"What do you think are the 10 best albums ever made? Not necessarily your 10 favorite, but the best 10 records based on influence on music, songwriting, composition, musicianship, and impact of soul/feeling/expression on listeners"
1 Berry Is On Top by Chuck Berry (influenced Keith Richards, Brian Wilson and countless others)
2 Elvis Presley- Elvis Presley (his influence was enormous. Springsteen, Petty, and many more loved his music/style/image)
3 Kind of Blue- Miles Davis (his impact was felt not only in the jazz community but people like Duane Allman also held him in high esteem for his virtuosic improvisational skills)
4 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band- The Beatles (as far as pure cultural impact this may be close to the top. So many artists and bands were influenced by it and music changed because of it.)
5 The Dark Side of The Moon- Pink Floyd (It is a unique sonic experience that remains unmatched in terms of its ability to be simultaneously complex musically and lyrically simple.)
6 Thriller- Michael Jackson (this album was so popular its influence on music and culture can still be heard in music by artists like Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars).
7 Straight Outta Compton- NWA (this album cemented Gangsta Rap as a legitimate and commercially viable form of art. It was violent and volatile but also charismatic. It influenced countless hit records in the 80s, 90s, 2000s, and today).
8 King of the Delta Blues Singers - Robert Johnson (although it's cultural impact was delayed a bit many bands and artists have consider Johnson a crucial influence and the British blues explosion in the 60s definitely owes him and other originators a debt of gratitude).
9 Lady Soul- Aretha Franklin (she was/is a diva deserving of her own category. Her voice has so much soul and her impact on music cannot be denied.)
10 Nevermind- Nirvana (This album and really several others as well helped define a generation with a new sound, new image, and new ways of looking at the world. Gone were the hair bands of old. Kurt was the antithesis of a rock star and yet thurst into the role and the results were tragic but the art he left in his wake will forever inspire others).
Honorable Mentions-
The Band- The Band (Americana/folk rock) The Velvet Underground and Nico- The Velvet Underground (art rock/alternative) American Beauty- The Grateful Dead (jam bands) Ramones- Ramones (punk rock) Is This It- The Strokes (rock/"garage rock revival") Kid A- Radiohead (art rock/electronic/experimental) Paranoid- Black Sabbath (metal) Loveless- My Bloody Valentine (shoegaze) Unknown Pleasures- Joy Division (post-punk) Are You Experienced? - Jimi Hendrix Experience (blues rock/psychedelic rock) The Stooges- The Stooges (proto punk) What's Going On- Marvin Gaye (soul) Master of Puppets - Metallica (metal) Run DMC- Run DMC (hip-hop) Blue- Join Mitchell (singer/songwriter) Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen (rock) Appetite for Destruction- Guns N' Roses (hard rock) Back In Black- Ac/DC (hard rock) London Calling- The Clash (punk/rock/ska...) Highway 61 Revisited- Bob Dylan (folk rock) Live at Folsom Prison- Johnny Cash (country) Doolittle- Pixies (indie rock) Murmur- R.E.M. (college rock/indie/alternative rock) Yankee Hotel Foxtrot- Wilco (indie rock) Daydream Nation- Sonic Youth (indie/alternative/experimental) Tommy- The Who (rock) Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys (pop/baroque pop/experimental pop) Rumors- Fleetwood Mac (Pop Rock) Dummy- Portishead (trip-hop) Violator- Depeche Mode (synthpop) The Downward Spiral- Nine Inch Nails (industrial)... Sweetheart of the Rodeo- The Byrds (country rock) Graceland- Paul Simon (world music) Exodus- Bob Marley (Reggae) The Best of Muddy Waters- Muddy Waters (Blues)
Lots of others I'm forgetting here just so many great albums that have defined genres and culture at different times.
