Consensus Top 350 Albums of All-Time: 1. The Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd (64 Viewers)

[KarmaPolice]

are we sharing our albums that didn't make it?

I was thinking about a few metal albums to suggest, but also worry about the shtick irritating people. Not trying to do that.

I thought you might get a kick out of Puritania but i dunno if you saw me link it earlier

Yeah, i must have missed that. I can try that tomorrow maybe. After Blood Incantation and Ziltoid i feel like I am in a ****ing time warp.

no rush or anything, it was a joke about "alien music". To be honest I've never listened to any other Dimmu Borgir stuff except that.

Oh. I didn't see the band name. Ive heard a bit of their stuff.

 

[timschochet]

Cat Stevens is a lost name like Lew Alcindor or Cassius Clay.

There's actually a big difference between Yusuf and Lew Alcindor and Cassius Clay.

Yusuf converted to Islam. Alcindor and Clay converted to the Nation Of Islam, led by "prophet" Elijah Muhammad, whose backstory in Detroit and in the Midwest is staggering and astoudning. That people fell for him and continue to speaks to something and I won't ruin the thread. But Elijah Muhammad's origins as a "prophet" are so ridiculous that to have followed this man takes an extra special credulity or emotional dissatisfaction that is off the charts. Motivating factors can run the gamut, but even those sympathetic to reasoning of the followers often have trouble writing about Elijah qua Elijah. And it's not just because he was a bad dude (he was), it was his background and his theological claims and practices. Hoo boy.

I knew him as Cat Stevens

Makes sense. You only hear about his conversion when it is brought up, which nobody wants to do. For good reasons.

eta* This is just by way of clarification and explanation. BP said this when I was pretty much done with them post. (I added the last sentence or two to clarify.)

OK guys I was joking! I thought it was obvious I was being tongue in cheek.

tim. It's you. I have no idea whether you're serious or not. LOL. I enjoy your presence, bud. I'm laughing. But I honestly never know. And I'm not worked up or anything. The story of Elijah Muhammad is something I found out about eight months (?) or so ago. I mean I've never talked about it on the board because why would I? But damn, it's weird. So when I see it, I write more out of disbelief than anger or scorn. It's so insane I just shake my head.

Actually Kareem was never a member of the Nation of Islam. Like Yusuf, he converted to Islam proper. Ali WAS a member of the Nation of Islam but only for a few years. Though he was associated with Elijah Muhammad’s son Herbert for decades, Ali quickly became a traditional Muslim (like Kareem) and stayed one for the rest of his life.

 

[timschochet]

And while you’re right about Elijah Muhammad’s strange background, there are some parallels between him and another American prophet of note: Joseph Smith.

 

[timschochet]

The main difference between Cat Stevens and Ali and Jabbar is that the latter two achieved much of their greatness AFTER their conversion, whereas Yusuf…did not. He had a great run for a small stretch of time in the early 70s but was unable to continue it. It was as if he lost the skill to write songs after a couple of years.

This is not unusual for the early 70s singer songwriters. James Taylor, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot et al, not only had almost no hits post 1976 or so, the quality of their music just wasn’t at the level it was earlier. Whatever magic they had (and IMO, it’s arguably the best songwriting era we’ve ever seen) it was lost in a few years for most of them.

The one guy I always wonder about, though, is Jim Croce. I consider him to be a little above the rest in terms of songwriting skills and I think that, if he hadn’t tragically died, he might have had a long and memorable career ala Paul Simon.

 

[timschochet]

If I had to do my list over I would have included, perhaps, Fleetwood Mac’s first two albums from the late 60s. I’ve been on a British blues kick lately (Free, Savoy Brown, Chicken Shack, John Mayall, etc.) and the stuff by Peter Green is simpky outstanding,

In the same vein, ZZ Top’s First Record (that’s the name of the album) is as good as anything I think I’ve ever heard by this band. Every song is amazing.

 

[timschochet]

The main difference between Cat Stevens and Ali and Jabbar is that the latter two achieved much of their greatness AFTER their conversion, whereas Yusuf…did not. He had a great run for a small stretch of time in the early 70s but was unable to continue it. It was as if he lost the skill to write songs after a couple of years.

Nah, the difference between Cat and Ali is that one joined the NOI, which openly advocates that whites and Jews are the devil. Kareem also knew this, and he's still a bitter old man. Listen to him speak or write. The difference between Cat and Lew is that Lew has a reasonable gripe with colonialism, slavery, and White America. Cat is a dupe who can't condemn terrorists. That's the difference.

I wouldn't get into this with you, but you're doing that tim thing where you declare things and it betrays a framing of the world.

Yeah I was trying to bring the conversation back to music. Let’s drop the other stuff because the powers that be may be uncomfortable with where it goes.

 

[timschochet]

The main difference between Cat Stevens and Ali and Jabbar is that the latter two achieved much of their greatness AFTER their conversion, whereas Yusuf…did not. He had a great run for a small stretch of time in the early 70s but was unable to continue it. It was as if he lost the skill to write songs after a couple of years.

Nah, the difference between Cat and Ali is that one joined the NOI, which openly advocates that whites and Jews are the devil. Kareem also knew this, and he's still a bitter old man. Listen to him speak or write. The difference between Cat and Lew is that Lew has a reasonable gripe with colonialism, slavery, and White America. Cat is a dupe who can't condemn terrorists. That's the difference.

I wouldn't get into this with you, but you're doing that tim thing where you declare things and it betrays a framing of the world.

