Essential Studio Albums

[wease]

I think a soundtrack would certainly qualify as an album. Indeed I think there are a few that belong in your list of albums for this journey.

Let’s get a list going…

I mean Purple Rain has to be on there.

Shit. Yeah, I forgot that one.

[doug rr]

Jethro Tull - Aqualung

Time for more epic riffs and flute solos. This one’s got killer classics - Aqualung, Cross-Eyed Mary, and Locomotive Breath. It’s got big rock in Hymn 43. It’s got the renaissance faire vibe. It’s really a varied but consistent album that rocks in its spots and jams in its spots and does all the things a 70s rock album should do.

The Essential Track: Aqualung

Up Next: Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon

to this day, seeing him live in Denver was probably one of the best shows I've ever been too..

[liebzz]

I think a soundtrack would certainly qualify as an album. Indeed I think there are a few that belong in your list of albums for this journey.

Let’s get a list going…

I mean Purple Rain has to be on there.

Shit. Yeah, I forgot that one.

I listed it as a Prince album but yeah.

[liebzz]

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon

It’s hard to know what to say about one of the most classic albums. The first thing i thought of on this listen, as opposed to the probably hundred plus others, is how despite the wide range of music covered on this album, it is so cohesive an album that I have never really made sense of hearing it in any other way than its exact order. As if this is the album that should have been one track. Yet despite that, you have different sounds going on, from straight rock to wild sonic to excursions to psychedelic sequences. Besides using the clocks in time to scare the shit out of napping friends, and watching the munchkins dance in perfect time to the bass in Money, I have just heard this one so many times for so many years the album is its own lifeblood.

The Essential Track: Time

Up Next: Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure

[liebzz]

Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure

This seems like a step up for them from the first album, which I also liked. I had read an archived review that summed this thing up succinctly as the struggle between straightforward rock music and Brian Eno’s efforts to get a bit weird, and with that context in mind I think that’s precisely what we get. Sometimes it seems to alternate on tracks between the two, but then you get moments like The Bogus Man where they both exist with neither riding up under the surface. There may not be a full meeting of the minds, but the lack of a full blend I think makes this album more interesting as a result. Editions of You is also quite excellent.

The Essential Track: The Bogus Man

Up Next: Fripp & Eno - (No Pussyfooting)

[Farmer John]

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon

Underrated album

[liebzz]

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon

Underrated album

I’m not sure that’s even possible, but it is among my favorites.

[liebzz]

Fripp & Eno - (No Pussyfooting)

The last album feels like context for this one. Shed of all efforts to make rock music or follow form, Fripp & Eno take two different sonic loops to create building atmospheres, the former a bit slower building in The Heavenly Music Corporation and the latter Swastika Girls, a bit more manic but also more textured. Makes for a good single listen but once again it’s doubtful there’ll be much in the way of return listens on this. Still a worthwhile venture though.

The Essential Track: Swastika Girls

Up Next: Little Feat - Dixie Chicken

[Farmer John]

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon

Underrated album

I’m not sure that’s even possible, but it is among my favorites.

Mine too

It's always been so highly regarded that it has almost become a boring, cliche answer to give when naming the greatest albums of all time and, as a result, has now come out the other side as somehow being underrated in my mind.

[liebzz]

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon

Underrated album

I’m not sure that’s even possible, but it is among my favorites.

Mine too

It's always been so highly regarded that it has almost become a boring, cliche answer to give when naming the greatest albums of all time and, as a result, has now come out the other side as somehow being underrated in my mind.

The ol’ so overrated it’s underrated

[Farmer John]

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon

Underrated album

I’m not sure that’s even possible, but it is among my favorites.

Mine too

It's always been so highly regarded that it has almost become a boring, cliche answer to give when naming the greatest albums of all time and, as a result, has now come out the other side as somehow being underrated in my mind.

The ol’ so overrated it’s underrated

Like the Pearl Jam song "Alive"

[liebzz]

Little Feat - Dixie Chicken

So THIS is the sound I was expecting diving into some Little Feat. Songs that aren’t long but are in no rush. A dexterous band but not flashy. Songs that fit like a well broken in leather shoe into the classic rock genre. The sort of lived in rock that feels like southern version of The Band that could have done these tracks and no one would bat an eye. The title track is probably the best known song here, but their cover On Your Way Down is loose and enjoyable. Fat Man in the Bathtub is essential listening and a generally great time. Walkin All Night sounds like it was lifted off a Band album but in a good way. Just a solid enjoyable record front to back.

