SECTION I: STUDIO ALBUMS
1. Led Zeppelin IV – Led Zeppelin (1971)
Perfection! I played the first side of the vinyl version non-stop for about four hours when I bought it just after it had been released. The memorable, mighty, crunching, sophisticated riff of “Black Dog” is followed by the equally driving riff and energy of “Rock and Roll”. Sandy Denny’s beautiful exquisite voice duetting with Robert Plant on “The Battle Of Evermore” follows this and, completing the side, “Stairway To Heaven” It’s voted the best song ever made for a reason. It's where the folksy-hippy melody builds into a heavy metal crescendo: eight minutes of sheer joy! The highlight of the second side is the metal-blues “When the Levee Breaks” one of my favourite Zeppelin tracks along with another stupendous riff. The outstanding thunderous drum sound that John Henry Bonham achieved was by playing his drums in the hallway of Headley Grange in Hampshire where the album was recorded.
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2. Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd (1975)
The question was always going to be, “How do you follow Dark Side Of The Moon?” The answer was, “with something better!” The nine-part “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” is a beautiful, atmospheric piece based around a four note motif. Regularly played since its release often loud and in a darkened room! (see “Live/Dead” & “Ummagumma”).
This is probably my most played album. Forty minutes of sheer joy! The 2011 extended version contains a great 1975 concert with tracks that eventually ended up on the follow-up album:”Animals”.
This is probably my most played album. Forty minutes of sheer joy! The 2011 extended version contains a great 1975 concert with tracks that eventually ended up on the follow-up album:”Animals”.
3 Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs – Derek & the Dominos (1970)
Why this was not a top ten hit album is one of life’s great mysteries. As a result of this tour-de-force failing to hit the heights, Clapton spent two years under the influence of heroin. The hit single of the title track only became a hit two years after the album had been issued. It’s worth reading the story of making of this album to understand the mind-set of the musicians and worse, what became of them! There are so many classic tracks on here: “Keep On Growing” and “Anyway” are southern-guitar rock boogie, “Key To the Highway” and “Have You Ever Loved a Woman?” are pure Chicago blues workouts. The version of Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” takes the original and develops it into one of the greatest riffs of all time. I first heard this song when it was played as “pre-concert” background music for the Hawkwind “Space Ritual” gig at the Liverpool Stadium in December 1972. It was one of those tracks where you asked, “What was that?” This album is a frequent visitor to my CD player (apart from “Thorn Tree in the bloody Garden”)!
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4. Who's Next - The Who (1971)
A classic album by anyone’s standard. The long version of “Won’t Get Fooled Again” is probably The Who’s finest moment (amongst so many!). “Baba O’Reilly” was one of the first recorded uses of the recently invented mellotron. The compositions here are all top class and the band are performing at their peak. Bought it as soon as it was released and have been playing it regularly ever since! Not a duff track anywhere to be heard. Meet the new boss!
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5. Fragile - Yes (1972)
This is prog rock at its finest, comprising four long songs and five shorter compositions from each of the five members of the band. The vinyl album is book-ended with the memorable, “Roundabout”. “South Side of the Sky”, “Long Distance Run Around” and “Heart Of The Sunrise“. All are superior longer compositions on this album. This was a sixth form favourite and is one of my most played albums. This is the second of three top Yes albums before the compositions became so complex that structure took second place to occasional ill-advised experimentalism.
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6. Script for a Jester’s Tear – Marillion (1983)
The late seventies and early eighties were poor times for anything remotely connected with progressive rock. The first generation of bands had moved with the times and became more commercial as the inventiveness and experimentalisation of the genre became exhausted or fell from prominence due, partially, to the punk explosion and to the bands attempt to retain their audience when their ideas began to run out. The beginnings of what became known as neo-prog were being sown at the time of another grass-roots movement – the NWOBHM – New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Both have similarities: commercialism and support from the music press were not two of them! This was Marillion’s first album, made after road testing their repertoire, and was a superb collection of progressive rock with more than a nod to Genesis The lyrics were, in places, too “sixth form”, but memorable especially on “Garden Party” and “Forgotten Sons”. The only thing to improve this album would be to have included the twenty minute tour-de force “Grendel”.
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7. Sticky Fingers - Rolling Stones (1971)
It is hard to choose which of the four classic releases the Stones made between 1968 “Beggar’s Banquet” and 1972’s “Exile On Main Street” albums should be the highest placed in my selection. Taken as a whole, this, the third of the four classics is the most thrilling to listen. This was the first on the Rolling Stones own label and features Andy Warhol’s “zipper” cover – something that’s not noticeable on the CD version! This is the Stones at their sleaziest, dirtiest best. Highlights are the second section of, “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” where Keef produces a guitar sound that has never been repeated anywhere else since, the best b-side ever: “Bitch” and the country rockers, “Sway” and “Wild Horses”.
8. Electric Ladyland – Jimi Hendrix Experience (1968)
My version is the original “nudes” gate-fold sleeve vinyl version. It contains my favourite single of all time, “All Along the Watch Tower” featuring three distinctive classic guitar solos and the posthumous number one single, “Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)”. The wonderful, fully blown jam that is “Voodoo Chile” stretches out for 15 minutes as a slow blues featuring Steve Winwood. The psychedelic “1983” is experimental for its age. The shorter songs are all strong and memorable. It’s still breathtaking forty years after it first appeared in 1968. Truly awesome playing and revolutionary explosive!
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9. Secret Treaties – Blue Oyster Cult (1974)
I bought this album after hearing the astounding, dark live album, “On Your Feet…” album and was keen to listen to the studio versions of the live album’s songs. Often described as the “thinking man’s heavy metal” band (I can’t disagree!) this is as far away as possible from repetitive riffing as is possible. Never bettered although those not familiar with all BOC’s oeuvre would plump for the 1976,”Agents of Fortune” album probably as it contains “Don’t Fear the Reaper” BOC’s albatross track. From the imposing pencil-drawn cover of the band standing in front of a stationary ME262 this is heavy as defined by intelligently designed riffs and obscure lyrics. Classy!
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10. Abbey Road - The Beatles (1969)
The Beatles’ beautiful swansong album: the montage of songs on side two of the vinyl version is one of the greatest passages of music recorded. This is a regular visitor to my CD player. The album would be higher in the rankings if Ringo’s, “Octopus’s Garden” had been replaced with a more substantial ditty.
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