The Essential Music Library: Rock

[ultrafilter]

The Essential Music Library project is an attempt to get the many musical minds of the SDMB to sit down and discuss what works are absolutely necessary for a well-stocked musical library. There will be roughly 20 threads detailing a variety of genres so that we can get the depth that would be missing from a single-threaded discussion and the breadth necessary to cover what's out there.

This thread's topic is rock, ranging from Elvis up till 1980 or so. Talk to us about everything from the early days to the height of the Beatles's popularity to the heyday of prog.

Previous threads: Project Planning | Classical

[Qwertyasdfg]

Beatles - Rubber Soul, White Album, Revolver
Led Zeppelin - II, IV, Houses of the Holy
Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced
The Clash - London Calling
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
The Doors - self-titled
Pearl Jam - Vs.
Steely Dan - Aja
Minutemen - Double Nickels on the Dime
Billy Joel - The Stranger
Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever, Amen
At the Drive-In - In Casino Out
Rush - A Farewell to Kings
Santana - Abraxas
The Who - Who's Next
Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American (this album was renamed "Jimmy Eat World" after 9/11)
Pixies - Doolittle, Surfer Rosa
Metallica - Master Of Puppets
Rage Against the Machine - Evil Empire, self-titled
Queen - A Night at the Opera
Sublime - 40 oz to Freedom

I'll probably think of more but that seems like a good start.

[Qwertyasdfg]

Sorry, in my excitement I missed the 1980s limit.

[Sage Rat]

Elvis played the blues. It was just called rock because Elvis was white. Rock as we know it today sprouted from surfer music.

Rock Styles through the days:

Surfer (Dick Dale, Beach Boys, Link Ray, etc.)
Pop (Beatles, etc.)
Glam Rock (David Bowie, Queen, etc.) -- Beginning Punk/Metal (Iggy Pop, Led Zeppelin, etc.)
80's Punk (Talking Heads, The Ramones, etc.)
Metal (Metallica, etc.)

[WordMan]

Chuck Berry - Best of
Buddy Holly- Best of
Gene Vincent - Best of
Eddie Cochran - Best of
Jerry Lee Lewis - Best of
Little Richard - Best of

These are the true originators of rock. They each had several top hits and influenced the next wave - Vincent (Be Bop a Lula, Say Mama, Bluejean Bop, etc.) and Eddie Cochran (Summertime Blues, C'mon Everybody, 20 Fight Rock) were more famous in the UK than the US - MacCartney played 20 Flight Rock to audition for John Lennon to join the Quarrymen. Trying to pick a specific album makes no sense - these guys came from the singles era. Other folks - Richie Valens with La Bamba and Diana, and Carl Perkins, etc. - also great with great singles.

Beach Boys - greatest hits, Pet Sounds
Cream - Disraeli Gears
Yardbirds - Over Under Sideways Down, Best of (for their singles like For Your Love and Heart Full of Soul)
Jeff Beck Group - Truth, Beck-Ola
T. Rex - Electric Warrior
The Kinks - Village Green Preservation Society - and whatever album has You Really Got me and All Day and All of the Night
Beatles - Everything - let's not kid ourselves.
Stones - 12x5 (is that the one with Satisfaction on it?), Beggar's Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main St, Some Girls, Tattoo You
Hendrix - Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold as Love, Electric Ladyland
Pink Floyd - Dark Side, Wish You Were Here, Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Phil Spector - best of (his girl group Wall of Sound work)
Aerosmith - first 4 albums - Featuring Dream On, Get Your Wings, Toys in the Attic, Rocks
Doobie Brothers - whatever had China Grove and Listen to the Music on it
UFO - Strangers in the Night
Ted Nugent - first album, Free for All
Van Halen 1 and 2
The Who - so many it isn't funny - most if not all of their stuff.

There are so many more I feel like I haven't come close to scratching the surface. Start with the early rock stuff and take it from there...

[WordMan]

Originally Posted by Sage Rat

Elvis played the blues. It was just called rock because Elvis was white. Rock as we know it today sprouted from surfer music.

This is wrong on so many levels it boggles the mind. But since it is off topic - defining the genre of Rock might've been better discussed in the original Project Planning thread - I will just say "ummm, no." and leave it at that.

[Jonathan Chance]

Yeah, me too.

