Abby Road is both an artistic achievement and the Beatles' most modern sounding album. It's production values outweigh any other Beatles' album. You have an already amazing album raised up even further by its overall sound. McCartney fully intended AR to be a huge seller- and knew by setting a high bar for it's arrangements and production, this could most definitely happen. AR has become the example of an album riding the seam of both the 1960's and 1970's.
On most days it is still my favorite Beatles' album. My brother had Beatles albums which I got to hear; but 'Abbey Road' was the 1st rock album I bought with my own money.
All of these albums are really good albums, that's why they are popular. Who's Next has some of their greatest songs and it's not weighed down by an opera narrative, even though it was leftovers of an attempted rock opera. LZ IV is the ultimate distillation of blues, hard rock and folk the defined LZ. It's a much more original album than the first one, which wasn't far afield from Cream or Jeff Beck Group. Dark Side Of The Moon is the goal that the Floyd were aiming at since their second album. And so on and so on. All of these albums represent their artists at the top of their talents. The only one I could contest is Abbey Road, but frankly it shows the Beatles in a very mature light with George's greatest songs and great sound and a good mixture of heavy and serious, and the medley which is like a well-programmed FM radio station of Beatles songs. It's easy and fun to listen to. Sometimes what is popular is garbage, and sometimes it's not. These are ten examples of when real quality rose to the top.
I recently discovered Kind of Blue. Its very enjoyable. Speaking of Jazz, I enjoy Dave Brubeck's Time out even more. Growing up in the 80's, I bought Abbe Road, Who's Next, and Dark side of the moon as slightly old records. I bought Rumors and Hotel California as new releases. I don't know what makes these great but all I can say is I still listen to them because the music holds up. They still have meaning to me. I can relate to dark side more now than ever. A few other great timeless albums that I can think of off the top of my head are Rush Moving pictures, Steely Dan Aja and Sargent Pepper.
I had exactly the same feeling about some of these records, especially Abbey Road and Dark Side... Until I stopped listening to them for definitely more than 10 years. Revisiting them after all these years made me realise again how fantastic they are! Thanks for this very entertaining piece!
i have been blessed to have that happen to a lot of the music i was burned out on. To hear Freebird, Stairway, and Born to Run to name a few, with fresh ears gives an entirely new appreciation, or deepens my first appreciations.
I think my biggest "why" is "Cracked Rear View" by Hootie and the Blowfish. I have and like the record, but never in my imagination did I think it would sell over 20 million copies. My belief is that it drew in the aging boomers who had gotten lost in the 80s pop metal and 90s grunge and they just wanted to hear songs they could sing and were good jangly pop rock.
Great video Mazzy. There are a few other that could've been added to the list. Like Carole King's Tapestry, Deep Purple's Machine Head, Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore East, Frampton Come Alive and Dire Strait's Brother in Arms
You hit the nail on the head early in the video; these albums are so accessible and easy to listen to. Thus, they are also commercialized and then millions hear those songs in commercials, movies, and tv shows.
Hey Mazzy. What a great Video. Thanks for that. I think is even parts: Fantastic Songs + great sound + legendary coverart + full of urban legends = Masterpiece Album.
Excellent topic and one that I think about sometimes as well. While I am not in advertising or marketing, I think each of these albums represents the point when these artists became a "brand", and that cemented these albums into the public's collective mind as THE ALBUM that represents each artist. I agree that many times, there are better albums by most of the artists you mentioned, but it's not a quality thing. It's more a point in time where they trancended into something bigger and are forever associated with that particular record.
They're great albums and played non stop in the radio and therefore very familiar to a lot of people who do not have the deep knowledge of music and artists like you do and other audiophiles with huge records collections. Kind of Blue was also used in Runaway Bride and a lot of folks bought it after watching that movie. It is a great album and it is, for a lot of people, me included, the opening door to jazz, easy to listen to from beginning to end.
It seems to me that most of these records tend to capture an artist at both a commercial and artistic peak, so it isn't surprising to me that these are popular records. JUST how popular some of them are, is one of those things where the music connects with a much larger audience than their typical fanbase, that extra dash of magic where the music continues to touch people of all generations.
Like you, there are certain songs I cut out of my wheelhouse due me hearing them so much thanks to radio, TV shows & movies overusing them. I have this massive playlist on Spotify of over 900 (and growing) handpicked songs by me of rock & metal and only recently decided to add some overplayed classics since I’ve ignored them long enough I can enjoy listening to them again. I have a tendency of loving the non hits more than the big hit song, but if isn’t for the big hit song, I probably would’ve never heard those hidden gems I love so much.
Some albums are overhyped, others completely deserve their reputation and there is a reason KoB, Dark Side and Abbey Road are talked about as being among the greatest albums; they ARE among them. Yes, Miles has better albums but KoB was the entry record for SO many and it is absolutely fantastic.
The 10 Id put above the overrated 20 1 Stones, Exile (and about 8 other RS albums) 2 Bo Diddley, debut 3 Sly, Riot 4 Beach Boys, Friends, 20/20, Holland, and PS of course 5 Curtis Mayfield, Curtis 6 Hendrix, Axis, Cry of Love 7 Jefferson Airplane, Crown Of Creation 8 David Crosby, If I Could Only Remember My Name 9 Sam Cooke, Night Beat 10 Patti Smith, Horses, Roxy Music, Stranded Neil Young, Time Fades Away
You should do an underrated, under appreciated lp video. There are so many, but the two recently I thought about are Joe Walsh’s Barnstorm and James Gang Rides Again. Blodwyn Pig Ahead Rings Out, Ogden’s Nut, Paradise and Lunch, Diamond Head, Tim Buckley’s debut….so many more
Great video. I have only five of those records. But on the important stuff: John Landis is the director of Thriller (and Animal House, The Blues Brothers, American Werewolf etc etc) Cheers!
I remember in the 1970,s people walking around with the Dark side of the moon lp, under their arm. I was very young and didn't even know what type of music it was.
Fun video! I might include Boston's excellent first album which sold a metric ass ton and was and is still overplayed. I'd like to hear about your 10 albums that no matter how often you hear them you still love each and every note.
Love the video and your style. You have such a calm and measured demeanor without pretense. I am going to take you to task with Purple Rain, though. I was a young teen when it came out, so for me it was the first time to hear Prince songs fresh out of the oven. Even at that age my musical taste was pretty eclectic. Purple Rain hit all the different genres in just one album. I think that's what's so great about it. Besides only one musician sounds like Prince.
Hi Mazzy. A lot of these albums have really fantastic cover art. Not sure where I'm going with that, but it's making me wonder if there are any really huge and eternally loved records which have bad jacket design.
A big reason with most of your picks is the fact they are some of the biggest albums ever! And are soooo familiar that they have become victims of their own success. For example I refuse to own ‘rumours’ and ‘hotel California’ as most of the tracks are constantly played on the radio so why do I need to own it? But I’m going to contradict myself now, It’s also very common as well for people to 💩 on the popular stuff so they sound like the smartest people in the room.
Very much enjoyed that video Mazzy. I'm a huge Beatles fan and I admit Abbey Road is my favourite album from the fab four. Why? Not sure but has been since I was a teenager. Just love it above all their other albums I love!
Good topic Mazzy, sure to spark debate. I think, like you said, they are all well recorded and one of the more accessible versions of each artist. I'd add that they are also very solid; few weak tracks, if any.
More Mazzy, more! Do a part 2 🙏🏻. Nirvana Nevermind, is another, King Crimson Court of the Crimson. King, even Sergeant Pepper, obviously for the iconic covers, as well as the fact they’re all great albums. Band on the Run? YES Fragile? (I know, you don’t like Prog), or Frampton Comes Alive? Boston?
There was still stuff in Kezar Pavillion long afterwards. I was at LZ at Kezar plus what I can remember in the Pavillion was Throbbing Gristle (1980-ish).
Excellent video and absolutely correct in your assessment of Kind of Blue, Abbey Road and Dark Side of the Moon. Overplayed, overhyped and then group think and the media does the rest. Morrison /The Doors are the ultimate example and maybe Joplin. Another question could be why do great artists and albums not break through? Bad luck, poor support from record companies and drugs can be just some of the reasons, but many of us have artists/albums that we think are ace and the majority of the public do not know or care about.
Almost everyone who are getting back into LPs ( and first timers also) get "kind of blue" in their collections! Even people that are into heavy metal and rock ( like me ) get it! That's what got me " dipping my toe " into jazz, now I love jazz!😊
The music has to connect with the masses, but an important point in the digital streaming era is also if its sounds well produced for the time, also timeless in a way but especially for headphones.
