Friends/20/20 for me, its Dennis and the bonus tracks which swing it for me. Agree its a cruel poll, very hard to call, but I love the cohesiveness of Friends and the total lack thereof on 20/20, and the birth of Dennis as a songwriter is of enormous importance to me.

Thanks for the review, it sounds like it was pretty special.

If Dion ever made it over to the UK I'd be there in a shot (and I'm in my 30s too).

Laurie Bird certainly committed suicide, but I hadn't heard the Garfunkel connection.  She's also in Monte Hellman's Cockfighter with Warren Oates - The DVD of which is worth searching out for the documentry on Warren that is included as an extra.

Just to back up Ian's recommendation of "Bring Me The Head...".  Warren Oates is simply extraordinary is this movie.  He was gifted with one of the most expressive faces in pictures, and he is allowed to have a large canvas in this film to show his range.

When it played at the National Film Theatre in London last year I insisted that my acting students should see it, and we just about half filled the cinema all by ourselves.

I love this film.  It doesn't pander to its audience, it draws you into a world of its own, many of its images are striking, Warren Oates's performance is one of the most consumate screen portrayals of delusion and fantasy you're ever likely to see.

The single greatest existential road movie ever.

If your friend doesn't dig them after that, then his taste would have to be considered very dubious.

After a quick look I have to add a missing fave:  Animal Farm.

Other than that one personal choice, all the other songs I looked for were on your list.  Pretty damn good.

Yes, a real hero in the Brian Wilson story.  Talented, egoless and commited to the cause.  Top man.

Just want to back up the shout for Mark Mulcahy, as one of the great, but sadly obscure voices of our times.

And... to say how dissapointed I was that it took until page 4 before anyone mentioned the dulcet tones of the mighty...SAM COOKE.

Shame on you all.  Play "Bring It On Home To Me" 5 times as penance,

The world is a musically a sadder place without your voice, Carl.  R.I.P.

The man speaks sense.  That live version is awe inspiring.  Can you imagine the albums that could have been graced with Clarence White's guitar had he not met his untimely end. A real musical tragedy.

I saw them live when their first album came out, and they're a lovely, doodling melodic pop band with a load  of pleasant tunes ( but maybe no real killers), well worth searching out and having a listen too.

Patti Smith Horses Legacy Edition.

I hate him and his banal, souless tunes.

No offense intended.  Each to their own.

Gould's playing is sublime.  Whoever said the 1981 Goldbergs were better was spot on - less virtuosic, more subtle, mature and moving.  Bach is one of my favorite pop composers (I am not being facetious), and I could listen to Glenn Gould's interpretations every day.

I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better

About as perfect as a pop tune can get.

I love the entire output (I started with the twofer about a decade ago), but Third is one of my all time favorite albums - despairing, fragile beauty doesn't come any better.