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Re: Guess the album

Got it.

That was a really good clue, and it got me thinking all week long. But what got my brain (and my Google searching) running was the "supergroup with the guitarist" clue. I knew Jimmy Page did a song called Radioactive in a supergroup of some kind. After some searching I was reminded that supergroup was The Firm, who do not have any acclaimed albums. The lead singer is Paul Rodgers who was in Bad Company, whose self-titled debut in 1974 contains Ready for Love, which was a remake of part of a song (Ready for Love / After the Lights), which was on the 1972 album All the Young Dudes by Mott the Hople (which was produced by David Bowie). Mick Ralphs was in both Mott and Bad Company.

I hope I got that all right, or else I'm going to sound like a know-it-all.

That was an awesome clue, because I almost got fooled and thought that there would be a Free / Bad Comapny connection through Paul Rodgers.


Funny that the one-hit wonder of the LEAST acclaimed 80s supergroup was the key to get this worked out. Other than Rodgers I really don't know anything about the other band members involved and don't have any of their albums.


I've got 3 right so far... I need to try to come up with a clue of some kind.

Re: Guess the album

I'll give my own clue a shot.

This highly acclaimed album contains a song whose subject appeared in the photo on the cover of another highly acclaimed album released over 35 years later.

Hopefully this doesn't apply to more than one album pair, but I guess it could.

Re: Guess the album

Congratulations, Jonah! BAD COMPANY is correct (as is all the other information you deciphered from the clues). The only piece of the puzzle you didn't complete is that Paul Rodgers and BC drummer Simon Kirke were both in Free, whose top 1000 album is FIRE AND WATER. Great job!

Re: Guess the album

Wow, that was a great question. I was actually looking at the Bad Company album tonight for a minute trying to put a connection together and skipped passed it. Good work Jonah.

Re: Guess the album

that's a good one, Jonah

Hmmm - obvious candidate for the "35 years later" album could be a Smiths release, but that would probably be too easy (and the one to guess would be *really* early ...)

Re: Guess the album

very well done Harold, i was convinced that it had to be something to do with the blues guitarists associated with the yardbirds. that's probably the best question in this little game so far.

Re: Guess the album

Jonah, I think the album is Velvet Underground- ST which has a song called Candy Says about Candy Darling who is on the cover (on her deathbed) of Antony and the Johnsons- I Am a Bird Now.

Re: Guess the album

You got it John!

Re: Guess the album

Good question. I'll take the wheel with one I think might be a little too easy but I'm not sure.

This AM 1000 entry was named after a book by a 19th century philosopher.

Re: Guess the album

Either/Or (unless there's another album named after a 19th century book on philosophy).

Re: Guess the album

Either/Or, by Elliott Smith. Named for the book of the same title by Soren "Mr. Fun" Kierkegaard.

Re: Guess the album

Dagnabbit, that's twice I've been runner-up by a few minutes!

(You can have it, jonmarck--I'm allergic to philosophy.)

Re: Guess the album

I cheated by looking up 19th century philosophy. I've never heard an Elliot Smith song in my life (not knowing it was him, anyways).

Here's one: This was the first contemporary music release by this novelty/jingle label. They initially hated it for not being Depeche Mode enough.

Re: Guess the album

Is it in the AM 1000? I'm having a tough time with that one even though I swear I've heard this piece of trivia before.

Re: Guess the album

Not sure if my clue was lost in the mix, or just generally ignored. But here it is again for your consideration:

Hint #1: Initial pressings of this album featured the back of a band members' head as the picture on the disc itself, as a "f**k you" to the record executives who would be hanging the album's platinum award certifications on their walls.

Hint #2: The album has five songs in the AM top 3000.

Re: Guess the album

Yeah I gave up on that one. Maybe that hint will help somebody else out, but not me.

Re: Guess the album

Alright, I'll take a stab at it Anthony but I'm taking an educated guess without ever finding info about the original clue. I think the second clue narrowed it down to four albums. The only one that makes sense to me in respect to the first clue is Oasis- Whats the Story Morning Glory. I'll leave the other three unnamed in case I'm wrong.

