5 Classics Albums, Same Artist -- Whodunnit?

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I was thinking of making a list of artists that have managed to release 10 must-own/classic albums. Then I realized that would be a REALLY short list ...

Even cutting it down to five eliminates many major competitors (joy division, velvet underground, probably beach boys ...) and is still shorter than I would have guessed

Should I set "rules"? No compilations, no eps...

Who definitely qualifies? Well Dylan and NY (you can pick your own 5 -- these guys are probably in the elite 10 group too)...

Who else? Beatles, Stones, sure ...

I'll throw out some other suggested possibilites:

Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, van Morrison (maybe not..), REM (??), tom waits, led zep (maybe not...), david bowie, e.costello, richard thompson ...

james brown probably fails on "real" albums, but definitely can count 5 of the recent compilations as classic...

sure, this list Has to slant to older artists who've hung around, but anyone more recent qualifying?

sonic youth are probably the band of most recent vintage who may qualify, but do they even get to five.

Actually, the mountain goats (!!) are probably the band of most recent vintage who may qualify -- indeed!

I'm being lazy, not naming the 5 classics ... try to do it :) Jazzfolks can increase the numbers so we can leave them out for now ..

― Matt Sab (Matt Sab), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 19:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Tom Waits has at least ten albums I'd consider classics -

1. Rain Dogs
2. Nighthawks at the Diner
3. Frank's Wild Years
4. Closing Time
5. Bone Machine
6. The Heart of Saturday Night
7. Small Change
8. Blue Valentine
9. Big Time
10.Swordfishtrombones

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Van Morrison yes!

-Astral Weeks
-Moondance
-Street Choir
-Tupelo Honey
-Veedon Fleece (my favorite!)

and if you want to count Them, there's six album that are must-have.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:08 (twenty-one years ago)

1) ready to die
2) conspiracy
3) life after death, disc one
4) life after death, disc two
5) born again

― francis m.h., Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:10 (twenty-one years ago)

No it's not that hard. Sesame Street managed to put out more than five classic albums.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:11 (twenty-one years ago)

francis, you must be kidding. Born Again?

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:12 (twenty-one years ago)

For my money:
Talking Heads
1) Remain in Light
2) Speaking in Tongues
3) Little Creatures
4) '77
5) Fear of Music

― Ben Boyer (Ben Boyer), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:13 (twenty-one years ago)

And (not to belabor a point from other threads) Stevie Wonder.

-Where I'm Coming From
-Music of My Mind
-Talking Book
-Innervisions
-Fulfillingness' First Finale
-Songs in the Key of Life
-Hotter than July

and Greatest Hits one and (especially) two are must-haves, definitely. So that's nine.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Substitute More Songs About Buildings and Food for Little Creatures in Ben's Talking Heads list and I'm in total agreement.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Autobahn, Radioactivity, Trans Europe Express, Man Machine, Computer World.

― rw, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Buildings and Food makes a nice even six. No need to replace.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Thank God for Kenan, who makes my obsession with Stevie Wonder look a little less overpowering. I'll do the same for some others here by mentioning Prince, who easily has at least five no-discussion-allowed classic albums in Dirty Mind, 1999, Purple Rain, Sign o' the Times, and Small Club.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Miles Davis, pick 5 (or 10)
John Coltrane, I would probably pick:

Live at Birdland
Live at the Village Vanguard
Crescent
John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman
Love Supreme (hi george gosset!)

Or there's always:

The Bends
OK Comp
Kid A
Amnesiac
HttT

Boring picks, maybe, but hey. I'd like to say maybe King Crimson, but they only have three real classics, four at most.

Addendum: Sorry for breaking the no jazz rule. It's a good rule. It won't happen again.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)

The Cure...

1. Boys Don't Cry
2. Pornography
3. Head on the Door
4. Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
5. Disintegration

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Funkadelic, Maggot Brain, Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow, Standing on the Verge of Getting it On, One Nation Under a Groove.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I'd say Zep belong here - probably their first 6 are classics, more depending on who you ask.

My vote: Boredoms
Vision Creation Newsun
Super ae
Super Roots 7
Pop Tatari
Soul Discharge

― dleone (dleone), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

After the Gold Rush, Harvest, Tonight's the Night, On the Beach, Rust Never Sleeps.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:23 (twenty-one years ago)

REM

murmur
green
automatic
up
new adventures

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:26 (twenty-one years ago)

You really consider Up a classic?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Shit, Miles is a good one, for him I'd go with: Birth of the Cool, Sketches of Spain, Kinda Blue, The Sorcerer, Waterbabies, Files De Kilmanjaro, In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew, Rated X, Jack Johnson, Live: Evil, and the Pangaea/Agharta fiasco dealie.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Call The Doctor
The Hot Rock
One Beat
Dig Me Out
All Hands on the Bad One

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:27 (twenty-one years ago)

You really consider Up a classic?

The gap between Murmur and Green is much too large on that list. If I had to pick only 5 REM albums, they'd be the first five.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:29 (twenty-one years ago)

XTC
Drums & Wires
Go2 (alot of folks don't agree on this one, but I think it's great)
Black Sea
English Settlement
Skylarking

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Re: REM, swamp Up with Chronic Town and I'll agree with ya.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:30 (twenty-one years ago)

And swap Go2 with Oranges and Lemons.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Music for the Masses, Black Celebration, Violator, Speak and Spell, Songs of Faith and Devotion, Some Great Reward, Exciter, and maybe even throw in construction time and again

― Felcher (Felcher), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:32 (twenty-one years ago)

-The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society
-Face to Face
-Muswell Hillbillies
-Arthur
-Kontroversy

― Kate Silver (Kate Silver), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:33 (twenty-one years ago)

No one'll agree, but.....

1.Killing Joke
2.What's THIS for...!
3.Revelations
4.Fire Dances
5.Night Time

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Mr. Tambourine Man, Younger Than Yesterday, Turn! Turn! Turn!, Fifth Dimension, Sweetheart of the Rodeo

― Christian Rawk (Christian Rawk), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Fifth Dimension is not a classic.

― rw, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Camper Van Beethoven:

1. Telephone Free Landslide Victory
2. II & III
3. Camper Van Beethoven
4. My Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart
5. Key Lime Pie.

Also, CCR, Eno, Roxy Music,AC/DC, Mekons, Sabbath, Husker Du, Pet Shop, Boys, Springsteen, Fugazi.

So close, yet so far: Pixies, Wire, Fleetwood Mac.

― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Kiss....
Kiss
Dressed to Kill
Destroyer
Alive -- yes, it counts!
Love Gun

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Monster Movie
Soundtracks
Tago Mago
Ege Bamyashi
Future Days

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Charles Mingus:
Tijuana Moods
Blues and Roots
Mingus Ah Um
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus

easily could be ten as well.

― rob geary (rgeary), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

RTX:
Twin Infinitives
Cats and Dogs
Thank You
Sweet Sixteen
Accelerator

― Sam J. (samjeff), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Steely Dan.

― Will (will), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:49 (twenty-one years ago)

you can pick any five you'd like.

― Will (will), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

What if I don't like any of'em?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Kidding. relax.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Hey, that's fair. I was gonna offer up Pavement, but figured that'd piss EVERYBODY off...

― Will (will), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah fuck it....

Iron Maiden
Killers
Number of the Beast
Piece of Mind
Powerslave

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:58 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought i just posted, but i guess not.

