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You're probably right about that, but I do think the Beatles albums will be concentrated near the very top, and a Beatles album will be #1.
Both Pet Sounds and the top Beatles albums have a lot of people who think they're the greatest of all time and very few detractors, but I think the people who don't think Pet Sounds is the greatest of all time go a little farther down than the people who don't think Beatles are greatest of all time.
I can see Pet Sounds finishing #1. There is a divide on what the best Beatles album actually is so Pet Sounds could definitely pull off the upset.
No, sorry, there is not a tie on #17, The Kinks are on #16
About the (deserved in my opinion) preponderance of the Beatles is something that should'nt come as a surprise. We all knew that it was going to happen. However I expected Sgt. Pepper's ending out of the Top 10 given the relatively low placement on the 1967 poll (it ended at #5).
Romain, you're not the only one not getting the acclaim about "Pet Sounds". Two years ago someone asked for that in this thread. I posted there a ranking of 10 goose-bump moments in that great album, hope this could help you to appreciate it a little more.
On a side note: I've always liked a lot "Rubber Soul". In fact I played in a band that was initially called Rubber Souls (later we changed our name to Rubber). The cover art of our first EP released in 1990 reproduced the original Beatles cover (I'm the one in Harrison's position).
By the way, have you noticed that the Beatles (intentionally or not) reproduced with their positions the Mount Rushmore Memorial?
The Top 10
Yes, they made it! The Zombies entered the Top 10 with their "Odessey and Oracle", an album overlooked at the time that has grown in stature enough to being able to compete now with Dylan or the Beatles.
10. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced
Points: 1119
Biggest fans: Listyguy (#1), Gillingham and Rocky Raccoon (#3), Henry and Mindrocker (#4)
Position in AM 3000: #7 of the 1960s and #12 of all time
Position in 1967 poll: #3
Released on May 12, 1967 (Track 612 001), released in the US (Reprise RS 6261) on August 23, 1967 with a different cover art and different track listing (including single tracks as "Purple Haze", "Hey Joe" and "The Wind Cries Mary" instead "Red House", "Can You See Me" and "Remember").
Recorded on October 23, 1966 - January 11, 1967 at De Lane Lea Studios, London, England, on November 12, 1966 at CBS Studios, London, England and on February 2 - April 3, 1967 at Olympic Studios, London, England
Producer: Chas Chandler
Style: Acid Rock
Comments:
Richie Unterberger for allmusic: "One of the most stunning debuts in rock history, and one of the definitive albums of the psychedelic era. On "Are You Experienced?", Jimi Hendrix synthesized various elements of the cutting edge of 1967 rock into music that sounded both futuristic and rooted in the best traditions of rock, blues, pop, and soul. It was his mind-boggling guitar work, of course, that got most of the ink, building upon the experiments of British innovators like Jeff Beck and Pete Townshend to chart new sonic territories in feedback, distortion, and sheer volume. It wouldn't have meant much, however, without his excellent material, whether psychedelic frenzy ("Foxey Lady", "Manic Depression", "Purple Haze"), instrumental freak-out jams ("Third Stone From the Sun"), blues ("Red House", "Hey Joe"), or tender, poetic compositions ("The Wind Cries Mary") that demonstrated the breadth of his songwriting talents. Not to be underestimated were the contributions of drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding, who gave the music a rhythmic pulse that fused parts of rock and improvised jazz. Many of these songs are among Hendrix's very finest; it may be true that he would continue to develop at a rapid pace throughout the rest of his brief career, but he would never surpass his first LP in terms of consistently high quality."
Rocky Raccoon: "Song for song perhaps the best album ever recorded. It sounds like a greatest hits package with one amazing song after another, but it's not, it's just a regular studio album. What makes that even more astounding is that it's a debut. From this through to Electric Ladyland is one of the greatest creative periods a musician has ever gone through."
Listyguy: "This album is an Experience."
9. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Points: 1122
Biggest fans: Rocky Raccoon (#1), Henry (#3), Chris, John and Miguel (#7)
Position in AM 3000: #4 of the 1960s and #5 of all time
Position in 1967 poll: #5
Released on June 1, 1967 (Parlophone PCS 7027)
Recorded on December 6, 1966 - April 21, 1967 at EMI Studios, London, England
Producer: George Martin
Style: Psychedelic Pop
Comments:
Stephen Thomas Erlewine for allmusic: "With "Revolver", the Beatles made the Great Leap Forward, reaching a previously unheard-of level of sophistication and fearless experimentation. "Sgt. Pepper's", in many ways, refines that breakthrough, as the Beatles consciously synthesized such disparate influences as psychedelia, art song, classical music, rock & roll, and music hall, often in the course of one song. (...) There's no discounting the individual contributions of each member or their producer, George Martin, but the preponderance of whimsy and self-conscious art gives the impression that Paul McCartney is the leader of the Lonely Hearts Club Band. He dominates the album in terms of compositions, setting the tone for the album with his unabashed melodicism and deviously clever arrangements. In comparison, Lennon's contributions seem fewer, and a couple of them are a little slight but his major statements are stunning. (...) "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" remains one of the touchstones of British psychedelia; and he's the mastermind behind the bulk of "A Day in the Life," a haunting number that skillfully blends Lennon's verse and chorus with McCartney's bridge. It's possible to argue that there are better Beatles albums, yet no album is as historically important as this. After "Sgt. Pepper's", there were no rules to follow - rock and pop bands could try anything, for better or worse. Ironically, few tried to achieve the sweeping, all-encompassing embrace of music as the Beatles did here."
Listyguy: "Another masterpiece from the band."
Rocky Raccoon: "Some choices are as plain as the noise on Ringo's face. So much has been written about this album that anything more would just be redundent. Let's just sum everything up and say it changed the face of music. Also, the songs are pretty damn good. As an added bonus, it made Brian Wilson go nuts trying to match it. He couldn't."
8. The Zombies - Odessey and Oracle
Points: 1138
Biggest fans: Romain (#3), Charlie Driggs and Jackson (#4), nj (#5), John (#6)
Position in AM 3000: #66 of the 1960s and #316 of all time
Position in 1968 poll: #2
Released on April 19, 1968 (Parlophone PCS 7027)
Recorded on June - July 1967 at EMI Studios, London, England, on August 1967 at Olympic Studios, London, England and on September - November 1967 at EMI Studios, London, England
Producer: The Zombies
Style: Baroque Pop
Comments:
Bruce Eder for allmusic: " "Odessey and Oracle" was one of the flukiest (and best) albums of the 1960s, and one of the most enduring long-players to come out of the entire British psychedelic boom, mixing trippy melodies, ornate choruses, and lush Mellotron sounds with a solid hard rock base. But it was overlooked completely in England and barely got out in America (with a big push by Al Kooper, who was then a Columbia Records producer); and it was neglected in the U.S. until the single "Time of the Season", culled from the album, topped the charts nearly two years after it was recorded, by which time the group was long disbanded. Ironically, at the time of its recording in the summer of 1967, permanency was not much on the minds of the bandmembers. "Odessey and Oracle" was intended as a final statement, a bold last hurrah, having worked hard for three years only to see the quality of their gigs decline as the hits stopped coming. The results are consistently pleasing, surprising, and challenging."
nicolas: "A perfect mix of the Beatles and beach Boys, with fantastic songs. If their record company had spent more money on production it could have equalled "Pet Sounds"or "Revolver"."
nj: "O_O even h4z tta facebook theme song... with 10tz of powerwords for shitstorming the faggy 60s... alb31337!!"
