http://bestclassicbands.com/best-studio-double-albums-12-12-16/

strange that 1999 is on there but not Sign....

[Edited 5/29/18 12:25pm]

If Sign O' The Times isn't on this list it can f*ck off and do one

Double-albums are tricky. They should be a little messy and with some unusual stuff, but not too messy or unusual or it feels like padding. Another thing is that some 60/70s'-era double-albums can fit (or nearly fit) on a single-CD nowadays, so are these still considered double-albums?

I love Blonde on Blonde, but two or three tracks ('Temporary Like Achilles' and 'Obviously 5 Believers', and maybe 'Absolutely Sweet Marie') strike me a filler to pad the recording up to double-disc length. The recording sessions suggest that Dylan wasn't even thinking of a double when he started recording it, but maybe after 'Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands' went on for 11 minutes, he started to think it could be.

The White Album (actual title: The Beatles) is still the best, maybe. 'Revolution 9' (which goes on for 8 minutes) isn't so much filler as it's just an arty recording that would never have passed the quality-control test of a single-disc, but was allowed to go out on a double. (John's 'What's the New Mary Jane', which is also pretty dire, was only pulled from the track-list at the last minute.)

George's All Things Must Pass was actually a triple-album on vinyl, but the last disc is just filler (not very interesting jams). The first two discs are great, though -- despite Phil Spector's over-production -- and certainly rank it high among double-sets.

Exile on Main Street is really good, though I think a few songs are below par (as with Blonde on Blonde).

A less famous one I really like is Joan Baez's Blessed Are... (1971). Recorded in Nashville and her last LP on Vanguard, it's a really interesting listen that has some good original songs written by Joan (which is generally rare on her LPs) and the usual tasteful batch of cover songs, including the big single "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down". Very rich album.

Songs in the Key of Life is likely the most impressive of all in terms of one person doing nearly everything. Well, Stevie had some great brass musicians and Sembello on it, but still he did the lion's share, which is insane given how many amazing musical ideas come roaring out of it. It's just a staggering work of genius.

Sign O' The Times is one that probably doesn't really need to be a double album, given that there are 17 tracks (it actually just fits on one CD, doesn't it?). But anyway, it's incredible (well, here I am on a Prince site, so...!).

Those are the ones I thought of off the top of my head...

[Edited 6/2/18 6:48am]

[Edited 6/2/18 6:48am]

Earth Wind & Fire - "Gratitude"

Earth Wind & Fire - "Faces"

Stevie Wonder - "Songs In The Key Of Life"

Jay-Z - "Blueprint 2"

Cam'ron & The Diplomats - "Diplomatic Immunity 1"

Wu Tang Clan - "Wu Tang Forever"

Elton John - "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"

Prince - "Sign O The Times"

2Freaky, the Freaky Condition.

Choose Your Weapon by Hiatus Kaiyote

modified said:

Choose Your Weapon by Hiatus Kaiyote

Amen. A modern masterpiece.

ThePanther said:

I am now proposing the notion that most albums from the CD era that ran closer to 70 minutes each were actually double albums.

They always end up being double albums once they are on vinyl, and futhermore, the "double albums" of the CD era become three or four disks.

Cinny said:

I am now proposing the notion that most albums from the CD era that ran closer to 70 minutes each were actually double albums.

They always end up being double albums once they are on vinyl, and futhermore, the "double albums" of the CD era become three or four disks.

That's what makes it so difficult to judge. Releasing a "double album" in the vinyl era was an artistic statement.

Natalie Cole's "Natalie...LIVE!" from '78 is a total audio experience that is just MINDblowin'! <3

whitechocolatebrotha said:

Natalie Cole's "Natalie...LIVE!" from '78 is a total audio experience that is just MINDblowin'! <3

That's one of the best live albums I've ever heard. Natalie Cole doesn't get enough credit as one of the great musical acts of her time.

NorthC said:

If we talk about double live albums, then I think we should also mention Curtis Live.

Fits on one CD.

marvin gaye - here, my dear

and a well conceived concept album, to boot.

peedub said:

marvin gaye - here, my dear

and a well conceived concept album, to boot.

Fits on one CD.

some people dont consider the symbol album a double album....

Cinny said:
Fits on one CD.

A lot of double albums fit on 1 reel-to-reel tape or 1 8-track/cassette. So I don't get your point. In some cases, 8-tracks or cassette had extra songs or different mixes than the record version.

MickyDolenz said:

Cinny said:
Fits on one CD.

A lot of double albums fit on 1 reel-to-reel tape or 1 8-track/cassette. So I don't get your point. In some cases, 8-tracks or cassette had extra songs or different mixes than the record version.

My point is CD era albums are often "double albums" once you put them on wax, and these acclaimed double albums of the vinyl era really aren't that long after all.

Cinny said:

My point is CD era albums are often "double albums" once you put them on wax, and these acclaimed double albums of the vinyl era really aren't that long after all.

A few years ago, country singer Vince Gill released a 4 CD album called These Days. I wonder how many records is that. I have Michael Jackson's HIStory and it's 3 records like George Harrison's album and those Anthology albums Motown used to put out in the 1970s. Technically, Songs In The Key Of Life is not a double album. The original release had a 45 with 4 songs on it, so 3 records or 2 & half. Oddly, I've seen a Blu-ray audio version of Songs that leave off the songs on the 45. Blu-Ray can hold the entire album on 1 disc, so I don't understand omitting part of it. I know Blu-Ray or DVD audio generally has a 5.1 mix in addition to the stereo mix.

Cinny said:

NorthC said:

Cinny said:

Fits on one CD.

1999 fits on 1 CD, so I guess that one doesn't count either.

Not on the first pressing! They had to leave off "D.M.S.R."

Cinny said:

I am now proposing the notion that most albums from the CD era that ran closer to 70 minutes each were actually double albums ...

A proper double album should fit on one CD disk; a double CD is not a double album, just a random dump of songs. Triple albums of the vinyl era never really worked either - see The Clash' Sandinista.

Prince's proposed triple albums would have been a directionless mess as well - see Emancipation.

There should be an elegant logic to a double album; four sides with each three or four well-balanced songs that flow naturally. You can pick where to start in the album depending on your mood.

Nick Cave's Your Funeral My Trial was originally released as double 45 rpm - better sound! - 12-inches; that is a proper double album, even though it easily fits on one CD.

Most 70 minute CDs of the 1990s and early 2000s had lots of filler, skits, unnecessarily long versions of tracks, hidden track after 10 minute silence, etc. They would not work as vinyl double albums.

[Edited 6/7/18 15:25pm]

A few additions: (refined to include MULTI ALBUMS... because yeah.. 2LPS can fit one cD....but they WERE DOUBLE ALBUMS ON RELEASE

1999
QUADROPHENIA
TOMMY
JOE's GARAGE ACTS I, II, & III

So Cinny, do you consider these a single album or a double?

What about acts who released 2 separate albums at the same time (Bruce Springsteen, Nelly, Guns N Roses), a deluxe version, or different versions of an album (like a Target/Barnes & Noble exclusive or one for Japan)?