Why the Hell Were These Albums So Big?

[@DT11757]

Abby Road is both an artistic achievement and the Beatles' most modern sounding album. It's production values outweigh any other Beatles' album. You have an already amazing album raised up even further by its overall sound. McCartney fully intended AR to be a huge seller- and knew by setting a high bar for it's arrangements and production, this could most definitely happen. AR has become the example of an album riding the seam of both the 1960's and 1970's.

[@hildegardseibenstein3263]

Abbey

[@josephblue4135]

On most days it is still my favorite Beatles' album. My brother had Beatles albums which I got to hear; but 'Abbey Road' was the 1st rock album I bought with my own money.

[@twofromthetrunk9932]

It was all great music. How could you not like them. The 70’s were such a great time in music. Enjoyed them all.

[@spudwas]

1960's was much better! Especially 1965>1970. The Best!

[@analogmoz]

These were better by a consensus that did not involve **you.**

[@spudwas]

@@analogmoz Sorry Bud, it involved everybody!

[@Claytone-Records]

But back then we were more concerned with youth in Asia. 😬

[@spudwas]

@@Claytone-Records I don't fully understand what you mean. Please explained a little more.

[@dabhidhm4093]

All of these albums are really good albums, that's why they are popular. Who's Next has some of their greatest songs and it's not weighed down by an opera narrative, even though it was leftovers of an attempted rock opera. LZ IV is the ultimate distillation of blues, hard rock and folk the defined LZ. It's a much more original album than the first one, which wasn't far afield from Cream or Jeff Beck Group. Dark Side Of The Moon is the goal that the Floyd were aiming at since their second album. And so on and so on. All of these albums represent their artists at the top of their talents. The only one I could contest is Abbey Road, but frankly it shows the Beatles in a very mature light with George's greatest songs and great sound and a good mixture of heavy and serious, and the medley which is like a well-programmed FM radio station of Beatles songs. It's easy and fun to listen to. Sometimes what is popular is garbage, and sometimes it's not. These are ten examples of when real quality rose to the top.

[@abueloraton]

Yeah, this guy doesn't understand the existential drama of Pink Floyd, LZ, and The Who

[@tdunph4250]

Care to elaborate??

[@abueloraton]

@@tdunph4250 it's all elaborated in extended previous comment.

[@danny1959]

The true “Why?” record for Pink Floyd is The Wall.

[@jameswilson7084]

The first half is really good, but then it gets "spotty" for me on the second disc.

[@houstoncreed]

If they had just cut out all the filler bs. If it had been just one disc, sans filler, it would have been okay.

[@stuartraybould6433]

Some of us think The Wall is their best album 🤷‍♂️

[@Stonecutter334]

Only if you don’t get it

[@larrysmith5249]

Agreed. I think it could have been a good EP. One of the most depressing albums I own, and the music is very mediocre.

[@krisp3128]

I had exactly the same feeling about some of these records, especially Abbey Road and Dark Side... Until I stopped listening to them for definitely more than 10 years. Revisiting them after all these years made me realise again how fantastic they are! Thanks for this very entertaining piece!

[@photoslum]

i have been blessed to have that happen to a lot of the music i was burned out on. To hear Freebird, Stairway, and Born to Run to name a few, with fresh ears gives an entirely new appreciation, or deepens my first appreciations.

[@Atlanticmulberry]

I recently discovered Kind of Blue. Its very enjoyable. Speaking of Jazz, I enjoy Dave Brubeck's Time out even more. Growing up in the 80's, I bought Abbe Road, Who's Next, and Dark side of the moon as slightly old records. I bought Rumors and Hotel California as new releases. I don't know what makes these great but all I can say is I still listen to them because the music holds up. They still have meaning to me. I can relate to dark side more now than ever. A few other great timeless albums that I can think of off the top of my head are Rush Moving pictures, Steely Dan Aja and Sargent Pepper.

[@christymarks9586]

I can't pick a favorite Beatles album - love em all!

[@goplad1]

I can definitely pick a Beatles album I don't like. And I do have my favorite.

[@charleskra]

Excellent topic and one that I think about sometimes as well. While I am not in advertising or marketing, I think each of these albums represents the point when these artists became a "brand", and that cemented these albums into the public's collective mind as THE ALBUM that represents each artist. I agree that many times, there are better albums by most of the artists you mentioned, but it's not a quality thing. It's more a point in time where they trancended into something bigger and are forever associated with that particular record.

[@timhewtson6212]

Absolutely agree. They are like sonic trademarks.

[@geraldbrennan7425]

The observation about them becoming a brand with the album is spot on.

[@geraldbrennan7425]

With the exception of Abbey Road and Kind of Blue, or course!

[@colourlessbluethings]

Some albums are overhyped, others completely deserve their reputation and there is a reason KoB, Dark Side and Abbey Road are talked about as being among the greatest albums; they ARE among them. Yes, Miles has better albums but KoB was the entry record for SO many and it is absolutely fantastic.

