What is for you the Best Double Album ever made and why ?

clint.

ABB, "Live at the Fillmore"
If you've heard it, you know why

Hard to argue with anyone who nominates "Live at the Fillmore," but I nominate Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew," because of its complexity. Even after more than 30 years I find myself getting lost in different musical themes on repeated listening.

Of course, I could say the same thing about "Live at the Fillmore.":guitar::guitar:

Funny that Duane Allman and Miles Davis were both mentioned. Duane got a lot of his inspiration from Miles and Jazz by his own admission. Both albums are great. "The White Album" (Beatles) is still one of my favorites even though it kind of falls apart by Side 4. The Who's "Tommy" was very creative too. OH! I forgot one! "London Calling" by The Clash! :thmbsp:

No arguement with the prior mentions but I think Exile On Main Street (Rolling Stones) is absolutely fantastic.

http://images-jp.amazon.com/images/P/B000002ITW.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

I would agree with most of the selections above,and would like to add to the list: The Kink Kronikles- David

I can think of very few 2-LP sets in which all 4 sides are strong.
Upon reflection, I think I'd cast my vote for Little Feat's live "Waiting for Columbus"... especially the MoFi vinyl.

Runner up: The Who's "Quadrophenia"

Lots of good mentions above, but let's not forget.......

Genesis: The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

and....

Pink Floyd: The Wall


I think we're getting into "top ten" by now :yes:

The Beatles' "White Album." Since they weren't forced to reduce it to a single record, they were able to include some pretty good songs that would not have made the cut.

Dylan's Blond on Blond of course: :yes:

Lefty

Ditto to all ABB on Mofi is excellent.

1. Live In Paris by Supertramp.
Much tighter and emotional performances than on the studio cuts and not a single second below sheer perfection - rare for a concert! And to think those guys could do location recording on 2" multitrack still has me dreamy over a gone-by period...

2. URK by The Nits, 1989
Ok - it's a triple live :D but it's The Nits at the height of their writing skills, with the original lineup, recorded mostly east of Europe.

3. Pink Floyd's The Wall
No need to add anything on that one I guess...

4. Layla... by Derek and the Dominoes
...bis repetita.


All have outstanding sound (on LP), too, which is not that important but adds to the pleasure. "Layla" is not that magnificently recorded (think of what state they were in when they made it...) but I couldn't care less.

Although I'm a compleat Beatlehead, the White Album would only be a runner-up to me as I agree with George Martin's opinion of it.

So...
What was George Martin's opinion of the White Album?

...that it should've been "tightened" a bit...

Allman Brothers.........Eat a Peach

I would agree (FWIW) :-)

1. Live In Paris by Supertramp.
Much tighter and emotional performances than on the studio cuts and not a single second below sheer perfection - rare for a concert! And to think those guys could do location recording on 2" multitrack still has me dreamy over a gone-by period...

AXEL! you should be ASHAMED! Supertramp is one of the wussiest groups EVER! Heh heh...to each his own, though!

Have you tried Metal Machine Music?! Rumor has it that Saddam Hussein was going to use MMM, blasted at maximum volume, to destroy all of the American forces...but he couldn't get his crappy Best Buy TT to function!!

MMM is possibly the most devestating (to the ears) 2LP ever made.

sorry mg, never heard MMM - but "devastating" ain't my favorite taste no more.

Nothing personal or offensive but I'm into melody and harmony structures with the two Pauls (Macca' and Simon), and Brian Wilson's Pet Sounds... And I still think Supertramp had wonderful songs, structures and, occasionally, fair lyrics.

...which doesn't mean I don't get a great kick out of any Hendrix' wall of larsen, a nice jerky Zappa or of a Whole Lotta Love - but one has preferences. And my favorite LR song still is... Walk on the Wild Side.

EDIT: I must add Bowie's "Earthlings" to my above shortlist of favorite devastating ear-kickers.

