10 Classic Albums and Why They Are (w/ Ward Carroll)

[@johnnolan5579]

Peter Gabriel's "So" is a perfect record for me in every way! "Red Rain," "Sledgehammer," "In Your Eyes," "Mercy Street" and on and on! How bloody perfect. And the SOUND!!

[@Leta62]

Agree.

[@codenamesimon]

Agree!

[@reidflemingworldstoughestm1394]

I think So is in a category all it's own. Nothing else is really good enough to be on the same list.

[@stephenchadwick8060]

I still put the album on for Don’t Give Up to this day - Kate Bush adds another layer to an already phenomenal set of tunes

[@johnnolan5579]

@@stephenchadwick8060 Another brilliant song from that album! It's so perfect!

[@rollingpuck]

I'm always surprised how little love Supertramp gets. Crime of the Century is also one of those 'perfect' albums. Not a wrong note and stellar production. Many 70's stereo stores used it as a reference to demo equipment. Crisis what Crisis, Even in the Quietest Moments, Breakfast in America. All great.

[@hnnymn]

Agree wholeheartedly. Especially the first 3. Breakfast In America - getting a bit too pop for me.

[@MTGriz58]

Crime of the Century wasn't just great music. The production was flawless. Top 10.

[@ned2350]

I found this in the library when I was about 12 or 13 and kept checking it out all summer.

[@alskjdfsldkjf]

I agree… ‘CotC’ is a masterpiece.

[@saboabbas123]

totally agree. I knw every word to every song on this album.

[@daveschlom4033]

Yes: Close To The Edge is a perfect album. And that's all I have to say about that.

[@madf00bar15]

Yup. And I would add ELP's Brain Salad Surgery.

[@drkmriggs]

@@madf00bar15 totally agree on both those masterpieces

[@mike04574]

and Boston's debut. accessible and easy to listen to as well

[@daveschlom4033]

Boston 1st was on their list wasn't it?

[@DashboardDivas]

Close to the Edge. Wholeheartedly.

[@michaeldocampo9192]

Holly smokes. I’m 68 and spent my life in music as well as a history buff. I’ve been a fan of Rick’s show not just because of his expertise but his ability to speak concisely and focused on the subject he’s presenting . Recently I had found Ward’s you tube channel which I can’t get enough of. As a history buff I am very interested in military history . I love his insights on a world and culture I’m very interested. I’ve had some insights through my closest friend who was a Lt Gen. In the Marines but Wards articulate no nonsense ability to present in straight language is inspiring. While looking for something interesting I was checking Ricks your tube and holy smokes , my two favorite tubers together. Didn’t see that coming. Keep up the great work. You guys mean more than you know to people out there you don’t even know are alive . You guys share stuff that help round out other peoples knowledge and are inspirational in how you get it across with authority , a little humor and great humanity. Thanks, MIKE

[@terryguire1321]

Ward is definitely standing toe to toe with Rick in his analyses of great albums. Please welcome him back for more. Great pairing!

[@mikephillips8810]

Agreed, I only saw Ward for the first time recently just because I was looking at aviation videos! And been following Rick for a couple of years. Great to see them together

[@carlmarks8170]

Yep, I loved hearing Ward's succinct & eloquent take on these albums

[@packman5906]

Yea, but he's to handsy! Drives me nuts, all that moving the hands!

[@benjaminperez7328]

@@packman5906 He was a Tomcat RIO. Of course he talks with his hands!

[@therealniksongs]

Now we need to see Rick on Ward's channel breaking down the ten best carrier-based fighters

[@philhiggins4922]

I’m moved to write about this video. I would call “this” One of the top ten video description videos I’ve watched on KZbin. No filler, No grandiose. two people with concise, sharp, knowledgeable, loving and very eloquent descriptions of their favourite albums. One of the best videos on KZbin. Thank you both.

[@cwu7256]

For 40+ years I have used Steely Dan's Aja to compare/judge audio equipment... the album is totally amazing in every way and showcases the work of many incredible musicians like Larry Carlton, Tom Scott, Joe Sample, Rick Marotta, Pete Christlieb, Chuck Rainey, and Victor Feldman.

[@chuckhutton5087]

You left out Steve Gadd.

[@walterstevens3874]

Aja. My favorite.

[@marklehinger6864]

Yes, AJA is the perfection of everything Steely Dan had been seeking to accomplish since "Can't Buy a Thrill"

[@JeffPopplewell]

Aja.

[@SylvesterCarl]

If you wanna hear just HOW good your system is play Black Cow at around 98db in a small room.

[@ronrodolfo2195]

it's almost my own list. but i would've added Moving Pictures by Rush, A Night At The Opera by Queen, and of course, Led Zeppelin IV. they're all sonically perfect too!

[@gandalfshakur8235]

In The Court Of Crimson King? Fun House?

[@purplebondsaiyan2987]

I Agree @ronrodolfo2195 All those Albums are Great Classic Perfect Album

[@rmcellig]

Kind of blue by miles Davis. It crosses many genres because of what he did. Many musicians picked up on the musical significance of this recording outside of jazz. I truly believe that!

[@philipfrandsen1856]

Maybe the best jazz album ever. Good choice!

[@Zimmy907]

Great album, very airy. I think Bill Evans should have received more credit as composer. I often wonder if the band was on the Nod while recording this.

[@Darrylizer1]

Absolute purity, in the running for best album ever.

[@philipfrandsen1856]

@@Darrylizer1 Cannot go wrong - my favorite Miles Davis album, although Birth of a Cool is up there

[@Darrylizer1]

@@philipfrandsen1856 Another great one for sure.

[@maynotreply3505]

Close To The Edge - Yes. Changed my musical tastes. The benchmark Prog album. Perfect recording and absolutely flawless. 50 years old and sounds like it could have been recorded today.

[@COIcultist]

Perfect recording? One presumes Eddie Offord had got some better headphones after Fragile. Then again, turning the bass up to 11 on that album had perhaps been a happy accident. Don't think it would go anywhere now because the lack of paying for and thus committing to a song seems to have shortened attention spans. Totally different but The Temptations, Papa Was A Rolling Stone was a masterful song, but apparently the modern world can't cope with long intros. Yet we both know that it was the intro that made the song what it was.

