Your longest flawless album - Title and duration, please.

The more music is packed into an album, the more possibilities of there being filler material.

Thought it'd be interesting to ask members which longest album they judge to be flawless.

** Name the album and its length **

 

Yes-Union, 1991
1H:9M

 

Mike Oldfield - Incantations
appr. 1 h 13 min

 

Contains a few alt mixes, but one of my favorites
Front 242-(Evil) Off, 1993
1H:11M

 

Deep Purple - Made in Japan (1:16:44)

 

... come to think of it, this is even longer: This Mortal Coil - Filigree & Shadow
1h 14m 13s

 

On 1 CD? Impossible.

 

Good one!

 

Pat Metheny Group - The Way Up (2005); 1:08:07

 

Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness 121 mins 39 seconds

 

Yeah, I realized that after I posted it. I looked it up on AllMusic Guide and that's what they said. Wiki says it's 76:44 which sounds about right. I've updated the post.

 

Beatles White Album (94:21). There will always be detractors who say it has a lot of filler, but I consider it solid all the way through.

 

Joanna Newsom, Have One On Me - 124 minutes.

 

Physical Graffiti 82:59

I might have sequenced it differently but I sure do love all the songs!

 

Songs In the Key of Life is about 100 minutes.

 

*Flawless* is a very, very high bar. And -- for the vast majority of "flawless" albums, anything over 45 minutes can still be a chore.

Originally released as a Single CD:

G&R: Appetite For Destruction: 54 minutes.

Released originally as double vinyl albums but are available on single CD nowadays (which may be stretching the OP's ask):

XTC -- English Settlement: 75 minutes

Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: 77 minutes. (Yes, even with "Jamaica Jerk-Off" being a "breather" track after the dynamite first 6 songs)



If I had to pick one of these to be *ultimately flawless* -- it's the G&R Album. That, to me, is the definition of an all-killer, no-filler *single* album that's close to an hour. There are a lot shorter than that, but in a relatively quick sampling, I couldn't find a "single album" release longer than that with those requirements (though some come close...)

(I edited out "The Wall" and "Jesus Christ Superstar" as they are not released on single CD as I'm presuming the OP is asking?)

 

I'm trying to understand what a "flawless" album is. One that is polished to the point of being sterile? One that you like every note of? Clue me in, please.

 

My vote too!

 

There are not many double albums that truly don't contain any substandard tracks, but the self-titled Chicago album (aka Chicago II) achieves that, so it's my nomination. Timing is 68:18.

PS: I have read the posts above mine and realize that longer albums have been nominated, but I don't consider those flawless.

 

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

44:36

 

Also, the harder it is to maintain interest. Good topic!

 

Prefab Sprout: Jordan The Comeback
Length: 62:45
Released: 7 September 1990
Producer: Thomas Dolby

 

Nurse With Wound - "Soliloquy For Lilith" - 106:43

 

Blood On The Tracks, Test Pressing, RSD 2019 -- the classic album taken to new heights!

 

Off the top of my head:

The Beatles - SPLHCB: 39:46
The Beatles - White Album: 94:21 (yes, even with Ringo’s song)
Fiona Apple - Tidal: 51:29
Pearl Jam - Ten: 53:20
Nirvana - Nevermind: 42:20
Metallica - Master of Puppets: 54:47
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here: 44:36
Pink Floyd - DSOTM: 42:32