Caffé Latté presents the all-time
200
MOST ESSENTIAL
ALBUMS
Frank Sinatra is generally credited as the
first artist to release a concept album. Until then, the pop market was focused
almost exclusively on the single. Albums merely consisted of a compilation of
recently issued product with filler to capitalize on a successful hit song.
During the 1960s, albums gradually built up credibility and by the 1970s, had
become as integral as the single. The era of ‘classic albums’ had emerged, led
by acts such as The Beatles, Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin and David
Bowie.
This Top 200 list includes albums that broke
new ground; expanded the sonic landscape and influenced the music that
followed. They have been ranked according to impact on the sound of rock and
pop music, popularity, sales and timeless quality.
200 LEMONADE Beyoncé
199 TUSK Fleetwood Mac
198 BLUE LINES Massive attack
197 A NEW WORLD RECORD Electric Light Orchestra
196 THAT’S THE WAY OF THE WORLD Earth, Wind & Fire
195 SHE’S SO UNUSUAL Cyndi Lauper
194 A NIGHT ON THE TOWN Rod Stewart
193 BROTHERS IN ARMS Dire Straits
192 DIANA Diana Ross
191 ABRAXAS Santana
190 TATTOO YOU Rolling Stones
189 TRACY CHAPMAN Tracy Chapman
188 FULFILLINGNESS’ FIRST FINALE Stevie Wonder
187 CAN’T SLOW DOWN Lionel Richie
186 BOOKENDS Simon & Garfunkel
185 BORN IN THE U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen
184 HOT AUGUST NIGHT Neil Diamond
183 FAITH George Michael
182 CRAZYSEXYCOOL TLC
181 TOO LOW FOR ZERO Elton John
180 PAUL SIMON Paul Simon
179 WAR OF THE WORLDS Jeff Wayne
178 PARKLIFE Blur
177 MUSIC OF MY MIND Stevie Wonder
176 BACK TO BLACK Amy Winehouse
175 ALL THINGS MUST PASS George Harrison
174 SYNCHRONICITY the Police
173 52nd STREET Billy Joel
172 THE HEIST Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
171 BAD Michael Jackson
170 TUBULAR BELLS Mike Oldfield
169 GOING TO A GO-GO Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
168 …AND THEN THERE WERE THREE… Genesis
167 DOUBLE FANTASY John Lennon & Yoko Ono
166 A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD Coldplay
165 SOME GIRLS Rolling Stones
164 IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE YOUR EYES & EARS Mamas & Papas
163 MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY Kanye West
162 CAN’T BUY A THRILL Steely Dan
161 ONCE UPON A TIME Donna Summer
160 CAPTAIN FANTASTIC & THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY Elton John
159 IN RAINBOWS Radoihead
158 ODELAY Beck
157 THE SMITHS The Smiths
156 LIKE A PRAYER Madonna
155 CLOSE TO YOU Carpenters
154 STANKONIA Outkast
153 SIGN O’ THE TIMES Prince
152 REMAIN IN LIGHT Talking Heads
151 SWEET BABY JAMES James Taylor
150 SIMPLE MINDS Linda Ronstadt
149WILLY & THE POOR BOYS Creedence Clearwater Revival
148 MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER Elton John
147 BAND ON THE RUN Paul McCartney & Wings
146 PLAY Moby
145 TALKING BOOK Stevie Wonder
144 WISH YOU WERE HERE Pink Floyd
143 BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK Red Hot Chili Peppers
142 LET’S GET IT ON Marvin Gaye
141 ASTRAL WEEKS Van Morrison
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140
TOTO
TOTO
1978
By the time the group Toto released its self-produced debut album, the members had been in demand session musicians, playing on numerous West Coast albums by other artists, for years. With 'Toto', these studio craftsmen finally had a public profile. Radio and the mainstream were instantly attracted. The band's precise performances and versatility had the public in awe.
Toto defined the sound of L.A. rock. The album boasted aural treasures such as "Rockmaker", "Hold The Line", "Georgy Porgy" and "Child's Anthem". Each track was different, demonstrating the array of genres the members mastered.
The musicians within the band played on several key recordings ranging from Boz Scaggs' 'Silk Degrees' and Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'. In the end, it was their studio skill that created a backlash. As had happened to The Bee Gees after disco had run its course, Toto could not sustain its success once musical tastes had shifted in the late 1980s in the wake of post punk, and rap.
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139
PARALLEL LINES
BLONDIE
1978
'Parallel Lines', the third studio album by American punk / new wave group Blondie, marked a significant growth in the members' songwriting skill. There was an obvious transition from its earlier releases.
Pairing the band with renowned producer Mike Chapman was a stroke of genius. He realized the potential of Blondie and applied his expertise to bring all of its potential to fruition.
There's an energy in all the tracks. Chapman's masterstroke remains his reshaping of "Heart Of Glass" into a worldwide classic. Initially offered as a reggae track, the producer fused a punk attitude with a revolutionary disco beat.
Blondie packed the album with hits such as "Picture This", "Hanging On The Telephone", "One Way Or Another" and "Sunday Girl". The remaining tracks reveal the depth of the group's creativity.
Lead vocalist Debbie Harry rightly grabbed the spotlight, paving the way for the likes of Chrissie Hynde, Pat Benatar and numerous other female rockers.
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138
THE RIVER
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
1980
On 'The River' Bruce Springsteen commented on the struggles of America's battlers. There are upbeat moments, but there is a gloomy mood pervading as The Boss takes up the mantle of spokesman for the Americans abandoned by the economy.
