The most revolutionary album is the band's most innovative record. It might be the first genuine hard rock album, the first rock opera, the first 'art rock' conceptual album, the first gloomy album, the first big-band-gospelish album, etc., etc. It certainly might not be the band's best effort (you know, revolutions aren't always that worthwhile). Some lesser bands, like Ten Years After, or the great, but certainly not revolutionary CCR, may even be deprived of the honour. Some, on the other hand, might have more than one truly revolutional album (the Beatles had at least two or three), but in those cases I still try to point out the most important of these.

The absolutely quintessential album is the band's most diverse one - the one that captures as many sides of the band as possible and thus serves as best example for illustrating the band's 'sound'. Beginners might use this one as the place to start with the band. Note that the album also has to be a great one: thus, Houses Of The Holy might be Zeppelin's most diverse record, but it's also lame and shows their lack of talent in writing a truly diverse record. However, it is not necessarily my favourite album, as much as I care for diversity.

My personal favourite album is the one that gets a 10 in the review section (if more than one makes it, I just have to do a painful choice). Of course, it often coincides with the 'quintessential' album, but that's not obligatory. This is the only totally subjective column. So? Rock historians pick out the 'revolutionary' album; rock novices, please go to the 'quintessential' one; finally, if you're that much of a freak to agree with my tastes, run to the third one.

Now then: the best live album is, sure enough, the best live album. This spot will often be left missing, particularly because some of the bands/artists do not have any personality as live performers at all.

The most underrated album is the record that, in my opinion, is unjustly put down by the 'general opinion', whatever that one is. I feel that almost everybody has at least a couple of such albums - most often, minor masterpieces overshadowed by huger successes - and defend them so they do not get lost.

The worst album is also subjective - you might love it, but I hate it.

Note: since this page is so graphics-heavy and cumbersome to load (and make), I have contented myself with the first fifty bands or so that I have reviewed. These will serve as illustrations to the general concepts. For everybody else, the quintessential, revolutionary, etc., albums will merely be marked on the respective review pages.

?

None to speak of; they just did their stuff a lot better than anybody else.

ABBA (1975)

Certainly more 'easy-going' than some of the 'deeper' stuff, it emphasizes all of their best sides (and some of the worst, too).

The Album (1977)

The closest they ever got to serious, thoughtful and timeless music. 'Eagle' is just ecstatic.

?

Probably Abba Live (1986), but I don't have it. They weren't spectacular live performers, of course (at least not audio-wise), but let's wait until I fall upon this one.

Voulez-Vous (1979)

Sometimes dismissed as a collection of disco crap, but the melodies are, in fact, very very strong.

Ring Ring (1973)

A thoroughly uninspiring debut - just a collection of rudimentary pop schlock where nothing tells us about the future days of glory.

The Animals (1964)

They weren't major revolutionaries, but Alan Price's organ and the band's dirty and mean approach to blues and R'n'B do the trick. Plus, ain't 'House Of The Rising Sun' kinda revolutionary?

Animal Tracks (1965)

Bastardized American release, but it brings together all of the band's best aspects and gives a good smacking of the hits, too.

The Animals On Tour (1965)

Full of tasty chops. Not too many hits - just masterful, spotless performances of classic blues and R'n'B numbers that still leave me gaping.

?

Do they even have one?

Love Is (1968)

Do not dismiss ALL of Eric Burdon & The Animals' career; in the midst of all the dated psychedelic/guru-like craze, Eric put out this double album that can certainly be rewarding in the musical sense.

Winds Of Change (1967)

DO dismiss this one, though. One of the most ugly and just simply DUMB bunches of hogwash material that the Summer of Love ever dared throw at us.

Pet Sounds (1966)

The first ever conceptual album, and the first seriously instrumentated as well.

Today! (1965)

This onew has it all - timeless surfin' hooks on the first side, timeless ethereal ballads on the second one. The best place to understand most things about the Beach Boys.

Pet Sounds (1966)

Just impresses me most of all. The others are good to dance to.

Concert (1964)

Total fun! Their later live albums may be more professional, and better recorded, and better heard without all the screaming girls, but for sheer teenage excitement, nothing beats this sucker.

L.A. (1979)

The major BB classics have overshadowed lots of their more 'lightweight' albums, but that's no reason to badmouth them. I, for one, dig 'Lady Lynda' and 'Sumahama' as much as anything.

Keepin' The Summer Alive (1980)

But THIS is indeed the Beach Boys caught up in the merciless wheel of commercialism - dreadful pseudo-pop and adult contemporary sludge makes this unlistenable.

Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

Say what you will, but the album really spurred on hundreds of bands. Rock music was never the same after this one.

The Beatles (1968)

It's double, and it also amply demonstrates that the Fab Four could pull off any style they wanted to.

Abbey Road (1969)

I simply listen to this one the most. Used to spin it in my head when I was young on my way to different places.

Live At The BBC (1994)

Check out Hollywood Bowl for an interesting 'documentary' perspective; but if you really need to know how well the guys played live, this album is indispensable. Not that you'll be flabbergasted, mind you.

Beatles For Sale (1964)

Even so, nothing by the Beatles is underrated and nothing will ever be. Maybe Beatles For Sale gets a little harsher treatment than it should, but nobody has really condemned it seriously.

Yellow Submarine (1968)

And even this is only because there are but four original songs on an album otherwise stuffed with previously released material and George Martin's ambivalent orchestra performances.

Black Sabbath (1970)

Maybe somebody wants to argue? I hate heavy metal, and even I have to tip my hat to this record as its God Father.

Master Of Reality (1971)

For all the peculiarities of the Sabbath sound please revert here. Don't forget the ear protectors though.

Paranoid (1970)

That's the one with all the radio standards on it. Written at an epoch when Iommi was the classic hit-deliverer, so what could be better?

Reunion (1998)

Oh how they try, how they try to deliver all of their hits in one package... The funny thing is, they quite succeed at it. I suppose a good Ozzy years archive release might be better, though.

Technical Ecstasy (1976)

I don't know why everybody gives this album so much crap. I hear a lot of acceptable, if not particularly outstanding, melodies. Maybe the volume of their previous efforts has made me deaf?

Seventh Star (1984)

A weak, ridiculous parody on what the band used to be. No melodies, an overload of cliches, and a pathetic goofy singer turning everything into dirt.

Bringing It All Back Home (1965)

The first rock and roll album that said something 'interesting' to the audiences, and don't forget the bridging of the gap between folk and rock!

Blonde On Blonde (1966)

It kinda leaves you without the Seventies' Dylan, but it really says everything and more about 'classic Dylan': from generic blues to gorgeous ballads, this is the man!

Blonde On Blonde (1966)

The actual song quality is no slouch, either.

Live 1966 (1998)

A priceless historical document, and certainly the only officially released live album where you'll hear the audience boo the performer (but not because he's bad, mind you!). This was almost a tie with At Budokan.

Selfportrait (1970)

Yes, you heard. Please go to the actual review for the actual reasons.

Saved (1980)

Dylan appeasing the Bible Belt, no less. The worst of his Christian albums and the worst overall, a murky mess of gospel and gospel-rock rubbish.

Mr Tambourine Man (1965)

The first folk rock album, and possibly the first rock album with meaningful lyrics.

Fifth Dimension (1966)

It has all of the 'folk' vibe, and it has some of the 'psycho' vibe, and it has some of the 'technophilia' vibe. Get it and know everything about the Byrds!

Younger Than Yesterday (1967)

The former two are good, but at times in my life they all sound boring. YTY never does.

?

Live At The Fillmore 1969 ain't bad, but it's not the classic Byrds, and the classic Byrds were never known for great live performances anyway.

The Byrds (1970)

The reunion album. It didn't QUITE live up to expectations, so people preferred to trash it. Why does it always seem like being so straightforward makes you a real man? It has lotsa good songs.

Dr Byrds And Mr Hyde (1980)

Now THIS is not the Byrds at all; McGuinn and Company making a Byrds-like record that's not abysmal, but is plain excessive, adding next to nothing to the Byrds' legacy.

Disraeli Gears (1967)

Psychedelic heavy flower power blues - a unique genre which never had any successful imitators.

