Tag Archives: The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

Paul McCartney & Wings: Band On The Run

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On November 30, 1973, “Apple” label released “Band on the Run”, the third Paul McCartney and Wings studio album, It was recorded August – October 1973, at “EMI” and “ARC” in Lagos, Nigeria, “AIR” and “Kingsway Recorders” in London, and was produced by Paul McCartney. In 2000, “Q” magazine placed “Band on the Run” at number 75 in its list of the “100 Greatest British Albums Ever”. In 2012, it was voted 418th on Rolling Stone’s list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.In 2013, it was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.

Personnel:

  • Paul McCartney – lead and backing vocals, bass, acoustic and electric guitars, piano, keyboards, drums, percussion
  • Linda McCartney – harmony and backing vocals, organ, keyboards, percussion
  • Denny Laine – harmony and backing vocals, co-lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, percussion
  • Howie Casey – saxophone
  • Ginger Baker – percussion
  • Remi Kabaka – percussion
  • Ian Horne, Trevor Jones – backing vocals
  • 3 uncredited session musicians – saxophones
  • Tony Visconti – orchestrations
  • Geoff Emerick – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Paul and Linda McCartney, except where noted.

  1. Band on the Run
  2. Jet
  3. Bluebird
  4. Mrs. Vandebilt
  5. Let Me Roll It
  6. Mamunia
  7. No Words – Paul McCartney, Denny Laine
  8. Picasso’s Last Words (Drink to Me)
  9. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five

X: Los Angeles

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On April 26, 1980, “Slash” label released “Los Angeles”, the debut X studio album. It was recorded in January 1980, at “Golden Sound Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Ray Manzarek. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” ranked “Los Angeles” at number 286 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. Album title track was included in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s” list of “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll”.

Personnel:

  • Exene – vocals
  • Billy Zoom – guitar
  • John Doe – lead vocals, bass
  • D. J. Bonebrake – drums
  • Ray Manzarek – organ, synthesizer

Track listing:

All tracks by John Doe and Exene Cervenka, except where noted.

  1. Your Phone’s Off the Hook, But You’re Not
  2. Johny Hit and Run Paulene
  3. Soul Kitchen – John Densmore, Robbie Krieger, Ray Manzarek, Jim Morrison
  4. Nausea
  5. Sugarlight
  6. Los Angeles
  7. Sex and Dying in High Society
  8. The Unheard Music
  9. The World’s a Mess: It’s in My Kiss

David Crosby

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On January 19, 2023, David Van Cortlandt Crosby died aged 81. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, regarded as one of the most influential artists who helped shape the sound of Sixties rock music. Crosby was founding member of The Byrds, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and CPR, and was member of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Crosby performed and recorded with Buffalo Springfield, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Dave Mason, Rick Roberts, Art Garfunkel, Carole King, Becca Stevens, Michelle Willis, Gary Wright, Elton John, J. D. Souther, Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Michael League, Chris Thile, Hot Tuna, Phil Collins, Lucinda Williams, Indigo Girls, David Gilmour and John Mayer. Crosby was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” twice: once as member of The Byrds and again as member of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Five albums to which he contributed are included in Rolling Stone’s magazine list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 2019 documentary “David Crosby: Remember My Name” was produced by Cameron Crowe. As leader Crosby released eight albums.  

Ornette Coleman: The Shape of Jazz to Come

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In November 1959, “Atlantic” label released “The Shape of Jazz to Come”, the third Ornette Coleman album. It was recorded in May 1959, at “Radio Recorders” in Hollywood, and was produced by Nesuhi Ertegun. In 2012, the “Library of Congress” added the album to the “National Recording Registry”. Magazine “Rolling Stone” included the album in its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 2015, the album was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.

Personnel:

  • Ornette Coleman – alto saxophone
  • Don Cherry – cornet
  • Charlie Haden – bass
  • Billy Higgins – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Ornette Coleman.

  1. Lonely Woman
  2. Eventually
  3. Peace
  4. Focus on Sanity
  5. Congeniality
  6. Chronology

Black Flag: Damaged

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On December 5, 1981, “SST” label released “Damaged”, the debut Black Flag studio album. It was recorded in August 1981, at “Unicorn Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Spot, Henry Rollins, Greg Ginn, Dez Cadena, Chuck Dukowski and Robo. In 2003, the album was ranked at number 340 on “Rolling Stone’s” magazine list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Henry Rollins– lead vocals
  • Greg Ginn– lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Dez Cadena– rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Chuck Dukowski– bass, backing vocals
  • Robo– drums, backing vocals
  • Steve “Mugger” Corbin – backing vocals
  • Spot– engineer
  • Francis Buckley – engineer, mixer
  • Chuck Vogt – additional engineering
  • Ed Colver– artwork

Track listing:

All tracks by Greg Ginn, except where noted.