Post edited by pjpjpaul on
Virginia Beach 2000 DC 2003 DC 2004 (VFC) DC 2006 Pittsburgh 2006 Bonnaroo 2008 Virginia Beach 2008 DC 2008 Philly (Spectrum) 10/31/2009 DC 2010 (Jiffy Lube Live) PJ 20 night 1 PJ 20 night 2 Phoenix 2013 LA 1 2013 Memphis 2014 Jacksonville 2016 Greenville 2016 Hampton 2016 Columbia 2016 Fenway 1 2016 Fenway 2 2016 Wrigley 1 2018 Wrigley 2 2018 Fenway 1 2018 Fenway 2 2018 Sea Hear Now 2021 Nashville 2022 Louisville 2022
"What do you think are the 10 best albums ever made? Not necessarily your 10 favorite, but the best 10 records based on influence on music, songwriting, composition, musicianship, and impact of soul/feeling/expression on listeners"
1 Berry Is On Top by Chuck Berry (influenced Keith Richards, Brian Wilson and countless others)
2 Elvis Presley- Elvis Presley (his influence was enormous. Springsteen, Petty, and many more loved his music/style/image)
3 Kind of Blue- Miles Davis (his impact was felt not only in the jazz community but people like Duane Allman also held him in high esteem for his virtuosic improvisational skills)
4 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band- The Beatles (as far as pure cultural impact this may be close to the top. So many artists and bands were influenced by it and music changed because of it.)
5 The Dark Side of The Moon- Pink Floyd (It is a unique sonic experience that remains unmatched in terms of its ability to be simultaneously complex musically and lyrically simple.)
6 Thriller- Michael Jackson (this album was so popular its influence on music and culture can still be heard in music by artists like Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars).
7 Straight Outta Compton- NWA (this album cemented Gangsta Rap as a legitimate and commercially viable form of art. It was violent and volatile but also charismatic. It influenced countless hit records in the 80s, 90s, 2000s, and today).
8 King of the Delta Blues Singers - Robert Johnson (although it's cultural impact was delayed a bit many bands and artists have consider Johnson a crucial influence and the British blues explosion in the 60s definitely owes him and other originators a debt of gratitude).
9 Lady Soul- Aretha Franklin (she was/is a diva deserving of her own category. Her voice has so much soul and her impact on music cannot be denied.)
10 Nevermind- Nirvana (This album and really several others as well helped define a generation with a new sound, new image, and new ways of looking at the world. Gone were the hair bands of old. Kurt was the antithesis of a rock star and yet thurst into the role and the results were tragic but the art he left in his wake will forever inspire others).
Honorable Mentions-
The Band- The Band (Americana/folk rock) The Velvet Underground and Nico- The Velvet Underground (art rock/alternative) American Beauty- The Grateful Dead (jam bands) Ramones- Ramones (punk rock) Is This It- The Strokes (rock/"garage rock revival") Kid A- Radiohead (art rock/electronic/experimental) Paranoid- Black Sabbath (metal) Loveless- My Bloody Valentine (shoegaze) Unknown Pleasures- Joy Division (post-punk) Are You Experienced? - Jimi Hendrix Experience (blues rock/psychedelic rock) The Stooges- The Stooges (proto punk) What's Going On- Marvin Gaye (soul) Master of Puppets - Metallica (metal) Run DMC- Run DMC (hip-hop) Blue- Join Mitchell (singer/songwriter) Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen (rock) Appetite for Destruction- Guns N' Roses (hard rock) Back In Black- Ac/DC (hard rock) London Calling- The Clash (punk/rock/ska...) Highway 61 Revisited- Bob Dylan (folk rock) Live at Folsom Prison- Johnny Cash (country) Doolittle- Pixies (indie rock) Murmur- R.E.M. (college rock/indie/alternative rock) Yankee Hotel Foxtrot- Wilco (indie rock) Daydream Nation- Sonic Youth (indie/alternative/experimental) Tommy- The Who (rock) Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys (pop/baroque pop/experimental pop) Rumors- Fleetwood Mac (Pop Rock) Dummy- Portishead (trip-hop) Violator- Depeche Mode (synthpop) The Downward Spiral- Nine Inch Nails (industrial)... Sweetheart of the Rodeo- The Byrds (country rock) Graceland- Paul Simon (world music)
Lots of others I'm forgetting here just so many great albums that have defined genres and culture at different times.
