# Let's do this: What are your ten favorite albums? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2011, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174 "2011-08-10T05:52:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/21 "2011-08-10T16:02:58Z")
I’m constantly rotating my perfect desert island albums, but here’s my current state. My criteria is start-to-finish works, no shuffle or skip allowed, that are a joy to sit and listen through. Jethro Tull - Aqualung Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies Love and Rockets - Express Bjork - Debut Concrete Blonde - Concrete Blonde Sonic Youth - Goo Massive Attack - Mezzanine Belly - Star Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/22 "2011-08-10T16:08:10Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I know that’s eleven. Sue me I’ll see you in court! Because I would have included _Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake_ as well, if I could have turned the knob up to eleven! What a fabulous album! And one that I find myself listening to about once a month, even after all these years. I don’t know of anyone who plays a better Hammond B3 than Ian McLagen, Steve Marriott’s vocals are amazing, and you can see why the Who tapped Kenny Jones as their substitutue drummer when Keith Moon died. Plus, it’s got the greatest song EVER about a prostitutue! (“Rene” - the docker’s delight!) Oh - and then there’s the late great Ronnie Lane! If y’all have never heard this gem, by all means find it and listen. And don’t worry, _eventually_ the whole story of “Happiness Stan” will make perfect sense! ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/23 "2011-08-10T16:59:55Z")
This turned out to be a lot harder than I thought. There are so many that I’ve liked, that narrowing it down to ten was difficult. But I think the following are the ones that I’ve listened to the most, and appreciated the most. It was a little distressing to look back over the list and discover that most of these date back thirty years or more. I’ve never been of the school of thought that says “They don’t write 'em like they used to”…there’s still plenty of good music being published. Rather, it’s probably a reflection of my own state of mind changing, becoming more cynical and harder to please. Several of the selections are “concept albums”, a format I’ve always enjoyed. In fact _Gideon_ is included in the list not because it is a particularly memorable work, but because it, along with \*Red Headed Stranger \*which I bought simultaneously, was my own introduction to this type of album. SeldomSeen’s Top Ten **Ian Tyson** …_Cowboyography_ **John Prine** …_Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings_ **Bruce Springsteen** …_The River_ **Willie Nelson** …_Red Headed Stranger_ **Emmylou Harris** …_Wrecking Ball_ **Bob Dylan** …_Infidels_ **The Traveling Wilburys** …_Traveling Wilburys Vol.1_ **Kenny Rogers** …_Gideon_ \*\*The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band \*\*(et.al.)… _Will the circle be Unbroken_ **Dire Straits** …_Brothers in Arms_ ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/24 "2011-08-10T17:12:35Z")
10 favorite albums? Damn if I know. I got old, CDs pretty much died, I got married and had to be considerate of other people’s ears (2 a.m. means earphones… which I don’t like), my work changed to things I can’t do without silence, and I got worn out on a lot of great albums. Anyway, I seem to remember some things (no order). **Abbey Road** : Beatles **Blue** : Joni Mitchell **Beatin’ the Heat** : Dan Hicks **They Might Be Giants** : TMBG **Blood On the Tracks** : Bob Dylan **Little Creatures** : Talking Heads **Arkansas Traveler** : Michelle Shocked **You Shoulda Told Me You Were** : Kid Creole & the Coconuts **Pirates** : Rickie Lee Jones **Pretzel Logic** : Steely Dan **Graceland** : Paul Simon **Stardust** : Willie Nelson ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/25 "2011-08-10T17:24:52Z")
I feel I must invoke **cjepson** ’s No-Beatles Rule as well. I am also limiting myself to no more than one selection per artist. As I look over my list, I am struck by how innovative most of these selections are. With the possible exceptions of ‘Harvest’ and maybe ‘Shoot Out the Lights’, I consider each of these completely original and groundbreaking. In no set order: **Elvis Costello** – Imperial Bedroom **Neil Young** – Harvest **Richard and Linda Thompson** – Shoot Out the Lights **The Velvet Underground** – Loaded \*\*Beck \*\*– Odelay **Bob Dylan** – Blonde on Blonde **John Lennon** – Plastic Ono Band \*\*Eminem \*\*– The Marshall Mathers LP **Paul Simon** – Graceland \*\*Joe Jackson \*\*– Look Sharp! mmm ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/26 "2011-08-10T17:51:53Z")
Also invoking 1 album per band rule: Pink Floyd - The Wall (more would be on there) Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3 My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade The Promise Ring - 30° Everywhere Odds - Nest Led Zeppelin IV (close amongst their others) Heart - Dreamboat Annie Sloan - Navy Blues Townes van Zandt - Live at the Old Quarter The TV Sound - The TV Sound. I also debated including Source Tags and Codes since it is so epically great but I thought that since I just discovered it after losing it for a year that might cloud my thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/27 "2011-08-10T17:55:38Z")
