The 100 Greatest Classic Rock Albums of All Time: #1. Sticky Fingers (2 Viewers)

[Dr. Octopus]

Fleetwood Mac

With tim that’s a given. He may even make up a Fleetwood Mac album just to get another one in.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

The Eagles album I would have on a list like this is their first one, which IMO is their best, and had three hits on it. The second, Desperado, is pretty good too, though it may or may not qualify for the criteria used here. After that, there was way too much filler/outright bad material for my liking. On the Border and One of These Nights have their moments, but I think Hotel California and The Long Run are pretty abominable outside the respective title tracks and Joe Walsh's contributions.

The gems of One of These Nights for me are the title track and Visions. After the Thrill Is Gone, I won't change the dial over. The rest, I don't find to be outright bad but I could take or leave.

I like On The Border & One Of These Nights the most. I agree that The Long Run is pure junk outside of "In The City". The others are ok.

The Sad Cafe is a fantastic song

Not a fan, but I have a possibly irrational disdain for this LP. If Billy Joel was from L.A., he would have made this album.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

The Eagles album I would have on a list like this is their first one, which IMO is their best, and had three hits on it. The second, Desperado, is pretty good too, though it may or may not qualify for the criteria used here. After that, there was way too much filler/outright bad material for my liking. On the Border and One of These Nights have their moments, but I think Hotel California and The Long Run are pretty abominable outside the respective title tracks and Joe Walsh's contributions.

The gems of One of These Nights for me are the title track and Visions. After the Thrill Is Gone, I won't change the dial over. The rest, I don't find to be outright bad but I could take or leave.

I like On The Border & One Of These Nights the most. I agree that The Long Run is pure junk outside of "In The City". The others are ok.

The Sad Cafe is a fantastic song

Not a fan, but I have a possibly irrational disdain for this LP. If Billy Joel was from L.A., he would have made this album.

I thought “Billy Joel from LA” was Jackson Browne?

 

[Hot Diggity Dog]

Fleetwood Mac

With tim that’s a given. He may even make up a Fleetwood Mac album just to get another one in.

LOL, well yes, but I am not really trying to criticize Tim because this is his list and whatever. It's just that, of the first 10 albums I may have listened to one of them all the way through once, and I'm not sure who else might have listened to them all, all the way through. Classic Rock Radio was always about songs and not albums, because there is no way I am going to go listen to Bella Donna and a Bachman Turner Overdrive album to compare them, but I might argue the placement of Takin Care of Business and Edge of Seventeen on a song list.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

The Eagles album I would have on a list like this is their first one, which IMO is their best, and had three hits on it. The second, Desperado, is pretty good too, though it may or may not qualify for the criteria used here. After that, there was way too much filler/outright bad material for my liking. On the Border and One of These Nights have their moments, but I think Hotel California and The Long Run are pretty abominable outside the respective title tracks and Joe Walsh's contributions.

The gems of One of These Nights for me are the title track and Visions. After the Thrill Is Gone, I won't change the dial over. The rest, I don't find to be outright bad but I could take or leave.

I like On The Border & One Of These Nights the most. I agree that The Long Run is pure junk outside of "In The City". The others are ok.

The Sad Cafe is a fantastic song

Not a fan, but I have a possibly irrational disdain for this LP. If Billy Joel was from L.A., he would have made this album.

I thought “Billy Joel from LA” was Jackson Browne?

Oh, no. Jackson Browne is Duke Ellington compared to Billy Joel.

 

[Anarchy99]

The Eagles album I would have on a list like this is their first one, which IMO is their best, and had three hits on it. The second, Desperado, is pretty good too, though it may or may not qualify for the criteria used here. After that, there was way too much filler/outright bad material for my liking. On the Border and One of These Nights have their moments, but I think Hotel California and The Long Run are pretty abominable outside the respective title tracks and Joe Walsh's contributions.