I'm going to have to check out that Zombies album.
Had I participated, I may have bumped down The Beatles a bit. I've only heard Sgt. Pepper in full, but it surely would have ranked last in the list of albums I've heard that are eligible. That said, I'm not nearly versed enough in 60s music to have felt that I could participate fairly.
DAMN IT!!!!!!!!
Jimi gets screwed over again!!
ARGHHHHH!!!!
I wonder what the odds of All Along the Watchtower (My #1 of the decade) finishing higher than 10 are.
Moonbeam, you should definitely check the Zombies album. And yes, I missed you here but there's something I expected, you always talk about your limited knowledge of the 60s music (even if your choices on the yearly poll were always fantastic!).
And Listyguy, I'm not sure if the definition of "getting screwed over" includes "getting into the Top 10".
The best thing in this last section? That Rubber Souls sleeve of course!
Of course, Mindrocker.
Yes, Rocky Raccoon, I was tempted to correct it myself and put "nose" instead. But, since I was not completely sure if it was some kind of wordplay, I decided to leave it as you wrote it.
In fact "the noise on Ringo's face" is a very funny expression.
7. Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde
Points: 1176
Biggest fans: Honorio, Rocky Raccoon and Stephan (#2), Chris (#4), Brad (#6)
Position in AM 3000: #5 of the 1960s and #7 of all time
Position in 1966 poll: #3
Released on May 16, 1966 (Columbia C2L 41)
Recorded on November 25, 1965 at Studio A, Columbia Recording Studios, New York City and on February 14 - March 10, 1966 at Columbia Recording Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
Producer: Bob Johnston
Style: Folk Rock
Comments:
Stephen Thomas Erlewine for allmusic: "If "Highway 61 Revisited" played as a garage rock record, the double album "Blonde on Blonde" inverted that sound, blending blues, country, rock, and folk into a wild, careening, and dense sound. Replacing the fiery Michael Bloomfield with the intense, weaving guitar of Robbie Robertson, Bob Dylan led a group comprised of his touring band the Hawks and session musicians through his richest set of songs. "Blonde on Blonde" is an album of enormous depth, providing endless lyrical and musical revelations on each play. Leavening the edginess of "Highway 61" with a sense of the absurd, "Blonde on Blonde" is comprised entirely of songs driven by inventive, surreal, and witty wordplay, not only on the rockers but also on winding, moving ballads like "Visions of Johanna," "Just Like a Woman," and "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands." Throughout the record, the music matches the inventiveness of the songs, filled with cutting guitar riffs, liquid organ riffs, crisp pianos, and even woozy brass bands ("Rainy Day Women #12 & 35"). It's the culmination of Dylan's electric rock & roll period - he would never release a studio record that rocked this hard, or had such bizarre imagery, ever again."
nicolas: "Another one better than the sum of its parts. By far my favorite '60s album by Dylan. Like AMG says "an album of enormous depth"."
Rocky Raccoon: "It's always a tossup between this and "Highway 61 Revisited" for me, but this one has the better ballads."
Honorio: "Dylan not abandoned the automatic poetry of his previous two albums but he pointed toward more personal matters. The lyrics were cryptic and the music was messy but this was not only part of the charm but maybe its main appeal. He tried to find a unique sound equidistant from pop-rock and roots-music and he succeeded. In Dylan’s own words: "The closest I ever got to the sound I hear in my mind was on individual bands in the "Blonde on Blonde" album. It's that thin, that wild mercury sound. It's metallic and bright gold, with whatever that conjures up. That's my particular sound"."
6. The Beatles - Abbey Road
Points: 1241
Biggest fans: Henry and nicolas (#1), Listyguy (#2), Georgie (#3), Henrik (#6)
Position in AM 3000: #10 of the 1960s and #20 of all time
Position in 1969 poll: #1
Released on September 26, 1969 (Apple PCS 7088 )
Recorded on February 22, 1969 at Trident Studios, London, England, on May 6, 1969 at Olympic Sound Studios, London, England and on April 16 - August 20, 1969 at EMI Studios, London, England (formally renamed Abbey Road Studios in 1970 probably due in part to the success of this album)
Producer: George Martin, Chris Thomas and Glyn Johns
Style: Album Rock
Comments:
Richie Unterberger for allmusic: "The last Beatles album to be recorded (although "Let It Be" was the last to be released), "Abbey Road" was a fitting swan song for the group, echoing some of the faux-conceptual forms of "Sgt. Pepper's", but featuring stronger compositions and more rock-oriented ensemble work. The group was still pushing forward in all facets of its art, whether devising some of the greatest harmonies to be heard on any rock record (especially on "Because"), constructing a medley of songs/vignettes that covered much of side two, adding subtle touches of Moog synthesizer, or crafting furious guitar-heavy rock ("The End", "I Want You (She's So Heavy)", "Come Together"). George Harrison also blossomed into a major songwriter, contributing the buoyant "Here Comes the Sun" and the supremely melodic ballad "Something", the latter of which became the first Harrison-penned Beatles hit. Whether "Abbey Road" is the Beatles' best work is debatable, but it's certainly the most immaculately produced (with the possible exception of "Sgt. Pepper's") and most tightly constructed."
Honorio: "In the Beatles career we can also define periods: early (the first two albums), classic (from "A Hard Day's Night" to "Rubber Soul"), golden age ("Revolver" and "Sgt. Pepper's"), avant-garde ("MMT"and "White Album") and decadence ("Abbey Road" and back-to-basics "Let It Be"). But with one major problem, there is nothing more antagonistic to the concept of decadence than this brilliant album."
Listyguy: "Such a great album, tragically their last."
nicolas: "What I love the most with the Beatles is their ability to radically change their sound with each album, and to stay themselves all the while. The most cohesive effort to me, with the best album final I've never heard. They went out in style."
Are You Experienced would have been my #1.
Looks like only two Beatles albums are left with a shot at the overall #1.
The whole "Jimi was robbed thing" was because he only lost to Sgt Pepper by 3 points.
My top 5 call:
1. Revolver
2. Pet Sounds
3. Vu/Nico
4. Highway 61
5. White Album
I can't see the White album contending with the other 4.
It would be great if Dylan or The VU could run away with the first spot, but that's not going to happen, alas.
On positions 7 and 6 we had Dylan and the Beatles. It’s easy now to guess the artists we have on positions 5 and 4. The unexpected thing comes with the Beatles album we selected for #4. Ladies and gentlemen...
5. Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited
Points: 1315
Biggest fans: Stephan (#1), Gillingham (#2), sonofsamiam (#3), Rocky Raccoon (#5), Harold Wexler and nicolas (#6)
Position in AM 3000: #6 of the 1960s and #11 of all time
Position in 1965 poll: #1
Released on August 30, 1965 (Columbia CL 2389)
Recorded on June 15 - August 4, 1965 at Studio A, Columbia Recording Studios, New York City
Producer: Tom Wilson, Bob Johnston
Style: Folk Rock
Comments:
Stephen Thomas Erlewine for allmusic: "Taking the first, electric side of "Bringing It All Back Home" to its logical conclusion, Bob Dylan hired a full rock & roll band, featuring guitarist Michael Bloomfield, for "Highway 61 Revisited". Opening with the epic "Like a Rolling Stone", "Highway 61 Revisited" careens through nine songs that range from reflective folk-rock ("Desolation Row") and blues ("It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry") to flat-out garage rock ("Tombstone Blues", "From a Buick 6", "Highway 61 Revisited"). Dylan had not only changed his sound, but his persona, trading the folk troubadour for a streetwise, cynical hipster. Throughout the album, he embraces druggy, surreal imagery, which can either have a sense of menace or beauty, and the music reflects that, jumping between soothing melodies to hard, bluesy rock. And that is the most revolutionary thing about "Highway 61 Revisited" - it proved that rock & roll needn't be collegiate and tame in order to be literate, poetic, and complex."
nicolas: "Bruce Springsteen said that the second musical revelation he had (after seeing Elvis on Tv) was Highway 61. And he's damn right. I remember that I didn't like this once at once. The sound is very rough, sometimes the musicians are almost out of tune, but there's an energy that you never hear on any other Dylan album."
4. The Beatles - Revolver
Points: 1315
Biggest fans: Harold Wexler and Romain (#1), Chris (#2), Honorio and John (#4)
Position in AM 3000: #2 of the 1960s and #2 of all time
Position in 1966 poll: #2
Released on August 5, 1966 (Parlophone PCS 7009), the US release (Capitol ST-2576) was the last Beatles release with different track listing (it only featured 11 tracks because the songs "I'm Only Sleeping", "Dr. Robert" and "And Your Bird Can Sing" were previously released on the album "Yesterday and Today")
Recorded on April 6 - June 21, 1966 at EMI Studios, London, England
Producer: George Martin
Style: Psychedelic Rock
Comments:
Stephen Thomas Erlewine for allmusic: "All the rules fell by the wayside with "Revolver", as the Beatles began exploring new sonic territory, lyrical subjects, and styles of composition. It wasn't just Lennon and McCartney, either - Harrison staked out his own dark territory with the tightly wound, cynical rocker "Taxman"; the jaunty yet dissonant "I Want to Tell You"; and "Love You To", George's first and best foray into Indian music. Such explorations were bold, yet they were eclipsed by Lennon's trippy kaleidoscopes of sound. (...) and then capped it off with a triptych of bad trips: the spiraling "She Said She Said"; the crawling, druggy "I'm Only Sleeping"; and "Tomorrow Never Knows", a pure nightmare where John sang portions of the Tibetan Book of the Dead into a suspended microphone over Ringo's thundering, menacing drumbeats and layers of overdubbed, phased guitars and tape loops. McCartney's experiments were formal, as he tried on every pop style from chamber pop to soul, and when placed alongside Lennon's and Harrison's outright experimentations, McCartney's songcraft becomes all the more impressive. The biggest miracle of "Revolver" may be that the Beatles covered so much new stylistic ground and executed it perfectly on one record, or it may be that all of it holds together perfectly. Either way, its daring sonic adventures and consistently stunning songcraft set the standard for what pop/rock could achieve."
Listyguy: "I have this album in puzzle form."
nicolas: "So much has been said about this album. My favorite songs ? Eleanor Rigby, For No One and the very innovative Tomorrow never Knows. Among the Fab Four albums, it is the one that fits the best to these times because of the guitar sounds."
Rocky Raccoon: "I don't think I'll ever hold this one in as high esteem as many people do. It still sounds like a transition record to me, bridging the gap between the pinnacle of their early work on "Rubber Soul" and where they were going with "Sgt. Pepper's." That being said, it's still No. 12."
Honorio: "The Fab Four expanded with "Revolver" their musical palette and doing this they expanded their (our) minds. And their adventurous but successful forays into classical music ("Eleanor Rigby"), Hindu music ("Love You To") or avant-garde ("Tomorrow Never Knows") were incorporated to their own style (the horn solo in "For No One" is now a Beatles-style solo)."
Oh man - what a tragedy,don't get me wrong The White Album is pretty good,but top 3 of the 60s - really?
There most definitely is. Cale, Reed and Tucker are all fantastically gifted musicians and Reed's narratives are amazing. The frantic energy and force of songs like "Heroin", "I'm Waiting for The Man", "Sister Ray", "Rock and Roll" and many more are unparalleled and I'd listen to pretty much any of their albums over any (to me, slightly boring) Beatles record.
Maybe it's just me, but i actually like Revolution 9. There's something about it which sounds so full of life and energy, much more than the Mccartney songs on the same album. I'm not that big a fan of the White Album, but the second side is largely brilliant.
And on VU, Stephan hit the nail on the head.
And last thing, Revolver at 4 is the real tragedy! Ought to be fighting it out with Dylan's 2 albums for top spot in my opinion along with something by the Stones!
So you all know now, there is no Beatles at #1. Number three, number three, number three ...
3. The Beatles - The Beatles
Points: 1367
Biggest fans: Honorio (#1), Brad and Miguel (#2), Charlie Driggs, Chris, Harold Wexler and nicolas (#3)
Position in AM 3000: #8 of the 1960s and #14 of all time
Position in 1968 poll: #1
Released on November 22, 1968 (Apple PCS 7067/8 )
Recorded on May 30 - October 14, 1968 at EMI Studios, London, England, with some sessions (August 28 - 29 and October 1 - 5, 1968) at Trident Studios, London, England
Producer: George Martin, Chris Thomas
Style: Art Rock
Comments:
Stephen Thomas Erlewine for allmusic: "Each song on the sprawling double album "The Beatles" is an entity to itself, as the band touches on anything and everything it can. This makes for a frustratingly scattershot record or a singularly gripping musical experience, depending on your view, but what makes the so-called "White Album" interesting is its mess. Never before had a rock record been so self-reflective, or so ironic; the Beach Boys send-up "Back in the U.S.S.R." and the British blooze parody "Yer Blues" are delivered straight-faced, so it's never clear if these are affectionate tributes or wicked satires. (...) None of it sounds like it was meant to share album space together, but somehow "The Beatles" creates its own style and sound through its mess."
Listyguy: "Countless great songs on this."
nicolas: "The Beatles' attic : there's everything, it's the absolute anti-Sgt Pepper's. If it had been reduced to the first record, it could have made nb.1."
Honorio: "The Beatles went so far with the "White Album" that in fact planted the seeds of the band disintegration. Many songs were recorded without involvement of the other band members ("Mother Nature Son", "Julia" or "Revolution 9"). But this individualism and dispersion miraculously not only was no dead weight but indeed it was a virtue. They applied the perfect and precise arrangement to every song without looking for cohesiveness. If a song needed clarinets ("Honey Pie"), overdrive ("Helter Skelter"), honky-tonk pianos ("Rocky Racoon") or a full orchestra ("Good Night") that was what the song got. All for the Song. And Song for all."