Mazzy...A very fun and informational video....The Kind of Blue track you refer to as having a composition clash between Miles and Bill Evans is Blue in Green, not So What.
thanks for the vid Mazzy. I recently changed my favorite Beatles album from Rubber Soul to Abbey Road. I think the sound quality may have something to do with it. Ed from Chicago
Every album you show stands up for me....except one. Hotel California. How that album (how any Eagles album) became such a monster hit will always be beyond me. They're the Bud light of music. (Fizzy piss)
As a kid my soundtrack to 1969 was Hot Rats and Abbey Road, thanks to my older brother. I still think Abbey Road is one of the best records ever made. The "medley" for me is astonishing.
Hey norman I too ask why this album sold big time. I like Sign o the times by prince. But i hope one day to find an 84 pressing of prince purple rain on purple variant lp. Alanis great canadian eh. Yeah her 1st two album on mca were dance. then she moved to maverick and bang jagged little pill came out. great video bro. mike friend from canada eh!!
I really get your point about not being able to listen to certain records for long periods of time. I had this personal moratorium on playing DSOTM for the better part of thirty years, and there are a lot of records I feel that way about. Part of it is over-exposure - familarity breeds...well, at least indifference if not actual contempt. Then there are others that I can listen to several times a year or more. Go figure...
Abbey Road just has a flow and great mix of song styles. My favorite track is I Want You (She's so Heavy). Dark Side of the Moon appeals to the good and bad in everything. Stuff we don't want to talk about, but we do think about.
I had no idea about Abbey Road Studios not being called that until after the Beatles album. Having said that, I am not a massive Beatles fan, so nuggets of info like that passed me by.
Led Zep II and III are the best. The cut out moveable cover was a bonus to us child teens, like The Beatles adding photos and a poster to the White Album, we we still reading some teen mags and the boys, comics. Although we considered ourselves extremely mature in our music taste!
I think because most of these records show the bands or performers at their peak & maybe they are the most accessible albums. I think the radio stations play a big part in pushing album sales & most of these albums were pushed. We also believe the hype as well so to be in with everyone else we should own these albums. Whether we like other albums by them more is a state of mind, I personally like Led Zeppelin lll & Desperado as my favourite Led Zep & Eagles albums. Abbey Road has an iconic album cover & being the last album by The Beatles has a special place for many. Any album can be overplayed & most of these certainly were but they're still great albums so just bring them out now & then. I don't feel sick of them so much as l don't listen to the radio & just play my music from my collection so i get to choose what i listen to. Maybe thats the secret take control of your listening choices.
Yes, it seem to be that certain record companies would push radio stations to play certain songs from newly released albums to death. Many listeners would naturally jump on the bandwagon because that's all they knew.....what the radio stations were cramming down their ears. Too bad they couldn't look outside the box.
Great Show, funny have all in my collection, Rumours along with Sgt Pepper's were huge big sellers in New Zealand, been thinking about all the great artist's we have lost even today Sinead O'Connor.
Thriller became huge because of MTV and the Thriller video. IMO of course. Funny how certain albums gain that type of power in sales and love. Pretty good list you have there. Of course, Styx Grand Illusion, Foreigner's debut, Frampton Comes Alive... there are truly some greats out there. And yes, overplayed. I change my FAB fav a lot going from Revolver, to the White Album and back to Abbey Road. I tossed Let It Be in my fav spot not long ago. After the remix. Just to give it some additional love :) Like you, those overplayed albums? Takes me years to get back to them, but once revisited, I understand why I fell in love with them all over again. Alanis. From my town (Ottawa). Her first 2 MCA records were pop, Spears type crap. She finally broke away from the Ottawa management/producer and jumped to where she really wanted to be. Alanis. That album struck a note with girls for multi reasons.
Well to answer your question mazzy, and to quote a very wise man. It's the music stupid! All of these albums are loaded with great songs. Also timing, they were released at the right time for each album. I would throw in tapestry and boston's 1st album too.
You answered your own question by listing all the great songs on those albums. The one I wonder about now is Rumours. It's okay and I WAS a huge fan at the time. I can't listen to it now. Except - Dreams is a terrific song.
I specially agree on 2 albums you mention. I bought Hotel California after hearing the single and New in in town. Good singles vack then, but the rest of the album bored me to death. And then Rumours, it got so hyped back on the day that I bought it, but only the first and very last track on the album were interesting for me. It sound like 2 schoolgirls with their boyfriends doing their best. But, nice video anyway!
From your references to SF landmarks (Winterland, Kezar) I’m going to guess you are from The City. I’m from The City and every time you mention those areas it makes me homesick. By the way, Meddle is my favorite Pink Floyd record too. Great videos. Take care! Nick
@@mazzysmusic very cool. I grew up in the Richmond District and the Sunset. I live in Texas now. Love Seattle. I have relatives there as well. With all the residential housing around Kezar a concert there will piss off a lot of people. I’m going to guess you visited Recycled Records once or twice on Haight.
Your picks are for the most part albums that you played in their entirety. No weak tracks. Perhaps that has(had)something to do with their popularity as to why! Good video Mazzy .
Great selection @Norman Maslov somehow I have them all. So I guess you have great taste!😜😉 But where is Sticky Fingers, Some Girls or Tattoo You?! (even though Let it Bleed and Exile are way better albums….as is Zep II or III over Zep IV btw!)
Thriller definitely defined the 80’s along with many others and the music video was nothing like we had seen at the time. The demos are interesting also especially PYT. I personally preferred Bad over Thriller but love both. Great list👍🏾
Good fun as always! :Goodbye Yellow brick rd could make the list...and hundreds of others. More of a "Tumbleweed..." fan myself. Also lean more towards "Jack Johnson", when it comes to Miles. Keep up the great channel!
Yes, also "Saturday Night Fever", over-hyped, over-played and absolutely MASSIVE. Always preferred the Bee Gees "First" over "Sgt Pepper" which came out a couple of months before.
Led Zep IV was the album that appealed to me the most when I was a teenager. It's amazing to think they released albums I - IV in just a couple of years. But IV is still a great album.
I'm 70. For me, Abby Road is my favorite Beatles album, with Rubber Soul coming in as a close second. But I'm not all that much of a Beatles fan. My band plays Yesterday as a vocal duet and it gets a huge response... Who's next is also an amazing album. I remember sitting in my car shortly after it came out sitting in the back seat of my '63 rambler classic, with my 6x9 car speakers in the back deck, and blasting the cassette that I'd recorded from the vinyl record. It's giving me goosebumps as I type this. Loved that album. I was a big pink Floyd fan too. Dark Side of the Moon, now, is kind of overdone. But back in the 70's, playing that through my Dynaco 400 and "top of the line" Radio Shack speakers was almost a spiritual experience. I didn't get into the Eagles because I considered them "country". That all changed when I got the DVD of the Australian concert. It's never too late to learn. Rumors was popular In my early days as a hi-fi salesman, And it had some good musicianship. But I tend to see it as more ephemeral than the more timeless releases on you list. Still, Stevie Nicks is cute. Being from that generation, and male, I of course like Led Zep 4. Since becoming, in 1998, a bass player and being in a dozen "classic rock" bands, I've learned to appreciate their music a lot more, but more as a musician than as a "Wayne's World" teenager attitude back in the day. I never really got into Michael Jackson. Not bad, just not my cup of tea. I never liked Prince. Just couldn't get into it. He seemed to be a very talented musician, but I wasn't impressed by the songs he wrote. But then, it wasn't made for my generation. Same with Morissette, though "You Aughta Know" was interesting. It's also the one that I don't understand why it's on your list. I didn't realize it ever got that popular. Oddly, a few years ago I really got into Taylor Swift. Not really impressed with her voice, but her songs and arrangements are amazing, as is her (or her handlers') business and marketing sense. And that was BEFORE he popularity really got into high gear. She'll easily go into the history books with artists like the Beatles.
A lot of these albums were my introduction to the artists, in my young teenage years, when I didn't have a lot of access to music like you do now. They were treasured and listened to a thousand times. They might not be the artists' best albums, but they were MINE, and they will always take me back to a simpler, more freer, easier time, whenever I play them. The music in these albums stopped being songs and have become spells for me, let's call it medicine. We all have our own albums that were just the right album at the right time, which connected with us on a deep level, and I think these albums managed to be those albums for a lot of people, and so more copies kicked about, and so they then became those albums for the next generation. I have been thinking about those albums that have become really special to me over the years, the ones that were my introduction to music or to a genre, the ones that were there when I was grieving, the ones that played when things were great, what would I say were the albums that have soundtracked my life. What would be yours?
