Regarding the Ringo album I wonder what he was expecting it to be, for him to be disappointed in it. Maybe he was disappointed that it was even made, but why buy it knowing it's an album of Christmas songs?
So true they should have stuck to their own style instead of going for 80s production techniques and sound , trying to be modern in the 80s now dates the output of these artists more than any of their earlier output.
Personally I thought Clapton's 'Behind the Sun' was a return to form and particularly liked 'She's Waiting' and that album was the first (and last?) time that Clapton played a guitar synth on one track which was interesting. Agree with you on Dylan's 'Knocked Out and Loaded' it's pretty grim and was not a good period for him until 'Oh Mercy' came out. The 80's was not a good time for music - particularly those who came to fame in the 60's.
There's an argument that every time is a good time for music but styles/genres change as do the people involved, and the big record labels may not always be the ones to follow. Normally a couple of decades later you don't expect people to do great music, so that's why the 60s musicians weren't prominent anymore.
"Behind The Sun" was actually my favorite Clapton album of the '80s, which I actually prefer over his '70s solo work. My two cents: I think Collins' aggressive drumming actually gave Clapton something more energetic to work off of than the somnolent shuffles of yore. "461 Ocean Blvd" and "Backless" are wonderful albums, true, but I'd rather have "August" than "There's One In Every Crowd" or "No Reason To Cry".
Snowfire Sunwind - agree with you about 60s (and let’s add 70s) stars failing miserably in the 80s. The electronic drum sounds, the ubiquitous synth sounds, and perhaps the worst sonic abomination: the piezo pickup sound of acoustic guitars!
Everyone including Elton claim "Leather Jackets" is his worst album. But "Victim Of Love" makes it look like "Tumbleweed Connection" by comparison. The songs were already written and recorded before he even entered the studio. He flew in and did the vocals in one day and not he nor his band are on it. Another strike against it was the fact that disco was already on its way out by 1979, long after Rod, McCartney, or the Stones had done one. AC/DCs FTATR was a major disappoint compared to "Back In Black" The only tracks I remember on it are the title track and "COD". I was disappointed again with the followup "Flick Of The Switch" In fact every album after BIB got increasingly worse barring "The Razors Edge" I've grown to like "Hitchhiking" through the years. (The covers not too bad either, LOL) With "In Square Circle" the well ran dry and he never recovered. After "Characters", the followup, I gave up. I liked "Behind The Sun" but like you said it, has that 80s sound. "August" wasn't an improvement and it was too long Dylan went off the rails in the 80s, the worst was "Under The Red Sky" "Wiggle Wiggle" anyone? Jeff Lynne had lost interest in the band and the strings by the time of "Balance Of Power". "Secret Messages" was pretty weak as well and he had two solo tracks on a soundtrack between them both. So he was already thinking breaking up the band by then. Julian was rushed into the studio fairly quickly by Ahmet Ertegen. He had just come off his first tour and said later he hadn't had a chance to come up with any good material because of it. I agree with you on "Rhythm Of The Saints". He tried copying the success of "Graceland" but fell far short. He should have done a normal Paul Simon record. Don't even get me started on "The Capeman"! LOL How can you not like Ringo's Christmas album? I found it charming except for "Come On Christmas" His real embarrassment was "Ringo The 4th". A few of my disappointments were McCartneys "Press To Play", Queen's "Hot Space", Aerosmith's "Draw The Line", The Cars "Door To Door", Boston's "Walk On", and Foreigner's "Agent Provocateur"
For those about to rock ? That album blew me away on its first release, i love that album. I have to disagree with you there dude 100%. But everyone has their own opinions, especially in music. Anyway, i enjoyed this video i am giving it a thumbs up : )
Agree about The Hunter. It sounds like the band are bored. On the other hand I love Autoamerican. It embodies the eclecticism which was Blondie’s speciality. Where else would you find rap, reggae, a tribute to surf music and a Cole Porter cover on one album?
Roger Waters wrote two albums and presented them to his Pink Floyd band-mates telling them that whichever one they didn't pick he was going to do as a solo album. The chose 'The Wall' so Waters did 'Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking'.
true story except the the choice Roger gave them was between "Final Cut" and "Pros and Cons". Waters didn't "give" "The Wall" to anyone It grew organically with Gilmour's input and whatever poor Rick Wright could contribute before he was dismissed.
Good topic John. Pros and Cons was written before the Final Cut actually; Roger offered it to the band as a Floyd record in '79, but they chose to do The Wall instead. I actually think Balance of Power is an underrated album! I prefer Rhythm of the Saints to Graceland. Cheers.
"Victim Of Love" is a bad album, but it isn't really as you say a covers album. Only one of the songs wasn't written for it, that being the cover of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode." Elton just handed over all composing duties to Pete Bellotte, a Donna Summer collaborator, and said he wanted a disco album. It's a victim of time as much as of bad thinking, but "Warm Love In A Cold World" is an okay song in isolation that just goes on too long. The big problem is the depressing monotony of the beat that thumps continually from half-baked song to song, as if reminding you to have another snort and dance.
Rhythm of the Saints is unfairly compared to Graceland. I think it’s beautiful from start to finish. My favorites would be The Coast, The Obvious Child and Born at the Right Time. I’ve turned a lot of friends on this album and they’ve thanked me. Sadly this album will never be appreciated by mainstream PS fans.
I'm with you,. ROTS wasn't supposed to be "Graceland" any more than "Wish You Were Here" needed to be "Dark Side Of The Moon". It's silly to require any artist to repeat themselves.ROTS is terrific.
Good review John, I was a bit Disappointed at the time with George's Dark Horse album, and so to Extra tex- I still think they could of been produced , engineered better or George put a bit more time into them. Still cherish them thou. I thought Ringo's Good night vienna was a bit of a let down to his Ringo album, but loved the title song written by J. L.
As a big fan of Blondie, I was so disappointed with Automamerican that I did not buy The Hunter when it was released. Bought The Hunter years later, and now I like both of those albums! I see them both as eclectic with some fun songs.
Another great discussion John! It's interesting how many albums which we initially disliked we later come to like or even love! I think many people had that experience with Exile on Main Street, Led Zeppelin III, Let It Be, Get Your Wings and many of Dylan's 70s albums. In the same vein, many albums which we love we later get tired of.
