# The Essential Music Library: Rock **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 3, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520 "2005-10-03T03:19:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/21 "2005-10-03T16:04:19Z")
Look, let’s hit the roots and play forwards. Rhino again. (Why? Because they’re _there_) [http://rhinorecords.com/store/ProductDetail.lasso?Number=78353](http://rhinorecords.com/store/ProductDetail.lasso?Number=78353) [http://rhinorecords.com/store/ProductDetail.lasso?Number=76660](http://rhinorecords.com/store/ProductDetail.lasso?Number=76660) [http://rhinorecords.com/store/CatalogList.lasso?Style=Early%20Rock%20’n’%20Roll](http://rhinorecords.com/store/CatalogList.lasso?Style=Early%20Rock%20'n'%20Roll) [http://rhinorecords.com/store/CatalogList.lasso?Style=Classic%20Rock](http://rhinorecords.com/store/CatalogList.lasso?Style=Classic%20Rock) There. Let’s look through these, and see what we can pull out of the backs of our heads. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/22 "2005-10-03T17:27:11Z")
> [@Qwertyasdfg](#): > > I think it’s clear that albums should be judged by quality not influence. After all, the influence and historical significance of an album are imposed on an album from the outside, and not controlled by the artist. At the end of the day, nobody throws on an album on for its historical signifcance. If you care about music history, influence matters a lot. But the distinction between quality and influence is purely academic; after all, albums become influential because people listen to them and want to emulate their sound. That sounds like a pretty good mark of quality, don’t you think? My picks for essential rock: Rolling Stones, The London Years. This is a box set that collects all of their singles from 1962-1972. It’s more or less complete for the casual fan. Led Zeppelin, I-IV, Houses of the Holy. Beatles, Rubber Soul and Revolver at least. The White, Red and Blue Albums round out this collection quite nicely. Who, Ultimate Collection. A two-disc set that collects pretty much everything the casual fan could want. Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon. Black Sabbath, Black Sabbath, Paranoid, Master of Reality. King Crimson, In the Court of the Crimson King. Jethro Tull, Iron Butterfly, Steppenwolf, ELO, and ELP all belong on here (if only as personal favorites), but I don’t know the albums well enough to point to anything specific. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2005, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/23 "2005-10-03T17:50:26Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > I hate replying to myself, but we need some Dead, and we need some more folk. > And what concert for the Dead? Clearly not any actual album. _Workingman’s Dead_ and _American Beauty_ ought to be on any essentials list. Other essentials: Bob Dylan: _Highway 61 Revisited_ and _John Wesley Harding_ Joni Mitchell: _Blue_ and _Court & Spark_ Allman Brothers: _Live at the Fillmore East_ and _Eat a Peach_ Jefferson Airplane: _Surrealistic Pillow_ and _Volunteers_ the Moody Blues: _Days of Future Passed_ Janis Joplin: _Pearl_ Patti Smith Group: _Horses_ Jimi Hendrix: _Electric Ladyland_ Genesis: _the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway_ the Mothers of Invention: _We’re Only In This For the Money_ ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/24 "2005-10-03T17:51:44Z")
I’ll mention a couple of favorites I haven’t seen yet and apologies if I simply missed them above… Deep Purple ZZ Top Lynyrd Skynyrd The James Gang Crosby, Stills & Nash Neil Young Montrose Badfinger Donovan Mommas & the Poppas I think some of Robert Plant’s solo stuff was pretty choice as well. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/25 "2005-10-03T18:20:53Z")
Some of my faves to add to the mix: Bruce Springsteen Bad Religion Steve Miller Band Creedence Clearwater Revival Billy Joel Ministry Johnny Cash Bad Company Kiss The Cure XTC ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/26 "2005-10-03T18:45:04Z")
All good, but most post-1980. ---
**Author:** ![Boardwalk\_Elvis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@Boardwalk\_Elvis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boardwalk_Elvis)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/27 "2005-10-03T19:23:42Z")
**Thin Lizzy** - [Vagabonds of the Western World](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000001F75/qid=/sr=/ref=cm_lm_asin/002-9677220-4384040?v=glance) **Rory Gallagher** - [Calling Card](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000QG9/qid=/sr=/ref=cm_lm_asin/002-9677220-4384040?v=glance) **Big Star** - [Radio City](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000XHA/002-9677220-4384040?v=glance) **The Zombies** - [Odessey & Oracle](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000005YZM/002-9677220-4384040?v=glance) ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/28 "2005-10-03T19:35:59Z")
> [@Art Vandelay](#): > > _Workingman’s Dead_ and _American Beauty_ ought to be on any essentials list. > > Other essentials: > Bob Dylan: _Highway 61 Revisited_ and _John Wesley Harding_ > Joni Mitchell: _Blue_ and _Court & Spark_ > Allman Brothers: _Live at the Fillmore East_ and _Eat a Peach_ > Jefferson Airplane: _Surrealistic Pillow_ and _Volunteers_ > the Moody Blues: _Days of Future Passed_ > Janis Joplin: _Pearl_ > Patti Smith Group: _Horses_ > Jimi Hendrix: _Electric Ladyland_ > Genesis: _the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway_ > the Mothers of Invention: _We’re Only In This For the Money_ You beat me to it, **Art** (at least, the Allman Bros. albums) - excellent list! ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/29 "2005-10-03T22:30:24Z")