Interesting question Mazzy. Another interesting question would be: why did these albums (fill in the blank ) never hit anywhere near as big as (name another contemporary album by the same or similar artist)? An example might be: Springsteen Born in the USA, when every preceding album was better.
Some records just hit the zeitgeist. It amuses me to remember that my sister was responsible for buying both dark side and rumors when they came out, in both cases they were like a record event marketing, there was a ton of hype. However in both cases the product lived up to the hype. However this must be contrasted with the crushing disappointment of tusk, also hyped to the gills. Michael Jackson even more so - I would say off the wall kind of announced him as a new artist not the kid member of the Jackson 5 that we can remember (I love those old Jackson 5 records. they still blow, absolutely fantastic songs). So therefore the stage was set with these huge expectations for thriller, and for many people it did not disappoint and with Madonna he was then the very epitome of 80s dance music. I can't really talk about the other ones they're in either the wrong time or place for me to be somewhat in the zeitgeist at the time of their release. I was never a huge Michael Jackson fan he was just too poppy for me at that time I was into industrial metal type stuff. And yeah it was a real cringe part of Macca's career. Dark side of the moon on the other hand and rumors I do still listen to on occasion. They're both concept albums in the sense that they were operating under some kind of large overarching idea. Pink Floyd were just asking what it's all about? What is time? what the hell is money? this sort of thing, and it still works start to finish. The last time I busted out rumors was when Christine mcvie passed away, She was one of those celeb deaths which hit you unexpectedly hard. On this re-listen found the greatest pleasure in listening to rumors start to finish as it was intended, then had this vision of it being still around 500 years in the future when it was called the rumors suite and was this example of musical perfection meaning there wasn't a single bum note or wrong beat or duff song. I think it's worth a whole other video how you go off things just because you overhear them,
Thanks Mazzy. If I get the premise right it's not that these are not great albums, but why did they and not other albums of the time or artist become the big sellers? I have all these albums on CD or vinly (or both - yes, I know). I like most of them. I also agree that they may not in all cases be my favorite album by this artist. That goes for Pink Floyd, Led Zep, Beatles, Miles at least. In my view you could ad R.E.M.'s "Automatic for the People" to this list based on the same premises. But maybe that's just me ;-) Thanks again.
I have a couple of copies of 'Kind Of Blue', simply because the original was mastered at the wrong speed. This was corrected in more modern releases. It took many years, though!
Most people tend to overlook the fact most people who buy records, cds, etc are not that interested in music. But want to own some. So those that sell a lot may or may not have much musical value. These 10 a good example, in a serious muso's collection only 1/2 might be present.
I have ALL those albums - clearly too mainstream in my tastes! But they’re all fantastic albums. Most of them featured on a retrospective I did for my daughters a while ago.
I do agree with you about Pink Floyd and Meddle is my favourite too, as well as Atom Heart Mother. But when it comes to IV and Abbey Road, I can't agree. Those are two of my top ten favourite albums ever, I don't understand the why question, I think they're irresistible, they are absolute, they are authorities.
Exactly. I was suprised when he listed abbey road since he answered every reason while asking why. It's the best produced, best recorded, best put together album of the best band of all time. It was their peak, and magnum opus. And I say this as someone who personally prefers a bunch of earlier beatles stuff. Most of their early stuff pales in comparison when you remove all the societal infuleneces at the time. Like some 16 year old today isn't having their mind blown by I wanna hold your hand, like a 16 year old would in the 60s. But with abbey road it's as accessible as ever, the music speaks for itself due to its insanely good production for a beatles album, and is unique with its medley. It's funny, most listed are listed as overly commercial, but in my opinion, abbey road as a whole isn't as commercial as some other beatles albums because of its impressive medley. Like you can't play a medley like that on the radio. Get a clean 1st UK abbey road and it speaks for itself. The sound is why it's so popular, the amazing artistic accomplishment of side b medley is why it's so popular, the band at their peak along with some of their best singles is why it's so popular.
At least with Thriller and Purple Rain (actually any popular album from the '80s,) MTV had a lot to do with their popularity by constantly playing the videos, which in turn made the radio stations to constantly play the songs too. MTV was the lightning in the bottle for many of the artists in the '80s. Other examples of '80s artists who had massive albums because of MTV.....Madonna, The Police, Tina Turner, Lionel Richie, Huey Lewis, Billy Idol, Def Leppard, Phil Collins, U2, and many others. Anyway, 3 of the 10 you mention happen to be in my list of all-time top 10 albums of any genre: The Who - Who's Next ------ As you stated, this album is just so anthemic and the ultimate party album. Can't wait until September when I spend $300 to get the Super Deluxe Edition. Michael Jackson - Thriller ----------- As I said above, MTV had a lot to do with its popularity. But also the label's strategy of releasing singles from the album in intervals spread over a couple years kept it in the minds of people. I was a junior in high school when the album was released in late Fall of '82 and I can remember in the Spring of '84 (my senior year) people were still talking about the album. Hell, I remember my Spanish 4 teacher (who was in his late 40s) saying he finally went out and bought the album to see what all the hype was about for the past 1 1/2 years. Because of the success of Thriller, many albums that followed tried to mimic that strategy of trickling out the singles off an album over an extended time. By the way, John Landis directed the music video for Thriller Led Zeppelin IV --------- My favorite of theirs that I go back to every so often (not as often as I used to when I was younger.) What is the appeal? I really can't answer that. Black Dog, Rock And Roll, Stairway To Heaven and Misty Mountain Hop really keep that album moving. The other 4 songs in The Battle Of Evermore, Four Sticks, Going To California and When The Levee Breaks don't really rock hard, but there is something mesmerizing and unique about each one of them that draws me to them. I can't explain it. As a whole album, those collections of songs just seem to gel. Some of the other albums you mention I also own but aren't some of my overall favorites or even ones I consider to be the best album from the artist. The Beatles - Abbey Road -------- No doubt a great album, but I don't think it is my favorite Beatles album. Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's, The White Album, and even Magical Mystery Tour (even though a soundtrack and a collection of singles album) I like better than Abbey Road. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours ---------- Excellent album that was just played to death by the radio stations that kept it going. This album is probably my favorite album by Fleetwood Mac. Actually it is the only Fleetwood Mac album still in my collection. Haven't listened to it in a very long time. I might just go do that later today. LOL Eagles - Hotel California -------------- Similarly, played to death by the radio stations. Not one I go back to anymore, though. Prince - Purple Rain -------------- Hard to say if this is my favorite Prince album, but it's right up there with 1999 and Sign O' The Times. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of The Moon ------------- Yep my favorite album by them. It's just such a mesmerizing album you can just chill out to by closing your eyes and taking it all in at once. Though, I'm not a stoner nor ever did any drugs. But I can understand how this album is the "perfect" stoner album. Even though this album is not in my all-time top 10 favorite albums of any genre, it is probably in my top 20, if I had a top 20 list. The only 2 albums you mentioned that I don't own are the Miles Davis album (not a fan of Jazz) and Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill. I remember when Jagged Little Pill was huge. It was in the mid '90s when I was finishing up my final master's degree and getting ready to start my professional career. She was constantly on the radio and winning awards. Personally, I would've included U2's Joshua Tree. You did mention that you didn't think of it when you first made this list. That album is my favorite by U2 and is in my all-time top 10 list of favorite albums of any genre. Other huge albums to mention that caught fire and attracted lots of people for one reason or another: AC/DC - Back In Black Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction Rush - Moving Pictures (not my favorite by them.....that would be Hemispheres.) Def Leppard - Hysteria (not my favorite of theirs, but you can't deny the popularity of that album.) Nirvana - Nevermind (The only Grunge album I own. Can't stand Grunge. LOL. No denying the massive impact this album had. Nearly destroyed Heavy Metal. Even though I don't like Grunge, this album I had to have just because of the impact it had on popular culture at the time. It's a good album too.) Metallica - S/T (The Black Album) -------- Not my favorite album of theirs; I like Ride The Lightning and Master Of Puppets better. But no denying this album helped fend off the Grunge takeover of heavy rock music in America at the time. This album helped revive the Heavy Metal scene in America while also becoming massive in other countries.
About "Who's Next." IV was probably the hottest album, and "Houses of the Holy" was my fave but... "Who's Next" had "Won't Get Fooled Again." What an anthem. Saw them perform it live in 1971. It just... doesn't get any better than that.