Anyway, Al Green:

Let's Stay Together
I'm Still in Love with You
Call Me
Belle Album
Love Ritual (kind of a cheat, but not really)

Also, I unafashionably agree with Steely Dan:

Countdown to Ecstasy
Pretzel Logic
Aja
Katy Lied
Can't Buy a Thrill

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 20:59 (twenty-one years ago)

george jones has about 5 classic greatest hits albums!

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I am very surprised nobody has mentioned:
Dirty Mind
1999
Purple Rain
Parade
The Sign "O" The Times

Subjectively, I would of course like to add Genesis (like Alex in NYC, i guess no one will agree). No more than "Foxtrot", "Selling England By The Pound", "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" and possibly "Duke" would quality for the "objective" canon (as in albums appearing in several surveys) though.

Fifth Dimension is not a classic.

I'd say it is. What is definitely certain is that "The Notorious Byrd Brothers" is.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Also, out of a zillon albums out of which several were duds:

Freak Out
We're Only In It For The Money
Hot Rats
One Size Fits All
Joe's Garage

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Agreeing with Alex in NYC shockah!

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually that Genesis list is spot on, although I'm more inclined towards Firth of Fifth than Duke, or even that live disc (if we can include live albums).

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:06 (twenty-one years ago)

dylan, I'd say that's my list to a T. Today, anyways...

― Will (will), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:07 (twenty-one years ago)

"Firth Of Fifth" wasn't an album, but an album track on "Selling England By The Pound". My reason for mentioning "Duke" was that it occcasionally pops up in those polls. Personally I'd rather choose "A Trick Of The Tail", and if I am to choose five, then "Wind And Wuthering" is the fifth one.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Organix
Do You Want More!!?!?!
Illadelph Halflife
Things Fall Apart
Phrenology

x-post ha ha D'OH! I realized after I posted that I meant Trick of the Tail.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:09 (twenty-one years ago)

This really isn't the thread for it, but I just re-listened to 1999 and was really disappointed...

I now feel the album is WAY over-rated .. much closer to Controversy than Dirty Mind/Purple Rain

1999 has two classic songs, a few more of good quality and then ... blah. As a double album it really ain't worth the 4 sides.

I shoulda remembered my beloved mekons ... I won't debate some of the above mentioned "classics" ... yet

― Matt Sab (Matt Sab), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Dance To The Music
Stand!
There's A Riot Goin' On
Fresh
Small Talk

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Fuzzy Logic
Radiator
Guerilla
Rings Around The World
Phantom Power

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:12 (twenty-one years ago)

The Beach Boys Today
Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)
Pet Sounds
Smile (1 CD version)
Surf's Up

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Southernplayalisticadillacmusic
ATLiens
Aquemini
Stankonia
Speakerboxx/The Love Below

(I love this thread.)

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:13 (twenty-one years ago)

i would replace phantom power with Mwng, but thats just me

― Felcher (Felcher), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:13 (twenty-one years ago)

You said no jazz, but you didn't say no American Songbook, so:

Sinatra:

Songs for Only the Lonely
Songs for Swinging Lovers
A Swingin' Affair
In the Wee Small Hours
Nice and Easy

and

Aretha:

i never loved a man...
lady soul
aretha now
young, gifted, and black
amazing grace

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Pray tell, what are the only two songs on 1999 that are classic. 'Cause somehow you gotta try and fit "1999," "Little Red Corvette," "Let's Pretend We're Married," "D.M.S.R.," "Automatic," "Free," "Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)," "Lady Cab Driver," and "All the Critics Love U in New York" into those two slots.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:14 (twenty-one years ago)

and i'm going to stand up for minneapolis old guys

Replacements:

pleased to meet me
let it be
tim
sorry ma, forgot to take out the trash
hootenanny

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Sister
Daydream Nation
Dirty
Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star
A Thousand Leaves

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Agree with Dylan regarding Sinatra except "Sings For Only The Lonely" and "Swing Easy" should have been in there instead of "A Swingin' Affair" and "Nice And Easy"

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:16 (twenty-one years ago)

I love that most of these we're posting without the artist's names and there's no doubt in my mind who we're talking about.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:19 (twenty-one years ago)

My Aim Is True
This Year's Model
Imperial Bedroom
Spike
Brutal Youth

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I led with "only the lonely."

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, and...

Today
Pet Sounds
Friends
Sunflower
Surf's Up

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Roforofo Fight
Confusion
Gentlemen
Zombie
I.T.T.

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Live at the Apollo, 1962
Live at the Apollo, 1967
Sex Machine
Super Bad
There It Is

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:23 (twenty-one years ago)

A Tribe Called Quest got so close...

I'm also stalling at four with Joni Mitchell

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Apart from Iron Maiden, only seven other metal bands performed this feat:

Ace Of Spades
Bomber
Overkill
No Sleep Til Hammersmith
1916

Show No Mercy
Hell Awaits
Reign In Blood
South Of Heaven
Seasons In The Abyss

Endless Pain
Pleasure to Kill
Terrible Certainty
Extreme Aggression
Coma Of Souls

The Return
Under The Sign Of The Black Mark
Blood Fire Death
Hammerheart
Twilight Of The Gods

Black Sabbath
Paranoid
Master Of Reality
Volume 4
Sabotage

Scream Bloody Gore
Leprosy
Spiritual Healing
Human
Individual Thought Patterns

Sad Wings of Destiny
Sin After Sin
Stained Class
Hell Bent For Leather
Painkiller

― Siegbran (eofor), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:26 (twenty-one years ago)

i would make some 3 changes to matos earlier list:

Sister
Daydream Nation
Bad Moon Rising
Evol
Murray Street

― marcg (marcg), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:27 (twenty-one years ago)

hell yeah on JB - I think you could easily throw in some other apollo ones too - "revolution of the mind" esp.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Sail Away
Good Old Boys
12 Songs
Little Criminals
Trouble in Paradise

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Definitely swap Little Creatures for Songs About Buildings. And I agree with Kenan re: Oranges and Lemons for Go2.

Here's a PSB, five exactly:
Actually
Introspective
Behavior
Very
Bilingual

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Ladies Of The Canyon
Blue
Court And Spark
Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Hejira

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:32 (twenty-one years ago)

chicao IV
chicago XXII
chicago XVI
chicago VII
chicao CX

just kidding

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:32 (twenty-one years ago)

A Tribe Called Quest got so close...

TOTALLY. I was gonna post them and got up to that Love something-or-other album and was just like DAMN.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:33 (twenty-one years ago)

reel to real cacophony
empires and dance
sons and fascination
sister feelings call
new gold dream

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Fugazi:
In On The Kill Taker
The Argument
Steady Diet Of Nothing
Red Medicine
Repeater

Prurient:
Whooping Cough
History of Aids
Dracula Syndrome
Troubled Sleep
We Set Off In High Spirits

The Dead C:
Tusk
Trapdoor Fucking Exit
Operation Of The Sonne
Harsh Seventies Reality
The White House

Sonic Youth:
Confusion Is Sex
Daydream Nation
Sister
A Thousand Leaves
Washing Machine

The Fall:
Hex Enduction Hour
This Nation's Saving Grace
Grotesque
The Wonderful & Frightening World
Perverted By Language

Geir is OTM re: Joni Mitchell.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Wasn't SAF/SFC the same album, really.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:35 (twenty-one years ago)

wish we could assemble a timbaland top 5 but that seems like cheating.

maybe someone did this:

velvet underground & nico
velvet underground
v.u.
white light/white heat
loaded

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:36 (twenty-one years ago)

If you're going to mention Miles, Coltrane and Mingus, we may as well round it out:

Ornette Coleman
The Art of the Improvisers
The Shape of Jazz to Come
Change of the Century/This Is Our Music (one of the two)
Free Jazz
Ornette!

