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The 100 Greatest Classic Rock Albums of All Time: #7. Ziggy Stardust (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter timschochet
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timschochet
Footballguy
67. Styx- The Grand Illusion (1977)
Classic rock radio hits: Come Sail Away, The Grand Illusion, Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
Styx’s 7th album made them, for a few short years, the #1 band in the world. It wasn’t exactly a departure from their prog roots (this record is prog rock throughout) but it was more accessible with terrific melodies and great performances.
The Grand Illusion
The name is based on a 1939 French movie (thought by many critics to be one of the greatest art films of all time) but the lyrics are whimsical. This is a great anthem for the band.
Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
This is an excellent rock song (always been one of my favorites by this band) with nice little prog touches all throughout.
Superstars
Pretty good deep cut. Silly lyrics but there is a joyful tone. The spoken part is really cheesy, but hey that’s Dennis.
Come Sail Away
I had this as my #1 song of 1977. It’s a classic rock masterpiece, this band’s best tune ever, and it remains a delight to listen to after all these years.
Miss America
Nice soft intro to a terrific hard rock song, with a really good opening guitar riff. Very similar to “The Great White Hope” on their next record.
Man In The Wilderness
OK deep cut ballad. I’ll be honest: as kids I think we stopped listening after “Miss America”- we went back to the start of the record, lol.
Castle Walls
This is a really interesting deep cut. Now I’m sorry I didn’t listen to it much as a kid.
The Grand Finale
Kind of a weird medley of all the songs on the album. Only in prog rock.
Classic rock radio hits: Come Sail Away, The Grand Illusion, Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
Styx’s 7th album made them, for a few short years, the #1 band in the world. It wasn’t exactly a departure from their prog roots (this record is prog rock throughout) but it was more accessible with terrific melodies and great performances.
The Grand Illusion
The name is based on a 1939 French movie (thought by many critics to be one of the greatest art films of all time) but the lyrics are whimsical. This is a great anthem for the band.
Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
This is an excellent rock song (always been one of my favorites by this band) with nice little prog touches all throughout.
Superstars
Pretty good deep cut. Silly lyrics but there is a joyful tone. The spoken part is really cheesy, but hey that’s Dennis.
Come Sail Away
I had this as my #1 song of 1977. It’s a classic rock masterpiece, this band’s best tune ever, and it remains a delight to listen to after all these years.
Miss America
Nice soft intro to a terrific hard rock song, with a really good opening guitar riff. Very similar to “The Great White Hope” on their next record.
Man In The Wilderness
OK deep cut ballad. I’ll be honest: as kids I think we stopped listening after “Miss America”- we went back to the start of the record, lol.
Castle Walls
This is a really interesting deep cut. Now I’m sorry I didn’t listen to it much as a kid.
The Grand Finale
Kind of a weird medley of all the songs on the album. Only in prog rock.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
Were they ever really the biggest band in the world?
I know they were very popular during their time, but that popular?
Anarchy99
Footballguy
I thought back in the day they were the first American band to have four consecutive triple platinum albums. But I can’t remember yesterday let alone 45 years ago.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I wasn’t questioning, Tim. I was generally curious. I was young and remember them being popular but not to that extent.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Over the years, a lot of artists have staked a claim to being the biggest or most popular band at a particular point in time. But there usually is not a definition of what the criteria was.
I am in the same boat as you. I remember them being very popular, but I would have thought other acts were more popular (with nothing to go on either way).
timschochet
Footballguy
I got that from that CNN show The Eighties. I watched it a few years back and someone said “in 1980, the biggest band in the world was Styx.”
No idea if it’s true or how to categorize that .
Stoneworker
Footballguy
Styx, Kansas, Foreigner, Boston, ELO, etc. All that overblown operatic prog-rock stuff of the late 70's/early 80's. Lacks soul IMO and doesn't stand the test of time. No thanks.
timschochet
Footballguy
I would say that their music hasn’t had the staying power over the decades as some other rock bands from the same era, like Queen for instance. The fact my daughters know about a dozen Queen songs really well, without my help, is rather extraordinary to me.
