bloggedy blog: the personal weblog of a music lover and aging punk wannabe

:: Monday, March 08, 2004 ::

Greatest Pop/Rock Albums, Vol. 3: 80-71
The countdown continues. (In case you missed the previous editions: Vol. 1: 100-91; Vol. 2: 90-81)

80. Led Zeppelin II, Led Zeppelin
Beginning with the amazing and simple opening riffs of "Whole Lotta Love," Led Zep's second album puts some of the finest Jimmy Page guitar wizardry on display.

79. Pretenders, The Pretenders
Chrissie Hynde was the quintessential punk rock grrl of 1980 (she hung out with the Sex Pistols, after all). Fronting the Pretenders, she let it rip with with some fine vocals accompanying the minimalist musicianship of "Precious," "The Wait" and the one hit from this album, "Brass in Pocket." A great ballad, "Stop Your Sobbing," offers a glimpse into Hynde's softer side. This is on my personal top 10 list. Too bad none of our other judges appreciated the genuis of this album.

78. What's Going On, Marvin Gaye
Leave it to a Motown soul man to create the ideal '60s hippie peace song. Marvin Gaye does it with the title song.

77. Electric Warrior, T. Rex
"Genius cut short," says MarcV, who ranks Electric Warrior among his all-time favorites. There's more to this album than just "Bang a Gong." Marc Bolon was a genius indeed.

76. All Things Must Pass, George Harrison
The Beatles' mystic-in-residence makes his mark on the top 100 as the only ex-Beatle to make it. No Paul McCartney and Wings, no John and Yoko, no Ringo, just George. This collection includes many of his greats, like "My Sweet Lord" and "What Is Life," but as Mista Sinista explains, the lesser tracks make this collection so sweet. "'Beware of Darkness' is one of my all-time favorite songs, and this album has many more keepers in there. It is easily the greatest post-Beatles record that any of them made."

75. Room for Squares, John Mayer
"Filled with real life in his words and songs," writes Rick.

74. Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder
Personally, I think Innervisions is the better Stevie Wonder album, but -- the tribe has spoken. And isn't this record lovely, Sir Duke?

73. Power of Love, Luther Vandross
Quoth Ganns: "This 10-track collection is an amazing display of his sensitive songwriting and dynamic vocal abilities." Again, the tribe speaks.

72. Seal -- or is it Seal? -- by Seal
One of our judges listed Seal's Seal as a top pick, but I'm not sure which Seal was meant: the 1991 Seal or the 1994 Seal. Personally, I prefer Seals and Croft, but I'm just one member of the tribe.

71. Days of Future Passed, the Moody Blues
Ah, this takes me back. A wonderful concept album from the '60s.

*****
My Top 10
by Post-Modern Pilgrim

Time to check in with one of our judges, who lists these gems at the top of his ballot:

10. Let It Bleed, The Rolling Stones
9. American Beauty, Grateful Dead
8. Purple Rain, Prince
7. Blonde on Blonde, Bob Dylan
6. Are You Experienced?, Jimi Hendrix
5. Music from Big Pink, The Band
4. The Joshua Tree, U2
3. Days of Future Passed, Moody Blues
2. Disraeli Gears, Cream
1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band, The Beatles

Barry's commentary on his "top 31": "I did notice that there are some groups conspicuous in their absence: the Doors, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, AC/DC, Aerosmith. It isn't that they don't deserve having several songs in the top 50, but none of their albums stood up like these."

:: Andrew 11:13 + ::
...