20 Albums You Should Own, But Probably Don't

[20to20K]

Joe, you have good tastes! I can't believe I forgot CTA...thats's a GREAT album.

Joe,

The albums I'm familiar with on your list are some of my favs. The few that I am not familiar with I'm now going to investigate.

Thanks,

[Hawkeye]

I guess I'm with you and shadow ferret. I got stuck in that timewarp too. I guess you don't like (c)rap music either, eh?!

Hehe, got that right.

I'll keep an eye out for the Outlaw's debut album. Always liked them, though never owned anything by them.

Hopefully this thread will continue. I now have a bunch of cds on my watch list because of it.

[corysmith01]

I'll try to keep this honest to the original post...albums that you probably don't own. I see a lot of "of course I own that" albums up here...not that there's anything wrong with that. I'll list a few that I find very impactful and sort of "statement" albums:

The Disintegration Loops I-IV - William Basinski
I can't begin to sum up this album, but this link does a good job. This guy dug up some old loops he had done back in the 80's and decided to convert them to digital. He was doing the conversion while he had friends over at his apartment, and they happened to be playing as the events of 9/11 took place. Gives all 4 of the albums a sort of eerie feeling when you know the back story:
http://www.hauntedink.com/25/basinsk...tegration.html

Loveless - My Bloody Valentine
This one should need no explanation.

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel
A pinnacle achievment in the indie rock annals, only to be followed by nothing. The band all but disappeared into obscurity after the release of the momentus album.


Endtroducing - DJ Shadow
Just look up reviews on the net. Across the board, you'll see words like "monumental" "watershed" "all that was before and now after" "achievement" etc etc. It is THE album that brought DJ's to the mainstream.

Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys
New York party kids leave the confines of Brooklyn and head out to California to hook up with The Dust Brothers and record a masterpiece.

The Blue Notebooks - Max Richter
Modern day composer from Germany who takes the asthetics of classical music and brings it to the future with digital flare. Background music for sure.

Moon & Antarctica - Modest Mouse
I won't begin to try to describe this one. Just buy it if you don't have it.

OK Computer - Radiohead
Alongside The Soft Bulletin , they're the 1/2 albums of the 90's.

I Am the Fun Blame Monster - Menomena
Mix up the letters to "The First Menomena Album" and that's where they got the title for this album. An absolute out-of-nowhere album that doesn't seem to really borrow interest from anyone. At times soft, at times hard, and at times funky. Weird and interesting.

Vaudeville Villain - Viktor Vaughn
Call it "indie", call it "backpack"...call it "underground." Call it whatever you want, but if you're sick of the insanely repetitive, everyone's-doing-the-samething mentality of rap/hip-pop that you see on MTV, this is your salvation. Viktor Vaughn (aka MF Doom) along with others like El-P, Aesop Rock, Cannibal Ox, Mr. Lif, etc, are here to save rap...to take it back to when it wasn't about thuggin', hundred thousand dollar (rented) cars in video shoots and all the pomp and circumstance that is mtv-style rap. These "indie" rappers focus on the beats and the rhymes and that's it. This is album is a stellar example of it.

Now, while they haven't been out long enough for me to consider them "essentials" i'd love to throw the first 2 albums from the "50 states" idea from Sufjan Stevens: "Greetings From Michigan" and "Come On Feel the Illinoise." If you like incredibly complex, insanely orchestrated folk music, be prepared to be amazed.

I've tried to stick with more "indie" stuff since the thread was about stuff you may or may not own. Hopefully someone out there will hear one of these and appreciate the knowledge.

[Tomorrow]

Sonny Rollins Saxophone Colossus
St. Thomas is my favorite Rollins tune

Miles Davis Kind Of Blue
Best selling jazz album in history

Chicago Chicago Transit Authority
Their first and still the best

Beatles Abbey Road
She came in through the bathroom window

John Coltrane My Favorite Things
Julie Andrews wouldn't recognize the tune

Freddie Hubbard Red Clay
The title song is worth it all

Return To Forever Light As A Feather
Listen to Spain

Miles Davis *****es Brew
This is where fusion came from

Frank Sinatra Live At The Sands
Live with Count Basie

John Mayall The Turning Point
Great music with no drummer

George Benson Give Me The Night
Mega hit every song very listenable

Santana Abraxas
Black Magic Woman and Oya Como Va

Fleetwood Mack Rumours
Stevie Nicks!!!!

