TURN THIS MUTHA OUT! It's the Alternate 1970s Albums Poll on ILX — Results Thread

Likewise - pleased it's here, though it didn't make my list either.

One I need to check out. Never heard anything by them.

Two distinct eras of the band to explore. The early albums are more roadhouse bluesy chooglin' rock, the latter albums (after Roy Loney left) are pristine '60s-inspired Brit Invasion melodic pop. I prefer the latter (of which this one is the first), but all their work is worth hearing.

76. Pere Ubu - Datapanik in the Year Zero EP (1978) [93 points, 6 votes]

http://i45.tinypic.com/xn9pip.jpg

I brought home a Pere Ubu record (Datapanik) because of Robert Christgau's enigmatic review "Michael Stanley is Cleveland's answer to Pere Ubu." Didn't know what he meant, but thought it was strange enough to try a Pere Ubu record. Didn't take a shine to it right away.. (couldn't get past the voice at first.) Then, absolutely loved everything Pere Ubu did. Later, didn't care as much about Ubu. Now, care again, but not like I used to.

― Dave225, Thursday, May 2, 2002 8:00 PM (7 years ago)

Pere Ubu was the mother of punk rock.

― mottdeterre (mottdeterre), Thursday, January 13, 2005 6:53 PM (4 years ago)

It will be interesting to see if the first two Pere Ubu albums make the list along with that compilation. They were both on my list.

100. ZZ Top - Tres Hombres (1973) [80 points, 7 votes]
99. Milton Nascimento & Lô Borges - Clube de Esquina (1972) [80 points, 7 votes, 1 first place vote]
98. Chic - C'est Chic (1978) [80 points, 14 votes]
97. John Lennon - Imagine (1971) [80 points, 15 votes]
96. Patti Smith - Horses (1975) [80 points, 17 votes]
95. Van Halen - Van Halen (1978) [81 points, 6 votes, 1 first place vote]
94. Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac (1975) [81 points, 8 votes]
93. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo's Factory (1970) [81 points, 11 votes]
92. Blondie - Eat to the Beat (1979) [82 points, 9 votes]
91. Miles Davis - Agharta (1976) [82 points, 10 votes]
90. Ian Dury - New Boots and Panties!! (1977) [83 points, 6 votes]
89. Neu! - Neu! 2 (1973) [83 points, 10 votes]
88. Tom Waits - Closing Time (1973) [84 points, 6 votes]
87. Black Sabbath - Vol. 4 (1972) [85 points, 8 votes, 1 first place vote]
86. Hawkwind - Space Ritual (1973) [85 points, 11 votes]
85. Aerosmith - Rocks (1976) [86 points, 8 votes, 1 first place vote]
84. Tubeway Army - Replicas (1979) [86 points, 9 votes]
83. Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak (1976) [86 points, 11 votes]
82. The Who - Live at Leeds (1970) [87 points, 6 votes]
81. Comus - First Utterance (1971) [87 points, 9 votes]
80. Van Morrison - Veedon Fleece (1974) [88 points, 8 votes, 1 first place vote]
79. Electric Light Orchestra - Out of the Blue (1977) [90 points, 10 votes]
78. Bruce Springsteen - The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle (1973) [92 points, 9 votes]
77. Flamin' Groovies - Shake Some Action (1976) [92 points, 10 votes]
76. Pere Ubu - Datapanik in the Year Zero EP (1978) [93 points, 6 votes]

That's it so far. 25% of the list is accounted for. I have to run out and do a few things, but I'll be back with some more.

Some things Johnny F might have run out to do:

100. take back some videos
99. put in dry cleaning
98. shift at charity shop
97. buy bagels
96. showdown with thesis supervisor
95. go to gym
94. bus-spotting
93. parkour
92. feed ducks in park
91. traffic survey
90. form human chain
89. apply for Turkish passport
88. use public library for warmth
87. new bus pass
86. give blood
85. graffiti
84. kooky photography project
83. ride boxcars
82. meet with parole supervisor
81. buy pregnancy testing kit
80. lunch alone in Ethiopian restaurant
79. amateur astronomy
78. measure tide height
77. bet on UK general election
76. fly kite

lol

12 US, 8 Britain, 2 Ireland (-ish: half of Lizzy by that stage, and i wouldn't like to answer for how Van considers himself), I Brazil, I Germany and 1 US/UK hybrid ('Mac)

A++, Ismael

I'm enjoying seeing a lot of unfamiliar albums on the list. The Springsteen is the only one I voted for to place thus far. I got it and Born to Run a couple of months ago. They've both grown on me a bit, but The Wild, The Innocent, Etc. was the only one to make it onto my ballot.

93. parkour

lol, yes that's what it was!

Rolling Spotify playlist.
(Missing: John Lennon, Aerosmith Comus, Pere Ubu... and Track 1 from Neu 2, oddly enough.)

