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Critic's Choice: Top 200 Albums

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and its admirers. According to Willis: "Heylin is very cross that Pepper instantly became – and remains – a cultural icon. To him, most critics were – and remain – lazy or craven. Editors have rigged polls to mislead readers, who are so contemptible, they don't even realise that the only true Pepper
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may delight MTV audiences, but their jobs have nothing to do with weighing good music." In an attempt to gauge the genuine critical response, Hilburn reduced the number of panelists to 27 – all critics and writers whose work he knew. From their personal top tens reproduced in the book, he calculated
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s top ranking in the book, since the contributors' personal top tens show that Frith, Tobler and Welch were the only "bona-fide" critics who listed that album, whereas half of the 16 "outsiders", who possessed "no critical credentials (and precious little taste)", named it in their top four. Heylin
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From the 47 personal lists, Gambaccini created a top 200 list of albums. The book contains an entry for each album, with its track listing, LP cover and release information, and commentary from one of Gambaccini's contributors on its impact and significance. The top ten albums were as follows:
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in the UK. In 1977, he asked various British and American music critics, journalists, radio broadcasters and individuals from the music industry to list their top ten albums of all time. Of the 47 people who participated, according to author
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For the next edition of the book, Gambaccini reduced the scope to a top 100. The participants consisted of 81 critics, writers and broadcasters. Among the music critics were Frith, Gillett, Marcus, Marsh and Williams once more, and
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in 1987, on the occasion of its 20th anniversary and first release on CD, Heylin dismisses the second edition of Gambaccini's book and similarly ridicules a contemporary list compiled by
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soundtrack. He added that, "most importantly", he learned about "Robert Christgau, Greil Marcus, Dave Marsh, Ed Ward and the other contentious cornerstones of pop music criticism".
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throughout the 1970s, however, Gambaccini regularly wrote album reviews. Along with Bangs, Cott, Flippo, Kaye, Marsh, Nelson and several others, his early work was published when
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wrote that he enjoyed the book but regretted that Gambaccini had chosen to include so many broadcasters and media personalities among his contributors, saying, "
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entertainment reporter Todd Leopold praised the first edition of the book while ridiculing a top 200 albums list recently compiled by the
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in January 1978, and then by Quick Fox in the US. The book comprises an annotated and illustrated list of the best albums in
103: 1181: 593: 588:, Clinton Heylin criticises the choice of contributors to the 1978 edition, due to the absence of leading critics such as 193:, for departing from the purview of music critics and including contributions from radio and television broadcasters. 156:, both published in 1979. It was followed by several other books that classified the best (and worst) pop recordings. 789: 696: 609: 501: 1230: 1225: 837: 626: 144: 901: 276: 672:
in the second edition as an indication of that album's increasing historical importance. Writing in 2007,
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video jockeys. All LP covers were reproduced in full colour. The top ten albums were as follows:
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A second edition of the book was compiled in 1987 from a poll of 81 contributors. It was titled
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would have topped the list, followed by the Velvet Underground and Presley albums, with
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The Act You've Known for All These Years: A Year in the Life of Sgt. Pepper and Friends
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Lindberg, Ulf; Guomundsson, Gestur; Michelsen, Morten; Weisethaunet, Hans (2005).
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at number one. He says that Gambaccini produced "another uncritical edition of
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Rock Criticism from the Beginning: Amusers, Bruisers, and Cool-Headed Cruisers
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in sixth place. In his own top ten, Hilburn placed Presley at number one and
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Full list of albums from the 1978 and 1987 editions at the Rock List website
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writers, titled "The 100 Best Albums of the Last Twenty Years", that placed
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Images of American Society in Popular Music: A Guide to Reflective Teaching
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Rock Music in American Popular Culture II: More Rock 'n' Roll Resources
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book gave the album an overly generous four-star rating (out of five).
