# Albums or compilations that define American Music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 24, 2016, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696 "2016-09-24T02:23:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696/21 "2016-09-24T17:48:03Z")
“Will The Circle Be Unbroken” vol 1, by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with classic traditional county performers. Earl Scruggs, Roy Acuff, Mother Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Vassar Clements, and others. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696/22 "2016-09-24T17:56:36Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > **Biograph** is for Dylan pussies! You need all of **The Bootleg Series** , starting with _Live at the Albert Hall 1966_. > > Somebody said the first CD…the acoustic set…was substandard, but they’re full of shit. And the second, electric disc, with The Band, is one of the great sets ever. “Play fuckin’ LOUD.” Calm down Ike ;), as I said I’m NOT a Dylan pussy, so I own almost every official recording of the man, including all of the Bootleg Series with the exception of the Complete Basement Tapes, but only because I don’t have the money right now to get it. Yeah, the Bootleg Series is great, great stuff, and IMHO the first release _Bootleg Series 1-3_ is qualitatively as important as _Biograph_, and works as a career retrospective just as well, though it consists solely of unreleased outtakes. Other people would have made a career only out of the stuff Dylan left in the can. And yeah, the “Albert Hall” album is essential, and the acoustic set is as cool as the famous electric part (though you can clearly hear that he’s stoned out of his mind, sometimes he sounds like sedated, but he nails every word and every note of such complicated and wordy songs like _Visions Of Johanna_ (I love this version, maybe even better than the _Blonde On Blonde_ studio track), _Tambourine Man_ or _Desolation Row_). ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696/23 "2016-09-24T17:58:24Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” vol 1, by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with classic traditional county performers. Earl Scruggs, Roy Acuff, Mother Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Vassar Clements, and others. Yeah, I did think of that album when I composed the OP and thought about mentioning it. Great example. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696/24 "2016-09-24T18:26:29Z")
When I saw the thread title, I immediately thought of Steve Miller Band’s Greatest Hits 1974-78. Chock full of classic rock station staples. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696/25 "2016-09-24T19:19:52Z")
_Brilliant Corners_, Thelonious Monk. It was the album that brought his unique writing and musicality to international recognition. According to Wiki, > [@](#): > > The complex title track, which featured Rollins, was so difficult to play that the final version had to be edited together from multiple takes. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696/26 "2016-09-24T19:31:17Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” vol 1, by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with classic traditional county performers. Earl Scruggs, Roy Acuff, Mother Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Vassar Clements, and others. Just what I was going to suggest. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696/27 "2016-09-24T19:41:33Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > _Brilliant Corners_, Thelonious Monk. It was the album that brought his unique writing and musicality to international recognition… If I may respectfully disagree, I suggest that Monk had international recognition at least since _Genius of Modern Music_, which included recordings made as early as 1947 and which was first released in 1951. > **[Genius of Modern Music, Vols. One & Two](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genius_of_Modern_Music:_Volume_1)** > > Genius of Modern Music, Vols. One & Two are a pair of separate but related 12" compilation albums by American jazz pianist Thelonious Monk released on Blue Note in 1956. > Monk recorded six sessions for Blue Note, all produced by Alfred Lion: October 15 and 24, 1947, November 21, 1947, July 2, 1948, July 23, 1951, and May 30, 1952. All sessions were recorded by Doug Hawkins at WOR Studios, except July 2, 1948, recorded by Rudy Van Gelder at his home studio. > Two 10"s were cut from the first five s... I love _Brilliant Corners_, but it was recorded in 1956. (I love _Monk’s Music_ (1957) even more…how many albums feature BOTH Coleman Hawkins and John Coltrane on tenor?) ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696/28 "2016-09-24T19:55:08Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > John Hartford’s 1971 album _Aereo-Plain_. What happens when you give hillbillies a LOT of marijuana to smoke. Their hair gets long and their string bands get really weird. > > Sam Bush, famous fiddler/mandolinist and founder of the New Grass Revival, said that “Newgrass” music never would have happened without Hartford’s groundbreaking work. > > [Aereo-Plain - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aereo-Plain) Very cool and I agree…I had the pleasure of seeing John a lot of times…I even fixed his bus once in Springfield Illinois summer of '83. RIP John…you will always be [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_pdzFaGg-4M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pdzFaGg-4M) [Up on the hill](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aXZmbbPLaM) [Up on the hill…cover by leftover salmon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6G8t29HUiY) ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696/29 "2016-09-24T19:59:11Z")
