20. Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band - Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band (1976) [161 points, 10 votes]
http://i50.tinypic.com/o05mk2.jpg
Disco rarely got more musically or lyrically sophisticated than on this self-titled debut album. Long before he took up the role of Kid Creole with the Coconuts, wordsmith August Darnell cushioned small, perfect truths--singer Cory Daye promises to get her "equivalency diploma" in love in "I'll Play the Fool"--in knowingly retro sounds. Stylish, honest, and completely one of a kind.
― Poops McGee, Thursday, February 14, 2002 8:00 PM (7 years ago)
I read an interview with Donald Fagen where he says "Glamour Profession" was written after listening to Dr Buzzard for a week.
― dave q, Thursday, February 14, 2002 8:00 PM (7 years ago)
Dr. Buzzard's is not only very pleasurable, I think it is "important", although more from the standpoint of theory than from that of actual influence. For me, Dr. Buzzard's was one of the really original artists in African-American music in the mid-70s, along with Parliament/Funkadelic and Afrika Bambaata and other forebears of rap. Its music is a glimpse of a road not taken in African-American music -- an attempt to do music that reflects the identity of a Black community that is composed of cosmopolitan strivers, polyglot syncretists, rather than the paranoid, self-limiting, "thug" culture that has become the focus of hip-hop (which I am not attacking, by the way). It is the pop music that Stanley Crouch would want if he ever got his head out of his butt. And, like Prince but unlike a whole lot of other African-American music, then and since, it is hyper-aware of the entire African-American musical tradition and the many points of intersection and influence between that tradition and European musics. And, like Parliament and unlike a whole lot of other African-American music, it is playful and subversive about race and politics (listen to "Soraya" or "Once There Was A Colored Girl").
All of that does not make it "better" or "more valid" or whatever compared to types of music that are actually popular and commercially successful. What it does provide is sort of the musical equivalent of a type of science-fiction novel: What would the world look like if we just tightened (or loosened) this one screw a bit . . . ? Kid Creole, of course, came from the same place, but pretty systematically limited its ambition to making funny party music. Dr. Buzzard's was party music, often funny, with something serious to say and do.
― Vornado (Vornado), Monday, January 10, 2005 10:30 AM (4 years ago)
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 8 January 2010 20:48 (fourteen years ago) link
That has just made my day!
― Kitchen Person, Friday, 8 January 2010 20:50 (fourteen years ago) link
well we're in the top 20 and i still have no idea what's "left to come" other than 2 or 3 records so i'd say this poll was at least some type of success
― bread has no effect on you (ciderpress), Friday, 8 January 2010 20:53 (fourteen years ago) link
I told you guys the top half would be a lot more schizo than the bottom half!
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 8 January 2010 20:55 (fourteen years ago) link
Dr Buzzard was my number two all we need now is for Curtis to take this poll.
I'm surprised Sparks haven't made the list, is Propaganda in with a shot? I think they had two in my top six.
― Kitchen Person, Friday, 8 January 2010 20:57 (fourteen years ago) link
Swell Maps will make this, y/n?
― We should have called Suzie and Bobby (NickB), Friday, 8 January 2010 21:00 (fourteen years ago) link
19. Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, A True Star (1973) [162 points, 12 votes]
http://i47.tinypic.com/27y0dac.jpg
always felt that the flaming lips ripped off this album for "soft bulletin". that drum sound, especially. there are passages on this album i can easily hear the lips playing (end of "zen archer" esp). anyone else hear it?
― johnnyo, Thursday, October 15, 2009 4:51 PM (2 months ago)
i think his weird stuff is his best. and it's really not that weird. it's all just your subconcious trying to tell you to be afraid. it's just him twidling a few knobs here and there on top of some mightily impressive songs. there are some jokey bits, but they're really not that annoying in the least.
― JasonD (JasonD), Tuesday, April 22, 2003 10:45 AM (6 years ago)
Yeah but AWaTSis indeed the fucking weirdass album to end all fucking weirdass albums. I love it to death all the way through but it's asking a lot to expect more than 1% of ILM to love it start to finish.