Journey as well.
Journey as well.
timschochet
Footballguy
Yes this is the view of a lot of rock critics as well.
But I shamelessly love every band you mentioned.
timschochet
Footballguy
And I will also add that one of the bands you mentioned has an album that is so great that I have ranked it pretty high on this list. And I believe it does stand the test of time.
zamboni
Footballguy
You wanted the best, you got the meh.
And I was a card-carrying Kiss Army fan.
Big fan of The Grand Illusion though, as mentioned way upthread.
Stoneworker
Footballguy
It's cool. I'm truly not bashing your preferences. I will also shamelessly admit I was somewhat into that sub-genre when it first came out as a fresh, new sound.
Thanks again for taking the time to make the list and promote discussion/nostalgia
Stoneworker
Footballguy
Kiss Alive was the second album I ever purchased. I must have listened to Strutter 18 gazillion times
zamboni
Footballguy
Kiss Alive II was my first purchase - those awesome album covers.Kiss Alive was the second album I ever purchased. I must have listened to Strutter 18 gazillion times
Alright, I know, I know everybody's hot. Everybody's got...rock and roll pneumonia, so let's call out...
Stoneworker
Footballguy
May have been mentioned when the thread was first started...but truly interesting how music tastes change over time.
If this list was created while growing up listening to the radio doing homework and going to keggers in the corn field it would be totally different than now
If this list was created while growing up listening to the radio doing homework and going to keggers in the corn field it would be totally different than now
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I think I could guess which one.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Definitely sold the most school lunch boxes.
FairWarning
Footballguy
Tommy Shaw turned 70 this week.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I was a huge KISS fan as a kid. I still have a soft spot in my heart for them and “KISS Alive” and “Destroyer” still get streams from me from time to time. As an adult it quickly becomes apparent how dumb and childish their lyrics are but they’re actually kind of poppy and fun.
timschochet
Footballguy
I was just watching the Bob Dylan Rolling Thunder Tour Documentary on Netflix. Apparently he was so impressed with KISS that he painted his face white for the tour. But Bob Dylan doesn’t look like Kiss; he looks like Bob Dylan with his face painted white. It’s a little sloppy yet scary like the Joker from The Dark Knight.
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
Because rock critics, generally speaking, are miserable people who want music as angry and miserable as they are, which is why they often hate music that is joyous and fun and love music full of angst and misery.
DocHolliday
Footballguy
I am pretty sure I know which one and it’s still one of my favorite albums.
DocHolliday
Footballguy
The lyrics are pathetic and the music is simple. But, the hooks were everywhere and it works well for me. I still love 70s KISS and the live shows were always awesome.
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
As for The Grand Illusion, awesome album from start to finish. It would be in top top 15-20 for the 70s, easily.
I didn't comment on News of the World, but that is where Queen really started to lose the consistency. The two biggies are obviously classics, and there are a few other good tunes, but there are a handful of songs that I am good to never hear again.
I didn't comment on News of the World, but that is where Queen really started to lose the consistency. The two biggies are obviously classics, and there are a few other good tunes, but there are a handful of songs that I am good to never hear again.
timschochet
Footballguy
66. Paul McCartney & Wings- Band On The Run
Classic rock radio hits: Band On The Run, Jet, Let Me Roll It
I’m sure @krista4 will disagree with what I’m about to write: IMO, this is the only great Paul McCartney album since leaving the Beatles. There are some good records like McCartney and Venus and Mars, but they are good not great. The rest are, I believe, mediocre with a lot of forgettable filler songs. (Albeit I pretty much stopped listening after the early 80s.) Band On The Run is a strong collection of songs all throughout, which is why it’s here.
Band On The Run
This is correctly thought of as one of McCartney’s medleys, which he did perhaps better than anyone else. But I always think of the first two sections as basically introduction before the actual song begins. For this tune the “Wings” is only Linda and Denny Laine; Paul does all the rest. Anyhow a true classic.
