Let's not waste time : the AMF top 200 album poll has started.

1) To participate, you just have to submit a list of your favorite albums, ranked from 1 to 50 at least, 1 to 200 maximum.
You can send me longer lists but the albums ranked after 200 won't be counted (I'll just publish your individual list as it is)

2) Lists will be sent at nicolas[at]riversinvitation.com

3) If possible on an Excel sheet, mentionning in separate columns :

- rank
- artist
- album
- year
-comments (optional)

4) The deadline will be Saturday, October 31st at 12:00 PM Pacific Standard Time. Results will be published in november (when I'm ready)

5) Your lists have to include albums, and albums only :

- every album listed at AM 3000 will be allowed
- other albums too, of course with the exclusion of compilations and EPs
- if you have a doubt about a record being an album or not, just keep in mind these points given by Henrik :

Henrik : " I try to follow a simple rule, namely that the songs (or the version of songs) are brand new (at the time of their release) or have been released on singles or EPs after the artist's last album release".

live albums and original soundtracks (i.e. with a majority of original music) are allowed.

6)
The formula that will be used is: score = 200*(1+20)/(position+20).

That means a #1 album will get 200 points, a #2 190.91, a #3 182.61, etc...

7) Adjustments and changes will be allowed (one by person) but please try to avoid them. You're not in a hurry, you've got more than 30 days, so think well before making/sending your lists

Henrik, we should advertise the poll on the front page. I can help if you want.

9) HAVE FUN

10) As I said, comments are welcome but not compulsory

Waiting for your lists...

Spread the word and start thinking...

I'm having trouble sending my list already. When I put in nicolas[at]riversinvitation.com in my URL, nothing comes up. Can you send me a direct link to the page?

it's not a page but an email adress
just replace the (at] by an @ !

awww , now I feel stupid. I probably should have used a fake name, but it's way too late for that...

Anyways, my top 200 is done, but I want to check over it for a few days before I send it in.

I've got a problem with one of my picks. The album Gala by Lush was the debut LP for the band, and its first release in the US, but many of the songs on it were released in the UK as seperate EPs in the same year. What does that count as?

one more thing :
I repeat : send me lists of your FAVORITE albums, not the ones you think are the most important in rock history
the AM 3000 was made for that.

I don't wanna fill up this thread with another debate about the difference btw best and favorite, you can go and post here if you want

But I just want you to express YOUR feelings, preferences and and tastes.

That will make the outcome (and the individual lists) more interesting.

So far I haven't received anything, but it is early. Nevertheless I feel like I am throwing a party and waiting alone in my living room with my good clothes on.

Have a beer while you wait, I,m sure it will be a kick ass party

All right then


If it was likely to make the top 3000 then you can include it

I don't wanna be too psycho-rigide as we say in French (that would mean a sort of inflexible asshole, like the woman I work with everyday)

Great! It really is an excellent album, one of the best shoegaze records to come out in the early 90s.

Nicolas, I have a few similar questions:

The Cure's Japanese Whispers was released in 1983, collecting the previous 3 singles and their B-sides, all of which came out after their previous studio album Pornography. It kind of straddles the line between compilation and studio release in various listings, but it falls under the same criteria as the other hazy ones. In fact, The Cure adopted a similar strategy for their last album- all 4 singles were released prior to the album itself!

Prince's Crystal Ball 3CD set was released in 1998, including mostly outtakes from the previous 15 years and previously unreleased remixes of known songs. None of these songs had officially seen the light of day before, but the scope of the tracks (they cover a span of 15 years) might make it seem ineligible- your call.

The Edward Scissorhands soundtrack contains all entirely new music, with the exception of the unfortunate inclusion of the Tom Jones song "With These Hands", which is its one flaw, in my opinion.

nicolas, this is your poll and your call, but I think all these albums can be included.

I should have my list in somewhat soon, I do a mixture of ones that I think are the best and that are my favorite... I like to listen to Spoon a lot more than Joy Division, but I still Joy Division had better albums etc. Not that any one cares but I feel like there can be a balance

Just e-mailed mine.

Three albums I would love to see included are (1) Robert Johnson's King of the Delta Blues, (2) Elvis Presley's Sun Sessions, and (3) Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk music. These albums are not standard greatest hits compilations because they collected songs that had not previously appeared in other LPs. Each also has cultural significance as an "album."

Paul and Harold : you're tempting me...

I would also like to include Robert Johnson's King of the Delta Blues Singers (1 and 2); I don't think that there are any other Robert Johnson albums available.

