eat a Peach- The Allman Brothers band

[Jason Carota]

For what its worth, I'm 31.

In no specific order:

Cream - Wheels of Fire
Jimi Hendrix - Woodstock
Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um
Jamiroquai - Emergency on Planet Earth
Thelonius Monk - Live at the It Club
Pearl Jam - Ten
Mississippi Fred McDowell - Portraits: The First Recordings
Eddie Vedder - Into the Wild soundtrack
Alice in Chains - Facelift
The Roots - The Roots Come Alive

[Writehooks]

OK, maybe not the best ... but these are the 10 I'd crave if I was shipwrecked on a desert island ...

Billion Dollar Babies - Alice Cooper
Diamond Dogs - David Bowie
White Album - Beatles
Kill 'Em All - Metallica
Killer - Alice Cooper
Road Food - The Guess Who
Sticky Fingers - Rolling Stones
Alive - KISS
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
A Man Alone - Frank Sinatra

[Jim65]

Black Sabbath "Black Sabbath"
Pink Floyd "The Wall"
RUSH "2112"
KISS "Alive"
Black Flag "Damaged"
The Who "Quadrophenia"
The Stooges "Raw Power"
Rolling Stones "Exile on Main Street"
The Ramones "The Ramones"

[TUM301]

Originally Posted by Writehooks

OK, maybe not the best ... but these are the 10 I'd crave if I was shipwrecked on a desert island ...

Billion Dollar Babies - Alice Cooper
Diamond Dogs - David Bowie
White Album - Beatles
Kill 'Em All - Metallica
Killer - Alice Cooper
Road Food - The Guess Who
Sticky Fingers - Rolling Stones
Alive - KISS
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
A Man Alone - Frank Sinatra

Hello, Hurray, let the show begin I`ve been ready............................

[stlcardsfan]

Beatles - Abbey Road
R.E.M. - Reckoning
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Led Zeppelin - II
AC/DC - Back in Black
Rush - Moving Pictures
Pearl Jam - Vs.
Montrose - Montrose
Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend
Neil Young - Harvest
Uncle Tupelo - Anodyne
Wilco - Being There
Son Volt - Trace (this is my all-time favorite record, I realize few have probably heard of it)

[39special]

Stones - Sticky Fingers
Stones -Exile on Main Street
Stones - Let it Bleed

Beatles - White Album
David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Aerosmith - Rocks
The Who - Who's Next
Pink Floyd - The Wall
Pink Floyd - Dark side of the Moon
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti

[Runscott]

Now we're talking - great topic. There are a few blues albums that would crack my top ten, but no one here has probably heard of them. However, 'Stone Crazy' cannot be left out.

In no particular order, if I could only have these 10 to listen to, I would be okay, and I didn't even include any Zeppelin:

Exile on Main Street
Dark Side of the Moon
Beatles VI
Ladies of the Canyon
Buddy Guy - Stone Crazy
Seventh Sojourn
The Doors
Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
Electric Ladyland
Wheels of Fire

[drcy]

My top ten Favorite (I didn't say best) rock albums:

1) Discharge - "Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing" 1982
2) The Cure - "Pornography" 1982
3) The Cure - "Faith" 1981
4) The Psychedelic Furs - "Should God Forget: A Retrospective" 1997
5) Cliff Martinez - "Sex, Lies and Videotape" 1989
6) Roxy Music - "Country Life" 1974
7) Echo & the Bunnymen - "Ocean Rain" 1984
8) Bauhaus - "Mask" 1981
9) Black Flag - "Damaged" 1981
10) Dead Kennedys "Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables" 1980

[milkit1]

In no order
smile (original version, purple chick put it together from all the original material to match the Brian WilSon version.
McCartney II - Paul McCartney
the plastic ono band - John Lennon
Time and Tide - Split Enz
Bridge over Troubled Water -simon and garfunkle
Sell Out - The Who
Piper at the gates of dawn - Pink Floyd
Chant Darling - Lawrence Arabia
Rio - Duran Duran
Surfs up- Beach Boys
white album- Beatles

[Runscott]

Sean, you reminded me of others. Don't think I could get by with only ten - would need at least these 2 in addition. The news song by S & G really brings back the 60's for me. Our soccer team used to practice to Waiata.

Split Enz - Waiata
Simon & Garfunkle - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Time

[glynparson]

These are my ten favorite from lesser known or lesser selling artists.

1. Bryter Later- Nick Drake (All his albums are fantastic)
2. Tago Mago- Can
3. Os Mutantes-Os Mustantes
4. Oar- Skip Spence
5. Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators- 13th Floor Elevators
6. Call Of The Valley-Shivkumar Sharma, Brijbhushan Kabra & Haripra
7. Modern Lovers-Modern Lovers
8. Million Seller- The Pooh Sticks
9. Chelsea Girl- Nico
10. The Last Puff- Spooky Tooth

Some albums i also love but i thought mybe a little too well known for the list i just made but still more obscure. my top ten has also changed from original post. i will repost a list.


1. Love Devotion Surrender-Santana/Mahavishnu
2. Da Capo-Love
3. Marquee Moon-Television
4. Trout Mask Replica- Captain beefheart
5. White Light White Heat-The Velvet Underground
6. Hoist- Phish
7. Sea Change-Beck (he's famous album not as much, but is a critics favorite)
8. pacific ocean blue- dennis wilson

[familytoad]

This is harder for me than choosing my favorite baseball cards

I guess these change by mood, as others have commented...here is today's list in random order:

R.E.M - Automatic For The People
Rainbow-Rising
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Jethro Tull - Songs From The Wood
Peter Frampton - Frampton Comes Alive!
Metallica - the Black Album
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of The Moon
Ambrosia- Somewhere I've Never Traveled
Eagles- Hotel California
Sister Hazel - Fortress
Carole King - Tapestry
Toad The Wet Sprocket - Coil

Have fun!