Eight classic releases that were originally supposed to be double albums

As a music enthusiast and a connoisseur of all things rock ‘n’ roll, I must say that the stories behind these iconic albums are as captivating as the music they produced. It’s fascinating to delve into the creative processes, studio politics, and label pressures that shaped these masterpieces.

Attempting a double album is quite challenging. Only a small number of artists have successfully created the classic double album, such as the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. Even today, their fans debate which songs should have been removed from albums like ‘Exile on Main St.’ and ‘The White Album’ to make them more unified in theme.

It’s interesting to note that not just fans, but also record label executives and sometimes even artists themselves have reservations about releasing two full albums simultaneously. This hesitation often leads to initially planned extensive projects getting scaled back at the eleventh hour and being published as one album instead.

According to the article’s title, these choices proved successful. The albums discussed are either timeless classics or commercially thriving releases from well-known artists. It would be misleading to label them as mistakes. Nevertheless, it’s intriguing to ponder the double albums that might have been and imagine a world where they were initially released in their original forms.

The Who – Who’s Next (1971)

To kick things off, how about we delve into a topic? The Who, renowned as one of the top rock bands in the 70s, owe a significant portion of their fame to their 1971 opus titled “Who’s Next“. However, this groundbreaking album underwent a significant transformation during its production.

Initially, Pete Townsend and his bandmates conceived a double album called “Lifehouse,” intended as a bold sequel to their 1969 rock opera “Tommy.” However, due to creative disagreements with their manager, Kit Lambert, and financial concerns, they decided to reuse eight songs from the “Lifehouse” project for a more conventional album titled “Who’s Next,” thereby etching another chapter in rock music lore.

Paul McCartney & Wings – Red Rose Speedway (1973)

1973 saw Paul McCartney & Wings releasing an album that didn’t quite reach classic status for me – that would be “Red Rose Speedway”. However, the next album, “Band on the Run”, was truly the game-changer they needed. Interestingly enough, its predecessor still managed to produce a chart-topping single with “My Love”.

Originally intended as a double album, reminiscent of Paul McCartney’s aspirations during his Beatles era, Red Rose Speedway was initially requested to be released as a single album due to lukewarm reception to his solo work and the first Wings album. However, delightfully for Wings enthusiasts, McCartney eventually published the original double album version of Red Rose Speedway in 2018, and it’s truly remarkable.

The Monkees – The Monkees Present (1969)

The Monkees, once so popular in the mid-60s with numerous hit singles, unfortunately experienced a decrease in record sales towards the end of the decade. This decline was partly influenced by their record label and the waning interest shown by band member Peter Tork.

Originally, the concept for “The Monkees Presents” was to produce a double album where each band member had their own side to display their individual skills. By 1969, in essence, they were functioning as solo artists. Unfortunately, the ‘White Album’ style was compromised by Tork’s departure. With only three members left, it became necessary to rethink the plan and release a single album instead.

The Clash – Combat Rock (1982)

The Clash primarily focused on urban expansion, as reflected in their music. Their album “London Calling” (1979) was a double LP, while “Sandinista!” (1980) was a triple album that allowed them to explore various musical ideas extensively and creatively. For their next album, “Combat Rock“, they had planned to continue this trend with 18 songs spread across two discs.

Due to personal conflicts and the need to create a more marketable product, the band released a single album version of their work in May 1982. This strategy proved successful, with “Combat Rock” becoming their highest-selling album.

The Kinks – Are the Village Green Preservation Society (1968)

In just a few short years, The Kinks transitioned from being known for hard rock music to creating conceptual poetry, making them one of the most captivating bands during the British Invasion. Their 1968 album, titled “The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society“, is often considered their masterpiece by many fans.

The Kinks aimed to match the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix Experience, who were both producing double albums, but (you won’t believe it!) their record label resisted the concept of selling two albums at the cost of one. However, we ended up with a classic, so there’s not much room for complaints.

Lou Reed – Berlin (1973)

The 1972 album “Transformer” is considered Lou Reed’s defining solo work, but his subsequent release, “Berlin” (1973), stands out as his most daring. This rock opera narrates a tragic romance between drug addicts and serves as a platform for Reed to explore the provocative themes he masterfully mined during his time with The Velvet Underground.

Originally designed as a double-disc, 64-minute long piece titled Berlin, David Bowie’s work faced opposition from RCA Records due to its length. They requested that Bowie shorten it into a single album. Despite this reduction, the song’s strength remains undiminished, showcasing the music’s inherent potency.

Tom Petty – Wildflowers (1994)

In the late 1980s, Tom Petty made an astonishing return to the spotlight. The powerful combination of his work with the Traveling Wilburys and his immensely successful solo album titled “Full Moon Fever” (1989) demonstrated that he retained commercial power. However, it was the album “Wildflowers” (1994) that showed he could still create timeless rock music.

Back in the days of Wildflowers, I was pumping out tunes left and right! The deluxe version of that album holds a whopping 70 songs – yeah, you read that right! There was enough material for a double album, but once again, the bigwigs at the studio had other ideas.

Paul McCartney – McCartney II (1980)

After breaking up with Wings, Paul McCartney restarted his solo journey, aiming to give it his all with the album McCartney II. This record showcased a blend of punk and new wave influences, and the ex-Beatle produced 20 tracks intended for two albums.

The original release of McCartney II contains just 11 songs. While it’s often assumed that the record company asked him to reduce the number of tracks, no official explanation was ever provided as to why Paul McCartney chose the minimalist approach. Interestingly, three of the discarded songs were included in the 1993 reissue.

2024-11-19 02:30