290. Steely Dan | Countdown to Ecstasy (1973)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Track

1. Bodhisattva
2. Razor Boy
3. The Boston Rag
4. Your Gold Teeth
5. Show Biz Kids
6. My Old School
7. Pearl of the Quarter
8. King of the World

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Countdown to Ecstasy is a maddening album. The music is rock with hints of jazz. Both keyboards and guitar share the lead role. The jazzier songs feature more keyboards and the heavier songs naturally have the guitar in the lead role.

The songs are quite catchy. Some songs feature some pretty good hooks. The problem is the lyrics. Steely Dan is too smart for its own good.

Listening to Steely Dan frustrates me. First, Steely Dan are the most uncool hipsters who are in on all the cool things. It sure sucks to know that the geeks are cooler than me. Second, Steely Dan are so fucking smug. Listening to the lyrics makes me feel like they only think I'm good enough to be let in on half the story or joke.

Finally, Steely Dan's lyrics are too urbane and cerebral. Of course, they're talking about seedy and raunchy stuff, but they've got to move from highbrow to lowbrow language. And mixing the highbrow with the lowbrow seems to explain clearly why the 1970s are corny and forgettable.

I do like the music, but the lyrics annoy me. However, it takes time to appreciate the music; the good qualities are certainly subtle and downplayed. I think the album is worth listening to, but I'm not sure if this needs to be on the 1001 Albums list since I don't think this album is much of a departure from their first.

All the songs are good, if you bear the lyrics. The stand outs are Bodhisattva, Razor Boy, The Boston Rag, Your Gold Teeth, Show Biz Kids and King of the World.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

289. Elton John | Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Track

1. Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
2. Candle in the Wind
3. Bennie and the Jets
4. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
5. This Song Has No Title
6. Grey Seal
7. Jamaica Jerk-Off
8. I've Seen That Movie Too
9. Sweet Painted Lady
10. The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909–34)
11. Dirty Little Girl
12. All the Girls Love Alice
13. Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n Roll)
14. Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
15. Roy Rogers
16. Social Disease
17. Harmony

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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is a deceptive album. The music is rock and at times glam rock. The music is catchy and it rocks. There's also a wide assortment of styles which is appropriate I guess for a double album clocking in at seventy minutes.

The polished quality, catchy tunes and clever lyrics make this album seem innocuous and friendly, appealing to mainstream music listeners. Yet, it's neither. Candle in the Wind is so phony and creepy, criticizing exactly what the song is doing, treating Marilyn Monroe as an object for profit.

Sweet Painted Lady, Dirty Little Girl and All the Girls Love Alice are misogynist to the core. With so many other songs, it was unnecessary to include these. Of course, it's not like these are the only songs in rock and roll that celebrate hating women. Those should be called out and rightly condemned, too. But three is pushing the misogyny boundary to an extreme.

Like Paul Simon, Bernie Taupin bores me—a pseudo-intellectual who impresses low-brow pop rock listeners with clever lyrics. Lyrics that seem so profound yet ring hollow when subjected to analysis no more critical than reading them. Again, it's not like there isn't nonsense in rock and roll, but very few are peddling albums based on the clever factor.

There are decent songs within, but they're few and far between. The rest are just boring which could be because the album is too long, but they could also just be plain boring songs. Jamaica Jerk-Off has no business being on the album. Is it now standard to include a token reggae song on every album now that Bob Marley has made the style respectable? (Hell, even Led Zeppelin gets into the act in 1973 with D'Yer Ma'ker. Ugh.)

I liked this album until I started paying attention to the lyrics. Then it just turned me off. If someone else wrote the lyrics and if the album were shorter it would be a big improvement. There's no need to listen to this album, unless you don't think women are worthy of respect. It's got no business being on the 1001 Albums list. Of course, the reason it's there is because of the hits. If only listeners scrutinized more carefully the shit they were fed.

There are some good songs. The stand outs are Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding (except for the Funeral for a Friend bit), Bennie and the Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, I've Seen That Movie Too, Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting and Social Disease. If you like your songs misogynistic then Sweet Painted Lady is OK too.

