Monday, November 20, 2006

U2 released their U218 Singles collection

U2

A Retrospective: 1980-2006

Overview:

The rock group U2 formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1976. They met while students at Dublin’s Mount Temple High School. In Joel Whitburn’s Rock Tracks 1981-2020, they are ranked as the #4 modern rock act and #5 album rock act of all time. “Through a combination of zealous righteousness and post-punk experimentalism, U2 became one of the most popular rock & roll bands of the ‘80s. Equally known for their sweeping sound as for their grandiose statements about politics and religion, U2 were rock & roll crusaders during an era of synthesized pop and heavy metal. The Edge provided the group with a signature sound by creating sweeping sonic landscapes with his heavily processed, echoed guitars. Though the Edge’s style wasn't conventional, the rhythm section of Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. played the songs as driving hard rock, giving the band a forceful, powerful edge that was designed for arena rock. And their lead singer, Bono, was a frontman who had a knack of grand gestures that played better in arenas than small clubs. It’s no accident that footage of Bono parading with a white flag with ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ blaring in the background became the defining moment of U2’s early career – there rarely was a band that believed so deeply in rock's potential for revolution as U2.” AMG


The Players:

  • Paul “Bono” Hewson (vocals). Born May 10, 1960.
  • Dave “The Edge” Evans (guitar). Born August 8, 1961.
  • Adam Clayton (bass). Born March 13, 1960.
  • Larry Mullen, Jr. (drums). Born October 31, 1961.


On the Web:


Lists:

Awards:

The Studio Albums:

Hover over an album cover to see its title and year of release. Click on the album to go to its dedicated DMDB page.


Compilations:

Under each album snapshot, songs featured on the anthologies are noted. If the song charted, the date of the song’s release or first chart appearance and its chart peaks are noted in parentheses. Click for codes to singles charts.


The Beginning (1976-1980):

“With its textured guitars, U2’s sound was undeniably indebted to post-punk, so it’s slightly ironic that the band formed in 1976, before punk had reached their hometown of Dublin, Ireland. Larry Mullen, Jr....posted a notice on a high-school bulletin board asking for fellow musicians to form a band. Bono, …the Edge, …Adam Clayton, …and Dick Evans responded to the ad, and the group formed as a Beatles and Stones cover band called the Feedback, before changing their name to the Hype in 1977. Shortly afterward, Dick Evans left the band to form the Virgin Prunes. Following his departure, the group changed its name to U2.” AMG

“U2's first big break arrived in 1978, when they won a talent contest sponsored by Guinness; the band were in their final year of high school at the time. By the end of the year, the Stranglers' manager, Paul McGuinness, saw the band play and offered to manage them. Even with a powerful manager in their corner, the band had trouble making much headway — they failed an audition with CBS Records at the end of the year. In the fall of 1979, U2 released their debut EP, U2 Three The EP was available only in Ireland, and it topped the national charts.” AMG “U2 had one other chart-topping single, Another Day, in early 1980.” AMG


Establishing the College Rock Sound (1980-1985):


Boy (1980):

“Island Records offered the group a contract…[and] the band’s debut, Boy, was released [in 1980]. Produced by Steve Lillywhite, the record's sweeping, atmospheric but edgy sound was unlike most of its post-punk contemporaries, and the band earned further attention for its public embrace of Christianity; only Clayton was not a practicing Christian.” AMG

  • I Will Follow (10/19/80, 81 US, 78 UK, 20 AR) 80


October (1981):

October, also produced by Lillywhite, followed in the fall, and it became their British breakthrough…By early 1983, Boy's I Will Follow and October's Gloria had become staples on MTV.” AMG

  • October 80


War (1983):

“Released in the spring of 1983, the Lillywhite-produced War was U2’s breakthrough release, entering the U.K. charts at number one and elevating them into arenas in the United States..War had a stronger political message than its predecessors, as evidenced by the U.K., college radio, and MTV hits Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year’s Day.” AMG

