Here's my batch of around 500 spectacular albums worth owning. For now, I am going to list just a few favorites for each year. How does one rank, say, 50 records annually in a meaningful way? Some can do it, but I can't. Instead, just ten or less from each year gives me a better shot at evaluating what they really mean to me. Although no great critic, I know what I like.
2012: 1. Jimmy Cliff--Rebirth (Sunpower/UMG) 2. Various Artists--....First Came Memphis Minnie (Stony Plain) 3. Corin Tucker Band--Kill My Blues (Kill Rock Stars) 4. Graham Parker & the Rumour--Three Chords Good (Primary Wave) 5. Neil Young with Crazy Horse--Psychedelic Pill (Reprise) 6. Bruce Springsteen--Wrecking Ball (Columbia) 7. John Hiatt--Mystic Pinball (New West) 8. Bobby Womack--The Bravest Man In the Universe (XL) 9. Dan Bern with Common Rotation--Doubleheader (DBHQ) 10. Rickie Lee Jones--The Devil You Know (Concord) 2011: 1. Dave Alvin--Eleven Eleven (Yep Roc) 2. Tracy Nelson--Victim of the Blues (Delta Groove) 3. Dennis Coffey (Strut) 4. Deer Tick--Divine Providence (Partisan) 5. Marcia Ball--Roadside Attractions (Alligator) 6. PJ Harvey--Let England Shake (Island) 7. Mr. Gnome--Madness In Miniature (El Marko) 8. Adele--21 (Columbia) 9. Pieta Brown--Mercury (Red House) 10. Garland Jeffreys--The King of In Between (Luna Park)
2010: 1. Samantha Crain--You (Understood) (Ramseur) 2. Nick Curran & the Lowlifes--Reform School Girl (Eclectogroove) 3. The Sadies--Darker Circles (Yep Roc) 4. Mavis Staples--You Are Not Alone (Anti-) 5. Alejandro Escovedo--Street Songs of Love (Fantasy) 6. The Holmes Brothers--Feed My Soul (Alligator) 7. Ava Mendoza--Shadow Stories (Recipiscent) 8. Gil Scott-Heron--I'm New Here (XL) 9. Peter Wolf--Midnight Souvenirs (Verve Forecast)
2009: 1. M. Ward--Hold Time (Merge) 2. Loudon Wainwright III--High Wide & Lonesome: The Charlie Poole Project (2nd Story) 3. Levon Helm--Electric Dirt (Vanguard) 4. Jenni Muldaur--Dearest Darlin' (Dandelion) 5. Brad Paisley--American Saturday Night (Arista Nashville) 6. Booker T. (Jones)--Potato Hole (Anti-) 7. Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers--Songs In the Night (Ramseur) 2008: 1. Alejandro Escovedo--Real Animal (EMI) 2. Shelby Lynne--Just a Little Lovin' (Universal) 3. The Pretenders--Break Up the Concrete (Shangri-la) 4. Drive-By Truckers--Brighter Than Creation's Dark (New West) 5. Randy Newman--Harps and Angels (Nonesuch) 6. Otis Taylor--Recapturing the Banjo (Telarc) 7. Raphael Saadiq--The Way I See It (Columbia) 8. Dr. John & the Lower 911--City That Care Forgot (429) 2007: 1. Ian Hunter--Shrunken Heads (Yep Roc) 2. Bettye LaVette--The Scene of the Crime (Anti-) 3. Mavis Staples--We'll Never Turn Back (Anti-) 4. Bruce Springsteen--Magic (Columbia) 5. Levon Helm--Dirt Farmer (Vanguard) 6. Sterling Harrison--South of the Snooty Fox (Hacktone) 7. Kevin Ayers--The Unfairground (Lo-Max) 8. Robert Plant/Alison Krauss--Raising Sand (Rounder) 9. Samantha Crain--The Confiscation [EP] (Ramseur) 2006: 1. Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint--The River In Reverse (Verve Forecast) 2. Neko Case--Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (Anti-) 3. Michael Franti & Spearhead--Yell Fire! (Anti-) 4. Rory Block--The Lady and Mr. Johnson (Rykodisc) 5. The BellRays--Have a Little Faith (Cheap Lullaby) 6. Janiva Magness--Do I Move You? (Northern Blues) 7. Dr. John--Mercernary: The Songs of Johnny Mercer (Blue Note) 8. Yo La Tengo--I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass (Matador) 9. New York Dolls--One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This (RoadRunner) 10. Allison Moorer--Getting Somewhere (Sugar Hill)