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

279. Lou Reed | Berlin (1973)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Berlin
2. Lady Day
3. Men of Good Fortune
4. Caroline Says I
5. How Do You Think It Feels
6. Oh Jim
7. Caroline Says II
8. The Kids
9. The Bed
10. Sad Song

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Berlin is an unsettling album. The music is rock, but it's got elements of chanson and cabaret. Many of the songs have orchestral support. It's a concept album and music establishes the mood of each song. The music is quite depressing, but there is a lot of melody.

The story is about two Americans lovers living in Berlin, Germany at the time of the Cold War. They are into sex and drugs. The man seems misogynistic and abusive toward the woman. The woman at some point tries to commit suicide. By the end of the album she ends up losing custody of her children because of her sexual promiscuity. I'm sure I've left out essential story elements. Like most concept albums, the songs work better telling discrete stories than with combining to create a coherent whole.

This album was hard to like at first, but the songs are catchy. The story isn't so disturbing until it's clear the woman has children. It's sad to think about kids growing up surround by parents who are so troubled. And despite all the bad things that come with living in that environment, I'm sure it's damn awful from a child's point of view to be taken away from his parents.

The album is worth listening to. I'm not sure if Lou Reed intended to make an album that realistically portrays such an awful side of life, but I think it's a rare gem that tries to be mature and honest about the world. For that reason I think it deserves to be on the 1001 Albums list.

All the songs are good. The stand outs are Berlin, Lady Day, Men of Good Fortune, How Do You Think It Feels, Oh Jim, Caroline Says II, The Kids, The Bed and Sad Song.

★★★★★★★★★★

273. David Bowie | Aladdin Sane (1973)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Watch That Man
2. Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)
3. Drive-In Saturday
4. Panic in Detroit
5. Cracked Actor
6. Time
7. The Prettiest Star
8. Let's Spend the Night Together
9. The Jean Genie
10. Lady Grinning Soul

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Aladdin Sane is a riotous album. The music is rock. Most songs move forward on a powerful and relentless rhythm. The melodies are infectious and bountiful. David Bowie's lyrics may or may not be meaningful, but they are fun and colorful; there's nothing like songs referencing drugs, riots, transvestites, masturbation and Che Guevara.

David Bowie is coming on fast and furious now. One might think he's a lot like the Beatles, seeing how he's at the vanguard, but they'd be wrong. Whereas everyone was able to follow the Beatles, I don't even think anybody can see where Bowie is—he's that far ahead! It may not even be that Bowie's better than the Beatles; it's possible that it's just that the music has gotten worse, except, that is, for Bowie. He's not innovative or experimental like the Beatles, but that's gone out of fashion anyway; he just knows how to write a great song.

I think this album is absolutely magnificent. David Bowie seems at his best on this album. Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust are masterpieces, but this album seems so sophisticated and profound. Bowie has certainly expanded his range. I also believe he's at his charismatic best on this one. He so entertaining and makes androgyny sexy! This album is a must for serious collectors and it certainly belongs on the 1001 Albums list.

All the songs are outstanding!

★★★★★★★★★★

267. David Bowie | The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Five Years
2. Soul Love
3. Moonage Daydream
4. Starman
5. It Ain't Easy
6. Lady Stardust
7. Star
8. Hang On to Yourself
9. Ziggy Stardust
10. Suffragette City
11. Rock 'n' Roll Suicide

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The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is a quintessential album. The music is rock. Give an album the simple sensibility of rock and roll and weave a story through the songs and the result will be something like Ziggy Stardust, albeit probably less outlandish. To achieve that requires the sensibility of progressive rock.

Ziggy Stardust tells the story of the last five years before the earth is destroyed when an alien named Ziggy Stardust comes to earth to bring hope to the doomed inhabitants. This album is filled with brilliant riffs and melodies, but what makes this album so catchy is David Bowie and his powerful charisma. He adds emotion and fun to a potentially uninteresting and uncompelling story.

I think this is an absolutely brilliant album. Without a doubt, it's worth listening to and belongs in any serious collector's collection. This album belongs on the 1001 Albums list because like most other glam albums it breathes new life into rock music. David Bowie has made an album that tells a story and rocks while doing so. This is one of the benefits of listening to this list. I had little understanding or appreciation for David Bowie before. Now his music is indispensable to my collection.