― fizzcaraldo (Justin M), Tuesday, June 8, 2004 10:36 PM (5 years ago)
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 8 January 2010 21:02 (fourteen years ago) link
yes!! that was my #3 and i've completely fallen in love with it over the past 3 or 4 months. just one of the most fun and glorious albums to listen to all in one go
― bread has no effect on you (ciderpress), Friday, 8 January 2010 21:04 (fourteen years ago) link
i gather i would possibly like that record a lot
― Electric Universe (wherever that is) (acoleuthic), Friday, 8 January 2010 21:06 (fourteen years ago) link
it's weird because stylistically he gets real similar to zappa on that record but zappa's never really clicked for me and yet i love todd
― bread has no effect on you (ciderpress), Friday, 8 January 2010 21:07 (fourteen years ago) link
I've got 4 of 7 so far. Soon is my 2nd favorite Can album but it just missed my top 40. It also didn't make the top 200 last time, so a genuinely nice surprise. The album had been underrated for a long time, nice to see it finally get props.
― Fastnbulbous, Friday, 8 January 2010 21:08 (fourteen years ago) link
I voted for A Wizard, A True Star
― Pfunkboy : The Dronelord vs The Girly Metal Daleks (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 8 January 2010 21:10 (fourteen years ago) link
Wow, I wonder if that means Something/Anything is shut out? I'm going to re-listen to it now. I just saw the phrase today, "you're a wizard, a true star" in the latest Bruce Sterling book The Caryatids. Was it floating around before Rundgren used it for the title?
― Fastnbulbous, Friday, 8 January 2010 21:12 (fourteen years ago) link
something/anything is good but it suffers from 'might have been better cut down to a single album' syndrome imo
― bread has no effect on you (ciderpress), Friday, 8 January 2010 21:14 (fourteen years ago) link
it feels more like just a buncha songs than a unified art-pop statement like wizard is
Wizard was my #3. Secret Treaties by Blue Oyster Cult was my #2, which I really don't think is going to make it, but hopefully my #1 will.
― Ork Alarm (Matt #2), Friday, 8 January 2010 21:17 (fourteen years ago) link
18. Lou Reed - Transformer (1972) [164 points, 16 votes]
http://i46.tinypic.com/103bj40.jpg
Am I right in assuming Transformer is Lou Reed's best selling album due to the "hit" status of "Walk on the Wild Side"? I wonder how many people bought this and were totally turned off on Lou Reed for a good long while if not forever.If I bought this when I was 14 instead of The Velvet Underground & Nico I would've thought, "Fuck this Lou Reed guy, he sucks."I mean it almost makes me think that NOW.
Also, anyone else first hear "Walk on the Wild Side" as the Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch song?
― AaronHz (AaronHz), Monday, October 4, 2004 3:59 AM (5 years ago)
Most of the songs on Lou Reed's "Transformer" have either gay themes ("Make Up") or at least gay subtexts; the production itself (queeny Bowie harmonies, strings) is quite campy.
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, February 16, 2005 9:09 AM (4 years ago)
My parents used to play that one all the time, and I guess that i can never escape it. They used to play it on sundays, I can still remember listening to that song in the wintertime while my toes got cold 'cause my socks always got wet from the snow. I still think that 'Vicious' rocks, though, and even though it's a love/hate relationship, that record can never really be touched.
― Jay Kid (Jay K), Friday, December 19, 2003 4:35 PM (6 years ago)
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 8 January 2010 21:17 (fourteen years ago) link
17. Joni Mitchell - Hejira (1976) [165 points, 10 votes, 1 first place vote]
http://i47.tinypic.com/10g04qt.jpg
My favorite Joni album is Hejira, I think. Lots of very peculiar voice/arrangement interplay, loping rhythms, beautiful bass parts.... There's really no album like it. I agree the album benefits from a cohesiveness, in sound, in theme.
It's not perfect. "Furry Sings the Blues" always sounded like a retread to me--the one ringer. But "Amelia," yes--this might be her best song. "Song for Sharon" also is beautiful.
Joni Mitchell has so many qualities (and so much myth) that are likely to set alarm bells ringing in ILMs heads--including mine-- but she is incredible, just totally incredible.
― amateurist (amateurist), Friday, August 1, 2003 10:10 AM (6 years ago)
hejira was the first album i ever heard of joni somewhen around 1984 and it made me a fan. it is like a calmer, more mature and less overtly emotional version of blue, her other masterpiece. it doesn't set the shivers down my spine like blue but it has got this relaxed atmosphere with occasional emotional outbursts like amelia which make a perfect record.
― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Sunday, August 3, 2003 8:58 AM (6 years ago)
I actually think that Hejira might be the greatest album ever made. A perfect fusion of poetry, soulfulness, sound and meaning. It's so personal and so universal. I can really live in that record.
