# Classic Albums **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 14, 2000, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384 "2000-06-14T18:59:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Vestal\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Vestal\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vestal_Blue)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/1 "2000-06-14T18:59:04Z")
Disclaimer: This is truly not a hijack of the “what album are you” thread. I was thinking about this on my way into work this morning, listening to Hotel California. Having said that, what in your opinion are some candidates for classic albums? Here’s a list of some of my candidates: Dreamboat Annie - Heart Hotel California - Eagles 2112 - Rush Tapestry - Carole King Works vol. 1 - Emerson, lake & Palmer Deja Vu - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Best of Friends - Loggins & Messina Tommy - The Who Sergeant Peppers’ Lonely Hearts Club Band - beatles Court & Spark - Joanie Mitchell Little Queen - Heart Fly like an Eagle - Steve Miller Band Hasten Down the Wind - Linda Ronstadt Crystal Ball - Styx Grand Illusion - Styx Silk Degrees - Boz Scaggs The Stranger - Billy Joel Rumours - Fleetwood Mac Songs From The Wood - Jethro Tull Aqualung - Jethro Tull Primitive Love - Miami Sound Machine 1984 - Van Halen Back in Black - AC/DC ZOSO - Led Zeppelin Photographs & Memories - Jim Croce Abraxas - Santana No Secrets - Carly Simon No Jacket Required - Phil Collins Ivory Coast - Bob James Bridge Over Troubled Waters - Simon & Garfunkel ---
**Author:** ![Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falcon)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/2 "2000-06-14T19:30:55Z")
Damn you for already posting all of mine. Only thing I would add is “Moving Pictures” by Rush, although you get MAJOR points for including “2112.” ---
**Author:** ![Vestal\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Vestal\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vestal_Blue)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/3 "2000-06-14T19:32:37Z")
_Blush_. Thanks, honey! ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/4 "2000-06-14T19:39:08Z")
> [@](#): > > ZOSO - Led Zeppelin We always called it Zep IV. Also there is a dearth of '60 San Fran “Acid Rock” in your list. “Workingman’s Dead” - Dead “Janis” – Janis Joplin And also, “Dark Side of the Moon” and “The Wall” by Floyd. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@Me\_Joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Joe)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/5 "2000-06-14T19:46:26Z")
I would add to the list: Kind of Blue Sketches of Spain –both by Miles Davis For the Roses –Joni Mitchell This Year’s Model –Elvis Costello Discipline –King Crimson Outlandos D’Amour Reggetta De Blanc –The Police Hot Rocks 64-71 –The Rolling Stones and how can you possibly mention SF “acid rock” w/o listing Surrealistic Pillow Volunteers –Jefferson Airplane That’s just off the top of my head. I know i’ll think of more later. ---
**Author:** ![Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilgore_Trout_1)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/6 "2000-06-14T19:47:34Z")
led zeppelin’s 4th album is **not** called ZOSO or IV. if i had a font that contained the runes used, i would tell you what it’s really called. but i don’t. led zeppelin did this to piss off the media. so yeah, it’s led zeppelin’s 4th album. unless you have the fontset. and jimmy page’s rune doesn’t spell any word like ZoSo or Zofo. it is a rune. ---
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/7 "2000-06-14T19:55:34Z")
Quadrophenia - The Who 90125 - Yes ---
**Author:** ![Vestal\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Vestal\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vestal_Blue)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/8 "2000-06-14T19:56:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > ZOSO - Led Zeppelin > > We always called it Zep IV. > > Also there is a dearth of '60 San Fran “Acid Rock” in your list. > > “Workingman’s Dead” - Dead > “Janis” – Janis Joplin > > And also, > “Dark Side of the Moon” and “The Wall” by Floyd. > \*\* I stand corrected, Chief. Dark Side of the Moon definitely belongs! My only defense is to say the list was not complete, being just _some_ of my choices. ---
**Author:** ![purrplebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/90ced4/32.png) [@purrplebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purrplebear)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/9 "2000-06-14T19:56:52Z")
I also really like your list, my dear. Except I’m not too much of a fan of the really hard rock. The rest of your list is great! I’d add my own, but then I’d be laughed at by most of you, so I won’t subject myself to that today. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jayron\_32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/41988e/32.png) [@jayron\_32](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayron_32)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/10 "2000-06-14T21:13:07Z")