Donald Fagen The Nightfly
Music to relax with your lady friend

Steely Dan Gaucho
Hey Nineteen!!!

Herbie Hancock Headhunters
Herbies best fusion

Allman Brothers Live At Filmore East
Duane and Berry Oakley still alive

Weather Report I Sing The Body Electric
I sing electric music

Stevie Wonder Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie's best

Marvin Gaye Greatest Hits
A collection of Marvin's best

These are the first twenty I thought of right off the top of my head.

Joe, these are a GREAT collection. Good taste, me boy, and any of these will delight and grace a good speaker system. There sure are some wonderful blues and jazz and fusion items out there.

[JoeE SP9]

Thank you all for vindicating my taste in music. I didn't mention some of my more esoteric favorites. So hear goes. Mind you some of these are in the unobtainable catagory.

Buddy Rich Class of 78
recorded direct to disk Vinyl

Dave Brubeck A Cut Above
recorded direct to disk Vinyl

Sessions This is a double album released by JBL to demo their speakers. It has Alex Harvey, Alex Richmond and Hoyt Axton singing. They dissect all the recordings and show how they are mixed and recorded. Very informative and very good sound. Vinyl

Kam Dhillon Dance With Me
Punjabi pop from Manchester GB. If you like to dance check it out.

Dennis Ferrer Funu
African pop. This band is tighter than a rats ***.

Swell Session A Swell Session
Brazilion pop. Infectious rhythms.

The Incredible Soul Collection Double CD from Rhino
If you like old school R&B you should own this.

Verdi LaTraviata on EMI
Beverly Sills has a voice to die for. Libiamo is!!!!!

John Abercrombie Timeless
on ECM with Jack DeJohnette and Jan Hammer

[miklorsmith]

I've tried to stick with more "indie" stuff since the thread was about stuff you may or may not own. Hopefully someone out there will hear one of these and appreciate the knowledge.

Your tastes and mine are similar. Many or all of the nay-nellies haven't heard new-school "underground" hip hop stuff. Yet, the castigations fly. Oh well, such is life. Trapped in the past? Not me. This is where music is still innovating, and how. It's the new jazz.

Endtroducing is absolutely amazing on a technical level, but it's pretty dark. Gotta be in the mood. Paul's Boutique is incredible too. Sometimes my favorite of theirs, though I really like Check Your Head and Ill Communication a lot too. Hello Nasty was widely overlooked but is a stunning achievement.

The Quannum label is turning out some really killer, new stuff. And, Lifesavas, Lyrics Born, Dan the Automator, and The Roots are bending minds around the world. Get back to the roots of the genre with Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Public Enemy, and Brand Nubian.

Or just tune out. I love the old stuff too, but them records get dusty.

[race4aliving]

Thank you all for vindicating my taste in music. I didn't mention some of my more esoteric favorites. So hear goes. Mind you some of these are in the unobtainable catagory.

Buddy Rich Class of 78
recorded direct to disk Vinyl

Dave Brubeck A Cut Above
recorded direct to disk Vinyl

Sessions This is a double album released by JBL to demo their speakers. It has Alex Harvey, Alex Richmond and Hoyt Axton singing. They dissect all the recordings and show how they are mixed and recorded. Very informative and very good sound. Vinyl

Kam Dhillon Dance With Me
Punjabi pop from Manchester GB. If you like to dance check it out.

Dennis Ferrer Funu
African pop. This band is tighter than a rats ***.

Swell Session A Swell Session
Brazilion pop. Infectious rhythms.

The Incredible Soul Collection Double CD from Rhino
If you like old school R&B you should own this.

Verdi LaTraviata on EMI
Beverly Sills has a voice to die for. Libiamo is!!!!!

John Abercrombie Timeless
on ECM with Jack DeJohnette and Jan Hammer

That Buddy Rich Album is now available as a SACD but it's now called Buddy Rich With "The Best Band I Ever Had" it sounds very good.
I got my copy from Amazon, I still have my Direct to Disc copies of that one and the Dave Brubeck too, but I noticed a copy of Brubeck on EBay tonight.
If you like that Swell Session you should give a listen to Sergio Mendes Brasil 88 , like you said "infectious rhythms"

[Pyrrho]

Okay, anyone care to enlighten us? I've posted this elsewhere, but I'm curious to see the responses here at AH. What are your personal "Top 20 Albums That You Should Have Yet Probably Don't"? They needn't be your twenty favorites, just good stuff that's perhaps a bit off the beaten path. I'm always looking for something new and interesting, and you rarely hear anything good on the radio.
...

