1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
This week, on the advice of a friend I am embarking on a journey into Quintessence’s “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die“.
Originally published as a book, the list is also available on their website in a handy searchable table.
It’s going to be a long task, but I’m looking forward to exploring some new music as well as revisiting some classics; many of the albums are outside of my normal ‘comfort zone’ and I’m painfully aware that Durham’s bubble doesn’t do much for expanding my auditory horizons these days…
I’ll list all the albums and chart my progress in this post, I’ll also be tweeting my thoughts along the way.
The List
Bold indicates I’ve listened to the album…
- 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)
- 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
- REM – Document
- Prince – Sign ‘O’ the Times
- Cult – Electric
- Depeche Mode – Music for the Masses
- Sisters of Mercy – Floodland
- Michael, George – Faith
- Hüsker Dü – Warehouse: Songs & Stories
- Butthole Surfers – Locust Abortion Technician
- Piazzolla, Astor & Gary Burton – New Tango
- Smiths – Strangeways Here We Come
- Guns N’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction
- Jesus & Mary Chain – Darklands
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Shaka Zulu
- Laibach – Opus Dei
- Napalm Death – Scum
- Sonic Youth – Sister
- Triffids – Calenture
- Jackson, Michael – Bad
- Pet Shop Boys – Actually
- U2 – Joshua Tree
- D’Arby, Terence Trent – Introducing the Hardline According to…
- Pogues – If I Should Fall from Grace with God
- Cohen, Leonard – I’m Your Man
- Waterboys – Fisherman’s Blues
- Fishbone – Truth & Soul
- Everything But the Girl – Idlewild
- Living Colour – Vivid
- Mudhoney – Superfuzz Bigmuff
- REM – Green
- Happy Mondays – Bummed
- Go Betweens – 16 Lovers Lane
- Cowboy Junkies – Trinity Session
- Chapman, Tracy – Tracy Chapman (1st Album)
- My Bloody Valentine – Isn’t Anything
- Pixies – Surfer Rosa
- Metallica – And Justice for All
- Dinosaur Jr – Bug
- Krause, Dagmar – Tank Battles
- lang, k.d. – Shadowland
- American Music Club – California
- Morrissey – Viva Hate
- Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation
- Sugarcubes – Life’s Too Good
- Yoakam, Dwight – Beuenas Noches from a Lonely Roomn
- Jane’s Addiction – Nothing’s Shocking
- Public Enemy – It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
- Faith No More – Real Thing
- Kravtiz, Lenny – Let Love Rule
- Hooker, John Lee – Healer, the
- New Order – Technique
- Madonna – Like a Prayer
- Queen Latifah – All Hail the Queen
- Spacemen 3 – Playing with Fire
- fIREHOSE – fROMOHIO
- Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique
- Young Gods – Eau Rouge, l’
- Zorn, John – Spy vs Spy: Music of Ornette Coleman
- Stone Roses – Stone Roses (1st Album)
- Cherry, Neneh – Raw Like Sushi
- Maal, Baaba & Mansour Seck – Djam Leelii
- Bush, Kate – Sensual World
- Cure – Disintegration
- 808 State – 808:90
- Coldcut – What’s That Noise?
- Adamson, Barry – Moss Side Story
- Aerosmith – Pump
- Pixies – Doolittle
- Raitt, Bonnie – Nick of Time
- Fugazi – Repeater
- Soul II Soul – Club Classics: Vol One
- De La Soul – 3 Feet High & Rising
- Jackson, Janet – Rhythm Nation 1814
- Jungle Brothers – Done by the Forces of Nature
- NWA – Straight Outta Compton
- Cocteau Twins – Heaven or Las Vegas
- Shamen – En-Tact
- Deee Lite – World Clique
- La’s – La’s
- Black Crowes – Shake Your Money Maker
- Depeche Mode – Violator
- Pixies – Bossanova
- Megadeth – Rust in Peace
- Digital Underground – Sex Packets
- Pet Shop Boys – Behaviour
- Happy Mondays – Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches
- Michael, George – Listen Without Prejudice: Vol 1
- Young, Neil – Ragged Glory
- Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted
- Jane’s Addiction – Ritual de lo Habitual
- LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out
- Public Enemy – Fear of a Black Planet
