Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)

Subject: BS: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 10:46 PM

Was visiting my pal, "Johnny Death", and saw this book published in 1998 which took votes from people all over the World for the top 1000 albums of all time (in their opinion). It combined the votes of the ordinary public, the music industry, and the critics...over 200,000 votes cast, and the results make for interesting reading.

Here are the top 10:

#1 Revolver - The Beatles
#2 Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles
#3 The White Album - The Beatles
#4 Nevermind - Nirvana
#5 Abbey Road - The Beatles
#6 Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys
#7 Automatic for the People - R.E.M.
#8 The Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
#9 (What's the Story)Morning Glory? - Oasis
#10 The Bends - Radiohead

Remember, the votes were polled in the mid-to-late 90's...

Lest you think that the Beatles have scooped it all, other very heavy hitters in the top 1000 are...

Bob Dylan
David Bowie
Van Morrison
U2
The Rolling Stones

And from there it jumps all over the place...to a great many fine singers and bands, and a few that will surprise you, I'm sure.

The only musicians whose absence really jumps out for me, in that they receive no mention whatsoever in the entire book are:

Buffy Sainte-Marie
Ian & Sylvia
Al Stewart

I regard all of them as brilliant, but apparently the World in general couldn't care less about them any more, according to how people voted.

I found the book interesting, and have discovered numerous albums/artists to check out that I haven't really heard yet, like...

Marvin Gaye
The Velvet Underground
Elvis Costello

Because the votes were tabulated in the 90's, many top bands of the 90's and late 80's scored high. Their scores will mostly dwindle with time. This survey is done on a regular basis, I think about every 5 or 10 years.

Bob Dylan ranks as the most influential single individual, according to the many stats they took in, but the Beatles rank as the most influential act of any kind...way ahead of any other. David Bowie ranks very high also. Elvis is steadily fading, as is Sinatra.

There are some oddball stats at the back of the book, including the 5 WORST albums of ALL TIME, chosen by the author!!!!!

And they are............

Lord Sutch and his Heavy Friends - Screaming Lord Sutch
Metal Machine Music - Lou Reed
Having Fun With Elvis On Stage - Elvis Presley
The Transformed Man - William Shatner
Initiation - Todd Rundgren

To quote the author: "There is no glimmer of hope or merit in these 5 albums. The first four are absolutely diabolical. The fifth was chosen by my research editor, Nic Oliver. Let's hope it's as bad as he says it is."

Ha! Ha! Ha! I am SO happy that William Shatner made the list of "worst 5 albums of ALL time". It makes me feel warm all over.

(Please note that both Lou Reed and Elvis also have some heavy hitters amongst the best 1000 albums! I cannot say the same for the tragically misunderstood, yet brilliant William Shatner...) (snicker!)

Subject: RE: BS: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 10:46 PM

Damn! Sorry, this really IS a music thread. It should be above the line. Joe, somebody, please move it there...

Subject: RE: BS: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Bobert
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 11:04 PM

"Last Puff"- Spooky Tooth
"McKendree Springs III"- McKendree Springs
"Positively 4th Street"- Dylan
"Jack Knife Jypsy"- Pual Siebel
"Lucky Town"- Bruce Spingsteen

Jus' fir starters...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: GUEST,Sidewinder
Date: 30 Jan 05 - 02:25 AM

I am appalled by the list and offer the following amendments;

1) Abbey Road -The Beatles.
2) Sgt Pepper -The Beatles.
3) Help! -The Beatles.
4) The White Album -The Beatles.
5) Revolver - The Beatles.
6) Rubber Soul -The Beatles.
7) Let it Be -The Beatles.
8) Beatles For Sale -The Beatles.
9) Magical Mystery Tour -The Beatles.
10)A Hard Days Night -The Beatles.

Pink Floyd, Oasis and Radiohead -Pah! You're Havin' a Larf Ain'tCha! That's like comparing A Ferrari with a Lada,Morris Minor, and a Sinclair C5.

Please Please Me ( For those wondering about No11 ).

Sidewinder.

