Perfect al***s

Kathleen Ferrier sings Bach & Handel (sorry, it's classical but it is perfect)
Guy Clark - Old No.1
Monk's Music
Duke Ellington - Money Jungle
John Lee Hooker - Live at the Café Go-Go
The Band - Rock of Ages
The Allman Brothers - the Filmore concerts
The Clash - London Calling

All perfect to me

from the top of my head

Dylan - Blood on the Tracks

Duke Ellington / Johnny Hodges "Back to Back" and "Side by Side"

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - Rattlesnakes

Talking Heads - "The Name of this band is Talking Heads"

Rory Gallagher - Live in Europe, Photofinish, Top Priority

Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak

Elvis Costello - King of America

Lunasa - Kinnity Sessions

Ralph Towner - Solstice

SJB

(and yes, I do like Lily Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts!_)

The Smiths
Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section

Nigel

Kind Of Blue - Miles Davis . Predictable choice I know, but there you are.
Richmond Fontaine - Winnemucca & Post To Wire
Free - Fire & Water
Carole King - Tapestry
Rory Gallagher - Against The Grain
The Who - Quadrophenia
Neil Young - Harvest

fun stuff, i only know a few of the other suggestions, tho I'll probably start my own Christmas list. We have a big music shop, Tower is going out of business. I am betting in a couple weeks they'll give more than 10% off.

I was thinking
Feats Don't Fail me Now, Little Feat
Dixie Chicken also

quote:

Usually there is a track or two that I have a quibble about on an album, meaning I get tired of it or don't think it fits and can't wait till it's over and on with the good stuff.

Pet Sounds, the ultimate perfect album if it wasn't for Sloop John B. Included at Capitol's insistence as a commercial single release according to certain versions of the story.
Didn't stop Brian including it when I saw him doing Pet Sounds at the RFH a few years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by Wolf:
Tower is going out of business. I am betting in a couple weeks they'll give more than 10% off.

Wolf,

Isn't that a joke, 10% for a liquidation sale? I went to their store and never bought a thing. They are planning to be opened till December, and I hope they will get a bit more serious about inventory liquidation. So far they are trying to save me just the sales tax..

It is hard for me to think of music in terms of perfection.The stuff is so dubjective anyway. When the music is exceptional I am more in a 'forgiving' mood to accept some weaker tracks.

I consider too Sgt. Peppers to be one the best albums of all times.

The two outstanding recent albums which I find excellent from start to finish, and which I keep giving away as presents are:

Gleda, Songs from Scandinavia (jazz)
Nouve Musiche, Rolf Lislevand (classical)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5301786

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/jazz/detail/-/hnum/1984338/rk/home/rsk/hitlist

Best regards,

Haim

Why did they ruin Revolver with Yellow Submarine? Beats the hell out of me.

quote:

Originally posted by Malky:

Pet Sounds, the ultimate perfect album if it wasn't for Sloop John B.

SJB

Couldn't you change your name to Wouldn't it be nice or Caroline, no?

There is a comprehensive list of perfect albums here.

I would also recommend

1 by The Beatles (and all the other Beatles' albums mentioned)
5000 Spirits by Incredible String Band
Anthems In Eden by Shirley & Dolly Collins
Atem by Tangerine Dream
Basket of Light by The Pentangle
Cold Blow And The Rainy Night by Planxty
Computer World by Kraftwerk
Faultlines by Karine Polwart
Folk Roots, New Roots by Shirley Collins & Davy Graham
Good Book by Melanie Safka
Green River by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Leige and Leif by The Fairport Convention
Lincoln by They Might Be Giants
Love It To Death by The Alice Cooper Group
Oddesey & Oracle by The Zombies
Ogden's Nut Gone Flake by The Small Faces
Piper At The Gates Of Dawn by The Pink Floyd
SF Sorrow by The Pretty Things
Singles EP by The Pink Floyd
Tanz Der Lemmings by Amon Duul II
Tapestry by Carole King
This Is The Ice Age by Martha & The Muffins
Trans Europe Express by Kraftwerk
Village Green Preservation Society by the Kinks
Whatevershebringswesing by Kevin Ayres (and the Whole World)
Would You Believe by Billy Nichols

and lots, lots more ..... I think if I played all the albums in the link and those I've listed I would not find a track I'd want to skip. If I had to vote one and exclude HMHB then I'd pick SF Sorrow, but I might change my mind by tomorrow.