'Song for Sharon' is the centerpiece, so eloquent, inspired throughout. Then there's 'Amelia', the heart-pounding 'Black Crow', 'A strange Boy' where every messed-up artistic young guy can dream of being seduced by Joni, and the title track which pretty much encapsulates it all.'It was the hexagram of the heavensIt was the strings of my guitar....'
― Pete S, Wednesday, December 3, 2003 7:00 PM (6 years ago)
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 8 January 2010 21:26 (fourteen years ago) link
I've really got my hopes up for Bill Fay's last persecution now, but maybe my first place was the only vote it got and i'm fooling myself
― Jamie_ATP, Friday, 8 January 2010 21:28 (fourteen years ago) link
Hejira rules.
I've never actually sat down and listened to a whole Joni Mitchell album. I've heard scattered tracks here and there, but I think maybe I'll start with Hejira (because I'm a contrarian and don't want to start with Blue).
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 8 January 2010 21:30 (fourteen years ago) link
Yeah, Joni's just killin' it in this poll. I've never really listened to her either.
― o. nate, Friday, 8 January 2010 21:36 (fourteen years ago) link
Fingers still crossed for 'Stormcock' - given up on Slapp Happy and Kevin Coyne
― sonofstan, Friday, 8 January 2010 21:42 (fourteen years ago) link
I kept hearing "Help Me" on the radio back in March is how I got into her. Also that David Sedaris said his sister said he could only room w/her if he didn't bring his Joni Mitchell records. Got all the three that placed so far on this poll & love them – still haven't heard "Blue." I think "Court & Spark" is my favorite of the three.
― girl moves (Abbott), Friday, 8 January 2010 21:43 (fourteen years ago) link
I had Blue on recently. It sounded like ancient history.
― Ismael Klata, Friday, 8 January 2010 21:44 (fourteen years ago) link
Matt #2 – high fives for Secret Treaties! It's my faves album of theirs by a long shot. I love all the organ on it. I defs voted for it, iirc in my top ten, but I forget where exactly.
― girl moves (Abbott), Friday, 8 January 2010 21:44 (fourteen years ago) link
i think i voted for agents of fortune instead whoops
i voted stormcock but way at the bottom of my ballot so only a few points worth
― bread has no effect on you (ciderpress), Friday, 8 January 2010 21:47 (fourteen years ago) link
Blue is indeed mega overplayed... but i really don't think its ruined by it. Every time I hear it i think i'm going to get bored but it never happens. I guess with a few of these mega genre defining big records there are actually very good reasons why they were so huge.
― Jamie_ATP, Friday, 8 January 2010 21:48 (fourteen years ago) link
16. The Raincoats - The Raincoats (1979) [168 points, 12 votes, 1 first place vote]
http://i45.tinypic.com/33pgcbr.jpg
i always get a kick out of the savage review that their albums got in the first "rolling stone record guide."
― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Thursday, August 26, 2004 11:20 AM (5 years ago)
Trivia: Johny Rotten once said back in the day that all music at that time was crap - except for the Raincoats.
― Thea (Thea), Thursday, August 26, 2004 2:13 PM (5 years ago)
The Raincoats...totally challenged themselves and their _own_ preconceptions of what kind of sounds they could make every step of the way. And never made a bad record, though the reunion album has some shaky spots.
― Douglas, Tuesday, November 13, 2001 8:00 PM (8 years ago)
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 8 January 2010 21:49 (fourteen years ago) link
Yeah, Joni is dominating like Kate Bush did for the 80s poll.
― Fastnbulbous, Friday, 8 January 2010 21:50 (fourteen years ago) link
yet another album i haven't even heard, love it
― bread has no effect on you (ciderpress), Friday, 8 January 2010 21:50 (fourteen years ago) link
Court & Spark has two of Joni's bigger pop hits: "Help Me" & "Free Man in Paris". It also has a balls out rocker: "Raised on Robbery" and a cameo by Cheech & Chong. That was the first Joni album that I picked up and have listened to the longest.
― cheesy porn film background banjo music (KMS), Friday, 8 January 2010 21:51 (fourteen years ago) link
15. Steely Dan - The Royal Scam (1976) [176 points, 11 votes, 2 first place votes]
http://i48.tinypic.com/2dl7lz4.jpg
I think this is the hardest SD album for me to call, favorites-wise, very consistent with no real strong favorites or un-favorites.
― some dude, Thursday, June 26, 2008 9:24 PM (1 year ago)
Actually, I wouldn't say this is my favorite SD album, but I have sometimes thought that it's the pinnacle of their sound: it sounds sparkly and polished without the sterility that sometimes dogs Aja and Gaucho.
