Many great musicians and bands arrive at a point in their career where, after delivering tight single LP statements, decide to expand their stylistic and emotional range as much as possible and make a truly "big statement". Which one do you consider the best? here's some of my nominees, many of which are probably pretty obvious.

The Beatles-The Beatles (white album)
Bob Dylan-Blonde on Blonde
The Rolling Stones-Exile on Main Street
The Who-Quadrophenia
Jimi Hendrix-Electric Ladyland
Stevie Wonder-Songs In the key of life
The Clash-London Calling
Prince-Sign O' The Times
Funkadelic-America Eats its Young
Led Zeppelin-Physical Graffiti
Marvin Gaye-Here My Dear
Santana-Moonflower
Earth wind & fire-Gratitude
Todd Rundgren-Something/Anything


Out of all these, my favorite is probably Songs In the Key of Life, followed very closely by the White album.

Blonde on Blonde is stunningly great.

Blonde on Blonde is my pick for best album of all time.

What about Signs

I saw it edit
[Edited 9/1/05 20:03pm]

Physical Graffiti is certainly up there. Both sides kick ass. It's what a double album ought to be.

Pink Floyd - The Wall
James Brown - Sex Machine
Saturday Night Fever
[Edited 9/1/05 20:13pm]

Physical Graffiti is my favorite. Exile On Main Street is vastly overrated IMO. I actually prefer their next album Goat's Head Soup. I miss the art of the double album. Hardly anyone does it now.

WildheartXXX said:

most double albums can be fit on one CD nowadays.

Stevie Wonder's Songs In The Key Of Life for me because its the most thematic out of all double albums! Prince's Sign O The Times and Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland comes very close though. But why didn't Miles Davis' Bitches Brew make that list? I know the album is pretty LONG and EPIC, but it is antonishing, don't you think?
[Edited 9/1/05 22:01pm]

show me an album over 45 minutes, and i'll show you some filler.

silverchild said:

You're right I should have included that one , as well as Duke Ellington's Live at Newport album, oh hell there's probably tons of jazz double albums I'm forgetting.
[Edited 9/1/05 22:14pm]

Layla is up there for me.

Double Nickels on the Dime is cool too.

Does this count?

London Calling is up there also.

Why, Synapscape's "So What" of course!


[Edited 9/1/05 23:25pm]

u left out Tusk by Fleetwood Mac

and 1999 by Prince

lilgish said:

why haven't you mentioned zen arcade?

Songs In The Key Of Life

... but some of those are no longer double albums since the CD came along.

1999 - Prince

sinisterpentatonic said:

kinda weak...Live Evil is a great double Lp, though I'm partial to Dio.

damosuzuki said:

That album is a sonic assault. I do skip some songs on it though. I didn't grow up with that one, so it wasn't in my first mind. It wasn't until the early 90's that someone put me on to Husker Du. To that person, Thank you.

1999?! I'm sorry but there's great debate as to whether it's a single or a double, even warner couldn't mkae their mind up! Prince has done much better doubles than this, "Sign Of The Times" comes to mind...

'dre

DreZone said:

when it was initially released it was a double album, no debate.

ooh, I shouldn't have forgotten about george Harrison's All Things must pass

jacktheimprovident said:

That's really a triple album, you know?

DreZone said:

In my opinion, 1999 is the greatest album of all time, by Prince or anyone else for that matter!

Chicago Transit Authority (if Prince made an album like this --which he could---I would have male multiple orgasms)



or

Physical Graffiti
[Edited 9/2/05 11:47am]

silverchild said:

yeah and so is songs in the key of life... sorta

jacktheimprovident said:

No, that's not naturally true because Songs In The Key Of Life had came with a bonus EP prior to those 2 records and some people didn't even recieve one or lost the small record.