Terrible Albums by Great Artists | Top Ten
Вставка
- Опубліковано 11 чер 2024
- In this video I examine my top ten stinkers that are dreadful albums made be great artists, from Queen to Neil Young
If you like my channel and appreciate the work that goes into my videos, please support my channel. You can -
Become a Patron! - Be part of a Classic Rock Community!
There is a fine body of work on there now. / classicrock
Make a one-time donation!
Help me to make more videos or buy stuff to annoy my wife with and unbox on my channel: www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr...
Gift me something to unbox from my Amazon Wish List: www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/...
Buy me a coffee.
All that talk is thirsty work: ko-fi.com/classicalbum
Like the Facebook page:
I add stuff on a daily basis: / 1968rock
All music used in my videos come from the Free Music Archive: freemusicarchive.org/
#badalbums #ranking #classicalbum
As Mark Ellen once said" There are two kinds of people in this world, people who like Van Morrison, and people who've met him..."
I've heard he is a Grumpy Bugger.
The most disappointing live act I've ever seen. His security must have been sweating as he spent the whole night abusing the audience, the country and its whole population - he wasn't a happy chappy. A lesser artist would have been lucky to get off the stage in one piece. A truly obnoxious individual.
Mr. Grumpy Pants
lol
I know the street in Bath where he lives. I used to jog along that route and once seen Van The Man come out of his house.
All I said was that found his then new release Avalon Sunset (it was 1989) a brilliant Album and loved the song Coney Island. The grumpy git told me to Feck Off.
I was followed the other day by who I thought was Van Morrison - looking in my driving mirror I realised the image was reversed. It was in fact a Morrisons' Van!
My introduction to Bob Dylan was listening to almost all of his 60's records in the course of three or four days. A friend of mine insisted I do this, and brought a shopping bag full of his records to school, and lent them to me. The first new record that came out after that was Knocked Out Loaded. It was quite a contrast. I should add that I was also listening to a lot of Rolling Stones, and then Dirty Work came out.
I'm grateful for Queen's Hot Space. Only because their tour to support the album gave me the opportunity to see them in concert, as I had missed previous tours. It was a great show and Billy Squire opened for Queen.
My favorite comment “Van Morrison sounds like he’s been boiled in his own piss” 🤣
Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins by John Lennon and Yoko Ono… has to be on this list.
calling it music is a stretch
@@themediumcheese Agreed. We can call it an album, but beyond that, not much else.
Let's talk about albums that are ruined by one side - Live Peace in Toronto. I don't think I need to go any further on that one.
When Double Fantasy came out, all my friends made tapes of the album...but ONLY of the Lennon songs (since Lennon had it so every OTHER song was "her") - hence, those albums are still probably near-pristine condition. Enough said...
Never use 'music' and 'Yoko' in the same sentence. Best to not ever mention 'Yoko'.
@@c.s.mcleod7383 Agree whole-heartedly....talk about a sponge. She found a Beatle ($$$$$) and clung on to him.
Although "Leather Jackets" is pretty crappy, "Victim Of Love" is embarrasing.
Great video! I found your descriptions of the albums absolutely hilarious! Thanks for posting!
Great video! As a very long time Neil Young fan, who finds too many of his post ‘70s records to be spotty, I really like Americana for some reason. I’d maybe give it 3 stars out of 5, but I absolutely love several of the songs on the album and have played the album countless times. And that what’s so strange about Neil’s albums. Even at their worst, there is usually at least one over the top outstanding song on it that makes me happy to own it.
Great list Barry & off the top of my head....
John Lennon - Sometime In New York City
Wings - Wild Life
Paul McCartney - McCartney II
Elton John - Victim Of Love
Pink Floyd - The Final Cut
Dylan - Self Portrait
David Bowie - Never Let Me Down
Sparks - Introducing
George Harrison - Gone Troppo
Genesis - Calling All Stations
Phil Collins - Testify
Blondie - The Hunter
Fleetwood Mac - Mirage
The Clash - Cut The Crap
OMD - Dazzle Ships
XTC - Wasp Star.....
I love love love The Final cut....assorted meat packing gliterati and all.
Yeah, that's a good "worst ever" list. ;)
McCartney II is not McCartney's best work, but it is not a bad album in my opinion, far from it...
@@watchhiddenside True, and it is actually considered as a cult classic by many
Still playing it 39 years on! Love every track, every lyric, cant understand why so many deride it, maybe if it was relabelled as a RW album rather than PF album it would be viewed differently.