Wheels Of Fire (1968)

Psychedelic, bluesy and nonsensical, plus it gives you a feeling of the band in live action.

Disraeli Gears (1967)

The moment I hear 'Dance The Night Away', I'm in paradise.

Goodbye (1969)

You either love all live Cream or hate all live Cream, but for me, this at least has the definite live version of 'Sittin' On Top Of The World'.

Live Cream Volume II (1972)

This has some verrrrry interesting live renditions of classics, and is quite advisable for all fans.

?

They were too short-lived to release a truly bad album.

?

Nope, CCR didn't go for revolutions. They just played for fun, and that was their essence.

Cosmo's Factory (1970)

What elements of CCR sound are missing on here? And no 'Graveyard Train' either!

Cosmo's Factory (1970)

'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' is one of the few more-than-ten-minute-long jams I love from the beginning to the end.

?

CCR were not that entertaining a live band; all of their live output just carefully emulates the studio tracks and nothing more.

Pendulum (1970)

The only attempt at shifting the 'classic formula' a bit, towards jazz and soul, and it works.

Mardi Gras (1972)

The other attempt to shift the formula - Fogerty lets the two other members wrestle the songwriting out of his hands, and the result is a catastrophe.

?

A paradox? Nope. As much as David was innovative, he never really invented anything, always following in other people's footsteps - sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.

Ziggy Stardust (1972)

Not entirely true - with David constantly changing face, a 'quintessential' album of his is virtually impossible to determine, if it ain't a compilation. At least, this one 'covers' the glam image pretty well.

Ziggy Stardust (1972)

This is also the record where the songwriting is particularly consistent - moody and catchy at the same time.

?

David Live entirely sucks, and I haven't gotten around to anything else yet.

The Buddha Of Suburbia (1993)

David's best album in the Nineties, sadly overlooked just cuz it's a soundtrack.

Black Tie White Noise (1993)

Bowie enters the Nineties, but he hasn't yet acquired a proper vision of the epoch. Skip this and get Outside instead - this stuff is hardly even danceable, it's so boring and unmelodic.

Concerto For Group And Orchestra (1969)

Yeah, yeah, you may laugh, but Purple weren't revolutionaries in the metal field. This, however, is a historically unique work, and deserves to be recognized, even if it can't really be loved.

Machine Head (1972)

Is it possible to have a 'quintessential' Purple album without 'Smoke On The Water' on it? Guess not....

Deep Purple In Rock (1971)

Hard to imagine, but there's practically no filler on here. The greatest heavy metal album of all time, IMHO.

Made In Japan (1972)

Representing the band at their peak: Deep Purple were one of the really few, if not the only, great live bands who managed to slip out a double live album at the most crucial point in their career.

Shades Of Deep Purple (1968)

All of Mark I is underrated, actually. But don't forget to check out this one - like a super-professional, overly exuberant Iron Butterfly, but with a sense of direction and a lot of conviction.

Stormbringer (1974)

I've always loathed Dave Coverdale, and this album is his death sentence. Heavy, but completely generic and pedestrian soul & R'n'B are as far from the real Deep Purple as possible.

The Doors (1967)

Dark, apocalyptic imagery at a time when Jefferson Airplane but gave a tiny hint at things like that...

Strange Days (1967)

Captures the band at their peak, before Morrison started dropping too much acid.

Strange Days (1967)

Yup.

Absolutely Live (1970)

A good one. Jim is in top form, and he rocks the house down.

The Soft Parade (1969)

It might sound a little cheesy, I admit, but most of the melodies are strong - and some of the songs are among Jim's best ever.

An American Prayer (1978)

Jim's poetry is okay, but the remaining 'Doors' make the cheesiest and most dull musical arrangements possible.

Elton John (1970)

A completely new approach to 'piano pop' as a genre here - no wonder the breakthrough was so big.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)

Double, and features Elton tackling as many genres as possible, even if sometimes for the worse.

Honky Chateau (1972)

Definitely no filler on here, although the slow, not always hook-filled countryish grooves will take some time to get used to.

11-17-70 (1971)

More than that: an absolute must for anyone with an Elton interest, as it showcases the man as a reckless, desperate barroom rocker ready to 'burn the mission down' at any given moment. A far cry from today's sad state. eh?

Empty Sky (1969)

Unnoticed due to lack of commercial success, but some terrific tunes on here anyway: Elton is fully prepared for the international fame-to-come.

Blue Moves (1976)

(From this period of course; he's done much much worse in the Eighties). Boring, tasteless, and only a slight handful of memorable tunes to save it from a complete disaster.

Tarkus (1971)

First example of a full-blown rock-classical symphony.

Welcome Back My Friends... (1974)

A live album faithfully recreating most of the band's chef-d'auevres. If you only want one ELP album and hate compilations as much as I do, this one's your bet.

Tarkus (1971)

I hate 'Karn Evil 9', so I just have to go listen to Tarkus. Pity, but it's true.

Welcome Back My Friends... (1974)

A little lengthy, perhaps, but certainly one of the best live prog albums of the era. Like I said, a great substitute for their original four LP's.

Works Vol. 2 (1977)

ELP play pop. ELP play boogie. ELP play gospel. ELP play ragtime. ELP play psychedelic. How can you dismiss this great album?

Black Moon (1992)

A very unsuccessful attempt at revitalizing ELP's career for the Nineties' vibe: plodding, dull synth-rockers with a voiceless Greg Lake topping it off.

With John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (1966)

Unfortunately, there's a lot of Mayall on here, and he ain't revolutionary at all. But Eric's guitar on the album certainly made a sensation among British blues lovers. Hell, even Hendrix was a fan of it.

Live At The Fillmore (1973)

If you're going for more polished production and less lengthy guitar jams, Layla is what you're looking for. If you want to find Eric's quintessence, though, you have to check out this fantastic live album.

From The Cradle (1994)

I'm not a hardcore blues fan, but this stuff is blues par excellence. Put it into manuals!

Live At The Fillmore (1973)

Eric has never played like that - before or since. Enough proof that he was the best guitar player on Earth.

Just One Night (1980)

People don't seem to care much about this live album, but to me, it's probably Eric's last gasp of brilliancy. His performances on 'Double Trouble' and 'Blues Power' are spectacular.

Pilgrim (1998)

The Great Washed Up Prayer. Buy this album and you die. I know I nearly did.

Fleetwood Mac (1975)

The beginning of modern pop music. Of course, modern pop music is mostly dung; but most things start out great and turn into nightmares in no time.

Rumours (1977)

No need to say anything.

Rumours (1977)

I wish it were Mystery To Me... but this is a rare example of an album where every song hooks you into attention.

Live (1980)

The band at the peak of its live powers - some of the material may be questionable, but the energy and professionalism are undeniable.

Kiln House (1970)

Actually, the whole pre-Buckingham/Nicks period is horrendously underrated, but this is the most glaring miss - truly, this one gotta be one of the greatest comedy rock albums ever.

Time (1994)

A tired and disspirited band that lost its key members and turned itself to complete crap in desperation.

Freak Out! (1966)

The first big celebration of noise, avantgarde, parody, nonsense and, well, Counter Culture, in rock.

We're Only In It For The Money (1968)

Certainly Frank's most historically important album, and it showcases him as both composer and freak like no other album does...

You Are What You Is (1981)

A terrific double album, replete with blistering social commentary and melodies that'll grab you and never let you go...

The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life (1991)

I also enjoy Broadway The Hard Way, but that one's more like a new material album recorded live; this one, performed with what might well have been Frank's best backing band ever, is an unforgettable experience.

The Man From Utopia (1983)

It's hard to pick out an 'underrated' album - Frank usually stayed away from putting out completely lousy records. This one, however, is often deemed lousy among fans, when in fact it does have several nice numbers to redeem it.

Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers Of Prevention (1985)

A conventional disaster - a few uninspired instrumentals and a collage based on the Congress hearings. Boring and completely dismissable, though it might give you a good laugh for the first time.

Nursery Cryme (1971)

The first prog album that led us into 'fairy-tale' rock - nobody took you onto such a fascinating trip through old and new worlds as Peter Gabriel.

Selling England By The Pound (1973)

Peter Gabriel tries his best to make an album that's progressive, conceptual, pop, danceable, serious and imaginative all at once.