I bought Chris Rea's Dancing with strangers shortly after it was released. I didn't like it, and found it rather patchy, with three great songs only. I recently gave it another go, this time on CD, and listened to it on better hifi than back in the day. Maybe I'm just older, maybe I stopped comparing it to the previous albums, but for whatever reason I dig it now.
Albums that disappointed me... Let It Bleed, Exile On Main St., Van Halen 1, Led Zeppelin 1 & 4, Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti, CSNY, Good By Yellow Brick Road, Simon Garfunkel's Greatest Hits, Chet Baker's As Time Goes By, Peter Frampton' 1975 Live album, The White Album... who am I kidding? Goodness, I'm terrible at trolling.
How about some of Rory Gallagher's fantastic albums from 68 to 90. I personally don't think he ever made a bad album and he stayed pure to the bone... Ok, confession time. I think he was the greatest and truest rock/blues man there was . Even better live which is rare. Shameless plug for the G-Man.
A melody-less meandering screed from an antiSemitic burn out. I saw him on that tour and he played nothing but the title track. Everything else was- you guessed it- Pink Floyd. Even he knew he had a dud on his hands.
Elton John's forgotten disco album 'Victim of Love'. Best completely forgotten. After buying it in my early teens, I was so appalled that I sold it as soon as possible, along with all my other Elton John albums! A mistake in hindsight, as the late 1960s and early 1970s albums are real classics I subsequently bought most of them again on vinyl and on CD. As for 'Victim of Love', I think Reginald should give a refund to anyone who bought it, as it was sold under false pretences (as an Elton John album), without a warning sticker saying 'Content May Disappoint'!
"Behind the Sun" is a good album. I don't like the reverbed drums but most of the songs are good. I really like Side 2, "It all depends" "Tangled in love" "Just like a prisoner" "Never make you cry" "Behind the sun"
In Square Circle gets unfairly slagged IMO. I enjoyed cuts beyond the decent hits (Part Time Lover, Go Home, Overjoyed), including Never in Your Sun, Stranger on the Shore of Love and Whereabouts. There was some filler but this is the last album where Stevie had significant hits on the top 40 charts and is way better than 1987's Characters. He's recorded sporadically since but this was his last major hit album.
Stevie, unfortunately, left it all on the field with "Songs In The Key Of Life". That capped a four album spree of greatness that only The Beatles could match. Beyond that. his output is spotty at best.
I think For Those About To Rock is a good album. Sure it's a letdown compared to Back In Black, but what wouldn't be? Back In Black is a near-perfect hard rock album with a handful of hits that still hold up today, unlike many bands of that era. I would agree with most of the other selections, except many of the albums you mention are follow-ups to timeless, all-time classics. So those would need to get a pass just because it's almost impossible to follow up brilliance with even more brilliance. Ringo's "I wanna Be Santa Claus" is probably THE most disappointing thing on the list, I would agree.
The only Roger Waters album I relisten to is Amused to Death. His latest album was basically just him talking. I really like She's Waiting and Forever Man myself. /shrug
i would say it nicer to brit i like but in the US, "let's dance" was the first time we heard stevie ray vaughan but i agree with you. the 2 dylan records were an attempt to put out records without much effort like willie nelson did after he tried to have a crossover hit with "empire burlesque" and it failed. i enjoyed the roger waters and paul simon records. i admire john heaton but his reviews like the artists he expects near perfection from sometimes fall short which is understandable. keep up the very good work, john.
Phil Collins couldn't get away from those gated drums.... but neither could the whole decade. Collins aproached the Clapton project like a solo effort with a different singer. My opinion anyway.
Simmons Electronic Drums. The s**tc**t of the 1980s. And Collins went for it on ‘Invisible Touch’, in my opinion one of the worst albums of that diabolical decade.
Frank Galpin He did the exact same thing when he produced most of Stephen Bishop’s Album “ Bowling In Paris “ the only thing that saved it was the song writing, but why on earth Phil thought let’s make Stephen a keyboard Album (even though Stephen’s main brilliance is him and his acoustic guitar is mind boggling,) it still has some classics but the production is so dated now.
Stone Roses - Second Coming. Absolutely abysmal. I felt well and truly shafted after somehow managing to sit through it for the first time. I know nothing about the music industry, but surely somebody listens to the stuff as it is being recorded and says 'Look lads, this is shite. Have you got any other material'?
I strongly disagree. Although “Perfect Strangers” is a remarkable piece of musical work, “House Of Blue Light” had some damn good songs. “Bad Attitude”, “Mitzi Dupree”, “Call Of The Wild”, and others were very good.
'Behind Closed Doors' by THUNDER (released 1995), is probably my most disappointing album. After their first two largely excellent albums (especially the second one), I was hoping for something similar in terms of upbeat songs with great melodies (even with some progression in their sound), but was left quite bored by it, and still am, some 25 years later - there was nothing on there to rival the earlier: 'Low Life in High Places', 'Higher Ground' and 'A Better Man' (amongst others). I guess the signs weren't good concerning the first single, 'Stand Up' (which for me, doesn't seem to go anywhere) , followed by the ordinary, 'River of Pain', and 'Castles in the Sand' (a poor 'Love Walked In') - the second and third singles, respectively. I remember RAW magazine's title of their review for the album, was, "THUNDER BLUNDER", basically saying, although the record wasn't terrible, it just wasn't very interesting or exciting - I think that was largely spot on (however, their rating was 3 stars out of 5, whereas for me, it's definitely a 2 at best). I know many fans of the band regard BCD very highly, but I just don't get it - obviously, it's each to their own. Interesting choices...
*As a lover of Bowie's 70s music, I was somewhat bemused and confused by 'Diamond Dogs'. It's beginnings as an album version of '1984' gone south was known to me, but the entire narrative was somewhat 'eschew' of it. After repeated listening, I can honestly say it's probably his best work (which is a futile statement to make). The songs a musical epiphanies unto themselves and The 'Sweet Thing' suite is a wonder unto itself. The point being, 'Diamond Dogs' was an album that initially left me cold and is now one that warms the cockles of my heart*
For those about to rock is great I think. Great video. If I could suggest a way you could have improved it, it would have been for you to destroy each record cover and record
For some reason whenever I see a list like this I expect to see Face Dances by the Who. It's the album that people use as the standard of disappointment, as in "Load is Metallica's Face Dances" for example.