It's interesting to observe how many of our 60's and 70's heroes had such a rough time in the '80s. Some came back and produced great stuff later, but the 80's was not their decade for whatever reason.
Years of drug abuse and infighting took its toll but they would clean up later
I'm really OCD about my vinyl and CD collection and not only have them alphabetical and by genre, I also have several shelves for specific albums; the ones I love the best, broken down by the mood I am in... And I have one box/shelf that is for the worst albums, the one I can't listen to but have to have because I am a Completist Collector... So far every album on this list I own and is on that shelf. Can't wait to get to part two.
Lou Reed's "Metal Machine Music" works wonderfully as a white-noise generator. I put it on for meditation! It's actually damn good!
I've never heard it, but the description given in this video actually fits my taste in noise, Avant Garde and experimental music.
What a great story. I meditate to railroad spikes being run across a chalkboard.
@@RythymBeast this made me laugh hardily.
@@InsaneCarville Hahahaha
If you have a graphic equalizer with your system, you can "play" the record.
Just put on Metal Machine Music, move the control levers on your equalizer to alter the sounds.
I also do this with Pete Shelley's "Sky Yen."
When I was backpacking around Europe in the 80s I picked up a cassette of Bob Dylan's Knocked Out Loaded while I was in Yugoslavia. It became my Walkman favourite on my travels. I think maybe because I was listening to it on headphones while I was gazing out the train window gave it a different, intimate feel and perspective, but I love that album.
You could have killed two birds with one stone, Lou Reed AND Metallica, by going with Lulu! Also, I don't think I've ever heard Americana, but if it's worse than Landing on Water and Living With War, well, count me out.
Lol! I agree!!!!
Neil is definitely one of the all-time great American songwriters but I'm pretty sure he could have had all 10 spots on this list. lol. And yes, Americana is as bad as he said I still think Neil's albums Trans and Everybody's rockin are worse though.
A decent effort and combo. It was really Lou Reed's music and lyrics but Metallica managed to interpret it well considering how out there it is, even for Reed... I really appreciate anti-Authoritarian, anti-Trendy moaners like Van Morrison, if not all their music.. Progressive nonsense is worth battling.
--
You'd probably hate David Bowie's metal album and tour. I saw it performed at a festival and was quite shocked. Very heavy, death-metal style guitar with Bowie going more raw.. Certainly could have alienated some of his fans for a bit. He had a go at doing metal so respect for trying.
I really like Americana, it's rough and ready but meant to be that way, if you like Neil's stuff with Crazy Horse it's like being in an informal session with them. Le Noise is a harder album to get into, I'd say.
Eric Clapton and Neil Young's Grammy grabs, no!
I quite enjoy Americana. Tracks like Oh Susannah, Travel On, Get A Job and others are good fun to play loud. Just my opinion though. Cheers!
Agreed
Don’t forget that during Dirty Work, they also lost Ian Stewart, who they pay tribute to with a short unlisted piano instrumental.
As far as Knocked Out Loaded, the standout track, in my opinion, is They Killed Him , written by Kris Kristoffersson.
The best song on the album. 😒
Gotta say your descriptive takes are wonderfully hilarious. Especially the one on Van Morrison.
For us older folks learning guitar Las Palabras de Amor (The Words of Love) from Queen's Hot Space is a really nice song to play. Most people I play it to have never heard it and admittedly it is pretty soft but IMO pretty good too. Enjoying your channel 👍.
Och, I think your fab. Your meanderings resonate like a battered old Gibson. Probably because I'm 60 and made a few records. Plus your twinkle tempers the occasional harsh, yet honest appraisal. Thank you man.
Hello Sir, I love a lot of pop music but I love “Metal Machine Music” too, perfect for college radio where I played it several times. You said it was from 1975, yes, but then you said it was from 1978. “Hot Space” is one of my favorite Queen albums especially as parts are almost disco. But I think we agree on Santana in general being great.
Great video per usual, it must’ve been difficult for a lot of those bands/musicians from the 60’s & 70’s to still keep that winning streak in the 80’s. People like to fool heartedly imagine the Beatles would still be making great albums through the 70’s/80’s & beyond if they were still together but realistically music tastes and trends change and most likely they would’ve been panned at some point by the masses
Well apart from John (dying in 1980) who also retired for a short time; they were all still active in the 1970s and 1980s and they made solo material that was also acclaimed, even Ringo! But it helps that 3/4 of the band were prolific songwriters. They would have made a dud eventually but Paul and George too had strong 1980s records.