[Thudlow Boink]

Originally Posted by Qwertyasdfg

Beatles - Rubber Soul, White Album, Revolver

I tend to agree with WordMan: Everything. At the very least, throw in Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper's, and a representative of their earlier work.
Also, from their solo years: Lennon's Imagine and/or the Lennon Collection; McCartney's Ram and Band on the Run; Harrison's All Things Must Pass, and Starr's Ringo! or Blast From Your Past.

Originally Posted by WordMan

The Kinks - Village Green Preservation Society - and whatever album has You Really Got me and All Day and All of the Night

The original albums with those songs have too much filler to be essential, but I'd definitely include a Greatest Hits collection with those songs (and many more) on it. I'd also include Face to Face, Something Else, Arthur, Lola vs. Powerman and the Moneygoround, and Celluloid Heroes (the Best Of the RCA years). Plus when we get up to the 80s we'll have to throw in something from then, too.

The Moody Blues: Days of Future Passed and one or two of their other, more typical albums (In Search of the Lost Chord or To Our Children's Children's Children or Seveth Sojourn).

David Bowie: Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, and maybe some other stuff too.

Simon & Garfunkel: Greatest Hits or Bridge Over Troubled Water. Plus something from Paul Simon's 70s output. Or are they more Pop or Folk? And what about Bob Dylan, and The Byrds, and Crosby Stills Nash & Young, and some of the 70s singer-songwriters?

Queen: I'll second A Night At the Opera and add at least one of the Greatest Hits discs available.

Fleetwood Mac: Rumours

The Eagles: Hotel California

[WordMan]

Originally Posted by Thudlow Boink

David Bowie: Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, and maybe some other stuff too.

Simon & Garfunkel: Greatest Hits or Bridge Over Troubled Water. Plus something from Paul Simon's 70s output. Or are they more Pop or Folk? And what about Bob Dylan, and The Byrds, and Crosby Stills Nash & Young, and some of the 70s singer-songwriters?

Queen: I'll second A Night At the Opera and add at least one of the Greatest Hits discs available.

Fleetwood Mac: Rumours

I am just going to spend my time reading everyone else's posts and 'ing myself in the head. I can't believe I didn't mention Bowie or the other folks listed here - for Bowie - you'd have to add Hunky Dory, Aladdin Sane, Diamond Dogs at least one of the Berlin Albums - I vote Heroes - and Young Americans.

Or Free and Bad Company - lots of good stuff there.

Argh. I gotta get back to work - I wish I had my CD collection close by...

And ultrafilter - again, thanks. One idea: Re-list the full set of genres you are going to work on in the OP of each thread like this. I wanted to delve into the Ramones, Sex Pistols and Elvis Costello, until I went back and checked and reminded myself you had a "Punk/Post Punk" category...just a thought.

[E-Sabbath]

Chuck Berry: The Great 28. Remastered, very good. And if you've never heard Havana Moon... well, it's reggae, decades early. Man was a genius.

Ray Charles: There is a recent Rhino Greatest Hits that was surprisingly good.

Rolling Stones: I'd vote for the Hot Rocks compliation, myself.

Who: Live At The Isle of Wight. Most of their good stuff, including all of Tommy.

Black Sabbath: The Ozzy Osbourne Years Box Set

Speaking of Rhino, we should salt this with some of their yearly or genre compilations, because there's a lot of... if not important, then weird and significant stuff that was one-hit-wondered. I wouldn't want to listen to a Herman's Hermits album, but we need some of that.

Woodstock: 4 CD Box Set pretty much covers that era, though. If you want to limit it to the movie, fine.

Need some Dylan, and maybe some Kingston Trio, for roots.

This Is Spinal Tap.

[E-Sabbath]

http://rhinorecords.com/store/cd_store.lasso
Here, go look through this for a bit.

Addition: The specific Beach Boys Greatest Hits needed is 'Endless Summer'.

Soundtrack: The Big Chill

[ultrafilter]

Originally Posted by WordMan

And ultrafilter - again, thanks. One idea: Re-list the full set of genres you are going to work on in the OP of each thread like this. I wanted to delve into the Ramones, Sex Pistols and Elvis Costello, until I went back and checked and reminded myself you had a "Punk/Post Punk" category...just a thought.

Eh, I don't see any harm in the overlap. Anything we list from the late 70s here has a good chance of showing up in the punk or metal threads anyway, so what's the point in trying to avoid it?

I'll throw in some picks a little later.

[Qwertyasdfg]

Originally Posted by WordMan

Beatles - Everything - let's not kid ourselves.