I agree with all of your choices. For me, 'Scary Monsters' was disappointing after 'Lodger' and 'Lodger' itself was disappointing after 'Heroes'. So was 'A Trick of the Tail' after 'The Lamb'. Top marks for another original video idea. Cheers John.
@Fenderking I've never listened to 'Wind and Wuthering'. I will make a point of buying it and listening to it though. I do like 'A Trick of the Tail'. I just feel it's missing something earlier Genesis had. Nevertheless its still a fine album.
most of those acts there best work was ancient history when those records came out. When it doesn't happen is more of a surprise. I find its rarely a good idea to buy new music from old groups.
It's been true many times, but not always. Think of Wilco, Spoon, Radiohead, Queens of the Stone Age among others who are all veterans in their own rights already and still come up with enjoyable, sometimes even great albums. John here, however, seems to have stopped listening to new bands more than 30 years ago. If you check his videos you'll see that the 90s have not happened in his musical world. And he seems to have missed out on a lot of yesteryear's really great stuff, as well.
Let's Dance has got some very good songs on it. Criminal World and Cat People (Putting Out Fire) are the stars on the album. Helped by the best guitar work Stevie Ray Vaughan has ever put on an album (his own albums being very dull and boring), and some excellent singing by David, those songs are master pieces. And, lots of people hate Nile Rodgers, but his funk sure is funky. Personally, I find this album underrated because so many people call it crap.
My ten most disappointing albums. 1 Blue moves -Elton john 2 Some girls - The rolling stones 3 Wish you were here - Pink floyd 4 Heroes - David bowie 5 Physical graffiti- Led zeppelin 6 The river - Bruce Springsteen 7 Street legal - Bob Dylan 8 Let it be - The Beatles 9 Songs in the key of life - Stevie wonder 10 The lamb lies down on broadway - Genesis
Victim of Love is Elton John's most embarrassing folly, his worst ever album. Even his next three bad ones Leather Jackets, The One and The Big Picture are listenable and not so cheesy. The Stones, Abba, Roxy Music and Rod Stewart had done good disco records before this, but Elton failed. For Those About To Rock came out the year after Back In Black and before that was Highway To Hell, both ACDC's peak, so a dip in quality had to come eventually, but it's still a decent album.
I mostly bought records long after release, in the 90s because you couldn't buy any vinyl anymore of recent releases, and after 2000 because even if vinyl came into fashion again, most music has become junk. Having come of age in the 80s, your rule only applies to the 5 years between 85 and 90. Five albums that disappointed me upon purchase: - After so many good Talking Heads albums, "Naked" was a little disappointing and not surprisingly it was their last album before breaking up. It has a nice atmosphere but only a handful of good songs. - I bought most of Dylan's 80s records, trying to get into the figure, but I found all of them trite, even the much hailed "Oh Mercy" (I didn't like Daniel Lanois' sound all that much either). It took Blood on the tracks and Desire to finally get me there in retrospect. - I was quite fond of XTC's singles but found most other songs on their albums, like "Oranges & lemons" too contrived. - Everything Prince did after "Sign of the times" was bound to be a disappointment - if the Black album was a kind of unexpected but still quite refreshing return to the underground, "Lovesexi" was the first of a seemingly endless production of records just because he could and with "Batman" I lost all hope of a return to form. - With everybody being so worked up about "Berlin" by Lou Reed, I must say my encounter was rather disappointing too. Sometimes expectations are just too high. Now that I own a big collection of albums purchased long after release, peaking in the 70s when I was still a child, there are of course more artists and albums that didn't deliver on their promise - but that was not the rule. Cheers!
I quite enjoyed Balance of Power, I won't say it was their best stuff, but that is more because of how good their best stuff was, not how bad Balance of Power was. Arguably victims of their own success.
Bought Secret Value of Daydreaming and Rhythm of the Saints and wholeheartedly agree with you, John. None of the tracks are fully realised on Julian's album. The best thing on the whole album is the Billy Joel cameo at the start of song #2. 'Born at the Right Time' on ROTS is semi-decent.
The very mention of Billy Joel makes me wanna puke. On Simon's ROTS, The Obvious Child is a continuation of Graceland, Can't Run But is epic, The Coast is also, Further To Fly, She Moves On - I'll stop there because you quite obviously listened to this album just once back in 1990, it flew over your head then and you talked out your backside yesterday.
Most every album reviewed here is by artists who had their best years in the 70's. How could you expect that they had anything good left by the 80's? I mean Blondie? Elton John? ELO? Clapton? All of these at least, were finished by the 80's!
LOL!!!! When "For Those About To Rock" shows up. Wasn't expecting that. But totally agree. Even the Mighty Mutt Lange couldn't save that one. Also laughed hard at "very few redeeming features" re: the Dylan. Man that dude was erratic.
Culture Club Waking up with the House on Fire, this was a massive let down after Colour by Numbers. Notorious let down. Madonna Like a Prayer no way as good as True Blue. My two Let downs.
I was so disappointed with the Beatles (double white) album when it came out. Obviously there were outstanding tracks but it had what sounded like out takes and tracks not ready. It was self indulgent,disjointed and bloated, someone should have cut out the dross and made a single album. They redeemed themselves with Abbey Road.
26MAR2020 - Miss the big album art. Don't miss any of those artists, and many more. The best stuff I liked overall remained the garage bands, one-offers, college stations, promos.
This an interesting list. I think 'Let's Dance' is the only one purchased at release. I didn't love it, but I thought it was ok. Looking back it was his last run at being a commercial success. Remember all the cool MTV video's from this album.
Nicely done! I was a huge Elton John fan through the 70's and I remember bringing Victim Of Love home, putting it on the turntable and thinking, "Elton, what have you done?" Never bought another album of his after that. That AC/DC was a huge let down as well...thought it was over for them. What do I know? Lol!
I remember getting the Julian Lennon album on cassette, having liked the lead single "If You Go Away" (video featuring Michael J, Fox) and I also remember liking "Want Your Body" as it had a nice melody, but ultimately not loving it. I listened to the album a lot and enjoyed it, because I was a kid and was a fan, but never went back to it.
