Tag Archives: 500 greatest albums of all time

The B-52’s: Same

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The_B-52's

On July 6, 1979, “Warner Bros” label released the debut, self-titled The  B-52’s album. It was recorded 1978 – 1979, at at “Compass Point Studios” in Nassau, Bahamas, and was produced by Chris Blackwell. The album cover was designed by Tony Wright. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 152 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Fred Schneider– vocals, cowbell, toy piano, walkie talkie, keyboard bass
  • Ricky Wilson– guitars, smoke alarm
  • Kate Pierson– vocals, Farfisa organ, keyboard bass, guitar
  • Keith Strickland– percussion, drums, “Planet Claire” sounds
  • Cindy Wilson– vocals, bongos, tambourine, guitar
  • Ted Jensen – mastering

Track listing:

All tracks by The B-52’s, except where noted.

  1. Planet Claire – Henry Mancini, Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland
  2. 52 Girls – Jeremy Ayers,Ricky Wilson
  3. Dance This Mess Around
  4. Rock Lobster – Fred Schneider, Ricky Wilson
  5. Lava
  6. There’s a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon)
  7. Hero Worship – Robert Waldrop, Ricky Wilson
  8. 6060-842 – Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider,Keith Strickland, Ricky Wilson
  9. Downtown – Tonny Hatch

White Stripes: White Blood Cells

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The_White_Stripes_-_White_Blood_Cells

On July 3, 2001, “Sympathy for the Record Industry” label released “White Blood Cells”, the third White Stripes studio album. It was recorded in February 2001, at “Easley-McCain Recording” in Memphis, Tennessee, and was produced by Jack White. “Spin” magazine named “White Blood cells” the “Best Album of 2001”; in 2003, “NME” magazine ranked it at number 20 on its list of  the “Top 100 Albums of All Time”; in 2012, “Rolling Stone” ranked the album at number 497 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Jack White– lead vocals, guitar, piano, organ, mixing
  • Meg White– drums, tambourine, backing vocals
  • Stewart Sikes – engineer, mixing
  • Twirly Red – leyout, design
  • The Third Man – layout, design
  • Patrick Pantano – photography
  • Fred Kevorkian – mastering

Track listing:

All tracks by Jack White.

  1. Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
  2. Hotel Yorba
  3. I’m Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman
  4. Fell in Love With a Girl
  5. Expecting
  6. Little Room
  7. The Union Forever
  8. The Same Boy You’ve Always Known
  9. We’re Going to Be Friends
  10. Offend in Every Way
  11. I Think I Smell a Rat
  12. Aluminum
  13. I Can’t Wait
  14. Now Mary
  15. I Can Learn
  16. This Protector

 

Elvis Costello: Imperial Bedroom

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Elvis_Costello_&_the_Attractions-Imperial_Bedroom

On July 2, 1982, “F-Beat” label released “Imperial Bedroom”, the seventh Elvis Costello album. It was his second album with his backing band The Attractions. It was recorded in 1982, at “AIR Recording Studios” in London, and was produced by Geoff Emerick. In 1998, “Q” magazine ranked the album at number 96 on its list of the “Greatest Albums Ever”. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Imperial Bedroom” at number 166 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Elvis Costello– vocals, guitar, piano
  • Steve Nieve– piano, organ, harpsichord, accordion, guitar, orchestrations
  • Bruce Thomas– bass
  • Pete Thomas– drums

All tracks by Elvis Costello, except where noted.

  1. Beyond Belief
  2. Tears Before Bedtime
  3. Shabby Doll
  4. The Long Honeymoon
  5. Man Out of Time
  6. Almost Blue…
  7. And in Every Home
  8. The Loved Ones
  9. Human Hands
  10. Kid About It
  11. Little Savage
  12. Boy with a Problem – music by Elvis Costello, lyrics by Chris Difford, and Elvis Costello:
  13. Pidgin English
  14. You Little Fool
  15. Town Cryer

Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Rust Never Sleep

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Neil_Young_Rust_Never_Sleeps

On July 2, 1979, “Reprise” label released “Rust Never Sleeps”, the twelve Neil Young album. Young is accompanied by the band Crazy Horse. It was recorded 1975 – 1978, at “The Boarding House” in San Francisco, and was produced by Neil Young, David Briggs and Tim Mulligan. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Rust Never Sleeps” at number 350 on its list of the ”500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Personnel:

  • Neil Young — vocals, guitars, harmonica, organ, percussion
  • Frank “Poncho” Sampedro — electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Billy Talbot— bass, backing vocals
  • Ralph Molina— drums, backing vocals
  • Nicolette Larson— vocal
  • Joe Osborn— bass
  • Karl T. Himmel — drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Neil Young except where noted