All the songs are equally outstanding after listening to them many, many times. My favorites are: Moonage Daydream, Starman, It Ain't Easy, Star, Ziggy Stardust, Suffragette City and Rock 'n' Roll Suicide.

★★★★★★★★★★

260. Eagles | Eagles (1972)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Take It Easy
2. Witchy Woman
3. Chug All Night
4. Most of Us Are Sad
5. Nightingale
6. Train Leaves Here This Morning
7. Take the Devil
8. Earlybird
9. Peaceful Easy Feeling
10. Tryin'

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Eagles is a feel-good album. The music is country rock. The Eagles' kind of country rock is different from Gram Parsons' country rock. Parsons' country rock is rock that wants to be country; with the Eagles, it's the other way round.

Rock music has never claimed any moral high ground, despite at times being a platform for political and social commentary. Most of the time it straddles between nonsense and hedonism. With this album, there's an added element of individualism bordering on narcissism, which is clearly prevalent on Take It Easy and Earlybird.

This album is quite good. Although the music is good, it's a bit generic-sounding. The most adventurous songs are the country ones. I don't think it's a particularly exciting album. It doesn't hurt to listen to it, but nothing is lost if it never gets heard. The only reason I'd think it deserves to be on the 1001 Albums list is because of the deluge of crap AOR that follows in its wake.

All the songs are fine. The stand outs are: Take It Easy, Witchy Woman, Chug All Night, Train Leaves Here This Morning, Earlybird, Peaceful Easy Feeling and Tryin'.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

257. Manassas | Manassas (1972)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Song of Love
2. Rock & Roll Crazies/Cuban Bluegrass
3. Jet Set (Sigh)
4. Anyway
5. Both of Us (Bound to Lose)
6. Fallen Eagle
7. Jesus Gave Love Away for Free
8. Colorado
9. So Begins the Task
10. Hide It So Deep
11. Don't Look at My Shadow
12. It Doesn't Matter
13. Johnny's Garden
14. Bound to Fall
15. How Far
16. Move Around
17. The Love Gangster
18. What to Do
19. Right Now
20. The Treasure (Take One)
21. Blues Man

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Manassas is a solid album. The music is rock—and country and blues and bluegrass. The band likes to get into a groove and jam, just like the blues. But what's played over the groove is country and bluegrass. It's similar in many ways to Will the Circle Be Unbroken. And it's also what one might expect if the Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash were to merge together.

This album feels like one continuous jam that transitions by throwing in a groove or a melody. Thus, the songs are not always easily distinguishable and sort of become one long drone. However, there are enough exciting grooves, riffs and melodies to make to keep if from being uninteresting.

This album didn't impress me at first, but I've come to like it after listening to it over and over. It starts and ends strong. The middle is good but unremarkable. So, it probably could have been a single album instead of a double.

I think the album worth listening to. Although it's true there have been rock bands that have done country music albums, this one strikes a better balance between rock and country and emphasizes the groove more so than the others and that groove is essential to the country rock bands that follow. So, for that reason, it should be on the 1001 Albums list.

There are some really good songs on this album. The stand outs are: Song of Love, Rock & Roll Crazies/Cuban Bluegrass, Jet Set (Sigh), So Begins the Task, Don't Look at My Shadow, It Doesn't Matter, Johnny's Garden, Bound to Fall, How Far, The Love Gangster, What to Do, Right Now, The Treasure (Take One) and Blues Man.

★★★★★★★★★☆

248. Slade | Slayed? (1972)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. How D'You Ride
2. The Whole World's Goin' Crazee
3. Look at Last Nite
4. I Won't Let It 'Appen Agen
5. Move Over
6. Gudbuy T'Jane
7. Gudbuy Gudbuy
8. Mama Weer All Crazee Now
9. I Don' Mind
10. Let the Good Times Roll

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Slayed? is a coarse album. The music is rock—drums, guitar, bass and vocals. And these guys make the most of it. They've got stadium-stomping anthemic beats and a singer who does a great banshee imitation. What else does there need to be?

