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1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die is a highly readable list of the best, the most important, and the most influential pop albums from 1955 through 2003. Carefully selected by a team of international critics, each album is a groundbreaking work seminal to the understanding and appreciation of music from the 1950s to the present. Included with each entry are production details and credits as well as reproductions of original album cover art. Perhaps most important of all, each album featured comes with an authoritative description of its importance and influence. Among the critics involved in selecting the list are some of the best known music reviewers and commentators, including Theunis Bates (music writer for Time and urban editor at worldpop.com), Jon Harrington (staff writer at MTV), Seth Jacobson (writer for Dazed & Confused), as well as many others.
960 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
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2670 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
October 14, 2022
Initial Thoughts
I love lists. On the other hand, any fucker with an opinion can put together a list, so let me modify that to say I like lists but I love lists that include justification for each entry, or have some over-arching criteria by which they are constructed. If this book were merely a bare list, it wouldn't be particularly elevated above the thousands of other lists (on discogs for example), but it is more than that. A list like this will never satisfy everyone, and in fact it's almost guaranteed to satisfy no-one. There are plenty of entries in this book that I would kick out, and others I would include, but that's not really the point. This isn't a list of my personal favorites, and it shouldn't be. That list would be useless to me. The value of this book for me is that I'm listening to things I might otherwise not hear, and even if they aren't to my taste, there is value in the experience.
Partway Through And Drunk
Then again, there is not a single album listed by The Church.
Starfish is my all time favorite, most influential (on me) album. Not having a single entry by The Church is enough to make me fucking annoyed at this list, putting aside the fact I could include 3 more albums besides Starfish. And also Tom Petty only has a single album (the first self titled) so where the fuck is Southern Accents, Full Moon Fever, and Into The Great Wide Open, all of which are arguably more solid than the first admittedly great album. Seriously what credibility do they have not including the album that has "Don't Come Around Here No More". Or maybe I'm just writing this while coming down from a late night drunken music listening night so just fucking ignore me.
Process And Criteria
I started reading this book on June 18th, 2016 with the intent to listen to every album all the way through, regardless of whether I had heard it before or not. Initially I had no particular discipline with respect to pace. Additionally I would have to wait for a physical CD to arrive, which would delay my progress. At some point, I started to use Google Play for streaming, which vastly accelerated my ability to progress through the list, and I settled on 1 album each weekday. Later I started doing the weekends also. I listened to the albums in the same sequence as in the book, and did not skip around, and I always listened to the complete album in its original order, and I never skipped a track even if I hated it. And of course I read each review as I started each album. I also kept a log of listening stats and thoughts about each album. I listened to the last album in the book on Saturday February 15th, 2020.
Some Statistics
My journey through this book took 1338 days.
I already owned 301 of the albums.
I had already heard 358 of the albums (counting the ones I owned). I used a very strict criteria for this number. For an album to count, I must have listened to the album in sequence as whole. If I had heard every track on the album separately, say on the radio, that did not count.
I had previously heard 1 or more tracks from 299 additional albums. I used fairly strict criteria to count for this number. I had to be familiar with, or have very clear memory of a track for it to count. It could not be some vague feeling that I had probably heard a song.
I bought 38 albums from this book that I did not previously own. A couple of these were because I absolutely could not find them for legal streaming, but most were because I want to buy them, or thought they were something I should own anyway.
I have marked an additional 25 albums as candidates for purchase.
Completion
So was this book worth it? For someone like me, who is obsessed with music, and also enjoys a very disciplined and persistent approach to finding music, the answer is a wholehearted 'yes'. Of course I didn't agree with every selection or opinion in the book. Some of the reviewers pissed me off, particularly when they would try to justify the inclusion of their particular choice by insulting other music; sometimes there would be a delicious, or infuriating, irony when the insulted release was also in the book. Even for many of the albums I did not like, I usually found it valuable to learn about its historical significance, and to actually give a full listen. And then there were the surprise discoveries that I totally missed when they first came out, and I was thrilled to have added to my collection, such as Skunk Anansie and Eels.
Variations On A Theme
I was discussing with a friend what we might change about this book, for example we both agreed that we would personally put in a rule that each band can have only one album represented, which would make for a very different book. For example, there are three albums in here by fucking Dexys Midnight Runners, a band I absolutely loath, and the experience of listening to those three albums only made me hate them even more. There are 7 albums by the Beatles.
So here are a few variations on this book that I think would be potentially interesting:
1001 Albums by 1001 Different Bands You Must Hear Before You Die
1001 Totally Obscure Weird But Good Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
1001 World Music Albums Not From The US or The UK You Must Hear Before You Die
1001 Dark, Depressing, Atmospheric Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
1001 Electronic Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
and of course the best one:
Baal Of Confusion's 1001 Favorite Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
I love lists. On the other hand, any fucker with an opinion can put together a list, so let me modify that to say I like lists but I love lists that include justification for each entry, or have some over-arching criteria by which they are constructed. If this book were merely a bare list, it wouldn't be particularly elevated above the thousands of other lists (on discogs for example), but it is more than that. A list like this will never satisfy everyone, and in fact it's almost guaranteed to satisfy no-one. There are plenty of entries in this book that I would kick out, and others I would include, but that's not really the point. This isn't a list of my personal favorites, and it shouldn't be. That list would be useless to me. The value of this book for me is that I'm listening to things I might otherwise not hear, and even if they aren't to my taste, there is value in the experience.
Partway Through And Drunk
Then again, there is not a single album listed by The Church.
Starfish is my all time favorite, most influential (on me) album. Not having a single entry by The Church is enough to make me fucking annoyed at this list, putting aside the fact I could include 3 more albums besides Starfish. And also Tom Petty only has a single album (the first self titled) so where the fuck is Southern Accents, Full Moon Fever, and Into The Great Wide Open, all of which are arguably more solid than the first admittedly great album. Seriously what credibility do they have not including the album that has "Don't Come Around Here No More". Or maybe I'm just writing this while coming down from a late night drunken music listening night so just fucking ignore me.
Process And Criteria
I started reading this book on June 18th, 2016 with the intent to listen to every album all the way through, regardless of whether I had heard it before or not. Initially I had no particular discipline with respect to pace. Additionally I would have to wait for a physical CD to arrive, which would delay my progress. At some point, I started to use Google Play for streaming, which vastly accelerated my ability to progress through the list, and I settled on 1 album each weekday. Later I started doing the weekends also. I listened to the albums in the same sequence as in the book, and did not skip around, and I always listened to the complete album in its original order, and I never skipped a track even if I hated it. And of course I read each review as I started each album. I also kept a log of listening stats and thoughts about each album. I listened to the last album in the book on Saturday February 15th, 2020.
Some Statistics
My journey through this book took 1338 days.
I already owned 301 of the albums.
I had already heard 358 of the albums (counting the ones I owned). I used a very strict criteria for this number. For an album to count, I must have listened to the album in sequence as whole. If I had heard every track on the album separately, say on the radio, that did not count.
I had previously heard 1 or more tracks from 299 additional albums. I used fairly strict criteria to count for this number. I had to be familiar with, or have very clear memory of a track for it to count. It could not be some vague feeling that I had probably heard a song.
I bought 38 albums from this book that I did not previously own. A couple of these were because I absolutely could not find them for legal streaming, but most were because I want to buy them, or thought they were something I should own anyway.
I have marked an additional 25 albums as candidates for purchase.
Completion
So was this book worth it? For someone like me, who is obsessed with music, and also enjoys a very disciplined and persistent approach to finding music, the answer is a wholehearted 'yes'. Of course I didn't agree with every selection or opinion in the book. Some of the reviewers pissed me off, particularly when they would try to justify the inclusion of their particular choice by insulting other music; sometimes there would be a delicious, or infuriating, irony when the insulted release was also in the book. Even for many of the albums I did not like, I usually found it valuable to learn about its historical significance, and to actually give a full listen. And then there were the surprise discoveries that I totally missed when they first came out, and I was thrilled to have added to my collection, such as Skunk Anansie and Eels.
Variations On A Theme
I was discussing with a friend what we might change about this book, for example we both agreed that we would personally put in a rule that each band can have only one album represented, which would make for a very different book. For example, there are three albums in here by fucking Dexys Midnight Runners, a band I absolutely loath, and the experience of listening to those three albums only made me hate them even more. There are 7 albums by the Beatles.
So here are a few variations on this book that I think would be potentially interesting:
1001 Albums by 1001 Different Bands You Must Hear Before You Die
1001 Totally Obscure Weird But Good Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
1001 World Music Albums Not From The US or The UK You Must Hear Before You Die
1001 Dark, Depressing, Atmospheric Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
1001 Electronic Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
and of course the best one:
Baal Of Confusion's 1001 Favorite Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
April 26, 2023
Just a short note: I thought this was a solid book of important albums, with only two flaws - including a Limp Bizkit album (should have chosen Deftones' "White Pony" or something, even Linkin Park would do), and I don't think Britney Spears fits in (but this one is just my opinion)... anyway at least the former should've been taken off. Otherwise great book with reasonably good taste.
February 8, 2017
bio sam jutros u biblioteci da učim. osam minuta listao "kliničku ehokardiografiju", pronašao na polici ovu divotu i čitao sledeća četiri sata.
August 26, 2012
Working my way through this http://www.radio3net.ro/dbalbums/albu...
http://1001beforeyoudie.com/
Sinatra, Frank – In the Wee Small Hours
Presley, Elvis – Elvis Presley (1956)
Louvin Brothers – Tragic Songs of Life
Prima, Louis – Wildest
Domino, Fats – This is Fats
Ellington, Duke – At Newport (1956)
Sinatra, Frank – Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!
Crickets – Chirping…
Basie, Count – Atomic Mr Basie
Monk, Thelonious – Brilliant Corners
Sabú [Martínez] – Palo Congo
Davis, Miles – Birth of the Cool
Machito – Kenya
Little Richard – Here’s…
Puente, Tito & His Orchestra – Dance Mania (1958)
Holiday, Billie – Lady in Satin
Elliott, Jack – Jack Takes the Floor
Vaughan, Sarah – At Mister Kelly’s
Fitzgerald, Ella – Sings the Gershwin Song Book
Charles, Ray – Genius of… (1959)
Davis, Miles – Kind of Blue
Robbins, Marty – Gunfighter Ballads & Trail Songs
Brubeck, Dave – Time Out
Baez, Joan – Joan Baez (1960)
Presley, Elvis – Elvis is Back!
Makeba, Miriam – Miriam Makeba (1960)
Everly Brothers – A Date with the…
Smith, Jimmy – Back at the Chicken Shack
Muddy Waters – At Newport
Evans, Bill – Sunday at the Village Vanguard
Charles, Ray - Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music
Booker T & the MGs – Green Onions
Getz, Stan & Charlie Byrd – Jazz Samba
Price, Ray – Night Life
Beatles – With the…
Dylan, Bob – Freewheelin’…
Spector, Phil & Various Artists – A Christmas Gift for You
Cooke, Sam – Live at the Harlem Square
Mingus, Charles – Black Saint & the Sinner Lady
Brown, James – Live at the Apollo (1963)
Getz, Stan & João Gilberto – Getz/Gilberto
Beatles – A Hard Day’s Night
Brel, Jacques – Olympia 64
Burke, Solomon – Rock ‘n’ Soul
Springfield, Dusty - A Girl Called Dusty
Rolling Stones – Rolling Stones (1st Album)
Owens, Buck – I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail
Lewis, Jerry Lee – Live at the Star Club, Hamburg
Sonics – Here Are the…
Dylan, Bob – Bringing it All Back Home
Redding, Otis – Otis Blue… Sings Soul
Beach Boys – Today!
Coltrane, John – A Love Supreme
King, B.B. – Live at the Regal
Beatles – Rubber Soul
Jansch, Bert – Bert Jansch (1st Album)
Byrds, Mr Tambourine Man
Dylan, Bob – Highway 61 Revisited
Who – My Generation
Beatles – Revolver
Beach Boys – Pet Sounds
Neil, Fred – Fred Neil (1st Album)
Byrds – Fifth Dimension
Dylan, Bob – Blonde on Blonde
Monks – Black Monk Time
Kinks – Face to Face
Mamas & the Papas – If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
Revere, Paul & the Raiders – Midnight Ride
Mothers of Invention – Freak Out!
Rolling Stones – Aftermath
Simon & Garfunkel – Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme
13th Floor Elevators – Psychedelic Sounds of the…
John Mayall’s Blues Breakers – With Eric Clapton
Yardbirds – Yardbirds [aka Roger the Engineer] (1st Album)
Simone, Nina – Wild is the Wind
Gilberto, Astrud – Beach Samba
Nico – Chelsea Girl
Beatles – Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Country Joe & the Fish – Electric Music for the Mind & Body
Buffalo Springfield – Again
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band – Safe as Milk
Moby Grape – Moby Grape (1st Album)
Love – Da Capo
Beau Brummels – Triangle
Monkees – Headquarters
Buckley, Tim – Goodbye & Hello
Love – Forever Changes
Cream – Disraeli Gears
Pink Floyd – Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Who – Sell Out
Velvet Underground - & Nico
Sinatra, Frank - Frank Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
Doors – Doors (1st Album)
Byrds – Younger than Yesterday
Young Rascals – Groovin’
Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow
Kinks – Something Else by the…
Donovan – Sunshine Superman
Haggard, Merle – I’m a Lonesome Fugitive
Hendrix, Jimi – Are You Experienced
Electric Prunes – I Had too Much to Dream (Last Night)
Lynn, Loretta – Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)
Sharma, Shivkumar / Brij Bushan Kabra / Hariprasad Chaurasia – Call of the Valley
Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat
Hendrix, Jimi – Axis: Bold as Love
Franklin, Aretha – I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Rolling Stones – Beggars Banquet
Traffic – Traffic (2nd Album)
Incredible String Band – Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter
Kinks – Village Green Preservation Society
Shankar, Ravi – Sounds of India (1968)
Mutantes, os – Mutantes, os (1st Album)
Hendrix, Jimi – Electric Ladyland
Cohen, Leonard – Songs of…
Cash, Johnny – At Folsom Prison
Nyro, Laura – Eli & the Thirteenth Confession
Franklin, Aretha – Lady Soul
Blue Cheer – Vincebus Eruptum
Byrds – Notorious Byrd Brothers
Big Brother & the Holding Company – Cheap Thrills
United States of America – United States of America
Dr John – Gris Gris
Iron Butterfly – In a Gadda da Vida
Pretty Things – S.F. Sorrow
Simon & Garfunkel – Bookends
Small Faces – Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake
Band – Music from Big Pink
Beck, Jeff – Truth
Veloso, Caetano – Caetano Veloso (1968)
Walker, Scott – Scott 2
Zombies – Odessey & Oracle
Morrison, Van – Astral Weeks
Byrds – Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Beatles – Beatles [aka White Album]
Mothers of Invention – We’re Only in it for the Money
Young, Neil – Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band – Trout Mask Replica
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Bayou Country
Crosby, Stills & Nash – Crosby, Stills & Nash
Blood, Sweat & Tears - Blood, Sweat & Tears (2nd Album)
Flying Burrito Brothers – Gilded Palace of Sin
Cash, Johnny – At San Quentin
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Green River
Beatles – Abbey Road
Who – Tommy
Davis, Miles – In a Silent Way
Bee Gees – Odessa
Pentangle – Basket of Light
Rolling Stones – Let it Bleed
Drake, Nick – Five Leaves Left
Springfield, Dusty – Dusty in Memphis
Presley, Elvis – From Elvis in Memphis
Velvet Underground – Velvet Underground (3rd Album)
Quicksilver Messenger Service – Happy Trails
Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin (1st Album)
Band – Band (2nd Album)
Led Zeppelin – II
MC5 – Kick Out the Jams
Temptations – Cloud Nine
Sly & the Family Stone – Stand!
