The Worst Album of All Time
By Davis Herman on February 20, 2023
We’ve all heard bad music before, but rarely does an entire album go on to become globally known as one of the worst ever made.
Released in 1969, “Philosophy of the World” by The Shaggs threw the world for a loop with its strange timing, out-of-tune guitar and ear-piercing vocals. Since its release, it’s developed a cult following, with fans such as Frank Zappa and Kurt Cobain. In 1980, Rolling Stone Magazine officially coined it the worst album ever recorded.
In 1965, The Shaggs were formed in Fremont, New Hampshire, by Austin Wiggin Jr. and made up of his three teenage daughters, Dorothy, Betty and Helen Wiggin. The idea came to Austin after a palm reading from his mother, where she predicted that his daughters would form a famous band. After that, Austin took his daughters out of school, bought them instruments and made them practice for hours every day.
While many can’t stand the album, others either call it a guilty pleasure or genuinely praise it. In 2010, it was included in NME’s “The 100 Greatest Albums You’ve Never Heard” list. The album is ranked number 100 in Blender’s “100 Greatest Indie-Rock Albums Ever”. Kurt Cobain even called it his fifth favourite album of all time.
Whether you find it unbearable or a work of art, there’s no question that “Philosophy of the World” will forever be one of the most unique chapters in music history. For more information on music history, listen to my show ROCK TALK on NR92 Saturdays from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.