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in 2007, Tim Willis commented on the author's propensity for deriding
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The Rock Canon: Canonical Values in the Reception of Rock Albums
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in the United States) is a musical reference book compiled by
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Critics' Choice: The Top 100 Rock 'n' Roll Albums of All Time
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Writing in his 2007 book on the legacy of the Beatles'
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as "groundbreaking" and cites the improved ranking of
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Lee; Haney, Wayne S. (2013) . 937: 872:. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. p. 144. 842:. New York, NY: Routledge. p. 267. 735:The Act You've Known for All These Years 586:The Act You've Known for All These Years 119:Rock Critics' Choice: The Top 200 Albums 1047: 1218: 1126: 1114: 1102: 989: 974: 931: 899: 807: 777: 16:1978 reference book by Paul Gambaccini 1129:"A Mutineer in the Ranks of the Fans" 1018: 865: 546:In his review of the second edition, 438:Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 297:Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 186:Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 1155:Harrington, Joe S. (February 2015). 1182:"A Really Infuriating Top 200 List" 13: 900:Taylor, Jonathan (25 March 1987). 14: 1247: 1199: 1050:"In Search of Rock's 10 Best LPs" 1048:Hilburn, Robert (15 March 1987). 990:Marcus, Greil (17 August 2016) . 902:"Pop Critics Pick Rock's Top 100" 670:The Velvet Underground & Nico 502:The Velvet Underground & Nico 169:. In the US, it was published by 20:Critic's Choice: Top 200 Albums 1174: 1148: 1120: 1069: 1021:"Rock Critic's Choice: Top Ten" 748:is the original mono pressing." 727: 710: 394: 196: 113:Critic's Choice: Top 200 Albums 1180:Leopold, Todd (7 March 2007). 992:"Top 10 Albums (1978 Edition)" 829: 627:The Rolling Stone Record Guide 145:The Rolling Stone Record Guide 1: 1192:. Retrieved 14 November 2019. 755: 1127:Willis, Tim (21 June 2007). 541: 7: 126:journalist and broadcaster 10: 1252: 866:Jones, Carys Wyn (2016) . 678:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 97: 89: 81: 71: 61: 51: 43: 33: 24: 703: 682:the Mothers of Invention 778:Cooper, B. Lee (1982). 716:Among his articles for 1231:1987 non-fiction books 1226:1978 non-fiction books 907:Los Angeles Daily News 536:("White Album") (1968) 498:The Velvet Underground 934:, pp. 265, 279. 606:Charles Shaar Murray 317:Highway 61 Revisited 204:wrote regularly for 1134:The Daily Telegraph 1025:robertchristgau.com 1019:Christgau, Robert. 740:The Daily Telegraph 733:Reviewing Heylin's 363:The Rolling Stones 235:, Giovanni Dadomo, 21: 1117:, pp. 278–80. 977:, pp. 264–65. 