Greatest Album in Rock History...

[Swish]

If there can only be one...

Made me smile.

[Rich-n-Texas]

Well, well...congrats SB! I've been a member here (in more ways than one) for nearly a decade and I don't think any post of mine has exploded the way this one did.

As far as my pick goes, I have to give a nod to DSotM as well. It's still a benchmark in engineering and recording quality, and its maintained its hipness for over 3 decades now, with no sign of ever becoming irrelevent. It remains one of the most well-known and influential albums in the modern era.

If only Roger and David had been able to work out their differences...

[bobsticks]

Auri makes a compelling argument for Dark Side.... While on a personal level I agree that it's not even my favorite Floyd disc, that's a hard dollar taking on that fight against. On the other hand, there's prolly thirty-five albums that Stone mentioned that I'd spin first, including Buck and the Buckaroos...and I wasn't even around for the Sixties...so what do I know?

well sugar, I think you've exposed one of the greatest fears around here: to step up and pick something. "Oh no! That's too hard for me, but your pick sux."

I'm callin' you regs out. Stop whining and pick something. Hang your critic's hat on one of SB's parameters for greatest (not favorite) and say whatever pops into your pointy head.

Damn, deano...babe...you do realise that for some of us this Rock'n'Roll comprises maybe twenty percent of our total listening diet. But, for tonight only, you are my muse...

NP:

[nobody]

I'm totally one of those whiners who thnks this is silly and impossible. But, amke me pick and I'd go with a double of something most likely. When feeling all American and patriotic, I'd take the Minutemen: Doubles Nickels on the Dine...when feeling a bit more anglocentric...London Calling's as good a choice as any.

And sorry, but I don't really believe in any objective "greatest." These are just 2 albums I've played to death and always pop to the top of the stack eventually for me. And I could just as easily replaced those 2 with about 10-20 others and not feel like I made any lesser choice.

[Jack in Wilmington]

It's hard to argue with the success of albums like Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, The Beatle's White album or The Eagle's Hotel California, but song for song I'd like to put my vote in for Boston's first album. Every song was a hit.

But GM isn't that like saying you can't argue with the success of American Idol. Just cause it's the most watched show on TV doesn't make it good. I do agree with your choice of Boston and the White Album.

[kexodusc]

If I had to pick a few nominees for runners up:
Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction - Metal meets mainstream- it's been matched, but never surpassed.
Skid Row - Sebastian Bach f'n rocks.
Scorpions - Love at First Sting - "Hello America, you ahh craazzy we are Scorpions, rock you like a Huricaaaaaaane."
Nirvana - Nevermind....Yeah, I said it. I grew up with it. It dominated culture unlike anything since...

Just a few.

[02audionoob]

If I had to pick a few nominees for runners up:
Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction - Metal meets mainstream- it's been matched, but never surpassed.
Skid Row - Sebastian Bach f'n rocks.
Scorpions - Love at First Sting - "Hello America, you ahh craazzy we are Scorpions, rock you like a Huricaaaaaaane."
Nirvana - Nevermind....Yeah, I said it. I grew up with it. It dominated culture unlike anything since...

Just a few.

For the generation that grew up with it, I'd say the selection of Nevermind is pretty darn reasonable. Has anyone here given any love to Who's Next?

[RoadRunner6]

Thanks! Just hearing the name "Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch" makes me laugh!

He only did two albums and then went on to movie acting. This was his only big hit, not a bad dance song. Make sure you have your sound turned up and ignore the video. My wife can dance all night to these two songs and also the last dance scene from the movie Chicago with Renee Zellweger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sle7nBwM8JM

If you need any more try Dr. Alban, Sing Hallelujah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L03JVPaZpyc

(If this doen't help, take two aspirin and call me in the morning)

RR6

[Troy]

Yeah,I'm one of those whiners too. There cannot be a "correct" answer to this because it's 100% opinion. Arguing about it is futile.

I side with DSOTM too, but it's a personal favorite with a tremendous personal meaning to my formative years. I can see people saying it doesn't rock enough, tho.

If an alien came to me and said "Show me what rock music is." I'd probably play "Who's Next" for them. Even though it's not even in my favorite 25 albums, that one always seemed to define what rock is for me. I dunno.

