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.''

[Skooz]

Hey, looky what I found:

More here.

[My Favorite Headache]

[eddie willers]

("Waiting On A Friend," "Gimme Shelter," etc.)

I'm talking Rock & Roll....Summertime...Cruising Cadillac Convertible...."Turn Up That Motorola AM radio and blow that 5x7 speaker!" tune.

Others... "96 Tears"..."Caribbean Queen"..."(Our Love's In) Jeopardy" and (as the commercials say) many many more!

[B Knotts]

Yep. Although, to be fair, some of the artists we're talking about didn't generally put out "albums."

[Lancey Howard]

Definitely Top Ten and so would be the "Police's" "Syncronicity"

Excellent selection!
I think Sting tried to give Stewart and Andy a little room on every album, and Copeland's 'Miss Gradenko' was a clunker. On the other hand, his 'Darkness' from Ghost in the Machine is one of my favorite Police songs. Go figure.

[Crawdad]

Nothing is better than Nerver Mind the Bollocks.

[republicofdavis]

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

Oh OK, now I see, you've just got some anti-Beatles thing. By the way I agree on the greatness of the Stones, Zep, Who, etc.

[Revolting cat!]

This is all boomer crap

You got that right! Soon to be forgotten, like Rudy Valee, Theresa Brewer, and yes, Glenn Miller! Pity. (The lack of perspective.)

[steppenwolffe]

The Allman Brothers played at my 1970 high school graduation dance

The Kingsmen ("Louie, Louie") played at my sock hop when I was in the seventh grade. I remember the lead singer saying that it was rumored "Louie, Louie" had profanity. He assured everyone it did not, and they proceeded to play the song. Awesome.

[TalBlack]

The funny thing about Sgt Pepper is that it is the Beatles response the Beach Boys album that carried "Good Vibrations" Paul is said to have heard the Brian Wilson effort, been stunned by it and wondered "How are we ever gonna top this". Guess he answered that question!!

[Petronski]

Oh, it's not that I don't like them. I don't mind them at all. But they are like the McDonalds of rock and roll. There's no there there, despite being carefully engineered and widely consumed, it's just not 'the best.' Not even close. Not even vaguely close. They're a mediocre 60s boys' band...they are pop, not rock.

[beingyoungwasfun]

Which helps make "Who's Next" my #1 album. Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy is better than anything the beatles ever recorded.

[My Favorite Headache]

[B Knotts]

Say, you don't happen to like Rush, do you? ;-)

[zeugma]

"Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd stayed on the album sales chart longer than any other in history.

Thanks. Your comment about DSOTM bears repeating. I still think it's one of the best ever made. I can't say that it's the best, but if any single album crosses across more varied musical tastes, I haven't heard of it.

[eddie willers]

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

Add "HELP" and "A Hard Day's Night" to that list.

I always felt that the White Album was middle of the pack mediocre. Boiled down to ONE disc maybe...but "Revolution Number 9" drags the whole thing down.

BTW....the REAL "Let It Be" comes out tomorrow!

[republicofdavis]

"They're a mediocre 60s boys' band...they are pop, not rock."

On that we will have to wildly disagree (I would also dispute your negative connotation re the word "Pop" and would suggest that Pete Townshend might have something to say about that).

But I will suggest that we could probably sit down and enjoy Exile on Main Street together.

[pau1f0rd]

Looks like another British victory!! Thanks America! Seriously though, the 'special relationship' and our 'cultural ties' were never more plainly shown than this.

[eddie willers]

I remember the lead singer saying that it was rumored "Louie, Louie" had profanity. He assured everyone it did not, and they proceeded to play the song.

I bet he slipped in a dirty word. ;)

[Petronski]

...We could probably sit down and enjoy Exile on Main Street together.

Most certainly.