In which cases do you think an artist's double album is their very best work?

For me there are three:

London Calling--The Clash
Sign O' the Times--Prince
Something/Anything?--Todd Rundgren

In other cases, like with Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life, while I may consider the double great, I prefer another album by the artist. Also, I left out live doubles but you guys may want to consider them.

There may be a couple more that aren't coming to me just now. What about you guys?

 

Lolita Nation - Game Theory
(For me) Tusk - Fleetwood Mac

 

Fleetwood Mac's Tusk of course. (And especially now with the wonderful Deluxe box.)

 

Minutemen - Double Nickels on the Dime

 

Holy cow, two votes for Tusk already? That was the last thing I expected!

 

Easily.

 

Electric Ladyland
London Calling
that's all (no Beatles, no Stones, no Bob, no Bruce, no Prince...)

 

Hymns To The Silence is right in the middle of Van's strongest period. A satisfying piece of work.

 

Stones Exile

 

Debatable of course, but
Stones - Exile On Main Street
Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde

 

How can it be debatable that you think those are their very best albums?

Or are you debating with yourself?

 

Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti

 

I like most of the choices that have been selected so far, with London Calling being the most obvious. (I'd even throw in a nod for the self indulgent triple album sprawl of Sandinista!)

Here are a few others that come to mind for me:

Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. A controversial choice, but for me, it's one of their most fascinating, exciting efforts.
Amon Duul II - Yeti and Tanz der Lemminge
Can - Tago Mago. To be honest, I'm not as thrilled with the second disc, but the first is stellar, so it ranks with their best work overall.
Zappa - Uncle Meat

Jimi's Electric Ladyland is another solid choice, but when did he ever release a bad album? If we're counting modern CDs that run at a double album length, I would point to Yo La Tengo's I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One and Super Furry Animals' Rings Around The World.

 

Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation

 

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
At Fillmore East

 

But do you prefer London Calling or Sandinista?

Btw, triple albums are OK too if you consider one a particular artist's best.

 

LOL. I guess I should have said "IMHO"

 

Husker Du-Warehouse: Songs and Stories

 

Agree with London Calling.

Stevie for me is Inner visions.

Prince is Parade for me, all killer no filler.

Generally I don't like the type of bands/music that think double albums are a great idea, but there are a few:

Crass - Stations of the Crass
Thin Lizzy - Live and Dangerous
Radiohead - OK Computer
Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation

 

I think London Calling is a stronger album overall, but Sandinista! is a bit fresher to me at this point. I think that if they had honed Sandinista! down to a double with some judicious editing, it would have been London Calling's equal.

Daydream Nation is another solid choice here.

 

Live/Dead

 

I wish I liked Sandinista! that much. But I'm happy to hear you do.

 

Todd Rundgren something/anything

 

Double Yes!!

 

Sloan - Never Hear The End Of It (truly awesome !)