- O’Connor, Sinéad – I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got
- Tribe Called Quest, a – People’s Instinctive Travels & the Paths of Rhythm
- Sonic Youth – Goo
- Ride – Nowhere
- My Bloody Valentine – Loveless
- Nirvana – Nevermind
- Crowded House – Woodface
- Cypress Hill – Cypress Hill (1st Album)
- Cope, Julian – Peggy Suicide
- Gang Starr – Step in the Arena
- MC Solaar – Qui Sème le Vent Récolte le Tempo
- Jah Wobble – Rising Above Bedlam
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik
- Ice T – OG: Original Gangster
- Mudhoney – Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
- Public Enemy – Apocalypse 91… Enemy Strikes Back
- Tribe Called Quest, a – Low End Theory
- Pearl Jam – Ten
- Saint Etienne – Foxbase Alpha
- Sepultura – Arise
- Slint – Spiderland
- U2 – Achtung Baby
- KLF – White Room
- Massive Attack – Blue Lines
- Primal Scream – Screamadelica
- Teenage Fanclub – Bandwagonesque
- Metallica – Metallica [aka Black Album]
- Pavement – Slanted & Enchanted
- Aphex Twin – Selected Ambient Works 85-92
- Arrested Development – 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life of…
- Olomidé, Koffi – Haut de Gamme: Koweït, Rive Gauche
- Morrissey – Your Arsenal
- Maal, Baaba – Lam Toro
- Lemonheads – It’s a Shame About Ray
- Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine (1st Album)
- Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy – Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury
- lang, k.d. – Ingénue
- Dr Dre – Chronic, the
- REM – Automatic for the People
- Pharcyde – Bizarre Ride II the…
- Spiritualized – Lazer Guided Melodies
- Sugar – Copper Blue
- Waits, Tom – Bone Machine
- Sonic Youth – Dirty
- Stereo MCs – Connected
- Ministry – Psalm 69 (Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs)
- Amos, Tori – Little Earthquakes
- Ice Cube – Predator
- Pantera – Vulgar Display of Power
- Alice in Chains – Dirt
- Cave, Nick & the Bad Seeds – Henry’s Dream, by…
- Khan, Nusrat Fateh Ali – Devotional Songs
- Harvey, P.J. – Dry
- Weller, Paul – Wild Wood
- Suede – Suede (1st Album)
- Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
- Auteurs – New Wave
- Phair, Liz – Exile in Guyville
- Afghan Whigs – Gentlemen
- Mann, Aimee – Whatever
- Grant Lee Buffalo – Fuzzy
- Nirvana – In Utero
- Jamiroquai – Emergency on Planet Earth
- Pet Shop Boys – Very
- Harvey, P.J. – Rid of Me
- Blur – Modern Life is Rubbish
- Crow, Sheryl – Tuesday Night Music Club
- Fall – Infotainment Scan
- Wu Tang Clan – Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers)
- Björk – Debut
- Orbital – Orbital [aka Brown Album]
- Snoop Doggy Dogg – Doggystyle
- Sebadoh – Bubble & Scrape
- Boo Radleys – Giant Steps
- Orbit, William – Strange Cargo: III
- Method Man – Tical
- Black, Frank – Teenager of the Year
- Girls Against Boys – Venus Luxure No 1 Baby
- Jeru the Damaja – Sun Rises in the East
- Pavement – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
- Portishead – Dummy
- Sabres of Paradise – Haunted Dancehall
- Nas – Illmatic
- Beastie Boys – Ill Communication
- Costello, Elvis – Brutal Youth
- Morrissey – Vauxhall & I
- TLC – CrazySexyCool
- Oasis – Definitely Maybe
- Soundgarden – Superunknown
- Offspring – Smash
- Drive Like Jehu – Yank Crime
- Blur – Parklife
- G Love & Special Sauce – G Love & Special Sauce (1994)
- Touré, Ali Farka – Talking Timbuktu
- Hole – Live Through This
- Massive Attack – Protection
- Manic Street Preachers – Holy Bible
- Suede – Dog Man Star
- Notorious BIG – Ready to Die
- Buckley, Jeff – Grace
- Orbital – Snivilisation
- Nirvana – MTV Unplugged in New York
- Nine Inch Nails – Downward Spiral
- Prodigy – Music for the Jilted Generation
- Green Day – Dookie
- Foo Fighters – Foo Fighters (1st Album)
- Garbage – Garbage (1st Album)
- Nightmares on Wax – Smokers Delight
- Tricky – Maxinquaye
- Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
- Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness
- Rocket from the Crypt – Scream, Dracula, Scream