― Big Red, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Re: joni

i might be tempet to throw in "night ride home," which i think is a very fine latter day effort

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Personally, I was almost about to add "Dog Eat Dog"

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:38 (twenty-one years ago)

when they were re-released, yes but i think originally they were released as sperate albums?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Loaded is too boring to be a classic album, I think. Aside from the few great pop songs, it does nothing interesting and goes nowhere good.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:38 (twenty-one years ago)

i like the ornette list, but i might put ornette on tenor in there, plus some of the later ones. Still, i'm resisting the urge to surrender to jazz.

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:39 (twenty-one years ago)

not willing to concede "loaded" point. boxed-set mix sounds better.

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Public Enemy is one away:
Yo Bum Rush the Show
It Takes a Nation of Millions
Fear of a Black Planet
Apocalypse '91

all in a row!

― rob geary (rgeary), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:40 (twenty-one years ago)

at this moment i'm thinking if mj blige could pass muster

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:42 (twenty-one years ago)

considering dick thompson, if we permit stuff with linda.

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Inacunabula
Amber
Tri Repetae
Chiastic Slide
LP5

― Siegbran (eofor), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:44 (twenty-one years ago)

aargh...Incunabula.

― Siegbran (eofor), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:45 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm thinking marvin gaye only makes it with a liberal definitio of "classic," but others might disagree. can we call "trouble man," "here my dear," or "midnight love" classics?

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:45 (twenty-one years ago)

those folks on the new "10 classics" page are too generous. someone is trying to claim that lou reed, paul weller, and nick cave have made ten classic albums.

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:47 (twenty-one years ago)

way to go with the joni, geir--there may be hope for you yet.

roxy's been mentioned, but let's make it official:

roxy music
for your pleasure
stranded
country life
siren
(five in five years)

another easy one:

everybody knows this is nowhere
after the gold rush
harvest
time fades away
on the beach

― dan (dan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh and I'm an idiot:

High Voltage
If You Want Blood
Let There Be Rock
Highway To Hell
Back In Black

― Siegbran (eofor), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:48 (twenty-one years ago)

also stalling at four with eno

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Rebirth Brass Band!

Feel Like Funkin' It Up
Rollin'
We Come to Party
Hot Venom
Live at the Maple Leaf

Prediction: No one will agree with me about this.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:51 (twenty-one years ago)

i will now make this bold claim, and then get some work done:

waylon:

lonesome, or'ry & mean
ol' waylon
dreaming my dreams
only daddy that'll walk the line
honky tony heroes

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:53 (twenty-one years ago)

the ramones
leave home
rocket to russia
road to ruin
it's alive (cheating?)

― dan (dan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:54 (twenty-one years ago)

and honky tonk heroes, not honky "tony"

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:55 (twenty-one years ago)

how about "too tough to die" in place of It's Alive

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:56 (twenty-one years ago)

You guys forgot these:

Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Saucerful Of Secrets
Meddle
Dark Side Of The Moon
Wish You Were Here

(And this even gave me the freedom not to mention "The Wall", which I myself consider heavily overrated)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Nice to see some surprises up there.Glad Randy N. got his as did Fela K. -- well deserved!

As for the 10 classics (glad a copycat has already emerged!)
I'd say "classic" is being broadly defined herein too -- cuz really this whole thread is just a take-off of classidud, except all artists at once, in a way!

Some sorta oddball entries

Lambchop - Nixon, Is a Woman, Thriller, How I Quit Smoking, What Another Man Spills

David Holmes (stretching it) - Out of sight sndtrck, let's get killed, bow down, free assoc., come get it

do smiths make it? stereolab? tindersticks?
joe pernice's various incarnations? or eric bachmann's (if you say he Was Archers (yeah, I know, generally hated here...)

C'mon, someone make the argument for Belle and Sebastian!

― Matt Sab (Matt Sab), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 21:59 (twenty-one years ago)

nominees for aforementioned Eno:
Here Come the Warm Jets
Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy)
Another Green World
Before and After Science
Music for Airports

and King Crimson:
In the Court of the Crimson King
Lark's Tongues in Aspic
Starless and Bible Black
Red
Discipline

Emmylou Harris, possibly the Magnetic Fields. Some would say the Flaming Lips, but I'm not a fan.

― Jeremy (Jeremy), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I was that closing to putting those down for King Crimson, except I don't really like Starless and Bible Black that much. Sub in The Night Watch or Absent Lovers, but that feels like cheating. USA maybe?

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:04 (twenty-one years ago)

if you want to fudge it a bit (and open a sizeable can of worms) you could argue the following:

unknown pleasures
closer
power, corruption & lies
low life
technique

― bill stevens (bscrubbins), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:08 (twenty-one years ago)

You needn't, as you may as well list:

Power, Corruption & Lies
Low Life
Brotherhood
Technique
Republic

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Boy
War
Joshua Tree
Achtung Baby
All That You Can't Leave Behind

Maybe a stretch but surely the argument can be made.

― Gear! (Gear!), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Can we put these together?

The Stooges
Raw Power
Fun House
The Idiot
Lust for Life

― Big Red, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Let's put these together then:

True Colours
Temple Of Low Men
Woodface
Together Alone
Try Whistling This

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:13 (twenty-one years ago)

this thread has descended into people just naming any group that's had 5+ albums. 5 autechre classics? come on. 1, possibly. try motherfucking whistling this?

i mean, if we're going to throw all these in, then why hold back. go ahead, pick 5 duds from:

U2
Doors
Oasis
Blur
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Elvis
Stiff Little Fingers
Bob Marley
David Bowie
Led Zeppelin
Metallica
Belle and Sebastian
Jefferson Airplane/Starship
Wedding Present
Stereolab

don't tell me any of these have 5 'classics'. or even that the beatles have.

― paulhw (paulhw), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Picking five duds from Elvis would be quite easy, only I haven't bothered listening to any of them

More interesting, compilations aside, picking 5 classic albums by Elvis is extremely difficult.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Of course the quality of the albums/groupings has declined (although I'd argue over the Iggy albums), that's the nature of such a thread as we start to run out of classics.

― Big Red, Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:21 (twenty-one years ago)

My five Led Zep classics:

I
II
IV
Houses of the Holy
Physical Graffiti (or sub in How the West Was Won if you must)

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Metallica only had 3, maybe 4 classics. I can't see how Autechre is excessive - I can't see any other modern electronics/dance artist qualify, not Biosphere, not Aphex Twin, not Underworld, not Scooter.

― Siegbran (eofor), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Sub in The Night Watch or Absent Lovers, but that feels like cheating. USA maybe?

I haven't heard any of the live albums, so I can't comment. But Starless is probably my second favorite King Crimson album.

I'd replace All That You Can't Leave Behind with The Unforgettable Fire from Gear!'s list.