Maybe we should go through the Beatles album by album?
Please Please Me - lots of catchy pop and proto-rock. Great album. Possibly essential.
With The Beatles - Some good songs but not spectacular. Not essential.
A Hard Days Night - same deal as With the Beatles. Not essential
Beatles For Sale - A few good songs. Not essential.
Help! - A few good songs (frankly I don't like "Yesterday" and that leaves "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" as the only remarkable song on the album.) Not essential.
Rubber Soul - "Norwegian Wood" "Drive My Car" "Michelle" "Girl" "You Won't See Me" and the best Beatles song of them all (and one of the best rock songs ever) "In My Life". Absolutely essential.
Revolver - "Tax Man" "Eleanor Rigby" "And Your Bird Can Sing" "Love You Too" "Tomorrow Never Knows." Definitely essential.
Sgt. Pepper - The title track and "A Day in the Life" are two really great songs, but beyond that I don't see what's so great about this album. Good, but not essential.
Magical Mystery Tour - Title track, "Penny Lane," "All YOu need is love" "I am the Walrus" "Strawberry Fields" and some other good songs. Possibly essential.
White Album - Lots of classic songs, along with a few duds, but probably the Beatles third best album overall. Essential.
Abbey Road - A good album but not specatacular. Possibly essential if only for the last 4 songs.
Let It Be - Get Back is about all it's got going for it. (I really dislike the title track.) Not essential.

Certainly the Beatles are one of, if not THE greatest rock band of all, but their entire catalog is not essential (unless we unfairly contort the definition of "essential" to cover all their material just because of their monumental importance to rock.)

[Thudlow Boink]

Qwertyasdfg, I'm going to insist on either Abbey Road or Sgt. Pepper's, to show what the Beatles could do on the album level. (The Beatles, after all, played a key role in turning the focus in rock from the single to the album.) Abbey Road is the better album musically, with side 2 especially adding up to way more than the sum of its parts, but Sgt. Pepper has greater cultural/historical significance.

And I think there needs to be some representative of their earlier stuff; Please Please Me would do, or the "red album" or even Past Masters Vol. 1.

[E-Sabbath]

Sgt. Pepper is essential as an entire album. That's how it broke people's minds, as the first (?) concept album.

[E-Sabbath]

Oh, bloody hell. Nobody's mentioned Is God.

So... Cream of Clapton or Crossroads?

Frampton Comes Alive, of course, too.

[E-Sabbath]

I hate replying to myself, but we need some Dead, and we need some more folk.
Peter, Paul, and Mommy for the Folk? God, I hate that album, but...

And what concert for the Dead? Clearly not any actual album.

70s Punk:
Rhino Says
http://rhinorecords.com/store/Produc...o?Number=73926
I agree, generally. Though it might need some Germs. I didn't see any Germs

http://rhinorecords.com/store/BoxedSets.lasso
Here, boxed sets. Worth prodding through. I'm trying to figure out what's needed from Do-Wop.

[Qwertyasdfg]

Originally Posted by E-Sabbath

Sgt. Pepper is essential as an entire album. That's how it broke people's minds, as the first (?) concept album.

I think this is at the heart of the debate over what makes an essential album (and I think we have to debate essentials at an album level, not an artist level, or a song level because those are just too hard.) Is it the historical significance (ie "the first concept album", "first punk album," etc) or strictly the musical value that makes an album essential.

I think it's clear that albums should be judged by quality not influence. After all, the influence and historical significance of an album are imposed on an album from the outside, and not controlled by the artist. At the end of the day, nobody throws on an album on for its historical signifcance.

That said, Sgt. Pepper just doesn't do it for me.

[Johnny Angel]

Sage Rat wrote:

Elvis played the blues. It was just called rock because Elvis was white. Rock as we know it today sprouted from surfer music.

Interesting assertions. I can't say much about the influence of surf music, though this sounds contentious, but I can speak to the categorization of Elvis.

I assume you would agree that it would be a mistake to start the 'essential' Rock 'n' Roll library with Elvis. It would be, in fact, about as silly as starting the dictionary with the letter 'E.'

