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
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110
THE BLUEPRINT
JAY-Z
2001
'The Blueprint' lived up to its name when Jay-Z unleashed it to the public. With this album, the rapper positioned himself as one of the leading rap artists on the planet. In the wake of the murders of The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac, Shawn Carter stepped up.
Although he had already issued 5 albums before 'The Blueprint', the new release made him a leading force in hip hop. Its lead single "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" is the album's best known song. He is joined by Eminem on the track "Renegade". After this release, Jay-Z and, later, Kanye West became the new century's generals of the genre.
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109
FLEETWOOD MAC
FLEETWOOD
MAC
1975
British group Fleetwood Mac released a self-titled album in 1968. When a 2nd eponymous LP was issued in 1975, the band was very different. Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Christine McVie were joined by 2 new members. Americans Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks had been added to the line-up. This proved to be a wise development.
On the 1975 album, the group's sound evolved. The 2 new recruits led the group towards a more pop style. Armed with hit singles "Rhiannon", "Say You Love Me" and "Over My Head", suddenly Fleetwood Mac was all over the radio. The LP attracted huge sales, rewarding the band with its biggest success to date.
'Fleetwood Mac' was a turning point for the group. Of course, the significance of this album would be overshadowed by the follow-up, the phenomenal 'Rumours', 2 years later.
The latter's success means that some of this earlier album's tracks have been overlooked. One, "Landslide", was later covered by The Dixie Chicks. Also worth searching out are the songs "Crystal", "Warm Ways" and "World Turning".
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108
LIFE AFTER DEATH
THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G.
1997
The Notorious B.I.G. released his debut album 'Ready To Die' in 1994. His sophomore release 'Life after Death' arrived 3 years later. Biggie built on the groundwork established on its predecessor.
'Life After Death' creatively incorporated samples. This practice was put to greatest effect on "Hypnotize" (based around Herb Alpert's "Rise"), "I Love The Dough" (used Rod Stewart's "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?") and "Mo Money Mo Problems" (built on Diana Ross' "I'm Coming Out").
Biggie only completed 2 studio albums before his death. 'Life After Death' was unleashed a few weeks after his murder. He was a prolific artist and remains a major influence on hip hop.
Among the double album's highlights are the aforementioned tracks, "Another", "Playa Hater", "I Got A Story To Tell", "The World Is Filled...", "Miss U" and "Kick In The Door". This album leaves us pondering what more Biggie would have created had his life not been cut short.
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107
AFTERMATH
ROLLING STONES
1966
The 'Aftermath' album marked a significant change for The Rolling Stones. This was the group's first release featuring original material written by members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
On this, its 4th studio album issued in the UK, the band served an array of styles. "Lady Jane" is in sharp contrast to "Mother's Little Helper", which again is vastly different to "Under My Thumb". The American pressing featured the classic "Paint It, Black".
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106
IN THROUGH THE OUTDOOR
LED ZEPPELIN
1979
When the long wait for Led Zeppelin's 8th studio album was finally over, no one could have suspected that 'In Through The Outdoor' was to be the influential band's final release of all-new material.
For this album, Robert Plant was at the helm, aided mostly by John Paul Jones. His usual creative partner Jimmy Page did contribute too, but his input was curtailed by his drug addiction. Perhaps this resulted in a softer sound from Led Zep.
The material on 'In Through The Outdoor' was not as potent as on previous releases from the band. This is most evident on the sublime "All My Love". Led Zep achieves a pop feel on other standout tracks such as "Fool In The Rain", "I'm Gonna Crawl", "South Bound Saurez" and "Hot Dog".
As the group was busy rehearsing for an American tour to promote the album, drummer John Bonham choked on his own vomit after a drinking binge. The remaining members called it quits.
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105
THE BARBRA STREISAND ALBUM
BARBRA STREISAND
1963
Barbra Streisand's debut album introduced the planet to her extraordinary talent. Almost immediately, she became the yardstick among female vocalists in much the same way Frank Sinatra has been for male singers.
The album opens with its best moment, a cover of "Cry Me A River". Her measured interpretation can wow a new listener to this day. Streisand would go on to record better albums and define the MOR sound that dominated radio during the 1970s. Her success paved the way for Whitney Houston, Diana Ross and Celine Dion.
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104
EAGLES
EAGLES
1972
The principal creator of the sound of American West Coast rock was Eagles. The band emerged in 1972 with its self-titled debut album. Lead single "Take It Easy" was a stunning introduction to the richness of the group's harmonies and musicianship. Follow-up "Witchy Woman" took a different sonic approach. Another key track is the folk/rock beauty of "Peaceful Easy Feeling".
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103
THE BEATLES
THE BEATLES
1968
After the hype associated with its 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' album, The Beatles bravely followed that classic disc with a double album. The Fab Four never repeated themselves. While not every track is worthy of a group as historically integral as The Beatles, some essential exceptions do exist.
George Harrison provides the album's finest track: "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". There's fun packed in "Back In The U.S.S.R", "Ob-La -Di, Ob-La-Da" and "Birthday". Also of note are the cuts "Blackbird", "Dear Prudence" and "Revolution".
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102
MOTHERSHIP CONNECTION
PARLIAMENT
1975
George Clinton was at the controls for the funk outfits Parliament and Funkadelic. On 'Mothership Connection', he steers the former through one of the most influential funky recordings.
This album features a skilled group of musicians that included Bootsy Collins and Bernie Worrell. It features key tracks such as "Give Up the Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)" and "Mothership Connection (Star Child)". Both were later sampled by Dr. Dre on his 'The Chronic' album.
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101
AT FOLSOM PRISON
JOHNNY CASH
1968
Country music was never the same after Johnny Cash. He took on the 'Man In Black' persona around the time of this watershed performance at Folsom Prison. His legend needed no gimmicks, frills or exaggeration. Cash was country's greatest exponent. No one injected the genre with the same grit, sincerity and dexterity. Captured here live in front of an incarcerated audience, Cash embodied the outlaw.
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