Favorite Rock Albums (updated Sept.2)

I have always loved rock music since seeing The Beatles performing on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. Since then I have listened to thousands of albums and CD's and below are some of my all time favorites, in no particular order (except for the first one or two...)

THE BEATLES "WHITE ALBUM" 1968

A tough decision between this and their final studio album "Abbey Road" as my favorite Beatles album, but I have to go with The White Album as the greatest and most diverse rock album of all time. From heavy metal (Helter Skelter), to wonderful acoustic numbers (Blackbird), to blues rock ('Yer Blues) to psycedelic freak outs (Revolution #9) to country (Don't Pass Me By) and to everything else but the kitchen sink, this is one hell of an entertaining 30 song collection. Plus it has the best album cover of all time.



SPARKS "INDISCREET"  1975

A pretty popular "cult" band who have been around since the very early 70's, Sparks (mainly brothers Ron and Russell Mael) have released many excellent and diverse albums but this has always been my favorite. Just like the White Album it is filled to the brim with variety (and not to mention wit galore...) Sparks were doing "new wave" music long before
it arrived. They are true innovatores. They were also one of the first rock bands to do a electronic ("disco") album, "Number One Song In Heaven". Along with The Beatles, Sparks are my favorite band of all time. Do a search for "Dick Around" and "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us" on YouTube for starters...



U2 "ACHTUNG BABY"  1993

I have loved U2's music since 1984 (unlike Mark Prindle, ha ha...) and Achtung Baby I consider U2's best work. The amazing thing is, as good as this record is, U2 are even better live. They lost me for a bit around the time of "Pop" but I became a fan again with the release of "All That You Can't Leave Behind".



LED ZEPPELIN "PHYSICAL GRAFFITI" 1975

I could have picked any of Zeppelin's first few albums but once again, variety wins (plus it's a double album...) It also contains "Kashmir".  Enough said...



TALKING HEADS "REMAIN IN LIGHT" 1980

This has always been one of my all time fave albums and recently I have started to enjoy their other (earlier) records again also. I can't really say WHY I love this album. Is it Eno's production? The sometimes bizarre lyrics or just the overall vibe. Whatever the reason, this album is amazing from start to finish.



FRANK ZAPPA AND THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION
"WE'RE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY" 1967

I've been a fan of Frank Zappa since 1975 and once again there are many great albums to choose from but I had to pick this one. Frank was one brave fellow to pick on The Beatles and the whole hippy generation way back in 1967. Plus this is another album cover classic.

LOU REED "BERLIN" 1973

I love humor in music but I also like to listen to more dark, depressing albums also, and this is the most dark, depressing album of them all. I love all of Lou Reed's music and this is his best album in my humble opinion.



BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN "TUNNEL OF LOVE" 1987

I like Bruce but this is the only album of his that I truly love and it contains some of my all time favorite songs, such as "Brilliant Disguise".



THE ARCADE FIRE "FUNERAL" 2004

I love this album but I don't own it yet...although I have heard all of the songs. They are a powerful band live and the songs can really make the hairs stand up on your arms.




YOKO ONO "SEASON OF GLASS"  1981

Yes, believe it or not their are many fans of Yoko Ono's music and I am one of them. I don't like EVERYTHING she has done (not a fan of her screaming, except for her song "Why") but I really like some of her albums, especially this one. Very emotional songs here and I think her singing is superb throughout.




CAPTAIN BEEFHEART "DOC AT THE RADAR STATION" (1980)

Like Yoko Ono, another aquired taste is the music of Captain Beefheart (at one time a friend of Frank Zappa's, who produced one of his other amazing albums, "Trout Mask Replica". It's funny but at the time this record was released I was not really into it as much as I am now. I guess I figured he was just being weird for the sake of being weird and it was forced. But listening to it today with fresh ears, I think I was wrong...



BLACK SABBATH "SABOTAGE" 1975

All Sabbath albums with Ozzy are great (well, at least up to this one...)
I could have picked any of the early albums but I think this is their best because it rocks harder than any of the others. I even love the instrumental track that most people hate...



THE GUESS WHO "SO LONG BANNATYNE" 1971

Finally a Canadian band and one that even Mark Prindle likes a lot!
Burton Cummings is one of the greatest rock singers of them all and this album (along with "Rockin') is my fave album of theirs. Lots of crazy rockin' tunes.