― Jeremy (Jeremy), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Slanted & Enchanted
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Wowee Zowee
Brighten The Corners
Terror Twilight

haha losars pavemint r00zlz you dr00ozl

― Dean Gulberry (deangulberry), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:28 (twenty-one years ago)

My vote: Boredoms
Vision Creation Newsun
Super ae
Super Roots 7
Pop Tatari
Soul Discharge

OTM.

― Dean Gulberry (deangulberry), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't see how Autechre is excessive - I can't see any other modern electronics/dance artist qualify, not Biosphere, not Aphex Twin, not Underworld, not Scooter.

Maybe Amon Tobin, if we include Cujo and/or the Verbal remixes album?

― Jeremy (Jeremy), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 22:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Orbital
Green
Brown
Snivilisation
In Sides
Middle Of Nowhere

I know the last one doesn't really get props, but come on - "Way Out ->" is one of the best things they've done BY FAR, and the rest of the album is damn fine too.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 11 November 2003 23:46 (twenty-one years ago)

tubeway army
replicas
pleasure principle
telekon
dance

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 00:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha, the Orbital one I have problems with is Green.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 00:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Mr. Hova -
Reasonable Doubt
In My Lifetime Vol. 2
In My Lifetime Vol. 3
The Blueprint
The Black Album

also:
US Maple-
Long Hair In Three Stages
Sang Phat Editor
Talker
Acre Thrills
Purple on Time

Silkworm -
Libertine
Firewater
Developer
Lifestyle
Italian Platinum

*curls into fetal position in preparation for verbal ass whuppin' that comes as a result of being indie dork and nominating US Maple and Silkworm on this thread*

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 00:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Also, if it counts, you could almost subsitute The S.Carter Collection mixtape (which might be my overall fav) on the Jay-Z pick instead of Reasonable Doubt

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 00:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Also, Geir, 5 Elvis classics:

Elvis Presely (s/t RCA)
The Sun Sessions
Elvis is Back!
From Elvis in Memphis
Elvis Country

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 00:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Are Super Roots 7 and Soul Discharge really better than Chocolate Synthesiser? I've not heard them and like CS as much as Pop Tatari.

― rw, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 00:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought about adding Choc Synth too - it would certainly be #6 (but I also like SR6!)

― dleone (dleone), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 00:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Come On Pilgrim
Surfer Rosa
Doolittle
Bossanova
Trompe Le Monde

Roman Candle
Elliott Smith
Either/Or
XO
Figure 8

Bleach
Nevermind
Insecticide
In Utero
Unplugged

Clandestino
Ultima Estación: Esperanza
Radio Bemba Sound System
Puta's Fever
Casa Babylon

Zen Arcade
New Day Rising
Flip Your Wig
Candy Apple Grey
Warehouse

Catch A Fire
Burnin'
Natty Dread
Exodus
Babylon By Bus

Clash
Give 'em Enough Rope
London Calling
Sandinistra
Combat Rock

Rubber Soul
Revolver
Magical Mystery Tour
White Album
Abbey Road
(THAT'S RIGHT!!! NO SGT. PEPPER!!!)

Propeller
Bee Thousand
Alien Lanes
King Shit And The Golden Boys
Universal Truths And Cycles

HOW DO YA LIKE TH-AT?!

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 00:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Nirvana, Pixies, GBV and Mr. Smith did NOT each release five classic albums. Five decent to excellent ones, yes.

And the Husker Du choices are weird.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 01:10 (twenty-one years ago)

NO, YOU AH WEIRD.

Now get the funk outta my face, punk!!!

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 01:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Then there's all the other classics already listed (*insert LOUUUUD snicker*)...so I needn't be redundant, right?

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 01:30 (twenty-one years ago)

s/t
so far
tapes
iv
71 minutes of

kimono my house
propaganda
indiscreet
no 1 in heaven
angst in my pants

― Dr. Annabel Lies (Michael Kelly), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 01:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Aftermath
Between The Buttons
Their Majesties' Satanic Request
Beggar's Banquet
Sticky Fingers

THAT'S RIGHT, NO "EXILE ON MAIN ST."

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 02:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I love all of the following:

Young Team
Come On Die Young
EP+2
Rock Action
My Father My King

Also, COME ON!!!:

Aladdin Sane
...Ziggy Stardust...
Diamond Dogs
Low
Heroes
Lodger
Station to Station

What about...

2112
A Farewell to Kings
Moving Pictures
Permanent Waves
[hmmm, on second thought...]

Waiting for a Miracle
Sleep No More
Fiction
Chasing Shadows
My Mind's Eye

The Bends
OK Computer
Kid A
Amnesiac
Hail to the Thief

― Clarke B. (stolenbus), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 02:04 (twenty-one years ago)

I already mentioned Bowie in this thread:
10 Classic Albums - Same Artist - Who Dunnit?

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 02:05 (twenty-one years ago)

THAT'S RIGHT, NO "EXILE ON MAIN ST."
-- Geir Hongro (geirhon...), November 12th, 2003

Bwahahha! Nice. Exile On Main St. actually happens to be my favorite by them. *SHOCKAH!*

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 02:07 (twenty-one years ago)

We like what we like, Goddangit!

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 02:11 (twenty-one years ago)

'CAG'? Are you kidding? Put in 'Metal Circus' and yer good.

― John 2, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 02:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, it IS the patchiest of the 5 I picked, and admittedly, the weakest link, but some of the songs ARE pretty damn great. Metal Circus I tend not to think of as the Du, but a diff. band, kinda sorta. Just bein' picky here, no biggie.

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 02:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Also...

Soda Stereo
Nada Personal
Signos
Doble Vida
Canción Animal
*Comfort y Música Para Volar
*Sueño Stereo

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 03:16 (twenty-one years ago)

does anyone think that 'republic' is a classic?

― keith (keithmcl), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 03:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Pulp, obviously.

(Separations, His N Hers, Different Class, This Is Hardcore, We Love Life, though the first one perhaps doesn't get enough due to be recognised as the classic it DEFINITELY is)

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 05:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Trout Mask Replica
Doc at the Radar Station
Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)
Lick My Decals Off, Baby
The Mirror Man Sessions (cheating?)

Can't quite make Robert Wyatt work

Which Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil albums did you have in mind?

Leaving jazz out is a good idea--jazz players don't usually conceive of albums in the same way as rockers

You could substitute "Expands Your Mind" for Love Ritual to avoid the cheat.

"One Beat" (S/K) is no classic. In fact, AHOTBO is prob. the only classic of the bunch. And "Radio Bemba Sound System?" Gimme a break.

And that's all the nay-saying I have to offer.

― kdjfe, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 05:53 (twenty-one years ago)

"The Mirror Man Sessions (cheating?)"

Not cheating so much as perverse to include that one rather than Safe As Milk I'd say.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 09:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Herbie Hancock, Milton Nascimento, Mouse on Mars.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 10:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Dinosaur - 24-24
Arthur Russell - World of echo
Arthur Russell - Another Thought
Arthur Russell - ´Tower of meaning
Arthur Russell - Instrumentals 2

(though i havent heard the last ones they´ve gotta be classics because the stuff i heard from them/the songs he did in that style is fantastic)

― Jens (brighter), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 11:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Also Yello.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 16:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Pretty much every list here from bands I know seems like a wild exaggeration to me. Liking five records by one artist is easy. Claiming that there are five records that share equally "classic" status, while arguably inane by definition, seems extremely hard to me. My very favorite artists might have three each. If you really think In Utero and Bleach are both "classic", or that My Mind's Eye lives all the way up to the standard of Waiting for a Miracle, then more enjoyment to you, I guess, but I'm not sure I believe you. And the Mountain Goats can't count: the five albums shouldn't be interchangeable.

