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...what would it be?

I caught the tail end of a Music Box documentary Jagged last night, about one of my favourite albums- Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill, an absolutely cracking album with some powerful and beautiful tracks.

This got me to thinking- If, with everything I know about music to date, I could only buy one album ever, what would it be?

I have an eclectic taste in music and own albums from a wide range of artists and styles- War Of The Worlds- Jeff Wayne, In Search Of The Lost Chord- Moody Blues, Chocolate Starfish And The Hotdog Flavoured Water- Limp Bizkit, Wheatus- Wheatus, Tracy Chapman- Tracy Chapman amongst others.

I then heard a track on the TV that answered the question for me- Ant Music by Adam And The Ants.

It took me straight back to 1980 and first hearing Dog Eat Dog on the radio. I was hooked. I listened to music as an occasional visitor before then but the beat and sound to Dog Eat Dog really drew me in. I went out and bought the album and devouered it. This was the first music that made me want to be involved.

Today it is not necessarily my favourite album BUT it is the one that made me pay attention to music. For that reason Kings Of The Wild Frontier by Adam And The Ants would be the album that I would buy if I could buy only one.

What is your only album and why?

This is a ridiculously good question....................but one I will need more time to ponder.
It's like choosing between your children.............but with albums it is genuine, undying love!!
I'll get back to you.

 :D

I’d have to flip a coin between Definitely Maybe & What’s The Story Morning Glory.
6 from each would probably be perfection.

Great thread. Like sir windon it's a tough choice!

It will definitely be something from my secondary school years. (early to mid nineties)

Don't think I could choose, it changes by the day depending what sort of mood I am in.

Hmmm, obviously it ebbs and flows over one's lifetime.

But I'd say I always get a thrill out of listening to Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety, preferably in my car on my own on a long journey, turned up to 11. Absolutely timeless.

Worth trying Dub Side of the Moon by the Easy Star All-Stars too if you like dub reggae. It is great!

Not easy at all. I'm assuming best ofs/compilations are rightly banned?

New Boots and Panties!! by Ian Dury.

Assuming studio albums only for this, no greatest hits/best ofs.

I'm going The Beatles - Revolver

Tough. Today,it's "Argus" (Wishbone Ash)

That was very close for me! Love that album.

I would also need to toss a coin on this.

For similar reasons given already, my choice comes down to two - both in a small collection purchased after a friend gave me a mixtape of stuff he though I might like and I wasn't really in to music at that point yet.  more a listener of individuals songs than a fan of anything, happy to watch Top of the Pops and listen to the chart without ever buying anything for my own.  I'd listened to my parents collections, which were largely Beatles, Queen & Frankie Goes to Hollywood, or been given some as presents, which included such gems as Englands 1986 World Cup Song.

The two I went for, despite actually getting the Blondie song Picture This (the cause of receiving it) ended-up being James - Laid and Suede - Suede.  Annoyingly, years later I've seen the former many times, but never got around to going to a Suede gig.

I remember seeing them in Bath in 79/80

Either Return of the Mack by Mark Morrison, Doggystyle by Snoop or The Slim Shady LP.

Or Abbey Road.
Or Natural History by I Am Kloot.

Tales by Mouse.

Jagged Little Pill is a good shout.

Original Pirate Material? Let's Get It On? 1999, Musicology, Purple Rain, Diamonds and Pearls?

This is hard.

From my youth Led Zep 2

Deuce - Rory Gallagher

Mr Lucky - John Lee Hooker

Bit more up to date Snow Patrol - Fallen Empires

Pretty obvious one for me:
The Stranglers - Rattus Norvegicus

The Stone Roses for me.

Honourable mentions for Definitely Maybe and AM,

I'm torn between Searching for the Young Soul Rebels and Blue Lines.

I don't think I can decide based on music so the Bristol City allegiances of certain members of Massive Attack probably swings it for Dexy's. And I'm very nostalgic for my memory of seeing the Geno video on Top of the Pops for the first time and being bowled over by it.

Similarly to RobT, I discovered music when I was at a stage in my life that was a challenge. I'd moved up to Scotland as a shy, nervous kid but thankfully was able to make friends thanks to my love of football really - Swindon battling to get into the Premier league certainly helped as it peaked a lot of interest amongst a group of kids who mainly supported Rangers, Celtic, Hearts or Hibs.

Anyway, my group of friends (not the nerds, the cool kids or the sweaties) used to spend days playing Championship Manager, or on the N64. And whilst we would play we would listen, mainly to what my friends Dave or Alan would listen to. Both were 'indie' kids and I became mesmerised by the first Charlatans album, Stone Roses' Second Coming as well as Definitely Maybe. I got into live music off the back of buying Mosely Shoals by OCS, (Live at Stirling Castle - first taste of Buckfast!) Everything Must go by the Manics (First ear ringing experience at the Glasgow Barrowlands) as well as Change Giver by Shed Seven (also at the Barrowlands). Dookie by Green Day I think was the first album I ever bought.