  1. Rise Above
  2. Spray Paint – Chuck Dukowski, Greg Ginn
  3. Six Pack
  4. What I See – Charles Dukowski
  5. TV Party
  6. Thirsty and Miserable – Dez Cadena, Rosa Medea, Robo
  7. Police Story
  8. Gimme Gimme Gimme
  9. Depression
  10. Room 13 – Greg Ginn, Rosa Medea
  11. No More – Charles Dukowski
  12. Padded Cell – Charles Dukowski, Greg Ginn
  13. Life of Pain
  14. Damaged I – Greg Ginn, Henry Rollins

Bo Diddley: Go Bo Diddley

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In July 1959, “Checker Records” label released “Go Bo Diddley”, the second Bo Diddley album. It was recorded on March 2, 1955, and in September 1958, and was produced by Leonard Chess, Phil Chess and Bo Diddley. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked it at number 214 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

 Personnel:

  • Bo Diddley (Ellas McDaniel) – vocals, guitar, violin
  • Peggy Jones– guitar, backing vocals
  • Billy Boy Arnold– harmonica
  • Lafayette Leake– piano
  • Otis Spann– piano
  • Jerome Green – co-lead vocals, maracas
  • Willie Dixon– bass
  • Clifton James – drums
  • Frank Kirkland – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Ellas McDaniel (Bo Diddley), except where noted.

  1. Crackin’ Up
  2. I’m Sorry – Ellas McDaniel, Alan Freed, Harvey Fuqua
  3. Bo’s Guitar
  4. Willie and Lillie
  5. You Don’t Love Me (You Don’t Care)
  6. Say Man
  7. The Great Grandfather
  8. Oh Yea
  9. Don’t Let It Go
  10. Little Girl
  11. Dearest Darling
  12. The Clock Strikes Twelve

Stan Getz & João Gilberto: Getz / Gilberto

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In March 1964, “Verve” label released “Getz / Gilberto”, album by Stan Getz and João Gilberto. It was recorded in March 1963, at “A&R Recording Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Creed Taylor. The artwork was by artist Olga Albizu. In 1965, “Getz/Gilberto” received “Grammy Awards” for “Best Jazz Instrumental Album”, “Individual or Group and Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical;” and “Album of the Year”. It is considered to be the album that popularized bossa nova worldwide. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 447 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Stan Getz– tenor saxophone
  • João Gilberto– vocals, guitar
  • Antônio Carlos Jobim– piano
  • Astrud Gilberto – vocals
  • Sebastião Neto – double bass
  • Milton Banana– drums, pandeiro

Track listing:

  1. The Girl from Ipanema – Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes, Norman Gimbel
  2. Doralice – Antônio Almeida, Dorival Caymmi
  3. Para Machucar Meu Coração – Ary Barroso
  4. Desafinado – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Newton Mendonça
  5. Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars) – Antônio Carlos Jobim
  6. Só Danço Samba – Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes
  7. O Grande Amor – Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes
  8. Vivo Sonhando – Antônio Carlos Jobim

Bob Scaggs: Same

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In August 1969, “Atlantic” label released the self-titled, second Boz Scaggs album. It was recorded in 1969, at “Muscle Shoals Sound Recorders” in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and was produced by Boz Scaggs, Marlin Greene and Jann Wenner. In 2012,  “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 496 on its list of  “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Boz Scaggs – vocals, guitar
  • Duane “Skydog” Allman– guitar, dobro, slide guitar
  • Eddie Hinton– guitar
  • Jimmy Johnson– guitar
  • Barry Beckett– keyboards
  • David Hood– bass
  • Roger Hawkins– drums
  • Al Lester – fiddle, violin
  • Joe Arnold, Charles Chalmers– tenor saxophone
  • James Mitchell, Floyd Newman– baritone saxophone
  • Ben Cauley– trumpet
  • Gene “Bowlegs” Miller– trombone, trumpet
  • Jeanie Greene, Mary Holliday, Donna Jean Godchauxnée, Thatcher, Joyce Dunn, Tracy Nelson, Imma Routen – backing vocals
  • Marlin Greene – engineer
  • Rob Grenell – mastering
  • Robert Kingsbury – design
  • Elaine Mayes – photography
  • Stephen Paley – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Boz Scaggs; except where noted.