Lots of great albums there. Berry and Presley for sure. From the "influence" angle, it would be hard not to include something by Muddy Waters, but a specific album of Muddy's would be a tough choice as his influence stems mostly from singles.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
"What do you think are the 10 best albums ever made? Not necessarily your 10 favorite, but the best 10 records based on influence on music, songwriting, composition, musicianship, and impact of soul/feeling/expression on listeners"
1 Berry Is On Top by Chuck Berry (influenced Keith Richards, Brian Wilson and countless others)
2 Elvis Presley- Elvis Presley (his influence was enormous. Springsteen, Petty, and many more loved his music/style/image)
3 Kind of Blue- Miles Davis (his impact was felt not only in the jazz community but people like Duane Allman also held him in high esteem for his virtuosic improvisational skills)
4 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band- The Beatles (as far as pure cultural impact this may be close to the top. So many artists and bands were influenced by it and music changed because of it.)
5 The Dark Side of The Moon- Pink Floyd (It is a unique sonic experience that remains unmatched in terms of its ability to be simultaneously complex musically and lyrically simple.)
6 Thriller- Michael Jackson (this album was so popular its influence on music and culture can still be heard in music by artists like Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars).
7 Straight Outta Compton- NWA (this album cemented Gangsta Rap as a legitimate and commercially viable form of art. It was violent and volatile but also charismatic. It influenced countless hit records in the 80s, 90s, 2000s, and today).
8 King of the Delta Blues Singers - Robert Johnson (although it's cultural impact was delayed a bit many bands and artists have consider Johnson a crucial influence and the British blues explosion in the 60s definitely owes him and other originators a debt of gratitude).
9 Lady Soul- Aretha Franklin (she was/is a diva deserving of her own category. Her voice has so much soul and her impact on music cannot be denied.)
10 Nevermind- Nirvana (This album and really several others as well helped define a generation with a new sound, new image, and new ways of looking at the world. Gone were the hair bands of old. Kurt was the antithesis of a rock star and yet thurst into the role and the results were tragic but the art he left in his wake will forever inspire others).
Honorable Mentions-
The Band- The Band (Americana/folk rock) The Velvet Underground and Nico- The Velvet Underground (art rock/alternative) American Beauty- The Grateful Dead (jam bands) Ramones- Ramones (punk rock) Is This It- The Strokes (rock/"garage rock revival") Kid A- Radiohead (art rock/electronic/experimental) Paranoid- Black Sabbath (metal) Loveless- My Bloody Valentine (shoegaze) Unknown Pleasures- Joy Division (post-punk) Are You Experienced? - Jimi Hendrix Experience (blues rock/psychedelic rock) The Stooges- The Stooges (proto punk) What's Going On- Marvin Gaye (soul) Master of Puppets - Metallica (metal) Run DMC- Run DMC (hip-hop) Blue- Join Mitchell (singer/songwriter) Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen (rock) Appetite for Destruction- Guns N' Roses (hard rock) Back In Black- Ac/DC (hard rock) London Calling- The Clash (punk/rock/ska...) Highway 61 Revisited- Bob Dylan (folk rock) Live at Folsom Prison- Johnny Cash (country) Doolittle- Pixies (indie rock) Murmur- R.E.M. (college rock/indie/alternative rock) Yankee Hotel Foxtrot- Wilco (indie rock) Daydream Nation- Sonic Youth (indie/alternative/experimental) Tommy- The Who (rock) Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys (pop/baroque pop/experimental pop) Rumors- Fleetwood Mac (Pop Rock) Dummy- Portishead (trip-hop) Violator- Depeche Mode (synthpop) The Downward Spiral- Nine Inch Nails (industrial)... Sweetheart of the Rodeo- The Byrds (country rock) Graceland- Paul Simon (world music)
Lots of others I'm forgetting here just so many great albums that have defined genres and culture at different times.