[Woodstock: Music from the Original Soundtrack and More](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock:_Music_from_the_Original_Soundtrack_and_More) ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696/30 "2016-09-24T21:16:46Z")
There are umpteen hundred BB King and Ray Charles collections. Both of them did much for their types of music and should be remembered too. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696/31 "2016-09-24T21:25:59Z")
even tho it was old when I bought it the ramones gh album “mania” sums up their years with sire/warners nicely ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696/32 "2016-09-24T21:29:37Z")
Van Dyke Parks “Discover America” should be on this list as well. All covers of lesser known 20th century songs, amazing versions, great arrangements and production, and his best work, too. > **[Discover America](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discover_America)** > > Discover America is the second album by American recording artist Van Dyke Parks, released in May 1972 by Warner Bros. Its sound is a major departure from his debut album, Song Cycle (1967), featuring all cover versions of previously written songs. > The album mostly features songs popularized by early Calypso musicians, as well as songs by Allen Toussaint ("Occapella" and "Riverboat"), Little Feat ("Sailin' Shoes"), John Philip Sousa ("Stars and Stripes Forever") and one song of unknown origin ("... ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696/33 "2016-09-24T21:37:26Z")
Any discussion of historically important American music would be woefully incomplete without Sousa. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696/34 "2016-09-24T21:43:54Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > There are umpteen hundred BB King and Ray Charles collections. Both of them did much for their types of music and should be remembered too. Welcome back from a bit of time away, **Ranger Jeff**. Yeah, various Best of Atlantic compilations work. As long as they include _Lonely Avenue_. Love that song. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696/35 "2016-09-24T21:46:47Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > If I may respectfully disagree, I suggest that Monk had international recognition at least since _Genius of Modern Music_, which included recordings made as early as 1947 and which was first released in 1951. > > [Genius of Modern Music, Vols. One & Two - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genius_of_Modern_Music:_Volume_1) > > I love _Brilliant Corners_, but it was recorded in 1956. (I love _Monk’s Music_ (1957) even more…how many albums feature BOTH Coleman Hawkins and John Coltrane on tenor?) Tough to pick one for Monk, so I grabbed an iconic album (of which he had many). Interesting to note that he composed more music than nearly anybody else, second only to Duke Ellington, whose name is so far missing in this thread. I will also suggest that Dave Brubeck’s album **Time Out** is in keeping with the OP. Few laymen other than in the jazz community realized that there were any other time signatures besides 4/4, 3/4, etc. It took heat from the critics, but the public loved it. That the album hit #2 on the pop charts and _Take Five_ charted fairly high is remarkable. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696/36 "2016-09-25T00:34:46Z")
Damn hard to choose a representative Ellington collection. I happen to like his 1920s stuff best: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-_Y0cJ-aEbY/maxresdefault.jpg "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo (1927) HQ - Duke Ellington and his Kentucky Club Orchestra") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_Y0cJ-aEbY) His sound completely changed by the end of the '30s, with the great Blanton-Webster band. And in the '50s and again in the '60s the orchestra sounded completely different. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696/37 "2016-09-25T02:16:32Z")
One compilation, one album. Tom Petty’s late 80s album Southern Accents might well be the greatest southern rock album of all time. It’s nine songs that sum up the way the south was just starting to move from what it was to what it is now: a growing economic powerhouse that’s being forced to alter its ways for the first time in a hundred years. Brilliant songwriting and playing. The compilations is, to me, definitive. [Alan Lomax’s Sound Recordings.](http://research.culturalequity.org/home-audio.jsp) Lomax toured America and recording the songs people were writing and playing themselves. He did it for decades and essentially got music that was written and performed by Americans…not just the pros but the stuff being played in bars and around campfires that people were never bothering to set down on paper or on tape. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-or-compilations-that-define-american-music/766696.md?page=1)