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| UPDATE 7/1/2003: due to space contraints (and the fact that the music collection wing of my site hasnt been updated in ages) I had to remove the rest of the music stuff, leaving only this Hall Of Fame page. At least this page is pretty much up to date, which is more than I can say for a lot of other sections of this site. :)
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| All albums on this hall of fame are the cream of the crop. But some cream is higher than others.
Any album that has been rated 9 or higher is eligible to enter this Hall of Fame, regardless of the band rating. Note however, I still hold a criteria of sentimental value...just because I rated an album a nine does not automatically qualify its induction. However, time will tell :) |
| The Beatles - LET IT BE
Issued: 1970 When people ask me what is my favourite album of all time
I first remark to myself what an absurd idea it is to have just ONE favourite album.
Then I usually reply with Let It Be. It probably is my favourite Beatle album, although the
rest are right behind it. One of the reasons is, this is first album I remember listening to
, when I was like 5, and I still love it today. Isnt that reason enough?? :)
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| The Beatles - ABBEY ROAD
Issued:1970
The Beatles' last album. Just imagine, the next album would have had My Sweet Lord, Imagine,
and Maybe I'm Amazed on it. This was surely the pinnacle of the Beatles' career, and the output
shows it. I always wished they would have stayed together for just a few more albums after this. I'm sure
they would have surpassed themselves every time.
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| The Beatles - WHITE ALBUM
Issued:1968
I love the longevity and diversity of this album. Used to be that I only listened to the first record...then for years I
only listened to the other one. Plus, I was young when I started the white album, and being that I only owned ONE
tape that I could record on, some songs got left out. The result was actually even better since I could rediscover the 'missing'
songs when I later got the whole albums on tape. (yes, I said tape, CDs didnt come out till I was about 12)
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| The Beatles - LIVE AT THE BBC
Issued:1993
I distinctly remember being so excited about this album coming out. I was in 10th grade, and my history
teacher and I would constantly debate about the Beatles. Once again, I got these as tapes, because at that time shelling out
30 bucks for the cd was an unreachable luxury for me. (I think the only cd I did own at this time was Wings Greatest,
which was a b-day present) No other cd captures the raw fun sound the early Beatles had. (check out Paul screaming on 'Oh! My Soul')
It still blows Anthology 1 out of the water.
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| The Beatles - MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR
Issued:1967 I love this one so much, it might actually compete against Let It Be for my Favourite album of ALL TIME (!!!). Maybe depends on the Mood I'm in.
One of my favourite T-Shirts I own is of this album cover, although everyone else seems to despise it. :)
I love the album, and I'm actually glad its so short. If this were a double cd or something, it wouldnt be so good.
So this way its more like a (better) extension of Sgt. Pepper, which itself just barely missed the cut for the hall of fame. (for now, anyway)
Best song on here is...Fool on the Hill, Your Mother Should Know, Hello, Goodbye, I am the Walrus, ....hell they're all good.
I also believe everyone should have a theme song for themselves. 'All You Need Is Love' used to be mine for many many years.
(for my current one, see Quadrophenia)
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| Tom Petty - WILDFLOWERS
Issued:1995
One of the first Tom Petty albums I got, and of course its a little biased because first of all I was like 17, (which is musical golden age is it not?)
and second of all I went to his concert within a month or 2 of this and he played this album live (at the Hollywood Bowl).
The whole crowd was singing along to Its good to be King, American Girl, Free Fallin,!!
I listened to it lately again, and happily conceded to myself that It truly belongs in this hall of fame. Lets face it, Tom Petty knows what Rock should sound like.
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| The Kinks - LOLA vs. POWERMAN AND THE MONEYGOROUND
Issued:1970
After getting 'Kinks Live - the Road', it inspired me to get more..and at that time I knew not much about the Kinks so I just picked this one off the shelf.
Boy was I lucky. Apeman is still one of my faves, as well as Denmark Street, and the Moneygoround. I always thought it was an earlier Kinks album,
I still can't believe they did this one AFTER village green and arthur.
