January 5, 2001. Copyright 2001. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

FAB FOUR TOP ALL-TIME ROCK ÕNÕ ROLL LIST

LONDON, January 5, Graphic News: THE BEATLESÕ landmark 1966 LP ÒRevolver,Ó which bridged the bandÕs moptop era with their experimental years in the studio, was judged the best album in rock ÕnÕ roll history by experts in a poll by cable music channel VH1 released Thursday.

ÒRevolverÓ -- released the same month the band toured America for the last time -- capped a list of the 100 best rock albums in a poll of more than 500 journalists, music executives and artists. Wyclef Jean, Britney Spears, Carole King, Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello and Roberta Flack were among the respondents.

The Beatles, who are topping the charts again, 30 years after their breakup, with Ò1,Ó a collection of all their No. 1 hits, dominated the VH1 survey with a total of five albums.

In addition to ÒRevolverÓ at No. 1, the Beatles made the list with ÒRubber SoulÓ (No. 6), ÒAbbey RoadÓ (No. 8), ÒSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandÓ (No. 10) and ÒThe Beatles,Ó better known as the White Album (No. 11).

With songs such as ÒEleanor Rigby,Ó ÒTaxman,Ó ÒIÕm Only Sleeping,Ó ÒHere, There and Everywhere,Ó ÒShe Said, She SaidÓ and ÒGot to Get You into My Life,Ó the ÒRevolverÓ album blended sophisticated, sometimes opaque lyrics with influences of pop, Motown, chamber music, Hindu instruments and hallucinogenic drugs.

The Rolling Stones -- the BeatlesÕ biggest contemporary rivals on the British rock scene -- and Bob Dylan each had four LPs on the VH1 top 100, and seven other acts claimed three albums on the list, including Led Zeppelin, The Who, Aretha Franklin and Jimi Hendrix.

NirvanaÕs 1991 ÒNevermind,Ó which launched the grunge rock era, was No. 2 on the list, followed by the Beach BoysÕ 1966 ÒPet Sounds,Ó which founder Brian Wilson performed in its entirety on a concert tour last year.

The oldest music on the list was from Elvis PresleyÕs ÒSun Sessions,Ó recorded in 1954-55 although not released as an album until 1976, and the newest was Lauryn HillÕs 1998 ÒThe Miseducation of Lauryn HillÓ (No. 37).

While mega-selling albums like JacksonÕs ÒThrillerÓ (No. 23) and Carole KingÕs ÒTapestryÓ (No. 39) made the list, many judged influential were poor sellers at the time.

Examples include KraftwerkÕs 1977 ÒTrans-Europe ExpressÓ (No. 56), TelevisionÕs 1977 ÒMarquee MoonÓ (No. 83) and the late Jeff BuckleyÕs 1994 debut, ÒGraceÓ (No. 73).

However, newlywed Madonna has something else to celebrate. Her ÒLike a PrayerÓ album made it on the list, barely, at No. 100.
/ENDS
Sources VH1, Associated Press, Reuters