[@stewdickson]

IT'S HAPPENING!!!! Honestly, I could sit and listen to you two talk for hours, great stuff.

[@tedschmidt3288]

“At Fillmore East” - Allman Brothers Band. 50 years later and I still listen to it multiple times a week.

[@danielhall3105]

Agree but the audio sucks. They just didn't know how to record live audio in those days.

[@pilsplease7561]

@@danielhall3105 They did just had a lot of crappy film audio gear as audio was recorded onto well tape media back then.

[@blindsqurill]

Fillmore East is one of those albums that captured a great show where everything worked out at the last minute. The Album cover photos are proof , they all looked furious in the first set of pictures, then something changed and they look like they’re on top of the world in the later photos

[@tedschmidt3288]

I think the audio of Fillmore East album is pretty damn good.

[@mikewiltshire9121]

Every track is great.

[@erniefollis7827]

Rick & Ward - you two present as a very polished and easy to listen to pairing. Not sure how much you rehearse / retake, but the balance you have in terms of information and enthusiasm is very refreshing. Your respect for each other and your audience is very apparent. One of your best videos in my humble opinion.

[@carlmarks8170]

Agreed. Ward sounds like highly intelligent person with interesting stuff to say about these records. Hopefully he is invited back for more.

[@davetrux]

The Cars first album. Amazing production and playing to serve the song.

[@TorToroPorco]

Two of my favourite KZbinrs together! Ward even played on stage with Cheap Trick so he’s one cool dude. He’s pretty low key here but he’s got a great sense of humour and is sharp as a tack. And full of great insights and military stories that he tells on his channel. As a published author Ward is a natural story teller and a keen observer of people which comes in handy as he’s done a lot of things beyond his navy career and interacted with a lot of interesting people.

[@zac3392]

Ditto!! Didn’t even know he was that great of a musician. Awesome crossover!

[@BobMcKinstry]

Heaven Tonight is a fine album.

[@SuperDavidmartin]

I saw a NYE live stream with Rick and there I saw him sitting next to Ward! I was fans of both of the channels and couldn't believe the music connection. I almost fell out of my chair. Love you guys.

[@hamalot100]

I’m close in age to you guys. I’m 54. I was a performing rock guitar player singer in the clubs for 20 years. When I was watching this I felt sad for younger music fans who may have no idea how great pop rock music can be. I’m Canadian, I remember seeing Joni Mitchell back in the 80’s on Much Music which was the Canadian MTV. She was sitting on a couch with her acoustic being interviewed by Erica Ehm. I saw her play Magdalene Laundries and other songs and this rock guitar player was blown away by the song, the lyrics and how great it sounded with just her voice and guitar. I never forgot that moment. Cheers

[@ejej6934]

Bowie's Ziggy Stardust. One of a handful of albums I can listen to start-to-finish and never tire of a single moment on the whole thing.

[@bronwynbeistle8317]

My list is getting really long. :-)

[@timbowden1680]

Hunky Dory for me.

[@letsplayclassicgames5024]

What an album. I started getting into Bowie a couple months before he passed, starting off with The Man Who Sold The World album. Next album I picked up was Ziggy, that album just took me to another place kind of how people say Darkside of The Moon did back in the day upon first listen. I really had only heard Suffragette City before so I was lucky to hear it with fresh ears, unlike Darkside of The Moon where I had already heard half of the album by the time I played it front to back.

[@letsplayclassicgames5024]

@@timbowden1680 Hunky Dory is incredible, I do go back and forth on which is better. I also feel this way with the Young American album, I know probably sounds crazy, just a criminally underrated Bowie album for me though.

[@veredben-avraham6598]

Absolutely beautiful

[@georgesuarez1949]

I would add Kansas Point if Know Return Every song is amazing and the playing is incredible. This album was my introduction to progressive rock

[@patgervasio7044]

Leftoverture was even better.

[@craighendrickson7938]

Masque is better

[@Gortman1]

I agree with both that left overture is better and masque is better.

[@jeffkiefer6972]

For me one requirement of a perfect album is one you cannot listen to just in part. You must play it in its entirety. Marvin Gaye’s What’s Goin’ On nails it for me.

[@jackgreene5868]

Absolutely! Fantastic disc! Gaye in top form from beginning to end

[@micheleparker8123]

YES!!!!!! Had it on repeat (that meant placing the needle back to the beginning over and over, for us geezers out there).

[@Eclare72]

This is one of the best records ever made, period

[@spanishpeaches2930]

Fine album.

[@koho]

OK, going to give it a try ...

[@kennethherbert267]

Happy to see Supertramp’s Crime of the Century get so many mentions here. It’s one of my all-time favorite albums, and I still listen to it (beginning to end) every now and again.

[@TwelveSticks]

I can't argue much with those choices. Two of my biggest start-to-finish classics are Queen's 'Night at the Opera' and Jethro Tull's 'Aqualung'.

[@micheleparker8123]

I totally agree!!!🤘

[@paulh6591]

I'd add Dire Straits' and the Pretenders' debut albums to that list of complete solid records.

[@cree8vision]

Yes! Aqualung and any of Queen's first four albums.

[@melissakhalar1842]

Absolutely

[@devinjeffrey275]

A Night at the Opera is the best album ever of all time!

[@HaleysTusk]

"No one told you when to run, You missed the starting gun...." Hits so much harder now that I'm in my 50's than when I'd listen to Dark Side endlessly in my teens....

[@jimpervious_0x2a]

I wouldn't have disagreed if LoFi Soul had made the list. Very fond of your girl.

[@allensandven0]

I too have recently revisited a lot of my old music , interestingly now in my late 50’s I have spent a fair amount of time analyzing old music along with new genres , restoring old sound system or my old rig but upgraded The only thing that this pandemic gave us some down time and what better way to use stimulus money .

[@captaincheese-beard6316]

That's because Time is a truly transcendent piece of art that deals with the human experience.

[@darksideofthetone261]

Soundtrack to my life ❤️🎸❤️

[@michaellnbnj]

Amazing that Waters wrote those lyrics in his late 20's!

[@JTQuirk22]

There is only one album I ever thought, at the time, "This is a perfect album". Not a single wasted note - every song is great, timeless and perfect - including the best production of an album I have ever heard. That was Steely Dan's Aja. A total class by itself.