Among the double album's best offerings are the title track, "Fade Away", "Hungry Heart", "Independence Day", "Ramrod", "Cadillac Ranch", "Point Blank" and "Two Hearts".
Springsteen co-produced the LP with fellow E Street Band member Steven Van Zandt and Jon Landau. It was his first to reach #1 on the American Album Chart.
Springsteen and the musicians in his E Street Band further developed a sound that influenced subsequent performers such as Bryan Adams, John Mellencamp and Jon Bon Jovi.
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137
DON'T SHOOT ME I'M ONLY THE PIANO PLAYER
ELTON JOHN
1973
The prolific team of Elton John and Bernie Taupin kick-started 1973 with yet another stunning album. 'Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player' offered new gems for John's songbook, such as "Daniel", "Crocodile Rock", "Blues For My Baby And Me", "Teacher I Need You", "Have Mercy On The Criminal", "Elderberry Wine" and "High Flying Bird".
Again, this LP was produced by Gus Dudgeon. Its tracks gave the public a greater insight into the diversity of styles ranging from heartfelt ballad to retro rocker John could nail masterfully.
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136
RAY OF LIGHT
MADONNA
1998
Madonna set the charts ablaze with her brazen attitude and feminine strength. Proving she could be equally aplomb with a ballad or dance track, she helped define 80s pop. As the 1990s drew closer to its end, Madonna shifted gears again.
Realizing that electronica was the percolating trend, she made EDM her own. Madonna had always been astute enough to recognize what the next big thing would be, and she put that instinct to great effect on 'Ray Of Light'. Bringing William Orbit into her creative circle was a wise choice. The respected techno specialist helped steer her new album.
Madonna had dominated dance for years, so she simply had a makeover to reflect the change of style. The title track is an aural pleasure where the singer is perfectly married to the possibilities of electronica. Other worthy songs include "Drowned World / Substitute For Love", "Little Star", "Nothing Really Matters" and "Frozen".
It is rare for a musician of Madonna's stature to bravely embrace an emerging trend in the way she has on 'Ray Of Light'. It is more common to find lesser performers jump on a bandwagon rather than leading the mainstream towards a new sub-genre.
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135
TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN
CAT STEVENS
1970
If Cat Stevens' reputation as a singer / songwriter has endured over the last 4 decades, it is because of the beauty contained within his canon. It all came together on 'Tea For the Tillerman'. Stevens had already been a pop star, but he now established himself as one of the era's leading composer/ musicians.
Firstly, this album contains some of his best songs: "Father And Son", "Wild World", "Into White", "Sad Lisa" and "Where Do The Children Play?" Secondly, Stevens is in fine voice. He instills into each track a soothing, yet assured dimension.
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134
CONTROL
JANET JACKSON
1986
Janet Jackson's first 2 albums justifiably flopped. Liberated and exerting greater autonomy, the youngest member of America's most famous musical family emerged with 'Control' in the mid-1980s ready to make her mark.
Gone was the cute young sibling. Here was a confident woman with experience. Armed with songs co-written with the production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Janet's chart onslaught began.
The opening title track declared her mission statement. "Nasty" followed, spelling out her terms and conditions. "What Have You Done For Me Lately?" empowered all of Jackson's female disciples. The funky beat continues on "You Can Be Mine" and "The Pleasure Principle". She gets romantic on "When I Think Of You", "He Doesn't Know I'm Alive" and "Let's Wait Awhile". The latter is a plea to slow things down before proceeding to sexual relations. "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)" closes the album.
Not surprisingly, this album positioned Jackson for a major impact on 80s R&B and beyond. Subsequent albums made Janet the most famous Jackson family member, after her brother Michael.
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133
WAR
U2
1983
U2's 3rd studio album 'War' propelled the Irish group towards the top of the rock fraternity. On this LP, the band proved they possessed what was needed to stake a claim to being one of the leading rock groups on the planet.
Its opening track sees U2 blasting out with renewed passion which had been brewing on its previous 2 albums. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" swiftly became a signature track and anthem. The other well known radio staples on this album are "New Year's Day" and "Two Hearts Beat As One".
Steve Lillywhite captures the group at its purest might. The music occupies centre stage. Effects and gimmicks are noticeably absent. This is a fresh group with much to say.
Also worth a listen are the tracks: "Drowning Man", "Surrender", "Like A Song" and "40". One listen to this album makes the group's longevity and reputation much deserved and logical.
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132
STATION TO STATION
DAVID BOWIE
1976
Rock's most adored chameleon emerged with another musical direction and approach on this, his 10th studio album. Refusing to repeat himself, David Bowie serves a mix of individual tracks on 'Station To Station'.
It is the disparate collection of songs that is this LP's strength. Bowie is funky on "Golden Years" and croons on "Wild Is The Wind". The 6 tracks on the album draw from disco which was gaining momentum at the time and previewed punk and new wave.
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131
FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE!
PETER FRAMPTON
1976
What this album achieved defied logic. It was a double album. A live recording. The artist responsible was relatively unknown as a soloist until its release. Sure, Peter Frampton had a history, but he was still peripheral. Then he issued 'Frampton Comes Alive!'. The LP sold in the millions, becoming the best selling live album in history.
Suddenly, the British musician was everywhere on the radio, with "Baby I Love Your Way", "Do You Feel Like We Do" and "Show Me The Way" becoming radio fixtures.
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