Yeah I was trying to bring the conversation back to music. Let’s drop the other stuff because the powers that be may be uncomfortable with

I say we delete it all and not subject everybody to it. I am more than happy to do that.

I've deleted mine. I think for the early morning checkers-in it's a more pleasant read.

dont think it’s necessary. We didn’t go over the line. We were getting close but not over IMO.

 

[rockaction]

The main difference between Cat Stevens and Ali and Jabbar is that the latter two achieved much of their greatness AFTER their conversion, whereas Yusuf…did not. He had a great run for a small stretch of time in the early 70s but was unable to continue it. It was as if he lost the skill to write songs after a couple of years.

Nah, the difference between Cat and Ali is that one joined the NOI, which openly advocates that whites and Jews are the devil. Kareem also knew this, and he's still a bitter old man. Listen to him speak or write. The difference between Cat and Lew is that Lew has a reasonable gripe with colonialism, slavery, and White America. Cat is a dupe who can't condemn terrorists. That's the difference.

I wouldn't get into this with you, but you're doing that tim thing where you declare things and it betrays a framing of the world.

Yeah I was trying to bring the conversation back to music. Let’s drop the other stuff because the powers that be may be uncomfortable with

I say we delete it all and not subject everybody to it. I am more than happy to do that.

I've deleted mine. I think for the early morning checkers-in it's a more pleasant read.

dont think it’s necessary. We didn’t go over the line. We were getting close but not over IMO.

I'm talking about consideration for the reader who just wants music. This has nothing to do with angering the mods. These are our friends or good acquaintances or iFriends, or whatever you'd like to call them. Let's not subject them to a religion/race slapfight. I'm deleting this also. I know some are reading. I'm not trying to hide it. I just think it's off-point.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

ok, I'll make a music related post. I love Christmas. Yes, I'm a kid at heart and I do like to get presents but I also like giving them. I think I do give good gifts but sometimes I feel like my niece and nephew don't appreciate what I get them. They may be a little spoiled. Anyways, I like the music, the decerations-all of it. When I was younger and more people celebrated my parents would drive my brother and I around to see the lights/decorations.

Since it won't make the list and I'm likely the only one that added a Christmas album anyways...here is my 10th ranked album .

I had gotten excited a little bit when someone mentioned Savatage since TSO is one of their side projects. Truth be told, I've never really listened to Savatage though and I don't think any of thier albums made it.

I also really like this one.

and while it's not TSO, this is also something I like.

Please listen and enjoy

Sorry if I messed anything up DR. O

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

This is not unusual for the early 70s singer songwriters. James Taylor, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot et al, not only had almost no hits post 1976 or so, the quality of their music just wasn’t at the level it was earlier.

I can't stand the first three of these singer/songwriters, but I call BS. The style of music that was popular had changed, not the talent/quality of the performers.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I'm likely the only one that added a Christmas album anyways.

I was considering the Bing Crosby one. It's a classic.

 

[Don Quixote]

Since it won't make the list and I'm likely the only one that added a Christmas album anyways...here is my 10th ranked album

I had a Christmas album on mine. Unlikely to show at this point, but I guess will wait just in case.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Good grief, I miss my after dark shtick and the thread gets ruined by Christmas music talk???

How about a quick metal before dawn rant and recommendations instead? I got through 3 of Dan's albums in his post. I have already listened to Dopethrone by Electric Wizard, so I concentrated on the other 3. Instead I listened to Acid Bath, Blood Incantation, and Devin Townsend in that order. There was nothing that I hated or couldn't get through, but I would also say that the order I listened to them is the order of my enjoyment.

I had never bothered listening to When the Kite Strings Pop because I hate clowns and in 1994 there was no way I was buying that damn album. In general I liked this one quite a bit. There are enough twists and turns to keep me engaged and in general like the groove and tone they get to. Not sure Sabbath + Morrison is how I would describe it, but I don't know how else to. At times I had flashes of bands like Crowbar that I used to listen to at the time, but it's weirder and leans more prog than that. My slight criticism is that at 70mins it did feel a bit repetitive and long. 40-45 would have been perfect.

Blood Incantation I had listened to an album after seeing them listed in "best of" yearly rankings as I scan for ideas, and from my weird "what's in my bag" obsession on Youtube. I had checked out their debut, but not the newest one Absolute Elsewhere. I do like their vibe and what they are going for, but when the harshest metal kicks in, it gets a little too much into the Cannibal Corpse/blast beats territory for me to really love it. The musicianship and transitions are insane though, and they pull from all styles of music which is fun and was evident from their episode of WIMB.

Yes, it's weird, but Ziltoid the Omniscient wasn't as scary as I was bracing myself for. You all know I am a fan of concept albums, so that was up my alley, but there is something about Townsends music in general that I don't like and I struggle putting it into words. What I came up with is like Blood Incantation he reaches into zones and extremes I overall don't like -a few too many weird voices and interludes to go with the story, his voice gets a bit too "theatrical" at times, and there is something about the production of the album that starts to sound a bit muted and "samey" for me. I have trouble focusing on the instrumentation and instead it sounds a bit like a wall of synthetic music to my ears. Hope that makes sense.

Dan and BP sure don't pull any punches with their suggestions, and I respect that, and in general I have really enjoyed the ride. I just don't think there are going to be many others in here that are going to connect with a few of these, but I could be wrong.

Here are my gut reaction suggestions for Dan as I listened to these, but again I'm not sure any but metalheads are going to like these. I will post a few more for the group in a bit:

Crowbar - Crowbar (93) Not quite what Acid Bath, but for some reason it was a band that popped in mind when I was listening. Heavy grooves from this New Orleans band.