[@heritageimaging7768]

Be sure to see the you tube vids on making Aja.

[@banyarling]

Not a single hook, either.

[@bronwynbeistle8317]

absolutely

[@MarkRosengarten]

It really is the perfect album. Every track is a perfect gem from start to finish.

[@jmad627]

I was just listening to this the other day.

[@colonelstevemartin]

Big fan of Rick Beato and Ward Carroll on KZbin. Glad to see you together!!!

[@kennethlatham3133]

After just watching this I searched for "Ripples" by Genesis, a song I'd never heard before, and now my life will never be the same again. Thanks, Rick & Ward, for steering me toward that light.

[@dkjazzz]

Back in the day when the album was released it had the same effect on me. Such an amazing song !

[@ChapinGTR]

Songs in the key of life by Stevie Wonder would be WAY up on a perfect albums list for me.

[@micheleparker8123]

GOD, yes - not an imperfect song on it!🤘

[@ursula3438]

"Innervisions" also qualifies imo.

[@dennishickey7194]

I should dive into it and Innervisions. I got stuck on Talking Book.

[@DeeEllEff]

@@dennishickey7194 The 5 albums Stevie Wonder released from October 1972 through 1979 are not only 5 of the best of that decade (rivaled only by some of Bruce Springsteen’s early work), but also rival The Beatles ‘60s albums (5,6,7 or 8 LPs in a row, depending on how you want to count them). Life-changing stuff

[@bw1235]

Came here for this. 💯

[@Junichild]

I love this! Two eloquent gentlemen discussing music in an intelligent and engaging manner! Please do it again sometime!

[@robertnewman3867]

I’m a black man that grew up in the 70’s and 80’s. A lot of these albums I came to learn about later in the 80’s. I appreciate your perspectives on this music. I find your takes very forthright and impactful.

[@SkiRedMtn]

I appreciate your comment. Given the different cultural situations that introduce us to music, what’s one of your all time perfect albums? I was going to include Maceo Parker’s Life on Planet Groove to my list, but it’s a live album, so I didn’t. 🤔

[@ottovangogh9477]

Eric Burden & War

[@huosb1768]

@@ottovangogh9477 PC-3

[@mrbob4u495]

Rubber Soul and Revolver are my two favorite albums. The more I learn about the technical aspects of Beatles music, the more I am in awe of their talents, individually and collectively.

[@SmilingIbis]

And don't forget the man in the booth: George Martin.

[@funkymonk2893]

@@SmilingIbis the fifth beatle.

[@michaeleyre7749]

Reading Geoff Emerick’s book about the Beatles, mostly Revolver and SPLHCB. Unbelievable insight to just how experimental they were and the lengths they went to produce never heard sounds.

[@ferdinandotravisan7999]

To me Sgt.Pepper’s and the White.

[@alrivers2297]

Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper then Revolver and the White album for me. Honorable mention to Magical Mystery Tour

[@brianparkman8183]

You need to make Ward a regular collaborator on the channel. He has a lot of insight. Good stuff.

[@dreamscuba]

yes please

[@Oriole21]

Adding Steely Dan - Aja, Peter Frampton - Frampton Comes Alive, and Eagles - Hotel California to the list

[@MrLbd1921]

YES Aja

[@brynfurtaw6977]

Although it’s a classic album, Rick couldn’t mention Hotel California for fear that Henley would sick the lawyers on him again and make him take this episode down!

[@Oriole21]

@@brynfurtaw6977 Sad but unfortunately true

[@sophie94bgd]

I think Rumours is just gonna be my favourite album forever. The diversity, the story behind it, amazing singing and harmonies, great musicianship…Just pure brilliance!

[@davidseymour6447]

I agree with Boston and Revolver. Love those two albums. My addiction to the list would be Queen's Night at the Opera. Every song is good.

[@craighendrickson7938]

A day at the races is just as good

[@garyh.238]

Deep Purple's "Machine Head" anyone? Start to finish it oozes energy, excellent musicianship, classic songs, etc.

[@JSTONE9352]

That was a good album, I like "Deep Purple in Rock" as well.

[@detomaso_6235]

Absolutely! Certainly on my list.

[@mikewiltshire9121]

​@@JSTONE9352Child in Time has no equal.

[@markf.8755]

Made in Japan. Live. To me, the best versions of some of the best Deep Purple songs. One of the best Live albums, ever.

[@TeeDOG6]

One good segment is to list the great runs. For example, I think Rush had a great run from 2112 to Moving Pictures (Maybe we could include Signals). During this streak, Rush was on fire, most songs on all of these albums were close to being perfect. This period was music that made Rush legendary.

[@BobMcKinstry]

Hemispheres may be the peak for me. Signals is a fine album but I wandered after that.

[@4randosutube]

I couldn’t agree more. My all time fav band so I am a bit biased but what a masterful collection of work 1976 - 1982. Signals gets better with time too.

[@terryguire1321]

That is a great idea, Teddy. I hope Rick considers it.

[@batigol47]

@@BobMcKinstry Oddly, to me I would be ok through Grace Under Pressure, if it was not for Signals.

[@dahawk8574]

There is no maybe about Signals. Hands down one of the greatest end-to-end Rush albums. Their streak was unbroken, 2112-thru-Signals. I would go so far as to assert that this was the... Greatest Perfect Album Streak in the History of Music. Rare for anyone to make a single perfect album. Extremely rare to have two back to back. And Rush did it SIX times in a row.

[@1515327E]

Songs in the Key of Life - Stevie Wonder. Understanding that one man wrote this, as well as it being his eighteenth album (please note that), is phenomenal.

[@Organizm1]

And played almost every instrument!

[@fluim0102]

@@Organizm1 That was Innervisions. On Songs in the Key of Life he used a ton of musicians

[@Kidrodeo1000]

Back in Black is probably one of my favourite albums ever. Bon Scott was a legend , so glad I saw AC/DC in their prime as a sixteen year old in Melbourne, Australia. Been a fan since 1974. Another favourite of mine was ‘Slade Alive’. Slade were a terrific British rock band from the early seventies and I wore the needle out on my record player listening to these guys. Keep the lists coming guys. Thoroughly enjoying this journey back in time. 🎸👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@tranebass11]

Not going to lie. Speaking as an Active Duty Navy Sailor and musician, Ward give me hope for music outside the military! Thank you for the inspiration Ward and thank you Rick for what you do

[@mikeet207]

Former Sailor here. Yes, you can still get musical and creative post Navy. It took me a few years after to find it again, but it was there.