There is a controversy over what exactly the first Rock record is, and of course the question is really about the essence of Rock 'n' Roll itself. Here are some prevailing notions:

• Rock 'n' Roll is whatever Alan Freed called Rock 'n' Roll (it was he who started the whole thing, after all, using the term as a euphemism for what was once called 'race records')
• Rock 'n' Roll is music of the kind that Alan Freed called "Rock 'n' Roll" (he recognized a lot more than just race records by the time he died, so the definition could extend forward into new forms, or backwards since the stuff he was talking about had been around a good while)
• Rock 'n' Roll is the kind of stuff that was being called Rock 'n' Roll when the music became mainstream (this would include Pat Boone)
• Rock 'n' Roll is a blend of R&B and Country and Western (this was a later development in the genre, but people place a lot of importance on it). Part of the difficulty of this theory is that the mutual influence between hillbilly and race records goes pretty far back -- just look at Leadbelly.
• Rock 'n' Roll is just another name for R&B (consistent with the Alan Freed theory, at least for the early fifties, though white acts like Bill Haley & The Comets got into it pretty quickly). I saw an interview with Fats Domino that was done sometime in the mid-fifties. The guy asked him, "How long have you been playing Rock 'n' Roll?" Fats said, "I don't know about Rock 'n' Roll. I play R&B, and I've been doing it for twelve years." Indeed, the sounds that Alan Freed labeled Rock 'n' Roll had been going on for at least a decade. Admittedly, not all of it had recieved the R&B label. Labels can be tricky. Much of it was sold as Jazz or Blues. And especially with the advent of Doo Wop, you got a sound which was very like the music of The Mills Brothers and The Ink Spots from the 1930's -- and both of those groups had roots in the Barbershop Quartet scene.
• Rock 'n' Roll is music made with the electric guitar (this theory seems to be what people are thinking when they suggest Les Paul and Mary Ford's How High the Moon as the first Rock record.)

As to Elvis specifically, yes he was often singing R&B or Blues tunes, but if you compare his versions to the ones he was covering, you'll find that he was generally delivering a much more 'country' or 'white' sound. Just some examples for comparison:

• Crying in the Chapel - Sonny Til and the Orioles
• One Night of Sin - Smiley Lewis (The usual version you hear from Elvis renders it as One Night with You, but he also did it with the original lyrics)
• Such a Night - The Drifters (Clyde McPhatter)
• A Fool Such as I - The Robins

[E-Sabbath]

Well... I do, actually. Throw certain albums on for their historical significance. Or at least, that's why I listen to them the first time.

What I was saying, though, is that Pepper isn't important because of the songs on the album, but as the complete album. Certain songs are not as good as others, but between Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper, I'd have to choose Sgt. Pepper as the better _album_, even with weaker songs. And, of course, it was incredibly influential. It's even better when you listen to it after Pet Sounds, too. You get the real sense of competition between the two bands.

[E-Sabbath]

Look, let's hit the roots and play forwards. Rhino again. (Why? Because they're _there_)

http://rhinorecords.com/store/Produc...o?Number=78353
http://rhinorecords.com/store/Produc...o?Number=76660
http://rhinorecords.com/store/CatalogList.lasso?Style=Early%20Rock%20'n'%20Roll
http://rhinorecords.com/store/Catalo...Classic%20Rock

There. Let's look through these, and see what we can pull out of the backs of our heads.

[ultrafilter]

Originally Posted by Qwertyasdfg

I think it's clear that albums should be judged by quality not influence. After all, the influence and historical significance of an album are imposed on an album from the outside, and not controlled by the artist. At the end of the day, nobody throws on an album on for its historical signifcance.

If you care about music history, influence matters a lot. But the distinction between quality and influence is purely academic; after all, albums become influential because people listen to them and want to emulate their sound. That sounds like a pretty good mark of quality, don't you think?

My picks for essential rock:

Rolling Stones, The London Years. This is a box set that collects all of their singles from 1962-1972. It's more or less complete for the casual fan.

Led Zeppelin, I-IV, Houses of the Holy.

Beatles, Rubber Soul and Revolver at least. The White, Red and Blue Albums round out this collection quite nicely.

Who, Ultimate Collection. A two-disc set that collects pretty much everything the casual fan could want.

Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon.

Black Sabbath, Black Sabbath, Paranoid, Master of Reality.

King Crimson, In the Court of the Crimson King.

Jethro Tull, Iron Butterfly, Steppenwolf, ELO, and ELP all belong on here (if only as personal favorites), but I don't know the albums well enough to point to anything specific.

[Don Draper]

Originally Posted by E-Sabbath

I hate replying to myself, but we need some Dead, and we need some more folk.
And what concert for the Dead? Clearly not any actual album.

Workingman's Dead and American Beauty ought to be on any essentials list.