I’ve been thinking about this lately because the box is coming out. I’ve been thinking what is my favorite WHO album? I’ve always loved Tommy, Live At Leeds, Quadrophenia and even The Who Sells Out. But I really think it’s got to be Who’s Next, maybe because it’s not a concept album, but a great collection of songs. I Dont think I would rate it as my favorite if Pete stuck with the whole Light House concept, Because those songs were never songs I cared for. As far as the Who’s Next box set, I’m pre-ordering it, I found it for $244 postage free. I have to get it, it’s my favorite Who album. I have those other Who boxes, so I have to get this one.
If one could analyse precisely what makes a particular album become iconic, then we'd have more of them. It's a combination of things: a great title, great artwork (particularly in vinyl days), great music, great lyrics, great timing (to hit the zeitgeist), great promotion, and a healthy dose of magic. To take one example, Dark Side of the Moon has a great title, great artwork, strong songs, wonderful recording, originality in the between song interviews, and was also first Pink Floyd album to be heavily promoted, particularly in the US. Compare that to the dismal title "Meddle" (what does it even mean in the context of the album?) as well as the dismal artwork. (I agree that Atom Heart Mother's cover photo is fantastic, as is the title.) It's also the only Pink Floyd album that I still listen to regularly.
the crazy thing about THRILLER is that little kids LOVE that record. if you throw on any of the upbeat songs off that album, children ages 1-7 will start dancing haha.. very few records can move kids like that without them having been indoctrinated into it at first. there's something electric in the grooves of that record that just cant be explained.
Because they captured the zeitgeist of the moment that transcends the zeitgeist of the era - and like the classical Eine Kleine Nacht Musik of Motzart they are accessible to more then the immediate fans of the artists
The producers of these records all had clout and truly great ears. That is why they continue to sell. With the exception of the Alanis Morissette record (which I think sold simply on the strength of the incredible hit You Ought To Know) all these albums on your list have amazing spatial head room when you listen. It is no coincidence Abbey Road & Dark Side are here. They were two of the go-to records all through the 1970s and into the 1980s home stereo or high fidelity sales people used to demonstrate sound systems. It is also of note that the majority of these records are British artists with British sound engineers and producers. Keith Olsen & Bill Szymczyk were epic 1970s producers that hit it big with your two inclusions here. I always believed Purple Rain was a loving tribute to the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix and his sound men (George Martin & Eddie Kramer) with the guitar emphasis, panning and the dense multi-instrumentation which pervades the record. Thriller, which used Toto & LA's finest hired-hand musicians in the studio under Quincy Jones (and also later Glenn Ballard with Bad & Dangerous for Michael Jackson) still has amazing sound qualities to this day that most of the pop music world freely borrows from ad nauseam. You could have included Roy Thomas Baker for a couple of Queen records or the Cars to add to your list and they would have fit. Great segment!! Always love your circuitous and informative takes down Memoryville Road. Thanks.
I didn't know about that Abbey Road webcam. It's really interesting. After watching for about 20 minutes, there must have been over a dozen people taking photos recreating the album cover. And, that was in the rain and close to dusk. Also, in those 20 minutes, I must have seen a double-decker bus go by about 10 times.
It is one thing when you have these massive sellers that sold a lot AT THE TIME! The real question is if these albums still sell, relatively, today? 'Rumours', for example, has sold long after it's intial release. Anymore?
As well as everything mentioned here, don’t forget that the business depended on these hits. After the first few monster sellers, it became clear that these could be planned, and expected. The hallmark for each of these is a certain maturity, coupled with accessibility. Then once the ‘suits’ picked up on just how big it was going to be, they shifted into high gear with added promotion, and more ghastly things like payola. This phenomenon is a combination of chance (the cream rising to the top), and intention.
I graduated H.S. in 77' and the three albums in Ca. anyway that were played to death were Dark Side of Moon, Boston and Frampton Comes Alive. It was against the law to have a party without these playing over and over.
These records were so overplayed by those infernal Classic Rock FM stations that quit playing new music by the mid eighties. I listened at first just out of habit but after hearing Black Dog for the 23,459th time I bailed. They rendered these albums unlistenable. Then I discovered Jazz. Went in that trip for a decade. Now I find that I can go back and listen to Who’s Next without gagging, because I ignored it for so long. Still love “Sell Out” way better. Cheers Mazzy
@@MrKelleyzinho this is very true, SiriusXM has some but even they are a bit repetitious. I live close to Lake Ontario and am fortunate to have neighbors to the north that still have something that resembles free form. Toronto, Peterborough and Coburg with the Added bonus that once an hour you get a Canadian band per requirement.
These are all 10 out of 10's for me. It's understandable why they're so popular. But, the ones here are not always my favorite album by the artists in question.
Thanks Mazzy...My nominee for part 2 of this video is Meatloaf Bat Outta Hell! If you like it, fine, but 43 Million copies and counting just defies explanation...IMHO of course.
Great video breakdown of their popularity. I am not the biggest fan of all of the groups here (the Eagles give me a real Lebowski feeling), but I like your critiques. And if I had to pick my favorites: The Who - Live at Leeds The Beatles - The Beatles (White Album) Miles Davis - Bitches Brew Fleetwood Mac - FM (1975) The Eagles - N/A Michael Jackson - The Wall Pink Floyd - Almost anything but The Wall Prince - Dirty Mind (sue me) Alanis Morrissette - ?
Track sequencing would be my key to a monster - rather than just a big - album, then an accessible, contemporary sound, high overall song quality and a radio hit or two. So people who don't like music as much as us sad cases can just 'put a record on' and enjoy listening to it. But finding all of these qualities on one LP on a label that can afford to put it in front of everyone is much rarer than you'd think.
Kind of Blue is huge because the songs are very simple, easy to digest so to speak and the playing by all the musicians is out of this world great!! But you already know this.
Abby Road is both an artistic achievement and the Beatles' most modern sounding album. It's production values outweigh any other Beatles' album. You have an already amazing album raised up even further by its overall sound. McCartney fully intended AR to be a huge seller- and knew by setting a high bar for it's arrangements and production, this could most definitely happen. AR has become the example of an album riding the seam of both the 1960's and 1970's.
Abbey
On most days it is still my favorite Beatles' album.
My brother had Beatles albums which I got to hear; but 'Abbey Road' was the 1st rock album I bought with my own money.
It was all great music. How could you not like them. The 70’s were such a great time in music. Enjoyed them all.
1960's was much better! Especially 1965>1970. The Best!
These were better by a consensus that did not involve **you.**
@@analogmoz Sorry Bud, it involved everybody!
But back then we were more concerned with youth in Asia. 😬
@@Claytone-Records I don't fully understand what you mean. Please explained a little more.
All of these albums are really good albums, that's why they are popular. Who's Next has some of their greatest songs and it's not weighed down by an opera narrative, even though it was leftovers of an attempted rock opera. LZ IV is the ultimate distillation of blues, hard rock and folk the defined LZ. It's a much more original album than the first one, which wasn't far afield from Cream or Jeff Beck Group. Dark Side Of The Moon is the goal that the Floyd were aiming at since their second album. And so on and so on. All of these albums represent their artists at the top of their talents. The only one I could contest is Abbey Road, but frankly it shows the Beatles in a very mature light with George's greatest songs and great sound and a good mixture of heavy and serious, and the medley which is like a well-programmed FM radio station of Beatles songs. It's easy and fun to listen to. Sometimes what is popular is garbage, and sometimes it's not. These are ten examples of when real quality rose to the top.
Yeah, this guy doesn't understand the existential drama of Pink Floyd, LZ, and The Who
Care to elaborate??
@@tdunph4250 it's all elaborated in extended previous comment.
I recently discovered Kind of Blue. Its very enjoyable. Speaking of Jazz, I enjoy Dave Brubeck's Time out even more. Growing up in the 80's, I bought Abbe Road, Who's Next, and Dark side of the moon as slightly old records. I bought Rumors and Hotel California as new releases. I don't know what makes these great but all I can say is I still listen to them because the music holds up. They still have meaning to me. I can relate to dark side more now than ever. A few other great timeless albums that I can think of off the top of my head are Rush Moving pictures, Steely Dan Aja and Sargent Pepper.
I had exactly the same feeling about some of these records, especially Abbey Road and Dark Side... Until I stopped listening to them for definitely more than 10 years. Revisiting them after all these years made me realise again how fantastic they are!
Thanks for this very entertaining piece!
i have been blessed to have that happen to a lot of the music i was burned out on. To hear Freebird, Stairway, and Born to Run to name a few, with fresh ears gives an entirely new appreciation, or deepens my first appreciations.