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| The Kinks ...ARE THE VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY
Issued:1968
this one started out a sleeper...kindof like a Queen album, you dont even really like it the first time, except for like one or two songs, but you keep
listening to it anyway, and by the 20th time you just cant stop, its in your head everywhere you go, and even though you know if you listen to it 10 more times you'll get
REALLY sick of it, you gotta keep listening to only that because no matter what else you listen to you cant get 'Do You Remember Walter' or 'Monica' or 'The Last of the
Steam Powered Trains' (with an EXCELLENT harp solo by the way) out of your head!! This one ended up I think 2 or 3 months straight topping the charts, which is an
unparalleled feat (Pinkerton comes close, though). I also still maintain that if the 'Village Green' were remade today by any decent band, it would surely hit #1.
There is NOT ONE BAD SONG on this one.
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| The Kinks - MUSWELL HILLBILLIES
Issued:1971?
This is where the Kinks amazingly top themselves. As much as I raved about the Village Green Preservation Society, this one is EVEN BETTER!!!
This album was the sole catalyst for a record half year straight #1 on the charts, since they also served to inspire me to buy Village Green.
'Alcohol' and 'Holiday' are probably their best songs ever, but overall the concept of a pseudo-country album sounds so great you cant even get tired
listening to it over and over...it just all melts together. '20th Century Man' is such a great kickoff for this album, starting the tempo off slow, then faster,
into the next song 'Acute Schitzophena Blues', and slowing down again with 'Holiday', so mellow it just makes you want to go take one.
'Skin and Bone' is another fast catchy one, and of course 'Alcohol' is just their best song ever, with those horns helping out just enough to make you wonder if
they're blending into swing or jazz. Ray's voice is so easy to listen to, it makes you want to jump up, and be soothed to sleep at the same time.
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| Paul McCartney - WILDLIFE
Issued:1973?
This album is a perfect example of how the so called 'critics' should all hand their job on a silver platter to me because dammit Paul this is a
FANTASTIC album. The sound is still raw enough to have a Beatles feel, as if Paul is playing all the instruments all by himself. (Really he might be,
I'm not sure...) Either way, dont be fooled by Linda and Denny Laine on the cover, this album is Paul, solo. There is not one bad song on here, (have we noticed
a trend on this list?), the first 4 including Wild Life are pure classic ('Mumbo' features Paul's raw early morning voice, a la 'Oh Darling!').
'Oh Woman, Oh Why' is another one he raucously yells through. There is just so much energy it makes you want to speed up your driving by 20 mph...then
all of a sudden 'Dear Friend' is a powerful slow and consistent ballad, like something off of 'Flowers in the Dirt', although of course this came about 20 years
sooner.
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| Paul McCartney - VENUS AND MARS
Issued:1974?
I got this as a record from Patti, and was tranferred to tape. I don't think it would be on this list if I had a cd player in my car at that time, because 99% of its playing time was in my cassette deck on my weekend drives to Palm Springs. The things I love most about this one are Paul's ability to play songs as though they were set in the 20'2 or 30's. I love very old tunes, and although they are extremely hard to come by these days, some of these tracks will give you an idea. Of course all of this album is typical Paul; light rockers and ballads mostly, but a hell of a lot of melody on each one. The title track and 'Rock Show' are the best, although the first side as a whole is enough to qualify this album on this list.
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Here's a good place as any to put this NOTE: Band on the Run is not on this list, even though it has been hailed by the so called 'critics' as Paul's greatest solo album. Why? 2 reasons. First of all, unfortunately, I've been exposed to about 5 of those songs as singles, meaning they were individually played to death before I ever got the album (even before I knew they were Paul songs!!), and singles you already played to death never enhance a new album you are listening to for the first time. And second, the latter of the album just isnt so good. So basically for me it was a compilation of the first half (about 5 songs) of singles…so there you go.
| Paul McCartney - RAM
Issued:1972?