They should be classified as blues rock, too. Check out I Don' Mind and they do a great cover of Janis Joplin's Move Over.

This is rock and roll in the same tradition and spirit as the early pre-Beatles rock and rollers and contemporaries like Rod Stewart. This is pure fun, probably a bit more lowbrow and mindless than the others, but those descriptors are not meant as insults. This is rock and roll arguably at its purest and best.

The album is an unexpected breath of fresh air. It's simple, loud and fun. Glam rock is surprisingly the genre that's doing the most to keep rock and roll pure. This album was meant for the 1001 Albums list since it's really a thinly-veiled list of the top rock albums anyway.

All of the songs are great. The stand outs are How D'You Ride, The Whole World's Goin' Crazee, Look at Last Night, Move Over, Gudbuy T'Jane and I Don' Mind.

★★★★★★★★★★

246. Neil Young | Harvest (1972)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Out on the Weekend
2. Harvest
3. A Man Needs a Maid
4. Heart of Gold
5. Are You Ready for the Country?
6. Old Man
7. There's a World
8. Alabama
9. The Needle and the Damage Done
10. Words (Between the Lines of Age)

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Harvest is an unfocused album. The music is mix of country rock and folk rock. The songs are lean, that is when there isn't an orchestral accompaniment, and mostly acoustic. No matter, there isn't a lack of melodies, riffs or solos. The lyrics are deeply personal and troubling; they're of a man suffering from loneliness and weariness of the world.

Neil Young writes really beautiful songs and he performs them as if he means it. But with this album Neil Young seems confused and doesn't have a real point to make; he seems uninspired.

The album is good, but it's hard to get excited about. Perhaps this album is just meant to be one big downer. I don't think this album is necessary for the 1001 Albums list; other Neil Young albums are similar enough, and they're the only ones that matter since he's the only who gets this style right.

All of the songs are good. The stand outs are Out on the Weekend, Harvest, A Man Needs a Maid, Heart of Gold, Old Man, The Needle and the Damage Done, and Words (Behind the Lines of Age).

★★★★★★★★☆☆

234. Faces | A Nod Is as Good as a Wink... to a Blind Horse (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Miss Judy's Farm
2. You're So Rude
3. Love Lives Here
4. Last Orders Please
5. Stay with Me
6. Debris
7. Memphis, Tennessee
8. Too Bad
9. That's All You Need

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A Nod Is as Good as a Wink... to a Blind Horse is a rowdy album. The music is rock. The lyrics are borderline bawdy. It's been some time since there's been an album where lead and rhythm guitars have dominated so many of the songs. Rod Stewart share lead vocal duty with Ronnie Lane. I prefer Rod Stewart. His raspy voice is full force on this album.

(On a really long side note, what the hell happened to Rod Stewart? He's like the king of the rock and roll revival in the early 1970s. How does he go from that to a pop star lightweight? I mean, really. I remember reading Hammer of the Gods, the book about Led Zeppelin, in 1989 or so, and it's mentioned that Jimmy Page had considered Rod Stewart to be the singer for the New Yardbirds. I thought that was such a joke. Of course, that's because 1980s Rod Stewart is a joke compared to 1970s Rod Stewart. I'm so disappointed.)

This album is mixed. There are some really fun and exciting songs that rock like rock and roll used to. Then, there are three songs that bore me, Love Lives Here, Last Orders Please and Debris. Maybe the band should have stayed away from slow numbers. If they could have replaced those, this album would have been something else.

There are some really great songs which makes this album worth listening to. However, it doesn't belong on the 1001 Albums list because, as an album, it's not outstanding and also there's nothing here that Rod Stewart wasn't doing on his solo albums.

There are many great songs on this album. They are Miss Judy's Farm, You're So Rude, Stay With Me, Memphis, Tennessee, Too Bad and That's All You Need.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

217. The Beach Boys | Surf's Up (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Don't Go Near the Water
2. Long Promised Road
3. Take a Load Off Your Feet
4. Disney Girls (1957)
5. Student Demonstration Time
6. Feel Flows
7. Lookin' at Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)
8. A Day in the Life of a Tree
9. 'Til I Die
10. Surf's Up

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Surf's Up is an odd album. The music is rock. It's got the Beach Boys' harmonies that everyone is familiar with. However, the songs upbeat, playful and fun as is usual with the Beach Boys. Rather, they've become socially-, politically- and ecologically-conscious. What has the world become when listening to the Beach Boys bums you out?

