Common records everyone should own

[gravy_boat]

After stuffing around on turntablelab's crate essentials section, it got me thinking about common records that everyone should have in their collection....I was thinking Al Green - Let's stay together, Marvin Gaye - What's goin on, Roy Ayers - everybody loves the sunshine and Stevie Wonder - Innervisions. What have I forgotten?

[john stapleton]

must admit I haven't got the Al Green - but I've never liked his stuff.

[sermad]

Stevie Wonder - Songs on the key of life.

[Blighty]

Just to play the role of the morning grumpy bastard I HATE 'Songs In The Key Of Life'. Overated overproduced pap. I also hate the idea that anyone should own anything. You should own what you like. I love Al Green though. 'I'm Still In Love With You' is waaaaaaay better than let's stay together.

Okay. Sorry about that. I feel much better now.

[Belson]

I'm not an Al Green fan either.

I only own this one, but it's the definitive Al for me. Bit of a corker -

[LDJB]

Gainsbourg - Melody Nelson

'nuff said

[sermad]

songs is one of the best sunday chilling with the bird records ever. nuff said!

[Nick Cope]

Quote[/b] (Belson @ Nov. 17 2004,09:57)]I'm not an Al Green fan either.

I only own this one, but it's the definitive Al for me. Bit of a corker -

I do like that version of Light My Fire... probably my favourite version actually...

Kind of surprised you don't dig the Green, John! I rate the Willie Mitchell studio drum sound as some of the hardest ever... My fave Al Green cut has to be Strong as Death (Sweet as Love).

I agree on the Inner Visions... yeah, it's ok but that's as far as it goes. Innervisions is better IMO. If anyone mentions Superfly, I'm gonna moan ha ha! I'm not into boring workouts about a drug dealer, hee hee! Anyhow, his self-titled LP is a billion times better, hoo hoo!

I totally agree with the Serge (my all time fave Lp) but does that count as common/well known, enough to be on the edge of mainstream audience awareness?

Common record that no one should be without: um, how about What's Going On? A truly beautiful LP with a strong message that probably everyone in the developed world must've heard at some point...

[pokester]

Roy Ayers - everybody loves the sunshine lp
why do people like that lp ? I don't get it ....

he made much better stuff

[john stapleton]

Quote[/b] (Nick Cope @ Nov. 17 2004,12:25)]Kind of surprised you don't dig the Green, John! I rate the Willie Mitchell studio drum sound as some of the hardest ever...

It's not Willie Mitchell I don't like - I love the Syl Johnson and Ann Peebles Hi stuff - it's just Al Green's voice and delivery! Now Syl Johnson singing 'Take Me to the River', that's class!

[pokester]

what about james brown !

why doesn't he get mentioned by the funk heads (cheap lp's and great tunes)

[Nick Cope]

I guess because it's just a given?

[babycart]

The Sound of Music soundtrack has a version of ´My Favourite Things´which is quite nice.
Very common.

[vibra]

Quote[/b] (Nick Cope @ Nov. 17 2004,12:25)]I agree on the Inner Visions... yeah, it's ok but that's as far as it goes. Innervisions is better IMO.

I prefer Innervisions myself..

Surely Curtis Mayfield's 'Superfly' LP is well up there..

My actual fave Curtis LP (and recommendation for this list) is his 1975 'There's No Place Like America Today' LP, however unfortunately it's none too common, took me a fair old long time to find. Thoroughly wicked album though - go seek!

[Beaver]

Tim Hardin 1
Tim Hardin 2
Marvin Gaye - Whats Going On
Paul Williams - Someday Man
Tim Buckley - Happy Sad
Stevie Wonder - Innervisions
Isley Brothers - Brother Brother Brother

[Beaver]

Quote[/b] (vibra @ Nov. 17 2004,13:08)]

Quote[/b] (Nick Cope @ Nov. 17 2004,12:25)]I agree on the Inner Visions... yeah, it's ok but that's as far as it goes. Innervisions is better IMO.

I prefer Innervisions myself..

Surely Curtis Mayfield's 'Superfly' LP is well up there..

My actual fave Curtis LP (and recommendation for this list) is his 1975 'There's No Place Like America Today' LP, however unfortunately it's none too common, took me a fair old long time to find. Thoroughly wicked album though - go seek!