> [@Qwertyasdfg](#): > > Maybe we should go through the Beatles album by album? > Please Please Me - lots of catchy pop and proto-rock. Great album. Possibly essential. > With The Beatles - Some good songs but not spectacular. Not essential. > A Hard Days Night - same deal as With the Beatles. Not essential > Beatles For Sale - A few good songs. Not essential. > Help! - A few good songs (frankly I don’t like “Yesterday” and that leaves “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” as the only remarkable song on the album.) Not essential. > Rubber Soul - “Norwegian Wood” “Drive My Car” “Michelle” “Girl” “You Won’t See Me” and the best Beatles song of them all (and one of the best rock songs ever) “In My Life”. Absolutely essential. > Revolver - “Tax Man” “Eleanor Rigby” “And Your Bird Can Sing” “Love You Too” “Tomorrow Never Knows.” Definitely essential. > Sgt. Pepper - The title track and “A Day in the Life” are two really great songs, but beyond that I don’t see what’s so great about this album. Good, but not essential. > Magical Mystery Tour - Title track, “Penny Lane,” “All YOu need is love” “I am the Walrus” “Strawberry Fields” and some other good songs. Possibly essential. > White Album - Lots of classic songs, along with a few duds, but probably the Beatles third best album overall. Essential. > Abbey Road - A good album but not specatacular. Possibly essential if only for the last 4 songs. > Let It Be - Get Back is about all it’s got going for it. (I really dislike the title track.) Not essential. > > Certainly the Beatles are one of, if not THE greatest rock band of all, but their entire catalog is not essential (unless we unfairly contort the definition of “essential” to cover all their material just because of their monumental importance to rock.) Magical Mystery Tour - Title track, “Penny Lane,” “All YOu need is love” “I am the Walrus” “Strawberry Fields” and some other good songs. Possibly essential. Certainly the Beatles are one of, if not THE greatest rock band of all, but their entire catalog is not essential (unless we unfairly contort the definition of “essential” to cover all their material just because of their monumental importance to rock.) [/QUOTE] Interesting. Not only were they monumental to the importance of rock, but so were many of their songs and albums. “Please, Please Me” (I may be getting this one confused with “The Beatles Second album" and "With the Beatles” are The Beatles at their raw and unpolished best. A foundation to what was to become. “British Invasion” at it’s finest. Both essential. “Hard days Night” A soundtrack to one of the best rock and roll movies of all time. Essential. I love “Magical Mystery Tour” and imho, it’s one of the most overlooked albums in their collection. But not essential for a rock and roll library. Absolute essentials from the Beatle catalog – White, Rubber Soul, Revolver, and Abbey Road. Which brings us to “Sgt. Pepper.” I don’t believe any rock and roll library worth a tinkers damn would exclude this album. It was the first “concept” album. It received huge critical success, and went to number one without a single. And many times was a metaphor. For nearly 20 years when any artist released an important album, it often was referred to as “Their Sgt. Pepper.” Over past few years, it’s become fashionable to not consider this the best Beatles album. and maybe it’s not. Imho, it’s second to the White Album. But more importantly, it was for many years of the most groundbreaking and historic album in the history of rock music. I believe you couldn’t have a discussion of rock music without the mentioning this album. ESSENTIAL! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/30 "2005-10-03T22:47:43Z")
I’d like to add The Wall, in addition to the other Floyd recordings mentioned. As a matter of fact, if you had to drop one of the ones mentioned it’d be PatGoD. While successful (they even had a #1 song at the time, although not off that album,) and not my least favorite Floyd album, it is hardly remembered today. And while Syd Barrett certainly influenced early 70s music (and was one of the first to sport a “homeless guy goth” look in addition to influencing glam which would influence goth,) one could argue it was more a personality thing than being due to Piper at the Gates of Dawn. The Wall is the Floyd at the peak of their talent: incredible lyrics and the absolutely best guitar soloes ever recorded. You can’t leave it out, on the basis of its greatness alone. In addition, without the enduring success that a SECOND Top Ten Album of All Time gave them, I believe there wouldn’t be as bands around today influenced by pop-prog such as Tool, Radiohead, and Coheed and Cambria. Now granted, without Syd, the Cure and a handful of others wouldnt be the same, but his influence is less direct. That doesn’t keep PatGoD and Syd’s solo effort from kicking much ass, though. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/31 "2005-10-03T23:16:41Z")
I’ll stick up for my favorite: Genesis. While I’d really like to suggest \*The Lamb Lies \*_Down on Broadway_, there is just too much filler on the second disc to make this essential. I’ll go with _Selling England By the Pound_. An album with Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Steve Hackett, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks. Also in the prog rock category, I think \*The Yes Album \*should probably be included. ---