“During the supporting tour, the band filmed its concert at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheater, releasing the show as an EP and video titled Under a Blood Red Sky. The EP entered in the U.K. charts at number two, becoming the most successful live recording in British history. U2 had become one of the most popular bands in the world, and their righteous political stance soon became replicated by many other bands, providing the impetus for the Band Aid and Live Aid projects in 1984 and 1985, respectively.” AMG


The Unforgettable Fire (1984):

“For the follow-up to War, U2 entered the studios with co-producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, who helped give the resulting album an experimental, atmospheric tone. Released in the fall of 1984, The Unforgettable Fire...generated the group's first Top 40 hit in America with the Martin Luther King, Jr. tribute Pride (In the Name of Love). U2 supported the album with a successful international tour, highlighted by a show-stealing performance at Live Aid.” AMG


U2 Take Over the World (1987):


The Joshua Tree (1987):

“While U2 had become one of the most successful rock bands of the '80s, they didn't truly become superstars until the spring 1987 release of The Joshua Tree. Greeted with enthusiastic reviews, many of which proclaimed the album a masterpiece, The Joshua Tree became the band’s first American number one hit and its third straight album to enter the U.K. charts at number one; in England, it set a record by going platinum within 28 hours. Generating the U.S. number one hits With or Without You and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, The Joshua Tree and the group’s supporting tour became the biggest success of 1987, earning the group the cover of respected publications like Time magazine.” AMG


Rattle and Hum (1988):

“U2 decided to film a documentary about their American tour, recording new material along the way. The project became Rattle & Hum, a film that was supported by a double-album soundtrack that was divided between live tracks and new material. While the album…was a hit, the..film received the weakest reviews of U2's career, with many critics taking issue with the group's fascination with American roots music like blues, soul, country, and folk.” AMG

  • Desire (9/26/88, 3 US, 1 UK, 1 AR, 1 MR) 80, 18
  • Angel of Harlem (10/22/88, 14 US, 9 UK, 38 AC, 1 AR, 3 MR) 80
  • When Love Comes to Town (with B.B. King, 10/22/88, 68 US, 6 UK, 2 AR, 10 MR) 80
  • All I Want Is You (6/13/89, 83 US, 4 UK, 13 AR) 80

The Best of 1980-1990

U2


Released: November 3, 1998


Recorded: 1980-1989


Peak: 2 US, 11 UK, 11 CN, 15 AU


Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 1.5 UK, 18.5 world (includes US and UK)


Genre: mainstream/alternative rock


Tracks: (1) Pride (In the Name of Love) (2) New Year’s Day (3) With or Without You (4) I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (5) Sunday Bloody Sunday (6) Bad (7) Where the Streets Have No Name (8) I Will Follow (9) The Unforgettable Fire (10) Sweetest Thing (11) Desire (12) When Love Comes to Town (with B.B. King) (13) Angel of Harlem (14) All I Want Is You (15) October (hidden track)

Limited Edition B-Sides Disc: (1) The Three Sunrises (2) Spanish Eyes (3) Sweetest Thing (4) Love Comes Tubling (5) Bass Trap (6) Dancing Barefoot (7) Everlasting Love (8) Unchained Melody (9) Walk to the Water (10) Luminous Times (Hold on to Love) (11) Hallelujah Here She Comes (12) Silver and Gold (13) Endless Deep (14) A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel (15) Trash, Trampoline and the Party Girl


Total Running Time: 65:35

Rating:

4.320 out of 5.00 (average of 22 ratings)


Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About The Best of 1980-1990:

“As one of the most popular bands of the '80s, U2 didn't quite fit into any particular category. They were a post-punk band that quickly found acceptance from a hard rock audience, a group that made fully formed albums but often made their best statements on individual songs, especially during the ‘80s.” A80

