The most revolutionary album is the band's most innovative record. It might be the first genuine hard rock album, the first rock opera, the first 'art rock' conceptual album, the first gloomy album, the first big-band-gospelish album, etc., etc. It certainly might not be the band's best effort (you know, revolutions aren't always that worthwhile). Some lesser bands, like Ten Years After, or the great, but certainly not revolutionary CCR, may even be deprived of the honour. Some, on the other hand, might have more than one truly revolutional album (the Beatles had at least two or three), but in those cases I still try to point out the most important of these.

The absolutely quintessential album is the band's most diverse one - the one that captures as many sides of the band as possible and thus serves as best example for illustrating the band's 'sound'. Beginners might use this one as the place to start with the band. Note that the album also has to be a great one: thus, Houses Of The Holy might be Zeppelin's most diverse record, but it's also lame and shows their lack of talent in writing a truly diverse record. However, it is not necessarily my favourite album, as much as I care for diversity.

My personal favourite album is the one that gets a 10 in the review section (if more than one makes it, I just have to do a painful choice). Of course, it often coincides with the 'quintessential' album, but that's not obligatory. This is the only totally subjective column. So? Rock historians pick out the 'revolutionary' album; rock novices, please go to the 'quintessential' one; finally, if you're that much of a freak to agree with my tastes, run to the third one.

Now then: the best live album is, sure enough, the best live album. This spot will often be left missing, particularly because some of the bands/artists do not have any personality as live performers at all.

The most underrated album is the record that, in my opinion, is unjustly put down by the 'general opinion', whatever that one is. I feel that almost everybody has at least a couple of such albums - most often, minor masterpieces overshadowed by huger successes - and defend them so they do not get lost.

The worst album is also subjective - you might love it, but I hate it.

None to speak of; they just did their stuff a lot better than anybody else.

Certainly more 'easy-going' than some of the 'deeper' stuff, it emphasizes all of their best sides (and some of the worst, too).

The closest they ever got to serious, thoughtful and timeless music. 'Eagle' is just ecstatic.

Probably Abba Live (1986), but I don't have it. They weren't spectacular live performers, of course (at least not audio-wise), but let's wait until I fall upon this one.

Sometimes dismissed as a collection of disco crap, but the melodies are, in fact, very very strong.

A thoroughly uninspiring debut - just a collection of rudimentary pop schlock where nothing tells us about the future days of glory.

The first ever conceptual album, and the first seriously instrumentated as well.

Hard to say right now, I think I still haven't got that one...

Just impresses me most of all. The others are good to dance to.

It's double, and it also amply demonstrates that the Fab Four could pull off any style they wanted to.

I simply listen to this one the most. Used to spin it in my head when I was young on my way to different places.

Check out Hollywood Bowl for an interesting 'documentary' perspective; but if you really need to know how well the guys played live, this album is indispensable. Not that you'll be flabbergasted, mind you.

Even so, nothing by the Beatles is underrated and nothing will ever be. Maybe Beatles For Sale gets a little harsher treatment than it should, but nobody has really condemned it seriously.

And even this is only because there are but four original songs on an album otherwise stuffed with previously released material and George Martin's ambivalent orchestra performances.

For all the peculiarities of the Sabbath sound please revert here. Don't forget the ear protectors though.

That's the one with all the radio standards on it. Written at an epoch when Iommi was the classic hit-deliverer, so what could be better?

Oh how they try, how they try to deliver all of their hits in one package... The funny thing is, they quite succeed at it. I suppose a good Ozzy years archive release might be better, though.

I don't know why everybody gives this album so much crap. I hear a lot of acceptable, if not particularly outstanding, melodies. Maybe the volume of their previous efforts has made me deaf?

A weak, ridiculous parody on what the band used to be. No melodies, an overload of cliches, and a pathetic goofy singer turning everything into dirt.

It kinda leaves you without the Seventies' Dylan, but it really says everything and more about 'classic Dylan': from generic blues to gorgeous ballads, this is the man!

The actual song quality is no slouch, either.

A priceless historical document, and certainly the only officially released live album where you'll hear the audience boo the performer (but not because he's bad, mind you!). This was almost a tie with At Budokan.

Yes, you heard. Please go to the actual review for the actual reasons.

Dylan appeasing the Bible Belt, no less. The worst of his Christian albums and the worst overall, a murky mess of gospel and gospel-rock rubbish.

The first folk rock album, and possibly the first rock album with meaningful lyrics.

It has all of the 'folk' vibe, and it has some of the 'psycho' vibe, and it has some of the 'technophilia' vibe. Get it and know everything about the Byrds!

The former two are good, but at times in my life they all sound boring. YTY never does.

Psychedelic heavy flower power blues - a unique genre which never had any successful imitators.

Psychedelic, bluesy and nonsensical, plus it gives you a feeling of the band in live action.

The moment I hear 'Dance The Night Away', I'm in paradise.

You either love all live Cream or hate all live Cream, but for me, this at least has the definite live version of 'Sittin' On Top Of The World'.

This has some verrrrry interesting live renditions of classics, and is quite advisable for all fans.

They were too short-lived to release a truly bad album.

Nope, CCR didn't go for revolutions. They just played for fun, and that was their essence.

What elements of CCR sound are missing on here? And no 'Graveyard Train' either!

'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' is one of the few more-than-ten-minute-long jams I love from the beginning to the end.

CCR were not that entertaining a live band; all of their live output just carefully emulates the studio tracks and nothing more.

