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

:: Thursday, March 11, 2004 ::

Greatest Pop/Rock Albums, Vol. 6: 50-41
Here's the latest installment -- but first, in case you missed them, here are:

Vol. 1 (100-91)
Vol. 2 (90-81)
Vol. 3 (80-71)
Vol. 4 (70-61)
Vol. 5 (60-51)

Now, on to our countdown

50. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John
Bernie Taupin and Elton John were the best pop songwriting duo of the early to mid-70s, taking the mantle from the early Lennon-McCartney work. And Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the best example of their talents. At least one judge on our panel would put Honky Chateau before Yellow, and perhaps the earlier EJ was purer in a sense. But the opening track, the eerie, somewhat macabre "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding," signals the artist's departure from his past, for better or for worse. He gives a proper burial to his Madman Across the Water/Honky Chateau past and steps fully into pop stardom. "Bennie and the Jets" remains the best single of Elton John's storied career.

49 Paranoid, Black Sabbath
Blow your speakers. Blow your mind. MarcV put it best when he called this album "THE heavy metal statement and their best," and, "Oh, to be able to play bass like Geezer."

48. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, David Bowie
Hey, man! Glam rock's reigning chameleon king created the definitive glam-rock album with Ziggy Stardust. Says KJo: "The ultimate concept -- not even as a theme, but as a man!" Best track, IMHO: "Starman."

47. Tommy, The Who
In 1969, the year of Woodstock, The Who unleashed an amazing journey of a rock opera. Tommy remains the paragon for this niche, and includes some of Pete Townsend's most creative work.

46. Graceland, Paul Simon
Paul Simon's creativity only blossomed after the breakup of Simon and Garfunkel. Teaming with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Simon treated the listening public to South African rhythms and harmonies on this LP. Graceland is beautiful and thoughtful, and "You Can Call Me Al" has perhaps the best penis joke of the entire top 100.

45. Alive!, Kiss
Has there ever been a better party song than the live version of "Rock and Roll All Night"? No metalhead's collection would be complete without this classic concert album.

44. Harvest, Neil Young
I will say, unabashedly, that I love this album. I love the writing, the guitar craft -- heck, I even love Neil Young's strained, whiny voice on this album. Best tracks: "Old Man" and "Alabama."

43. Slowhand, Eric Clapton
461 Ocean Boulevard should probably be in this slot -- but hey, Clapton fans, at least we got one from your man in here.

42. Rubber Soul, The Beatles
Beep-beep mm beep-beep, yeah! The second Beatles record to make the list hails from 1964 and is chock full of hits: "Drive My Car," "Norwegian Wood," "Michelle," "Nowhere Man," etc. I think nine out of 14 tracks were probably released as singles, and every one of them a smash. But their best work was yet to come.

41. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Lauryn Hill
KJo calls this disc "an instant classic," and I agree. Some of the most soulful hip-hop around. What happened to Lauryn on her second album?

*****
My Top 10
by KJo

As the lone female on our panel (not that several female bloggers weren't asked to take part), KJo bears the responsibility of representing her entire gender. But she's up to the task. A former student assistant in my office, KJo is now a geological engineer. So she really knows her rock. Heh.

10. Paul's Boutique, The Beastie Boys
The precursor to any and all sampling, even if no credit was given.

9. Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan
He might not be able to sing, but damn can he write a song, pack it with lyrics and leave you thinking about it long after the song -- and in particular this album -- is over

8. Sign O' the Times, Prince
Lyrical and musical genius that was able to take a real survey of his life at the time.

7. Kind of Blue, Miles Davis
Maybe it's not pop or rock, but one cannot deny the influence this album and this man have had on common culture.

6. Ten, Pearl Jam
Nirvana may have started the revolution, but this was the more poignant album.

5. London Calling, The Clash
Punk with social conscience and purpose. Beautiful.

4. The Ecology, Marvin Gaye
Social commentary on the economy, environment, politics and ... SOUL. Marvin delivers all of it from the depths of his being.

3. Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder
Wonder delivers his own slice of life in this collection, with more joy and humanity than his other masterpieces (the man is amazing) ... jump up and shout!

2. Let It Bleed, The Rolling Stones
Watch out world, the Stones try to grow up here, and give the performance of their lives -- fitting considering the events leading them to this album. And it's obvious with some of the subject and the urgency in the delivery.

1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles
The Beatles go out on a limb and create a complete tour-de-force. Absolutely amazing.

:: Andrew 08:02 + ::
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