That’s a hard one: granted, the first LP has “The Mule” which is the only slog on the album (a 10 minute slog), but the rest are also stone cold live classics, “Smoke On The Water”, “Highway Star” and the probably best live recording of a rock vocal ever, “Child In Time”. So I’m undecided.
Agreed, the “blue” UYI is much better than the “red”, though it’s debatable if it counts as a double album. IIRC, both CDs have lengths of 70+ minutes, so it would have been a vinyl quadruple LP anyway.
I strongly disagree with that. IMHO, the first record isn’t any better or worse than the 2nd.
I strongly disagree with that one, too.
I love the whole thing, but I’d say the back nine of Hüsker Dü’s Zen Arcade beats out the first half by a smidge. Side three has “Pink Turns To Blue,” “Newest Industry,” “Monday Will Never Be The Same” and “Whatever” one right after the other, then there’s the climax of “Turn on the News” on side four.
Ok, I looked into the SACD that I saw listed as a 2-CD set in 2003, and it includes a ton of other things, much like how eventually CD releases of Who’s Next included a bunch of other tracks after the end of the original LP. They didn’t have any more room on the CD, so all the extras were on a second CD. So yeah, I definitely would agree that the 1 disc version starting from the 90s is probably better simply because it was remastered and not just copied onto CD as with the original CD release in the early 80s.
I haven’t listened to it in a while, but my memory is that sides 1 and 4 are generally better than sides 2 and 3, so on vinyl clearly 1/4 is superior. Side 4 I recall being my favorite, so maybe disc 2 is better? But it’s been a very long time since I listened to it; while I’ll still listen to some Yes stuff every once in a while, it’s not going to be that.
BLASPHEMER!
I’d say Quadrophenia’s second half might be just a little better than the first, but it’s a tough call.
No accounting for taste.
But then, I think I might too. Just by an RCH, because of the strength of “The River,” but I think “The Price You Pay” counters that. Tough call.
I can think of a few where, in my opinion, both discs are roughly equal. Trout Mask Replica, Exile on Main Street, Bitches Brew.
I’m gonna say Physical Graffiti is definitely front loaded, although “Sick Again” is a strong closer.
The Cure’s Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me.
Side 3 opens with Just Like Heaven. That alone makes it the better disc.
Triple albums might confuse the issue, especially when they’re split to fit on two CDs. Zappa’s Joe’s Garage Vol. 1 has a lot of the great stuff from that set, but Vol. 3 has “Watermelon In Easter Hay” which may be his finest intrumental.
“You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)” is one of my least favorite of his songs, so that taints side one for me. As much as I like The River and Independence Day on side one, Ramrod and Cadillac Ranch counter those, and the others on record two are better written, IMO.
Joe’s Garage was originally released as a single album (“Act I”) followed by a double album (“Acts II and III”). As a double studio album, I can’t really give an edge to either Act II or III. “Watermelon in Easter Hay” is definitely the standout track from the second disc, and “A Little Green Rosetta” is a fun closer, but the rest of the disc is pretty meh.
Allman Brothers Live At The Filmore.
Because as terrific as the entire album is, the second disc features In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed which contains Duane’s greatest solo, for me the most amazing 5 minutes of electric guitar ever recorded.
“John Coltrane on electric guitar” as one reviewer put it.
Two albums came to mind over the weekend which I can’t believe haven’t been nominated:
Hendrix, Electric Ladyland: The first disc is a collection of good-to-great-songs with a long jam on “Voodoo Chile,” but the second is a masterful psychedelic suite that must have blown minds wholesale in 1968. Plus “All Along the Watchtower.”
Derek & the Dominoes, Layla: Again, no knocking disc 1, but disc 2 includes “Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?” “Little Wing” (thanks, Jimi) and the epic title track.