[@johnryan3913]

The 10 Id put above the overrated 20 1 Stones, Exile (and about 8 other RS albums) 2 Bo Diddley, debut 3 Sly, Riot 4 Beach Boys, Friends, 20/20, Holland, and PS of course 5 Curtis Mayfield, Curtis 6 Hendrix, Axis, Cry of Love 7 Jefferson Airplane, Crown Of Creation 8 David Crosby, If I Could Only Remember My Name 9 Sam Cooke, Night Beat 10 Patti Smith, Horses, Roxy Music, Stranded Neil Young, Time Fades Away

[@charlesbowman105]

Crown of Creation is a masterpiece, especially Lather. That song almost breaks me.

[@Claytone-Records]

@@charlesbowman105Lather turned 30 years old today…

[@LanceB1960]

I think my biggest "why" is "Cracked Rear View" by Hootie and the Blowfish. I have and like the record, but never in my imagination did I think it would sell over 20 million copies. My belief is that it drew in the aging boomers who had gotten lost in the 80s pop metal and 90s grunge and they just wanted to hear songs they could sing and were good jangly pop rock.

[@samgiroux]

You hit the nail on the head early in the video; these albums are so accessible and easy to listen to. Thus, they are also commercialized and then millions hear those songs in commercials, movies, and tv shows.

[@llongdong]

Anybody who questions why Abbey Road is "so big" either A. knows nothing about music; or B. is just trying to get clicks.

[@crichards1986]

It seems to me that most of these records tend to capture an artist at both a commercial and artistic peak, so it isn't surprising to me that these are popular records. JUST how popular some of them are, is one of those things where the music connects with a much larger audience than their typical fanbase, that extra dash of magic where the music continues to touch people of all generations.

[@johnchristophertonks2528]

I remember in the 1970,s people walking around with the Dark side of the moon lp, under their arm. I was very young and didn't even know what type of music it was.

[@photoslum]

in high school in 83-85 i rarely went anywhere with that cassette.

[@lawrence5368]

Great video Mazzy. There are a few other that could've been added to the list. Like Carole King's Tapestry, Deep Purple's Machine Head, Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore East, Frampton Come Alive and Dire Strait's Brother in Arms

[@johnryan3913]

Thanks for mentioning Tapestry, which has gone from overrated to underrated

[@hildegardseibenstein3263]

Dire Straits' Brothers In Arms

[@photoslum]

@@johnryan3913and my favorite of hers - Writer - is basically unknown.

[@basementfortyfive]

Hey Mazzy. What a great Video. Thanks for that. I think is even parts: Fantastic Songs + great sound + legendary coverart + full of urban legends = Masterpiece Album.

[@Wisko]

These albums were the soundtrack of our lives. To quote an early Pink Floyd song: "The memories of a man in his old age are the deeds of a man in his prime."

[@alancumming6407]

As a kid my soundtrack to 1969 was Hot Rats and Abbey Road, thanks to my older brother. I still think Abbey Road is one of the best records ever made. The "medley" for me is astonishing.

[@Claytone-Records]

Took my son to Dweezil’s Hot Rats 50th Anniversary show in Austin a couple days before the pandemic shut everyone down. Fucking awesome.

[@abueloraton]

Abbey Road is like the ultimate sealed signature of the Beatles chronology. This guy doesn't get it! 😂

[@Claytone-Records]

@@abueloraton Yeah, I spin that lp a lot. It has aged well, Grandpa Rat!

[@abueloraton]

@@Claytone-Records "granpa mouse"

[@francescotenti193]

They're great albums and played non stop in the radio and therefore very familiar to a lot of people who do not have the deep knowledge of music and artists like you do and other audiophiles with huge records collections. Kind of Blue was also used in Runaway Bride and a lot of folks bought it after watching that movie. It is a great album and it is, for a lot of people, me included, the opening door to jazz, easy to listen to from beginning to end.

[@tomroot7961]

It's easy to listen to while being very sophisticated and rather perfect. I'm happy that it is so popular. Hurray!

[@martinsvinyl1985]

A big reason with most of your picks is the fact they are some of the biggest albums ever! And are soooo familiar that they have become victims of their own success. For example I refuse to own ‘rumours’ and ‘hotel California’ as most of the tracks are constantly played on the radio so why do I need to own it? But I’m going to contradict myself now, It’s also very common as well for people to 💩 on the popular stuff so they sound like the smartest people in the room.

[@Saffy-yr8vo]

Led Zep II and III are the best. The cut out moveable cover was a bonus to us child teens, like The Beatles adding photos and a poster to the White Album, we we still reading some teen mags and the boys, comics. Although we considered ourselves extremely mature in our music taste!

[@pauljohnson5925]

Every album you show stands up for me....except one. Hotel California. How that album (how any Eagles album) became such a monster hit will always be beyond me. They're the Bud light of music. (Fizzy piss)

[@Cap683]

It baffles me. The Eagles suck. They were like the General Motors of music.