Subject: RE: BS: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 30 Jan 05 - 03:02 AM

I'm amazed the ' Ruttles ' never got in.

eric

Subject: RE: BS: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: GUEST,Chongo Chimp
Date: 30 Jan 05 - 10:49 AM

Sinatra is fadin'???? Gimme a friggin' break! Nirvana in the top 10??? Just shoot me now and END the pain!!!

Bobert, ya loser, this is about whole albums, not individual cuts! Get with the script.

- Chongo

Subject: RE: BS: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Bobert
Date: 30 Jan 05 - 11:01 AM

Hey, them is all albums, Chonger... Sum o' dem is named affter the title cuts, however, like Paul Seibel's "Jack Knife Gypsy" album...

Gol dangit, anyway...

As fir Nirvana... Make that a 2nd on the "shoot me" thing...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 30 Jan 05 - 11:05 AM

Dylan did an album called "Positively 4rth Street"? I don't think so. That was a single. And a rather good one, if just a tad vitriolic in nature. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Peter T.
Date: 30 Jan 05 - 01:16 PM

Parts of Magical Mystery Tour are great, but some of it is dire.

I would have said that Blonde on Blonde is pretty close to the top of a real list -- though Blood on the Tracks is my favourite.

If someone put together a Beatles after the Beatles compendium, very carefully selected, I am sure it would make a top ten collection: e.g. ---

Maybe I'm Amazed
Working Class Hero
All Things Must Pass
Photograph

Peggy Lee's Fever album should be on the 1000 list!!

and so on.....


yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: GUEST,Sidewinder
Date: 30 Jan 05 - 02:16 PM

Magical Mystery Tour Why That One? Abbey Road is the one I expected to spark the debate - I put it above Pepper and Revolver and White is that not a radical act?

Regards.

Sidewinder.

Subject: RE: BS: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 30 Jan 05 - 03:59 PM

Blonde on Blonde comes in at #14 overall in the book, Peter. I too would have put it and Blood On The Tracks in the top 10 of all time. With the Beatles, it's hard to say which album would rate highest. Kind of depends on what mood you're in at the time. Strong contenders would be: Abbey Road, Sgt Pepper's, Revolver, and Rubber Soul, in my opinion.

Subject: RE: BS: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Peter T.
Date: 30 Jan 05 - 05:43 PM

If I remember correctly (I was in America, which had different album arrangements) I don't think any of the Beatle albums had "She Loves You" or "I Want To Hold Your Hand" on them. Whichever had those on it was the best!!!

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 12:58 AM

Oh, the early stuff was wonderful, yes, but I like their lyrical songwriting better from "Revolver" on. They learned a lot from Bob Dylan in '65 and '66. As for Dylan, he was bowled over by their chording, melodies, and vocal harmonies. They both gained a lot from listeing to one another and comparing notes.

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: GUEST,Obie
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 05:11 AM

Any poll is extreemly subjective! Who are "the people all over the world,the ordinary public, the music industry, and the critics...over 200,000 votes cast?") What international balance was given? (seems to be all English language) Was balance given to all age groups? (seems heavy on those who were teens in the 60's)
Most important of all; I wasn't asked! :-}
          Obie

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 10:01 AM

God knows. I guess you would have to contact the author to get that info. Clearly, the emphasis was on the English-speaking World, as we are dealing with English-language pop music and other styles of music here. We are not dealing with Russian or Indian music or Latin music, for example.

I would think the majority of votes came from the USA, and the UK. Secondarily, from Canada and Australia.

The fact that Gordon Lightfoot does not get even a mention in the book is extraordinary. He only wrote about 600 great songs! Ian and Sylvia also get no mention, nor does Buffy Sainte-Marie. They are all Canadians, and all folk musicians. Kate and Anna McGarrigle DO get a mention, for their debut album, however. (and they were not nearly as big a factor in folk as Lightfoot, the Tysons, and Buffy...but they WERE very good, nonetheless.)

The 60's seems overly heavy to you? What's your age? It's the 70's that rates the most albums on the list, not the 60's. What seems to me to be overemphasized in the list is the 90's. It all depends on what you are familiar with, that's all.