The gems of One of These Nights for me are the title track and Visions. After the Thrill Is Gone, I won't change the dial over. The rest, I don't find to be outright bad but I could take or leave.

I like On The Border & One Of These Nights the most. I agree that The Long Run is pure junk outside of "In The City". The others are ok.

Let’s not say things we can’t take back. It’s been 44 years since it came out, and I threw on The Long Run CD the other day and still know every word. Sure, I am in therapy, but it’s a fun album even if it’s not their best effort. That was one of my go to listens as a teenager, and I am not ashamed to say that album was in heavy rotation for years.

 

[Hot Diggity Dog]

"I ****ing hate The Eagles Maaannn."

The Dude

I honestly think that's where a lot of modern Eagles hatred comes from in the internet/subculture world. That movie is so huge and so quoted that inevitably, some of the things The Dude posits get taken at face value rather than the utterances of an otherwise loserish character written sympathetically. That sympathy is sometimes mistaken for The Dude being a savant. Perhaps the Coen brothers wanted a vehicle to rip the Eagles. They sure did it effectively. What incredible directors/writers they are, indeed.

Anyway, I'll end the movie criticism here.

Suffice it to say, I don't hate the Eagles. Anybody who could write "Already Gone," which is a stone classic in my book, isn't bad.

I was talking about my rug.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

The Eagles album I would have on a list like this is their first one, which IMO is their best, and had three hits on it. The second, Desperado, is pretty good too, though it may or may not qualify for the criteria used here. After that, there was way too much filler/outright bad material for my liking. On the Border and One of These Nights have their moments, but I think Hotel California and The Long Run are pretty abominable outside the respective title tracks and Joe Walsh's contributions.

The gems of One of These Nights for me are the title track and Visions. After the Thrill Is Gone, I won't change the dial over. The rest, I don't find to be outright bad but I could take or leave.

I like On The Border & One Of These Nights the most. I agree that The Long Run is pure junk outside of "In The City". The others are ok.

Let’s not say things we can’t take back. It’s been 44 years since it came out, and I threw on The Long Run CD the other day and still know every word. Sure, I am in therapy, but it’s a fun album even if it’s not their best effort. That was one of my go to listens as a teenager, and I am not ashamed to say that album was in heavy rotation for years.

You shouldn't be ashamed - it hit you right and I'm happy for you. I'm not taking anything back. I think it's probably the worst LP a major artist of my generation released. I'm older than you, though, so you have a bunch of terrible '80s albums to reckon with.

 

[Tau837]

I disagree about Hotel California and the Long Run, I like both albums. I have always been an Eagles fan and never really got the disdain for them around here.

 

[kupcho1]

11 albums in and I'm not seeing any GREAT albums yet - a few solid ones.

Does anyone visit these threads for the insight?
I come for the chuckles.

We’ll let you replace Bella Donna.

Like this.

 

[timschochet]

11 albums in and I'm not seeing any GREAT albums yet - a few solid ones.

Does anyone visit these threads for the insight?
I come for the chuckles.

We’ll let you replace Bella Donna.

Like this.

Hey man that wasn’t funny!

 

[DocHolliday]

I disagree about Hotel California and the Long Run, I like both albums. I have always been an Eagles fan and never really got the disdain for them around here.

Agreed. The albums may be choppy but the Eagles wrote some really good soft rock songs. I love the harmonies. If I am in a chill mood and not wanting to rock, I often turn to the Eagles.

 

[rockaction]

See, I defend the Eagles but never listen to them willingly, really, so maybe I’m more with Uruk (and wikkid) than not, at least the more I think about it, anyway.

 

[northern exposure]

The Eagles album I would have on a list like this is their first one, which IMO is their best, and had three hits on it. The second, Desperado, is pretty good too, though it may or may not qualify for the criteria used here. After that, there was way too much filler/outright bad material for my liking. On the Border and One of These Nights have their moments, but I think Hotel California and The Long Run are pretty abominable outside the respective title tracks and Joe Walsh's contributions.

