Name the record you have played more than...

[Swish]

...any other, and I mean the ENTIRE record, not just a couple songs you like.

For me, it has to be XTC's Skylarking, although I hadn't really thought about this topic or this record for quite some time. Davey's recent post about a new vinyl release from Apehouse Records gave me renewed interest in this nearly 25 year old record and got me to thinking that it's likely the one I've listened to more than any other in its entirety. Heck, I can't think of another that would come close, although a couple Beatles records from way back, or maybe Pet Sounds?

I know every lyric, every nuance on this sucker, and there's not one clunker on it, or 14 tracks of whack (15 if you include 'Dear God' that was added later). If you didn't know, it was produced by Todd Rundgren and has a lot of Beatles/Beach Boys influence, although some aren't so obvious.

Needless to say, it's also my favorite XTC record.

What say you?

[Slosh]

In the last ten years it's definitely Spoon - A Series Of Sneaks. Just listened to the whole album again today while washing my car.

For metal, it's Sepultura - Chaos AD.

For all time I honestly can't say. I go through too many phases where I don't pull out my favorite albums for years and years at a time.

[Rae]

All time? Probably the Beatles' Red and Blue.

~Rae

[Smokey]

I must say that honor probably goes to Neil Young's 1990 album Ragged Glory. Almost played it on daily base for entire year untill the CD wore out and start skipping.

http://www.recordsale.org/cdpix/n/neil_young__and__crazy_horse-ragged_glory.jpg

[Jack in Wilmington]

Without a doubt Tull's "Thick As A Brick". Once you start it, there is no stopping until the end. Other albums, on CD at least, you might skip a weak song. Easy to do when you have that remote in your hand.

[Swish]

In the last ten years it's definitely Spoon - A Series Of Sneaks. Just listened to the whole album again today while washing my car.

Not by far, but it's #1 for sure.

[Davey]

Kinda hard to be definitive since I go thorough phases, as I'm pretty sure most of us do. And so like Slosh says, sometimes those big obsessions that I couldn't live without for a time ....well, guess I could. But Electr-O-Pura by Yo La Tengo has been a pretty consistent play for almost 15 years, and that's what is spinning right now, so I'll go with it.

About the same time as Electr-O-Pura came another obsession from Richard Buckner in the form of Devotion + Doubt, but I didn't discover it until later. Now it's like another beer.

And there's that thing I've got about that second Talking Heads record. And there's After the Gold Rush, but I honestly don't play the whole thing anymore cause some of it is just too familiar. Same with Bowie's Low, but man I've played that a lot through the years, especially the first side. Almost like the Abbey Road suite to me, just about perfect. Electric Warrior by T. Rex could be one. My XTC obsession was ,mostly with English Settlement, but it runs a little warm and cool. I used to listen to a lot of stuff that I still like a lot, but just don't listen to anymore.

So yea, maybe Electr-O-Pura. One of my favorite album bookends in Decora and Blue Line Swinger, but a near perfect mess all the way. Not even their best record, but still my favorite.

[3LB]

I'd prolly have to say Skylarking is in the top 10 easily. Oddly enough, it was a disappointment when I first bought it, expecting something that would sound like Drums And Wires (the first XTC album I heard - at a party). But after spending a "coming-down" with this CD, I was in love with it. It was in the player after a night of partying and the opening strains of Summer's Cauldron just mesmerized me. Up to that point, I wasn't at all crazy about it - I had even offered to give it away to one guy.

The Beatles' Abbey Road is definitely in the top 5. So is Pink Floyd Dark Side Of The Moon. Rush Moving Pictures was a monumental album in my life; up to that point I could take or leave them. Robert Plant Principle Of Moments still gets spins regularly, and even if it didn't its an album I played to death when it came out - I wore out 2 cassettes before I got it on CD. Which leads us to numero uno: Led Zeppelin Houses Of The Holy. LZ4 gets high praise and rightfully so, but HotH is everything that was ever good about LZ rolled into one album. Its LZ's best album ever IMO.

[nobody]

A lot of close contenders, but if I had to pick one, probably the debut by the Clash. And, I still pull it out with a decent bit of frequency.

<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VQM7V0R0L._SS500_.jpg">

I have, and prefer, the US version. The additions of (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais, I Fought the Law and Jail Guitar Doors beat anything left off the UK version for me, although I still have a bug up my ass that they released two CD versions instead of just getting it over with and releasing a compiled version with all the tracks.

[Mr MidFi]

It's hard to say for certain, but I think that (by definition) it would have to be a title that I've had for a long time and never really stopped listening to. Off the top of my head, that would have to include "classic" rock albums like...

Who's Next
Born to Run
Dark Side of the Moon
Fragile
Untitled fourth album (zoso)
Let It Bleed
London Calling

If I had to put money on it, though, I'd probably say Genesis, Trick of the Tail. And I'd probably be right.