Ahhh, here's a different story. I bought this knowing nothing except that 'Uncle Albert / Admiral Hasley' was on it, and being that the rest of the material is not very famous individually, but at the same time being outstandingly good, after 4 or 5 times it was unstoppable as continuous play in James' and my dorm room. I still get a kick out of Smile Away, and Monkberry Moon Delight. I think there is something very English about this album, maybe he's been listening to some Kinks, who knows…
This album is still pre-Wings. Its his second solo, the first being 'McCartney' (which btw probably will make it someday to this HOF). Which basically means that you can't even distinguish these tunes from any in his later Beatle period, because it's the same Paul, only 1 or 2 years away. Any of these songs could have made Abbey Road, if not for timing.
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| Paul McCartney - RUN DEVIL RUN
Issued:1999
One of the greatest compilation Rock and Roll albums I ever heard. How can Paul rock so well at age 60? I originally knocked it off as another cover album, like John did before he died, but to my pleasant surprise I found that most of the covers were obscure tunes I never heard before. So they were kindof like new material. And boy, can it increase your adrenaline. I loved She Said Yeah so much it inspired me to try playing the piano again. I loved Movie Magg so much I got some Carl Perkins albums. Whats even more magical about this album is that he played it beginning to end at the Cavern. What I wouldn't give to have been there.
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| Paul McCartney - OFF THE GROUND
Issued:1991?
A very underrated album by critics, I think because of Pauls such high standards. Nevertheless, whatever crap he wrote in the 80's (which wasn't very much mind you), he certainly regained his form for this album. The only song I mildly am not too excited about is Peace In The Neighborhood, but on some days I can even tolerate that. The whold flipside is sensational, beginning with The Lovers That Never Were all the way through C'Mon People, which by the way is reminiscent of the Hey Jude style long fade away. Of course the title track and Hope of Deliverance are the best songs on here, and I've always been partial to Mistress and Maid, I think, because there's no real chorus, he just keeps on telling the story.
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| The Cranberries - TO THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED
Issued:1991?
The Cranberries like concept albums. You can tell just by the cover, that each album is supposed to represent a different theme in life. This album seems to represent all the war, death and general suffereing going on in the world, so it is supposed to be sad. Ironically though, the most beautiful songs are heard throughout, and it always ends up lifting me up. Even the John Lennon song, though sad and true, is fun to sing to. The only real depressing song on here, and by the way also the most beautiful, is War Child. Just don't listen to the lyrics until the 5th or 6th time, enjoy the melody first, not to mention Dolores' gorgeous voice. Electric Blue is by far my favourite though, with its endless "na nee no" chorus in different variations.
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| Squirrel Nut Zippers - PERENNIAL FAVORITES
Issued:?
I love the Squirrel Nut Zippers. Unfortunately, each of their albums always have that one song that is just ... too gereric jazz for me. Otherwise we'd see more of their stuff here. This one made it anyway, almost solely because of Katheryn Whalen's performance on the second track, which is probably one of my favourite songs of ALL TIME (but lets not get into that). The really kicking part of this album is the first side, that is, the first 8 or 9 songs. I think this was the SNZ's peak; I'm sure they are a lot better live than anyone else, save maybe the Stones or the 'Oo. The reason they get so much credit is also that no one else plays their style of music. Who plays big band hall these days, mised with a little rockabilly? Stray Cats? not quite. Cherry Poppin Daddies, Royal Crown Revue? No, too hard. Nobody really. So when you want old style swing, only the SNZ can satisfy.
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| The Rolling Stones - STICKY FINGERS
Issued:1971?
This is the album that got me into the Stones. Both sides are so different, and yet unparalleled in their own way. They were really in their prime here, seemingly unable to write a bad song. Also, my favourite underrated Stones song is on here, Sway. Sister Morphine is also class; what a slow rocker that has a groove you don't want to stop! But hey, they're all good on this album: Wild Horses, Moonlight Mile, Dead Flowers and of COURSE the obvious ones Brown Sugar and Bitch. I think this one would rank up there with Let It Be as my 2 fave albums of all time.
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| The Rolling Stones - SOME GIRLS
Issued:1974?