The gems of One of These Nights for me are the title track and Visions. After the Thrill Is Gone, I won't change the dial over. The rest, I don't find to be outright bad but I could take or leave.

I strongly considered the first album and if I had included it I would have ranked it higher than #90. But in the end I felt it was just a little too much easy listening and not enough classic rock.

If Take It Easy and Peaceful Easy Feeling aren't classic rock, then I don't know what is.

Yeah I guess you’re right. I blew it,

No room for it now so I guess it’s a mistake. I have no doubt I will be called out for others.

We’ll let you replace Bella Donna.

Typo- You meant to say 52nd Street.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

See, I defend the Eagles

It would be really funny if you posted this phrase in the Shark Pool.

 

[rockaction]

It would be really funny if you posted this phrase in the Shark Pool.

LOL. Awesome.

I am on record (even in that monstrous thread) as your giving your GM total credit and team total credit. That's a fine job of general managing, and a good team.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

It would be really funny if you posted this phrase in the Shark Pool.

LOL. Awesome.

I am on record (even in that monstrous thread) as your giving your GM total credit and team total credit. That's a fine job of general managing, and a good team.

I’m excited to see what Howie’s former right-hand man does with your team now that QB has been massively upgraded.

 

[otb_lifer]

See, I defend the Eagles but never listen to them willingly, really, so maybe I’m more with Uruk (and wikkid) than not, at least the more I think about it, anyway.

yeah, i don't mind them too much, either - but i rarely (ever?) seek them out - hot take incoming: i kinda dig when talented cats are also cutthroat muthas - Henley & Frey and all their quasi hippie/countrified/coked out Cali schtick is far from my bag, but knowing supreme doosh canoes were the impetus kinda gives some goodt weight to ... say, "Desperado", for instance

"New Kid InTown" is so f****** breezy, my pomp just collapsed - more Suavecito

not unlike my burgeoning appreciation for PF, after listening to the erudite Gilmour wax tartly about Waters - helps a ton that he befriended Lydon (nee ROTTEN) after the tee shirt thingy.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

It would be really funny if you posted this phrase in the Shark Pool.

LOL. Awesome.

I am on record (even in that monstrous thread) as your giving your GM total credit and team total credit. That's a fine job of general managing, and a good team.

It would be impossible to argue against that. Probably best overall roster in the league.

I’m just glad to be finally be able to say the Jets are finally up there. This may be the most talented overall roster I can remember.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I do on occasion put the Eagles on to listen to. I wouldn’t say they were in my top 50 bands, but maybe 100. I guess my main issue is at worst their music is harmless so I don’t see where the vitriol comes from. If I was tim, Hotel California and their first album would be on this list, and probably no other Eagles record but I like their sound, especially the early years. if those records came out in the nineties, they’d probably be considered alt-country and it’s no secret that’s my bag.

 

[rockaction]

I’m excited to see what Howie’s former right-hand man does with your team now that QB has been massively upgraded.

What rhymes with O-Line?

No line.

eta* Jets really do have their best roster in ages. Be a shame if an OL guy left that as their Achilles' heel.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I’m excited to see what Howie’s former right-hand man does with your team now that QB has been massively upgraded.

What rhymes with O-Line?

No line.

eta* Jets really do have their best roster in ages. Be a shame if an OL guy left that as their Achilles' heel.

The o-line should be improved a bit. ATV is back. Tomlinson had a bad season but he was so rock solid in SF so maybe he was injured. Becton is back and in shape. Can’t exactly trust him but it he’s back at all the o-line takes a step up. Rookie center is said to be struggling but McGovern who is adequate is still around.