I think my biggest "why" is "Cracked Rear View" by Hootie and the Blowfish. I have and like the record, but never in my imagination did I think it would sell over 20 million copies. My belief is that it drew in the aging boomers who had gotten lost in the 80s pop metal and 90s grunge and they just wanted to hear songs they could sing and were good jangly pop rock.
The true “Why?” record for Pink Floyd is The Wall.
The first half is really good, but then it gets "spotty" for me on the second disc.
If they had just cut out all the filler bs. If it had been just one disc, sans filler, it would have been okay.
Some of us think The Wall is their best album 🤷♂️
Only if you don’t get it
Agreed. I think it could have been a good EP. One of the most depressing albums I own, and the music is very mediocre.
Great video Mazzy. There are a few other that could've been added to the list. Like Carole King's Tapestry, Deep Purple's Machine Head, Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore East, Frampton Come Alive and Dire Strait's Brother in Arms
Thanks for mentioning Tapestry, which has gone from overrated to underrated
Dire Straits' Brothers In Arms
@@johnryan3913and my favorite of hers - Writer - is basically unknown.
You hit the nail on the head early in the video; these albums are so accessible and easy to listen to. Thus, they are also commercialized and then millions hear those songs in commercials, movies, and tv shows.
Hey Mazzy. What a great Video. Thanks for that. I think is even parts: Fantastic Songs + great sound + legendary coverart + full of urban legends = Masterpiece Album.
Excellent topic and one that I think about sometimes as well. While I am not in advertising or marketing, I think each of these albums represents the point when these artists became a "brand", and that cemented these albums into the public's collective mind as THE ALBUM that represents each artist. I agree that many times, there are better albums by most of the artists you mentioned, but it's not a quality thing. It's more a point in time where they trancended into something bigger and are forever associated with that particular record.
Absolutely agree. They are like sonic trademarks.
They're great albums and played non stop in the radio and therefore very familiar to a lot of people who do not have the deep knowledge of music and artists like you do and other audiophiles with huge records collections. Kind of Blue was also used in Runaway Bride and a lot of folks bought it after watching that movie. It is a great album and it is, for a lot of people, me included, the opening door to jazz, easy to listen to from beginning to end.
It's easy to listen to while being very sophisticated and rather perfect. I'm happy that it is so popular. Hurray!
It seems to me that most of these records tend to capture an artist at both a commercial and artistic peak, so it isn't surprising to me that these are popular records. JUST how popular some of them are, is one of those things where the music connects with a much larger audience than their typical fanbase, that extra dash of magic where the music continues to touch people of all generations.
Like you, there are certain songs I cut out of my wheelhouse due me hearing them so much thanks to radio, TV shows & movies overusing them. I have this massive playlist on Spotify of over 900 (and growing) handpicked songs by me of rock & metal and only recently decided to add some overplayed classics since I’ve ignored them long enough I can enjoy listening to them again. I have a tendency of loving the non hits more than the big hit song, but if isn’t for the big hit song, I probably would’ve never heard those hidden gems I love so much.
Some albums are overhyped, others completely deserve their reputation and there is a reason KoB, Dark Side and Abbey Road are talked about as being among the greatest albums; they ARE among them. Yes, Miles has better albums but KoB was the entry record for SO many and it is absolutely fantastic.
The 10 Id put above the overrated 20
1 Stones, Exile (and about 8 other RS albums)
2 Bo Diddley, debut
3 Sly, Riot
4 Beach Boys, Friends, 20/20, Holland, and PS of course
5 Curtis Mayfield, Curtis
6 Hendrix, Axis, Cry of Love
7 Jefferson Airplane, Crown Of Creation
8 David Crosby, If I Could Only Remember My Name
9 Sam Cooke, Night Beat
10 Patti Smith, Horses,
Roxy Music, Stranded
Neil Young, Time Fades
Away
Crown of Creation is a masterpiece, especially Lather. That song almost breaks me.
@@charlesbowman105Lather turned 30 years old today…
You should do an underrated, under appreciated lp video. There are so many, but the two recently I thought about are Joe Walsh’s Barnstorm and James Gang Rides Again. Blodwyn Pig Ahead Rings Out, Ogden’s Nut, Paradise and Lunch, Diamond Head, Tim Buckley’s debut….so many more
Great video. I have only five of those records.
But on the important stuff: John Landis is the director of Thriller (and Animal House, The Blues Brothers, American Werewolf etc etc)
Cheers!
I remember in the 1970,s people walking around with the Dark side of the moon lp, under their arm. I was very young and didn't even know what type of music it was.
in high school in 83-85 i rarely went anywhere with that cassette.
Fun video! I might include Boston's excellent first album which sold a metric ass ton and was and is still overplayed. I'd like to hear about your 10 albums that no matter how often you hear them you still love each and every note.
Love the video and your style. You have such a calm and measured demeanor without pretense. I am going to take you to task with Purple Rain, though.
I was a young teen when it came out, so for me it was the first time to hear Prince songs fresh out of the oven. Even at that age my musical taste was pretty eclectic.
Purple Rain hit all the different genres in just one album. I think that's what's so great about it. Besides only one musician sounds like Prince.
Purple Rain is great , diverse , hugely enjoyable. It's basically Princes greatest hits
Hi Mazzy. A lot of these albums have really fantastic cover art. Not sure where I'm going with that, but it's making me wonder if there are any really huge and eternally loved records which have bad jacket design.
Interesting theory but these records got pushed and played so much in the US. I should create a list of great albums with bad cover art ✌🏼
A big reason with most of your picks is the fact they are some of the biggest albums ever! And are soooo familiar that they have become victims of their own success.
For example I refuse to own ‘rumours’ and ‘hotel California’ as most of the tracks are constantly played on the radio so why do I need to own it?
But I’m going to contradict myself now, It’s also very common as well for people to 💩 on the popular stuff so they sound like the smartest people in the room.
Love your channel, sir ..
Well I thank you ✌🏻
Very much enjoyed that video Mazzy. I'm a huge Beatles fan and I admit Abbey Road is my favourite album from the fab four. Why? Not sure but has been since I was a teenager. Just love it above all their other albums I love!
Good topic Mazzy, sure to spark debate. I think, like you said, they are all well recorded and one of the more accessible versions of each artist. I'd add that they are also very solid; few weak tracks, if any.
More Mazzy, more! Do a part 2 🙏🏻. Nirvana Nevermind, is another, King Crimson Court of the Crimson. King, even Sergeant Pepper, obviously for the iconic covers, as well as the fact they’re all great albums. Band on the Run? YES Fragile? (I know, you don’t like Prog), or Frampton Comes Alive? Boston?
Springsteen - Born in the USA
There was still stuff in Kezar Pavillion long afterwards. I was at LZ at Kezar plus what I can remember in the Pavillion was Throbbing Gristle (1980-ish).
Yeah I saw the Clash and Throbbing Gristle instead at the Pavilion 🥁
Excellent video and absolutely correct in your assessment of Kind of Blue, Abbey Road and Dark Side of the Moon. Overplayed, overhyped and then group think and the media does the rest. Morrison /The Doors are the ultimate example and maybe Joplin. Another question could be why do great artists and albums not break through? Bad luck, poor support from record companies and drugs can be just some of the reasons, but many of us have artists/albums that we think are ace and the majority of the public do not know or care about.
Almost everyone who are getting back into LPs ( and first timers also) get "kind of blue" in their collections! Even people that are into heavy metal and rock ( like me ) get it! That's what got me " dipping my toe " into jazz, now I love jazz!😊
The music has to connect with the masses, but an important point in the digital streaming era is also if its sounds well produced for the time, also timeless in a way but especially for headphones.
Mazzy...A very fun and informational video....The Kind of Blue track you refer to as having a composition clash between Miles and Bill Evans is Blue in Green, not So What.
I can't pick a favorite Beatles album - love em all!
I can definitely pick a Beatles album I don't like. And I do have my favorite.
thanks for the vid Mazzy. I recently changed my favorite Beatles album from Rubber Soul to Abbey Road. I think the sound quality may have something to do with it.
Ed from Chicago
Every album you show stands up for me....except one.
Hotel California. How that album (how any Eagles album) became such a monster hit will always be beyond me. They're the Bud light of music. (Fizzy piss)
It baffles me. The Eagles suck. They were like the General Motors of music.
The phrase "Lowest Common Denominator" should answer that question.
3 or 4 hit singles will make an album sell big
As a kid my soundtrack to 1969 was Hot Rats and Abbey Road, thanks to my older brother. I still think Abbey Road is one of the best records ever made. The "medley" for me is astonishing.
