Tag Archives: 500 greatest albums of all time

Blur: Same

Blur_Blur

On February 10, 1997, “Food Records” label released the self titled, fifth Blur studio album. It was recorded July to November 1996, at “Stúdíó Grettisgat” in Reykjavík, “Maison Rouge Studio” in Fulham, “Studio 13 Mayfair Studios” in London, and was produced by Stephen Street, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree.  In 2013, “NME” magazine ranked the album at number 137 in its list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Personnel:

  • Damon Albarn– lead vocals, piano, keyboards, Hammond organ, acoustic guitar
  • Graham Coxon– lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, Theremin,  drums
  • Alex James– bass guitar, lead and rhythm basses
  • Dave Rowntree– drums, percussion

Track listing:

All tracks by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree, except where noted.

  1. Beetlebum
  2. Song 2
  3. Country Sad Ballad Man
  4. M.O.R. – David Albarn, David Bowie, Graham Coxon, Brian Eno, Alex James, Dave Rowntree
  5. On Your Own
  6. Theme from Retro
  7. You’re So Great – Graham Coxon
  8. Death of a Party
  9. Chinese Bombs
  10. I’m Just a Killer for Your Love
  11. Look Inside America
  12. Strange News from Another Star
  13. Movin On
  14. Essex Dogs” (includes hidden track Interlude)

 

Fleetwood Mac: Rumours

Fleetwood Mac Rumours

On February 4, 1977, “Warner Bros” label released “Rumours”, the eleventh Fleetwood Mac studio album.  It was recorded in 1976, at “Criteria Studios” in Miami; “Record Plant Studios” in Los Angeles; “Zellerbach Auditorium” in Berkeley and “Wally Heider Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Lindsey Buckingham,  Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie, Stevie Nicks, Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut. “Rumours” won “Grammy Award for Album of the Year” in 1978, the three major US trade publications – “Billboard”, “Cash Box, and Record World”, named it “Album of the Year” for 1977. The album has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time. Rumours has received Diamond certifications in several countries, including the US, Canada, and Australia. “Rumours” was certified 11 x Platinum in UK by the “BPI”; it has received a “Diamond Award” in US by “RIAA” for a 20 x Platinum certification or 20 million units shipped. In 1998, magazine “Q”  ranked  “Rumours” at number three in its list of “50 Best Albums of the 70’s’; in 1999,  “Vibe”  featured it as one of “100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century”; in  2003, “VH1” ranked “Rumours” at number 16 during its “100 Greatest Albums Countdown” and magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked it at number 25 in its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Lindsey Buckingham – vocals, guitars, dobro, percussion
  • Stevie Nicks– vocals
  • Christine McVie – vocals, keyboards
  • John McVie– bass guitar
  • Mick Fleetwood– drums, percussion, harpsichord
  • Desmond Strobel – design
  • Larry Vigon – calligraphy
  • Herbert W. Worthington– photography

Track listing:

  1. Second hand News – Lindsey Buckingham
  2. Dreams – Stevie Nicks
  3. Never Going Back Again – Lindsey Buckingham
  4. Don’t Stop – Christine McVie
  5. Go Your Own Way – Lindsey Buckingham
  6. Songbird – Christine McVie
  7. The Chain – Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie, Stevie Nicks
  8. You Make Loving Fun – Christine McVie
  9. I Don’t Want to Know – Stevie Nicks
  10. Oh Daddy – Christine McVie
  11. Gold Dust Woman – Stevie Nicks

 

Green Day: Dookie

Green_Day_-_Dookie

On February 1, 1994, “Reprise” label released “Dookie”, the third Green Day studio album.  It was recorded September – October 1993, at the “Fantasy Studios” in Berkeley, and was produced by Rob Cavallo , Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool .  The album was certified Diamond in US by the “RIIA”. It  won “Grammy Award” for “Best Alternative Music Album” in 1995 and is ranked at number 193 on magazine Rolling Stone’s list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Billie Joe Armstrong— lead vocals, guitar
  • Mike Dirnt— bass, backing vocals
  • Tré Cool— vocals, drums, guitar
  • Richie Bucher — cover artwork, design
  • Ken Schles – photography
  • Pat Hynes – booklet artwork

Track listing:

All lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong, except where noted.  All music by Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool.