Between the Buried and Me is KP's Blood Incantation. Extreme shifts in music, long weird songs, but their extreme ends stays in the zone of growls that I still like. I really like The Great Misdirect (2009), and most of their other albums. Also, in a shocking revelation I also like their album Anatomy Of (2006) Which is an album of all covers to show what they grew up loving. Everything from Faith No More to Queen to Counting Crowes to Floyd to Pantera covers on that one. I think you would dig it.

Soilwork is a band I recently stumbled on because that is where Megadeth's new drummer came from. I haven't dug more than a few albums yet, but this is what popped in my mind listening to Townsend. It has a bit of that synthetic sound, but the drums and guitars are front and center and they stay in a lower vocal range. Maybe not the best 1:1 comp, but Stabbing the Drama (2005) was an album that popped into mind last night for whatever reason.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Aja and What's Going On were very good to great listens. Marvin was slightly more hit or miss for me, but love the hits and really dug the album closer Inner City Blues. Steely Dan I've been wanting to check out more from after Round 1 of MAD's Donald Fagan playlist. I liked all the songs from Aja on there and many of the others, so for me that was the better of the two listens. Also, I needed to listen to some for Round 6 research since Aimee Mann talks them up and is a huge fan, specifically of the album Can't Buy a Thrill. I will get to that after the countdown, I'm sure.

I ranked Katy Lied #31 as my Steely Dan selection and was probably the only one who did. It sits smack dab in the middle chronologically of the seven albums that made up the band's initial run which makes it kind of a transitional stage between their early poppier stuff and the more jazzy and stretched out sounds that followed. They never were really a singles band and Katy Lied doesn't have any of their "hits" but it's a great collection of songs.

It’s my second favorite Steely Dan album.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

The main difference between Cat Stevens and Ali and Jabbar is that the latter two achieved much of their greatness AFTER their conversion, whereas Yusuf…did not. He had a great run for a small stretch of time in the early 70s but was unable to continue it. It was as if he lost the skill to write songs after a couple of years.

Nah, the difference between Cat and Ali is that one joined the NOI, which openly advocates that whites and Jews are the devil. Kareem also knew this, and he's still a bitter old man. Listen to him speak or write. The difference between Cat and Lew is that Lew has a reasonable gripe with colonialism, slavery, and White America. Cat is a dupe who can't condemn terrorists. That's the difference.

I wouldn't get into this with you, but you're doing that tim thing where you declare things and it betrays a framing of the world.

Yeah I was trying to bring the conversation back to music. Let’s drop the other stuff because the powers that be may be uncomfortable with where it goes.

Please do.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

ok, I'll make a music related post. I love Christmas. Yes, I'm a kid at heart and I do like to get presents but I also like giving them. I think I do give good gifts but sometimes I feel like my niece and nephew don't appreciate what I get them. They may be a little spoiled. Anyways, I like the music, the decerations-all of it. When I was younger and more people celebrated my parents would drive my brother and I around to see the lights/decorations.

Since it won't make the list and I'm likely the only one that added a Christmas album anyways...here is my 10th ranked album .

I had gotten excited a little bit when someone mentioned Savatage since TSO is one of their side projects. Truth be told, I've never really listened to Savatage though and I don't think any of thier albums made it.

I also really like this one.

and while it's not TSO, this is also something I like.

Please listen and enjoy

Sorry if I messed anything up DR. O

We already revealed that you picked that album so you’re not spoiling anything.

 

[KarmaPolice]

For the more casual metal fan or even others that aren't fans of the genre, I am going to mostly be a broken record and pimp my 2 favorite bands.

Mastodon is one I did for MAD31 so those participants are familiar with this, but for anybody or those who liked some of their songs, my starting point is Emperor of Sand (2017). I had that one with 44pts for the countdown. That is the album that most brought me back to my HS and MS listening days. That is the one on my countdown where I had all 11 songs from. A concept album that features some emotional themes (common with these guys) about cancer and death. Bill wrote a lot of the album while bedside with his mom as she battled cancer and both Brent and Brann had people pass around them in the creation of that album as well. It also showcases all their various styles from more straight rock/metal to some of their proggier and harder stuff, and I also like the way they incorporate the 3 members singing on this one. For the countdown I ranked Blood Mountain (2006) higher, but that is more for people who lean more metal. Another concept album and a bit weirder as the story story unfolds and our hero encounters flying leviathans and cyclopes. Along with Leviathan and Crack the Skye IMO these guys have 4 perfect, 10/10 metal albums. This is a band I would be curious to see @BLOCKED_PUNT 's reaction to.

Opeth truly has an album for everybody. I don't revisit their debut much, but it is good. After that to my ears they have a stretch of 13 perfect albums. Anybody who tried and liked my #1 would probably like something from the bunch of : Still Life, Ghost Reveries, or Blackwater Park. People who don't like the growls but like a bit of metal would probably like Pale Communion. People who don't like growls and are interested in their most 70s prog album would probably like Heritage (this is one that I really fell for while doing my playlist and the one Mikeal said he wants to be known for. Fans hated it and revolted against them when they toured for the album and did all clean vocals). I think anybody reading this might like @Ghost Rider 's suggestion of Damnation. Mikeal very much wanted to do a slower album, and was pushing for double album. The company was very much against that idea and wanted them to stick to the growls. His idea was to give them 2 albums for the price of one, and they jammed both recordings (along with the very heavy Deliverance) in one session and almost broke them physically and mentally. They are truly about doing the music they want to put out. The musicianship with these guys is off the charts.