I like the most of the songs, but the album is all over the place. It's one thing to have something to say about everything, it's another thing to make a point. That's not what's going on with this album. Also, the Beach Boys are a little late to protests.

That's it's an anachronistic album makes it hard to see why it should be on the 1001 Albums list. It's worth listening to just to hear a glum and gloomy Beach Boys album.

All the songs are pretty good. A Day in the Life of a Tree is the odd man out. The stand outs are: Don't Go Near the Water, Long Promised Road, Take a Load Off Your Feet, Disney Girls (1957), Feel Flows and 'Till I Die.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

216. John Lennon | Imagine (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Imagine
2. Crippled Inside
3. Jealous Guy
4. It's So Hard
5. I Don't Want to Be a Soldier
6. Give Me Some Truth
7. Oh My Love
8. How Do You Sleep?
9. How?
10. Oh Yoko!

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Imagine is a superb album. The music is rock. This album is much more subtle and quiet compared with his debut album. Instead of coming on strong, he uses a subtle acerbic wit to make his points.

I was a little hesitant about this album, at first. Before hearing the full album, it's hard to imagine this album being anything but lopsided with Imagine and nine other songs for filler. But it's not that at all. While I think Imagine has brilliant lyrics, the other nine songs pull more than their weight.

This is an enjoyable album. It's worth listening to and it deserves to be on the 1001 Albums list. A lot of artists to come model their albums on this one.

All the songs on this album are excellent, although How Do You Sleep? is pretty nasty. The stand outs are: Imagine, Crippled Inside, Jealous Guy, I Don't Want to Be a Soldier, Give Me Some Truth, Oh My Love and Oh Yoko!.

★★★★★★★★★★

215. The Rolling Stones | Sticky Fingers (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Brown Sugar
2. Sway
3. Wild Horses
4. Can't You Hear Me Knocking
5. You Gotta Move
6. Bitch
7. I Got the Blues
8. Sister Morphine
9. Dead Flowers
10. Moonlight Mile

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Sticky Fingers is a reliable album. The music is rock. The band is all business on this album. They are tight and efficient. Keith Richards puts in a great performance.

This is a really good album and is certainly worth listening to. However, I don't think it needs to be on the 1001 Albums list.

All the songs on this album are good. The stand outs are: Brown Sugar, Sway, Wild Horses, Can't You Hear Me Knocking and Bitch.

★★★★★★★★★☆

211. The Who | Who's Next (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Baba O'Riley
2. Bargain
3. Love Ain't for Keeping
4. My Wife
5. The Song Is Over
6. Getting in Tune
7. Going Mobile
8. Behind Blue Eyes
9. Won't Get Fooled Again

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Who's Next is a balanced album. The music is rock. The band sounds really confident. They play and sing with strong intent. Nothing is witheld. Everything is in balance to. Drums, guitar, keyboards, bass and vocals all can be heard clearly.

I don't always focus on lyrics because half the time I can't figure out what is being said and then when I can understand I have no idea what it means. This album is different. Everything is clear as day and quite sensible. The lyrics appeal perfectly to the Who's audience: young working class men. And they neither condescend to them nor make light of their troubles. 

I think this is one of the few rock albums that gets the music, the lyrics and the energy right. It's a fun and witty and makes you want to tap your foot or pump your fist in the air. I don't think this is a groundbreaking album, but finally someone got the formula right. This is the best rock album up to now and I'll go out on a limb to say no rock album will top it.

Every song on this album is fantastic.

★★★★★★★★★★

210. Bee Gees | Trafalgar (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?
2. Israel
3. The Greatest Man in the World
4. It's Just the Way
5. Remembering
6. Somebody Stop the Music
7. Trafalgar
8. Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself
9. When Do I
10. Dearest
11. Lion in Winter
12. Walking Back to Waterloo

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Trafalgar is a grand album. The music is pop and rock. It has a large, sweeping sound which doesn't diminish or overshadow the vocals of the Brothers Gibb. The singing is melodic, powerful, grave and expansive. They really know how to carry a tune and their melodies are pleasant.