[Slosh]

<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VQM7V0R0L._SS500_.jpg">
This is the first LP (yes, LP) my daughter ever bought. :)

[jonnyhambone]

I've been looking through my stuff and really don't know if there's anything I've listened to, all the way through, more than Sonic Youth's Evol. I bought it on cassette tape when it came out in '86...didn't know SY yet but was drawn to the overall aesthetic - the scrawled text, the song titles, the image on the cover, the name of the band...
It was a weird love at first listen but it definitely was. It's probably the most influential sound for my subsequent musical loves - arty, damaged, noisy-ness anchored by melodic hooks, female/male vocal interplay, squalling guitar atmospherics, etc. That tape is the reason I've continued to have a tape deck in my life for all these years. I resisted ever getting the cd 'cause it didn't seem right or necessary but recently picked up the remastered vinyl (pink even!). Sounds great, not too much tweeking of the orig. sound but a good improvement on my 26 year old tape. I still put it on every month or two for a late night session.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61xfsf3pPhL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

[dean_martin]

I've been looking through my stuff and really don't know if there's anything I've listened to, all the way through, more than Sonic Youth's Evol. I bought it on cassette tape when it came out in '86...didn't know SY yet but was drawn to the overall aesthetic - the scrawled text, the song titles, the image on the cover, the name of the band...
It was a weird love at first listen but it definitely was. It's probably the most influential sound for my subsequent musical loves - arty, damaged, noisy-ness anchored by melodic hooks, female/male vocal interplay, squalling guitar atmospherics, etc. That tape is the reason I've continued to have a tape deck in my life for all these years. I resisted ever getting the cd 'cause it didn't seem right or necessary but recently picked up the remastered vinyl (pink even!). Sounds great, not too much tweeking of the orig. sound but a good improvement on my 26 year old tape. I still put it on every month or two for a late night session.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61xfsf3pPhL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Nice. I've thought since going through SY's back catalog in the early 90s that Evol and Sister are an awesome one-two punch.

[Swish]

I've been looking through my stuff and really don't know if there's anything I've listened to, all the way through, more than Sonic Youth's Evol. I bought it on cassette tape when it came out in '86...didn't know SY yet but was drawn to the overall aesthetic - the scrawled text, the song titles, the image on the cover, the name of the band...
It was a weird love at first listen but it definitely was. It's probably the most influential sound for my subsequent musical loves - arty, damaged, noisy-ness anchored by melodic hooks, female/male vocal interplay, squalling guitar atmospherics, etc. That tape is the reason I've continued to have a tape deck in my life for all these years. I resisted ever getting the cd 'cause it didn't seem right or necessary but recently picked up the remastered vinyl (pink even!). Sounds great, not too much tweeking of the orig. sound but a good improvement on my 26 year old tape. I still put it on every month or two for a late night session.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61xfsf3pPhL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

...but my reply will place my thread above Rae's.

[unleasHell]

Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures
Chameleons: Script of the Bridge
Doors: First
Cure: 17 Seconds
Stranglers: Feline
Mythos: First
Far East Family Band: Nipponjin

and dozens more...

[MasterCylinder]

If I had to put money on it, though, I'd probably say Genesis, Trick of the Tail.
And I'd probably be right.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love that album..............especially RIPPLES.


Close runners up............
Abbey Road
Zeppelin 2
Dark Side of the Moon
UK -- UK
Close to the Edge

But the clear winner is :
ROMANTIC WARRIOR

[ForeverAutumn]

If it's the entire record without skipping songs then that would have to be Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

The only album that I've listened to more is Kansas's Leftoverture, but I skip Carry on Wayward Son so it doesn't fully meet the criteria.

[Mr MidFi]

I love that album..............especially RIPPLES.

It's not a "concept" album per se, but it's definitely an album that begs to be played in its entirety, in order, start to finish.

I put that one on, and I'm 14 years old again.

[MasterCylinder]

It's not a "concept" album per se, but it's definitely an album that begs to be played in its entirety, in order, start to finish.


True...........this was also the big transition period............I try to imagine the risks taken and the rewards realized in the new post-Gabriel Genesis............this album makes it all work and work very well.............good for them

Collins, Hackett, Banks & Rutherford...........what a great lineup.

[Swish]

If it's the entire record without skipping songs then that would have to be Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

Haven't listened to it in many months though. I don't think I have it on cd either.

[Worf101]

1. What's Going On? - Marvin Gaye
2. "It's Gonna Take a Miracle" - Laura Nyro with LaBelle

That's it

Worf

[Davey]

Haven't listened to it in many months though. I don't think I have it on cd either.
I have a 16/44 rip of the MFSL LP that sounds great. I have a few other versions, but this is the one I usually play since it is most convenient, and still may be the best mastering. Amazing record, like FA it could've been my pick. May have been my favorite record ever for a time. Now I bounce up and down Bowie's 70s records from one end to the other, love them all, and probably play Low the most. But this is still the most special. I'm not sure who originally ripped and posted it, but this was done on some pretty nice equipment and is really a must have for fans (unless you actually like the sound of the later CD masters, which some do)...