For any old 80s/90s thrashers, another band that I loved recently who brought me back to the glory days was Evile. I loved Enter the Grave (2007) and other albums. A bit heavier than Metallica - it's a little more in line with 90s Slayer mixed with something like Testament?

Another random one is Corrosion of Conformity, specifically albums like Deliverance (1994). More of that heavy, crunchy groove that I like. If memory serves correctly, I believe even non metal fans like @Ilov80s dug these songs when they have come up like Albatross and Clean My Wounds.

Last one of course is Deftones' White Pony (2000) That was the one I was very surprised didn't poke it's head in the countdown somewhere based on others that did show up.

That's the last of it. Sorry, I couldn't sleep last night and was a bit squirrely this morning.


On with the regular countdown - will we see some Floyd finally??

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I hate Christmas music - except for Christmas Eve and Day (and the day the tree is being put up and decorated.)

Stop playing Christmas music in November!!!

 

[zamboni]

About Thin Lizzy - besides @zamboni did anybody else have an album on the countdown? Are they a band people don't know, don't like, were just outside of their top 70?

Zamboni did them in Rd 2, so I know he is a fan. I was thinking about doing them for Rd 2 as well but pivoted, so I was glad to see them show up. Since then I have gotten more and more into them, and have been working on my 31. I have purposely not revisited Zam's playlist because I thought it would be interesting to see how the playlists differ.

For me they’re a hits band. I love about 7 or 8 songs by them but they’re almost all on different albums. That being said, some of those songs are among my favorites of all time so I probably should listen to them more.

Out of curiosity - what are those songs you love?

Whisky in the Jar
She Knows
The Cowboy Song
Waiting for an Alibi
Chinatown
The Boys are Back in Town
Wild One

That’s a good collection - just the tip of the iceberg for Lizzy. If you’re interested, I’ll share my MAD playlist for them after KP does his.

 

[Ghost Rider]

About Thin Lizzy - besides @zamboni did anybody else have an album on the countdown? Are they a band people don't know, don't like, were just outside of their top 70?

Zamboni did them in Rd 2, so I know he is a fan. I was thinking about doing them for Rd 2 as well but pivoted, so I was glad to see them show up. Since then I have gotten more and more into them, and have been working on my 31. I have purposely not revisited Zam's playlist because I thought it would be interesting to see how the playlists differ.

For me they’re a hits band. I love about 7 or 8 songs by them but they’re almost all on different albums. That being said, some of those songs are among my favorites of all time so I probably should listen to them more.

Out of curiosity - what are those songs you love?

Whisky in the Jar
She Knows
The Cowboy Song
Waiting for an Alibi
Chinatown
The Boys are Back in Town
Wild One

That’s a good collection - just the tip of the iceberg for Lizzy. If you’re interested, I’ll share my MAD playlist for them after KP does his.

I feel like you cannot go wrong with the 3-album run of Jailbreak, Johnny the Fox and Bad Reputation. I am not a huge Thin Lizzy fan, but that run was pretty damn great.

 

[KarmaPolice]

About Thin Lizzy - besides @zamboni did anybody else have an album on the countdown? Are they a band people don't know, don't like, were just outside of their top 70?

Zamboni did them in Rd 2, so I know he is a fan. I was thinking about doing them for Rd 2 as well but pivoted, so I was glad to see them show up. Since then I have gotten more and more into them, and have been working on my 31. I have purposely not revisited Zam's playlist because I thought it would be interesting to see how the playlists differ.

For me they’re a hits band. I love about 7 or 8 songs by them but they’re almost all on different albums. That being said, some of those songs are among my favorites of all time so I probably should listen to them more.

Out of curiosity - what are those songs you love?

Whisky in the Jar
She Knows
The Cowboy Song
Waiting for an Alibi
Chinatown
The Boys are Back in Town
Wild One

That’s a good collection - just the tip of the iceberg for Lizzy. If you’re interested, I’ll share my MAD playlist for them after KP does his.

I feel like you cannot go wrong with the 3-album run of Jailbreak, Johnny the Fox and Bad Reputation. I am not a huge Thin Lizzy fan, but that run was pretty damn great.

I'd add Fighting to the mix as a 4th at the start of that run. That one connected before I did my rankings with songs like Rosalie, Suicide, and others.

 

[turnjose7]

41 lists in

1,527 albums named with 1,125 of them names only on one list.

It's likely going to take an album appearing on at least two lists to make the Top 300 now - the 70 pointers are tied for 300th place now.

We're gonna need a bigger list.

Seriously. Maybe 500?

I’ll start with each participant’s highest ranked album that did not make the Top 300 and then start at 300. The more obscure albums will get their due at the end when people can reveal their full lists. To countdown from 500 would lose people when 478 is a bootleg live Widespread Panic show from Duke University.

Hey, that Surprise Valley>Red Hot Mama>Arleen>Red Hot Mama>Surprise Valley was

I was laughing last night because I went to see Panic and remembered this post. The second set went Surprise Valley>a bunch of other songs>Surprise Valley. And it was

 

[kupcho1]

im sad my 10 and 11 didn't make it

Not surprised at 10, but 11 seems to be in the wheelhouse for a lot of voters.

 

[kupcho1]

Yeah I was trying to bring the conversation back to music. Let’s drop the other stuff because the powers that be may be uncomfortable with

I'd add that most people don't want to hear your political opinions, particularly in a music thread. If I wanted that stuff, I'd go to X.

Also, Tim, you shouldn't end your sentence with a preposition unless you really have to.

 

[turnjose7]

@zamboni

728. Bitches Brew – Miles Davis

Based on various threads over the years, I expected this to make the countdown. Guess it's too out there.

