Your fav LP is unexpected

[PeterG]

I.e. for certain artists your fav LP is not one of those expected albums that most fans choose

I don't have many but these spring to mind immediately

Fav Madonna album: American Life
Fav Queen: News of the World
Fav King Crimson: Islands
Fav Jethro Tull: Christmas Album
Fav Stranglers: Suite XVI
Fav Iron Maiden: Dance of Death

[bill g]

Fav King Crimson: Islands

Totally agree, I adore Islands.

How about these unpopular picks:

Fav Renaissance: Azure D'or (at least on summer days)
Fav Pink Floyd: Meddle
Fav Dave Gilmour: On An Island
Fav Fleetwood Mac: Heroes Are Hard To Find/Future Games (tie-tho I do love Then Play On too

[Just Eric]

uneXpect - In A Flesh Aquarium .... now that was unexpected.

[Progatron]

Fav Jethro Tull: Christmas Album
Fav Iron Maiden: Dance of Death

Yep, those are both definitely unexpected. I do like them both though. I've seen plenty of people over the years list Islands and Meddle, however. I suppose they aren't exactly the usual top picks though!

Some of mine that spring to mind:

Peter Hammill: Over
Frank Zappa: Zappa In New York
Rush: Grace Under Pressure
Pink Floyd: Live At Pompeii
The Flower Kings: Flower Power
Dream Theater: Live Scenes From New York
Ayreon: 01011001
Phil Collins: Both Sides

[strawberrybrick]

Faust IV comes to mind...

[Vic2012]

Fav Iron Maiden: Dance of Death

I played it last night. I just randomly grabbed an Iron Maiden album and this one came up. I've never been crazy about it but it's a fine album. Iron Maiden are so much more than just Heavy Metal. The title track is full blown, symph/prog in my opinion. I rank this album last among the 4 reunion albums but that doesn't mean I think it's weak. It's actually more varied than Brave New World and Matter Of Life And Death, but I like those albums more than DOD. On the other hand, possibly one of my favorite IM epics of all time is Paschendale. It's an epic to end all Iron Maiden epics.

[Dave (in MA)]

Apparently PEers have favorite Madonna albums. That was unexpected.

[Progatron]

I played it last night. I just randomly grabbed an Iron Maiden album and this one came up. I've never been crazy about it but it's a fine album. Iron Maiden are so much more than just Heavy Metal. The title track is full blown, symph/prog in my opinion. I rank this album last among the 4 reunion albums but that doesn't mean I think it's weak. It's actually more varied than Brave New World and Matter Of Life And Death, but I like those albums more than DOD. On the other hand, possibly one of my favorite IM epics of all time is Paschendale. It's an epic to end all Iron Maiden epics.

I'm actually a huge fan of "Maiden 2K". Although my absolute favourite stuff is from Beast through Seventh Son, a close second is the Brave New World and beyond period.... I really love the sound they've gone with in their later years. Almost Celtic at times!

The one thing Dance Of Death does not have going for it, however, is the dreadful cover.

[gryphs also]

Nothing truly against the grain but:

Dream Theater----Awake
Symphony X---Twighlight in Olympus
Bebop Deluxe----Futurama
Led Zeppelin---III
Pain Of Salvation---Entropia (and I really like Scarsick)

[PeterG]

Apparently PEers have favorite Madonna albums. That was unexpected.

You better believe it. Have you ever watched the videos for American Pie or Beautiful Stranger? .....hubba hubba hubba

[NogbadTheBad]

You better believe it. Have you ever watched the videos for American Pie or Beautiful Stranger? .....hubba hubba hubba

So it's not about the music?

[GuitarGeek]

Well, in the case of Kiss, one of my favorites is Unmasked, which a lot of people don't seem to like. But as I said in another thread, it's a good power pop album.

With Queen, I would maybe call A Day At The Races my favorite. Stuck between the twin peaks of A Night At The Opera and News Of The World, a lot of people seem to forget about ADATR, but it's got a lot of my favorite songs on it.

For Iron Maiden, I'd maybe cite Somewhere In Time, which again seems to be not as well rated as the three studio albums that immediately precede it.

Frank Zappa Guitar: All guitar solos, no lame attempts at humor, and most of the solos are from my favorite early 80's period.

The Who By Numbers: maybe because it was the first Who album I heard in it's entirety, but still my favorite. Lots of great songs and some fiery playing from the band. Some of Pete's best lyrics are on this record, and how can you not love Success Story?!

[Adrian]

Chicago III. It was the first Kath-era album I ever heard, and it's still my favorite.

[Rufus]

Uriah Heep's Sweet Freedom,Wonderworld & Return to Fantasy are my fave UH albums , can't seperate them!
PF 's Final Cut
Genesis' Wind & Wuthering
Budgie's Squawk
Def Leppard's On thru the Night

[Progbear]

Ange: Par les fils de Mandrin
Camel: Rain Dances
Caravan: For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night
Eloy: Planets
Magma: Attahk
Rare Bird: Born Again
Rush: Signals
XTC: Apple Venus Vol. 1
Frank Zappa: Burnt Weeny Sandwich

-------------
MIKE (a.k.a. "Progbear")

"It is not an obscenity to be free. It is a divine right." --Annette Peacock

N.P.:“Viejos himnos para nuevos guerreros”-Ñu

[mogrooves]

JT - Benefit
Soft Machine - Vol.II
Henry Cow - Unrest
Hammill - Chameleon...
FZ - Grand Wazoo
Spirit - s/t
KC - Lizard
JA - Crown of Creation
Yes - Fragile
PF - Ummagumma
Traffic - s/t
GG - Three Friends
The Who - Sell Out
The Move - Shazam!