Despite the quality of the album, it never becomes as grand and epic as it wants to become. I felt the material could have been more inspiring. The songs, too, suffer from superficial lyrics. I also think most songs were never able to develop to their fullest potential, except for Lion in Winter.

I really like the album even though adult oriented pop music isn't my cup of tea. I do think the Bee Gees are far superior to other singer/songwriter pop artists. In fact, the worst of the Bee Gees is much better than the best of the other artists. So, I do think this album should be on the 1001 Albums list since it's a far better representative of what adult-oriented pop music can be.

Most of the songs are good. I think the stand outs are: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?, Israel, The Greatest Man in the World, It's Just the Way, Trafalgar, Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself, Lion in Winter and Walking Back to Waterloo.

★★★★★★★★★☆

206. David Crosby | If I Could Only Remember My Name (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Music Is Love
2. Cowboy Movie
3. Tamalpais High (At About 3)
4. Laughing
5. What Are Their Names
6. Traction in the Rain
7. Song With No Words (Tree With No Leaves)
8. Orleans
9. I'd Swear There Was Somebody Here

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If I Could Only Remember My Name is a weird album. The music is psychedelic folk rock. Crosby gets assistance from Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, Joni Mitchell, Graham Nash & Neil Young.

The music is well done as it should be with so many talented musicians. There's a unsettling tone running through the songs. Music Is Love is positive and hopeful, but Cowboy Movie is creepy and What Are Their Names is brooding.

I've often thought that David Crosby wrote strange songs when he was with The Byrds. And I think this album demonstrates that he does and that he is somewhat dour. His songs are interesting, just dark.

I like this album a lot. I think it's worth listening to, but folk rock and psychedelic rock have been done to death. This album is not a rebirth; rather, it's a last gasp. Thus, there's no need to include this on the 1001 Albums list.

All of the songs are good. The stand outs for me are: Music Is Love, Cowboy Movie, What Are Their Names and Song With No Words (Tree With No Leaves)

★★★★★★★★☆☆

202. Paul McCartney | McCartney (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. The Lovely Linda
2. That Would Be Something
3. Valentine Day
4. Every Night
5. Hot as Sun/Glasses
6. Junk
7. Man We Was Lonely
8. Oo You
9. Momma Miss America
10. Teddy Boy
11. Singalong Junk
12. Maybe I'm Amazed
13. Kreen-Akrore

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McCartney is an incomplete album. The music is pop. McCartney put together this album all by himself with a little help from his wife, Linda.

Let's be honest. The only reason this album, as it is, ever saw the light of day is because Paul McCartney is who he is. That's not to say it's a terrible album because it isn't. In fact, most of the songs are catchy, melodic and fun. However, they are merely fragments of songs, not complete songs. The experimental style label is just a cop out.

Now McCartney is almost able to pull it off not just because he was a Beatle, but because he has great charisma. He is a warm and welcoming kind of musician who has a knack for writing great tunes. So, the desire to suspend disbelief and think this is a complete is strong.

But reality must intrude and admit this is album is far from finished. It has the potential to be a really great album. Paul should've waited. He should have completed these songs and he should've got some other musicians help him make it. Why he didn't is confusing.

This album is worth listening to just to hear its potential. But it has no business being on any top albums list since it's not album in an artistic sense.

There are a couple of actual songs on this album and they are truly real stand outs. They are: That Would Be Something and Maybe I'm Amazed.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

201. James Taylor | Sweet Baby James (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Sweet Baby James
2. Lo and Behold
3. Sunny Skies
4. Steamroller
5. Country Road
6. Oh! Susanna
7. Fire and Rain
8. Blossom
9. Anywhere Like Heaven
10. Oh Baby, Don't You Loose Your Lip on Me
11. Suite for 20 G

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Sweet Baby James is a soothing album. The music is folk, country and rock. James Taylor sings well and the music sounds good, but it all soothes in the sense that it dulls the senses.