Lots of great albums there. Berry and Presley for sure. From the "influence" angle, it would be hard not to include something by Muddy Waters, but a specific album of Muddy's would be a tough choice as his influence stems mostly from singles.
I added his "Best of" to the honorable Mentions due to the fact that it's probably the one that influenced people the most in the 60s.
Virginia Beach 2000 DC 2003 DC 2004 (VFC) DC 2006 Pittsburgh 2006 Bonnaroo 2008 Virginia Beach 2008 DC 2008 Philly (Spectrum) 10/31/2009 DC 2010 (Jiffy Lube Live) PJ 20 night 1 PJ 20 night 2 Phoenix 2013 LA 1 2013 Memphis 2014 Jacksonville 2016 Greenville 2016 Hampton 2016 Columbia 2016 Fenway 1 2016 Fenway 2 2016 Wrigley 1 2018 Wrigley 2 2018 Fenway 1 2018 Fenway 2 2018 Sea Hear Now 2021 Nashville 2022 Louisville 2022
My current choices accounting for different genres of music I frequently listen to.
1. Thelonious Monk - Straight, No Chaser (was going to go with Coltrane for my jazz pick, but I like this one more) 2. Elvis Presley - Since albums weren't really what made him a big deal I can't find one to choose from besides his number 1's, but his influence was huge. 3. The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers/Revolver (Their sound just evolved so much around this time) 4. Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy (everything you could want from LZ) 5. Talking Heads - Speaking in Tongues (Another hard choice, but overall this album is excellent and spawned an epic tour) 6. Metallica - Master of Puppets (while it wasn't until the Black album that I discovered them, this is the magnum opus) 7. The Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (classic and ahead of it's time) 8. Dr. Dre - The Chronic (I enjoy Snoop, 2Pac, Biggie, et. all, but this was the beginning) 9. Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger (Jesus Christ Pose!) 10. Michael Jackson - Thriller (what a pop masterpiece)
Some said RHCP “By the Way”. I dont like the title track but man what an incredible album.
I love the song "This Is The Place" and feel it is vastly underrated.
"Don't Forget Me" FTW!!!
Tear. Venice Queen. Beautiful album. Dark, good harmonies. Really underrated
Small random story. My Uncle was an LAPD beat cop(brother of the one whom wrote to Manson) and he had a book w paroles in it that they picked up in the area and he was one of these people. Anthony Keitser, occupation Musician. My uncle told us that everyone in that book would be either dead or in prison. My sister went and grabber her latest episode of Spin w them on the cover. My uncle didn't believe it. He must have seen some things... Pic was circa 1984. Magazine was 96.
I'm excluding live albums, and counting double albums as one. In my limited musical experience, and in no order:
U2 - Achtung! Baby (this would be #1, without hesitation for me) Pearl Jam - Vitalogy Oasis - Morning Glory Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets Counting Crows - August and Everything After Led Zeppelin - IV Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American Stone Temple Pilots - Purple
Cornell's Songbook would make the cut if I counted live albums.
1998: Barrie 2000: Toronto 2005: Kitchener, London, Hamilton, Toronto 2006: Toronto 1&2, Paris, Milan, Torino, Pistoia 2009: Calgary, Vancouver 2011: Canada 2013: London, Wrigley, Philly 1&2 2014: St. Louis, ACL 1, Detroit 2016: Lexington, Quebec, Ottawa, Toronto 1&2, Fenway 1&2, Wrigley 1&2 2017: EV - Louisville 2018: London1&2, Milan, Padova, Rome, Prague, Krakow, Berlin, Wrigley 1&2, Fenway 1&2 2020: Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton2021: London 1&22022: Hamilton, Toronto 2023: Chicago 1&2, Noblesville2024: Seattle 1&2, Noblesville, Wrigley 1&2
I'm excluding live albums, and counting double albums as one. In my limited musical experience, and in no order:
U2 - Achtung! Baby (this would be #1, without hesitation for me) Pearl Jam - Vitalogy Oasis - Morning Glory Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets Counting Crows - August and Everything After Led Zeppelin - IV Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American Stone Temple Pilots - Purple
Cornell's Songbook would make the cut if I counted live albums.
