The MTV Unplugged Album
Not a fan of Best Ofs.
Best Ofs are a compilation of tracks that work outside of albums, or tracks that have been commercially successful, they are not necessarily the artist's best work. When I look at the Best Ofs of the artists I like, I always disagree. Individually the songs on any particular album may not always be stand alone classics, but what makes them a classic is that if they weren't there the album jigsaw would not be complete. It would be like only listening to the last part of Fleetwood Mac's, The Chain, yes you get the best part of the track, but it lacks the build up, the anticipation, the whole story of the song. We went to see The King's Speech recently, again it would be like watching the opening scene, then watching a clip from when he's learning different techniques, then cutting to the end speech. Pointless. The other thing to mention is that I would never sit down and listen to a Best Of, they don't work as albums.
Before I shoehorn in some great albums, here's the point, which I know is obvious, and it applies to more than music: Taking stuff out of context may get a one off catchy quote, but so much will be missed, usually the message.
So, anyway, SEVEN GREAT ALBUMS* (I refer to the originals, not later editions with bonus / live / edit / remix tracks, not remastered or revamped, nor any other cash-ins). There are others I could have chosen, for example something from The Sisters Of Mercy, but I couldn't narrow it down to just one of their albums. These are great and for one reason or another made a difference to me. In no particular order:
The Jayhawks - Hollywood Town Hall
Live - Throwing Copper
Jethro Tull - Broadsword and The Beast
Warrior Soul - Space Age Playboys
Paul Simon - Graceland
Social Distortion - White Light, White Heat, White Trash
Guns and Roses - Appetite For Destruction
*This may turn into one of them-there gert memes. If it does, you're tagged.
On saying all of that, if I see a band live, I want to hear their Best Of - I wouldn't want to hear an album. Oh, and MTV Unplugged worked, live and as a Best Of album.