Selling England By The Pound (1973)

When I begin to feel sick of 'Mad Man Moon' or 'Me And Sarah Jane', I put this on, and a big smile comes to permanently reside on my face.

Genesis Live (1973)

I still haven't heard Three Sides Live, but right now I still prefer this one - it has Gabriel, not Collins, and even if it's single, the track selection is excellent.

From Genesis To Revelation (1969)

One of the many forgotten half-classics of the late hip Sixties - Peter Gabriel writing catchy pop songs? DUDE! There's so many great melodies on here, it's unbelievable. People who say it's tripe probably base themselves on the fact that it hasn't sold any significant number of copies.

Calling All Stations (1997)

I'd originally posted Wind And Wuthering here, but this stuff exceeds all possible limits: unlistenable Nineties Prog with synthesized space beats and a negative number of creative melodies.

All Things Must Pass (1970)

A thing which could be called 'gospel rock' was invented here. Don't ask me how, but it works.

All Things Must Pass (1970)

The album emphasizes all the good sides of 'early' Harrison.

All Things Must Pass (1970)

Pathetic. This is so good nothing in the catalog ever comes close.

The Concert For Bangla Desh (1971)

Maybe not 'brilliant' in that technical sense, but worthy as a historical document and tons of fun.

Dark Horse (1974)

I understand the complaints about the 'hoarse' voice, but most of the melodies here are really strong - George hasn't really seriously started burning out yet.

Wonderwall Music (1968)

George dabbles too much with 'genuine' Indian music, and this gives me a headache.

?

I guess Janis was a sorta revolutionary person by herself, but in retrospect, this doesn't translate well onto the albums.

Cheap Thrills (1968)

Raunchy, sad, sly and violent all at once - all the spectrum of human emotions is on here. Don't miss it.

Cheap Thrills (1968)

I can't name an album that doesn't have 'Summertime' or 'Ball And Chain' on it, now can I?

Live At Winterland '68 (1998)

Actually, you might even skip Cheap Thrills in favour of this, since some of the material is taken exactly from this show. Stunning, and one of the best documents of the hippie era.

?

She hadn't had that much, and most of 'em get their due.

I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama (1969)

Not really 'bad', but excellent proof that Janis was a 'rock', not 'soul' singer: here, she tries to do a straightforward 'soul' album and misses the mark.

Blow By Blow (1975)

The album that took fusion into all directions, although not one of my Beck favourites.

Blow By Blow (1975)

It just displays Beck's talents to a tee, that's all.

Truth (1968)

Fans of early Led Zep should check it out - an essential, and brilliant document of late Sixties' hard rock. And it has Rod Stewart!

Live With The Jan Hammer Group (1977)

The only Beck live album, amazingly, and it's not big news, but at least it's something to have.

Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop (1989)

Jeff is amazingly inventive and fresh-sounding here, for such a late period, and the album represents a masterful comeback, sadly overlooked.

Flash (1985)

Beck updating his sound for the Eighties, ooh, what a horrendous idea. Too much 'flash', indeed, and too few original musical ideas not borrowed from some shitty synth-pop band or other.

Takes Off (1966)

Like the Byrds - but this is the beginnings of Dark Folk Music that eventually metamorphosed into Acid Rock.

Crown Of Creation (1968)

This is a more accurate picture of the Airplane than anything else - Kantner's role is seen perfectly, and the band is still able to make some good songs.

Surrealistic Pillow (1967)

A little monotonous, but you can't deny that out of all the acid records, this one's the catchiest.

Live At The Fillmore East (1968)

An archive release from the band's finest era, and not too heavy on their questionable jamming.

Long John Silver (1972)

It's not really a good album, but definitely better than what the critics say; at least the band display some dang ENERGY on that one, and Grace comes up with 'Aerie', maybe one of the two or thee best Airplane tunes.

Volunteers (1969)

Now THIS one's totally hideous. Bland political 'rockers', generic blues wankery and hookless pseudo-atmospheric folksy stuff.

Thick As A Brick (1972)

Their earlier albums were better, but this is the most daring breakthrough they ever made.

Aqualung (1971)

Everything you need to know about Ian Anderson and nothing you wouldn't want to even hear about.

Stand Up (1969)

For me, this is just a lot of aggressive youthful talented fun. Later albums are a wee bit too muddy.

Live - Bursting Out (1978)

The definite proof that Jethro Tull were one of the... aw, what the hell, the best live prog combo ever. Serious as a Yes, rockin' out as a Who, and hilarious as a Kinks. Classic!

Too Old To Rock'n'Roll Too Young To Die (1976)

The 'bane of the fans'. I still don't get the hate towards this. The songs are catchier than almost anything they did in the mid-Seventies, and the concept is clever, engaging, nostalgic and moving.

Under Wraps (1984)

Tull goes completely synthesized for a little while, and the results are even worse than the metallized Tull that emerged three years later.

Are You Experienced? (1967)

Goes without saying.

Electric Ladyland (1968)

I don't like it, but I admit that the man really shines in all of his brilliancy on here.

Are You Experienced? (1967)

Jimi's the man who liked to redo everything lots of times. In these cases I always prefer the first time.

BBC Sessions (1998)

The man had a million live albums out, but of the ones I know, this is the most balanced and diverse. Even if it's a compilation.

?

No Hendrix album has ever been underrated - whether it's right or not is up to you to decide.

Band Of Gypsies (1970)

A band of people who don't really know what to do when they're gathered together, so they just freak out in a dull way.

John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)

The first and best example of sincere confession in rock music.

Imagine (1971)

The more diversified production gives the album a lot more angles than anything else. Some confessions as well, but you also have your ballads, rock and roll, Utopian fantasies and even a Yokosong.

Double Fantasy (1980)

The seven Lennon cuts here are among my all-time favourite tunes.

Live In New York City (1986)

Actually, the only live album. Although John was never a particularly exciting performer, it's not that bad, and quite recommendable.

Rock'n'Roll (1975)

John really gets all the attention he deserves, but I feel this excellent collection of old 50's standards reworkings is slightly overshadowed. This might be the best 50's tribute album ever - and quite a few worthy persons produced similar efforts.

Sometime In New York City (1972)

A lame collection of protest songs and spaced out Yokojams. (Note: I'm not counting all the 'experimental' crap John poured forth in 1968-69. This one is at least music).

In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969)

Not the first progressive album, but the first progressive album that proved the genre's worthwhileness.

Absent Lovers (1984)

The closest thing - but it only showcases Eighties' Crimson with a couple throwbacks. The thing is, King Crimson is really several totally different bands.

In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969)

At least several heads above any other King Crimson album in songs' quality.

Absent Lovers (1984)

Don't think anybody's going to argue. The Eighties' combo at their most vicious, most tasty, most crrrrrunchy!

In The Wake Of Poseidon (1970)

A carbon copy of In The Court, but an excellent carbon copy of an excellent album. Sometimes I enjoy this even more; anyway, if you loved the first one, you're bound to love the second.

THRaKaTTaK (1996)

A loose collection of dissonant jams and atonal improvisations that nobody but a complete jerk could appreciate. It doesn't even have any 'technical' value - I could do better music with a stringless guitar.

Face To Face (1966)

The first British conceptual album, with the word 'British' referring both to the location of recording and the main concept behind the songs. A major breakaway from the American-dominated imagery of British Invasion groups.

Something Else (1967)

I'm not a big fan of this one, but it certainly tells us more about the Kinks than any other record: Face To Face is still too rockin', and Village Green goes a little bit too far to be 'typically' Kinkish...

Arthur (1969)

Not a single bad song on here (a rare case for the Kinks), and the lyrics are certainly Ray's most worthy.

One For The Road (1980)

Effective modernistic reworks of the classics - the band rocks, the band sounds fresh and creative, and the song selection is perfect. Actually, this and To The Bone run a close second in my book.

Everybody's In Show-Biz (1972)

Very close to Muswell Hillbillies, but often dismissed for some unclear reason. And the live half makes it an exciting, drunken, crazy listening experience. Yoopeeee!

Phobia (1993)

The Kinks suddenly recalling that they were the fathers of heavy metal thirty years ago and tossed off this ultra-long monster with about 1/2 of a memorable song. If this should be your first Kinks purchase, you'll never want to buy another Kinks album.