[@thomaskuhn6541]

David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust would make my list. Like Dark Side of the Moon I always play it all the way through. And thanks for picking Court and Spark over Blue, both are great albums but I play C&S 10 times for every one time I play Blue.

[@elainegiacomo3414]

Thank you for including Who's Next. That album still rocks.

[@mikenohara-leclair2167]

Rick & Ward - LOVE the list - couldn't agree more. I've got some honorable mentions: Moving Pictures from RUSH, Aja by Steely Dan, The Doors, American Beauty from the Dead, Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits, Appetite for Destruction by GNR, Blood Sugar Sex Magik by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Deja Vu by CSN, Sticky Fingers from the Stones, and what Zep album to choose?

[@HaleysTusk]

I had goosebumps at Rick listing those classics on Revolver. Boston's "Boston" was the very first album I bought w/ 'my own money' I made from my Paper route....

[@GT-mq1dx]

Boston’s second album is the first album I bought with my own money…lol Yes a paper route…

[@HaleysTusk]

@@GT-mq1dx Yes, that album and ELO's "A new World Record and their follow up that had "Telephone Line" and "Sweet Talking Woman" on it were my next few purchases. That's when my money went to a 'stereo system' and such things as needle fluid and cleaners LOL Then a friend introduced me to "A Night at the Opera" then Dark Side of the moon on his expensive Hi Fidelity Music system and everything changed...

[@whiskeywhiskeyromeo3730]

I think that was my first self bought album also.....

[@ChrisMedici]

For me, it was Young Americans by David Bowie. This was the reason I got the paper route in the first place: to earn enough money to buy a stereo and records

[@HaleysTusk]

@@ChrisMedici then to the used record stores to expand your collection, sigh, the good old days

[@stevemahle4006]

I'm sure this is already covered in other comments, or Rick has discussed in the past, but the first time I listened to What's Going On by Marvin Gaye, I kept wondering when the "clunker" song was going to show up, and of course it never did. The consistency and thematics from this album simply blew me away, as did obviously Marvin's singing, the arrangement, and the production. Simply a beautiful work of art, and that first listen was as good as the 1000 times since then.

[@doublemann]

Thanks Rick for bringing us 60-somethings back to our youth with class and truth! I am never disappointed with your takes.

[@jwv6985]

Elton Johns, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road! My all time favorite

[@bobsandler4563]

You need to have Ward on more frequently. Very knowledgeable, articulate, and the two of you play off each other very well.

[@dalesomers5173]

Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys. Not sure how that's overlooked.

[@kenchristiansen4663]

The closeness, respect and admiration between you two is very uplifting.

[@wadeshiley1649]

The Stranger Billy Joel is a perfect album. Rick you should definitely touch on some Billy! One of the greatest songwriters of all time

[@whiskeywhiskeyromeo3730]

Love Billy

[@edwardyazinski3858]

As is 52nd Street, and oh the Freddie Hubbard playing on Zanzibar

[@gammaraygem]

nowadays, every third person is the greatest songwriter of all time

[@aldodisario1634]

I was literally about to write this! You beat me to it!

[@thierryhenry674]

1) The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band 2) Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life 3) Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon 4) Daft Punk - Random Access Memories 5) Tame Impala - Lonerism 6) Oasis - (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? 7) Primal Scream - Screamadelica 8) The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses 9) Coldplay - Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends 10) David Bowie - Blackstar (In no particular order...)

[@davepasoroblesca7824]

Blood, Sweat & Tears 3. Incredible transitions and took jazz rock fusion to another level.

[@timgaul2256]

Here’s one-Get Happy! by Elvis Costello. In its 20 songs (on a single album), he goes through many different aspects of a breakup up, with the calm acceptance of “Clowntime is Over” and the almost intellectual looking back of “New Amsterdam” close to the end of side 2. The last song has an Elvis’ play on words in its title (“High Fidelity”) and shows how the pain of the breakup continues. Its first line is “Some things you never get used to.”

[@fullofbritt]

No doubt, Get Happy is a tremendous, top tier album. And my favorite Costello record. I often feel like it doesn't get its proper due, but then I see comments like this and I... get happy!

[@BenjWarrant]

The number of times I've had _Get happy!_ on the in-car hifi and just can't stop playing it. The lyrics, the hooks, the incredible togetherness of the band. _Motel matches, The men that you call uncle, Secondary modern,_ and then finishing with the mighty _Riot act..._ those are among my favourite ever EC songs. "Now there's newsprint all over your face well maybe that's why I can read you like a book..." "Tryin' be so bad is bad enough don't make me laugh by talking tought, don't put your heart out on your sleeve when your remarks are off the cuff..." (I got all excited to see _Get happy!_ mentioned here...)

[@humandroid53]

His first 4 albums are all excellent.

[@LSqrd1960]

Yes - Close To The Edge is a must for this list, as many others have mentioned. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s first album (pronounced) is perfect. From the drum intro of “I Ain’t The One” to the last strains of “Free Bird”. And all points in between.

[@KarlVaughan]

A Trick Of The Tail is one of my favourites too. Every song on that Genesis album sounds amazing. The production quality, the musicianship, everything is perfect. Actually, I've just seen Steve Hackett live in my town a couple of days ago and he did a few tracks off that album. He ended with Los Endos.

[@christianheidenreich3673]

And now I'm going to pick the trick out of my shelf and listen to it, because it's pretty long time gone since I did.

[@bleckandbleck]

I heard Elton John was blown away by the the idea of finishing an album with an instrumental. Just brilliant!