There are loads of albums I've loved over the years but my school era is probably the one where if I play either of my albums I can close my eyes and be transported back to these times. That said, I went to see Shed Seven a few years back at Brixton Academy with Mrs Bob and it was such a brilliant, fun, singalong gig that I'm torn between 2 - A Maximum High by Shed Seven or the Stone Roses by the Stone Roses.

And so, based on the memories it gives me, old and new, i'm going for A Maximum High by Shed Seven

Today it's Kate Bush - hounds of love
Yesterday it was Mon Laferte -la trenza
Tomorrow I'm thinking it might be Young Disciples -road to freedom

OK now I'm going to have Apparently Nothing running through my head all day.....

I once had carleen Anderson guest DJ at my club and she sang along to said tune live, I was stood next to her and had just her vocals in my headphones. It's one of life's moments I will never forget

Did she live down in Brighton at any point? I'm sure she was vocal coaching at some university, that might have been Sussex. I love her voice. For years I'd tell people she was Bobby Byrd's daughter but it turns out he was her step dad (and James Brown was her Godfather).

Aah,the "new soul vision". Great album

Yes at BIMM Viki Anderson is her mum, if you can get a copy of her recordings (message from a soul sister) they are amazing

XTC - Drums & Wires

'Oncle Jazz' by Men I Trust

Play it over and over and over... never tire of it...

I’m still struggling with this. Can I just ask. Although I’m only allowed to buy one, I can nick as many as I want, right?

Playing in Bristol in July if you didn’t know.

Mine would either be The Holy Bible by the Manic Street Preachers, or Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys, probably the Manics just come out on top for me but a tough choice.

I did not know that Glenn. I will investigate this further, thanks  :)

edit: sold out. Never mind...nice to know there are other people around with an impeccable taste in music ;)

edit 2: tickets available at the Troxy (never heard of it) London...may go for that... :hmmm:

 :D

Didn’t realise it had sold out.
I will keep an eye out on re-sale websites for tickets, I’m on them daily anyway.

NOW 40

That's er... two quite contrasting albums.

I saw the Manics do Holy Bible in full at Cardiff Castle a few years back. That is one dark fucking album.


Still struggling to answer the question myself. Lots of albums have a cracking half and a bad half (hello Hot Fuss), but trying to think of one which is perfect start to end. Rumours is obvious, but probably the right initial answer.

50 cent

Get rich or die tryin

😮‍💨

Yes it is a dark album, and yes definately two quite contrasting albums. I saw them do the Holy Bible in full (probably around the same time) at Brixton Academy.

David Gray - white ladder

Supertramp - breakfast in America

Gorrilaz - plastic beach

Can’t decide

Original Pirate Material by The Streets.

An absolute, pioneering masterpiece. I remember being a 16 year-old travelling on the school bus when Jo Whiley gave 'Has it come to this?' it's debut play on her breakfast show. The bus was usually pretty raucous but when it came on everyone listened. It was massively ahead of its time, blending garagey homemade beats with rap-esque vocals (Skinner cites Wu-Tang and Nas as big inspirations), a sound that many have tried (mostly unsuccessfully) to imitate since. He said he loved garage and hip-hop but that UK hip-hop often sounded like a poor imitation of American stuff, so wanted to make a UK version that was authentic to British culture. I was too young to go raving but it instantly captivated me and became even more relevant as I grew older and started to go out clubbing (n.b. 'Weak Become Heroes'). I love the anecdotes from his biography, such as making it on an IBM ThinkPad laptop and recording the vocals in a wardrobe with a duvet and mattress to reduce echo. It still sounds brilliant and cutting edge, over 20 years after release.

The 'difficult second album' was conquered by a masterpiece in storytelling that ran through the whole album, about losing £1,000 down the back of his TV. The third album was an absolute shambles (too much cocaine and money) but the two after had plenty of great tracks, arguably much more profound than his earlier stuff - n.b. Everything Is Borrowed, On The Edge of a Cliff, The Escapist, Blip on a Screen, Trying to Kill M.E. Additonally, the last album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Skinner, which very few, if any, artists are capable of or have attempted.

A really unique artist. It should be a bit cringe in a way but it isn't. Clever stuff.

Rob Harvey from one of my favourite bands, The Music, is a longtime collaborator of Mike's. The Music debut album was nearly my pick for this thread. Quality.

Power Corruption and lies - New Order

Violator - Depeche Mode

The Music are fucking excellent live. Love that album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXqisHIYRxY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXqisHIYRxY)

Brilliant brilliant band. Saw them a few times and genuinely nothing quite like them. Gutted to miss the recent reunion.

Big in Japan!

Another vote for Hounds of Love here… and by co-incidence, I also got into music in my youth via Adam Ant..

I saw them at Cardiff Uni just before the 2nd album came out. Absolutely superb. If I remember correctly, they were decent footballers too.

What a well thought out and presented answer.

The Cheeky Girls - Hooray Hooray(It's A Cheeky Holiday)
Because, twins.

My music taste is too eclectic. I genuinely couldn't unless chose just one album; unless we're allowing our own mixtapes  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Lazy ways by Marine girls. 40 years old but I keep coming back to it so maybe that should be the one?