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
149 WILLY & 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
140 TOTO Toto
139 PARALLEL LINES Blondie
138 THE RIVER
137 DON’T SHOOT ME I’M ONLY THE PIANO PLAYER
Elton John
136 RAY OF LIGHT Madonna
135 TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN Cat Stevens
134 CONTROL Janet Jackson
133 WAR U2
132 STATION TO STATION David Bowie
131 FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE! Peter Frampton
130 STRANGE DAYS The Doors
129 DEBUT Bjork
128 HUNKY DORY David Bowie
127 RUST NEVER SLEEPS Neil Young & Crazy
Horse
126 (WHAT’S THE STORY) MORNING GLORY? Oasis
125 OTIS BLUE Otis Redding
124 1999 Prince
123 HOUSES OF THE HOLY Led Zeppelin
122 THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL Lauryn Hill
121 LICENSED TO ILL Beastie Boys
120 GREASE Movie Soundtrack- Various Artists
119 DOOKIE Green Day
118 BLUE Joni Mitchell
117 MY AIM IS TRUE Elvis Costello
116 CROSBY, STILLS * NASH Crosby, Stills &
Nash
115 THE SCORE Fugees
114 THERE’S A RIOT GOIN’ ON Sly & The
Family Stone
113 HIGHWAY TO HELL AC/DC
112 HELP! Beatles
111 WHEELS OF FIRE Cream
110 THE BLUEPRINT Jay-Z
109 FLEETWOOD MAC Fleetwood Mac
108 LIFE AFTER DEATH Notorious B.I.G.
107 AFTERMATH Rolling Stones
106 IN THROUGH THE OUTDOOR Led Zeppelin
105 THE BARBRA STREISAND ALBUM Barbra Streisand
104 EAGLES Eagles
103 THE BEATLES The Beatles
102 MOTHERSHIP CONNECTION Parliament
101 AT FOLSOM PRISON Johnny Cash
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100
THE WALL
PINK
FLOYD
1979
Roger Waters guided the rest of Pink Floyd through the album 'The Wall', writing the bulk of its tracks. Released in 1979, it has grown into one of rock music's best known concept albums. A movie adaptation followed in 1982.
The double album chronicles the highs and lows of a rock star named Pink Floyd. Waters' symbolic wall is put up by this character before it comes down. His lyrics hit out at his mother, sex and school.
"Another One Bites The Dust" became Pink Floyd's most successful single, reaching #1 in America, Britain, Europe, Canada, New Zealand, Israel and South Africa. The album's finest moment is the intoxicating "Comfortably Numb", co-written by Waters with David Gilmour.
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99
MOONDANCE
VAN MORRISON
1970
Van Morrison's 'Astral Weeks' attracted critical acclaim. It is still hailed as one of the strongest albums ever recorded. The LP was a tough act to follow, but Morrison produced an even more impressive collection of new songs for his next album.
'Moondance' was unleashed 2 years after 'Astral Weeks'. Morrison applied his vocal skill to another fine array of styles and moods. There's the tenderness of "Crazy Love", the upbeat jazz of "Moondance" and the bluesy "And It Stoned Me'. The music shines on the title track, "Everyone", "Caravan", "Brand New Day" and the ethereal "Into The Mystic".
Few recordings can match the majestic beauty of 'Moondance'. Morrison offers versatility and consistency throughout the tracks. This album has a brighter feel and lighter sound. Its success established Morrison as a soloist.
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98
LADY SOUL
ARETHA FRANKLIN
1968
Once Aretha arrived at Atlantic Records, she was crowned the Queen of Soul. Her coronation in 1967 has seen her remain on the throne ever since. 'Lady Soul' proved the new Queen was unbeatable. The new tracks provided us with further evidence of Franklin's unique vocal talent.
"Chain Of Fools" opens the album, with Franklin's impassioned soul chops at the forefront. She softens the mood with the definitive version of "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman". The song was written specifically for her by Carole King and Gerry Goffin after the album's producer came up with the title.
Complementing Franklin's immense vocal dexterity are her sisters Erma and Carolyn, Cissy Houston and The Sweet Inspirations on background vocals. Aretha sings originals and covers James Brown and Curtis Mayfield. Among the other highlights are the tracks "Come Back Baby", "Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)" and "Ain't No Way".
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97
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
N.W.A.
1988
N.W.A. sold gangsta rap to a wider audience. The group courted controversy from its inception. This debut album changed the rules for hip hop, dragging gangsta rap into the 1990s.
"Fuck Tha Police" was the instant focal point, attracting a storm of criticism. This only served to make N.W.A. more appealing to anyone searching for hard-edged rap. The album turned Dr Dre, Eazy-E and Ice Cube into hip hop royalty.
Along with the title track, other key songs include "Parental Discretion Iz Advised", "Express Yourself", "I Ain't Tha 1" and "Gangsta Gangsta". Hip hop would never be the same after the advent of this record.
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96
TRANS-EUROPE EXPRESS
KRAFTWERK
1977
Kraftwerk built on the innovations on its 1974 album 'Autobahn' with 'Trans-Europe Express'. Accentuating the mechanical elements of its sound, the German electronic music group continued revolutionizing pop music.
Most of the 7 album tracks run for more than 6 minutes. Kraftwerk influenced groups such as New Order, Depeche Mode, Heaven 17, Yello and Devo.
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