Buckley, Tim – Happy Sad
Chicago Transit Authority [Chicago] - Chicago Transit Authority (1969)
Fairport Convention – Unhalfbricking
Youngbloods – Elephant Mountain
Hayes, Isaac – Hot Buttered Soul
Grateful Dead – Live/Dead
Kinks – Arthur: Or the Decline & Fall of the British Empire
King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King
Cohen, Leonard – Songs from a Room
Fairport Convention – Liege & Lief
Walker, Scott – Scott 4
Stooges – Stooges (1st Album)
Spence, Alexander ‘Skip’ – Oar
Zappa, Frank – Hot Rats
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Cosmo’s Factory
Derek & the Dominos – Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs
Davis, Miles – Bitches Brew
Spirit – Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus
Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath (1st Album)
Doors – Morrison Hotel
Carpenters – Close to You
Still, Stephen – Stephen Stills (1st Album)
Lennon, John – Plastic Ono Band
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Déjà vu
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Young, Neil – After the Gold Rush
Led Zeppelin – III
Deep Purple – In Rock
Morrison, Van – Moondance
Grateful Dead – American Beauty
Drake, Nick – Bryter Layter
Shankar, Ananda – Ananda Shankar (1970)
Who – Live at Leeds(1st Album)
Soft Machine – Third
Stewart, Rod – Gasoline Alley
Harrison, George – All Things Must Pass
Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water
Stevens, Cat – Tea for the Tillerman
Traffic – John Barleycorn Must Die
Stooges – Fun House
Taylor, James – Sweet Baby James
McCartney, Paul – McCartney (1970)
Santana – Abraxas
Barrett, Syd – Madcap Laughs
Jethro Tull – Aqualung
Crosby, David – If Only I Could Remember My Name
Sly & the Family Stone – There’s a Riot Goin’ On
Gaye, Marvin – What’s Going On
Yes – Yes Album
Bee Gees – Trafalgar
Who – Who’s Next
King, Carole – Tapestry
Hayes, Isaac – Shaft: Music from the Soundtrack
Allman Brothers – At Fillmore East
Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers
Lennon, John – Imagine
Beach Boys – Surf’s Up
Yes – Fragile
Doors – LA Woman
Can – Tago Mago
John, Elton – Madman Across the Water
Parton, Dolly – Coat of Many Colors
McLean, Don – American Pie
Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Tarkus
Led Zeppelin – IV [aka Untitled / aka Four Symbols]
Gainsbourg, Serge – Histoire de Melody Nelson
Stewart, Rod – Every Picture Tells a Story
Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Pictures at an Exhibition
Cohen, Leonard – Songs of Love & Hate
Mitchell, Joni – Blue
Funkadelic – Maggot Brain
Joplin, Janis – Pearl
Kuti, Fela - With Ginger Baker: Live!
Faces – A Nod is as Good as a Wink… To a Blind Horse
Flamin’ Groovies – Teenage Head
Clark, Gene – White Light
Prine, John – John Prine (1st Album)
Nilsson, Harry – Nilsson Schmilsson
T.Rex – Electric Warrior
Bowie, David – Hunky Dory
Newman, Randy – Sail Away
Deep Purple – Machine Head
Big Star – # 1 Record
Black Sabbath – Vol 4
Steely Dan – Can’t Buy a Thrill
Young, Neil – Harvest
Mayfield, Curtis – Superfly: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Slade – Slayed?
Deep Purple – Made in Japan
Yes – Close to the Edge
Reed, Lou – Transformer
Masekela, Hugh – Home is Where the Music Is
Nascimento, Milton & Lo Borges – Clube da Esquina (1972)
Rundgren, Todd – Something/Anything
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Will the Circle Be Unbroken?
Wonder, Stevie – Talking Book
Still, Stephen – Manassas
T.Rex – Slider
Ackles, David – American Gothic
Eagles – Eagles (1st Album)
Buckley, Tim – Greetings from LA
Drake, Nick – Pink Moon
Simon, Paul – Paul Simon (1972)
Roxy Music – Roxy Music (1st Album)
Alice Cooper – School’s Out
Temptations – All Directions
Bowie, David – Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
War – World is a Ghetto
Green, Al – Let’s Stay Together
Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd
Incredible Bongo Band – Bongo Rock
Bowie, David – Aladdin Sane
King Crimson – Lark’s Tongues in Aspic
Marley, Bob & the Wailers – Catch a Fire
Hawkwind – Space Ritual
Cale, John – Paris 1919
Can – Future Days
Reed, Lou – Berlin
Genesis – Selling England by the Pound
Gaye, Marvin – Let’s Get it On
Martyn, John – Solid Air
Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure
Faust – IV
Hancock, Herbie – Head Hunters
Mott the Hoople – Mott
Oldfield, Mike – Tubular Bells
Rundgren, Todd – A Wizard, a True Star
John, Elton – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Steely Dan – Countdown to Ecstasy
Jennings, Waylon – Honky Tonk Heroes
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
Wonder, Stevie – Innervisions
ZZ Top – Tres Hombres
McCartney, Paul & Wings – Band on the Run
Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Next
Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies
Iggy & the Stooges – Raw Power
Isley Brothers – 3 + 3
New York Dolls – New York Dolls (1st Album)
Eno, Brian – Here Come the Warm Jets
Bad Company – Bad Company (1st Album)
Genesis – Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Otis, Shuggie – Inspiration Information
Wonder, Stevie – Fullfillingness’ First Finale
Clapton, Eric – 461 Ocean Boulevard
Kraftwerk – Autobahn
Morrison, Van – It’s Too Late to Stop Now
Mitchell, Joni – Court & Spark
Queen – II
Roxy Music – Country Life
Tangerine Dream – Phaedra
Sparks – Kimono My House
Supertramp – Crime of the Century
Thompson, Richard & Linda – I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Scott-Heron, Gil & Brian Jackson – Winter in America
Queen – Sheer Heart Attack
10cc – Sheet Music
Young, Neil – On the Beach
Jones, George – Grand Tour
Clark, Gene – No Other
Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic
Newman, Randy – Good Old Boys
Marley, Bob & the Wailers – Natty Dread
Wyatt, Robert – Rock Bottom
Parsons, Gram – Grievous Angel
Eno, Brian – Another Green World
Dictators – Go Girl Crazy!
Neu! – ‘75
Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti
Jarrett, Keith – Köln Concert
Aerosmith – Toys in the Attic
Bowie, David – Young Americans
Burning Spear – Marcus Garvey
Springsteen, Bruce – Born to Run
Harris, Emmylou – Pieces of the Sky
Dion – Born to Be With You
Mitchell, Joni – Hissing of Summer Lawns
Waits, Tom – Nighthawks at the Diner
Burman, Rahul Dev – Shalimar (Soundtrack)
Young, Neil – Tonight’s the Night
Dylan, Bob – Blood on the Tracks
Smith, Patti – Horses
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
Queen – A Night at the Opera
Nelson, Willie – Red Headed Stranger
Earth, Wind & Fire – That’s the Way of the World
Mayfield, Curtis – There’s No Place Like America Today
Petty, Tom & the Heartbreakers - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1st Album)
Modern Lovers – Modern Lovers [Rec 1972, not released until 1976]
Bowie, David – Station to Station
Mitchell, Joni – Hejira
Boston – Boston (1st Album)
Eagles – Hotel California
ABBA – Arrival
Kiss – Destroyer
Rush – 2112
Ben, Jorge – África Brasil
Armatrading, Joan – Joan Armatrading (1st Album)
Aerosmith – Rocks
Parliament – Mothership Connection
Penguin Café Orchestra – Music from the Penguin Café
Jarre, Jean Michel – Oxygene
Ramones – Ramones (1st Album)
Kuti, Fela – Zombie
Tosh, Peter – Legalize It
Wonder, Stevie – Songs in the Key of Life
Frampton, Peter – Frampton Comes Alive
Eno, Brian – Before & After Science
Kraftwerk – Trans-Europe Express
Joel, Billy – Stranger, the
Marley, Bob & the Wailers – Exodus
Electric Light Orchestra – Out of the Blue
Weather Report – Heavy Weather
Muddy Waters – Hard Again
Stranglers – Rattus Norvegicus
Clash – Clash (1st Album)
Bowie, David – Low
Steely Dan – Aja
Wire – Pink Flag
Martyn, John – One World
Talking Heads – 77
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Bowie, David – ‘Heroes’
Wilson, Dennis – Pacific Ocean Blue
Suicide – Suicide (1st Album)
Iggy Pop – Idiot, the
Gabriel, Peter – Peter Gabriel (I)
Television – Marquee Moon
Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell
Costello, Elvis – My Aim is True
Iggy Pop – Lust for Life
Dury, Ian – New Boots & Panties!!
Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the…
Pere Ubu – Modern Dance
Kraftwerk – Man Machine
Blondie – Parallel Lines
Regina, Elís – Vento de Maio
Pere Ubu – Dub Housing
Only Ones – Only Ones (1st Album)
Costello, Elvis – This Year’s Model
Jam – All Mod Cons
Ely, Joe – Honky Tonk Masquerade
Adverts – Crossing the Red Sea with the…
Big Star – Third (aka Sister Lovers)
Residents – Duck Stab/Buster & Glen
Public Image Ltd – Public Image
Magazine – Real Life
Springsteen, Bruce – Darkness on the Edge of Town
Funkadelic – One Nation Under a Groove
Throbbing Gristle – DOA: Third & Final Report
Thin Lizzy – Live & Dangerous
Talking Heads – More Songs About Buildings & Food
Buzzcocks – Another Music in a Different Kitchen
Van Halen – Van Halen (1st Album)
Colón, Willie & Rubén Blades – Siembra
Cars – Cars (1st Album)
Devo – Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Dire Straits – Dire Straits (1st Album)
Saints – Eternally Yours
Gaye, Marvin – Here, My Dear
Nelson, Willie – Stardust
Chic – C’est Chic
X-ray Spex – Germ Free Adolescents
Eno, Brian – Ambient 1: Music for Airports
Siouxsie & the Banshees – Scream, the
AC/DC – Highway to Hell
Sister Sledge – We Are Family
Crusaders – Street Life
Germs – GI
B52s – B52s (1st Album)
Czukay, Holger – Movies
Police – Reggatta de Blanc
Fall – Live at the Witch Trials
Talking Heads – Fear of Music
Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures
Chic – Risqué
Undertones – Undertones (1st Album)
Clash – London Calling
Japan – Quiet Life
Faithfull, Marianne – Broken English
Slits – Cut
Costello, Elvis – Armed Forces
Young, Neil – Rust Never Sleeps
Gang of Four – Entertainment!
Cheap Trick – At Budokan
Fleetwood Mac – Tusk
Pink Floyd – Wall, the
Public Image Ltd – Metal Box
Jackson, Michael – Off the Wall
Damned – Machine Gun Etiquette
Numan, Gary – Pleasure Principle
Specials – Specials (1st Album)
Adam & the Ants – Kings of the Wild Frontier
Dexys Midnight Runners – Searching for the Young Soul Rebels
AC/DC – Back in Black
Cramps – Songs the Lord Taught Us
Dead Kennedys – Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Gabriel, Peter – Peter Gabriel (III)
Soft Boys – Underwater Moonlight
Cure – Seventeen Seconds
Echo & the Bunnymen – Crocodiles
Motörhead – Ace of Spades
Killing Joke – Killing Joke (1st Album)
Judas Priest – British Steel
Circle Jerks – Group Sex
Talking Heads – Remain in Light
Joy Division – Closer
Iron Maiden – Iron Maiden (1st Album)
Undertones – Hypnotised
Jam – Sound Affects
Waits, Tom – Heartattack & Vine
UB40 – Signing Off
Teardrop Explodes – Kilimanjaro
Specials – More Specials
Winwood, Steve – Arc of a Diver
Pretenders – Pretenders (1st Album)
Einstürzende Neubauten – Kollaps
Siouxsie & the Banshees – Juju
Heaven 17 – Penthouse & Pavement
Go-Gos – Beauty & the Beat
Motörhead – No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith
Soft Cell – Non Stop Erotic Cabaret
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Architecture & Morality
Eno, Brian & David Byrne – My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
Black Flag – Damaged
X – Wild Gift
Psychedelic Furs – Talk, Talk, Talk
Human League – Dare
Gun Club – Fire of Love
Bauhaus – Mask
Womack, Bobby – Poet
Tom Tom Club – Tom Tom Club (1st Album)
Rush – Moving Pictures
ABBA – Visitors
ABC – Lexicon of Love
Prince – 1999
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five – Message, the
Costello, Elvis – Imperial Bedroom
Cure – Pornography
Dexys Midnight Runners – Too Rye Ay
Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84)
Madness – Rise & Fall
Fagen, Donald – Nightfly
Haircut One Hundred – Pelican West
Bush, Kate – Dreaming, the
Orange Juice – Rip it Up
Jackson, Michael – Thriller
Birthday Party – Junkyard
Venom – Black Metal
Springsteen, Bruce – Nebraska
Associates – Sulk
Iron Maiden – Number of the Beast
Duran Duran – Rio
Violent Femmes – Violent Femmes (1st Album)
McLaren, Malcolm – Duck Rock
Def Leppard – Pyromania
REM – Murmur
The The – Soul Mining
Waits, Tom – Swordfishtrombones
Blue Nile – A Walk Across the Rooftops
Hanoi Rocks – Back to Mystery City
Lauper, Cyndi – She’s So Unusual
Simon, Paul – Hearts & Bones
Echo & the Bunnymen – Porcupine
ZZ Top – Eliminator
Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
U2 – War
Police – Synchronicity
Meat Puppets – II
Culture Club – Colour by Numbers
Frankie Goes to Hollywood – Welcome to the Pleasuredome
Run DMC – Run DMC (1984)
Sade – Diamond Life
Cocteau Twins – Treasure
Minor Threat – Out of Step
Van Halen – 1984
Prince – Purple Rain
Replacements – Let it Be
Style Council – Café Bleu
Turner, Tina – Private Dancer
Echo & the Bunnymen – Ocean Rain
Minutemen – Double Nickels on the Dime
Cole, Lloyd & the Commotions – Rattlesnakes
N’Dour, Youssou – Immigrés
Springsteen, Bruce – Born in the USA
Fall – This Nation’s Saving Grace
Ibrahim, Abdullah – Water from an Ancient Well
Aha – Hunting High & Low
Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair
Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms
Prefab Sprout – Steve McQueen (aka Two Wheels Good)
Mekons – Fear & Whiskey
Big Black – Atomizer
Vega, Suzanne – Suzanne Vega (1st Album)
Pogues – Rum, Sodomy & the Lash
Bush, Kate – Hounds of Love
Smiths – Meat is Murder
Waits, Tom – Rain Dogs
Jesus & Mary Chain – Psychocandy
New Order – Low Life
Simply Red – Picture Book
Dexys Midnight Runners – Don’t Stand Me Down
Scritti Politti – Cupid & Psyche 85
Costello, Elvis – Blood & Chocolate
Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force – Planet Rock: The Album
Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill
Metallica – Master of Puppets
The The – Infected
Griffith, Nanci – Last of the True Believers
Bragg, Billy – Talking with the Taxman About Poetry
Talk Talk – Colour of Spring
Megadeth – Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?
Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet
Sonic Youth – Evol
Slayer – Reign in Blood
Throwing Muses – Throwing Muses (1986)
Simon, Paul – Graceland
Run DMC – Raising Hell
XTC – Skylarking
Earle, Steve – Guitar Town
Bad Brains – I Against I
Baker, Anita – Rapture
Smiths – Queen is Dead
Gabriel, Peter – So
Anthrax – Among the Living
Dinosaur Jr – You’re Living All Over Me
Parton, Dolly with Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris – Trio
Def Leppard – Hysteria
http://1001beforeyoudie.com/
Sinatra, Frank – In the Wee Small Hours
Presley, Elvis – Elvis Presley (1956)
Louvin Brothers – Tragic Songs of Life
Prima, Louis – Wildest
Domino, Fats – This is Fats
Ellington, Duke – At Newport (1956)
Sinatra, Frank – Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!
Crickets – Chirping…
Basie, Count – Atomic Mr Basie
Monk, Thelonious – Brilliant Corners
Sabú [Martínez] – Palo Congo
Davis, Miles – Birth of the Cool
Machito – Kenya
Little Richard – Here’s…
Puente, Tito & His Orchestra – Dance Mania (1958)
Holiday, Billie – Lady in Satin
Elliott, Jack – Jack Takes the Floor
Vaughan, Sarah – At Mister Kelly’s
Fitzgerald, Ella – Sings the Gershwin Song Book
Charles, Ray – Genius of… (1959)
Davis, Miles – Kind of Blue
Robbins, Marty – Gunfighter Ballads & Trail Songs
Brubeck, Dave – Time Out
Baez, Joan – Joan Baez (1960)
Presley, Elvis – Elvis is Back!
Makeba, Miriam – Miriam Makeba (1960)
Everly Brothers – A Date with the…
Smith, Jimmy – Back at the Chicken Shack
Muddy Waters – At Newport
Evans, Bill – Sunday at the Village Vanguard
Charles, Ray - Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music
Booker T & the MGs – Green Onions
Getz, Stan & Charlie Byrd – Jazz Samba
Price, Ray – Night Life
Beatles – With the…
Dylan, Bob – Freewheelin’…
Spector, Phil & Various Artists – A Christmas Gift for You
Cooke, Sam – Live at the Harlem Square
Mingus, Charles – Black Saint & the Sinner Lady
Brown, James – Live at the Apollo (1963)
Getz, Stan & João Gilberto – Getz/Gilberto
Beatles – A Hard Day’s Night
Brel, Jacques – Olympia 64
Burke, Solomon – Rock ‘n’ Soul
Springfield, Dusty - A Girl Called Dusty
Rolling Stones – Rolling Stones (1st Album)
Owens, Buck – I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail
Lewis, Jerry Lee – Live at the Star Club, Hamburg
Sonics – Here Are the…
Dylan, Bob – Bringing it All Back Home
Redding, Otis – Otis Blue… Sings Soul
Beach Boys – Today!
Coltrane, John – A Love Supreme
King, B.B. – Live at the Regal
Beatles – Rubber Soul
Jansch, Bert – Bert Jansch (1st Album)
Byrds, Mr Tambourine Man
Dylan, Bob – Highway 61 Revisited
Who – My Generation
Beatles – Revolver
Beach Boys – Pet Sounds
Neil, Fred – Fred Neil (1st Album)
Byrds – Fifth Dimension
Dylan, Bob – Blonde on Blonde
Monks – Black Monk Time
Kinks – Face to Face
Mamas & the Papas – If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
Revere, Paul & the Raiders – Midnight Ride
Mothers of Invention – Freak Out!
Rolling Stones – Aftermath
Simon & Garfunkel – Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme
13th Floor Elevators – Psychedelic Sounds of the…
John Mayall’s Blues Breakers – With Eric Clapton
Yardbirds – Yardbirds [aka Roger the Engineer] (1st Album)
Simone, Nina – Wild is the Wind
Gilberto, Astrud – Beach Samba
Nico – Chelsea Girl
Beatles – Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Country Joe & the Fish – Electric Music for the Mind & Body
Buffalo Springfield – Again
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band – Safe as Milk
Moby Grape – Moby Grape (1st Album)
Love – Da Capo
Beau Brummels – Triangle
Monkees – Headquarters
Buckley, Tim – Goodbye & Hello
Love – Forever Changes
Cream – Disraeli Gears
Pink Floyd – Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Who – Sell Out
Velvet Underground - & Nico
Sinatra, Frank - Frank Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
Doors – Doors (1st Album)
Byrds – Younger than Yesterday
Young Rascals – Groovin’
Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow
Kinks – Something Else by the…
Donovan – Sunshine Superman
Haggard, Merle – I’m a Lonesome Fugitive
Hendrix, Jimi – Are You Experienced
Electric Prunes – I Had too Much to Dream (Last Night)
Lynn, Loretta – Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)
Sharma, Shivkumar / Brij Bushan Kabra / Hariprasad Chaurasia – Call of the Valley
Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat
Hendrix, Jimi – Axis: Bold as Love
Franklin, Aretha – I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Rolling Stones – Beggars Banquet
Traffic – Traffic (2nd Album)
Incredible String Band – Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter
Kinks – Village Green Preservation Society
Shankar, Ravi – Sounds of India (1968)
Mutantes, os – Mutantes, os (1st Album)
Hendrix, Jimi – Electric Ladyland
Cohen, Leonard – Songs of…
Cash, Johnny – At Folsom Prison
Nyro, Laura – Eli & the Thirteenth Confession
Franklin, Aretha – Lady Soul
Blue Cheer – Vincebus Eruptum
Byrds – Notorious Byrd Brothers
Big Brother & the Holding Company – Cheap Thrills
United States of America – United States of America
Dr John – Gris Gris
Iron Butterfly – In a Gadda da Vida
Pretty Things – S.F. Sorrow
Simon & Garfunkel – Bookends
Small Faces – Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake
Band – Music from Big Pink
Beck, Jeff – Truth
Veloso, Caetano – Caetano Veloso (1968)
Walker, Scott – Scott 2
Zombies – Odessey & Oracle
Morrison, Van – Astral Weeks
Byrds – Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Beatles – Beatles [aka White Album]
Mothers of Invention – We’re Only in it for the Money
Young, Neil – Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band – Trout Mask Replica
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Bayou Country
Crosby, Stills & Nash – Crosby, Stills & Nash
Blood, Sweat & Tears - Blood, Sweat & Tears (2nd Album)
Flying Burrito Brothers – Gilded Palace of Sin
Cash, Johnny – At San Quentin
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Green River
Beatles – Abbey Road
Who – Tommy
Davis, Miles – In a Silent Way
Bee Gees – Odessa
Pentangle – Basket of Light
Rolling Stones – Let it Bleed
Drake, Nick – Five Leaves Left
Springfield, Dusty – Dusty in Memphis
Presley, Elvis – From Elvis in Memphis
Velvet Underground – Velvet Underground (3rd Album)
Quicksilver Messenger Service – Happy Trails
Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin (1st Album)
Band – Band (2nd Album)
Led Zeppelin – II
MC5 – Kick Out the Jams
Temptations – Cloud Nine
Sly & the Family Stone – Stand!
Buckley, Tim – Happy Sad
Chicago Transit Authority [Chicago] - Chicago Transit Authority (1969)
Fairport Convention – Unhalfbricking
Youngbloods – Elephant Mountain
Hayes, Isaac – Hot Buttered Soul
Grateful Dead – Live/Dead
Kinks – Arthur: Or the Decline & Fall of the British Empire
King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King
Cohen, Leonard – Songs from a Room
Fairport Convention – Liege & Lief
Walker, Scott – Scott 4
Stooges – Stooges (1st Album)
Spence, Alexander ‘Skip’ – Oar
Zappa, Frank – Hot Rats
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Cosmo’s Factory
Derek & the Dominos – Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs
Davis, Miles – Bitches Brew
Spirit – Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus
Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath (1st Album)
Doors – Morrison Hotel
Carpenters – Close to You
Still, Stephen – Stephen Stills (1st Album)
Lennon, John – Plastic Ono Band
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Déjà vu
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Young, Neil – After the Gold Rush
Led Zeppelin – III
Deep Purple – In Rock
Morrison, Van – Moondance
Grateful Dead – American Beauty
Drake, Nick – Bryter Layter
Shankar, Ananda – Ananda Shankar (1970)
Who – Live at Leeds(1st Album)
Soft Machine – Third
Stewart, Rod – Gasoline Alley
Harrison, George – All Things Must Pass
Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water
Stevens, Cat – Tea for the Tillerman
Traffic – John Barleycorn Must Die
Stooges – Fun House
Taylor, James – Sweet Baby James
McCartney, Paul – McCartney (1970)
Santana – Abraxas
Barrett, Syd – Madcap Laughs
Jethro Tull – Aqualung
Crosby, David – If Only I Could Remember My Name
Sly & the Family Stone – There’s a Riot Goin’ On
Gaye, Marvin – What’s Going On
Yes – Yes Album
Bee Gees – Trafalgar
Who – Who’s Next
King, Carole – Tapestry
Hayes, Isaac – Shaft: Music from the Soundtrack
Allman Brothers – At Fillmore East
Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers
Lennon, John – Imagine
Beach Boys – Surf’s Up
Yes – Fragile
Doors – LA Woman
Can – Tago Mago
John, Elton – Madman Across the Water
Parton, Dolly – Coat of Many Colors
McLean, Don – American Pie
Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Tarkus
Led Zeppelin – IV [aka Untitled / aka Four Symbols]
Gainsbourg, Serge – Histoire de Melody Nelson
Stewart, Rod – Every Picture Tells a Story
Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Pictures at an Exhibition
Cohen, Leonard – Songs of Love & Hate
Mitchell, Joni – Blue
Funkadelic – Maggot Brain
Joplin, Janis – Pearl
Kuti, Fela - With Ginger Baker: Live!
Faces – A Nod is as Good as a Wink… To a Blind Horse
Flamin’ Groovies – Teenage Head
Clark, Gene – White Light
Prine, John – John Prine (1st Album)
Nilsson, Harry – Nilsson Schmilsson
T.Rex – Electric Warrior
Bowie, David – Hunky Dory
Newman, Randy – Sail Away
Deep Purple – Machine Head
Big Star – # 1 Record
Black Sabbath – Vol 4
Steely Dan – Can’t Buy a Thrill
Young, Neil – Harvest
Mayfield, Curtis – Superfly: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Slade – Slayed?
Deep Purple – Made in Japan
Yes – Close to the Edge
Reed, Lou – Transformer
Masekela, Hugh – Home is Where the Music Is
Nascimento, Milton & Lo Borges – Clube da Esquina (1972)
Rundgren, Todd – Something/Anything
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Will the Circle Be Unbroken?
Wonder, Stevie – Talking Book
Still, Stephen – Manassas
T.Rex – Slider
Ackles, David – American Gothic
Eagles – Eagles (1st Album)
Buckley, Tim – Greetings from LA
Drake, Nick – Pink Moon
Simon, Paul – Paul Simon (1972)
Roxy Music – Roxy Music (1st Album)
Alice Cooper – School’s Out
Temptations – All Directions
Bowie, David – Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
War – World is a Ghetto
Green, Al – Let’s Stay Together
Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd
Incredible Bongo Band – Bongo Rock
Bowie, David – Aladdin Sane
King Crimson – Lark’s Tongues in Aspic
Marley, Bob & the Wailers – Catch a Fire
Hawkwind – Space Ritual
Cale, John – Paris 1919
Can – Future Days
Reed, Lou – Berlin
Genesis – Selling England by the Pound
Gaye, Marvin – Let’s Get it On
Martyn, John – Solid Air
Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure
Faust – IV
Hancock, Herbie – Head Hunters
Mott the Hoople – Mott
Oldfield, Mike – Tubular Bells
Rundgren, Todd – A Wizard, a True Star
John, Elton – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Steely Dan – Countdown to Ecstasy
Jennings, Waylon – Honky Tonk Heroes
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
Wonder, Stevie – Innervisions
ZZ Top – Tres Hombres
McCartney, Paul & Wings – Band on the Run
Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Next
Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies
Iggy & the Stooges – Raw Power
Isley Brothers – 3 + 3
New York Dolls – New York Dolls (1st Album)
Eno, Brian – Here Come the Warm Jets
Bad Company – Bad Company (1st Album)
Genesis – Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Otis, Shuggie – Inspiration Information
Wonder, Stevie – Fullfillingness’ First Finale
Clapton, Eric – 461 Ocean Boulevard
Kraftwerk – Autobahn
Morrison, Van – It’s Too Late to Stop Now
Mitchell, Joni – Court & Spark
Queen – II
Roxy Music – Country Life
Tangerine Dream – Phaedra
Sparks – Kimono My House
Supertramp – Crime of the Century
Thompson, Richard & Linda – I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Scott-Heron, Gil & Brian Jackson – Winter in America
Queen – Sheer Heart Attack
10cc – Sheet Music
Young, Neil – On the Beach
Jones, George – Grand Tour
Clark, Gene – No Other
Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic
Newman, Randy – Good Old Boys
Marley, Bob & the Wailers – Natty Dread
Wyatt, Robert – Rock Bottom
Parsons, Gram – Grievous Angel
Eno, Brian – Another Green World
Dictators – Go Girl Crazy!
Neu! – ‘75
Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti
Jarrett, Keith – Köln Concert
Aerosmith – Toys in the Attic
Bowie, David – Young Americans
Burning Spear – Marcus Garvey
Springsteen, Bruce – Born to Run
Harris, Emmylou – Pieces of the Sky
Dion – Born to Be With You
Mitchell, Joni – Hissing of Summer Lawns
Waits, Tom – Nighthawks at the Diner
Burman, Rahul Dev – Shalimar (Soundtrack)
Young, Neil – Tonight’s the Night
Dylan, Bob – Blood on the Tracks
Smith, Patti – Horses
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
Queen – A Night at the Opera
Nelson, Willie – Red Headed Stranger
Earth, Wind & Fire – That’s the Way of the World
Mayfield, Curtis – There’s No Place Like America Today
Petty, Tom & the Heartbreakers - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1st Album)
Modern Lovers – Modern Lovers [Rec 1972, not released until 1976]
Bowie, David – Station to Station
Mitchell, Joni – Hejira
Boston – Boston (1st Album)
Eagles – Hotel California
ABBA – Arrival
Kiss – Destroyer
Rush – 2112
Ben, Jorge – África Brasil
Armatrading, Joan – Joan Armatrading (1st Album)
Aerosmith – Rocks
Parliament – Mothership Connection
Penguin Café Orchestra – Music from the Penguin Café
Jarre, Jean Michel – Oxygene
Ramones – Ramones (1st Album)
Kuti, Fela – Zombie
Tosh, Peter – Legalize It
Wonder, Stevie – Songs in the Key of Life
Frampton, Peter – Frampton Comes Alive
Eno, Brian – Before & After Science
Kraftwerk – Trans-Europe Express
Joel, Billy – Stranger, the
Marley, Bob & the Wailers – Exodus
Electric Light Orchestra – Out of the Blue
Weather Report – Heavy Weather
Muddy Waters – Hard Again
Stranglers – Rattus Norvegicus
Clash – Clash (1st Album)
Bowie, David – Low
Steely Dan – Aja
Wire – Pink Flag
Martyn, John – One World
Talking Heads – 77
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Bowie, David – ‘Heroes’
Wilson, Dennis – Pacific Ocean Blue
Suicide – Suicide (1st Album)
Iggy Pop – Idiot, the
Gabriel, Peter – Peter Gabriel (I)
Television – Marquee Moon
Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell
Costello, Elvis – My Aim is True
Iggy Pop – Lust for Life
Dury, Ian – New Boots & Panties!!
Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the…
Pere Ubu – Modern Dance
Kraftwerk – Man Machine
Blondie – Parallel Lines
Regina, Elís – Vento de Maio
Pere Ubu – Dub Housing
Only Ones – Only Ones (1st Album)
Costello, Elvis – This Year’s Model
Jam – All Mod Cons
Ely, Joe – Honky Tonk Masquerade
Adverts – Crossing the Red Sea with the…
Big Star – Third (aka Sister Lovers)
Residents – Duck Stab/Buster & Glen
Public Image Ltd – Public Image
Magazine – Real Life
Springsteen, Bruce – Darkness on the Edge of Town
Funkadelic – One Nation Under a Groove
Throbbing Gristle – DOA: Third & Final Report
Thin Lizzy – Live & Dangerous
Talking Heads – More Songs About Buildings & Food
Buzzcocks – Another Music in a Different Kitchen
Van Halen – Van Halen (1st Album)
Colón, Willie & Rubén Blades – Siembra
Cars – Cars (1st Album)
Devo – Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Dire Straits – Dire Straits (1st Album)
Saints – Eternally Yours
Gaye, Marvin – Here, My Dear
Nelson, Willie – Stardust
Chic – C’est Chic
X-ray Spex – Germ Free Adolescents
Eno, Brian – Ambient 1: Music for Airports
Siouxsie & the Banshees – Scream, the
AC/DC – Highway to Hell
Sister Sledge – We Are Family
Crusaders – Street Life
Germs – GI
B52s – B52s (1st Album)
Czukay, Holger – Movies
Police – Reggatta de Blanc
Fall – Live at the Witch Trials
Talking Heads – Fear of Music
Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures
Chic – Risqué
Undertones – Undertones (1st Album)
Clash – London Calling
Japan – Quiet Life
Faithfull, Marianne – Broken English
Slits – Cut
Costello, Elvis – Armed Forces
Young, Neil – Rust Never Sleeps
Gang of Four – Entertainment!
Cheap Trick – At Budokan
Fleetwood Mac – Tusk
Pink Floyd – Wall, the
Public Image Ltd – Metal Box
Jackson, Michael – Off the Wall
Damned – Machine Gun Etiquette
Numan, Gary – Pleasure Principle
Specials – Specials (1st Album)
Adam & the Ants – Kings of the Wild Frontier
Dexys Midnight Runners – Searching for the Young Soul Rebels
AC/DC – Back in Black
Cramps – Songs the Lord Taught Us
Dead Kennedys – Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Gabriel, Peter – Peter Gabriel (III)
Soft Boys – Underwater Moonlight
Cure – Seventeen Seconds
Echo & the Bunnymen – Crocodiles
Motörhead – Ace of Spades
Killing Joke – Killing Joke (1st Album)
Judas Priest – British Steel
Circle Jerks – Group Sex
Talking Heads – Remain in Light
Joy Division – Closer
Iron Maiden – Iron Maiden (1st Album)
Undertones – Hypnotised
Jam – Sound Affects
Waits, Tom – Heartattack & Vine
UB40 – Signing Off
Teardrop Explodes – Kilimanjaro
Specials – More Specials
Winwood, Steve – Arc of a Diver
Pretenders – Pretenders (1st Album)
Einstürzende Neubauten – Kollaps
Siouxsie & the Banshees – Juju
Heaven 17 – Penthouse & Pavement
Go-Gos – Beauty & the Beat
Motörhead – No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith
Soft Cell – Non Stop Erotic Cabaret
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Architecture & Morality
Eno, Brian & David Byrne – My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
Black Flag – Damaged
X – Wild Gift
Psychedelic Furs – Talk, Talk, Talk
Human League – Dare
Gun Club – Fire of Love
Bauhaus – Mask
Womack, Bobby – Poet
Tom Tom Club – Tom Tom Club (1st Album)
Rush – Moving Pictures
ABBA – Visitors
ABC – Lexicon of Love
Prince – 1999
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five – Message, the
Costello, Elvis – Imperial Bedroom
Cure – Pornography
Dexys Midnight Runners – Too Rye Ay
Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84)
Madness – Rise & Fall
Fagen, Donald – Nightfly
Haircut One Hundred – Pelican West
Bush, Kate – Dreaming, the
Orange Juice – Rip it Up
Jackson, Michael – Thriller
Birthday Party – Junkyard
Venom – Black Metal
Springsteen, Bruce – Nebraska
Associates – Sulk
Iron Maiden – Number of the Beast
Duran Duran – Rio
Violent Femmes – Violent Femmes (1st Album)
McLaren, Malcolm – Duck Rock
Def Leppard – Pyromania
REM – Murmur
The The – Soul Mining
Waits, Tom – Swordfishtrombones
Blue Nile – A Walk Across the Rooftops
Hanoi Rocks – Back to Mystery City
Lauper, Cyndi – She’s So Unusual
Simon, Paul – Hearts & Bones
Echo & the Bunnymen – Porcupine
ZZ Top – Eliminator
Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
U2 – War
Police – Synchronicity
Meat Puppets – II
Culture Club – Colour by Numbers
Frankie Goes to Hollywood – Welcome to the Pleasuredome
Run DMC – Run DMC (1984)
Sade – Diamond Life
Cocteau Twins – Treasure
Minor Threat – Out of Step
Van Halen – 1984
Prince – Purple Rain
Replacements – Let it Be
Style Council – Café Bleu
Turner, Tina – Private Dancer
Echo & the Bunnymen – Ocean Rain
Minutemen – Double Nickels on the Dime
Cole, Lloyd & the Commotions – Rattlesnakes
N’Dour, Youssou – Immigrés
Springsteen, Bruce – Born in the USA
Fall – This Nation’s Saving Grace
Ibrahim, Abdullah – Water from an Ancient Well
Aha – Hunting High & Low
Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair
Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms
Prefab Sprout – Steve McQueen (aka Two Wheels Good)
Mekons – Fear & Whiskey
Big Black – Atomizer
Vega, Suzanne – Suzanne Vega (1st Album)
Pogues – Rum, Sodomy & the Lash
Bush, Kate – Hounds of Love
Smiths – Meat is Murder
Waits, Tom – Rain Dogs
Jesus & Mary Chain – Psychocandy
New Order – Low Life
Simply Red – Picture Book
Dexys Midnight Runners – Don’t Stand Me Down
Scritti Politti – Cupid & Psyche 85
Costello, Elvis – Blood & Chocolate
Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force – Planet Rock: The Album
Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill
Metallica – Master of Puppets
The The – Infected
Griffith, Nanci – Last of the True Believers
Bragg, Billy – Talking with the Taxman About Poetry
Talk Talk – Colour of Spring
Megadeth – Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?
Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet
Sonic Youth – Evol
Slayer – Reign in Blood
Throwing Muses – Throwing Muses (1986)
Simon, Paul – Graceland
Run DMC – Raising Hell
XTC – Skylarking
Earle, Steve – Guitar Town
Bad Brains – I Against I
Baker, Anita – Rapture
Smiths – Queen is Dead
Gabriel, Peter – So
Anthrax – Among the Living
Dinosaur Jr – You’re Living All Over Me
Parton, Dolly with Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris – Trio
Def Leppard – Hysteria
December 5, 2024
Aaaahhh...here I sit, listening to Einstürzende Neubauten's great album, "Kollaps" which is semi-rhythmic collection of German yelling, banging on garbage cans and recorded sounds from every day objects such as water burbling, feet shuffling and what almost sounds like a broken AM radio.
Such is the story of my life.
My good friends Mike and Karen generously bought me this book several months ago, which was very much appreciated (of course). As close we are, they did not know that they were dooming to actually listening to all 1,001 albums before I died, else I'm sure they would have gotten me a whoopee cushion or something instead. I plan on remaining on good terms with them nonetheless.
Now, I am a big music fan and thought I had pretty much heard everything. Turns out I was wrong. So now I have about 250 CDs on request at the library which, I estimate, should total about two weeks of twenty-four hour a day listening to get through.
The book touches on very few of the "great" albums (hardly anything by The Beatles in here) and instead seems to strive toward find the best of the most representative music from major genres in each time period. The focus is on "rock" but there's plenty of R&B, Hip Hop, Country, Jazz, Worldbeat, etc. So I find my playlist loaded with 80's faves like The Cocteau Twins and Scritt Politti as well as Dexy's Midnight Runners (not only was "Come on Eileen" not their only song, they were apparently quite the big thing back in their day. Who knew?). I'm listening to bands with names like Mercury Rev, Lambchop and Bonnie "Prince" Billy.
It's also got me going back to some old favorites I was reminded of, like Dr. Dre, Sinead O'Conner, and Liz Phair and even suffering through albums I previously hated (Fugees' "The Score" is one of those). I'll probably still hate them, but maybe I missed something.
Finally, I am embarrassed to admit the music I've never heard before: Billie Holiday, Bobby Womack, Bob Marley (besides the same greatest hits collection that about 95% of America owns), George Jones, Little Richard, The Smiths and, of course, Motorhead. How I've listened seriously to music without ever hearing an album by these folks is quite the mystery. So I'm expecting some good stuff there and am confident it will make up for the rest.
I'll admit that I won't listen to all 1,001. I've already heard close to half of them, a quarter or so are of no interest for one reason or another, leaving with me with something like 250 to listen to. And I will.
In all, a good read. Fast, too, despite being 1,001 pages long (and correspondingly heavy).
By the way, if anyone has Ute Lemper's "Punishing Kiss," please let me know.
Such is the story of my life.
My good friends Mike and Karen generously bought me this book several months ago, which was very much appreciated (of course). As close we are, they did not know that they were dooming to actually listening to all 1,001 albums before I died, else I'm sure they would have gotten me a whoopee cushion or something instead. I plan on remaining on good terms with them nonetheless.
Now, I am a big music fan and thought I had pretty much heard everything. Turns out I was wrong. So now I have about 250 CDs on request at the library which, I estimate, should total about two weeks of twenty-four hour a day listening to get through.
The book touches on very few of the "great" albums (hardly anything by The Beatles in here) and instead seems to strive toward find the best of the most representative music from major genres in each time period. The focus is on "rock" but there's plenty of R&B, Hip Hop, Country, Jazz, Worldbeat, etc. So I find my playlist loaded with 80's faves like The Cocteau Twins and Scritt Politti as well as Dexy's Midnight Runners (not only was "Come on Eileen" not their only song, they were apparently quite the big thing back in their day. Who knew?). I'm listening to bands with names like Mercury Rev, Lambchop and Bonnie "Prince" Billy.
It's also got me going back to some old favorites I was reminded of, like Dr. Dre, Sinead O'Conner, and Liz Phair and even suffering through albums I previously hated (Fugees' "The Score" is one of those). I'll probably still hate them, but maybe I missed something.
Finally, I am embarrassed to admit the music I've never heard before: Billie Holiday, Bobby Womack, Bob Marley (besides the same greatest hits collection that about 95% of America owns), George Jones, Little Richard, The Smiths and, of course, Motorhead. How I've listened seriously to music without ever hearing an album by these folks is quite the mystery. So I'm expecting some good stuff there and am confident it will make up for the rest.
I'll admit that I won't listen to all 1,001. I've already heard close to half of them, a quarter or so are of no interest for one reason or another, leaving with me with something like 250 to listen to. And I will.
In all, a good read. Fast, too, despite being 1,001 pages long (and correspondingly heavy).
By the way, if anyone has Ute Lemper's "Punishing Kiss," please let me know.
October 18, 2017
I haven't finished this yet, I still have about 120 albums left, but this was the most unique musical experience I've ever had. 3 years ago I listened to every album in this book I owned in order (maybe 70 albums) and it took me a month, and I had a lot of fun. Then later I decided to take the plunge and listen to the entire book in chronological order and review each album as I listened to it. I've gained incredible insight into the evolution of music from this, and have found many new bands, albums, and songs that are new favorites. If you have the time and patience and drive to do this, I recommend it with the caution that the book is flawed. There are albums in here that have no place in a best of list like this, and there are way more than a few unforgivable omissions. I could rant about this forever, but the book was still very fun and insightful for me. If you are serious about it, this list is best paired with besteveralbums.com , Rolling Stones' top 500 albums list, and the Pitchfork decade lists. I'll update this when I'm done in about a month or two, but my rating and thoughts will very unlikely change drastically at this point (I've been reading/listening to this book for almost 2 years now).
September 16, 2019
This book made me check out many CD's from my local library, mostly to stroll back into bands I know and trusted with good music. I've bought an album/week since I first started a paper route. But I've diversified into world and jazz more in the last 20 years, as I'm not too impressed with the US music scene lately. So, I tried some of the more recent bands listed in this book. Sorry to say (IMHO) the equal-respect this book gives to each decade is not worthy of the music quality. I'm sure the 1001 paintings book is similar - i.e. if you like impressionism, then you like those paintings included, and if you don't like modern, then you won't like the modern art listed. So for this book, if you focus on the genre/decade(s) that you like, you will most likely agree with the selections.
January 28, 2010
I thought the "1001 Movies You Must Watch Before You Die" was a surprisingly varied and informative book. For every "Titanic" was a "Satantango". It was for this reason that I picked up "1001 Albums...".
I was disappointed to see how unadventurous it was. For the most part we're presented with a stale list of standards that do very little to expand musical horizons. When the most "out there" release included is by Einsturzende Neubauten, we have a problem. What I hoped this book would provide was information about some hidden musical gems. If you're even vaguely familiar with popular music history, you probably won't get much out of this book.
I was disappointed to see how unadventurous it was. For the most part we're presented with a stale list of standards that do very little to expand musical horizons. When the most "out there" release included is by Einsturzende Neubauten, we have a problem. What I hoped this book would provide was information about some hidden musical gems. If you're even vaguely familiar with popular music history, you probably won't get much out of this book.
February 15, 2020
2,5/5
Como diz Mia Couto em E Se Obama Fosse Africano?: "só somos modernos se formos americanos". Observando o grafico, este livro é a prova material do imperialismo cultural, da dominaçao anglofona e masculina na musica.
M= man, W= woman M/W=bands with men and women
O livro vai de 1950 a 2005 e parece que no resto do mundo nao se produzia quase nada em outros idiomas. Talvez o publico-alvo seja anglofono e eu li por acidente.
Nao apenas li, mas fiz questao de ouvi-los todos no Spotify e dar nota para cada musica e fazer uma média para dar nota para o album.
Uma pessoa fez um compilado de todas as ediçoes até a ultima de 2018, somando 1079 albuns.
O Brasil até que foi o pais mais "privilegiado" da América Latina, sendo representado por Tom Jobim, Joao Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto, Caetano Veloso, Os Mutantes, Jorge Ben Jor, Elis Regina, Bebel Gilberto e Sepultura.
Eu sou arquivista e acho que tinha que ter no minimo uma ficha técnica decente, como os nomes dos integrantes de uma banda, por exemplo. Tive que parar a leitura para pesquisar na bio do Spotify ou na internet informaçoes mais detalhadas.