HOWEVER, Some Girls is not far behind. I really don't see much difference between this one and Sticky Fingers. Much like Revolver and Rubber Soul are almost like side A and side B, these 2 are also similar. I must say though, that unlike Sticky Fingers, I can single out my favourite song, as I love Miss You more than the other tracks. This record, along with Sticky Fingers, got me into the Stones. Back in the day when my car only had a tape deck, I had to transfer these records onto tape, as these were mainly car tunes for me. The biggest highlight was when Patti and I went to the '98 Stones concert at Dodger Stadium, and everybody sang Miss You. Another thing I remember is Will learning how to play Beast of Burden on his guitar. Man that song could have been played as a 20 minute jam and it still would have kicked ass.
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| The Rolling Stones - EMOTIONAL RESCUE
Issued:1974?
Everyone, I mean EVERYONE slams this album for some reason. I guess they don’t like the idea of Stones going disco or something. Yeah, it’s a little departure, but that doesn’t mean they can’t pull it off. I mean, at least its not a departure like Her Satanic Majesty’s Request, right? I love this album. It kicks right off rocking with Dance, I think one of their best songs ever. And the rest of the first side is still traditional Stones rock and roll. Only one song has a hint of disco, and its Emotional Rescue, which I think is actually a very decent song. The feature of this album though, is another one of their unknown, unappreciated but truly classic slow rockers: Down in the Hole. I’d put it in a greatest hits collection anytime.
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| The Rolling Stones - LET IT BLEED
Issued:1969?
OK so here’s another one that I cant say enough good things about. This would rank right up there with Let it Be, and Sticky Fingers. How many classics are on here? 6? 7? EVERY FRIKKIN SONG is a greatest hit. Gimme Shelter had such an effect on me that when I heard it first on a radio, I knew I had to find it. So I spent like 3 months looking for a song called “its just a shot away”, before I finally found Gimme Shelter. I tell ya, it was like finding gold. And You Can’t Always Get What You Want? C’Mon, is that not like the greatest song EVER??? Its so long, and rocky, with great lyrics, and an awesome chorus section….I could go on and on. Country Honk is great too, I think I actually prefer this to Honky Tonk Women because of the fiddle alone. Its kind of a shame its so short though; every song they could have put on here would surely be a gem.
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| Green Day - DOOKIE
Issued:1994?
Sometimes you just need high energy, mindless, 3 chord rock tunes. Sometimes it grows on you so much (especially if you're in high school and impressionable) that you end up putting it in the hall of fame. So what if they'll never have an album the quality of Let it Be? First of all, I think Green Day is more talented than they are given credit for. They are clearly above the rest of their '3 chord' genre. Second, they ALWAYS put you in a better mood, and thats more than I say about some of those so called 'greats', aka Dylan, etc. (dont get me wrong, Blonde on Blonde might make it here someday) |
| Garbage - VERSION 2.0
Issued:1998?
Most bands have an unmistakable sound of their own. I can tell a Green Day sound a mile off, for example, or a Nirvana song. And I LOVE the traditional ‘Garbage Sound’. It seems to linger on every song of theirs, just like Manson’s lovely voice. When I got this album, I remember being so excited about it, because I liked the first one so much. So I took it home to patti’s apartment, and instead of trying it out in my car like I usually do, I put headphones on, laid down, closed my eyes, and listened to it like 5 times straight. By the 5th time, I was sooo hooked. So for this reason none of the songs stand out on their own (except of course for Push It, because it was also endlessly played on the radio); its rather an experience you feel with its entirety. And contrary to what is generally thought of with hard rock, or whatever Garbage is classified as, there are a plethora of gorgeous melodies hidden throughout underneath the distorted guitars. I’ll take Garbage anyday.
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| Roxette - CRASH! BOOM! BANG!
Issued:1995?
Crash Boom Bang, as is the case with all the later Roxette releases, was picked up by me in Hungary as a cassette tape, listening to it over and over on the plane ride back. There is very little filler on this album, and I think it was here (or possibly ou Tourism) that Roxette grew out of its catchy kiddie pop classics as found on Look Sharp! and Joyride, and started to write melodious, thoughtful tunes. Even though Per always did and always will write all the songs, I think on here it sounds as if many different ppl with many different ideas were at work. It kindof flows between rockers and ballads so that it will never get boring, reminding you of a Beatle record in a way. Pity it wasn’t realeased in America.