  1. Burnout
  2. Having a Blast
  3. Chump
  4. Longview
  5. Welcome to Paradise
  6. Pulling Teeth
  7. Basket Case
  8. She
  9. Sassafras Roots
  10. When I Come Around
  11. Coming Clean
  12. Emenius Sleepus – lyrics by Mike Dimt
  13. In the End
  14. O.D. / All by Myself

Big Black: Atomizer

Big_Black_-_Atomizer

On February 1, 1986, “Homestead” released “Atomizer”, the debut Big Black album.  It was recorded in 1985, and was produced by Steve Albini, Santiago Durango and Dave Riley. The album was ranked at number 11 in “Alternative Press” magazine list of “Top Albums of ’85 to ‘95”; magazine “Spin” ranked “Atomizer” at number 83 in its list of “100 Alternative Albums” and at number 92 in its list of “Top 100 (+5) Albums of the Last 20 Years” and “NME” ranked the album at number 372 in its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Steve Albini – vocals, guitar, drum machine programming
  • Santiago Durango – guitar
  • Dave Riley – bass guitar

Track listing:

All tracks by Steve Albini, Santiago Durango and Dave Riley.

  1. Jordan, Minnesota
  2. Passing Complexion
  3. Big Money
  4. Kerosene
  5. Bad Houses
  6. Fists of Love
  7. Stinking Drunk
  8. Bazooka Joe
  9. Strange Things
  10. Cables (live)

Hüsker Dü: New Day Rising

Husker Du New Day Rising

On January 31, 1985, “SST” label released “New Day Rising”, the third Hüsker Dü studio album.  It was recorded in July 1984 at “Nicollet Studios” in Minneapolis, and was produced by Bob Mould, Grant Hart, Greg Norton and Spot. Magazine “Spin” ranked “New Day Rising” at number 13 at its list “100 Greatest Albums, 1985-2005.”; the album is ranked at number 488 on “Rolling Stone” magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Bob Mould- vocals, guitar
  • Greg Norton- bass guitar
  • Grant Hart- vocals, drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Bob Mould, except where noted.

  1. New Day Rising – Bob Mould, Grant Hart, Greg Norton
  2. Girl Who Lives on Heaven Hill – Grant Hart
  3. I Apologize
  4. Folk Lore
  5. If I Told You – Grant Hart, Bob Mould
  6. Celebrated Summer
  7. Perfect Example
  8. Terms of Psychic Warfare – Grant Hart
  9. 59 Times the Pain
  10. Powerline
  11. Books About UFO’s- Grant Hart
  12. I Don’t Know What You’re Talking About
  13. How to Skin a Cat – Bob Mould, Grant Hart, Greg Norton
  14. Whatcha Drinkin
  15. Plans I Make – Bob Mould, Grant Hart, Greg Norton

Velvet Underground: White Light / White Heat

White light white heat

On January 30, 1968, “Verve” label released “White Light/White Heat”, the second Velvet Underground studio album.  It was recorded in September 1967, at the “Scepter Studios” in New York, and was produced by Tom Wilson.  It was band’s last studio recording of new material with founding member John Cale. In 2003, magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked “White Light/White Heat” at number 293 on it’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • John Cale– lead and backing vocals, spoken word, electric viola,  organ, piano, bass guitar, ,medical sound effects
  • Lou Reed– lead vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar
  • Sterling Morrison– lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, medical sound effects, backing vocals
  • Maureen Tucker– percussion, drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Lou Reed, except where noted.

  1. White Light/White Heat
  2. The Gift – Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison, John Cale, Maureen Tucker
  3. Lady Godiva’s Operation
  4. Here She Comes Now – Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison, John Cale
  5. I Heard Her Calling My Name – Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison, John Cale, Maureen Tucker
  6. Sister Ray – Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison, John Cale, Maureen Tucker

Simon And Garfunkel: Bridge Over Truobled

Simon_and_Garfunkel,_Bridge_over_Troubled_Water_(1970)

On January 26, 1970, “Columbia” label released “Bridge over Troubled Water”, the fifth and final Simon & Garfunkel studio album. It was recorded in November 1969, and was produced by Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel and Roy Halee. Two album songs, “Bridge over Troubled Water” and “The Boxer”, are listed on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”; the album is ranked at number 51 on “Rolling Stone’s”  list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” and have sold more than 25 million copies worldwide.

