Tag Archives: 500 greatest albums of all time

Eagles: Same

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The Eagles

On June 1, 1972, “Asylum” label released the self-titled, debut Eagles album. It was recorded in February 1972, at “Olympic Studios” in London, and was produced by Glyn Johns. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 368 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. The single “Take It Easy” is part of the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” of the “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll”. In March 2001, the album was certified Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Glenn Frey– vocals, guitars, slide guitar
  • Bernie Leadon– vocals, guitars, banjo
  • Randy Meisner– vocals, bass guitar
  • Don Henley– vocals, drums
  • Glyn Johns– engineer
  • Gary Burden– art direction, design
  • Henry Diltz– photography

Track listing:

  1. Take it Easy – Jackson Browne, Glenn Frey
  2. Witchy Woman – Don Henley, Bernie Leadon
  3. Chug All Night – Glenn Frey
  4. Most of Us Are Sad – Glenn Frey
  5. Nightingale – Jackson Browne
  6. Train Leaves Here This Morning – Gene Clark, Bernie Leadon
  7. Take the Devil – Randy Meisner
  8. Earlybird – Bernie Leadon, Randy Meisner
  9. Peaceful Easy Feeling – Jack Tempchin
  10. Tryin’ – Randy Meisner

Echo & The Bunnymen: Heaven Up Here

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Heaven Up Here

On May 30, 1981, “Korova” label released “Heaven Up Here”, the second Echo & the Bunnymen album. It was recorded in March 1981, at “Rockfield Studios” in Monmouth, Wales, and was produced by Hugh Jones , Ian McCulloch, Les pattinson, Pete de Freitas and Will Sergeant. In 1981 ”Heaven Up Here” was voted “Best Dressed LP” and “Best Album” awards at the “NME Awards”. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 471 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of all Time”.

Personnel:

  • Ian McCulloch– vocals, rhythm guitar, piano
  • Will Sergeant– lead guitar
  • Les Pattinson– bass
  • Pete de Freitas– drums
  • Leslie Penning – woodwind
  • Claes Neeb – engineer
  • Hugh Jones– engineer
  • Martyn Atkins – design
  • Brian Griffin – cover photography
  • Brian Griffin – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson and Pete de Freitas.

  1. Show of Strength
  2. With a Hip
  3. Over the Wall
  4. It Was a Pleasure
  5. A Promise
  6. Heaven Up Here
  7. The Disease
  8. All My Colours
  9. No Dark Things
  10. Turquoise Days
  11. All I Want

Bob Dylan: The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan

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Bob_Dylan_-_The_Freewheelin

On May 27, 1963, “Columbia” label released “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan”, the second Bob Dylan studio album. It was recorded 1962 – 1963 at “Columbia Records Studio A” in New York City, and was produced by John Hammond and Tom Wilson. The album contains thirteen songs; eleven of them are Dylan’s original compositions. The album features some of Dylan’s best known songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind”, which became an anthem of the 1960s, and “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall”. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” at number 97 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards
  • Howie Collins – guitar
  • Bruce Langhorne– guitar
  • Dick Wellstood– piano
  • Leonard Gaskin– bass guitar
  • Herb Lovelle– drums
  • Don Hustein – photography
  • Nat Hentoff – liner notes

Track listing

All tracks by Bob Dylan, except where noted.

  1. Blowin’ in the Wind
  2. Girl From the North Country
  3. Masters of War
  4. Down the Highway
  5. Bob Dylan’s Blues
  6. A Hard Rain’s a Gonna Fall
  7. Don’t Think Twice, it’s Alright
  8. Bob Dylan’s Dream
  9. Oxford Town
  10. Talkin’ World War III Blues
  11. Corina, Corina – traditional
  12. Honey, Just Allow Me Just One More Chance – Bob Dylan, Henry Thomas
  13. I Shall Be Free

Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On

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Whats+Going+On

On May 21, 1971, “Tamla” label released “What’s Going On”, the eleventh Marvin Gaye studio album. It was recorded June –September 1970; March – May 1971,  at “Hitsville U.S.A.”, “Golden World”, and “United Sound Studios” in Detroit and “The Sound Factory” in Hollywood, and was produced by Marvin Gaye. “What’s Going On” was an immediate success both commercially and critically, and is regarded as one of the most important albums in the music history. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked it at number six on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 1985, readers of “NME” magazine voted “What’s Going On” the “Best Album of all Time”. “Guardian” ranked “What’s Going On at number one on its list of the “100 Best Albums Ever”.