  1. I’m Easy – Boz Scaggs, Barry Beckett
  2. I’ll Be Long Gone
  3. Another Day (Another Letter)
  4. Now You’re Gone
  5. Finding Her
  6. Look What I Got – Charles Chalmers, Donna Rhodes
  7. Waiting for a Train – Jimmie Rodgers
  8. Loan Me a Dime – Fenton Robinson
  9. Sweet Release (aka Desolation Avenue) – Boz Scaggs, Barry Beckett

 

Queens Of The Stone Age: Like Clockwork

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On June 3, 2013, “Matador Records” label released “…Like Clockwork”, the sixth Queens of the Stone Age album. It was recorded August 2012-March 2013, at “Pink Duck Studios” in Burbank, California, and was produced by Josh Homme, James Lavelle, Troy Van Leeuwen, Dean Feritta and Michael Shuman. The album cover art was by British artist Boneface. “NME” magazine ranked it at number 335 in its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Josh Homme– lead vocals, guitar, slide guitar, glass,  shakers, piano, Moog synthesizer, Roland SH-201,drums,  percussion, air ,frog and looper, twelve-string guitar, bass guitar
  • Troy Van Leeuwen– guitar, backing vocals, Moog synthesizer, shakers,  handclaps, lap steel guitar, twelve-string guitar, drone guitar, Korg synthesizer, percussion, acoustic guitar,  twelve-string slide guitar
  • Dean Fertita– keyboards, guitar, backing vocals, piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, glass, slide guitar, Moog and Korg synthesizers, Rhodes piano, Korg MS-10, clavinet
  • Michael Shuman– bass guitar, backing vocals, cymbals, tambourine, twelve-string guitar, Moog synthesizer, guitar, claves, shakers and handclaps, mellotron
  • Dave Grohl– drums, percussion
  • Joey Castillo– drums, percussion, handclaps
  • Nick Oliveri– backing vocals
  • Mark Lanegan– backing vocals
  • Trent Reznor– co-lead vocals, kick and snare, backing vocals
  • Jake Shears– backing vocals
  • Alex Turner– backing vocals
  • Elton John– backing vocals, piano
  • Jon Theodore– drums, percussion
  • Charlie May– piano
  • Philip Sheppard– strings arrangements
  • James Lavelle– arrangements
  • Mark Rankin– recording, mixing
  • Joe Barresi– mixing
  • Alain Johannes– additional engineering
  • Justin Smith – additional engineering
  • Gavin Lurssen– mastering
  • Boneface – design, illustrations
  • Liam Brazier – animations

Track listing:

All lyrics by Josh Homme; all music by Troy Van Leewen, Dean Fertita, Michael Shuman and Josh Homme,except where noted.

  1. Keep Your Eyes Peeled
  2. I Sat by the Ocean
  3. The Vampyre of Time and Memory
  4. If I Had a Tail
  5. My God Is the Sun
  6. Kalopsia
  7. Fairweather Friends – Mark Lanegan, Troy Van Leewen, Dean Fertita, Michael Shuman, Josh Homme
  8. Smooth Sailing
  9. I Appear Missing
  10. …Like Clockwork

Steve Miller Band: Fly Like An Eagle

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In May 1976, “Capitol” label released “Fly Like an Eagle”, the ninth Steve Miller Band album. It was recorded 1975-1976, at “CBS Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by Steve Miller. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Fly Like an Eagle” at number 445 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. The album was certified 4 x Platinum in US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Steve Miller– vocals, guitar, keyboards, sitar, ARP Odyssey
  • Curley Cooke – guitar
  • Les Dudek– guitar
  • Joachim Young – B3 organ
  • James Cotton– harmonica
  • Charles Calamise – bass guitar
  • Lonnie Turner – bass guitar
  • Gary Mallaber– drums, percussion
  • Kenny Johnson – drums
  • Joe (JD) D’Andrea – percussion
  • John McFee– dobro
  • Mike Fusaro – recording
  • Jim Gains – mastering
  • Susan McCardle – photography
  • David Stahl – photography
  • John Palladino – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Space Intro – Steve Miller
  2. Fly Like an Eagle – Steve Miller
  3. Wild Mountain Honey – Steve McCarty
  4. Serenade – Steve Miller, Chris McCart
  5. Dance, Dance, Dance – Steve Miller, Joseph Cooper, Brenda Cooper
  6. Mercury Blues – C. Douglas
  7. Take the Money and Run – Steve Miller
  8. Rock’n Me – Steve Miller
  9. You Send Me – Sam Cooke
  10. Blue Odyssey – Steve Miller
  11. Sweet Maree – Steve Miller
  12. The Window – Steve Miller, Jason Cooper