Not able to rank it top 10 in good conscience, but August and Everything After is one hell of an album!
Pearl Jam - Yield George Harrison - All Things Must Pass My Morning Jacket - Evil urges Neil Young - Live at Massey Hall Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left Beta Band - The Three EPs The Beatles - White Album Radiohead - Ok Computer Pearl Jam - No Code
Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes Neil Young - Harvest Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile PJ Harvey - Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea Joakim Thåström - Skebokvarnsv. 209 Jeff Buckley - Grace Leonard Cohen - I'm your man ABBA - The Visitors The Doors - Waiting for the Sun or Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hil Nirvana - Nevermind
Now, morning meeting at work so can't think about it more. This I guess is more favorite albums than "best albums". Who cares.
Stories From The City... is a perfect album
“Do not postpone happiness”
(Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)
To heck with the need to be snootchy bootchy about what the music did, meant, blah.
Looking at many lists, there is no fucking way everyone else is using the highbrow radar on their picks.
That stated, this is what I type up this evening -- in a metal mood, would be very different tomorrow:
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Guns N Roses - Appetite for Destruction
AC'DC - Back in Black
Motley Crue - Too Fast For Love
NIN - Pretty Hate Machine
Whitesnake - Whitesnake
Dead Kennedys - Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death
I should have asked for two lists:
"The 10 best Snoochy Bootchy Albums EVER"
and...
"Sod Off You Boor, These are the Best 10 Ever... Says ME!"
The Committee for Proper Listings will review your list and contact you when they have made a decision. Thank you for your entry.
I have tix to see John Cleese in October. Really hope it doesn't get canceled. I saw him and Eric Idle a few years ago and it was hilarious. I love Monty Python.
Virginia Beach 2000 DC 2003 DC 2004 (VFC) DC 2006 Pittsburgh 2006 Bonnaroo 2008 Virginia Beach 2008 DC 2008 Philly (Spectrum) 10/31/2009 DC 2010 (Jiffy Lube Live) PJ 20 night 1 PJ 20 night 2 Phoenix 2013 LA 1 2013 Memphis 2014 Jacksonville 2016 Greenville 2016 Hampton 2016 Columbia 2016 Fenway 1 2016 Fenway 2 2016 Wrigley 1 2018 Wrigley 2 2018 Fenway 1 2018 Fenway 2 2018 Sea Hear Now 2021 Nashville 2022 Louisville 2022
To heck with the need to be snootchy bootchy about what the music did, meant, blah.
Looking at many lists, there is no fucking way everyone else is using the highbrow radar on their picks.
That stated, this is what I type up this evening -- in a metal mood, would be very different tomorrow:
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Guns N Roses - Appetite for Destruction
AC'DC - Back in Black
Motley Crue - Too Fast For Love
NIN - Pretty Hate Machine
Whitesnake - Whitesnake
Dead Kennedys - Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death
I'm curious about the DK album. Why that one? I picked Frankenchrist because there isn't a bad song on the whole thing and they were at their top for that one.
To heck with the need to be snootchy bootchy about what the music did, meant, blah.
Looking at many lists, there is no fucking way everyone else is using the highbrow radar on their picks.
That stated, this is what I type up this evening -- in a metal mood, would be very different tomorrow:
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Guns N Roses - Appetite for Destruction
AC'DC - Back in Black
Motley Crue - Too Fast For Love
NIN - Pretty Hate Machine
Whitesnake - Whitesnake
Dead Kennedys - Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death
I'm curious about the DK album. Why that one? I picked Frankenchrist because there isn't a bad song on the whole thing and they were at their top for that one.