[ForeverAutumn]

If an alien came to me and said "Show me what rock music is."...

Wow. That could be a whole thread on it's own...

[02audionoob]

If an alien came to me and said "Show me what rock music is." I'd probably play "Who's Next" for them. Even though it's not even in my favorite 25 albums, that one always seemed to define what rock is for me. I dunno.

That's a great assessment of Who's Next. I haven't listened to it in years, but it's very noteworthy.

[Rich-n-Texas]

My runner up is Patti Smith: Horses. Before there was Pat Benetar, before there was Ann & Nancy Wilson, there was the great poet, Patti Smith.

[RoadRunner6]

To me (senior citizen) there is a distinction between Rock and Rock and Roll.

[Rich-n-Texas]

Elaborate please Road Runner. I'm 51 and I'm not understanding the difference.

[3-LockBox]

Can anyone here tell me what a self-choking masturbator is?

self-choking masturbators is a not-so-sensative description of those who practice in the 'art' of auto-erotica asphixiation, including some of our more talented music artists, like Michael Hutchence and Kevin Gilbert. It might be worth noting that the reason anyone knows who's doing this sort of thing is usually when these hobbyists are found dead from taking it to the limit, one more time.

You'll have to look up auto-erotica asphixiation on your own

[RoadRunner6]

Elaborate please Road Runner. I'm 51 and I'm not understanding the difference.

Wow Rich, this really opens up a discussion I don't know if SB wanted to get into. I'll try to be brief. I am not a musician so can't accurately talk to tempo, etc.

To me Rock is a very broad general term used to cover every form of rock music from the 50's to the present which would, include rock n' roll, hard rock, country rock, pop rock, blues-rock, psychedelic rock, heavy metal rock, punk rock, grunge rock, indie rock, and others.

The original form I would attempt to combine into the term rock n' roll which was a blending of country, blues, r & b, gospel, folk, boogie-woogie and honky tonk. White performers tended to have a little more country and hence I think the rockabilly term was used. Black performers were more on the r & b side. Rock n' Roll progressed into rock, hard rock, blues-rock, psychedelic rock and country rock in the late 60's and the 70's and on to other forms of rock.

When I started to read this thread I had no problem with the general term rock until I heard the name Jerry Lee Lewis. Now, I said to myself, that is rock n' roll!

With my lack of writing skills it is sometimes easier to say what songs are and who played rock n' roll rather than to define it.

Rock n' roll performers to me included, Bill Haley, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, the early Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, the early Rolling Stones, the Del-Vikings, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Creedence Clearwater Revival, just to mention some of the most well known. A later example of a rock n' roll song from a performer in 1980 would be Bob Seger's Betty Lou's Getting Out Tonight, now that is rock n' roll.

Some examples of performers I would classify as not rock n' roll singers (this will raise lots of eyebrows) are, Aretha Franklin, Roy Orbison, Bo Diddley and James Brown.

I was in grade school, high school and university from about 50 thru 67. I grew up with the birth of rock n' roll and its development thru the 60's. I know I have missed many here and have not touched on the earlier performers who helped influence and shape the beginnings. Hope this all makes some sense as I try to differenciate the term Rock n' Roll.

RR6

[BradH]

[QUOTE=RoadRunner6]Hope this all makes some sense as I try to differenciate the term Rock n' Roll].

Makes sense to me, I always thought of it like that.

Haven't seen a thread blow up like this in years.

The best throw down, get up, get on, get off vinyl butt whuppin' of all time?

Right now it's Who's Next.

Ask me again, it'll be something else.

[kexodusc]

On a thread like this there's been a few notable absences (forgive me if I didn't see them)...someone should probably mention The Doors by now. Don't think I've seen any Beatles, either.

Who's Next is a great pick I can't argue with.

[kexodusc]

Elaborate please Road Runner. I'm 51 and I'm not understanding the difference.

Wow aren't you too old to be driving a Firebird? I hear you can get a good Buick cheap these days.
j/k. I never would have guessed.