Para meu gosto pessoal, a maioria dos albuns estao na média ou abaixo. So dei 5/5 para uns 10 albuns no maximo. Fiz uma lista no Spotify com 503 musicas que gostei.
Como diz Mia Couto em E Se Obama Fosse Africano?: "só somos modernos se formos americanos". Observando o grafico, este livro é a prova material do imperialismo cultural, da dominaçao anglofona e masculina na musica.
M= man, W= woman M/W=bands with men and women
O livro vai de 1950 a 2005 e parece que no resto do mundo nao se produzia quase nada em outros idiomas. Talvez o publico-alvo seja anglofono e eu li por acidente.
Nao apenas li, mas fiz questao de ouvi-los todos no Spotify e dar nota para cada musica e fazer uma média para dar nota para o album.
Uma pessoa fez um compilado de todas as ediçoes até a ultima de 2018, somando 1079 albuns.
O Brasil até que foi o pais mais "privilegiado" da América Latina, sendo representado por Tom Jobim, Joao Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto, Caetano Veloso, Os Mutantes, Jorge Ben Jor, Elis Regina, Bebel Gilberto e Sepultura.
Eu sou arquivista e acho que tinha que ter no minimo uma ficha técnica decente, como os nomes dos integrantes de uma banda, por exemplo. Tive que parar a leitura para pesquisar na bio do Spotify ou na internet informaçoes mais detalhadas.
Para meu gosto pessoal, a maioria dos albuns estao na média ou abaixo. So dei 5/5 para uns 10 albuns no maximo. Fiz uma lista no Spotify com 503 musicas que gostei.
March 29, 2013
There is much for music lovers to be happy about once they get a hold of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Arranged by decade (1950s to present day), the hefty book is full of compulsively readable reviews written by various music critics, all more than willing to back up exactly why they consider these selections essential to your musical life.
Kicking off with Frank Sinatra’s heartbreaking In The Wee Small Hours, 1001 Albums tells us that Sinatra was almost a has-been when he recorded it. But by expressing quiet pain at his break-up with Ava Gardner, he brought something intriguing and unforgettable to a collection of songs already familiar to many and previously covered, but somehow made fresh and scintillating and beautiful.
As I devoured the pages, certain albums seemed to jump out at me, both ones I knew well and ones "new" to me. Purple Rain, the soundtrack to Prince’s ground-breaking film, remains fresh in my mind because I never stopped liking it. But Actually, by the Pet Shop Boys, stuck for some reason and I remembered 1987 and how much I used to like "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" (a hit for them, with the help of music legend Dusty Springfield). I went to our shelves, checked out the album and discovered that The Pet Shop Boys sound as fresh as ever.
For me, as the chapters ascended in order from the 80s to present day, I felt like I was taking a walk through all of the musical moments of my life and yet making new discoveries. If you live music like I do, can’t get enough of your favorites, and are constantly in search of more great listens, you definitely want to grab a copy of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
August 4, 2017
Sinds 2014 lag dit boek op het toilet. Bij elk bezoek las ik een paar albums. Geen literair hoogstandje wel leuk om door 70 jaar pop rock disco jazz triphop indie muziek heen te gaan. Nu nog alles luisteren ....
long-term-reading
March 17, 2016An Xmas gift at my request. thanks RJ!
The title is somewhat extreme . Lord, I don't feel the obligation to listen to them all or to follow any kind of order. That would be too much like work!
a link to youtube videos of a great many of the songs.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
a complete list
http://blacksunshinemedia.com/music/1...
List cut and pasted from Goodreads user B0nnie
Sinatra, Frank – In the Wee Small Hours
Presley, Elvis – Elvis Presley (1956)
Louvin Brothers – Tragic Songs of Life
Prima, Louis – Wildest
Domino, Fats – This is Fats
Ellington, Duke – At Newport (1956)
Sinatra, Frank – Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!
Crickets – Chirping…
Basie, Count – Atomic Mr Basie
Monk, Thelonious – Brilliant Corners
Sabú [Martínez] – Palo Congo
Davis, Miles – Birth of the Cool
Machito – Kenya
Little Richard – Here’s…
Puente, Tito & His Orchestra – Dance Mania (1958)
Holiday, Billie – Lady in Satin
Elliott, Jack – Jack Takes the Floor
Vaughan, Sarah – At Mister Kelly’s
Fitzgerald, Ella – Sings the Gershwin Song Book
Charles, Ray – Genius of… (1959)
Davis, Miles – Kind of Blue
Robbins, Marty – Gunfighter Ballads & Trail Songs
Brubeck, Dave – Time Out
Baez, Joan – Joan Baez (1960)
Presley, Elvis – Elvis is Back!
Makeba, Miriam – Miriam Makeba (1960)
Everly Brothers – A Date with the…
Smith, Jimmy – Back at the Chicken Shack
Muddy Waters – At Newport
Evans, Bill – Sunday at the Village Vanguard
Charles, Ray - Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music
Booker T & the MGs – Green Onions
Getz, Stan & Charlie Byrd – Jazz Samba
Price, Ray – Night Life
Beatles – With the…
Dylan, Bob – Freewheelin’…
Spector, Phil & Various Artists – A Christmas Gift for You
Cooke, Sam – Live at the Harlem Square
Mingus, Charles – Black Saint & the Sinner Lady
Brown, James – Live at the Apollo (1963)
Getz, Stan & João Gilberto – Getz/Gilberto
Beatles – A Hard Day’s Night
Brel, Jacques – Olympia 64
Burke, Solomon – Rock ‘n’ Soul
Springfield, Dusty - A Girl Called Dusty
Rolling Stones – Rolling Stones (1st Album)
Owens, Buck – I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail
Lewis, Jerry Lee – Live at the Star Club, Hamburg
Sonics – Here Are the…
Dylan, Bob – Bringing it All Back Home
Redding, Otis – Otis Blue… Sings Soul
Beach Boys – Today!
Coltrane, John – A Love Supreme
King, B.B. – Live at the Regal
Beatles – Rubber Soul
Jansch, Bert – Bert Jansch (1st Album)
Byrds, Mr Tambourine Man
Dylan, Bob – Highway 61 Revisited
Who – My Generation
Beatles – Revolver
Beach Boys – Pet Sounds
Neil, Fred – Fred Neil (1st Album)
Byrds – Fifth Dimension
Dylan, Bob – Blonde on Blonde
Monks – Black Monk Time
Kinks – Face to Face
Mamas & the Papas – If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
Revere, Paul & the Raiders – Midnight Ride
Mothers of Invention – Freak Out!
Rolling Stones – Aftermath
Simon & Garfunkel – Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme
13th Floor Elevators – Psychedelic Sounds of the…
John Mayall’s Blues Breakers – With Eric Clapton
Yardbirds – Yardbirds [aka Roger the Engineer] (1st Album)
Simone, Nina – Wild is the Wind
Gilberto, Astrud – Beach Samba
Nico – Chelsea Girl
Beatles – Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Country Joe & the Fish – Electric Music for the Mind & Body
Buffalo Springfield – Again
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band – Safe as Milk
Moby Grape – Moby Grape (1st Album)
Love – Da Capo
Beau Brummels – Triangle
Monkees – Headquarters
Buckley, Tim – Goodbye & Hello
Love – Forever Changes
Cream – Disraeli Gears
Pink Floyd – Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Who – Sell Out
Velvet Underground - & Nico
Sinatra, Frank - Frank Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
Doors – Doors (1st Album)
Byrds – Younger than Yesterday
Young Rascals – Groovin’
Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow
Kinks – Something Else by the…
Donovan – Sunshine Superman
Haggard, Merle – I’m a Lonesome Fugitive
Hendrix, Jimi – Are You Experienced
Electric Prunes – I Had too Much to Dream (Last Night)
Lynn, Loretta – Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)
Sharma, Shivkumar / Brij Bushan Kabra / Hariprasad Chaurasia – Call of the Valley
Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat
Hendrix, Jimi – Axis: Bold as Love
Franklin, Aretha – I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Rolling Stones – Beggars Banquet
Traffic – Traffic (2nd Album)
Incredible String Band – Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter
Kinks – Village Green Preservation Society
Shankar, Ravi – Sounds of India (1968)
Mutantes, os – Mutantes, os (1st Album)
Hendrix, Jimi – Electric Ladyland
Cohen, Leonard – Songs of…
Cash, Johnny – At Folsom Prison
Nyro, Laura – Eli & the Thirteenth Confession
Franklin, Aretha – Lady Soul
Blue Cheer – Vincebus Eruptum
Byrds – Notorious Byrd Brothers
Big Brother & the Holding Company – Cheap Thrills
United States of America – United States of America
Dr John – Gris Gris
Iron Butterfly – In a Gadda da Vida
Pretty Things – S.F. Sorrow
Simon & Garfunkel – Bookends
Small Faces – Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake
Band – Music from Big Pink
Beck, Jeff – Truth
Veloso, Caetano – Caetano Veloso (1968)
Walker, Scott – Scott 2
Zombies – Odessey & Oracle
Morrison, Van – Astral Weeks
Byrds – Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Beatles – Beatles [aka White Album]
Mothers of Invention – We’re Only in it for the Money
Young, Neil – Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band – Trout Mask Replica
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Bayou Country
Crosby, Stills & Nash – Crosby, Stills & Nash
Blood, Sweat & Tears - Blood, Sweat & Tears (2nd Album)
Flying Burrito Brothers – Gilded Palace of Sin
Cash, Johnny – At San Quentin
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Green River
Beatles – Abbey Road
Who – Tommy
Davis, Miles – In a Silent Way
Bee Gees – Odessa
Pentangle – Basket of Light
Rolling Stones – Let it Bleed
Drake, Nick – Five Leaves Left
Springfield, Dusty – Dusty in Memphis
Presley, Elvis – From Elvis in Memphis
Velvet Underground – Velvet Underground (3rd Album)
Quicksilver Messenger Service – Happy Trails
Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin (1st Album)
Band – Band (2nd Album)
Led Zeppelin – II
MC5 – Kick Out the Jams
Temptations – Cloud Nine
Sly & the Family Stone – Stand!
Buckley, Tim – Happy Sad
Chicago Transit Authority [Chicago] - Chicago Transit Authority (1969)
Fairport Convention – Unhalfbricking
Youngbloods – Elephant Mountain
Hayes, Isaac – Hot Buttered Soul
Grateful Dead – Live/Dead
Kinks – Arthur: Or the Decline & Fall of the British Empire
King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King
Cohen, Leonard – Songs from a Room
Fairport Convention – Liege & Lief
Walker, Scott – Scott 4
Stooges – Stooges (1st Album)
Spence, Alexander ‘Skip’ – Oar
Zappa, Frank – Hot Rats
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Cosmo’s Factory
Derek & the Dominos – Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs
Davis, Miles – Bitches Brew
Spirit – Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus
Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath (1st Album)
Doors – Morrison Hotel
Carpenters – Close to You
Still, Stephen – Stephen Stills (1st Album)
Lennon, John – Plastic Ono Band
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Déjà vu
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Young, Neil – After the Gold Rush
Led Zeppelin – III
Deep Purple – In Rock
Morrison, Van – Moondance
Grateful Dead – American Beauty
Drake, Nick – Bryter Layter
Shankar, Ananda – Ananda Shankar (1970)
Who – Live at Leeds(1st Album)
Soft Machine – Third
Stewart, Rod – Gasoline Alley
Harrison, George – All Things Must Pass
Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water
Stevens, Cat – Tea for the Tillerman
Traffic – John Barleycorn Must Die
Stooges – Fun House
Taylor, James – Sweet Baby James
McCartney, Paul – McCartney (1970)
Santana – Abraxas
Barrett, Syd – Madcap Laughs
Jethro Tull – Aqualung
Crosby, David – If Only I Could Remember My Name
Sly & the Family Stone – There’s a Riot Goin’ On
Gaye, Marvin – What’s Going On
Yes – Yes Album
Bee Gees – Trafalgar
Who – Who’s Next
King, Carole – Tapestry
Hayes, Isaac – Shaft: Music from the Soundtrack
Allman Brothers – At Fillmore East
Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers
Lennon, John – Imagine
Beach Boys – Surf’s Up
Yes – Fragile
Doors – LA Woman
Can – Tago Mago
John, Elton – Madman Across the Water
Parton, Dolly – Coat of Many Colors
McLean, Don – American Pie
Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Tarkus
Led Zeppelin – IV [aka Untitled / aka Four Symbols]
Gainsbourg, Serge – Histoire de Melody Nelson
Stewart, Rod – Every Picture Tells a Story
Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Pictures at an Exhibition
Cohen, Leonard – Songs of Love & Hate
Mitchell, Joni – Blue
Funkadelic – Maggot Brain
Joplin, Janis – Pearl
Kuti, Fela - With Ginger Baker: Live!
Faces – A Nod is as Good as a Wink… To a Blind Horse
Flamin’ Groovies – Teenage Head
Clark, Gene – White Light
Prine, John – John Prine (1st Album)
Nilsson, Harry – Nilsson Schmilsson
T.Rex – Electric Warrior
Bowie, David – Hunky Dory
Newman, Randy – Sail Away
Deep Purple – Machine Head
Big Star – # 1 Record
Black Sabbath – Vol 4
Steely Dan – Can’t Buy a Thrill
Young, Neil – Harvest
Mayfield, Curtis – Superfly: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Slade – Slayed?
Deep Purple – Made in Japan
Yes – Close to the Edge
Reed, Lou – Transformer
Masekela, Hugh – Home is Where the Music Is
Nascimento, Milton & Lo Borges – Clube da Esquina (1972)
Rundgren, Todd – Something/Anything
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Will the Circle Be Unbroken?
Wonder, Stevie – Talking Book
Still, Stephen – Manassas
T.Rex – Slider
Ackles, David – American Gothic
Eagles – Eagles (1st Album)
Buckley, Tim – Greetings from LA
Drake, Nick – Pink Moon
Simon, Paul – Paul Simon (1972)
Roxy Music – Roxy Music (1st Album)
Alice Cooper – School’s Out
Temptations – All Directions
Bowie, David – Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
War – World is a Ghetto
Green, Al – Let’s Stay Together
Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd
Incredible Bongo Band – Bongo Rock
Bowie, David – Aladdin Sane
King Crimson – Lark’s Tongues in Aspic
Marley, Bob & the Wailers – Catch a Fire
Hawkwind – Space Ritual
Cale, John – Paris 1919
Can – Future Days
Reed, Lou – Berlin
Genesis – Selling England by the Pound
Gaye, Marvin – Let’s Get it On
Martyn, John – Solid Air
Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure
Faust – IV
Hancock, Herbie – Head Hunters
Mott the Hoople – Mott
Oldfield, Mike – Tubular Bells
Rundgren, Todd – A Wizard, a True Star
John, Elton – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Steely Dan – Countdown to Ecstasy
Jennings, Waylon – Honky Tonk Heroes
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
Wonder, Stevie – Innervisions
ZZ Top – Tres Hombres
McCartney, Paul & Wings – Band on the Run
Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Next
Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies
Iggy & the Stooges – Raw Power
Isley Brothers – 3 + 3
New York Dolls – New York Dolls (1st Album)
Eno, Brian – Here Come the Warm Jets
Bad Company – Bad Company (1st Album)
Genesis – Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Otis, Shuggie – Inspiration Information
Wonder, Stevie – Fullfillingness’ First Finale
Clapton, Eric – 461 Ocean Boulevard
Kraftwerk – Autobahn
Morrison, Van – It’s Too Late to Stop Now
Mitchell, Joni – Court & Spark
Queen – II
Roxy Music – Country Life
Tangerine Dream – Phaedra
Sparks – Kimono My House
Supertramp – Crime of the Century
Thompson, Richard & Linda – I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Scott-Heron, Gil & Brian Jackson – Winter in America
Queen – Sheer Heart Attack
10cc – Sheet Music
Young, Neil – On the Beach
Jones, George – Grand Tour
Clark, Gene – No Other
Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic
Newman, Randy – Good Old Boys
Marley, Bob & the Wailers – Natty Dread
Wyatt, Robert – Rock Bottom
Parsons, Gram – Grievous Angel
Eno, Brian – Another Green World
Dictators – Go Girl Crazy!