  1. My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) – Neil Young,Jeff Blackburn
  2. Thrasher
  3. Ride My Liama
  4. Pocahontas
  5. Sail Away
  6. Powderfinger
  7. Welfare Mothers
  8. Sedan Delivery
  9. Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) – Neil Young, Jeff Blackburn

Sly and the Family Stone: Fresh

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Sly & the Family Stone-Fresh

On June 30, 1973, “Epic” label released “Fresh”, the sixth Sly and the Family Stone album. It was recorded 1972 –1973, at “Record Plant” in Sausalito, California, and was produced by Sly Stone. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Fresh” at number 186 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”

Personnel:

  • Sly Stone – vocals, organ, guitar, bass guitar, piano, harmonica
  • Freddie Stone – vocals, guitar
  • Rose Stone – vocals, piano, keyboards
  • Rusty Allen – bass guitar
  • Larry Graham – bass guitar
  • Andy Newmark – drums
  • Little Sister(Vet Stone, Mary McCreary, Elva Mouton) – vocals
  • Jerry Martini – saxophone
  • Pat Rizzo – saxophone
  • Cynthia Robinson – trumpet
  • Richard Avedon – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Sly Stone, except where noted.

  1. In Time
  2. If You Want Me to Stay
  3. Let Me Have It All
  4. Frisky
  5. Thankful N’ Thoughtful
  6. Skin I’m In
  7. I Don’t Know (Satisfaction)
  8. Keep on Dancin
  9. Qué Será, Será (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) – Ray Evans, Jay Livingston
  10. If It Were Left Up to Me
  11. Babies Makin’ Babies

The Mothers Of Invention: Freak Out!

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Freak Out!

On June 27, 1966, “Verve” label released “Freak Out!” the debut Mothers of Invention album. It was recorded in March 1996, at “Sunset-Highland Studios of T.T.G. Inc” in Hollywood, and was produced by Tom Wilson. In 1999, “Freak Out” was honored with the “Grammy Hall of Fame Award”. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” ranked it at number 246 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa– vocals, guitar, orchestration, arrangements, conductor, musical director
  • Elliot Ingber– alternate lead and rhythm guitar
  • Carol Kaye– 12-string guitar
  • Neil Le Vang– guitar
  • Ray Collins– vocals, harmonica, cymbals, sound effects, tambourine, finger cymbals, bobby pin, weezers
  • Eugene Di Novi – piano
  • Mac Rebennack– piano
  • Les McCann– piano
  • Roy Estrada– bass, guitarron, boy soprano
  • Jimmy Carl Black– vocals, percussion, drums
  • Gene Estes – percussion
  • Arthur Maebe – French horn, tuba
  • John Rotella – clarinet, sax
  • Kim Fowley– hypophone
  • Kurt Reher – cello
  • Raymond Kelley– cello
  • Paul Bergstrom – cello
  • Emmet Sargeant – cello
  • Joseph Saxon – cello
  • Edwin V. Beach – cello
  • Motorhead Sherwood– noises
  • Paul Butterfield– vocals
  • Jeannie Vassoir– the voice of Cheese
  • Val Valentin – engineer
  • Ami, Tom – engineer
  • Eugene Dinovi, Neil Levang, Vito, Ken Watson – engineer assistant
  • Jack Anesh – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. Hungry Freaks, Daddy
  2. I Ain’t Got No Heart
  3. Who Are the Brain Police?
  4. Go Cry on Somebody Else’s Shoulder – Frank Zappa, Ray Collins
  5. Motherly Love
  6. How Could I Be Such a Fool
  7. Wowie Zowie
  8. You Didn’t Try to Call Me
  9. Anyway, the Wind Blows
  10. I’m Not Satisfied
  11. You’re Probably Wondering Why I’m Here
  12. Trouble Every Day
  13. Help, I’m a Rock (Suite in Three Movements)
  • Okay to Tap Dance
  • In Memoriam, Edgard Varèse
  • It Can’t Happen Here
  1. The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet (Unfinished Ballet in Two Tableaux)
  • Ritual Dance of the Child-Killer
  • Nullis Pretii (No Commercial Potential)

Prince And The Revolution: Purple Rain

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Purple rain

On June 25, 1984, “Warner Bros” label released “Purple Rain”, the sixth Prince studio album, and the first with his band The Revolution. It was the soundtrack of the 1984 movie with the same title. The album was  recorded August 1983 – March 1984, at “First Avenue” in Minneapolis, “The Warehouse” in St. Louis Park,”Record Plant’ in Los Angeles, “Sunset Sound” in Hollywood, and was produced by Prince, Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman, Marr Fink, Brown Mark and Bobby Z. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Purple Rain” at number 70 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”; in 1993 “Time” magazine ranked the album at number 15 on its list of “Greatest Albums of All Time”. “Purple Rain” was certified 13 x Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”. In 1985, the album won two “Grammy Awards” for  “Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or TV Special” and “Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group”.In 1985, ”Purple Rain” won an “Oscar” for “Best Original Song Score”.

