Description of book on Amazon.com: This is “a definitive look at over 300 of the most important albums of the past 50 years, the best sellers as well as the critics’ darlings. This infinitely entertaining, informative book chronicles the popular music album in all genres, from pop and rock to jazz and hip-hop. More than just a ‘best of’ collection, Albums showcases individual recordings and presents them in a wider, more historical context, complete with timelines, more than 800 color photographs, album art, liner notes, studio stories and much more. Anyone who likes music is sure to agree, this book rocks.”
Check out other publications and organizations’ best-of album lists here.
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- Abba Arrival (1976)
- ABC Lexicon of Love (1982)
- AC/DC Back in Black (1980)
- Adam & the Ants Prince Charming (1981)
- Aerosmith Permanent Vacation (1987)
- Air Moon Safari (1998)
- Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass What Now My Love (1966)
- Aphex Twin The Richard D. James Album (1996)
- Chet Atkins Finger-Style Guitar (1956)
- Angelo Badalamenti Twin Peaks (ST) (1990)
- Joan Baez Joan Baez (1960)
- The Band with various artists The Last Waltz (1976)
- John Barry On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1970)
- Les Baxter Tamboo! (1955)
- The Beach Boys All Summer Long (1964)
- The Beach Boys The Concert (1964)
- The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (1966)
- Beastie Boys Paul's Boutique (1989)
- The Beatles Please Please Me/Introducing the Beatles/The Early Beatles (1963)
- The Beatles Revolver (1966)
- The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
- Beck Odelay (1996)
- Jeff Beck Blow by Blow (1975)
- Harry Belafonte Calypso (1956)
- Leonard Bernstein (music)/Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) West Side Story (ST) (1961)
- Chuck Berry One Dozen Berrys (1958)
- Beyoncé Dangerously in Love (2003)
- Björk Post (1995)
- Black Flag Damaged (1981)
- Black Sabbath Paranoid (1970)
- Bobby Bland Call Me/That's the Way Love Is (1963)
- Blink-182 Enema of the State (1999)
- Bloc Party Silent Alarm (2005)
- The Blue Nile A Walk Across the Rooftops (1984)
- The Blues Brothers The Blues Btrothers (1980)
- Blur Parklife (1994)
- Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet (1986)
- Booker T & the MG's Green Onions (1962)
- Boston Boston (1976)
- David Bowie Hunky Dory (1971)
- David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
- David Bowie Low (1977)
- David Bowie Let's Dance (1983)
- David Bowie Hours (1999)
- Garth Brooks Ropin' the Wind (1991)
- James Brown Live at the Apollo, Vol. 1 (1962)
- Dave Brubeck Time Out (1959)
- Jeff Buckley Grace (1994)
- Kate Bush Hounds of Love (1985)
- Paul Butterfield Blues Band Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965)
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- The Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968)
- John Cale Paris 1919 (1973)
- Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band Trout Mask Replica (1969)
- Mariah Carey MTV Unplugged (1992)
- Mariah Carey Music Box (1993)
- Carpenters The Singles 1969-1973 (1973)
- Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison (1968)
- Johnny Cash American Recordings (1994)
- Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds Abbatoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus (2004)
- Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman (1988)
- Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music (1962)
- Eric Clapton Unplugged (1992)
- The Clash London Calling (1979)
- Eddie Cochran Memorial Album (1960)
- Leonard Cohen Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967)
- Leonard Cohen Dear Heather (2004)
- Coldplay Parachutes (2000)
- Coldplay X & Y (2005)
- Phil Collins Face Value (1981)
- John Coltrane A Love Supreme (1965)
- Common Be (2005)
- Ray Conniff S' Wonderful (1956)
- Ry Cooder Bop 'Til You Drop (1979)
- Sam Cooke Sam Cooke (1958)
- Alice Cooper School's Out (1972)
- Elvis Costello My Aim Is True (1977)
- Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach Painted from Memory (1998)
- Cream Disraeli Gears (1967)
- Creed Human Clay (1999)
- Crosby, Stills & Nash Crosby, Stills and Nash (1969)
- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Déjà Vu (1970)
- Sheryl Crow Tuesday Night Music Club (1993)
- The Cure Disintegration (1989)
- Terence Trent D'Arby Introducing the Hardline According to... (1987)
- The Darkness Permission to Land (2003)
- Miles Davis Kind of Blue (1959)
- Miles Davis Bitches Brew (1970)
- De La Soul Three (3) Feet High and Rising (1989)