Some great albums already mentioned like Miles Davis' Bitches Brew and ABB's Live At Fillmore and Little Feat's Waiting For Columbus, those are killer. I'd like to add...

CTA - CTA. Far and away Chicago's best album. Terry Kath is a monster on the guitar. Steve Winwood's I'm A Man never sounded better. I do think Free Form Guitar is a little "noisey" and directionless though.

Jethro Tull - Living In The Past. This album collects all the singles not released on albums. Some redundant tunes but it's tops with me in the double album category.

Rush - All The World's A Stage. Early live Rush. Released just before 2112 although it does include the first side of 2112. Love it or hate it. I think it's fantastic.

Stevie Wonder "Songs in the Key of Life"

Some truly great albums mentioned, but there can only be one "best" (that's what the thread said), and it's ...

The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street

The best of the best. Tastiest writing, performing, production. Best R+R record of all time. My only regret is that the only decent way to get it is on vinyl (I am still playing my original that I purchased when it first hit the stores in 1972). Fortunately it was pretty good vinyl. Who would think you still can't get a better version.

Some great ones mentioned that I have in my collection. The double album I have that gets the most play is Bruce Springsteen: The River

Springsteen's "The River" is pretty good as I recall but oh so dark. Not something to listen to in the depths of January in New England!

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

Elton and Bernie at their creative peak, and the band -- Nigel Olsson, Dee Murray, Davey Johnstone -- in great form.

I would agree with most of the selections above,and would like to add to the list:

Jimmy Hendrix : Electric Ladyland.
When Jimmy starts to play electric guitar,many things changed in rock music.

clint.

The Smiths - Louder than Bombs
Amazingly cohesive for a collection of B-sides and other odds and ends -- Foe

Ramones - It's Alive.
Punk Rock starts with this three chords stompin' speed rock'n'rollers. :thmbsp:
Johnny Rotten was in the audience and after with Malcom Maclaren form
The Sex Pistols. :naughty:
...and then bands like :
Husker Du - Warehouse:Songs and Stories.
Frank Black - Teenager of The Year.

enjoy
clint.

CSN+Y Four way Street,Elton John Good Bye Yellow Brick Road,Who-Quadrophinia,Frampton-Comes Alive,Michael Stanley-Stage Pass-Beatles-White Album,Jimi Hendrix-Electric Lady Lady-Band The Big Pink,Genesis Pick One-Government Mule-Dave Mathews-pick one-Deep Purple,Made in Japan,Outlaws-Bring them Back Alive.I would have to dive deeper into the stacks,BWTF and DGAS.Joe momoyo-but who the F&*K cares anyway.The best way to cure any problem is to irradicate the source.Pick a number.Allman Brothers-pick one,Three Dog Night,Humble Pie,The Rolling Stones,ABBA,Eagles Live.The list is huge,Duane Allman Anthology,Santana-pick one,it requires way too much thought since I am back in season with my girls high school volleyball team.WTHFC?

UMMA GUMMA - Pink Floyd

Not a top ten hit to be found in it

and

Ginger Baker's Airforce

In No Particular Order: My Faves

Iron Maiden: Live After Death

Heavy Metal: Original Soundtrack

Star Wars: Original Soundtrack

Saturday Night Fever: Original Soundtrack

Pink Floyd: The Wall

Elton John: G-BYBRoad

Axel...nice Rick you got there. My favorite of all time is easily The Wall. There was a double LP out by Sigur Ros a couple years ago that I really enjoyed also...though Im not claiming it to be the greatest.

I read somewhere that Supertramp set out to make their concert sound as good as studio sound. That may well be why the live album by them sounds so good. Chicago set out to do the same thing back in the '70s. Their Live at Carnegie Hall box set also reflects that. I think in the same article the author mentioned that they used Altec Lansing sound systems because the Altec horns were the only speakers that could get the job done.


Harry

Elton's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road has to be on the list... The Wall also. I'd add "Out Of The Blue" by ELO.

Musicianship

I'm with the Wall, very few albums I can listen to all the way through and that is one of them. Another is AKUS live album, someday I'll afford it on vinyl.