“Consequently, they're a very hard band to anthologize. Since they were most effective on single songs, it seems that throwing all of them together on one disc would work. The problem is, each of the albums, from Boy to Rattle and Hum, has a distinctive flavor that doesn't necessarily blend when combined, especially in the nonchronological form of The Best of 1980-1990.” A80

“There’s little quibbling with the featured tracks on U2's first compilation – a few important songs, such as ‘Gloria’…and ‘Two Hearts Beat as One,’ may be missing, but everything else deserves to be here (Pride, New Year’s Day, With or Without You, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bad, Desire, etc.).” A80

“Even though the song selection is strong, the album winds up as less than the sum of its parts – each song is pretty great of its own accord (even the single mix of the B-side Sweetest Thing, which is, in truth, not much different at all), but the overall effect is a little underwhelming. On one hand, it may be a good choice for casual fans or nostalgia mongers, since it does contain everything they need to hear, but anyone who has more than a passing interest in the band will be better suited with individual albums.” A80


Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:

  • Trash, Trampoline and the Party Girl (1981, B-side of “A Celebration”) 80
  • Endless Deep (1983, B-side of “Two Hearts Beat As One”) 80
  • The Three Sunrises (1984, B-side of “The Unforgettable Fire”) 80
  • Love Comes Tubling (1984, B-side of “The Unforgettable Fire”) 80
  • Bass Trap (1984, B-side of “The Unforgettable Fire”) 80
  • Walk to the Water (1987, B-side of “With or Without You”) 80
  • Luminous Times (Hold on to Love) (1987, B-side of “With or Without You”) 80
  • Spanish Eyes (1987, B-side of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”) 80
  • Sweetest Thing (8/4/87, B-side of “Where the Streets Have No Name,” 63 US, 3 UK, 31 AR, 9 MR) 80, 18
  • Silver and Gold (1987, B-side of “Where the Streets Have No Name”) 80
  • Hallelujah Here She Comes (1988, B-side of “Desire”) 80
  • A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel (1988, B-side of “Angel of Harlem”) 80
  • Dancing Barefoot (1988, B-side of “When Love Comes to Town”) 80
  • Everlasting Love (1989, B-side of “All I Want Is You”) 80
  • Unchained Melody (1989, B-side of “All I Want Is You”) 80


A New Sound (1990-1997):


Achtung Baby (1991):

“U2 reconvened in Berlin 1990 to record a new album with Eno and Lanois. While the sessions for the album were difficult, the resulting record, Achtung Baby, represented a successful reinvention of the band's trademark sound. Where they had been inspired by post-punk in the early career and American music during their mid-career, U2 delved into electronic and dance music with Achtung Baby. Inspired equally by late-'70s Bowie and the Madchester scene in the U.K., Achtung Baby was sonically more eclectic and adventurous than U2's earlier work, and it didn't alienate their core audience. The album debuted at number one throughout the world and spawned Top Ten hits with Mysterious Ways and One. Early in 1992, the group launched an elaborate tour to support Achtung Baby. Dubbed Zoo TV, the tour was an innovative blend of multimedia electronics, featuring a stage filled with televisions, suspended cars, and cellular phone calls. Bono devised an alter ego called the Fly, which was a knowing send-up of rock stardom. Even under the ironic guise of the Fly and Zoo TV, it was evident that U2 were looser and more fun than ever before, even though they had not abandoned their trademark righteous political anger.” AMG

  • Mysterious Ways [4:04] (11/23/91, 9 US, 3 CB, 5 RR, 1 AR, 1 MR, 13 UK, 1 CN, 3 AU) 90, 18
  • One [4:36] (1/4/92, 10 US, 3 CB, 2 RR, 24 AC, 1 AR, 1 MR, 7 UK, 1 CN, 4 AU) 90, 18
  • Until the End of the World [4:39] (2/1/92, 5 AR, 4 MR) 90
  • Even Better Than the Real Thing [3:41] (6/7/92, 32 US, 21 CB, 13 RR, 1 AR, 5 MR, 8 UK, 3 CN, 11 AU) 90