This is difficult, and I could easily have gone for a dozen, or 15, or 20. I’ll add that some favourite artists, such as Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Aerosmith just barely missed the cut; and I have excluded some local artists who have recorded albums but who would not be known to the board at large. Anyway, in no particular order: Pink Floyd, _The Wall_ Al Stewart, _Year of the Cat_ The Beatles, _Abbey Road_ Moody Blues, _Days of Future Passed_ Van Morrison, _Moondance_ Elton John, _Goodbye Yellow Brick Road_ Genesis, _Foxtrot_ Meat Loaf, _Bat out of Hell_ John Lennon, _Double Fantasy_ Billy Joel, _The Stranger_ ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/28 "2011-08-10T17:57:10Z")
Before I give my list… Disclaimer #1: I make no claims that there are objectively the best albums, or even subjectively the ones I like the most. These are albums that came along at just the right time in my musical life, did something special for me, and have held up over the years as favorites. (For example, The Kinks’ _Arthur_ or _Lola_ may well be better albums than _Village Green_, but _VG_ was the first one I fell in love with.) Disclaimer #2: It really bothers me that there’s no Stevie Wonder, Moody Blues, or Beach Boys (among others) on my list; on a longer list of favorites they would be represented not once but several times. In the chronological order in which I encountered them: _Keep Moving_ - Madness _One Step Beyond_ - Madness _Abbey Road_ - The Beatles _The Village Green Preservation Society_ - The Kinks _Completely Unglued_ - Something Fierce _Lulu_ - Trip Shakespeare _Apollo 18_ - They Might Be Giants _Motor Cycle_ - Daniel Amos _Sticks and Stones_ - The 77s _Songs of the Heart_ - Daniel Amos ---
**Author:** ![Blackhawk441](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/76d3ee/32.png) [@Blackhawk441](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackhawk441)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/29 "2011-08-10T18:21:10Z")
Very difficult. Any of them could move a spot or two up or down. 1. **The Beach Boys** - _Pet Sounds_ 2. **The Beatles** - _Revolver_ 3. **Pink Floyd** - _The Dark Side of the Moon_ 4. **The Beatles** - _Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band_ 5. **Derek and the Dominos** - _Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs_ 6. **Pink Floyd** - _Wish You Were Here_ 7. **Dr. Dre** - _The Chronic_ 8. **Ice Cube** - _AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted_ 9. **Jefferson Airplane** - _Volunteers_ 10. **Public Enemy** - _Fear of a Black Planet_ ---
**Author:** ![El\_DeLuxo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_deluxo/32/9043_2.png) [@El\_DeLuxo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_DeLuxo)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/30 "2011-08-10T18:26:29Z")
The problem with this kind of question is, I don’t have ten favorite albums, I’ve got forty or fifty that I could rattle off in a few minutes, and yes, they are all my favs! But, since it’s top ten lists, you’re asking for, here are my my ten all-time favorites as of late Wednesday morning --okay? Roky Erickson -\*The Evil One \* Monster Magnet - _Powertrip_ The Rolling Stones - _Sticky Fingers_ Patti Smith Group - _Radio Ethiopia_ Black Oak Arkansas - _High On The Hog_ Royal Trux - \*Cats And Dogs \* The Flesh Eaters - _Dragstrip Riot_ Lynyrd Skynyrd - _Street Survivors_ Sister Double Happiness - \*Sister Double Happiness \* The _Repo Man_ soundtrack album ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/31 "2011-08-10T18:34:35Z")
I’ve done this before, but it always seems to change. Here’s today’s version: 1. **The Clash** - The Clash 2. **Gang Of Four** - Entertainment! 3. **Husker Du** - Zen Arcade 4. **The Beatles** - Revolver 5. **The Replacements** - Tim 6. **Elvis Costello** - Get Happy!! 7. **The Jesus & Mary Chain** - Psychocandy 8. **R.E.M.** - Murmur 9. **Prince** - Sign ‘O’ The Times 10. **The Smiths** - Louder Than Bombs ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/32 "2011-08-10T18:43:45Z")
Well, as of today my top ten would be (in no particular order): _Volunteers_ - Jefferson Airplane _Court & Spark_ - Joni Mitchell _Remain in Light_ - Talking Heads _Horses_ - Patti Smith _Out of Range_ - Ani Difranco _the Unforgettable Fire_ - U2 _Victory Gardens_ - John and Mary (they were a spin-off “band” - duo actually - of 10,000 Maniacs) _Pungent Effulgence_ - Ozric Tentacles _Sketches of Spain_ - Miles Davis / Gil Evans _A Love Supreme_ - John Coltrane Runner-up: _Lady In Satin_ - Billie Holliday ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/33 "2011-08-10T18:45:03Z")
In no particular order, just off the top of my head: 1. Platinum Blonde - Standing In The Dark 2. “Weird Al” Yankovic - Poodle Hat 3. Jeff Healy Band - See The Light 4. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours 5. Led Zeppelin - IV 6. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - In Step 7. Prince - Sign O’ The Times 8. Joe Satriani - Flying In A Blue Dream 9. Michael Jackson - Thriller 10. k-os - Joyful Rebellion If I sat down and really went through it thoroughly, I’d probably make a change or four, but that’s what came to mind. I could pretty easily have a top 10 all-Prince albums list as well. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/34 "2011-08-10T18:45:05Z")