[Luvin Da Blues]

Maybe not the "Greatest Rock Album" but a very underrated album IMO is Ten Years After "A Space In Time". This has a permanent place in my top 25 anyway.

[Ajani]

Wow Rich, this really opens up a discussion I don't know if SB wanted to get into. I'll try to be brief. I am not a musician so can't accurately talk to tempo, etc.

To me Rock is a very broad general term used to cover every form of rock music from the 50's to the present which would, include rock n' roll, hard rock, country rock, pop rock, blues-rock, psychedelic rock, heavy metal rock, punk rock, grunge rock, indie rock, and others.

The original form I would attempt to combine into the term rock n' roll which was a blending of country, blues, r & b, gospel, folk, boogie-woogie and honky tonk. White performers tended to have a little more country and hence I think the rockabilly term was used. Black performers were more on the r & b side. Rock n' Roll progressed into rock, hard rock, blues-rock, psychedelic rock and country rock in the late 60's and the 70's and on to other forms of rock.

When I started to read this thread I had no problem with the general term rock until I heard the name Jerry Lee Lewis. Now, I said to myself, that is rock n' roll!

With my lack of writing skills it is sometimes easier to say what songs are and who played rock n' roll rather than to define it.

Rock n' roll performers to me included, Bill Haley, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, the early Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, the early Rolling Stones, the Del-Vikings, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Creedence Clearwater Revival, just to mention some of the most well known. A later example of a rock n' roll song from a performer in 1980 would be Bob Seger's Betty Lou's Getting Out Tonight, now that is rock n' roll.

Some examples of performers I would classify as not rock n' roll singers (this will raise lots of eyebrows) are, Aretha Franklin, Roy Orbison, Bo Diddley and James Brown.

I was in grade school, high school and university from about 50 thru 67. I grew up with the birth of rock n' roll and its development thru the 60's. I know I have missed many here and have not touched on the earlier performers who helped influence and shape the beginnings. Hope this all makes some sense as I try to differenciate the term Rock n' Roll.

RR6

So does that mean you don't think Michael Jackson is a Rock n Roll Artist?

But yeah, that seems a sensible explanation to me.... There are clearly multiple types of 'Rock' and classifying who falls into what category can get tricky (especially since Artists don't always stick to just one type of Rock (or music in general) for an entire album, much less a career)....

[Ajani]

Nirvana - Nevermind....Yeah, I said it. I grew up with it. It dominated culture unlike anything since...

I'd have to agree, Nirvana dominated my teenage years.... Though to be honest, every time I hear 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', I automatically start singing Weird Al's 'Smell Likes Nirvana' instead....

[Swish]

Maybe not the "Greatest Rock Album" but a very underrated album IMO is Ten Years After "A Space In Time". This has a permanent place in my top 25 anyway.

I have that on vinyl (like that's a big deal) and haven't listened to it in years. I will be doing that today though...One of these days boy!

Nice call!

P.S. Still digging those blues comps you sent me. I got some of that stuff, but not more than 25%, and it's all good.

[Luvin Da Blues]

I have that on vinyl (like that's a big deal) and haven't listened to it in years. I will be doing that today though...One of these days boy!

Nice call!

P.S. Still digging those blues comps you sent me. I got some of that stuff, but not more than 25%, and it's all good.

Alvin Lee's still Rockin' these daze, have you heard his '07 album 'Saguitar'. Alvin never got the accolades he deserves. Very underrated, he ranks up there with the best IMO (listen to Uncle Jam).

[RoadRunner6]

So does that mean you don't think Michael Jackson is a Rock n Roll Artist?

But yeah, that seems a sensible explanation to me.... There are clearly multiple types of 'Rock' and classifying who falls into what category can get tricky (especially since Artists don't always stick to just one type of Rock (or music in general) for an entire album, much less a career)....

IMO Michael Jackson is not a rock n' roll performer (I hate the term artist for singer/songwriters). I would classify him as a kiddie rock n' roll performer.

This discussion could go on forever and with many levels of rock classifications. Agree with you Ajani, many performers or groups as I mentioned might have been into rock n' roll at some time in their career, usually early on like the Beatles and Stones. Some even switched from rock n' roll to R & B to blues in the same album.

RR6