Yeah this is surprising. Finished #76 on my list. I can see why it wouldn't be for everyone but it is arguably the most important fusion album ever and it has some really great moments. "Miles Runs the Voodoo Down" is probably a top 5 MIles Davis song for me, and "John McLaughlin" has some of my favorite jazz guitar ever.

 

[turnjose7]

I am very surprised that Jailbreak only got 1 vote. Did Thin Lizzy get completely shut out of the countdown??

They have turned into my favorite 70s band.

I had Live and Dangerous at #18. For my money, one of the best live albums in rock history.

Also on my short list but didn't quite make the cut

 

[KarmaPolice]

I will try the ones that showed up on the countdown for jazz. I feel that is the last genre i have to conquer and really figure out where my interests lie.

My main hurdles besides the lack of vocals in most is what I face with prog - i love to meander, but I need a bit of structure. I get lost if it goes of the rails and transitions are really abrupt. I also lean more piano/drums and less trumpet/sax. So far McCoy Tyner is one that i do dig a lot. I have listened to several albums and have liked them all. Thanks again to yet another recommendation from Mikeal of Opeth for that!

 

[zamboni]

About Thin Lizzy - besides @zamboni did anybody else have an album on the countdown? Are they a band people don't know, don't like, were just outside of their top 70?

Zamboni did them in Rd 2, so I know he is a fan. I was thinking about doing them for Rd 2 as well but pivoted, so I was glad to see them show up. Since then I have gotten more and more into them, and have been working on my 31. I have purposely not revisited Zam's playlist because I thought it would be interesting to see how the playlists differ.

For me they’re a hits band. I love about 7 or 8 songs by them but they’re almost all on different albums. That being said, some of those songs are among my favorites of all time so I probably should listen to them more.

Out of curiosity - what are those songs you love?

Whisky in the Jar
She Knows
The Cowboy Song
Waiting for an Alibi
Chinatown
The Boys are Back in Town
Wild One

That’s a good collection - just the tip of the iceberg for Lizzy. If you’re interested, I’ll share my MAD playlist for them after KP does his.

I feel like you cannot go wrong with the 3-album run of Jailbreak, Johnny the Fox and Bad Reputation. I am not a huge Thin Lizzy fan, but that run was pretty damn great.

I'd add Fighting to the mix as a 4th at the start of that run. That one connected before I did my rankings with songs like Rosalie, Suicide, and others.

Don't want to sidetrack any more, but I’ll add one more really good tune from the early Lizzy days - one that @rockaction helped me remember for the countdown:

Little Girl in Bloom

 

[KarmaPolice]

About Thin Lizzy - besides @zamboni did anybody else have an album on the countdown? Are they a band people don't know, don't like, were just outside of their top 70?

Zamboni did them in Rd 2, so I know he is a fan. I was thinking about doing them for Rd 2 as well but pivoted, so I was glad to see them show up. Since then I have gotten more and more into them, and have been working on my 31. I have purposely not revisited Zam's playlist because I thought it would be interesting to see how the playlists differ.

For me they’re a hits band. I love about 7 or 8 songs by them but they’re almost all on different albums. That being said, some of those songs are among my favorites of all time so I probably should listen to them more.

Out of curiosity - what are those songs you love?

Whisky in the Jar
She Knows
The Cowboy Song
Waiting for an Alibi
Chinatown
The Boys are Back in Town
Wild One

That’s a good collection - just the tip of the iceberg for Lizzy. If you’re interested, I’ll share my MAD playlist for them after KP does his.

I feel like you cannot go wrong with the 3-album run of Jailbreak, Johnny the Fox and Bad Reputation. I am not a huge Thin Lizzy fan, but that run was pretty damn great.

I'd add Fighting to the mix as a 4th at the start of that run. That one connected before I did my rankings with songs like Rosalie, Suicide, and others.

Don't want to sidetrack any more, but I’ll add one more really good one from the early Lizzy days - one that rockaction helped me remember for the countdown:

Little Girl in Bloom

The metal ramblings are a sidetrack, at least Thin Lizzy was an artist doc posted from the countdown. That sound is yet another great one that stood out more after reading through this bio and the story behind that one.

 

[turnjose7]

If I had to do my list over I would have included, perhaps, Fleetwood Mac’s first two albums from the late 60s. I’ve been on a British blues kick lately (Free, Savoy Brown, Chicken Shack, John Mayall, etc.) and the stuff by Peter Green is simpky outstanding,

In the same vein, ZZ Top’s First Record (that’s the name of the album) is as good as anything I think I’ve ever heard by this band. Every song is amazing.

If you haven't been listening to it, check out Fleetwood Mac's BBC album. Finished #60 on my list.

Also interesting is the band performing with Chicago blues greats.

 

[turnjose7]

536. Birds of Fire - The Mahavishnu Orchestra

The first two Mahavishnu records are mindblowing. I should have considered them.

I didn't do my MADs-adjacent post last night but two new John McLaughlin live albums just came out. One with Shakti and the other with fusion group 4th Dimension. I listened to a little bit of the latter and John can still shred in his early 80s.

I got to see 4th Dimension perform with Jimmy Herring's jazz fusion group The Invisible Whip several years back. It was incredible. 4th Dimension bassist Etienne Mbappé is unreal.