Rotf

How about
Jazz at the Pawnshop. what a wonderful title
Art Tatum/Ben Webster. The best sax playing ever
Breaking Silence Janis Ian
Rickie Lee Jones Rickie Lee Jones

I definitely 2nd Tapestry and Kind of Blue but have a big probelm with Ogdens Nut Gone Flake (to my ears it is mostly filler). Ellington - The Queens Suite (although technically an ep), Masterpieces, Live at Newport, Such Sweet Thunder, New Orleans Suite and Blues in Orbit. The Beatles had a habit of spoiling their greatest albums (Revolver, arguably Sgt Pepper, Abbey Road, White Album) so Rubber Soul get the nod. Other Miles Davies titles would be Miles Ahead, Porgy and Bess and In a Silent Way. Mingus - Ah Um, Tijuana Moods. Coltrane - Love Supreme, Crescent. Steely Dan - Katie Lied. I could go on so reserve the right to revisit later!

Not many artists can keep it going for a whole album

Who's Next
James - Laid
Natalie Merchant - Tiger Lily
Cardigans - Super Extra Gravity
Doves - Last Broadcast
Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlantisism
Bell X1 - Flock

Not many:

Crosby Stills Nash & Young - Deja Vu. The current Classic Records vinyl is very good, btw.

Queen - II.

Most Beatles.

And probably some more I can't remember right now...

quote:

Jazz at the Pawnshop. what a wonderful title

Here is a link to the place where it was recorded: http://www.stampen.se/

JohanR

Oasis - What's The Story Morning Glory
Ian Dury - New Boots & Panties (maybe not suitable for nieces!)
Prince - Sign 'O' The Times
The Smiths - Meat Is Murder
The Clash - London Calling
Bob Seager - Night Moves
Suede - Coming Up
David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On?
Jethro Tull - Aqualung
The Eagles - Hotel California
KLF - White Room
Tears For Fears - Songs From The Big Chair
Human League - Dare
Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic
The Stranglers - Black and White
XTC - English Settlement or Skylarking
Queen - Sheer Heart Attack
Jim Croce - Photograhs & Memories
Biully Bragg - Talking With The Taxman About Poetry
Van Morrison - Moondance or No Guru No Method No Teacher or St Dominic's Preview
Frank Sinatra - Songs For Young Lovers
Santana - Supernatural
Elton John - Blue Moves
ABC - The Lexicon Of Love
Frankie - Welcome To The Pleasuredome
Bob Marley - Legend
Neil Diamond - Hot August Night
Leonard Cohen - Greatest Hits
James Taylor - Mud Slide Slim

and more... Make one hell of a Christmas present, one each of all albums in this whole thread.
Steve

Lots there - I also personally love all the way through:


More Adventurous - Rilo Kiley
Hunky Dory - Bowie
Stone Roses - Stone Roses
Another Time, Another Place - Bryan Ferry
Laid - James
Parallel Lines - Blondie
Up All Night - Razorlight
Power In The Darkness - Tom Robinson Band
Romantically helpless - Holly Cole
After Midnight - Nat King Cole (honest!)

Nice Xmas list I reckon.

quote:

Originally posted by woodface:
I definitely 2nd Tapestry and Kind of Blue but have a big probelm with Ogdens Nut Gone Flake (to my ears it is mostly filler). Ellington - The Queens Suite (although technically an ep), Masterpieces, Live at Newport, Such Sweet Thunder, New Orleans Suite and Blues in Orbit. The Beatles had a habit of spoiling their greatest albums (Revolver, arguably Sgt Pepper, Abbey Road, White Album) so Rubber Soul get the nod. Other Miles Davies titles would be Miles Ahead, Porgy and Bess and In a Silent Way. Mingus - Ah Um, Tijuana Moods. Coltrane - Love Supreme, Crescent. Steely Dan - Katie Lied. I could go on so reserve the right to revisit later!