- Chemical Brothers – Exit Planet Dust
- 2Pac – Me Against the World
- Elastica – Elastica (1st Album)
- Supergrass – I Should Coco
- Radiohead – Bends, the
- Guided by Voices – Alien Lanes
- Kuti, Femi – Femi Kuti (1995)
- Verve – A Northern Soul
- Genius GZA – Liquid Swords
- Pulp – Different Class
- Leftfield – Leftism
- D’Angelo – Brown Sugar
- Oasis – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
- Goldie – Timeless
- Morissette, Alanis – Jagged Little Pill
- Screaming Trees – Dust
- Super Furry Animals – Fuzzy Logic
- Fatboy Slim – Better Living Through Chemistry
- Dr Octagon – Dr Octagonecologyst
- Stereolab – Emperor Tomato Ketchup
- Tortoise – Millions Now Living Will Never Die
- Beck – Odelay
- Belle & Sebastian – Tigermilk
- DJ Shadow – Endtroducing
- Eels – Beautiful Freak
- Divine Comedy – Casanova
- Apple, Fiona – Tidal
- Wilco – Being There
- Sepultura – Roots
- Adamson, Barry – Oedipus Schmoedipus
- Fun Lovin’ Criminals – Come Find Yourself
- Maxwell – Urban Hang Suite
- Charlatans – Tellin’ Stories
- Manic Street Preachers – Everything Must Go
- Everything But the Girl – Walking Wounded
- Cave, Nick & the Bad Seeds – Murder Ballads
- Bukem, LTJ – Logical Progression
- Underworld – Second Toughest in the Infants
- Jon Spencer Blues Explosion – Now I Got Worry
- Cardigans – First Band on the Moon
- Marilyn Manson – Antichrist Superstar
- Fugees – Score, the
- Ash – 1977
- Belle & Sebastian – If You’re Feeling Sinister
- Blur – Blur (1997)
- Radiohead – OK Computer
- Quaye, Finley – Maverick a Strike
- Elliott, Missy Misdemeanor – Supa Dupa Fly
- Chemical Brothers – Dig Your Own Hole
- Primal Scream – Vanishing Point
- Wyatt, Robert – Shleep
- Holmes, David – Let’s Get Killed
- Sleater Kinney – Dig Me Out
- Prodigy – Fat of the Land
- Buena Vista Social Club – Buena Vista Social Club (1997)
- Cave, Nick & the Bad Seeds – Boatman’s Call
- Divine Comedy – A Short Album About Love
- Cornershop – When I was Born for the 7th Time
- Daft Punk – Homework
- Williams, Robbie – Life Thru a Lens
- Carey, Mariah – Butterfly
- Supergrass – In it for the Money
- Dylan, Bob – Time Out of Mind
- Size, Roni & Reprazent – New Forms
- Smith, Elliott – Either/Or
- Verve – Urban Hymns
- Spiritualized – Ladies & Gentlemen, We are Floating in Space
- Dandy Warhols – Dandy Warhols (1997)
- Dylan, Bob – Bootleg Series Vol 4: Live 1966 [rec: 1966 at Free Trade Hall, Manchester]
- Chao, Manu – Clandestino
- Bragg, Billy & Wilco – Mermaid Avenue
- Turbonegro – Apocalypse Dudes
- Fatboy Slim – You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby
- Gray, David – White Ladder
- Williams, Lucinda – Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
- Pulp – This is Hardcore
- Madonna – Ray of Light
- Hill, Lauryn – Miseducation of…
- Hole – Celebrity Skin
- Mercury Rev – Deserter’s Songs
- System of a Down – System of a Down (1st Album)
- Queen of the Stone Age – Queen of the Stone Age (1st Album)
- Air – Moon Safari
- Singh, Talvin – OK
- Korn – Follow the Leader
- Khalèd, (Cheb) – Kenza
- Kid Rock – Devil Without a Cause
- Boards of Canada – Music Has the Right to Children
- Suba – São Paulo Confessions
- XTC – Apple Venus: Volume 1
- Skunk Anansie – Post Orgasmic Chill
- Incubus – Make Yourself
- Magnetic Fields – 69 Love Songs
- Travis – Man Who
- Slipknot – Slipknot (1st Album)
- Orton, Beth – Central Reservation
- Sawhney, Nitin – Beyond Skin
- Death in Vegas – Contino Sessions
- Moby – Play
- Flaming Lips – Soft Bulletin
- Rhymes Digitales, les – Darkdancer
- Tigre, le – Tigre, le (1999)
- Eminem – Slim Shady LP
- Spears, Britney – Baby One More Time
- Metallica – S&M
- Bonnie Prince Billy – I See a Darkness
- Shack – HMS Fable
- Basement Jaxx – Remedy
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication
- Sigur Rós – Ágætis Byrjun
- Doves – Lost Souls
- Air – Virgin Suicides: Original Motion Picture Score
- Adams, Ryan – Heartbreaker
- Gilberto, Bebel – Tanto Tempo
- Cole, MJ – Sincere
- Harris, Emmylou – Red Dirt Girl
