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.
70 ARRIVAL Abba
69 IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS TO HOLD US
BACK Public Enemy
68 COSMO’S FACTORY Creedence Clearwater Revival
67 SURREALISTIC PILLOW Jefferson Airplane
66 HOTEL CALIFORNIA Eagles
65 BAD GIRLS Donna Summer
64 LIVE AT THE APOLLO James Brown
63 INNERVISIONS Stevie Wonder
62 A HARD DAY’S NIGHT The Beatles
61 THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE U2
60 BORN TO RUN Bruce Springsteen
59 BACK IN BLACK AC/DC
58 SUPERFLY Curtis Mayfield
57 BURNIN’ The Wailers
56 PEARL Janis Joplin
55 SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER Movie Soundtrack Bee
Gees / Various Artists
54 PHYSICAL GRAFFITI Led Zeppelin
53 THE KICK INSIDE Kate Bush
52 DISRAELI GEARS Cream
51 LOW David Bowie
50 OFF THE WALL Michael Jackson
49 PURPLE RAIN Prince
48 GRACELAND Paul Simon
47 TOMMY
The Who
46 STICKY FINGERS Rolling Stones
45 THE MAN-MACHINE Kraftwerk
44 LED ZEPPELIN IV Led Zeppelin
43 BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME Bob Dylan
42 MODERN SOUNDS IN COUNTRY AND WESTERN MUSIC
Ray Charles
41 GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD Elton John
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40
LET IT BE
THE BEATLES
1970
Although this was the final album released by The Beatles, it was actually recorded prior to 'Abbey Road'. Sessions were hindered by the undeniable strained relations between the 4 group members. 'Let It Be' has attracted much criticism, but it does contain some moments of brilliance.
The title track remains one of the highlights of the Fab Four era. "Across The Universe" is ethereal. "Get Back" is a rock classic. "The Long And Winding Road" is a sweet string-laden ballad.As a whole, the LP is hampered by the lesser tracks.
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39
THE DOORS
THE DOORS
1967
The Doors unleashed its debut album in 1967, with an exciting new sound that reflected the influence of psychedelia on rock music. 'The Doors' offered so much more, with the blues, poetry and proto-punk attitude also thrown into the mix.
Jim Morrison looms large, inhabiting each track with his unbridled sensuality. Ray Manzarek's organ magic, especially on "Light My Fire" is a sonic delight. This stunning debut also contains the legendary track "The End", used to great effect in the film 'Apocalypse Now'. "Break on Through (To The Other Side)" opens the album, introducing listeners to the group's power.
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38
TRANSFORMER
LOU REED
1972
Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground had been a major influence on David Bowie. The British rock star produced the former's 'Transformer' album with guitarist Mick Ronson. At the time, the American musician was struggling to attract a wider audience.
'Transformer' is the parent album of 3 Reed self-penned classics: "Walk On The Wild Side", "Perfect Day" and "Satellite Of Love". Other key tracks include "Vicious", "Goodnight Ladies", "Hangin' 'Round", "I'm So Free" and "Make Up".
Reed's 2nd studio solo album influenced punk and new wave. 'Transformer' established Reed as a fundamental influence on the evolution of rock music.
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37
EXILE ON MAIN ST.
ROLLING STONES
1972
'Exile On Main St.' is arguably the most lauded album release from the Rolling Stones. The British band is at the peak of its skill as the leading purveyor of rock music following the end of The Beatles.
This album boasts some of the group's most potent rock-outs, including "Rocks Off", "Soul Survivor" and "All Down The Line". It also features staples "Tumbling Dice" and "Happy".
The range of styles is most evident on tracks such as "Sweet Virginia" "Shine A Light", "Turd On The Run", "Stop Breaking Down", "Torn And Frayed", "Loving Cup" and "Sweet Black Angel".
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36
BAT OUT OF HELL
MEAT LOAF
1977
Granted, 'Bat Out Of Hell' did not transform rock music, but its monumental sales assured Meat Loaf an enviable longevity all because of this album. Credit must be given to producer Todd Rundgren who injected each track with drama and muscle. Each song has epic quality, thanks to the songwriting talent of Jim Steinman. The 3rd factor is Meat Loaf himself. He gives his all to each song. He injects strength into the energetic tracks but conveys vulnerability and authenticity to the ballads.
Towering above the other tracks are the radio hits "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad", "You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth", "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" and the title track. The tender "Heaven Can Wait" and "For Crying Out Loud" also deserve a mention.
'Bat Out Of Hell' remains one of the best selling albums of all time. Sonically, it possesses the impact of Phil Spector's Wall Of Sound productions from the 1960s.
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