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – lead and backing vocals, piano, mellotron, box drum
  • The Detroit Symphony Orchestra conducted and arranged by David Van De Pitte
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Solo Horns – instrumentation
  • Joe Messina, Robert White– electric guitars
  • Jack Ashford– tambourine, percussion
  • Earl Van Dyke– keyboards
  • Johnny Griffith– celeste, keyboards
  • Max Janowsky – double bass
  • James Jamerson– bass guitar
  • Bob Babbitt– bass guitar
  • Chet Forest – drums
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown– bongos, congas
  • Earl DeRouen – bongos, congas
  • Bobbye Hall– bongos
  • Jack Brokensha– vibraphone, percussion
  • Larry Nozero, Angelo Carlisi, George Benson, Tate Houston– saxophone
  • Eli Fontaine– alto saxophone
  • Wild Bill Moore– tenor saxophone
  • John Trudell, Maurice Davis – trumpet
  • Nilesh Pawar – oboe
  • Carl Raetz – trombone
  • Dayna Hardwick, William Perich – flutes
  • Gordon Staples, Zinovi Bistritzky, Beatriz Budinzky, Richard Margitza, Virginia Halfmann, Felix Resnick, Alvin Score, Lillian Downs, James Waring – violin
  • Edouard Kesner, Meyer Shapiro, David Ireland, Nathan Gordon – viola
  • Italo Babini, Thaddeus Markiewicz, Edward Korkigan – cello
  • Carole Crosby – harp
  • The Andantes – Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps – backing vocals
  • Mel Farr, Charlie Sandersand  and Lem Barney of the Detroit Lions – backing vocals
  • Dave Bingof, The Detroit Pistons, Bobby Rogersof , The Miracles, Elgie Stover, Kenneth Stover – backing vocals
  • Curtis McNair – art direction
  • Katherine Marking – design
  • Alana Coghlan – design
  • James Hendin – photography

Track listing:

  1. What’s Going On – Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye, Renaldo “Obie” Benson
  2. What’s Happening Brother – Marvin Gaye, James Nyx Jr.
  3. Flyin’ High (In the Friendly Sky) – Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, Elgie Stover
  4. Save the Children – Al Cleveland, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, Marvin Gaye
  5. God is Love – Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, James Nyx Jr.
  6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) – Marvin Gaye
  7. Right On – Earl DeRouen, Marvin Gaye
  8. Wholy Holy – Renaldo “Oboe” Benson, Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye
  9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) – Marvin Gaye, James Nyx Jr,

Elton John: Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy

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Elton_John_-_Captain_Fantastic_and_the_Brown_Dirt_Cowboy

On May 19, 1975, “DJM” label released “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy”, the ninth Elton John studio album. It was recorded June–July 1974, at “Caribou Ranch” in Nederland, Colorado, and was produced by Gus Dudgeon. In 1993, the album was certified 3 x Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy” at number 158 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Elton John– vocals, acoustic and electric pianos, clavinet, mellotron, ARP String Ensemble synthesizer, harpsichord
  • Davey Johnstone– acoustic, electric and Leslie guitars, mandolin, piano , backing vocals
  • Dee Murray– bass, backing vocals
  • Nigel Olsson– drums, backing vocals
  • Ray Cooper– shaker, congas, gong, jawbone, tambourine, bells, bell  tree, cymbals, triangle, bongos
  • David Hentschel– ARP synthesizer
  • Gene Page– orchestral arrangements
  • Jeff Guercio – engineer
  • Mark Guercio – engineer assistant
  • Gus Dudgeon, Phil Dunne – remix
  • David Larkham – art direction, graphic concept
  • Bernie Taupin – art direction, graphic concept
  • Alan Aldridge – cover design
  • David Larkham – package design
  • Alan Aldridge – illustration

Track listing:

All tracks by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted.

