What makes for a timeless LP/CD?

[harley]

The first one that came to mind was Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs. It feels timeless as opposed to a lot of the music from the 70s that feels "dated" and did within a year or two of being released. On the other hand, I'm listening right now to the second disk from the Muddy Waters Chess Box Set and, wow, the recordings sound vibrant as can be, 50 or 60 years after they first got made.

[rictified]

What makes an album timeless? Probably the absence of qualities that tie it to a particular period in time - Be they vocal phrases or certain musical styles.

I'd have to say that this is probably THE definition, too many great albums are tied to a certain place and time and sound dated, a lot of late 60's stuff comes to mind. Production has a lot to do with anchoring certain albums to certain times too. I love The Everly Brothers for example but there were a few LP's they did during the late 60's that sound very dated because of the production.

[shamustwin]

Most '80's stuff has that big snare drum sound that dates it as well.

[Clint]

To me, the difference is that I usually listen to an album only when I'm in the mood to listen to it and a timeless album makes me in the mood to listen to it whenever I hear it. Everytime I hear it.

[longhouse]

Timelessness?

In line with my notion that 'the very best music either defies or typifies genre', the music which comes to be known as timeless does just that with the age of its creation. In short, they resonate through the ages -or shine forever as milestones of their own age.

Getz/Gilberto

Beatles 'Revolver'

Zep 'IV'

Julie London 'Make Love To Me'

U2 'Joshua Tree'

Church 'Starfish'

Floyd 'DSOTM'

Sinatra and Jobim

etc, etc.

[longhouse]

Van Morrison 'Astral Weeks', 'Moondance', and 'Veedon Fleece'

Jeff Buckley 'Grace'

Mazzy Star 'Halah'

Over The Rhine 'Ohio'

[longhouse]

'the very best music either defines or defies genre'

[RutleDirk]

What makes for a timeless LP/CD? Um... an artist with absolutely no sense of rhythm?