- The Dead Kennedys Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (1980)
- Deep Purple Machine Head (1972)
- Def Leppard Hysteria (1987)
- Martin Denny Exotica Vol. 1 (1959)
- Martin Denny Exotica Vol. 2 (1959)
- Depeche Mode Violator (1990)
- Dexy's Midnight Runners Searching for the Young Soul Rebels (1980)
- Neil Diamond Taproot Manuscript (1970)
- Celine Dion D'Eux (aka "The French Album") (1995)
- Dire Straits Brothers in Arms (1985)
- Dixie Chicks Wide Open Spaces (1998)
- Dizzee Rascal Boy in Da Corner (2003)
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- Fats Domino Rock and Rollin' (1955)
- The Doors The Doors (1967)
- Dr. Dre The Chronic (1992)
- Dr. Feelgood Stupidity (1976)
- Nick Drake Pink Moon (1972)
- Duran Duran Rio (1982)
- Bob Dylan The Freewheelin’… (1963)
- Bob Dylan Bringing It All Back Home (1965)
- Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
- Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde (1966)
- Bob Dylan & the Band The Basement Tapes (1967)
- Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks (1975)
- Bob Dylan Desire (1976)
- Bob Dylan Biograph (1981)
- Bob Dylan Time Out of Mind (1997)
- Eagles Hotel California (1976)
- Earth, Wind & Fire Gratitude (1975)
- Duane Eddy Have 'Twangy' Guitar, Will Travel (1959)
- Duke Ellington At Newport (1956)
- Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott Miss E...So Addictive (2001)
- Emerson, Lake & Palmer Pictures at an Exhibition (1971)
- Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
- Brian Eno Discreet Music (1975)
- The Everly Brothers It's Everly Time (1960)
- Donald Fagen The Nightfly (1982)
- The Fall Hex Enduction Hour (1982)
- Fatboy Slim You've Come a Long Way, Baby (1998)
- Faust The Faust Tapes (1973)
- Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rogers and Hart Songbook (1956)
- The Flaming Lips Zaireeka (1997)
- Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977)
- The Flying Burrito Brothers The Gilded Palace of Sin (1969)
- Foo Fighters In Your Honor (2005)
- Four Tops Greatest Hits (1968)
- Peter Frampton Frampton Comes Alive! (1975)
- Frankie Goes to Hollywood Welcome to the Pleasure Dome (1984)
- Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967)
- Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand (2004)
- Free Fire and Water (1970)
- The Fugees The Score (1996)
- Billy Fury Sound of Fury (1960)
- Peter Gabriel Peter Gabriel (3) (aka "Melt") (1980)
- Garbage Garbage (1995)
- Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (1971)
- Genesis Foxtrot (1972)
- Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd Jazz Samba (1962)
- The Gipsy Kings The Gipsy Kings (1988)
- Gorillaz Gorillaz (2001)
- Grateful Dead American Beauty (1970)
- Grateful Dead Workingman's Dead (1970)
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- Al Green I'm Still in Love with You (1972)
- Guns N' Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987)
- Bill Haley & the Comets Rock Around the Clock (1956)
- Herbie Hancock Head Hunters (1973)
- George Harrison All Things Must Pass (1970)
- PJ Harvey To Bring You My Love (1995)
- Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric Ladyland (1968)
- The Hollies Greatest Hits (1967)
- Buddy Holly & the Crickets The Buddy Holly Story (1959)
- John Lee Hooker The Healer (1989)
- Whitney Houston Whitney (1987)
- The Human League Dare! (1981)
- INXS Kick (1987)
- Janet Jackson Control (1986)
- Michael Jackson Off the Wall (1979)
- Michael Jackson Thriller (1982)
- Rick James Street Songs (1981)
- Jane's Addiction Nothing's Shocking (1988)
- Jay-Z Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life (1998)
- Jefferson Airplane Surrealistic Pillow (1967)
- Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
- Robert Johnson The Complete Recordings (1937)
- Norah Jones Come Away with Me (2002)
- Journey Escape (1981)
- Joy Division Unknown Pleasures (1979)
- R. Kelly/Jay-Z The Best of Both Worlds (2002)
- Alicia Keys Songs in A Minor (2001)
- Kids from Fame Kids from Fame (1982)
- The Killers Hot Fuss (2004)
- King Crimson In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)
- Carole King Tapestry (1971)
- The Kingston Trio String Along (1960)
- The Kinks The Village Green Preservation Society (1968)
- Korn Follow the Leader (1998)
- Kraftwerk Autobahn (1974)
- k.d. lang Ingénue (1992)
- Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin I (1969)
- Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II (1969)
- Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
- Peggy Lee Things Are Swingin' (1958)
- Jerry Lee Lewis Jerry Lee Lewis (1957)
- Liberace At the Hollywood Bowl (1955)
- Linkin Park Hybrid Theory (2000)
