Favourite Double Albums

[Mike's Beard]

What would be posters favourite double albums? Off the top of my head I'd say "Lamb Lies down on Broadway" by Genesis, The Beatles White Album, "Tusk" by Fleetwood Mac, "Freak Out!" by Frank Zappa and Pink Floyd's The Wall.

[the captain]

Overwhelmingly, the ones that are not necessarily intended to be listened to start to finish as a single work, because I think it is very, very rare for any pop musician to create something that long that holds up for such a long running time. (Rare-to-nonexistent is the double album I don't believe would be better as a single album.) So give me Physical Graffiti over The Wall, for example. Just songs.

[drbeachboy]

One of my favorite double albums is the Chicago Transit Authority debut album.

[TdHabib]

I love "The Lamb Lies Down," but I have to admit it's a bit padded, a great concept and tons of great songs but some padding too. "Tusk," is a great choice, can play that through all the way with no difficulty. The White Album is a no-brainer (fantastic album) and "All Things Must Pass" is remarkably consistent until you hit the jams near the end. Sublime until there. "Blonde on Blonde" I can listen to from start to finish, the only cut I don't like is "Temporary Like Achilles," everything else is super. The Wall" has some tough spots for sure, great album but some padding too. "Quadrophenia" is good. "Exile" of course. Double live sets usually work well, "Live Rust" is a personal favorite.

[Roger Ryan]

..."All Things Must Pass" is remarkably consistent until you hit the jams near the end....

But the initial vinyl issue of ALL THINGS MUST PASS saved the jams for a third disc, so those tracks were considered a "bonus" to the album proper. I disliked how the CD reissue split the two proper vinyl discs on separate CDs and filled each with outtakes/bonus tracks. The first four sides of the vinyl should have appeared on one CD (it would fit timing-wise) with the jams and bonus tracks relegated to the second CD.

Regarding THE WALL: ironically, one could say that there is a lot less filler on this double album than on single Pink Floyd albums like WISH YOU WERE HERE and ANIMALS!

[the captain]

Regarding THE WALL: ironically, one could say that there is a lot less filler on this double album than on single Pink Floyd albums like WISH YOU WERE HERE and ANIMALS!

I'd say that doesn't make it better; it's just sad.

[Roger Ryan]

Regarding THE WALL: ironically, one could say that there is a lot less filler on this double album than on single Pink Floyd albums like WISH YOU WERE HERE and ANIMALS!

I'd say that doesn't make it better; it's just sad.

I heard THE WALL the day it was released (November, 1979) played in its entirety on the radio (back when radio would do this kind of thing) and a big part of the appeal to me was the lack of lengthy synth solos! The album pushed me into becoming a Pink Floyd fan when I had simply tolerated them since first hearing DARK SIDE OF THE MOON. Soon I grew to appreciate all phases from Barrett to the more experimental democratic group to Waters-dominated*, so I like it all and would agree that THE WALL is not necessarily better than those albums with the lengthy digressions.

*I'm going to pretend that the last two Gilmour-led Floyd studio albums didn't exist.

[Mahalo]

*I'm going to pretend that the last two Gilmour-led Floyd studio albums didn't exist.

Me too...

[the captain]

The Wall is probably my favorite of their albums, but I do think it is loaded with filler and would have been better as a single album. I meant that it's just sad that a lot of their other albums had even more. I don't know what it is, whatever my state of mind or level of intoxication, I prefer my pop music to be succinct. So double albums that aren't batches of good, succinct songs usually grate on me. Which begs the question, why am I posting in this thread? Sorry. Buzz-kill signing out of the thread.

[Myk Luhv]

There is no good double album that couldn't be made better when cut down to a single LP or disc or whatever medium you like.

[Mike's Beard]

One of my favorite double albums is the Chicago Transit Authority debut album.

Good call, although I'd say Chicago II is even better. The suite on the second half is fantastic. We should start a Chicago appreication thread one of these days....

