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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, November 19, 2003

'Sgt. Pepper' chosen as top album ever

By Edna Gundersen
USA Today

To everyone's complete lack of surprise, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" has been anointed the best album ever in a new Rolling Stone poll.

The Beatles' consecrated 1967 classic tops "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time," a collector's issue on stands Friday. Though typically the odds-on favorite for such rankings, "Sgt. Pepper" wasn't a slam-dunk.

"There was a horse race," says Rolling Stone music editor Joe Levy. "Early on, any number of albums in the top 10 were in the lead. The final result is no shock, but there's a reason for that. The Beatles, after all, were the most important and innovative rock group in the world. And 'Sgt. Pepper' arguably set the tone for what an album could be."

The Beatles have four albums in the top 10. Predictably, the list is weighted toward testosterone-fueled vintage rock. The top solo female is Joni Mitchell, whose 1971 "Blue" is No. 30.

The newest entry is this year's "Elephant" by the White Stripes, landing at No. 390. The most current disc in the top 20 is Nirvana's 1991 "Nevermind." Also making the cut were recent albums by Coldplay, The Strokes, all three Eminem releases and a wide range of hip-hop.

"A classic record proves itself over time," Levy says, "so it's gratifying and surprising to see so many newer records on the list, considering they're competing against such beloved and titanic records as 'Rubber Soul' and 'Dusty in Memphis.' "

Rolling Stone asked musicians, critics, historians and key industry figures to rank their 50 favorites. The 273 participants included Beck, U2's The Edge, Jackson Browne, Missy Elliott and members of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Linkin Park and The Doors. The Ernst & Young accounting firm devised a point system to weigh votes for 1,600 submitted titles.