Neu! – ‘75
Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti
Jarrett, Keith – Köln Concert
Aerosmith – Toys in the Attic
Bowie, David – Young Americans
Burning Spear – Marcus Garvey
Springsteen, Bruce – Born to Run
Harris, Emmylou – Pieces of the Sky
Dion – Born to Be With You
Mitchell, Joni – Hissing of Summer Lawns
Waits, Tom – Nighthawks at the Diner
Burman, Rahul Dev – Shalimar (Soundtrack)
Young, Neil – Tonight’s the Night
Dylan, Bob – Blood on the Tracks
Smith, Patti – Horses
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
Queen – A Night at the Opera
Nelson, Willie – Red Headed Stranger
Earth, Wind & Fire – That’s the Way of the World
Mayfield, Curtis – There’s No Place Like America Today
Petty, Tom & the Heartbreakers - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1st Album)
Modern Lovers – Modern Lovers [Rec 1972, not released until 1976]
Bowie, David – Station to Station
Mitchell, Joni – Hejira
Boston – Boston (1st Album)
Eagles – Hotel California
ABBA – Arrival
Kiss – Destroyer
Rush – 2112
Ben, Jorge – África Brasil
Armatrading, Joan – Joan Armatrading (1st Album)
Aerosmith – Rocks
Parliament – Mothership Connection
Penguin Café Orchestra – Music from the Penguin Café
Jarre, Jean Michel – Oxygene
Ramones – Ramones (1st Album)
Kuti, Fela – Zombie
Tosh, Peter – Legalize It
Wonder, Stevie – Songs in the Key of Life
Frampton, Peter – Frampton Comes Alive
Eno, Brian – Before & After Science
Kraftwerk – Trans-Europe Express
Joel, Billy – Stranger, the
Marley, Bob & the Wailers – Exodus
Electric Light Orchestra – Out of the Blue
Weather Report – Heavy Weather
Muddy Waters – Hard Again
Stranglers – Rattus Norvegicus
Clash – Clash (1st Album)
Bowie, David – Low
Steely Dan – Aja
Wire – Pink Flag
Martyn, John – One World
Talking Heads – 77
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Bowie, David – ‘Heroes’
Wilson, Dennis – Pacific Ocean Blue
Suicide – Suicide (1st Album)
Iggy Pop – Idiot, the
Gabriel, Peter – Peter Gabriel (I)
Television – Marquee Moon
Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell
Costello, Elvis – My Aim is True
Iggy Pop – Lust for Life
Dury, Ian – New Boots & Panties!!
Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the…
Pere Ubu – Modern Dance
Kraftwerk – Man Machine
Blondie – Parallel Lines
Regina, Elís – Vento de Maio
Pere Ubu – Dub Housing
Only Ones – Only Ones (1st Album)
Costello, Elvis – This Year’s Model
Jam – All Mod Cons
Ely, Joe – Honky Tonk Masquerade
Adverts – Crossing the Red Sea with the…
Big Star – Third (aka Sister Lovers)
Residents – Duck Stab/Buster & Glen
Public Image Ltd – Public Image
Magazine – Real Life
Springsteen, Bruce – Darkness on the Edge of Town
Funkadelic – One Nation Under a Groove
Throbbing Gristle – DOA: Third & Final Report
Thin Lizzy – Live & Dangerous
Talking Heads – More Songs About Buildings & Food
Buzzcocks – Another Music in a Different Kitchen
Van Halen – Van Halen (1st Album)
Colón, Willie & Rubén Blades – Siembra
Cars – Cars (1st Album)
Devo – Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Dire Straits – Dire Straits (1st Album)
Saints – Eternally Yours
Gaye, Marvin – Here, My Dear
Nelson, Willie – Stardust
Chic – C’est Chic
X-ray Spex – Germ Free Adolescents
Eno, Brian – Ambient 1: Music for Airports
Siouxsie & the Banshees – Scream, the
AC/DC – Highway to Hell
Sister Sledge – We Are Family
Crusaders – Street Life
Germs – GI
B52s – B52s (1st Album)
Czukay, Holger – Movies
Police – Reggatta de Blanc
Fall – Live at the Witch Trials
Talking Heads – Fear of Music
Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures
Chic – Risqué
Undertones – Undertones (1st Album)
Clash – London Calling
Japan – Quiet Life
Faithfull, Marianne – Broken English
Slits – Cut
Costello, Elvis – Armed Forces
Young, Neil – Rust Never Sleeps
Gang of Four – Entertainment!
Cheap Trick – At Budokan
Fleetwood Mac – Tusk
Pink Floyd – Wall, the
Public Image Ltd – Metal Box
Jackson, Michael – Off the Wall
Damned – Machine Gun Etiquette
Numan, Gary – Pleasure Principle
Specials – Specials (1st Album)
Adam & the Ants – Kings of the Wild Frontier
Dexys Midnight Runners – Searching for the Young Soul Rebels
AC/DC – Back in Black
Cramps – Songs the Lord Taught Us
Dead Kennedys – Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Gabriel, Peter – Peter Gabriel (III)
Soft Boys – Underwater Moonlight
Cure – Seventeen Seconds
Echo & the Bunnymen – Crocodiles
Motörhead – Ace of Spades
Killing Joke – Killing Joke (1st Album)
Judas Priest – British Steel
Circle Jerks – Group Sex
Talking Heads – Remain in Light
Joy Division – Closer
Iron Maiden – Iron Maiden (1st Album)
Undertones – Hypnotised
Jam – Sound Affects
Waits, Tom – Heartattack & Vine
UB40 – Signing Off
Teardrop Explodes – Kilimanjaro
Specials – More Specials
Winwood, Steve – Arc of a Diver
Pretenders – Pretenders (1st Album)
Einstürzende Neubauten – Kollaps
Siouxsie & the Banshees – Juju
Heaven 17 – Penthouse & Pavement
Go-Gos – Beauty & the Beat
Motörhead – No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith
Soft Cell – Non Stop Erotic Cabaret
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Architecture & Morality
Eno, Brian & David Byrne – My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
Black Flag – Damaged
X – Wild Gift
Psychedelic Furs – Talk, Talk, Talk
Human League – Dare
Gun Club – Fire of Love
Bauhaus – Mask
Womack, Bobby – Poet
Tom Tom Club – Tom Tom Club (1st Album)
Rush – Moving Pictures
ABBA – Visitors
ABC – Lexicon of Love
Prince – 1999
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five – Message, the
Costello, Elvis – Imperial Bedroom
Cure – Pornography
Dexys Midnight Runners – Too Rye Ay
Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84)
Madness – Rise & Fall
Fagen, Donald – Nightfly
Haircut One Hundred – Pelican West
Bush, Kate – Dreaming, the
Orange Juice – Rip it Up
Jackson, Michael – Thriller
Birthday Party – Junkyard
Venom – Black Metal
Springsteen, Bruce – Nebraska
Associates – Sulk
Iron Maiden – Number of the Beast
Duran Duran – Rio
Violent Femmes – Violent Femmes (1st Album)
McLaren, Malcolm – Duck Rock
Def Leppard – Pyromania
REM – Murmur
The The – Soul Mining
Waits, Tom – Swordfishtrombones
Blue Nile – A Walk Across the Rooftops
Hanoi Rocks – Back to Mystery City
Lauper, Cyndi – She’s So Unusual
Simon, Paul – Hearts & Bones
Echo & the Bunnymen – Porcupine
ZZ Top – Eliminator
Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
U2 – War
Police – Synchronicity
Meat Puppets – II
Culture Club – Colour by Numbers
Frankie Goes to Hollywood – Welcome to the Pleasuredome
Run DMC – Run DMC (1984)
Sade – Diamond Life
Cocteau Twins – Treasure
Minor Threat – Out of Step
Van Halen – 1984
Prince – Purple Rain
Replacements – Let it Be
Style Council – Café Bleu
Turner, Tina – Private Dancer
Echo & the Bunnymen – Ocean Rain
Minutemen – Double Nickels on the Dime
Cole, Lloyd & the Commotions – Rattlesnakes
N’Dour, Youssou – Immigrés
Springsteen, Bruce – Born in the USA
Fall – This Nation’s Saving Grace
Ibrahim, Abdullah – Water from an Ancient Well
Aha – Hunting High & Low
Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair
Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms
Prefab Sprout – Steve McQueen (aka Two Wheels Good)
Mekons – Fear & Whiskey
Big Black – Atomizer
Vega, Suzanne – Suzanne Vega (1st Album)
Pogues – Rum, Sodomy & the Lash
Bush, Kate – Hounds of Love
Smiths – Meat is Murder
Waits, Tom – Rain Dogs
Jesus & Mary Chain – Psychocandy
New Order – Low Life
Simply Red – Picture Book
Dexys Midnight Runners – Don’t Stand Me Down
Scritti Politti – Cupid & Psyche 85
Costello, Elvis – Blood & Chocolate
Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force – Planet Rock: The Album
Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill
Metallica – Master of Puppets
The The – Infected
Griffith, Nanci – Last of the True Believers
Bragg, Billy – Talking with the Taxman About Poetry
Talk Talk – Colour of Spring
Megadeth – Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?
Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet
Sonic Youth – Evol
Slayer – Reign in Blood
Throwing Muses – Throwing Muses (1986)
Simon, Paul – Graceland
Run DMC – Raising Hell
XTC – Skylarking
Earl
August 19, 2021
Inevitably, a compendium like '1001...' will mean different things to different folk, merely because of combinatorial maths, let alone age, parents', children's and friends' influences, when and if you had your own family, surrounded by boys or girls, which country you lived in, and so on; not to mention eclecticism, audiophilia or simple 'good taste'; or whether you read the NME or Melody Maker, both, none or others. It will have glaring omissions, harrumphed inclusions, substitutions begging, hundreds of unknowns, and, happily, many, many old loves. Just revisiting some of those old loves is several afternoons of sheer pleasure. Life was never better than on these essential nostalgic trips. But there's more, yes there's more.... always more. Opportunities for discovery...
Not a book you will read from cover to cover, it's the covers which ignite the lights in your heart and fire the brain's flood of nostalgia. But it appeals (and repugns) on many levels, not least nostalgia. I'm in the process of recapturing so many lost and missed albums of the '70s, the decade when I grew up musically, and this album of albums enriches this journey in a sedimentary way.
My 2016 version - with contentiously the best LP cover of all time (waiting in the wings), Bowie's Aladdin Sane on the cover, included amongst 9 of his 30 studio albums, the longest tribute in this list - starts with Frank Sinatra's Wee Small Hours and ends with Bowie's Blackstar. And already I'm arguing; BlackStar instead of Diamond Dogs?! Wee Small Hours over Strangers In The Night (for Summer Wind alone!)? Well, at least Songs For Swingin' Lovers is here, if only for the incomparable Under My Skin and the eminently swingin' Nelson Riddle arrangement. Such esoterics are the foibles of us all, when it comes to music, when it comes down to these albums.
But most enjoyably, already I'm in imaginary discussion with hundreds of thousands of others with similar passion for what is the medium without which I simply could not exist.
The first thing I did when I unwrapped this delicious gift this Xmas was check out the inclusion of an armful of personal musts, those I consider quintessential coffee table albums. Firstly, the big 3: Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, obviously; then Genesis, Selling England, and then Yes, Tales. And shock-horror: the last was omitted! This is simply inexplicable; perhaps some earlier version of the compendium included it? And where was Tangerine Dream's Rubycon (over Phaedra)? Todd's Todd (alongside the two rightly included)? Cocteau Twins's Blue Bell Knoll (or Four-Calender Café with Evangeline, Bluebeard and the awesome Pur)? Eagles without Desperado! Who are these people?!
But there were also a host of sighs-of-relief: Rod Stewart's Every Picture, Abbey Road, What's Going On, Joni's Hissing, Supertramp's Crime, Simple Minds with New Gold Dream (81...), ABC's Lexicon, Prefab Sprout's Steve McQueen, Radiohead's OK Computer, Coldplay's Parachutes... And there were a ream of bands/albums which were huge at the time, but soon forgotten: Slade and Sparks, Joan Armatrading, Television, Ian Dury, XTC, Scritti Politti... And if Scritti Politti, why not Black? Where's Andy Williams (there's Frank), or Neil Diamond; Streisand (there's Sade), Bread, Carly Simon, China Crisis? Elbow make it in, but not Ed Sheeran. Goldfrapp are in here for Felt Mountain, but not for the gorgeous Seventh Tree. There's no Grace Jones, no Hall & Oates! What is going on?
Time was, though, my mind was (more) open. Now I've a brain with too much hard-wiring, and the likes of Kanye West and Jay-Z leave me agape, though Outkast make me laugh. I can't get Beyoncé or Taylor Swift, but my friend who had girls does. Though Mariah Carey, now... I can see why Robbie Williams, but no Andy? Neither 21 nor 25 move me, yet although I missed Björk, I'll look her up. I don't like any of Prince's offerings after 1999, the single, but I'm happy that The Avalanches made it, if just for the title release. I agree wholeheartedly with all of Led Zeppelin's inclusions, and agree with the exclusion of The Song Remains The Same. It's a shame the Lighthouse Family didn’t make it for Ocean Drive, nor Thomas Dolby for The Flat Earth. Nor U-Roy, who I enjoy much more than Marley, though I can see why the latter, just as I can Black Sabbath for their historic reference (if not the music).
There were the omissions by artists which I thought could be better represented, aside from Tales (and why not Relayer, just as superb and yet so different to Fragile?). Why not Todd, although the two given are great, yet not quite so great? Iggy Pop's Blah-Blah-Blah instead; Roxy's Avalon; Talk Talk's It's My Life, 10cc's How Dare You, or Original Soundtrack (for Une Nuit as well as I'm Not In Love). Indeed, what makes one album a 50/50 in my book (Rubber Soul is so uneven, even if Nowhere Man and Norwegian Wood outshine Drive My Car and Girl, or Michelle is so worn now I can't listen to it anymore), where another, Abbey Road, is phenomenal? And the one album I've played every year of my life since it was released (though I've played Rubycon at least as often). The self-titled Blood Sweat and Tears was my very first album at the age of 10; I won it in a disco raffle, and swapped it for Abbey Road five minutes later, while Sgt. Pepper was still reverberating around the airwaves, and Abbey Road is the best Beatles album by far, in my book. But probably not yours....
Some personal loves don't even make it: Sting (but, okay, Synchronicity), Barry White (instead of Jack). No Apollo 440 whereas The Chemical Brothers and Orbital; no Neil Diamond, but Randy Newman and Billy Joel?! So much missed out, so many to contend. All of Steely Dan's given, except Aja? Really? Suede's Coming Up or Head Music, but the two given? No Aztec Camera Love! But Haircut One Hundred? Are you really serious?
