# What is needed for a comprehensive collection of music from the last five decades? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 10, 2002, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845 "2002-12-10T21:04:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/1 "2002-12-10T21:04:20Z")
I, being a child of the 90s, know plenty about the good alternative bands from the 90s, but not all that much from earlier. I’m looking to expand my rock collection from the 50s on, but there are so many bands. I don’t mind collecting full albums, but mostly what I have bought of the older stuff has been greatest hits. So, here’s what I’ve got so far: Aerosmith: Toys in the Attic and Young Lust Beatles: Sgt. Pepper, Revolver, and One Black Sabbath: Paranoid Deep Purple: Knocking at Your Back Door Jimi Hendrix: Live at Woodstock Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin IV Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon Queen: Classic Queen and Greatest Hits I & II Styx: Best of Styx U2: Best of 1980-1990 and All That You Can’t Leave Behind Who: Ultimate Collection I like just about everything (except for disco and 80s hair bands). Lay it on me, for as the Simpsons say: “KFSL - Fossil 103. Classic hits from Abba to Zeppelin comma Led.” “Grand Funk Railroad paved the way for Jefferson Airplane, which cleared the way for Jefferson Starship. The stage was now set for the Alan Parsons Project, which I believe was some sort of hovercraft.” ---
**Author:** ![metroshane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@metroshane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metroshane)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/2 "2002-12-10T21:08:01Z")
Get your self a Sun Records collection…specifically early elvis. T-Bone Walker …actually before the 50’s, but still important The Zombies for great 60’s music. ---
**Author:** ![OfBlinkingThings](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ebca7d/32.png) [@OfBlinkingThings](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OfBlinkingThings)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/3 "2002-12-10T21:14:09Z")
John Coltrane- A Love Supreme Toots And the Maytals- Best Of Coleman Hawkins-The Genuis Of Coleman Hawkins Thelonious Monk- I Like Jazz ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/4 "2002-12-10T21:16:14Z")
**The Doors** - they have a greatest hits, double CD **Bad Company** - greatest hits **The Cars** - greatest hits (I came of age in the late 80’s - early 90’s, so I don’t know much about individual albums from the above bands but I have these greatest hits CD’s and they are awesome) Also, I know you said no 80’s hair bands–but these rock! **Motley Crue** - _Dr. Feelgood_ or their greatest hits **Def Leppard** - _Hysteria_ (or, again, their greatest hits) ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/5 "2002-12-10T21:25:31Z")
The English music magazine _Melody Maker_’s list of [All Time Top 100 Albums](http://www.rocklist.net/maker100.htm), as of 2000. The [100 Best Albums 1967-1987](http://www.volny.cz/classic-rock/Balbums.htm) by _Rolling Stone_ magazine. ---
**Author:** ![Banger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@Banger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banger)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/6 "2002-12-10T21:46:40Z")
Where’s the funk? We want the funk! ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/7 "2002-12-10T21:52:37Z")
I am not a jazz listener, but I would think you need to listen to "Kind of Blue"by **Miles Davis**. Moving on to more familiar ground, in no particular order: "Never Mind the Bollocks, here’s the Sex Pistols"by the **Sex Pistols** “London Calling” by **the Clash** Any of the numerous \*\* Johnny Cash\*\* and \*\* Hank Williams Sr.\*\* collections. "Live in Cook County Jail"by \*\* BB King\*\* “Astral Weeks” by **Van Morrison** and many others I can’t come up with at this time. ---