All 10 artists/bands are in my CD collection and I own 5 of the albums on your list (AC/DC, Clapton, ELO, Simon & Waters) The only one I bought when it was released is ELO's Balance of Power, but I was more disappointed with Secret Messages (compared to Time). I've tried to remember my own "disappointment albums" but the only one that comes to mind is Foreigner's Agent Provocateur (compared to 4). But just now I came to think about the album I had the hardest time listening to by an artist I love: Todd Rundgren's No World Order (1993).
Pros and Cons of Hitchiking is one of my favorite albums in the car....on a solo road trip.....played loud. I never listen to it under any other scenario.
I didn't even bother to buy Roger Water's last album. His 80's and early 90's output were far too quiet for me. I can see why the Waters free Pink Floyd albums sold truckloads in comparison. Knocked Out Loaded is considered one of Dylan's absolute worst. Other than Infidels and Oh Mercy avoid his 80's albums. The Biograph box set is fantastic though.
Greatly enjoy your videos John and your thoughts on classic albums. We all hear things differently and I have to disagree with you on Dylan's Down in the Groove, which I've always liked. A lot of 80s albums had that awful production that often ruined otherwise decent material. Some of Eric's releases suffered at the time, but usually the songs were good (Although they don't hold up so well as his 70s work). The Phil Collins drum sound worked well early in the decade; on his own Face Value and John Martyn's Glorious Fool, but it soon irked. Great as Paul Simon's early solo albums were, they still weren't as good as the Simon and Garfunkel years. How could they be ? Keep the videos coming John - fascinating stuff.
Totally agree with EJ’s victim of love, I bought this at the time after a run of great albums in the 70s this was absolute crap, I only played it the once. This album has been sitting in my Elton collection for 40 years now I played it recently for the 2nd time and it’s not got better with age.
What did you think of the first Tin Machine album when it came out? I totally loved it but was very very disappointed with the follow up, Tin Machine II.
Thanks John please keep em coming. You are so right about behind the sun. Interesting idea How about most disappointing solo beatles albums? Love to hear your thoughts
The mid-1980s were not kind to our heroes. And in my view things never really got better for them. Although I like The Firm and Jimmy Page's solo album, but there was a lot of dreck.
Sorry Robert, can't go with Agent P - I think Double Vision and Head Games (except Rev on the Red Line) were the low point but the output picked up afterwards ,
thanks for the video, very intersting topic.The only question I have: what do you think about lets dance now? in retrospective compared to his later albums or tin machine? dont get me wrong, i am not a big Bowie fan, but it always makes me wondering why nobody likes what is easily his best selling album...
I totally disagree with rhythm of the saints. It has some wonderful grooves.
I wouldn't have touched half of these albums with a barge pole. How the hell anyone walked out a shop holding that Ringo Starr thing is beyond me.
Regarding the Ringo album I wonder what he was expecting it to be, for him to be disappointed in it. Maybe he was disappointed that it was even made, but why buy it knowing it's an album of Christmas songs?
Dont mind that ..how was he ever in the beatles talk about over rated
Have the clapton but avoided the rest enjoyed waters radio kaos though hated the eighties musical landscape
The 80s were a terrible decade for artists who were great in the 60s and 70s.
clownnookie It’s sad how much 70s Yes is forgotten about because of their 80s junk
So true they should have stuck to their own style instead of going for 80s production techniques and sound , trying to be modern in the 80s now dates the output of these artists more than any of their earlier output.
Thought drama was pretty good but yeah I know what you mean.
peter goodwin my guess is the label pressured them to make a “modern” album
a lot of succesful comebacks
Personally I thought Clapton's 'Behind the Sun' was a return to form and particularly liked 'She's Waiting' and that album was the first (and last?) time that Clapton played a guitar synth on one track which was interesting. Agree with you on Dylan's 'Knocked Out and Loaded' it's pretty grim and was not a good period for him until 'Oh Mercy' came out. The 80's was not a good time for music - particularly those who came to fame in the 60's.
I liked Behind The Sun. I thought that was a good period for him.
There's an argument that every time is a good time for music but styles/genres change as do the people involved, and the big record labels may not always be the ones to follow. Normally a couple of decades later you don't expect people to do great music, so that's why the 60s musicians weren't prominent anymore.
"Behind The Sun" was actually my favorite Clapton album of the '80s, which I actually prefer over his '70s solo work. My two cents: I think Collins' aggressive drumming actually gave Clapton something more energetic to work off of than the somnolent shuffles of yore. "461 Ocean Blvd" and "Backless" are wonderful albums, true, but I'd rather have "August" than "There's One In Every Crowd" or "No Reason To Cry".
Snowfire Sunwind - agree with you about 60s (and let’s add 70s) stars failing miserably in the 80s. The electronic drum sounds, the ubiquitous synth sounds, and perhaps the worst sonic abomination: the piezo pickup sound of acoustic guitars!
Everyone including Elton claim "Leather Jackets" is his worst album. But "Victim Of Love" makes it look like "Tumbleweed Connection" by comparison. The songs were already written and recorded before he even entered the studio. He flew in and did the vocals in one day and not he nor his band are on it. Another strike against it was the fact that disco was already on its way out by 1979, long after Rod, McCartney, or the Stones had done one.
AC/DCs FTATR was a major disappoint compared to "Back In Black" The only tracks I remember on it are the title track and "COD". I was disappointed again with the followup "Flick Of The Switch" In fact every album after BIB got increasingly worse barring "The Razors Edge"
I've grown to like "Hitchhiking" through the years. (The covers not too bad either, LOL)
With "In Square Circle" the well ran dry and he never recovered. After "Characters", the followup, I gave up.
I liked "Behind The Sun" but like you said it, has that 80s sound. "August" wasn't an improvement and it was too long
Dylan went off the rails in the 80s, the worst was "Under The Red Sky" "Wiggle Wiggle" anyone?
Jeff Lynne had lost interest in the band and the strings by the time of "Balance Of Power". "Secret Messages" was pretty weak as well and he had two solo tracks on a soundtrack between them both. So he was already thinking breaking up the band by then.