Jet
A great rock song. Of course the lyrics don’t make much sense. What do suffragettes have to do with anything? Well they rhyme with “Jet”, so…
Bluebird
Wistful soft rock, but really pretty. Those rock fans who prefer a hard edge are not going to appreciate when Paul sings “I’m a bluebird” over and over. But I do.
Mrs. Vanderbilt
Ho…hey ho! Ho…hey ho!
I think it’s catchy.
Let Me Roll It
One of my all time favorites by this guy. Love that guitar, the chorus, everything. Both times I saw him live he played it. So good.
Mamunia
Really pretty acoustic song. Apparently it’s an Arabic word that means “safe haven”.
No Words
Very Beatlish deep cut. Would fit right in on any of their later albums.
Picasso’s Last Words (Drink To Me)
Dustin Hoffman challenged Paul to write a song at the spur of the moment based on a news headline, and this was the result. It’s a sweet ballad with a strange interlude that reprises Jet.
Nineteen-Hundred And Eighty-Five
Great bluesy deep cut with a grand ending.
Classic rock radio hits: Band On The Run, Jet, Let Me Roll It
I’m sure @krista4 will disagree with what I’m about to write: IMO, this is the only great Paul McCartney album since leaving the Beatles. There are some good records like McCartney and Venus and Mars, but they are good not great. The rest are, I believe, mediocre with a lot of forgettable filler songs. (Albeit I pretty much stopped listening after the early 80s.) Band On The Run is a strong collection of songs all throughout, which is why it’s here.
Band On The Run
This is correctly thought of as one of McCartney’s medleys, which he did perhaps better than anyone else. But I always think of the first two sections as basically introduction before the actual song begins. For this tune the “Wings” is only Linda and Denny Laine; Paul does all the rest. Anyhow a true classic.
Jet
A great rock song. Of course the lyrics don’t make much sense. What do suffragettes have to do with anything? Well they rhyme with “Jet”, so…
Bluebird
Wistful soft rock, but really pretty. Those rock fans who prefer a hard edge are not going to appreciate when Paul sings “I’m a bluebird” over and over. But I do.
Mrs. Vanderbilt
Ho…hey ho! Ho…hey ho!
I think it’s catchy.
Let Me Roll It
One of my all time favorites by this guy. Love that guitar, the chorus, everything. Both times I saw him live he played it. So good.
Mamunia
Really pretty acoustic song. Apparently it’s an Arabic word that means “safe haven”.
No Words
Very Beatlish deep cut. Would fit right in on any of their later albums.
Picasso’s Last Words (Drink To Me)
Dustin Hoffman challenged Paul to write a song at the spur of the moment based on a news headline, and this was the result. It’s a sweet ballad with a strange interlude that reprises Jet.
Nineteen-Hundred And Eighty-Five
Great bluesy deep cut with a grand ending.
Brunell4MVP
Footballguy
My hatred for Paul McCartney and John Lennon as solo acts is enormous. It all sucks. George Harrison and Ringo's All Star Band are the better post Beatles acts
Just Win Baby
Footballguy
No way Band on the Run is the 65th greatest classic rock album of all-time. Not even close IMO. I wouldn't have it in the top 100.
northern exposure
Footballguy
Lots of controversy for the McCartney pick so far. But, I can't argue with the pick because Band On The Run was the first lp I ever bought.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
His first effort was his best imo. I like Band on the Run but it wouldn’t be Top 100 for me.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I will say this is an almost impossible effort so please take my comments as just commentary and not criticism.
Just Win Baby
Footballguy
Same here.
zamboni
Footballguy
I hope you’re having fun
timschochet
Footballguy
And you won’t.