In no particular order Patty Griffin-Living With Ghosts Barenaked Ladies-Gordon Bran Van 3000-Discosis Cheryl Wheeler-Sylvia Hotel Ferron-Testimony Nanci Griffith-Flyer Greg Brown-The Poet Game Janis Ian-Between the Lines The Stone Roses-The Stone Roses John Wesley Harding-Why We Fight Josh Rouse-Subtitulo ---
**Author:** ![Chum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@Chum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chum)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/35 "2011-08-10T18:46:14Z")
I’ll try. And I’ll certainly change my mind in two minutes. 1. Rufus Wainwright - Poses 2. St. Vincent - Marry Me 3. Kate Bush - The Kick Inside 4. Adrianne - For Adeline 5. Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine 6. Tori Amos - Under the Pink 7. Brandi Carlile - Give Up the Ghost 8. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast 9. Alicia Keys - As I Am 10. Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/36 "2011-08-10T18:49:50Z")
I’m choosing not to include more than one album by any artist Are You Experienced - The Jimi Hendrix Experience Bat Out of Hell - Meat Loaf Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen The Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd London Calling - The Clash My Aim Is True - Elvis Costello The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars - David Bowie Rumours - Fleetwood Mac Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles Who’s Next - The Who Almost included an album each by the Bonzo Dog Band, the Kinks and the White Stripes but I couldn’t decide which one of theirs was the standout. ---
**Author:** ![Phoebestar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Phoebestar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phoebestar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/37 "2011-08-10T20:40:23Z")
In no particular order. And you can tell I’m not posturing because I have included the Gin Blossoms in the list. It HAS to be real, right? Ani Difranco – Little Plastic Castles They Might Be Giants – Flood Paul Simon – Graceland Gin Blossoms – New Miserable Experience Moxy Früvous - Bargainville Push Stars – Back to the Party Dar Williams – End of the Summer Ben Folds – Rockin’ the Suburbs Cracker – Countrysides Tori Amos – Little Earthquakes Also, I will think of more as soon as I hit “Reply”, and curse myself. Of note, I left out live albums because that was just a copout for my favorite bands. But I have seen everyone but Paul Simon on that list live. Everyone but Gin Blossoms multiple times (they were horrible in concert.) ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/38 "2011-08-10T20:53:25Z")
“The Papas & The Mamas”(1968) by The Mamas & the Papas. Featuring “Dream a Little Dream of Me” “Procol Harum Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra”(1972) by Procol Harum. Featuring “Conquistador” & “A Salty Dog” “Klaatu”(1966) by Klaatu Featuring “Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft” “Flee”(1979) by Jeremy Spencer. Featuring “Cool Breeze” and “Travellin’”. Jeremy Spencer had been one of the original members of Fleetwood Mac and this album had a very Fleetwood Mac feel. “The Young Rascals”(1966) by The Young Rascals. Featuring “Good Lovin’”, “Mustang Sally” & “In the Midnight Hour” “The Highwaymen”(1961) by The Highwaymen. Featuring “Michael”, “Santiano” & “Big Rock Candy Mountain”. “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” by The Beatles. 'nuff said. “Greatest Hits”(1970) by Sly & the Family Stone. Featuring “Stand!” & “Everyday People” “Who’s Next”(1971) is by The Who. Featuring “Baba O’Riley”, “Won’t Get Fooled Again” & “Behind Blue Eyes”. “Carpenters”(1971) by The Carpenters. Featuring “Rainy Days And Mondays”, “For All We Know” & “Superstar”. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/39 "2011-08-10T21:05:59Z")
Eagles - Hotel California Earth, Wind and Fire - All ‘N’ All Boston - Boston Nat King Cole - The Christmas Album Prince - 1999 Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road America - Greatest Hits George Benson - Breezin’ Weather Report - 8:30 Miles Davis - Doo Bop Runners Up: Laurie Anderson - Big Science Van Halen - Van Halen Rick James - Street Songs ---
**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:** [August 10, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174/40 "2011-08-10T21:26:04Z")
Off the top of my head and in no particular order: [ol] [li]Who’s Next - The Who[/li][li]Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen[/li][li]Sticky Fingers - The Rolling Stones[/li][li]Blacklisted - Neko Case[/li][li]Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan[/li][li]Abbey Road - The Beatles[/li][li]Blood on the Tracks - Bob Dylan[/li][li]What’s Going On - Marvin Gaye[/li][li]Murmur - R.E.M.[/li][li]Revolver - The Beatles[/li][/ol] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-this-what-are-your-ten-favorite-albums/592174.md?page=3)