Julian was rushed into the studio fairly quickly by Ahmet Ertegen. He had just come off his first tour and said later he hadn't had a chance to come up with any good material because of it.
I agree with you on "Rhythm Of The Saints". He tried copying the success of "Graceland" but fell far short. He should have done a normal Paul Simon record. Don't even get me started on "The Capeman"! LOL
How can you not like Ringo's Christmas album? I found it charming except for "Come On Christmas" His real embarrassment was "Ringo The 4th".
A few of my disappointments were McCartneys "Press To Play", Queen's "Hot Space", Aerosmith's "Draw The Line", The Cars "Door To Door", Boston's "Walk On", and Foreigner's "Agent Provocateur"
Yeah, what the f*** happened in the 80’s?! Always regarded it as my ‘lost decade’ - not sure I missed that much...
Great decade for 'alternative' bands; terrible decade for artists who were great in the 1960s and 70s...
For those about to rock ? That album blew me away on its first release, i love that album. I have to disagree with you there dude 100%. But everyone has their own opinions, especially in music. Anyway, i enjoyed this video i am giving it a thumbs up : )
I agree, spellbound is a great tune . What's wrong with this guy
Agree about The Hunter. It sounds like the band are bored. On the other hand I love Autoamerican. It embodies the eclecticism which was Blondie’s speciality. Where else would you find rap, reggae, a tribute to surf music and a Cole Porter cover on one album?
Roger Waters wrote two albums and presented them to his Pink Floyd band-mates telling them that whichever one they didn't pick he was going to do as a solo album. The chose 'The Wall' so Waters did 'Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking'.
true story except the the choice Roger gave them was between "Final Cut" and "Pros and Cons". Waters didn't "give" "The Wall" to anyone It grew organically with Gilmour's input and whatever poor Rick Wright could contribute before he was dismissed.
Good topic John. Pros and Cons was written before the Final Cut actually; Roger offered it to the band as a Floyd record in '79, but they chose to do The Wall instead. I actually think Balance of Power is an underrated album! I prefer Rhythm of the Saints to Graceland. Cheers.
For most of the albums I'd have been disappointed with myself just thinking about purchasing them.
"Victim Of Love" is a bad album, but it isn't really as you say a covers album. Only one of the songs wasn't written for it, that being the cover of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode." Elton just handed over all composing duties to Pete Bellotte, a Donna Summer collaborator, and said he wanted a disco album. It's a victim of time as much as of bad thinking, but "Warm Love In A Cold World" is an okay song in isolation that just goes on too long. The big problem is the depressing monotony of the beat that thumps continually from half-baked song to song, as if reminding you to have another snort and dance.
Rhythm of the Saints is unfairly compared to Graceland. I think it’s beautiful from start to finish. My favorites would be The Coast, The Obvious Child and Born at the Right Time. I’ve turned a lot of friends on this album and they’ve thanked me. Sadly this album will never be appreciated by mainstream PS fans.
I'm with you,. ROTS wasn't supposed to be "Graceland" any more than "Wish You Were Here" needed to be "Dark Side Of The Moon". It's silly to require any artist to repeat themselves.ROTS is terrific.
For those about to Rock ? Great album!
Good review John, I was a bit Disappointed at the time with George's Dark Horse album, and so to Extra tex- I still think they could of been produced , engineered better or George put a bit more time into them. Still cherish them thou. I thought Ringo's Good night vienna was a bit of a let down to his Ringo album, but loved the title song written by J. L.
As a big fan of Blondie, I was so disappointed with Automamerican that I did not buy The Hunter when it was released. Bought The Hunter years later, and now I like both of those albums! I see them both as eclectic with some fun songs.
Another great discussion John! It's interesting how many albums which we initially disliked we later come to like or even love! I think many people had that experience with Exile on Main Street, Led Zeppelin III, Let It Be, Get Your Wings and many of Dylan's 70s albums. In the same vein, many albums which we love we later get tired of.
I liked Exile right away.
You might be right but certainly not in the case of those albums you have listed. Led Zep III? Who didn't like that? It was exceptional.
no bad dylan albums in 70S blood on the tracks desire are awesome try them
I bought Chris Rea's Dancing with strangers shortly after it was released. I didn't like it, and found it rather patchy, with three great songs only. I recently gave it another go, this time on CD, and listened to it on better hifi than back in the day. Maybe I'm just older, maybe I stopped comparing it to the previous albums, but for whatever reason I dig it now.
Albums that disappointed me... Let It Bleed, Exile On Main St., Van Halen 1, Led Zeppelin 1 & 4, Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti, CSNY, Good By Yellow Brick Road, Simon Garfunkel's Greatest Hits, Chet Baker's As Time Goes By, Peter Frampton' 1975 Live album, The White Album... who am I kidding? Goodness, I'm terrible at trolling.
How about some of Rory Gallagher's fantastic albums from 68 to 90. I personally don't think he ever made a bad album and he stayed pure to the bone... Ok, confession time. I think he was the greatest and truest rock/blues man there was . Even better live which is rare. Shameless plug for the G-Man.
Pros and Cons was a great album.
I’d take pros and cons over “Pink Floyd’s” momentary lapse of reason any day
A melody-less meandering screed from an antiSemitic burn out. I saw him on that tour and he played nothing but the title track. Everything else was- you guessed it- Pink Floyd. Even he knew he had a dud on his hands.
Elton John's forgotten disco album 'Victim of Love'. Best completely forgotten. After buying it in my early teens, I was so appalled that I sold it as soon as possible, along with all my other Elton John albums! A mistake in hindsight, as the late 1960s and early 1970s albums are real classics I subsequently bought most of them again on vinyl and on CD. As for 'Victim of Love', I think Reginald should give a refund to anyone who bought it, as it was sold under false pretences (as an Elton John album), without a warning sticker saying 'Content May Disappoint'!
Sadly, although I hate it I have it on CD. Im a completest! LOL
@@drmusic3641 I was also a bit of completist, but that album cured me of that!
i'd be interested in your overrated albums
th-cam.com/video/ibwot25JgiE/w-d-xo.html
I've always wondered what do you think of The Alan Parsons Project records, since you talked about Pink Floyd?