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| Roxette - TOURISM
Issued:1993?
Tourism, I think, is the last Roxette album to have a genuine, nationwide release in America. Lucky for me, cause I was about 15 at the time, and would not have had the resources to order it online from the UK or anything. OK, so there are 2 strong reasons this album belongs in the HOF. First of all, the first track is SO good it boosts the whole album up. Second, while I’m not that big a fan on including live songs with new songs on a new album, the live ones on here are done VERY well, especially It Must Have Been Love which blends from live to studio so well I didn’t even know it did that until I looked it up on the net years later. I can point to many songs on here, in fact, that when listening, are probably the best one on the album. Never Is A Long Time is really great when youre in a depressed mood, Queen of Rain is another good slow song. Generally the album is terrific to listen to on a rainy day, it has that slow meloncholy to it. At the same time, who cannot get cheered up when hearing Here Comes the Weekend. The only one I’m not too crazy about is Silver Blue. It just seems to drag on for me. But all in all, a VERY underappreciated album.
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| Oasis - DEFINITELY MAYBE
Issued:1992?
OK now we’re talking about a truly landmark album. Both for me personally, as it introduced me to Oasis, and for the band itself, as it introduced Oasis to the world. For those that like the Oasis sound: loud, crashing guitars, hidden melodies under the noise, sometimes Beatle-esque lyrics and parodies, and just a lot of fun, this always was, and still is their greatest album (although Morning Glorycomes close.) If you are new to Oasis, this is definitely (not maybe) the place to start - and stay there. I must have listened to this 20 times straight on casette over and over, thanks to Jennie, and realized that the question of Blur vs. Oasis was a tough one indeed. To this day, I don’t know the answer. To those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, look up why a 45 minute single of the Gallagher bros. actually made #1 on the UK chart. Those brothers are the creative force behind Oasis, who by the way are a terrific band to see live. Makes me feel even younger than my young 23 years.
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| Oasis - WHAT'S THE STORY MORNING GLORY
Issued:1992?
(By guest writer Patti)
I would have to say that in the beginning this was not one of my favorite albums however over the last couple of years it has really grown on me. Originally I bought the album for Champange Supernova, however after hearing the cd multiple times in Roland’s car I am proud to say I know the words of every single song on the album. But the best part was going to the concert and hearing all the songs live, this really made the album one of my favorites, the songs have great meaning and are fun to sing along with. I think another thing about the album is that no matter what type of mood you are in the songs fit, it doesn’t go with just one mood like most albums, you could be peppy or depressed and it doesn’t matter - In that respect it is a lot like Flaming Pie! I gotta say in the beginning Oasis was not on my top list however as time goes by I find my self enjoying their albums more and more, and I find myself happy when a new cd comes out and it is just as awesome as this one!
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| Blur - Blur (White Album)
Issued:1996?
This one is SO high on my list, that even the Beatles are in trouble. I cant get away without an Oasis comparison in this paragraph, so here it is. While Oasis brag all over about their music being influenced by the Beatles, such obvious references in lyrics are not as impressive as Blur’s silent, but very detectable influence in their music itself. However, great as early Blur is, I’ll take this White Album anytime. Isn’t Damon Albarn engaged to the lead Elastica girl, or one of those other rock girls? The sound certainly shows it. There’s electronica, which basically sucks, then there’s Blur’s and Elastica’s version of Rock/Electronica, which totally kicks ass. If this is what Rock has evolved to, that’s fine by me. Don’t get me wrong, it cant possibly be this good without those sincere slow ballads in between. And as much as Song 2 took the world by storm, it still cannot compare to On Your Own, M.O.R. or Death of a Party. I’m putting this right up there in the Ultra High Cream category, and that’s where its gonna stay!! Please, Blur, make more like this one!!!
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| The Who - QUADROPHENIA
Issued:1972?
