# Albums that will never go away **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 19, 2008, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279 "2008-09-19T08:02:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr\_Buttons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Mr\_Buttons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Buttons)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/1 "2008-09-19T08:02:39Z")
Not the bad kind, I’m talking the good classic stuff you stumbled across in high school, once you’ve developed a musical taste. The kind of great albums that don’t deserve to be re-done by a modern artist, but left to their original content into infinite. I distinctly remember the first time I heard “The Beatles: White Album” and “Pink Floyd’s: The Wall” in high school. I wasn’t even conceived when the "White Album came out, and I was 1 when Pink Floyd put out “The Wall”, but when I heard them I loved them. Instantly fell in love w/ both albums after I was exposed to them around 16-18. So what albums do you all believe will never go away? (I’d like to place a bet that today’s 1 year olds will love “Tool” in 16 years, but no one will take my bet.) 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/2 "2008-09-19T14:07:05Z")
The cliche answer (and true, for me) was **Zeppelin IV**. I heard it when I was about 16 (1989-ish) and it blew me away. Same for **Highway to Hell** by AC/DC. **Bat Out of Hell** by Meat Loaf - I had never heard so much raw emotion in a voice. I remember the first time I heard **Smells Like Teen Spirit** like it was yesterday - one of my friends in college said “I just got this album, and I can’t put it down!” It was pretty great. Also **Ragged Glory** by Neil Young. Maybe his best, in a long, distinguished catalog. It really spoke to me, at that time and place, about 1991. **Freedom** _might_ be a better album (arguable), but **Ragged Glory** knocked me for a loop. Joe ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/3 "2008-09-19T14:10:46Z")
Several other Beatles albums, of course. Most notably _Revolver, Rubber Sould, Sgr. Pepper_ and _Abbey Road_. I’d also expect the Rolling Stones’s _Beggar’s Banquet_ and _Let It Bleed_. _Tommy_, _Who’s Next_, and _Who Are You_. And things like _The Eagles Greatest Hits_ will continue to be successful. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/4 "2008-09-19T14:59:56Z")
James Taylor _Greatest Hits_ AC/DC _Back in Black_ Bill Joel _The Stranger_ Pink Floyd _Dark Side of the Moon_ Bruce Springsteen _Born to Run_ ---
**Author:** ![Euryphaessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Euryphaessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euryphaessa)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/5 "2008-09-19T15:09:11Z")
Pearl Jam’s _Vs._ ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/6 "2008-09-19T15:26:47Z")
_Layla_ Allman Brothers, _Live at Fillmore East_ ---
**Author:** ![Typo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@Typo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/7 "2008-09-19T15:29:20Z")
Yes, _Close to the Edge_ ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/8 "2008-09-19T15:31:53Z")
Fleetwood Mac - _Rumors_ Paul Simon - _Graceland_ Steely Dan - _Aja_ Michael Jackson - _Thriller_ ---
**Author:** ![akira5822](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@akira5822](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akira5822)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/9 "2008-09-19T15:32:50Z")
**London Calling, The Clash** ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/10 "2008-09-19T16:30:23Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Several other Beatles albums, of course. Most notably \*…Rubber Sould… Er, I don’t think that the Beatles had an album with that title. 😉 I’m going to humbly disagree with some of the mentions thus far, particularly Yes. I will suggest The Sun Sessions from Elvis Presley. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/11 "2008-09-19T16:31:56Z")
My choices: Beatles: The White Album and Sgt Peppers Zeppelin: Zep 1-4 Yes: Close to the Edge and Fragile Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here. Traffic: John Barleycorn Must Die Cream: Disraeli Gears Crosby, Stills & Nash (and Young): Déjà Vu Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue & American In Paris by Bernstein. ELP: Brain Salad Surgery Allman Brothers: Live at Fillmore East & Brothers and Sisters Bruce Springsteen Born to Run ---
**Author:** ![UncleNito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7cd45c/32.png) [@UncleNito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleNito)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/12 "2008-09-19T16:45:55Z")
Two peope beat me to _Born to Run_, but yeah, that. _Kind of Blue_ by Miles Davis, although other artists have done good work with some of the tracks. _Automatic For The People_ should probably be on the list. I was never a big R.E.M. fan but that is one of the definitive alternative rock albums. I’m trying to think if there are any definitive, top-to-bottom metal albums. Metallica’s Black Album? _Appetite For Destruction_ by G & R? ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/13 "2008-09-19T16:53:03Z")
Yeah, all of the above plus: The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers, The Who’s Quadrophenia, Black Sabbath (the first one), and U2’s War. ---
**Author:** ![lalenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@lalenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalenin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/14 "2008-09-19T16:54:59Z")
Barry White - Can’t Get Enough ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/15 "2008-09-19T16:59:15Z")
> [@UncleNito](#): > > Two peope beat me to _Born to Run_, but yeah, that. > > _Kind of Blue_ by Miles Davis, although other artists have done good work with some of the tracks. > > _Automatic For The People_ should probably be on the list. I was never a big R.E.M. fan but that is one of the definitive alternative rock albums. > > I’m trying to think if there are any definitive, top-to-bottom metal albums. Metallica’s Black Album? \*\* _Appetite For Destruction_ by G & R\*\*? This one definitely - I can’t believe I didn’t think of it!! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/16 "2008-09-19T17:32:22Z")
One of the first to come to my mind is **The Cure** - Disintegration. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/17 "2008-09-19T18:03:15Z")
Most of my picks have been mentioned already, but here a few: **Santana: Abraxas Sex Pistols: Never Mind The Bollocks Ramones: Rocket to Russia** ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/18 "2008-09-19T18:13:28Z")
The original **Jesus Christ Superstar** ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/19 "2008-09-19T18:16:24Z")
_Nevermind_ by Nirvana Johnny Cash at Folsum Prison _Pretty Hate Machine_ by Nine Inch Nails _Walk Among Us_ by The Misfits ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279/20 "2008-09-19T18:19:28Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The original **Jesus Christ Superstar** Broadway albums, I’ll add \*\*West Side Story \*\*then. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-that-will-never-go-away/464279.md?page=2)