"Behind the Sun" is a good album. I don't like the reverbed drums but most of the songs are good. I really like Side 2, "It all depends" "Tangled in love" "Just like a prisoner" "Never make you cry" "Behind the sun"
I agree. I think it's a great album, not a weak track on it.
In Square Circle gets unfairly slagged IMO. I enjoyed cuts beyond the decent hits (Part Time Lover, Go Home, Overjoyed), including Never in Your Sun, Stranger on the Shore of Love and Whereabouts. There was some filler but this is the last album where Stevie had significant hits on the top 40 charts and is way better than 1987's Characters. He's recorded sporadically since but this was his last major hit album.
Stevie, unfortunately, left it all on the field with "Songs In The Key Of Life". That capped a four album spree of greatness that only The Beatles could match. Beyond that. his output is spotty at best.
Julian's "Photograph Smile" is quite nice IMO
I thought it was going to be: "Albums I was dissapointed by on release but have grown to love".
Victim of Love was a low point for Elton, personally and artistically.
Andrew Barratt , critics say that he " mailed in" his performance.
Couldn’t agree more . When I brought this album home, tried listening to it, and snapped the CD in half shortly after. Disgusted.
finding somebody doin old album reviews and the such has taken forever, thanks for existing
Zep..In Thru The Out Door..major dissapoint for me when it came out..
loathed it then and now. the only LZ record I don't own.
Well, Roger Waters is still playing The Wall anyway. For the last 40 years.
Just wish Gilmore, Waters and Mason would get together one last time. Richard Wright would love that.RIP.
No he's not as he finished playing it in 2013. His last tour was the Us+Them tour 2017-2018.
@@patrickmagee2364 I think all three of them made it quite clear that would never happen upon Wright's death in 2008.
I think For Those About To Rock is a good album. Sure it's a letdown compared to Back In Black, but what wouldn't be? Back In Black is a near-perfect hard rock album with a handful of hits that still hold up today, unlike many bands of that era. I would agree with most of the other selections, except many of the albums you mention are follow-ups to timeless, all-time classics. So those would need to get a pass just because it's almost impossible to follow up brilliance with even more brilliance. Ringo's "I wanna Be Santa Claus" is probably THE most disappointing thing on the list, I would agree.
The only Roger Waters album I relisten to is Amused to Death. His latest album was basically just him talking.
I really like She's Waiting and Forever Man myself. /shrug
Flavor Flavs 4th solo album was a bit of a letdown, I'm sure you'll agree.
Gimpy McChillwick 😂
SNOB! Lets Dance with 3 CLASSIC tunes.....you are talking BOLLOCKS!!!!
i would say it nicer to brit i like but in the US, "let's dance" was the first time we heard stevie ray vaughan but i agree with you. the 2 dylan records were an attempt to put out records without much effort like willie nelson did after he tried to have a crossover hit with "empire burlesque" and it failed. i enjoyed the roger waters and paul simon records. i admire john heaton but his reviews like the artists he expects near perfection from sometimes fall short which is understandable. keep up the very good work, john.
More importantly, He, by inclusion, dissed performances by Stevie Ray Vaughan on "Let's Dance". That is not done.
Wings Wildlife, 1971. The most disappointed I've ever been in an album. Dreadful record. I still hate it.
Yeah, that one was a stinker.
1972 was a dreadful year for John and Paul. It hurts to say because I was born that year.
The bright side to this is you can train for the Olympics discus throw.
"Draw the Line" by Aerosmith. A testiment to bad dope and too much of it.
They went a level lower with "Night In The Ruts", though.
@@derhandtrommler I rest my case
Phil Collins couldn't get away from those gated drums.... but neither could the whole decade.
Collins aproached the Clapton project like a solo effort with a different singer.
My opinion anyway.
I share your opinion.
Simmons Electronic Drums. The s**tc**t of the 1980s. And Collins went for it on ‘Invisible Touch’, in my opinion one of the worst albums of that diabolical decade.
Don't forget Grace and Danger by John Martyn .. which is totally great.
Frank Galpin He did the exact same thing when he produced most of Stephen Bishop’s Album “ Bowling In Paris “ the only thing that saved it was the song writing, but why on earth Phil thought let’s make Stephen a keyboard Album (even though Stephen’s main brilliance is him and his acoustic guitar is mind boggling,) it still has some classics but the production is so dated now.
Stone Roses - Second Coming.
Absolutely abysmal. I felt well and truly shafted after somehow managing to sit through it for the first time.
I know nothing about the music industry, but surely somebody listens to the stuff as it is being recorded and says 'Look lads, this is shite. Have you got any other material'?
That was a dismal album for sure.
They had to put something out to cash in on their investment, they'd probably agreed to split by then anyway
I didn't think much of - The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking on release. However, I've grown to love it.
Love it too
Yeah...you have to be patient with Roger Waters...then it suddenly clicks and it’s mind blowing stuff
yes all his stuff is the same when you first here it it dosen't sound great and then on 3rd or 4th hearing BOOM it's fantastic.
No idea why you thought any of those albums was going to be good.
House of the Blue Light by Deep Purple was a huge disappointment to me after the phenomenal Perfect Strangers.
I think even the band would agree. I saw that tour and they played maybe one song from it.....maybe.
I strongly disagree. Although “Perfect Strangers” is a remarkable piece of musical work, “House Of Blue Light” had some damn good songs. “Bad Attitude”, “Mitzi Dupree”, “Call Of The Wild”, and others were very good.
'Behind Closed Doors' by THUNDER (released 1995), is probably my most disappointing album. After their first two largely excellent albums (especially the second one), I was hoping for something similar in terms of upbeat songs with great melodies (even with some progression in their sound), but was left quite bored by it, and still am, some 25 years later - there was nothing on there to rival the earlier: 'Low Life in High Places', 'Higher Ground' and 'A Better Man' (amongst others). I guess the signs weren't good concerning the first single, 'Stand Up' (which for me, doesn't seem to go anywhere) , followed by the ordinary, 'River of Pain', and 'Castles in the Sand' (a poor 'Love Walked In') - the second and third singles, respectively. I remember RAW magazine's title of their review for the album, was, "THUNDER BLUNDER", basically saying, although the record wasn't terrible, it just wasn't very interesting or exciting - I think that was largely spot on (however, their rating was 3 stars out of 5, whereas for me, it's definitely a 2 at best). I know many fans of the band regard BCD very highly, but I just don't get it - obviously, it's each to their own. Interesting choices...