The only attempt at shifting the 'classic formula' a bit, towards jazz and soul, and it works.

The other attempt to shift the formula - Fogerty lets the two other members wrestle the songwriting out of his hands, and the result is a catastrophe.

A paradox? Nope. As much as David was innovative, he never really invented anything, always following in other people's footsteps - sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.

Not entirely true - with David constantly changing face, a 'quintessential' album of his is virtually impossible to determine, if it ain't a compilation. At least, this one 'covers' the glam image pretty well.

This is also the record where the songwriting is particularly consistent - moody and catchy at the same time.

Haven't got any. Yet.

David's best album in the Nineties, sadly overlooked just cuz it's a soundtrack.

Bowie enters the Nineties, but he hasn't yet acquired a proper vision of the epoch. Skip this and get Outside instead - this stuff is hardly even danceable, it's so boring and unmelodic.

Is it possible to have a 'quintessential' Purple album without 'Smoke On The Water' on it? Guess not....

Hard to imagine, but there's practically no filler on here. The greatest heavy metal album of all time, IMHO.

Representing the band at their peak: Deep Purple were one of the really few, if not the only, great live bands who managed to slip out a double live album at the most crucial point in their career.

All of Mark I is underrated, actually. But don't forget to check out this one - like a super-professional, overly exuberant Iron Butterfly, but with a sense of direction and a lot of conviction.

I've always loathed Dave Coverdale, and this album is his death sentence. Heavy, but completely generic and pedestrian soul & R'n'B are as far from the real Deep Purple as possible.

Dark, apocalyptic imagery at a time when Jefferson Airplane but gave a tiny hint at things like that...

Captures the band at their peak, before Morrison started dropping too much acid.

Yup.

A good one. Jim is in top form, and he rocks the house down.

It might sound a little cheesy, I admit, but most of the melodies are strong - and some of the songs are among Jim's best ever.

Jim's poetry is okay, but the remaining 'Doors' make the cheesiest and most dull musical arrangements possible.

A completely new approach to 'piano pop' as a genre here - no wonder the breakthrough was so big.

Double, and features Elton tackling as many genres as possible, even if sometimes for the worse.

Definitely no filler on here, although the slow, not always hook-filled countryish grooves will take some time to get used to.

More than that: an absolute must for anyone with an Elton interest, as it showcases the man as a reckless, desperate barroom rocker ready to 'burn the mission down' at any given moment. A far cry from today's sad state. eh?

Unnoticed due to lack of commercial success, but some terrific tunes on here anyway: Elton is fully prepared for the international fame-to-come.

(From this period of course; he's done much much worse in the Eighties). Boring, tasteless, and only a slight handful of memorable tunes to save it from a complete disaster.

First example of a full-blown rock-classical symphony.

I hate 'Karn Evil 9', so I just have to go listen to Tarkus. Pity, but it's true.

ELP play pop. ELP play boogie. ELP play gospel. ELP play ragtime. ELP play psychedelic. How can you dismiss this great album?

A very unsuccessful attempt at revitalizing ELP's career for the Nineties' vibe: plodding, dull synth-rockers with a voiceless Greg Lake topping it off.

If you're going for more polished production and less lengthy guitar jams, Layla is what you're looking for. If you want to find Eric's quintessence, though, you have to check out this fantastic live album.

I'm not a hardcore blues fan, but this stuff is blues par excellence. Put it into manuals!

Eric has never played like that - before or since. Enough proof that he was the best guitar player on Earth.

People don't seem to care much about this live album, but to me, it's probably Eric's last gasp of brilliancy. His performances on 'Double Trouble' and 'Blues Power' are spectacular.

The Great Washed Up Prayer. Buy this album and you die. I know I nearly did.

The beginning of modern pop music. Of course, modern pop music is mostly dung; but most things start out great and turn into nightmares in no time.

No need to say anything.

I wish it were Mystery To Me... but this is a rare example of an album where every song hooks you into attention.

The Dance is pretty good, but until I lay hands on Live (1980) I refuse to pronounce a final judgement.

Actually, the whole pre-Buckingham/Nicks period is horrendously underrated, but this is the most glaring miss - truly, this one gotta be one of the greatest comedy rock albums ever.

A tired and disspirited band that lost its key members and turned itself to complete crap in desperation.

The first big celebration of noise, avantgarde, parody, nonsense and, well, Counter Culture, in rock.

A terrific double album, replete with blistering social commentary and melodies that'll grab you and never let you go...

It's hard to pick out an 'underrated' album - Frank usually stayed away from putting out completely lousy records. This one, however, is often deemed lousy among fans, when in fact it does have several nice numbers to redeem it.

The first prog album that led us into 'fairy-tale' rock - nobody took you onto such a fascinating trip through old and new worlds as Peter Gabriel.

I still haven't heard Three Sides Live, but right now I still prefer this one - it has Gabriel, not Collins, and even if it's single, the track selection is excellent.

I'd originally posted Wind And Wuthering here, but this stuff exceeds all possible limits: unlistenable Nineties Prog with synthesized space beats and a negative number of creative melodies.

A thing which could be called 'gospel rock' was invented here. Don't ask me how, but it works.

The album emphasizes all the good sides of 'early' Harrison.

Pathetic. This is so good nothing in the catalog ever comes close.

Maybe not 'brilliant' in that technical sense, but worthy as a historical document and tons of fun.

I understand the complaints about the 'hoarse' voice, but most of the melodies here are really strong - George hasn't really seriously started burning out yet.