But OK, easy to criticize. My one and only nomination is Black Sabbath, and only because I think they came up with classic albums in three different incarnations:

Paranoid
Master of Reality

Heaven and Hell
Mob Rules

Born Again

― ara, Wednesday, 12 November 2003 16:49 (twenty-one years ago)

"The Mirror Man Sessions (cheating?)"

Not cheating so much as perverse to include that one rather than Safe As Milk I'd say.

Stewart OTMFM.

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 20:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Reproduction
Travelogue
Dare
Romantic?
Octopus

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 21:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Mouse On Mars is a fucking magnificent shout, Tuomas. They've never released an album less than wonderful.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 12 November 2003 23:02 (twenty-one years ago)

budgie
never turn your back on a friend
squawk
in for the kill
bandolier

― duane, Thursday, 13 November 2003 00:02 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe not quite classic, but how about:

i often dream of trains
eye
element of light
black snake diamond role
fegmania!

may i sing with me
electropura
president
i can hear the heart
painful

― russell scheil, Thursday, 13 November 2003 01:13 (twenty-one years ago)

hows about Neurosis:

The Word is Law
Souls at Zero
Enemy of the Sun
Through Silver in Blood
Times of Grace

― francis, Thursday, 13 November 2003 01:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Transmissions To Horace
Sweden
The Coroner's Gambit
All Hail West Texas!
Isopanisad Radio Hour

Santa Dog
Meet the Residents
The Third Reich N Roll
Eskimo
The Commercial Album

― Casuistry (Chris P), Thursday, 13 November 2003 02:10 (twenty-one years ago)

"Santa Dog" wasn't an album was it? It's only been released as a single / an EP compiling different single versions AFAIK.

Unfortunately this alo means "Duck Stab" / "Buster & Glen" doesn't qualify either - so can we replace it with either "God In Three Persons", "Wormwood" or "Demons Dance Alone"?

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 13 November 2003 09:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Mouse On Mars is a fucking magnificent shout, Tuomas. They've never released an album less than wonderful.

Yeah, they've got five "official" albums (plus "Instrumentals" and "Glam"), all of which are classics. What other band can say that? Outkast, maybe.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 13 November 2003 10:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Throwing Muses:

House Tornado
Red Heaven
Limbo
Throwing Muses
University

Hunk Papa and Real Ramona are classics as well, but the 80's style production turn me off. The new s/t one just needs some more listens to enter the list.

― JP Almeida (JP Almeida), Thursday, 13 November 2003 11:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Neurosis? Only Souls At Zero and Through Silver In Blood surely?

― Siegbran (eofor), Thursday, 13 November 2003 11:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Will Oldham:

There is no-one what will take care of you.
Days in the wake.
Arise therefore.
I see a darkness.
Master and everyone.

well, they're classics in my head.

― neil, Thursday, 13 November 2003 11:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Mellow Gold
Odelay
Mutations
Midnite Vultures
Sea Change

No doubt about this one!

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 13 November 2003 21:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Construction Time Again
Some Great Reward
Black Celebration
Violator
Ultra

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 13 November 2003 21:51 (twenty-one years ago)

PSB: Alternative, Very, Behaviour, Discography, Please

― Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Thursday, 13 November 2003 22:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I hope this will be the case when I get to hear "TINAT";

Supa Dupa Fly
Da Real World
Miss E....So Addictive
Under Construction
This Is Not A Test

― Nick H, Thursday, 13 November 2003 22:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Also, possibly;

Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Return To The 36 Chambers
Ironman
Supreme Clientele
Ghost Dog Soundtrack

(I know most would put Only Built 4 Cuban Linx in as well but that'd be 6th for me so :p )

― Nick H, Thursday, 13 November 2003 22:04 (twenty-one years ago)

I wouldn't consider "Alternative" a proper album, but if it was, then it is a classic.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 13 November 2003 22:04 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd keep it over any PSB album save "discography". it's their basement tapes

― Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Thursday, 13 November 2003 22:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't think it's "Loaded" that disqualifies the Velvet Underground, but V.U., which is a posthumous compilation of outtakes. They only made four albums, so they can't have five classics. Lou Reed, on the other hand, who has made about 30 albums, just might have five that qualify:

Street Hassle
Berlin
Coney Island Baby
The Bells

Um.... Nevermind. He only has four. (If only Transformer didn't have so many shitty songs on it . . .)

― Salmon Pink (Salmon Pink), Thursday, 13 November 2003 22:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Possibly the best b-sides compilation ever. And I love the ones by Oasis and Suede too, but they don't come quite close.

The Depeche Mode b-sides compilation, whenever released, will be better though. Guess I'll have to burn myself one :-)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 13 November 2003 22:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Dear Ara,
I really DO believe Nevermind and In Utero are both classics, even if I was just being plain cheeky when grouping my picks together, as was everybody else on this thread, rather obviously, I'm assuming. However, I really can't agree with you on the Sabbath issue. It just happens that I PERSONALLY (key here!) dislike pretty much everything they did post-Master Of Reality (yes, including Ozzy efforts like No. 4 and SBS, so it's not a Dio thang). Like I've said a million times before...it is sorely a matter of individual taste (and very good taste at that, might I add!). I hope you might be able to comprehend. IT MIGHT ALSO HELP TO BROADEN YR !@#$%^&*()_ MIND, YOU ~!@#$% ^&*()_+!

K. So are you a boy or gi..wannamakeout?

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Thursday, 13 November 2003 22:51 (twenty-one years ago)

In pop territory, PSB

Please
Actually
Introspective
Discography
Bilingual

― Haris Baki,, Sunday, 16 November 2003 15:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Steely Dan - Can't Buy a Thrill
Countdown to Ecstasy
Pretzel logic
Katy Lied
The Royal Scam
Aja
Gaucho
6

I haven't heard the two recent ones

― Pete S, Sunday, 16 November 2003 15:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Salmon u r mentalist #1, Transformer is leagues better than The Bells

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Sunday, 16 November 2003 16:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I cannot think of any more than four PSB classics. "Actually" is overrated. "Bilingual" and "Release" were both clearly below par. "Introspective" I don't really consider a proper album. All the "Best Of" ones (which also includes "Alternative") just don't count. Which leaves us with four albums, out of which at least three are clearly classics (and this includes the underrated "Nightlife", which is IMO better than anything they ever did in the 80s.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 16 November 2003 19:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Man, I really need to tame my propensity for internet forum Tourette's. It's starting to make me cringe BAD. *I wasn't even THAT drunk!*

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Monday, 17 November 2003 04:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I think I might be emotionally retarded...Hmmm...

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Monday, 17 November 2003 04:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Two awesome, and quite recent "album streaks":

The Gathering:
Mandylion
Nighttime Birds
How to Measure a Planet?
If_Then_Else
Souvenirs

Blur:
Modern Life is Rubbish
Parklife
Great Escape
Blur
13

Now, if that Dismemberment Plan remix record was any good...

― Simon H., Monday, 17 November 2003 05:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Low:
Trust
Things We've Lost in The Fire
Secret Name
The Curtain Hits The Cast
Long Division

Bowie (in a row):
Station to Station
Low
Heros
Lodger
Scary Monsters

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 17 November 2003 06:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I think Low is the band of most recent vintage who qualify.