All of those seem pretty good, except that I’d take off at least one, if not both Styx albums (Dennis DeYoung turns my stomach) and add the following: Bruce Sprinsteen and the E Street Band: Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ Phil Collins: Face Value The Beatles: Revolver Genesis: The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway Jackson Browne: Running on Empty Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited Bob Dylan: The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan Neil Young: Harvest The Who: Who’s Next Jimmy Buffet: Songs You Know By Heart (OK, a greatest hits album, but still quality stuff) David Bowie: Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars Simon & Garfunkel: Bridge over Troubled Water Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Damn the Torpedos The Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground and Nico The Velvet Underground: White Light/White Heat Violent Femmes: Violent Femmes New Order: (The Best of) New Order (another greatest hits, but still a solid album) Paul Simon: Graceland Paul Simon: Still Crazy After All These Years Van Morrison: Tupelo Honey ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/11 "2000-06-14T21:47:41Z")
**VB** – I must also urge you to include Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/12 "2000-06-14T21:53:45Z")
I’ve got a classic fer ya, _Moved to IMHO_, by UncleBeer and the BrewFarts. ---
**Author:** ![Vestal\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Vestal\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vestal_Blue)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/13 "2000-06-14T22:45:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > **VB** – > > I must also urge you to include Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” > \*\* Oh, _ **DEFINITELY!** _ Again, I say that list was just some; I was at work and didn’t have access to my collection. ---
**Author:** ![Ozone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e95f7d/32.png) [@Ozone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ozone)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/14 "2000-06-14T22:48:25Z")
Alive - KISS (their first live album, and the one that got them going Destroyer - KISS Dark Side of the Moon - PF We Sold Our Souls for Rock and Roll - Black Sabbath Zep’s IVth album (the “rune” one 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![purrplebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/90ced4/32.png) [@purrplebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purrplebear)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/15 "2000-06-14T22:54:25Z")
I’ve been informed that I should post my list anyway. Ok, VB, here goes. Although, it’s a very incomplete list, since the majority of these are at the moment packed up in a box, and I won’t trust my memory of the exact album titles. These are in no particular order: All of Michael Bolton’s \ Chicago \ Jimmy Buffet, Songs you know by Heart Simon & Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Water Eagles, all of their stuff, especially Hotel California Jim Croce, Photographs and Memories Linda Rondstadt, the early years Carole King, Tapestry Fleetwood Mac, Rumours Billy Joel, all, especially the one with the song about 'Nam vets Kansas, Dust In the Wind Mannheim\ Steamroller, all of their Christmas ones Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Phil Collins, can’t think of a specific one at the moment Amy Grant, House of Love Amy Grant, The Collection Amy Grant, Home For Christmas Kenny G, Miracles Rich Mullins, Winds of Heaven Michael W Smith, Change Your World BeBe Winans, self titled Celine Dion, All the Way Vince Gill, Souvenirs There are more, but that’s all I can think of at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/16 "2000-06-15T00:02:43Z")