2005: 1. Bettye LaVette--I've Got My Own Hell to Raise (Anti-) 2. Sleater-Kinney--The Woods (Sub Pop) 3. Paul McCartney--Chaos and Creation In the Backyard (Capitol) 4. Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out (Bar/None) 5. Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion--Exploration (New West) 6. Mem Shannon--I'm from Phunkville (Northern Blues) 7. Ry Cooder--Chavez Ravine (Nonesuch) 8. Gossip--Standing In the Way of Control (Kill Rock Stars) 2004: 1. Steve Earle--The Revolution Starts...Now (E Squared) 2. Brian Wilson--SMiLE (Nonesuch) 3. The Mountain Goats--We Shall All Be Healed (4AD) 4. The Avett Brothers--Mignonette (Ramseur) 5. Modest Mouse--Good News for People Who Love Bad News (Epic) 6. Mirah--C'mon Miracle (K) 7. Ron Sexsmith--Retriever (Nettwerk) 8. Loretta Lynn--Van Lear Rose (Interscope) 2003: 1. Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros--Streetcore (Hellcat) 2. The White Stripes--Elephant (V2) 3. Lucinda Williams--World Without Tears (Lost Highway) 4. Howard Tate--Rediscovered (Private Music) 5. Drive-By Truckers--Decoration Day (New West) 6. Nick Curran & the Nitelifes--Doctor Velvet (Blind Pig) 7. James Blood Ulmer--No Escape from the Blues (Hyena) 8. Joe Ely--Streets of Sin (Rounder)
2002: 1. Guy Clark--The Dark (Sugar Hill) 2. Solomon Burke--Don't Give Up on Me (Fat Possum/Anti-) 3. Bruce Springsteen--The Rising (Columbia) 4. The Pretenders--Loose Screw (Artemis) 5. Dap-Dippin' with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings (Daptone) 6. Wilco--Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Nonesuch) 7. Sue Foley--Where the Action Is... (Shanachie) 8. Tender Trap--Film Molecules (K)
2001: 1. Nick Lowe--The Convincer (Yep Roc) 2. Bob Dylan--'Love and Theft' (Columbia) 3. The White Stripes--White Blood Cells (Sympathy for the Record Industry) 4. Buddy Guy--Sweet Tea (Silvertone) 5. Alejandro Escovedo--A Man Under the Influence (Bloodshot) 6. Graham Parker--Deepcut to Nowhere (Razor & Tie) 7. The Detroit Cobras--Life, Love and Leaving (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
2000: 1. Marah--Kids In Philly (Artemis) 2. The White Stripes--De Stijl (Sympathy for the Record Industry) 3. Sleater-Kinney--All Hands on the Bad One (Kill Rock Stars) 4. Amy Rigby--The Sugar Tree (Koch) 5.Willie King & the Liberators--Freedom Creek (Rooster Blues) 6. Ryan Adams--Heartbreaker (Bloodshot) 7. Mirah--You Think It's Like This But Really It's Like This (K) 8. Sue Foley--Love Comin' Down (Shanachie) 1999: 1. The Magnetic Fields--69 Love Songs (Merge) 2. Robyn Hitchcock--Jewels for Sophia (Warner Bros.) 3. Tom Waits--Mule Variations (Anti-) 4. Beth Orton--Central Reservation (Arista) 5. John Trudell--Blue