A COMPLETE Experience
Posted by Ron Sitton on August 29th, 2008COMPLETE is surely a tough requirement, because nearly everybody will agree that not everyone will like every song on an album. It’s also hard because some of my favorite artists, especially blues artists and even Johnny Cash, fall victim to my criteria for the list.
1) At least 85 percent of the album rocks, swings, wails or illuminates the unenlightened.
2) The album CANNOT be a greatest hits compilation, which by definition SHOULD be complete (although I can think of some that aren’t, e.g. Dire Straits “Sultans of Swing,” which inexplicably does not contain “Skateaway,” although that may show my bias). If a Greatest Hits album doesn’t fit the 85 percent requirement, face it: the band sucks and you got snookered out of your cash.
3) No live albums, as the best ones are very similar to a Greatest Hits. If you can think of a live album where every song represented the first time that the masses heard it, I may reconsider.
4) Mix discs are verboten. If you cannot meet the 85 percent requirement on a mix disc, either a) you suck as a dee-jay, b) you were in a rush to make it, or c) you’re politely telling the recipient to phuck off.
5) The Random Factor, i.e. you don’t have to turn off random to enjoy the album if you’re tired of listening to the same songs in a row again and again. To be honest, it makes some discs that you’ve listened to for 30+ years fresh again. That’s important when you’re getting to be a geezer like me. 
Five rules; got it? So here we go with my nominees, in no particular order.
Miles Davis “Kind of Blue” - Can I get a hallelujah?
John Coltrane “Giant Steps” - Can I get an amen? Actually, I first got into Coltrane with “Blue Train,” but I consider “Giant Steps” to be a cut above.
The Beatles “Abbey Road” - I hated the Beatles as a teenager. I got turned on to “The White Album” after reading “Helter Skelter,” but then I rediscovered “Abbey Road,” an album my parents listened to not too long after I was born. Of course, they hated both of these because it wasn’t “Revolver” and that’s not what they were ready for; their loss. One of my favorite memories is sitting on the front porch on Laurel Avenue in Knoxville playing the entire second side of the album with my little brother following a hard days drinking after a porch party.
AC/DC “Back in Black” - I first heard heard this gem when my brother brought home the vinyl and nearly blew out my mom’s speakers. While everyone can probably agree on “Hells Bells,” “(You Shook Me) All Night Long” and “Back in Black,” the rest of the album definitely does not suck and can be considered the best thing AC/DC ever released.
Widespread Panic “Til the Medicine Takes” — The tightly crafted album stresses songs over jams, but fear not: “Bear’s Gone Fishin’” would fit perfectly at the end of Panic’s rendition of Robert Johnson’s “Me and the Devil Blues.” Other gems include “Dyin’ Man,” “Blue Indian,” “The Waker,” “Nobody’s Loss” and my favorite, “All Time Low,” featuring gospel singer Dottie Peoples’ soulful growl.
Fleetwood Mac “Rumours” — The first Grammy show I ever watched had Fleetwood Mac constantly on stage for this album. It features “The Chain,” “Go Your Own Way,” “Don’t Stop” and “Dreams.” But you can start this album, play to the end, randomize or repeat and you’ll never get bored.
Taj Mahal “The Natch’l Blues” — Starting off with “Good Morning Miss Brown” and immediately following up with “Corinna,” Taj blew folks away with his version of the blues. I’d flip this vinyl over again and again and again and again …
Pink Floyd “Wish You Were Here” — I know that some Floyd fans would pick other discs (e.g. “The Wall”), but I think this is the best. It features “Shine on You Crazy Diamond,” “Welcome to the Machine,” “Have a Cigar” and the title cut. It’s one of my favorite all-time albums.
Old Crow Medicine Show “Greetings from Wawa” — I’m sure the guys in the band would not agree with me as they’ve put out slicker albums since, but when I heard this: “WOW!” Their first attempt at recording features snippets from a radio show they played, which is cool. But it’s the raw emotion that grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go. Although it’s out of print, I suggest picking it up if you find it in a used rack somewhere. My favorites are “Gospel Plow” and “Pour It on Dock.”
Led Zeppelin “IV” — OK, my students will grieve me for this because I still contend Zeppelin basically ripped off a bunch of blues artists over their career, but this album rocked. This album features “Stairway to Heaven,” “Black Dog,” “Misty Mountain Hop” and “When the Levee Breaks,” one of the covers Zeppelin stole without proper credit. This album was involved in the backmasking scandal of the mid-80s where subversive lyrics were supposedly heard if you listened to the record backward.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience “Are You Experienced” — Why hasn’t anyone really approached Hendrix for sheer creativity with a basic music form? Because there’s only one Jimi. “Purple Haze,” “Hey Joe,” “May This Be Love,” “Fire,” “Highway Chile,” “Red House” and much more. Had he died after this album, we’d still be talking about him. Luckily, we got to keep him around a little longer.
Metallica “Master of Puppets” — Although a favorite of many cop friends of mine, I did not appreciate this album for a few years. But looking back, it’s awesome. “Sanitarium,” “Battery,” “Leper Messiah” and “Orion” are the jewels on this album.
Philip Glass “Koyannisqatsi” — If you love minor thirds and repetition, this soundtrack is guaranteed to keep you wired. My wife hates it. She’s joined by many former girlfriends. Sometimes I play it just to be left alone … and that ain’t bad.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart “Requiem Mass” — The man was a genius. There is not a more haunting work known to me. In my opinion, it is the most beautiful mass ever composed. It’s even more impressive because it was never finished.
Pearl Jam “Ten” — Although I really like “No Code,” the band never lived up to this debut. How could it? “Black,” “Even Flow,” “Alive,” “Jeremy” … need I go on?
Audioslave “Audioslave” — When this album came out, I fell in love with rock again after listening primarily to the blues and jazz for a few years. Much like Pearl Jam’s “Ten,” it was too good to be true.
Garage A Trois “Emphasizer” — I first listened to this album on the way from Atlanta to Knoxville. I didn’t realize it was repeating until the third time through because I was so into the music.
Blind Melon “Blind Melon” - This self-titled debut primarily got exposure due to a little girl running around in a bumble-bee suit in a video. IMHO, it’s the worst song on the disc. The song “Change” really means a lot to me, as I even quoted it during an interview when I took a job at Muskingum College in Ohio. But the whole disc is good and I only skip “No Rain” every other listen.
Bob Dylan “Blonde on Blonde” — I’ve had some great discussions about “Rainy Day Women 12 & 35,” which most people take to be talking about getting high. I think you can also take it in a religious manner, i.e. no matter what you do, somebody’s going to stone you much as they did to J.C. Even if you don’t agree with that assessment, there’s no denying this album kicks ass. If you don’t believe me, watch “High Fidelity.”
****
As stated before, I’ve left out some of my favorite bands, but this is a COMPLETE album listing. I expect they still have time.
Of course, you may not agree. Please feel free to add to or subtract from the list. But don’t give me some willy-nilly “It’s just good” excuse. Tell me how your faves fit the criteria, or even bitch at me and improve on my criteria. Besides, I’m always looking for music I haven’t experienced yet because I believe all musical shortcomings reflect the limitations of the listener’s mind.