Thank you Sugardawg - that Rick is the ONE object i care for.
Not the best guitar I've had, not the best I have but we belong to each other like no other instrument I have or have had.

harryB,
do you happen to remember where that Supertramp article was?

btw, I didn't remember I had the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road LP... in a nice original US edition in thick transparent YELLOW vinyl :) 'been ages since I spun that one. Good reminder.

Axel,

I would say it was at least 10 years ago. I could be wrong. I just remember the note about Supertramp recreating the studio sound in a live concert setting. I can't remember where I read it. I would guess it was a Hi Fi magazine of some sort.

hope this helped,

Harry

Whats weird is that as someone who has grown up in the post-vinyl world, the majority of these are single CDs in my collection. It hadn't even occured to me that many were originally released as double albums.

Deep Purple: Made In Japan.

Because.....

For a live recording the sound quality is exellent, But most importantly...it sums up what Deep Purple is (was)...all about: The best band ever...for just outright jammin'!!!
In a track called "The Mule"....you are treated to what can be called one of the best drum solos ever commited to vynil. There is talent through-out this band. Ian Gillians voice....Ritchie Blackmores guitar licks...John Lords keyboard...Roger Glovers Bass...and of course....the MASTER of the drum kit...Ian Paice.

Sure..."Smoke on the Water" has been played to death on FM radio over the years....but its the LEAST famous tunes by Purple that are best.

Yes! I'm a deep Purple freak. I've had every album they ever made. For sheer musical talent....No-one can touch them.

( The cd of "Made In Japan" is a single disc.)


Russ

Prince-1999
Prince-Sign of The Times
Ramones-Its Alive
Donna Summer-Bad Girls
Like Michael Jackson,Prince often gets overlooked due to his general flakiness.Ive seen him in concert 3 times now,and hes one hell of a performer and musician.
Jimmy

Good ones. ill add a couple. The Doors Alive. Uriah Heep Live 1973.

The Clash _ London Calling. :thmbsp:
Because it gots everything :Rock,Pop,Rock'n'Roll,Punk,Reggae,Ska and Soul&Truth.

clint.

The first is still one of the best, Freak Out by The Mothers Of Invention :

Tommy
The White Album
Electric Ladyland

"So Long, So Wrong" - Alison Krauss and Union Station: Just an excellent recording and Alison has a wonderful voice.

"Dead Set" - Grateful Dead - Mainly becuase I just enjoy their music and the album art is both on the front and back and I just like the picture.

Chicago Transit Authority - just good music.

Woodstock - because I wanted to be there but had no money to get from Texas to New York.

Led Zeppelin - Physical Grafitti
Genesis - The Lamb lies down in Broadway

Haven't listened to this for years: George Harrison- All things must Pass.
Actually a triple, but the jams seem like they were just add-ons from the sessions.
For what I have no idea bc the rest of the album is stellar.

Chicago II-another group I don't listen to anymore.
Stopped with Chicago VI after Kath's death.

I have to third or fourth the Gabriel/Genesis masterpiece Lamb Lies Down etc.

Exile OMS: great Stones album (I think this is the 4th time mentioned also)

I think the Cure had a double, but don't remember the title.

The Nuge: Double Live Gonzo!

Balthazarr,

Ah, the triple All Things Must Pass... like the one who made it: very discrete!
I haven't heard it in ages either but my original box has seen better days - I'll wait to buy the...cd.
IIRC, the jams are what would become Derek and the Dominos, rehearsing to become Derek and the Dominos as a few (future) Dominos were playing on ATMP.

Balth,

Funny that you mention George H. and ChicagoII in the same post. I just picked both sets up for .59 ea at GW last week. I'm looking forward to hearing them. My Mom used to play Chicago for me when I was a kid, but I've never heard the Harrison LP. Lots of good musicians on it though.

It's a Collector Series but still a great double album.

The Ventures. :thmbsp:

clint.