One of my favourite things was to blend their solo albums up to at least 1980 together to create ‘lost’ Beatles albums.
Bad 80s was indeed all those establishment stadium rock bands trying to sound modern and looking tired against the post punk explosion. Most of those post punk acts were writing better songs if we're honest.
wrong
I think the Beatles would have led the trend rather than follow had they kept going, considering how innovative they were up to the break up.
@@michaelmcdonald2348 The Beatles more than likely would've gone down the Kraftwerk / electronic route I think had they not broken-up.
Well done 👍 as Always, my friend. Cheers from 🇺🇸 States
Fantastic list and a great laugh as ever. Seems that 1986 is the annus horribilis in music (apart from maybe Talk Talk, Prince and Dexys).
The detail I liked most on the Stones' 'Dirty Work' LP sleeve - if your eyes don't evaporate in the glare of their lurid jackets - is that it looks like Richards is kneeing Jagger in the nuts.
Talk about symbolism!
@7:50; "Lars banging away on a couple of Quality Street tins" 😂😂
Always happy to revisit some of Christgau’s comments. His high gradings for Dirty Work and Americana remain a mystery though.
Yep. I love you Bob, but come on. “It’s honest and makes you like it.”? Seriously?
Like, even though there’s fundamentally no difference between Undercover and Dirty Work because they’re both abysmal, he rightfully gave Undercover a C+ but gave fucking gave Dirty Work an A. SMH.
@@curly_wyn Yes, Jagger links those two albums also and thought it was time to try something else.
Clapton actually had one album of new material in the 90’s before Pilgrim. From the Cradle in 1994. I remember motherless child being a pretty big hit off that album.
Great Edith Sitwell quote at the beginning. Enjoyable post.
I try to understand the reasons behind such messes. Usually, it's because of needing to fulfill a contract, get any product -- songs that were recorded & rejected in the past -- in the stores because of a holiday, the writing was not inspired, on tour & need to squeeze out an LP.
An album with varied musicians who haven't worked together before or there's no consistent band to flesh out an artist's style is tightrope walking. Elton John doing disco music ("Victim of Love") -- ill-advised. Many have issued many great albums that their ability to sustain quality becomes a challenge (King Crimson/Jethro Tull).
An artist who "claims" to be prolific -- Neil Young is a great example but much at one time was misguided & the late Jackie Leven is another. Leven had so many Cooking Vinyl albums, so many songs, that they issued some under a different name.
I don't blame Elvis Presley for his drek -- he seldom got involved with what RCA planned to release & over the years they have concocted some disasters. "Having Fun With Elvis On Stage?" Are you kidding? Songs on an album that between 2 sides didn't add up to 15 minutes. An entire album of second-rate songs built around a hit single ("Burning Love"). One song with 20 false takes. Who needs this?
The Grateful Dead can be forgiven for their inferior releases because they endorsed such things & fans craved them (especially live albums & "Dylan & the Dead" which were ill-conceived). But the marketing department wants a product.
"Knocked Out Loaded" by Dylan was poor but he had far worse albums -- that "Self Portrait" double LP & the single LP "Dylan" -- some artists can record covers effectively (Elvis) & others can't (Dylan).
Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music LP was pulled from shelves by RCA but it did play a role in the formation of industrial rock music that followed years later. Atilla on Epic was two guys playing bad heavy metal -- one was Billy Joel.
Bands should be more careful with their output -- it becomes their legacy.
If I owned a radio station I'd have you do a program once or twice a week. Interesting, well-paced & accurate. I don't like blaming artists for weak LPs but if it's someone famous & it's a blatant "product" grab of rehashed songs, alternatives, or poor live cuts just to make a buck -- that I'd criticize.
I reviewed tons of John Mayall reissues recently & some of the live albums were unbearable. Not the performances but the quality.
Seems like the mid-80s especially was a dire time for classic artists.
Talking about unlistenable, I still have not managed to warm up to Eno & Fripp "No Pussyfooting" more like organized noise, I used to put this album on when I wanted to get rid of friends at a party. :-)
his "Music For Airports" is even worse, aimless piano tinkling
Great stuff Barry,I never got Mike Love.keep er lit Sir 👍
I would like to know about great albums by otherwise terrible artists. The magical flukes. It's true that 80s sent a lot of great 70s artists off the rails.
Great idea!
Can't think of any great albums by terrible artists. But what happens frequently is getting great songs out of terrible artists. Lot's of one hit wonders out there.