Indians (Dangerous Discs) 6. Moby--Play (V2) 7. Paul McCartney--Run Devil Run (Capitol) 8. Dolly Parton--The Grass Is Blue (Sugar Hill) 1998: 1. Lucinda Williams--Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (Mercury) 2. Patty Griffin--Flaming Red (A&M) 3. Bonnie Raitt--Fundamental (Capitol) 4. Guy Davis--You Don't Know My Mind (Red House) 5. The Detroit Cobras--Mink Rat or Rabbit (Sympathy for the Record Industry) 5. Billy Bragg & Wilco--Mermaid Avenue (Elektra) 6. Gillian Welch--Hell Among the Yearlings (Almo Sounds)
1997: 1. Ani DiFranco--Living In Clip (Righteous Babe) 2. Sleater-Kinney--Dig Me Out (Kill Rock Stars) 3. Bob Dylan--Time Out of Mind (Columbia) 4. Van Morrison--The Healing Game (Polydor) 5. Yo La Tengo--I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One (Matador) 6. Negativland--Dispepsi (Seeland) 7. Greg Brown--Slant 6 Mind (Red House) 8. R+B=Ruth Brown (Bullseye Blues) 9. Marcia Ball--Let Me Play With Your Poodle (Rounder) 10. The Previous--UnPop... (City Limits) 1996: 1. Mike Henderson--Edge of Night (Dead Reckoning) 2. Los Lobos--Colossal Head (Warner Bros.) 3. Beck--Odelay (DGC) 4. Amy Rigby--Diary of a Mod Housewife (Koch) 5. Ani DiFranco--Dilate (Righteous Babe) 6. Shawn Colvin--A Few Small Repairs (Columbia) 7. W.C. Clark--Texas Soul (Black Top) 8. Prince--Chaos and Disorder (Warner Bros.) 9. Ronnie Dawson--Just Rockin' & Rollin' (Upstart)
1995 : 1. Sue Foley--Big City Blues (Antone's) 2. Isaac Hayes--Branded (PointBlank) 3. Oasis--(What's the Story) Morning Glory? (Epic) 4. Ani DiFranco--Not a Pretty Girl (Righteous Babe) 5. Ben Harper--Fight for Your Mind (Virgin) 6. Rosie Flores--Rockabilly Filly (HighTone) 7. Steve Earle--Train a-Comin' (Winter Harvest) 8. Cassandra Wilson--New Moon Daughter (Blue Note) 9. Sonic Youth--Washing Machine (DGC) 10. The Noses--A Pocket Lipstick, Now! (A&D) 1994: 1. Dave Alvin--King of California (HighTone) 2. Johnny Cash--American Recordings (American) 3. Sam Phillips--Martinis & Bikinis (Virgin) 4. Dan Penn--Do Right Man (Sire) 5. Latin Playboys (Slash/Warner Bros.) 6. Pavement--Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (Matador) 7. Nick Lowe--The Impossible Bird (Upstart) 8. Oasis--Definitely Maybe (Epic) 9. Shawn Colvin--Cover Girl (Columbia) 10. Gil Scott-Heron--Spirits (TVT)
1993: 1. Cassandra Wilson--Blue Light 'Til Dawn (Blue Note) 2. Arthur Alexander--Lonely Just Like Me (Elektra) 3. PJ Harvey--Rid of Me (Island) 4. Aimee Mann--Whatever (Imago) 5. Iris DeMent--My Life (Warner Bros.) 6. Willie Nelson--Across the Borderline (Columbia) 7. Nirvana--In Utero (DGC) 8. Liz Phair--Exile In Guyville (Matador) 9. Bob Dylan--World Gone Wrong (Columbia) 10. Wynonna--Tell Me Why (Curb/MCA) 1992: 1. Los Lobos--Kiko (Slash/Warner Bros.) 2. Iris DeMent--Infamous Angel (Philo) 3. John Trudell--AKA Graffiti Man (Rykodisc) 4. R.E.M.--Automatic for the People (Warner Bros.) 5. Alejandro Escovedo--Gravity (Watermelon) 6. Maria Muldaur--Louisiana Love Call (Black Top) 7. Buffy Sainte-Marie--Coincidence and Likely Stories (Ensign/Chrysalis) 8. PJ Harvey--Dry (Island) 9. Tish Hinojosa--Culture Swing (Rounder) 10. Mary Chapin Carpenter--Come On Come On (Columbia)
