It's Certainly A Thrill: 'Sgt. Pepper' Is Best Album (Better than the White Album?!)

usa today ^ | 11-17-03

[steppenwolffe]

To everyone's complete lack of surprise, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band has been anointed the best album ever in a new Rolling Stone poll.

The Beatles' consecrated 1967 classic tops ''The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time,'' a collector's issue on stands Friday. Though typically the odds-on favorite for such rankings, Sgt. Pepper wasn't a slam-dunk.

''There was a horse race,'' says Rolling Stone music editor Joe Levy. ''Early on, any number of albums in the top 10 were in the lead. The final result is no shock, but there's a reason for that. The Beatles, after all, were the most important and innovative rock group in the world. And Sgt. Pepper arguably set the tone for what an album could be.''

The Beatles have four albums in the top 10. Predictably, the list is weighted toward testosterone-fueled vintage rock. The top solo female is Joni Mitchell, whose 1971 Blue is No. 30.

The newest entry is this year's Elephant by the White Stripes, landing at No. 390. The most current disc in the top 20 is Nirvana's 1991 breakthrough, Nevermind. Recent albums by Coldplay and The Strokes also made the cut, as did all three Eminem releases and a wide range of hip-hop.

''A classic record proves itself over time,'' Levy says, ''so it's gratifying and surprising to see so many newer records on the list, considering they're competing against such beloved and titanic records as Rubber Soul and Dusty in Memphis.''

Rolling Stone asked musicians, critics, historians and key industry figures to rank their 50 favorites. The 273 participants included Beck, U2's The Edge, Jackson Browne, Art Garfunkel, Missy Elliott and members of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Linkin Park and The Doors. The Ernst & Young accounting firm devised a point system to weight votes for 1,600 submitted titles.

Voters were invited to identify favorites from any period or genre, allowing a smattering of country (Johnny Cash), jazz (Miles Davis) and seminal blues (Howlin' Wolf). The list also accommodates greatest hits collections and live recordings; four James Brown picks include two sets of hits and Live at the Apollo (1963). Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Hank Williams, The Drifters and Loretta Lynn, who flourished during the era of 45s, are represented only by hits compilations.

''Artists whose best works were singles are not going to be well represented,'' Levy notes. For example, he adds, ''Disco is under-represented because it's a singles-driven genre.''

[shaggy eel]

The Ernst & Young accounting firm devised a point system to weight votes for 1,600 submitted titles.

,,, a bit more info on that process would be interesting.

[Alberta's Child]

Rumor also has it that John Lennon died a broken and dispirited man, because he was always haunted by the fact that after hearing Procul Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale" he realized that the best song he had ever heard was written by someone else.

[Mr. Mojo]

Indeed, the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds is a terrific album.

[Revolting cat!]

Betta than dis?

[Alberta's Child]

Although it was a compilation, the best album of the 80s may have been Rush's "Chronicles." But the best song of the 80s, in my opinion, was Don Henley's "Boys of Summer."

[My Favorite Headache]

[Revolting cat!]

Best album since Mozart's Greatest Hits Volume II!

[My Favorite Headache]

Amen. Thank You for breaking the silence.

[Mad Dawgg]

"Rumor also has it that John Lennon died a broken and dispirited man, because he was always haunted by the fact that after hearing Procul Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale" he realized that the best song he had ever heard was written by someone else."

The Rumor I heard was Lennon died because the idiot assassin Mark David Chapman was a bad shot and missed Yoko.

[Lancey Howard]

Yes. If Dark Side is not in the top twenty, something's not right. Personally, I would have to find a spot in the top ten for it.

[clintonh8r]

I would have picked Rubber Soul.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

These lists are so unimportant. There are loads of albums by great artists from the last four decades. The importance and artistic value of each stand alone. Many groups can stand beside the Beatles and vis-a-versa. It all depends on what you want to hear. Sometimes I in the mood for The Supremes. Sometimes I'm not.

Thank you.

[Petronski]

Well, I'll spare you my thoughts on Rush, but suffice to say there are dozens of albums that should be on the list ahead of anything from the Beatles. Just think of all the offerings from the Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Elvis Presley, The Doors, Eric Clapton (including the Dominos and his other bands), Pink Floyd, early Springsteen, etc. etc. etc.

All of this stuff is far better than anything put out by some overblown, self-indulgent, hyper-commercialized skat band from Liverpool.

[spodefly]

[Mad Dawgg]

>>>{"I would have to find a spot in the top ten for it."}<<<

Definitely Top Ten and so would be the "Police's" "Syncronicity" if they hadn't put that stupid abomination "Miss Gradenko" on an otherwise perfect Album

[My Favorite Headache]

[Skooz]

Better than the White Album?!

No.

[Cool_V]

Best Side 1?

[Skooz]

Anybody knows DSOTM was the best album, ever.

yep.

[My Favorite Headache]