[@marktrickett5081]

The phrase "Lowest Common Denominator" should answer that question.

[@keithparker1346]

3 or 4 hit singles will make an album sell big

[@EdKazO-Vision]

These records were so overplayed by those infernal Classic Rock FM stations that quit playing new music by the mid eighties. I listened at first just out of habit but after hearing Black Dog for the 23,459th time I bailed. They rendered these albums unlistenable. Then I discovered Jazz. Went in that trip for a decade. Now I find that I can go back and listen to Who’s Next without gagging, because I ignored it for so long. Still love “Sell Out” way better. Cheers Mazzy

[@Onteo1]

Exactly. Corporate rock radio in the U.S. plays them incessantly. Add Boston, Allman Brothers and AC/DC. We need a Freeform rock radio revival

[@MrKelleyzinho]

The free form independent stations seem stuck in terms of their reach or appeal. They are primarily web-based now.

[@Onteo1]

@@MrKelleyzinho this is very true, SiriusXM has some but even they are a bit repetitious. I live close to Lake Ontario and am fortunate to have neighbors to the north that still have something that resembles free form. Toronto, Peterborough and Coburg with the Added bonus that once an hour you get a Canadian band per requirement.

[@johnryan3913]

Classic Rock radio killed many great artists and songs for me.

[@paulkazakoff9231]

I've heard black Dog 30,000 times probably and still it gives me a buzz when I hear it !

[@TheRollingStoness]

All the LPs that you showed have been collecting dust for the past 25 years in my collection, ❤the hat

[@mazzysmusic]

Maybe you need to pull one or two out and listen again 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@johnryan3913]

Yeah, like the ones on MY top 10

[@ricardo_miguel13]

The music has to connect with the masses, but an important point in the digital streaming era is also if its sounds well produced for the time, also timeless in a way but especially for headphones.

[@DavideMana]

Great video. I have only five of those records. But on the important stuff: John Landis is the director of Thriller (and Animal House, The Blues Brothers, American Werewolf etc etc) Cheers!

[@robotubetwob]

Pretty much every big record between 1971-1975, when rock became industrialized and MOR arose.

[@DeadnWoon]

Gentle Giant and the bands like Carmen, Cressida, Fantasy, Spring certainly deserved a lot more attention than they received... Kerry Minnear is the greatest composer in all of prog rock.

[@spudwas]

Eagles had an elusive charm that completely escaped me. Back when Hotel California came on the radio (which was played to death) my friends and I used to say "Well...I guess I'll do something else for six minutes till I come back to listen to the radio."

[@tomhatton3303]

Led Zep IV was the album that appealed to me the most when I was a teenager. It's amazing to think they released albums I - IV in just a couple of years. But IV is still a great album.

[@johnryan3913]

At the time bands were expected to produce an LP every 9 months or so. Credence put out 6 studio albums in two and one half years.

[@jameswilson7084]

These are all 10 out of 10's for me. It's understandable why they're so popular. But, the ones here are not always my favorite album by the artists in question.

[@billkeon880]

You should do an underrated, under appreciated lp video. There are so many, but the two recently I thought about are Joe Walsh’s Barnstorm and James Gang Rides Again. Blodwyn Pig Ahead Rings Out, Ogden’s Nut, Paradise and Lunch, Diamond Head, Tim Buckley’s debut….so many more

[@alexandermckay8594]

Compare any one of them to anything released in the last 20 years. Nothing is close. They have stood the test of time.

[@Bobbo-h2h]

Most people tend to overlook the fact most people who buy records, cds, etc are not that interested in music. But want to own some. So those that sell a lot may or may not have much musical value. These 10 a good example, in a serious muso's collection only 1/2 might be present.

[@bubble-and-scrape]

Miles Davis Kind of blue, the Velvet underground banana record, Pink Floyd Dark side of the moon and Beach boys Pet sounds, i bought all four several times, trying to give them another chance to have some sympathy, some understanding why these are considered such influential and great classic albums. But still i don’t understand the fuss. I have tried, really, but i continue to sell them simply because i can’t appreciate them…

[@mazzysmusic]

The VU bombed. Only became a cult record years later

[@gavinreid2741]

I remember the reviews for Thriller at the time. It was not considered as good as Off the Wall. The rock elements were seen as a desperate attempt to appeal to a white audience.