Took my son to Dweezil’s Hot Rats 50th Anniversary show in Austin a couple days before the pandemic shut everyone down. Fucking awesome.
Abbey Road is like the ultimate sealed signature of the Beatles chronology. This guy doesn't get it! 😂
@@abueloraton Yeah, I spin that lp a lot. It has aged well, Grandpa Rat!
@@Claytone-Records "granpa mouse"
The suite is epic. So many hits...and their last album together
Hey norman
I too ask why this album sold big time. I like Sign o the times by prince. But i hope one day to find an 84 pressing of prince purple rain on purple variant lp. Alanis great canadian eh. Yeah her 1st two album on mca were dance. then she moved to maverick and bang jagged little pill came out. great video bro.
mike
friend from
canada eh!!
I really get your point about not being able to listen to certain records for long periods of time. I had this personal moratorium on playing DSOTM for the better part of thirty years, and there are a lot of records I feel that way about. Part of it is over-exposure - familarity breeds...well, at least indifference if not actual contempt. Then there are others that I can listen to several times a year or more. Go figure...
Abbey Road just has a flow and great mix of song styles. My favorite track is I Want You (She's so Heavy). Dark Side of the Moon appeals to the good and bad in everything. Stuff we don't want to talk about, but we do think about.
"thriller" was the first recording I ever bought , It was 1984 I was 14 ! I bought the LP of course! Still love it!
I had no idea about Abbey Road Studios not being called that until after the Beatles album. Having said that, I am not a massive Beatles fan, so nuggets of info like that passed me by.
Led Zep II and III are the best. The cut out moveable cover was a bonus to us child teens, like The Beatles adding photos and a poster to the White Album, we we still reading some teen mags and the boys, comics. Although we considered ourselves extremely mature in our music taste!
Love your videos, I think because they all have been played to death it tarnishes their fabness.
All the LPs that you showed have been collecting dust for the past 25 years in my collection, ❤the hat
Maybe you need to pull one or two out and listen again 🤷🏻♂️
Yeah, like the ones on MY top 10
I think because most of these records show the bands or performers at their peak & maybe they are the most accessible albums. I think the radio stations play a big part in pushing album sales & most of these albums were pushed. We also believe the hype as well so to be in with everyone else we should own these albums. Whether we like other albums by them more is a state of mind, I personally like Led Zeppelin lll & Desperado as my favourite Led Zep & Eagles albums. Abbey Road has an iconic album cover & being the last album by The Beatles has a special place for many. Any album can be overplayed & most of these certainly were but they're still great albums so just bring them out now & then. I don't feel sick of them so much as l don't listen to the radio & just play my music from my collection so i get to choose what i listen to. Maybe thats the secret take control of your listening choices.
Yes, it seem to be that certain record companies would push radio stations to play certain songs from newly released albums to death. Many listeners would naturally jump on the bandwagon because that's all they knew.....what the radio stations were cramming down their ears. Too bad they couldn't look outside the box.
Great Show, funny have all in my collection, Rumours along with Sgt Pepper's were huge big sellers in New Zealand, been thinking about all the great artist's we have lost even today Sinead O'Connor.
My favorite jazz album is "Giant Steps" by John Coltrane. But, Miles Davis' "Kind Of Blue" is up there, definitely in my Top 5 jazz albums.
Giant Steps is my favorite jazz album too! Amazing album
Love both these but Milestones is my favourite Miles Davis album and Blue Trane my favourite Coltrane album.
Thriller became huge because of MTV and the Thriller video. IMO of course. Funny how certain albums gain that type of power in sales and love. Pretty good list you have there. Of course, Styx Grand Illusion, Foreigner's debut, Frampton Comes Alive... there are truly some greats out there. And yes, overplayed. I change my FAB fav a lot going from Revolver, to the White Album and back to Abbey Road. I tossed Let It Be in my fav spot not long ago. After the remix. Just to give it some additional love :) Like you, those overplayed albums? Takes me years to get back to them, but once revisited, I understand why I fell in love with them all over again. Alanis. From my town (Ottawa). Her first 2 MCA records were pop, Spears type crap. She finally broke away from the Ottawa management/producer and jumped to where she really wanted to be. Alanis. That album struck a note with girls for multi reasons.
Great content!
Well to answer your question mazzy, and to quote a very wise man. It's the music stupid! All of these albums are loaded with great songs. Also timing, they were released at the right time for each album. I would throw in tapestry and boston's 1st album too.
You answered your own question by listing all the great songs on those albums. The one I wonder about now is Rumours. It's okay and I WAS a huge fan at the time. I can't listen to it now. Except - Dreams is a terrific song.
I specially agree on 2 albums you mention.
I bought Hotel California after hearing the single and New in in town. Good singles vack then, but the rest of the album bored me to death.
And then Rumours, it got so hyped back on the day that I bought it, but only the first and very last track on the album were interesting for me. It sound like 2 schoolgirls with their boyfriends doing their best.
But, nice video anyway!
Mazzy,
What LP is that in the background over your shoulder with what looks like Jack Cassidy on the cover????
You talking about Airplane's "Bless it's Pointed Little Head"? Probably one of the 3 best live albums ever, a true classic.
I did a search, but don’t see that picture anywhere. Is it on the sleeve?
Brothers in arms. Dire straits. Another one for you 😂
Who's Next is big because on Friday you can turn it on the turntable and sing these great songs and relax!
I think what is significant is the most recent is from 1995 and I never got that one at all. It has been reissued on vinyl.
From your references to SF landmarks (Winterland, Kezar) I’m going to guess you are from The City. I’m from The City and every time you mention those areas it makes me homesick. By the way, Meddle is my favorite Pink Floyd record too. Great videos. Take care! Nick
Born on Stanyan street. Lives in the city over 50 years. Now in Seattle.
@@mazzysmusic very cool. I grew up in the Richmond District and the Sunset. I live in Texas now. Love Seattle. I have relatives there as well. With all the residential housing around Kezar a concert there will piss off a lot of people. I’m going to guess you visited Recycled Records once or twice on Haight.
Your picks are for the most part albums that you played in their entirety. No weak tracks. Perhaps that has(had)something to do with their popularity as to why! Good video Mazzy .
Great selection @Norman Maslov somehow I have them all. So I guess you have great taste!😜😉
But where is Sticky Fingers, Some Girls or Tattoo You?! (even though Let it Bleed and Exile are way better albums….as is Zep II or III over Zep IV btw!)
Hi Mazzy my 12 year old grandson has just started listening to Pink Floyd so on that basis it could go on forever.
They all have one thing in common: iconic album cover
Thriller definitely defined the 80’s along with many others and the music video was nothing like we had seen at the time. The demos are interesting also especially PYT. I personally preferred Bad over Thriller but love both.
Great list👍🏾
Good fun as always! :Goodbye Yellow brick rd could make the list...and hundreds of others. More of a "Tumbleweed..." fan myself. Also lean more towards "Jack Johnson", when it comes to Miles. Keep up the great channel!
Yes, also "Saturday Night Fever", over-hyped, over-played and absolutely MASSIVE. Always preferred the Bee Gees "First" over "Sgt Pepper" which came out a couple of months before.
I enjoyed your video. Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it ✌🏼
Led Zep IV was the album that appealed to me the most when I was a teenager. It's amazing to think they released albums I - IV in just a couple of years. But IV is still a great album.
At the time bands were expected to produce an LP every 9 months or so. Credence put out 6 studio albums in two and one half years.
Golden slumber blows me a way
Pual sings in a soft voice then the vibrato of his voice kicks in and I'm blown away
I'm 70. For me, Abby Road is my favorite Beatles album, with Rubber Soul coming in as a close second. But I'm not all that much of a Beatles fan. My band plays Yesterday as a vocal duet and it gets a huge response...
Who's next is also an amazing album. I remember sitting in my car shortly after it came out sitting in the back seat of my '63 rambler classic, with my 6x9 car speakers in the back deck, and blasting the cassette that I'd recorded from the vinyl record. It's giving me goosebumps as I type this. Loved that album.
I was a big pink Floyd fan too. Dark Side of the Moon, now, is kind of overdone. But back in the 70's, playing that through my Dynaco 400 and "top of the line" Radio Shack speakers was almost a spiritual experience.
I didn't get into the Eagles because I considered them "country". That all changed when I got the DVD of the Australian concert. It's never too late to learn.
Rumors was popular In my early days as a hi-fi salesman, And it had some good musicianship. But I tend to see it as more ephemeral than the more timeless releases on you list. Still, Stevie Nicks is cute.
