Tag Archives: The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

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

 

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)

New Order: Technique

New_Order_Technique

On January 30, 1989, “Factory” label released “Technique”, the fifth New Order studio album.  It was recorded in 1988, at “Mediterranean Studios” in Ibiza and “Real World Studios”, and was produced by Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert. In 2013 “NME” ranked “Technique” at number 122 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 2006 “Q” magazine ranked the album at No. 21 on its list of the “40 Best Albums of the ’80s”.

Personnel:

  • Bernard Sumner– vocals, guitars, melodica, synthesizers, programming
  • Gillian Gilbert– synthesizers, programming, guitars
  • Peter Hook– bass, electronic percussion, synthesizers, programming
  • Stephen Morris– drums, synthesizers, programming
  • Trevor Key – design
  • Peter Saville – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert.

  1. Fine Time
  2. All the Way
  3. Love Less
  4. Round & Round
  5. Guilty Painter
  6. Run
  7. Mr. Disco
  8. Vanishing Point
  9. Dream Attack

The Eagles: Hotel California

Hotel California

On December 8, 1976, “Asylum” label released “Hotel California”, the fifth Eagles (The) studio album. It was recorded March – October 1976, at the “Criteria Studios”, in Miami and “Record Plant Studios”, in Los Angeles, and was produced by Bill Szymczyk.  The album won two “Grammy Awards” for the songs “New Kid in Town” and for “Hotel California”. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked “Hotel California” at number 37 on it‍ ’​‍s list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”, and ranked the song “Hotel California” at number 49 on it’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Don Felder– vocals, guitars, pedal steel guitar
  • Glenn Frey – vocals, guitars, piano, clavinet, synthesizer
  • Don Henley – vocals, drums, percussion, synthesizer, art direction
  • Randy Meisner– vocals, bass guitar, guitarrón
  • Joe Walsh – vocals, guitars, slide guitar, piano, organ, synthesizer
  • Jim Ed Norman– string arrangements, conductor
  • John Kosh – art direction, design
  • David Alexander – photography

Track listing:

  1. Hotel California – Don Felder, Don Henley, Glenn Frey
  2. New Kid in Town – Don Henley, Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther
  3. Life in the Fast Lane – Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh
  4. Wasted Time – Don Henley, Glenn Frey
  5. Wasted Time (Reprise) – Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Jim Ed Norman
  6. Victim of Love – Don Felder, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther
  7. Pretty Maids All in a Row – Joe Walsh, Joe Vitale
  8. Try and Love Again – Randy Meisner
  9. The Last Resort – Don Henley, Glenn Frey

Fleetwood Mac: Tusk

Tusk

On October 12, 1979, “Warner Bros” label released “Tusk”, the twelve Fleetwood Mac album.  It was recorded at the “The Village Recorder”, in Los Angeles, and was produced by Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Richard Dashut and Ken Caillat. The recording process costs were over $1 million, making “Tusk” the most expensive rock album made up to that point. In 2013, “NME” magazine ranked “Tusk” at number 445 in their list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Lindsey Buckingham– vocals, guitars, bass guitar, drums, percussion
  • Stevie Nicks– vocals
  • Christine McVie– vocals, keyboards
  • John McVie– bass guitar
  • Mick Fleetwood– drums, percussion
  • USC Trojan Marching Band– percussion, horns

Track listing:

  1. Over & Over – Christine McVie
  2. The Ledge – Lindsey Buckingham
  3. Think About Me – Christine McVie
  4. Save Me a Piece – Lindsey Buckingham
  5. Sara – Stevie Nicks
  6. What Makes You Think You’re the One – Lindsey Buckingham
  7. Storms – Stevie Nicks
  8. That’s All for Everyone – Lindsey Buckingham
  9. Not That Funny – Lindsey Buckingham
  10. Sisters of the Moon – Stevie Nicks
  11. Angel – Stevie Nicks
  12. That’s Enough for Me – Lindsey Buckingham
  13. Brown Eyes – Christine McVie
  14. Never Make Me Cry – Christine McVie
  15. I Know I’m Not Wrong – Lindsey Buckingham
  16. Honey Hi – Christine McVie
  17. Beautiful Child – Stevie Nicks
  18. Walk a Thin Line – Lindsey Buckingham
  19. Tusk – Lindsey Buckingham
  20. Never Forget – Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood

Metallica: Same

Metallica-the-Black-Album

On August 12, 1991, “Elektra” label released the self-titled, fifth Metallica album (known as “The Black Album”). It was recorded October 1990 – June 1991, at “One on One Recording Studios” and was produced by Bob Rock, James Hetfield, and Lars Ulrich. The album received worldwide critical acclaim and became the band’s best selling album ever. As of November 2014, the album has spent 328 weeks on the “Billboard” album chart, making it one of the ten longest-running discs of all time. The album was certified 16× Platinum in the USA by the “RIAA”. On December 13, 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 225 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • James Hetfield– lead vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, lead guitar and harmony guitar solo
  • Kirk Hammett– lead guitar
  • Jason Newsted– bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Lars Ulrich– drums, percussion
  • Michael Kamen– orchestral arrangement

Track listing:

All lyrics by James Hetfield.

  1. Enter Sandman – James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett
  2. Sad but True –James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
  3. Hotter Than Thou – James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
  4. The Unforgiven – James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett
  5. Wherever I May Roam – James Hatfield, Lars Ulrich
  6. Don’t Tread on Me – James Hatfield, Lars Ulrich
  7. Through the Never – James Hatfield, Lars Ulrich
  8. Nothing Else Matters – James Hatfield, Lars Ulrich
  9. Of Wolf and Man – James Hatfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett
  10. The God That Failed – James Hatfield, Lars Ulrich
  11. My Friend of Misery – James Hatfield, Lars Ulrich, Jason Newsted
  12. The Struggle Within – James Hatfield, Lars Ulrich

U2: The Joshua Tree

The_Joshua_Tree

On March 9, 1987, “Island” label released “The Joshua Tree”, the fifth U2 studio album . It was recorded January 1986 – January 1987, at “STS Studios”, “Danesmoate House”, “Windmill Lane Studios”, and was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. In 1988, “The Joshua Tree” won “Grammy Awards”  for  “Album of the Year” and “Best Rock Performance” by a “Duo or Group with Vocal”.  It is U2 best sold album with more than 25 million copies sold worldwide.  In 1995, the album was certified 10× Platinum in US by “RIAA”, and  album subsequently received the “Diamond” certificate. In Canada it was certified Diamond by “Canadian Recording Industry Association”, In UK it was certified 8 x Platinum by “BPI”, with an additional silver certification for the 20th anniversary edition. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked it at number 27 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Bono– lead vocals, harmonica, guitars
  • The Edge– guitars, piano, backing vocals
  • Adam Clayton– bass guitar
  • Larry Mullen, Jr.– drums, percussion
  • Brian Eno– keyboards, DX7 programming, backing vocals
  • Daniel Lanois– tambourine, Omnichord, additional guitar, backing vocals
  • The Armin Family – strings
  • The Arklow Silver Band – brass

Track listing:

All lyrics by Bono, all music by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen.

  1. Where the Streets Have No Name
  2. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
  3. With or Without You
  4. Bullet the Blue Sky
  5. Running to Stand Still
  6. Red Hill Mining Town
  7. In God’s Country
  8. Trip Through Your Wires
  9. One Tree Hill
  10. Exit
  11. Mothers of the Disappeared