Zoooropa (1993):

“Following the completion of the American Zoo TV tour in late 1992 and before the launch of the European leg of the tour, U2 entered the studio to complete an EP of new material that became the full-length Zooropa. Released in the summer of 1993 to coincide with the tour of the same name, Zooropa demonstrated a heavier techno and dance influence than Achtung Baby and it received strong reviews. Nevertheless, the album stalled at sales of two million and failed to generate a big hit single. During the Zooropa tour, the Fly metamorphosed into the demonic MacPhisto, which dominated the remainder of the tour. Upon the completion of the Zooropa tour in late 1993, the band took an extended break.” AMG

  • Numb (6/30/93, 61a US, 18 AR, 2 MR) 90
  • Stay (Faraway, So Close!) (7/31/93, 61 US, 4 UK, 12 AR, 15 MR) 90
  • The First Time (album: 7/5/93, --) 90


Original Soundtracks 1 (1995):

“During 1995, U2 re-emerged with Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me, a glam rock theme to Batman Forever…Later that year, they recorded the collaborative album Original Soundtracks, Vol. 1 with Brian Eno, releasing the album under the name the Passengers late in 1995. It was greeted with a muted reception, both critically and commercially.” AMG

  • Miss Sarajevo (recorded as Passengers, 11/11/95, --) 90
  • Your Blue Room 90


Pop (1997):

“U2 promised their next album, to be released in the fall of 1996, would be a rock & roll record. The album took longer to complete than usual, being pushed back to the spring of 1997. During its delay, a few tracks, including the forthcoming first single Discotheque, were leaked, and it became clear that the new album was going to be heavily influenced by techno, dance, and electronic music. When it was finally released, Pop did indeed bear a heavier dance influence.” AMG

  • Discothèque (1/24/97, 10 US, 1 UK, 6 AR, 1 MR) 90
  • Staring at the Sun (3/14/97, 26 US, 3 UK, 2 AR, 1 MR) 90
  • Gone (album: 3/4/97, --) 90


A New Sound…Again (2000-2006):


All That You Can’t Leave Behind (2000):

Next, “U2 teamed up with Eno and Lanois once again to release All That You Can't Leave Behind in fall 2000.” AMG That album, and its follow-up, 2004’s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, were effectively U2’s third phase; after leading the way for college rock in the ‘80s and leaning heavily on dance/electronica in the ‘90s, they launched the new decade with a rawer, rootsier back-to-basics rock and roll sound that was hailed as yet another welcome change for U2.

  • Beautiful Day (9/9/00, 21 US, 1 UK, 14 AR, 5 MR) 90, 18
  • Walk On (1/6/01, 5 UK, 19 AR, 10 MR) 18
  • Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of (1/29/01, 52 US, 2 UK, 35 AR, 35 MR) 90, 18
  • Elevation (4/28/01, 3 UK, 21 AR, 8 MR) 18

The Best of 1990-2000

U2


Released: November 4, 2002


Recorded: 1991-2002


Peak: 3 US, 2 UK, 11 CN, 11 AU


Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.6 UK, 7.5 world (includes US and UK)


Genre: mainstream/alternative rock


Tracks: (1) Even Better Than the Real Thing (2) Mysterious Ways (3) Beautiful Day (4) Electrical Storm (5) One (6) Miss Sarajevo (7) Stay (Faraway, So Close!) (8) Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of (8) Gone (9) Until the End of the World (10) The Hands That Built America (11) Discoteque (12) Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me (14) Staring at the Sun (15) Numb (16) The First Time