Not 20, but a few that most of you probably don't have:

Shivaree - I Oughtta Give You a Shot in the Head for Making Me Live in This Dump Almost worth owning the CD for the title alone. The song Goodnight Moon is gorgeous, as well as very interesting.

Townes Van Zandt - A Far Cry from Dead I would have preferred a bit less overdubbing, but Sanitarium Blues and Waitin' 'round to Die are well worth the price of the disc.

Robert Johnson - The Complete Recordings Though not really complete (one more alternate take was unearthed after this was released), it is a powerful collection by an amazing singer, much admired by people like Eric Clapton. (The sound quality, due to its age, leaves something to be desired.)

Screamin' Jay Hawkins - Cow Fingers & Mosquito Pie You haven't lived until you've heard Screamin' Jay sing I Put a Spell on You. He did some other great albums, but it is good to start at the beginning. (I should mention that he was not "politically correct" on this disc, and probably not on any other.) This is basically Screamin' Jay Hawkins first LP AT HOME WITH SCREAMIN' JAY HAWKINS (1958) with some alternate takes, B-sides, and one previously unreleased song added.

Loudon Wainwright III - Grown Man Very funny, and very real. Grown Man will be enjoyed by your girlfriend as well. IWIWAL is not to be missed. And Human Cannonball is quite unusual--an obituary put to music--yet beautiful, which shows Wainwright in a more serious mood.

Billie Holiday - Billie's Blues An amazing record of a live performance with an appreciative audience toward the end of her life (with some studio tracks as well). She was obviously quite drunk during the concert, making for a very moving, sad performance. (I won't argue about whether this is her best or not, but it is one you probably don't have, and it is not to be missed. I thought about including Ella Fitzgerald - The Complete Ella in Berlin, but it is more likely that you have that one; you certainly should have it.)

Louis Armstrong - The Complete Town Hall Concert Although no one can outshine Louis Armstrong, Jack Teagarden properly shares the spotlight with him. His rendition of Saint James Infirmary is unsurpassed. Some of these tracks are also on "The Complete RCA Victor Recordings" which, curiously, is not complete, as it does not contain this complete concert, which is an RCA recording.

Louis Armstrong - The Hot Fives & Sevens This is quite simply some of the best music of any type ever recorded. The recording quality, though, will separate the music lovers from those who simply want impressive sound. (It was recorded in the 1920's. With my ribbon tweeters, it sounds like the gramophone player is in my living room!) This one (JSP Records) is recommended over the more expensive Columbia release in the Penguin Guide to Jazz (an old edition I consulted before buying mine a few years back), but there is a newer release by Definitive Classics, which some people seem to think might be better. If any of you have heard both, please respond.

Count Basie - The Complete Decca Recordings There is nothing like genuine Kansas City jazz. There is a newer release by Definitive Classics, which some people seem to think might be better. If any of you have heard both, please respond.

Mozart: Requiem - Schreier et al. This version has been called "a revelation". I agree.

Mieczyslaw Horszowski Plays Schumann, Chopin and Bach From the above link:

5 out of 5 stars The finest solo piano recording ever., May 4, 2000

Reviewer: A music fan
Obviously, I must clarify the title of my review; this is the finest solo piano recording ever heard by me (I have a substantial collection, however, including discs featuring such greats as Rubinstein, Horowitz, Kempff, Cliburn, Rachmaninoff, Schnabel, Cortot, Brendel, Zimerman, etc.). Like most great pianists, he improved with age. Horszowski was 98 when he recorded this disc (commonly referred to as his '100th Birthday Recording,' because it was released at about that time), bringing 95 years of experience to the performance. Playing the piano was as natural to him as breathing is to most of us, and it shows in his playing. Horszowski played with extraordinary gentleness, while possessing a remarkable technique. He was never flashy, always using his great skill to play beautifully, rather than to draw attention to his ability (He is reported to have said to one of his students who did otherwise, "Please remember, this is a sonata for piano, not pianist.").

If you purchase this disc and are not immediately drawn to it, please play it repeatedly before passing judgment on it. The subtleties of his greatness may go unnoticed on the first playing.

Enough said.