1991: 1. Nirvana--Nevermind (DGC) 2. Richard Thompson--Rumor and Sigh (Capitol) 3. Bonnie Raitt--Luck of the Draw (Capitol) 4. Paul Kelly & the Messengers--Comedy (Doctor Dream) 5. Dave Alvin--Blue Blvd. (HighTone) 6. Jimmie Dale Gilmore--After Awhile (Nonesuch) 7. Marion Williams--Strong Again (SpiritFeel) 8. The Young Fresh Fellows--Electric Bird Digest (Frontier) 9. Van Morrison--Hymns to the Silence (Polydor) 1990: 1. The Neville Brothers--Brother's Keeper (A&M) 2. Rosanne Cash--Interiors (Columbia) 3. Blue Rodeo--Casino (EastWest) 4. Robert Ward & the Black Top All-Stars--Fear No Evil (Black Top) 5. Dakota Staton (Muse) 6. Sinead O'Connor--I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (Chrysalis) 7. Neil Young & Crazy Horse--Ragged Glory (Reprise) 8. Mary Chapin Carpenter--Shooting Straight In the Dark (Columbia) 9. John Hiatt--Stolen Moments (A&M) 10. The Replacements--All Shook Down (Sire)
1989: 1. Bonnie Raitt--Nick of Time (Capitol) 2. Neil Young--Freedom (Reprise) 3. Lou Ann Barton--Read My Lips (Antone's) 4. The Neville Brothers--Yellow Moon (A&M) 5. Pixies--Doolittle (4AD) 6. Lou Reed--New York (Sire) 7. Johnny Adams--Walking on a Tightrope: The Songs of Percy Mayfield (Rounder) 8. Ruth Brown--Blues on Broadway (Fantasy) 9. Bob Dylan--Oh Mercy (Columbia) 10. June Tabor--Some Other Time (Hannibal)
1988: 1. Lucinda Williams (Rough Trade) 2. The Waterboys--Fisherman's Blues (Ensign/Chrysalis) 3. Tracy Chapman (Elektra) 4. Was (Not Was)--What Up, Dog? (Chrysalis) 5. John Hiatt--Slow Turning (A&M) 6. Richard Thompson--Amnesia (Capitol) 7. Living Colour--Vivid (Epic) 8. The Scott Morgan Band--Rock Action (Revenge [France]) 9. Etta James--Seven Year Itch (Island) 10. Toots Hibbert--Toots In Memphis (Mango) 1987: 1. John Hiatt--Bring the Family (A&M) 2. Bruce Springsteen--Tunnel of Love (Columbia) 3. Prince--Sign 'O' the Times (Paisley Park) 4. John Mellencamp--The Lonesome Jubilee (Mercury) 5. Rosanne Cash--King's Record Shop (Columbia) 6. Warren Zevon--Sentimental Hygiene (Virgin) 7. Marianne Faithfull--Strange Weather (Island) 8. The Replacements--Pleased to Meet Me (Sire) 9. U2--The Joshua Tree (Island) 10. Los Lobos--By the Light of the Moon (Slash/WB)
1986: 1. Van Morrison--No Guru, No Method, No Teacher (Mercury) 2. Steve Earle--Guitar Town (MCA) 3. The Smithereens--Especially for You (Enigma) 4. The Costello Show (featuring Elvis Costello)--King of America (Columbia) 5. Various Artists--The Indestructible Beat of Soweto (Shanachie) 6. Paul Simon--Graceland (Warner Bros.) 7. Peter Gabriel--So (Geffen) 8. The Shy--In Fashion (Shy Stuff) 9. David & David--Boomtown (A&M) 10. Ted Hawkins--Happy Hour (Rounder) 1985: 1. John Mellencamp--Scarecrow (Mercury) 2. The Replacements--Tim (Sire) 3. Sam Cooke--One Night Stand: Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963 (previously unreleased) (RCA) 4. Aretha Franklin--Who's Zoomin' Who? (Arista) 5. Lacy J. Dalton--You Can't Run Away from Your Heart (Columbia) 6. R.E.M.--Fables of the Reconstruction (I.R.S.) 7. Tom Waits--Rain Dogs (Island) 8. The Beat Farmers--Tales of the New West (Rhino) 9. Richard Thompson--Across a Crowded Room (Polydor) 10. The Blasters--Hard Line (Warner Bros.)
