Okay. I admit it. This is a cheap easy column to substitute for actual thoughtful reporting that I usually (try to) do. Yet it is sure to engender a lot of discussion. Please feel free to add your top 25 (or top ten or five) of all time, too. I assume that most people noticed I included a couple of bootlegs you probably haven't heard. If you want copies let me know.
Only two rules: (1) No anonymous lists or anonymous criticism of mine; and (2) no greatest hits or boxed set compilations. Without further ado:
My 25 Favorite Albums of All Time as of March 18, 2007 (In no particular order)
1. Van Morrison Street Choir
2. Alanis Morrisette Jagged Little Pill
3. The Who Who Are You?
4. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon
5. Bruce Springsteen The Saint, the Incident and the Main Point Shuffle (Bootleg 2/2/75)
6. John Cougar Mellencamp Pink Houses
7. The Band The Band
8. Van Morrison Into the Music
9. Delbert McClinton One of the Fortunate Few
10. Warren Zevon The Wind
11. Run DMC Raisin’ Hell
12. The Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill
13. Little Feat Waiting for Columbus
14. Shelby Lynne I Am Shelby Lynne
15. John Lee Hooker Live in Montreaux (Bootleg 7/15/83)
16. AC/DC Back In Black
17. Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti
18. Indigo Girls The Indigo Girls
19. Norah Jones Feels Like Home
20. Jackson Browne Running on Empty
21. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
22. R.E.M. Document
23. Matchbox 20 Yourself or Someone Like You
24. Bob Dylan Blood On the Tracks
25. The Pretenders Learning to Crawl
Hopefully back to Ireland and cancer next column.
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17 comments:
How is it that geeks like us always like lists, especially about music? Anyway, not to trash anyone's list of favorite albums (how can you say someone is wrong in listing their personal favorites?), here are a few observations:
-I would absolutely love copies of both bootlegs.
-2 Van Morrison albums in the top 8 - did Johnny Mac help put this list together?
-Surprised Alanis is #2, I may have to back and listen to this more.
-Not surprised Pink Houses is up there. This is an album I definitely remember listening to with you.
-Surprised no Creedence or Joe Walsh in the top 25. Two bands we listened to while driving to football games etc. and have learned to appreciate through you.
-Haven't heard Matchbox 20, so don't know this album. Just find it amazing that they are listed right above 2 classics albums (dylan, pretenders).
-Love the Beastie Boys
-Overall, a great list!
I like how you dated the list. Has anything changed in the last 24 hours?
I should have indicated that it was in no particular order. I intended to but forgot. I have now edited the post to indicate that. You should should listen to the Morrisette CD again regardless. A perfect example of being pissed off at the entire world which often means rock'n roll at its best.
As you aptly observed, I dated the list becuase these change not only year to year, but month to month, and occasionally, week to week. Ask me again in 3 months and at least 5 and maybe 10 of these will have changed.
Joe Walsh could never put together a coherent album. "Cosmo's Factory" by CCR was a near miss this time. Maybe next time. Give me your snail mail and I'll send copies of Springsteen and Hooker.
I LOVE that the Beastie Boys made your list...although I might put Paul's Boutique ahead of License to Ill...if you want pissed off girl music, try Liz Phair's Exile in Guyville (a song for song response to the Rolling Stones Exile on Mainstreet)...or Ani DiFranco's Living in Clip...
-Megan
Not enough time (and thought) to put together a top 25 list, but here are my quick comments. LOVE the fact that Van the Man is on your list! Christina and I danced our first dance to him. Also gotta love REM, and Johnny Lee Hooker. A couple of LP's which did not make your list which would be on mine are Eric Clapton Unplugged, Eagles Hotel California, and The Police Synchronicity.
Art
Tom,
Steve, Hannah and I ran into Ben yesterday at the coffee shop. Between your report and Ben's account of the trip we are getting a real true feel for Ireland! Thaks so much for sharing.