Led Zeppelin (1968)

The album that began the Seventies, although not everybody realized it at the time.

Led Zeppelin IV (1971)

The band at their creative peak (although it didn't exactly coincide with its artistic peak, if you get the difference).

Led Zeppelin (1968)

The last record to feature a blues-happy, not-Crowley-obsessed, non-junkie Jimmy Page.

BBC Sessions (1997)

The band in their vintage days, taking their stuff and doing absolute wonders with it. One of the greatest archive releases of all time, and I'm not even a Led Zep fan.

The Song Remains The Same (1976)

The Zepsters are all gruesomely overrated, but this album is the only one that does not receive all the necessary acclaim. I suspect that fans prefer bootlegs, and non-fans get tired of the long numbers. I stand in between, and I enjoy it.

Coda (1982)

Crappy outtakes that nobody really needs. I'm pretty sure there was better stuff lying around in the vaults... and if there wasn't any, then Led Zeppelin's fame sure is exaggerated.

?

err... guess I miscalculated a little..

Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn And Jones, Ltd. (1967)

Includes their funny excourses into 'psychedelia', and thus can be considered a brilliant parody on the Beatles in all their entirety.

Headquarters (1967)

The one where they took the matter in their hands. Good work, guys!

?

They only have the archive Live 1967, which I don't have and am not particularly looking for. Anyway, if you're interested in the Monkees for their live albums, you're in big trouble.

The Monkees Present (1969)

At least it's not such a desperate bunch of shit as it is sometimes 'presented'. Nesmith in particular pulls out a decent bunch of country-rock numbers, and, while it's virtually incomparable with the 'classics', it does have its merits.

Instant Replay (1969)

The Monkees at their most Hollywoodish, and at their most nauseating. A couple of decent numbers in among loads of orchestrated hogwash. Fortunately, unlike many people think, this is not what the Monkees in general were about.

Days Of Future Passed (1967)

The first art rock album (not 'prog rock', though).

Days Of Future Passed (1967)

You'll find all the trademarks here, from Thomas' shaky voice to Pinder's boredness with life. Sheez.

To Our Children's Children's Children (1969)

I'd prefer Days on the song level, but the orchestration ruins that one for me.

Caught Live + 5 (1977)

They only have one (Caught Live+5), if you don't count the several late-period reunion live albums. So it's the best by definition.

The Magnificent Moodies (1965)

People always tend to forget the Moodies' bluesy roots. This might not be spectacular, but it's good, and by the way, the Moodies were one of the best R&B acts of that era. Imagine that.

Sur La Mer (1988)

Cheese-cheese-cheese! Typical Eighties trash and the worst transformation of image that could ever happen to this band.

?

Nope. Paul saved his revolutionary talents for his Beatle days.

Band On The Run (1973)

I like Ram better, but if you want to know what Wings sounded like, get this, this and only this (well, not only, but... ya know what I mean...)

Ram (1971)

My personal favourite for more than twelve years now. Conservative, ain't I?

Wings Over America (1976)

Paul isn't the person whose live albums I'd ask you to hunt for, but if you're really passionate, get this one - at least, it's less tedious than Tripping The Live Fantastic.

Back To The Egg (1979)

For the last time in fifteen years Paul tried to rock out and was slagged. Can you imagine why? Because the braindead people didn't really want him to - they wanted Paul to fit into the concept they made of him without really being granted permission.

Press To Play (1986)

Mr Know-All, Be-Here-Be-There experimenting with new studio technologies and new co-authors. Buyer beware - an album as this can turn you off Paul McCartney forever.

Security (1982)

The first really successful World Music album: Gabriel proves himself to be the perfect candidate for taming ethnic music and binding it to rock. The Talking Heads can go sulk in the corner.

Plays Live (1983)

As in ELP's case, an expanded live album that presents an entire epoch in Peter's life, and the performances are quite close to the originals. You can easily start here - even if Peter's works usually go better appreciated when not underpinned by the crowd noises.

III (1980)

Gloomy, scary, creepy, depressing as hell, and the melodies are strong, catchy and inventive, too. 'Intruder' gets you down, and only 'Biko' can get you up - you're in for an uncomfortable, but richly rewarding ride.

Plays Live (1983)

I must warn you, though, that Peter's charm does not translate very well onto the audio. To be present at a Gabriel concert must be a hell of an experience, though.

II (1978)

For some reason, critics praise the first and the third albums and dismiss this one, saying it's muddy and controversial and too Fripp-esque. To hell with 'em. There are TONS of great songs on here.

So (1986)

Peter as an Eighties mainstream pop cheesemeister? Not quite, but close. Please proceed to Us first; if you adore that one, return here, but be careful.

The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (1967)

The first album that demonstrated the dangerous side of psychedelia - and the fact that Syd Barrett was slowly going mad at the time punctuates it all the more.

Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)

I view it as a kind of link between their past and their future, and it does feature all the trademarks of Pink Floyd Sound.

Animals (1977)

I understand the raised eyebrows, but for me, this is the perfect unison of strong melody, interesting concept and intelligent lyrics.

Ummagumma (1969)

The most perfect example of how music can be played with almost mathematical precision and still be enjoyable. This, in fact, is the only live Pink Floyd you'll ever need.

Obscured By Clouds (1972)

Obscured by The Dark Side Of The Moon, actually. But if you're the one that's more interested in melodies than studio gimmickry, you'll see that not many of the songs on Dark Side really overshadow this 'soundtrack' material.

A Momentary Lapse Of Reason (1987)

A Dave Gilmour solo album, and I never liked the guy much. Trivial imitations of the once powerful stuff - of course, the casual Floyd fan who only likes 'Money' might fall into the trap, but guess you're not one of these.

A Whiter Shade Of Pale (1967)

The first Symph Rock album; if somebody was still sceptical about rock's 'seriousness' after Sgt Pepper, this sure cleared all doubts.

A Salty Dog (1969)

In the melodical sense, it's richer than anything else, but it manages to bore me a little... sometimes...

A Whiter Shade Of Pale (1967)

It moves me to tears. And I'll say nothing more.

Live (1972)

Not surpassing the studio releases, but somewhat of a classic still - if there ever was a band fit to play live with an orchestra, it'd be Procol Harum.

Something Magic (1977)

Okay, it is the least successful of their classic releases. But that doesn't mean it's bad - the traditional formula of Procol always works.

The Prodigal Stranger (1991)

They thought they hadn't lost it after all those years. They were wrong.

Prologue (1972)

The first successful attempt to make a convincing prog-folk album.

Turn Of The Cards (1974)

Probably the best place to start with the band, as it showcases all their instrumentation, arranging and songwriting skills with the formula at the peak.

Ashes Are Burning (1973)

I actually prefer this one to Cards, as the melodies are somewhat more obvious, and Annie's singing ain't never been better.

?

Don't have any. Try Live At Carnegie Hall if you can find it.

Novella (1977)

Not as obviously great as what came before it, this is still their last epochal record, and a must for fans.

Songs From Renaissance Days (1997)

One of the worst collection of outtakes I've ever heard; most of this is just shitty, vulgar synth-pop actually dating to 'Stagnation days'.

?

Could you imagine what a 'revolutionary' Ringo Starr album would look like? Please mail your ideas.

Ringo (1973)

A little of everything that makes Ringo such a groovy guy. Try it, you'll like it.

Ringo (1973)

Hey, these songs are catchy!

VH1 Storytellers (1998)

The only live album of the man I own, but it's great fun, and it's like a solid retrospective of his career.

Stop And Smell The Roses (1981)

Actually, his entire career is underrated. But here, in particular, there ain't a single bad song on here. Truly and verily.

Bad Boy (1978)

Here, though, it's hard to dig out a good tune at all. Horrible, corny, trashy late Seventies pop with a sleazy, fake nostalgic edge. Blech.

?

Well, Rod's voice might have been revolutionary. But Rod's songs were not.

Never A Dull Moment (1972)

All of Rod's sides - the bluesy one, the soul one and the rock'n'roller one - are masterfully demonstrated on here.

Gasoline Alley (1970)

My personal delight is rooted here. The level of energy and raw excitement is unmatched, and the songs are all downright beautiful.