George dabbles too much with 'genuine' Indian music, and this gives me a headache.

I guess Janis was a sorta revolutionary person by herself, but in retrospect, this doesn't translate well onto the albums.

Raunchy, sad, sly and violent all at once - all the spectrum of human emotions is on here. Don't miss it.

I can't name an album that doesn't have 'Summertime' or 'Ball And Chain' on it, now can I?

Actually, you might even skip Cheap Thrills in favour of this, since some of the material is taken exactly from this show. Stunning, and one of the best documents of the hippie era.

She hadn't had that much, and most of 'em get their due.

The album that took fusion into all directions, although not one of my Beck favourites.

It just displays Beck's talents to a tee, that's all.

Fans of early Led Zep should check it out - an essential, and brilliant document of late Sixties' hard rock. And it has Rod Stewart!

Jeff is amazingly inventive and fresh-sounding here, for such a late period, and the album represents a masterful comeback, sadly overlooked.

Beck updating his sound for the Eighties, ooh, what a horrendous idea. Too much 'flash', indeed, and too few original musical ideas not borrowed from some shitty synth-pop band or other.

Like the Byrds - but this is the beginnings of Dark Folk Music that eventually metamorphosed into Acid Rock.

This is a more accurate picture of the Airplane than anything else - Kantner's role is seen perfectly, and the band is still able to make some good songs.

A little monotonous, but you can't deny that out of all the acid records, this one's the catchiest.

Their earlier albums were better, but this is the most daring breakthrough they ever made.

Everything you need to know about Ian Anderson and nothing you wouldn't want to even hear about.

For me, this is just a lot of aggressive youthful talented fun. Later albums are a wee bit too muddy.

The definite proof that Jethro Tull were one of the... aw, what the hell, the best live prog combo ever. Serious as a Yes, rockin' out as a Who, and hilarious as a Kinks. Classic!

Tull goes completely synthesized for a little while, and the results are even worse than the metallized Tull that emerged three years later.

Goes without saying.

I don't like it, but I admit that the man really shines in all of his brilliancy on here.

Jimi's the man who liked to redo everything lots of times. In these cases I always prefer the first time.

The man had a million live albums out, but of the ones I know, this is the most balanced and diverse. Even if it's a compilation.

No Hendrix album has ever been underrated - whether it's right or not is up to you to decide.

A band of people who don't really know what to do when they're gathered together, so they just freak out in a dull way.

The more diversified production gives the album a lot more angles than anything else. Some confessions as well, but you also have your ballads, rock and roll, Utopian fantasies and even a Yokosong.

The seven Lennon cuts here are among my all-time favourite tunes.

Actually, the only live album. Although John was never a particularly exciting performer, it's not that bad, and quite recommendable.

John really gets all the attention he deserves, but I feel this excellent collection of old 50's standards reworkings is slightly overshadowed. This might be the best 50's tribute album ever - and quite a few worthy persons produced similar efforts.

The closest thing - but it only showcases Eighties' Crimson with a couple throwbacks. The thing is, King Crimson is really several totally different bands.

Don't think anybody's going to argue. The Eighties' combo at their most vicious, most tasty, most crrrrrunchy!

A loose collection of dissonant jams and atonal improvisations that nobody but a complete jerk could appreciate. It doesn't even have any 'technical' value - I could do better music with a stringless guitar.

The first British conceptual album, with the word 'British' referring both to the location of recording and the main concept behind the songs. A major breakaway from the American-dominated imagery of British Invasion groups.

I'm not a big fan of this one, but it certainly tells us more about the Kinks than any other record: Face To Face is still too rockin', and Village Green goes a little bit too far to be 'typically' Kinkish...

Not a single bad song on here (a rare case for the Kinks), and the lyrics are certainly Ray's most worthy.

Effective modernistic reworks of the classics - the band rocks, the band sounds fresh and creative, and the song selection is perfect. Actually, this and To The Bone run a close second in my book.

Very close to Muswell Hillbillies, but often dismissed for some unclear reason. And the live half makes it an exciting, drunken, crazy listening experience. Yoopeeee!

The Kinks suddenly recalling that they were the fathers of heavy metal thirty years ago and tossed off this ultra-long monster with about 1/2 of a memorable song. If this should be your first Kinks purchase, you'll never want to buy another Kinks album.

The album that began the Seventies, although not everybody realized it at the time.

The band at their creative peak (although it didn't exactly coincide with its artistic peak, if you get the difference).

The last record to feature a blues-happy, not-Crowley-obsessed, non-junkie Jimmy Page.

The band in their vintage days, taking their stuff and doing absolute wonders with it. One of the greatest archive releases of all time, and I'm not even a Led Zep fan.

Very dubious product tossed off during a period of intense personal problems. One or two fine numbers don't save the record that's otherwise filled with generic cock-rock garbage and dumb metallic dance numbers. Avoid.

err... guess I miscalculated a little..

The one where they took the matter in their hands. Good work, guys!

They only have the archive Live 1967, which I don't have and am not particularly looking for. Anyway, if you're interested in the Monkees for their live albums, you're in big trouble.

At least it's not such a desperate bunch of shit as it is sometimes 'presented'. Nesmith in particular pulls out a decent bunch of country-rock numbers, and, while it's virtually incomparable with the 'classics', it does have its merits.

The Monkees at their most Hollywoodish, and at their most nauseating. A couple of decent numbers in among loads of orchestrated hogwash. Fortunately, unlike many people think, this is not what the Monkees in general were about.

