There Ain't Half Been Some Great Albums: B Quiz

Answer: The Rolling Stones

"Beggar's Banquet", which came out in late 1968, is the first in an incredible string of Stones albums. It came after an album which still divides opinion, "Their Satanic Majesties Request", and to my mind not only set the group back on track, but actually saw them making a leap forwards.

Even though I have heard tracks such as "Sympathy for the Devil" and "Street Fighting Man" almost ad nauseum, they still resonate in a way that some other overplayed songs (such as "Jumpin' Jack Flash" from the same era) don't. Also, I think the inclusion of country blues pastiches such as "Dear Doctor" and "Factory Girl" hold the album together as a whole, and "Salt of the Earth" rounds it all up perfectly.

Answer: Joe Walsh

"But Seriously, Folks..." is Joe Walsh's fourth studio solo album. He was in the Eagles at the time and all the other Eagles members feature on the album. Nevertheless, it's a far cry from Eagles stuff thanks to Walsh's left-field approach. It's got a wonderful lackadaisical feel to it and is perfect on a Sunday afternoon.

Unfortunately, as often happens, the huge success of one song, in this case "Life's Been Good", overshadows a great album. Undoubtedly, "But Seriously, Folks..." was conceived as an album, and it's as close to perfect as an album can get.

Answer: Charles Mingus

Charles Mingus recorded "Blues & Blues" in 1959 after a several good (I doubt Mingus could ever record anything that couldn't be called good) but not particularly inspired or memorable releases. In fact, he hadn't really broken any new ground since 1956's brilliant "Pithecanthropus Erectus".

You could argue that "Blues & Roots" is hardly groundbreaking either, but it's so vibrant it stands out as a classic. On the liner notes Mingus described "Blues & Roots" as "a barrage of soul music: churchy, blues, swinging, earthy". It's a really enjoyable album, I think because the musicians sound like they are really having a ball. Thanks to this it's instantly accessible in a way that serious jazz isn't always. In a way it's one of the more accessible jazz albums of the era.

Answer: Nick Drake

"Bryter Later" is the late great Nick Drake's second album. It's my favourite of the meagre three-album ouevre he left us principally because of the exquisite juxtaposition between upbeat, jaunty music, introspective lyrics, and Drake's subdued, low-key vocal delivery. His first album, "Five Leaves Left", might have had stronger material, but listening to this one always puts a smile on my face.

Playing with Nick Drake on this album are guitarist Richard Thompson, bassist Dave Pegg and drummer Dave Mattacks from Fairport Convention, as well as avant-garde musician and Velvet Underground founder member John Cale, amongst others. The set-up was very different for Drake's third and last album, "Pink Moon", which saw him on his own.

Answer: Scott Walker

Scott Walker had been leaning further and further away from the mainstream for years and "Bish Bosch" saw him almost fall over. That he managed to pull off such an avant-garde piece of art within the pop music field is gobsmacking. Having said that, the album is no easy ride but a very fulfilling one if it's up your alley.

There are umpteen musicians credited with having contributed to the album, and as wide an array of instruments as you'll ever see listed. While I can guess what "lo rumbles and white noise" are, I'm still not sure what the instruments kudu, shofar, tubax, machetes, and tuned gongs all are. However, they make a wonderful din.

Answer: Alice Cooper

"Billion Dollar Babies" is Alice Cooper's sixth album. The group's success, both critically and commercially, took a long time to come but by this album they were in full swing which means every single song is a cracker. This album boasts many Alice Cooper classics such as "Elected", "I Love the Dead", and "Generation Landslide" as well as the title track.

What made Alice Cooper's stuff of that time so great was the fearlessness in dealing with really taboo issues. Later on, when Alice Cooper no longer referred to a group but just that group's singer, unpleasant topics seem to have been treated purely as cheap horror schlock.

Answer: Exodus

"Bonded by Blood" is San Franciscan thrash group Exodus's debut album. It was recorded in 1984 and rumours (as well as bootleg tapes) of an album which was heavier and more brutal sounding than trailblazers Metallica circulated on the underground, creating a buzz which lasted until it's delayed release in 1985. I remember finally getting my copy through the post from the heavy metal Mecca record shop Shades in London and playing it repeatedly for days! The excitement it produces hasn't worn off after all these years.

Exodus never really managed to follow-up such a brilliant debut, although they kept trying. In the late 1980s, a handful of thrash bands emerged as the so-called "big four" who were perceived as being the founder fathers of thrash metal, but Exodus were not part of this imaginary elite.

Answer: Bob Dylan

Although "Blood on the Tracks" has since been seen as a return to form, at the time the reception was lukewarm. One of the criticisms was that it sounded somewhat cack-handed. To my mind it's that apparent looseness which raises the album above what could have been trite and mawkish had it been too polished.

There isn't a dud on the whole album, and many of the songs quickly became Dylan classics. Despite the initial thumbs-down from many critics, the public lapped it up and "Blood on the Tracks" can now be found on many greatest-albums-of-all-time lists.

Of course, Dylan's place in "Great Albums Starting with B" could just have easily been "Blonde on Blonde", but that would have been stating the obvious.

Answer: Jay Reatard

"Blood Visions" is Jay Reatard's debut album as a solo performer. He had previously been in the group The Reatards, although it should be pointed out that The Reatards was actually a one-man band on the first release. Even when other people were involved, they were basically backing him. On "Blood Visions" everything is played by Jay Reatard apart from bass on one track. It's a fantastic album of very noisy, intense pop songs. To my mind, it's the most kicking rock 'n' roll album to have been recorded in years. Since most of the songs are really short, he manages to race through fifteen of them in less than half an hour.

Jay Reatard, real name Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr., was one of those musical prodigies who seem to have an innate talent for a good tune. What he didn't know about underground music isn't worth knowing, and what he would have done with that knowledge is worth pondering. Unfortunately, Jay Reatard died in 2010 aged just 29.

Answer: Miles Davis

The double album "Bitches Brew" was recorded at the now-demolished CBS 30th Street Studio in New York in 1969 where Miles had already made history ten years previously with "Kind of Blue" a decade earlier. It tore apart what people thought jazz should be and was rock ought to be, sparking debate which still rages today. It wasn't just the straight-laced, conservative jazz purists who were shocked, but also many within the jazz avant-garde who saw it as a step towards commercialization due to its rock overtones. Others just didn't think it was very good.

To my ears, "Bitches Brew" is pure joy. Miles had got together a huge ensemble with included multiple musicians playing the same instrument (the famed three drummers) with very little guidance as what they are supposed to be doing. To anybody sensible, that just reeks of disaster. Not so. What emerges is powerful in its subtlety as much as in its bombast.