Peter Gabriel: So (1986)
Peter Gabriel decided to take a more commercial approach when writing So. Despite recording several radio friendly hits and filming breakthrough commercially successful videos, Gabriel also continued his unconventional career. While “Sledgehammer” and “Big Time” reflect eighties pop music perfectly, “Red Rain” and “Mercy Street” are far from commercial.
Key Tracks:
Red Rain
Sledgehammer
Big Time
In Your Eyes
What’s Going On: Marvin Gaye (1971)
Marvin Gaye shed Motown’s restrictions on social commentary and created an album examining society itself. Since other artists tapped into social issues for inspiration, Gaye felt free to investigate and question. Motown boss Barry Gordy refused to accept the material. Gaye stood his ground and the album was eventually released. Gaye’s lyrics tackle poverty, the Vietnam War, injustice, and drug use. Stylistically, each song leads into the next and the work ends with a reprise.
Key Tracks:
What’s Going On?
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
Inner City Blues
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway: Genesis (1974)
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is a double concept album about a Puerto Rican youth swept into the New York City underground to battle monsters in a quest to save his brother. Although the character is searching for his brother, he is also searching for himself.
Key Tracks:
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
The Carpet Crawlers
In The Cage
Abacab: Genesis (1981)
Genesis began as a progressive rock act. As the musical scene changed and members departed, the band moved toward a more commercial sound. The transformation began with their previous album Duke and continues into Abacab. As a result of their efforts, Genesis scored their first platinum selling album in America and four hit singles.
Key Tracks:
Abacab
No Reply At All
Man on the Corner
Keep it Dark
Dookie: Green Day (1994)
Dookie reintroduced many Americans to punk rock. The album’s popularity with radio friendly songs provided some controversy as many in the punk community believed the band sold out.
Key Tracks:
Longview
Welcome to Paradise
Basket Case
When I Come Around
American Idiot: Green Day (2004)
For a time, it appeared Green Day had faded. After some inspiration from the headlines, The Who, and some imagination, the band produced American Idiot. Ironically, the album was almost never made. Originally, they began work on another project when the masters were stolen. Rather than re-record, they decided to start over with a rock opera covering the story of an American anti-hero.
Key Tracks:
American Idiot
Jesus of Suburbia
Holiday
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Wake Me Up When September Ends
Appetite for Destruction: Guns n Roses (1987)
With over 28 million in sales, Appetite for Destruction is the greatest selling debut in history. At a time in which radio was filled with hair metal and candy pop music, Guns n Roses provided an alternate vision. The dirty, gritty album describes descent into drug and substance abuse. The seminal album provided a jump start to rock music which lasted into the mid-nineties.
Key Tracks:
Welcome to the Jungle
It’s So Easy
Paradise City
Sweet Child o’ Mine
Mr. Brownstone
Use Your Illusion I: Guns n Roses (1991)
Although some of the early vinyl releases came together, Use Your Illusion I and II are not double albums. The band recorded so much material, they released two albums. Use Your Illusion showed an expansion in Guns n Roses’ music. They incorporated classical, blues, country, and progressive into their repertoire.
Key Tracks:
November Rain
Don’t Cry (Original)
Dust n Bones
Right Next Door To Hell
Use Your Illusion II: Guns n Roses (1991)
Use Your Illusion II debuted at #1 when released. The album was slightly more popular than its counterpart due to the inclusion of familiar radio songs. GnR’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” received radio play for a couple years before release. “You Could Be Mine” appeared on the Terminator II soundtrack. Despite this, Use Your Illusion I is the stronger album.
Key Tracks:
Civil War
Yesterdays
Pretty Tied Up
Estranged
You Could Be Mine
Peter Gabriel decided to take a more commercial approach when writing So. Despite recording several radio friendly hits and filming breakthrough commercially successful videos, Gabriel also continued his unconventional career. While “Sledgehammer” and “Big Time” reflect eighties pop music perfectly, “Red Rain” and “Mercy Street” are far from commercial.
Key Tracks:
Red Rain
Sledgehammer
Big Time
In Your Eyes
What’s Going On: Marvin Gaye (1971)
Marvin Gaye shed Motown’s restrictions on social commentary and created an album examining society itself. Since other artists tapped into social issues for inspiration, Gaye felt free to investigate and question. Motown boss Barry Gordy refused to accept the material. Gaye stood his ground and the album was eventually released. Gaye’s lyrics tackle poverty, the Vietnam War, injustice, and drug use. Stylistically, each song leads into the next and the work ends with a reprise.
Key Tracks:
What’s Going On?
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
Inner City Blues
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway: Genesis (1974)
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is a double concept album about a Puerto Rican youth swept into the New York City underground to battle monsters in a quest to save his brother. Although the character is searching for his brother, he is also searching for himself.
Key Tracks:
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
The Carpet Crawlers
In The Cage
Abacab: Genesis (1981)
Genesis began as a progressive rock act. As the musical scene changed and members departed, the band moved toward a more commercial sound. The transformation began with their previous album Duke and continues into Abacab. As a result of their efforts, Genesis scored their first platinum selling album in America and four hit singles.
Key Tracks:
Abacab
No Reply At All
Man on the Corner
Keep it Dark
Dookie: Green Day (1994)
Dookie reintroduced many Americans to punk rock. The album’s popularity with radio friendly songs provided some controversy as many in the punk community believed the band sold out.
Key Tracks:
Longview
Welcome to Paradise
Basket Case
When I Come Around
American Idiot: Green Day (2004)
For a time, it appeared Green Day had faded. After some inspiration from the headlines, The Who, and some imagination, the band produced American Idiot. Ironically, the album was almost never made. Originally, they began work on another project when the masters were stolen. Rather than re-record, they decided to start over with a rock opera covering the story of an American anti-hero.
Key Tracks:
American Idiot
Jesus of Suburbia
Holiday
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Wake Me Up When September Ends
Appetite for Destruction: Guns n Roses (1987)
With over 28 million in sales, Appetite for Destruction is the greatest selling debut in history. At a time in which radio was filled with hair metal and candy pop music, Guns n Roses provided an alternate vision. The dirty, gritty album describes descent into drug and substance abuse. The seminal album provided a jump start to rock music which lasted into the mid-nineties.
Key Tracks:
Welcome to the Jungle
It’s So Easy
Paradise City
Sweet Child o’ Mine
Mr. Brownstone
Use Your Illusion I: Guns n Roses (1991)
Although some of the early vinyl releases came together, Use Your Illusion I and II are not double albums. The band recorded so much material, they released two albums. Use Your Illusion showed an expansion in Guns n Roses’ music. They incorporated classical, blues, country, and progressive into their repertoire.
Key Tracks:
November Rain
Don’t Cry (Original)
Dust n Bones
Right Next Door To Hell
Use Your Illusion II: Guns n Roses (1991)
Use Your Illusion II debuted at #1 when released. The album was slightly more popular than its counterpart due to the inclusion of familiar radio songs. GnR’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” received radio play for a couple years before release. “You Could Be Mine” appeared on the Terminator II soundtrack. Despite this, Use Your Illusion I is the stronger album.
Key Tracks:
Civil War
Yesterdays
Pretty Tied Up
Estranged
You Could Be Mine