?

Don't have any; Unplugged is said to be decent.

Blondes Have More Fun (1978)

Yeah, yeah, don't laugh at me, better go put on some of his Eighties stuff and compare: you'll get a couple pleasant surprises.

Camouflage (1984)

And I mean it - so far, it's the worst record in my collection. Collect all the ugliness of the Eighties and press it onto one chunk of vinyl, and what you get is Camouflage.

England's Newest Hitmakers (1964)

Believe it or not, this is the only true revolution the Stones ever did - that is, showing those Brit sluggards the Beetles how true rock and roll should be played.

Sticky Fingers (1971)

A little bit more diverse than Bleed, mainly because there are more songs.

Let It Bleed (1969)

Can't even describe it. Emotions flood me like a young gander.

Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! (1970)

The only Stones live album where the energy and kick-butt tension is really matched by superior live playing. One of the all-time best live albums, in fact.

Their Satanic Majesties' Request (1967)

If, for just one moment, you manage to free your brain of the shackles which it is constantly put into by being hammered with the idea that the Stones have a 'formula' and psychedelia has nothing to do with it, you'll come to realize, just like me, that this album is as great as anything they put out in the Sixties.

Dirty Work (1986)

Blah! An album coming out in 1986 is initially damned to be horrendous. This one's no exception: Jagger does nothing but bark, and the songs are typical mid-Eighties fodder. It's a good thing they took a three year break.

Roxy Music (1972)

How can the first album ever recorded with the participation of Brian Eno not be revolutionary?

For Your Pleasure (1973)

Glam and decadence and perverse romanticism in full speed, plus Eno is still here to add the little touches of Electronica.

Stranded (1973)

The peak of Bryan Ferry's 'idealistic' longings, and one of the best 'decadent' records of the decade.

Viva! (1976)

Roxy were hardly a great live band, but if you just need to hear to your Roxy live, you can pick this up without much fear: at least these guys knew what they were doing on stage.

Flesh + Blood (1980)

Not exactly 'underrated' - it's actually a dud, but there are some brilliant gems, like 'Running Wild', that tend to get overlooked.

Manifesto (1979)

Now this is a complete farce - Roxy going all poppy and disco, but with hardly any interesting melodies or convincibility at all. One of the dullest records I've ever heard.

?

The British analog of CCR, they just played for amusement and didn't care to make no revolution. Bless 'em.

Recorded Live (1973)

All of the hits are there, and the energy will help you to digest the lengthy jams.

Ssssh (1969)

Solid, entertaining and amusing bluesrock. I won't defend it further.

Recorded Live (1973)

Undead is a little more groovy, but if you look for hardcore, give-no-stops rock'n'roll, this is the album to own.

Ten Years After (1967)

The band is underrated as a whole, but since I have to pick one album, I'd vote for the debut - IMHO, it's one of the funniest and even 'punkiest' blues records I ever heard.

Positive Vibrations (1974)

Weak, feeble imitations of their initial hotness. Alvin Lee was clearly spent as a songwriter.

?

If Traffic were to make a revolutio-nary album, I'd pity the state of rock music at the time.

Traffic (1968)

There's still some hippie innocence here, but there's also some of the folk stuff that helps save them in the worst moments.

Traffic (1968)

It has 'Pearly Queen'. And 'Don't Be Sad'. And 'Cryin' To Be Heard'. Name me a Traffic album that has three songs as good. (Actually, name me a Traffic album that has three good songs... What? Why - Traffic, of course! What did I tell ya?)

Welcome To The Canteen (1971)

Funny, the guys DID manage to find some jamming power on the stage. This is nmostly enjoyable, and the track selection is wise enough.

?

None of Traffic albums are underrated. In fact, I shudder at the thought of people suddenly beginning to think of a Traffic album even better than they did before.

Far From Home (1994)

One of the most hideously boring and useless reunion records ever recorded. STAY AWAY!!

Tommy (1969)

Quite simply, the first rock opera. And I don't care whether you love rock operas or not, it's still a revolutionary album.

Who's Next (1971)

It's hard to define a quintessential album for the Who - most of their albums lacked at least 'something'. This is probably the closest they ever got to a 'representative' album (Sell Out is certainly their most diverse one, but it was more of a groove).

Live At Leeds (1970)

Best live album ever. I put it on ten times more often than any other Who album (Live At The Isle Of Wight excepted).

Live At Leeds (1970)

Not only the Who's - there's a fantastic consensus between most people that this is the best live album in the whole world.

Who Are You (1970)

People complain this is pretentious synth noodlings. People are dumb. This ain't prententious - it's clever; and the synths are used with gusto. Go listen to it one more time and don't be biased.

It's Hard (1982)

They were falling apart at lightning speed, and it shows. Maybe some of the songs would have fit on a Townshend solo album - but combining them with Daltrey's singing proved to be fatal.

The Yes Album (1971)

Sure. The epitomy of overbloated, pretentious and heavily professional prog.

Fragile (1972)

Not as groundbreaking, but better produced, better performed and, most importantly, quite diverse, due to band members' solo spots.

Fragile (1972)

Not that I care...

Yessongs (1973)

The classic excessive triple live prog-rock album! Revel in the glory and the bombast! Oh, and actually, nearly all of Yes live albums are worth listening to, but don't bother having more than one or two cuz they all sound the same anyway.

Time And A Word (1970)

It's hippie idealism, for sure, but at least it makes sense. Gentle, naive and catchy - where else can you find this on a Yes album?

Union (1991)

Modernized production and nearly corporate songwriting unite to make this as unlistenable as your average Nineties garbage.

Richard Dickison <dickison@us.ibm.com> (14.05.99)

Well George I guess I'm going to HELL, and here's why....

George I understand that the sixties were great and I will follow your commentary to the conclusion that these bands were pioneers and as such were revolutionary but my god man the music did not die around 1970. There are some good bands out there that started after 1970 and there are still others worth listening to who are just starting out. George, some of these bands could be/are also influential, I could relate better to the positions you take on these 60's pioneers if I could see you liking some of the newer material out there. Come-on George there has got to be something that is current that catches your ear. I'm sure I speak for others besides myself when I say , George if you can stomach ABBA we know that there has got to be some newer bands out there doing something you like. Show us something new George, take a truly revolutionary positive position on a band that started in the 80's\90's.

Anyway here is my list/opinion based upon growing up to this music,

The Beach Boys

Revolutionary Album: Pet Sounds. Of course this is revolutionary but I have to admit that it took some time and distance to eventually enjoy this album. I still don't listen to this one much. It just does not click with me. Still everyone needs this.

Quintessential Album: Today! Sure it is a little messy but it references where they came from to where they eventually ended up and it's got alot of the early singles I enjoy. Anyway it is the closest to this category.

Best Album: Smile. Well not the one sold as this album but the one originally intended/recorded. If you put together the singles they recreated after that drugged out genius burned the master tapes you can hear what could have been their finest moment. Remember 'Good Vibrations'! that was from this album. Oh Brian, you can be such a loser.

The Beatles

Revolutionary Album: Rubber Soul. George, Brian admitted to being pushed to create Pet Sounds by this album. It's just so much chicken and the egg though. This is the first time I hear the Beatles starting expanding their horizons/sound. This is really as far back as I like to go with the Beatles when buying those remastered cd's(ca-ching).

Quintessential Album: The Beatles(White Album). There is just so much, you could argue over this album all day. That's a sign of a solid album to me. This could also be revolutionary in the fact it is probably one of the few highly listenable double albums in the history of rock. Can you argue over the fact that this is a good representation of the best and worst of the Beatles. I did'nt think so.

Best Album: Revolver. This is the one, the first Beatles cd I got, the last one I put away. I wish more bands had made albums this good. It's the reason I love them so.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Revolutionary Album: Bayou Country. I disagree, I think of them as the first really good folk/southern/rock as in rock out band. I believe these guys gave the Greatful Dead something to try for in the jam department . This album got my attention and held it. Can you say Born on the Bayou (I knew you could). Quintessential Album: Chronicle. One of the few best of's that I will recommend that George don't. It's got it all and it is a great place to start with. They can be filler freaks, I mean jam oriented, sorry George, but I still love them.