I considered Double Vision pretty strongly. It has several hits. But, much like Bad Company, it also has a lot of filler. Neither band has a great album IMO.
timschochet
Footballguy
While I always expect criticism on many of my picks, their placement, and also for albums I did NOT pick, I have to admit I wasn’t expecting Band On The Run to be one of those. I figured it was a slam dunk.
timschochet
Footballguy
I want to talk more about “Band On The Run”, the song. Two things:
1. I really love the guitar fills. I assume that’s Denny Laine. He makes it sound spacey somehow. How does he do that?
2. Does this song sound a lot like Christine McVie’s stuff from Fleetwood Mac? It does to me.
1. I really love the guitar fills. I assume that’s Denny Laine. He makes it sound spacey somehow. How does he do that?
2. Does this song sound a lot like Christine McVie’s stuff from Fleetwood Mac? It does to me.
timschochet
Footballguy
Also, anybody else enjoy the show “Love” on Netflix? There’s a scene where Paul Rust plays “Jet” on guitar at a party. Very funny.
youtu.be
Love - Jet cover scene
youtu.be
Raging weasel
Footballguy
You forgot to include Helen Wheels which was a top 20 hit
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Here's the thing. Foreigner was a classic rock staple. Each of their albums had 3-4 radio songs. Their fourth album had 7 or 8 or them. The band was played wherever I went in the country. They may not have been the most original band in the world, and most of their albums did have some filler. Love them or hate them, their first 4 albums all sold 5-7 million copies and sold 22+ million albums in 4 years. (For the record, I am not some big Foreigner fan . . . I think they are ok . . . I just think that they should have an album ranked somewhere.)
That's why I have been questioning the methodology used here. You've ranked some albums that had 1.5 to 2 songs of airplay. If the intent was to rank top classic rock albums based on radio airplay and popularity (which IIRC I thought was one of the main components in your original post before it got replaced by the song list), then IMO that should still be a main component. If not, maybe this should have a been a list of Tim's Top 100 albums of the 70's (or whatever the timeframe actually is). Maybe I misunderstood what went into song consideration and the final rankings.
Add me to the list of questioning Band on the Run as a selection. I wouldn't necessarily consider it classic rock, and the title track was heard on pop rock stations but not classic rock. Jet got played some where I lived, but Sir Paul got played significantly less than The Beatles did. I'm not sure I would have had any Wings or solo McCartney on it.
New Binky the Doormat
Footballguy
Ahhhhh mater!!! ...
Anarchy99
Footballguy
IIRC, Helen Wheels was first released as a standalone single and was not included on the original international album release (which came out a few months after the single). But it was included on the U.S. version of the album.
timschochet
Footballguy
Fair points; let me try to respond:
1. For an album to make this list, it has to be (a) a great album IMO and (b) have 2 or more classic rock radio hits. I admit that the first rule is completely subjective, while the second rule is, I have learned since I started this thread, not universal at all. For example you say that you wouldn’t consider Band on the Run classic rock, yet I heard all 3 songs I listed on my classic rock station on a fairly regular basis. So I am relying for B on my own knowledge and experience.
2. Every one of Foreigner’s albums qualify for (B) 2 or more classic radio hits- they had a ton of hits. I loved many of their hits, still do. But I find their albums as a whole lacking the consistency of material that I need to make it on this list. Again I admit that this is subjective.
3. Very shortly I suspect this debate will become superfluous. If it isn’t already. The top half of this list, even well beyond the top half, is loaded with classic albums I really doubt you or anyone else will have serious issue with. Only the placement should provide a lot of argument, I suspect.
timschochet
Footballguy
This is correct. And it’s not on the Apple Music remastered version that I used.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
I don't want to come off as an unappreciative dbag. You always put a lot of effort into your lists / rankings. But I think I was expecting more of a diverse group of artists. For my liking, I'd rather see a few more artists included than multiple albums from Queen or Elton (or the 7th or 8th best LZ album). But it's your list, so carry on.
timschochet
Footballguy
I get it. But if the 6th best Led Zeppelin album is better than the best Bad Company album what am I to do?
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
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