The Wall is probably my favorite of their albums, but I do think it is loaded with filler and would have been better as a single album. I meant that it's just sad that a lot of their other albums had even more. I don't know what it is, whatever my state of mind or level of intoxication, I prefer my pop music to be succinct. So double albums that aren't batches of good, succinct songs usually grate on me. Which begs the question, why am I posting in this thread? Sorry. Buzz-kill signing out of the thread.

No doubt about it sides 3 & 4 have more than their fair shair of filler which if not for the whole 'Wall storyline concept' would never have seen the light of day. Still, the whole thing hangs together as a whole artistic statement. Compare it to the "Final Cut" single album that followed which is pretty much unlistenable.

[Ganz Allein]

The "'White' Album," "Chicago Transit Authority," and "The Wall" would be on my list, too.  I'd also add Todd Rundgren's "Something/Anything," Jimi Hendrix's "Electric Ladyland," Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life," and Earth, Wind & Fire's "Gratitude."

[Ganz Allein]

One of my favorite double albums is the Chicago Transit Authority debut album.

Good call, although I'd say Chicago II is even better. The suite on the second half is fantastic. We should start a Chicago appreication thread one of these days....

'60s / '70s Chicago, until the death of Terry Kath, was completely awesome! But in the '80s...talk about a band jumping the shark. 

[phirnis]

For my personal taste Lamb Lies Down on Broadway just doesn't deliver. When I really was into prog rock I used to LOVE about one third of it but even then I didn't bother listening to the second disc most of the time.

Always loved Bitches Brew and Big Fun by Miles Davis. While the latter might not work especially well as a consistent album experience it still contains quite a few of my very favorite fusion-era MD pieces.

[punkinhead]

Songs in the Key of Life & Tommy

[pixletwin]

All time favorite double albums:

3. The Beatles
2. The Wall
1. Mellon Chollie and the Infinite Sadness

Hands down. The. Best.

[Mike's Beard]

Christ, how could I have forgotten to mention Melon Chollie? That was one of the last truly great albums before the whole industry went to the dogs.

[pixletwin]

Christ, how could I have forgotten to mention Melon Chollie? That was one of the last truly great albums before the whole industry went to the dogs.

Sad but true. 

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Get Up With It by Miles Davis is my fave double album

I would sat Sandinista but that's a TRIPLE album!  Did anyone mention the word "filler" yet? 

Honorable mentions:

Tales From Topographic Oceans: Yes (yup)
Lumpy Gravy: Zappa
The Velvet Underground 1969 (do live albums count?)
Blue Moves: Elton John
The Basement Tapes (Bob Dylan, The Band)
 

[punkinhead]

Get Up With It by Miles Davis is my fave double album

I would sat Sandinista but that's a TRIPLE album!  Did anyone mention the word "filler" yet? 

Honorable mentions:

Tales From Topographic Oceans: Yes (yup)
Lumpy Gravy: Zappa
The Velvet Underground 1969 (do live albums count?)
Blue Moves: Elton John
The Basement Tapes (Bob Dylan, The Band)
 

i was about to put All Things Must Pass but omit it because of it being a triple...but i'd gladly take off the jams and just make it a double album....not that i don't like the jams...but ATMP as a double album would be pretty steller.

BTW, what's the story behind Wah-Wah?
All I know is that it was written during and/or about the Let it Be sessions.
I took it as George don't need none of this Wah-Wah (Bull sh*t)

[Amazing Larry]

Lumpy Gravy ain't no double album!

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Oops!

[Loaf]

BTW, what's the story behind Wah-Wah?
All I know is that it was written during and/or about the Let it Be sessions.
I took it as George don't need none of this Wah-Wah (Bull merda)

Wah Wah is George's term for a headache. A McCartney-induced headache during the LIB sessions.

[Loaf]

If we're talking live albums, I'll add:

Grateful Dead - Live Dead
CSNY - 4 Way Street

[Loaf]

There is no good double album that couldn't be made better when cut down to a single LP or disc or whatever medium you like.

I will counter your opinion with my opinion that the White Album would have been better as a triple LP, adding Sour Milk Sea, Child of Nature, What's the New Mary Jane, Not Guilty etc...