The first art rock album (not 'prog rock', though).

You'll find all the trademarks here, from Thomas' shaky voice to Pinder's boredness with life. Sheez.

They only have one (Caught Live+5), if you don't count that orchestra thing they released recently. Don't have it, though.

People always tend to forget the Moodies' bluesy roots. This might not be spectacular, but it's good, and by the way, the Moodies were one of the best R&B acts of that era. Imagine that.

Cheese-cheese-cheese! Typical Eighties trash and the worst transformation of image that could ever happen to this band.

Nope. Paul saved his revolutionary talents for his Beatle days.

I like Ram better, but if you want to know what Wings sounded like, get this, this and only this (well, not only, but... ya know what I mean...)

My personal favourite for more than twelve years now. Conservative, ain't I?

Paul isn't the person whose live albums I'd ask you to hunt for, but if you're really passionate, get this one - at least, it's less tedious than Tripping The Live Fantastic.

For the last time in fifteen years Paul tried to rock out and was slagged. Can you imagine why? Because the braindead people didn't really want him to - they wanted Paul to fit into the concept they made of him without really being granted permission.

Mr Know-All, Be-Here-Be-There experimenting with new studio technologies and new co-authors. Buyer beware - an album as this can turn you off Paul McCartney forever.

The first really successful World Music album: Gabriel proves himself to be the perfect candidate for taming ethnic music and binding it to rock. The Talking Heads can go sulk in the corner.

As in ELP's case, an expanded live album that presents an entire epoch in Peter's life, and the performances are quite close to the originals. You can easily start here - even if Peter's works usually go better appreciated when not underpinned by the crowd noises.

Gloomy, scary, creepy, depressing as hell, and the melodies are strong, catchy and inventive, too. 'Intruder' gets you down, and only 'Biko' can get you up - you're in for an uncomfortable, but richly rewarding ride.

I must warn you, though, that Peter's charm does not translate very well onto the audio. To be present at a Gabriel concert must be a hell of an experience, though.

For some reason, critics praise the first and the third albums and dismiss this one, saying it's muddy and controversial and too Fripp-esque. To hell with 'em. There are TONS of great songs on here.

Peter as an Eighties mainstream pop cheesemeister? Not quite, but close. Please proceed to Us first; if you adore that one, return here, but be careful.

The first album that demonstrated the dangerous side of psychedelia - and the fact that Syd Barrett was slowly going mad at the time punctuates it all the more.

I view it as a kind of link between their past and their future, and it does feature all the trademarks of Pink Floyd Sound.

I understand the raised eyebrows, but for me, this is the perfect unison of strong melody, interesting concept and intelligent lyrics.

The most perfect example of how music can be played with almost mathematical precision and still be enjoyable. This, in fact, is the only live Pink Floyd you'll ever need.

Obscured by The Dark Side Of The Moon, actually. But if you're the one that's more interested in melodies than studio gimmickry, you'll see that not many of the songs on Dark Side really overshadow this 'soundtrack' material.

A Dave Gilmour solo album, and I never liked the guy much. Trivial imitations of the once powerful stuff - of course, the casual Floyd fan who only likes 'Money' might fall into the trap, but guess you're not one of these.

The first Symph Rock album; if somebody was still sceptical about rock's 'seriousness' after Sgt Pepper, this sure cleared all doubts.

In the melodical sense, it's richer than anything else, but it manages to bore me a little... sometimes...

It moves me to tears. And I'll say nothing more.

Not surpassing the studio releases, but somewhat of a classic still - if there ever was a band fit to play live with an orchestra, it'd be Procol Harum.

Okay, it is the least successful of their classic releases. But that doesn't mean it's bad - the traditional formula of Procol always works.

They thought they hadn't lost it after all those years. They were wrong.

The first successful attempt to make a convincing prog-folk album.

Probably the best place to start with the band, as it showcases all their instrumentation, arranging and songwriting skills with the formula at the peak.

I actually prefer this one to Cards, as the melodies are somewhat more obvious, and Annie's singing ain't never been better.

Don't have any. Try Live At Carnegie Hall if you can find it.

Not as obviously great as what came before it, this is still their last epochal record, and a must for fans.

Could you imagine what a 'revolutionary' Ringo Starr album would look like? Please mail your ideas.

A little of everything that makes Ringo such a groovy guy. Try it, you'll like it.

Hey, these songs are catchy!

The only live album of the man I own, but it's great fun, and it's like a solid retrospective of his career.

Here, though, it's hard to dig out a good tune at all. Horrible, corny, trashy late Seventies pop with a sleazy, fake nostalgic edge. Blech.

Well, Rod's voice might have been revolutionary. But Rod's songs were not.

All of Rod's sides - the bluesy one, the soul one and the rock'n'roller one - are masterfully demonstrated on here.

My personal delight is rooted here. The level of energy and raw excitement is unmatched, and the songs are all downright beautiful.

Don't have any; Unplugged is said to be decent.

Yeah, yeah, don't laugh at me, better go put on some of his Eighties stuff and compare: you'll get a couple pleasant surprises.

And I mean it - so far, it's the worst record in my collection. Collect all the ugliness of the Eighties and press it onto one chunk of vinyl, and what you get is Camouflage.

A little bit more diverse than Bleed, mainly because there are more songs.

Can't even describe it. Emotions flood me like a young gander.

The only Stones live album where the energy and kick-butt tension is really matched by superior live playing. One of the all-time best live albums, in fact.

