Greatest 200 Albums of All Time: Artists Beginning with B (part II)

This is the second of three posts with "B" artists.

Slippery When Wet: Bon Jovi (1986)


Slippery When Wet transformed Bon Jovi from just another pop hair band into international superstars. The record differentiated Bon Jovi from its contemporaries with its level of musicianship and crossover ability. It sold over 12 million copies and is an album that helps explain the mid-to-late 80s to listeners. It transitions from arena rock to pop metal and even foresees the unplugged phenomenon of the early 90s. As most of their contemporaries disappeared in the early 90s, Bon Jovi proved adaptable and has continued to score hit records nearly 25 years later.

Key Tracks:

You Give Love A Bad Name
Livin’ On A Prayer
Wanted Dead or Alive
Never Say Goodbye

Boston: Boston (1976)

Boston’s debut album sold 17 million copies. Only Guns n Roses sold more debut records. The band went from unknown to stars literally overnight. They became a curiosity for their meteoric rise and began opening for Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult. The album became a soundtrack for 1976 and various tracks still receive extensive radio play to this day. The record became one of several released during the period which convinced corporations to get involved in the music business. The end result being so-called “Corporate Rock.”

Key Tracks:

More Than A Feeling
Peace of Mind
Foreplay/Long Time

Space Oddity: David Bowie (1969)

Bowie mixes folk and prog rock together to create Space Oddity. More than one critic has commented that the album represents where Bowie had been and where he was going. The album was inspired in part by the burgeoning space program and 2001: A Space Odyssey. At the same time, the album incorporates Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and Eastern religions and philosophy. The album may confuse less sophisticated listeners, but is well worth a twirl.

Key Tracks:

Space Oddity
Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud
Cygnet Committee

Hunky Dory: David Bowie (1971)

Once again, Bowie mixes and combines musical styles to create a masterpiece. Bowie defines himself as well as the youth of his time and the music industry with “Changes.” In addition to this introspection, he borrows from Dylan, Nietzsche, and the Velvet Underground. Once again, he gives some insight into what would come with his future work.

Key Tracks:

Changes
Life on Mars?
Quicksand
Oh! You Pretty Things

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: David Bowie (1972)

David Bowie decided to create his own imaginary rock star. The character Ziggy Stardust is an alien that comes to Earth to present the planet with a message of peace and love. Ziggy falls to all the temptations including sex and drugs and is destroyed by rock excess. This album is the most creative and innovative of the period between the end of the sixties and the rise of disco.

Key Tracks:

Ziggy Stardust
Suffragette City
Starman
Rock n Roll Suicide

Heroes: David Bowie (1977)

The second, and best, of Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy (Low and Lodger) is the only one actually recorded there in its entirety. Bowie’s trilogy is influenced by Cold War Berlin and "Heroes" reflects the grit of the period. In fact, the studio sat 1500 feet from the Berlin Wall and Communist troops watched Bowie through binoculars. The album contains some dark and brooding pieces, but is downright cheerful compared to Low.

Key Tracks:

Heroes
Beauty and the Beast
Joe the Lion

Let’s Dance: David Bowie (1983)

David Bowie spent a decade as an artistic chameleon. By the early 80s, he decided to move into a pop direction and created an album to appeal to the masses. The end result was a monster album filled with catchy radio tunes. Let’s Dance also featured an up and coming guitar hero in Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Key Tracks:

Modern Love
China Girl
Let’s Dance
Cat People

Live at the Apollo: James Brown (1963)

James Brown recorded Live at the Apollo on October 24, 1962. Brown’s record label initially opposed releasing a live album. They felt an album lacking new material would not make money. However, Brown convinced them and the album was a smash. Stores could not keep the record on the shelves. The album represents a transition of old school R&B into soul.

Key Tracks:

I’ll Go Crazy
I Don’t Mind
Lost Someone

Buffalo Springfield Again: Buffalo Springfield (1967)

Personal problems surrounding Neil Young and Bruce Palmer created problems during the recording of Buffalo Springfield Again. However, those problems may have helped the songwriting along. As a result, the band’s sophomore effort surpasses its debut effort.

Key Tracks:

Mr. Soul
Broken Arrow
Expecting to Fly
Rock n Roll Woman

Mr. Tambourine Man: The Byrds (1965)

The album Mr. Tambourine Man, along with the title track, provided an American alternative to the British Invasion. The Byrds combined the Beatles sound with American folk to create a new genre. The album contained both originals and reworked folk songs. Hence, the band helped pioneer the folk rock genre. The Byrd’s influence is heard in Simon and Garfunkel, The Mamas and the Papas, Jefferson Airplane, Tom Petty, Big Star, R.E.M., The Gin Blossoms, The Smiths, and many other artists.