I do get concerned that when inclusions of pre-LP music start getting made, that it opens up the floodgates. If Robert Johnson, then why not Louis Armstrong, or Bessie Smith, or The Carter Family, or pre-war Billie Holiday, or Erik Satie, or even a classical composer? These just don't really seem to fit, unless of course the restrictions are dropped and anything is allowed.

Just my opinion -- I love older music, but I would hate to see just token entries as well.

(sorry this post was edited)

Your suggestions are very intersting, because you picked highly symbolic records of the pre-album era.

I was in favor of including sessions albums at the last poll myself.

But on the other hand, as sonofsamian says, it would open a door that would be very difficult to close afterwards.

So -and you know how hard it is for me, lover of old-time music- I'll have to say no, because otherwise every one will come to me with his compilation (Armstrong, Holiday, etc..)

You'll have the song poll to make up for that.

(it is hard to rule)

I mean it is an album poll, so no pre-album era music.

Sorry...

antonius,

"King of the Delta blues" is not in our sense, an album, because it came outin 1966 so 30 years after Robert Johnson's first session. In 1936-37, the songs he recorded were released by ARC and Vocalion as 78RPM but not as LPs.

The only pre-war "album I know of is Woody Guthrie's "Dust Bowl Ballads" that was released on two three-disc albums of 78s by RCA Victor Records in 1940. It is included in the AM 3000

Really, the more I think of it and the more I'm aware that I had no other choice.

If I'd say yes to those 3 then a lot of records from my collection would have come to my mind : Leadbelly, Armstrong, Bechet, Mississippi John Hurt, Sip James 1931 recordings, Billie Holiday's Commodore sessions, etc..

That's why on my blog and on RYM I'm making a separate list of roots music including both Lps and compilations(but unranked)

If I include comments you'll post them along with the results, right? I wouldn't want to spend a lot of time writing comments that no one would end up reading...

For every album in the final 200, I will post comments, maybe not ALL comments (if there are many) but the best and I will see that everybody who commented has comments posted.

My question is about The Smiths' "Louder Than Bombs". Common sense says that it is a compilation, but since "Hatful of Hollow" is in the AM3000, I'm wondering if "Louder Than Bombs" is also eligible.

I don't know it, but it seems that some tracks were already on "Hatful of Hollow" 3 years earlier. It seems that it's a compilation of b-sides, singles and bootlegs aimed at the American market.

Personnally I would say no but I might be wrong.

Henrik ? Beans ? Was this on the under-list ?

Why do the Smiths have to be so bloody difficult?
The album consists entirely on singles and b-sides as far as I can tell, some of which already appeared on Hatful of Hollow. If you look at it from the point of view that the album was released in 1987 and covers almost the entire life-time of the band then it does have the feel of a greatest hits album. Hatful of Hollow and the album by Lush are collections of songs from the early years of bands that pre-date their first album.

I,m half thinking of including Workout Holiday by White Denim on my list just to be difficult

nicolas - your decision makes a lot of sense.

They're both within the grey zone, but to me Hatful of Hollow is in and Louder Than Bombs is out.

So far I have 3 lists

-sonofsamian

-Honorio (I took your RYM list as I told you)

- Michael

and a ratehr unexpected number 1 that suits me well, but which won't stay nb 1 for very long because the favorites are already there.

Running this poll is cool because you see the list taking form. It is like the Tour de France : for each stage (her, each list) there's a winner and the general classification changes, and of course, there's the "maillot jaune", (yellow jersey, worn by the general classification leader)

nicolas

OK, no problem; I' ll leave the Robert Johnson record out then. There are soooo many good records out there!

To all voters :

If you have your lists ready, please just send them to me.

Not because I'm impatient but because if you guys all rush in at the very end of october, which I understand because that's what I've always done, that will delay the results.

Don't wanna be too pushy but I've got a job and a family so if I have a lot of compiling to do at the last minute it will take me a week or more to import all the lists and calculate the results.

So if you are ready please consider sending your list before the last week.

Thanks in advance

I'm almost done with my list, and I'll try to put it in Excel and send it to you by the end of the week.

I could put up a list at any time, but I want to give some of the more recent albums I've acquired more of a chance to reach the list.

It's looking like my top 7 may only represent three artists.

Just a quick question on formatting: do we write an artist with a "The" (ex. "The Beatles") as "Beatles, The"?

Doesn't matter now I guess. List is sent - if I didn't send it now, I'd fidget over it for the next month and I have school work I need to do...