I think Clapton made a couple of those--Layla and 461 Ocean Blvd are both great albums, while most of the rest of his solo career is snooze-inducing, paint-by-numbers white blues.
@@rockturtleneck James Mtume's Rebirth Cycle was wild, like a cross between Pharaoh Saunders and Sun Ra, but from there it was all RnB hits.
What about "easy" third albums?
Love Queen and Dylan. Can’t disagree on what you said about HS and KOL. My first reaction to hearing both albums was “Oh Dear!” Well, that’s putting it politely. 😁
I did buy the Springtime in New York box set last year, there's plenty of good stuff on there, and none of that sounded like some hideous drum machine 80s type stuff.
Later in the decade I think Dylan had struggles being relevant or finding a decent sound for a long time. Finally with Time Out of Mind and Tempest Dylan would regain
a grip!
My favorite album of all time is Metal Machine Music, I own a noise/experimental label, this was y gateway drug to it! Not for everyone, but for some, we love it!
How do you feel about Lulu, his final collaboration with Metallica?
@@louise_rose I think that is a very good Lou Reed album, and a very bad Metallica album. I like it a lot. If you see everything Lou Reed was doing, specially The Raven, he was doing a lot of spoken word, poetry with different people (Anthony and the Johnsons, Bowie, etc.) it was a very natural progression to what he had been doing. Metallica fans hated it because of course they didn't understand it was not a Metallica album, it was Lou and it just so happen to be Metallica playing in the background. If Lou had done that record with another band, or had it came out without Metallica being so upfront in the title, no one would had gone out to hate it. Lyrics are good, music is good, James Hetfield's vocals are crap. I love Lou, he did whatever he wanted, how he wanted.
One of my all time favourite albums is 'Back to the egg' by Wings. Even Paul McCartney is not keen on it, but we have paintings hanging in galleries done by Artists who hated them but they still go for millions. Taste will always be debated and usually derided, but ultimately we all have taste of our own.
@@siroswaldfortitude5346 I loved "Back To the Egg" too, bought the LP and CD of it. I hoped it'd be reissued with bonus tracks; if McCartney dislikes it too much for that, why not "London Town"?
My two Lou Reed CDs are "Metal Machine Music" which I really enjoy, and "New Sensations"...among his most pop and definitely least pop. Not respectively, irrespectively, haha.
Couldn’t agree more with your re view of Pilgrim. I love Clapton’s music but this album was miserable crap. Peter Hamill couldn’t depress anyone more.
Your video actually and me laugh at times, highly entertaining, I must admit I was expecting David Bowie’s Tonight album, perhaps the brilliant Loving The Alien saved it!!! I have never played the album from start to finish, can never get past Tina Turner without saying out loud WHY? ⚡️
Glad you enjoyed it
Just had a nosey at Lou Reeds Metal something album.
Its almost like the sound of a galactic refrigerator. But one that you wish was running out of electricity very soon PLEASE
Great video; I think you could easily make one of these videos for each decade - starting with the 1960s... some suggestions: 1960s (Rolling Stones - Their Satanic Majesties Request), 1970s (10cc - minus Godley & Creme - Live and Let Live), 1980s (Duran Duran - Big Fun), 1990s (Genesis - Calling All Stations)... enough for now.
I have done a few of these now
Zooropa by U2
Avacado by Pearl Jam
Braver Than We Are by Meat Loaf
Southern Accents by Tom Petty
Leather Jackets, The Diving Board, and Victim of Love by Elton John
Adore and Cyr by Smashing Pumpkins
Parallel Universe by Plain White Ts
The Owl by The Zac Brown Band
My three favourite bands ever are Genesis 1971-1977, the Ramones and After Crying 1990-1996. The latter probably made the best music of the Nineties (1996's 'De Profundis' remains my favourite album of the last 26 years). When they put out 'Show' (2003) I couldn't believe how awful it was. It's one of the worst albums I've ever heard. It makes Genesis' '...Calling All Stations...' or the Ramones' 'Halfway to Sanity' sound memorable.
John Fogerty's _Eye of the Zombie_ is both awful and great! Actually, I like 'off' albums such as ZZ Top's _Recycler_ and Dire Straits' _On Every Street._ The critics and audience say "these don't meet expectations," but the playing is still great and there are a few gems in the slag.
Eye Of The Zombie has "Change In The Weather" that sounds a lot like his Creedence songs.