Best Album: Willy and The Poor Boys. I have been playing this alot lately, it must be spring.

Fleetwood Mac

Revolutionary Album: No, No, No, George, I like these guys too, but they were not revolutionary, no matter how well Lindsey Buckingham plays.

Quintessential Album: Rumours. Check out the review on this site, George said it all, and very well too.

Best Album: Tango In The Night. Well I like this one, For some reason I grab this one first, It's formula, but it was a good formula, Most bands would kill for this formula, it's like Lindsey woke up long enough to say goodbye.

Genesis

Revolutionary Album: Selling England By The Pound. The first really together prog album (except for that ONE King Crimson Album), well, as together as they ever got. Peter has the voice Phil wished he had and does not screach like that singer in Yes or Rush or Styx, well can you see what I'm getting at, they really smoked on this one, all the way through.

Quintessential Album: Trick Of The Tail. Now you might be saying what the? but what happened here was a band trying to survive the loss of Peter Gabriel and the closing of the prog era and doing what it did the best it could. They were at most energetic, slick produced and a little fun. They may not be breaking ground on this album but they were wrapping up their era as a prog band here with a wink and a laugh, better than anything Yes or ELP would admit to doing. If you did not like this album or get the joke I really don't think you would like any of their older more serious work with Peter the better singer.

Best Album: Selling England By The Pound, George said it in his review and I'll not say it again.

Jethro Tull

Revolutionary Album: George Thick as a Brick????, creating long, long, long, sooooongs is not revolutionary, it sucks.

Quintessential Album: Aqua Lung. Tull rocks, one last time for you. It really was their best rock album.

Best Album: Songs From The Wood. I have always liked this album for my own twisted reason, he was good at recreating a Tolkien type of sound that really fitted his voice and flute, this was the first warm and cosy album that reminded me of someone reading that book to me, you know the one with the Hobbits. Stop laughing George.

Pink Floyd

Revolutionary Album: Dark Side Of The Moon. Oh stop groaning, what I will say is it really epitomizes how to make the studio an intregle part of your band. I don't think anybody followed through so so anally and evolved a tripped out style like these guys. I put this in the same category as Pet Sounds and Sergeant Pepper as a progression point for the band in question and the people that heard it. I may not want to listen to it all the time but god damn I respect it, and I won't nit pick this legend to death, as I said controversy can indicate worth.

Quintessential Album: Wish You Were Here. I think they fell back towards Meddle type material thus bringing this album close to being in this category. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe Meddle is the album, some of these bands just don't give you an obvious choice. By the way, if there ever was a band that was enhanced by those silly expensive gold master disks it really is Floyd, check the difference for yourself(ca-ching).

Best Album: The Wall. George said this category is the one you most enjoy, none of you have to like this choice but at least admit that nobody shrugged this one off. They or he went over the top and off the deep end, pretentious, Tommy like, and an experience, good, bad, and ugly this was really their last hurrah. The first ear phone freak out I ever had, could not handle more than a few minutes without pulling off the ear phones taking a few deep breathes and then emersing myself again. Vastly overplayed now.

Roxy Music

Revolutionary Album: No revolution, just solid, lounge lizard pop ('Love Is A Drug').

Quintessential Album: Siren. Start here for some wonderful pop. Bryan Ferry has that lounge lizard pose down dude, the band was great if not one of the best pop bands.

Best Album: Avalon. This one is smooth like cognac, lightly tinged jazz and synth, ear candy to be proud of, number one make out music. Watch out you might like this but be careful and don't get those Bryan Ferry solo sludge albums. Just like this one for what it is, their best and last album and a culmination of what made them great.

Steely Dan

Revolutionary Album: Count Down To Ecstacy. Dark, Complex, Dirty, Subtle and extremely accessible. Pop with a poisonous sneer but you did'nt catch it till you read the lyrics, well I read them did'nt you? Why revolutionary, because it was only these pretty little pop songs, but it really really was evil if you scratched the surface, think about what your singing next time you sing along and you will sing along you can't help but sing along. Time really did tell.

Quintessential Album: Aja. I know this was over played and is not as deep or dark but it is a place to start with this band.

Best Album: Pretzle Logic. As evil as any Black Sabbath album, as twisted as Bowie, Nothing so obvious as bashing you over the head with these guys, poison with a big old hook and a razor riff, go ahead and try not to bop along with this as they sing about serial killers, prostitutes,etc. ABBA can kiss my butt.

Yes

Revolutionary Album: Fragile. God almighty, I think the lead singer sucks wind. I can't help but give a nod to this album. It really set the stage for the progressive movement in all it's ugliness and they were consistent unlike those King Crimson dudes. But 'Round About' is fun.

Quintessential Album: Fragile. As I said I don't like this lead singer as falsetto thing, I don't like Rush,Styx, or Supertramp either, but I do admit that Yes influenced them all.

Best Album: Going For The One. I guess you could call this a guilty pleasure only because they found an anthem that worked ('I've Seen All Good People', do do do).

anyway, Thank you George good site.

[Special author note: Dick got his Yes albums a little messed up here - he probably wanted to say The Yes Album instead of GFTO, cuz that's where 'I've Seen All Good People' is. Anyway, he apologized for that in his comment on The Yes Album.]

Gustavo Rodriguez <rodblanc@webtv.net> (19.06.99)

I felt a need to respond to one of Dickison's comments about George and his 60's music.

While I don't like many of the bands George writes about (eg: Yes, Moody Blues, Genesis, Jethro Tull, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, etc.) I can completely relate to his tastes and affinity for older music. Why should we be compelled or force ourselves to love something just because it's new? I try to keep my ears open and listen to new stuff but 95% of the time I'm disappointed. I USED to feel guilty about that. Not anymore. I'm 26 years old and I've found more innovation, more excitement, more passion and overall pleaure in music that was made between 1955-1976 and I've decided to stop apologizing for it. I don't think I live in the past but really I just love history and I feel like I'm still learning a lot more from older music.

Just about everything today dates almost instantly. Practically nothing has any staying power. Sure some of the music made by my generation is good, but we haven't made the kind of music that you JUST CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT. Those old masters have us beat and I will praise them as such until someone truly betters thier achievements and I frankly don't think it will happen in our lifetime.

The DeFabios <defab4@earthlink.net> (20.08.99)

Gosh, it's really heard to disagree here. I mean, there's plenty I disagree with, but the disagreements are so petty they don't matter to me. I like Foxtrot better than Selling England, I like Traffic more than I used to, I like Thick As A Brick more than Stand Up. Who cares? Same difference. A good album is a good album, a bad album is a bad album. Which good albums are better and which bad albums are worse doesn't really matter to me. What matters is that they're good or they're bad, and in that respect, I don't think there's anything to pick a fight about here.

Josh Fitzgerald <breezesf85@email.com> (22.11.99)

Well, most of your choices are halfway decent, but here's a few minor things that I would like to add, if you would be so kind...

ABBA-

Best Album- The Visitors

Don't rip my head off for this, but I quite like this album a little bit! The songwriting is impeccable, and the production rules!

Worst Album-Voulez Vous

Hehehe. You know as well as I do that I think this album is one of the worst ever. Don't get me wrong, disco could have emerged into a very interesting and important genre, if only it wasn't so criticied, and hated. However, Voulez Vouz defines the word "crap." The ladies don't even sing good!

YES-

Revolutionary Album-Fragile

No question, Fragile was definetly the most revolutionary. I hear it constantly on the classic rock radio circuit, and it's the one they're best known for (unfortunately, that's not the main criterium for the 'most revolutionary' record- G.S.)

Best Album-Going For The One

The best example of perfect prog ever. Every song is definetly worthwhile.

That's about it. Your choices were pretty decent, and it was a clever idea too.

Jon Crick <rcjc@oz.sunflower.org> (25.03.2000)

Nice list and agree with much of it. I tend to prefer instrumental material, yet the vocal groups I enjoy are highly competent without somebody singing. I happen to appreciate Jon Anderson's vocals, the way.

Sadly missing from your list are Kate Bush and Hawkwind. Different venues altogether, but

My all-time favorite band is Tangerine Dream. Some consider TD boring and repetetive, yet I see subtle changes and progression from the 70's to the present. Much like King Crimson, the personnel change and new styles are introduced.