1984: 1. Bruce Springsteen--Born In the U.S.A. (Columbia) 2. The Pretenders--Learning to Crawl (Sire) 3. The Replacements--Let It Be (Twin/Tone) 4. Husker Du--Zen Arcade (SST) 5. Tina Turner--Private Dancer (Capitol) 6. Prince & the Revolution--Purple Rain (Warner Bros.) 7. Lyres--On Fyre (Ace of Hearts) 8. Meat Puppets II (SST) 9. The Bangles--All Over the Place (Columbia) 10. The Everly Brothers--EB 84 (Mercury) 1983: 1. U2--War (Island) 2. R.E.M.--Murmur (I.R.S.) 3. Tom Waits--Swordfishtrombones (Island) 4. John Hiatt--Riding With the King (Geffen) 5. Richard Thompson--Hand of Kindness (Hannibal) 6. NRBQ--Grooves In Orbit (Bearsville) 7. John Mellencamp--Uh-Huh (Mercury) 8. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band--The Distance (Capitol) 9. Junior--Inside Lookin' Out (Mercury) 10. The Plimsouls--Everywhere at Once (Geffen)
1982: 1. Richard & Linda Thompson--Shoot Out the Lights (Hannibal) 2. Bruce Springsteen--Nebraska (Columbia) 3. Prince--1999 (Warner Bros.) 4. Marshall Crenshaw (Warner Bros.) 5. Z.Z. Hill--Down Home (Malaco) 6. Roxy Music--Avalon (Warner Bros.) 7. Elvis Costello & the Attractions--Imperial Bedroom (Columbia) 8. Michael Jackson--Thriller (Epic) 9. Lou Reed--The Blue Mask (RCA) 10. Bonnie Raitt--Green Light (Warner Bros.)
1981: 1. The Neville Brothers--Fiyo on the Bayou (A&M) 2. The Blasters (Slash) 3. Squeeze--East Side Story (A&M) 4. James Booker--New Orleans Piano Wizard: Live! (recorded 1977) (Rounder) 5. The Fabulous Thunderbirds--Butt Rockin' (Chrysalis) 6. Elvis Costello & the Attractions--Trust (Columbia) 7. The Replacements--Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash (Twin/Tone) 8. Rickie Lee Jones--Pirates (Warner Bros.) 9. Willie Nelson--Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Columbia) 10. The Raybeats--Guitar Beat (PVC)
1980: 1. Pretenders (Sire) 2. Prince--Dirty Mind (Warner Bros.) 3. Stevie Wonder--Hotter Than July (Tamla) 4. Dire Straits--Making Movies (Warner Bros.) 5. Talking Heads--Remain In Light (Sire) 6. Bruce Springsteen--The River (Columbia) 7. Professor Longhair--Crawfish Fiesta (Alligator) 8. The Soft Boys--Underwater Moonlight (Armageddon [UK]) 9. Squeeze--Argybargy (A&M) 10. T Bone Burnett--Truth Decay (Takoma) 1979: 1. The Clash--London Calling (Epic) (released 12/14/79) 2. Graham Parker & the Rumour--Squeezing Out Sparks (Arista) 3. Van Morrison--Into the Music (Warner Bros.) 4. Marianne Faithfull--Broken English (Island) 5. Nick Lowe--Labour of Lust (Columbia) 6. Rickie Lee Jones (Warner Bros.) 7. Neil Young & Crazy Horse--Rust Never Sleeps (Reprise) 8. The Specials (Chrysalis) 9. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers--Damn the Torpedoes (MCA) 10. Dave Edmunds--Repeat When Necessary (Swan Song) 1978: 1. Nick Lowe--Jesus of Cool (Radar [UK]) 2. Elvis Costello & the Attractions--This Year's Model (Columbia) 3. Bruce Springsteen--Darkness on the Edge of Town (Columbia) 4. Joe Ely--Honky Tonk Masquerade (MCA) 5 . The Jam--All Mod Cons (Polydor) 6 . The Steve Gibbons Band--Down In the Bunker (Polydor) 7 . The Clash--Give 'Em Enough Rope (Epic) 8 . The Rolling Stones--Some Girls (Rolling Stones) 9. Delbert McClinton--Second Wind (Capricorn) 10. The Cars (Elektra)