Key Tracks:

Mr. Tambourine Man
All I Really Want To Do
The Bells of St. Rhymney

#81 Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi


It’s the 1980s and Hard Rock is king. Enter Bon Jovi. The band was more talented than most of the eras hair metal bands and was originally a loud band chicks could love. They pumped out hit after hit and had two mammoth albums. Burn out followed. Then came Nirvana. As 80s metal disappeared in the wake of grunge, Bon Jovi survived. They continued to chart in the mid-90s, and in the 00s, they peaked again. Why did they survive? They cropped the hair extensions and reworked their image. Their music did not change all that much, but they did expand. Recently, they did a country album.


Rock n Roll Moment: At the 1989 VMA's, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora did an acoustic version of "Wanted Dead or Alive." The performance spawned MTV Unplugged.


Essential Bon Jovi: Slippery When Wet (1986), New Jersey (1988), Keep The Faith (1992), Crush (2000), Have A Nice Day (2005)

Bon Jovi’s Top 10:
Living on a Prayer
Keep the Faith
It’s My Life
You Give Love a Bad Name
Blaze of Glory
Wanted Dead or Alive
Runaway
Always
I’ll Be There For You
Who Says You Can’t Go Home

#91: KISS

KISS emerged during Rock’s third age. The 60s were dead and glam was the rage. During this period, image was as important as the music. KISS dressed up in Halloween costumes and were determined to give fans their money’s worth. Their music ranged from hard rock to classic rock to glam rock to disco to metal. Critics complain that KISS is too image conscious and more interested in making a buck than in the music. As a result, some have postulated that while most bands want to be The Beatles, KISS wants to be Coca Cola. Whatever the case may be, KISS is the only rock band out there with their own army.

Rock n Roll Moment: Gene’s photo album contains pics of all the girls he has been with. According to Mr. Simmons, he has been with over 1000 women.

Essential KISS: KISS (1974), Alive! (1975), Destroyer (1976)

KISS’ Top 10:
Rock n Roll All Night
Deuce
Strutter
Detroit Rock City
Beth
Hard Luck Woman
I Love It Loud
Creatures of the Night
Lick it Up
Heaven’s on Fire

#95: Motley Crue

Motley Crue came out of the early 80s LA glam scene. Like many bands of the time, they tended to bend the gender thing. Despite their apparent confusion, they were the best of their genre. They had several monster hits in the 1980s. In the early 90s, they jettisoned lead singer Vince Neal in order to go grunge. They failed and eventually brought Vince back and have just released a new album. At their peak, they were as self destructive as a band could be. Nikki Sixx actually died twice, Tommy Lee is known for...well we all know, Vince (allegedly) committed vehicular homicide, and there was also the now famous snort off with Ozzie (ants vs. piss). Few bands have been as destructive as Motley Crue.

Rock n Roll Moment: In 1987, Nikki Sixx was dead for 2 minutes. He OD’d on heroin, but came back from the ether when the paramedics gave him two adrenalin shots to the heart. Afterwards, he went home, snorted some more heroin, and passed out.

Essential Motley Crue: Shout at the Devil (1983), Doctor Feelgood (1989)

Motley Crue’s Top 10:
Shout at the Devil
Looks that Kill
Home Sweet Home
Girls, Girls, Girls
Dr. Feelgood
Kickstart My Heart
Wild Side
Same Ol Situation
Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
Saints of Los Angeles

#96: Def Leppard

Def Leppard is one of a select few bands that have had two albums sell over 10 million copies. Pyromania made them stars and Hysteria catapulted them into the super league for a short time. They dominated the radio from the first Reagan Administration right into the Grunge Era. Despite curses, bad luck, deaths, and changing musical stylings, Def Lepp is one of the few 80s metal bands to survive the Grunge meteor that decimated those that came from the 80s. They still make albums today and are a very successful touring group.

Rock Star Moment: On New Year’s Eve 1984, drummer Rick Allen lost his arm in an auto accident. His arm was completely severed by his seat belt. The 21 year old Allen was determined to keep drumming. As a result, he devised a drum kit that would allow him to continue. Allen returned to drumming shortly thereafter and continued his career which lasts to this day.

Essential Def Lep: Pyromania (1983), Hysteria (1987)

Def Lep’s Top 10:
Pour Some Sugar On Me
Armeggedon It
Love Bites
Photograph
Rock of Ages
Foolin’
Hysteria
Animal
Bringin’ On The Heartbreak
White Lightning