Gosh....those are some trash albums. I wonder how it would feel to have bought all of them? 🆘
After, "Graceland," where do you go from there? It would be nearly impossible to top or even match that album.
A fair point.
Ethelwulf Mountbatten de Rothschild VIII I think RotS is the best thing he ever did.
Michael McDonald I couldn’t agree more, though RotS is an unfortunate acronym, lol
Rhythm of the Saints is where you go from there. Even better than Graceland.
lurch321 hell yeah
*As a lover of Bowie's 70s music, I was somewhat bemused and confused by 'Diamond Dogs'. It's beginnings as an album version of '1984' gone south was known to me, but the entire narrative was somewhat 'eschew' of it. After repeated listening, I can honestly say it's probably his best work (which is a futile statement to make). The songs a musical epiphanies unto themselves and The 'Sweet Thing' suite is a wonder unto itself. The point being, 'Diamond Dogs' was an album that initially left me cold and is now one that warms the cockles of my heart*
For those about to rock is great I think. Great video. If I could suggest a way you could have improved it, it would have been for you to destroy each record cover and record
For some reason whenever I see a list like this I expect to see Face Dances by the Who. It's the album that people use as the standard of disappointment, as in "Load is Metallica's Face Dances" for example.
moonbeamskies I love Face Dances but yes, they had been crushing it live and the album comes out and it felt like ok something isn’t right here.
Townshend, after Whos Next, ran out of gas for me
When Elvis Costello went from Imperial Bedroom to Punch The Clock I was very disappointed
I agree with all of your choices. For me, 'Scary Monsters' was disappointing after 'Lodger' and 'Lodger' itself was disappointing after 'Heroes'. So was 'A Trick of the Tail' after 'The Lamb'. Top marks for another original video idea. Cheers John.
@Fenderking I've never listened to 'Wind and Wuthering'. I will make a point of buying it and listening to it though. I do like 'A Trick of the Tail'. I just feel it's missing something earlier Genesis had. Nevertheless its still a fine album.
most of those acts there best work was ancient history when those records came out. When it doesn't happen is more of a surprise. I find its rarely a good idea to buy new music from old groups.
It's been true many times, but not always. Think of Wilco, Spoon, Radiohead, Queens of the Stone Age among others who are all veterans in their own rights already and still come up with enjoyable, sometimes even great albums. John here, however, seems to have stopped listening to new bands more than 30 years ago. If you check his videos you'll see that the 90s have not happened in his musical world. And he seems to have missed out on a lot of yesteryear's really great stuff, as well.
Very interesting video. I hope you'll do a review of Clapton's Money and Cigarettes in the future Mr.Heaton!
Let's Dance has got some very good songs on it. Criminal World and Cat People (Putting Out Fire) are the stars on the album.
Helped by the best guitar work Stevie Ray Vaughan has ever put on an album (his own albums being very dull and boring), and some excellent singing by David, those songs are master pieces.
And, lots of people hate Nile Rodgers, but his funk sure is funky. Personally, I find this album underrated because so many people call it crap.
My ten most disappointing albums.
1 Blue moves -Elton john
2 Some girls - The rolling stones
3 Wish you were here - Pink floyd
4 Heroes - David bowie
5 Physical graffiti- Led zeppelin
6 The river - Bruce Springsteen
7 Street legal - Bob Dylan
8 Let it be - The Beatles
9 Songs in the key of life - Stevie wonder
10 The lamb lies down on broadway - Genesis
Victim of Love is Elton John's most embarrassing folly, his worst ever album. Even his next three bad ones Leather Jackets, The One and The Big Picture are listenable and not so cheesy. The Stones, Abba, Roxy Music and Rod Stewart had done good disco records before this, but Elton failed. For Those About To Rock came out the year after Back In Black and before that was Highway To Hell, both ACDC's peak, so a dip in quality had to come eventually, but it's still a decent album.
I mostly bought records long after release, in the 90s because you couldn't buy any vinyl anymore of recent releases, and after 2000 because even if vinyl came into fashion again, most music has become junk. Having come of age in the 80s, your rule only applies to the 5 years between 85 and 90. Five albums that disappointed me upon purchase:
- After so many good Talking Heads albums, "Naked" was a little disappointing and not surprisingly it was their last album before breaking up. It has a nice atmosphere but only a handful of good songs.
- I bought most of Dylan's 80s records, trying to get into the figure, but I found all of them trite, even the much hailed "Oh Mercy" (I didn't like Daniel Lanois' sound all that much either). It took Blood on the tracks and Desire to finally get me there in retrospect.
- I was quite fond of XTC's singles but found most other songs on their albums, like "Oranges & lemons" too contrived.
- Everything Prince did after "Sign of the times" was bound to be a disappointment - if the Black album was a kind of unexpected but still quite refreshing return to the underground, "Lovesexi" was the first of a seemingly endless production of records just because he could and with "Batman" I lost all hope of a return to form.
- With everybody being so worked up about "Berlin" by Lou Reed, I must say my encounter was rather disappointing too. Sometimes expectations are just too high.
Now that I own a big collection of albums purchased long after release, peaking in the 70s when I was still a child, there are of course more artists and albums that didn't deliver on their promise - but that was not the rule. Cheers!
If you think “The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking” was bad, wait until you have to review “Radio KAOS” or “Amused to Death”.
Great picks (by that I mean I agree with your picks, lol). Best wishes from Australia, great channel.
I quite enjoyed Balance of Power, I won't say it was their best stuff, but that is more because of how good their best stuff was, not how bad Balance of Power was. Arguably victims of their own success.
Bought Secret Value of Daydreaming and Rhythm of the Saints and wholeheartedly agree with you, John. None of the tracks are fully realised on Julian's album. The best thing on the whole album is the Billy Joel cameo at the start of song #2. 'Born at the Right Time' on ROTS is semi-decent.
The very mention of Billy Joel makes me wanna puke. On Simon's ROTS, The Obvious Child is a continuation of Graceland, Can't Run But is epic, The Coast is also, Further To Fly, She Moves On - I'll stop there because you quite obviously listened to this album just once back in 1990, it flew over your head then and you talked out your backside yesterday.