[@michaelrovner4165]

Brilliant Album...amazing group

[@stephenchadwick8060]

Me too - I saw him in Liverpool a couple of months ago doing the Seconds Out album - true to the original, with a few tweaks - Steve brings early Genesis back to life so much more than the later Genesis line up (who I also love but I prefer Steve’s take on the songs)

[@trevormoffat4054]

What a pleasure to see this video. So surprising to see Ward pop up on Rick’s channel in my feed (even 7 months after it was originally released). Have been following both Rick and Ward for a while now and had no idea there was an association. This is like when you mash up your Star Wars and Transformers toys together in an epic battle ;)

[@sherpa59]

My list, in no particular order: Dark side of the moon(Floyd), One size fits all(FZ), Trilogy (ELP), Hejira(Joni), Close to the edge (Yes), Machine Head (Purple), Aja (SD), The Nightfly (Donald Fagen), Help & Abbey Road (Beatles)

[@petrmatejka1742]

Nice tips. But Help? For me the less satisfying Beatles album...

[@bobsala7780]

+1 for One Size Fits All by Frank Zappa

[@sherpa59]

@@petrmatejka1742 For 1964, a perfect album.

[@petrmatejka1742]

@@sherpa59 You mean for 1965, right? ;-)

[@sherpa59]

@@petrmatejka1742 Yeah! Anyway, I love that album.

[@ned2350]

"The Cars" debut album, Talking Heads "Remain in Light", Supertramp "Crime of the Century" and Marvin Gaye "What's Going on" are some I might add to the end of that list. Those albums all blew me away when I first heard them. However, I cannot argue with your picks, they're all worthy. I would say most Joni Mitchell albums are perfect.

[@itisjustacomment]

Joni Mitchell for sure .

[@enkiitu]

Crime of the century is a masterpiece.

[@paulsteenbakkers7568]

Debut by Björk,Desire by Bob Dylan,Remain in light by Talking Heads,Nursery Crime by Genesis,LA woman by the Doors,Exodus by Bob Marley

[@JB-ti7bl]

@@paulsteenbakkers7568 Desire and L.A. Woman...YEA!

[@neilashton9459]

Supertramp so often overlooked and that was a great album and sound. Also first live show I ever saw so special.

[@smithmann5616]

Singlemost perfect album of all time is Yes' Close to the Edge. Pure perfection from the birdsong on CTTE to the outro on SK, and everything in between.

[@rainbell2817]

Lucky enough to catch that concert, just amazing, tiny lights strobing during the birdsong, Chris Squire just holding that note you knew was coming, it was freaking awesome.

[@petertavella4752]

Chicago Transit Authority the perfect album. A guitar player with the voice of Ray Charles and the chops of Jimi Hendrix. Horn section sounding like one set of lungs. A bass player with melodic world class chops. Three part vocal harmony. Drum chops in the style of Gene Krupa. Complex and innovative song writing. Accomplished by 20 year olds in 1969. Artistic rock at it highest level of musical expression

[@christophervaphiadis8582]

100%

[@robch4414]

How good to see Court and Spark in there. Magnificent album. Best "classic" album for me, Van Morrison's Astral Weeks. But a shout out to Curved Air's Air Conditioning - a unique sound.

[@danceswithcritters]

I agree. Astral Weeks is in a class of it's own .

[@simonjhudson7378]

Personally I think Kate Bush's Hounds of Love is pretty close to perfection. The cracking individual songs of the first side are great without a single weak track amongst them. To then follow it up with the concept suite the Ninth Wave, makes it as inovative an album as it is enjoyable to listen to.

[@spaceghost8995]

Oh stop that Kate Bush is like fingernails on a chalkboard

[@Ugoeh2]

Her first 5 albums just floor me. I love her music!

[@mgtrumpet]

I opened KZbin and saw two of my favorites together! I’m a jazz guy, so it’s Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue, but love the classic rock too.

[@maplesyrup4881]

Kind of Blue is fantastic, but personally I think B*tche’s Brew, In a Silent Way, Get Up With It, A tribute to Jack Johnson give it competition.

[@newpinglegend9304]

I would go "Kind of Blue". I would tack on Mingus, "Blues and Roots".

[@maplesyrup4881]

@@newpinglegend9304 Good pick for Mingus, I’d add “The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady” too.

[@whiskeywhiskeyromeo3730]

Go Bucks...

[@casablanca2745]

Ah Um by Mingus as well

[@vipergg9159]

One of my favorite classic albums is The Doobie Brothers , The Captain And Me . Not a bad song on it . Also Foreigners first album , one of the best .

[@fullofbritt]

Bob Mould's Workbook is an absolutely perfect album. Even if you didn't know Bob had been in Husker Du, you'd still realize that this album was something different and special from the first notes of "Sunspots." Tremendous performances from Mould, as well as bassist Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu) and drummer Anton Fier (Lounge Lizards, Feelies, Pere Ubu, Golden Palominos), as well as incredible cello from Jane Scarpantoni (who's played with everyone from Sheryl Crow to the Swans). Wonderful sounding album, blending all these players together very well. And I consider it one of the best-sequenced albums as well: Starting with "Sunspots" and ending with the noisy, vengeful, chaotic closing of "Whichever Way the Wind Blows," the album takes you on a enthralling ride through nimble instrumentals, unique acoustic pop, and searing rockers, and never takes a wrong turn. In my opinion, Mould recorded some fantastic material after Workbook, but never made another album as perfect as this one.

[@granthurlburt4062]

I love his fine "Turning of the Tide" on one of the two "Songs of Richard Thompson" albums.

[@raystaar]

I got chills listening to you two talking about Court & Spark, one of my all time favorites, and one to which I consistently return, year after year, decade after decade. Another timeless gem, not on your list, was the deathless Damn the Torpedoes by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, likewise Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Thanks for your thoughtful and provocative list.

[@timball8429]

Love Damn The Torpedoes and GBYBR. Both awesome!

[@tomhenninger4153]

Steely Dan 'Aja' seems to me to fit in the perfect album conversation. Every song is a gem of great musicianship, production, the concise lyrics and overall sound quality. Home at Last! I Got the News! Josie! Black Cow! Deacon Blues! Aja! Amazing!!! Agreed??

[@carnivoreRon]

Home At Last is my favorite Steely Dan song.

[@RrawzZ]

Agreed ... Katy Lied & Royal Scam ain't no slouches neither...

[@larrypower8659]

@ Tom Henninger ~ They got a name for the winners in the world / I want a name when I lose … Call me Deacon Blues but, I say AJA takes it!

[@pvs6464]

I went into this thinking if they don't include A Trick Of The Tail, I will have to bring it up to them strongly for not including it. Midway, I was pleasantly surprised you guys go in depth about it. Thank you.

