So, 1974 to 1985, right?
I suppose the first thing to do is to answer the question everyone’s been asking: “Why 74-85?” A seemingly random period of time. The rationale behind the recent pre-1974 poll was perhaps a tad easier to explain. For that exercise we reimagined the 1974 NME Top 100 albums, through 21st century eyes. For this one, we’ve drawn a line at 1985, the year the NME published their second Greatest Albums poll. There would be little point in voters duplicating some of their choices from the pre-74 list, so instead, TNPC is planning a four part feature. The next one will focus on albums released between 1986 and 1999, and the last will be a 21st century rundown. Expect to be harassed into taking part in those over the coming months.
Where did jazz go?
While this is a terrific collection of albums, there isn’t a great deal here to be surprised about. One might note perhaps how Wire’s legacy, like that of The Kinks (as evidenced by their performance in the pre-74 poll) is becoming more secure. Wire was conspicuously absent from the ’85 NME poll, pictured above. The balance and breadth of the entries was striking too: people seem more relaxed nowadays to mix prog, punk and hip-hop together in their lists, something which might not have been the case in 1985.
In 1974, few could possibly have foreseen the changes that were about to take place in popular music, and the outward ripples of punk and new wave flow freely through the list. But there’s a real shortage of soul. While reggae and dub are at least represented with a handful of entries, it was after all the golden era of JA music. Jazz meanwhile has fallen of the radar spectacularly, despite Miles making some of the most adventurous music, and Sun Ra some of his most accessibly celestial, during the period in question.
All the others you’d expect to be there – well, they’re here. And the top choice? Won by a landslide…
As with the last poll, I’ll post an Appendix of the next 100 over the next few days. Some great albums just missed the cut, Marcus Garvey, one of my all-time favourites for example. I also intend to post an Alternative Top 100 of albums which were nominated only once. I guarantee that will be an eye-opener and will set you off on new journeys of discovery.
Once again, I can’t thank enough all those who were kind and enthusiastic enough to contribute. I’m very grateful to you all. Hope you enjoy the list. Back soon. (JJ)
The Top 100:
100. Kings Of The Wild Frontier – Adam & The Ants (CBS, 1980)
99. Fried – Julian Cope (Mercury, 1984)
98. Soul Mining – The The (Some Bizarre, 1983)
97. The Undertones – The Undertones (Sire, 1979)
96. New Gold Dream [81-82-83-84] – Simple Minds (Virgin, 1982)
95. I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight – Richard & Linda Thompson (Island, 1974)
94. 154 – Wire (Harvest, 1979)
93. Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen (Columbia, 1975)
92. Imperial Bedroom – Elvis Costello & The Attractions (F-Beat, 1982)
91. Super Ape – The Upsetters (Island, 1976)
90. Desire – Bob Dylan (CBS, 1976)
89. More Songs About Buildings & Food – Talking Heads (Sire, 1978)
88. Exodus – Bob Marley & The Wailers (Island, 1977)