'No Place Like America Today' is an amazing LP, pretty easy to pick up IMO, £8-£15 in UK shops..

[Nick Cope]

Yup, nice LP. All of Curtis's LPs are nice, apart from Superfly. Silly lyrics, silly subject, silly film, just plain silly!

Silly Superfly!!

Not mention Superfly 1990, ha ha! with Ice-T. They can all be silly together, like the Silly Superfriends.

[Nick Cope]

I'd also like to nominate any LP by Morcheeba as a common record that people shouldn't have in their collection...

[Blighty]

Quote[/b] (pokester @ Nov. 17 2004,12:38)]what about james brown !

why doesn't he get mentioned by the funk heads (cheap lp's and great tunes)

What James Brown albums would be considered 'must haves'? Besides compilations all the James Brown albums I've heard are really patchy.

[vibra]

Quote[/b] (Blighty @ Nov. 17 2004,13:26)]

Quote[/b] (pokester @ Nov. 17 2004,12:38)]what about james brown !

why doesn't he get mentioned by the funk heads (cheap lp's and great tunes)

What James Brown albums would be considered 'must haves'? Besides compilations all the James Brown albums I've heard are really patchy.

For me the Black Caesar OST is one of his most solid LPs..

[son of stan]

Quote[/b] (Blighty @ Nov. 17 2004,13:26)]

Quote[/b] (pokester @ Nov. 17 2004,12:38)]what about james brown !

why doesn't he get mentioned by the funk heads (cheap lp's and great tunes)

What James Brown albums would be considered 'must haves'? Besides compilations all the James Brown albums I've heard are really patchy.

"The Best of James Brown"

[Blighty]

Quote[/b] (vibra @ Nov. 17 2004,13:31)]

Quote[/b] (Blighty @ Nov. 17 2004,13:26)]

Quote[/b] (pokester @ Nov. 17 2004,12:38)]what about james brown !

why doesn't he get mentioned by the funk heads (cheap lp's and great tunes)

What James Brown albums would be considered 'must haves'? Besides compilations all the James Brown albums I've heard are really patchy.

For me the Black Caesar OST is one of his most solid LPs..

Yeah. I was thinking that as I was typing but I've not heard it in ages. Not all the way through anyway. I shall dig it out.

[sermad]

What james brown lps are considered common? I rarely see any and when I do they are all £25+

[Mumbles]

I think everyone should have room for Tago Mago in their life.

[vibra]

Quote[/b] (Beaver @ Nov. 17 2004,13:12)]'No Place Like America Today' is an amazing LP, pretty easy to pick up IMO, £8-£15 in UK shops..

I think we'll have to agree to disagree on that one. Whilst obviously it's no "ultra raer", I've only ever seen it in the wild a few times and I think you'd be very lucky to cop one for less than £15 to be honest (see Gemm).

Edit - BTW There *is* a copy on there for less than £15 - hop to it bargain hunters!

[pokester]

Quote[/b] (Mumbles @ Nov. 17 2004,13:52)]I think everyone should have room for Tago Mago in their life.

this is not so common in belgium

[sermad]

no tago mago is pretty pricey. Ege bamyasi is however very easy to get around the £10-15 mark. Essential too.

[LDJB]

Quote[/b] ]I think everyone should have room for Tago Mago in their life.

Ege Bamyasi for me please.

[LDJB]

Quote[/b] ]Ege bamyasi is however very easy to get around the £10-15 mark. Essential too

Great minds

[Nick Cope]

James Brown records are 100% over-priced everywhere. They sold by the bucket load by the day and had major, major distribution. There is absolutely no reason why a JB record should fetch upwards of £25-40 (with a few exceptions) other than shop owners and dealers trying to make a buck or two extra.

And don't forget just about all of the records mentioned here, the ones that count as 'common' anyway, are available on reissue vinyl or CD. There's no rule that says you must only own an original, common LP!

As for JB albums being patchy... ?? Some maybe, but tons more that aren't. Gotta say though, I consider Black Caeser to be a weak LP. Just a patchwork of tunes originally released elsewhere on his discography... I'd name some JB titles that are solid, but my brain seems to have gone kaput on me right now! promise to edit in some titles later!