[@ToddRichmond]

Robin Trower - Bridge of Sighs. Every song is spectacular, Jimmy Dewar's vocals are smooth as smooth can be, and Trower is at the top of his game.

[@SylvesterCarl]

OH fuck yes!

[@sealisa1398]

Never ending luv….

[@kurtsorenson7245]

@@sealisa1398 So them live in1974 in San Diego at Golden Hall. My ears are still ringing!

[@sealisa1398]

@@kurtsorenson7245 up until COVID Trower was coming just about every year or so to small theatre in Montclair NJ seen him many times. Never saw Dewar, his vice had all that smooth soul swag. Life goes on but it’s never the same

[@mikewalsh7318]

Good call.

[@alanhearton7942]

I Am. Earth Wind and Fire. From the opening "In the Stone" which they used as a live opener for years, through "Can't Let Go" which seriously has to be in the top ten of song openings of all time, just incredible, almost Prog! Then without naming all the album tracks you have "After The Love Has Gone" written by a stellar team including Jay Graydon and David Foster, and "Boogie Wonderland." It has to be one of the best albums for flow, similar to Back In Black in that each song fits perfectly in its place on the vinyl.

[@YaoEspirito]

Nice choice. Plus, it is from the acme of the music era: '79, I think. To my ear, music sounded greatest during the 'golden window' of '75-'80. Music was still real, warm and organic, recording technology was fantastic, and it was immediately before synths and over-processing began to pollute music from '80 onwards.

[@mroctober3657]

This is like Pacino and De Niro coffee shop scene in HEAT.

[@marcanglin7127]

"I don't know how to do anything else". "Neither do I". "I don't much want to either". "Neither do I".

[@mroctober3657]

@@marcanglin7127 "You lookin' to become monk?"

[@marcanglin7127]

@@mroctober3657 "I got a woman".

[@mroctober3657]

@@marcanglin7127 What do you tell her?

[@marcanglin7127]

@@mroctober3657 "I tell her I'm a salesman".

[@johnkuh9937]

Keeping the string of 70’s masterpieces going, Deja Vu by Crosby Stills Nash & Young belongs on the list. And, Gerry Rafferty’s City to City.

[@lorihenderson658]

Love City to City.

[@kfbbproduction5964]

Love to Love City to City! One way I judge a "pefect album" is: Does it have any filler? Is there a song that was phoned in or doesn't belong? Not on City to City! Awesome effort, and like another album that makes my list, Al Stewart's Year of the Cat, City to City really benefits from the tight interplay from all the musicians. Lyrically rich, heartfelt vocals, interesting rhythms with beautifully interwoven solos. Awesome!

[@mikewiltshire9121]

Oh, the harmonies on Deja Vu!!

[@packman5906]

I liked Poems, Prayers and Promises(1971) by John Denver...great songwriter type album, a bit folksy but quite endearing to the ears and soul.

[@davidstrickler6623]

"Perfect" is a word I try not to use loosely, but you missed Steely Dan - Aja, literally a perfect album.

[@rebeccabillings6485]

I came here only to say exactly that. Aja is hugely conspicuous by its absence. 🤔

[@djbelc01]

Don Breithaupt -- who wrote the book about Aja for the "33 1/3" book series -- has called Aja "the best album in the universe." I love the assumption this statement makes that even if there are aliens who make music throughout the universe, he's still confident it's better than those.

[@rustypugh123]

Agreed. Aja would be one of the few "perfect" albums IMO.

[@sarahtonin4649]

I think maybe a perfect recording, but unless you're a huge Dan fan, some of the songs are pretty esoteric, which probably takes it out of the perfect range for many. I might include XTC's Skylarking, but that's not likely to appear on many top ten lists either.

[@charleshuguley9903]

I agree, and was also about to mention this great album.

[@williamholley9036]

There are so many great albums. My favorite is Innervisions by Stevie Wonder.

[@jodykyzer4484]

Pink Floyd's Animals album is entitled to a great amount of respect and admiration. Much more so than The Wall.

[@johndant7943]

I would say Moving Pictures by RUSH is a perfect album as well as Zeppelins first album. Great job Rick and Ward! Really enjoyed your insight. Thanks. Semper Fi to Ward.

[@ROB-xm5fv]

Yes. Moving Pictures. The last three songs, in their order, completely solidifies it.

[@tonypeake467]

Zeppelin's first epic

[@julieodler8823]

@@ROB-xm5fv The B side is so underrated. That album was such a gift.

[@karlnielsen9469]

Moving Pictures. Boom.

[@geetee2694]

MP is my fourth.

[@zachmorgenstern3243]

Tea for the Tillerman-Cat Stevens, Graceland-Paul Simon, Tapestry-Carol King, Blood on the Tracks-Bob Dylan, Thriller-Michael Jackson, Purple Rain-Prince, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars-David Bowie, Magical Mystery Tour-The Beatles.

[@stephentyler4352]

Bowie, Prince & Paul Simon are three of my absolute favourite musicians to have ever lived. The Holy Trinity in my eyes!! Phenomenal list here, mate. 💯

[@gertifity4868]

Tapestry!

[@Wolfgang_Amadeus_X_Machina]

Mystery tour is an interesting pick.

[@zachmorgenstern3243]

@@Wolfgang_Amadeus_X_Machina I made a video with my ranking of the Beatles albums if you're curious. I suspect more people don't pick it, just because it wasn't originally published as an album.

[@jeffvanderwerf3391]

Graceland is a phenomenal album start to finish. Great inclusion. Rest of your list is solid, obviously, too

[@dalestandard1095]

Discovered Ward's station about 6 months ago and it is awesome. Only discovered a couple of months ago that he plays guitar in a cover band that is above average. Very talented guy. Awesome that Rich discovered Ward and puts him on his site. The best of both worlds. GREAT!!!

[@frederickdouglass9007]

Over the years, Court and Spark by Joni Mitchell, out of this group of albums, still remains my all time favorite. It’s production is way ahead of its time. “Down to You” is just incredible, lyrically and vocally, with it’s awesome orchestration. I wish Rick would do what makes this song great about DOWN TO YOU! I never understood how this album didn’t get its lasting recognition. Finally it does! Thank you guys for the top picks. Rick you always seem to make a Great Song even greater with your genius breakdowns and isolations! Love your channel. 🙏

[@OilCanHarry2U]

YES!!!!