VU at number 1? Cringe
I knew the Beatles backlash on these forums would keep them out of #1. Combine that with multiple albums to choose from and it was kind of obvious to me that The Beach Boys or Dylan would be #1. Didn't see the VU getting in the top 2 though (maybe #1?). I have to say, this is the most shocking poll we've done here on AM.
Oh, and I forgot that we still have the songs left! Nice!
That's the best possible outcome I could have wished for with 4 Beatles records in the top 10—although I would've liked Dylan to contend for the top 3. While I reckon Pet Sounds will easily win, I hope VU can upset The Beach Boys. Good stuff.
Honorio: was there actually a tie for #4 or are the points wrong?
Well, some comments before posting the two first positions:
- About the times per year I listen again to well-known albums (being the Velvets or even the Beatles) probably it’s not too much. The easy access to music now (Spotify and all that) makes that there so much music waiting to be listened that I don’t go back too often to those albums. Anyway talking about VU probably the album I’m more willing to listen again could be the self-titled third (I’m not the only one, it reached on this poll a meritory #22). But I understand your point, Henry, I like the VU second album but I must admit I don’t revisit it too often (especially the B-side).
- And yes, Jackson, I can perfectly enjoy the White Album all the way through. And I know, it’s not perfect, it’s inconsistent and it has a lot of ups and downs. Just like life.
- Stephan, #4 and #5 had the same points but I’m not sure if this means that there is a tie. I’m not sure about how the formula works. I simply posted the list in the order that the albums appear on the Excel file. If same points mean ties (as logically one can think) we have several other ties (you can see the points below every album cover on the post). The tie between "Revolver" and "Highway 61" could be broken in favor to The Beatles (two voters had "Revolver" as their #1 while Dylan's album received its only #1 from you, Stephan).
- Mmm, John, I’m not sure if this is the most shocking poll so far (in fact Listyguy joked about the Top 10 being quite similar to Rolling Stone). Think about that (except for The Zombies) the rest of the Top 10 it’s the same that the official AM list (but with the positions changed). But it’s been a wonderful trip to me (and I hope that it was for everyone).
- And yes, Rocky Raccoon, this is not tragedy, this is FUN.
Damn, that was a twist. White Album pulling off the upset. I think it's safe to say the Beach Boys have it in the bag, but after this, I'm not too sure.
Yes, as Midaso reminded, Pet Sounds almost won the all-time albums poll. But this time it should resign with a (more than meritory) second position.
2. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
Points: 1394
Biggest fans: Georgie (#1), Henry and John (#2), Honorio and Mindrocker (#3)
Position in AM 3000: #1 of the 1960s and #1 of all time
Position in 1966 poll: #1
Released on May 16, 1966 (Capitol T 2458 )
Recorded on July 12, 1965 - March 10, 1966 at Western Studios, Hollywood, California, on January 22 - February 14, 1966 at Gold Star Studios, Los Angeles, California, on March 11, 1966 at Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, California and on March 13 - April 13, 1966 at Columbia Studios, Los Angeles, California
Producer: Brian Wilson
Style: Sunshine Pop
Comments:
Richie Unterberger for allmusic: "The best Beach Boys album, and one of the best of the 1960s. The group here reached a whole new level in terms of both composition and production, layering tracks upon tracks of vocals and instruments to create a richly symphonic sound. Conventional keyboards and guitars were combined with exotic touches of orchestrated strings, bicycle bells, buzzing organs, harpsichords, flutes, theremin, Hawaiian-sounding string instruments, Coca-Cola cans, barking dogs, and more. It wouldn't have been a classic without great songs, and this has some of the group's most stunning melodies, as well as lyrical themes which evoke both the intensity of newly born love affairs and the disappointment of failed romance (add in some general statements about loss of innocence and modern-day confusion as well). The spiritual quality of the material is enhanced by some of the most gorgeous upper-register male vocals (especially by Brian and Carl Wilson) ever heard on a rock record. (...) It's often said that this is more of a Brain Wilson album than a Beach Boys recording (session musicians played most of the parts), but it should be noted that the harmonies are pure Beach Boys (and some of their best). Massively influential upon its release (although it was a relatively low seller compared to their previous LPs), it immediately vaunted the band into the top level of rock innovators among the intelligentsia, especially in Britain, where it was a much bigger hit."
nj: "Overproduced EmoSpectorCrank stuff from the mid-sixties, but still far better than anything that overhyped frauds like 64 Cenobites, Door Knobs In The Meantime, Rising Furniture or Henna Blonde have EVER released so far."
nicolas: "When I got this album, the first track that fascinated me was the unreleased rehersal when they sing a capella. Such a perfection set shivers down my spine. Then I discovered the rest of the album. Favorite tracks : Sloop John B and God Only Knows."
Honorio: "Brian Wilson left aside the glorification of Californian life, the beaches, cars and girls that characterized the thematic of Beach Boys till then. Wilson: "I was not trying to entertain people, I was expressing my feelings straight from the heart". It was the time to talk about feelings, dreams ("Wouldn’t it Be Nice"), maladjustment ("I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times"), spiritual love ("God Only Knows") or losing of innocence ("Caroline No": "Where did your long hair go / Where is the girl I used to know / How could you lose that happy glow?")."
The Number 1
Well, finally the ones who tried to guess the final #1 were all wrong. The Beatles on #3, the Beach Boys on #2 and... the Velvet Underground on #1!! The Factory boys and girls with their innovative and idiosyncratic sound captured the heart of AM Forum voters. Ladies and gentlemen please welcome...
1. The Velvet Underground & Nico - The Velvet Underground & Nico
Points: 1445
Biggest fans: Brad and Chris (#1), Charlie Driggs (#2), Romain (#4), Gillingham, Harold Wexler, Honorio, Jackson and Stephan (#5)
Position in AM 3000: #3 of the 1960s and #3 of all time
Position in 1967 poll: #1
Released on March 12, 1967 (Verve V6-5008 )
Recorded on April 18 - 23, 1966 at Scepter Studios, New York City, on May 1966 at TTG Studios, Hollywood, California and on November, 1966 at Mayfair Sound Studios, New York City
Producer: Andy Warhol, Tom Wilson
Style: Art Rock
Comments:
Mark Deming for allmusic: "One would be hard pressed to name a rock album whose influence has been as broad and pervasive as "The Velvet Underground and Nico". While it reportedly took over a decade for the album's sales to crack six figures, glam, punk, new wave, goth, noise, and nearly every other left-of-center rock movement owes an audible debt to this set. While The Velvet Underground had as distinctive a sound as any band, what's most surprising about this album is its diversity. Here, the Velvets dipped their toes into dreamy pop ("Sunday Morning"), tough garage rock ("Waiting for the Man"), stripped-down R&B ("There She Goes Again"), and understated love songs ("I'll Be Your Mirror") when they weren't busy creating sounds without pop precedent. Lou Reed's lyrical exploration of drugs and kinky sex (then risky stuff in film and literature, let alone "teen music") always received the most press attention, but the music Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison and Maureen Tucker played was as radical as the words they accompanied. The bracing discord of "European Son", the troubling beauty of "All Tomorrow's Parties", and the expressive dynamics of "Heroin", all remain as compelling as the day they were recorded. While the significance of Nico's contributions have been debated over the years, she meshes with the band's outlook in that she hardly sounds like a typical rock vocalist, and if Andy Warhol's presence as producer was primarily a matter of signing the checks, his notoriety allowed The Velvet Underground to record their material without compromise, which would have been impossible under most other circumstances. Few rock albums are as important as "The Velvet Underground and Nico"."
nicolas: "When you try to strip it of all the hype and critic devotion, what is left of this album ? The essential: a string of brillant songs, sometimes a bit messy, variety, noise, intensity and an arty touch. Perfect for a subway ride."
nj: "This is the debut album of New York based Velvet Underground and Yellow Banana is a coprophilia codeword for junkie hustler turds which is double epic army to me, so the gay fake whale samples in some of those songs don't bother me that much."