Being from that generation, and male, I of course like Led Zep 4. Since becoming, in 1998, a bass player and being in a dozen "classic rock" bands, I've learned to appreciate their music a lot more, but more as a musician than as a "Wayne's World" teenager attitude back in the day.
I never really got into Michael Jackson. Not bad, just not my cup of tea. I never liked Prince. Just couldn't get into it. He seemed to be a very talented musician, but I wasn't impressed by the songs he wrote. But then, it wasn't made for my generation. Same with Morissette, though "You Aughta Know" was interesting. It's also the one that I don't understand why it's on your list. I didn't realize it ever got that popular.
Oddly, a few years ago I really got into Taylor Swift. Not really impressed with her voice, but her songs and arrangements are amazing, as is her (or her handlers') business and marketing sense. And that was BEFORE he popularity really got into high gear. She'll easily go into the history books with artists like the Beatles.
A lot of these albums were my introduction to the artists, in my young teenage years, when I didn't have a lot of access to music like you do now. They were treasured and listened to a thousand times. They might not be the artists' best albums, but they were MINE, and they will always take me back to a simpler, more freer, easier time, whenever I play them. The music in these albums stopped being songs and have become spells for me, let's call it medicine. We all have our own albums that were just the right album at the right time, which connected with us on a deep level, and I think these albums managed to be those albums for a lot of people, and so more copies kicked about, and so they then became those albums for the next generation. I have been thinking about those albums that have become really special to me over the years, the ones that were my introduction to music or to a genre, the ones that were there when I was grieving, the ones that played when things were great, what would I say were the albums that have soundtracked my life. What would be yours?
Interesting question Mazzy. Another interesting question would be: why did these albums (fill in the blank ) never hit anywhere near as big as (name another contemporary album by the same or similar artist)? An example might be: Springsteen Born in the USA, when every preceding album was better.
Some records just hit the zeitgeist. It amuses me to remember that my sister was responsible for buying both dark side and rumors when they came out, in both cases they were like a record event marketing, there was a ton of hype. However in both cases the product lived up to the hype. However this must be contrasted with the crushing disappointment of tusk, also hyped to the gills. Michael Jackson even more so - I would say off the wall kind of announced him as a new artist not the kid member of the Jackson 5 that we can remember (I love those old Jackson 5 records. they still blow, absolutely fantastic songs). So therefore the stage was set with these huge expectations for thriller, and for many people it did not disappoint and with Madonna he was then the very epitome of 80s dance music. I can't really talk about the other ones they're in either the wrong time or place for me to be somewhat in the zeitgeist at the time of their release. I was never a huge Michael Jackson fan he was just too poppy for me at that time I was into industrial metal type stuff. And yeah it was a real cringe part of Macca's career. Dark side of the moon on the other hand and rumors I do still listen to on occasion. They're both concept albums in the sense that they were operating under some kind of large overarching idea. Pink Floyd were just asking what it's all about? What is time? what the hell is money? this sort of thing, and it still works start to finish. The last time I busted out rumors was when Christine mcvie passed away, She was one of those celeb deaths which hit you unexpectedly hard. On this re-listen found the greatest pleasure in listening to rumors start to finish as it was intended, then had this vision of it being still around 500 years in the future when it was called the rumors suite and was this example of musical perfection meaning there wasn't a single bum note or wrong beat or duff song. I think it's worth a whole other video how you go off things just because you overhear them,
Thanks Mazzy. If I get the premise right it's not that these are not great albums, but why did they and not other albums of the time or artist become the big sellers? I have all these albums on CD or vinly (or both - yes, I know). I like most of them. I also agree that they may not in all cases be my favorite album by this artist. That goes for Pink Floyd, Led Zep, Beatles, Miles at least. In my view you could ad R.E.M.'s "Automatic for the People" to this list based on the same premises. But maybe that's just me ;-) Thanks again.
I have a couple of copies of 'Kind Of Blue', simply because the original was mastered at the wrong speed. This was corrected in more modern releases. It took many years, though!
Kezar stadium still had shows after the Zeppelin show, not many but notably SNACK Sunday and at least one Dead show with the big sound system.
Most people tend to overlook the fact most people who buy records, cds, etc are not that interested in music. But want to own some. So those that sell a lot may or may not have much musical value. These 10 a good example, in a serious muso's collection only 1/2 might be present.
I have ALL those albums - clearly too mainstream in my tastes! But they’re all fantastic albums. Most of them featured on a retrospective I did for my daughters a while ago.
There is something unique about the prism on the Floyd album. The light could be moving (not a still graphic) and it would look the same.
I do agree with you about Pink Floyd and Meddle is my favourite too, as well as Atom Heart Mother. But when it comes to IV and Abbey Road, I can't agree. Those are two of my top ten favourite albums ever, I don't understand the why question, I think they're irresistible, they are absolute, they are authorities.
Exactly. I was suprised when he listed abbey road since he answered every reason while asking why. It's the best produced, best recorded, best put together album of the best band of all time. It was their peak, and magnum opus. And I say this as someone who personally prefers a bunch of earlier beatles stuff. Most of their early stuff pales in comparison when you remove all the societal infuleneces at the time. Like some 16 year old today isn't having their mind blown by I wanna hold your hand, like a 16 year old would in the 60s. But with abbey road it's as accessible as ever, the music speaks for itself due to its insanely good production for a beatles album, and is unique with its medley. It's funny, most listed are listed as overly commercial, but in my opinion, abbey road as a whole isn't as commercial as some other beatles albums because of its impressive medley. Like you can't play a medley like that on the radio.
Get a clean 1st UK abbey road and it speaks for itself. The sound is why it's so popular, the amazing artistic accomplishment of side b medley is why it's so popular, the band at their peak along with some of their best singles is why it's so popular.
At least with Thriller and Purple Rain (actually any popular album from the '80s,) MTV had a lot to do with their popularity by constantly playing the videos, which in turn made the radio stations to constantly play the songs too. MTV was the lightning in the bottle for many of the artists in the '80s. Other examples of '80s artists who had massive albums because of MTV.....Madonna, The Police, Tina Turner, Lionel Richie, Huey Lewis, Billy Idol, Def Leppard, Phil Collins, U2, and many others.
Anyway, 3 of the 10 you mention happen to be in my list of all-time top 10 albums of any genre:
The Who - Who's Next ------ As you stated, this album is just so anthemic and the ultimate party album. Can't wait until September when I spend $300 to get the Super Deluxe Edition.
Michael Jackson - Thriller ----------- As I said above, MTV had a lot to do with its popularity. But also the label's strategy of releasing singles from the album in intervals spread over a couple years kept it in the minds of people. I was a junior in high school when the album was released in late Fall of '82 and I can remember in the Spring of '84 (my senior year) people were still talking about the album. Hell, I remember my Spanish 4 teacher (who was in his late 40s) saying he finally went out and bought the album to see what all the hype was about for the past 1 1/2 years. Because of the success of Thriller, many albums that followed tried to mimic that strategy of trickling out the singles off an album over an extended time. By the way, John Landis directed the music video for Thriller
Led Zeppelin IV --------- My favorite of theirs that I go back to every so often (not as often as I used to when I was younger.) What is the appeal? I really can't answer that. Black Dog, Rock And Roll, Stairway To Heaven and Misty Mountain Hop really keep that album moving. The other 4 songs in The Battle Of Evermore, Four Sticks, Going To California and When The Levee Breaks don't really rock hard, but there is something mesmerizing and unique about each one of them that draws me to them. I can't explain it. As a whole album, those collections of songs just seem to gel.
Some of the other albums you mention I also own but aren't some of my overall favorites or even ones I consider to be the best album from the artist.
The Beatles - Abbey Road -------- No doubt a great album, but I don't think it is my favorite Beatles album. Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's, The White Album, and even Magical Mystery Tour (even though a soundtrack and a collection of singles album) I like better than Abbey Road.
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours ---------- Excellent album that was just played to death by the radio stations that kept it going. This album is probably my favorite album by Fleetwood Mac. Actually it is the only Fleetwood Mac album still in my collection. Haven't listened to it in a very long time. I might just go do that later today. LOL
Eagles - Hotel California -------------- Similarly, played to death by the radio stations. Not one I go back to anymore, though.
Prince - Purple Rain -------------- Hard to say if this is my favorite Prince album, but it's right up there with 1999 and Sign O' The Times.
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of The Moon ------------- Yep my favorite album by them. It's just such a mesmerizing album you can just chill out to by closing your eyes and taking it all in at once. Though, I'm not a stoner nor ever did any drugs. But I can understand how this album is the "perfect" stoner album. Even though this album is not in my all-time top 10 favorite albums of any genre, it is probably in my top 20, if I had a top 20 list.