  1. Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
  2. Tower of Babel
  3. Bitter Fingers
  4. Tell Me When the Whistle Blows
  5. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
  6. (Gotta Get a) Meal Ticket
  7. Better Off Dead
  8. Writing
  9. We All Fall in Love Sometimes
  10. Curtains

Elton John: Honky Château

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Elton John Honky Chateau HIGH RESOLUTION COVER ART

On May 19, 1972, “DJM” label released “Honky Château”, the fifth Elton John studio album. It was recorded in January 1972, at “Château d’Hérouville” in Hérouville, France, and was produced by Gus Dudgeon. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Honky Château” at number 357 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 1995, the album was certified Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Elton John– vocals, piano , organ
  • Davey Johnstone– guitars, banjo, steel guitar, mandolin, backing vocals
  • Dee Murray– bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Nigel Olsson– drums, congas, tambourine, backing vocals
  • Jean-Louis Chautemps, Alain Hatot – saxophones
  • Jason Barnhart – trumpet
  • Jacques Bolognesi – trombone
  • Jean-Luc Ponty– electric violin
  • Legs” Larry Smith– tap dance, mastering
  • David Hentschel– ARP synthesizer
  • Ray Cooper– congas
  • Gus Dudgeon– rhino whistle, backing vocals
  • Madeline Bell, Liza Strike, Larry Steel,Tony Hazzard – backing vocals
  • Gus Dudgeon – brass arrangements
  • Ken Scott – engineer
  • Tony Cousins – remastering
  • Gus Skinas – editing
  • Ed Caraeff – cover photographyr

Track listing:

All tracks by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

  1. Honky Cat
  2. Mellow
  3. I Think I’m Going to Kill Myself
  4. Susie (Dramas)
  5. Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)
  6. Salvation
  7. Slave
  8. Amy
  9. Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
  10. Hercules

The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds

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Pet Sounds

On May 16, 1966, “Capitol” label released “Pet Sounds”, the eleventh Beach Boys studio album. It was recorded July 12, 1965 – April 13, 1966, at “United Western Recorders”, “Gold Star Studios”, “CBS Columbia Square”, and “Sunset Sound Recorders” in Hollywood, and was produced by Brian Wilson. The album is regarded as one of the most important and influential albums in the music history. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Pet Sounds” at number two on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

The Beach Boys

  • Al Jardine– lead, harmony and backing vocals, tambourine
  • Bruce Johnston– harmony and backing vocals
  • Mike Love– lead, harmony and backing vocals
  • Brian Wilson– lead, harmony and backing vocals, dog whistles, organ, piano, sound effects
  • Carl Wilson– lead, harmony and backing vocals, guitar, twelve-string guitar
  • Dennis Wilson– harmony and backing vocals, drums
  • Glen Campbell– guitar, twelve-string electric guitar
  • Al Casey– guitar
  • Mike Deasy– guitar
  • Bill Pittman– guitar
  • Tommy Tedesco– acoustic guitar
  • Barney Kessel– guitar, mandolin
  • Billy Strange– electric guitar, guitar, twelve-string electric guitar
  • Jerry Cole– electric guitar, guitar, mandolin
  • Terry Melcher– tambourine
  • Ron Swallow– tambourine
  • Don Randi– piano
  • Al De Lory– harpsichord, organ, piano, tack piano
  • Tony Asher– plucked piano, strings
  • Carl Fortina– accordion
  • Frank Marocco– accordion
  • Tommy Morgan– harmonica
  • Larry Knechtel– organ
  • Ray Pohlman– Danelectro bass, electric bass, mandolin, guitar
  • Carole Kaye– electric bass
  • Lyle Ritz– string bass, ukulele
  • Chuck Berghofer– string bass
  • Hal Blaine– bongos, drums, tympani
  • Ritchie Frost– drums, empty Coca-Cola cans, percussion
  • Nick Martinis– drums
  • Gary Coleman – bongos, tympani
  • Julius Wechter– tympani, latin percussion, percussion, vibraphone
  • Jerry Williams– percussion
  • Frank Capp– bells, glockenspiel, latin percussion, percussion, tympani, vibraphone
  • Jim Gordon– drums, percussion
  • Paul Tanner– theremin
  • Bill Green– flute, percussion, saxophone, tenor saxophone
  • Leonard Hartman– bass clarinet, clarinet, English horn
  • Jim Horn– baritone saxophone, flute, tenor saxophone, saxophone
  • Jay Migliori– baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, clarinet, flute, saxophone
  • Steve Douglas– clarinet, flute, percussion, tenor saxophone, saxophone
  • Paul Horn– tenor saxophone
  • Bobby Klein– tenor saxophone
  • Jack Nimitz– baritone saxophone
  • Roy Caton– trumpet
  • Gail Martin– trombone
  • Ernie Tack– bass trombone
  • Alan Robinson – French horn
  • Jules Jacob– flute
  • Plas Johnson– flute, percussion, saxophone, tenor saxophone
  • James Getzoff– violin
  • William Kurasch– violin
  • Leonard Malarsky– violin
  • Arnold Belnick– violin
  • Jerome Reisler– violin
  • Tibor Zelig– violin
  • Ralph Schaeffer– violin
  • Sid Sharp– violin
  • Norman Botnick– viola
  • Harry Hyams– viola
  • Joseph DiFiore– viola
  • Darrel Terwilliger– viola
  • Justin DiTullio– cello
  • Jesse Erlich– cello
  • Joseph Saxon– cello
  • Mike Melvoin– harpsichord
  • “Tony” – sleigh bell