[@martinkristensen8398]

Did everyone forget about "born in the USA" it was all over radio in 84 and 85

[@BlindArthurBlake]

I would agree that my favorite Led Zeppelin album is the first one for me also

[@oleggorky906]

All the Led Zeppelin albums were pretty good until they got to Presence in about 1975 or 1976, something like that anyway (well, perhaps vol 3 wasn’t quite as good as 1,2 and 4, but still not a rank disaster anyway). When they got to Presence I think that maybe all the drugs, booze and general excess were starting to take their toll. Plant was still trying to recover from the car crash, sometime towards the end of 1975 and the record was done hastily. And there’s also the fact that Plant felt that his health wasn’t up to touring, what with that crash and all. From this point on, Zep were never quite the same again as the band members started being hit with a series of personal misfortunes and tragedies, such as In 1977, the following year after the release of Presence, when Plant’s five year old son died and then John Bonham died in that pool accident a couple of years after. But up till about Physical Graffitti, it was a fabulous run of success and they sold an incredible amount of albums; it was fantastic whilst it lasted, and to be fair they kept it going for a good while, especially so considering that they were constantly burning the candle at both ends.

[@MrKelleyzinho]

These are all the records that punks pretended to hate.

[@anahatatutu]

There is something unique about the prism on the Floyd album. The light could be moving (not a still graphic) and it would look the same.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Hi Mazzy. A lot of these albums have really fantastic cover art. Not sure where I'm going with that, but it's making me wonder if there are any really huge and eternally loved records which have bad jacket design.

[@mazzysmusic]

Interesting theory but these records got pushed and played so much in the US. I should create a list of great albums with bad cover art ✌🏼

[@willieluncheonette5843]

Kind of Blue is huge because the songs are very simple, easy to digest so to speak and the playing by all the musicians is out of this world great!! But you already know this.

[@Majesticon]

the crazy thing about THRILLER is that little kids LOVE that record. if you throw on any of the upbeat songs off that album, children ages 1-7 will start dancing haha.. very few records can move kids like that without them having been indoctrinated into it at first. there's something electric in the grooves of that record that just cant be explained.

[@richardfitzpatrick5748]

Brothers in arms. Dire straits. Another one for you 😂

[@johnmason6213]

I think “overplayed” is the number one reason that these albums are being criticized here. If any of these albums were “discovered” today they would still be great.

[@mazzysmusic]

They still are great. But fair to ask why ? ✌🏼

[@healthybrand]

I still refuse to listen to Rumors and Frampton Comes Alive, which was a result of my gig running a foosball hall in the mid 70's and having to spin those suckers over and over and over again.

[@yadukrishnan3338]

They all have one thing in common: iconic album cover

[@tyesmith9661]

Fun video! I might include Boston's excellent first album which sold a metric ass ton and was and is still overplayed. I'd like to hear about your 10 albums that no matter how often you hear them you still love each and every note.

[@analoguecity3454]

Almost everyone who are getting back into LPs ( and first timers also) get "kind of blue" in their collections! Even people that are into heavy metal and rock ( like me ) get it! That's what got me " dipping my toe " into jazz, now I love jazz!😊

[@tomrobinson5776]

I’d take Revolver over Abbey Road. In A Silent Way Over Kind Of Blue. Who Sell Out Over Who’s Next. Houses Of The Holy over IV. I can live peacefully without hearing Rumours and Hotel California and Thriller ever again.

[@ricardo_miguel13]

I would choose Nevermind for the 1990s

[@matm4331]

During the 70s thru the 90s, promoters, AOR radio and record stores semed to be organized well enough so that we all heard the same music at the same time so each record became a cultural event we all wanted to participate in. That was my observation having grown up in the US at that time at least. Also Led Zep (IV) was helped in that Stairway to Heaven was, shrewdly, never released as a single. You had to buy the record to get it!

[@warrenny]

Love the video and your style. You have such a calm and measured demeanor without pretense. I am going to take you to task with Purple Rain, though. I was a young teen when it came out, so for me it was the first time to hear Prince songs fresh out of the oven. Even at that age my musical taste was pretty eclectic. Purple Rain hit all the different genres in just one album. I think that's what's so great about it. Besides only one musician sounds like Prince.

[@keithparker1346]

Purple Rain is great , diverse , hugely enjoyable. It's basically Princes greatest hits

[@peterhendriks4736]

Accessibility combined with class, that is the trick. All these albums are free of artistic experiments..

[@knotwilg3596]

I would like to ask another question: why is it that even today, now that vinyl has become the hype and good records are hard to find in 2nd hand stores, EVERY one has "Jonathan Livingstone Seagull" by Neil Diamond. It is THE most popular album in people's collections and everyone wants to get rid of it.

[@dont_follow5777]

Abbey Road just has a flow and great mix of song styles. My favorite track is I Want You (She's so Heavy). Dark Side of the Moon appeals to the good and bad in everything. Stuff we don't want to talk about, but we do think about.

[@windyhillbomber]

Rumours has not one filler song. It’s deserving of its hype

[@keithparker1346]

That's basically the core reason these albums are huge...the quality of songs is pretty solid with at least half the record being enjoyable...so listen to the whole thing

[@tonystephens6858]

My biggest "why" album is Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys. Of course I live thousands of miles from any beach or ocean so, maybe that has something to do with it.

