The Three Greatest Double Albums Of All Time...

Cafe Society
1

We seem to be on a musical kick here at the moment, which is all to the good, so your nominations please for the three greatest DOUBLE albums of all time - double vinyl for preference, but there are exceptions…

1/ The Rolling Stones: Exile On Main Street
The winner by a nose, if only for Ventilator Blues, the best {read: nastiest} song they ever recorded. From down and dirty bluesy rock {Rip This Joint} to gospel-flecked tenderness {Shine A Light}; it’s all here, and guaranteed to make you feel better.

2/ The Clash: London Calling
Rock’n’Roll, Ska, Reggae, Punk, Rockabilly: it’s all in here, folks, as Joe and the boys turn their backs on cheap punk sneering to explore their musical roots, and come up trumps with the likes of Jimmy Jazz and Lost In the Supermarket. Not a bad track on the album, and bonus points for the coolest album cover ever.

3/ Wilco: Being There
Kicking it Old Skool, with a glorious blend of country, rock, and alt-punk: put the Stones, Neil Young, The Replacements and Social Distortion in a blender, and hit “pulse”. The album for people who think they don’t make albums like that anymore. Extra credits for releasing it as a proper double album on two CD’s, when they could have stuffed it all on one and ruined the pacing.

2

Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth is a contender. Their masterpiece, the swathes of guitar noise take on a life of their own, like a symphony. Very influential and has stood the test of time.

Don’t know any other double albums, just long cds!

3

Exile, of course.

My other two would be Derek and the Dominoes, Layla, and the Allman Brothers, Live at the Fillmore/

(You do realize you’re dating yourself by the very concept? Both of the latter two are on a single CD.)

(And, btw, what do young-uns clean their dope on if there’s no such thing as a double vinyl album?)

4

I almost hate to throw it in there, but considering the influence it had on subsequent op/rock funk and r&b, I can’t see how one can leave out Prince’s 1999

critter42

5

Game Theory - Lolita Nation

Husker Du - Zen Arcade

And this one might not qualify, since it was a double album crammed onto a single album, but…

Elvis Costello - Get Happy!

6

Smashing Pumpkins, - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.

Metallica - Garage Inc.

Frampton - Frampton Comes Alive

What do I win?

7

Beatles “White” Album
The Who Quadrophenia
Wings Over America

8

Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde.

9

Geoff Waynes - War of the Worlds
Black Sabbath - Live Evil
Motorhead - No Remorse

10

nitpick… Jeff Wayne.

11

The Clash - London Calling
Husker Du - Zen Arcade
Prince - Sign ‘O’ The Times

12

We’ve got to make it four, because I can’t knock off any of the first three, but I do have to add Dire Straits Alchemy.

13

Genesis—The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
The Beatles—The White Album
The Who—Tommy

14

Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti
Pink FLoyd – The Wall

15

Springsteen - The River

Exile

The White Album

I love threads like this one, because reading other’s responses takes you from “Oh, yeah. I forgot that one” to “Holy Crap! Someone actually listens to that garbage?” :smiley:

16

I like many of those mentioned and I am sure The White Album is a definite but among many other possibilities I am surprised no-one has mentioned:

Jimi Hendrix Electic Ladyland
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band Trout Mask Replica
Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti

17

The Rolling Stones - Love You Live

Allman Brothers - Eat A Peach

18

I’m not sure which one it is, but the double album from “Chicago” (I think it’s 2 or 3) certainly makes the list for me.

19

As previously nominated:

**Zeppelin: ** Physical Graffiti

Prince: Sign ‘O’ the Times

My addition, a transcendent live album.

Thin Lizzy Live and Dangerous.

20

I second Chance’s picks. I think I still have pot crumbs in the folds of Lamb Lies Down.

Also:
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
Tommy by The Who plus the London Symphony Orchestra
You are What You Is - Frank Zappa (actually Zappa has several fine double albums).

and although it’s a compilation I have to add The Beatles 1967-1970. It was a big album in my little hatchling life.