Tag Archives: The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

Wire: Pink Flag

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In December 1977, “Harvest” label released “Pink Flag”, the debut Wire studio album. It was recorded September – October 1977, at “Advision Studios” in London, and was produced by Mike Thome. In 2009,“Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Pink Flag” at number 412 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 2013, “NME” magazine ranked “Pink Flag” at number 378 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Bruce Gilbert– guitar
  • Colin Newman– vocals, guitar
  • Graham Lewis– bass guitar
  • Robert Gotobed– drums
  • Kate Lukas– flute
  • Dave Oberlé– backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Bruce Gilbert, Graham Lewis, Colin Newman, and Robert Gotobed, except where noted.

  1. Reuters
  2. Field Day for the Sundays
  3. Three Girl Rhumba
  4. Ex Lion Tamer
  5. Lowdown
  6. Start to Move
  7. Brazil
  8. It’s So Obvious
  9. Surgeon’s Girl
  10. Pink Flag
  11. The Commercial
  12. Straight Line
  13. 106 Beats That
  14. Suit
  15. Strange
  16. Fragile
  17. Mannequin
  18. Different to Me – Annete Green
  19. Champs
  20. Feeling Called Love
  21. 12 X U

 

 

 

The Kinks: The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society

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On November 22, 1968, “Pye” label released “The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society”, the sixth Kinks studio album. It was recorded October – November 1968, at “Pye Studios” in London, and was produced by Ray Davies. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 255 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of all Time”.

Personnel:

  • Ray Davies– lead vocals, guitar,  keyboards,  harmonica,  saxophone, trumpet, trombone, accordion, oboe, flute
  • Dave Davies– lead and backing vocals, lead guitar
  • Pete Quaife– bass, backing vocals
  • Mick Avory– drums, percussion
  • Nicky Hopkins– keyboards, mellotron
  • Rasa Davies– backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Ray Davies, except where noted.

  1. The Village Green Preservation Society
  2. Do You Remember Walter?
  3. Picture Book
  4. Johnny Thunder
  5. Last of the Steam-Powered Trains
  6. Big Sky
  7. Sitting by the Riverside
  8. Animal Farm
  9. Village Green
  10. Starstruck
  11. Phenominal Cat
  12. All of My Friends Were There
  13. Wicked Annabella
  14. Monica
  15. People Take Pictures of Each Other

The Beatles: With The Beatles

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with-the-beatles

On November 22, 1963, “Parlaphone” label released “With the Beatles”, the second Beatles (The) studio album. It was recorded July – October 1963, at “EMI Studios” in London, and was produced by George Martin. “With the Beatles” was the first Beatles album released in North America. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 420 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • George Harrison– lead, harmony and backing vocals; lead and acoustic guitars; handclaps
  • John Lennon– lead, harmony and backing vocals; rhythm and acoustic guitars; harmonica and handclaps; nylon-string acoustic guitar; Hammond organ, tambourine
  • Paul McCartney– lead, harmony and backing vocals; bass guitar and handclaps; piano, claves
  • Ringo Starr– lead vocals, drums, tambourine, maracas, handclaps, bongo
  • Robert Freeman– cover photography

Track listing:

All tracks by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, except where noted.

  1. It Won’t Be Long
  2. All I’ve Got to Do
  3. All My Loving
  4. Don’t Bother Me – George Harrison
  5. Little Child
  6. Till There Was You – Meredith Willson
  7. Please Mister Postman – Georgia Dobbins, William Garrett, Freddie Gorman, Brian Holland, Robert Bateman
  8. Roll Over Beethoven – Chuck Berry
  9. Hold Me Tight
  10. You Really Got a Hold on Me – Smokey Robinson
  11. I Wanna Be Your Man
  12. Devil in Her Heart- Richard Drapkin
  13. Not a Second Time
  14. Money (That’s What I Want) – Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy

My Bloody Valentine: Isn’t Anything

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my-bloody-valentine-isnt-anything

On November 21, 1988, “Creation Records” label released “Isn’t Anything”, the debut My Bloody Valentine studio album. It was recorded in 1988, at “Foel Studio” in Llanfair Caereinion, “Time Square Studios” and “Greenhouse Studio” in London, and was produced by Kevin Shields, Bilinda Butcher, Debbie Googe and Colm Ó Cíosóig. In 2013, NME magazine ranked the album at number 187 in its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Kevin Shields– vocals, guitar
  • Bilinda Butcher– vocals, guitar
  • Debbie Googe– bass
  • Colm Ó Cíosóig– drums, percussion
  • Dave Anderson– engineer
  • Steve Nunn – engineer
  • Alex Russell – engineer
  • Joe Dilworth– photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Kevin Shields except where noted.

