Top Ten Albums

[UtahDan]

1. Paul Simon- Graceland

























2. Cake- Fashion Nugget
3. The Jayhawks- Rainy Day Music
4. Johnny Cash- Unchained
5. The Beach Boys- Pet Sounds
6. The Beatles- Sergeant Pepper
7. James Taylor- Sweet Baby James
8. Stone Temple Pilots- Purple
9. Toad the Wet Sprocket- Fear
10. Oasis- What's the Story Morning Glory

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Has this already been done? This past fall one of our local stations, 90.3 KEXP, asked listeners to submit a list of their ten favorite albums ever. The station compiled the results and then counted down from 903 to 1 as part of a weekend long fundraiser. This was the list I submitted:

#1 OKC by Radiohead
#2 Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
#3 Sgt. Peppers by The Beatles
#4 Ten by Pearl Jam
#5 Nevermind by Nirvana
#6 IV by Led Zeppelin
#7 Kid A by Radiohead
#8 Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
#9 Doolittle by Pixies
#10 Funeral by Arcade Fire

The first 7 were pretty easy calls, though at times subject to some shifting. Spots 8-10 were a bit more difficult as there are probably another 20 records that could take those spots on any given day.

Here was their final list (which was clearly reflective of their demographic): http://kexp.org/top2008/

So, what would your ten be?

(DDD, I'm making a specific request that you submit a ten since I know you're going to say that (1) you don't like lists and (2) there are two many albums to mention; just do it!)

In no particular order

1. Color Me Badd: C.M.B. (naturally)
2. Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin IV
3. Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy
4. Ozzie Osbourne:The Ozzman Cometh (Greatest hits album that's probably about half Black Sabbath songs, doesn't totally count as an album, but the live version of Paranoid with Randy Rhoads on guitar is unreal).
5. GnR: Appetite for Destruction
6. The Who: Who's Next
7. Eric Clapton: Timepieces (the Best of Eric Clapton): another greatest hits album, but I wasn't born until late 76 so I missed out on Clapton's prime.
8. U2: Joshua Tree: I know it's U2, I know they're regarded as square and too popular, but this is a great album.
9. The Pixies: Doolittle- in reality I have the Pixies greatest hits album but the only songs I listen to on it are from Doolittle.
10. Pearl Jam: Ten- another U2-esque guilty pleasure. I literally hate Pearl Jam except for Ten. Even Flow and Alive are two of my favorites.

As for actual greatest albums:

1. [Insert requisite Beatles album here] I don't pretend to know the Beatles well enough to put the right album down, maybe Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, maybe the White Album. I recognize their greatness but am not personally a huge fan. But I also disagree with everyone putting five or six of their albums in the top 10.

2. Led Zeppelin IV

3. Michael Jackson: Thriller- I think this was a great call by DDD. People forget how absolutely huge this album was and how incredibly talented Michael Jackson was.

4. I don't like the Stones so insert one of their albums here.

5. Nirvana: Nevermind

6. The Who: Who's Next

7. U2: Joshua Tree

8. Public Enemy: It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold us Back- I've never actually listened to this album. My knowledge of Public Enemy was gleaned from "Do the Right Thing." I just wanted to throw a bone to the rap genre. I would have normally just said The Chronic from Dr. Dre.

9. GnR: Appetite for Destruction

10. Bel Biv Devoe: Poison. These guys were a huge influence on CMB.


4.

[TripletDaddy]

I didn't realize there was such a change. I dug that green and black album of the Housemartins--can't remember the name. Then, when Beautiful South released their album, I bought it and loved it. 36D, Red Eyes is Back, that cover of Sweet Dreams they did...good stuff.

That green and black one was London 0 Hull 4..their first one. I loved it, as well. Every song was really catchy and fun. Happy Hour was the big hit off that one, but also Sheep and Flag Day.

The first TBS album was Welcome To. The singles off that were I'll Sail This Ship Alone, Song for Whoever, and the classic single that launched it all for them....You Keep It All In.

The second one was "0898 Beautiful South." 0898 had the songs which you mentioned....36D, Old Red Eyes is Back, I'm Your #1 Fan, Domino Man, etc. All those songs are fantastic.

[SipiTau]

Here's a few of my favorite:

The Wailers: Catch A Fire
Boogie Down Productions: By All Means Necessary
Beastie Boys: Paul's Boutique
Descendents: I Don't Want to Grow Up
Peter Tosh: Legalize It
U2: Unforgettable Fire
Sam Cooke: Night Beat
Rage Against the Machine: Rage Against the Machine
Bradda IZ: Facing Future
Afrika Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force: Planet Rock

[ERCougar]

That green and black one was London 0 Hull 4..their first one. I loved it, as well. Every song was really catchy and fun. Happy Hour was the big hit off that one, but also Sheep and Flag Day.

The first TBS album was Welcome To. The singles off that were I'll Sail This Ship Alone, Song for Whoever, and the classic single that launched it all for them....You Keep It All In.

The second one was "0898 Beautiful South." 0898 had the songs which you mentioned....36D, Old Red Eyes is Back, I'm Your #1 Fan, Domino Man, etc. All those songs are fantastic.

My niece was living with us at the time I was into the Housemartins, I'm guessing she was around 3 or 4 years old at the time. I can't remember which song it was, but there was a chorus that went "Ba Ba Ba-ba-ba-ba, ba ba ba-ba-ba-ba" that she would always go into crazy laughing fits listening to it. She loved that whole album, but she'd always ask to play the ba ba ba song.