Limited Edition B-Sides Disc: (1) Lady with the Spinning Head (2) Dirty Day (3) Summer Rain (4) Electric Storm (5) North and South of the River (6) Your Blue Room (7) Happiness Is a Warm Gun (8) Salome (9) Even Better Than the Real Thing (Perfecto Mix) (10) Numb (Gimme Some More Dignity Mix Edit) (11) Mysterious Ways (Solar Plexus Club Mix) (12) If God Will Send His Angels (Big Yam Mix) (13) Lemon (Jeep Mix) (14) Discotheque (Hexidecimal Mix Edit)


Total Running Time: 71:53

Rating:

4.130 out of 5.00 (average of 10 ratings)


Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About The Best of 1990-2000:

Best of 1990-2000 was the second compilation from U2, the first being Best of 1980-1990, released four years earlier. This one picks up where that one left off, offering a nice one-two punch retrospective of the band’s first two decades.

Hits like Mysterious Ways, One, Numb, Discothèque, and Beautiful Day are here alongside 1995’s Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me, which first appeared on the Batman Forever soundtrack. Also from that year is Miss Sarajevo, which was a collaboration with Brian Eno originally credited to Passengers.

Unlike the previous collection, this one offered a couple of new songs – Electrical Storm and The Hands That Built America. The former was released as a single and the latter appeared on the soundtrack for Gangs of New York.

Still, this album isn’t quite as strong as its predecessor. A couple of album cuts (Gone, The First Time) appear here, which take up space that could have been given to hits like “The Fly” (a #1 hit in the UK), “Last Night on Earth” (a top ten hit in the UK), or “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses” (a #2 album rock hit), or even the band’s cover of “Night and Day,” a #2 modern rock hit which appeared on the 1990 album Red Hot + Blue, a tribute to Cole Porter.


Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:

  • Mysterious Ways (1991, Solar Plexus Club Mix) (B-side of “Mysterious Ways”) 90
  • Lady with the Spinning Head (1992, B-side of “Even Better Than the Real Thing”) 90
  • Even Better Than the Real Thing (Perfecto Mix) (1992, B-side of “Even Better Than the Real Thing”) 90
  • Salome (1992, B-side of “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses”) 90
  • Lemon (Jeep Mix) (1993, B-side of “Lemon”) 90
  • Numb (Gimme Some More Dignity Mix Edit) (1995, Melon: Remixes for Propaganda) 90
  • Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me (6/5/95, 16 US, 2 UK, 1 AR, 1 MR) 90
  • Discotheque (1997, Hexidecimal Mix Edit) (B-side of “Discoteque”) 90
  • North and South of the River (1997, B-side of “Staring at the Sun”) 90
  • Happiness Is a Warm Gun (1997, B-side of “Last Night on Earth”) 90
  • Dirty Day (1997, B-side of “Please”) 90
  • If God Will Send His Angels (Big Yam Mix) (1997, B-side of “Mofo”) 90
  • Summer Rain (2000, B-side of “Beautiful Day”) 90
  • Electrical Storm (9/14/02, 77 US, 5 UK, 26 AR, 14 MR) 90
  • The Hands That Built America (album: 11/12/02, --) 90


How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004):

  • Vertigo (8/31/04, 31 US, 1 UK, 3 AR, 1 MR) 18
  • Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own (2/7/05, 97 US, 1 UK, 29 MR) 18

U218: Singles

U2


Released: November 20, 2006


Recorded: 1980-2006


Peak: 12 US, 4 UK, 3 CN, 12 AU


Sales (in millions): 0.13 US, 0.62 UK, 5.13 world (includes US and UK)


Genre: mainstream/alternative rock


Tracks: (1) Beautiful Day (2) I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (3) Pride (In the Name of Love) (4) With or Without You (5) Vertigo (6) New Year’s Day (7) Mysterious Ways (8) Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of (9) Where the Streets Have No Name (10) Sweetest Thing (11) Sunday Bloody Sunday (12) One (13) Desire (14) Walk On (15) Elevation (16) Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own (17) The Saints Are Coming (with Green Day) (18) Window in the Skies


Total Running Time: 74:35

Rating:

4.265 out of 5.00 (average of 10 ratings)


Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About U218:

While a single-disc retrospective of U2 would seem a sure-fire hit, this album stalled in the U.S., becoming the band’s first album since 1984’s The Unforgettable Fire to miss the top ten. Part of the blame is releasing the album so soon after their last compilation – the 2002 Best of 1990-2000. In fact, based on that album title and its predecessor, Best of 1980-1990, the next compilation would seemingly have come at the close of the decade and rounded up the band’s hits from the new millennium.