Re: Guess the album

Yes that must be right John,that album has Some Might Say,Wonderwall,Roll With It,Don't Look Back in Anger and Champagne Supernova in the AM3000
Just a piece of trivia - I wonder which album has the most songs off it in the AM3000
Well it looks like Revolver and Velvet Underground + Nico have 6 each. I guess they must have the record(although my reissued copy of Are You Experienced on cd has 7)

Re: Guess the album

Well, I'll name the other 3 and my rational since nobody else seems to know the answer either:

Since you said picture on disc it has to be in the CD era so that narrows the list down to REM: Out of Time, Stone Roses: Stone Rose, and The Strokes: Is This It along with Oasis. It might be REM and after a lot of searching I couldn't find that piece of trivia connected to any of the albums. The initial albums I looked at when trying to figure this out before hint #2 were Nirvana:Nevermind, Metallica:Metallica, Radiohead:OK Computer and Oasis.

Re: Guess the album

The answer is (What's the Story) Morning Glory?

Seems like something Oasis would do, huh? Not only antagonistic, but arrogant enough to "know" that their second LP would go multi-platinum. The picture on the disc was the back of Noel's head and the initial pressing was only in the UK I believe, although it might've been in the US as well.

Re: Guess the album

Yeah that one crossed my mind. I didn't follow up on it though.

The album that I hinted at is in the AM 1000. Here's a follow-up clue: due to the bad relationship resulting from this release the artist/band never recorded for that label again.

Re: Guess the album

jonmarck, I think your album is PRETTY HATE MACHINE by Nine Inch Nails, which was initially released by the TVT label (best known for its "TV's Greatest Hits" volumes). Yes, I suppose the album wasn't quite what they were expecting - although, compared to THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL, the debut -is- Depeche Mode.

Re: Guess the album

You got it. They originally signed Trent Reznor because they were hoping to exploit the electro-teen scene. They never imagined that he would give a label otherwise known for TV jingles a piece as provocative and nihilistic as Pretty Hate Machine. I can see why they got upset but they really should have known better.

At least this one took longer than 10 mins for you guys to get.

Re: Guess the album

The last 4-5 questions have been really great. Except mine. That one was too easy. Anthony's wasn't even googleable! Keep them coming, this is really fun and a good time waster.

Re: Guess the album

I'll try another one:

Hint #1: This album (within let's say, the AM top 500) contains 12 songs. Seven written by one band member, and five written by another.

Re: Guess the album

Though this artist/group was involved in the recording of more albums than any other top 200 artist/group (not counting reissues, compilations, etc.), only about 10% of these albums are acclaimed. Which of these has received the highest acclaim?

(This might be really obvious to people who know the list)

Re: Guess the album

I'm guessing the artist is Phil Spector; the album is Plastic Ono Band.

Re: Guess the album

Zombies- Odessey & Oracle

Re: Guess the album

Nice John.... nice.

And that's even before I was going to give the hint of a Faulkner reference.

Re: Guess the album

Man, when you think about the Zombies you think Argent/Blunstone, but Chris White was just as much of a force. My two favorite songs on that album are This Will Be Our Year and Beechwood Park. I'll forgive him for Friends of Mine. That song's hard to listen to.

Re: Guess the album

The album cover of this AM 1000 entry is the only painting the artist ever made.

Re: Guess the album

Bob Dylan - Self Portrait

Phil Spector is not the correct answer to my question. He was a singles producer, he didn't record nearly as many albums.

Re: Guess the album

That could be a correct answer Jonmarck although I think I've seen other Dylan paintings. Not sure about that though. I was going to put- This is one of the most famous album covers ever and also happens to be the only painting the artist ever did. That would have been better, but now I think it's too easy.

Re: Guess the album

I made a mistake in my clue. I miscounted the number of acclaimed albums that the artist/group had a hand in because there was a group I hadn't previously considered. The number is actually 22.5%. To make up for it I'll give you two completely useless additional hints:
1) it isn't the Sex Pistols
2) he/she/they had their fun with heroin

Narrow it down? Didn't think so.

Here's a more useful clue: He/she/they would fit well into a group including Stevie Wonder, Johnny Cash, Brian Wilson, Bob Dylan, U2, Kanye West, Sufjan Stevens, Al Green and Alice Cooper, for a reason unrelated to music.

Re: Guess the album

How about King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King?