Honorio: "A series of fortunate collisions generated this masterpiece: the collision between street-wise rock & roll of Lou Reed and classical background of John Cale, between those intuitive musicians and pop-art Pope Andy Warhol, between heroin and pushers urban stories and the decadent glamour of The Factory transvestites and starlets, between rock & roll and art."
And that was all, my dear friends. Tomorrow I will post the personal Top 10s and the Excel file (removing the songs list for not ruin the surprise).
Then I will take a two-weeks break for voting in the 2001 poll and for preparing two conferences I have to impart on April. But I will return with a no less fascinating 60s song list as soon as I can.
Many thanks to each and everyone of the 20 voters (nj, sonofsamiam, Henry, Mindrocker, Georgie, nicolas, Harold Wexler, Stephan, Gillingham, Brad, Miguel, Listyguy, John, Henrik, Romain, Chris, Rocky Raccoon, Charlie Driggs and Jackson).
Many thanks too to the ones that did not sent votes but made some comments in the post.
All my gratitude to the ones that wrote those wonderful comments on the albums: Listyguy, Rocky Raccoon, nicolas and nj (we all know how difficult it is to write some comments not being professional critics, many many thanks for making this effort).
And finally some special thanks of course to the Magnificent Seven that were there all the way through.
Good night, sweet dreams, see you tomorrow.
Wow, this was very interesting to the end! But not that surprising, I think. All albums in the top 10 (except Zombies) are super-classics so whatever the order had been there would have been several complaints.
Fantastic show again, Honorio!
Seeing The Zombies making the top 10 is wonderful! Time of the Season for loving indeed.
Just adding my kudos. Looking forward to the song results, but before then, take a well-deserved rest.
Triumph! For the very first time here (I think), my choice for #1 finished #1, and I didn't even participate!
This was THE poll, maybe because i really love this decade. Well, wonderful results, wonderful presentation, really, terrific work.
I just listened to the full album in honor of their victory. It's good, but not the best of the decade.
This might be the biggest surprise #1 I've seen in these polls.
I would have placed the top five:
VU: #9
Pet Sounds: #14
White Album: #20
Revolver: #5
Highway 61: #4
Probably wouldn't have made a difference. Though I might have pushed either Hendrix or Blonde On Blonde up a notch or two.
Great number one, though I would have been just as satisfied with the Beach Boys winning. The diversity of the songs on The VU & Nico is just incredible, from the lazy pop of "Sunday Morning" and "Femme Fatale" to droning noise of "Heroin" and "Venus in Furs." I've recently began to enjoy "The Black Angel's Death Song" and "European Son," which I previously thought was a weak way to end the album.
Too bad this poll had only 20 voters. I would have liked to see what others' favorites are.
how I'd rank the top 5.
Revolver (#1 of the 60's)
Pet Sounds (#2)
The White Album (#4)
Highway 61 Revisited (#5)
The Velvet Underground and Nico (#7)
Not too shabby.
Congratulations again, Honorio!
Thanks a lot for the great presentation Honorio! Very worthwhile.
Gracias Honorio
What an incredibly good surprise.
A little bit too much of Dylan and Beach boys album in the top 10 but the VU in first place is sooo good.
Eleven songs : eight fabulous and three only very good.
The first side of the disc is maybe the most perfect in all time ?!
And of course, thanks Honorio.
Great poll and great run down presentation, Honorio.
Too bad I didn't join the voting, but the result sure looks fine anyway!
Hasta Luego!
Many thanks for all the compliments!!
Time for the individual Top 10s and some correlation coefficients (for the complete lists and the complete correlations go to the Excel file).
Note:
- Overall correlation means the correlation coefficient between a particular voter and the rest of the voters, I will call #1 the one with lower correlation (the "different" one) and #20 the one with the higher (the "normal" one).
- Best friends means the ones with higher particular correlation coefficient, I will name three in ranked order (the first one the one with higher correlation).
Brad:
1. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground & Nico
2. Beatles, The - The Beatles (White Album)
3. Rolling Stones, The - Beggars Banquet
4. Beatles, The - Rubber Soul
5. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground
6. Dylan, Bob - Blonde on Blonde
7. Dylan, Bob - Highway 61 Revisited
8. Velvet Underground, The - White Light/White Heat
9. Rolling Stones, The - Let It Bleed
10. Beatles, The - Revolver
Overall correlation: 0.52 (#15)
Best friends: nicolas, Listyguy, Chris
Charlie Driggs:
1. Morrison, Van - Astral Weeks
2. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground & Nico
3. Beatles, The - The Beatles (White Album)
4. Zombies, The - Odessey and Oracle
5. Sly & the Family Stone - Stand!
6. Love - Forever Changes
7. Monks, The - Black Monk Time
8. Doors, The - The Doors
9. Coltrane, John - My Favorite Things
10. Simone, Nina - Pastel Blues
Overall correlation: 0.42 (#13)
Best friends: nj, Honorio, Henrik/Miguel
Chris:
1. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground & Nico
2. Beatles, The - Revolver
3. Beatles, The - The Beatles (White Album)
4. Dylan, Bob - Blonde on Blonde
5. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground
6. Beach Boys, The - Pet Sounds
7. Beatles, The - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
8. Dylan, Bob - Highway 61 Revisited
9. Rolling Stones, The - Beggars Banquet
10. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground & Nico
Overall correlation: 0.69 (#20)
Best friends: Harold Wexler, Rocky Raccoon, Honorio
Georgie:
1. Beach Boys, The - Pet Sounds
2. Millennium, The - Begin
3. Beatles, The - Abbey Road
4. Love - Forever Changes
5. Beatles, The - The Beatles (White Album)
6. Kinks, The - The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
7. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band - Trout Mask Replica
8. Drake, Nick - Five Leaves Left
9. Morrison, Van - Astral Weeks
10. Zombies, The - Odessey and Oracle
Overall correlation: 0.36 (#9)
Best friends: sonofsamiam, Harold Wexler, Rocky Raccoon
Gillingham:
1. Rolling Stones, The - Beggars Banquet
2. Dylan, Bob - Highway 61 Revisited
3. Hendrix, Jimi - Are You Experienced
4. Cohen, Leonard - Songs of Leonard Cohen
5. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground & Nico
6. Dylan, Bob - John Wesley Harding
7. Doors, The - The Doors
8. Drake, Nick - Five Leaves Left
9. Evans, Bill - Sunday at the Village Vanguard
10. Beatles, The - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Overall correlation: 0.27 (#5)
Best friends: Stephan, Henrik, nicolas
Harold Wexler:
1. Beatles, The - Revolver
2. Love - Forever Changes
3. Beatles, The - The Beatles (White Album)
4. Rolling Stones, The - Let It Bleed
5. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground & Nico
6. Dylan, Bob - Highway 61 Revisited
7. Beatles, The - Abbey Road
8. Hendrix, Jimi - Are You Experienced
9. Beach Boys, The - Pet Sounds
10. Zombies, The - Odessey and Oracle
Overall correlation: 0.67 (#19)
Best friends: Chris, Rocky Raccoon, Henry
Henrik:
1. Sly & the Family Stone - Stand!
2. Drake, Nick - Five Leaves Left
3. Simon & Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
4. Cohen, Leonard - Songs of Leonard Cohen
5. Walker, Scott - Scott 4
6. Beatles, The - Abbey Road
7. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
8. Brel, Jacques - Ces gens-là
9. Dylan, Bob - Highway 61 Revisited
10. Doors, The - The Doors
Overall correlation: 0.42 (#14)
Best friends: Honorio, nicolas, Chris
Henry:
1. Beatles, The - Abbey Road
2. Beach Boys, The - Pet Sounds
3. Beatles, The - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
4. Hendrix, Jimi - Are You Experienced
5. Beatles, The - Revolver
6. Band, The - The Band
7. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
8. Hendrix, Jimi - Electric Ladyland
9. Beatles, The - The Beatles (White Album)
10. Who, The - Tommy
Overall correlation: 0.38 (#11)
Best friends: Rocky Raccoon, Harold Wexler, Honorio/nicolas
Honorio:
1. Beatles, The - The Beatles (White Album)
2. Dylan, Bob - Blonde on Blonde
3. Beach Boys, The - Pet Sounds
4. Beatles, The - Revolver
5. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground & Nico
6. Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends
7. Cohen, Leonard - Songs of Leonard Cohen
8. Dylan, Bob - The Times They Are A-Changin'
9. Redding, Otis - Otis Blue / Otis Redding Sings Soul
10. Love - Forever Changes
Overall correlation: 0.58 (#17)
Best friends: Henrik/Rocky Raccoon, Miguel
Jackson:
1. Kinks, The - The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
2. Coltrane, John - A Love Supreme
3. Mingus, Charles - The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
4. Zombies, The - Odessey and Oracle
5. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground & Nico
6. Cohen, Leonard - Songs of Leonard Cohen
7. Love - Forever Changes
8. Beach Boys, The - Pet Sounds
9. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
10. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground
Overall correlation: 0.35 (#8 )
Best friends: nj, sonofsamiam, Stephan
John:
1. Beatles, The - Rubber Soul
2. Beach Boys, The - Pet Sounds
3. Beatles, The - Help!
4. Beatles, The - Revolver
5. Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
6. Zombies, The - Odessey and Oracle
7. Beatles, The - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
8. Dylan, Bob - Highway 61 Revisited
9. Kinks, The - The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
10. Beatles, The - Abbey Road
Overall correlation: 0.37 (#10)
Best friends: Miguel, Honorio, Chris
Listyguy:
1. Hendrix, Jimi - Are You Experienced
2. Beatles, The - Abbey Road
3. Sly & the Family Stone - Stand!
4. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
5. Hendrix, Jimi - Axis: Bold as Love
6. Beatles, The - The Beatles (White Album)
7. Doors, The - The Doors
8. Beatles, The - Rubber Soul
9. Dylan, Bob - Bringing It All Back Home
10. Hendrix, Jimi - Electric Ladyland
Overall correlation: 0.39 (#12)
Best friends: nicolas, Rocky Raccoon, Brad
Miguel:
1. Kinks, The - The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
2. Beatles, The - The Beatles (White Album)
3. Cohen, Leonard - Songs of Leonard Cohen
4. Beach Boys, The - Pet Sounds
5. Morrison, Van - Astral Weeks
6. Byrds, The - The Notorious Byrd Brothers
7. Beatles, The - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
8. Beatles, The - Rubber Soul
9. Who, The - The Who Sell Out
10. Byrds, The - Mr. Tambourine Man
Overall correlation: 0.30 (#5)
Best friends: Honorio, John, Chris
Mindrocker:
1. Zappa, Frank/The Mothers of Invention - We're Only in It for the Money
2. 13th Floor Elevators, The - The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
3. Beach Boys, The - Pet Sounds
4. Hendrix, Jimi - Are You Experienced
5. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
6. Byrds, The - The Notorious Byrd Brothers
7. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground & Nico
8. Rolling Stones, The - Beggars Banquet
9. Dylan, Bob - Highway 61 Revisited
10. Zappa, Frank/The Mothers of Invention - Freak Out!
Overall correlation: 0.30 (#6)
Best friends: nicolas, Harold Wexler, Listyguy
nicolas:
1. Beatles, The - Abbey Road
2. Brassens, Georges - Nº 7
3. Beatles, The - The Beatles (White Album)
4. Beach Boys, The - Pet Sounds
5. Beatles, The - Magical Mystery Tour
6. Dylan, Bob - Highway 61 Revisited
7. Young, Neil - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
8. Hendrix, Jimi - Electric Ladyland
9. Rolling Stones, The - Beggars Banquet
10. Coltrane, John - My Favorite Things
Overall correlation: 0.59 (#18 )
Best friends: Listyguy, Brad, Mindrocker
nj:
1. United States of America, The - The United States of America
2. Velvet Underground, The - White Light/White Heat
3. Dolphy, Eric - Out to Lunch!
4. Mingus, Charles - The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
5. Zombies, The - Odessey and Oracle
6. Monks, The - Black Monk Time
7. Coltrane, John - A Love Supreme
8. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground & Nico
9. Beach Boys, The - Pet Sounds
10. Mutantes, Os - Os Mutantes
Overall correlation: 0.12 (#1)
Best friends: Charlie Driggs/Jackson, sonofsamiam
Rocky Raccoon:
1. Beatles, The - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. Dylan, Bob - Blonde on Blonde
3. Hendrix, Jimi - Are You Experienced
4. Beatles, The - The Beatles (White Album)
5. Dylan, Bob - Highway 61 Revisited
6. Rolling Stones, The - Beggars Banquet
7. Sly & the Family Stone - Stand!
8. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground & Nico
9. Beatles, The - Rubber Soul
10. Dylan, Bob - Bringing It All Back Home
Overall correlation: 0.53 (#16)
Best friends: Harold Wexler, Henry, Chris
Romain:
1. Beatles, The - Revolver
2. Springfield, Dusty - Dusty in Memphis
3. Zombies, The - Odessey and Oracle
4. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground & Nico
5. Morricone, Ennio - Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo
6. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
7. Brassens, Georges - Nº 7
8. Hendrix, Jimi - Are You Experienced
9. Beatles, The - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
10. Doors, The - The Doors
Overall correlation: 0.18 (#2)
Best friends: Brad, Henrik, Chris
sonofsamiam:
1. Coltrane, John - A Love Supreme
2. Mingus, Charles - The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
3. Dylan, Bob - Highway 61 Revisited
4. Mutantes, Os - Os Mutantes
5. Simone, Nina - Pastel Blues
6. Millennium, The - Begin
7. Zombies, The - Odessey and Oracle
8. Sanders, Pharoah - Karma
9. Beach Boys, The - Pet Sounds
10. Walker, Scott - Scott 4
Overall correlation: 0.21 (#3)
Best friends: nj, Jackson, Georgie
Stephan:
1. Dylan, Bob - Highway 61 Revisited
2. Dylan, Bob - Blonde on Blonde
3. Dylan, Bob - Bringing It All Back Home
4. Rolling Stones, The - Beggars Banquet
5. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground & Nico
6. Who, The - Tommy
7. Beach Boys, The - Pet Sounds
8. Rolling Stones, The - Let It Bleed
9. Cohen, Leonard - Songs of Leonard Cohen
10. Dylan, Bob - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Overall correlation: 0.33 (#7)
Best friends: Chris, Gillingham, Jackson
Lower individual correlation: nj/Henry (-0.44)
Higher individual correlation: Harold Wexler/Chris (0.64)
Great stats summary! I'm not sure if it's consciously but I like that the correlations are ordered (#1-20) from lowest to highest.
Thankfully, 70. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band - Trout Mask Replica hasn't joined VU as a top ranked album - or the cringing would be far more severe.
shut up, latest antagonist of mine.
the one and only DifferentOneMan has spoken
No antagonism transmitted or received.
Thanks for the laughs
60's music is great because it's message is not only timeless but also urgent. The music sometimes pointed fingers, but it almost always came back to a message of love and unity. There are still artists who have that message but don't come close to the urgency that the artists of the 60's had. I wish some of our acclaimed artists of today had a little more hope in their music. It's kind of depressing thinking about all of the great messages these songs had to offer and now that message is lost and they're just great songs. Sigh.
Nice to see I'm most similar to nj and sonofsam when given the same list of albums to rank. Now I only need to listen to thousands of more albums to catch up with them.
First of all, THANKS Honorio for this fantastic poll.
One thing I have to say : I'm not happy with that #1, even though I love the VU & Nico. For 2 reasons
1) VU & Nico is a fantastic album but it's the 60's viewed from 2011 .
2) That album had no success when it came out. It started selling in the 80's. I really don't feel comfortable with this.
I'm not surprised to see it at #1 though, but it's the AM bias : intellectual and sometimes snobbish approach of music.
That doesn't mean I don't love you, but I'm not pleased with this result and I needed to say it.
Wow, I think I've just started a debate.
Not sure it's really a debate, is it? We just picked our favorites, not necessarily "the best". Had I chosen a different album as number one, I would not have been true to myself or to the nature of this survey!
I don't mind those reasons. Maybe you have a point with the first one, but the poll is held now, not in 1970.
And why should the album have had succes back then?
Why does an album have to have commercial success for us to legitimately appreciate it without being 'snobbish'? By the same line of thinking we're all snobbish for liking The Beatles more than Katy Perry.
Velvet Underground may not have sold as many copies but they influenced every counter-cultural rock movement in the last forty years.
wellll.. Alpert's Whipped Cream & Other Delights owns 5 friggily fabbed up stars on AMG.. i guess nic le anti-shtick has a point somehow
The Beatles outsold every other artist in history, but not _last year_.
Anyway, shouldn't staying power and lasting appeal also matter in the quality of a record? If two groups are equally popular now, isn't that more impressive if they were less popular back when they were new? It's easier to hold onto fans than it is to gain new ones.
Velvet Underground's dissonant style isn't very everyone, but for my own tastes, I prefer rough emotional energy to melodic polish.
(Back to the John/Paul debate again.)
Some comments about a number one:
please take that photo away
i've seen a dozen like this in the past 3 months while documenting on Ivory Coast and sending vids to the media to help the people out there and the last thing I expected when coming here (seeking a sort of solace) is seeing another one.
No sorry for my reaction the other day. I like the VU, great songs, but its not representative of the 1960's not the way i see them. It's one of the only "cold" albums of the decade and you out it at #1
and my kids are playing in the back ground
nj man I love you but you went too far
i didn't want to cause such a hit and run tsunami after this wonderful poll; and i'm kind of disturbed by other events that consume my time.
1. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground & Nico - 1967
2. Beach Boys, The - Pet Sounds - 1966
3. Beatles, The - The Beatles (White Album) - 1968
4. Beatles, The - Revolver - 1966
5. Dylan, Bob - Highway 61 Revisited - 1965
6. Beatles, The - Abbey Road - 1969
7. Dylan, Bob - Blonde on Blonde - 1966
8. Zombies, The - Odessey and Oracle - 1968
9. Beatles, The - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - 1967
10. Hendrix, Jimi - Are You Experienced - 1967
11. Love - Forever Changes - 1967
12. Rolling Stones, The - Let It Bleed - 1969
13. Rolling Stones, The - Beggars Banquet - 1968
14. Beatles, The - Rubber Soul - 1965
15. Morrison, Van - Astral Weeks - 1968
16. Kinks, The - The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society - 1968
17. Cohen, Leonard - Songs of Leonard Cohen - 1967
18. Doors, The The Doors - 1967
19. Sly & the Family Stone - Stand! - 1969
20. Hendrix, Jimi - Electric Ladyland - 1968
21. Dylan, Bob - Bringing It All Back Home - 1965
22. Velvet Underground, The - The Velvet Underground - 1969
23. Coltrane, John - A Love Supreme - 1965
24. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II - 1969
25. Drake, Nick - Five Leaves Left - 1969
26. Beatles, The - Magical Mystery Tour - 1967
27. Kinks, The - Something Else by The Kinks - 1967
28. Mingus, Charles - The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady - 1963
29. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King - 1969