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 17 November 2003 07:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Sound of Confusion
Perfect Prescription
Playing w/ Fire
Dream Weapon
Recurring

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 17 November 2003 07:03 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

Any new qualifiers?

― Matt Sab (Matt Sab), Wednesday, 26 January 2005 15:57 (twenty years ago)

this is painless, why am I the first one?:

Cobra & Phases Groop
Sound Dust
Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Dots & Loops
Mars Audiac Quintet
Peng!
Transient Random Noise Bursts with Announcements

not counting Switched Ons and the BBC thing, which aren't up to snuff anyway except for maybe Aluminum Tunes(I'm firmly on the lounge side of the divide)

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Wednesday, 26 January 2005 16:31 (twenty years ago)

Perhaps some personnel need to be considered, finding five classics among their work:
Steve Winwood
Mike Patton
Eric Clapton

We still must ignore jazz, or it would get crazy- but the way hip hop is these days (Every song is "Rapper feat. R&B singer & other Rapper-Song" might also muddy up the waters.

― mclaugh (mclaugh), Wednesday, 26 January 2005 20:13 (twenty years ago)

Wot? No Neil Young?

Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
After The Goldrush
Tonight's The Night
On The Beach
Rust Never Sleeps

Time Fades Away, Zuma, half of Harvest, Ragged Glory, Harvest Moon and Sleeps With Angels are pretty classic too. Comes A Time is nice too. Even Mirrorball has at least two great songs.

― stew, Wednesday, 26 January 2005 20:22 (twenty years ago)

And then there's the Flaming Lips...

In order of bestness...

Soft Bulletin
Clouds Taste Metallic
Yoshimi...
Transmissions From The Satellite Heart
Hit To Death In The Future Head

― stew, Wednesday, 26 January 2005 20:28 (twenty years ago)

Wot? No Neil Young?
first post!

― peter smith (plsmith), Wednesday, 26 January 2005 20:36 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, but nobody took up the challenge to pick their own top 5. So that's my two cents.

― stew, Wednesday, 26 January 2005 20:43 (twenty years ago)

not to mention that he's been mentioned numerous times in the thread already, DESPITE the disclaimer in the original post...

x-post: Neil

― Mike O. (Mike Ouderkirk), Wednesday, 26 January 2005 21:37 (twenty years ago)

another easy one:
everybody knows this is nowhere
after the gold rush
harvest
time fades away
on the beach

-- dan (dregan2...), November 11th, 2003.

― again, Wednesday, 26 January 2005 21:42 (twenty years ago)

Stew, replace Yoshimi with Priest Driven Ambulance, add Oh My Gawd! as number six, and we have a deal.

― martin m. (mushrush), Wednesday, 26 January 2005 21:47 (twenty years ago)

I like Priest...but haven't heard Oh My Gawd. You're saying you don't rate Yoshimi?
I failed to mention Zaireeka - it's a special case. I've got a one disc mixdown, and it's cool, but I'm sure I'm missing a whole lot.

I scanned up and down and somehow missed that other NY top 5. No Tonight's The Night? WTF?

What about...

Curtis!
Curtis/Live
Roots
Superfly
There's No Place Like America Today

or any four 60s/70s Townes Van Zandt studio albums and Live At The Old Quarter.

― stew, Wednesday, 26 January 2005 22:42 (twenty years ago)

Todd Rundgren:

The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren
Something/Anything
A Wizard/A True Star
Todd
Hermit Of Mink Hollow

CCR:

Bayou Country
Willy & The Poorboys
Green River
Cosmo's Factory
Pendulum

Lind Ronstadt:

Heart Like A Wheel
Prisoner In Disguise
Hasten Down The Wind
Livin' In The USA
Get Closer

― jim wentworth (wench), Thursday, 27 January 2005 05:31 (twenty years ago)

Tindersticks were suggested earlier, but nobody took the bait ... but I will:

Tindersticks
Tindersticks II
Curtains
Waiting For the Moon
Trouble Every Day

I personally am reluctant to call "Simple Pleasure" a classic, but I know others here would, so replace "Trouble Every Day" at your leisure.

Also,

Sheet One
Musik
Consumed
Closer
Decks, EFX, & 909

Most would agree that DEFX909 is a classic, even though it's not a Plastikman album unlike the others. IMO, "Artifakts BC" is a classic and could replace it (I also think "Recycled" > "Sheet One", but that may not count since it's not a "proper" album).

I haven't heard the Jetone albums "Ultramarin" and "Autumnmonia", but otherwise Tim Hecker is an easy inclusion:

Ultramarin
Haunt Me Haunt Me Do It Again
My Love Is Rotten To the Core (mini-LP)
Radio Amor
Mirages

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 27 January 2005 05:56 (twenty years ago)

s/t
so far
tapes
iv
71 minutes of

kimono my house
propaganda
indiscreet
no 1 in heaven
angst in my pants

― Shmool McShmool (shmuel), Thursday, 27 January 2005 06:58 (twenty years ago)

Velvets: replace v.u. with Live 1969.

Wire

Pink Flag
Chairs Missing
154
A Bell Is A Cup... Until It Is Struck
Send

Fuck you to anyone who slags off the last two. Both are absolute classics.

― Sasha (sgh), Thursday, 27 January 2005 07:06 (twenty years ago)

beatles , beach boys,abba,kylie minogue,michael jackson,inxs,bon jovi,prince,madonna,elton john

you could take almost any 5 but the first 5 from all these are perfect

― open minded single girls club, Thursday, 27 January 2005 07:10 (twenty years ago)

oops

s/t
so far
tapes
iv
71 minutes of

kimono my house
propaganda
indiscreet
no 1 in heaven
angst in my pants

so who are these by?

― Shmool McShmool (shmuel), Thursday, 27 January 2005 07:13 (twenty years ago)

first five = FAUST

second five = SPARKS

― poortheatre (poortheatre), Thursday, 27 January 2005 07:17 (twenty years ago)

thx

― Shmool McShmool (shmuel), Thursday, 27 January 2005 07:20 (twenty years ago)

3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul Is Dead
Buhloone Mindstate
Stakes Is High
AOI: Bionix

― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 27 January 2005 07:35 (twenty years ago)

Run-DMC come close:

Run-D.M.C.
King of Rock
Raising Hell
Tougher Than Leather (underrated at the time, but track-for-track probably my favorite next to Raising Hell)

― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 27 January 2005 07:42 (twenty years ago)

Maybe:

Creedence Clearwater Revival
Bayou Country
Green River
Willy and the Poor Boys
Cosmo's Factory

― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 27 January 2005 07:46 (twenty years ago)

i was thinking of de la too, but you just can't rate bionix as a classic

― Shmool McShmool (shmuel), Thursday, 27 January 2005 07:50 (twenty years ago)

I'd buy the first two but ... Raising Hell?