😃 OK, some additions to the classics mentioned already: - Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime - Yes - Close to the Edge - Pink Floyd - Wish you were here - Dream Theater - Images and Words (OK, not TOO mainstream, but an important prog-rock album) - Marillion - Misplaced Childhood (the one with “Kayleigh”) - Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair - Van Halen - F.U.C.K. - U2 - The Joshua Tree - Savatage - Streets: a Rock Opera (dammit, let me have my way! They belong here ;)) ---
**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:** [June 15, 2000, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/17 "2000-06-15T00:40:36Z")
Some choices: Let it Bleed – Rolling Stones Lola vs. Powerman and the Money-Go-Round – Kinks Layla – Derek and the Dominoes Live at the Fillmore East – Allmen Brothers The Last Waltz – The Band Disraeli Gears – Cream The Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus – Spirit A Night at the Opera – Queen The Beatles – The Beatles Who Are You – The Who We’re Only In It For the Money – Mothers John Barleycorn Must Die – Traffic ---
**Author:** ![argyle87](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/90ced4/32.png) [@argyle87](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/argyle87)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/18 "2000-06-15T01:08:43Z")
I’m not very old and I’m not much for progressive rock, but I’ll add my own, and try to cover the metal and punk genre’s: Metallica - Kill 'em All Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast Bad Religion - Against the Grain and No Control Motorhead - Ace of Spades Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks… Ramones - s/t Dead Kennedys - Plastic Surgery Disasters Danzig - s/t Misfits - Walk Among Us Discharge - Why? The Business - Suburban Rebels Slayer - Reign in Blood Sonic Youth - Goo T.S.O.L. - Dance With Me And the Grestest Rock n’ Roll album of all time Motorhead - Overkill ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/19 "2000-06-15T03:56:32Z")
Hmmm. Such a lot of 70’s AOR stuff. Suppose that’s inevitable given the thread subject, but . . . [list] [li]The Band, _The Band_[/li][li]The Band, _Northern Lights, Southern Cross_[/li][li]The Velvet Underground, _The Velvet Underground & Nico_[/li][li]The Velvet Underground, _The Velvet Underground_[/li][li]The Velvet Underground, _Loaded_[/li][li]The New York Dolls, _The New York Dolls_[/li][li]The Modern Lovers, _The Modern Lovers_[/li][li]Big Star, _#1 Record_[/li][li]Big Star, _Radio City_[/li][li]Big Star, _3rd_[/li][li]The Dream Syndicate, _Days of Wine and Roses_[/li][li]The Rain Parade, _Emergency Third Rail Power Trip_[/li][li]Shoes, _Black Vinyl Shoes_[/li][li]Marshall Crenshaw, _Marshall Crenshaw_[/li][li]Television, _Marquee Moon_[/li][li]Roxy Music, _Country Life_[/li][li]The Clash, _London Calling_[/li][li]The Jam, _All Mod Cons_[/li][li]The Jam, _Sound Affects_[/li][li]The Undertones, _The Undertones_[/li][li]The Rezillos, _Can’t Stand the Rezillos_[/li][li]The Cure, _Boys Don’t Cry_[/li][li]Talking Heads, _More Songs about Buildings and Food_[/li][li]Brinsley Schwarz, _New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz_[/li][li]Graham Parker, _Howlin Wind_[/li][li]Graham Parker, _Heat Treatment_[/li][li]Graham Parker, _Squeezing Out Sparks_[/li][li]Elvis Costello, _My Aim is True_[/li][li]Elvis Costello and the Attractions, _Get Happy_[/li][li]Elvis Costello and the Attractions, _Trust_[/li][li]Elvis Costello and the Attractions, _Imperial Bedroom_[/li][li]Elvis Costello, _King of America_[/li][li]Elvis Costello and Burt Bachrach, _Painted from Memory_[/li][li]Nick Lowe, _Jesus of Cool_[/li][li]XTC, _Drums and Wires_[/li][li]Squeeze, _East Side Story_[/li][li]R.E.M., _Murmur_[/li][li]R.E.M., _Reckoning_[/li][li]R.E.M., _Fables of the Reconstruction_[/li][li]R.E.M., _Life’s Rich Pageant_[/li][li]R.E.M., _Document_[/li][li]Kirsty MacColl, _Kite_[/li][li]The Pogues, _Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash_[/li][li]The Pogues, _If I Should Fall from Grace with God_[/li][li]They Might Be Giants, _Lincoln_[/li][li]Joe Ely, _Honky Tonk Masquerade_[/li] There. That oughta restore the balance somewhat. \*\*N.b.\*\*The number of albums listed by each artist should not be considered a reflection of my estimation of their respective merits. Some artists not represented or under-represented in my list produced more important bodies of work, releasing discs that were good or even great collections of songs while not cohering as albums _per se_. ---
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2000, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384/20 "2000-06-15T04:19:44Z")
Yeap, Marillion was a great band. Don’t forget Klaatu as well. Or the Residents, Freak Show. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-albums/22384.md?page=2)