 

[turnjose7]

21. Let It Bleed – The Rolling Stones (660 points)

@simey #6
@ConstruxBoy #8
@jwb #10
@Mister CIA #11
@Atomic Punk #13
@Dreaded Marco #15
@timschochet #17
@shuke #18
@turnjose7 #18
@Tau837 #20
@BroncoFreak_2K3 #28
@Nick Vermeil #30


Let It Bleed is the eighth studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 28 November 1969 by London Records in the United States and on 5 December 1969 by Decca Records in the United Kingdom. Released during the band's 1969 American Tour, it is the follow-up to Beggars Banquet (1968), and, like that album, is a return to the group's more blues-oriented approach that was prominent in the pre-Aftermath (1966) period of their career. Additional sounds on the album draw influence from gospel, country blues and country rock.

I'm taking requests from my fellow Let It Bleeders. Right now I'm leaning "Monkey Man" for the playlist.

I'm another vote for "Midnight Rambler." Captures the dark blues sound of the Stones so well. Keith Richards has called it the quintessential Jagger-Richards song.

 

[zamboni]

If I had to do my list over I would have included, perhaps, Fleetwood Mac’s first two albums from the late 60s. I’ve been on a British blues kick lately (Free, Savoy Brown, Chicken Shack, John Mayall, etc.) and the stuff by Peter Green is simpky outstanding,

In the same vein, ZZ Top’s First Record (that’s the name of the album) is as good as anything I think I’ve ever heard by this band. Every song is amazing.

If you haven't been listening to it, check out Fleetwood Mac's BBC album. Finished #60 on my list.

Also interesting is the band performing with Chicago blues greats.

I was going to do Fleetwood Mac for the last MAD countdown, but couldn’t shrink it down to 31 songs unless I either excluded the Buckingham/Nicks iteration or the Peter Green iteration. Neither option seemed right.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

19. Boston – Boston (737 points)

@Mrs. Rannous #2
@higgins #3
@kupcho1 #3
@Dwayne_Castro #3
@BroncoFreak_2K3 #9
@Uruk-Hai #13
@Atomic Punk #15
@Snoopy #17
@Ghost Rider #19
@KarmaPolice #28
@Dennis Castro #30
@Mt. Man #41
@Val Rannous #43
@jwb #44
@Chaos34 #58

Boston is the debut studio album by American rock band Boston, released on August 25, 1976, by Epic Records. It was produced by band guitarist Tom Scholz and John Boylan. A multi-instrumentalist and engineer who had been involved in the Boston music scene since the late 1960s, Scholz started to write and record demos in his apartment basement with singer Brad Delp, but received numerous rejections from major record labels. The demo tape fell into the hands of CBS-owned Epic, which signed the band in 1975.

 

[zamboni]

About Thin Lizzy - besides @zamboni did anybody else have an album on the countdown? Are they a band people don't know, don't like, were just outside of their top 70?

Zamboni did them in Rd 2, so I know he is a fan. I was thinking about doing them for Rd 2 as well but pivoted, so I was glad to see them show up. Since then I have gotten more and more into them, and have been working on my 31. I have purposely not revisited Zam's playlist because I thought it would be interesting to see how the playlists differ.

For me they’re a hits band. I love about 7 or 8 songs by them but they’re almost all on different albums. That being said, some of those songs are among my favorites of all time so I probably should listen to them more.

Out of curiosity - what are those songs you love?

Whisky in the Jar
She Knows
The Cowboy Song
Waiting for an Alibi
Chinatown
The Boys are Back in Town
Wild One

That’s a good collection - just the tip of the iceberg for Lizzy. If you’re interested, I’ll share my MAD playlist for them after KP does his.

I feel like you cannot go wrong with the 3-album run of Jailbreak, Johnny the Fox and Bad Reputation. I am not a huge Thin Lizzy fan, but that run was pretty damn great.

I'd add Fighting to the mix as a 4th at the start of that run. That one connected before I did my rankings with songs like Rosalie, Suicide, and others.

Don't want to sidetrack any more, but I’ll add one more really good one from the early Lizzy days - one that rockaction helped me remember for the countdown:

Little Girl in Bloom

The metal ramblings are a sidetrack, at least Thin Lizzy was an artist doc posted from the countdown. That sound is yet another great one that stood out more after reading through this bio and the story behind that one.

Which bio is the one you mentioned - there are a few of them. Haven’t gotten around yet to reading his authorized bio from a handful years ago.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Debut Albums that finished ahead of Led Zeppelin’s Debut Album



19. Boston – Boston (737 points)

24. Appetite For Destruction – Guns N' Roses (645 points)

26. The Cars – The Cars (614 points)

36. Van Halen – Van Halen (489 points)

39. Are You Experienced – Jimi Hendrix Experience (437 points)

53. Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols – Sex Pistols (373 points)

56 (tie). Rage Against The Machine– Rage Against The Machine (366 points)

59. Pronounced 'Lĕh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd – Lynyrd Skynyrd (354 points)

64. The Velvet Underground & Nico – The Velvet Underground & Nico (340 points)

67. Bat out of Hell – Meatloaf (332 points)

69 (tie). The Doors – The Doors (328 points)

69 (tie). Violent Femmes – Violent Femmes (328 points)

72 (tie). Marquee Moon – Television (323 points)

77. Funeral – Arcade Fire (305 points)

82. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin (286 points)

 

[zamboni]

19. Boston – Boston (737 points)

@Mrs. Rannous #2
@higgins #3
@kupcho1 #3
@Dwayne_Castro #3
@BroncoFreak #9
@Uruk-Hai #13
@Atomic Punk #15
@Snoopy #17
@Ghost Rider #19
@KarmaPolice #28
@Dennis Castro #30
@Mt. Man #41
@Val Rannous #43
@jwb #44
@Chaos34 #58

Boston is the debut studio album by American rock band Boston, released on August 25, 1976, by Epic Records. It was produced by band guitarist Tom Scholz and John Boylan. A multi-instrumentalist and engineer who had been involved in the Boston music scene since the late 1960s, Scholz started to write and record demos in his apartment basement with singer Brad Delp, but received numerous rejections from major record labels. The demo tape fell into the hands of CBS-owned Epic, which signed the band in 1975.