87. Nebraska – Bruce Springsteen (CBS, 1982)
86. Physical Graffiti – Led Zeppelin (Swan Song, 1975)
85. Grievous Angel – Gram Parsons (Reprise, 1974)
84. Rust Never Sleeps – Neil Young & Crazy Horse (Reprise, 1979)
83. Sulk – Associates (Beggars Banquet, 1982)
82. Diamond Dogs – David Bowie (RCA, 1974)
81. Court & Spark – Joni Mitchell (Asylum, 1974)
80. Get Happy!! – Elvis Costello & The Attractions (F-Beat, 1980)
79. Lexicon Of Love – ABC (Neutron, 1982)
78. The Man Machine – Kraftwerk (EMI, 1977)
77. Let It Be – The Replacements (Twin/Tone, 1984)
76. This Nation’s Saving Grace – The Fall (Beggars Banquet, 1985)
75. Colossal Youth – Young Marble Giants (Rough Trade, 1980)
74. The Modern Dance – Pere Ubu (Blank, 1978)
73. Rain Dogs – Tom Waits (Island, 1985)
72. A Walk Across The Rooftops – The Blue Nile (Linn, 1983)
71. Kilimanjaro – The Teardrop Explodes (Fontana, 1980)
70. Purple Rain – Prince & The Revolution (Warner Bros, 1984)
69. Reckoning – REM (IRS, 1984)
68. Don’t Stand Me Down – Dexy’s Midnight Runners (Mercury, 1985)
67. The Hissing Of Summer Lawns – Joni Mitchell (Asylum, 1975)
66. Rocket To Russia – Ramones (Sire, 1977)
65. Rumours – Fleetwood Mac (Warner Bros, 1977)
64. Sound Affects – The Jam (Polydor, 1980)
63. Steve McQueen – Prefab Sprout (Kitchenware, 1985)
62. Pacific Ocean Blue – Dennis Wilson (Caribou, 1977)
61. Singles: Going Steady – Buzzcocks (United Artists, 1979)
60. All Mod Cons – The Jam (Polydor, 1978)
59. Lust For Life – Iggy Pop (RCA, 1977)
58. Another Green World – Brian Eno (Island, 1975)
57. Hex Enduction Hour – The Fall (Kamera, 1982)
56. Heroes – David Bowie (RCA, 1977)
55. Ocean Rain – Echo & The Bunnymen (Korova, 1984)
54. Hejira – Joni Mitchell (Asylum, 1976)
53. Tonight’s The Night – Neil Young (Reprise, 1975)
52. . Entertainment! – Gang Of Four (EMI. 1979)
51. The Specials (Two-Tone, 1979)
50. Another Music In A Different Kitchen – Buzzcocks (United Artists, 1978)
49. Dare – The Human League (A&M, 1981)
48. Swordfishtrombones – Tom Waits (Island, 1983)
47. Two Sevens Clash – Culture (Joe Gibbs, 1977)
46. Real Life – Magazine (Virgin, 1978)
45. Treasure – Cocteau Twins (4AD, 1984)
44. Hounds Of Love – Kate Bush (EMI, 1985)
43. Meat Is Murder – The Smiths (Rough Trade, 1985)
42. The Smiths (Rough Trade, 1984)
41. Cut – The Slits (Island, 1979)
40. Parallel Lines – Blondie (Chrysalis, 1978)
39. Veedon Fleece – Van Morrison (Warner Bros, 1974)
38. Pink Flag – Wire (Harvest, 1977)
37. Radio City – Big Star (Ardent, 1974)
36. High Land Hard Rain – Aztec Camera (Rough Trade, 1983)
35. Songs In The Key Of Life – Stevie Wonder (Tamla Motown, 1976)
34. Rattlesnakes – Lloyd Cole & The Commotions (Polydor, 1984)
33. The Idiot – Iggy Pop (RCA, 1977)
32. You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever – Orange Juice (Polydor, 1982)
31. Neu! 75 – Neu! (Brain, 1975)
30. Rock Bottom – Robert Wyatt (Virgin, 1974)
29. Ramones (Sire, 1976)
28. The Clash (CBS, 1977)
27. Kings Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown- Augustus Pablo (Yard, 1976)
26. Trans-Europe Express – Kraftwerk (EMI, 1977)
25. Hatful Of Hollow – The Smiths (Rough Trade, 1984)
24. Heart Of The Congos – The Congos (Black Ark, 1977)