The Essential Track: Dixie Chicken

Up Next: The Marshall Tucker Band

[liebzz]

Marshall Tucker Band

Another band in the great tradition of southern rock, though they have some serious country leanings here in addition to the blues rock that nearly matches the Allman Brothers, particularly on their live version of Everyday (I Have the Blues). Take the Highway is a phenomenal epic opener, and the best rock n’ roll flute this side of Jethro Tull. Can’t You See follows, really one of the true classic songs of the genre. Hillbilly Band is a real fun twangy song that is preposterous as it is fun. Ramblin’ (because what southern rock album is complete without some form of ramblin’) is an epic display. I really enjoyed this one.

The Essential Track: Can’t You See

Up Next: Faces - Ooh La La

[liebzz]

Faces - Ooh La La

The swan song from Faces is probably not their top album, but when the band goes into full chaotic rock n roll mode, it’s still great. Borstal Boys is an excellent example of this band on a razor thin edge between hard rock and the whole thing collapsing on itself, a wonder wreck. On this one, there’s moments where they resemble Stewart’s solo material and that may be what I want the least because…well…even though he has some good songs, Faces (and the Jeff Beck Group) are the moments where Rod Stewart is less pop star and more rock star. He excels on the edge and is cloying outside of that. The one exception of course is the classic title track that manages to be both polished and a real solid listen nonetheless.

The Essential Track: Borstal Boys

Up Next: The Allman Brothers Band - Brothers and Sisters

[wease]

Marshall Tucker Band

Another band in the great tradition of southern rock, though they have some serious country leanings here in addition to the blues rock that nearly matches the Allman Brothers, particularly on their live version of Everyday (I Have the Blues). Take the Highway is a phenomenal epic opener, and the best rock n’ roll flute this side of Jethro Tull. Can’t You See follows, really one of the true classic songs of the genre. Hillbilly Band is a real fun twangy song that is preposterous as it is fun. Ramblin’ (because what southern rock album is complete without some form of ramblin’) is an epic display. I really enjoyed this one.

The Essential Track: Can’t You See

Up Next: Faces - Ooh La La

Toy Caldwell was fucking legend!

[oasisfan35]

Marshall Tucker Band

Another band in the great tradition of southern rock, though they have some serious country leanings here in addition to the blues rock that nearly matches the Allman Brothers, particularly on their live version of Everyday (I Have the Blues). Take the Highway is a phenomenal epic opener, and the best rock n’ roll flute this side of Jethro Tull. Can’t You See follows, really one of the true classic songs of the genre. Hillbilly Band is a real fun twangy song that is preposterous as it is fun. Ramblin’ (because what southern rock album is complete without some form of ramblin’) is an epic display. I really enjoyed this one.

The Essential Track: Can’t You See

Up Next: Faces - Ooh La La

Toy Caldwell was fucking legend!

Fairly certain doug rr shared this at some point:



This song is 100% ingrained in me but it has been a while, thank you sir

[liebzz]

I saw Marcus King cover Can’t You See once live - it was awesome.

[wease]

I saw Marcus King cover Can’t You See once live - it was awesome.

Nice. He is a Carolina boy after all.

[VinylGuy]

I listened to Dark Side so many times as a kid...its been ages since i listened again. Even if im in the mood for Floyd, as the other day, i tend to go to Atom´s Heart Mother or Meddle maybe...

I should go back to DSOTM. Maybe i need to pick it on vinyl hehe

[liebzz]

The Allman Brothers Band - Brothers and Sisters

Without 2 founding members, the Allmans are subtly evolving in their sound from the twin guitar attack to a more interplay between Dickey Betts and Chuck Leavell I believe in this one. No doubt that Betts never sounded better, with the jams on Southbound and Jessica all timers. Wasted Words and Ramblin’ Man (more ramblin’) are obviously also huge classics, but here I am appreciating the more blues centered songs in Jelly Jelly and Pony Boy. And Come and Go Blues is always excellent, so yet another Allman Brothers Band album that’s pretty much flawless. We know with the benefit of hindsight that things would get real bad for a while, but here still they have the goods and keep the classic sound going.

The Essential Track: Southbound

Up Next: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd