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"Perfect" records?

BassyBill

BassyBill

Gold Supporting Member
In Memoriam
Mar 12, 2005
18,174
4,621
West Midlands UK
#1
What are yours? Obviously, it's subjective, hence the quote marks.

I'm talking about tunes that almost make you want to weep with the exquisite perfection (for you) of the composition, arrangement, performance, recording, engineering... any or all of these factors. I have a few examples that spring to mind, in several very different genres.

Here's one everyone knows that I just happened to be listening to and it gave me the idea for this thread.

killer queen by queen with lyrics - YouTube

I think this could be an interesting thread, maybe? Post away, and don't forget to get some discussion and comment going.
 
#2
bassybill said:
What are yours? Obviously, it's subjective, hence the quote marks.

I'm talking about tunes that almost make you want to weep with the exquisite perfection (for you) of the composition, arrangement, performance, recording, engineering... any or all of these factors. I have a few examples that spring to mind, in several very different genres.

Here's one everyone knows that I just happened to be listening to and it gave me the idea for this thread.

killer queen by queen with lyrics - YouTube

I think this could be an interesting thread, maybe? Post away, and don't forget to get some discussion and comment going.
Click to expand...

I concur with "Killer Queen." Interestingly, this tune and most of Sheer Heart Attack was recorded largely without Brian May. He was in the hospital recovering from hepatitis, and he learned and rehearsed his parts while convalescing, going into the studio to lay them down after the other's tracks were already finished.

It still sounds seamless. Those guys had supernatural arrangement skills.

I'll submit another: "Here Comes The Sun King" by The Beatles (and most of Abbey Road for that matter.) What a supreme effort. I understand the vocals were very challenging even for The Beatles, and George Martin would not relent until they had nailed them.
 
#3
Good call. Substantial chunks of Abbey Road, and a lot of other Beatles tracks (but not necessarily whole albums) would come into this category of "perfect records" for me.

I didn't know about the Brian May absence from the sessions, thanks for the info. That's interesting as the final product has Brian May stamped all over it.
 
#7
BassPenguin22 said:
Whatever people say I am, thats what im not by the Arctic Monkeys... Every song is good. A close runner up is London Calling bye The Clash
Click to expand...
Both of those are great albums - but perhaps I mistitled this thread. I should have called it "perfect tracks" as expecting the standard I'm talking about from a whole album is probably unrealistic except in a tiny number of examples (Steely Dan's "Aja" springs to mind here).

I'm talking about individual tracks that you think could NOT be made better - they almost transcend the process that produced them and become something other than a mere recording of a song. This isn't really a "great albums" thread as I can think of lots and lots of great albums that would not come into the category I'm talking about. I might try and clarify with a few more examples in a bit. :)
 
#10
Not in any order-
SOAD - Toxicity
Maximum The Horimone - Buiikikaesu
Wilco- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Queens Of The Stoneage - Songs For The Deaf
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
Kraftwerk - The Mix
XTC- English Settlement
Frank Zappa - Roxy & Elsewhere
King Crimson - Red
Godley & Creme -Consequences
Idiot Saint Crazy- Fluo Dead Boy
Minutemen- Paranoid Time
Roxy Music- For Your Pleasure
 
#11
What Sarah Said & Summer Skin - Death Cab For Cutie
All I Need, Subterranean Homesick Alien, & Bulletproof - Radiohead
+1 to Killer Queen
Hydro - Opposite Day
Court & Spark - Herbie Hancock (Originally Joni Mitchell)
Trial of Tears & Home - Dream Theater
Ágaetis Byrjun - Sigur Rós

Of course the above is all imo...
 
#12
"Kiiler Queen" is a great choice. I remember hearing it in junior high and instantly realizing I'd never heard anything like that before. It's still my favorite Queen song. My picks:

"Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" - The Spinners
"I'm Stone In Love With You" - The Stylistics
"Sweet Thing" and "Tell Me Something Good" - Rufus feat. Chaka Khan
"That's The Way Of The World," "Shining Star" and "Love's Holiday" - Earth, Wind & Fire
"Flash Light" - Parliament
"Higher Ground" and "Ribbon In The Sky" - Stevie Wonder
"I Got The Feelin'" and "Sex Machine" - James Brown
 
#15
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here.

I find it hard to believe there would be a category this album would fail to achieve high marks. A treat from start to finish, and a particular pleasure through good earphones.

... For "track", I'll take Shine on You Crazy Diamond, parts VI through IX. Delicious.
 
#17
JimmyM said:
Here's something you guys don't know about Killer Queen...on one of the guitar overdubs, Brian May farts. So much for perfection.
Click to expand...

"Brown Note" ? For me, the essence of this thread is the track the encompasses and / or defines a particular band / performer ie: what is "the" track for that artist. Let`s see: Metallica`s "One" - to me, the pinnacle of their catalog. Even though the mix on that album was weird, the way that song builds into the perfect storm still gets me. "Would?" AIC - Ominous, dark, brooding, yet takes flight in the second half. SRV`s "Riviera Paradise" - to this day almost brings tears to my eyes. "Jacob`s Dream" Alison Krauss - a track from a solo album. Maybe the most hauntingly beautiful, heart-wrenching song ever; if you`ve never heard it, do it now . Johnny Cash "Folsom Prison Blues" - a magic moment in time, all elements captured perfectly for the tune.
 

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