1977: 1. Elvis Costello--My Aim Is True (Columbia) 2. The Clash (CBS [UK]) 3. Lynyrd Skynyrd--Street Survivors (MCA) 4. Television--Marquee Moon (Elektra) 5. Muddy Waters--Hard Again (Blue Sky) 6. Garland Jeffreys--Ghost Writer (A&M) 7. Ramones--Rocket to Russia (Sire) 8. Pete Townshend & Ronnie Lane--Rough Mix (MCA) 9. Fleetwood Mac--Rumours (Warner Bros.) 10. The Persuasions--Chirpin' (Elektra) 1976: 1. Stevie Wonder--Songs In the Key of Life (Tamla) 2. Graham Parker & the Rumour--Howlin' Wind (Mercury) 3. Graham Parker & the Rumour--Heat Treatment (Mercury) 4. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band--Night Moves (Capitol) 5. Ramones (Sire) 6. Joni Mitchell--Hejira (Asylum) 7. The Wild Tchoupitoulas (Antilles) 8. Arlo Guthrie--Amigo (Reprise) 9. Warren Zevon (Asylum) 10. Blondie (Private Stock) 1975: 1. Bruce Springsteen--Born to Run (Columbia) 2. Bob Dylan--Blood on the Tracks (Columbia) 3. Patti Smith--Horses (Arista) 4. Neil Young--Tonight's the Night (Reprise) 5. Toots & the Maytals--Funky Kingston (Mango [US]) 6. Richard & Linda Thompson--Pour Down Like Silver (Island) 7. Steely Dan--Katy Lied (ABC) 8. The Band--Northern Lights-Southern Cross (Capitol) 9. Delbert McClinton--Victim of Life's Circumstances (ABC) 10. Allen Toussaint--Southern Nights (Reprise)
1974: 1. Joni Mitchell--Court and Spark (Asylum) 2. Jackson Browne--Late for the Sky (Asylum) 3. Gram Parsons with Emmylou Harris--Grievous Angel (Reprise) 4. Roxy Music--Country Life (Atco) 5. Bob Marley & the Wailers--Natty Dread (Island) 6. Ry Cooder--Paradise and Lunch (Reprise) 7. New York Dolls--In Too Much Too Soon (Mercury) 8. The Meters--Rejuvenation (Reprise) 9. Van Morrison--Veedon Fleece (Warner Bros.) 10. Big Star--Radio City (Ardent) 1973: 1. Stevie Wonder--Innervisions (Tamla) 2. New York Dolls (Mercury) 3. Mott the Hoople--Mott (Columbia) 4. Bruce Springsteen--The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle (Columbia) 5. Bonnie Raitt--Takin' My Time (Warner Bros.) 6. Al Green--Call Me (Hi) 7. David Bowie--Aladdin Sane (RCA) 8. The Who--Quadrophenia (MCA) 9. Bob Marley & the Wailers--Catch a Fire (Island) 10. Paul McCartney & Wings--Band On the Run (Apple)
1972: 1. The Rolling Stones--Exile on Main Street (Rolling Stones) 2. Jimmy Cliff & others--The Harder They Come [soundtrack] (Mango) 3. Randy Newman--Sail Away (Reprise) 4. Stevie Wonder--Talking Book (Tamla) 5. Al Green--Let's Stay Together (Hi) 6. Bonnie Raitt--Give It Up (Warner Bros.) 7. Van Morrison--Saint Dominic's Preview (Warner Bros.) 8. Dr. John's Gumbo (Atco) 9. David Bowie--The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars (RCA) 10. Leon Thomas--Blues and the Soulful Truth (Flying Dutchman) 1971: 1. Marvin Gaye--What's Going On (Tamla) 2. Rod Stewart--Every Picture Tells a Story (Mercury) 3. The Who--Who's Next (Decca) 4. Joni Mitchell--Blue (Reprise) 5. John Prine (Atlantic) 6. Curtis Mayfield--Roots (Curtom) 7. Carole