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Name Your Favourite Album

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Name Your Favourite Album

from JoeUser Forums
Those of you who know me know I’m a musician and a huge music fan, as is my wife. As a big fan, I have often been asked to name my favourite piece of music of all time. As a big fan, this is probably one of the hardest questions I’ve ever been asked. I’ve never been able to supply an adequate answer because there is so much good music in the world, narrowing it down to a single album has proved to be impossible. I’ve stood in front of our substantial collection many times but could never give a definitive answer. But recently, I bit the bullet and named the album.

The reason I committed to a single choice is due to a television show here in Australia called Spicks and Specks. The show is named after a big hit by the Bee Gees and is a music trivia game show featuring two teams. The show is an absolute must see for Toni and me as not only is it funny and fun but we enjoy testing ourselves. Sometimes we do really well and other times we fail miserably. But we always have a good time watching the show.

Anyway, recently the host, the brilliant Adam Hills (a very popular comedian here in Australia) has been mentioning a survey the network has been running about trying to find the most popular albums of all time. The results are to be aired in a show at the end of this year. I decided I wanted to contribute which meant I had to decide on a single album, dammit.

I thought about it. I thought about it for weeks. I stood in front of our not too inconsiderable collection and thought about it. I narrowed it down to a manageable list then I narrowed it down to a handful of albums. Some of the albums to feature on this list are classic rock albums in any self-respecting music aficionado’s list. Albums by greats like Bowie, Marley, Hendrix and The Beatles feature on this list as well as albums by Beck, Sublime, Jeff Buckley, The Beastie Boys, Run DMC, Gomez, Gorillaz and Pavement. My criterion for deciding which made it to the list was pretty simple: if I lost my collection, which albums would I replace first.

The winner was ‘London Calling’ by The Clash. I didn’t want to be obvious but this is such a classic, diverse and still-relevant album. Of all the bands spawned by the punk movement, The Clash stuck out because not only could they play their instruments, they wrote passionate lyrics and believed their music could change the world. I don’t know if it did but I’m sure the world would be a poorer place without their wonderful songs.

There you have it, JU, my choice. Shoot me down or pat my back, either way I’ve finally made a choice and I’m feeling really happy about it. Now JU, I’m going to ask the same of you. What is your favourite album of all time?
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5,789 views 27 replies
Reply #26 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yeah, it's hard to pick one. I have a hard time picking favorites of anything.

The album itself has become almost obsolete in the day and age of mp3s and iPods. Then again, ever since CDs came out, and one could skip songs with just a quick button push--as opposed to having to move the record needle or fast forward the cassette--full albums have been listened to less and less.

That observaion aside, I grew up buying vinyl, and a few stand out.

Queen's Greatest Hits was my first "this belongs to me!" album. I played it into dust, but it wouldn't be near the top of any current list of mine.

So, let's see. I'll just name a couple-few in no particular order.

The Flaming Lips. "Hear it Is" and "Oh My Gawd!" These are the albums that woke me up to modern music. Prior to these, I listened to only older stuff--The Beatles, The Stones, The Animals, Dylan, Hendrix, The Yardbirds--standards. But with the songs "Unplugged" and "With You" off of "Hear It Is", and to name one, "You Can't Stop The Spring" off of "Oh My Gawd!" my eyes were openend to a whole new world of music and musicians. Not to say, by naming particular songs, that I didn't listen to these discs as albums. I did. Straight through. Again and again. (On sweet white and clear vinyl respectively)

I didn't discover Bad Religion until a few years later, even though they were making music at the time. The album "Suffer"...well, I consider it one of punk's best.

And Sonic Youth. Diehards will kick me for neglecting "Daydream Nation", but the fact is, it was "Dirty" that sent me into sonic convulsions. "Dirty" is the kind of album you end up buying better stereo equipment and larger speakers to truly appreciate. It still knocks my socks off!

[Edit]As a note, I have had neighbors call the police in two different states because I was listening to "Dirty" too loudly.
Reply #27 from JoeUser Forums Top
uDigIt:

Sure there are better albums out there but these are my absolute favorite because of where I was in my life when I heard them


Music and the way it affects the individual is subjective anyway. If you happen to believe The Villiage People's Greatest Hits is the best record you've ever heard and it still moves you in ways no other music can, then why shouldn't it be a favourite. Of course, you might want to keep this fact to yourself

It is a hard question, I know. Believe me, I've sat around deliberating this for ages (and I mean years, literally). What a disparate list of favourites you have. No wonder you had trouble making a single choice. The Rage Against The Machine album is excellent, as is Public Enemy's 'It Take A Nation...'. But then to pick Texas Flood, well, frankly, you could knock me down with a feather. This is probably my favouite Blues album... Such virtuosity, passion and brilliance. The man is a legend and I still miss him.

Sean,

liked it more the 1st time when it was called "dread zeppelin."


Yeah, I remember their version of 'Stairway To Heaven', with the vocals by an Elvis impersonator. Funny stuff... Easy Star All Stars aren't trying to be ironic, though. 'Dub Side...' was endorsed by the members of Pink Floyd while 'Radiodread' was roundly applauded by members of Radiohead. If you have any liking for either reggae, Pink Floyd or Radiohead, I'm sure you'd enjoy these recordings.

Rabidrobot,

The album itself has become almost obsolete


Like you, I grew up collecting vinyl and cassettes, but quickly adopted CDs. I am an album person. I don't buy singles and I don't download individual songs, even though I have an MP3 player and the ability to download. I like having the artwork, the words, the details and the actual recording. As a musician, I think I have to be seen to be supporting the industry, rather than trying to scam it by downloading illegal copies of music.

Interestingly, I read recently there is now evidence to suggest downloading free music actually propels the music fan to buy the record, if they like the download. This pretty much goes against everything major labels have been saying.

Queen's Greatest Hits


Awesome band... There is an urban legend that says if one leaves a cassette in the glove box of their car for long enough, it will turn into Queen's Greatest Hits I don't know if this is true but it obviously is based on the popularity of the band and how many people have the greatest hits collection (I think my wife and I own a number of Queen's Greatest Hits CDs).

Flaming Lips are a household favourite and performed one of the best live gigs I've ever seen. I can't say the same for Bad Religion and while 'Dirty' is a great album, for me, it was 'Goo' that turned me on to the band. I can understand why you played 'Dirty' loud. The sonic (pardon the pun) quality of this album is fantastic and sounds so good at volume.

Thanks to you all for your considered responses.
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