Blah! An album coming out in 1986 is initially damned to be horrendous. This one's no exception: Jagger does nothing but bark, and the songs are typical mid-Eighties fodder. It's a good thing they took a three year break.

How can the first album ever recorded with the participation of Brian Eno not be revolutionary?

Glam and decadence and perverse romanticism in full speed, plus Eno is still here to add the little touches of Electronica.

The peak of Bryan Ferry's 'idealistic' longings, and one of the best 'decadent' records of the decade.

Roxy were hardly a great live band, but if you just need to hear to your Roxy live, you can pick this up without much fear: at least these guys knew what they were doing on stage.

Not exactly 'underrated' - it's actually a dud, but there are some brilliant gems, like 'Running Wild', that tend to get overlooked.

Now this is a complete farce - Roxy going all poppy and disco, but with hardly any interesting melodies or convincibility at all. One of the dullest records I've ever heard.

The British analog of CCR, they just played for amusement and didn't care to make no revolution. Bless 'em.

All of the hits are there, and the energy will help you to digest the lengthy jams.

Solid, entertaining and amusing bluesrock. I won't defend it further.

Undead is a little more groovy, but if you look for hardcore, give-no-stops rock'n'roll, this is the album to own.

The band is underrated as a whole, but since I have to pick one album, I'd vote for the debut - IMHO, it's one of the funniest and even 'punkiest' blues records I ever heard.

Weak, feeble imitations of their initial hotness. Alvin Lee was clearly spent as a songwriter.

If Traffic were to make a revolutio-nary album, I'd pity the state of rock music at the time.

There's still some hippie innocence here, but there's also some of the folk stuff that helps save them in the worst moments.

It has 'Pearly Queen'. And 'Don't Be Sad'. And 'Cryin' To Be Heard'. Name me a Traffic album that has three songs as good. (Actually, name me a Traffic album that has three good songs... What? Why - Traffic, of course! What did I tell ya?)

Funny, the guys DID manage to find some jamming power on the stage. This is nmostly enjoyable, and the track selection is wise enough.

None of Traffic albums are underrated. In fact, I shudder at the thought of people suddenly beginning to think of a Traffic album even better than they did before.

The group running out of gas at the first minutes. Noodle-noodle, noodle-dee-doo.

Quite simply, the first rock opera. And I don't care whether you love rock operas or not, it's still a revolutionary album.

It's hard to define a quintessential album for the Who - most of their albums lacked at least 'something'. This is probably the closest they ever got to a 'representative' album (Sell Out is certainly their most diverse one, but it was more of a groove).

Best live album ever. I put it on ten times more often than any other Who album (Live At The Isle Of Wight excepted).

Not only the Who's - there's a fantastic consensus between most people that this is the best live album in the whole world.

People complain this is pretentious synth noodlings. People are dumb. This ain't prententious - it's clever; and the synths are used with gusto. Go listen to it one more time and don't be biased.

They were falling apart at lightning speed, and it shows. Maybe some of the songs would have fit on a Townshend solo album - but combining them with Daltrey's singing proved to be fatal.

Sure. The epitomy of overbloated, pretentious and heavily professional prog.

Not as groundbreaking, but better produced, better performed and, most importantly, quite diverse, due to band members' solo spots.

Not that I care...

Most probably Yessongs (1973), but I haven't heard it yet.

It's hippie idealism, for sure, but at least it makes sense. Gentle, naive and catchy - where else can you find this on a Yes album?

Modernized production and nearly corporate songwriting unite to make this as unlistenable as your average Nineties garbage.

Your worthy comments:

Richard Dickison <dickison@us.ibm.com> (14.05.99)

Well George I guess I'm going to HELL, and here's why....
George I understand that the sixties were great and I will follow your commentary to the conclusion that these bands were pioneers and as such were revolutionary but my god man the music did not die around 1970. There are some good bands out there that started after 1970 and there are still others worth listening to who are just starting out. George, some of these bands could be/are also influential, I could relate better to the positions you take on these 60's pioneers if I could see you liking some of the newer material out there. Come-on George there has got to be something that is current that catches your ear. I'm sure I speak for others besides myself when I say , George if you can stomach ABBA we know that there has got to be some newer bands out there doing something you like. Show us something new George, take a truly revolutionary positive position on a band that started in the 80's\90's.
Anyway here is my list/opinion based upon growing up to this music,

The Beach Boys

Revolutionary Album: Pet Sounds. Of course this is revolutionary but I have to admit that it took some time and distance to eventually enjoy this album. I still don't listen to this one much. It just does not click with me. Still everyone needs this.
Quintessential Album: Today! Sure it is a little messy but it references where they came from to where they eventually ended up and it's got alot of the early singles I enjoy. Anyway it is the closest to this category.
Best Album: Smile. Well not the one sold as this album but the one originally intended/recorded. If you put together the singles they recreated after that drugged out genius burned the master tapes you can hear what could have been their finest moment. Remember 'Good Vibrations'! that was from this album. Oh Brian, you can be such a loser.