OK, so the Who’s mark upon the Rock world is their string of infectuous hit singles, from My Generation to We Wont Get Fooled Again, and 2 excellent Rock Operas. In my opinion though, Tommy just cant make it here, because first, it runs a little too long without maintaining an interesting theme (i.e. it jumps around too much), and second, it is SO overrated. I’m just so sick of hearing how good Tommy is that it makes me like Quadrophenia even more. And as a matter of fact, Quadro is EVEN LONGER than Tommy. However, it keeps your interest the whole way, and refers back to familiar themes in many different ways, which I think is genius. I also like the idea of each band member having a different theme, and I think it suits them well. One of them also suits me SO well, that I have adopted it as my own. That being Pete’s Theme, Love, Reign O’er Me, which has to be one of the greatest songs EVER. (I know I’ve said this before, but hey…this subject is closer to rocket science than baking cake, so give me a break, a’yight?) Be warned though…if you haven’t heard any Who before, the long instrumentals may bore you to keep going. Listen to their early rockers first, then Tommy (just so you can appreciate this one even more when you finally get to it).
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| Weezer - PINKERTON
Issued:1997?
Here I’m gonna go again, giving yet another album SO much praise I’m going to sound redundant in ‘overrating’ such ordinary albums. Well think what you want. Then make your own web page. This one is SO good (and SO short, dammit) that I doubt Weezer will ever top themselves after this one. Not Amazingly, the so called ‘critics’ hated this album, for reasons I have yet to understand. Weezer to me, first of all, is one of those bands that are unable to write a bad song. Even the Stones can’t say that. And yet what makes them any different from Green Day, another group that kinda falls into this (3 chord??) new Punk/Rock/Whatever wave? Hard to say, but I would venture that Weezer has much more melody potential , both musically, and with Rivers’ voice. Billy Joe just kindof shouts his lyrics out. Actually I can’t even classify what it is that Weezer has…they just have ‘it’. Once you put a Weezer album up, its hard to to put it on ‘repeat’ (partly because of course its so fucking SHORT). One thing I must complain about though….3 albums in, what? 6 years?? Jeez, c’mon ppl we’re thirsty for more! Give us more!! Your 3 albums are so spectacular, Pinkerton’s in my Hall of Fame, can’t you see you owe everyone just a little MORE MUSIC???? I mean, the Stones have released more records in the 90’s than you have in your career!! Aarrggh, I’m so frustrated with them….sigh…anyway….as a side note, NO OTHER ALBUM in my chart history has stayed near the top as this one has…to my recollection it was something like 5 months straight that it collected at least a point…..I think I drove James crazy, lol.
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| Blondie - Plastic Letters
Issued:1978?
The first Blondie Album I got. Well actually I had the Best of, from BMG for at least 3 years before that, but I never really listened to it until late 2001 (last Christmas at this time of writing). The whole thing was just SO bloody good, I just bought one off the shelf, the first one I saw. What makes Plastic Letters so great (not amazingly, this is consistent with a lot of the best ones, even though it may seem trivial) is the opening song. The opening song is SO important to be nothing short of fantastic to make an album great. Of course in this case, The opening song is fantastic, and the rest just keep giving the first one justice. Seems like it gets better and better. And on every song here, somehow the music emphasizes the sexiness of Debbie's voice so well, it just hypnotizes you. I cant write this paragraph without mentioning the genius of her suddenly switching into French on a few songs. It just takes an ordinary song (on Denis) and turns it way up. Let me tell ya, You dont know what sexy is until you hear Debbie singing in French. I bought my second Blondie Album about 2 weeks after this one, and still buying.
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| Blondie - Parallel Lines
Issued:1978
Still the Best Blondie Album ever. I dont even know what else to say about it, except that I cant list my favourite songs so I'll just list ALL the songs.
Hanging on the Telephone, One way or Another, Picture This, Fade Away and Radiate, Pretty Baby, I know but I dont know, 11:59, Will Anything Happen, Sunday Girl, Heart of Glass, Im gonna love you too, Just Go Away.
There you go. All tracks rock. Now go and buy it.
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