But how do you get a roomful of fans to agree which of even the best artist's albums should be included. Can you separate the merits of Faith, Older or Listen Without Prejudice, when they are that close, that good? Yet Older does not appear. How many more of Bowie's albums would you include, given the radical differences in styles and genres, yet so many brilliant masterpieces? All of those (9) mentioned might be equally worthy, but not to me. I haven't been able to get into The Next Day or BlackStar at all, and I'd have Space Oddity (or David Bowie, if you like) and Diamond Dogs there instead. Plus Scary Monsters. And probably Black Tie. But I agree that of the Berlin Three, Lodger doesn’t touch Low or 'Heroes'. If I have a middle-of-the-road, it's Michael and Bowie, not the Carpenters nor Bee Gees, though I'm glad they made it in, and although AC/DC's Back In Black sits between Michael Jackson's Thriller and Pink Floyd's DSOTM, and Meatloaf's Bat Out Of Hell between Whitney Houston's Bodyguard soundtrack and the Eagles' Greatest Hits, in the all-time album sales list on Wiki, they ain't my bag at all.
Yet I'm not a jazz man, either; I'm a prog rock fan. I'm not into the Blues, but Sticky Fingers should be in here for Wild Horses and You Gotta Move alone. I love space rock, but Kraftwerk? Aretha Franklin (yes), but no Gladys Knight? The Temptations and Isleys, but no Four Tops or Supremes. Stevie Wonder, yes, yet no Smokey? Dusty, yes, but not Barbra? Metallica (no) but not Muse (Black Holes)? And there's a flotilla of folk, funk and indie I'll almost certainly not have the time let alone the inclination to explore. House and Garage will not be in my home. (After that, the genres elude me entirely). And I'm relieved that One Direction haven't made it in - yet. But it took a long time before ABBA were critically acclaimed, despite their phenomenal popularity.
Reading the justification - or pride or sheer love and adoration - of the various contributors adds to the discussion, the contention and the fun. Little pieces of background inspire you to put that album on again, or not: Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here, yet not Piper; the Sex Pistols' Bollocks but not The Clash's; even though they are all impassioned reviews prompting me to do so. But despite their individual merits, I really only, in the end, sit back and see, overall, whether my list matches their's, a very simplistic response, but I do the same for the film and book guides. Sure, I tease out a handful of hitherto unknown albums to pick up, like Fleet Foxes, for example; investigate lots I missed, like Fairport Convention and Sandy Denny; or I'm reminded through little asides and references of echoes of long-lost explorations I'd like to revisit, like Nils Lofgren's Cry Tough, and those others around Springsteen's landmark (and misconstrued) Born In The USA.
I have only one formatting issue (and it's not the vinyl over CD argument): for a book 960 pages heavy, I'd rather they had stretched it to 1001 pages and included the track listing for all of the albums. But, like all of the things about this book, it all really comes down to personal taste and opinion...
I could possibly survive without books (I'd write my own); I could live without film, perhaps (I'd imagine my books); I'd not miss email much (I'd write to myself); but I couldn't exist without music - not playing it on a good hi-fi, singing it in the shower, nor dancing to it in the kitchen. Of course, it’s the one medium you can take with you... in memory, in the soul. (Far out!)
(One final technical criticism on format: although the Artist index in the rear is accurate, the Album index at the front hasn't been updated correctly, probably because of the interleaved additional introduction for the revised 2016 edition not having been taken into account, but it renders it unusable).
Not a book you will read from cover to cover, it's the covers which ignite the lights in your heart and fire the brain's flood of nostalgia. But it appeals (and repugns) on many levels, not least nostalgia. I'm in the process of recapturing so many lost and missed albums of the '70s, the decade when I grew up musically, and this album of albums enriches this journey in a sedimentary way.
My 2016 version - with contentiously the best LP cover of all time (waiting in the wings), Bowie's Aladdin Sane on the cover, included amongst 9 of his 30 studio albums, the longest tribute in this list - starts with Frank Sinatra's Wee Small Hours and ends with Bowie's Blackstar. And already I'm arguing; BlackStar instead of Diamond Dogs?! Wee Small Hours over Strangers In The Night (for Summer Wind alone!)? Well, at least Songs For Swingin' Lovers is here, if only for the incomparable Under My Skin and the eminently swingin' Nelson Riddle arrangement. Such esoterics are the foibles of us all, when it comes to music, when it comes down to these albums.
But most enjoyably, already I'm in imaginary discussion with hundreds of thousands of others with similar passion for what is the medium without which I simply could not exist.
The first thing I did when I unwrapped this delicious gift this Xmas was check out the inclusion of an armful of personal musts, those I consider quintessential coffee table albums. Firstly, the big 3: Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, obviously; then Genesis, Selling England, and then Yes, Tales. And shock-horror: the last was omitted! This is simply inexplicable; perhaps some earlier version of the compendium included it? And where was Tangerine Dream's Rubycon (over Phaedra)? Todd's Todd (alongside the two rightly included)? Cocteau Twins's Blue Bell Knoll (or Four-Calender Café with Evangeline, Bluebeard and the awesome Pur)? Eagles without Desperado! Who are these people?!
But there were also a host of sighs-of-relief: Rod Stewart's Every Picture, Abbey Road, What's Going On, Joni's Hissing, Supertramp's Crime, Simple Minds with New Gold Dream (81...), ABC's Lexicon, Prefab Sprout's Steve McQueen, Radiohead's OK Computer, Coldplay's Parachutes... And there were a ream of bands/albums which were huge at the time, but soon forgotten: Slade and Sparks, Joan Armatrading, Television, Ian Dury, XTC, Scritti Politti... And if Scritti Politti, why not Black? Where's Andy Williams (there's Frank), or Neil Diamond; Streisand (there's Sade), Bread, Carly Simon, China Crisis? Elbow make it in, but not Ed Sheeran. Goldfrapp are in here for Felt Mountain, but not for the gorgeous Seventh Tree. There's no Grace Jones, no Hall & Oates! What is going on?
Time was, though, my mind was (more) open. Now I've a brain with too much hard-wiring, and the likes of Kanye West and Jay-Z leave me agape, though Outkast make me laugh. I can't get Beyoncé or Taylor Swift, but my friend who had girls does. Though Mariah Carey, now... I can see why Robbie Williams, but no Andy? Neither 21 nor 25 move me, yet although I missed Björk, I'll look her up. I don't like any of Prince's offerings after 1999, the single, but I'm happy that The Avalanches made it, if just for the title release. I agree wholeheartedly with all of Led Zeppelin's inclusions, and agree with the exclusion of The Song Remains The Same. It's a shame the Lighthouse Family didn’t make it for Ocean Drive, nor Thomas Dolby for The Flat Earth. Nor U-Roy, who I enjoy much more than Marley, though I can see why the latter, just as I can Black Sabbath for their historic reference (if not the music).
There were the omissions by artists which I thought could be better represented, aside from Tales (and why not Relayer, just as superb and yet so different to Fragile?). Why not Todd, although the two given are great, yet not quite so great? Iggy Pop's Blah-Blah-Blah instead; Roxy's Avalon; Talk Talk's It's My Life, 10cc's How Dare You, or Original Soundtrack (for Une Nuit as well as I'm Not In Love). Indeed, what makes one album a 50/50 in my book (Rubber Soul is so uneven, even if Nowhere Man and Norwegian Wood outshine Drive My Car and Girl, or Michelle is so worn now I can't listen to it anymore), where another, Abbey Road, is phenomenal? And the one album I've played every year of my life since it was released (though I've played Rubycon at least as often). The self-titled Blood Sweat and Tears was my very first album at the age of 10; I won it in a disco raffle, and swapped it for Abbey Road five minutes later, while Sgt. Pepper was still reverberating around the airwaves, and Abbey Road is the best Beatles album by far, in my book. But probably not yours....
Some personal loves don't even make it: Sting (but, okay, Synchronicity), Barry White (instead of Jack). No Apollo 440 whereas The Chemical Brothers and Orbital; no Neil Diamond, but Randy Newman and Billy Joel?! So much missed out, so many to contend. All of Steely Dan's given, except Aja? Really? Suede's Coming Up or Head Music, but the two given? No Aztec Camera Love! But Haircut One Hundred? Are you really serious?
But how do you get a roomful of fans to agree which of even the best artist's albums should be included. Can you separate the merits of Faith, Older or Listen Without Prejudice, when they are that close, that good? Yet Older does not appear. How many more of Bowie's albums would you include, given the radical differences in styles and genres, yet so many brilliant masterpieces? All of those (9) mentioned might be equally worthy, but not to me. I haven't been able to get into The Next Day or BlackStar at all, and I'd have Space Oddity (or David Bowie, if you like) and Diamond Dogs there instead. Plus Scary Monsters. And probably Black Tie. But I agree that of the Berlin Three, Lodger doesn’t touch Low or 'Heroes'. If I have a middle-of-the-road, it's Michael and Bowie, not the Carpenters nor Bee Gees, though I'm glad they made it in, and although AC/DC's Back In Black sits between Michael Jackson's Thriller and Pink Floyd's DSOTM, and Meatloaf's Bat Out Of Hell between Whitney Houston's Bodyguard soundtrack and the Eagles' Greatest Hits, in the all-time album sales list on Wiki, they ain't my bag at all.
Yet I'm not a jazz man, either; I'm a prog rock fan. I'm not into the Blues, but Sticky Fingers should be in here for Wild Horses and You Gotta Move alone. I love space rock, but Kraftwerk? Aretha Franklin (yes), but no Gladys Knight? The Temptations and Isleys, but no Four Tops or Supremes. Stevie Wonder, yes, yet no Smokey? Dusty, yes, but not Barbra? Metallica (no) but not Muse (Black Holes)? And there's a flotilla of folk, funk and indie I'll almost certainly not have the time let alone the inclination to explore. House and Garage will not be in my home. (After that, the genres elude me entirely). And I'm relieved that One Direction haven't made it in - yet. But it took a long time before ABBA were critically acclaimed, despite their phenomenal popularity.
Reading the justification - or pride or sheer love and adoration - of the various contributors adds to the discussion, the contention and the fun. Little pieces of background inspire you to put that album on again, or not: Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here, yet not Piper; the Sex Pistols' Bollocks but not The Clash's; even though they are all impassioned reviews prompting me to do so. But despite their individual merits, I really only, in the end, sit back and see, overall, whether my list matches their's, a very simplistic response, but I do the same for the film and book guides. Sure, I tease out a handful of hitherto unknown albums to pick up, like Fleet Foxes, for example; investigate lots I missed, like Fairport Convention and Sandy Denny; or I'm reminded through little asides and references of echoes of long-lost explorations I'd like to revisit, like Nils Lofgren's Cry Tough, and those others around Springsteen's landmark (and misconstrued) Born In The USA.
I have only one formatting issue (and it's not the vinyl over CD argument): for a book 960 pages heavy, I'd rather they had stretched it to 1001 pages and included the track listing for all of the albums. But, like all of the things about this book, it all really comes down to personal taste and opinion...
I could possibly survive without books (I'd write my own); I could live without film, perhaps (I'd imagine my books); I'd not miss email much (I'd write to myself); but I couldn't exist without music - not playing it on a good hi-fi, singing it in the shower, nor dancing to it in the kitchen. Of course, it’s the one medium you can take with you... in memory, in the soul. (Far out!)
(One final technical criticism on format: although the Artist index in the rear is accurate, the Album index at the front hasn't been updated correctly, probably because of the interleaved additional introduction for the revised 2016 edition not having been taken into account, but it renders it unusable).
August 31, 2022
WOW. If you're struggling to find new music to love, this hefty volume is the perfect way to broaden your musical world. I spent several nights paging through this, from the 1950s to 2021, and looked up every album that intrigued me on Youtube Music. It was wondrous.
There are descriptions of each album; written by contributors who obviously knew that album well. The best part is that most of the albums include a helpful track listing with standout tracks starred, so you can look up the songs and see if you dig them. I did a lot of that. It's a good way to mine for new sounds.
You can kind of see which time periods you dig and which you don't. My favorite musical time periods are the late 1960s and 1970s, plus early-mid 1990s alternative, which was no surprise to me, but still illuminating. I found a lot of bands I've always meant to check out but hadn't gotten around to (like Kraftwerk, Echo and the Bunnymen, Brian Eno, King Crimson, etc) and just favorite artists with albums I hadn't explored yet (like early Siouxsie and the Banshees, Nick Cave, Tricky).
My favorite new-to-me artist is the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, which I would have never found without this tome. I really appreciated the world music inclusions as well.
Highly recommended if you need a jolt of new music in your life. I have the "1001 Songs You Must Hear" requested at the library too. :)
There are descriptions of each album; written by contributors who obviously knew that album well. The best part is that most of the albums include a helpful track listing with standout tracks starred, so you can look up the songs and see if you dig them. I did a lot of that. It's a good way to mine for new sounds.
You can kind of see which time periods you dig and which you don't. My favorite musical time periods are the late 1960s and 1970s, plus early-mid 1990s alternative, which was no surprise to me, but still illuminating. I found a lot of bands I've always meant to check out but hadn't gotten around to (like Kraftwerk, Echo and the Bunnymen, Brian Eno, King Crimson, etc) and just favorite artists with albums I hadn't explored yet (like early Siouxsie and the Banshees, Nick Cave, Tricky).
My favorite new-to-me artist is the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, which I would have never found without this tome. I really appreciated the world music inclusions as well.
Highly recommended if you need a jolt of new music in your life. I have the "1001 Songs You Must Hear" requested at the library too. :)
February 7, 2023
It was never going to be something I agreed with wholeheartedly, and there are a good few classics in there, but there's also a lot of fluff. Far too much late 70s/early 80s new wave type stuff (my guess is it's the author's favourite genre), something like 600 Bowie albums (good or not, it's excessive) and the albums added into the 2000s seem more like random top 100 picks rather than the semi-deep dives from previous decades (not that any of it is wicked underground or anything lol). If they'd kept it to one album per band/artist, included a Type O Negative album (come on!) and made sure not to overdo any one genre, it would have been better. I did discover that I really like disco, though - that was unexpected. And an album by a band called the Auteurs that I'd never heard of but will listen to at LEAST another 2-3 times before I die.
July 30, 2010
For those who have spent the large part of their teen/adult years searching out the most obscure and underground music to whet their musical palates, this volume offers great suggestions to get acquainted with the "classics." 1001 Albums gave me some great listening recommendations in the areas of jazz and rock, making me step outside my comfort zone and acknowledge that some mainstream releases are certainly worth a listen. Who would've imagined that I'd ever buy (and like) a Byrds cd?!!
February 26, 2021
A great book for anyone who wants to take a walk through the history of music.
It has most of the well known classics, as well as some more lesser known albums.
Most of them with a historical significance.
This site is a great compliment for anyone who has this book.
It's giving you one album a day to listen to. From the book. Let's you rate and add comments to each album as well.
Great way to actually get to listen to the albums.
https://1001albumsgenerator.com
It has most of the well known classics, as well as some more lesser known albums.
Most of them with a historical significance.
This site is a great compliment for anyone who has this book.
It's giving you one album a day to listen to. From the book. Let's you rate and add comments to each album as well.
Great way to actually get to listen to the albums.
https://1001albumsgenerator.com
February 26, 2013
I had great expectations about this book. As a music enthusiast I thought I would indeed find 1001 great albuns listed on this book, but most of them are not a must hear. I was glad to find my favorite bands and artists listed on this book, but they didn't even picked their best albuns! There are also some non-sense reviews about some records, and there are too much Björk albuns for my taste.