That is accented all the more by the fact that the band had only released one studio album, 2004’s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, since Best of 1990-2000 so there’s not much new here. There’s Vertigo and Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own from that album and two new songs. One is a cover of the Skids’ The Saints Are Coming. The song was done as a collaboration with Green Day to benefit Hurricane Katrina charities. W18 The other new song was Window in the Skies.

Still, it isn’t the worst thing to have New Year’s Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Pride (In the Name of Love), With or Without You, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Desire, Mysterious Ways, One, and Beautiful Day all on one collection.


Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:

  • The Saints Are Coming (with Green Day, 10/14/06, 51 US, 2 UK, 33 AR, 22 MR) 18
  • Window in the Skies (11/19/06, 4 UK, 32 MR) 18


Resources and Related Links:

First posted 7/1/2008; last updated 8/14/2021.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

UK Music Hall of Fame

image from rogerwaters.org

The UK Music Hall of Fame was launched in 2004 to honor musicians, regardless of nationality, for their lifetime contributions to the United Kingdom music scene. The last ceremony was held on November 14, 2006. There apparently is no standing Hall or official web page either.

  • The Beatles (2004)
  • Black Sabbath (2005)
  • Chris Blackwell (2004)
  • Bon Jovi (2006)
  • James Brown (2006)
  • Bob Dylan (2005)
  • Eurythmics (2005)
  • Aretha Franklin (2005)
  • Jimi Hendrix (2005)
  • Michael Jackson (2004)
  • Joy Division (2004)
  • Judas Priest (2005)
  • The Kinks (2005)
  • Led Zeppelin (2006)
  • Madonna (2004)
  • Bob Marley (2004)
  • George Martin (2006)
  • New Order (2005)
  • Ozzy Osbourne (2005)
  • John Peel (2005)
  • Pink Floyd (2005)
  • Elvis Presley (2004)
  • Prince (2006)
  • Queen (2004)
  • Cliff Richard (2004)
  • The Rolling Stones (2004)
  • Dusty Springfield (2006)
  • Rod Stewart (2006)
  • U2 (2004)
  • The Who (2005)
  • Robbie Williams (2004)
  • Brian Wilson (2006)

Resources:

Monday, November 13, 2006

Time Magazine’s All-TIME 100 Albums

First posted 11/13/2006; updated 8/13/2020.

Time Magazine:

All-TIME 100 Albums

This list, created by Time magazine, was not a ranked list. Instead, it was presented in chronological order. However, compilations were listed by release year, meaning a collection like Sam Cooke’s Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964 is listed as a 2003 release. Dave’s Music Database has adjusted that so that such albums are listed by the final year covered by the collection (in the case of Cooke, 1964) instead of the release date. After all, it is a bit odd to see artists like Sam Cooke and Hank Williams, who’ve been dead for more than four decades, show up with new millennium releases.

Note: you can click on an album title to go to a DMDB page for more about that album. If you click on TIME after the album title, that will take you to the article from the Time magazine list about that album.

Also, check out annual picks for album of the year.