[@steakmediumrare]

Nirvana's Nevermind fits perfectly on the list.

[@joncarpenter984]

Stan Kenton gets my vote for awesome jazz music, just saying one of the greatest.

[@ClockRadio]

The better question is...why are any Pink Floyd albums iconic? They run the gamut from self-indulgent drivel to average-at-best singer-songwriter trite (I do love Syd). To be fair, there's probably enough material from all of their output to make one great album. All the while, the far superior Caravan remains without their own divider in the record stores. Sorry, I needed to vent.

[@ediblehorse]

thanks for the vid Mazzy. I recently changed my favorite Beatles album from Rubber Soul to Abbey Road. I think the sound quality may have something to do with it. Ed from Chicago

[@Baz63]

will never understand why Miles Davis 'Kind Of Blue' is so popular. To my jazz ears it is dull without dynamics non existent arrangements and prolonged solos that scream 'look how good i am'!. I will stick to Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich and Maynard Ferguson where the music is much more exciting.

[@johnryan3913]

You should be ashamed of yourself!!! (PS I agree with you)

[@markschroeder5559]

The industry selected these examples for us. Sometimes it's also timing of the release, that time can't necessarily erase.

[@MaterLacrymarum]

I own 3 from this list of 10: MIles Davis, Led Zep IV and Dark Side. The others...... meh. I'm happy their popularity never swayed me.

[@narrowfield6846]

as you, I have got all of these albums, nine on vinyl, one on CD. You called most of the albums overplayed, and I agree with that, but it's not the fault of the album and the artists behind it. My general observation over the last 55 years is, that the commercial peak is often delayed after the creative peak of the artists. Of course there are exceptions, but ask people who adore Dark Side Of The Moon for example, what they think about the very early work of Pink Floyd. In so many cases I love the early stuff most, still respecting the later work in many cases. With Fleetwood Mac it seems a different case, as we talk almost about different bands here, but still I love the same titled Fleetwood Mac album, the one before Rumors, more. But anyway, we have got the luxury to listen to any record we like without ranking them. In this sense: Then Play On.

[@Douchemaster_McChest]

At least with Thriller and Purple Rain (actually any popular album from the '80s,) MTV had a lot to do with their popularity by constantly playing the videos, which in turn made the radio stations to constantly play the songs too. MTV was the lightning in the bottle for many of the artists in the '80s. Other examples of '80s artists who had massive albums because of MTV.....Madonna, The Police, Tina Turner, Lionel Richie, Huey Lewis, Billy Idol, Def Leppard, Phil Collins, U2, and many others. Anyway, 3 of the 10 you mention happen to be in my list of all-time top 10 albums of any genre: The Who - Who's Next ------ As you stated, this album is just so anthemic and the ultimate party album. Can't wait until September when I spend $300 to get the Super Deluxe Edition. Michael Jackson - Thriller ----------- As I said above, MTV had a lot to do with its popularity. But also the label's strategy of releasing singles from the album in intervals spread over a couple years kept it in the minds of people. I was a junior in high school when the album was released in late Fall of '82 and I can remember in the Spring of '84 (my senior year) people were still talking about the album. Hell, I remember my Spanish 4 teacher (who was in his late 40s) saying he finally went out and bought the album to see what all the hype was about for the past 1 1/2 years. Because of the success of Thriller, many albums that followed tried to mimic that strategy of trickling out the singles off an album over an extended time. By the way, John Landis directed the music video for Thriller Led Zeppelin IV --------- My favorite of theirs that I go back to every so often (not as often as I used to when I was younger.) What is the appeal? I really can't answer that. Black Dog, Rock And Roll, Stairway To Heaven and Misty Mountain Hop really keep that album moving. The other 4 songs in The Battle Of Evermore, Four Sticks, Going To California and When The Levee Breaks don't really rock hard, but there is something mesmerizing and unique about each one of them that draws me to them. I can't explain it. As a whole album, those collections of songs just seem to gel. Some of the other albums you mention I also own but aren't some of my overall favorites or even ones I consider to be the best album from the artist. The Beatles - Abbey Road -------- No doubt a great album, but I don't think it is my favorite Beatles album. Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's, The White Album, and even Magical Mystery Tour (even though a soundtrack and a collection of singles album) I like better than Abbey Road. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours ---------- Excellent album that was just played to death by the radio stations that kept it going. This album is probably my favorite album by Fleetwood Mac. Actually it is the only Fleetwood Mac album still in my collection. Haven't listened to it in a very long time. I might just go do that later today. LOL Eagles - Hotel California -------------- Similarly, played to death by the radio stations. Not one I go back to anymore, though. Prince - Purple Rain -------------- Hard to say if this is my favorite Prince album, but it's right up there with 1999 and Sign O' The Times. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of The Moon ------------- Yep my favorite album by them. It's just such a mesmerizing album you can just chill out to by closing your eyes and taking it all in at once. Though, I'm not a stoner nor ever did any drugs. But I can understand how this album is the "perfect" stoner album. Even though this album is not in my all-time top 10 favorite albums of any genre, it is probably in my top 20, if I had a top 20 list. The only 2 albums you mentioned that I don't own are the Miles Davis album (not a fan of Jazz) and Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill. I remember when Jagged Little Pill was huge. It was in the mid '90s when I was finishing up my final master's degree and getting ready to start my professional career. She was constantly on the radio and winning awards. Personally, I would've included U2's Joshua Tree. You did mention that you didn't think of it when you first made this list. That album is my favorite by U2 and is in my all-time top 10 list of favorite albums of any genre. Other huge albums to mention that caught fire and attracted lots of people for one reason or another: AC/DC - Back In Black Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction Rush - Moving Pictures (not my favorite by them.....that would be Hemispheres.) Def Leppard - Hysteria (not my favorite of theirs, but you can't deny the popularity of that album.) Nirvana - Nevermind (The only Grunge album I own. Can't stand Grunge. LOL. No denying the massive impact this album had. Nearly destroyed Heavy Metal. Even though I don't like Grunge, this album I had to have just because of the impact it had on popular culture at the time. It's a good album too.) Metallica - S/T (The Black Album) -------- Not my favorite album of theirs; I like Ride The Lightning and Master Of Puppets better. But no denying this album helped fend off the Grunge takeover of heavy rock music in America at the time. This album helped revive the Heavy Metal scene in America while also becoming massive in other countries.