  1. Soft as Snow (But Warm Inside) – Kevin Shields, Colm Ó Cíosóig
  2. Lose My Breath – Bilinda Butcher, Kevin Shields
  3. Cupid Come – Bilinda Butcher, Kevin Shields
  4. “(When You Wake) You’re Still in a Dream – Kevin Shields, Colm Ó Cíosóig
  5. No More Sorry – Bilinda Butcher, Kevin Shields
  6. All I Need
  7. Feed Me with Your Kiss
  8. Sueisfine – Kevin Shields, Colm Ó Cíosóig
  9. Several Girls Galore – Bilinda Butcher, Kevin Shields
  10. You Never Should
  11. Nothing Much to Lose
  12. I Can See It (But I Can’t Feel It)

The Jam: All Mod Cons

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the_jam_-_all_mod_cons

On November 3, 1978, “Polydor” label released “All Mod Cons”, the third Jam (The) album. It was recorded July – August 1978, at “RAK” and “Eden Studios” in London, and was produced by Vic Coppersmith-Heaven and Chris Parry. In 2000,  “Q”  magazine  ranked “All Mod Cons” at number 50 in its list of the “100 Greatest British Albums Ever”, in 2013, “NME” magazine ranked it at number 219 in its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Paul Weller – vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, design
  • Bruce Foxton – vocals, bass, design
  • Rick Buckler – drums, percussion, design
  • Gregg Jackman, Roger Bechirian, Vic Coppersmith-Heaven – soundboard engineer
  • Peter Schierwade, Phil Thornalley – engineer assistant
  • Bill Smith – design
  • Peter “Kodick” Gravelle – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Paul Weller, except where noted.

  1. All Mod Cons
  2. To Be Someone (Didn’t We Have a Nice Time)
  3. Clean
  4. David Watts – Ray Davies
  5. English Rose
  6. In the Crowd
  7. Billy Hunt
  8. It’s Too Bad
  9. Fly
  10. The Place I Love
  11. ‘A’ Bomb in Wardour Street
  12. Down in the Tube Station at Midnight

The Stranglers: Rattus Norvegicus

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Stranglers_-_Rattus_Norvegicus

On April 15, 1977,”United Artists” label released “Rattus Norvegicus”, the debut Stranglers (The) studio album. It was recorded 20 December 1976 – 28 January 1977 at “TW Studios” in  Fulham, ”Olympic Studios”  in London, and was produced by Martin Rushen. In 2014, “NME” magazine ranked it at number 196 in its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Hugh Cornwell – lead and backing vocals, guitars
  • Dave Greenfield– lead and backing vocals, keyboards
  • Jean-Jacques Burnel – lead and backing vocals, bass guitar
  • Jet Black– percussion
  • Eric Clarke – tenor saxophone
  • Alan Winstanley– engineer
  • Benny King – engineer assistant, mixing
  • Doug Bennett– mixing
  • Paul Henry– art direction, artwork, sleeve design
  • Trevor Rogers– photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Hugh Cornwell, Dave Greenfield, Jean-Jacques Burnel and Jet Black.

  1. Sometimes
  2. Goodbye Toulouse
  3. London Lady
  4. Princess of the Streets
  5. Hanging Around
  6. Peaches
  7. (Get A) Grip (On Yourself)
  8. Ugly
  9. Down in the Sewer

The Chemical Brothers: Dig Your Own Hole

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Dig_your_own_hole

On April 7, 1997, “Virgin” label released “Dig Your Own Hole”, the second Chemical Brothers (The) studio album. It was recorded 1996 – 1997, at “Orinoco Studios” in London, and was produced by Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons. In 1998,  “Q”  magazine  readers voted “Dig Your Own Hole” the 49th greatest album of all time, and in 2000, placed it at number 42 in its list of the “100 Greatest British Albums Ever”. In 2014,  NME magazine ranked the album at number 414 in its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Ed Simons – performer
  • Tom Rowlands – performer
  • John Dee – engineer
  • Steve Dub – engineer
  • Tim Holmes – engineer
  • Jon Collyer – engineer assistant
  • Cheeky Paul – mastering, editing
  • Negativespace – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands, except where noted.

