Fifty years ago, Bob Dylan released highway 61 revised, which is possibly the best album of all time. Some might argue for choosing one of the three Beatles albums, or even Dylan’s own. Blonde on blonde or Blood on the tracks.
However, one point that cannot be debated is that highway 61 revised It’s the first album that’s flawless in the sense that it doesn’t have bad songs. All records up to then, no matter how good they were, contained at least one clunker.
In the half century since its launch, highway 61 revised it’s joined a handful of other albums that are flawless. Here are the top ten, all perfect and from a wide range of the rock genre.
dory by david bowie
The album’s biggest single was “Changes,” but each song is a gem. There is a song in honor of Dylan, another praising Andy Warhol, one about a drag queen and another about Mickey Mouse.
Look by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
There are only seven songs on the record, but each one ranks among the best of the band’s career. “Martha’s Madman” and “Circles” are my personal favorites, but arguments could be made for “The Mighty Quinn” and “Chicago Institute.”
my goal is true by Elvis Costello
The debut offered a magnificent glimpse of what fans could expect from the most inventive songwriter of the rock age. “Watching the Detectives” and “Allison” are the best-known songs, though both are inferior to “Miracle Man” and “The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes.”
High ground, heavy rain by Aztec Camera
Roddy Frame was just a teenager when his band made this debut, which was highlighted by “Oblivious” and “The Boy Wonders” among the ten excellent submissions.
the real scam by Steely Dan
While side one is the best on the record, there’s a lot of pleasure in listening to it after turning it around. Basically, there’s no need to skip any of the “Kid Charlamagne” songs until the title track at the end.
they want my soul per spoon
Although barely a year old, this extraordinary album has already established itself as a classic. Brit Daniels’ songwriting has never been better, leaving the album devoid of any of the occasional glitches that have graced the alternative band’s previous records.
A place I’ve never traveled by Ambrosia
The quartet’s second album, unlike the rest of their discography, contains no hits. Overall, though, it has the best collection of songs, especially epics like “Danse with Me, George (Chopin’s Plea)” and “The Brunt.”
long distance travel by Moody Blues
Propelled to the top of the charts by the single “The Voice,” this record showcases the range of the veteran British rock band. Each of the five composers in the group offers crisp compositions here.
self titled by The Smiths
The Morrissey and Johnny Marr collaboration was first revealed on this debut, whose songs still play on air and influence alternative radio. There’s no sense of wonder as the record progresses from “Reel Around the Fountain” to “Suffer Little Children.”
self titled by john prine
Billed as the new Bob Dylan I’m 1970, the folk songwriter earned that nickname due to the impressive collection of songs on his first release. Many of the tunes, especially “Paradise (Muhlenberg County)” and “Sam Stone”, have been covered by dozens of bands.