I wasn't asked either! :-)

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Peter T.
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 10:14 AM

I wonder where Sketches of Spain comes.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: GUEST,Arturo
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 03:01 PM

No1 Sun Sessions
no2 From Elvis in Memphis
NO3 Elvis is Back
No5 Elvis Country
No6 That's The Way It Is
No7 Something For Everybody
No8 From Elvis Presley Boulevard
no9 Rock and Roll No1
No10 "   "    "   No2

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: GUEST,Vini Trebello
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 03:22 PM

1- A Night At The Opera by Queen
2- Joshua Tree by U2
3- Revolver by The Beatles
4- London Calling by The Clash
5- Blood on The Tracks by Bob Dylan
6- Songs of Leonard Cohen
7- Sweet Baby James by James Taylor
8- Hunky Dory by David Bowie
9- Transformer by Lou Reed
10 John Lennon Plastic Ono Band.

Sidewinder and Truro are very fanatickal but some good records on there listes.

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 05:57 PM

I'm gonna do a top 10 list, then. And I'll try to spread it around some to be fair...

1 - Blood On The Tracks (Dylan)
2 - Revolver (Beatles)
3 - Blonde on Blonde (Dylan)
4 - Joshua Tree (U2)
5 - Astral Weeks (Van Morrison)
6 - Blue (Joni Mitchell)
7 - Abbey Road (Beatles)
8 - Excitable Boy (Warren Zevon)
9 - Exile on Main Street (Rolling Stones)
10 - Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd)

Sorry for putting Dylan and the Beatles in twice...but I couldn't see how not to. As for Pink Floyd, I don't really like them much, but I have to admit that album is a masterpiece. So is Warren Zevon's "Excitable Boy".

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 07:09 PM

Good lord, this top section moves fast!

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Feb 05 - 12:20 AM

I'm beginning to think that you people in the top half of the forum must be as oblivious as the guy who put that book together...but in a different way. :-)

Okay, let's say I only give the Beatles and Dylan one each in the top ten...

I would then give a spot each in the top 10 to:

Al Stewart - for "Past, Present, and Future"

David Bowie - "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars"

2 more absolutely brilliant albums from 2 more great artists.

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Feb 05 - 12:53 AM

And I can't think of any Elvis albums, sadly, but I think Elvis was basically a man known more for singles than for albums.

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: GUEST,Artruro
Date: 01 Feb 05 - 03:44 AM

Oh! Contrare Little Hawk the first four albums on my list are masterpeices and should be in any music fans record (CD) collections to be worthy of serious consideration.

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: GUEST,Arturo
Date: 01 Feb 05 - 03:46 AM

Besides I'll bet everyone mentioned in your top 10 has copies of each of them. Remember Elvis is The King after all- ask Dylan or remaining Beatles and they will all tell you the same.

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Peter T.
Date: 01 Feb 05 - 09:19 AM

1. Beethoven's Ninth Symphony (Karajan/Berlin Phil)
2. Beethoven's other 8 Symphonies (Karajan/Berlin Phil)
3. Die Schone Mulerin (Moore/Dieskau)
4. Song Recital (Janet Baker)
5. Ring Cycle (Solti)
6. Chopin Preludes (Rubenstein)
7. Tosca (Callas)
8. La Boheme (Victoria de Los Angeles)
9. Greatest Hits (Luciano Pavarotti)
10. 1927-1929, Greatest Hits (Louis Armstrong)

Gee, none of those pop records even makes it anywhere near the top ten real best albums of all time.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Feb 05 - 01:56 PM

Shane has never heard any of those, Peter. That speaks for itself, eh? :-)

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Feb 05 - 06:41 PM

Postively amazing how fast threads move on the top half of this page...

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 02:00 AM

I mean...FAST! Gosh. It fell off the page again.

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 07:00 PM

And furthermore...

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 07:31 PM

...it was the...

Subject: RE: Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums ('98)
From: Peter T.
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 04:19 AM

You're losing the thread, LH. It is a dead thread, bereft of life it rests in peace, it has gone to join the choir eternal.....

yours, Peter T.