---

Alex said XTC upthread but I argue

Drums & Wires
Go2 (alot of folks don't agree on this one, but I think it's great)
Black Sea
English Settlement
Skylarking

into

Skylarking
Drums and Wires
Black Sea
English Settlement
Big Express

and Parliament

Chocolate City
Mothership Connection
Clones of Dr. Funkenstein
Funkentelechy vs the Placebo Syndrome
Mother Booty Affair

― Remy (x Jeremy), Thursday, 27 January 2005 07:50 (twenty years ago)

VHI
VHII
Women and Children First
Fair Warning
1984

― Will (will), Thursday, 27 January 2005 07:50 (twenty years ago)

Are You Experienced?
Axis: Bold as Love
Electric Ladyland
Band of Gypsys
Jimi Hendrix/Otis Redding: Live At The Monterey International Pop Festival

― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 27 January 2005 07:57 (twenty years ago)

John Prine s/t
Diamonds in the Rough (not a favorite of mine, but I would guess that it's widely regarded as classic
Sweet Revenge
Common Sense
Bruised Orange

Cheap Trick
In Color
Heaven Tonight
At Budokan
Dream Police

― Will (will), Thursday, 27 January 2005 08:00 (twenty years ago)

I was just thinking about Van Halen.

Raising Hell is "Perfection."

Bionix is one of those albums no one owns, but as soon as you put it on everyone wants to know what it is.

― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 27 January 2005 08:06 (twenty years ago)

Shotgun Willie
Phases and Stages
Red Headed Stranger
Stardust (obv. classic, but sub Yesterday's Wine if you'd like)
& Spirit or Teatro for something recent

― Will (will), Thursday, 27 January 2005 08:08 (twenty years ago)

Oops, sorry, Jim, missed your Creedence post...

― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 27 January 2005 08:10 (twenty years ago)

I don't think Cocteau Twins have been done yet so:

Head Over Heels
Treasure
Victorialand
Blue Bell Knoll
Heaven Or Las Vegas

― Seb (Seb), Thursday, 27 January 2005 08:17 (twenty years ago)

Minutemen:

The Punch Line
Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Heat
What Makes a Man Start Fires?
Double Nickels on the Dime
Post-Mersh, Vol. 3 (a compilation, yeah, but the first time many fans got hold of this music)

― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 27 January 2005 08:27 (twenty years ago)

erm, um, folks, Saint Etienne!

Foxbase Alpha
So Tough
Tiger Bay
Too Young to Die(yes it counts)
Finisterre

― derrick (derrick), Thursday, 27 January 2005 09:02 (twenty years ago)

Not terribly serious about this, but:

Ready For The House
Interstellar Discussion
Telegraph Melts
Blue Corpse
Live at Instal 04

― baktovis, Thursday, 27 January 2005 10:41 (twenty years ago)

Eno:

Here Come The Warm Jets
Another Green World
Discreet Music
Ambient 1: Music For Airports
Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks

― Nic de Teardrop (Nicholas), Thursday, 27 January 2005 11:11 (twenty years ago)

I know it's been done, but I think those 5 are better choices as classics.

― Nic de Teardrop (Nicholas), Thursday, 27 January 2005 11:12 (twenty years ago)

Gluey Porch Treatments
Ozma
Bullhead
Lysol
Houdini

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Thursday, 27 January 2005 15:35 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

Revive!

Solo Wu-Tang-ers!

Destroyer!!

Jorge Ben!!!

― Matt Sab (Matt Sab), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 20:37 (nineteen years ago)

Hell, I'll do it, and i'm not ashamed:

The Boy With the Arab Strap
If You're Feeling Sinister
Tigermilk
Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Push the Barman to Open Old Wounds (yes, this counts)

― Tape Store (Tape Store), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 20:50 (nineteen years ago)

Jailbreak
Johnny the Fox
Bad Reputation
Live and Dangerous
Black Rose: A Rock Legend

― Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 21:49 (nineteen years ago)

I would've seconded Radiohead for their _The Bends_ -->
_Hail_ run, but recently I've become very disillusioned
by _Hail To The Thief_. It just seems to long, droney
and samey. They're going over the same ground again
and again. They should've shelved it and released
_The Eraser_ as Radiohead.

― Squirrel_Police (Squirrel_Police), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 23:30 (nineteen years ago)

George Best
Bizarro
Seamonsters
The Hit Parade 1&2
Watusi

― Si.C@rter (SiC@rter), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 00:32 (nineteen years ago)

Game Theory

1st Album (w/ "It Gives Me Chills)
Real Nighttime
Lolita Nation
Big Shot Chronicles
2 Steps From the Middle Ages

Loud Family

Plants & Birds & Rocks & Things
Tape of Only Linda
Interbabe Concern
Days For Days

Ok, not quite. But: shared members, same genius songwriter/vocalist.

Also:

Aquiring the Taste
Three Friends
Octopus
Free Hand
Power & the Glory (I would pick PLAYING THE FOOL but it is live)

― matt riedl (veal), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 00:55 (nineteen years ago)

Drive-By Truckers are 1 away...

Pizza Deliverance
Southern Rock Opera
Decoration Day
Dirty South

Blessing and a Curse doesn't quite make the grade, but next one will get them into the club.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 00:55 (nineteen years ago)

The Mollusk
Chocolate and Cheese
GodWeenSatan: The Oneness
Quebec
The Pod

Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Meddle
Wish You Were Here
Ummagumma
Atom Heart Mother

Something Else
Face to Face
Village Green Preservation Society
Kink Kontroversy
Arthur

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 01:26 (nineteen years ago)

s/t
de stijl
white blood cells
elephant
get behind me satan

― nicky lo-fi (nicky lo-fi), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 02:39 (nineteen years ago)

Push the Barman to Open Old Wounds (yes, this counts)

What part of "Should I set "rules"? No compilations" does this qualify under. Replace with The Life Pursuit, but even I, massive Belle and Sebastian fan that I am, couldn't really call five classic albums.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 04:12 (nineteen years ago)

Ok, I lose, but if ep comps don't count, I don't think live albums should either.
Anyway, I wouldn't replace Barman with The Life Pursuit...If anything, maybe Storytelling.

― Tape Store (Tape Store), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 04:45 (nineteen years ago)

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (CHEATING! CHEATING! CHEATING! CHEATING!)
Ironman
Supreme Clientele
The Pretty Toney Album
Fishscale

― It's Rodney, currently unemployed! (R. J. Greene), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 07:37 (nineteen years ago)

Trout Mask Replica
Safe as Milk
Lick my Decals Off
Clear Spot
Shiny Beast (Bat chain puller)
oh I have to stop now, don't i?

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 07:41 (nineteen years ago)

Meet the Residents
Not Available
The Third Reich 'n' Roll
Duckstab/Buster and Glen
The Commercial Album

― Sploshette Moxy (Dada), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 08:25 (nineteen years ago)

Heyday
Starfish
Priest = Aura
Forget Yourself
Uninvited Like The Clouds

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 08:34 (nineteen years ago)

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (CHEATING! CHEATING! CHEATING! CHEATING!)
Ironman
Supreme Clientele
The Pretty Toney Album
Fishscale

Er, Bulletproof Wallets was between Supreme Clientele and Pretty Toney. Though I think it's actually better than SC.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 08:36 (nineteen years ago)

Tres Hombres
Fandango
Deguello
El Loco
Eliminator

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 08:37 (nineteen years ago)

Skylarking
Drums and Wires
Black Sea
English Settlement
Big Express

Let's change Big Express to Chips From The Chocolate Fireball

― zeus (zeus), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 08:38 (nineteen years ago)

Rattus Norvegicus
No More Heroes
Black And White
The Meninblack
La Folie

― zeus (zeus), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 08:39 (nineteen years ago)

The Smiths
Meat Is Murder
The Queen Is Dead
Strangeways, Here We Come
The World Won't Listen

Can't believe no one wrote these

― zeus (zeus), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 08:41 (nineteen years ago)

Also:

Viva Hate
Bona Drag
Your Arsenal
Vauxhall & I
You Are The Quarry (perhaps it deserves...)