I always liked hot space by Queen, one of the very few bands/artists who successfully moved with the times without ailianating (not even spell check can sort that out) their past work. Great album, often overlooked because they dared to get a bit funky.
The word you were looking for is "alienating"
True, Hot Space belongs to the better half of their catalog, just a good vibrant album and something different. I think most people dont really listen to it anymore and just repeat that it is a bad album, well it is certainly not.
@@martijnmeijers7815 i agree. Queen's body of work is second to none. It's an artists right, collectively or individually to produce what they want. Look at David Bowie, he has created some of the greatest music of all time and yet he never stood still, he was forever changing. I personally think it's an artists strength to embrace different things. That's what artists do, regardless of their particular fields, thay create. Critics often look at the work produced and compare it to something previous. I know many Queen fans that love 'Hot Space' and see it as part of a body of work. It is nothing like 'A Night At The Opera', and for me, that's one of Queen's many strengths.
I agree. I take it over the boring Made In Heaven any day
Except they DID alienate their past work with Hot Space. Smh.
Hi, I want you to give me feedback what you think about the very unique song Camino Real of Steve Hackett. When you find the time, would love to hear your opinion
I could listen to you all day. Thanks for the elequent, insightful words on music.
My first time watching one of your vids. I see you're wearing a Santana t-shirt. Wonder what you think of that song he did with Rob Thomas, "Smooth"? Pure shite, imho...I literally can't change the radio dial fast enough. Anyone else feel the same way?
Looked through your vids, liked what I saw, so I subscribed! Cheers!
I love Santana, but some of his later albums are a bit dodgy
Always love your work . This one is a subject that always interests me. Dirty Work is a surrender by Keef that always surprised me .
Thanks. And thank you for your emails and music
Cadbury’s milk flake advert . A great 2022 new phrase to replace the over used Muzak.
Happy to see The Beach Boys Number One! I think there are two songs where I can listen to about 10 seconds of without getting a horrible pain in my groin. Biggest BB/BW fan out there (or at least tied for #1), but I wholeheartedly agree with your choice. I would put DIRTY WORK a little higher, if only because it's The Rolling Stones and they shouldn't have released such crap. Somebody gave me a copy of METAL MACHINE MUSIC when it was released. That person ceased to be my friend shortly after that. I only listened to about five minutes of it, but I can still hear the cacophony in my brain to this very day.
Some albums that I feel should be thrown in there:
Born Again - Black Sabbath
Virtual XI - Iron Maiden
The Endless River - Pink Floyd
Down to Earth - Rainbow
Risk - Megadeth
Tonight - David Bowie
Just Push Play - Aerosmith
Creedence Clearwater Revival's Mardi Gras album should have a dishonourable mention as well...
Your description of Under Pressure on the Queen album Hot Space as a Diamond on a Turd -LOL!!! !!!
Great reviewing.. Subscribed to check out your other reviews..
much prefer Dirty Work to the preceding album, Undercover. Actually prefer it to the subsequent album too, Steel Wheels. The Production is a little hard to deal with but judged just on the strength of songs I think it's clearly the Stones 2nd best of the decade.
I would include in this list In Through the Out Door by Led Zeppelin. All Of My Love, Carouselambra, Hot Dog and the rest are an embarrassment for this band. I wonder where Jimmy Page was when it was recorded. A lucid Page would never have allowed this crap.
Absolutely that lp is atrocious
@@Stonecutter334as a zep fan I agree.
A lot of stinkers here for sure, but that Queen album...we were pissed when that turd dropped. Hated to this day. Total complete garbage.
Rapping on a Beach Boys album?.....dear heaven.
Always underrated Warrior Soul with Chill Pill. Also a raspberry towards Geffen.
I am one of the few that likes most of Hot Space lol. But I draw the line at Body Language. To add insult to injury (as far as I can remember without looking it up) it was the lead single for the album.
Technically "Under Pressure" was the first single, but considering that UP was released long before Hot Space and even was on some editions of Greatest Hits, released late 1981, I'd say in practicality Body Language was the leading single. It was also the reason I didn't buy Hot Space until about 35 years later on CD lol.
Probably the most remarkable thing about Eric Clapton's Pilgrim is that the album art was created by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, the manga artist who co-created and did the character designs for the famous anime Neon Genesis Evangelion
The album art is the ONLY good thing about that album.