Personnel:

  • Prince – lead vocals, various instruments
  • Wendy Melvoin – vocals, guitar
  • Lisa Coleman – vocals, keyboards
  • Matt Fink– keyboards
  • Brown Mark– bass
  • Bobby Z.– drums, percussion
  • Novi Novog– violin, viola
  • David Coleman – cello
  • Suzie Katayama – cello
  • Apollonia– co-lead vocals
  • Jill Jones– backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Prince except where noted.

  1. Let’s Go Crazy
  2. Take Me With U
  3. The Beautiful Ones
  4. Computer Blue – Prince, John L. Nelson, Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman and D. Fink
  5. Darling Nikki
  6. When Doves Cry
  7. I Would Die 4 U
  8. Baby I’m a Star
  9. Purple Rain

Joni Mitchell: Blue

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Blue

On June 22, 1971, “Reprise” label released “Blue”, the fourth Joni  Mitchell album. It was recorded in 1971, at “A&M Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Joni Mitchell. The album was both critical and commercial success, regarded by critics as one of the greatest albums of all time. In 1999, “Blue” was awarded with the “Grammy Hall of Fame” award; in 2002, “Q” magazine ranked “Blue” at number eight on its list of the “Greatest Album of All-Time by a Female Artist”; in 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Blue” at number thirty on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”, and in 2012, the same magazine ranked the album at number two on its list of “Women Who Rock: The 50 Greatest Female Albums Of All Time”.

Personnel

  • Joni Mitchell – vocals, Appalachian dulcimer, guitar, piano
  • James Taylor– guitar
  • Sneaky Pete Kleinow– pedal steel
  • Stephen Stills – bass, guitar
  • Russ Kunkel– drums

Track listing

All tracks by Joni Mitchell.

  1. All I Want
  2. My Old Man
  3. Little Green
  4. Carey
  5. Blue
  6. California
  7. This Flight Tonight
  8. River
  9. A Case of You
  10. The Last Time I Saw Richard

The Byrds: Mr. Tambourine Man

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Byrds - Mr Tambourine Man

On June 21, 1965, “Columbia” label released “Mr. Tambourine Man”, The Byrds debut album. It was recorded January 20 – April 22, 1965, at “Columbia Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Terry Melcher.  “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Mr. Tambourine Man” at number 232 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Jim McGuinn – vocals. lead guitar
  • Gene Clark- vocals, rhythm guitar, tambourine
  • David Crosby – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Jerry Cole – rhythm guitar
  • Leon Russell- electric piano
  • Larry Knechtel- electric bass
  • Chris Hillman- electric bass
  • Michael Clarke- drums
  • Hal Blaine– drums
  • Barry Feinstein – photography

Track listing:

  1. Tambourine Man – Bob Dylan
  2. I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better – Gene Clark
  3. Spanish Harlem Incident – Bob Dylan
  4. You Won’t Have to Cry – Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn
  5. Here Without You – Gene Clark
  6. The Bells of Rhymney – Idris Davies, Pete Seeger
  7. All I Really Want to Do – Bob Dylan
  8. I Knew I’d Want You – Gene Clark
  9. It’s No Use – Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn
  10. Don’t Doubt Yourself, Babe – Jackie DeShannon
  11. Chimes of Freedom – Bob Dylan
  12. We’ll Meet Again – Ross Parker, Hughie Charles

 

 

Neil Young: Tonight’s The Night

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Neil_Young - Tonight is the Night_cover

On June 20, 1975, “Reprise” label released “Tonight’s the Night”, the sixth Neil Young studio album. It was recorded March 1970, December 1972, August–September 1973, at “Studio Instrument Rentals” in Hollywood, “Fillmore East” in New York City, “Broken Arrow Ranch”, and was produced by David Briggs , Neil Young, Tim Mulligan and Elliot Mazer. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” label ranked “Tonight’s the Night” at number 331on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Neil Young— vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, vibes
  • George Whitsell — vocal
  • Ben Keith— pedal steel guitar, vocal, slide guitar
  • Nils Lofgren— piano, vocal, guitar
  • Danny Whitten— vocal, electric guitar
  • Jack Nitzsche— electric piano, piano
  • Billy Talbot— bass
  • Tim Drummond— bass
  • Ralph Molina— drums, vocal
  • Kenny Buttrey— drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Neil Young, except where noted.

  1. Tonight’s the Night
  2. Speakin’ Out
  3. World on a String
  4. Borrowed Tune
  5. Come on Baby Let’s Go Downtown – Neil Young, Danny Whitten
  6. Mellow My Mind
  7. Roll Another Number
  8. Albuquerque
  9. New Mama
  10. Lookout Joe
  11. Tired Eyes
  12. Tonight’s the Night