Other essentials:
Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited and John Wesley Harding
Joni Mitchell: Blue and Court & Spark
Allman Brothers: Live at the Fillmore East and Eat a Peach
Jefferson Airplane: Surrealistic Pillow and Volunteers
the Moody Blues: Days of Future Passed
Janis Joplin: Pearl
Patti Smith Group: Horses
Jimi Hendrix: Electric Ladyland
Genesis: the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
the Mothers of Invention: We're Only In This For the Money

[lieu]

I'll mention a couple of favorites I haven't seen yet and apologies if I simply missed them above...

Deep Purple
ZZ Top
Lynyrd Skynyrd
The James Gang
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Neil Young
Montrose
Badfinger
Donovan
Mommas & the Poppas
I think some of Robert Plant's solo stuff was pretty choice as well.

[psycat90]

Some of my faves to add to the mix:

Bruce Springsteen
Bad Religion
Steve Miller Band
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Billy Joel
Ministry
Johnny Cash
Bad Company
Kiss
The Cure
XTC

[E-Sabbath]

All good, but most post-1980.

[Boardwalk Elvis]

Thin Lizzy - Vagabonds of the Western World

Rory Gallagher - Calling Card

Big Star - Radio City

The Zombies - Odessey & Oracle

[YaWanna]

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay, Architect

Workingman's Dead and American Beauty ought to be on any essentials list.

Other essentials:
Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited and John Wesley Harding
Joni Mitchell: Blue and Court & Spark
Allman Brothers: Live at the Fillmore East and Eat a Peach
Jefferson Airplane: Surrealistic Pillow and Volunteers
the Moody Blues: Days of Future Passed
Janis Joplin: Pearl
Patti Smith Group: Horses
Jimi Hendrix: Electric Ladyland
Genesis: the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
the Mothers of Invention: We're Only In This For the Money

You beat me to it, Art (at least, the Allman Bros. albums) - excellent list!

[kevja]

Originally Posted by Qwertyasdfg

Maybe we should go through the Beatles album by album?
Please Please Me - lots of catchy pop and proto-rock. Great album. Possibly essential.
With The Beatles - Some good songs but not spectacular. Not essential.
A Hard Days Night - same deal as With the Beatles. Not essential
Beatles For Sale - A few good songs. Not essential.
Help! - A few good songs (frankly I don't like "Yesterday" and that leaves "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" as the only remarkable song on the album.) Not essential.
Rubber Soul - "Norwegian Wood" "Drive My Car" "Michelle" "Girl" "You Won't See Me" and the best Beatles song of them all (and one of the best rock songs ever) "In My Life". Absolutely essential.
Revolver - "Tax Man" "Eleanor Rigby" "And Your Bird Can Sing" "Love You Too" "Tomorrow Never Knows." Definitely essential.
Sgt. Pepper - The title track and "A Day in the Life" are two really great songs, but beyond that I don't see what's so great about this album. Good, but not essential.
Magical Mystery Tour - Title track, "Penny Lane," "All YOu need is love" "I am the Walrus" "Strawberry Fields" and some other good songs. Possibly essential.
White Album - Lots of classic songs, along with a few duds, but probably the Beatles third best album overall. Essential.
Abbey Road - A good album but not specatacular. Possibly essential if only for the last 4 songs.
Let It Be - Get Back is about all it's got going for it. (I really dislike the title track.) Not essential.

Certainly the Beatles are one of, if not THE greatest rock band of all, but their entire catalog is not essential (unless we unfairly contort the definition of "essential" to cover all their material just because of their monumental importance to rock.)

Magical Mystery Tour - Title track, "Penny Lane," "All YOu need is love" "I am the Walrus" "Strawberry Fields" and some other good songs. Possibly essential.

Certainly the Beatles are one of, if not THE greatest rock band of all, but their entire catalog is not essential (unless we unfairly contort the definition of "essential" to cover all their material just because of their monumental importance to rock.)[/quote]

Interesting. Not only were they monumental to the importance of rock, but so were many of their songs and albums.

"Please, Please Me" (I may be getting this one confused with “The Beatles Second album" and "With the Beatles” are The Beatles at their raw and unpolished best. A foundation to what was to become. "British Invasion" at it's finest. Both essential.

"Hard days Night" A soundtrack to one of the best rock and roll movies of all time. Essential.

I love "Magical Mystery Tour" and imho, it's one of the most overlooked albums in their collection. But not essential for a rock and roll library.

