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
40 LET IT BE The Beatles
39 THE DOORS The Doors
38 TRANSFORMER Lou Reed
37 EXILE ON MAIN ST. Rolling Stones
36 BAT OUT OF HELL Meat Loaf
35 BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER Simon &
Garfunkel
34 ELVIS PRESLEY Elvis Presley
33 ARE YOU EXPERIENCED Jimi Hendrix Experience
32 LET IT BLEED Rolling Stones
31 THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP Eminem
30 ABBEY ROAD The Beatles
29 THE RISE & FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST &
THE SPIDERS FROM MARS
David Bowie
28 ELECTRIC
LADYLAND Jimi Hendrix Experience
27 BEGGARS BANQUET Rolling Stones
26 THRILLER Michael Jackson
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25
LED ZEPPELIN II
LED
ZEPPELIN
1969
On Led Zeppelin's 2nd studio album, the band transformed blues and rock 'n' roll tracks. Doing so, the group laid much of the foundations for heavy metal. This is most evident on "Whole Lotta Love". Drawing inspiration from a Willie Dixon recording, Led Zep radically injected a heavy dose of guitar and impact. The new interpretation influenced countless hard rock and metal acts.
Lead guitarist Jimmy Page is the driving force on 'Led Zeppelin II', co-writing all of its tracks as well as producing the album. He is complemented by Robert Plant's bluesy vocals, John Bonham's drumming and John Paul Jones on bass.
What Led Zeppelin achieved on this sophomore release has been imitated by an endless stream of groups. Few, if any, ever equalled the creative range and depth accomplished by this revered band.
Despite borrowing much from other sources, 'Led Zeppelin II' ushered in heavy metal and the heavy rock sound of the 1970s. Among its highlights are "Whole Lotta Love", "Thank You", "What Is And What Should Never Be", "Ramble On", "Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)", "Heartbreaker" and "The Lemon Song".
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24
RAMONES
RAMONES
1976
The Ramones dropped its eponymous debut album just as punk rock was gaining momentum. Despite drawing influence from pre-British Invasion rock and pop, the new album helped inspire many new wave groups.
Only 1 track runs for 3 minutes; the others are shorter. This brevity only added urgency to the album's themes. Standouts include "Blitzkrieg Bop", "I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You", "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend", "Havana Affair", "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue", "Beat On The Brat", "Let's Dance" and "I Don't Wanna Go Down To The Basement".
'The Ramones' was an incendiary release, with its snappy and concise 14 tracks. Inspired by the seminal rock 'n' roll discs, the girl group era and surf rock, The Ramones delivered its songs with a proto-punk attitude.
Only 1 track runs for 3 minutes; the others are shorter. This brevity only added urgency to the album's themes. Standouts include "Blitzkrieg Bop", "I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You", "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend", "Havana Affair", "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue", "Beat On The Brat", "Let's Dance" and "I Don't Wanna Go Down To The Basement".
'The Ramones' was an incendiary release, with its snappy and concise 14 tracks. Inspired by the seminal rock 'n' roll discs, the girl group era and surf rock, The Ramones delivered its songs with a proto-punk attitude.
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23
BLONDE ON BLONDE
BOB DYLAN
1966
'Blonde On Blonde' is a much-venerated album released by Bob Dylan at the pinnacle of his impact on rock music. The diverse tracks demonstrate the quality and depth of his undeniable songwriting talent.
This album contains several classics from Dylan's songbook including: "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35", "I Want You", "Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again" and the sublime "Just Like A Woman". The remaining tracks are just as noteworthy, particularly: "Pledging My Time", "One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)", "Obviously Five Believers", "Absolutely Sweet Marie" and "Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)".
Each of these tracks exemplify Dylan's versatility. Arguably, the American singer / songwriter has never delivered a more accessible album. 'Blonde On Blonde' remains an exalted body of work.
This album contains several classics from Dylan's songbook including: "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35", "I Want You", "Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again" and the sublime "Just Like A Woman". The remaining tracks are just as noteworthy, particularly: "Pledging My Time", "One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)", "Obviously Five Believers", "Absolutely Sweet Marie" and "Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)".
Each of these tracks exemplify Dylan's versatility. Arguably, the American singer / songwriter has never delivered a more accessible album. 'Blonde On Blonde' remains an exalted body of work.
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22
HERE'S LITTLE RICHARD
LITTLE RICHARD
1957
Little Richard played an integral role as one of the architects of rock and roll. His influence is on par with the likes of Chuck Berry and Bill Haley. 'Here's Little Richard' contains some of the formative songs of the embryonic genre.
"Tutti Frutti" opens the album, immortalizing the expression "a wop bop a loo mop a lomp bomp bomp". Instantly, rock 'n' roll was injected with wild and camp abandon.
The LP also includes rock classics such as "Slippin' And Slidin'", "Long Tall Sally" and "Rip It Up". Each track on this LP remains a timeless example of the thrill of rock's primary years.
"Tutti Frutti" opens the album, immortalizing the expression "a wop bop a loo mop a lomp bomp bomp". Instantly, rock 'n' roll was injected with wild and camp abandon.
The LP also includes rock classics such as "Slippin' And Slidin'", "Long Tall Sally" and "Rip It Up". Each track on this LP remains a timeless example of the thrill of rock's primary years.
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21
WITH THE BEATLES
THE BEATLES
1963
Although there would be greater albums produced by The Beatles over the next 6 years, 'With The Beatles' marked a definite progression. On this LP, the group was sharpening its songwriting skills.
The album is peppered with covers, including Motown standards "Please Mister Postman", "Money (That's What I Want)" and "You've Really Got A Hold On Me"; Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven", "Devil In Her Heart" (originally by Ricky Dee) and "Till There Was You" from the musical "The Music Man".
George Harrison's fledgling contribution to the group's catalogue began with "Don't Bother Me" on 'With The Beatles'. The remainder of the tracks were penned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Even in these early years prior to the explosion of Beatlemania, the 2 songwriters were creating classics. This album boasts the tracks "All My Loving", "It Won't Be Long" and "I Wanna Be Your Man". The latter was given to The Rolling Stones to record as the band's 2nd single prior to The Beatles cutting it for this album.
The album is peppered with covers, including Motown standards "Please Mister Postman", "Money (That's What I Want)" and "You've Really Got A Hold On Me"; Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven", "Devil In Her Heart" (originally by Ricky Dee) and "Till There Was You" from the musical "The Music Man".
George Harrison's fledgling contribution to the group's catalogue began with "Don't Bother Me" on 'With The Beatles'. The remainder of the tracks were penned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Even in these early years prior to the explosion of Beatlemania, the 2 songwriters were creating classics. This album boasts the tracks "All My Loving", "It Won't Be Long" and "I Wanna Be Your Man". The latter was given to The Rolling Stones to record as the band's 2nd single prior to The Beatles cutting it for this album.
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