If I think of 'album' as something that needs to be holistic where each track is an element of importance to the whole, then I think you need to go a long way to better:
Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
If we're talking a collection of immersive audio beauty that anything but a fully dark room would ruin, then I'd cite:
Anything by Joni Mitchell (up to about 1982 when smoking finally reduced her voice to sounding like Satan). Don Juan's Reckless Daughter and The Hissing of Summer Lawns are favorites.
perfect albums, albums where everything is good and in the right place, that I've listened to over and over:
The Wham of Sam (CD version with extra tracks) - Sammy Davis, Jr.
Bone Machine - Tom Waits
Abbey Road - The Beatles
My Aim Is True - Elvis Costello
This Is The Story - The Proclaimers
Himself (U.S. version, unavailable on CD) - Gilbert O'Sullivan
My perfect divorce albums:
Blood on the Tracks - Bob Dylan
Diva - Annie Lennox
perfect musical score albums:
Hair (original cast recording)
Godspell (original cast recording)
Hedwig and the Angry Inch (movie soundtrack)
and ... may he rest in peace this greatest balladeer that ever was ...
I really like NikonJeb's list a lot, especially the more obscure Savoy Brown and Traffic, although I am more partial to Traffic's Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory.
Allman Bros at Fillmore East is an all time fave.
my list,
Humble Pie Rockin' the Fillmore (another live recording at the Fillmore East) with a 17 year old lead guitarist, Peter Frampton.
Elton John - Yellow Brick Road
David Bowie - Changes. He was so far ahead of his time
Greenday - American Idiot
ZZ Top - Tres Hombres
Edgar Winter and His White Trash Live at the Whiskey a-go-go (if you can find it) his brother Johnny Winter sits in and sings lead on Rick Derringer's Rock and Roll Hootchie Coo
Soundtracks
Les Miserables - Original London Cast. Absolutely spellbinding. Listened to the whole thing on the plane yesterday.
Jesus Christ Superstar - 1970 Studio recording with Ian Gillian (Deep Purple) and every other UK rocker at the time.
I'm gonna second(or third) The Dark Side of the Moon Album by Pink Floyd. I will say that another fantastic album that is a bit more recent but I believe is one of the best albums ever is Ten by Pearl Jam. I don't care for much of their stuff after that album but that one has great song after great song.
If I think of 'album' as something that needs to be holistic where each track is an element of importance to the whole, then I think you need to go a long way to better:
I'm gonna second(or third) The Dark Side of the Moon Album by Pink Floyd. I will say that another fantastic album that is a bit more recent but I believe is one of the best albums ever is Ten by Pearl Jam. I don't care for much of their stuff after that album but that one has great song after great song.
I haven't found a song I don't like by Pearl Jam. However, making an album is an art in itself. They have great songs, but great albums require more than that.
Edgar Winter and His White Trash Live at the Whiskey a-go-go (if you can find it) his brother Johnny Winter sits in and sings lead on Rick Derringer's Rock and Roll Hootchie Coo
Yeah, but that song was first released with the Winters, so that's the way I'll always remember it.....LOVE the Roadwork album!
I never realized how much of a music freakazoid I am.
The Band is another group I loved....Stage Fright was my fave from them.
Slayer - Reign in Blood
Metallica - Kill'Em All
Bad Religion - How Could Hell be Any Worse
The Pixies - Doolittle
Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
X - Los Angeles
Jesus Christ Superstar - 1970 Studio recording with Ian Gillian (Deep Purple) and every other UK rocker at the time.
I practically have that album memorized. Murray Head as Judas.
I really like the soundtrack from the Broadway production, too, with Ben Vereen as Judas. But, it just doesn't have the complete score like the studio version does.
Pink Floyd - Animals
Grateful Dead - Bears Choice Vol 1, One from the Vault, Two from the Vault, Reckoning, Dead Set... etc.
Led Zeppelin - I, & III
Jimi Hendrix - Band of Gypsys ( Jimi H, Buddy Miles, Billy Cox ) live new years eve '69 from filmore east.