  1. Block Rockin’ Beats – Tom Rowlands, Ed Simons, Jesse Weaver
  2. Dig Your Own Hole
  3. Elektrobank – Tom Rowlands, Ed Simons, Keith Murray
  4. Piku
  5. Setting Sun – Tom Rowlands, Ed Simons, Noel Gallagher
  6. It Doesn’t Matter – Tom Rowlands, Ed Simons, Paul Conley, John Emelin, Tom Flye, Rusty Ford, Kim King
  7. Don’t Stop the Rock – Tom Rowlands, Ed Simons, Tony Butler
  8. Get Up on it Like This – Tom Rowlands, Ed Simons, Quincy Jones
  9. Lost in the K-Hole
  10. Where Do I Begin
  11. The Private Psychedelic Reel – Tom Rowlands, Ed Simons, Jonathan Donahue

 

Prince: Sign o’ the Times

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On March 31, 1987, “Paisley Park Records” label released “Sign o’ the Times” (Sign “☮” the Times}, the ninth Prince studio album. It was recorded in 1986 – 1987, at “Lake Minnetonka Home Studio” in Minnetonka, “Galpin Boulevard Home Studio” in Chanhassen, “Washington Avenue Warehouse” in Eden Prairie, “Sunset Sound Recorders” and “Ocean Way Recording” in Hollywood, “Monterey Sound Studios” in Glendale, and “Dierks Studio Mobile Trucks” in Paris, and was produced by Prince. In 1989, magazine “Time Out” named it as the greatest album of all time. Magazine “New Musical Express” ranked “Sign o’ the Times” at number 16 in its list of the “All Time Top 100 Albums”. Magazine “The Times”  ranked  “Sign o’ the Times” as the 29th greatest album of all time, and in 2003, magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked the album at number 93 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Prince- all vocals and instruments except as noted below
  • Wendy Melvoin- guitar, tambourine, congas, backing vocals
  • Lisa Coleman- Fairlight sitar, wooden flute, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Fink- keyboards
  • Miko Weaver- guitar
  • Brown Mark- bass
  • Bobby Z.- drums
  • Sheila E.- rap, drums, percussion
  • Eric Leeds- saxophone
  • Atlanta Bliss- trumpet
  • Jill Jones- vocals
  • Susannah Melvoin- backing vocals, vocals
  • Sheena Easton- co-lead vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Prince, except where noted

  1. Sign o’ the Times
  2. Play in the Sunshine
  3. Housequake
  4. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
  5. It
  6. Starfish and Coffee – Prince, Susannah Melvoin
  7. Slow Love – Prince, Carole Davis
  8. Hot Thing
  9. Forever in My Life
  10. U Got the Look
  11. If I Was Your Girlfriend
  12. Strange Relationship
  13. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
  14. The Cross
  15. It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night – Prince, Doctor Fink, Eric Leeds
  16. Adore

The Byrds: Younger Than Yesterday

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Younger Than Yesterday

On February 6, 1967, “Columbia” released “Younger Than Yesterday”, the fourth Byrds (The) album. It was recorded November – December 1966, at the “Columbia Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Gary Usher. In 2012, the album was ranked at number 127 on “Rolling Stone’s” magazine list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Jim McGuinn – vocals, lead guitar
  • David Crosby – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Chris Hillman – vocals, electric bass
  • Michael Clarke– drums
  • Vern Gosdin– acoustic guitar
  • Clarence White– guitar
  • Cecil Barnard – piano
  • Jay Migliori- saxophone
  • Hugh Masekela– trumpet
  • Daniel Ray (Big Black) – percussion

Track listing:

  1. So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star – Jim McGuinn, Chris Hillman
  2. Have You Seen Her Face – Chris Hillman
  3. T.A.-102 – Jim McGuinn, Robert J. Hippard
  4. Renaissance Fair – David Crosby, Jim McGuinn
  5. Time Between – Chris Hillman
  6. Everybody’s Been Burned – David Crosby
  7. Thoughts and Words – Chris Hillman
  8. Mind Gardens – David Crosby
  9. My Back Pages – Bob Dylan
  10. The Girl with No Name – Chris Hillman
  11. Why – Jim McGuinn, David Crosby