Absolute essentials from the Beatle catalog -- White, Rubber Soul, Revolver, and Abbey Road.

Which brings us to "Sgt. Pepper." I don't believe any rock and roll library worth a tinkers damn would exclude this album. It was the first "concept" album. It received huge critical success, and went to number one without a single. And many times was a metaphor. For nearly 20 years when any artist released an important album, it often was referred to as "Their Sgt. Pepper."

Over past few years, it's become fashionable to not consider this the best Beatles album. and maybe it's not. Imho, it's second to the White Album.

But more importantly, it was for many years of the most groundbreaking and historic album in the history of rock music. I believe you couldn't have a discussion of rock music without the mentioning this album. ESSENTIAL!

[Ludovic]

I'd like to add The Wall, in addition to the other Floyd recordings mentioned. As a matter of fact, if you had to drop one of the ones mentioned it'd be PatGoD. While successful (they even had a #1 song at the time, although not off that album,) and not my least favorite Floyd album, it is hardly remembered today. And while Syd Barrett certainly influenced early 70s music (and was one of the first to sport a "homeless guy goth" look in addition to influencing glam which would influence goth,) one could argue it was more a personality thing than being due to Piper at the Gates of Dawn.

The Wall is the Floyd at the peak of their talent: incredible lyrics and the absolutely best guitar soloes ever recorded. You can't leave it out, on the basis of its greatness alone. In addition, without the enduring success that a SECOND Top Ten Album of All Time gave them, I believe there wouldn't be as bands around today influenced by pop-prog such as Tool, Radiohead, and Coheed and Cambria.

Now granted, without Syd, the Cure and a handful of others wouldnt be the same, but his influence is less direct. That doesn't keep PatGoD and Syd's solo effort from kicking much ass, though.

[dalej42]

I'll stick up for my favorite: Genesis. While I'd really like to suggest The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, there is just too much filler on the second disc to make this essential.

I'll go with Selling England By the Pound. An album with Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Steve Hackett, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks.

Also in the prog rock category, I think The Yes Album should probably be included.

[Ass For A Hat]

Originally Posted by ultrafilter

...an attempt to get the many musical minds of the SDMB to sit down and discuss what works are absolutely necessary for a well-stocked musical library.

In the interest of making this a dicussion, I'd like to take issue with some of the responses to this thread. Though I realize this was not the intent, it seems to me this has become just another 'list your favorite albums' thread. Many, many of the albums listed here are fine records, but in no way "absolutely necessary for a well stocked musical library".

Four Aerosmith records, five by Led Zeppelin, seven Rolling Stones records, everything by The Beatles? Robert Plant's solo stuff? And I love The Kinks...honestly I do. They're tremendously underappreciated, but nothing they did after Muswell Hillbillies is anywhere near essential. Maybe the OP will jump in and tell me I'm full of crap, but I did not take this to be the point of the thread. Is this not to be a list of what is truly the best of the best?

Also, I'd like to ask Art Vandelay, Architect about his inclusion of The Moody Blues on his list. You've got a nice list of important records by great artists. I've never viewed The Moody Blues as anything other than a curiosity. Would you mind elaborating a little on what you think makes them (or that record) great? And I don't mean this to sound like sniping. I really want to hear your opinion.

For now I just want to throw out one record that I think is missing so far. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. I just saw part one of the Dylan documentary, so he's fresh in my mind. Given my earlier diatribe though, it's only fair that I throw out more of my own suggestions for the group's derision. I will do so.

[Torgo]

Originally Posted by kevja

Magical Mystery Tour - Title track, "Penny Lane," "All YOu need is love" "I am the Walrus" "Strawberry Fields" and some other good songs. Possibly essential.

Those are fine songs, but only "Walrus" was part of the original Magical Mystery Tour album; the others were all released as singles. Other than "Fool on the Hill" and "Walrus", Magical Mystery Tour is a pretty tepid affair. I vote non-essential.

[Thudlow Boink]

Originally Posted by Ass For A Hat

Also, I'd like to ask Art Vandelay, Architect about his inclusion of The Moody Blues on his list. You've got a nice list of important records by great artists. I've never viewed The Moody Blues as anything other than a curiosity. Would you mind elaborating a little on what you think makes them (or that record) great? And I don't mean this to sound like sniping. I really want to hear your opinion.

