Wandering around in a daze looking for more info to share with you, I stumbled across a list of my greatest albums of all time that I made in 1986 for Creem magazine. And I think two of them would survive if I made a new list and for absolutely certain all of them are still among my fave albums of all time.
Here they are (in alphabetical order but Are You Experienced was # 1)
The Beatles – Rubber Soul – 1965 – I wouldn’t put it here now, for awhile I replaced it with revolver, and I think I’d go with A Hard Day’s Night today. Still, it is flawless, not a weak track, not even “Michelle”.
Elvis Costello And the Attractions – Get Happy!! -1980 – My fave album of all time, still sounds pretty awesome but nowadays I give the props to Steve Nieve!
Bob Dylan – Blonde On Blonde – 1966 – And I’m not sure if I would put this here any more, “Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands” was always a problem for me.
Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced – This is Jimi’s best album because it is his most penetratable album. I think this can remain at # 1.
It’s Too Late To Stop Now – Van Morrisson – 1974 – I know exactly why it’s here All the great covers that work as signpost of his entire career. But no, not today.
Gram Parsons – GP – 1973 – I haven’t listened to this in a couple of years but from the swing of “Still feeling Blue” is a complete triumph. The greatest country rock album of all time.
Elvis Presley – Elvis Is Back – 1960 – Just out of the army, back in the charts, this is Presley, not an album artist, best album: it has the breadth of masterpiece, blues, pop, rock and roll, hits and deep cuts, It sprawls its way on to the charts and Presley, in an alternative universe, was using this as a gate to a future and not a goal post.
Public Image Ltd – The Metal Box – 1978 – John Lydon (not to mention Jah Wobble and Keith Levine’s) greatest achievemnt is a heavy dubby series of devastating Poptones that ended punk, ended pop, killed off anything. In a way it is his John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (which I mentioned to Lydon but he disagreed)
Tthe Rolling Stones – Exile on Main Street- 1972 – Turds on the run to Cannes, junked up but shinging a light. It would take six years for them to get this tight a grip again.
X-Ray Specs – Germ Free Adolescents – 1978 – I might not include this in, but then again I might. Along with The Clash and the Ramones first albums, the best to come out of punk rock.