It is sort of a cheat, right? It is a compilation/rarities record.
The reason this rings the loudest for me is simply that it was my intro to DK's music after learning about them during the PMRC bullshit. Bought it when it first came out, remember picking the cassette and falling in love with it on the first play through. I was not into Hardcore Punk, at all, and it was amazing. My buddies thought it was fucked up, which only made me love it more. Think I was in 7th or 8th grade. Angry little fucker and this blew me up.
To heck with the need to be snootchy bootchy about what the music did, meant, blah.
Looking at many lists, there is no fucking way everyone else is using the highbrow radar on their picks.
That stated, this is what I type up this evening -- in a metal mood, would be very different tomorrow:
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Guns N Roses - Appetite for Destruction
AC'DC - Back in Black
Motley Crue - Too Fast For Love
NIN - Pretty Hate Machine
Whitesnake - Whitesnake
Dead Kennedys - Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death
I'm curious about the DK album. Why that one? I picked Frankenchrist because there isn't a bad song on the whole thing and they were at their top for that one.
It is sort of a cheat, right? It is a compilation/rarities record.
The reason this rings the loudest for me is simply that it was my intro to DK's music after learning about them during the PMRC bullshit. Bought it when it first came out, remember picking the cassette and falling in love with it on the first play through. I was not into Hardcore Punk, at all, and it was amazing. My buddies thought it was fucked up, which only made me love it more. Think I was in 7th or 8th grade. Angry little fucker and this blew me up.
Cool cool. Same reason I loved them. It was fast and angry. I was picking up any hardcore album I could find around the time this came out too.
First one I bought from them was In God We Trust Inc. LOVED that album but when I got to Frankenchrist, man. That album was just the best to me and like you said, the PMRC hearings, Oprah, it was all amazing.
To heck with the need to be snootchy bootchy about what the music did, meant, blah.
Looking at many lists, there is no fucking way everyone else is using the highbrow radar on their picks.
That stated, this is what I type up this evening -- in a metal mood, would be very different tomorrow:
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Guns N Roses - Appetite for Destruction
AC'DC - Back in Black
Motley Crue - Too Fast For Love
NIN - Pretty Hate Machine
Whitesnake - Whitesnake
Dead Kennedys - Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death
I should have asked for two lists:
"The 10 best Snoochy Bootchy Albums EVER"
and...
"Sod Off You Boor, These are the Best 10 Ever... Says ME!"
The Committee for Proper Listings will review your list and contact you when they have made a decision. Thank you for your entry.
I have tix to see John Cleese in October. Really hope it doesn't get canceled. I saw him and Eric Idle a few years ago and it was hilarious. I love Monty Python.
Very cool! I hope he keeps the date.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Ahh the guy who drops the boot on everyone and crushes them. I bet he likes to take pictures...nudge nudge, you know what I mean...riiiiiight right. Now for something completely different.
Ahh the guy who drops the boot on everyone and crushes them. I bet he likes to take pictures...nudge nudge, you know what I mean...riiiiiight right. Now for something completely different.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
love/loved gregg's old band a real lot. musical hero, of mine.. 1st set and 2nd set were the 2 discs for me back where it all began. and a nice first post i might add!
also... i'm completely amazed that a new band can come along, to my old ears, and be a real contender for this category.
every song on billy's new cd(home 2019) is killer. no filler. that doesn't happen enough, for me.
this tells me that my list can change every year, because i haven finished listening to everything yet
Comments
1 Berry Is On Top by Chuck Berry (influenced Keith Richards, Brian Wilson and countless others)
2 Elvis Presley- Elvis Presley (his influence was enormous. Springsteen, Petty, and many more loved his music/style/image)
3 Kind of Blue- Miles Davis (his impact was felt not only in the jazz community but people like Duane Allman also held him in high esteem for his virtuosic improvisational skills)
4 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band- The Beatles (as far as pure cultural impact this may be close to the top. So many artists and bands were influenced by it and music changed because of it.)