- Little Richard Here's Little Richard! (1957)
- Love Forever Changes (1967)
- Lyle Lovett Pontiac (1988)
- Madonna Like a Virgin (1984)
- Madonna The Immaculate Collection (1990)
- Madonna Ray of Light (1998)
- Mantovani Film Encores (1957)
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- Marilyn Manson Antichrist Superstar (1996)
- Bob Marley & the Wailers Natty Dread (1974)
- Bob Marley & the Wailers Live! (At the Lyceum) (1975)
- Johnny Mathis Johnny's Greatest Hits (1958)
- John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton (1966)
- Curtis Mayfield Curtis (1970)
- Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell (1977)
- Metallica Master of Puppets (1986)
- Metallica Metallica (aka "The Black Album") (1991)
- M.I.A. Arular (2005)
- Joni Mitchell Blue (1971)
- Joni Mitchell Court and Spark (1974)
- Moby Play (1999)
- The Monkees The Monkees (1966)
- The Moody Blues Days of Future Passed (1967)
- Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (1995)
- Van Morrison Astral Weeks (1968)
- Motörhead No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (1981)
- My Bloody Valentine Loveless (1991)
- N' Sync Celebrity (2001)
- Youssou N'Dour The Lion (1989)
- Nelly Suit (2004)
- Nelly Sweat (2004)
- N*E*R*D In Search of (2001)
- New Order Republic (1993)
- Randy Newman Sail Away (1972)
- Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral (1994)
- Nirvana Nevermind (1991)
- Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York (1993)
- No Doubt Tragic Kingdom (1995)
- The Notorious B.I.G. Life after Death (1997)
- N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton (1989)
- Oasis Definitely Maybe (1994)
- Sinéad O'Connor I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990)
- Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells (1973)
- Outkast Speakerboxxx/Love Below (2003)
- Robert Palmer Riptide (1985)
- Funkadelic Maggot Brain (1971)
- Pearl Jam Ten (1991)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry & the Upsetters Blackboard Jungle Dub (1973)
- Peter, Paul, & Mary In the Wind (1963)
- Phish A Live One (1995)
- Pink Floyd The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)
- Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
- Pink Floyd The Wall (1979)
- Pixies Surfer Rosa (1988)
- The Platters The Platters (1956)
- The Pogues Rum, Sodomy and the Lash (1985)
- The Police Outlandos D'Amour (1978)
- The Police Synchronicity (1983)
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- Portishead Dummy (1994)
- Elvis Presley Elvis Presley (aka "Rock 'N' Roll" in the UK) (1956)
- Elvis Presley Elvis (1956)
- Elvis Presley Golden Records (1957)
- Elvis Presley Golden Records Vol. 2: 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong (1958)
- Elvis Presley Elvis (NBC TV Special) (1968)
- The Pretty Things S.F. Sorrow (1968)
- Primal Scream Screamadelica (1991)
- Prince Sign 'O' the Times (1987)
- The Prodigy The Fat of the Land (1997)
- Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)
- Public Image Ltd. (PiL) Metal Box (aka "Second Edition") (1979)
- Puff Daddy & the Family No Way Out (1997)
- Pulp Different Class (1995)
- Queen The Game (1980)
- Queens of the Stone Age Rated R (2000)
- Radiohead The Bends (1995)
- Radiohead OK Computer (1997)
- Radiohead Kid A (2000)
- Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine (1992)
- Ramones Ramones (1976)
- Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)
- Otis Redding Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul (1965)
- R.E.M. Murmur (1983)
- R.E.M. Automatic for the People (1992)
- Lionel Richie Can't Slow Down (1983)
- Richard Rodgers (music)/Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) South Pacific (cast album) (1949)
- Richard Rodgers (music)/Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) South Pacific (soundtrack) (1958)
- Richard Rodgers (music)/Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) The Sound of Music (soundtrack) (1965)
- The Rolling Stones Aftermath (1966)
- The Rolling Stones Their Satanic Majesty's Request (1967)
- The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers (1971)
- The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street (1972)
- The Rolling Stones Some Girls (1978)
- Roxy Music For Your Pleasure (1973)
- Run-D.M.C. Raising Hell (1986)
- Todd Rundgren Something/Anything? (1972)
- Tom Rush The Circle Game (1968)
- Sade Diamond Life (1984)
- Santana Abraxas (1970)
- Santana Supernatural (1999)
- Scissor Sisters Scissor Sisters (2004)
- Seal Seal (I) (1991)
- Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the... (1977)
- The Shadows The Shadows (1961)
- Tupac (2pac) Shakur All Eyez on Me (1996)