919:chicagotribune.com 491:The Sun Collection 480:Born in the U.S.A. 477:Bruce Springsteen 353:The Rolling Stones 19: 1089:978-0-8204-7490-8 1055:Los Angeles Times 948:"Paul Gambaccini" 879:978-0-7546-6244-0 849:978-1-56023-877-5 822:978-1-84195-918-4 594:Richard Goldstein 553:Los Angeles Times 445:Bruce Springsteen 382:Bruce Springsteen 357:Exile on Main St. 165:and published by 109: 108: 104:978-0-19-537371-4 82:Publication place 1243: 1193: 1178: 1172: 1171: 1169: 1167: 1152: 1146: 1145: 1143: 1141: 1124: 1118: 1112: 1106: 1100: 1094: 1093: 1073: 1067: 1066: 1064: 1062: 1045: 1036: 1035: 1033: 1031: 1016: 1007: 1006: 1004: 1002: 987: 978: 972: 963: 962: 960: 958: 952:Rock's Backpages 944: 935: 929: 923: 922: 916: 914: 897: 884: 883: 863: 854: 853: 833: 827: 826: 805: 796: 795: 775: 749: 731: 725: 714: 697:Harder They Come 622: 577:at number four. 567:Blonde on Blonde 460:Blonde on Blonde 308:Blonde on Blonde 277:Richard Williams 225:Robert Christgau 124:American-British 73:Publication date 29: 22: 18: 1251: 1250: 1246: 1245: 1244: 1242: 1241: 1240: 1216: 1215: 1202: 1197: 1196: 1179: 1175: 1165: 1163: 1153: 1149: 1139: 1137: 1125: 1121: 1113: 1109: 1101: 1097: 1090: 1074: 1070: 1060: 1058: 1046: 1039: 1029: 1027: 1017: 1010: 1000: 998: 996:greilmarcus.net 988: 981: 973: 966: 956: 954: 946: 945: 938: 930: 926: 912: 910: 898: 887: 880: 864: 857: 850: 834: 830: 823: 809:Heylin, Clinton 806: 799: 792: 776: 763: 758: 753: 752: 732: 728: 715: 711: 706: 694:album, and the 691:Forever Changes 666:Critic's Choice 659:Critics' Choice 620: 544: 539: 471:What's Going On 397: 392: 241:Charlie Gillett 202:Paul Gambaccini 199: 140:Critic's Choice 128:Paul Gambaccini 90:Media type 74: 38:Paul Gambaccini 17: 12: 11: 5: 1249: 1239: 1238: 1233: 1228: 1214: 1213: 1208: 1201: 1200:External links 1198: 1195: 1194: 1173: 1147: 1119: 1107: 1105:, p. 265. 1095: 1088: 1068: 1037: 1008: 979: 964: 936: 924: 885: 878: 855: 848: 828: 821: 797: 790: 760: 759: 757: 754: 751: 750: 726: 708: 707: 705: 702: 548:Robert Hilburn 543: 540: 538: 537: 528: 517: 509:The Beach Boys 506: 495: 484: 475: 464: 453: 442: 430: 424:, and several 396: 393: 391: 390: 379: 370: 361: 350: 341: 332: 321: 312: 301: 289: 221:Clinton Heylin 198: 195: 191:Clinton Heylin 107: 106: 101: 95: 94: 91: 87: 86: 85:United Kingdom 83: 79: 78: 75: 72: 69: 68: 63: 59: 58: 56:Reference work 53: 49: 48: 45: 41: 40: 35: 31: 30: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1248: 1237: 1234: 1232: 1229: 1227: 1224: 1223: 1221: 1212: 1209: 1207: 1204: 1203: 1191: 1187: 1183: 1177: 1162: 1161:Reel and Rock 1158: 1151: 1136: 1135: 1130: 1123: 1116: 1111: 1104: 1099: 1091: 1085: 1081: 1080: 1072: 1057: 1056: 1051: 1044: 1042: 1026: 1022: 1015: 1013: 997: 993: 986: 984: 976: 971: 969: 953: 949: 943: 941: 933: 928: 920: 909: 908: 903: 896: 894: 892: 890: 881: 875: 871: 870: 862: 860: 851: 845: 841: 840: 832: 824: 818: 814: 810: 804: 802: 793: 791:0-88229-514-4 787: 783: 782: 774: 772: 770: 768: 766: 761: 746: 742: 741: 736: 730: 723: 719: 718:Rolling Stone 713: 709: 701: 699: 698: 693: 692: 687: 683: 679: 675: 671: 667: 662: 660: 656: 652: 651:Rolling Stone 648: 643: 641: 640:Rolling Stone 637: 633: 629: 628: 619: 615: 614:Paul Williams 611: 607: 603: 599: 595: 591: 587: 583: 578: 576: 572: 568: 563: 559: 555: 