5 The Dark Side of The Moon- Pink Floyd (It is a unique sonic experience that remains unmatched in terms of its ability to be simultaneously complex musically and lyrically simple.)
6 Thriller- Michael Jackson (this album was so popular its influence on music and culture can still be heard in music by artists like Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars).
7 Straight Outta Compton- NWA (this album cemented Gangsta Rap as a legitimate and commercially viable form of art. It was violent and volatile but also charismatic. It influenced countless hit records in the 80s, 90s, 2000s, and today).
8 King of the Delta Blues Singers - Robert Johnson (although it's cultural impact was delayed a bit many bands and artists have consider Johnson a crucial influence and the British blues explosion in the 60s definitely owes him and other originators a debt of gratitude).
9 Lady Soul- Aretha Franklin (she was/is a diva deserving of her own category. Her voice has so much soul and her impact on music cannot be denied.)
10 Nevermind- Nirvana (This album and really several others as well helped define a generation with a new sound, new image, and new ways of looking at the world. Gone were the hair bands of old. Kurt was the antithesis of a rock star and yet thurst into the role and the results were tragic but the art he left in his wake will forever inspire others).
Honorable Mentions-
The Band- The Band (Americana/folk rock)
The Velvet Underground and Nico- The Velvet Underground (art rock/alternative)
American Beauty- The Grateful Dead (jam bands)
Ramones- Ramones (punk rock)
Is This It- The Strokes (rock/"garage rock revival")
Kid A- Radiohead (art rock/electronic/experimental)
Paranoid- Black Sabbath (metal)
Loveless- My Bloody Valentine (shoegaze)
Unknown Pleasures- Joy Division (post-punk)
Are You Experienced? - Jimi Hendrix Experience (blues rock/psychedelic rock)
The Stooges- The Stooges (proto punk)
What's Going On- Marvin Gaye (soul)
Master of Puppets - Metallica (metal)
Run DMC- Run DMC (hip-hop)
Blue- Join Mitchell (singer/songwriter)
Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen (rock)
Appetite for Destruction- Guns N' Roses (hard rock)
Back In Black- Ac/DC (hard rock)
London Calling- The Clash (punk/rock/ska...)
Highway 61 Revisited- Bob Dylan (folk rock)
Live at Folsom Prison- Johnny Cash (country)
Doolittle- Pixies (indie rock)
Murmur- R.E.M. (college rock/indie/alternative rock)
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot- Wilco (indie rock)
Daydream Nation- Sonic Youth (indie/alternative/experimental)
Tommy- The Who (rock)
Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys (pop/baroque pop/experimental pop)
Rumors- Fleetwood Mac (Pop Rock)
Dummy- Portishead (trip-hop)
Violator- Depeche Mode (synthpop)
The Downward Spiral- Nine Inch Nails (industrial)...
Sweetheart of the Rodeo- The Byrds (country rock)
Graceland- Paul Simon (world music)
Exodus- Bob Marley (Reggae)
The Best of Muddy Waters- Muddy Waters (Blues)
Lots of others I'm forgetting here just so many great albums that have defined genres and culture at different times.
DC 2003
DC 2004 (VFC)
DC 2006
Pittsburgh 2006
Bonnaroo 2008
Virginia Beach 2008
DC 2008
Philly (Spectrum) 10/31/2009
DC 2010 (Jiffy Lube Live)
PJ 20 night 1
PJ 20 night 2
Phoenix 2013
LA 1 2013
Memphis 2014
Jacksonville 2016
Greenville 2016
Hampton 2016
Columbia 2016
Fenway 1 2016
Fenway 2 2016
Wrigley 1 2018
Wrigley 2 2018
Fenway 1 2018
Fenway 2 2018
Sea Hear Now 2021
Nashville 2022
Louisville 2022
Lots of great albums there. Berry and Presley for sure. From the "influence" angle, it would be hard not to include something by Muddy Waters, but a specific album of Muddy's would be a tough choice as his influence stems mostly from singles.
