Filler-free double albums: are there any?

A lot of people will disagree with me on this, but I love everything on The White Album. Yes, even "Wild Honey Pie" and "Revolution No. 9". It's part of the (slightly bizarre) experience.

 

I don't know if live albums can count, but if so "Hot August Night" is another one.

 

I love Springsteen - but The River?

But for me the album is stuffed with filler (and great tracks)…

Sherry Darling (my least fav track of his - the good vibe feel seems so forced)
I wanna Marry you - probably my least fav love song of the boss
Crush on You, Cadillac Ranch, Out on the Streets - all seem really lightweight songs ….

Of course the the album is worth it just for The ties that bind, Independence Day and the River…etc

 

In the context of the times, I think Underture was absolutely necessary. "Hey, man, this isn't just rock n roll, it's Art! This isn't just an album, it's opera! It's serious!" While I find such sentiments silly, and it's one of the reasons I don't like the album, that was exactly where Townshend's ambitions lie in '69 and he achieved them. It made both the critics and public adjust their perception of the Who and they finally graduated to the first tier of rock royalty, financially speaking (the 70s cemented this but it began with Tommy)... Underture was essential to this. It set the mood for everything that followed.

 

Some not mentioned yet

Opeth - Blackwater Park
Porcupine Tree - In Absentia
XTC - Nonsuch
Anathema - Weather Systems

 

Another vote for The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway plus

Exit Stage Left
Yesshows

 

The Wall of course - not only there isn't any filler song, there isn't a single filler second!!
Best double album and simply: best album ever (IMO of course )

 

Jamaican jerk off ?

100% filler imo

Rest of album is brilliant

 

But what about Little Miss Strange?

 

I wholeheartedly agree that EL is an album without filler, though in a historical context we know that "Come On Pt. 1" meets the true definition of filler in that it was recorded to fill up space on the album.

It's strange that Hendrix felt he needed a cover song to fill out actual space on the platter, when he had some other originals sitting in the can.

Nevertheless, I'm glad that we got "Come On Pt. 1."

So, in the strictest sense EL has one filler track, yet nothing on the album sounds imperfect nor out of place.

 

"Little Miss Strange" was very deliberate to give Noel a song on the album. Jimi wanted to give the album a "The Jimi Hendrix Experience" feel (at least at the time that it was recorded). Plus, Jimi plays his ass off on that track.

 

Lou Reed: Take no prisoners
Metal machine music

 

Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
Can - Tago Mago
The Clash - London Calling
Spiritualized - Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus

 

Actually, I'd tend to agree with this. Back in the day when I was into it, it was the one double album I had that I'd play from start to finish without getting that feeling that I'd have to wait a few of the songs out. Of course I've had many double albums since then, but with the exception of the live albums, this one has fond memories of being solid all the way through. Even the quirkier pieces make for an interesting atmosphere, as you've mentioned.

Odd that I'd been thinking about just this, for the last several weeks. Glad to have a chance to mention it.

 

I love it from start to finish but some might find Social Disease & Jamaica Jerk Off to be filleresque

 

Electric Ladyland is damn close though depends how you view the two 1 minute sound paintings.

Blonde on blonde &
Exile are close also

From left field i have no problem with:
Layla and other assorted love songs

 

Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

The Cure - Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me

Goatsnake - I + Dog Days

Tool - Undertow

 

Colony Of Slippermen is one of my favourite songs from the album, it's great, so I disagree.

 

Marillion - Marbles

 

Re: Slippermen
I always felt the intro was a sonic representation of the colony and its weird inhabitants. It sets you in the mood, from Rael's perspective. Like an imaginary soundtrack.Then the song proceeds with the narrative.
It's not there just to fill a space, as Silent Sorrow is not. They managed to make it meaningful.

 

Is length a factor here?

Does the listening time make you more prone to thinking an album has filler? If you are planning a listening session, would the fact a double takes the place of two singles mean it really has to justify its existence?

About 10% of my vinyl collection comprises double albums. I've always had a bit of a problem in favouring them over single albums (although more than 10% of my top 100 are doubles?) when it comes to playing vinyl (I see sitting down to play a record as an experience and I have limited time opportunities to do it).

I'm not sure where I'm going with this, feel like someone could write a masters thesis on this subject. I've done a quick check of my favourites and there are some interesting time points (to me anyway!). All timings approximate:

Doubles
White Album - 94 minutes
the Wall - 81 min
Electric Ladyland - 76 min
Blonde on Blonde - 72 min
London Calling - 65 min

5 albums - 388 min

Singles (shortest in my favourites)

Solid Air - 35 min
Odessey & Oracle - 35 min
Gris Gris - 34 min
Dusty in Memphis - 33 min
Scott 4 - 33 min

5 albums - 170 minutes

So if I'm sitting down for a session, I could listen to the White Album, or (nearly) I could listen to Gris Gris, ... in Memphis and Scott 4. With that in mind, I'd really need to be in the mood for the White Album.

What about albums since the CD age? 80 minutes capacity on a CD means a tendency to try and fill it, which means that most new releases are double vinyl albums (or 3 sides and an etching!)

Of course it's absolutely up to the artist what they record and put out. We only have a say with our wallets and fandom. However I tend to want an artist I love to give me something beautiful that fits on one slab of vinyl and keeps my attention for around 40 minutes (unless I really love it and wish it had been a double...!).

I'll stop there...

 

I don't think it's a matter of length.
A 40 minute album can be half made of fillers and a double can have only one.

 

Hüsker Du - Zen Arcade

 

WTF? SIOA!

 

Manassas