Spinner

Most Monumental Album Flops: No. 1


'Self Portrait'
Bob Dylan, 1970

Rise: You know -- the quintessential singer-songwriter who could do no wrong.

Fall: The Dylan generation had a tough time swallowing what 'Self Portrait' proved: that their hero was fully capable of sucking as much as the next mere mortal.

Stats: 'Blonde on Blonde' (1966), 2 million; 'Self Portrait,' 110,000



All the AOL Music info you want to know

Jason Aldean Sorry to See the…

The Boot

Michael Loccisano, Getty Images Jason Aldean just landed "Fly Over States,"…

Gotye in Traffic, Skrillex the Board…

Spinner

David Wolff-Patrick, Redferns Check out Jeff the Brotherhood's new Dan…

Janet Jackson Birthday: Singer Turns 46…

AOL Music Blog

Fox/X17online.com | Getty Images After admitting to a lifetime of body image…

See all AOL Music »

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

86 Comments

Filter by:
biguy

How come GNR's Chinese Democracy isn't on here? It took like 13 years and 160 million dollars to make and it didn't sell well at all.

December 26 2009 at 11:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bob S

Hey, I really like Bob Dylan's "Self Portrait." I don't care what the numbers show or what the critics say.

December 08 2009 at 5:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
C.T.

I'm just glad that Fleetwood Mac wasn't on the list with "Tusk". I guess enough people understood that the band was willing to experiment and build on their sound so the album didn't sound like a bad copy of the untoppable "Rumours"!

August 30 2008 at 1:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
scottmlo

Fleetwood Mac "Tusk", the double album that followed their grammy award winning "Rumours".

August 29 2008 at 6:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dAt crAzy bOk

What genius was expecting an instant classic from Paris Hilton? Did anyone really think that Paris was going to be the next Whitney Houston or something?

And Dylan sucks? Come on... get real. Self Portrait was definitely his critically worst, but I'd rather hear Dylan at his worst than most others at their best.

May 19 2008 at 1:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
McfanJackie

Mariah Carey's Glitter cd wasn't bad. I think it had some of her best vocals. The release was just bad timing. She did have a great comeback though.

May 05 2008 at 9:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Glen

I agree with Clay regarding "Van Halen III". I have to say I have listened to that whole album just once - VERY disappointing. Eddie was doing too much experimenting, and not enough raw, balls-out riffing. And Michael Anthony only played on 3 tracks on that album; Eddie was beginning to phase Michael out.
The 1998 concert tour they did was good - first time they got to do all their old "Diamond Dave" era songs since Dave left or was fired (depepnding on whose account you believe) - but the album - fair to say the only one I will never listen to again.

January 11 2008 at 11:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
RICKYB

Dont forget:

1.Wilson Phillips, whose self titled debut album
spawned 5 top twenty hits(3 of them went to #1)
in the early 90s while their "Shadows and
Light" was a major dissappointment.
2.Janet Jackson hit big with "All 4 You" then had
us scratching our heads with "Damita Jo" and
after "20 yr Old", I'm wondering if she still
has it.
3.Madonna had major success with "Music", then
she flipped out on us with "American Life", her
first album ever to not produce a single top 20
hit.
4.And how about MC Hammer's followup to the
massively successful "Please Hammer don't
hurt'em"
That "II Legit to Quit" was horrible!

January 08 2008 at 10:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cypher787

U2 AND BOB DYLAN THE TWO WORST FUCKIN BANDS/MUSICIANS EVER!!!!!!!!!!! i dont get the obsession with bob dylan hes a horrible singer his only good song was all along the watchtower which by the way jimi handrix played about 8 million times better and u2 just needs to die they are by far the worst band of all time!!!!!!!!

January 01 2008 at 8:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to cypher787's comment
rocky-o

you need a good nioght's sleep and alot of music lessons in the morning...

October 29 2010 at 9:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rocky-o

you need a good night's sleep and alot of music lessons in the morning...

October 29 2010 at 9:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Poughkeepsie John

The back cover of Dylan's "Self Portrait" was taken at a road in upstate New York called Peekskill Hollow Road, which is known as "the cursed road". It's called "the cursed road" because there seem to be more accidents on that road (particularly during rush hour) than any other area. So, it seemed only appropriate that Dylan would take pictures on this "cursed road" for what would be his worst album!

September 28 2007 at 10:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply