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
100 THE WALL Pink Floyd
99 MOONDANCE Van Morrison
98 LADY SOUL Aretha Franklin
97 STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON N.W.A.
96 TRANS-EUROPE EXPRESS Kraftwerk
95 THE STRANGER Billy Joel
94 DISCOVERY Daft Punk
93 DUSTY IN MEMPHIS Dusty Springfield
92 A NIGHT AT THE OPERA Queen
91 AXIS: BOLD AS LOVE Jimi Hendrix Experience
90 DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED Moody Blues
89 ABBA abba
88 ELEPHANT White Stripes
87 FIRST TAKE Roberta Flack
86 HARVEST Neil Young
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85
GRACE
JEFF BUCKLEY
1994
'Grace' is a stunning debut album from a talented musician and songwriter. Jeff Buckley promised much. He demonstrated a genuine talent for crafting music as well as a gift for re-interpretation. The latter was best proven by his remake of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". Buckley's cover immediately became the definitive version of the song which most of the world discovered through his interpretation.
Each track on 'Grace' is special, making this one of the best debut albums ever issued. Among the standouts are the aforementioned "Hallelujah", "Lilac Wine", "So Real" and "The Last Goodbye".
Sadly, this first album was to be Buckley's only completed studio release. He drowned at the age of 30 in May 1997, leaving us to forever ponder what his full potential would have produced.
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84
TEN
PEARL JAM
1991
Pearl Jam's 'Ten' arrived just as grunge was gaining a foothold on the mainstream musical radar. This was both a blessing and a curse in the band's case. Its timely release helped propel its success, but the album was swiftly relegated to the shadows of grunge contemporaries Nirvana. 'Nevermind' was a cataclysmic record. 'Ten' had no hope of ever beating it.
What 'Ten' did manage to do, however, was initiate the evolution of Pearl Jam's sound. Eddie Vedder has continued shaping the band's sound. Its first hint of promise was the powerful track 'Jeremy", on this debut album. The subject matter was serious and thought provoking.
The other tracks on 'Ten' give Pearl Jam an opportunity to demonstrate its many sides. There are the hard rock tracks such as "Alive", "Deep", "Once" and "Even Flow" and they shift gears on "Oceans", "Garden" and "Black".
Pearl Jam continued growing and redefining its own brand of alternative rock on subsequent albums, most notably on 'Vs.' and 'Vitalogy' in 1993 and 1994 respectively.
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83
THE BAND
THE BAND
1969
The Band's second album was self-titled. It marked a progression in the group's sound. Integral to this development was Robbie Robertson's increased input. He either single-handedly penned or co-wrote each of the album's dozen tracks.
Of the 12 songs, the best known is "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down". Other tracks worth exploring include: ""Up On Cripple Creek", "Whispering Pines", "Jemima Surrender" and "Across The Great Divide".
The Band had been building up its reputation since it became Bob Dylan's backing band. This album improved on the lauded debut LP 'Music from Big Pink'. 'The Band' proved the group's reputation was well deserved.
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82
AMERICAN IDIOT
GREEN DAY
2004
A reinvigorated Green Day gave 'American Idiot' purpose. The band had already released an impressive list of radio staples during the 1990s. 'American Idiot' saw Green Day take on America under George W. Bush.
Armed with an arsenal of quality songs such as the title track, "Wake Me Up When September Ends", "Holiday", "Give Me Novacaine", and "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams", the group directed its anger at the state of the nation.
Rock was meant to provoke and 'American Idiot' did just that. In an industry of posers and formulaic clones, Green Day reminded us all of the platform that musicians can occupy.
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81
HORSES
PATTI SMITH
1975
Punk rock was still percolating as Patti Smith emerged with her debut album 'Horses' in the closing weeks of 1975. The following year would see punk and new wave change the musical landscape forever.
Smith was adept enough to carve out her own style amidst the turbulence. She helped usher in punk and new wave, but also established her rock credentials. On 'Horses', Smith covers Them's "Gloria" and The Who's "My Generation". She co-wrote the rest of the tracks.
The Velvet Underground's John Cale produced 'Horses'. Opening track "Gloria: In Excelsis Deo" begins with the line: "Jesus died for someone's sins, but not mine". With that lyric, Smith sets us up for a new sub-genre: art punk.
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