Stand!: Sly and the Family Stone (1969)
Sly is one of music’s most talented individuals. Unfortunately, no one remembers him. Stand! represented Sly and the Family Stones’ breakthrough. The album represents not only the band’s peak, but also one of the most creative albums ever recorded.
Key Tracks:
Everyday People
Stand!
I Want to Take You Higher
There’s a Riot Going On: Sly and the Family Stone (1971)
Sly abandoned the formula, which made Stand! a success. With Riot, he took the band in a darker, funkier direction. At first, people were not sure what to make of the album. Over time, critics and fans have embraced it as a classic.
Key Tracks:
Family Affair
Runnin’ Away
Thank You For Takin’ Me to Africa
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness: Smashing Pumpkins (1995)
Billy Corgan hoped to make his generation’s The Wall. The result was a platinum album nine times over. Supposedly, the album’s two sides represent day and night. However, Corgan later claimed Mellon Collie was not a concept record and tied together loosely.
Key Tracks:
Tonight, Tonight
Bullet with Butterfly Wings
1979
Horses: Patti Smith (1975)
Smith emerged from the New York punk scene that produced Blondie, The Ramones, and others. Horses pulls together personal experiences and some cover songs to complete its package. Smith’s album later influenced a number of artists ranging from Michael Stipe to Siouxsie and the Banshees to Morrissey to Sammy Hagar.
Key Tracks:
Gloria
Land
Redondo Beach
Superunknown: Soundgarden (1994)
Soundgarden changed their sound for 1994’s Superunknown. They culled a number of inspirations together to create an album and sound critics compared to The Beatles.
Key Tracks:
Fell on Black Days
Black Hole Sun
Spoonman
The Day I Tried to Live
Sly is one of music’s most talented individuals. Unfortunately, no one remembers him. Stand! represented Sly and the Family Stones’ breakthrough. The album represents not only the band’s peak, but also one of the most creative albums ever recorded.
Key Tracks:
Everyday People
Stand!
I Want to Take You Higher
There’s a Riot Going On: Sly and the Family Stone (1971)
Sly abandoned the formula, which made Stand! a success. With Riot, he took the band in a darker, funkier direction. At first, people were not sure what to make of the album. Over time, critics and fans have embraced it as a classic.
Key Tracks:
Family Affair
Runnin’ Away
Thank You For Takin’ Me to Africa
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness: Smashing Pumpkins (1995)
Billy Corgan hoped to make his generation’s The Wall. The result was a platinum album nine times over. Supposedly, the album’s two sides represent day and night. However, Corgan later claimed Mellon Collie was not a concept record and tied together loosely.
Key Tracks:
Tonight, Tonight
Bullet with Butterfly Wings
1979
Horses: Patti Smith (1975)
Smith emerged from the New York punk scene that produced Blondie, The Ramones, and others. Horses pulls together personal experiences and some cover songs to complete its package. Smith’s album later influenced a number of artists ranging from Michael Stipe to Siouxsie and the Banshees to Morrissey to Sammy Hagar.
Key Tracks:
Gloria
Land
Redondo Beach
Superunknown: Soundgarden (1994)
Soundgarden changed their sound for 1994’s Superunknown. They culled a number of inspirations together to create an album and sound critics compared to The Beatles.
Key Tracks:
Fell on Black Days
Black Hole Sun
Spoonman
The Day I Tried to Live