Re: Guess the album

jonmarck

My answer is : Layla and other assorted love songs

Re: Guess the album

John: I'd take the Argent songs, simply for "Hung Up On a Dream". Although, White's songs are quite good too.

Re: Guess the album

jonmarck: Interesting question, I think Brian Eno? With his most acclaimed album being Another Green World.

Re: Guess the album

Hm, nevermind, I misunderstood the question I think. Most acclaimed would be Joshua Tree for him I guess.. but it's not him. I thought you asked for an artist that was involved in more albums than the rest but didn't have that much personal success.

Mmm.. I'll go think some more.

Re: Guess the album

Neoptolemos, I think Nicolas may have already answered jonmarck's question: that the artist is Eric Clapton and the album is LAYLA. The clues all fit: Clapton was a heroin addict and is now, like the other artists in that list jonmarck provided (yes, even Alice Cooper), a Christian.

Re: Guess the album

Oh, didn't think he had quite as much influence, but I didn't bother to look it up. Alrighty then.

Re: Guess the album

Now we have to wait for Jonmarck's confirmation.
But to be honest, I hadn't found the last clue about christianity but ités right.
He made his first solo album in 1970 but played in a lot of bands (John Mayall, Yardbirds, Cream , derek) and
was a session and guest guitarist in a lot of albums (Beatles' "Magical mystery Tour", "White album", Aretha Franklin's "Lady Soul", George Harrison's "All Things Must pass", John Lennon albums, etc..)

Re: Guess the album

He's a Christian? Wow. I didn't know that! He's not the artist/group that I was thinking of. The number of albums Clapton was involved in is half the number of this artist/group. That's a strong guess though.

Re: Guess the album

King Crimson- Court of the Crimson King is right. The cover's artist was a computer programmer and it was his first painting he ever did. He died of a heart attack at age 24.

Re: Guess the album

I shouldn't have given that extra hint...Dylan has done a lot of paintings and even has an exhibition going on in Germany.

Re: Guess the album

jonmarck: It's -not- Clapton? Wow. OK, then, maybe it's Ray Charles. If it is Brother Ray - also a reformed heroin addict and a Christian - then his most highly acclaimed album is MODERN SOUNDS IN COUNTRY & WESTERN MUSIC.

(Also, jonmarck, if it is indeed Ray Charles I hope you're not including in his album count anything by The Ray Charles Singers, whose musical director was a different person.)

Re: Guess the album

I thought it had to have been Clapton too and maybe the connection was that all of those artists were Christians and Clapton was often considered God....

Alright, I'm in. I stopped thinking about it once somebody said Clapton.

Re: Guess the album

How about Miles Davis-Kind of Blue?

Re: Guess the album

We're starting to get into washy territory where people are not positive just how many albums Ray Charles and Miles Davis were involved in, but by my count they've still been involved in less than this artist/group.

Here's a hint, and this will help clarify whether I've made a mistake in my count: The # of albums this artist/group has been involved in is over 150. I don't think Miles or Ray Charles reached 100.

Here's another hint: Since we've already knocked off Davis and Charles as possibilities I think it's safe to reveal that this is an artist, not a group. And despite the fact that this artist has helped record an incredible number of albums his/her recording career did not last even half the length of Charles' or Davis'.

Re: Guess the album

Again, when you say 22.5% of acclaimed albums do you mean the entire list or the top 1000?

Re: Guess the album

22.5% of their output is included in the top 3000, not including bubbling under albums. This figure might not be exact exact (it's hard to tell what exactly the artist has been involved in) but it's close enough.

Re: Guess the album

I'm going to take another stab at this because it's the only person I can think of that has been around long enough to have that much impact on the charts and have a short recording career...Quincy Jones? I think his highest entry would be Micheal Jackson's Thriller.

Re: Guess the album

Re: Guess the album

I should have guessed that the person who knew the list best would get it! John Coltrane is correct! Check out his full discography on wikipedia for a list of all the albums (and singles) he played on. Most were released posthumously, because it wasn't until the last decade of his life that he became famous.

Re: Guess the album

I'm thinking maye Sonny Rollins? All Music has him with 102 albums where he is the lead artist alone. I am sure that he has many earlier albums where he was a side man. I think he played with Miles Davis at one point. That might get us up to 150. He also played on Tattoo You. He had problems with heroin earlier in his career.