Don't worry Penguin, your list is OK

Thanks again for sending it so soon

for the others :

Please write "The Beatles" rather than "Beatles, The"

I go on with my Tour de France analogy

After stage 4, we have

391 albums listed (3 out of 4 lists were top 100)

and a new yellow jersey

My adapter on my laptop broke and the battery is shot. I was almost finished too... I'll send it in once I get enough money to buy a new adapter.

so i made the stupid mistake of just buying two albums that at least one will make my top 100 and the other is likely...................................................mercy?

and don't be afraid to tell me no if it's too much work! i'm a doofus.

Michael, would you mind giving these albums the 101st and 102nd slot so the rest of your list won't change ? that will mean less work for me

yeah that's fine! could you slap on Slint- Spiderland? i don't think i'll add the other. thanks!

Michael : Done !

long story short, I had to restore my computer and I can't find the key to get excel to work.

Is it okay if I send it as a word file?

Nicolas, I have the same problem as Jonathon, at least when it comes to computer files. I certainly hope he doesn't share my other problem.
My computer illiteracy seems to have actually got worse in the last 2 years-I can't get Excel running to save my life.
Will it be ok to send the list as a Word file-will be 100 albums and I can get it to you in the next couple of days. If this a problem let me know ...I appreciate you have a life, even if I don't.

Jonathan and EdAmes,

If you can't do otherwise, you can send me Word files

Thanks, Nicolas!

May I ask you guys to send me yr Word files ASAP (I've got more time now that lists don't come in everyday)?

Bout only if your mind is made of course

One more list thanks to Vanillafire1000

Nb of lists : 5 (I know you can do better)

Nb of albums : 512 (out of 801 list numbers)

Nb of albums which appear in all lists : 4 (only)

Nb 1 albums : 5

and yet a new Yellow jersey has taken over, as well as a new number 2.

Keep sending your lists, I'm out of work now !

I just sent my list!

List sent too, I was turning too obsessed by my list, so sending it is the best way to get down to workd now (I mean, they pay me, I guess i should work)

Just for the pleasure anyway, a graph showing the total points I gave to each years covered by my votes.
1997 is definitely my favourite year with 5 albums in my top 20. I guess despite voting in the 80s poll and hosting the 70s poll, I'll keep the highest rate of albums made during the past 20 years.




I was expecting a bigger picture

Is there an easy way to convert a ranked word list into a ranked excel list (with artist and album in different columns)?

There is a way of converting word-lists in excel.
Copy the text from Word into Excel, select the inserted data and use the option "text to collumns" under the "data" tab at the pull-down menu. Then you have several options to put the data into collumns.

I am also working on an (excel )-list. I expect it is ready at the end of this week.

Just another question for you nicolas: Do you prever if I write artist like "Bob Dylan" or "Dylan, Bob"?

marc : interesting suggestion about Word/Excel that could save me a lot of time

I'm gonna test that on a non-Excel list I have just received.

... and I prefer Bob Dylan to "Dylan Bob"
The Beatles to Beatles, The

Thank you

I found out how to put a Word file into an Excel spreadsheet with separate columns !

You can do it, it is very easy, follow marc's example.

Nick, if you read this, I have converted yr file, there's no need for you to make an Excel spreadsheet !

For those who will send Word lists : please try to put your list this way :

1 - Artist - Album - Date

(please use the same delimitor like - )

and beginning with nb 1 (no reverse order, please)

Example (random of course)

1 - Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run - 1975
2- The Beatles - The Beatles (White Album) - 1968

etc...

Sorry for being so fussy but that's my job (I'm an editor)

That news would have been alot more helpful if you came up with it Sunday night. It took forever for me to move my word list to excel.

A recap ?

So far I have received 10 lists :

Sonofsamian
Honorio
Michael
Penguin
VanillaFire1000
Nassim
Nick
EdAmes
Paul
Marc


Each one of those lists had a distinct number one, a good sign of diversity.

I have some 900 albums for the moment

The leader has changed.

only ONE album has appeared in every list. It is not our general #1 though.

So now we're at midterm or more (13 days left) so please if you have your lists ready send them to me before the last minute !

And please don't drown in a glass of water as we say in French.
If you're not sure who's gonna be 76 and not 77, it's not gonna make a big difference in the end !

I'm still expecting news from

Moonbeam ?
Jonathon
John
Beans
Henrik ?
Jem
Harold Wexler
antonius
Jackson
Greg
BillAdama
Mindrocker
popelton
Fred
Toni
Ze (why not more metal in the list ?)
Miguel
Alex D
Jonah ?
Anthony ?
schleuse ?
otisredding ?
Michel ?
Snusmumrik ?
Schwah ?
Midaso ?
Sean Pak
Rocky Raccoon ?
Georgie ?
Chris ?
Rune ?
Mitchell Stirling ?
Dumbangel ?
SR ?
Charlie Driggs ?
Greg Rumpff ?
Beef Supreme ?
Moeboid ?
Lanka ?
Mike Kelly ?
Kevin ?

and nicolas (what the hell are you doin'?)


