Great Double Albums

futuretiger9 · #1

These days it is comparatively rare for artists to issue double albums. In days gone by, however, they were commonplace. What are your favourite double albums?

Here are a few:-

Exile on Main Street - The Rolling Stones
The White Album - The Beatles
Blonde on Blonde - Bob Dylan
Manassas - Stephen Stills/Manassas

Other great double albums?

#2

Since you mentioned Blonde on Blonde and Exile on Main Street I can't really think of any. I don't like double albums that much, I prefer short albums. 10-12 songs are perfect, around 35-40 min for the whole thing.

ww1ace · #3

Does the CCR Chronicle from 1976 count?

PTfan54 · #4

The White Album was probably the height of The Beetles' musical pretension.

futuretiger9 · #5

PTfan54 wrote:The White Album was probably the height of The Beetles' musical pretension.

Yes, certainly The White Album is very "of its time", but it certainly reflects the tensions and confusion of 1968. The mood around the world had changed very quickly, and the rock aristocracy reflected this - the Stones' Beggars Banquet also encapsulated the atmosphere of 1968.

Lunatic Armchair · #6

Wasn't Quadrophenia a Double album?

PTfan54 · #7

Lunatic Armchair wrote:Wasn't Quadrophenia a Double album?

Yes, and Tommy.

futuretiger9 · #8

Some more fine double albums:-

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
Physical Graffiti - Led Zeppelin

Both of these were unusual in that they contained very little "filler" material. Both are also extremely diverse in their range of material.

Of course, we could talk forever about double live albums and compilations....

strad · #9

There was a double album version of Winds of Change from Eric Budon that I can't even find.

#10

Welcome to the Pleasuredome - Frankie Goes To Hollywood.

futuretiger9 · #11

Another great double album:- Electric Ladyland - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Jesper Hvid · #12

futuretiger9 wrote:Some more fine double albums:-

Physical Graffiti - Led Zeppelin

The mellowness is soul deep, it's their best. A rock epic in its own right, possibly the best musical document in terms of rock.

Andy · #13

Accept - Staying Alive!

Jesper Hvid · #14

Andy wrote:Accept - Staying Alive!

...A Life. Else it's the Bee Gees, man.

I'd pick ELPs two "Works" cycles. Shows the scope of this genius band.

Everso Biggyballies · #15

Cream..... Wheels of Fire.

Disc 1 was a studio recorded disc with great tracks such as White Room, Sitting on Top of the World, Born Under a Bad Sign and Pressed Rat and Warthog plus others, whilst Disc 2 was a live recording and included Crossroads, a 16+ minute version of Spoonful, Traintime and a 16 minute Ginger Baker Drum Solo (Toad).

You could also buy it as seperate discs.... and the covers were identical with the exception of in one the colours (black and Silver,) were reversed.)