554: 549: 535: 534: 529: 526: 525: 521: 518: 515: 514: 510: 507: 504: 503: 499: 496: 493: 492: 488: 487:Elvis Presley 485: 482: 481: 476: 473: 472: 468: 465: 462: 461: 457: 454: 451: 450: 446: 443: 440: 439: 435: 432: 431: 429: 427: 423: 419: 415: 411: 407: 403: 388: 387: 383: 380: 377: 376: 371: 368: 367: 362: 359: 358: 354: 351: 348: 347: 342: 339: 338: 333: 330: 329: 325: 322: 319: 318: 313: 310: 309: 305: 302: 299: 298: 294: 291: 290: 288: 284: 282: 278: 274: 270: 266: 262: 261:Lisa Robinson 258: 254: 250: 246: 242: 238: 234: 233:Cameron Crowe 230: 229:Jonathan Cott 226: 222: 217: 213: 209: 208: 207:Rolling Stone 203: 194: 192: 188: 187: 182: 178: 177: 172: 171:Harmony Books 168: 164: 163: 157: 155: 151: 147: 146: 141: 137: 136:popular music 133: 132:Omnibus Press 129: 125: 121: 120: 115: 114: 105: 102: 100: 96: 92: 88: 84: 80: 76: 70: 67: 66:Omnibus Press 64: 60: 57: 54: 50: 46: 42: 39: 36: 32: 28: 23: 1236:Music guides 1185: 1176: 1164:. 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Pepper 575:Sgt. Pepper 571:Sgt. Pepper 562:Alan Hunter 533:The Beatles 467:Marvin Gaye 449:Born to Run 434:The Beatles 406:Chet Flippo 386:Born to Run 337:Rubber Soul 293:The Beatles 273:Chris Welch 265:John Tobler 245:Clive James 237:Simon Frith 216:BBC Radio 1 212:disc jockey 181:the Beatles 1220:Categories 756:References 722:Jon Landau 513:Pet Sounds 414:Nick Logan 410:Kurt Loder 402:Ken Barnes 375:Abbey Road 314:Bob Dylan 257:Dave Marsh 249:Lenny Kaye 598:Nick Kent 542:Reception 456:Bob Dylan 304:Bob Dylan 142:preceded 62:Publisher 811:(2007). 632:Stranded 422:Tim Rice 346:Revolver 152:-edited 148:and the 116:(titled 44:Language 1190:CNN.com 1166:9 March 584:album, 550:of the 269:Ed Ward 47:English 1086:  876:  846:  819:  788:  527:(1968) 516:(1966) 505:(1967) 494:(1975) 483:(1984) 474:(1971) 463:(1966) 452:(1975) 441:(1967) 389:(1975) 378:(1969) 369:(1969) 360:(1972) 349:(1966) 340:(1965) 331:(1968) 320:(1965) 311:(1966) 300:(1967) 34:Author 704:Notes 621:' 565:that 93:Print 52:Genre 1168:2020 1142:2019 1084:ISBN 1063:2019 1032:2019 1003:2019 959:2019 915:2019 874:ISBN 844:ISBN 817:ISBN 786:ISBN 737:for 686:Love 630:and 612:and 560:and 416:and 279:and 214:for 99:ISBN 1188:at 688:'s 674:CNN 426:MTV 173:as 1222:: 1159:. 1131:. 1052:. 1040:^ 1023:. 1011:^ 994:. 982:^ 967:^ 950:. 939:^ 904:. 888:^ 858:^ 800:^ 764:^ 684:, 608:, 604:, 600:, 596:, 592:, 412:, 408:, 404:, 283:. 275:, 271:, 267:, 263:, 259:, 255:, 251:, 247:, 243:, 239:, 231:, 227:, 183:' 1184:. 1170:. 1144:. 1092:. 1065:. 1034:. 1005:. 961:. 921:. 882:. 852:. 825:. 794:.

Index


Paul Gambaccini
Reference work
Omnibus Press
ISBN
978-0-19-537371-4
American-British
Paul Gambaccini
Omnibus Press
popular music
The Rolling Stone Record Guide
Greil Marcus
GRR/Pavilion
Harmony Books
the Beatles
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Clinton Heylin
Paul Gambaccini
Rolling Stone
disc jockey
BBC Radio 1
Clinton Heylin
Robert Christgau
Jonathan Cott
Cameron Crowe
Simon Frith
Charlie Gillett
Clive James
Lenny Kaye
Greil Marcus

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