# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/41 "2005-05-05T02:12:45Z")
Funny, just yesterday I was thinking of starting a thread challenging people to list 3 double albums that should \*not \*have been single albums! For me almost all the ones listed here (that I know!) should have been single albums; _Physical Graffiti_, _London Calling_ and _The White Album_ being prime examples. If we’re including live albums then my list would be: **Yes** _Yessongs_ **Pink Floyd** _The Wall_ (really should have been about 1.5 albums but I’ll let it slide) **Blue Oyster Cult** _On Your Feet or On Your Knees_ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/42 "2005-05-05T02:23:21Z")
Not necessarily the best, but I likes 'em: _Out of the Blue_ - The Electric Light Orchestra _Three Sides Live_ - Genesis _White Album_ - The Beatles ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/43 "2005-05-05T02:38:32Z")
What about **Zappa’s** Joe’s Garage Acts I, II and III? ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/44 "2005-05-05T02:45:16Z")
> [@Cadabra](#): > > 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. That would be there first album, Chicago Transit Authority. My 3 choices have been selected already, Frampton, Skynyrd, and the mighty Zeppelin. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/45 "2005-05-05T03:12:49Z")
Hmph…Well, if we’re including George Harrison’s triple album, I’ll go ahead and add: Best album-and-a-half ;): **Johnny Winters** - _Second Winter_ - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/46 "2005-05-05T03:27:06Z")
Have to agree with the previously mentioned: Zappa - **Roxy & Elsewhere** Tom Waits - **Nighthawks at the Diner** and add the following: Loggins & Messina - **On Stage** ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@Stan\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/47 "2005-05-05T03:37:58Z")
The Best **Double Nickels on the Dime** Minutemen Close second **London Calling** The Clash …about 20 records tied for third. I can’t argue with most of the earlier choices, but how do you choose between the White Album, Live at the Fillmore East, Tommy, and Exile on Main Street? Honorable Mention **Alive!** KISS ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/48 "2005-05-05T03:43:50Z")
Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life Led Zeppelin - Physical Grafitti The Clash - London Calling ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/49 "2005-05-05T08:41:55Z")
Well the best ones have been named (Physical Graffiti, The White Album, Tommy, Exile on Main Street, London Calling), so I’ll name a more modern one that hasn’t been named yet: **The Fragile** - Nine Inch Nails ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/50 "2005-05-05T09:47:42Z")
**Mamboman** - great picks, but [nitpick]Freak Out predated the 70’s by several years[/nitpick]. it would be one of my choices as well, along with the White Album and, ummm, either Electric Ladyland or Tommy. [/QUOTE] Hey thanks for the props! - seriously, “Freak Out” was kinda old by 1970, but I was digging it because I just couldn’t get into “Weasles Ripped My Flesh”. So I’m not _hardcore_… Wasn’t “Freak Out” the first double album by a rock act? mm ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/51 "2005-05-05T09:55:02Z")
I know I have had my three, but I will not sleep tonight if I don’t mention “Live Rust” by Neil Young & the horse… forgetting that in the top three is like forgetting your wife’s name. What an album! What a great time in my life that album reminds me of… I’m gonna play it right now! mm ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/52 "2005-05-05T11:30:50Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Funny, just yesterday I was thinking of starting a thread challenging people to list 3 double albums that should \*not \*have been single albums! > > For me almost all the ones listed here (that I know!) should have been single albums; _Physical Graffiti_, _London Calling_ and _The White Album_ being prime examples. Oh, yeah? And which tracks would you cut from _London Calling_? Heretic! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/53 "2005-05-05T12:41:57Z")
Jesus Christ Superstar Phantom of the Opera Woodstock ---
**Author:** ![SuperNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/54 "2005-05-05T15:24:54Z")
> [@Uncommon Sense](#): > > As in post #3? > > 😉 :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/55 "2005-05-05T17:01:49Z")
Does Guns N Roses’ _Use Your Illusion I & II_ count. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/56 "2005-05-05T17:03:48Z")
(There should be a question mark at the end of that.) ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/57 "2005-05-05T19:13:14Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > 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. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for mentioning this one. I LOVE Wilco. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/58 "2005-05-06T03:44:04Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > Oh, yeah? And which tracks would you cut from _London Calling_? Heretic! Lots of them. The good tracks are spectacularly good, but there’s a lot of dross I’m afraid. Barely makes a single album. ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/59 "2005-05-06T09:01:18Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Lots of them. The good tracks are spectacularly good, but there’s a lot of dross I’m afraid. Barely makes a single album. But isn’t that the charm of doubles? All the pokey little “don’t quite fit” tracks that you revisit after time? Bit’o double album tirivia - two of my three kids had “The White Album” as their birthing music - #1 popped out during “Sexy Sadie” and #2 during “Rocky Raccoon”. #3 was such a quick delivery we didn’t have time to get the CD on, but I figure, given the time we were in the theatre, she’d have been possibly a “Blackbird”. mm ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348/60 "2005-05-06T10:23:46Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Lots of them. The good tracks are spectacularly good, but there’s a lot of dross I’m afraid. Barely makes a single album. Name names… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-three-greatest-double-albums-of-all-time/302348.md?page=4)