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.''

[whereasandsoforth]

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.

[republicofdavis]

"Neil Young's "Decade" and the Allman Brothers' "Decade of Hits" belong in any list of Top 10 albums of all time, in my opinion."

I would no never go anywhere without Decade. I doubt they were considering compilations, though.

[dirtboy]

I would no never go anywhere without Decade. I doubt they were considering compilations, though.

They were.

[TheBigB]

What about "Pet Sounds" by the Beach Boys?

[newgeezer]

Anybody knows DSOTM was the best album, ever. Why, I just recently played it again during the total lunar eclipse, the weekend before last.

In comparison, the Beatles wrote nothing but commercial jingles.

[Alberta's Child]

I doubt they were considering compilations, though.

I was surprised to find out that they were!

"The list also accommodates greatest hits collections and live recordings . . ."

BTW, The Counting Crows' "August and Everything After" should have been the top album of the 1990s.

[beingyoungwasfun]

I find anything by Zeppelin to be far superior to the Beatles, or any band except The Who and The Stones.

[Cicero]

Bach, Hayden, Handel, Mozart.

[republicofdavis]

While these lists are fun and bring up some interesting discussions, I have a hard time taking Rolling Stone lists seriously since they declared Joan Jett a better guitar player than Bonnie Raitt.

[Revolting cat!]

Hey, what about these guys?!

[republicofdavis]

"I doubt they were considering compilations, though.

I was surprised to find out that they were!"

What an idiot I am.

If that's the case, Decade should definitely be a part because it's more than just a "Greatest Hits," it really sums up Neil's body of work at the time.

[szweig]

And I defy anyone to name a better rock tune than "Won't Get Fooled Again". (I know this is an LP discussion but I couldn't resist...

[FreeManWhoCan]

My mother went to visit her sister in Cuba today. She told me yesterday that they had finally gotten a CD player. Just before she left I ran to Best Buy and bought the most appropiate CD: PINK FLOYD: THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON.

My favorite: ASIA : ASIA
(I can't help it! I'm an 80's kid!)

[My Favorite Headache]

It's happening again..I can see it clearly now...Rush will not even make the TOP 500 and I will get super mid-evil on their ass.

[Alberta's Child]

"Layla" by Derek & The Dominos.

Everyone else competes for second place.

Eric Clapton and Duane Allman on the same track is the Eighth Wonder of the World.

[ServesURight]

THE GREATEST ALBUM OF ALL TIME!!!

[Mad Dawgg]

"And what was on the album absolutely shocked the hell out of everyone at the time."

Rumor has it that Sgt. Peppers pushed Brian Wilson over the brink of sanity, after he listened to it over and over and realized it had eclipsed his masterwork "Pet Sounds."

(Which BTW, was a damn good album as well!")

[Alberta's Child]

I'm not a big Beach Boys fan, but if it's got "Sloop John B" and "Don't Worry Baby" on it, I probably like it. LOL.

[Mr. Mojo]

I like the White Album........but Sgt. Pepper, Abbey Road, Let it Be, Rubber Soul, and Revolver are better, imo.

[Petronski]

The Beatles were overproduced and are still wildly overrated.