The Beatles

Revolutionary Album: Rubber Soul. George, Brian admitted to being pushed to create Pet Sounds by this album. It's just so much chicken and the egg though. This is the first time I hear the Beatles starting expanding their horizons/sound. This is really as far back as I like to go with the Beatles when buying those remastered cd's(ca-ching).
Quintessential Album: The Beatles(White Album). There is just so much, you could argue over this album all day. That's a sign of a solid album to me. This could also be revolutionary in the fact it is probably one of the few highly listenable double albums in the history of rock. Can you argue over the fact that this is a good representation of the best and worst of the Beatles. I did'nt think so.
Best Album: Revolver. This is the one, the first Beatles cd I got, the last one I put away. I wish more bands had made albums this good. It's the reason I love them so.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Revolutionary Album: Bayou Country. I disagree, I think of them as the first really good folk/southern/rock as in rock out band. I believe these guys gave the Greatful Dead something to try for in the jam department . This album got my attention and held it. Can you say Born on the Bayou (I knew you could). Quintessential Album: Chronicle. One of the few best of's that I will recommend that George don't. It's got it all and it is a great place to start with. They can be filler freaks, I mean jam oriented, sorry George, but I still love them.
Best Album: Willy and The Poor Boys. I have been playing this alot lately, it must be spring.

Fleetwood Mac

Revolutionary Album: No, No, No, George, I like these guys too, but they were not revolutionary, no matter how well Lindsey Buckingham plays.
Quintessential Album: Rumours. Check out the review on this site, George said it all, and very well too.
Best Album: Tango In The Night. Well I like this one, For some reason I grab this one first, It's formula, but it was a good formula, Most bands would kill for this formula, it's like Lindsey woke up long enough to say goodbye.

Genesis

Revolutionary Album: Selling England By The Pound. The first really together prog album (except for that ONE King Crimson Album), well, as together as they ever got. Peter has the voice Phil wished he had and does not screach like that singer in Yes or Rush or Styx, well can you see what I'm getting at, they really smoked on this one, all the way through.
Quintessential Album: Trick Of The Tail. Now you might be saying what the? but what happened here was a band trying to survive the loss of Peter Gabriel and the closing of the prog era and doing what it did the best it could. They were at most energetic, slick produced and a little fun. They may not be breaking ground on this album but they were wrapping up their era as a prog band here with a wink and a laugh, better than anything Yes or ELP would admit to doing. If you did not like this album or get the joke I really don't think you would like any of their older more serious work with Peter the better singer.
Best Album: Selling England By The Pound, George said it in his review and I'll not say it again.

Jethro Tull

Revolutionary Album: George Thick as a Brick????, creating long, long, long, sooooongs is not revolutionary, it sucks.
Quintessential Album: Aqua Lung. Tull rocks, one last time for you. It really was their best rock album.
Best Album: Songs From The Wood. I have always liked this album for my own twisted reason, he was good at recreating a Tolkien type of sound that really fitted his voice and flute, this was the first warm and cosy album that reminded me of someone reading that book to me, you know the one with the Hobbits. Stop laughing George.

Pink Floyd

Revolutionary Album: Dark Side Of The Moon. Oh stop groaning, what I will say is it really epitomizes how to make the studio an intregle part of your band. I don't think anybody followed through so so anally and evolved a tripped out style like these guys. I put this in the same category as Pet Sounds and Sergeant Pepper as a progression point for the band in question and the people that heard it. I may not want to listen to it all the time but god damn I respect it, and I won't nit pick this legend to death, as I said controversy can indicate worth.
Quintessential Album: Wish You Were Here. I think they fell back towards Meddle type material thus bringing this album close to being in this category. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe Meddle is the album, some of these bands just don't give you an obvious choice. By the way, if there ever was a band that was enhanced by those silly expensive gold master disks it really is Floyd, check the difference for yourself(ca-ching).
Best Album: The Wall. George said this category is the one you most enjoy, none of you have to like this choice but at least admit that nobody shrugged this one off. They or he went over the top and off the deep end, pretentious, Tommy like, and an experience, good, bad, and ugly this was really their last hurrah. The first ear phone freak out I ever had, could not handle more than a few minutes without pulling off the ear phones taking a few deep breathes and then emersing myself again. Vastly overplayed now.

Roxy Music

Revolutionary Album: No revolution, just solid, lounge lizard pop ('Love Is A Drug').
Quintessential Album: Siren. Start here for some wonderful pop. Bryan Ferry has that lounge lizard pose down dude, the band was great if not one of the best pop bands.
Best Album: Avalon. This one is smooth like cognac, lightly tinged jazz and synth, ear candy to be proud of, number one make out music. Watch out you might like this but be careful and don't get those Bryan Ferry solo sludge albums. Just like this one for what it is, their best and last album and a culmination of what made them great.

Steely Dan

Revolutionary Album: Count Down To Ecstacy. Dark, Complex, Dirty, Subtle and extremely accessible. Pop with a poisonous sneer but you did'nt catch it till you read the lyrics, well I read them did'nt you? Why revolutionary, because it was only these pretty little pop songs, but it really really was evil if you scratched the surface, think about what your singing next time you sing along and you will sing along you can't help but sing along. Time really did tell.
Quintessential Album: Aja. I know this was over played and is not as deep or dark but it is a place to start with this band.
Best Album: Pretzle Logic. As evil as any Black Sabbath album, as twisted as Bowie, Nothing so obvious as bashing you over the head with these guys, poison with a big old hook and a razor riff, go ahead and try not to bop along with this as they sing about serial killers, prostitutes,etc. ABBA can kiss my butt.