I really should have ranked this one - went back and forth. It’s as good as it gets for ‘70s rock.

 

[KarmaPolice]

About Thin Lizzy - besides @zamboni did anybody else have an album on the countdown? Are they a band people don't know, don't like, were just outside of their top 70?

Zamboni did them in Rd 2, so I know he is a fan. I was thinking about doing them for Rd 2 as well but pivoted, so I was glad to see them show up. Since then I have gotten more and more into them, and have been working on my 31. I have purposely not revisited Zam's playlist because I thought it would be interesting to see how the playlists differ.

For me they’re a hits band. I love about 7 or 8 songs by them but they’re almost all on different albums. That being said, some of those songs are among my favorites of all time so I probably should listen to them more.

Out of curiosity - what are those songs you love?

Whisky in the Jar
She Knows
The Cowboy Song
Waiting for an Alibi
Chinatown
The Boys are Back in Town
Wild One

That’s a good collection - just the tip of the iceberg for Lizzy. If you’re interested, I’ll share my MAD playlist for them after KP does his.

I feel like you cannot go wrong with the 3-album run of Jailbreak, Johnny the Fox and Bad Reputation. I am not a huge Thin Lizzy fan, but that run was pretty damn great.

I'd add Fighting to the mix as a 4th at the start of that run. That one connected before I did my rankings with songs like Rosalie, Suicide, and others.

Don't want to sidetrack any more, but I’ll add one more really good one from the early Lizzy days - one that rockaction helped me remember for the countdown:

Little Girl in Bloom

The metal ramblings are a sidetrack, at least Thin Lizzy was an artist doc posted from the countdown. That sound is yet another great one that stood out more after reading through this bio and the story behind that one.

Which bio is the one you mentioned - there are a few of them. Haven’t gotten around yet to reading his authorized bio from a handful years ago.

That is the very one I am reading. About 1/4 way through and it is still in the pre-Lizzy, Skid Row/Orphanage time frame.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I hate Christmas music - except for Christmas Eve and Day (and the day the tree is being put up and decorated.)

Stop playing Christmas music in November!!!

I listened to The Roches sing the "Hallelujah Chorus" yesterday.

Suck it.

 

[turnjose7]

I will try the ones that showed up on the countdown for jazz. I feel that is the last genre i have to conquer and really figure out where my interests lie.

My main hurdles besides the lack of vocals in most is what I face with prog - i love to meander, but I need a bit of structure. I get lost if it goes of the rails and transitions are really abrupt. I also lean more piano/drums and less trumpet/sax. So far McCoy Tyner is one that i do dig a lot. I have listened to several albums and have liked them all. Thanks again to yet another recommendation from Mikeal of Opeth for that!

Try Thelonious Monk and you get piano that has a lot of percussive elements. And while the songs have improvisational components, they definitely seem more tied to a core idea than some of the later Davis and Coltrane modal stuff. Maybe start with something like Brilliant Corners and see if you like "Bemsha Swing."

 

[KarmaPolice]

That is the debut I was waiting for, and Hitch a Ride was the song I was thinking of when saying it is a perfect rock song. Love that song so much.

 

[zamboni]

That is the debut I was waiting for, and Hitch a Ride was the song I was thinking of when saying it is a perfect rock song. Love that song so much.

Yeah, that outro solo is divine.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

19. Boston – Boston (737 points)

@Mrs. Rannous #2
@higgins #3
@kupcho1 #3
@Dwayne_Castro #3
@BroncoFreak #9
@Uruk-Hai #13
@Atomic Punk #15
@Snoopy #17
@Ghost Rider #19
@KarmaPolice #28
@Dennis Castro #30
@Mt. Man #41
@Val Rannous #43
@jwb #44
@Chaos34 #58

Boston is the debut studio album by American rock band Boston, released on August 25, 1976, by Epic Records. It was produced by band guitarist Tom Scholz and John Boylan. A multi-instrumentalist and engineer who had been involved in the Boston music scene since the late 1960s, Scholz started to write and record demos in his apartment basement with singer Brad Delp, but received numerous rejections from major record labels. The demo tape fell into the hands of CBS-owned Epic, which signed the band in 1975.

Another major miss on my part. It just didn't come to mind. It's the perfect encapsulation of where mainstream rock was in 1976. And this is another debut album that may as well be a greatest hits album. Every single track was played by the FM stations I listened to as a teen.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

19. Boston – Boston (737 points)

@Mrs. Rannous #2
@higgins #3
@kupcho1 #3
@Dwayne_Castro #3
@BroncoFreak #9
@Uruk-Hai #13
@Atomic Punk #15
@Snoopy #17
@Ghost Rider #19
@KarmaPolice #28
@Dennis Castro #30
@Mt. Man #41
@Val Rannous #43
@jwb #44
@Chaos34 #58

Boston is the debut studio album by American rock band Boston, released on August 25, 1976, by Epic Records. It was produced by band guitarist Tom Scholz and John Boylan. A multi-instrumentalist and engineer who had been involved in the Boston music scene since the late 1960s, Scholz started to write and record demos in his apartment basement with singer Brad Delp, but received numerous rejections from major record labels. The demo tape fell into the hands of CBS-owned Epic, which signed the band in 1975.