- Limp Bizkit – Chocolate Starfish & the Hot Dog Flavored Water
- Radiohead – Kid A
- U2 – All That You Can’t Leave Behind
- Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory
- Smith, Elliott – Figure 8
- Badly Drawn Boy – Hour of Bewilderbeast
- Harvey, P.J. – Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
- Badu, Erykah – Mama’s Gun
- Coldplay – Parachutes
- Common – Like Water for Chocolate
- Ladd, Mike – Welcome to the Afterfuture
- Red Snapper – Our Aim is to Satisfy
- Eminem – Marshall Mathers LP
- Goldfrapp – Felt Mountain
- Giant Sand – Chore of Enchantment
- Lambchop – Nixon
- Lemper, Ute – Punishing Kiss
- Madonna – Music
- Avalanches – Since I Left You
- OutKast – Stankonia
- Radiohead – Amnesiac
- Silver Jews – Bright Flight
- Björk – Vespertine
- Gorillaz – Gorillaz (1st Album)
- Adams, Ryan – Gold
- Destiny’s Child – Survivor
- Strokes – Is This It
- Welch, Gillian – Time (The Revelator)
- Gotan Project – Revancha del Tango, la
- White Stripes – White Blood Cells
- Beta Band – Hot Shots II
- Jay Z – Blueprint
- Röyksopp – Melody AM
- Drive-By Truckers – Southern Rock Opera
- Super Furry Animals – Rings Around the World
- Jurassic 5 – Power in Numbers
- Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
- Ms Dynamite – A Little Deeper
- Bees – Sunshine Hit Me
- Jones, Norah – Come Away with Me
- Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head
- Coral – Coral (2002)
- Cash, Johnny – American IV: Man Comes Around
- Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
- Doves – Last Broadcast
- Elliott, Missy – Under Construction
- Springsteen, Bruce – Rising, the
- Aguilera, Christina – Stripped
- Roots – Phrenology
- Beck – Sea Change
- Timberlake, Justin – Justified
- Vines – Highly Evolved
- Hives – Your New Favourite Band
- Radiohead – Hail to the Thief
- Winehouse, Amy – Frank
- Calexico – Feast of Wire
- Darkness – Permission to Land
- White Stripes – Elephant
- Dizzee Rascal – Boy in da Corner
- Kings of Leon – Youth & Young Manhood
- Thrills – So Much for the City
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever to Tell
- OutKast – Speakerboxxx/Love Below
- 50 Cent – Get Rich or Die Tryin’
- Mars Volta – Deloused in the Comatorium
- Lightning Bolt – Wonderful Rainbow
- Wainwright, Rufus – Want One
- Scissor Sisters – Scissor Sisters (1st Album)
- Zutons – Who Killed the Zutons?
- Morrissey – You Are the Quarry
- Björk – Medúlla
- Mylo – Destroy Rock & Roll
- Wilson, Brian – SMiLE
- Icarus Line – Penance Soirée
- Arcade Fire – Funeral
- Banhart, Devendra – Rejoicing in the Hands
- Cave, Nick & the Bad Seeds – Abattoir Blues/Lyre of Orpheus
- Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand (1st Album)
- N*E*R*D – Fly or Die
- Beta Band – Heroes to Zeros
- Ozamatli – Street Signs
- Libertines – Libertines (1st Album)
- West, kanYe – College Dropout
- Green, Cee-Lo – Is the Soul Machine
- TV on the Radio – Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
- Liars – They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
- Streets – A Grand Don’t Come for Free
- Wainwright, Rufus – Want Two
- Zutons – Who Killed the Zutons?
- Killers – Hot Fuss
- Kings of Leon – Aha Shake Heartbreak
- MIA (UK) – Arular
- Beck – Guero
- White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan
Plus, from the revision in 2007 a further selection were added to reflect new releases…
- Anthony & The Johnsons – I am a Bird Now
- Common – Be
- Hawley, Richard – Cole’s Corners
- Stevens, Sufjan – Illinois
- TourC Farka, Ali – Savane
- Winehouse, Amy – Back to Black
- Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am
- Aguilera, Christina – Back to Basics
- Ghostface Killah – Fishscale
- Newsom, Joanna – Ys
- Lupe Fiasco – Food & Liquor
- Muse – Black Holes & Revelations
- Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
- Justice – Cross
- LCD Soundsystem – The Sound of Silver
- MIA – Kala
- Radiohead – In Rainbows
- The Good, the Bad & the Queen – The Good, the Bad & the Queen
- Klaxons – Myths of the Near Future