Classic Albums

[MediumTex]

What would you consider to be absolutely classic albums/CDs that sound best when listened to as a complete work?

I will get it started with a few of my favorites:

The Beatles: Revolver and Rubber Soul

The Band: The Last Waltz

Willie Nelson: Red Headed Stranger

Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy

Sublime: 40 Oz. to Freedom

Steely Dan: Aja

Rush: 2112

[AdamA]

Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life

[Pointedstick]

Pink Floyd: The Wall

[chrish]

Too many to mention, but for a start:

The Smiths: The Queen is Dead
Radiohead: OK Computer
The Stone Roses: The Stone Roses
The Doors: The Doors
Bob Dylan: Bringing It All Back Home

Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy

Led Zeppelin released at least four classic albums, but surely Houses of the Holy isn't one of them!

[rhymenocerous]

Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A-Changin'
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

[Storm]

The Doors original album.
Really any Pink Floyd album.

This is also a major reason why I love electronic music.  Good DJs can take you on a journey that lasts an entire CD and takes you through several different musical adventures.

[Gosso]

Matthew Good Band - Beautiful Midnight (1999):
- Here's a taste (4:24) "Strange Days"
- It has the best opening 40 seconds of any album I've ever heard.
- Two words to describe it: "deep", "poetic".

Queens Of The Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf (2002):
- A taste (3:11) "Go With The Flow"
- Two words to describe it: "haunting", "explosive".

Foo Fighters - The Colour And The Shape (1992):
- A taste (4:50) "February Stars"
- Two words: "fun", "powerful".

[Bob]

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass:  Whipped Cream and Other Delights

I liked most of the music in that album but the picture of the woman on the cover, sitting there in whipped cream, helped get me through puberty in the mid-1960s.

[AdamA]

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass:  Whipped Cream and Other Delights

I liked most of the music in that album but the picture of the woman on the cover, sitting there in whipped cream, helped get me through puberty in the mid-1960s.

Hilarious!

[dualstow]

Jimi Hendrix, Electric Ladyland

Kate Bush, Hounds of Love

Led Zeppelin III

Peter Gabriel's fourth album is pretty great, but I would say each side sounds best played through. Doesn't have to be the whole album from start to finish.

XTC's Skylarking

[craigr]

I liked most of the music in that album but the picture of the woman on the cover, sitting there in whipped cream, helped get me through puberty in the mid-1960s.

I think there is a new sig in that line for someone.

[escafandro]

Soda Stereo:  Signos
Pearl Jam:  Ten
Sigur Rós:  �??gætis byrjun
Babasónicos:  Trance Zomba
Van Morrison:  Astral Weeks
Bob Dylan:  Real Live
Godspeed You! Black Emperor:  Slow Riot for New Zerø Kanada

[Gosso]

In honor of Curiosity I thought I'd mention this album:

David Bowie - Hunky Dory (1971)

http://youtu.be/fhv5D21ABDg

Or maybe a more appropriate album would be: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)

http://youtu.be/BOPLt_m5o-0

[Jan Van]

I'd like to +1 Aja and Rumours.

I'd like to add:

Annie Lennox - Medusa
The Cure - Boys Don't Cry
Dire Straits - Dire Straits
Donald Fagen - The Nightfly
Goede Doel - Belgie
Heaven 17 - How Men Are
Nina Hagen Band - Nina Hagen Band
Roxy Music - Siren
Snoop Doggy Dogg - Doggystyle
The Stranglers - Aural Sculpture
Talking Heads - 77

[KevinW]

+1 to

Pink Floyd: The Wall

Radiohead: OK Computer

Pearl Jam:  Ten

And also:

Air, Moon Safari
The Cure, Paris (live)
Jethro Tull, Thick as a Brick and Passion Play
King Crimson, In the Court of the Crimson King and In the Wake of Poseidon
Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon
Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here
Smashing Pumpkins, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

[dualstow]

Donald Fagen - The Nightfly

I have the distinction of looking almost exactly like DF on that album cover. (all sympathy is welcome) Or, I did when I was the same age as he was in the photo.
I'd like to think I'm ageing more gracefully, but maybe it's just because I'm younger.