**Author:** ![Young\_Mr.Grace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e47c2d/32.png) [@Young\_Mr.Grace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Young_Mr.Grace)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/8 "2002-12-10T22:12:17Z")
You’ve already got some great stuff there. Here’s some more. Parliament - Mothership Connection (funk here) Cream - Best of Traffic - John Barleycorn must die (essential) Misfits - Best of Black Flag - Damaged Iron Maiden - Live after Death Slayer - Reign in Blood John Coltrane - Blue Train Kyuss - Welcome to Sky Valley ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/9 "2002-12-10T22:20:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Walloon \* > \*\*The English music magazine _Melody Maker_’s list of [All Time Top 100 Albums](http://www.rocklist.net/maker100.htm), as of 2000. > > The [100 Best Albums 1967-1987](http://www.volny.cz/classic-rock/Balbums.htm) by _Rolling Stone_ magazine. \*\* Wow. There’s not a single U2 album on either of those lists. ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/10 "2002-12-11T01:01:26Z")
A lot of 50’s rock was made before albums were dominant, and are only availiable today on compilations. I don’t know if the soundtracks to “American Graffiti” or “American Hot Wax” are still in print, but those or similar compilations would be great if you want a solid starting point to the collection. Also, while early Elvis Sun sessions are great, you might want to check out some of the early pre-rock music that lead to rock, like Jackie Brenston’s “Rocket 88”, and Lloyd Price’s Greatest Hits (make sure it includes “Stagger Lee” and “Lawdy Miss Clawdy”). Fats Domino’s “My Blue Heaven, the Best of Fats…” - all have very rocking songs from the early 50’s or late 40’s! ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/11 "2002-12-11T01:32:10Z")
If you’re sticking to rock n’ roll, and ignoring jazz, blues, and R&B, you MUST get the [Nuggets](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000AFWZ/qid=1039570524/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/103-4883770-4840631) collection. Punk before there was punk. ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/12 "2002-12-11T01:37:49Z")
Right off the top of my head (and because I was looking at it earlier today), I would say that something by The Police should be in there. Either “Synchronicity” or just go whole-hog with their boxed set: “Message in a Box”. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/13 "2002-12-11T01:53:44Z")
I wish we could skip the greatest hits collections. It seems so…cheap. I’d skip the U2 greatest hits and go with **Rattle & Hum**. **MC5** , _Kick Out the Jams_ (Motherf\*ckers!) **Rush** , _Permanent Waves_ If you can only have one **Police** album go with _Outlandos D’Amour_. **Weird Al Yankovic** , _3D_ **Check Berry** , _The Great 28_ **Big Black** , _Atomizer_ **Live** , _Throwing Copper_ I’m sure I’ll think of more. ---
**Author:** ![Sublime54465](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sublime54465](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublime54465)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/14 "2002-12-11T02:10:23Z")
dear god…zep IV but not zep II??? zep IV has all their hits (stairway, rock and roll, black dog…)…but zep II is their definative work. Many people think of zeppelin as a hard rock band, and zep II is why. A classic, blues-rock mix. CLASSIC. NEEDED. LED ZEPPELIN: LED ZEPPELIN II pink floyd’s the wall. and wish you were here. a bit cliche, but people think that the two albums are amazing for a reason: they are. PINK FLOYD: THE WALL PINK FLOYD: WISH YOU WERE HERE if you’re gonna bring up the beatles, its a sin to forget let it be. THE BEATLES: LET IT BE. i would say burnin, by bob marley…but ill stick to rock. its easier. jimi hendrix. Many would say “go with ‘are you experienced?’”, but my personal favorite is Blues. A few originals (Red House, (and the red house electric church version)), but also some DAMN good hendrix versions of classic songs…see born under a bad sign. his best. JIMI HENDRIX: BLUES on that “born under a bad sign” note, check out wheels of fire. a two disc set, one being live from the filmore east. CLASSIC. CREAM: WHEELS OF FIRE. lets take clapton back a little further. now, outside of the late 60’s, i get a bit fuzzy. cant give any real album titles, but the yardbirds put out three of the top four guitarists (clapton, jimmy page (in led zeppelin), and jeff beck). check out a greatest hits. THE YARDBIRDS: GREATEST HITS. Rolling Stones. Let it Bleed. what else can i say? THE ROLLING STONES: LET IT BLEED On british rock, the who. Check out tommy, meaty beaty big and bouncy, and whos next. (for a GREAT concept album, see "the who sell out…in the form of a top 40’s radio station.) THE WHO: WHOS NEXT? THE WHO: TOMMY THE WHO: MEATY, BEATY, BIG AND BOUNCY bring it up a little to the 80s/90s the next one is amazing. nothing else to say. U2: THE JOSHUA TREE. the cliche “before punk” punk band. essential. THE CLASH: LONDON CALLING weezer is great. check out blue and pinkerton. WEEZER: SELF TITLED (blue album) WEEZER: PINKERTON sublime is essential to cover the orange county music scene, as well as some no doubt. orange county sent us some GREAT bands. SUBLIME: 40 OZ. TO FREEDOM SUBLIME: ROBBIN’ THE HOOD SUBLIME: SELF TITLED NO DOUBT: TRAGIC KINGDOM now, i know i missed a BUNCH, and covered mainly popular bands…but thats what i have to offer, as of now. ---
**Author:** ![Sublime54465](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sublime54465](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublime54465)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/15 "2002-12-11T02:13:28Z")
jsut remembered one: NEIL YOUNG: AFTER THE GOLD RUSH ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/16 "2002-12-11T03:30:09Z")
Thanks to everyone so far. I purposely left off the jazz, R&B, and blues as I thought it best to start with the rock. Plus, I’ve already got four Miles Davis albums, a couple Coltrane albums, and the stuff I really like, old Ellington, Armstrong, and the like. I left off the 90s stuff I have because I know enough about what I like from the 90s, and I left off my two Metallica albums because I’ve pretty much stopped listening to them–plus, I’m never going to buy another CD from those whiners. I left off rap because I’m not a big rap fan and some day I can see myself trying to explain to my kids just why I have an ICP album. Oh, I should add that other stuff is okay. I realize I just left off my Dylan: Essential Bob Dylan cd set, my Bob Marley and the Wailers: Survival cd, my Skynyrd Greatest Hits collection, and several things I have a few singles of on mp3, such as Phish, the Stones, the Doors, Springsteen, and Simon & Garfunkel. Thanks for everything so far, and keep em coming. Really, forget the limitations, except that it has to be rock or close enough. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/17 "2002-12-11T03:37:43Z")
**Nitro** OFR ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/18 "2002-12-11T03:46:13Z")
Add to the list The Beatles: Rubber Soul, Hard Days Night. Paul McCartney: Band on the Run John Lennon: Imagine, Double Fantasy Blues Traveler: Four Simon & Garfunkel: Bookends Beach Boys: Pet Sounds Paul Simon: Graceland ELO: Out of the Blue (with the Simon game on the jacket 😉 ) Police: Zenyatta Mondatta Cyndi Lauper: She’s So Unusual The Guess Who: The Best of The Guess Who Three Dog Night: The Best of Three Dog Night Annie Lennox: Diva ---
**Author:** ![typhoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@typhoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typhoon)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/19 "2002-12-11T04:01:15Z")
And lest we forget, the nineties: Alice In Chains–Dirt Buckley, Jeff–Grace Cash, Johnny–American Recordings Nirvana–Nevermind Pearl Jam–Vitalogy Radiohead–OK Computer R.E.M.–Automatic for the People Screaming Trees–Dust Soundgarden–Superunknown U2–Achtung, Baby I know I’m forgetting a lot. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845/20 "2002-12-11T05:48:44Z")
Blind Faith- Blind Faith CSNY- Deja Vu David Bowie- The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust Jimi Hendrix- Band of Gypsys Led Zeppelin- I-IV (they are all equally good) Nirvana- Nevermind Pink Floyd- Meddle or Darkside of the Moon Radiohead- Kid A The Beatles- The White Album The Doors- The Doors The Rolling Stones- Let it Bleed The Who- Who’s Next Bootsy Collins- Ahh…The Name Is Bootsy, Baby! Herbie Hancock- Head Hunters James Brown- Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag John Coltrane- Giant Steps and A Love Supreme Miles Davis- Birth of the Cool and Bitches Brew BB King- The Blues This is precisely why the portable hard drive mp3 player is the greatest thing since sliced bread. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-needed-for-a-comprehensive-collection-of-music-from-the-last-five-decades/141845.md?page=2)