Personnel:

  • Paul Simon– lead vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion
  • Art Garfunkel– lead vocals, percussion
  • Fred Carter, Jr.– acoustic and electric guitars
  • Peter Drake– dobro, pedal steel guitar
  • Larry Knechtel– piano, Hammond organ, electric piano
  • Los Incas– Peruvian instruments
  • Joe Osborn– bass guitar
  • Hal Blaine– drums, percussion
  • Buddy Harman– percussion
  • Jon Faddis,Randy Brecker, Lew Soloff, Alan Rubin – brass
  • Jimmie Haskelland, Ernie Freeman – strings

Track listing:

All tracks by Paul Simon except where noted.

  1. Bridge over Troubled Water
  2. El Condor Pasa (If I Could) – Daniel Alomía Robles, arranged by Jorge Milchberg, English lyrics by Paul Simon
  3. Cecilia
  4. Keep the Customer Satisfied
  5. So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright
  6. The Boxer
  7. Baby Driver
  8. The Only Living Boy in New York
  9. Why Don’t You Write Me
  10. Bye Bye Love – Felice Bryant, Boudleaux Bryant
  11. Song for the Asking

Arctic Monkeys: Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not

Whatever_People_Say_I_Am,_That's_What_I'm_Not

On January 23, 2006, “Domino” label released “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not”, the debut Arctic Monkeys studio album.  It was recorded June – September 2005, and was produced by Jim Abbiss and Alan Smyth. With sale of more than 360.000, copies in its first week, the album become the fastest selling debut album in British music history and  has gone quintu platinum in the UK. In 2006 it received the “Mercury Prize for Best Album”. In 2013, magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not” at number 371 on its list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”, and the 30th greatest debut album of all time. In October 2013, magazine “New Musical  Express” ranked the album at number 19 in ist poll of the “500 greatest albums of all time”.

Personnel:

  • Alex Turner- lead vocals, guitar
  • Jamie Cook- guitars, backing vocals
  • Andy Nicholson- bass, backing vocals
  • Matt Helders- drums, percussion, co-lead vocals, backing vocals
  • Juno Liverpool – design
  • Alexandra Wolkowicz – photography
  • Andy Brown – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Alex Turner, except where noted.

  1. The View from the Afternoon
  2. I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
  3. Fake Tales of San Francisco
  4. Dancing Shoes
  5. You Probably Couldn’t See for the Lights But You Were Staring Straight at Me
  6. Still Take You Home
  7. Riot Van
  8. Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured
  9. Mardy Bum
  10. Perhaps Vampires is a Bit Strong But…
  11. From the Ritz to the Rubble
  12. A Certain Romance

David Bowie: Station To Station

Station_to_Station

On January 23, 1976, “RCA” label released “Station to Station”, the tenth David Bowie studio album. It was recorded September – November 1975, at the “Cherokee Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by David Bowie and Harry Maslin. In 2003, the album was ranked No. 323 on “Rolling Stone” magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • David Bowie– vocals, guitar, alto and saxophone, Moog synthesizer, mellotron
  • Carlos Alomar– guitar
  • Earl Slick– guitar
  • Roy Bittan– piano
  • George Murray– bass guitar
  • Dennis Davis– drums
  • Warren Peace– backing vocals
  • Steve Shapiro –photography

All tracks by David Bowie, except where noted.

  1. Station to Station
  2. Golden Years
  3. Word on a Wing
  4. TVC 15
  5. Stay
  6. Wild Is the Wind – Ned Washington, Dimitri Tiomkin

MGMT: Oracular Spectacular

Oracular_Spectacular

On January 22, 2008, “Columbia” label released “Oracular Spectacular”, the first MGMT major label studio album. It was recorded March – April 2007, and was produced by Dave Fridmann. In 2012, magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked  “Oracular Spectacular” at number 494 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Andrew Vanwyngarden – lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards, bass, drums, percussion
  • Ben Goldwasser– keyboards, synthesizers, sampling, rhythm guitar, percussion, backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Andrew Vanwyngarden and Ben Goldwasser except where noted.

  1. Time to Pretend
  2. Weekend Wars
  3. The Youth
  4. Electric Feel – VanWyngarden, Ben Goldwasser, Will Berman
  5. Kids
  6. 4th Dimensional Transition
  7. Pieces of What
  8. Of Moons, Birds & Monsters
  9. The Handshake
  10. Future Reflections