Track seven, eh. Meant to be the best track on all albums ever, or so someone told me once. Let’s test this out…
With the aid of the very handy Rocklist, I had a hunt around for some of those greatest albums of all time lists. I thought we should go a bit trans-atlantic on this one, and also reader-centric. So I have for you the lists Q vs. Rolling Stone (an unfair comparison, many would argue), but this is only a bit of impromptu madness I just decided to concoct.
Let’s start with the Q’s list from 2003:
1. Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)
2. Radiohead - OK Computer (1997)
3. The Beatles - Revolver (1966)
4. Radiohead - The Bends (1995)
5. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
6. Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks (1977)
7. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (1989)
8. Oasis - Definitely Maybe (1994)
9. The Strokes - Is This It (2001)
10. U2 - Achtung Baby (1991)
And onto Rolling Stone’s list from 2002:
1. The Beatles - Revolver (1966)
2. Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)
3. Beatles - Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
4. U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987)
5. The Beatles - The Beatles (aka The White Album) (1968)
6. The Beatles - Abbey Road (1969)
7. Guns n’ Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987)
8. Radiohead - OK Computer (1997)
9. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
10. U2 - Achtung Baby (1991)
The differences between the list, show a few things quite well. Firstly, British audiences are more likely to put faith in recent releases (I’m absolutely positive Eminem wouldn’t get a look in this year’s list). Secondly, Britpop only happened in Britain (Definately Maybe, hmm), and Guns n’ Roses definately only happened in the USA. Thirdly, a copy of The Red Album and The Blue Album would probably cover about 50% of the American list. Lastly, U2 will never be a number one kind of band (okay, maybe that’s just my opinion).
Now back to the point - track seven.
It’s official, the average person in the UK would most like the following tracks on a compilation tape/minidisc/iPod/CDR:
Nirvana - Territorial Pissings
Radiohead - Fitter Happier
The Beatles - She Said
Radiohead - Just
Eminem - Way I Am
Sex Pistols - Seventeen
The Stone Roses - Song for my Sugar Spun Sister
Oasis - Bring it on Down
The Strokes - Last Nite
U2 - Fly
And the average person in the USA would most like the following tracks on a compilation tape/minidisc/iPod/CDR:
The Beatles - She Said
Nirvana - Territorial Pissings
Beatles - Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite
U2 - In God’s Country
The Beatles - While my Guitar Gently Weeps
The Beatles - Here Comes the Sun
Guns n’ Roses - My Michelle
Radiohead - Fitter Happier
Led Zeppelin - Going to California
U2 - Fly
Based upon this incredibly slap-dashed attempt at evidence, I am not convinced by this track seven business. I’m going to need some convincing, surely there must be some better track seven’s than the above in the world? Answers on a postcard, or just as a comment below please…
Popularity: 23% [?]
July 23rd, 2005 at 6:52 pm
okay, okay. so my theory is based on shoddy evidence, much like my degree. Perhaps we should agree that it is the delusion of track seven that it is the best track, while other, more superior track positions (3,4,6 current favorites apparently)quitely go about their business of rocking the kazbah. Strangley, I feel this delusion makes my new email more fitting rather than less so. And in other news, I hear the emperor has so rather fabulous new clothes….
July 23rd, 2005 at 6:52 pm
Hmmm, I had a flash of inspiration and realised that Come Together off Screamadelica is a track seven, but my excitement crashed down around me when I checked the box and found its actually a six.
So I’ll go with Roads by Portishead, seventh track on Dummy. Not very rock and roll though is it? I think the seventh track on Music has the Right… by Boards of Canada is pretty good too though (except that the last time I heard it I was beyond wasted, and it probably wasn’t even Boards of Canada I was listening to)…