I guess I must have had the second TBS album then. I'll have to check out the other one.

EDIT: I found the song! We're Not Deep. Great tune. (I literally googled Housemartins and ba ba ba...lol)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UMTMH7uRXw

[MarkGrace]

And I can't tell you how proud I am to know a band that MG doesn't.

Lol. In reality, I know very few bands compared to what is out there. Every year when I sit down to make my end of the year list, I'm always disappointed by how many albums I don't hear within the given year.

Also, if you do track down Sandanista, which I am sure you will, do me a favor.

Yeah, I probably will. The Clash are from that era of music that I kind of missed along the way. I've heard London Calling, but not much else from them. Looking at my list of 10, it really reflects two time periods. The first is the late 60s and early 70s, which are the records I grew up listening to because of my old man. Then, around Jr. High, I started getting into the music of my own generation, and now the role has reversed to where I pass artists along to my dad. He's quite the fan of Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Wilco, etc.

So anyway, I kind of ended up missing the late 70s and most of the 80s. There are some artists that I've gone back and become interested in, but not many. Most recently -- probably 3 or 4 months ago -- I got super obsessed with Joy Division. I listened to their albums repeatedly, and watched Control and the new Joy Division documentary a bunch of times. I would say Closer is among that group of 20 records that could have taken the 8-10 spot on my list at any given time.

[ERCougar]

I didn't realize there was such a change. I dug that green and black album of the Housemartins--can't remember the name. Then, when Beautiful South released their album, I bought it and loved it. 36D, Red Eyes is Back, that cover of Sweet Dreams they did...good stuff.

Oops...they covered Dream A Little Dream, not Sweet Dreams. Kind of embarrassing to mix those two up. That hot lead who sang it occupied many a little dream for me.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Lol. In reality, I know very few bands compared to what is out there. Every year when I sit down to make my end of the year list, I'm always disappointed by how many albums I don't hear within the given year.



Yeah, I probably will. The Clash are from that era of music that I kind of missed along the way. I've heard London Calling, but not much else from them. Looking at my list of 10, it really reflects two time periods. The first is the late 60s and early 70s, which are the records I grew up listening to because of my old man. Then, around Jr. High, I started getting into the music of my own generation, and now the role has reversed to where I pass artists along to my dad. He's quite the fan of Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Wilco, etc.

So anyway, I kind of ended up missing the late 70s and most of the 80s. There are some artists that I've gone back and become interested in, but not many. Most recently -- probably 3 or 4 months ago -- I got super obsessed with Joy Division. I listened to their albums repeatedly, and watched Control and the new Joy Division documentary a bunch of times. I would say Closer is among that group of 20 records that could have taken the 8-10 spot on my list at any given time.

You ought to listen to Rock the Casbah and Should I Stay or Should I Go, that's when the Clash really hit their stride. Also Taco, Modern English and Adam Ant are major early 80s staples.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Oops...they covered Dream A Little Dream, not Sweet Dreams. Kind of embarrassing to mix those two up. That hot lead who sang it occupied many a little dream for me.

Was she hot? She sure sounded hot. I had the best of the Beautiful South when I was a freshman in college. All of my CDs got ripped off about a year after my mission though. 36D was an alltime classic.

[MarkGrace]

You ought to listen to Rock the Casbah and Should I Stay or Should I Go, that's when the Clash really hit their stride.

I've heard those songs. I've just only listened to one of their albums.

[TripletDaddy]

Was she hot? She sure sounded hot. I had the best of the Beautiful South when I was a freshman in college. All of my CDs got ripped off about a year after my mission though. 36D was an alltime classic.

The one who sang Dream a little Dream was Jacqui Abbott. She was pretty, but not hot. She was the second singer. The first singer, Briana Corrigan, left the band after the second album because she got sick of the lyrics. Jacqui wound up leaving after a few albums for largely the same reason.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

I've heard those songs. I've just only listened to one of their albums.

Just make sure you listen to Taco and Adam Ant after you're done with Combat Rock.

[TripletDaddy]

I've heard those songs. I've just only listened to one of their albums.

I would actually say that by the time Combat Rock came out, the band was largely done. It is their most commercially popular album, but nowhere near their best. In fact, they weren't even a whole band by then. They had already kicked Topper out and Mick and Joe were rarely willing to be in the same room, eventually leading to the end of the band almost literally mid-tour.

Check out earlier songs like Spanish Bombs, Complete Control, Charlie Don't Surf, This is Radio Clash, London Calling to name a few.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

The one who sang Dream a little Dream was Jacqui Abbott. She was pretty, but not hot. She was the second singer. The first singer, Briana Corrigan, left the band after the second album because she got sick of the lyrics. Jacqui wound up leaving after a few albums for largely the same reason.

I've always thought the gal from the Pixies/Breeders, Kim Deal, sounded pretty hot during some of the softer lyrics of the groups' songs. Unfortunately, the voice doesn't match the reality.

[TripletDaddy]

Just make sure you listen to Taco and Adam Ant after you're done with Combat Rock.

wow, are you being serious? I can see Adam Ant or Adam and the Ants, but taco? Puttin on the ritz? what exactly did you like about Taco? That strikes me as odd. Did you enjoy other German/English hybrids like Falco, Nena, or After the Fire's version of Der Komissar?