[@cerneuffington2656]

I've never liked any of the singles from The Joshua Tree. I prefer side two 🙂

[@johnthrasher8146]

The producers of these records all had clout and truly great ears. That is why they continue to sell. With the exception of the Alanis Morissette record (which I think sold simply on the strength of the incredible hit You Ought To Know) all these albums on your list have amazing spatial head room when you listen. It is no coincidence Abbey Road & Dark Side are here. They were two of the go-to records all through the 1970s and into the 1980s home stereo or high fidelity sales people used to demonstrate sound systems. It is also of note that the majority of these records are British artists with British sound engineers and producers. Keith Olsen & Bill Szymczyk were epic 1970s producers that hit it big with your two inclusions here. I always believed Purple Rain was a loving tribute to the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix and his sound men (George Martin & Eddie Kramer) with the guitar emphasis, panning and the dense multi-instrumentation which pervades the record. Thriller, which used Toto & LA's finest hired-hand musicians in the studio under Quincy Jones (and also later Glenn Ballard with Bad & Dangerous for Michael Jackson) still has amazing sound qualities to this day that most of the pop music world freely borrows from ad nauseam. You could have included Roy Thomas Baker for a couple of Queen records or the Cars to add to your list and they would have fit. Great segment!! Always love your circuitous and informative takes down Memoryville Road. Thanks.

[@jean-marieboucherit4518]

I think the answer to your question in most cases is: people who are not very much interested in music love these records.

[@keithparker1346]

Half way through and no mention of Meatloaf Bat Out Of Hell...poor meat never gets mentioned by critics

[@charlesbean7396]

Funny Quincy Jones hired all the members of Toto to play on all the songs

[@staggerlee6794]

I had no idea about Abbey Road Studios not being called that until after the Beatles album. Having said that, I am not a massive Beatles fan, so nuggets of info like that passed me by.

[@calebleforte9176]

White album over Abbey road is laughable, The white album has arguably the group's worst recordings with tracks like wild Honey pie and revolution 9 that make the album bloated. Abbey road is much more enjoyable to listen to front to back, plus the medley is legendary.

[@thomasthorsett3132]

Totally agree with the Thriller take. It would have been amazing though if they took off the weak half and put on the best tracks from Bad.

[@georgepblair]

Because... people follow, few think independently. Also, some of those are actually great!

[@Rhialto-the-Marvellous]

If you have to ask why - you will never comprehend. Gilmour captured the bovine portrait, not Storm.

[@Authori_tah]

I agree with Dark Side of the Moon. It’s a great album, but I don’t think it’s their best. I prefer Piper At the Gates of Dawn over Dark Side.

[@IllyaLeonovMorganFreepony]

About "Who's Next." IV was probably the hottest album, and "Houses of the Holy" was my fave but... "Who's Next" had "Won't Get Fooled Again." What an anthem. Saw them perform it live in 1971. It just... doesn't get any better than that.

[@melprophet1936]

IMO, many of these are just the easiest albums to like by their respective bands. I think they could be described as accessible albums. Key being accessible doesn't mean best, it just means they take zero or less effort to listen to and like and there's very little to dislike...One could easily argue for example that Pink Floyd Animals is less accessible than DSOTM or that Sign of the Times less accessible than Purple Rain or Revolver less accessible than Abbey Road. That's my theory anyway.

[@johnryan3913]

Far more gravitas, no question.