Revolutionary: Ricochet

Quintessential: Rockoon

Best : 220 Volt Live

Best Live : Tossup between 220 Volt Live and Ricochet.

Underrated : Just about anything they've released.

Worst : Turn of the Tides

Best departure from the usual: Ambient Monkeys

Ted Goodwin <Ftg3plus4@cs.com> (20.04.2000)

Thoughts (read: disagreements) on the Revolutionary / Quintessential / Best / etc. page:

RENAISSANCE Revolutionary - RENAISSANCE. Maybe not a great album, but certainly their most innovative. Who else tried so hard to mix rock & classical before this? Classical rock was all over the place by the time PROLOGUE was released.

Underrated - ILLUSION. What album has been more overlooked than this one?

TRAFFIC Revolutionary - OK, I have to admit there isn't one.

Underrated - Yes, there is an underrated Traffic album: WHEN THE EAGLE FLIES. And you are among its underraters!

Worst - I'd say at least 4 Traffic albums (including the 2 you haven't reviewed) fall below EAGLE. Probably more. My choice for worst would be SHOOT OUT AT THE FANTASY FACTORY, although many would consider ON THE ROAD a serious contender. Actually, the worst thing ever to carry the Traffic name would be the ill-advised "condensed" (1-LP) version of ON THE ROAD, but that doesn't qualify as a proper "album".

Sergey Zhilkin <sergey_jilkin@mail.ru> (30.08.2000)

Now I'll try to show my own opinion about the best, quintessential and etc. albums of The Beatles and ex-Beatles (except John simply because I only have two compilations of his songs).So let's start.

The Beatles! Revolutionary album: Sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band. It wasn't revolution in only Beatles albums - it was revolution in whole rock music. Quintessential album: The Beatles (White album). Simply because it's double and has all popular kinds of music. The best album: Sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band. Well, it's the best one starting from cover and ending with idea of 'all-songs-without-pause' not speaking about music which is pure rock! Best live album: Live at the BBC. Do you know any other audible album from Fan Four?Use it when you need a shot of rock'n'roll. Most underrated album: ? Most ..what?... None of their albums was underrated.Even Beatles for sale Worst album ever: Beatles featuring Tony Sheridan. Only because there is only ONE Beatles song - 'Cry for a shadow'

Paul McCartney! Revolutionary album: ? Yes, You're right. Paul was just going after the most popular kind of music (that's why we've got Press to play) Quintessential album: Tug of war Here you get guitar and beatiful Macca's voice, good efforts of experimenting with electronic music and piano-songs. Best album: RAM I like ALL songs on this album! Incredible! Best live album: Wings over America. He plays his early songs (70-76(I don't mention his Beatles-songs)). The best Macca is early Macca (Though he has strong records from 89 to 99) Most underrated album: ? I can't say just because I don't know public opinion. Maybe it's Back to the egg The worst album ever: CHOBA B CCCP. I like even Press to play but only 1993 version (it has 3 more really good songs). On CHOBA B CCCP Paul sings none of his songs but don't think that I don't like it.

George Harrison! Revolutionary album:All things must pass Have you ever heard such prayer LP before? Quintessential album:All things must pass This album has everything you want Best album:All things must pass See above Best live album:Concert for Bangla Desh George has 2 live albums: Live in Japan & Concert for B.D. Last one has two pluses while 'Live in Japan' has 1.5 pluses. On Bangla Desh George has good company and good voice (but songs on Japan are better).I gave 1.5 pluses to Japan for better songs and ...err...George(not Harrison), isn't it fun to hear:'If I reduce...ah,ah Boris Yeltsin' in his Beatle-song 'Taxman'?Though Bangla Desh is better. Most underrated album:Dark Horse George just didn't want to work and here's the result:people just didn't want to search good melodies (they are really good!!!) in his hoarse voice. The worst album ever:Somewhere in England Pop,pop and pop (except 'All those years ago' and 'Unconsciousness rules').Pop MUST DIE!!!

And at last Ringo! I'll keep short, OK? You said everything for me. Revolutionary album:? No album without drums - no revolution for Ringo. Quintessential album:Ringo Best album:Ringo Best live album:VH1 Storytellers I don't have VH1 Storytellers but it's his only one live album so it's the best one (though I think the concert in Moscow is better) Most underrated album:Vertical man How much dirt were thrown on it by critics until people said it was great pop! The worst album ever:Sentimental journey Forget it as your worst nightmare.

Fredrik Tydal <f_tydal@hotmail.com> (07.09.2000)

Let me try your favourite album routine...

The Byrds

Revolutionary - Yep, most probably Mr. Tambourine Man. While the single invented folk rock (released before Bringing It All Back Home), the album defines the genre. Fifth Dimension was quite revolutionary as well, in pionjeering psychedelia.

Quintessential - Agree here, Fifth Dimension. A great mixture of different styles.

Personal favourite - Younger Than Yesterday, no doubt about it.

Best live album - The original Byrds pretty much sucked live (check out their Monterey set for that), but the McGuinn Byrds with Clarence White were really solid. Besides the live first side on Untitled, the only real live Byrds album is the archive release Live At The Fillmore West, recorded in 1969. It shows the good side of the late era Byrds in a relaxed performance pieced together from three different nights at the Fillmore.

Most underrated album - 1970's double LP Untitled, half live/half stuio. The final three Byrds albums usually gets bashed in one misguided hit. Even if, ahem, one of the live tracks is unnecessarily stretched out, the studio LP is almost as good as anything on Ballad Of Easy Rider. The reissue adds a whole extra CD's worth of unreleased studio and live tracks. Oh, and the 1973 re-union album with the five original Byrds is quite underrated as well, but not as much as Untitled.

Worst album - Byrdmaniax. Their most Christian album, only worsened by orchestral arrangements and women choirs in excess - added in post-production unbeknowst to the Byrds themseles.

Jefferson Airplane

Revolutionary - Takes Off was revolutionary in the sense that it was recorded and released before The Byrds' Fifth Dimension, while After Bathing At Baxter was remarkable in the sense of a commercially successful band taking such an anti-commercial step. (Can you believe they actually released "Ballad Of You And Me And Pooneil" as a single? It actually reached the lower regions of the Top 40, just on the success of their previous singles).

Quintessential - Yep, Crown Of Creation. Paul is political, Grace is delivers hard-hitting social comments, Jorma is bluesy, Marty is getting a bit out of the picture, Jack is all over the place and Spencer adds some weird touches.

Personal favourite - Surrealistic Pillow... Or Crown Of Creation.

Best live album - Tough one. Either original 1969 live album Bless Its Pointed Little Head or recent archive release Live At The Fillmore East. I'll probably go for the former, since it has superior playing.

Most underrated album - The two final studio albums are usually dismissed in the same breath. Hold it. Bark is actually quite good, and better than the previous Volunteers. Jorma shines particulary - two of his songs are the best work he ever did with the Airplane.

Worst album - Long John Silver. The Airplane does a real nose dive. Ouch. Thankfully, they hadn't all lost it individually, though; for proof, check out 1973's Kantner, Slick & Freiberg collaboration Baron Von Tollbooth And The Chrome Nun or Hot Tuna's Burgers released the same year.

Patricio Novoa <desplumado@terra.cl> (20.10.2002)

ABBA

I never considered ABBA to be a rock band, only a group of vocal pop music with a lot of feeling, is not bond with the roots, neither there is structure of rock band. The atmosphere of its music is not rock, its atmosphere it is... romantic.

ANIMALS

For me the best album of the Animals is The Twain Shall Meet (1968), because all their songs have a feeling of loss and very deep nostalgia. George remembers that I cannot understand the letters because I understand very little English (this letter is thanks to the traducer of my computer), so that I receive the music without going by the sieve of the lyrics. But if all the tunes of this album are good musically, there is one that highlights on all the other ones, I refer to "Sky Pilot", an anthem against all the master of the war, whose refrain principal say "sky pilot, how high can you fly, you never, never reach the sky", reflecting all the stupidity of the war very clearly, as only Bob Dylan has achieved it. At the end the tunes does finish with a group of Bagpipes that they appear slowly as advancing for a field destroyed after a battle, giving the feeling of a new beginning, but so that?, to continue with another war?, the sound of the bagpipes produces a feeling of desolation so big that it puts me the the "meat of chicken" how we say in Chile, every time that I listen to it, (that which is very few times because I don't have the album).

