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
85 GRACE Jeff Buckley
84 TEN Pearl Jam
83 THE BAND The Band
82 AMERICAN IDIOT Green Day
81 HORSES Patti Smith
80 SILK DEGREES Boz Scaggs
79 JAGGED LITTLE PILL Alanis Morissette
78 IMAGINE John Lennon
77 MR. TAMBOURINE MAN The Byrds
76 ACHTUNG BABY U2
75 APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION Guns N’ Roses
74 BITCHES BREW Miles Davis
73 METALLICA Metallica
72 WHITNEY HOUSTON Whitney Houston
71 AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE R.E.M.
o
o o
70
ARRIVAL
ABBA
1976
ABBA are unjustifiably underrated on lists such as this. Sure, their first albums leant too heavily on bubblegum, but they soon developed a unique Europop style. Today, ABBA's sound is studied for its intricacy. What appear to be simple songs unravel clever arrangements and instrumentation. Here, the credit must go to Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus. The 2 group members applied their musical skills into the production of ABBA's 4th studio album 'Arrival'.
The LP title was appropriate, as the Swedish group was taking its music to a new level. 'Arrival' was ABBA at its creative zenith. The album was packed with mega-hits: "Money, Money, Money", "Dancing Queen", "Knowing Me, Knowing You" and (on later pressings) "Fernando". Even in the USA, where ABBA had not charted as consistently as in numerous other countries, it took 'Arrival' to spawn a #1 single: "Dancing Queen". The track remains one of the greatest pop songs ever created.
Looking beyond those radio staples, 'Arrival' also features other strong pop tracks such as "That's Me", "When I Kissed The Teacher", "Tiger", "My Love, My Life" and "Why Did It Have To Be Me?".
'Arrival' allowed the female members to showcase their vocal magic. Together or in unison, Agnetha Faltskog and Frida Lyngstad demonstrate their incredible range.
Wrongly dismissed as simply bubblegum, ABBA's music has remained popular because of its complex layers. Repeated listens don't diminish its quality, but reveal new elements.
With 'Arrival', ABBA established itself as one of pop's greatest groups. The band also led to the creation of a new musical hub: Sweden. ABBA's success paved the way for compatriots such as Roxette and Ace Of Base. Sweden is the source of many of today's pop hits.
O
69
IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS TO HOLD US BACK
PUBLIC ENEMY
1988
Hip-hop was still in its formative years when Public Enemy dropped its 2nd studio album, 'It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back'. This new release was a radical game-changer.
Rick Rubin was back as producer, joined in that role by group member Chuck D. and The Bomb Squad's Hank Shocklee. The album was a massive influence on the sound of hip-hop while at the same time delivering a political statement.
Musically, 'It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back' did much to extend the musical palette of the nascent genre. Public Enemy threw jazz, funk and rock into the hip-hop recipe. The result was a seamless acousmatic sound.
Among the album's most potent moments are the tracks "Don't Believe The Hype", "Night Of the Living Baseheads", "Show 'Em Whatcha Got", "Bring The Noise", "Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos" and "Caught, Can We Get A Witness?".
O
68
COSMO'S FACTORY
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
1970
Lead vocalist, songwriter and producer John Fogerty built on the ground made in 1969 with 'Willy and the Poor Boys'. 'Cosmo's Factory' was delivered a year later, by which time Creedence Clearwater Revival had further refined its sound.
The LP featured thrilling originals such as "Ramble Tamble", "Lookin' Out My Back Door", "Up Around The Bend", "Long As I Can See The Light", "Who'll Stop The Rain", "Travelin' Band" and "Run Through The Jungle"; all penned by Fogerty.
CCR also rock out on classics such as "Before You Accuse Me", "Ooby Dooby", "My Baby Left Me" and a radically transformed "I Heard It Through The Grapevine". The latter is an 11-minute cover of the Motown R&B hit.
The mix of material on 'Cosmo's Factory' is varied, ranging from rock, soul, blues, country and swamp rock. It captured Creedence at the peak of its creativity.
O
67
SURREALISTIC PILLOW
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE
1967
Jefferson Airplane became the fully fledged ambassadors for psychedelic rock with the release of sophomore LP 'Surrealistic Pillow'. This album contains 2 of the sub-genre's defining moments: "Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit". The pair are the only contributions here by newly recruited vocalist Grace Slick, but remain the key tracks.
Released at the time when The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were flirting with psychedelia, Jefferson Airplane led the American expression of the musical style. Drawing inspiration from contemporaries such as The Byrds, The Doors and The Grateful Dead, 'Surrealistic Pillow' became a watershed recording.
Along with the aforementioned 2 classic cuts, the album offers sonic delights such as "Plastic Fantastic Lover", "D.C.B.A.-25", "She Has Funny Cars", "How Do You Feel", "3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds" and "My Best Friend".
O
66
HOTEL CALIFORNIA
EAGLES
1976
Between the albums 'One Of These Nights' and 'Hotel California', The Eagles lost Bernie Leadon and had added Joe Walsh to its line-up. The changes saw the band's sound shift from its country roots to mainstream rock.
The album's standout tracks are powered by Don Henley's lyrics. Its overall theme is about excess, exploitation and darkness while America was celebrating its bicentennial. 'Hotel California' opens with the epic title track. It sets the scene for the album's mood. That US #1 single is followed by another, the cleverly written "New Kid In Town". The album's 3rd single, "Life In The Fast Lane" is next. Another highlight is the sublime "The Last Resort".
O
No comments:
Post a Comment