 

[otb_lifer]

I do on occasion put the Eagles on to listen to. I wouldn’t say they were in my top 50 bands, but maybe 100. I guess my main issue is at worst their music is harmless so I don’t see where the vitriol comes from.

yeah, i can get with this.

the only two songs of theirs that ever induced the phlegm were "Peaceful, Easy Feeling" (hippie, wine sack drainin', weed tokin' pablum) and "Heartache Tonight" (i done a ton of coke in my day, but i could s*** out better product than that - i don't get how a boatload of yayo couldt lead to such dreck).

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I do on occasion put the Eagles on to listen to. I wouldn’t say they were in my top 50 bands, but maybe 100. I guess my main issue is at worst their music is harmless so I don’t see where the vitriol comes from. If I was tim, Hotel California and their first album would be on this list, and probably no other Eagles record but I like their sound, especially the early years (if those records came out in the nineties, they’d probably be considered alt-country and it’s no secret that’s my bag).

Gram Parsons is the most obvious progenitor of alt-country, but the first two Eagles albums aren’t far off.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I do on occasion put the Eagles on to listen to. I wouldn’t say they were in my top 50 bands, but maybe 100. I guess my main issue is at worst their music is harmless so I don’t see where the vitriol comes from. If I was tim, Hotel California and their first album would be on this list, and probably no other Eagles record but I like their sound, especially the early years (if those records came out in the nineties, they’d probably be considered alt-country and it’s no secret that’s my bag).

Gram Parsons is the most obvious progenitor of alt-country, but the first two Eagles albums aren’t far off.

Absolutely and I love Gram much more than I do the Eagles

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Gram Parsons is the most obvious progenitor of alt-country,

While we never went toe to toe on it my biggest disagreement with wikkid, as far as the Stones go, was he was definitively not a fan of the “Keith and Gram love eachother” era of the Stones (basically the Exile era). He called it “alleycatting”.
It’s my absolute favorite era.

 

[otb_lifer]

Gram Parsons is the most obvious progenitor of alt-country,

While we never went toe to toe on it my biggest disagreement with wikkid, as far as the Stones go, was he was that he was definitively not a fan of the “Keith and Gram love eachother” era of the Stones (basically the Exile era). He called it “alleycatting”.
It’s my absolute favorite era.

Gram's prints are smeared all over "Sticky Fingers" - and the results from all of his influence of that era were glorious.

wow. what pair, eh?

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Gram Parsons is the most obvious progenitor of alt-country,

While we never went toe to toe on it my biggest disagreement with wikkid, as far as the Stones go, was he was that he was definitively not a fan of the “Keith and Gram love eachother” era of the Stones (basically the Exile era). He called it “alleycatting”.
It’s my absolute favorite era.

Gram's prints are smeared all over "Sticky Fingers" - and the results from all of his influence of that era were glorious.

wow. what pair, eh?

Yeah, Exile and Sticky Fingers, their two best albums imo. There’s plenty of stories out there about how Gram Parsons should have gotten some credit for co-writing Wild Horses.

 

[timschochet]

I do on occasion put the Eagles on to listen to. I wouldn’t say they were in my top 50 bands, but maybe 100. I guess my main issue is at worst their music is harmless so I don’t see where the vitriol comes from. If I was tim, Hotel California and their first album would be on this list, and probably no other Eagles record but I like their sound, especially the early years. if those records came out in the nineties, they’d probably be considered alt-country and it’s no secret that’s my bag.

Hotel California is certainly on this list.

 

[timschochet]

I love Gram Parsons in the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and in duets with Emmylou Harris. But I was never able to get into his solo albums.

 

[rockaction]

Hotel California and "Pretty Maids All In A Row"

Why do we give up our hearts to the past?
And why must we grow up so fast?
And all you wishing well fools with your fortunes
Someone should send you a rose
With love from a friend
Nice to hear from you again
And the storybook comes to a close
Gone are the ribbons and bows
Things to remember places to go
Pretty maids all in a row

Great lyrics. Somehow my friends and I made this our eighth grade final call song at our last dance. I remember requesting it while we all sat on stage. I had some good friends. That was a nice feeling. I have no idea why, but that was a good call. Bob Dylan singled the song out for good lyrics in an interview. Dug it.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

and in duets with Emmylou Harris. But I was never able to get into his solo albums

But the duets with Harris are a big part of his solo albums.