I'm a huge Beach Boys fan, and I bought "Summer in Paradise" on cassette when it came out in 1992. I don't hate it as much as some people do, but I listen to it only once every five years or so. I very much agree with the dated sound of the production, especially when it comes to the use of a drum machine. Their modern-sounding remake of "Surfin'" is a low point, as is the unnecessary remake of "Forever" with guest vocalist John Stamos. The album was a dismal commercial failure, and it's been out of print for almost 30 years, with the ironic result of it becoming a collector's item. I didn't realize until a few years ago that much of the album was rerecorded/remixed a few months later for British release. I think you mean South Korea and not North Korea for its only release on vinyl.
WHY don’t you hate it as much as other people do? It’s one of the worst things I’ve ever heard, and Mike Love and his creepiness and cringy-ness and toxic douchebaggery is the worst thing about it.
The album has been out of print for almost 30 years? Dang, what a bummer! Our loss.
Least we not forget that this is in the period of time when The Beach Boys fractured down the middle. There were actually two Beach Boys bands co-existing at the same time. Two very different bands indeed. One headed by Mike Love which was abysmal and the other with the remaining members with Brian Wilson. This album should not even be considered apart of the library of the original Beach Boys archive. A sad situation that was sparked by Mike Love in jealousy of Brian Wilson.
@@curly_wyn Agreed! If you love the original Beach Boys you should despise this album. And your points about Mike Love is fully on target. He is a terrible person who is jealous of the genius of Brian Wilson and intensely vindictive.
@@davidl570 😄
I always think of Eye II Eye by The Scorpions. Though they haven't released a good album since 1984, Eye II Eye makes all the other turds since then seem a little better. Except for "Winds Of Change". That is the bottom of the barrel. There should never be whistling in a rock song. I'm looking at you, GnR "Patience".
yeah...what the hell were they thinking?
Aerosmith's "Music From Another Dimension" is so boring and interesting that it makes their 90's output look like masterpieces (I think those albums have some merit as there is at least a song or two on each one).
70s scorpions were great rock album's
@@brucedickinson12 Love their 70's stuff - nothing like it since.
I absolutely love Patrick Moraz' "The Story of i" (original title just "i") ever since I first heard it at age fourteen. Moraz is a deeply original keyboard man and songwriter, and I had been turned on to him through his stint with Yes on Relayer (still a favourite album of mine). Moraz' debut album is great, and very fun and exciting listening (it was voted "Keyboard album of the year" for 1976 in a magazine readers poll) - but when I checked out his album "Out in the Sun", recorded just two years later and with a few of the same musicians, I just found it really boring and lightweight. Last year I revisited it here on UA-cam;this time around I could hear that some of the elements of the sound are similar to "Story of i" but it still feels boring. What's missing is the dramatic power, the cinemascope quality and the amazing fusions between different styles of music - and that, I think, is something he learnt about from working with Yes.
Patrick's first 3 albums the story of Eye out of the sun and a self-titled album I think we're all fantastic.
I really enjoyed your humorous critique of these albums and to be honest, a couple of these albums I have never heard of. I love Bob Dylan and had never even heard of this album you reviewed. Being a big Neil Young fan I actually liked a couple of songs on Americana but I have to agree that listening to Tom Dula is almost impossible, Billy Talbot's yelling TOM DULA is so annoying! I have sampled bits of Metal Machine Music in the past and all it sounded like was noise. Four 20 minute sides of the same garbage? Terrible! This was fun, new subscriber here.
The idea of Neil Young and Crazy Horse doing the British National Anthem made me think of Sheldon Cooper singing My Country Tis Of Thee on the karaoke on The Big Bang Theory! I think it was Mojo magazine's review that brought up memories of Huckleberry Hound in regard to their version of Clementine.
Dude! I look forward to the day you man up and say what you really think and feel.
Love your material and your delivery!
I have three of these in my collection: Stones, Clapton and Queen. Though being a completist to a degree I have managed to avoid the Van Morrison, Elton John and Beach Boys albums on the list despite owning loads of their albums, good or bad. Todd Rundgren's "No World Order" is forever on my list.
I have the Stones also. It was a monthly offer from a record club I was in during the late 80s. I failed to return it in time so I had to pay for it. Its a 30 + year old vinyl played only once.