23. Rum Sodomy & The Lash – The Pogues (Stiff, 1985)
22. Chairs Missing – Wire (Harvest, 1978)
21. Fear Of Music – Talking Heads (Sire, 1979)
20. Power Corruption & Lies – New Order (Factory, 1983)
19. 3rd [Sister Lovers] – Big Star (PVC, 1978)
18. Remain In Light – Talking Heads (Sire, 1980)
17. Murmur – REM (IRS, 1983)
16. Psychocandy – The Jesus & Mary Chain (Blanco y negro, 1985)
15. Suicide (Red Star, 1977)
14. The Modern Lovers (Beserkley, 1976)
13. London Calling – The Clash (CBS, 1979)
12. Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols – The Sex Pistols (Virgin, 1977)
11. Horses – Patti Smith (Arista, 1975)
10. Searching For The Young Soul Rebels – Dexy’s Midnight Runners (EMI, 1980)
9. Metal Box – Public Image Ltd (Virgin, 1979)
8. Station To Station – David Bowie (RCA, 1976)
7. On The Beach – Neil Young (Reprise, 1974)
6. No Other – Gene Clark (Asylum, 1974)
5. Closer – Joy Division (Factory, 1980)
4. Unknown Pleasures – Joy Division (Factory, 1979)
3. Low – David Bowie (RCA, 1977)
2. Blood On The Tracks – Bob Dylan (CBS, 1975)
1. Marquee Moon – Television (Elektra, 1977)
Contributors:
Bill Ainsworth, Camilla Aisa, Neil Alexander, Dot Allison, Mick Anderson, Andy (Birmingham 81), Michael Bailey (Soft Hearted Scientists), Billy Bell, Caroline Binnie, Nick Blakey (Underground Jukebox), Chris Bounds, Holly Boyd, Stephen Boyd, Gerry Braiden, Johnny Browning, Colin Brunton, Helen Bull, Marc (Captain Howdy), Julie Campbell (LoneLady, Warp Records), Rob Chapman, Chris Coleman, Mike Convery, Alison Cotton (Left Outsides), Dave Coulter, Laura Lee Davies, Jon Dennis, Mick Derrick, John Dickie, Andrew Divine, Philip Downer, Spender Downes, Vincent Driscoll, Seamus Duggan, Maureen Dunlop, Matthew Edwards, Liam Elliott, Matt Elliott, Pete Ferguson, Declan Flanagan, Mikki Francis-Lawton, Paul Gallagher, Ash Grace, Theo Hakkert, Jeff Hartley, Andrew Hill, Mark Hillier, Barney Hoskyns, Sophie Jay, Johnnie Johnstone, Martin Johnstone, Peter Johnstone, Allan Jones, Jukebox Rebel, Danny Kelly, David Kelner, John Kilbride, Harris King, Graham Kingsbury, Neil Kulkarni, June Lewins, Gerry Love, Huw M, Alastair Macduff, Gary Mackenzie, John Marcus, Leon Massey, Stephen McAuley, Ryan McCullough, Grant McPhee, Fiona McQuarrie, John Medd, Graham Meikle, Andy Miller, Thom Moore, Rob Morgan, Greg Morse, Tony Mulraney, Paul Murray, Peter Murray, Jason Myles, Brendan O’Leary, Jake Palmer, Thomas Patterson, Mark Paytress, Andy Pidluznyj (New Apostles), Nick Portnell, Johnny Purcell, Steve Rhodes, Don Richmond, Chris Roberts, Matt Rogers, Marco Rossi, Martin Ruddock, David Sharp, Simon Shaw, Angela Slaven, Jonathan Small, Jason Spence, Iain Stansfield, Duglas T Stewart, Theo Stockman, David Stubbs, David Tanner, Huw Thomas, Daniel Thompson, Terry Tochel, Toni Tochel, Ben Travers, Paul Turnbull, Sughosh Varadarajan, Ian Wade, Neil Ware, Judah Warsky, Stevie Watt, Rob Webb, Dominic Whittingham, Sandy Wishart, Colin Wright.
Appendix 1: 101-200:
101. The Scream – Siouxsie & The Banshees
Appendix. 2: One Vote Wonders: Journeys of Discovery
Some of the more eye catching nominations – from the sublime to the ridiculous. Happy listening:..