[@keithparker1346]

I would argue that it's far harder to make an interesting accessible album than some self indulgent nonsense

[@ReasonablySane]

I'm 70. For me, Abby Road is my favorite Beatles album, with Rubber Soul coming in as a close second. But I'm not all that much of a Beatles fan. My band plays Yesterday as a vocal duet and it gets a huge response... Who's next is also an amazing album. I remember sitting in my car shortly after it came out sitting in the back seat of my '63 rambler classic, with my 6x9 car speakers in the back deck, and blasting the cassette that I'd recorded from the vinyl record. It's giving me goosebumps as I type this. Loved that album. I was a big pink Floyd fan too. Dark Side of the Moon, now, is kind of overdone. But back in the 70's, playing that through my Dynaco 400 and "top of the line" Radio Shack speakers was almost a spiritual experience. I didn't get into the Eagles because I considered them "country". That all changed when I got the DVD of the Australian concert. It's never too late to learn. Rumors was popular In my early days as a hi-fi salesman, And it had some good musicianship. But I tend to see it as more ephemeral than the more timeless releases on you list. Still, Stevie Nicks is cute. Being from that generation, and male, I of course like Led Zep 4. Since becoming, in 1998, a bass player and being in a dozen "classic rock" bands, I've learned to appreciate their music a lot more, but more as a musician than as a "Wayne's World" teenager attitude back in the day. I never really got into Michael Jackson. Not bad, just not my cup of tea. I never liked Prince. Just couldn't get into it. He seemed to be a very talented musician, but I wasn't impressed by the songs he wrote. But then, it wasn't made for my generation. Same with Morissette, though "You Aughta Know" was interesting. It's also the one that I don't understand why it's on your list. I didn't realize it ever got that popular. Oddly, a few years ago I really got into Taylor Swift. Not really impressed with her voice, but her songs and arrangements are amazing, as is her (or her handlers') business and marketing sense. And that was BEFORE he popularity really got into high gear. She'll easily go into the history books with artists like the Beatles.

[@ColinWilson-ds8ou]

I have ALL those albums - clearly too mainstream in my tastes! But they’re all fantastic albums. Most of them featured on a retrospective I did for my daughters a while ago.

[@kevenbarrett8316]

Abbey Road wins most sentimental best Beatle album because it’s them celebrating a swan song collaboration

[@michaeldelorenzo6827]

Golden slumber blows me a way Pual sings in a soft voice then the vibrato of his voice kicks in and I'm blown away

[@rosslogan4154]

Quite embarrassing to hear anyone ask the question over and over again, "Why is Led Zeppelin IV so popular?!" It's because its one of the greatest albums ever produced from any gender of music, that's why.

[@mazzysmusic]

Sure it’s great. All this is subjective I think the first two even maybe three is better. But that’s just for me ✌🏼

[@PensivePoet97]

Thriller definitely defined the 80’s along with many others and the music video was nothing like we had seen at the time. The demos are interesting also especially PYT. I personally preferred Bad over Thriller but love both. Great list👍🏾

[@petejp1]

Well to answer your question mazzy, and to quote a very wise man. It's the music stupid! All of these albums are loaded with great songs. Also timing, they were released at the right time for each album. I would throw in tapestry and boston's 1st album too.

[@magicmayhem69]

A lot of these albums were my introduction to the artists, in my young teenage years, when I didn't have a lot of access to music like you do now. They were treasured and listened to a thousand times. They might not be the artists' best albums, but they were MINE, and they will always take me back to a simpler, more freer, easier time, whenever I play them. The music in these albums stopped being songs and have become spells for me, let's call it medicine. We all have our own albums that were just the right album at the right time, which connected with us on a deep level, and I think these albums managed to be those albums for a lot of people, and so more copies kicked about, and so they then became those albums for the next generation. I have been thinking about those albums that have become really special to me over the years, the ones that were my introduction to music or to a genre, the ones that were there when I was grieving, the ones that played when things were great, what would I say were the albums that have soundtracked my life. What would be yours?

[@johnfronczek2658]

It’s because they are highly accessible and were promoted to the masses. Some of them like Led Zeppelin IV, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, Prince’s “Purple Rain”, and Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill” were heavily promoted by the mass media. Personally, I think No Doubt’s “Tragic Kingdom” and Mariah Carey’s “Daydream” albums are so much better than “Jagged Little Pill”. That’s my opinion as a teenager of the 1990’s.

[@Vinylfromtheunderground]

Spot on. Mainstream radio has everything to do with it and since the average human being is too lazy to research and seek out alternatives in music radio is able to brain wash. Most of us vinyl collectors are NOT in that boat thankfully

[@Russell.S]

not gonna lie, I dozed off during this video. I vaguely recall questions that may or may not have answers. will watch again after some cocaine fuel.