75. ABBA - Arrival (1976) [93 points, 8 votes]

http://i50.tinypic.com/2e0oahx.jpg

arrival itself. absolutely exquisite, and an enormous influence on many of my own songwriting attempts (many times i'd end up back at that melody, wondering how i got there.)

this was a big, big favourite of mine when i was very young. i'd have to get my dad to put it on because i couldn't reach the record player (and wasn't allowed to fuck with his records, either). actually: i think i borrowed it off him many years ago and never gave it back. whoops.

― grimly fiendish, Sunday, June 8, 2008 10:35 AM (1 year ago)

Just listened to this again and boy is it good, way more consistently excellent than I expected for such a "singles band." Like I said before, the competition is really thrown off by the singles - but I'm impressed to see that "When I Kissed The Teacher" beat "Knowing Me, Knowing You." Someone in the Popular comments box at some point wrote some really nice things about WIKTT but I can't remember where or who it was...

― Doctor Casino, Sunday, July 27, 2008 5:04 PM (1 year ago)

Abba: Classic.
The cult of ABBA: Dud.

― Sean Carruthers, Thursday, April 19, 2001 8:00 PM (8 years ago)

Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth on WIKTT (from Decibel:

WHEN I KISSED THE TEACHER

I have to pat myself on the shoulder for “bravery” here. I’m a metal dude, yet I just have to pick this song that waves the flag for one of the least “macho” song titles ever. The opening 12-string acoustic guitar chords demands your attention and I’m just disarmed from the get-go. Never been a big fan of “happy” music, yet this one is anything but a downer track. I don’t know what it is…maybe the superb production? The work they must have put into this song is just mind boggling. Anni-Frid and Agnetha are doing their trademark dual vocals throughout the track, with the exception of Agnetha’s amazing “One of these days…” choruses. This is one of those songs where you need to listen to what’s going on “behind” the main vocal. It’s a constant flow of multi-tracked, rhythmic backing vocals that matches or even surpasses the genius of a band like Queen. Yeah, I said it! I meant it too!

it's a well-known fact that mikael akerfeldt is WAY too nice to be truly metal ;-)

haha

On what planet is some Abba record better than Black Sabbath Vol. 4????

Happy New Year Bill!!

74. David Bowie - Lodger (1979) [93 points, 12 votes]

http://i47.tinypic.com/2posfa8.jpg

Lodger is Bowie's masterpiece. Interesting that it's also one of his most overlooked records, isn't it?

"Boys Keep Swinging" = freaking genius "D.J." = catchy danceable genius "Yassassin" = incredible total genius "Red Sails" = major genius "Look Back in Anger" = ASTONISHING GENIUS

― J, Friday, May 10, 2002 8:00 PM (7 years ago)

'Lodger' has the best sleeve of any Bowie record. It spawned the best tribute album in the form of Talking Heads' 'Fear of Music'. I love its travelogue theme (hmm, perhaps it also spawned the Human League's 'Travelogue'?) and its eclectic avant pop stylings, although the same quality can give it the feel of a supermarket food court or theme park: do you want to Turkish flavour of 'Yassassin' or the 'Errol Flynn in the South China Sea' vibe of 'Red Sails'? Do you want the avant-griot chunder of 'African Night Flight' or the Berlin bar-room piano of 'DJ'? But I guess that's PoMo PoMo PoMo fo yo.

― Momus, Saturday, May 11, 2002 8:00 PM (7 years ago)

I was really, really into Bowie when I got it, and it almost single handedly stopped my Bowie phase in it's tracks. It's so... devoid of anything that made the other two "Berlin Albums" so bloody spectacular.The only songs I'd say are up to par are the beautiful "Fantastic Voyage" and "African Night Flight." Maybe it's the production./. but something about it just sounds very off. And what is up with "Red Money" taking the exact same music as "Sister Midnight?" Running out of idead Thin White Duke? Have to resort to stealing from yourself? Tsk Tsk.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Tuesday, March 1, 2005 3:12 PM (4 years ago)

That's not even a good album. With all the other stuff on that list. . . Sorry but I don't think I've complained about results yet.

At least you're not still in the position of wondering whether a single one of his votes will show!

73. Cluster - Zuckerzeit (1974) [93 points, 14 votes]

http://i46.tinypic.com/eq191g.jpg

"zuckerzeit" still sounds like it's from the future.

― cutty (mcutt), Sunday, February 20, 2005 11:34 PM (4 years ago)

I've just spent an awful lot of money to get all the Cluster I can, along with Moebius/Plank's Rastakrautpasta, which has a song called "Two Old Timers" I heard many years ago and is the reason I would have known to check out Cluster in the first place. Zuckerzeit, Sowiesoso, Cluster '71: I am ENTHRALLED with all of these.

Yes I know I can download but in this case, it just isn't enough. This music is precious like gold.