― zeus (zeus), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 08:42 (nineteen years ago)

Because "The World Won't Listen" is a compilation perhaps? See above:

Should I set "rules"? No compilations, no eps...

― Sploshette Moxy (Dada), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 08:43 (nineteen years ago)

The Fela list is kinda wrong, Zombie certainly didn't come after Gentleman. But this looks like a classic run:

Fela's London Scene
Live!
Open & Close
Roforofo Fight
Shakara
Afrodisiac
Gentleman

I'd argue that by the mid-seventies Fela had settled into a pattern, so while there's still classics among his later work (He Miss Road, Zombie, Coffin for Head of State, etc), the sameyness gets kinda boring.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 08:43 (nineteen years ago)

"Chips From The Chocolate Fireball" is also a compilation

― Sploshette Moxy (Dada), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 08:44 (nineteen years ago)

There were a lot of compilations above...
But then 'Psonic Sunspot' instead of 'Chips...'

― zeus (zeus), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 08:48 (nineteen years ago)

from the original post: james brown probably fails on "real" albums, but definitely can count 5 of the recent compilations as classic...

― Tape Store (Tape Store), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 14:22 (nineteen years ago)

Monkey Man
From the Roots
Funky Kingston
In the Dark
Reggae Got Soul

Swingin' Doors
I'm a Lonesome Fugitive
Mama Tried
Sing Me Back Home
Hag

― ramon fernandez (ramon fernandez), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 19:58 (nineteen years ago)

Love It To Death
Killer
School's Out
Billion Dollar Babies
Welcome To My Nightmare

― hank (hank s), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 20:12 (nineteen years ago)

Er, Bulletproof Wallets was between Supreme Clientele and Pretty Toney. Though I think it's actually better than SC.

I quite intentionally didn't list Bulletproof Wallets. Also, thinking BW > SC = crazyfaced.

― It's Rodney, currently unemployed! (R. J. Greene), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 20:37 (nineteen years ago)

The Fela list is kinda wrong, Zombie certainly didn't come after Gentleman.-- Tuomas (lixnix...), July 26th, 2006

Er, Bulletproof Wallets was between Supreme Clientele and Pretty Toney. Though I think it's actually better than SC.
-- Tuomas (lixnix...), July 26th, 2006.

You seem to be thinking that the question was about 5 classic albums "in a row." It's just 5 classic albums period.

― ramon fernandez (ramon fernandez), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 22:09 (nineteen years ago)

Aquiring the Taste
Three Friends
Octopus
Free Hand
Power & the Glory (I would pick PLAYING THE FOOL but it is live)

Nice to see love for them here... Great picks!

Maggot Brain
Hardcore Jollies
Cosmic Slop
Let's Take it to the Stage
Electric Spanking of War Babies

― Mallory L . O'Donnell (That Bitch Camille), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 22:34 (nineteen years ago)

Transformer
Berlin
Street Hassle
Blue Mask
New York

Pandemonium Shadow Show
Aerial Ballet
Nilsson Sings Newman
The Point
Nilsson Schmilsson

― ramon fernandez (ramon fernandez), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 22:47 (nineteen years ago)

Boys Don't Cry
17 Seconds
The Head on the Door
Disintegration
Mixed Up

Yes, I realize no one will think the last one counts. But fuck it.

― Mallory L . O'Donnell (That Bitch Camille), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 22:54 (nineteen years ago)

Infected
Mind Bomb
Dusk
NakedSelf
45 RPM remix LP

Scandalously overlooked...

― Louis Jagger (Haberdager), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 22:58 (nineteen years ago)

Dr Octagon
Dr Doom
Matthew
Spankmaster
The Personal Album

probably Critical Beatdown should go on here (though its more of a stretch than Dr Oc) but i'm not super familiar with it and The Personal Album is (imo) definately good enough.

Oxygene 1-6
Zoolook
Rendez-Vous
Revolutions
The Concerts in China

my eno list would definately have The Plateaux of Mirror on it but maybe this isn't allowed because he only produced it?

drumming
different trains + electric counterpoint
early works
sextet + six marimbas
tehillim

they're not really his albums but all his music recorded by other artists and all 'classic'.

― Andrew Harrison (andrewtothemax), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 23:32 (nineteen years ago)

I don't buy the live album ban. There are live albums that are bona fide classic albums, not only within a given ouevre, but just damned classic in every possible sense. I think the Lizzy's Live and Dangerous the Who's Live at Leeds make the grade, the first more so than the second. And then in Jazz and Blues it's even crueller to disregard live albums. I'd put At Newport 1956 as my number one Ellington album for example, absolute classic. Mingus at Antibes is another, I'd have down as a certified Classic

― Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Thursday, 27 July 2006 00:03 (nineteen years ago)

Psychocandy
Darklands
Honey's Dead
Stoned & Dethroned
Munki (A disaster you say? Yeah, a brilliant one ..)

― bkjj40a (bkjj40a), Thursday, 27 July 2006 00:09 (nineteen years ago)

Drive Like Jehu
Yank Crime
Automatic Midnight
Suicide Invoice
Audit in Progress

― a.b. (alanbanana), Thursday, 27 July 2006 00:13 (nineteen years ago)

You seem to be thinking that the question was about 5 classic albums "in a row." It's just 5 classic albums period.

Whoops, sorry there was another thread which was about 5 great albums in a row, and I thought someone revived that one. Should've read the original post before contributing here.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 27 July 2006 05:36 (nineteen years ago)

John Martyn:

Bless the Weather
Solid Air
Inside Out
Sunday's Child
One World

Replace Sunday's Child with Live at Leeds or Road to Ruin if you prefer.

― bham (bham), Thursday, 27 July 2006 07:55 (nineteen years ago)

what, the ramones album?

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 27 July 2006 08:02 (nineteen years ago)

The thread about albums in a row was also started by me (if you are thinking about this one):

"the greatest four-record run in rock history"

I started this one and pardon my contradictory-ness about compilations. I never mentioned live albums either way, did I? I did just exclude 'jazzfolk' as a whole though.

Will Craig Finn et al. make it with the upcoming Boys+GirlsinAmerica? (or have they already, if you include the Lifter Puller debut, as well as Half Dead & Dynamite, Fiestas&Fiascos and the two Hold Steady albums?)

― Matt Sab (Matt Sab), Thursday, 27 July 2006 12:54 (nineteen years ago)

bill dixon:

- intents and purposes
- in italy vol. 1
- vade mecum
- papyrus vol. 1
- berlin abbozzi

― Lawrence the Looter (Lawrence the Looter), Thursday, 27 July 2006 13:38 (nineteen years ago)

oh no you didn't mention live albums either way, that was a response to people thinking it was dubious to include live albums. I mean obviously it has limits. At least nobody tested those limits by listing the Pearl Jam live cds or something
Excluding jazz makes enough sense, that's a whole can of worms. I couldn't possibly pick just five Mingus albums. Archie Shepp, Coltrane, Monk etc, same deal, too much gold.

― Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Thursday, 27 July 2006 13:50 (nineteen years ago)

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