# Albums where (almost) every song is known **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 29, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606 "2015-12-29T01:14:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/1 "2015-12-29T01:14:26Z")
I was putting together a playlist on Spotify and I happened to bring up the 1st Cars album. Wow, almost every song is known. They weren’t all singles, but almost all (7 of 9) get classic rock radio or movie exposure. 1. “Good Times Roll” 2. “My Best Friend’s Girl” 3. “Just What I Needed” 4. “I’m in Touch with Your World” 5. “Don’t Cha Stop” 6. “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight” 7. “Bye Bye Love” 8. “Moving in Stereo” 9. “All Mixed Up” I know blockbusters like Thriller, Rumors, Born in the USA. I think albums like Bat out of Hell and the 1st Violent Femmes and 1st Weezer may have similar track lists where many people know every song. Any other (not greatest hits collection) where almost all the tracks are “well known”. ---
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/2 "2015-12-29T01:21:28Z")
I’ve heard every track from the first Boston album on classic rock radio. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/3 "2015-12-29T01:27:10Z")
Who’s Next gets a lot of play. The most obscure tune might be Love ain’t for keeping" but I’ve heard that. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/4 "2015-12-29T01:38:16Z")
Led Zeppelin IV’s gotta be up there. Also Led Zeppelin II, for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/5 "2015-12-29T01:41:13Z")
Eagles Greatest Hits II Dark Side of the Moon. ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/6 "2015-12-29T01:44:49Z")
I was thinking this happened a lot when we were kids, back in the '80’s, and I was right. 😃 Thought you might find this interesting if you were looking for top hits, not so much if you just meant songs everyone knows. Artist Album Year Number of top 10s Michael Jackson Thriller 1982 7 Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. 1984 7 Janet Jackson Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 1989 7 Michael Jackson Bad 1987 6 George Michael Faith 1987 6 Janet Jackson Janet. 1993 6 Katy Perry Teenage Dream 2010 5 Lionel Richie Can’t Slow Down 1983 5 Janet Jackson Control 1986 5 Genesis Invisible Touch 1986 5 Madonna True Blue 1986 5 Huey Lewis and the News Fore! 1986 5 Whitney Houston Whitney 1987 5 Paula Abdul Forever Your Girl 1988 5 Bobby Brown Don’t Be Cruel 1988 5 New Kids on the Block Hangin’ Tough 1988 5 Bon Jovi New Jersey 1988 5 Milli Vanilli Girl You Know It’s True 1989 5 Various artists † Waiting to Exhale 1995 5 Fergie The Dutchess 2006 5 The Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D. 2009 5 Taylor Swift 1989 2014 5 … from the always reliable Wikipedia. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_Billboard\_Hot\_100\_chart\_achievements\_and\_milestones#Most\_top\_ten\_singles\_from\_one\_album](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_Hot_100_chart_achievements_and_milestones#Most_top_ten_singles_from_one_album) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/7 "2015-12-29T01:58:56Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Led Zeppelin IV’s gotta be up there. Also Led Zeppelin II, for that matter. LZ IV is the first one I thought of. I’ve heard all the songs on that album on classic rock radio. Some more regularly than others, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/8 "2015-12-29T02:17:49Z")
I’d imagine many of the Beatles’ albums would qualify. I listened to\* Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band\* on an airplane flight a few months ago, and I recognized almost every song. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/9 "2015-12-29T02:25:01Z")
Fleetwood Mac’s _Rumours._ ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/10 "2015-12-29T03:24:59Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > LZ IV is the first one I thought of. I’ve heard all the songs on that album on classic rock radio. Some more regularly than others, of course. Can’t remember “Four Sticks” getting much air time. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/11 "2015-12-29T03:46:36Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > I’d imagine many of the Beatles’ albums would qualify. I listened to\* Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band\* on an airplane flight a few months ago, and I recognized almost every song. Another one would be _Abbey Road_. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/12 "2015-12-29T03:49:29Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > Can’t remember “Four Sticks” getting much air time. But still–I’m only a minor LZ fan and I knew the riff off the top of my head. YMMV of course. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/13 "2015-12-29T03:54:09Z")
How well do people know Chicago Transit Authority? There were 3 singles plus “I’m a man” and “California blues and purples” and “Listen.” I’m a huge fan so it’s hard to separate myself enough to know. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/14 "2015-12-29T04:26:46Z")
Neil Diamonds “Just for You” was a regular release LP, from 1966 or 67. Here is the track listing: Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon 2:48 The Long Way Home 2:29 Red Red Wine 2:42 You’ll Forget 2:50 The Boat That I Row 2:40 Cherry Cherry 2:37 I’m A Believer 2:43 Shilo 3:23 You Got To Me 2:45 Solitary Man 2:33 Thank The Lord For The Night Time 2:55 I’ve always thought it was one of the most successful songwriters records ever. Two songs were not hits (One was released as a single after Neil left Bang though) Every other song has been a hit, some numerous times, and one was almost the biggest song of 1966: I’m a Believer by the Monkees. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/15 "2015-12-29T05:25:21Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > Can’t remember “Four Sticks” getting much air time. That the main one that gets played “less regularly” than others, but I do hear it from time to time. “Battle of Evermore” and even “Going to California” are also generally lesser played, but still get spins frequently enough that if all you did was listen to the local classic rock station, you’d recognize them. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/16 "2015-12-29T05:30:19Z")
> [@Savannah](#): > > Fleetwood Mac’s _Rumours._ That’s the one I came to suggest. All the songs are pretty well known. ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/17 "2015-12-29T06:28:00Z")
In terms of sheer airplay, exposure on soundtracks, games, and just recognition its hard to compete with Led Zeppelin IV…the only one that I almost never hear unless I listen to the album on my own is “The Battle of Evermore.” Every track from Rush’s “Permanent Waves” (aside from the closing “Natural Science” suite) is probably familiar if you grew up on a diet of classic rock radio. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/18 "2015-12-29T06:47:52Z")
Billy Joel was loaded for bear with THE STRANGER, which featured _Movin’ Out_ and _Only The Good Die Young_ and _Just The Way You Are_ and _She’s Always A Woman_ and _Vienna_ and _Scenes From An Italian Restaurant_ and – well, _The Stranger_. (The only real oddball is, ironically, _Get It Right The First Time_.) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/19 "2015-12-29T11:03:19Z")
Air, Talkie-Walkie. You may not know them by name but you’ll certainly know the tunes. You could same the same for a lot of Brian Eno’s work as well. ---
**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606/20 "2015-12-29T11:07:03Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Air, Talkie-Walkie. > > You may not know them by name but you’ll certainly know the tunes. You could same the same for a lot of Brian Eno’s work as well. For similar reasons, Play by Moby is one where (if you’re of the right age) you’d probably know each track as it played out, simply because he licensed every track to commercials and TV stations to play as beds for their promos and, in some cases, on the shows themselves. That album was everywhere on the TV for about 18 months. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-almost-every-song-is-known/741606.md?page=2)