 

[shuke]

"I ****ing hate The Eagles Maaannn."

The Dude

I honestly think that's where a lot of modern Eagles hatred comes from in the internet/subculture world. That movie is so huge and so quoted that inevitably, some of the things The Dude posits get taken at face value rather than the utterances of an otherwise loserish character written sympathetically. That sympathy is sometimes mistaken for The Dude being a savant. Perhaps the Coen brothers wanted a vehicle to rip the Eagles. They sure did it effectively. What incredible directors/writers they are, indeed.

Anyway, I'll end the movie criticism here.

Suffice it to say, I don't hate the Eagles. Anybody who could write "Already Gone," which is a stone classic in my book, isn't bad.

I remember it being cool to hate the Eagles well before Lebowski came out.

I like a few songs, but really don't care for them.

 

[shuke]

Fleetwood Mac

With tim that’s a given. He may even make up a Fleetwood Mac album just to get another one in.

 

[rockaction]

I remember it being cool to hate the Eagles well before Lebowski came out.

Oh yeah, there always was that, but I think the movie had something to do with it for younger people. Maybe not.

 

[shuke]

their music is harmless so I don’t see where the vitriol comes from

That band is so milquetoast, why don't people like them??

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I remember it being cool to hate the Eagles well before Lebowski came out.

Oh yeah, there always was that, but I think the movie had something to do with it for younger people. Maybe not.

The Wenner cabal hated them, thus so did many of their readers. Lebowski made it a thing for people who didn't read Rolling Stone and things like that.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

their music is harmless so I don’t see where the vitriol comes from

That band is so milquetoast, why don't people like them??

“Not liking” and “hating” are two different things.

 

[massraider]

I remember it being cool to hate the Eagles well before Lebowski came out.

No doubt, but there's a lot of music fans that were unawares. Casual fans.

Lebowski made hating the Eagles part of the Zeitgeist, now people who don't even know anything about the Eagles know enough to hate them.

 

[Willy]

I remember it being cool to hate the Eagles well before Lebowski came out.

No doubt, but there's a lot of music fans that were unawares. Casual fans.

Lebowski made hating the Eagles part of the Zeitgeist, now people who don't even know anything about the Eagles know enough to hate them.

I'm sure there were always people who didn't like the Eagles.

When I watched the movie, I actually laughed out loud at that line because it was the Eagles, I thought the writers were being ironic. I always thought the Eagles aren't the type of band that would evoke such a strong response from anyone, especially a hippie stoner.

 

[zamboni]

I remember it being cool to hate the Eagles well before Lebowski came out.

No doubt, but there's a lot of music fans that were unawares. Casual fans.

Lebowski made hating the Eagles part of the Zeitgeist, now people who don't even know anything about the Eagles know enough to hate them.

Henley and Frey being so unlikable over the years certainly hasn’t helped their cause. Poor Timothy B. Schmit - seems like a sweetheart of a guy.

 

[Ghost Rider]

I remember it being cool to hate the Eagles well before Lebowski came out.

No doubt, but there's a lot of music fans that were unawares. Casual fans.

Lebowski made hating the Eagles part of the Zeitgeist, now people who don't even know anything about the Eagles know enough to hate them.

Henley and Frey being so unlikable over the years certainly hasn’t helped their cause. Poor Timothy B. Schmit - seems like a sweetheart of a guy.

Very true. When you think of the biggest jerks (to use a more forum-friendly word) in the history of rock music, Frey and Henley both have a seat at the table. That said, it doesn't affect my enjoyment of their music, as there are plenty of bands I listen to with members I don't like, and Henley's The Boys of Summer is still one of my favorite songs ever.