Yes

Revolutionary Album: Fragile. God almighty, I think the lead singer sucks wind. I can't help but give a nod to this album. It really set the stage for the progressive movement in all it's ugliness and they were consistent unlike those King Crimson dudes. But 'Round About' is fun.
Quintessential Album: Fragile. As I said I don't like this lead singer as falsetto thing, I don't like Rush,Styx, or Supertramp either, but I do admit that Yes influenced them all.
Best Album: Going For The One. I guess you could call this a guilty pleasure only because they found an anthem that worked ('I've Seen All Good People', do do do).

anyway, Thank you George good site.
[Special author note: Dick got his Yes albums a little messed up here - he probably wanted to say The Yes Album instead of GFTO, cuz that's where 'I've Seen All Good People' is. Anyway, he apologized for that in his comment on The Yes Album.]

Gustavo Rodriguez <rodblanc@webtv.net> (19.06.99)

I felt a need to respond to one of Dickison's comments about George and his 60's music.
While I don't like many of the bands George writes about (eg: Yes, Moody Blues, Genesis, Jethro Tull, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, etc.) I can completely relate to his tastes and affinity for older music. Why should we be compelled or force ourselves to love something just because it's new? I try to keep my ears open and listen to new stuff but 95% of the time I'm disappointed. I USED to feel guilty about that. Not anymore. I'm 26 years old and I've found more innovation, more excitement, more passion and overall pleaure in music that was made between 1955-1976 and I've decided to stop apologizing for it. I don't think I live in the past but really I just love history and I feel like I'm still learning a lot more from older music.
Just about everything today dates almost instantly. Practically nothing has any staying power. Sure some of the music made by my generation is good, but we haven't made the kind of music that you JUST CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT. Those old masters have us beat and I will praise them as such until someone truly betters thier achievements and I frankly don't think it will happen in our lifetime.

The DeFabios <defab4@earthlink.net> (20.08.99)

Gosh, it's really heard to disagree here. I mean, there's plenty I disagree with, but the disagreements are so petty they don't matter to me. I like Foxtrot better than Selling England, I like Traffic more than I used to, I like Thick As A Brick more than Stand Up. Who cares? Same difference. A good album is a good album, a bad album is a bad album. Which good albums are better and which bad albums are worse doesn't really matter to me. What matters is that they're good or they're bad, and in that respect, I don't think there's anything to pick a fight about here.

Josh Fitzgerald <breezesf85@email.com> (22.11.99)

Well, most of your choices are halfway decent, but here's a few minor things that I would like to add, if you would be so kind...

ABBA-
Best Album- The Visitors
Don't rip my head off for this, but I quite like this album a little bit! The songwriting is impeccable, and the production rules!
Worst Album-Voulez Vous
Hehehe. You know as well as I do that I think this album is one of the worst ever. Don't get me wrong, disco could have emerged into a very interesting and important genre, if only it wasn't so criticied, and hated. However, Voulez Vouz defines the word "crap." The ladies don't even sing good!

YES-
Revolutionary Album-Fragile
No question, Fragile was definetly the most revolutionary. I hear it constantly on the classic rock radio circuit, and it's the one they're best known for (unfortunately, that's not the main criterium for the 'most revolutionary' record- G.S.)
Best Album-Going For The One
The best example of perfect prog ever. Every song is definetly worthwhile.

That's about it. Your choices were pretty decent, and it was a clever idea too.

Jon Crick <rcjc@oz.sunflower.org> (25.03.2000)

Nice list and agree with much of it. I tend to prefer instrumental material, yet the vocal groups I enjoy are highly competent without somebody singing. I happen to appreciate Jon Anderson's vocals, the way.
Sadly missing from your list are Kate Bush and Hawkwind. Different venues altogether, but
My all-time favorite band is Tangerine Dream. Some consider TD boring and repetetive, yet I see subtle changes and progression from the 70's to the present. Much like King Crimson, the personnel change and new styles are introduced.
Revolutionary: Ricochet
Quintessential: Rockoon
Best : 220 Volt Live
Best Live : Tossup between 220 Volt Live and Ricochet.
Underrated : Just about anything they've released.
Worst : Turn of the Tides
Best departure from the usual: Ambient Monkeys

Ted Goodwin <Ftg3plus4@cs.com> (20.04.2000)

Thoughts (read: disagreements) on the Revolutionary / Quintessential / Best / etc. page:

RENAISSANCE Revolutionary - RENAISSANCE. Maybe not a great album, but certainly their most innovative. Who else tried so hard to mix rock & classical before this? Classical rock was all over the place by the time PROLOGUE was released.
Underrated - ILLUSION. What album has been more overlooked than this one?

TRAFFIC Revolutionary - OK, I have to admit there isn't one.
Underrated - Yes, there is an underrated Traffic album: WHEN THE EAGLE FLIES. And you are among its underraters!
Worst - I'd say at least 4 Traffic albums (including the 2 you haven't reviewed) fall below EAGLE. Probably more. My choice for worst would be SHOOT OUT AT THE FANTASY FACTORY, although many would consider ON THE ROAD a serious contender. Actually, the worst thing ever to carry the Traffic name would be the ill-advised "condensed" (1-LP) version of ON THE ROAD, but that doesn't qualify as a proper "album".