30. Young, Neil - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere - 1969
31. Dylan, Bob - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan - 1963
32. Who, The - Tommy - 1969
33. Velvet Underground, The - White Light/White Heat - 1968
34. Springfield, Dusty - Dusty in Memphis - 1969
35. Beatles, The - A Hard Day's Night - 1964
36. Redding, Otis - Otis Blue / Otis Redding Sings Soul - 1965
37. Band, The - The Band - 1969
38. Who, The - The Who Sell Out - 1967
39. Simon & Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme - 1966
40. Byrds, The - The Notorious Byrd Brothers - 1968
41. Mutantes, Os - Os Mutantes - 1968
42. Simone, Nina - Pastel Blues - 1965
43. Millennium, The - Begin - 1968
44. United States of America, The - The United States of America - 1968
45. Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends - 1968
46. Rolling Stones, The - Aftermath - 1966
47. Hendrix, Jimi - Axis: Bold as Love - 1967
48. Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn - 1967
49. Zappa, Frank/The Mothers of Invention - We're Only in It for the Money - 1968
50. Beatles, The - Help! - 1965
51. Coltrane, John - My Favorite Things - 1961
52. Walker, Scott - Scott 4 - 1969
53. Brown, James - Live' at the Apollo - 1963
54. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin - 1969
55. Byrds, The - Mr. Tambourine Man - 1965
56. Sanders, Pharoah - Karma - 1969
57. Morricone, Ennio - Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo - 1966
58. Davis, Miles - Sketches of Spain - 1960
59. Franklin, Aretha - I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You - 1967
60. Brel, Jacques - Ces gens-là - 1965
61. Monks, The - Black Monk Time - 1966
62. Band, The - Music From Big Pink - 1968
63. Dylan, Bob - John Wesley Harding - 1967
64. Who, The - My Generation - 1965
65. Cash, Johnny - At Folsom Prison - 1968
66. Brassens, Georges - Nº 7 - 1960
67. Coltrane, John - Giant Steps - 1960
68. Brel, Jacques - Jacques Brel - 1962
69. Getz, Stan & Gilberto, Joao - Getz/Gilberto (Featuring Antonio Carlos Jobim) - 1964
70. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band - Trout Mask Replica - 1969
71. Dolphy, Eric - Out to Lunch! - 1964
72. Beach Boys, The - Today! - 1965
73. Brown Jr., Oscar - Sin & Soul - 1960
74. Simon & Garfunkel - Sounds of Silence - 1966
75. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band - Safe as Milk - 1967
76. 13th Floor Elevators, The - The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators - 1966
77. Jefferson Airplane - Surrealistic Pillow - 1967
78. Dylan, Bob - The Times They Are A-Changin' - 1964
79. Evans, Bill - Sunday at the Village Vanguard - 1961
80. Bland, Bobby - Two Steps from the Blues - 1961
81. Redding, Otis - Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul - 1966
82. Zappa, Frank/The Mothers of Invention - Freak Out! - 1966
83. Kinks, The - Face to Face - 1966
84. Howlin' Wolf - Howlin' Wolf - 1962
85. Beatles, The - With the Beatles - 1963
86. Mamas and the Papas, The - If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears - 1966
87. Sonics, The - Here Are the Sonics!!! - 1965
88. Rolling Stones, The - Out of Our Heads - 1965
89. Hardy, Françoise - Tous les garçons et les filles - 1962
90. Frank, Jackson C. - Jackson C. Frank - 1965
91. Byrds, The - Fifth Dimension - 1966
92. Evans, Bill - Waltz for Debby - 1961
93. Silver, Horace - Song for My Father - 1965
94. Booker T. & the M.G.s - Green Onions - 1962
95. Various - A Christmas Gift for You From Philles Records - 1963
96. Montgomery, Wes - The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery - 1960
97. Original Soundtrack - West Side Story - 1961
98. Charles, Ray - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music - 1962
99. Dylan, Bob - Another Side of Bob Dylan - 1964
100. Mayall, John - Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton - 1966
When will the songs of the 60's be revealed?
Well, last month I’ve been busy preparing a conference that I finally gave yesterday (it was gladly quite succesful) so I’m ready to begin posting the results. You can expect the first results this weekend.
After correcting the correlations (the first ones were calculated from the Top 50 positions and not from the complete Top 100), the new ones appear to be much more benign (or positive if you want), with less red and more green.
As a reminder:
- Overall correlation means the correlation coefficient between a particular voter and the rest of the voters, I will call #1 the one with lower correlation (the "different" one) and #20 the one with the higher (the "normal" one).
- Best friends means the ones with higher particular correlation coefficient, I will name three in ranked order (the first one the one with higher correlation). I will call also the one with lower correlation your "worst foe".
So here we go:
Brad:
Overall correlation: 0.71 (#18)
Best friends: Chris, Honorio, nicolas
Worst foe: Jackson
Charlie Driggs:
Overall correlation: 0.43 (#8 )
Best friends: nj, Harold Wexler, Jackson
Worst foe: Henry
Chris:
Overall correlation: 0.82 (#20)
Best friends: Harold Wexler, Rocky Raccoon, Brad
Worst foe: nj
Georgie:
Overall correlation: 0.38 (#5)
Best friends: Harold Wexler, Rocky Raccoon, Chris
Worst foe: Gillingham
Gillingham:
Overall correlation: 0.19 (the new #1!)
Best friends: Stephan, Charlie Driggs, Henrik
Worst foe: Miguel
Harold Wexler:
Overall correlation: 0.72 (#19)
Best friends: Chris, Rocky Raccoon, Brad/Henry
Worst foe: nj
Henrik:
Overall correlation: 0.50 (#13)
Best friends: Chris, Honorio, nicolas
Worst foe: Mindrocker/nj
Henry:
Overall correlation: 0.49 (#12)
Best friends: Rocky Raccoon, Honorio, Chris
Worst foe: nj
Honorio:
Overall correlation: 0.59 (#16)
Best friends: Brad/Henry/Miguel
Worst foe: nj
Jackson:
Overall correlation: 0.47 (#10)
Best friends: sonofsamiam, nj, Chris/Harold Wexler
Worst foe: Brad/Miguel
John:
Overall correlation: 0.41 (#6)
Best friends: Brad, Listyguy, Honorio
Worst foe: Gillingham
Listyguy:
Overall correlation: 0.43 (#7)
Best friends: Brad/Rocky Raccoon, John
Worst foe: nj
Miguel:
Overall correlation: 0.31 (#3)
Best friends: Honorio, Brad, Henry/John
Worst foe: nj
Mindrocker:
Overall correlation: 0.48 (#11)
Best friends: Rocky Raccoon, Chris, Harold Wexler
Worst foe: Miguel
nicolas:
Overall correlation: 0.60 (#17)
Best friends: Brad, Honorio, Chris
Worst foe: nj
nj:
Overall correlation: 0.22 (#2)
Best friends: sonofsamiam, Charlie Driggs, Jackson
Worst foe: Henry
Rocky Raccoon:
Overall correlation: 0.59 (#15)
Best friends: Chris, Harold Wexler, Henry
Worst foe: nj
Romain:
Overall correlation: 0.34 (#4)
Best friends: Brad, Miguel, Henrik
Worst foe: nj
sonofsamiam:
Overall correlation: 0.46 (#9)
Best friends: nj, Jackson, Chris
Worst foe: Miguel
Stephan:
Overall correlation: 0.51 (#14)
Best friends: Chris, Harold Wexler, Brad/Honorio/nicolas
Worst foe: Romain
Lower individual correlation: nj/Henry (-0.28)
Higher individual correlation: Harold Wexler/Chris (0.75)
So, you see, nj, you are the worst foe of half of the voters. Nothing wrong with that, you know we all love you and that's mainly beacause of your singularity. Don't ever change.
This is a proper blog for everyone who hopes to learn about this topic. You are aware of much its almost tricky to argue on hand (not that I really would want…HaHa). You actually put a brand new spin on a topic thats been discussed for some time. Great stuff, just excellent! cahtib