Similar to Roger Waters, Van is one to voice his opinion. On 'Latest Record Project' (a No.5 UK album) he poses a great question - "Where Have All The Rebels Gone?" which for me is a timely, pointed and melodic romp. It used to be our rock and roll fave's would love sticking it to 'The Man' but nowadays most simply whimper under corporate controlled narratives. A double album with alot to offer, including 'Breaking The Spell' and 'Up County Down" - 2 classic Van songs. It's my opinion that some of these song titles and messages/lyrics are so tongue in cheek obvious (which seems to me is required these days), that he's actually having a bit of fun with all the proceedings. His next album, 'What's It Gonna Take' is more of the same and possibly even more ascerbic. Van has many albums dealing with the spirit and mellower things - but it's the right time for me, for a rock and roll rebel.
I like Van's later stuff, and enjoy the political stance on here, but I really didn't enjoy this album.
@@classicalbum I actually didn't want to like it; because of the potentially silly album title, the simplistic graphic design and the total length, but it won me over, LOL :) Cheeeeers!
In my teens I liked Rick Wakeman, but his album no Earthly Connection was truly dreadful. Now in my 60s it was all pretty dire although I still listen to Six Wives occasionally. Good video. Thank you.
Hi there - I did enjoy your video! Agree to 90/95%. Disagree only on the mentioned Van Morrison one really!
Good list.The 80,s produced some good "pop" bands but equally was not good for more established commercial bands getting caught up in it all.The Stones,Dire Straights,ZZTop ,ACDC ......Only the granite bands like Motorhead ignored the over compressed production that I think is still held to the likes of Michael Jacksons Thriller which shifted how a piece of vinyl played.OMD and countless new bands of the early 80,s used that heavily synthetic sound.If you were a 70,s outfit with a couple of guitars a bass and a drumkit you were knackered.
@@thevoid6818 names please!
@@thevoid6818 FGTH?
agree completely. I loved the 80's British invasion (as we called it in The States) but the established bands that tried to sound "contemporary" should have just stuck to what they did best.
@@sirlawrence9161 maybe it's Fking Gone To Hell... ?
Big Beach Boys fan, Summer in Paradise was the new album when I got into them. I have a real soft spot for this album some amazing songs, a few clunkers but a fun album when we were young enough to really enjoy the summer.
Lmao.
You hit the nail on the head with Hot Space, what a disaster, what were they thinking....?
Fleetwood Mac-Time
Iron Maiden-Virtual XI
Black Sabbath-Forbidden
As Freddie said about Hot Space at Milton Keynes Bowl “it’s only a bloody record”. This is the only time I’ve heard an artist kind of try and justify their latest album.
Better than Lars Ulrich’s Quality Street tin though (I loved your explanation of this shocking drum sound).
Well done. I suppose even the great are not great all the time and experimentation can just as easily fail as succeed. I threw Bowie's Alien in the rubbish where it could not pollute his other works
10 Rolling Stones Dirty Work- Keith felt that Mick was holding back his better songs for his own solo album ...6 Bob Dylan Knocked Out Loaded- There was one worthwhile track on the album Brownsville Girl ...
Might I add The Clash's "Cut the Crap"?
Oh god. I forgot about that one.
I absolutely love that album.
I didn't like knocked out Loaded when I first heard it, but over time it grew on me.
ELP were part of my growing up in the 1970s. They were then and still are now at the top of my list. “In the Hot Seat” is however the biggest pile of sh*te. Your “dishonourable mention” is without a doubt my number 1. Quite how 3 of the most gifted musicians ever born could put together such a dire album is in comprehensible. Despite my love for the band, the late John Peel’s infamous comment does indeed apply to this album!
I’m glad someone agrees with me on In the Hot Seat Just miserable from a band with so many jewels
Frankly everything after and possibly including Works 2 are trash . From what they put out earlier those albums are a real head scratcher( although ELPowell was not terrible.
I don't mind 'Hand of Truth' and 'One by One' and the truncated 'Pictures' but the rest is pretty shabby. I think Emerson was having nerve issues and problems playing. 'Memoirs' from Love Beach isn't that bad, although the esprit de corps of gentlemen military officers wasn't exactly cutting edge social commentary for 1978. Should've stuck with psychotic future AI and cybernetic armadillos.
In The Hot Seat is dreadful start to finish. I can't think of a single memorable moment on it. Makes Love Beach sound like Tarkus by comparison.
@@Frank_nwobhm Can’t agree more, Frank! I still put Love Beach on the turntable (trying not to look at the dire “Bee Gees” cover, of course!) but my CD of In the Hot Seat hasn’t seen the light of day for probably 25 years.