The 1930s – 1950s

1. Robert Johnson King of the Delta Blues Singers (archives: 1936-37, released 1961) TIME
2. Hank Williams Turn Back the Years: The Essential Collection (compilation: 1947-52, released 2005) TIME
3. Frank Sinatra In the Wee Small Hours (1955) TIME
4. Elvis Presley The Sun Sessions (archives: 1954-55, released 1976) TIME
5. Frank Sinatra Songs for Swingin’ Lovers! (1956) TIME
6. Little Richard Here’s Little Richard (1957) TIME
7. Miles Davis Kind of Blue (1959) TIME


The 1960s

8. Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962) TIME
9. James Brown Live at the Apollo Volume 1 (live, 1962) TIME
10. Sam Cooke Portrait of a Legend (compilation: 1951-64, released 2003) TIME
11. John Coltrane A Love Supreme (1965) TIME
12. Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited (1965) TIME
13. Otis Redding Otis Blue (1965) TIME
14. The Beatles Rubber Soul (1965) TIME
15. Chuck Berry The Great Twenty-Eight (compilation: 1955-64, released 1982) TIME
16. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (1966) TIME
17. Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde (1966) TIME
18. The Beatles Revolver (1966) TIME
19. Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) TIME
20. Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967) TIME

21. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced? (1967) TIME
22. The Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) TIME
23. Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison (live, 1968) TIME
24. Aretha Franklin Lady Soul (1968) TIME
25. The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (1968) TIME
26. Van Morrison Astral Weeks (1968) TIME
27. Sly & the Family Stone Stand! (1969) TIME
28. The Band The Band (1969) TIME
29. The Beatles Abbey Road (1969) TIME
30. Various Artists produced by Phil Spector Back to Mono (box set: 1958-69, released 1991) TIME


The 1970s

31. Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) TIME
32. Van Morrison Moondance (1970) TIME
33. Miles Davis Bitches Brew (1970) TIME
34. Neil Young After the Gold Rush (1970) TIME
35. Black Sabbath Paranoid (1970) TIME
36. John Lennon Plastic Ono Band (1970) TIME
37. Carole King Tapestry (1971) TIME
38. The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers (1971) TIME
39. Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (1971) TIME
40. Joni Mitchell Blue (1971) TIME

41. The Who Who’s Next (1971) TIME
42. Dolly Parton Coat of Many Colors (1971) TIME
43. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (1971) TIME
44. David Bowie Hunky Dory (1971) TIME
45. The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street (1972) TIME
46. David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) TIME
47. Stevie Wonder Talking Book (1972) TIME
48. Muddy Waters The Anthology (compilation: 1947-72, released 2001) TIME
49. Jimmy Cliff et al The Harder They Come (soundtrack, 1972) TIME
50. Al Green Call Me (1973) TIME

51. Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) TIME
52. Willie Nelson Red Headed Stranger (1975) TIME
53. Bruce Springsteen Born to Run (1975) TIME
54. Patti Smith Horses (1975) TIME
55. Ramones Ramones (1976) TIME
56. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (1976) TIME
57. Eagles Hotel California (1976) TIME
58. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977) TIME
59. Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977) TIME
60. Elvis Presley 30 #1 Hits (compilation: 1956-77, released 2002) TIME
61. Funkadelic One Nation Under a Groove (1978) TIME
62. The Clash London Calling (1979) TIME


The 1980s

63. AC/DC Back in Black (1980) TIME
64. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982) TIME
65. Talking Heads Stop Making Sense (live soundtrack, recorded 1983, released 1984) TIME
66. Bob Marley & the Wailers Legend (compilation: 1973-83, released 1984) TIME
67. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack, 1984) TIME
68. James Brown Star Time (box set: 1956-84, released 1991) TIME
69. Metallica Master of Puppets (1986) TIME
70. Run-D.M.C. Raising Hell (1986) TIME

71. Paul Simon Graceland (1986) TIME
72. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987) TIME
73. Prince Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987) TIME
74. Eric B. & Rakim Paid in Full (1987) TIME
75. R.E.M. Document (1987) TIME
76. Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988) TIME
77. N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton (1989) TIME
78. Madonna Like a Prayer (1989) TIME
79. The Stone Roses The Stone Roses (1989) TIME
80. Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique (1989) TIME