Track listing

All tracks by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher except where noted.

  1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
  2. You Still Believe in Me
  3. That’s Not Me
  4. Don’t Talk
  5. I’m Waiting for the Day – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
  6. Let’s Go Away for Awhile – Brian Wilson
  7. Sloop John B – trad. arr. Brian Wilson
  8. God Only Knows
  9. I Know There’s an Answer – Brian Wilson, Terry Sachen, Mike Love
  10. Here Today
  11. I Just Wasnt Made for These Times
  12. Pet Sounds – Brian Wilson
  13. Caroline, No

Bob Dylan: Blonde On Blonde

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Bob_Dylan_-_Blonde_on_Blonde

On May 16, 1966, “Columbia” label released “Blonde on Blonde”, the seventh Bob Dylan studio. It was recorded October 5, 1965; November 30, 1965; and January 25, 1966, at “Studio A, Columbia Recording Studios” in New York; February 14–17 and March 8–10, 1966, at “Columbia Studio B” in Nashville, Tennessee, and was produced by Bob Johnston. “Blonde on Blonde” completed Dylan’s trilogy of albums that he recorded in 1965 and 1966 (Bringing It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited).  In 1974, “NME” magazine ranked “Blonde on Blonde” at number 2 on its list of “The Greatest Albums of All Time”. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 9 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personne

  • Bob Dylan– vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano
  • Jerry Kennedy– guitar
  • Wayne Moss– vocals, guitar
  • Hargus “Pig” Robbins– piano, keyboards
  • Robbie Robertson– vocals, guitar
  • Al Kooper– organ, guitar
  • Bill Aikins– keyboards
  • Paul Griffin– piano
  • Charlie McCoy– bass guitar, guitar, harmonica, trumpet
  • Henry Strzelecki – bass guitar
  • Joe South– bass guitar, guitar
  • Rick Dankoor Bill Lee – bass guitar
  • Kenneth Buttrey– drums
  • Bobby Gregg– drums
  • Wayne Butler– trombone

Track listing

All tracks by Bob Dylan

  1. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
  2. Pledging My Time
  3. Visions of Johanna
  4. One of us Must Know
  5. Most Likely You Go Away
  6. Temporary Like Achilles
  7. Absolutely Sweet Marie
  8. 4thAround
  9. Obviously 5 Believers

Dire Straits: Brothers In Arms

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DS_Brothers_in_Arms

On May 13, 1985, “Vertigo” label released “Brothers in Arms”, the fifth Dire Straits studio album. It was recorded November 1984 – March 1985, at “AIR Studios” in Montserrat, and was produced by Neil Dorfsman and Mark Knopfler. In 1986 “Brothers in Arms” won two “Grammy Awards”, and also won “Best British Album” at the 1987 “Brit Awards”. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Brothers in Arms” at number 351 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of all Time”. The album was ranked at number 51 on “Q” magazine list of the “100 Greatest British Albums Ever”. The album was certified 9 x Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”. It became the seventh best-selling album in UK chart history, and with total sale of more than thirty million copies worldwide, “Brothers in Arms” is one of the world’s best-selling albums ever.

