Ironically Titled Albums

Here's a list of some of the most ironically titled albums of all time:

The Beatles (1968): John, Paul, George and Ringo would have been a better title for what became popularly known as the White Album. Named for the group, The Beatles was comprised partly of tracks on which only one, two, or three Beatles appeared. And when the Beatles did play together on a White Album track, the song's principal composer treated the other three like a backing group. The stylistic differences between John's and Paul's songs were obvious, and the joint Lennon-McCartney byline that served as the composer credit for their songs was a virtual fiction. The White Album is seen by many Beatles fans as a sampler record for their solo careers.

Self-Portrait, Bob Dylan (1970): Dylan recorded this double album mostly using his assumed country vocal from Nashville Skyline (his previous LP), he covered songs from Paul Simon and Gordon Lightfoot, he covered Tin Pan Alley songs, and he started off the record with "All The Tired Horses," the kind of tune you'd expect on a Lawrence Welk or Mantovani record.  Self-Portrait is the weakest expression of his musical personality ever.

Happy Daze, Lindisfarne (1974): The British folk rock band Lindisfarne saw three-fifths of its original membership leave to form a new group in 1972, and the two albums the remaining members of the original lineup attempted with replacements - this record was the second of the two - were dismal affairs. They broke up in 1975, then the original lineup reformed in 1976.

Frampton Comes Alive!, Peter Frampton (1976): Really? This is an exciting album? Because if you ask me, the tracks I've heard from this album sound like pat studio recordings with overdubbed applause.

Footloose and Fancy Free, Rod Stewart (1977): This is pretty much the point where Rod became formulaic and radio-friendly. "You're In My Heart (The Final Acclaim)" was just a sketch of his earlier balladeering, and the rocker "Hot Legs" was a sampler to come of the worst of eighties Rod.

Unmasked, Kiss (1980): They weren't, until 1983.

Against The Wind, Bob Seger (1980): This Los Angeles rock-styled LP is Seger's most mainstream album, and apart from the title song and on other track, it's a lousy one at that. It has nothing to do with the all-American heartland rock Seger is famous for, and it has everything to do with the LA sound that was so popular at the time.

Reckless, Bryan Adams (1984): Probably not the best title for a polite album meant for mid-eighties AOR radio.

Like a Virgin, Madonna (1984): We already knew she was nothing like a virgin before this record was released, and we knew she was nothing like any other Roman Catholic icon or ritual either.

Press to Play, Paul McCartney (1986): Paul has since disavowed this record. Press to eject.

Never Let Me Down, David Bowie (1987): The critics hated it, and it barely registered with Bowie's fans. They were completely disappointed in this record. Plus, it involved Frampton.

Big Thing, Duran Duran (1988): It wasn't.  The video-rock group's moment in the sun ended before the eighties did, and this record turned out to be no big deal.

Girl You Know It's True, Milli Vanilli (1988): Girl, you knew it was Memorex.

Built To Last, the Grateful Dead (1989): Sadly, this was their last studio album before Jerry Garcia's death.

Dangerous, Michael Jackson (1991): Songs like "Black or White" and "Remember The Time" were  predictable, safe, standard pop fare; this LP served as the chief reason why grunge had to happen.

Plus these anthologies:

'70s Hits - Great Records of the Decade, Vol. 1: Among the "great records" of the 1970s on this Curb Records anthology: "You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone; Shaun Cassidy's cover of Eric Carmen's "That's Rock and Roll;" Sammy Davis, Jr.'s recording of "The Candy Man;" "My Melody of Love" by Bobby Vinton; "Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast" by Wayne Newton, and, of course; "Burning Bridges" by the Mike Curb Congregation.

The Best of Kansas, Kansas (1984): What could possibly be on it?

The Essential Kenny Loggins (2002): See immediately above. :-D