- What makes an album a classic album?
- We, the people.
Or to give a fuller answer, it's something democratically decided over a period of time, so Frownland is part right:-
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frownland
I don't let how much I enjoy an album influence whether or not I consider it a classic, or at least ideally I don't. This is one of the few instances in music where you'll see me give popularity credibility as a relevant factor.
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...especially if we add in Neapolitan's distinction between "classic" and "groundbreaking":-
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neapolitan
It's a "Classic" if you never get tired of listening to the album. An album you can always go back to. An album you always have a fond memory of even if you haven't heard it in a while.
It's "Groundbreaking" would be what Frownland said here:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frownland
Basically, it has to have a significant impact on its genre. That can either be through innovating on/inventing the genre or by having crossover appeal and bringing new life to the genre.
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I've seem people call obscure albums (that are of no consequence to public) "classic" so there are instances where it can be used subjectively. "Classic" can also be used as if there is some kind of object truth behind calling an album a classic, like VH1 Album Classics series. Rolling Stone has their Greatest Albums of All Time .... |
To me, the only requirement for an album to be called a classic is that it has been lastingly admired by a lot of people over a decent period of time. What's the minimum period of time involved? I'm inclined to say ten years, but to appease the impatient, I'm prepared to negotiate that down to five - but that's my limit. I consider it premature to call anything classic if it's less than five years old.
One advantage of my definition is that we don't have to worry about "Does this album mark some vague turning point in music?" In fact, I'd allow any artist to have their very own classic álbum with respect to their discography. For example, "
No Parlez is Paul Young's classic album." = generally agreed to be his finest hour.
And as he doesn't get much mention on MB, I've given myself a perfect excuse to post a great track from
No Parlez featuring to good effect his backing singers, the Fabulous Wealthy Tarts:
"Whatta nah!?"