- Hardware
Lyra Skala moving coil phonograph cartridge
Nottingham Spacearm and phono cable on Nottingham Spacedeck
Aesthetix Rhea phono preamplifier - gain 62dB, load 2,500 ohms, phase non-inverted
First gain stage - Sovtek 12AX7LP vaccum tubes
Second and third gain stages - General Electric 12AX7WB vacuum tubes
Output Stage - Sovtek 6922 vacuum tubes
Analysis Plus Crystal Oval Plus rca interconnect cables
iKey Plus analog to digital converter
Maxtor USB Hard Disk Drive
Richard Grey Power Company RGP600 alternating current power conditioner (parallel operation only)

- Software
Waveform editing - Cool Edit Pro
wav to flac conversion - db Power Amp

Record cleaned with VPI 16.5 record cleaning machine with Record Research Lab record cleaning
fluids and Nitty Gritty brushes

http://depositfiles.com/en/files/dhk986lby


On the subject of Genesis A Trick of the Tail, is there any consensus to what version sounds best? I do have a 16/44 rip of the original Japan LP that was also done on a pretty good table, and the not so good sounding early CD, and the vinyl rip kills it. Of course, there are a lot of versions out there, including the later remix/remasters that were pretty loud and compressed, apparently even on the SACD masters.

[nobody]

This is the first LP (yes, LP) my daughter ever bought. :)

Your daughter at least 18?

[Davey]

Your daughter at least 18?
No, I think he was calling you a girl. Just my take, anyway.

I didn't really jump on the Clash bandwagon until Give em enough rope, so that has always been the one for me. I did play that one a lot. Might've been the best opening I'd ever heard. Total knockout.

[nobody]

Naw...I listen to a ton of much girlier music. I actually may well have bought Give 'Em Enough Rope first myself, but the self-titled one has stuck more over the years. Actually, the original version of Black Market Clash would probably be a close second for me as far as which ones I've listened to the most times. Super Black market Clash just annoys me though, propbably because I just had too many years to get too used to the original 10".

Now I kinda wanna go play Give 'Em Enough Rope. Love Tommy Gun, Julie's Been Working in the Drug Squad and Stay Free among others on there.

[Mr MidFi]

On the subject of Genesis A Trick of the Tail, is there any consensus to what version sounds best?

Is there ever?

I long for the original vinyl of my youth, but that thing died a long time ago. The original CD I had for years sucked hippo balls. I picked up the most recent remaster, and it definitely sounds better... but aside from the compression/loudness issues you mention (which don't bother me to death), they couldn't help themselves from tweaking and 'fixing' the mix here and there. Most of their choices were good ones, but some were not (IMO). The real reason to get that release is disc 2, which includes an interesting dts mix, a 1975 concert film featuring Bill Bruford on drums, and more.

The "making of" doc video on disc two leaves me with the tacit impression that Tony Banks was never really a big fan of this album, and would "fix" even more in the mix if he thought he could get away with it.

[Feanor]

Well, other than various classical albums, it's probably Miles Davis' Kind of Blue. I have CD and SACD (non-hybrid) versions.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51UVX5HKIiL._SS500_.jpg

[Mr MidFi]

I don't have a whole lot of jazz in my collection, but I definitely have that one, Feanor. A true classic.

[Slosh]

Your daughter at least 18?She's 20, and was 12 when she bought that record (obviously, I did something right in my child rearing). Now let's talk about something else, anything else, please. :)


Slosh Song of the Day (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2956428/02%20Death%20Major.flac)

[Davey]

I long for the original vinyl of my youth, but that thing died a long time ago.

Hit google with ... pbthal genesis trick of the tail japanese flac ... like I said, sounds pretty good. Probably won't be much help with that dead thing, though.

[Davey]

Slosh Song of the Day (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2956428/02%20Death%20Major.flac)
Copycat. I need to update mine more often. I forget what is loaded right now. Probably good, though :)

[nobody]

I might steal that song of the day idea too...I like it.

Kinda reminds me of way back when and doing group comps where everyone picked a song. Don't think there are enough people around here for that nowadays though.

Also, Slosh I assume if you had your daughter buying Clash records at 12 you are a fine example of modern fatherhood and are to be commended.

[Stone]

If we're talking ever, it'd have to be this, since I first started listening to it on 8-track when I was 6:

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drm900/m916/m91681tb06h.jpg

This one has also stuck with me through the years, since it was first released:

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc800/c838/c83836tnt34.jpg