Personnel:

  • Mark Knopfler– lead vocals, guitars
  • Alan Clark– keyboards
  • Guy Fletcher– synthesizer, backing vocals
  • John Illsley– vocals, bass
  • Neil Jason– bass
  • Tony Levin– bass
  • Omar Hakim– drums
  • Terry Williams– drums
  • Jimmy Maelen– percussion
  • Michael Mainieri– vibraphone
  • Jack Sonni– guitar
  • Michael Brecker– tenor saxophone
  • Malcolm Duncan– tenor saxophone
  • Randy Brecker– trumpet
  • Dave Plews – trumpet
  • Sting– backing vocals
  • Neil Dorfsman – engineer
  • Steve Jackson – engineer assistant
  • Bruce Lampcov – engineer assistant
  • John Dent – mastering
  • Thomas Steyer – painting
  • Sutton Cooper – photography
  • Deborah Feingold – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Mark Knopfler, except where noted.

  1. So Far Away
  2. Money for Nothing – Mark Knopfler, Sting
  3. Walk of Life
  4. Your Latest Trick
  5. Why Worry
  6. Ride Across the River
  7. The Man’s Too Strong
  8. One World
  9. Brothers in Arms

The Rolling Stones: Exile on Main Street

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Exile on the MainSt

On May 12, 1972, “Rolling Stones Records” label released “Exile on Main Street”,  the twelve Rolling Stones album. It was recorded October 1970 – March 1972, at “Olympic Studios” in London, in Nellcote in France, and “Sunset Sound Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Jimmy Miller. In 1998, “Q” magazine readers voted “Exile on Main Street” the 42nd greatest album of all time, and in 2000 the same magazine ranked it at number 3 in its list of the “100 Greatest British Albums Ever”. In 2003, the album was ranked 7th on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Mick Jagger– lead and backing  vocals, harmonica, percussion, rhythm guitar
  • Keith Richards– lead and backing vocals, guitars, electric piano, bass guitar
  • Mick Taylor– guitars, slide guitar, bass guitar
  • Bill Wyman– bass guitar
  • Charlie Watts– drums
  • Nicky Hopkins– piano
  • Ian Stewart– piano
  • Al Perkins– pedal steel guitar
  • Chris Shepard – tambourine
  • Billy Preston– piano, organ
  • Bill Plummer – upright bass
  • Jimmy Miller– drums, percussion
  • Richard Washington – marimba
  • Bobby Keys– saxophone; percussion
  • Jim Price– trumpet, trombone, organ
  • Clydie King, Venetta Fields– backing vocals
  • Joe Green – backing vocals
  • Gram Parsons– backing vocals
  • Jerry Kirkland – backing vocals
  • Mac Rebennack, Shirley Goodman, Tami Lynn– backing vocals
  • Kathi McDonald– backing vocals
  • Glynand Andy Johns, Joe Zaganno, Jeremy Gee – engineer
  • Doug Sax – mastering
  • Robert Frank – cover photography concept
  • John Van Hamersveld, Norman Seeff – layout, design

Track listing:

All tracks by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, except where noted.

  1. Rocks Off
  2. Rip This Joint
  3. Shape Your Hips – Slim Harpo
  4. Casino Boogie
  5. Tumbling Dice
  6. Sweet Virginia
  7. Torn and Frayed
  8. Sweet Black Angel
  9. Loving Cup
  10. Happy
  11. Turd on the Run
  12. Ventilator Blues – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor
  13. I Just Want to See His Face
  14. Let it Loose
  15. All Down the Line
  16. Stop Breaking Down – Robert Johnson
  17. Shine a Light
  18. Soul Survivor