The 1990s

81. R.E.M. Out of Time (1991) TIME
82. Garth Brooks Ropin’ the Wind (1991) TIME
83. Nirvana Nevermind (1991) TIME
84. A Tribe Called Quest The Low-End Theory (1991) TIME
85. U2 Achtung Baby (1991) TIME
86. Pavement Slanted and Enchanted (1992) TIME
87. Dr. Dre The Chronic (1992) TIME
88. Hole Live Through This (1994) TIME
89. The Notorious B.I.G. Ready to Die (1994) TIME
90. Mary J. Blige My Life (1994) TIME

91. Oasis (What’s the Story) Morning Glory (1995) TIME
92. DJ Shadow Endtroducing… (1996) TIME
93. Radiohead OK Computer (1997) TIME
94. Bob Dylan Time Out of Mind (1997) TIME
95. Lucinda Williams Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998) TIME


The 2000s

96. Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) TIME
97. Radiohead Kid A (2000) TIME
98. PJ Harvey Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000) TIME
99. OutKast Stankonia (2000) TIME
100. Kanye West The College Dropout (2004) TIME


Resources and Related Links:

  • Time Magazine (11/13/2006). “All-TIME 100 Albums” with commentary by Josh Tyrangiel and Alan Light

Friday, November 10, 2006

100 years ago: “Love Me and the World Is Mine” hit #1 for the second time

Love Me and the World Is Mine

Henry Burr

Writer(s): Ernest R. Ball (music), Dave Reed Jr. (lyrics) (see lyrics here)


Released: August 1906


First Charted: November 3, 1906


Peak: 17 US, 2 GA (Click for codes to singles charts.)


Sales (in millions): 1.0 (sheet music)


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, -- streaming

Love Me and the World Is Mine

Albert Campbell


First Charted: October 20, 1906


Peak: 13 US, 2 GA, 11 SM (Click for codes to singles charts.)


Sales (in millions): 1.0 (sheet music)


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, -- streaming

Awards (Burr):

Click on award for more details.


Awards (Campbell):

About the Song:

The composer Ernest R. Ball was born in 1878 in Cleveland, Ohio. At the beginning of his career, he got his break when James J. Walker, a New York state senator, asked Ball to write some music to accompany some lyrics he wrote. That song became “Will You Love Me in December As You Do in May?” which hit numbers 2 and 3 in 1906 for the Haydn Quartet and Albert Campbell respectively.

Ball would have another hit on his hands that year with “Love Me and the World Is Mine.” It was also recorded by Campbell and the Haydn Quartet. Campbell’s version was a #1 hit in 1906 while the Haydn Quartet reached #7 with the song in 1908. Two other versions charted in 1906. Harry Anthony took it to #6 and Henry Burr, whose version was the first to be released in August 1906, SH took it to #1. Campbell’s version hit #1 first, spending three weeks there, but it was Burr’s version which became the biggest hit, staying at the pinnacle for seven weeks. There were other versions recorded by Bob Hannon (1941), the Chordettes (1951), and the Lads of Enchantment (1956). SH

The song, however, was first introduced at Proctor’s 5th Avenue Theater in New York City. Ball’s second wife, vaudevillian Maude Lambert, was one of the performers to help make the ballad a success. The song was so well received, that the famous music publishing house Witmark gave Ball an unheard-of twenty-year contract as staff composer. TY2 Some of his best-known compositions were “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” “Mother Machree,” and “A Little Bit of Heaven.”

The song would become a favrote for barbershop quartets TY2 and was used in several movie musicals, including San Francisco (1936) where it was sung by Jeanette MacDonald, The Strawberry Blond (1941), the Ernest R. Ball screen biography Irish Eyes Are Smiling (1944), and The Eddie Cantor Story (1954).


Resources:


Related Links:


First posted 12/14/2022; last updated 12/15/2022.