DC 2003
DC 2004 (VFC)
DC 2006
Pittsburgh 2006
Bonnaroo 2008
Virginia Beach 2008
DC 2008
Philly (Spectrum) 10/31/2009
DC 2010 (Jiffy Lube Live)
PJ 20 night 1
PJ 20 night 2
Phoenix 2013
LA 1 2013
Memphis 2014
Jacksonville 2016
Greenville 2016
Hampton 2016
Columbia 2016
Fenway 1 2016
Fenway 2 2016
Wrigley 1 2018
Wrigley 2 2018
Fenway 1 2018
Fenway 2 2018
Sea Hear Now 2021
Nashville 2022
Louisville 2022
1. Thelonious Monk - Straight, No Chaser (was going to go with Coltrane for my jazz pick, but I like this one more)
2. Elvis Presley - Since albums weren't really what made him a big deal I can't find one to choose from besides his number 1's, but his influence was huge.
3. The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers/Revolver (Their sound just evolved so much around this time)
4. Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy (everything you could want from LZ)
5. Talking Heads - Speaking in Tongues (Another hard choice, but overall this album is excellent and spawned an epic tour)
6. Metallica - Master of Puppets (while it wasn't until the Black album that I discovered them, this is the magnum opus)
7. The Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (classic and ahead of it's time)
8. Dr. Dre - The Chronic (I enjoy Snoop, 2Pac, Biggie, et. all, but this was the beginning)
9. Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger (Jesus Christ Pose!)
10. Michael Jackson - Thriller (what a pop masterpiece)
DC 2003
DC 2004 (VFC)
DC 2006
Pittsburgh 2006
Bonnaroo 2008
Virginia Beach 2008
DC 2008
Philly (Spectrum) 10/31/2009
DC 2010 (Jiffy Lube Live)
PJ 20 night 1
PJ 20 night 2
Phoenix 2013
LA 1 2013
Memphis 2014
Jacksonville 2016
Greenville 2016
Hampton 2016
Columbia 2016
Fenway 1 2016
Fenway 2 2016
Wrigley 1 2018
Wrigley 2 2018
Fenway 1 2018
Fenway 2 2018
Sea Hear Now 2021
Nashville 2022
Louisville 2022
Pic was circa 1984. Magazine was 96.
U2 - Achtung! Baby (this would be #1, without hesitation for me)
Pearl Jam - Vitalogy
Oasis - Morning Glory
Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets
Counting Crows - August and Everything After
Led Zeppelin - IV
Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness
Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head
Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American
Stone Temple Pilots - Purple
Cornell's Songbook would make the cut if I counted live albums.
George Harrison - All Things Must Pass
My Morning Jacket - Evil urges
Neil Young - Live at Massey Hall
Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left
Beta Band - The Three EPs
The Beatles - White Album
Radiohead - Ok Computer
Pearl Jam - No Code
Have to add Jethro Tull- Aqualung. Brilliant album.
(Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)
“Put yer good money on the sunrise”
(Tim Rogers)
DC 2003
DC 2004 (VFC)
DC 2006
Pittsburgh 2006
Bonnaroo 2008
Virginia Beach 2008
DC 2008
Philly (Spectrum) 10/31/2009
DC 2010 (Jiffy Lube Live)
PJ 20 night 1
PJ 20 night 2
Phoenix 2013
LA 1 2013
Memphis 2014
Jacksonville 2016
Greenville 2016
Hampton 2016
Columbia 2016
Fenway 1 2016
Fenway 2 2016
Wrigley 1 2018
Wrigley 2 2018
Fenway 1 2018
Fenway 2 2018
Sea Hear Now 2021
Nashville 2022
Louisville 2022
First one I bought from them was In God We Trust Inc. LOVED that album but when I got to Frankenchrist, man. That album was just the best to me and like you said, the PMRC hearings, Oprah, it was all amazing.
Thanks for telling me/us.
Very cool! I hope he keeps the date.
Now for something completely different.