 

[massraider]

30 year olds have no idea why Henley is a tool, but they know the Eagles suck

 

[zamboni]

30 year olds have no idea why Henley is a tool, but they know the Eagles suck

I would guess most 30 year olds are indifferent about the Eagles given the band’s lack of newer material. The kids would know the line if they happened to see Lebowski, but the argument over the band is probably confined to us geezers.

 

[Navin Johnson]

Hotel California and "Pretty Maids All In A Row"

Why do we give up our hearts to the past?
And why must we grow up so fast?
And all you wishing well fools with your fortunes
Someone should send you a rose
With love from a friend
Nice to hear from you again
And the storybook comes to a close
Gone are the ribbons and bows
Things to remember places to go
Pretty maids all in a row

Great lyrics. Somehow my friends and I made this our eighth grade final call song at our last dance. I remember requesting it while we all sat on stage. I had some good friends. That was a nice feeling. I have no idea why, but that was a good call. Bob Dylan singled the song out for good lyrics in an interview. Dug it.

Really like Last Resort and Wasted Time from HC.

 

[northern exposure]

You guys can hate on Henley all you want. A girlfriend wanted to see him when he was touring for The End Of The Innocence. Susanna Hoffs was his opening act

 

[massraider]

Henley bought a beautiful farmhouse in Aspen, then built the house he wanted next to it. Looks like a Bauhaus version of a North Korean prison. His taste is up his ***.

 

[northern exposure]

tim really making us wait for today's album......

 

[Dr. Octopus]

tim really making us wait for today's album......

He’s creating a buzz.

 

[BassNBrew]

I'm starting to see that maybe I've just become very bored with the "classic rock" genre - these picks just seem so uninspiring for whatever reason. That's not a dig at tim - just a personal thing I suppose.

Powerful force of nature that's Taylor Swift.

I'm starting to see that maybe I've just become very bored with the "classic rock" genre - these picks just seem so uninspiring for whatever reason. That's not a dig at tim - just a personal thing I suppose.

I feel similarly. I grew up on classic rock and I still like it, but I don't listen to a lot of it anymore, having moved on to other music I find more interesting.

Dude...every one of your picks in the last music draft were classic rock.

On the fence between Magic and Wilt.

Not sure why this is here...

11 albums in and I'm not seeing any GREAT albums yet - a few solid ones.

Either I'm underestimating the number of great classic rock albums available or it's just a matter of personal taste.

You're underestimating. There should be 10-15 bands with 4-5 albums on the list. I think you might be "tainted" by the appearances of bands that didn't stand the test of time or were "one album" wonders but deserve to be on the list for the time period we are talking about. The bands I'm seeing on Tim's list now were kicked to the curb by https://www.discogs.com/release/982146-Various-MTV-Buzz-Bin-Volume-1 bands replacing them on rock stations.

11 albums in and I'm not seeing any GREAT albums yet - a few solid ones.

Either I'm underestimating the number of great classic rock albums available or it's just a matter of personal taste.

I think a 100 best classic rock songs might be a better and more interesting list. I don't think the vast majority of people ever owned 100 albums of all types of music let alone just classic rock. I was a little kid in the 70s so maybe it was different but in the 80s and 90s I'm sure I knew no one in my age group that had a library of albums numbering in the 100s.

And even if you are going to have every Zepplin, Stones, The Who, Pink Floyd, Beatles, Crosby Stills and Nash, Synkard, Queen, Early Van Halen, Eagles, and Jimi Hendrix album, what does that stretch it to? Like maybe 50 Albums? And we have already confirmed we are only getting one Billy Joel and one Journey album. I mean who else might have multiple albums? Fleetwood Mac and Aerosmith? Grateful Dead? Supertramp? I suppose Tom Petty. Maybe my music knowledge isn't up to par.

You are missing a whole lot of names but I won't spotlight further.

Most of my friends were sporting close to 100 cassettes ripped off each other albums.