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Double Albums/CDs, curse or blessing?

For no good reason, I have been thinking about the worth of double albums or cds that bands release. The only two that I can come up that make sense are the Who's Tommy and Pink Floyd's The Wall. These are obviously rock opera type albums that hang together. Excluding Greatest Hits which might make sense, are there others doubles that people think of highly?

Most other double albums (double cds more so) I am familiar with would have been much better if only the best material had made it onto a single disc. Examples in my view would be Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium, Guns N Roses Use Your Illusion I & II (at least they are sold separately).

While it may make the bands more money to issue doubles, I think that it generally cheapens the brand.

What do fellow agoners think?
dokosan
hifitime
715 posts
 
I forgot to mention,how many single albums have we bought that
has just that one song we wanted.Then we get it home to listen
to it only to find out the engineer did a bad job,and the rest
of the songs are lousy.That to me is a real ripoff.It happens
way more than a double album.A single or double that is done
right is a good deal.
oregon
827 posts
 
Layla (to me) is an excellent double LP and justified.
First, the band, Dominos, was so dysfunctional it could only hold together for a short period. One year?
Secondly, the passion and intensity of the music makes this one of the all time "best of rock" LPs ever.
Cream's Wheels of Fire was also justified in that one was a studio recording and the other live. Quality was poor, but... Again, Crossroads is worth it.
Generally, I agree that most dbl Lps could be edited to one.
Then again, there's Electric Ladyland...and, Dylan and The Band and...
milesd77
25 posts
 
The Grateful Dead Europe 72 -which can be turned inside-out to look like the White Album

The Grateful Dead "skull and roses".
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,318 posts
 
In the main, I probably agree with the OP...however, with respect to legitimate double LPs...

Jimi Hendrix' "Electric Ladyland" as mentioned by Oregon.

Genesis, "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway".

The Beatles, "White Album"...ok, this is subject to debate.

Allman Bros "At the Fillmore East"...maybe "Eat a Peach".

Peter Frampton, "Frampton Comes Alive".

Little Feat, "Waiting for Columbus".

Funny how so many are live albums.

timrhu
2,779 posts
 
Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago's first album, should also be on the list.
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