Caravan: For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night

+1

[Mythos]

Mythos: first (on OHR)

[No Pride]

Apparently PEers have favorite Madonna albums. That was unexpected.

You better believe it. Have you ever watched the videos for American Pie or Beautiful Stranger? .....hubba hubba hubba

I wouldn't even be inclined to do her with your jazz hating dick.

[Garden Dreamer]

Great idea for a thread, and I'm having a hard time coming up with some examples so far.

I'll say Rush-Hemispheres, which may not be unexpected on a prog forum, but Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures are generally considered their classic break-through albums which won them critical acclaim and more widespread fan appeal. At the time of Hemispheres, there was still some hatred from the critics.

[Galactic Bulldozer]

Just a quick glance at my in out of order Cd collection.

King Crimson - Islands
PH - Chameleon
VG - Silent Zone
JT - Stand Up
Arthur Brown (solo) - Dance
PF - Atom Heart
CA - Airconditioning
JW - Jade Warrior
DP - Fireball
Camel - Breathless
CB- Suffiently Breathless
Caravan - Girls Who Go
Kinks - Something Else
ELO - No Answer
ELP - Tarkus
Focus - Mother
GG - Acquiring The Taste
Gryphon - Midnight Mushrumps
Procol Harum - Grand Hotel
Robin Trower - Twice Removed
Shawn Phillips - Rumplestiltskin's Resolve
Move - Message from The Country
Joe Walsh - Barnstorm
RTF - Hymn of the 7th Galaxy
Al di Meola - Kiss My Axe
David Sancious - Forest of feelings
Jeff Beck - Rough and Ready
Jan Hammer - Seven Days
Trapeze - Yiou Are The Music
Thin Lizzy - Thin Lizzy
Uriah Heep - Look At Yourself
Black Sabbath - Seventh Star
Vangelis - Earth
Todd Rundgren - Todd

[PeterG]

Caravan - Girls Who Go
GG - Acquiring The Taste
Uriah Heep - Look At Yourself

hhmmm...these 3 are hardly unexpected. Those are considered by many as those bands' best albums.

[PeterG]

Uriah Heep's Sweet Freedom,Wonderworld & Return to Fantasy are my fave UH albums

Blimey..my fav heavy rock band bar none & you certainly do have got 3 unexpected favs.

Mine are all expected:
1. Demons & Wizards
2. Look At Yourself
3. Salisbury
4. Magicians Birthday

[Galactic Bulldozer]

I guess so, most of them are third or fourth rated but as you didn't pull me up for others, I take it you not too familiar with the rest...

from Gnosis
12.32 In the Land of Grey and Pink
11.89 If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You
10.65 Caravan
10.50 Waterloo Lily
10.44 For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night
9.93 And The New Symphonia
9.73 Ether Way
9.51 Nowhere To Hide
8.88 Cunning Stunts
8.46 Back To Front
8.37 Blind Dog at St. Dunstans

12.55 In A Glass House
12.37 Octopus
12.10 Three Friends
11.93 Acquiring the Taste
11.76 The Power and the Glory
11.67 Free Hand
11.29 Playing the Fool
10.93 Gentle Giant
10.64 Interview
8.88 The Missing Piece
7.78 Civilian
7.07 Giant For A Day

9.82 Demons and Wizards
9.79 Salisbury
9.77 Live
9.74 Look at Yourself
9.73 The Lansdowne Tapes
9.66 The Magician's Birthday
9.44 Into the Wild
9.37 Sea of Light
9.25 Very 'eavy Very 'umble)
8.85 Wake the Sleeper
8.61 Spellbinder
8.50 Sonic Origami
8.45 Raging Silence
8.43 Sweet Freedom
8.22 Wonderworld
8.09 Return to Fantasy
7.80 Firefly
7.73 Equator
7.50 High and Mighty
7.35 Head First
7.29 Innocent Victim
7.27 Fallen Angel
7.14 Conquest
6.69 Abonimog

10.35 Floating World
10.21 Eclipse
10.09 Jade Warrior
10.04 Last Autumn's Dream
10.03 Now
9.91 Released
9.84 Fifth Element
9.80 Waves
9.65 Kites
9.64 Way of the Sun
9.29 Horizen
9.29 At Peace
9.14 Breathing the Storm
9.03 Distant Echoes

10.44 Second Album
10.43 Phantasmagoria
10.26 Airconditioning
9.77 Air Cut
9.27 Reborn
8.34 Airborne
8.19 Lovechild
8.17 Midnight Wire

and finally

12.53 Thick as a Brick
11.56 Aqualung
11.32 A Passion Play
11.00 Stand Up
10.96 Minstrel in the Gallery
10.96 Songs From the Wood
10.91 Living in the Past
10.77 Benefit
10.39 Heavy Horses
9.88 This Was
9.88 The Christmas Album
9.86 War Child
8.92 Too Old to Rock 'n Roll Too Young to Die
8.89 Stormwatch
8.53 Broadsword and the Beast
8.28 A
8.14 Crest of a Knave
8.09 J-Tull.com
8.05 Rock Island
7.78 Catfish Rising
7.04 Under Wraps

[mogrooves]

hhmmm...these 3 are hardly unexpected. Those are considered by many as those bands' best albums.

I think you'll find most people citing Caravan's In the Land of the Grey & Pink as the most expected/best.....

[Baribrotzer]

I think you'll find most people citing Caravan's In the Land of the Grey & Pink as the most expected/best.....

It may be just nostalgia for something I used to hear on the radio forty years ago - but for me "L'Auberge....", the instrumental that concludes For Girls is a prog classic that stands head-and-shoulders above the rest of that album and pretty much everything else I've heard by Caravan.