Circus by EC is straight from the heart & cannot be touched in my opinion as a mum who lost a child
Agree with all your picks except Americana, I quite like a few of the renditions on this album and think there were much better Neil stinker choices like Landing On Water, Letter Home, The Monsanto Years and Life.
Apparently Pt2 has 'Landing On Water' at Number One. As the publisher has a negative impression of 1980s production, I am wondering what he makes of Neil Young's 'Old Ways' (1985). I consider this his finest since 'Comes A Time' (1978). Although I do like 'T-Bone' from Re*Ac*Tor.
Just watched this the 8th Vid of these Reviews an their all brilliant , luv the Acidic little interpretations of whatever They sound like..easily Sub'd..
Only good thing about Beach Boys - Summer in Paradise was the cover. Best album cover by the Beach boys on their worst album.
Great list, tho I’m surprised you didn’t choose Victim of Love for Elton John!
Catfish Rising?! How could you Sir, it’s my favourite Tull album
Never listened to the album but I remember really liking the song Pilgrim by Clapton...
Status Quo were kind of 'pressured' by the record company into releasing those cover albums. Certainly 'Don't Stop' and 'Famous in the Last Century' were dire records. I do however like 'Riffs' from 2003 as the production gave it that driving chugging Quo sound that we love (and it was very much of the same sound as Heavy Traffic). If they had just released Riffs and not the other two covers albums then they would not have copped so much criticism although they of course would have been happy with the sales revenue.
i would not call "Hot space" bad or terrible album. It is just untypical to Queen. but in general it is fun to listen to.
Thank you! I really like most of those artists but never heard of half of those albums. So I will keep away from them.
Another great episode,one of your best ! Can't agree more and thanks again !
Thanks
Van Morrison's playing Caesar's Palace in Vegas in October- wonder how that's going to go....
When Julian Cope was recording "Jehovahkill" in the early nineties, people from his record label were so appalled by the early rough mixes that they commented like: "these are some of the worst recordings I've ever heard". Finally they gave him more studio time to get to improve the stuff and re-record some of it. But when the album actually came out, it only took a week before the label dropped him. :)
What I personally want to know is, was the title of the album inspired by the famous stoning scene from Life of Brian? :)
Great album nonetheless
Good video. But wrong on Van. Still your fan though. 😊
I recall reading about a controversy over the signed Van Morrison CD's. I think fans accused them of being fake, and his management company had to make a statement assuring people the signatures were real. I don't remember the final outcome of it all.
I have my doubts....
They were definitely fake. Loads of people posted images of their signed cards online, and there were clearly many identical signatures. It was obvious that he'd had around 10 rubber stamps made and used them over and over. Some "signed" cards even had gaps in the signature where the whole stamp hadn't quite made contact with the card, which wouldn't happen with a genuine autograph.
The most disgusting thing was that he even used the same stamps on the "signed" vinyl test pressings he sold for around £150. I think he only sold about 50 - how long would 50 albums have taken to actually sign? Half an hour if that? But no, £7500 wasn't worth 30 minutes of his time.
'Lipstick, Powder and Paint' by Shakin' Stevens. A terrible album. I had always hoped that 1983's 'The Bop Won't Stop' was merely a misstep but, alas, it was a signpost to new lows. I like his new stuff though. 'Re-set' is worth a listen. Only joking..... 'Landing on Water' - Neil Young (1986). What was that all about?
and Jethro Tull "Roots to Branches". Also ZZTop Rythmeen, The Heads No Talking Just Heads,
I love that Dylan album. It’s brilliant. Live his 80’s stuff starting with Shot of Love
All it needed was more songs,,,Dylan sings great on it....
Nope, it’s garbAge.
Infidels, in my opinion, is Dylan's greatest 1980s album - absolutely solid, imaginative, and with great playing, production, lyrics and singing...during an otherwise very choppy stretch of his career.
Love Infidels too, but Oh Mercy from 1989 is not only one of his best albums from the 80’s, but one of his best ever IMO, brilliantly produced by Daniel Lanois. Lanois also produced his great Time Out of Mind as well as some other great albums by U2, Robbie Robertson and Emmy Lou Harris to name a few.
A very fine list. But I went to listen to the song "latest record project" by the great Van Morrison and that song is not bad compared to the lows that Van can reach particularly in his scat versions. Also Neil Young's latest "Toast" is toasted terribly and so is Americana but Oh Susannah (I dislike the song) is not so bad. Can we stop Neil from making more records and he doesn't need the money unless it's for one of his environmental projects. A great artist is diminished by his throwaway and unlistenable works.