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
Stresland's 'Love is the Answer' is two cd's, but just two different versions of the same material. I've played both and I am hard pressed to tell the difference, other then paying $22 dollars. So, just order the single cd seems a better bargain. Maybe this is a trend, you know, issue two versions of the same music. In any event, Barabra does sound good as ever. Can your system tell the difference is the issue.
If the material is not good then the double album may be a curse. I know I have a few that I only play a few songs on one album and nothing on the other. I actually like Stadium Arcadium. You mentioned the Who and I would have to include Quadrophenia alongside Tommy. I also rate the Beatles White Album and Zep's Physical Graffiti very highly. Hope this doesn't lead to another remasters post/thread.
I'll add another: Bruce Springsteen-The River. I don't believe this could have been edited down to a single LP. All sides are as they should be.
My list would include:

Al Kooper Live: Soul of a Man

Dan Fogelberg The Innocent Age

Umphrey's McGee The Best Show on Earth

Chicago II and III

Will the Circle be Unbroken
This reminds me of an interview I saw recently with Paul McCartney. The subject came up about how the White Album could've been the Beatles 'Greatest' record had they edited it down to one disc. At which point Paul basically rolls his eyes, shrugs his shoulders and sez; "Yeah I've heard that, but we're talkin' about the Beatles fookin' White album!