In December of 1999, the urban-oriented American magazine Vibe published its list of the 100 essential albums of the 20th century, as determined by the Vibe staff. Surprisingly, a link to this list has proved elusive. However, you can find the original magazine issue from the link at the bottom of the page.
This list is more unusual than the average best-of list. For being a list of essentials, it is notable that only 61 of these albums rank in the top 1000 of all-time according to the DMDB. 20 of these albums don’t even show up on any of the other 160+ best-of lists accumulated by the DMDB. Commendably, there is more focus on jazz, R&B, and world music than most best-of lists. However, there are also some odd choices at times for an artist’s “best” work. James Brown’s In the Jungle Groove is more essential than Live at the Apollo? Johnny Cash’s I Walk the Line instead of his live At Folsom Prison? Rocket to Russia over the Ramones’ debut album? David Bowie’s Station to Station rather than Ziggy Stardust? Bob Marley’s African Herbsman as opposed to Exodus or the Legend compilation?
Speaking of compilations, there is more emphasis on those here (25 in all) than the average list. Again, that’s not all bad, but some of the choices are questionable. While the 24-disc Centennial Edition might be a treasure to Duke Ellington fans, it’s hard to consider it “essential” to the average listener. The 3-disc Blanton-Webster Band box set or the live At Newport (both DMDB top 1000 albums) would be more palatable.
Note: the original list was unranked, but the albums have been ranked here based on overall DMDB points.
Also, check out annual picks for album of the year.
1. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982)
2. Nirvana Nevermind (1991)
3. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977)
4. The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (1968)
5. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (1966)
6. Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
7. The Clash London Calling (1979)
8. Prince Purple Rain (1984)
9. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced? (1967)
10. Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (1971)
11. Bruce Springsteen Born to Run (1975)
12. Bee Gees/Various Artists Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack, 1977)
13. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II (1969)
14. Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks (1975)
15. The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers (1971)
16. Patti Smith Horses (1975)
17. Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)
18. Joni Mitchell Blue (1971)
19. Miles Davis Kind of Blue (1959)
20. Stevie Wonder Innervisions (1973)
21. Massive Attack Blue Lines (1991)
22. Talking Heads Remain in Light (1980)
23. Van Morrison Moondance (1970)
24. Black Sabbath Paranoid (1970)
25. John Coltrane A Love Supreme (1965)
26. Sly & the Family Stone There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1972)
27. Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill (1986)
28. N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton (1989)
29. Santana Abraxas (1970)
30. Dr. Dre The Chronic (1992)
31. Curtis Mayfield Superfly (soundtrack, 1972)
32. Aretha Franklin Lady Soul (1968)
33. Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral (1994)
34. Frank Sinatra Songs for Swingin’ Lovers! (1956)
35. The Fugees The Score (1996)
36. B.B. King Live at the Regal (1964)
37. Kraftwerk Trans-Europa Express (Trans Europe Express) (1977)
38. Bessie Smith The Essential (compilation: 1923-33, released 1997)
39. The Replacements Let It Be (1984)
40. Robert Johnson King of the Delta Blues Singers (archives: 1936-37, released 1961)
41. The Specials The Specials (1979)
42. Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)
43. Run-D.M.C. Raising Hell (1986)
44. Sam Cooke The Man and His Music (compilation: 1951-65, released 1986)
45. Elvis Costello & the Attractions Armed Forces (1979)
46. The Stooges The Stooges (1969)
47. Janet Jackson Control (1986)
48. Hüsker Dü Zen Arcade (1984)
49. Eric B. & Rakim Paid in Full (1987)
50. David Bowie Station to Station (1976)
51. Stan Getz and João Gilberto Getz/Gilberto (1963)
52. Muddy Waters At Newport (1960)
53. The Supremes Anthology (compilation: 1962-76, released 1986)
54. A Tribe Called Quest The Low-End Theory (1991)
55. The Notorious B.I.G. Ready to Die (1994)
56. Ornette Coleman The Shape of Jazz to Come (1959)
57. Funkadelic One Nation Under a Groove (1978)
58. Sonny Rollins Saxophone Colossus (1956)
59. Ramones Rocket to Russia (1977)
60. Björk Post (1995)
61. Tupac Shakur Greatest Hits (compilation: 1991-98, released 1998)
62. Elvis Presley The King of Rock and Roll: The Complete ‘50s Masters (box: 1953-59, released 1992)
63. Thelonious Monk Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 (1947)
64. Dizzy Gillespie The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (compilation: 1937-49, released 1995)
65. Boogie Down Productions Criminal Minded (1987)
66. Mary J. Blige My Life (1994)
67. Patsy Cline The Collection (box: 1955-63, released 1991)
68. Chic Dance, Dance, Dance – The Best of (compilation: 1977-82, released 1991)
69. Sun Ra Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vol. 1 (1965)
70. The Police Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings (box: 1977-86, released 1993)
71. Charles Mingus Pithecantrophus Erectus (1956)
72. Buddy Holly & the Crickets Collection: 50 Classic Recordings (compilation: 1956-69, released 1993)
73. Little Richard 18 Greatest Hits (compilation, released 1985)
74. Roxy Music Siren (1975)
75. Ray Charles Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection (box: 1949-1993, released 1997)
76. De La Soul De La Soul Is Dead (1991)
77. Bob Marley & the Wailers African Herbsman (1972)
78. Leadbelly Last Sessions (archives/box: 1948, released 1994)
79. Ice Cube Death Certificate (1991)
80. Otis Redding Otis! The Definitive Otis Redding (1993)
81. Charlie Parker Bird: The Complete Charlie Parker on Verve (box: 1945-54, released 1990)
82. Guy Guy (1988)
83. Duke Ellington The Centennial Edition (box: 1927-73, released 1999)
84. Sarah Vaughan The Complete Sarah Vaughan (box: 1954-67, released 1987)
85. Chuck Berry 20th Century Masters: The Millenium Collection (compilation: 1955-72, released 1999)
86. Nina Simone Sugar in My Bowl: The Very Best of (compilation: 1966-72, released 1998)
87. Lee Perry & the Upsetters Blackboard Jungle Dub (1973)
88. James Brown In the Jungle Groove (1971)
89. War Anthology (compilation: 1970-94, released 1994)
90. Slick Rick The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (1988)
91. Al Green The Supreme Al Green (compilation, released 1992)
92. Billie Holiday Quintessential (archives: 1940-42, released 1991)
93. Woody Guthrie Library of Congress Recordings (archives: 1940, released 1964)
94. Fela Anikulapo Kuti Zombie (1977)
95. Louis Armstong An American Icon (box, released 1998)
96. Rufus featuring Chaka Khan Ask Rufus (1977)
97. Johnny Cash I Walk the Line (1964)
98. Mongo Santamaria Our Man in Havana (1959)
99. Shabba Ranks As Raw As Ever (1991)
100. The Last Poets This Is Madness (1971)
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