I'd like to say something in the Moodies' defense. In its day, Days of Future Passed was heralded as the great fusion of symphonic orchestral and pop/rock music. As such, it was at least partially successful, probably enough so to be considered an important milestone in the history of rock, and it did yield two great singles ("Tuesday Afternoon" and "Nights in White Satin") which, admittedly, don't exactly rock all that hard; and the album as a whole is not free from pretention and corniness. Some of their subsequent albums were actually better: though not backed up by a symphony orchestra, they were often symphonic in texture, and have some gorgeous melodies and vocals, an interesting variety of instrumentation, and the work of several skillful singers/songwriters.

[Marley23]

Originally Posted by E-Sabbath

Sgt. Pepper is essential as an entire album. That's how it broke people's minds, as the first (?) concept album.

Frank Zappa's Freak Out! predates Pepper by about a year. I have no idea how to decide what's essential Zappa, but from the early days, Hot Rats should probably be there, and maybe Freak Out! and We're Only in It for the Money.

[zoogirl]

Speaking of Zappa, what about his greatest prodigy - Alice Cooper?

The originator of Glam (nope, NOT Bowie - Alice beat him by at least a year), influencer of everyone from Kiss to Slipknot, Alice was the first truly outrageous act in Rock. He's still at it full force too.

I'd suggest "Billion Dollar Babies", "Love It To Death", "School's Out" and "Killer".

[SkipMagic]

Chicago - Chicago II
Chicago - Chicago IX (If you're wanting a greatest hits package.)

[woodstockbirdybird]

I assume soul will be another list. What about punk? If we're counting punk, I'll add more. In addition to (most of) what's already been mentioned:
The Velvet Underground - Anything, really.
The Stooges - The Stooges
New York Dolls - New York Dolls
Television - Television
Blondie - Parallel Lines
Various Artists - Nuggets (Box Set)
Big Star - #1 Record
Big Star - Sister/Lovers
Queen - Sheer Heart Attack
The Johnny Burnette Trio - Rockabilly Boogie
Various Artists - Loud, Fast And Out Of Control (Box Set)
The Yardbirds - Ultimate!
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks

[woodstockbirdybird]

Oops. Television's entry should be Marquee Moon, not their eponymous album, which was released in the early 90s (I think).

[woodstockbirdybird]

Another addition - if we're not doing a punk/post-punk/new wave entry, I'd include Entertainment! by Gang of Four. Also This Year's Model by Elvis Costello & the Attractions.

[Qwertyasdfg]

Originally Posted by ultrafilter

If you care about music history, influence matters a lot. But the distinction between quality and influence is purely academic; after all, albums become influential because people listen to them and want to emulate their sound. That sounds like a pretty good mark of quality, don't you think?

Certainly influence is important. I'm a music enthusiast and I constantly look at the influences of artists and albums to try and find more music that I might like, and just for curiosity's sake. But I don't listen to albums or artists (and I don't think many people do) because of their influence but rather, as you say, because influence tends to be a side-affect of quality. But that isn't always the case and it doesn't seem like a worthy metric for "essentialness" when, had I recorded "Sgt. Pepper" in my basement it wouldn't be essential but since the Beatles made it, it is.

[WordMan]

Originally Posted by Ass For A Hat

Four Aerosmith records, five by Led Zeppelin, seven Rolling Stones records, everything by The Beatles? Robert Plant's solo stuff? And I love The Kinks...honestly I do. They're tremendously underappreciated, but nothing they did after Muswell Hillbillies is anywhere near essential. Maybe the OP will jump in and tell me I'm full of crap, but I did not take this to be the point of the thread. Is this not to be a list of what is truly the best of the best?

Great point, AfaH (very weird thinking about typing your username out for a full acknowledgement). It's tough and I am feelin' it since, judging by your paragraph above, you singled some of my recommendations out. Ultimately - it depends one what you are looking for. With Rock, especially of the era through the 70's - it was so central to most folks' upbringings and cultural identity that there is a lack of perspective - it was woven into our lives. So - as for Aerosmith, say, goes - do all four of their albums really need to make the cut? Nah - they do in my library because I can't imagine hearing Toys in the Attic without access to Mama Kin or Train Kept a Rollin' - but I acknowledge the lack of perspective on my part.

I agree with you about the Moody Blues, but really love most of Art's other choices. Woodstockbirdybird has some great ones, too.

As for the Beatles - yes I agree not all of their stuff is essential. But in the classic "500 years from now" question, I can see their "canon" being one of the few bodies of work that is consistently regarded, dissected, explored and played in its entirety.