- Simon & Garfunkel Sounds of Silence (1966)
- Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
- Paul Simon Graceland (1986)
- Frank Sinatra In the Wee Small Hours (1955)
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- Slint Spiderland (1991)
- Sly & the Family Stone There's a Riot Goin' On (1971)
- The Small Faces Ogden's Nut Gone Flake (1968)
- Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream (1993)
- Patti Smith Horses (1975)
- The Smiths The Smiths (1984)
- The Smiths The Queen Is Dead (1986)
- Soft Cell Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret (1981)
- Sonic Youth Daydream Nation (1988)
- Sonny & Cher Look at Us (1965)
- Soul II Soul Club Classics Vol. I (aka “Keep on Movin’”) (1989)
- Britney Spears Baby One More Time (1999)
- Phil Spector (producer) A Christmas Gift for You (aka Phil Spector's Christmas Album) (1963)
- Spice Girls Spice (1996)
- Spiritualized Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (1997)
- Dusty Springfield Dusty in Memphis (1969)
- Bruce Springsteen Born to Run (1975)
- Bruce Springsteen Nebraska (1982)
- Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. (1984)
- Bruce Springsteen Devils & Dust (2005)
- Tommy Steele The Tommy Steele Story (1957)
- Steely Dan Countdown to Ecstasy (1973)
- Steely Dan Aja (1977)
- Stereo MCs Connected (1992)
- Cat Stevens Tea for the Tillerman (1970)
- The Stone Roses The Stone Roses (1989)
- The Stooges Raw Power (1973)
- The Streets Original Pirate Material (2002)
- Barbra Streisand Stoney End (1971)
- The Strokes Is This It (2001)
- Suede Suede (1993)
- The Supremes Greatest Hits (1967)
- Talk Talk Spirit of Eden (1988)
- Talking Heads Seventy Seven (77) (1977)
- Talking Heads Remain in Light (1980)
- James Taylor Sweet Baby James (1970)
- Tears for Fears Songs from the Big Chair (1985)
- Television Marquee Moon (1977)
- The Temptations Cloud Nine (1969)
- Justin Timberlake Justified (2002)
- TLC Crazy Sexy Cool (1994)
- 2 Live Crew As Nasty As They Wanna Be (1989)
- Traffic John Barleycorn Must Die (1970)
- T-Rex Electric Warrior (1971)
- Ike & Tina Turner The Soul of… (1961)
- Shania Twain Come on Over (1997)
- U2 Under a Blood Red Sky (1983)
- U2 The Joshua Tree (1987)
- U2 How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004)
- Van Halen Van Halen (1978)
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- various artists The Girl Can't Help It (1956)
- various artists Around the World in 80 Days (1957)
- various artists Hey, Let's Twist! (1961)
- various artists Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968 (1968)
- various artists Woodstock (1969)
- various artists (Bee Gees et al) Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack) (1977)
- various artists La Bamba (soundtrack) (1987)
- various artists (Whitney Houston et al) The Bodyguard (soundtrack) (1992)
- various artists Uptown MTV Unplugged (1993)
- various artists Buena Vista Social Club (1997)
- The Velvet Underground & Nico The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
- The Velvet Underground White Light/White Heat (1967)
- The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground (1969)
- The Velvet Underground Loaded (1970)
- The Ventures In Space (1963)
- The Verve Urban Hymns (1997)
- Tom Waits Blue Valentine (1978)
- Tom Waits Swordfish Trombones (1983)
- Dinah Washington Unforgettable (1960)
- Muddy Waters Folk Singer (1964)
- Weather Report Heavy Weather (1977)
- Weezer Weezer (aka "The Blue Album") (1994)
- Kanye West The College Dropout (2004)
- Wham! Make It Big (1984)
- The White Stripes White Blood Cells (2001)
- The White Stripes Elephant (2003)
- The Who Sell Out (1967)
- The Who Tommy (1969)
- The Who Who's Next (1971)
- The Who Quadrophenia (1973)
- Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
- Hank Williams Memorial Album (1956)
- Lucinda Williams Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998)
- Robbie Williams Sing When You're Winning (2000)
- Brian Wilson Smile (2004)
- Stevie Wonder Talking Book (1972)
- Stevie Wonder Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants (1979)
- Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)
- Robert Wyatt Rock Bottom (1974)
- Yes Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973)
- Dwight Yoakam Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc. Etc. (1986)
- Neil Young After the Gold Rush (1970)
- Neil Young Harvest (1972)
- Neil Young Rust Never Sleeps (1979)
- Neil Young Unplugged (1993)
- Frank Zappa Uncle Meat (1969)
- ZZ Top Eliminator (1983)
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First posted 7/19/2024. |
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