[sts9fan]

"Vaudeville Villain - Viktor Vaughn"

MF Doom is really the best MC for my money right now. I need to pick this one up. I have Venomus Villian and its great. Along with MMMMMM Food and a few others. I also have a leak of the new DangerDoom disc which is killer.


Keeping on the lines of things others MAY NOT HAVE I would like to submit

The Flaming Lips: Clouds Taste Metallic

Great disc if you dig the Lips

[Shadow_Ferret]

Take this list with a grain of salt. I rarely recommend albums because I don't want to be held responsible if someone doesn't like it. My tastes run from The Archies simply because it gives me happy memories of my childhood, all the way to Zappa. So my advice is sample this music if you can, then decide for yourself. Also, sticking to the topic, more or less, these are albums I doubt many have. I'm working on the assumption that most people already have things like The Beatles "Abby Road," Pink Floyd "DSOM," AC/DC "Highway to Hell" or "Back in Black," Boston, and so on. And unless otherwise specified, most of these albums are from the 70s.

1) Captain Beyond. Self-titled debut album. This is one of the few albums that I've actually listened to nearly every day of my life. Guitar-driven prog rock contains some of the best riffs in rock. Often called a supergroup because it's members came from Deep Purple (vocalist Rod Evans), Iron Butterfly (guitarist Rhino, bassist Lee Dorman), and Edgar Winter Group (drummer Bobby Caldwell, also appears on Rick Derringer's "All America Boy."). Originally released in 1972 this album sounds as fresh now as it did then. I feel so strongly about this album that the one and only "tribute" album I own is dedicated to this one.

2) Uriah Heep. "Look at Yourself." With this their third effort Heep achieved IMO that perfect balance between heavy guitar and soaring keyboards that all prog metal bands should try to aspire. Their next two albums, "Demons and Wizards" and "Magician's Birthday" also shine but are more polished and not quite as "raw" as this one. This is my second favorite album in my collection.

3) Armageddon. Self-titled only album. Keith Relf's final vocal performance before his untimely death. For 1975, this was very heavy, guitar driven, music. Maybe your local "classics" radio station has played "Silver Tightrope" from time to time. The rest of the album is nothing like that, leaning toward hard-driving metal-like guitar riffs. The band was made up of ex-Steamhammer guitarist Martin Pugh and bassist Louis Cennamo, along with
journeyman drummer Bobby Caldwell.

4) Savoy Brown Blues Band. "Looking In." This was the second or third incarnation of the English blues band led by guitarist Kim Simmons. This, IMO, has some of the tastiest guitar work ever put on vinyl. After this album the rhythm section ran off (everyone kept leaving poor Kim in a lurch) and formed Foghat with the addition of Roger Price as lead guitarist.

5) Blue Oyster Cult "Secret Treaties." BOC was often referred to as "intelligent metal" whatever that means. This album was stylistically and technically their best "raw" effort. By that I mean, it was still closer in attitude to their first two albums than to the almost poppish and highly polished "Agents of Fortune." They must have reached a level of respect at their own record label by this point in their career because the engineering
on their previous two albums was atrocious.

6) Gentle Giant. "Power and the Glory." It's actually hard to choose a definitive Gentle Giant album as they are all enjoyable. This one just happens to have my favorite song, "Proclamation," which has a definate medieval flair to it. Gentle Giant was known as a "musician's band" meaning, I guess, that musicians would appreciate the complexity of their music much more readily than, I don't know, the less intelligent critics. The band was best known for odd time signatures and original vocal harmonies. Although they are often lumped under the "prog rock" umbrella, they really are their own band and incomparable to the more mainstream prog bands like Yes and ELP, or even Pink Floyd.

7) Pink Floyd. "Piper at the Gates." As a card-carrying space cadet, I just love space rock and this Syd Barrett-led version of Floyd entered uncharted territory at warp speed without any attempt at commercial success.

8) Hawkwind. "Space Ritual." With Syd Barrett's drug-induced insanity, Pink Floyd left a gaping hole in the space rock void that was quickly filled admirably by Hawkwind. Poor engineering and production made Hawkwind's studio efforts weak and enemic sounding. It was this live set that showed the metal power of this band allowing Lemmy (of Motorhead fame) to create a sonic foundation upon which the rest of the band could soar and solo. Worth noting is their collaboration with sci-fi/fantasy writer Michael Moorcock, helping them achieve cult status among us "Elric of Melnibone" geeks.