I figured I'd be the high pick for Boston. (I had Don't Look Back at 22.) All the choices are great, but I tend to go with "Foreplay/Longtime". Anyone else want to weigh in?

 

[KarmaPolice]

That is the debut I was waiting for, and Hitch a Ride was the song I was thinking of when saying it is a perfect rock song. Love that song so much.

Yeah, that outro solo is divine.

Every instrument is perfect and rips in this one. The bass around 45 secs into the keys flurry at 85secs and the drum fill at 105sec. All absolutely kill, THEN we still have that last smoking guitar work to finish off the song as it meanders and builds. And that also leaves 7 other great songs on the album. Just ridiculous, and another album I probably under scored with only 43pts.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

That is the debut I was waiting for, and Hitch a Ride was the song I was thinking of when saying it is a perfect rock song. Love that song so much.

Yeah, that outro solo is divine.

Every instrument is perfect and rips in this one. The bass around 45 secs into the keys flurry at 85secs and the drum fill at 105sec. All absolutely kill, THEN we still have that last smoking guitar work to finish off the song as it meanders and builds. And that also leaves 7 other great songs on the album. Just ridiculous, and another album I probably under scored with only 43pts.

Brad Delp just kills it. Such a voice. Not many are competitive with Freddie, but he's one of them.

 

[KarmaPolice]

That is the debut I was waiting for, and Hitch a Ride was the song I was thinking of when saying it is a perfect rock song. Love that song so much.

Yeah, that outro solo is divine.

Every instrument is perfect and rips in this one. The bass around 45 secs into the keys flurry at 85secs and the drum fill at 105sec. All absolutely kill, THEN we still have that last smoking guitar work to finish off the song as it meanders and builds. And that also leaves 7 other great songs on the album. Just ridiculous, and another album I probably under scored with only 43pts.

Brad Delp just kills it. Such a voice. Not many are competitive with Freddie, but he's one of them.

For sure, I didn't even mention that. Absolutely perfect voice for that sound and music.

 

[Dwayne_Castro]

19. Boston – Boston (737 points)

@Mrs. Rannous #2
@higgins #3
@kupcho1 #3
@Dwayne_Castro #3
@BroncoFreak #9
@Uruk-Hai #13
@Atomic Punk #15
@Snoopy #17
@Ghost Rider #19
@KarmaPolice #28
@Dennis Castro #30
@Mt. Man #41
@Val Rannous #43
@jwb #44
@Chaos34 #58

Boston is the debut studio album by American rock band Boston, released on August 25, 1976, by Epic Records. It was produced by band guitarist Tom Scholz and John Boylan. A multi-instrumentalist and engineer who had been involved in the Boston music scene since the late 1960s, Scholz started to write and record demos in his apartment basement with singer Brad Delp, but received numerous rejections from major record labels. The demo tape fell into the hands of CBS-owned Epic, which signed the band in 1975.

I figured I'd be the high pick for Boston. (I had Don't Look Back at 22.) All the choices are great, but I tend to go with "Foreplay/Longtime". Anyone else want to weigh in?

Perfect song choice. I was hoping for that one.

 

[KarmaPolice]

19. Boston – Boston (737 points)

@Mrs. Rannous #2
@higgins #3
@kupcho1 #3
@Dwayne_Castro #3
@BroncoFreak #9
@Uruk-Hai #13
@Atomic Punk #15
@Snoopy #17
@Ghost Rider #19
@KarmaPolice #28
@Dennis Castro #30
@Mt. Man #41
@Val Rannous #43
@jwb #44
@Chaos34 #58

Boston is the debut studio album by American rock band Boston, released on August 25, 1976, by Epic Records. It was produced by band guitarist Tom Scholz and John Boylan. A multi-instrumentalist and engineer who had been involved in the Boston music scene since the late 1960s, Scholz started to write and record demos in his apartment basement with singer Brad Delp, but received numerous rejections from major record labels. The demo tape fell into the hands of CBS-owned Epic, which signed the band in 1975.

Another major miss on my part. It just didn't come to mind. It's the perfect encapsulation of where mainstream rock was in 1976. And this is another debut album that may as well be a greatest hits album. Every single track was played by the FM stations I listened to as a teen.

You can have some peace of mind knowing that it landed in the top 20 anyway.

 

[zamboni]

19. Boston – Boston (737 points)

@Mrs. Rannous #2
@higgins #3
@kupcho1 #3
@Dwayne_Castro #3
@BroncoFreak #9
@Uruk-Hai #13
@Atomic Punk #15
@Snoopy #17
@Ghost Rider #19
@KarmaPolice #28
@Dennis Castro #30
@Mt. Man #41
@Val Rannous #43
@jwb #44
@Chaos34 #58

Boston is the debut studio album by American rock band Boston, released on August 25, 1976, by Epic Records. It was produced by band guitarist Tom Scholz and John Boylan. A multi-instrumentalist and engineer who had been involved in the Boston music scene since the late 1960s, Scholz started to write and record demos in his apartment basement with singer Brad Delp, but received numerous rejections from major record labels. The demo tape fell into the hands of CBS-owned Epic, which signed the band in 1975.

Another major miss on my part. It just didn't come to mind. It's the perfect encapsulation of where mainstream rock was in 1976. And this is another debut album that may as well be a greatest hits album. Every single track was played by the FM stations I listened to as a teen.

Agreed - every song gets played - some more than others, of course. There really are no weak spots whatsoever, which very few albums can claim.