I was given a copy of an old list that definitively answered the top 200 albums of all time. After a quick perusal, I came up with the following observations:
A) The people that created this list were stupid. Pointed out in that the #1 album of all time was Sgt. Peppers Heart Club Band. Now, lets be real, the Beatles have at least 3 albums recorded prior to this one that are better. Please Please Me, their first release (recorded in mono sound) was far better even though it was a raw and somewhat less refined sound. I feel that this SPHC album doesn't deserve any type of Top 50 billing, maybe not Top 100.
B) Shania Twain in at #21. Now she is extremely hot, and a good talent, but this artist and this album are not superior to offerings from The Police, Steely Dan, and Elton John.
C) By including soundtracks this proves the list to be poorly thought out. Since it calls itself the definitive list, unless a soundtrack has all new, never heard recordings, the soundtrack is nothing more than a greatest hits album (which luckily aren't included in the list). Dirty Dancing? How in the world did this album darken the list. By including that sappy song by Patrick Swayze this album should be burned at some minor league baseball game.
D) Two albums by the Non-America loving Dixie Chicks? 'Splain that Lucy! It is beyond me to even try to rationalize this inclusion. Madman Across The Water (Elton John) doesn't factor at all and we have to endure 2 Dixie Chicks. C'mon !
E) Frank Sinatra, arguably the best crooner has 1 entry. No kudos to Nat King Cole. Only 1 spot each for Miles Davis and John Coltrane, forget their collaboration efforts.
F) Steely Dan only 1 entry - AJA. In my opinion not their best, a great album, but I would like to see Pretzel logic and Can't Buy a Thrill.
G) How does this group get off excluding the Allman Brothers, Eva Cassidy, Keb Moe. No mention of Kansas, the Doobie Brothers, and the Pretenders.
The list includes many rap artists and a large array of new pop stars that don't tend to hold a candle to the artists from the 70's, but I can at least see including some. This list is at best a foray to sell albums off the shelf, ones that can't be moved and to get a listener in to a store to hopefully sell some of the trash on the list, and to also load them up with some decent stuff. It is basically a bunch of hooey.
Regardless, what do you think? Web address is here .
3 comments:
Okay the link did not load. Go to www.definitive200.com. Prepare to hurl.
Aahh-the other contributor to this blog weighs in.
Reid, it's just a subjective list of favorites that somebody put together.
True though, they might be just trying to clear the shelves of poor selling albums. I agree with Dark Side, and at least one Beatles album being at the top. I would have chosen the White album, or perhaps Abby Road.
Not being into country, rap, or folk, I don't have opinions on what albums define those genre's.
Interesting list. You and Ed should post your definitive lists of the best albums in each genre, so we readers can make fun of your picks.
billb: Thanks for telling me that it is a subjective list. any list of this type would be. I will spend some time over the next few days resaerching and I will come up with a Top album list.You are welcome to make fun of it as well. It is too bad that you, however, don't have the guts to put your name on something other than negative remarks towards the author of any blog posted here. I wish you had a blog that I could visit. You might be surprised at the responses you would get.
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