9) Stray Dog. Self-titled debut album. I still remember when this was reviewed by the Rolling Stone. On the same page were reviews for the debut albums of Montrose and Kiss and if I recall correctly, this album received the best acolades of the three. Like those two, it is guitar-driven rock, and despite it being a power trio the music is lush, complex and expansive, with some nice bluesy guitar solos. The lead singer/guitarist/songwriter is one Snuffy Walden. He currently puts out new age jazz and television themes, most notably the "Thirty-something" theme.

10) Black Sabbath. "Sabotage." Of course I'm working on the assumption that everyone is familiar with Sabbath's previous 5 offerings. This one is usually lost in the shuffle except by the most die-hard fan, yet it is also one of their strongest in regards to songwriting, arranging and producing. The songs rock hard yet offer more complexity than anything previous. IMO it is where the band reached it's peak creatively before
everything collapsed under the weight of excessive drugs and their fallout with Ozzy.

11) Return to Forever. "Romantic Warrior." This album was the pinnacle effort by what many regard as among the best fushion jazz musicians of their day, Chick Corea, Al DiMeola, Stanley Clarke, and Lenny White. My favorite song is "Sorceress" mainly because of it's strong, deep bass line which, by the way, created a buzzing noise from the Paradigm PDR-8 I was demoing at the time. That'll teach them to leave the room.

12) Journey. Self-titled debut album. This album exemplifies why, at the tender age of 17, Neal Schon was asked within a 24 hour period to join both Santana and Eric Clapton. Just some marvelous guitar work and the guitar/keyboard interplay between Schon and Greg Rolie is almost exhausting at times. Rolie handles vocals. NO PERRY! As the liner notes say, "We suggest that you play this at the highest possible volume in order to fully
appreciate the sound of Journey." Side bar, the song "Kohoutek" came out around the time all the hoopla revolved around the coming of that comet. It was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime spectacular and it was featured in books, magazines, etc. Turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments of a lifetime. Kind of like Y2K. Oh, and lest I forget, Aynsley Dunbar on drums.

13) Nazareth. "Rampant." Before songs like "Expect No Mercy" and "Hair of the Dog" Nazareth put out this all-around excellent hard rock effort with fast-tempoed songs like "Silver Dollar Forger" and "Glad When You're Gone" and the spacey remake of the Yardbirds' "Shapes of Things."

14) Spock’s Beard. “Day for Night.” 1999! Yes, something almost current. A prog rock band with 70s sensibilities. A combination of classic Yes, Pink Floyd, and Moody Blues and by that I mean they have melodies, choruses, harmonies, intelligent and thoughtful songs; a rarity in today’s every band is indistinguishable from the next.

15) ZZ Top. “Tres Hombres.” Before the beards, before the fancy cars, before the spinning guitars, before the over-engineering, sampling and drum machines, there was that little old band from Texas, and they could rock!

16) Joe Jackson. "Look Sharp." Funny, upbeat, intelligent new wave pop. No kidding! I still love the lyrics, "Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street. From my window I'm staring while my coffee grows cold."

17) The Dictators. "Go Girl Crazy!" Rock as it was meant to be. Lots of humor, not taking itself seriously. Opens with a remake of Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe" sung by two men and goes steadily downhill with tongue planted firmly in cheek from there.

18) The Bus Boys. “Minimum Wage Rock & Roll.” An African-American rock group that also didn't take itself too seriously, yet was 4 star critically acclaimed by Rolling Stone. You can't help but laugh at lyrics like, "There goes the neighborhood, white folk movin’ in, they'll bring their next of kin."

19) David Bowie. “David Live.” This set documents the glam rock phase of Bowie’s career. All his best early songs are here, “Rebel Rebel,” “Suffragette City,” “Diamond Dogs,” “Jean Genie” yet they are much improved over the studio versions.

20) Deep Purple. “Made in Japan.” Probably the best live set ever. Standards like “Highway Star,” “Strange Kind of Woman,” and “Smoke on the Water” which were plodding and murky on the studio versions have new life breathed into them with faster tempos and sweeping arpeggios by Blackmore.

Some honorable mentions: Stanley Clarke “School Days.” Al DiMeolo “Land of the Midnight Sun.” Woodstock. Elton John “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” Cat Stevens “Teaser and the Firecat.” Supertramp “Crime of the Century.” Jerry Goodman and Jan Hammer "Like Children."