[@mazzysmusic]

😵‍💫

[@lauriebrett5292]

I think because most of these records show the bands or performers at their peak & maybe they are the most accessible albums. I think the radio stations play a big part in pushing album sales & most of these albums were pushed. We also believe the hype as well so to be in with everyone else we should own these albums. Whether we like other albums by them more is a state of mind, I personally like Led Zeppelin lll & Desperado as my favourite Led Zep & Eagles albums. Abbey Road has an iconic album cover & being the last album by The Beatles has a special place for many. Any album can be overplayed & most of these certainly were but they're still great albums so just bring them out now & then. I don't feel sick of them so much as l don't listen to the radio & just play my music from my collection so i get to choose what i listen to. Maybe thats the secret take control of your listening choices.

[@perrysobotta-tn7ol]

Yes, it seem to be that certain record companies would push radio stations to play certain songs from newly released albums to death. Many listeners would naturally jump on the bandwagon because that's all they knew.....what the radio stations were cramming down their ears. Too bad they couldn't look outside the box.

[@jedikiah1541]

Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits. I can't understand why this album eclipses all of their others in terms of popularity, when for the most part, it is pretty unremarkable. Maybe it ticked all the right boxes for the new style of marketing during the mid eighties.

[@mazzysmusic]

Once of first top all digital CDs helped.

[@richard-rs8dw]

Track sequencing would be my key to a monster - rather than just a big - album, then an accessible, contemporary sound, high overall song quality and a radio hit or two. So people who don't like music as much as us sad cases can just 'put a record on' and enjoy listening to it. But finding all of these qualities on one LP on a label that can afford to put it in front of everyone is much rarer than you'd think.

[@matm4331]

Thanks Mazzy...My nominee for part 2 of this video is Meatloaf Bat Outta Hell! If you like it, fine, but 43 Million copies and counting just defies explanation...IMHO of course.

[@snerp]

Why is Led Zeppelin 4 so popular you ask?....because it's a masterpiece

[@mazzysmusic]

Ok 🏅

[@paulkazakoff9231]

Not bad at all and it still stands up today really.

[@manolisgeorgakakis6342]

I do agree with you about Pink Floyd and Meddle is my favourite too, as well as Atom Heart Mother. But when it comes to IV and Abbey Road, I can't agree. Those are two of my top ten favourite albums ever, I don't understand the why question, I think they're irresistible, they are absolute, they are authorities.

[@simonemurray1345]

Exactly. I was suprised when he listed abbey road since he answered every reason while asking why. It's the best produced, best recorded, best put together album of the best band of all time. It was their peak, and magnum opus. And I say this as someone who personally prefers a bunch of earlier beatles stuff. Most of their early stuff pales in comparison when you remove all the societal infuleneces at the time. Like some 16 year old today isn't having their mind blown by I wanna hold your hand, like a 16 year old would in the 60s. But with abbey road it's as accessible as ever, the music speaks for itself due to its insanely good production for a beatles album, and is unique with its medley. It's funny, most listed are listed as overly commercial, but in my opinion, abbey road as a whole isn't as commercial as some other beatles albums because of its impressive medley. Like you can't play a medley like that on the radio. Get a clean 1st UK abbey road and it speaks for itself. The sound is why it's so popular, the amazing artistic accomplishment of side b medley is why it's so popular, the band at their peak along with some of their best singles is why it's so popular.

[@AntonXul]

Like you, there are certain songs I cut out of my wheelhouse due me hearing them so much thanks to radio, TV shows & movies overusing them. I have this massive playlist on Spotify of over 900 (and growing) handpicked songs by me of rock & metal and only recently decided to add some overplayed classics since I’ve ignored them long enough I can enjoy listening to them again. I have a tendency of loving the non hits more than the big hit song, but if isn’t for the big hit song, I probably would’ve never heard those hidden gems I love so much.

[@adamfindlay7091]

Astrology. Also, a spot, opens up, culturally, in the parking lot of what have you. A fun necessary topic Mazzy. I think you caught the buzz of these records funnily enough, why.

[@HaroldHivart]

Because these albums are of outstanding quality (or seen as outstanding) & because they entered so deeply in the collective consciousness cause of their huge success.. these album have been sold by millions.. they've been copied, quoted.. & inspired so many artists. Well, i think this question is too "open".. You could write a book about the answer to this question. maybe you should write a book about it.. 🤔🙂

[@mazzysmusic]

Bingo!!!

[@user-mad7max11dystopia]

Stairway to Heaven is why Runes is so huge. Sorry but Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon is unlike anything most American kids ever heard and probably coincided with more first pot smoking experiences than any single album. Love both of them and maybe this proves my shallow tastes. So be it. Hotel California came along just as many people worried rock was dead. Joe Walsh brought such energy to the bands sound. Might be why. Some records sold more by default after the mid 70s but you’ve got to bow to Dark Side of the Moon for its never ending run on the charts while everything was still going strong.

[@TheTomryan123]

Nah. I say "1999" was Prince's best. Because it had an interesting sense of humor. And kick ass funky songs. There...I have spoken.