The follow up to Costello Music by The Fratelli's was a complete disappointment.
Most every album reviewed here is by artists who had their best years in the 70's. How could you expect that they had anything good left by the 80's? I mean Blondie? Elton John? ELO? Clapton? All of these at least, were finished by the 80's!
Pistols seen to that?
LOL!!!! When "For Those About To Rock" shows up. Wasn't expecting that. But totally agree. Even the Mighty Mutt Lange couldn't save that one. Also laughed hard at "very few redeeming features" re: the Dylan. Man that dude was erratic.
Culture Club Waking up with the House on Fire, this was a massive let down after Colour by Numbers. Notorious let down. Madonna Like a Prayer no way as good as True Blue. My two Let downs.
Rhythm of the Saints' main problem was that it followed Graceland. An impossible task. The other albums are just plain awful.
I was so disappointed with the Beatles (double white) album when it came out. Obviously there were outstanding tracks but it had what sounded like out takes and tracks not ready. It was self indulgent,disjointed and bloated, someone should have cut out the dross and made a single album. They redeemed themselves with Abbey Road.
26MAR2020 - Miss the big album art. Don't miss any of those artists, and many more. The best stuff I liked overall remained the garage bands, one-offers, college stations, promos.
This an interesting list. I think 'Let's Dance' is the only one purchased at release. I didn't love it, but I thought it was ok. Looking back it was his last run at being a commercial success. Remember all the cool MTV video's from this album.
I remember hearing about criticism about Abbey Road... No posters, no lyrics to songs. But the music is great!
An overly produced drum sound from Phil Collins!!?? Hard to believe.
Nicely done! I was a huge Elton John fan through the 70's and I remember bringing Victim Of Love home, putting it on the turntable and thinking, "Elton, what have you done?" Never bought another album of his after that. That AC/DC was a huge let down as well...thought it was over for them. What do I know? Lol!
John, have you got any Albums by Little Angels? They are awesome. They only had 4 Albums.
For once, I have to totally agree with you on all your picks!
As far as waiting for years and years only to be savagely disappointed, I can't top David Gilmour's On an Island. I was in bad mood for about a week.
Dont have any feelings about the albums , but his presentation is soooo boring zzzz
I remember getting the Julian Lennon album on cassette, having liked the lead single "If You Go Away" (video featuring Michael J, Fox) and I also remember liking "Want Your Body" as it had a nice melody, but ultimately not loving it. I listened to the album a lot and enjoyed it, because I was a kid and was a fan, but never went back to it.
Ah.."Coward Till The End" - could be quite good if there was some nice, heavy guitar chords instead of those 80's light keyboards.
Pros and cons by waters was crap because Clapton played guitar on it. Dreadful guitar work on it
IMHO Graceland and it's follow up were both dreadful.
Totally agree on Let's Dance. The only plus on that album was Cat People stood out like a sore thumb.
All 10 artists/bands are in my CD collection and I own 5 of the albums on your list (AC/DC, Clapton, ELO, Simon & Waters) The only one I bought when it was released is ELO's Balance of Power, but I was more disappointed with Secret Messages (compared to Time). I've tried to remember my own "disappointment albums" but the only one that comes to mind is Foreigner's Agent Provocateur (compared to 4). But just now I came to think about the album I had the hardest time listening to by an artist I love: Todd Rundgren's No World Order (1993).
Pros and Cons of Hitchiking is one of my favorite albums in the car....on a solo road trip.....played loud. I never listen to it under any other scenario.
What is Roger Waters without Pink Floyd? Worse than Peter Criss’ solo career.
I didn't even bother to buy Roger Water's last album. His 80's and early 90's output were far too quiet for me. I can see why the Waters free Pink Floyd albums sold truckloads in comparison. Knocked Out Loaded is considered one of Dylan's absolute worst. Other than Infidels and Oh Mercy avoid his 80's albums. The Biograph box set is fantastic though.
Greatly enjoy your videos John and your thoughts on classic albums. We all hear things differently and I have to disagree with you on Dylan's Down in the Groove, which I've always liked. A lot of 80s albums had that awful production that often ruined otherwise decent material. Some of Eric's releases suffered at the time, but usually the songs were good (Although they don't hold up so well as his 70s work). The Phil Collins drum sound worked well early in the decade; on his own Face Value and John Martyn's Glorious Fool, but it soon irked. Great as Paul Simon's early solo albums were, they still weren't as good as the Simon and Garfunkel years. How could they be ? Keep the videos coming John - fascinating stuff.
I like the band Yello. They consistently made great music in the 80s...and still are.
Totally agree with EJ’s victim of love, I bought this at the time after a run of great albums in the 70s this was absolute crap, I only played it the once. This album has been sitting in my Elton collection for 40 years now I played it recently for the 2nd time and it’s not got better with age.
An album I was disappointed was The Who Face Dances.
What did you think of the first Tin Machine album when it came out? I totally loved it but was very very disappointed with the follow up, Tin Machine II.
Can’t remember what the album Behind the Sun sounded like so will have to have another listen .
This is a good concept for a video, and it’s a good video!
A bad album from ELO? Gee, what a surprise.
I loved Balance of Power. One of my favorites.
Knocked Out Loaded was complete and utter shit.
Thanks again John !
Thanks John please keep em coming. You are so right about behind the sun.
Interesting idea How about most disappointing solo beatles albums? Love to hear your thoughts
The mid-1980s were not kind to our heroes. And in my view things never really got better for them. Although I like The Firm and Jimmy Page's solo album, but there was a lot of dreck.
Don’t care for the Firm but Outrider was absolutely outstanding blues playing
Agent Provocateur by Foreigner was pretty disappointing after 4, as was Rush's Grace under Pressure, following their excellent Signals album.
Sorry Robert, can't go with Agent P - I think Double Vision and Head Games (except Rev on the Red Line) were the low point but the output picked up afterwards ,
thanks for the video, very intersting topic.The only question I have: what do you think about lets dance now? in retrospective compared to his later albums or tin machine? dont get me wrong, i am not a big Bowie fan, but it always makes me wondering why nobody likes what is easily his best selling album...
No one cares about your disappointments or your bests and worst lists.