[Emily Litella]

Derek & the Dominos

Iron Butterfly - In a gadda da vida? For the historical significance of the first (? I could be wrong?) super long drum solo.

I also vote for Led Zepplin's Houses of the Holy, The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed, Moody Blues Days of Future Past, again, not sure, but weren't they the first group to play with an orchestra?

Anyone mention Van Morrison yet? The album with Moondance on it.

[WordMan]

Originally Posted by SeeNoReason

Anyone mention Van Morrison yet? The album with Moondance on it.

Called, strangely enough, Moondance

I would expect Astral Weeks would make the cut, too.

[ultrafilter]

Originally Posted by woodstockbirdybird

Another addition - if we're not doing a punk/post-punk/new wave entry, I'd include Entertainment! by Gang of Four. Also This Year's Model by Elvis Costello & the Attractions.

There will be a punk thread later on, but the early parts probably belong in this thread as well.

[Ass For A Hat]

Woodstockbirdybird beat me to the puch with a few of his choices, but I'll add a couple:

I'd argue that The Velvet Underground and Nico is the only one of the VU catalog that is essential. Also, I'd say the same about Big Star's Radio City.

Tough to narrow down my list as far a Neil Young goes...I'll go with Harvest and Rust Never Sleeps. I think some Neil fans may argue with that though.

Since we're including early punk:
The Ramones - Rocket To Russia
The Clash-The Clash

Regarding Yes, I think I'd go with Close To The Edge. For my money, that record has them at the top of their game, with their best lineup.

And since The Beatles have been much discussed in this thread...my picks would be Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's, and Abbey Road. It's tough to leave Rubber Soul off, but I think Revolver marks a giant step forward in their songwriting style and level of innovation. Their essential catalog should begin there.

Lastly, for the sake of discussion, I'd like to add Tom Waits. He's one of my favorite artists, though I'm having a little trouble classifying any of his pre-80's work as essential. I think I'll suggest Blue Valentines, because it began to foreshadow some of his mid-80's work that I do think is essential.

[Waterman]

Just got around to viewing this thread and I must say that you are missing some very influential and important additions to the rock lexicon.

The greatest omission, in my opinion, is the combination (they are both obviously their own entities but they are linked by the fates of the 1965-1966 tour they made and the Basement Tapes) of Bob Dylan and the The Band.

Dylan cannot be left off of this list as he helped to define the genre of folk-rock and also because of the transition during 1965-1966 from pure folk to an electrified folk. Also, the Band were one of the great, unheralded rock bands of the 50's (backing Hawkins), 60's (on their own and backing Dylan), and the 70's on their own.

It seems that all of you need to look beyond the obvious and stop the endless arguments regarding the Beatles, who may have revolutionized the world of pop music but did little to further the cause of rock music.

[MisterThyristor]

Originally Posted by SkipMagic

Chicago - Chicago II
Chicago - Chicago IX (If you're wanting a greatest hits package.)

I was going to say that everyone was leaving out the "horn bands" until SkipMagic mentioned this. I would add Blood, Sweat and Tears.

[NAF1138]

There isn't a whole lot I want to add, most of what is on this list is essentialish. There are a couple I noticed were missing though.

Bo Diddley- Rock and Roll owes more to this man than I think most people realize, check out the Chess Box.

T-Bone Walker- I was listening to an early recording today, and I don't know if Chuck Berry was borrowing from him or the other way around...but he deserves to be on the list with Chuck and Bo. Check out Blues Masters: the very best of T Bone Walker

(I know many would catagorize these guys as blues, but there influence was so extream and the time lines overlap to the point that I think they should fall into the Rock catagory. These are the folks the Brits were lovingly stealing from after all. I will however be leaving Buddy Guy off the list as he leans just a bit too far the other way.)

I know they have been mentioned but I think that Cream deserves another nod as having the single greatest collection of musical talent any three piece band has ever seen.

I can't believe no one mentioned The Animals yet, but The Zombies got a mention, so all is not lost.

The Who have also been mentioned, but not their amazing Live at Leeds album (get the 2 disc special edition, it has a live performance of Tommy as the second disc)

I am not going to touch the Beatles again except to say that they belong on this list and you all know it, so stop complaining. Same goes for the Stones.

And lastly Warren Zevon . Excitable boy is a good one, but I would say go for a compilation of some sort. I like the anthology I'll Sleep When I'm Dead but YMMV.