THE WHO "WHO'S NEXT" 1971

Love The Who (up until Keith Moon died...) and it was between this and "Live At Leeds" as
my favorite of theirs. Contains the best scream ever in a rock song ("Won't Get
Fooled Again")



STEPPENWOLF "FOR LADIES ONLY" 1971

I think a lot of my favorite rock albums throughout the years might not be "the best" but they just bring back good memories, which music should do anyway. What I especially love about this album is the band starts the record with a seven minute track that includes a rather long piano solo in the middle. Very brave for a supposed "middle-of-the-road" rock band to do.



I had to throw in a punk record and I consider this the best of them all.



GENESIS "LIVE" 1973

BIG fan of Genesis (when Phil Collins stayed behind the drum kit) and this has
always been the one I play the most. It includes possibly my all time favorite live
number, "The Knife". Below is a live performance of another brilliant song of theirs, "The Musical Box".



BLUE OYSTER CULT  1972

Once again, I could have picked any one of BOC's albums from this one to
Spectres, but this is where it all started and I especially love how it just does
not sound like any other band. Contains possibly the strangest lyrics of all time too...
and don't forget that Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser is one of the finest guitarists of all time.



SMALL FACES "OGDENS' NUTGONE FLAKE" 1968

Side One is great but it is Side Two where the fun really begins, and ends with one of the best feel good tunes of all time, "Happy Days Toy Town".  ("Life is just a bowl of All Bran"...)  Steve Marriot went on to another band who I also loved (Humble Pie).



THE KINKS "LOLA VERSUS POWERMAN AND THE MONEYGOROUND PART 1"

When I bought this record in the early 70's I was not that familiar with The Kinks, except for the occasional tune on the radio, such as "Lola" and "You Really Got Me". I have heard other Kinks albums since this one, but this is the only one I need and really love. Great lyrics, very funny take on the music business and the songs are all great. I have never tired of listening to it.



BOB DYLAN "SLOW TRAIN COMING" 1979

This is when Bob got religion, and I'm glad he found it because it's a great album. Guitar work by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits.



PAUL MCCARTNEY "MEMORY ALMOST FULL" 2007

I lost interest in Paul's work in the early 90's but his last few solo albums have been some of his best work yet. Plus, he shows he can still rock with the best (Only Mama Knows).
I actualy got to meet Paul's band backstage in Toronto. The story is near the bottom of my "Canadian Studmuffin Comedy Videos Explained" page.



WIRE "PINK FLAG" 1977

This is beyond punk, with some songs clocking in at less than a minute.
Also contains one of the best punk rock songs ever, "12XU".



YES 1969

Yes is an amazing band and even their first album is fantastic. I thought I would choose this one because they sure started on the right foot.





THE NORTHERN PIKES "SNOW IN JUNE" 1990

A popular Canadian band in the 90's and I actually got to know the members later on.
I consider them the Canadian Beatles, with three fine singers and songwriters.



ROD STEWART "NEVER A DULL MOMENT" 1972

Not a big fan of Rod, but for some reason I have always loved this one particular album.



GRAND FUNK "LIVE ALBUM" 1970

After The Beatles, this was probably the second group that I fell in love with (and then
Humble Pie and Black Oak Arkansas) Listening now the recording quality is pretty lousy
(some bootlegs sound better than this...) but the energy is amazing, especially on "Into The Sun".  I also got to meet Mark Farner, their guitarist and have a CD signed by him after a concert in 2008.



DEAF SCHOOL "ENGLISH BOYS, WORKING GIRLS" 1978

Another cult band, but unlike Sparks, not very well known. A fan of all three of
their albums and this final album of theirs I consider their finest.



JANE SIBERRY "THE WALKING" 1988

Canadian Jane Siberry makes some strange yet wonderful albums and this
is my favorite of hers.


SENSASTIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND
"TOMORROW BELONGS TO ME" 1975

I loved this band in the 70's (and still do...) and this is my favorite
of their albums.



RANDY NEWMAN "LITTLE CRIMINALS" 1977

Not known as much of a singer, but who cares when he can put out such wonderful
tracks such as "Short People"...



DEVO
"Q: ARE WE NOT MEN? A: WE ARE DEVO!" 1978

Although they likely won't admit it, this band was most likely influenced by a mixture of Sparks and Kraftwerk.  Contains one of my all time fave songs, "Jocko Homo"...



10CC "HOW DARE YOU" 1975

The last album by the original band (two of the four members left, but they continued on with hits such as "The Things We Do For Love".  This is a great art rock album.



CANNED HEAT "HALLELUJAH" 1969

My first taste of blues rock was from this album and this is why I love
it so much.