However, this probably is not it because he has had as long a recording career as Ray Charles, and I don't think he would have been involved with so many of the Acclaimed Albums.

So my next thought is that jonmarck is referring to an artist that also created an instrument that has been widely used in recording. Could be Les Paul. Or Robert Moog. Or Leon Theremin. I don't really know enough about the use of such instruments to say whether any of these are correct.

Re: Guess the album

Henrik, am I missing something or is there not a category for jazz in the genre list?

He's been invloved in 675 or so albums on the list? I don't even think there are that many jazz albums on the list.

Re: Guess the album

Damn, I considered Coltrane but didn't think he had quite that much work either. Good job Henrik.

Re: Guess the album

Whoops, I was writing my answer when the right one popped up. Was Coltrane really involved with that many of the acclaimed albums? Wow.

Re: Guess the album

Oh okay, now I get it. 22.5% of COLTRANE's albums are on the acclaimed list... not that he was involved in 22.5% of the acclaimed albums.

I've got to read the clues closer.

Re: Guess the album

John, I stopped doing the genre/style lists a long time ago, before I added jazz artists to AM. I really like the style links myself, but it took too much time.

Re: Guess the album

Oh I see! I got confused because I kept going back to the second post which corrected it to 22.5. The first post is clearer. There might not even be a record label that has 675 albums on the list.

Re: Guess the album

That's right. Coltrane wasn't involved in 22.5% of the entire list! By my count 22.5% of the albums he was involved in are in the top 3000.

Re: Guess the album

Since my guess on Coltrane was correct, I'll pick the next one then.

This album is not on AM, but will be included in the next update. (I'm shooting myself in the foot here because that update is faaaar away...after my disk crash, I don't even have the stats program package installed yet.)

Anyway, the album was included in one of the lists that will be added with the next update, and when I checked the ratings at AMG, MusicHound etc., it was clear that it has some potential to break into the AM top 3000. In fact, I also discovered that this band has two other albums that could move into the top 3000 as well. So three albums will be added by the same band, and they are not yet included at all at AM.

Ha ha, you can have a guess at that while I'm going to bed. Next clue will be posted in about 9 hours.

Re: Guess the album

Henrik: I'm going to take a wild stab and say the band is Blue Rodeo, from the Canadian albums list, with FIVE DAYS IN JULY being the highest-ranking album. I thought at first it might have been someone from those French lists like Alain Bashung or Noir Desir, but Allmusic doesn't have ratings for enough of their records. I could be wrong, though.

Re: Guess the album

I also think that, starting with the clues for the next album, we should probably start a new thread, as this one has gotten extremely long.

Re: Guess the album

Yep it's definitely time for a guess the album II. I also propose that no clues are posted until the previous one has been answered. I also propose that we keep doing this for a long time because it's really fun.

Re: Guess the album

Harold - it's not Blue Rodeo. A very good guess, but you either need some acclaim outside your home country or you need to be in the top of the home-country lists, and Blue Rodeo hasn't really got any of that.

You're right that it's not a French band.

The last clue of this thread (?), is that the critic list that included this album is Gary Mulholland: 261 Greatest Albums Since Punk & Disco.

Re: Guess the album

I could see the Fiery Furnaces sneaking three more in there. I'll go with Gallowsbird's Bark.

Re: Guess the album

Nope.

Re: Guess the album

John, it couldn't be the Fiery Furnaces anyway because Henrik said that the band isn't currently included on AM at all and BLUEBERRY BOAT is in the top 2000.

The band is the Make-Up, and the album is SAVE YOURSELF. Two of their other albums have ****1/2 ratings at AllMusic.

Re: Guess the album

Wrong again.

Re: Guess the album

Let's try this again:

The band is The Wipers, and the highest-ranking album is YOUTH OF AMERICA.

Re: Guess the album

Harold, that's correct!

Re: a basket a tasket a green yellow lsfypl

Me got another one... which album did mark the #500 outpost slot on Henrik's somewhat initial since "broadly" published top_500_album list back in 2000? and moreover: which song parallely shared that red lantern honor at the same time?