# The Three Greatest Double Albums Of All Time... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 4, 2005, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348 "2005-05-04T10:36:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/1 "2005-05-04T10:36:46Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/2 "2005-05-04T11:09:39Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/3 "2005-05-04T11:52:12Z")
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?) ---
**Author:** ![critter42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@critter42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/critter42)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/4 "2005-05-04T12:09:58Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/5 "2005-05-04T12:19:39Z")
**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!_ ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/6 "2005-05-04T12:19:51Z")
Smashing Pumpkins, - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Metallica - Garage Inc. Frampton - Frampton Comes Alive What do I win? ---
**Author:** ![DrMemory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DrMemory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrMemory)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/7 "2005-05-04T12:20:30Z")
Beatles “White” Album The Who Quadrophenia Wings Over America ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/8 "2005-05-04T12:24:42Z")
Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde. ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/9 "2005-05-04T12:33:48Z")
Geoff Waynes - War of the Worlds Black Sabbath - Live Evil Motorhead - No Remorse ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/10 "2005-05-04T12:36:55Z")
> [@Stryfe](#): > > Geoff Waynes - War of the Worlds nitpick… Jeff Wayne. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2005, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/11 "2005-05-04T12:59:49Z")
**The Clash** - _London Calling_ **Husker Du** - _Zen Arcade_ **Prince** - _Sign ‘O’ The Times_ ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/12 "2005-05-04T13:17:49Z")
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**. ---
**Author:** ![Chance\_the\_Gardener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@Chance\_the\_Gardener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chance_the_Gardener)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/13 "2005-05-04T13:26:43Z")
**Genesis** —_The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway_ **The Beatles** —_The White Album_ **The Who** —_Tommy_ ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/14 "2005-05-04T13:30:36Z")
**Led Zeppelin** – Physical Graffiti **Pink FLoyd** – The Wall ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/15 "2005-05-04T13:31:40Z")
**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?” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/16 "2005-05-04T13:37:04Z")
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_ ---
**Author:** ![whistlepig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/73ab20/32.png) [@whistlepig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whistlepig)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/17 "2005-05-04T13:44:34Z")
The Rolling Stones - Love You Live Allman Brothers - Eat A Peach ---
**Author:** ![Cadabra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@Cadabra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cadabra)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/18 "2005-05-04T14:10:17Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/19 "2005-05-04T14:17:51Z")
As previously nominated: \*\*Zeppelin: \*\* _Physical Graffiti_ **Prince:** _Sign ‘O’ the Times_ My addition, a transcendent live album. **Thin Lizzy** Live and Dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/20 "2005-05-04T14:42:38Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348.md?page=2)