God, that's a lot of o people...

... and I hope some newbies (or people I unintentionally forgot) will show up.

So don't be late, give your lists RIGHT NOW if you don't want the results by Xmas !!!

Why do some names have question marks? Of course I'm going to participate!

Sorry Henrik, I put question marks to those who didn't take part in our previous threads about the polls, but you did so you didn't deserve one...

And it's a good way to get an answer too

Nicolas: I will send you my list but now I have a problem. There are 16 albums tied for number one. I can not make a decision until I hear them several times but concentrated.

I just have to put mine in an excel sheet and then I will be good to go...

I was on holidays until a couple of days ago so I only started yesterday, but I think I can have my list together within the next week.

Cool guys

I have a lot of free time next week, you can expect mine in the next few days.

If people who don't send one in this time but did last time,you'll just include their previous list right?
Don't worry,I'll be in in a couple of days...

You don't want my list?

Oops sorry

Oh yes of course I do Stephan !!

You've been away for such a long time, that's why I didn't put yr name in the list !

Whenever you want !!

Hehe, just kidding of course. I know I haven't been very active. I think I'll send my list monday if I remember to.

Hey, would it bother you if I didn't list the year with my albums? It would be a little time consuming to look them all up (And you'll probably immediately recognize ~180-190 of mine anyway).

No problemo !
lack of dates isn't a big deal especially for acclaimed albums
If you have unacclaimed, unknown albums the dates would be helpful but if it's a matter of time don't bother

I'm cooking up a list right now, it might take a couple more days but I'll definitely get it to you before the deadline.

Sent! I think I got all of the dates right; it was from memory!


Oh Nicolas, I forgot to put who mine was from. Denimelectric@aim.com is me.

Will send, and because I know how much work these things can be, I'll send it with days to spare.

How do you attach an image to your user name in the board ?

Merci !

Gracias

Hello,

I'm brazilian and I never posted anything to your site, but I've been using it to find a lot of great albums. Can I send my list?

PS: sorry about the poor language.

I haven't been active for a very long time ( lot of work/study ), but i would like to participate as well, if you don't mind.
Probably i will send my list on Wednesday.

Don't worry, it will be a short list...I guess it's difficult for me to evaluate and compare albums past the 60th-75th position .

Bruno, Chevi, your lists are more than welcome !!!

I had no South American lists so far !

Nicolas, are you getting many comments in the lists so far? I can come up with some, but I'll hold off on them if nobody else is writing them.

Let me see

Not that many, but some people played the game, so comments are still welcome, especially from you, moonbeam !

10 days left, folks !

I have received 20 lists and the general list has reached a certain inertia. Things move, but much slower than in the beginning when one list could change the whole top 10.

From now on, I won't give you hints about the leader anymore to entertain a certain suspense.

Nb of #1 albums : 18

(2 albums have received 2 #1 votes each)

Nb of albums : 1482

No album has made all the lists, but two have made an impressive 18/20

For those who haven't sent me their list yet, could you add your date of birth and nationality (for statistics)?

I'll send an email to the others (at least those whose information I don't have)

And I'm still ahead of schedule, so you can send me your lists

I have received lists from

Sonofsamian
Honorio
Michael
Penguin
Vanilla Fire1000
Nassim
Nick
EdAmes
Paul
Marc
Marc N
Vgrd
Steven
Chris
Mark
Jonathon
Michel
Ramone666
MichaelP
David

see ya

You know, the more I think about it, I should of given more love to Simon & Garfunkel, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, & The Police. I only put one album from each on the list, but looking back, they should have more. It is just hard for me to connect them to albums instead of greatest hits collections. If we could put Greatest Hits on the lists, those four would be in my top 10, no doubt about it.

Maybe Ella Fitzgerald too, but I find it hard to put her songbook albums on my lists.

You'll have a future artists poll to make up for that

25 lists so far, keep on sending !!

I'm working on my list.

Hey guys,

One reminder : Compilations are not allowed, even by artists who didn't publish albums like Robert Johnson

As I have little time and the number of lists arriving is increasing, I won't have time to inform each and every one of you about such errors in their lists, so uneligible albums won't be counted or replaced.

And please consider writing comments.

Thanks