The only 2 albums you mentioned that I don't own are the Miles Davis album (not a fan of Jazz) and Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill. I remember when Jagged Little Pill was huge. It was in the mid '90s when I was finishing up my final master's degree and getting ready to start my professional career. She was constantly on the radio and winning awards.
Personally, I would've included U2's Joshua Tree. You did mention that you didn't think of it when you first made this list. That album is my favorite by U2 and is in my all-time top 10 list of favorite albums of any genre.
Other huge albums to mention that caught fire and attracted lots of people for one reason or another:
AC/DC - Back In Black
Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction
Rush - Moving Pictures (not my favorite by them.....that would be Hemispheres.)
Def Leppard - Hysteria (not my favorite of theirs, but you can't deny the popularity of that album.)
Nirvana - Nevermind (The only Grunge album I own. Can't stand Grunge. LOL. No denying the massive impact this album had. Nearly destroyed Heavy Metal. Even though I don't like Grunge, this album I had to have just because of the impact it had on popular culture at the time. It's a good album too.)
Metallica - S/T (The Black Album) -------- Not my favorite album of theirs; I like Ride The Lightning and Master Of Puppets better. But no denying this album helped fend off the Grunge takeover of heavy rock music in America at the time. This album helped revive the Heavy Metal scene in America while also becoming massive in other countries.
I've never liked any of the singles from The Joshua Tree. I prefer side two 🙂
I LOVED Mazzy’s Hierarchy of Vinyl Needs back when I was a frosh in college!..
About "Who's Next." IV was probably the hottest album, and "Houses of the Holy" was my fave but... "Who's Next" had "Won't Get Fooled Again." What an anthem. Saw them perform it live in 1971. It just... doesn't get any better than that.
PF learned to record an album with Meddle. DSOTM is the opus. I love Animals and saw them at Soldier Field 77
I’ve been thinking about this lately because the box is coming out.
I’ve been thinking what is my favorite WHO album?
I’ve always loved Tommy, Live At Leeds, Quadrophenia and even The Who Sells Out.
But I really think it’s got to be Who’s Next,
maybe because it’s not a concept album,
but a great collection of songs.
I Dont think I would rate it as my favorite if Pete
stuck with the whole Light House concept,
Because those songs were never songs I cared for.
As far as the Who’s Next box set,
I’m pre-ordering it, I found it for $244 postage free.
I have to get it, it’s my favorite Who album.
I have those other Who boxes,
so I have to get this one.
If one could analyse precisely what makes a particular album become iconic, then we'd have more of them. It's a combination of things: a great title, great artwork (particularly in vinyl days), great music, great lyrics, great timing (to hit the zeitgeist), great promotion, and a healthy dose of magic. To take one example, Dark Side of the Moon has a great title, great artwork, strong songs, wonderful recording, originality in the between song interviews, and was also first Pink Floyd album to be heavily promoted, particularly in the US. Compare that to the dismal title "Meddle" (what does it even mean in the context of the album?) as well as the dismal artwork. (I agree that Atom Heart Mother's cover photo is fantastic, as is the title.) It's also the only Pink Floyd album that I still listen to regularly.
Hey Maz - I have a theory about ‘Who’s Next’ popularity. I think the greatest rock and roll scream ever recorded (‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’) makes it.
Yeah it’s a pretty great scream. And their songs used on all the CSI TV shows 🎤
the crazy thing about THRILLER is that little kids LOVE that record. if you throw on any of the upbeat songs off that album, children ages 1-7 will start dancing haha.. very few records can move kids like that without them having been indoctrinated into it at first. there's something electric in the grooves of that record that just cant be explained.
Because they captured the zeitgeist of the moment that transcends the zeitgeist of the era - and like the classical Eine Kleine Nacht Musik of Motzart they are accessible to more then the immediate fans of the artists
The producers of these records all had clout and truly great ears. That is why they continue to sell. With the exception of the Alanis Morissette record (which I think sold simply on the strength of the incredible hit You Ought To Know) all these albums on your list have amazing spatial head room when you listen. It is no coincidence Abbey Road & Dark Side are here. They were two of the go-to records all through the 1970s and into the 1980s home stereo or high fidelity sales people used to demonstrate sound systems. It is also of note that the majority of these records are British artists with British sound engineers and producers. Keith Olsen & Bill Szymczyk were epic 1970s producers that hit it big with your two inclusions here. I always believed Purple Rain was a loving tribute to the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix and his sound men (George Martin & Eddie Kramer) with the guitar emphasis, panning and the dense multi-instrumentation which pervades the record. Thriller, which used Toto & LA's finest hired-hand musicians in the studio under Quincy Jones (and also later Glenn Ballard with Bad & Dangerous for Michael Jackson) still has amazing sound qualities to this day that most of the pop music world freely borrows from ad nauseam. You could have included Roy Thomas Baker for a couple of Queen records or the Cars to add to your list and they would have fit. Great segment!! Always love your circuitous and informative takes down Memoryville Road. Thanks.
I didn't know about that Abbey Road webcam. It's really interesting. After watching for about 20 minutes, there must have been over a dozen people taking photos recreating the album cover. And, that was in the rain and close to dusk. Also, in those 20 minutes, I must have seen a double-decker bus go by about 10 times.
It is one thing when you have these massive sellers that sold a lot AT THE TIME! The real question is if these albums still sell, relatively, today? 'Rumours', for example, has sold long after it's intial release. Anymore?
As well as everything mentioned here, don’t forget that the business depended on these hits. After the first few monster sellers, it became clear that these could be planned, and expected. The hallmark for each of these is a certain maturity, coupled with accessibility. Then once the ‘suits’ picked up on just how big it was going to be, they shifted into high gear with added promotion, and more ghastly things like payola. This phenomenon is a combination of chance (the cream rising to the top), and intention.
Stan Kenton gets my vote for awesome jazz music, just saying one of the greatest.
I graduated H.S. in 77' and the three albums in Ca. anyway that were played to death were Dark Side of Moon, Boston and Frampton Comes Alive. It was against the law to have a party without these playing over and over.
The industry selected these examples for us.
Sometimes it's also timing of the release, that time can't necessarily erase.
These records were so overplayed by those infernal Classic Rock FM stations that quit playing new music by the mid eighties. I listened at first just out of habit but after hearing Black Dog for the 23,459th time I bailed. They rendered these albums unlistenable. Then I discovered Jazz. Went in that trip for a decade. Now I find that I can go back and listen to Who’s Next without gagging, because I ignored it for so long. Still love “Sell Out” way better. Cheers Mazzy
Exactly. Corporate rock radio in the U.S. plays them incessantly. Add Boston, Allman Brothers and AC/DC. We need a Freeform rock radio revival
The free form independent stations seem stuck in terms of their reach or appeal. They are primarily web-based now.
@@MrKelleyzinho this is very true, SiriusXM has some but even they are a bit repetitious. I live close to Lake Ontario and am fortunate to have neighbors to the north that still have something that resembles free form. Toronto, Peterborough and Coburg with the Added bonus that once an hour you get a Canadian band per requirement.
Classic Rock radio killed many great artists and songs for me.
I've heard black Dog 30,000 times probably and still it gives me a buzz when I hear it !
These are all 10 out of 10's for me. It's understandable why they're so popular. But, the ones here are not always my favorite album by the artists in question.
Thanks Mazzy...My nominee for part 2 of this video is Meatloaf Bat Outta Hell! If you like it, fine, but 43 Million copies and counting just defies explanation...IMHO of course.
Why was Cracked Rear View by Hootie & The Blowfish so big?
Great video breakdown of their popularity. I am not the biggest fan of all of the groups here (the Eagles give me a real Lebowski feeling), but I like your critiques.
And if I had to pick my favorites:
The Who - Live at Leeds
The Beatles - The Beatles (White Album)
Miles Davis - Bitches Brew
Fleetwood Mac - FM (1975)
The Eagles - N/A
Michael Jackson - The Wall
Pink Floyd - Almost anything but The Wall
Prince - Dirty Mind (sue me)
Alanis Morrissette - ?
Track sequencing would be my key to a monster - rather than just a big - album, then an accessible, contemporary sound, high overall song quality and a radio hit or two.
So people who don't like music as much as us sad cases can just 'put a record on' and enjoy listening to it.
But finding all of these qualities on one LP on a label that can afford to put it in front of everyone is much rarer than you'd think.
Kind of Blue is huge because the songs are very simple, easy to digest so to speak and the playing by all the musicians is out of this world great!! But you already know this.