Fifty years ago, Bob Dylan released Revised Highway 61, which is possibly the best album of all time. Some might defend choosing one of the three Beatles albums, or even Dylan’s own. Blonde on blonde or Blood on the tracks.
However, one point that cannot be debated is that Revised Highway 61 it’s the first album that’s flawless in the sense that it doesn’t have any bad songs. All records up to then, no matter how good they were, contained at least one banger.
In the half century since its launch, Revised Highway 61 it’s joined by a handful of other albums that are flawless. Here are the ten, all perfect and from a wide range of the rock genre.
dory by David Bowie
The album’s biggest single was “Changes,” but every song is a gem. There’s a song honoring Dylan, another praising Andy Warhol, one about a drag queen, and one about Mickey Mouse.
Watch by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
There are only seven songs on the record, but each ranks among the best of the band’s career. “Martha’s Madman” and “Circles” are my personal favorites, but an argument could be made for “The Mighty Quinn” and “Chicago Institute.”
my aim is true by Elvis Costello
The debut offered a magnificent insight into what fans could expect from the most inventive songwriter of the rock age. “Watching the Detectives” and “Allison” are the best known songs, although both are inferior to “Miracle Man” and “The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes”.
High ground, heavy rain by Aztec Chamber
Roddy Frame was just a teenager when his band made this debut, which was highlighted by “Oblivious” and “The Boy Wonders” among the top ten proposals.
the actual scam by SteelyDan
While side one is the best on the record, there’s a lot of pleasure in listening to it after you flip it over. Basically, there’s no need to skip any of the songs from “Kid Charlamagne” until the title track at the end.
they want my soul per Spoon
Although barely a year old, this extraordinary album has already established itself as a classic. Brit Daniels’ songwriting has never been better, leaving the album without any of the occasional glitches that have appeared on the alternative band’s previous records.
A place I have never traveled by ambrosia
The quartet’s second album, unlike the rest of their discography, contains no hits. Overall, though, he has the best collection of songs, especially epics like “Danse with Me, George (Chopin’s Plea)” and “The Brunt.”
long distance travel by Moody Blues
Propelled to the top of the charts by the single “The Voice”, this record showcases the range of the veteran British rock band. Each of the group’s five composers offers sharp compositions here.
self-titled by The Smith’s
Morrissey and Johnny Marr’s collaboration was first revealed on this debut, whose songs are still playing on the air and influencing alternative radio. There’s no sense of wonder as the record progresses from “Reel Around the Fountain” to “Suffer Little Children.”
self-titled by john prine
Touted as the new Bob Dylan I’m 1970, the folk songwriter earned that nickname due to the impressive collection of songs on his first release. Many of the tunes, especially “Paradise (Muhlenberg County)” and “Sam Stone”, have been covered by dozens of bands.