Sergey Zhilkin <sergey_jilkin@mail.ru> (30.08.2000)

Now I'll try to show my own opinion about the best, quintessential and etc. albums of The Beatles and ex-Beatles (except John simply because I only have two compilations of his songs).So let's start.
The Beatles! Revolutionary album: Sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band. It wasn't revolution in only Beatles albums - it was revolution in whole rock music. Quintessential album: The Beatles (White album). Simply because it's double and has all popular kinds of music. The best album: Sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band. Well, it's the best one starting from cover and ending with idea of 'all-songs-without-pause' not speaking about music which is pure rock! Best live album: Live at the BBC. Do you know any other audible album from Fan Four?Use it when you need a shot of rock'n'roll. Most underrated album: ? Most ..what?... None of their albums was underrated.Even Beatles for sale Worst album ever: Beatles featuring Tony Sheridan. Only because there is only ONE Beatles song - 'Cry for a shadow'
Paul McCartney! Revolutionary album: ? Yes, You're right. Paul was just going after the most popular kind of music (that's why we've got Press to play) Quintessential album: Tug of war Here you get guitar and beatiful Macca's voice, good efforts of experimenting with electronic music and piano-songs. Best album: RAM I like ALL songs on this album! Incredible! Best live album: Wings over America. He plays his early songs (70-76(I don't mention his Beatles-songs)). The best Macca is early Macca (Though he has strong records from 89 to 99) Most underrated album: ? I can't say just because I don't know public opinion. Maybe it's Back to the egg The worst album ever: CHOBA B CCCP. I like even Press to play but only 1993 version (it has 3 more really good songs). On CHOBA B CCCP Paul sings none of his songs but don't think that I don't like it.
George Harrison! Revolutionary album:All things must pass Have you ever heard such prayer LP before? Quintessential album:All things must pass This album has everything you want Best album:All things must pass See above Best live album:Concert for Bangla Desh George has 2 live albums: Live in Japan & Concert for B.D. Last one has two pluses while 'Live in Japan' has 1.5 pluses. On Bangla Desh George has good company and good voice (but songs on Japan are better).I gave 1.5 pluses to Japan for better songs and ...err...George(not Harrison), isn't it fun to hear:'If I reduce...ah,ah Boris Yeltsin' in his Beatle-song 'Taxman'?Though Bangla Desh is better. Most underrated album:Dark Horse George just didn't want to work and here's the result:people just didn't want to search good melodies (they are really good!!!) in his hoarse voice. The worst album ever:Somewhere in England Pop,pop and pop (except 'All those years ago' and 'Unconsciousness rules').Pop MUST DIE!!!
And at last Ringo! I'll keep short, OK? You said everything for me. Revolutionary album:? No album without drums - no revolution for Ringo. Quintessential album:Ringo Best album:Ringo Best live album:VH1 Storytellers I don't have VH1 Storytellers but it's his only one live album so it's the best one (though I think the concert in Moscow is better) Most underrated album:Vertical man How much dirt were thrown on it by critics until people said it was great pop! The worst album ever:Sentimental journey Forget it as your worst nightmare.

Fredrik Tydal <f_tydal@hotmail.com> (07.09.2000)

Let me try your favourite album routine...

The Byrds
Revolutionary - Yep, most probably Mr. Tambourine Man. While the single invented folk rock (released before Bringing It All Back Home), the album defines the genre. Fifth Dimension was quite revolutionary as well, in pionjeering psychedelia.
Quintessential - Agree here, Fifth Dimension. A great mixture of different styles.
Personal favourite - Younger Than Yesterday, no doubt about it.
Best live album - The original Byrds pretty much sucked live (check out their Monterey set for that), but the McGuinn Byrds with Clarence White were really solid. Besides the live first side on Untitled, the only real live Byrds album is the archive release Live At The Fillmore West, recorded in 1969. It shows the good side of the late era Byrds in a relaxed performance pieced together from three different nights at the Fillmore.
Most underrated album - 1970's double LP Untitled, half live/half stuio. The final three Byrds albums usually gets bashed in one misguided hit. Even if, ahem, one of the live tracks is unnecessarily stretched out, the studio LP is almost as good as anything on Ballad Of Easy Rider. The reissue adds a whole extra CD's worth of unreleased studio and live tracks. Oh, and the 1973 re-union album with the five original Byrds is quite underrated as well, but not as much as Untitled.
Worst album - Byrdmaniax. Their most Christian album, only worsened by orchestral arrangements and women choirs in excess - added in post-production unbeknowst to the Byrds themseles.

Jefferson Airplane
Revolutionary - Takes Off was revolutionary in the sense that it was recorded and released before The Byrds' Fifth Dimension, while After Bathing At Baxter was remarkable in the sense of a commercially successful band taking such an anti-commercial step. (Can you believe they actually released "Ballad Of You And Me And Pooneil" as a single? It actually reached the lower regions of the Top 40, just on the success of their previous singles).
Quintessential - Yep, Crown Of Creation. Paul is political, Grace is delivers hard-hitting social comments, Jorma is bluesy, Marty is getting a bit out of the picture, Jack is all over the place and Spencer adds some weird touches.
Personal favourite - Surrealistic Pillow... Or Crown Of Creation.
Best live album - Tough one. Either original 1969 live album Bless Its Pointed Little Head or recent archive release Live At The Fillmore East. I'll probably go for the former, since it has superior playing.
Most underrated album - The two final studio albums are usually dismissed in the same breath. Hold it. Bark is actually quite good, and better than the previous Volunteers. Jorma shines particulary - two of his songs are the best work he ever did with the Airplane.
Worst album - Long John Silver. The Airplane does a real nose dive. Ouch. Thankfully, they hadn't all lost it individually, though; for proof, check out 1973's Kantner, Slick & Freiberg collaboration Baron Von Tollbooth And The Chrome Nun or Hot Tuna's Burgers released the same year.