Listening to this album is like sitting in warm water. It may be comfortable, but it doesn't get your blood flowing like sitting in really hot or cold water. So, while I can tolerate the music and not be offended, that's the problem. This music doesn't challenge or incite or provoke or inspire. Must music do that? Great music should.

I don't think this album is necessarily worth listening to, although it's probably a better example of the vapid, superficial and egocentric feel-good music that is becoming popular and that both Simon and Garfunkel and Cat Stevens have recently been doing. It should be that I don't think this album should be on the 1001 Albums list.

The songs sound fine. The ones I thought were better than others were: Steamroller, Country Road and Fire and Rain.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

196. George Harrison | All Things Must Pass (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. I'd Have You Anytime
2. My Sweet Lord
3. Wah-Wah
4. Isn't It a Pity (Version One)
5. What Is Life
6. If Not for You
7. Behind That Locked Door
8. Let It Down
9. Run of the Mill
10. Beware of Darkness
11. Apple Scruffs
12. Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)
13. Awaiting on You All
14. All Things Must Pass
15. I Dig Love
16. Art of Dying
17. Isn't It a Pity (Version Two)
18. Hear Me Lord
19. Out of the Blue
20. It's Johnny's Birthday
21. Plug Me In
22. I Remember Jeep
23. Thanks for the Pepperoni

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All Things Must Pass is a big album. The music is rock and folk rock. This album is a collection of songs that George Harrison had been amassing during his time with the Beatles. This debut album is more like a greatest hits album since the songs have been gathering since the mid-sixties and since they are (most likely) the crème de la crème of song ideas he had.

George Harrison was supported by Eric Clapton, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon who would go on and form Derek and the Dominos as a result of playing together on this album. There were also a boatload of other famous and soon-to-be famous musicians who played on this album. So, George had all the necessary talent to make a great album. And he did make a very good album.

I think the first two albums of this triple album are immediately likable, but at the same time it's overwhelming since there are a lot of songs and each of them is deadly serious. Then, there's the third album, Apple Jam, which was apparently included to help justify the high price of the album. While I don't mind listening to musicians jam, I think the third album was an unnecessary and tedious addition.

I think this is a great album despite the third album. Though, I do wonder why George decided to release so much material at once. Regardless, it's certainly an album worth listening to and I think it's an essential album for serious music collectors. However, I'm not convinced that it needs to be on the 1001 Albums list.

There are so many outstanding songs on this album, that I'm not going to list them. I'll just say I liked every song on the first two album immensely.

★★★★★★★★★☆

193. The Who | Live at Leeds (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Young Man Blues
2. Substitute
3. Summertime Blues
4. Shakin' All Over
5. My Generation
6. Magic Bus

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Note: there have been several different releases of this album. The most notable are the ones released in 2001 and 2010. The 2001 release includes the complete concert at the University of Leeds which include a complete performance of Tommy. The 2010 release includes the material on the 2001 release and the concert performed in Hull which also includes a complete performance of Tommy. As for this review, I listened to the originally-released version.

When listening to the albums on the 1001 Albums list, I always try to listen to the album as it was released originally, at least as far as the original track listings are concerned. Does that make the review more authentic? I doubt it. For a vast majority of albums, there is just too much knowledge about an album and it's impact or lack of to be authentic. I aim to approach these albums from the original point of view, but I don't claim objectivity at all.

Live at Leeds is an energetic album. The music is rock. The Who play three originals and three covers.

The first four songs are short and to the point which makes them more like studio songs rather than live songs. The Who decide to extend themselves on the last two songs. My Generation becomes a medley of other famous Who songs. Magic Bus is a jam.

The Who sound really good live. I wonder why some bands sound better live than on an album. Too many takes? Poor production? Overproduction? The venue has good acoustics?

I don't think there's anything special about this live album. Sure they do some good covers, but they are done in the "Who" style, so they don't make this album essential to listen to.

Moreover, there have already been several live albums on the 1001 Albums. Those albums sound good, but none of them had been a live rock album. If that's the reason, I'm not buying it.

Is it worth listening to? I think so, but it shouldn't be on the list.

All of the songs are excellent. The stand outs are: Summertime Blues, My Generation and Magic Bus.

★★★★★★★★★☆