December 4, 2020
I love this book so far. I judge it on the Roxy Music albums they site: Roxy’s first album, “For Your Pleasure”, and “Country Life”. I’m really okay with that. They omitted “Avalon” but okay. I’ve been revisiting my faves and discovering new ones too. I got this from the public library but I need a copy for myself.
May 8, 2017
Completely basic. You will find Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears in this book but not one word about electronic legends such as Squarepusher or Venetian Snares. No thanks.
February 24, 2025
Una buena guía con pequeñas historias de introducción, un libro con el que tienes que tener tu reproductor cerca si o si
June 28, 2025
For this review I think it is best to first talk about the book and then the list itself. The book and the list a ton of issues and having read the book and listened to all but a few albums that were not available on Spotify it is the only way to do this justice.
The Book:
The book takes you year by from 1955 - 2005. The introduction explains how the list was created and why they start in 1955, they also explain to you why soundtracks unless by one artist are not on the list. So what did I like about the book? The albums covers and photos are really cool, the sheer volume of music is impressive to a point, more on that when we get to the list.
Dislikes: This book is presented in a way that insinuates a journey through music history and the best of that music year by year, this is not the case. There are genres that are way underrepresented while others are very over represented. There is an overabundance of repeat artist, and too many unheard/unknown artist. This list is also very British bias. The biggest complaint is how most of the information is the music journalist own bias or thoughts vs. facts about these albums. So you get nonsense statements like grunge died with Cobain or my favorite (again British bias) Oasis came along and redefined rock n roll. In another section of the book you have a writer on one page when talking about Limp Bizkit say that the Nu-Metal genre hit its peak in early 2000, but then a few pages later they say while talking about Linkin Park Nu-Metal gained serious momentum in 2000. So which is it? Did it peak or gain serious momentum? The book gets a generous 2 out of 5.
The List:
1950's - 23 Albums - 1955-1959
This started out great, when I listened to this I thought okay this list is gonna be good. Lot's of jazz, swing, stuff I never heard before but really liked it. Good coverage of the birth of rock n roll, Elvis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, etc. Very little country or blues.
1960's - 151 Albums - 1960-1969
This is where the list goes to shit and only gets worse from here. Even though there is a huge variety of music it misses the mark on some of the iconic music of the era. No highlight of early guitar instrumentals like Dike Dale, Link Wray, The Ventures, etc. No SoCal surf/car songs like Jan & Dean. The biggest snub is to Motown, one of the most iconic sounds of the decade and nothing. No focus on protest songs or Woodstock either. There are a large number of just terrible albums that I will never listen to ever again. The British invasion is well represented but that is too expected with a list so bias to British music. Also, Folk and Jam Bands are highlighted like Bob Dylan, and The Greatful Dead. Again, very little to no country, blues, jazz, and R&B/Soul.
1970's - 279 Albums - 1970-1979
Here we find the most albums of any decade and what a shit show the 70's list is. Some of the worst albums by far are in this decade, albums so bad I would not want my worst enemy to listen to let alone an album I must hear before I die! The problems just keep repeating themselves with this list. Again, too many repeat artist. Why do I need to listen to every Talking Heads album? Why do I need to hear every Elvis Costello album? I like Elvis Costello but not everyone of his albums is a must hear. Where is the disco? Soft Rock? Country? Blues? I guess the creators don't know those genres exist.
1980's - 210 Albums - 1980-1989
As stated before more of the same issues, too many repeat artist. Do the creators of this list know the 80's were than just synthpop? I grew up in the 80's and never heard of Kate Bush until Strange Things but for some reason they think I need to hear every Kate Bush album, why? She is not that good, and Running Up That Hill is a terrible song. Maybe because she is British. Oh and the Elvis Costello continues into the 80's too. Where is the country? I remember in the 80's country was everywhere but not here, no George Strait, no Randy Travis, no Alabama. Also, no blues, B.B. King anyone? Albert Collins? Buddy Guy? No Huey Lewis, no Bryan Adams, and Hairbands are very under represented. Punk rock is surprisingly very well represented on this list.
1990's - 239 Albums - 1990-1999
Here is where the list almost broke me and made me throw in the towel and say fuck this list, but it didn't I hung in there and pushed on. Same issue as before, too many repeat artist. Why do I need to listen to every Nick Cave album? He not really that great, forgettable at best. I have heard all his albums and could tell you the name of one of the albums or songs. Where is the R&B? Boys 2 Men? Guess they never heard of them. I really thought if there was one genre that would be the highlight of this decade it would be country. Country like took over in the 90's & 2000's but again this list misses the mark on music history. No Garth Brroks, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, nothing. Instead we get way too much electronic dance, house, techo, etc. from mostly unheard of British bands unless you really love that type of music. This decade was really painful to get through.
2000's - 99 Albums - 2000 - 2005
Same issues, too many repeat artist taking up space for more deserving artist. Nice Cave albums are still a huge hit here, again why do I have to hear every single Nick Cave album? Where are the boy bands? As usual little to no R&B, country, etc.
I know it sounds like I don't like British music and that is not true at all. Three of my favorite bands are British, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. Not to mention The Who and many others. My beef is just because a band in Liverpool had a top 25 song but never really got out of the UK is not a reason to put them on this list. I know music is very subjective and what I like you may hate and what you like I may hate. But I think I listen to enough music to know what is good to most and what is shit. Every single song, band, etc, that I like or love at one time was something new and unheard of and when you make a book titled 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die I expect to be wowed! I expect it all to be good. I expect it to be a discovery of great music to tell my friends and family about. I just spent over 7 months listening to these albums and I will never listen to this again because it was terrible. There are some really great albums on this list but the constant repeat artist, missing the mark of iconic genres, movements, and sounds like Motown just drag this down and like I said at times painful to listen to. This list got so I had to start taking breaks from it one or two days a week just to finish it. The list gets a 1 out of 5 from me. It is by far the worst list I have ever listened to when it comes to music.
The Book:
The book takes you year by from 1955 - 2005. The introduction explains how the list was created and why they start in 1955, they also explain to you why soundtracks unless by one artist are not on the list. So what did I like about the book? The albums covers and photos are really cool, the sheer volume of music is impressive to a point, more on that when we get to the list.
Dislikes: This book is presented in a way that insinuates a journey through music history and the best of that music year by year, this is not the case. There are genres that are way underrepresented while others are very over represented. There is an overabundance of repeat artist, and too many unheard/unknown artist. This list is also very British bias. The biggest complaint is how most of the information is the music journalist own bias or thoughts vs. facts about these albums. So you get nonsense statements like grunge died with Cobain or my favorite (again British bias) Oasis came along and redefined rock n roll. In another section of the book you have a writer on one page when talking about Limp Bizkit say that the Nu-Metal genre hit its peak in early 2000, but then a few pages later they say while talking about Linkin Park Nu-Metal gained serious momentum in 2000. So which is it? Did it peak or gain serious momentum? The book gets a generous 2 out of 5.
The List:
1950's - 23 Albums - 1955-1959
This started out great, when I listened to this I thought okay this list is gonna be good. Lot's of jazz, swing, stuff I never heard before but really liked it. Good coverage of the birth of rock n roll, Elvis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, etc. Very little country or blues.
1960's - 151 Albums - 1960-1969
This is where the list goes to shit and only gets worse from here. Even though there is a huge variety of music it misses the mark on some of the iconic music of the era. No highlight of early guitar instrumentals like Dike Dale, Link Wray, The Ventures, etc. No SoCal surf/car songs like Jan & Dean. The biggest snub is to Motown, one of the most iconic sounds of the decade and nothing. No focus on protest songs or Woodstock either. There are a large number of just terrible albums that I will never listen to ever again. The British invasion is well represented but that is too expected with a list so bias to British music. Also, Folk and Jam Bands are highlighted like Bob Dylan, and The Greatful Dead. Again, very little to no country, blues, jazz, and R&B/Soul.
1970's - 279 Albums - 1970-1979
Here we find the most albums of any decade and what a shit show the 70's list is. Some of the worst albums by far are in this decade, albums so bad I would not want my worst enemy to listen to let alone an album I must hear before I die! The problems just keep repeating themselves with this list. Again, too many repeat artist. Why do I need to listen to every Talking Heads album? Why do I need to hear every Elvis Costello album? I like Elvis Costello but not everyone of his albums is a must hear. Where is the disco? Soft Rock? Country? Blues? I guess the creators don't know those genres exist.
1980's - 210 Albums - 1980-1989
As stated before more of the same issues, too many repeat artist. Do the creators of this list know the 80's were than just synthpop? I grew up in the 80's and never heard of Kate Bush until Strange Things but for some reason they think I need to hear every Kate Bush album, why? She is not that good, and Running Up That Hill is a terrible song. Maybe because she is British. Oh and the Elvis Costello continues into the 80's too. Where is the country? I remember in the 80's country was everywhere but not here, no George Strait, no Randy Travis, no Alabama. Also, no blues, B.B. King anyone? Albert Collins? Buddy Guy? No Huey Lewis, no Bryan Adams, and Hairbands are very under represented. Punk rock is surprisingly very well represented on this list.
1990's - 239 Albums - 1990-1999
Here is where the list almost broke me and made me throw in the towel and say fuck this list, but it didn't I hung in there and pushed on. Same issue as before, too many repeat artist. Why do I need to listen to every Nick Cave album? He not really that great, forgettable at best. I have heard all his albums and could tell you the name of one of the albums or songs. Where is the R&B? Boys 2 Men? Guess they never heard of them. I really thought if there was one genre that would be the highlight of this decade it would be country. Country like took over in the 90's & 2000's but again this list misses the mark on music history. No Garth Brroks, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, nothing. Instead we get way too much electronic dance, house, techo, etc. from mostly unheard of British bands unless you really love that type of music. This decade was really painful to get through.
2000's - 99 Albums - 2000 - 2005
Same issues, too many repeat artist taking up space for more deserving artist. Nice Cave albums are still a huge hit here, again why do I have to hear every single Nick Cave album? Where are the boy bands? As usual little to no R&B, country, etc.
I know it sounds like I don't like British music and that is not true at all. Three of my favorite bands are British, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. Not to mention The Who and many others. My beef is just because a band in Liverpool had a top 25 song but never really got out of the UK is not a reason to put them on this list. I know music is very subjective and what I like you may hate and what you like I may hate. But I think I listen to enough music to know what is good to most and what is shit. Every single song, band, etc, that I like or love at one time was something new and unheard of and when you make a book titled 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die I expect to be wowed! I expect it all to be good. I expect it to be a discovery of great music to tell my friends and family about. I just spent over 7 months listening to these albums and I will never listen to this again because it was terrible. There are some really great albums on this list but the constant repeat artist, missing the mark of iconic genres, movements, and sounds like Motown just drag this down and like I said at times painful to listen to. This list got so I had to start taking breaks from it one or two days a week just to finish it. The list gets a 1 out of 5 from me. It is by far the worst list I have ever listened to when it comes to music.
November 12, 2024
Great book! So much fun to look through and see what other great music is out there that I was unaware of. I got this back in the early 2000s when CDs were still a thing and I would pick a decade and buy 4 CDs from that decade. Then I would listen to one CD a week exclusively until I had completely absorbed it into my DNA. Then I would switch the next CD the following week. I did this for an entire year. 52 CDs. It was a totally great experience and I think there were only one or maybe two that I didn't love after spending a week with them. Great experience. Now, of course, there's no need to buy the CDs, you can just stream the music, but it doesn't feel the same. The level of commitment isn't the same.
June 30, 2012
A "must" for anyone who enjoys music as an art expression. It's a good guide for those who want to discover new albuns or music genres/styles.
But there are many great albuns that are not listed. And the reviews are too shallow. Also, there's a lack of non american or british are artists, it's clearly oriented to american and british musicians. And I think there's obviously a whole musical WORLD outside these only two countries, which american critics and the public just don't know. It just shows how ignorant americans are about what happens outside the borders...
But there are many great albuns that are not listed. And the reviews are too shallow. Also, there's a lack of non american or british are artists, it's clearly oriented to american and british musicians. And I think there's obviously a whole musical WORLD outside these only two countries, which american critics and the public just don't know. It just shows how ignorant americans are about what happens outside the borders...
December 14, 2016
Fun listening to albums in context / with the mini-reviews for each album.
Didn't have an opinion on drum'n'bass before this book, but good God.... I never want to hear it again. The late 1990's were a trudge. If I wanted to hear hours upon hours of uhn-tiss-uhn-tiss-boom-boom-tish I would go to a rave. For some reason, it was less fun without LSD.
Glad Chocolate Starfish is included, not sure what I would have done without having heard it in context of development of nu metal. For some reason it still sounded like shit, but I'm sure there are layers to it that I just can't comprehend.
Didn't have an opinion on drum'n'bass before this book, but good God.... I never want to hear it again. The late 1990's were a trudge. If I wanted to hear hours upon hours of uhn-tiss-uhn-tiss-boom-boom-tish I would go to a rave. For some reason, it was less fun without LSD.
Glad Chocolate Starfish is included, not sure what I would have done without having heard it in context of development of nu metal. For some reason it still sounded like shit, but I'm sure there are layers to it that I just can't comprehend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2021
Just over 2 years to the day that I started this book, I've now finished - having listened to every one of those 1001 albums, save for the 5-10 that weren't on Spotify.
It's been a really enjoyable experience, and while I thought I was "well-listened", the exercise has identified some gems that were missed along my musical journey, and forced me to re-evaluate my assessments of a number of musicians and/or albums - both for good and bad.
A thoroughly recommended process. I'm looking forward to repeating the process in both the classical and jazz field.
It's been a really enjoyable experience, and while I thought I was "well-listened", the exercise has identified some gems that were missed along my musical journey, and forced me to re-evaluate my assessments of a number of musicians and/or albums - both for good and bad.
A thoroughly recommended process. I'm looking forward to repeating the process in both the classical and jazz field.
January 22, 2022
I have heard 158 of the listed albums, a few borrowed, a few at friend's abodes, the majority owned mostly in cd format (having sold most of my vinyl with very few regrets). Probably part heard about 300 others from the list which leaves over 500 I haven't knowingly heard. Vast majority of my 158 is from the 70s and 80s. Are there some I might check out? Yes.
Skim read the albums I instinctively know that are not to my taste but I am glad I bought it and will dip into this again and again.
Skim read the albums I instinctively know that are not to my taste but I am glad I bought it and will dip into this again and again.
Read
March 19, 2020que viagem musical em 7 meses. 1001 album relevantes (nao necessariamente os melhores ) de 1950 a 2010. o livro esta lido, agora faltam terminarde ouvir um pouco mais de uma decada de musica!! pra quem gosta de historia, musica e gosta de conhecer coisas novas ate do que ja conhece é muito mais que recomendavel. é mandatorio.
December 28, 2014
Fraquinho demais quando chega em meados dos anos 80/90/2000, deixa muita coisa de fora, sendo uma lista (excelente) de discos pop, mas que não necessariamente seriam essenciais, tem lacunas enormes em termos de punk e metal, apesar de algumas surpresas (cita Throbbing Gristle, por exemplo).
January 9, 2019
Muito bem organizado e com comentários dos bastidores do rock e bem humorados. Achei a seleção referente aos anos 1970 a mais consistente. Nos últimos anos, não sei se é falta de música boa ou foi cansaço do autor, mas não me parecem os melhores do período (1990-2000).
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