I guess it all a matter of taste, but excepting the Beatles albums you mention and, possibly, Tapestry. I think Ogden's Nut Gone Flake is more perfect album than the others you mention: not only does it have Lazy Sunday and Afterglow: two of the best tracks ever written, but also the story of Happiness Stan. Of course, when Stan looks up in the sky and sees only half the moon, he has to discover the whereabouts of the missing half. Along the way he saves a fly from starvation, and in gratitude the insect tells him of someone who can answer his question and also tell him the philosophy of life itself. With his magic power Stan intones, If all the flies were one fly, what a great enormous fly-follolloper that would bold, and the fly grows to gigantic proportions. Seated on the giant fly's back Stan takes a psychedelic journey to the cave of Mad John the hermit, who explains that the moon's disappearance is only temporary, and demonstrates by pointing out that Stan has spent so long on his quest that the moon is now full again. He then sings Stan a cheerful song about the meaning of life: Life Is Just A Bowl Of All Bran, You Wake Up Every Morning And It's There. Now that sounds pretty perfect to me.

All the best, Rotf

PS - Why do so many people on this forum like Katie Lied? I have had this album for years and hardly ever play it. I liked the first three Steely Dan albums, but couldn't come to terms with this and Royal Scam: a bit too jazzy for me, perhaps - oh well.

Wire - Pink Flag

All you need to know about punk.

Mark S

Nick Drake - 5 Leaves Left, producer Joe Boyd is quoted as saying he would not change a thing on the album.
The The - Soul Mining, soundtrack to the mid '80's
New Order - Power, Corruption and Lies, perfect album from a band at the top of their game.
Joy Division - Heart and Soul, just for the completeness of it.
Ali Farak Toure - Radio Mali, beautiful music from a great natural talent.
The Beat - I Just Can't Stop It, captured the moment in music.
Lemonjelly - '64-'95, they just keep getting better.
Massive Attack - Mezzanine, dark, loud and ever so slightly scary.
Kraftwerk - Minimum-Maximum, proof, if any was needed, of their massive impact.
Ian Druy - New Boots and Panties, just bloody fantastic.

All killer, no filler.

Jono

Dear All,

Steve Miller Band : Recall the beginning a journey from eden.

I have an orginal copy from the the 70's which is worse for wear.

I wish i could find it on CD so i could preserve my vinyl.

A great album.

regards David

I'm not sure if these have been mentioned yet :-
The The--Mind bomb
Jellyfish --Bellybutton
Lenny Kravitz --Let Love Rule
Annie Lennox --Diva
matt.

To ROTF, I think your synopsis of the 'concept' side of ONGF only further hardens my views views on the album! I completely disagree with you on the comparative merits of it when compared with the other titles I listed. Do you seriously believe that the Small Faces produced anything with even a fragment of the sheer wonder of Ellington at his worst!! Iam surprised by your views on Katy Lied, this is actually my favourite Dan album. I think it has the strongest set of songs within the SD cannon. The wide span of views is what makes this forum so interesting!

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:



SF Sorrow by The Pretty Things

If I had to vote one and exclude HMHB then I'd pick SF Sorrow, but I might change my mind by tomorrow.

Rotf

Nice to see these guys mentioned. I saw them in Seattle about 10 years ago and they played bits from 'SF Sorrow', great band, and according to Johnny Rotten, a better band than the Rolling Stones !


Big Brother

Iron maiden - Number of the beast
Floyd - DSOTM & Pulse (largely because it includes DSOTM Live!!!)
Who's Next
Zep - Physical graffiti
ZZTop - Afterburner
Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak
ACDC - Back in black

That's my lot.