CREAM

I believe that Live Vol I deserves to be the best live album (Wheels of fire, this very good in the album quintessential), because all their tunes are full with that force that he made write to the youths in the walls of London "Clapton is God." To listen today those tunes is feel the fragrance of those days, the cold air of the performances smelling of marijuana and that atmosphere psico-hippie that only Clapton with the riff of these live topics is able to make feel again.

Goodbye Cream, doesn't deserve to have the category of "best live album", he has live few tunes live and its best tunes "I´m so glad" it is very not well performed, and the sound is bad.

FRANK ZAPPA

Best Album You are what you is?, I have always thought that in this album Zappa came closer too much to the pop music of that time, I don't understand the lyrics, you know, but musically its tunes are very popy. I believe, or rather, I sit down that the best album is Joe's Garage Vol II. In this album, Zappa shows in an excellent way all that knows how to make well, it is sarcastic (On the bus), humorous (Why does it hurst when I pee, The Scrutinizer), it shows excellent riff (Packard Goose), but for mainly, two things, first; he says that famous sentence "the music is the best" in the best moment and place that the tunes and the album grants. The sentence this setting in a such moment of the tunes that seems this at one time distant, like a luck of sentence arquetípic, sounds almost as a mantra that he goes to the bottom of what we feel when we listen music. All that I sit down for the music is summarized in "the music is the best" there it is so strong or more than "rock & roll can never die" of Neil Young. Second; the tunes "Water melon in easter by". I cried the first time that I listened to it, the riff of the final part of the topic they produce a sensation of solitude and distance and loss so deep that I doubt that there is another tunes in the rock that I achieved it like in this tunes. I am not able to listen this song but that once every six months, it happens to me something very similar when I listen to John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, 1970.

The most underrated album is for me Hot Rats this was the more folk album of Zappa, very near of live Cream, Mountain. Never ever Zappa performece like this. Sometimes I'm not sure that Joe garage Vol II or Hot Rats is the best album for me.

JIMI HENDRIX

Band of Gypsies the worst album ever?, I can accept that Band of Gypsies is the Most Underrated album, but same that Pete Schlenker of Connecticut, I think that it is The Best album of Jimi. Still when he has some sound imperfections and the guitar is out of tune in some tunes, the power of the riff is so powerful especially in the refrains, He played with a darkness like never achieved it with the Experience, in Band of Gypsies Jimi it is ahead, its sound is the whole sound and Buddy Miles and Bill Cox they are single processions, but not in bad wave but in good, in the sense that was Double Trouble for Stevie Ray Vaugham.

Anything is so full with rhythm and of impulse forward, of filling the music space like "Message of Love". The riff of the refrain, orders me the molecules and atoms disordered as any other tunes of Hendrix it achieves it to make. Something similar it happens me to " Changes ", do "Power to love" and "Who Knows" possess some riff that were floating in the air hoping Jimi took them with its guitar ¿where it took those riff?, they are pure magic.

Jon <gray0187@tc.umn.edu> (08.02.2003)

very interesting. i read through these and i agree with you more ofte than not. i agree especially on the point of pink floyds piper. i still cant believe its rating is so low on your site. i used to enjoy pepper, but now i dont put it on at all. on the other hand, i get excited on the buildup in 'astronomy domine' every time. that is the best guitar to be found in 67. i guess its jsut taste. no reviewer is impartial.

Pedro Andino <pedroandino@msn.com> (01.08.2003)

let's play a game: i say i choose the albums from your list and i pick out the best, the underrated, and the worst. ready? go!

1.JOHN LENNON: best album: double fantasy. underrated album: walls and bridges. best live album: live peace in toronto 1969: worst album: wedding album.

2.THE DOORS: best album: the doors.revolutionary album: the doors. underrated album: the soft parade: worst album: none!

3.ABBA: BEST ALBUM: ARRIVAL. WORST ALBUM: RING RING. UNDERRATED ALBUM: THE VISITORS.

4.THE MONKEES: BEST ALBUM: HEAD. UNDERRATED ALBUM: INSTANT REPLAY. WORST ALBUM: CHANGES.

5.YES: BEST ALBUM: FRAGILE. BEST LIVE ALBUM: YESSONGS. UNDERRATED ALBUM: RELAYER. WORST ALBUM: TORMATO.

6.THE BYRDS: BEST ALBUM: 5TH DIMENSION. UNDERRATED ALBUM: BYRDMANIAX.

7.THE BEACH BOYS: BEST ALBUM: PARTY. REVOLUTIONARY ALBUM: PET SOUNDS. BEST LIVE ALBUM: IN CONCERT. UNDERRATED ALBUM: FRIENDS. WORST ALBUM: KEEPING THE SUMMER ALIVE.

8.ELP: BEST ALBUM: TARKUS: REVOLUTIONARY ALBUM: BRAIN SALAD SURGERY. UNDERRATED ALBUM; LOVE BEACH ( HEY I LIKED IT!).

9.RINGO STARR: BEST ALBUM: RINGO. UNDERRATED ALBUM: TIME TAKES TIME: WORST ALBUM: BAD BOY.

10.THE WHO: BEST ALBUM: WHO'S NEXT. REVOLUTIONARY ALBUM: TOMMY. BEST LIVE ALBUM: LIVE AT LEEDS. UNDERRATED ALBUM: WHO ARE YOU. WORST ALBUM: WHO'S LAST.

11.GENESIS: BEST LIVE ALBUM: SECONDS OUT: BEST ALBUM: DUKE. UNDERRATED ALBUM: FROM GENESIS TO REVALATION. WORST ALBUM: CALLING ALL STATIONS.

12.JETHRO TULL: BEST ALBUM: THICK AS A BRICK: UNDERRATED ALBUM: SONGS FROM THE WOOD: WORST ALBUM: UNDER WRAPS.

13.ELTON JOHN: REVOLUTIONARY ALBUM: GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD: BEST ALBUM: GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD: BEST LIVE ALBUM: HERE AND THERE( WITH JOHN LENNON). UNDERRATED ALBUM: EMPTY SKY. WORST ALBUM: VICTIM OF LOVE.

14.GEORGE HARRISON: BEST ALBUM: ALL THINGS MUST PASS. REVOLUTIONARY ALBUM; ALL THINGS MUST PASS. UNDERRATED: DARK HORSE. WORST ALBUM: GONE TROPPO!.

15.WINGS: BEST LIVE ALBUM: WINGS OVER AMERICA. BEST ALBUM: BAND ON THE RUN. UNDERRATED ALBUM: BACK TO THE EGG. WORST ALBUM: WILD LIFE.

16.THE KINKS: BEST ALBUM: ARTHUR. UNDERRATED ALBUM: THINK VISUAL. WORST ALBUM: PHOBIA.

17.DAVID BOWIE: BEST ALBUM: HUNKY DORY. UNDERRATED ALBUM: HEROES: REVOLUTIONARY ALBUM: HEROES. WORST ALBUM: NEVER LET ME DOWN.

18.THE BEATLES: BEST ALBUM: HELP!. REVOLUTIONARY ALBUM: WHITE ALBUM.

19.THE ROLLING STONES: BEST ALBUM: STICKY FINGERS. UNDERRATED ALBUM: THIER SATANIC MAJESTIES REQUEST. WORST ALBUM: DIRTY WORK:

so there you have it.

<a0106848@unet.univie.ac.at> (07.06.2004)

The Rolling Stones

Revolutionary album: Agreement!

Quintessential album: As I always rhyme: Exile - variety of style!

Best album: Beggars Or Exile, the only ones getting ratings of 14.

Best live album: Ya-Ya's, that it comes from the '68-'72 period, in which many Stones fans also see some of the best studio work, should almost say enough.

Most underrated album: Must be something from the 80's or 90's, decades rather forgotten by anybody apart from the die-hard fan. I'd say Emotional Rescue or Undercover.

Worst album ever: Metamorphosis gets a really bad rating by me, but I don't feel like dealing with albums, which I find all boring. Thus I leave this field open.