**Author:** ![Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ass_For_A_Hat)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/32 "2005-10-04T01:56:09Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > …an attempt to get the many musical minds of the SDMB to sit down and discuss what works are absolutely necessary for a well-stocked musical library. In the interest of making this a dicussion, I’d like to take issue with some of the responses to this thread. Though I realize this was not the intent, it seems to me this has become just another ‘list your favorite albums’ thread. Many, many of the albums listed here are fine records, but in no way “absolutely necessary for a well stocked musical library”. Four Aerosmith records, five by Led Zeppelin, seven Rolling Stones records, _everything_ by The Beatles? Robert Plant’s solo stuff? And I love The Kinks…honestly I do. They’re tremendously underappreciated, but nothing they did after Muswell Hillbillies is anywhere near essential. Maybe the OP will jump in and tell me I’m full of crap, but I did not take this to be the point of the thread. Is this not to be a list of what is truly the best of the best? Also, I’d like to ask **Art Vandelay, Architect** about his inclusion of The Moody Blues on his list. You’ve got a nice list of important records by great artists. I’ve never viewed The Moody Blues as anything other than a curiosity. Would you mind elaborating a little on what you think makes them (or that record) great? And I don’t mean this to sound like sniping. I really want to hear your opinion. For now I just want to throw out one record that I think is missing so far. _The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan._ I just saw part one of the Dylan documentary, so he’s fresh in my mind. Given my earlier diatribe though, it’s only fair that I throw out more of my own suggestions for the group’s derision. I will do so. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/33 "2005-10-04T02:24:59Z")
> [@kevja](#): > > Magical Mystery Tour - Title track, “Penny Lane,” “All YOu need is love” “I am the Walrus” “Strawberry Fields” and some other good songs. Possibly essential. Those are fine songs, but only “Walrus” was part of the original _Magical Mystery Tour_ album; the others were all released as singles. Other than “Fool on the Hill” and “Walrus”, _Magical Mystery Tour_ is a pretty tepid affair. I vote non-essential. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2005, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/34 "2005-10-04T04:08:54Z")
> [@Ass For A Hat](#): > > Also, I’d like to ask **Art Vandelay, Architect** about his inclusion of The Moody Blues on his list. You’ve got a nice list of important records by great artists. I’ve never viewed The Moody Blues as anything other than a curiosity. Would you mind elaborating a little on what you think makes them (or that record) great? And I don’t mean this to sound like sniping. I really want to hear your opinion. I’d like to say something in the Moodies’ defense. In its day, _Days of Future Passed_ was heralded as the great fusion of symphonic orchestral and pop/rock music. As such, it was at least partially successful, probably enough so to be considered an important milestone in the history of rock, and it did yield two great singles (“Tuesday Afternoon” and “Nights in White Satin”) which, admittedly, don’t exactly rock all that hard; and the album as a whole is not free from pretention and corniness. Some of their subsequent albums were actually better: though not backed up by a symphony orchestra, they were often symphonic in texture, and have some gorgeous melodies and vocals, an interesting variety of instrumentation, and the work of several skillful singers/songwriters. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/35 "2005-10-04T04:33:36Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Sgt. Pepper is essential as an entire album. That’s how it broke people’s minds, as the first (?) concept album. Frank Zappa’s _Freak Out!_ predates Pepper by about a year. I have no idea how to decide what’s essential Zappa, but from the early days, _Hot Rats_ should probably be there, and maybe _Freak Out!_ and _We’re Only in It for the Money_. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/36 "2005-10-04T04:45:39Z")
Speaking of Zappa, what about his greatest prodigy - Alice Cooper? The originator of Glam (nope, NOT Bowie - Alice beat him by at least a year), influencer of everyone from Kiss to Slipknot, Alice was the first truly outrageous act in Rock. He’s still at it full force too. I’d suggest “Billion Dollar Babies”, “Love It To Death”, “School’s Out” and “Killer”. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/37 "2005-10-04T04:53:48Z")
Chicago - _Chicago II_ Chicago - _Chicago IX_ (If you’re wanting a greatest hits package.) ---
**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:** [October 4, 2005, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/38 "2005-10-04T05:04:03Z")
I assume soul will be another list. What about punk? If we’re counting punk, I’ll add more. In addition to (most of) what’s already been mentioned: **The Velvet Underground** - Anything, really. **The Stooges** - The Stooges **New York Dolls** - New York Dolls **Television** - Television **Blondie** - Parallel Lines **Various Artists** - Nuggets (Box Set) **Big Star** - #1 Record **Big Star** - Sister/Lovers **Queen** - Sheer Heart Attack **The Johnny Burnette Trio** - Rockabilly Boogie **Various Artists** - Loud, Fast And Out Of Control (Box Set) **The Yardbirds** - Ultimate! **Van Morrison** - Astral Weeks ---
**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:** [October 4, 2005, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/39 "2005-10-04T05:07:16Z")
Oops. **Television** ’s entry should be _Marquee Moon_, not their eponymous album, which was released in the early 90s (I think). ---
**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:** [October 4, 2005, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520/40 "2005-10-04T05:12:17Z")
Another addition - if we’re not doing a punk/post-punk/new wave entry, I’d include _Entertainment!_ by **Gang of Four**. Also _This Year’s Model_ by **Elvis Costello & the Attractions**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-rock/324520.md?page=3)