― jaymc, Friday, June 27, 2008 5:20 AM (1 year ago)
"Kid Charlemagne" changed my fucking life for real, some of the best narrative on Fagen's resume. 'Clean this mess up else we'll all wind up in jail/those test tubes, and the scale' one of the all-time couplets.
― J0hn D., Friday, June 27, 2008 11:52 AM (1 year ago)
it's like they made a whole album of deep cuts
― any major some dude will tell you (M@tt He1ges0n), Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:12 AM (1 year ago)
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 8 January 2010 21:59 (fourteen years ago) link
herrrrre we go
― Electric Universe (wherever that is) (acoleuthic), Friday, 8 January 2010 22:01 (fourteen years ago) link
(will take that back if/when Rock Bottom appears, also if/when Steely Dan turn out to be actually awesome)
― Electric Universe (wherever that is) (acoleuthic), Friday, 8 January 2010 22:02 (fourteen years ago) link
We heard you're leaving, that's ok.
― Euler, Friday, 8 January 2010 22:03 (fourteen years ago) link
Steely Dan can be awesome, but not always.
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 8 January 2010 22:03 (fourteen years ago) link
left that one off my ballot to make room for some variety, looks like it didn't need my help anyway
― bread has no effect on you (ciderpress), Friday, 8 January 2010 22:04 (fourteen years ago) link
14. Steely Dan - Aja (1977) [177 points, 16 votes]
http://i47.tinypic.com/1ovgoz.jpg
It's been said many times on the Gaucho thread, but I'll repeat: they wrote masterfully about ennui, dessication, and despair on Gaucho. I'm not sure what "Black Cow" and "Home At Last" are about beyond their instrumental virtuosity. I mean, they're pretty, I don't skip the tracks, but so what?
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, June 20, 2008 2:14 PM (1 year ago)
Alfred if we ever have a few hours to kill together I will explain to you why this is a better album than Gaucho and you will agree by the time I get done.
― J0hn D., Monday, July 14, 2008 9:15 PM (1 year ago)
Aja is almost not Steely Dan to me. Aja is this amazing tangent whose heights were never to be equalled again. I recommend an earlier record to get to the truth of Steely Dan. Aja stands apart.
― Dave AKA Dave (dave225.3), Friday, March 17, 2006 12:20 PM (3 years ago)
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 8 January 2010 22:18 (fourteen years ago) link
Ooh, back-to-back Steely Dans. (Aja was way low on my ballot and Scam wasn't on it at all.)
― Monophonic Spree (Paul in Santa Cruz), Friday, 8 January 2010 22:21 (fourteen years ago) link
Yeah, they were within a single point of being a tie.
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 8 January 2010 22:22 (fourteen years ago) link
i hope that was it for steely dan. i don't hate them at all, i even kind of like them. but in a way they represent the mediocrity of the 70s. the middle of the road, fusion, jazz rock etc. lukewarm, unintersting music.
― alex in mainhattan, Friday, 8 January 2010 22:24 (fourteen years ago) link
FFS. I'm starting to mourn the great albums that these Steely Dan albums are stealing spots from.
― Fastnbulbous, Friday, 8 January 2010 22:27 (fourteen years ago) link
That's all there can be isn't it? all the others were in the first 70s poll and gaucho is 80s.
But they so don't represent the mediocrity of the 70s
― sonofstan, Friday, 8 January 2010 22:28 (fourteen years ago) link
Can't Buy a Thrill was eligible too, but here's some inside info... it didn't make the cut.
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 8 January 2010 22:32 (fourteen years ago) link
fuck
― Electric Universe (wherever that is) (acoleuthic), Friday, 8 January 2010 22:33 (fourteen years ago) link
Funny that people were assuming this was going to be an Aja/Tusk #1-2 lock.
― President Keyes, Friday, 8 January 2010 22:37 (fourteen years ago) link
Tusk might not even make the 100
― Ismael Klata, Friday, 8 January 2010 22:38 (fourteen years ago) link
I've never listend to Steely Dan before, but I'm listening to Aja, and WTF?!! People would actually vote this sort of fusion-lite, cocktail bar soul over, you know, proper electric jazz or soul?! This is the 14th best album of the 70s?! Is there something I don't get here?
― Tuomas, Friday, 8 January 2010 22:39 (fourteen years ago) link
114th
― Ismael Klata, Friday, 8 January 2010 22:40 (fourteen years ago) link