A Certain Ratio – To Each…
The Aggrovators – Johnny In The Echo Chamber
Terry Allen – Lubbock (On Everything)
Amanaz – Africa
Art Bears – The World As It Is Today
Robert Ashley – Automatic Writing
Beat Happening – Beat Happening
Bee Gees – Main Course
Jorge Ben – Africa Brasil
Agnes Bernelle – Bernelle On Brecht and…
Jane Birkin – De Doo Dah
Glenn Branca – Ascension
Jacques Brel – Les Marquises
Butthole Surfers – Psychic Powerless, Another Man’s Sac
Cabaret Voltaire – The Crackdown
Cerrone 3 – Supernature
Don Cherry- Brown Rice
The Chords – So Far Away
The Church – Heyday
Alice Coltrane – Eternity
Cortex – Spinal Injuries
Miles Davis – Dark Magus
Betty Davis – They Say I’m Different
Francesco De Gregori – Bufalo Bill
Dukes Of Stratophear – 25 O’ Clock
Einsturzende Neubauten – 1/2 Mensch
Eno / Moebius / Roedelius – After The Heat
Original Soundtrack- Escape From New York
Felt – The Splendour Of Fear
Fred Frith – Guitar Solos
The Fuzztones – Lysergic Emanations
Game Theory – Real Nightime
Germs – (GI)
Richard Gotainer – Chants Zazous
Great Plains – Naked At The Buy Sell & Trade
Harmonia – Harmonia Deluxe
Eddie Hazel – Games, Dames & Guitar Thangs
Henry Cow – In Praise Of Learning
Higelin – BBh75
Joe Higgs – Life Of Contradiction
Isolation Ward – Point Final
The Jazz Butcher – A Scandal In Bohemia
Eddie Kendricks – Boogie Down
Basil Kirchin – Worlds Within Worlds
Fela Kuti & Afrika ’70 – Sorrow Tears & Blood
RD Laing – Life Before Death
Last Poets – Delights Of The Garden
Jah Lion – Colombia Colly
Lyres – On Fyre
Candy Mackenzie – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry presents…
MX-80 Sound – Hard Attack
Indoda Mahlathini – Ngibuzindlela
Michael Mantler – The Hapless Child
Mantronix – The Album
Marine Girls – Lazy Ways
Millions Of Dead Cops – Millions Of Dead Cops
Mission Of Burma – Signals Calls & Marches
Moondog – H’Art Songs
Hugh Mundell – Africa Must Be Free By 1983
Milton Nascimento- Clube Da Esquina 2
Nash The Slash – Bedside Companion
Mickey Newbury – I Came To Hear The Music
Colin Newman – A-Z
Pauline Oliveros – Accordion & Voice
Bulent Ortacgil – Benimle Oynar Misin
Ossie All-Stars – Leggo Dub
Gilbert O’Sullivan – A Stranger In My Own Back Yard
Annette Peacock – X-Dreams
Ann Peebles – The Handwriting Is On The Wall
Pink Industry – Low Technology
Popol Vuh – Brüder des Schattens
The Radiators – Songs From The Ancient Furnace
Red Kross – Teen Babes From Monsanto
Terry Reid – Songs From Memory
The Residents – Meet The Residents
Minnie Riperton – Perfect Angel
Michael Rother – Fernwarme
Rufus – Rufusized
Sand – Golem
Scientist – Scientist Rids The World Of The Evil Curse Of The Vampires
Section 25 – Always Now
Yatha Sidhra – A Meditation Mass
Solid Space – Space Museum
The Sound – Heads & Hearts
Sun Ra – Lanquidity
Tangerine Dream – Rubycon
Teenage Head – Teenage Head
Telephone – Crache Tom Venin
The Triffids – Treeless Plain
TV21 – A Thin Red Line
James Blood Ulmer – Are You Glad To Be In America?
Van Der Graf Generator – Godbluff
Townes Van Zandt – Flyin’ Shoes
Velvet Monkeys – Future
Laurent Voulzy – Bopper En Larmes
The Wake – Here Comes Everybody
Ben Watt – North Marine Drive
Yabby You – Deliver Me From My Enemies
Zero Boys – Vicious Circle
Tappa Zukie – MPLA
The New Perfect Collection 
Cough.
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Steely Dan?
