WordMan, you got a beer comin’ at you if you’re ever in Charlotte. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Going senile, that’s the only explanation. Otherwise, how come it took me this long to mention “Waiting for Columbus” by Little Feat?
And where were you all during my lapse?
I gotta make that happen! 
I’m shocked that Wordman was unaware of “Urgh”.
1+ listens is about as far as you can get from “immersed”. I get that you have A LOT of suggestions, so actually immersing yourself in all of them is impossible. But you’re really only getting a very superficial exposure. You are about as for from immersed as possible. This is more about which songs from these classic albums have immediate appeal as opposed to any real analysis. Which is understandable given the flood you have to deal with, but it does make it hard to take your opinions too seriously.
Yeah, confounded by pockets of ignorance - so much good music, so little time. At least I have the T.A.M.I. Show on Blu-Ray! Seriously, look forward to checking Urgh out…
I wouldn’t take them too seriously. It’s more of a fun thing than anything. I’m no music critic and I very well may be wrong on everything.
I’ve gotta say, that I don’t like some of the music listed here. And The Clash comes under the heading of “Music I Wouldn’t Put On My IPod”, mostly because I listen to music to unwind, so I skew towards “pretty” music (like anything Mark Knopfler does).
But my god, the ENERGY there on London Calling! You canNOT dismiss The Clash or U2 or Prince or talking Heads. These are musical geniuses, even if you don’t ‘like’ them.
I’m listening to Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction today.
However, let me mention a couple of bands that I know very little about, but have heard of, and see which album I should listen to.
**Pink Floyd **- Total cluelessness for me. What is their most accessible(or just best) album?
Queen - I have seen Highlander and listened to the Highlander songs. So, I do know “Who wants to live forever” “Gimme the Prize”, etc. I also saw Wayne’s World, so I know Bohemian Rhapsody. Otherwise, nothing. Which album from them should I listen to?
For Queen, most people will probably say A Night at the Opera, but I’d go with Sheer Heart Attack. My favorite song of theirs (“Under Pressure” with David Bowie) is unfortunately on their worst album (Hot Space).
ETA: Actually, a lot of people on this board might pick Queen II as the album to listen to, but it’s pretty shitty, IMO.
Pink Floyd’s most accessible is probably The Wall. If you don’t have a lot of experience with concept albums, it’s as good an introduction to them as any.
It was my first Floyd. If you like it, do Dark Side of the Moon next, then Wish You Were Here, then Animals. If you’re still enjoying it, the door’s open, pick anything.
I’ll vote for Dark Side instead. The Wall is a double album, which is kind of a challenge- but I’m also just not a fan. I think it’s overwrought and self-indulgent. Putting that side I think Dark Side of the Moon is just more accessible musically.
How about The Game by Queen. It was their biggest selling album in the US and the only one to reach #1.
This was one of the first albums I got when I was twelve in 1980. The other two were AC/DC-Back in Black and Cheap Trick In Color.
With some bands/artists (though not all), a good approach is to start with a Greatest Hits album, and then, if you like it enough, go back and pick up the individual albums that those hits were drawn from (or that were released subsequently). That was my approach to Queen (with the original 1981 Electra records version of Greatest Hits, which gave me “Under Pressure” without any crappy filler), and I think it worked pretty well.
I do hope you give “Purple Rain” another go, so many of those tracks will sink deep if you give them a bit of a chance.
Many other favourites of mine already mentioned so won’t delve too deep into them (other than to second the many intro albums to Pink Floyd…I came to them late and started with “wish you were here” FWIW)
One not mentioned yet is “Quadrophenia” by The Who. So very rich and varied. From orchestral and borderline ambient to very hard-rocking indeed. It also contains what is arguably the greatest drum/bass intro ever…“The Real Me” This does need time, it needs three full listens to all four sides in order, preferably in a darkened room with headphones on.
My wildcard would be another varied concept album. “Jordan: The Comeback” by Prefab Sprout. Could be a like-or-loath situation but worth a go if you’ve got a dreamy 90 minutes you’d like to fill.
I will. I liked the album.
For Pink Floyd, I’d got with Dark Side. From a music standpoint, I think Mahaloth will find it a good way in.
Queen - I’d go with a Greatest Hits. They shoot for the stars, and their hits are timeless brilliance.
Dark Side of the Moon is the most accessible I think.
I’d recommend a greatest hits package for Queen, or you could do worse than watch their Live Aid performance for a taster: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQsM6u0a038
Well, as you say it’s a great album, it was well-reviewed, it sounds fantastic, they didn’t tone down their approach and it has been an absolutely monster hit - #2 best selling album worldwide of all time (“Thriller” is #1 IIRC). Depending on what numbers you trust it’s sold somewhere between 25-50 million copies, and that was done without downloads or much in the way of videos, and I’m pretty sure it continues to sell strongly; definitely not a “flavor of the month”.
If I were going to recommend one AC/DC album of course that’s the one I’d pick; it’s not like it’s a watered-down version of their sound or something that doesn’t give a true feel for the band. I love me some “Rocker” and “Riff Raff” but let’s not overcomplicate things - they’re the world’s biggest bar band so it’s not like there’s one album displaying some special awesome musical talent not found on their other recordings, or the lyrics on one record are deep and philosophical compared to the rest.
OK, I’ll do the obvious - yes, do pick Night At The Opera, by Queen. Not sure little gems like " '39 " would show up in a greatest hits package. (I just checked, it doesn’t).
Did we do Zevon yet?
I’ll try to offer some early 80’s (mostly cheesy fun) suggestions for ya…
Metallica - Master Of Puppets
Huey Lewis and the News - Sports
Van Halen - 1984
The Police - Syncronicity
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic
Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry
Or if you want to go with greatest hits:
The Police - Every Breath you take
Aerosmith - Greatest Hits
Phil Collins - Hits