[@allensandven0]

Agreed !

[@Dan-zq5wt]

Love it, but personally I like Blue better. So raw

[@frederickdouglass9007]

@@Dan-zq5wt it’s hard to argue with that. On Blue it’s her great piano work. I just love the great orchestration on Court and Spark.

[@Dan-zq5wt]

@@frederickdouglass9007 hard to argue! But I love both Joni’s stark piano and fine guitar work on Blue, whereas Court and Spark is more orchestrated with blue chip musicians and sounds more sophisticated in some ways but both are the greatest female singer/songwriter albums ever IMHO (along with Tapestry)

[@ethelynchristopher6995]

Waiting for Columbus by Little Feat is such a phenomenal album. Never would have thought a live album (although it's hybrid live) could be so great. it was pretty much the soundtrack of my college years.

[@porkbelly0713]

Amen, my favorite live album of all time and recorded so well

[@SteveMccart-uj7ec]

Good choice.

[@kurtwicklund8901]

WFC crossed my mind too. It is such a well recorded live album.

[@MrMrh1958]

I was at the London Rainbow gig where some songs were recorded!🇬🇧✌🏻

[@jamesesullivandds9862]

I was at GW when they recorded WFC. I remember Serf doing the introduction. I saw Little Feat 4 time at the Warner theater.Super tight band

[@casablanca2745]

What a great chat boys, loved it! Never tire of Ziggy Stardust and can’t part with my battered original I bought when it was released.

[@TNorb]

Been following and listening to you both separately for months, wow to find this collaboration, great!

[@MotherboardStandoff]

Mezzanine by Massive Attack. That album flows so well, has great production and songs like Angel, Teardrop, Inertia Creeps and Group Four are just amazing.

[@Plexi417]

Amazing album.

[@Eclare72]

Yes.

[@Fibonacci64]

The only good track is "Teardrop". The first two albums are superior, then they decided drop soul and dub to go with depressing rock. Terrible.

[@maplesyrup4881]

@@Fibonacci64 Pretty much everyone would disagree with you. As good as the first album is, Mezzanine is where they perfected their trip-hop formula and released their best written album to date, their best produced, best performed (Thanks to Elizabeth Fraser and Horace Andy’s help on the album) and most interesting sonically (subjective opinion for this of course, but most people would agree with me on this). Mezzanine is a work of art (so is blue lines tho, but just not on the same level as Mezzanine). Mezzanine’s impact was also quite big with it’s influence on artists like Portishead, Air, James Blake, Gil Scott-Heron, DJ Shadow, Burial, Drake, The Weeknd, Lupe Fiasco, Thom Yorke, Röksopp, FKA Twigs, etc.

[@MadSlantedPowers]

@@Fibonacci64 I’ve not listened to much of their music, but Teardrop and at least one other song has popped up on Pandora, and I’ve liked them all. I should sit down and give their catalog a listen sometime.

[@johngray6442]

Rush - Permanent Waves. Absolutely perfect in every way. I think Permanent Waves gets overshadowed by Moving Pictures and people forget how amazing PW was/is

[@dahawk8574]

2112 through Signals. All perfect. Six albums in a row.

[@a2ndopynyn]

@@dahawk8574 I'd extend it to include Grace Under Pressure and Power Windows, for a total of eight.

[@dahawk8574]

​@@a2ndopynyn, I'm a huge fan of both of those albums, on the whole. But by my ear, I could not count those as Perfect because of the tracks Kid Gloves and Big Money. It's ironic to know that if you pull those tracks, then you are left with a perfect album. For me, Big Money was the beginning of the end. Quite similar to how my admiration for the Dire Straits took a nose dive after Money For Nothing. Same with Def Leppard after their Sugar song. I still love the bands, but permanent damage was done. So by my count, that's Six Straight Perfect Albums, followed by two near-perfect. I freakin love Manhattan Project. It would be great to do a fanvid of that paired with OMD's Enola Gay.

[@thrakattacks]

I'd narrow that down to Hemispheres through Moving Pictures. All perfect songs, no fails.

[@a2ndopynyn]

@@dahawk8574 And see, I love _The Big Money._ Both musically and lyrically, it's a Rush song if there ever was one. (I liked _Money For Nothing,_ too. Then again, I like both the Steve Howe and Trevor Rabin eras of YES. I don't mind it when bands evolve, as long as the quality of the writing and playing stays high.) GUP came out right before my senior year of high school, so I get the message of _Kid Gloves_ a little more than some people might, I suppose. It's not one of their best, but I don't think it knocks the album out of Perfect status. I think it holds up at least a little better than _The Body Electric,_ for instance...

[@MrThrustSSC]

I dig that you picked "A Trick Of The Tail". My favorite Genesis album as well with "Selling England By The Pound" as a close second, just a little bit to lyricial (if that is possible). "Trick Of The Tail" is tighter and has even more impressive drumming. Love it.

[@MichaelKriz44]

This is a great take. I can only quibble with Who's Next... Quadraphenia is the most complete Who album end to end.

[@AussieMark909]

Kate Bush - Hounds of Love (1985). Her ultimate masterpiece IMHO. The album starts with the track Running Up That Hill and from that moment to the end it captivates me. This is a work that must be listened to as an album. The singles are wonderful in their own right but rise to another level in the context of the whole. On side B the track Waking The Witch is dark, powerful, and a hidden gem. 36 years on Hounds of Love sounds as fresh as it did when released. Cheers Rick and Ward, great to see you two on the same video.

[@adampoe2797]

Yes! In Damn Deed Regarding Kate Hounds

[@tarjeimonster5634]

Agree with everything! I love how the songs in the B side is works together and tells a story. Every song on that side is just perfection, also love how well The Morning Fog closes the album. One song that stands out to me is Watching You Without Me, but it can’t be listened to without listening to the rest of the album.

[@Darrylizer1]

Great album but I prefer The Dreaming.

[@MJLU280]

Cloudbusting my favorite great album

[@dgrantstocker6148]

Oh Yeeeeaaa!!!