― Bimble (bimble), Saturday, May 15, 2004 6:55 PM (5 years ago)

[i][Zuckerzeit] is classic seminal proto-techno pop electronica genius and pretty essential. Tiger Sushi licensed "Hollywood" so there's definately some awareness in the current electronic dance music hipster scene.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Sunday, May 16, 2004 1:34 AM (5 years ago)

That's not even a good album.

Lodger is a fine album, not my favorite or anything, but I can totally understand why other people would love the hell out of it.

I've only ever heard the Cluster & Eno albums. I guess I should start digging into their own work some, yes?

There were 5 Bowie albums on the original poll and 7 more nominated for this one, kind of afraid that the ridiculous Bowie fanbase on this board is going to get all of them to place.

woo cluster

Lodger used to be Bowie's fave album of his.

x-p
yes i guess so, zuckerzeit and sowiesoso are good starting points. with rother they suddenly have melodies and beats. before they were mainly minimal electronic pioneers. look out for the 2 harmonia albums as well. the same people.

only 1 of my picks so far have placed. Im guessing at least 30 of them are outside the top 100

0-for-whatever here

ZUCKERZEIT! another choice of mine places... i think it's up to 3 now

Same here although I could easily have voted for about 15 of these (if it was pick 55 albums I suppose)

xpost

I really cant wait to see 101-200 to see if my picks got close to the top 100.

^^

Zuckerzeit's "Hollywood" is a track for the ages, along with Harmonia's "Deluxe (immer wieder)", from Deluxe. They really knew how to kick off their albums in legendary fashion!

Whoops, my ^^ was referring to what Alex in mainhatten wrote.

Zuckerzeit is the first record I don't know at all - voted for Harmonia though.....

72. Pere Ubu - Dub Housing (1978) [94 points, 12 votes]

http://i49.tinypic.com/34gx3kx.jpg

I've got Dub Housing - i like it lots. The guy's voice is one of the most comically incredible i've ever heard in pop but for some reason i got over it. I actually bought the album for £1 without a case thinking it was Dub Reggae... Boy was i wrong, but then it turned out to be excellent anyway :-)

― dog latin, Wednesday, May 2, 2001 8:00 PM (8 years ago)

he sings like a cross between David Byrne and Tiny Tim.

― scott, Monday, May 7, 2001 8:00 PM (8 years ago)

I'm surprised to see no consensus here that Dub Housing is by far their peak. It was dark, eerie, powerful, experimental but still totally engaging. Quite a feat for an album with an obsessive focus on paranoia and mental instability.

― Fastnbulbous (Fastnbulbous), Wednesday, September 7, 2005 11:23 PM (4 years ago)

Dub Housing is so classic. Total paranoid schizo vibe.

― dar1a g (daria g), Thursday, September 8, 2005 1:26 AM (4 years ago)

xp Zuckerzeit's my third placing as well, glad to see it that high

Man, sorry I missed voting on this. I was working on my ballot and then, well, the holidays et cetera. But the top spots were Alice Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Joe McPhee and Herbie Hancock. Even into the '70s, jazz was still slaying rock.

OH NO! I hope herbie albums still make it or it will be all your fault ;)

My intro to Pere Ubu was seeing a video from one of the late '80s albums on 120 Minutes, but I wasn't really paying attention. Later, Guided By Voices covered "Navvy" from Dub Housing so I went out and bought a cheapo vinyl copy. I tried and tried to convince myself I liked it, but I really, really didn't. I still haven't heard The Modern Dance or Datapanik or any of the other albums, early or later on.

Two of mine in a row there. I think Cluster was my number 40 and Pere Ubu were in my top 10.

It's already getting to the stage where I can tell some of my choices that I thought might sneak in lower down have probably missed out.

I'm a bit disappointed there hasn't been much disco or soul in the list so far.

dub housing is great but the debut is better and weirder. every song so different from the other and so original. it has to place as well.

disco and soul will probably place quite high. especially curtis mayfield, i am a little bit surprised chic placed so low though.

Modern Dance is my fave so I hope it places.

Where's the funk in this poll?!! If shakey mo didnt vote it's his fault.

Curtis is my #1

If shakey mo didnt vote it's his fault

He didn't.

Two of mine in a row there. I think Cluster was my number 40 and Pere Ubu were in my top 10.

More or less this in reverse for me. Thinking I should've put Zuckerzeit higher but had about 20 things competing to be in my top 5. Still not sure if my ballot is composed of too-obvious choices which will push out someone else's unknown treasures, or the other way round!

yeah sorry I am kinda following this thread but I always find these nomination threads kinda bewildering

*shakes fist*

disco and soul will probably place quite high. especially curtis mayfield, i am a little bit surprised chic placed so low though.

I voted for both the Chic albums nominated and I put Risque quite a lot higher.

I'm really rooting for the Dr Buzzard's original Savannah band album. I know it has a few supporters on here but I can't see it being higher than a lot of the things already in.