Marj O.
sorry - that's not what i came to this site for! please, more insights on the meaning of life, etc.
Well, gee, Martin, sorry. Since you at least had the courage to sign what is presumably your name, I'm not gonna be a smart ass about it. (Believe me, there were a few lines from Monty Python running through my head.)
Maybe you should check some of the previous entries on the site. I don't know as they will provide you with the meaning of life, but may be more to your liking.
--Tom
Good, solid list (and I thought David Letterman and I were the last Warren Zevon fans left). I would have added Pearl Jam Ten, and probably Pink Floyd The Wall (but Dark Side is still the best).
Tom Ashworth (friend of Megan's)
p.s. Hey Megan try some Fiona Apple, she's pissed off too. Poor Liz might need a break.
p.p.s. Hey Martin, try the Dead and Phish, good for contemplating the meaning of life....Dude.
I don't have a list, but here are some albums I can listen to without tire:
(in no particular order)
Teatro - Willie Nelson (emmyLou Harris on backing vocals)
Sloan's new album
The Hold Steady, esp. Separation Sunday.
Sarah Vaughn - The Benny Carter sessions : qualifies because it's not really a compilation, but two LPs on one CD: "The Explosive Side of Sarah Vaughn" and "The Lonely Hours" Amazing stuff on these.
Steph--I want copies of all that you mentioned. You too, Megan. I'll even give Paul's Botique a relisten if you'll give me a copy.
Tom, I agree with your sisters. Teatro is absolutely beautiful and the Hold Steady rock. As for the bboys, Paul's Boutique is amazing and Check Your Head should also be relistened to.
Martin, let me begin by reminding you it's Tom's blog and if he wants to post his favorite albums then it's his right. Let me end by pointing out that you are looking for the meaning of life on the internet!!! Entertainment, advice and interesting facts are all a click away....but the meaning of life???...as Tom Ashworth so elequently put it......dude.
Tom, I like your Top 25 but would have to petition for some Simon and Garfunkel on it somewhere...they're not particularly pissed off or anything but easy to listen to and that's good for something too!
Becky (another of Megan's friends)
Amen to Warren Zevon and Willie Nelson.
I'll add:
Jimi Hendrix -- Axis: Bold As Love
Flaming Lips -- Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Tenacious D -- (self-titled)
Harry Nilsson -- (Greatest Hits?)
Nick Drake -- Pink Moon
More additions to the list
U2-Joshua Tree
John Mayer-Any Given Thursday
Melissa Etheridge: Road Less Traveled
Billy Joel: Glass Houses
Melissa's Friend
Just for the record, I think music may actually be the meaning of life...Martin should perhaps take a listen to the top 25...
Let's see here, Rich Webster, sent me a top 5:
1. Beatles White Album
2. Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
3. Beatles Revolver
4. Jackson Browne Running on Empty
5. Bruce Springsteen The Rising and all other Bruce albums...
Becky, Simon and Garfunkel, never put out a great album. And no, I don't think "Wednesday Morning, 3:00 a.m." was great. Elvis Costello suffers for the same reason. I have a 2CD Greatest Hits CD by Costello that would have easily made the list had I allowed compiliations. And you can go on and on once you let that rule be broken. Jimmy Buffett, 3 Dog Night, CCR, Stevie Wonder, John Hiatt, and so on....All would make my list if I allowed greatest hits.
Martin, my friends aren't usually this obnoxious. (They're usually worse.) Anyhow, back to Ireland today, and medical update maybe late today, maybe this weekeend, maybe Monday. This was fun. Thanks to all who participated.
Tom
Tommy,
I don't visit the site for a couple days and I miss a good music entry! It looks like I may need to do some shopping, there are a few I don't have.
Solid list - I'm surprised Running On Empty is the Jackson Browne entry. It looks like we never could turn you into a Elton John or Sam Cooke deovte, but there still is time.
Johnny Mac
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