[@leighwilsonartist]

Dire straits “Brothers in arms” is my favourite album , just listen to the title track, not many words but you can’t help but get emotional when you listen to it, there’s just something in his guitar playing that just speaks to you. Rick, I challenge you to do a breakdown vid on this song and not get emotional. Check out the vid clip which is epic also. When the self titled dire straits album hit the shelf in 78 I knew was hooked on their sound. Marks guitar tones and style of playing just was something else. Go back and listen to their first album for some raw Dire Straits!

[@AndTheRoadGoesEverOn]

Yep, BROTHERS IN ARMS is a breathtakingly moving & savagely beautiful song. The whole album is pure class. FWIW, was happy to see Achtung Baby by U2 on Rick’s list here. Another perfect album.

[@markmarotta3577]

My first thought when I saw this video on my YT feed. Remove Walk of Life and it’ becomes unquestionably perfect.

[@williamhumphrey1084]

Making Movies

[@Ugoeh2]

My favorite is Communique, but they are all great

[@jonathandantonio649]

Their first album is nearly perfect as well.

[@Doogs5150]

All great albums. Was surprised Steely Dan’s Aja didn’t make the cut.

[@ulisundheim7225]

Aja is great, but The Royal Scam is even better IMHO.

[@stevemd6488]

Yea the list was great but no Steely???

[@wastrel09]

@@ulisundheim7225 Aja and The Royal Scam are great, but Gaucho is even better IMHO.

[@nancy9478]

Loved Aja, it holds the most memories for me, but SDs entire catalogue is great.

[@markmitchell6179]

The first album by the Barenaked Ladies called Gordon. Every song a gem. Extraordinary range of emotions. High level musicianship and even production.

[@KierRobins]

Nice plug. Even Macca wished he could harmonize like Steven and Ed. The songwriting level on this for a first album by a band previously famous for just a cover.

[@seanbaines]

Good choices. A few other nominations. Rush: Moving Pictures. Supertramp: Crime of the Century. Zeppelin: 2. The Fourth. (OK, hard to argue against ANY of them). Bowie: Diamond Dogs (Yes, Ziggy, but DD was always my favourite). Live at Leeds and Frampton Comes Alive are two masterful live albums. Ditto Made in Japan. I could easily come up with more if I sat and thought for a minute or two, but that'll do to be getting on with. :)

[@lindaingallsobrien4217]

Oh gosh you covered them all. what about the Rolling Stones ( Made in the Shade) , Exhile........Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Heart albums all the early ones, but not to include Led Zep is shameful (Houses of the Holy) is my favorite!

[@terryguire1321]

Great additions, Sean.

[@seanbaines]

@@terryguire1321 Thanks

[@curtisyuzdepski3603]

Agree with Crime of the Century

[@ronforeman2556]

Substitute Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and I'm entirely in agreement.

[@frankuaku]

"Songs from the Big Chair" by Tears for Fears is one of the greatest albums for me, from start to finish; also "Moving Pictures" by Rush, absolutely amazing piece of art!

[@bierbasstard]

Songs from the Big Chair. Pioneer 250w receiver with separate equalizer, Technics turntable, 4 Pioneer CS-722 speakers! I used to drive my neighbors crazy anytime my parents weren't home 👍

[@richardmoore4553]

Rush for sure...Tears great but not the best ever from beginning to end.

[@petersheenan4482]

agree with tears for fears

[@georgem5609]

Enjoyed this. Also Navy carrier guy, like Ward, and also an old guy, like you two. I remember buying Revolver in high school, Boston in college (and seeing them) and listening to Rumors over & over & over in the Navy working nights preparing the flight briefs for the next day on the carrier. The most surprising to me was including Joni Mitchell....one of my favorites. My mother's main review of her was "turn that woman off!", but I loved her.

[@johnshenk6790]

this is a great conversation. no one mentioned styx paradise theater. It may not be musically perfect but I love the flow and the storytelling

[@matthewsands1572]

Exodus - Bob Marley and the Wailers. A perfect mixture of dark and light, of hard reggae and the more commercially viable. Hits and hidden gems exist on this masterpiece. Sunny tracks like Three Little Birds and One Love are joined by dark moody songs like Natural Mystic and The Heathen. Groovy reggae like Jamming, slow love songs like Waiting in Vain and Turn Your Lights Down Low. Every song is a masterpiece and the album is a journey through all aspects of reggae. I could put all Bob's official albums on this list but even among them Exodus stands above the rest, especially for people not already familiar with his music.

[@markwuest]

Thank you for picking Trick of the Tail! My favorite Genesis album.

[@joe44850]

Court & Spark! I'm so happy to finally see this album get the recognition it deserves. Nice guest, Rick, this guy is great!

[@wolf-dietergrabner9762]

What a nice surprise that you two are friends. Cool - thank you both for your channels!

[@kinkykeys1]

Exile on Main Street (Rolling Stones) would be the perfect classic album to take along on a desert island if I had to choose only one. It would definitely be number 1 in my list, although I have greater difficulty in adding & ranking other albums to that list...from Miles Davis to David Bowie, Springsteen, Beatles... Grtz from Belgium, congrats with your channel, you're amongst the few who keep KZbin interesting !

[@choochoochooseyou]

Wow, fantastic vid. You guys work so well together. I couldn't believe how many of my own favourites were in your list. Loved the background stories on each album. Gone are the days when buying a new album stamped the time and location in your memory.

[@amgee007]

For the Who, Quadraphenia has been my favorite. Live album, Allman Brothers at Fillmore East And as others have mentioned, Aja by Steely Dan Exile on Main Street comes to mind.

[@Pat14922]

Filmore East.... salute.

[@ernurse7675]

WOW!!!! Two of my favorite content providers!!! And from my era! What a wonderful suprise!!!

[@hooperguitar]

Not sure how Led Zeppelin IV is not on everyone’s perfect album list. Every single song is an all-time classic.

[@fsinjin60]

You mean more all time classic than Led Zeppelin (1)

[@NeilHolmes72]

You could pick most Zeppelin albums as far as I'm concerned.

[@symbiosisai]

You could say the same for Zep II, III and Physical Graffiti

[@blakeh6250]

My favorite was houses of the holy.

[@patgervasio7044]

PG is their pinnacle release IMHO. I still go back to that album even though I’ve listened to it hundreds of times it still seems fresh. Loooovvvveee it to this day !!!