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I know. Wait for the appended 101-200 list.
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Great list! Interesting choice for the top spot. Much as I love Marquee Moon, I’m struggling to think of any other album so eclipsed by one song.
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All solid stuff. This is more in the spirit of the influential lists published by NME, Mojo and Rolling Stone than the Perfect Collection. Perfect Collection has a number of advantages over the big three. Firstly, that there is no ranking and no suggestion of a number one ultimate LP. Sgt Pepper, Forever Changes, Pet Sounds, Astral Weeks and Marquee Moon are all good to excellent records, but how can any single recording withstand the pressure of being promoted to the very pinnacle of recorded music? I’ve become allergic to use of the word ‘narrative’ so please excuse it’s use here – the Top 100 list is a narrative of a culture peddled by consumer focused publications. Sgt Pepper was clearly a symbol of a moment in time whose memory was cherished in the minds of a generation, and this explains why it’s reputation has diminished in recent years as a new consumer cohort comes of age and the previous slides into apathy. ‘Nevermind’ will top a similar list in the next few years, if it hasn’t already. The narrative was essentially a nostalgic one. Secondly, Perfect Collection enjoyed the virtue of brevity, and of capsulising into sections based on genre or time period instead of offering one monolithic list. This was helpful, since it allowed fifties rock n roll, soul, early sixties etc chance to breathe. I don’t have my copy handy, but I think there is no jazz list at all. This was perhaps wise. The inclusion of Kind OF Blue in the Mojo list was pure tokenism. Rock and Jazz may be related in some ways but they are quite different beasts. Likewise, Van Morrison himself expressed puzzlement that Astral Weeks was featured in the Mojo list of top rock records since as he put it ‘ … there is no rock on it. A bit puzzling!’ This also begs the question: how is a perfect collection put togetehr in the internet era? Finding the records in the original PC was great fun. Now, our conception of music is expanded to a huge degree. The idea of consuming music by purchasng one album a week, although feasible and sensible, seems archaic and almost ascetic. In an age of compulsory consumption, a handy guide to the (by common consensus) artistic highlights of recorded music is useful to the buyer. The sheer volume (no pun) of music available is overwhelming. Tom Hibbert’s follow up (or predecessor?) to PC, Rare Records features, for example, a list of thirty collectable Punk-Beat vinyls. Consider this in light of the phone directory (another archaism) sized tomes published Vernon Jonson and others on the same subject. Soul music also suffered by being tokenised in a list dominated by rock. A list of equal quality could produced using only soul music. It’s a question of musical taste, and of the cultural milieu of the writers. I love Undertones, Buzzcocks and so on, and they are undoubtedly influential. The question is, who am I talking to? The enthusiast or the novice? I t would be extremely reductionist, but I would probably only recommend Teenage Kicks in an appendix list of essential 45s to make way for a more substantial album. Finally, Perfect Collection also enjoyed the further virtues of irreverence and idiosyncracy. There is no pompous weight of ‘cultural importance’. It is very funny, and Hibbert’s championing of the likes of Kasenetz-Katz bubblegum and Sheila B, for instance, is charming. His extreme aversion to Bowie is also amusing. There is a ‘canon’ of recorded music which ought to be promoted. You will find little argument against Revolver being a great listen. For or against, the people who care are probably a vanishingly small coterie. The lists that maintain the reputations of Big Star Third, Fun House, Forever Changes and so forth are like keepers of the faith. These are examples of ‘rock’ straining toward sophistication, a new Art form. By and large though, outside of a small cult, that promise has been unfulfilled. The mass pop music, whatever musical virtues it may or may not possess, represents the only true Art form of the twentieth century and beyond – the mobilization of advertising and mass media. Sign off with the epitaph Lou Reed wrote in the hangover of the sixties, when it was already obvious that shooting at the moon had failed: ‘I had hoped that the intelligence which once invested films and novels would also invest Rock. I was, perhaps, wrong’.
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P.S. Buzzcocks are the Stylistics as NW teeenagers on too much pop
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