King--Tapestry (Ode) 8. The Mahavishnu Orchestra with John McLaughlin--The Inner Mounting Flame (Columbia) 9. Flamin Groovies--Teenage Head (Kama Sutra) 10. MC5--High Time (Atlantic) 1970: 1. Van Morrison--Moondance (Warner Bros.) 2. Derek & the Dominos--Layla and other Assorted Love Songs (Atco) 3. John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (Apple) 4. Rod Stewart--Gasoline Alley (Mercury) 5. Aretha Franklin--Spirit In the Dark (Atlantic) 6. The Allman Brothers Band--Idlewild South (Atco) 7. The Pretty Things--Parachute (Rare Earth) 8. Swamp Dogg--Total Destruction to Your Mind (Canyon) 9. Neil Young--After the Gold Rush (Reprise) 10. George Harrison--All Things Must Pass (Apple) 1969: 1. Creedence Clearwater Revival--Willy & the Poor Boys (Fantasy) 2. The Band (Capitol) 3. Dusty Springfield--Dusty In Memphis (Atlantic) 4. Sly & the Family Stone--Stand! (Epic) 5. The Rolling Stones--Let It Bleed (London) 6. Fairport Convention--Unhalfbricking (A&M) 7. Nick Drake--Five Leaves Left (Island) 8. The Temptations--Cloud Nine (Gordy) 9. Elvis Presley--From Elvis In Memphis (RCA) 10. Fleetwood Mac--Then Play On (Reprise) 1968: 1. The Rolling Stones--Beggars Banquet (London) 2. Van Morrison--Astral Weeks (Warner Bros./7 Arts) 3. The Band--Music from Big Pink (Capitol) 4. The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (Reprise) 5. Aretha Franklin--Lady Soul (Atlantic) 6. The Beatles (The White Album) (Apple) 7. The Jimi Hendrix Experience--Electric Ladyland (Reprise) 8. Traffic (United Artists) 9. The Byrds--The Notorious Byrd Brothers (Columbia) 10. The Jeff Beck Group--Truth (Epic) 1967: 1. The Jimi Hendrix Experience--Are You Experienced? (Reprise) 2. Aretha Franklin--I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (Atlantic) 3. The Who Sell Out (Decca) 4. The Byrds--Younger Than Yesterday (Columbia) 5. Buffalo Springfield Again (Atc0) 6. Magic Sam Blues Band--West Side Soul (Delmark) 7. The Velvet Underground and Nico (Verve) 8. Something Else By the Kinks (Reprise) 9. The Rolling Stones--Between the Buttons (London) 10. Moby Grape (Columbia) 1966: 1. Bob Dylan--Blonde on Blonde (Columbia) 2. The Beatles--Revolver (Capitol) 3. The Rolling Stones--Aftermath (Decca [UK]) 4. Complete and Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul (Volt) 5. The Exciting Wilson Pickett (Atlantic) 6. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band--East-West (Elektra) 7. The New Lee Dorsey (Amy) 8. The Animals--Animalization (MGM) 9. Them Again (Parrot) 10. The Mothers of Invention--Freak Out! (Verve) 1965: 1. The Beatles--Rubber Soul (Capitol) 2. Bob Dylan--Highway 61 Revisited (Columbia) 3. John Coltrane--A Love Supreme (Impulse) 4. The Rolling Stones, Now! (London) 5. The Beach Boys Today! (Capitol) 6. Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (Volt) 7. The Who--My Generation (Brunswick [UK]) 8. The Byrds--Mr. Tambourine Man (Columbia) 9. Junior Wells' Chicago Blues Band with Buddy Guy--Hoodoo Man Blues (Delmark) 10. Here Are the Sonics! (Etiquette) 1964: 1. The Beatles--A Hard Day's Night (Parlophone [UK]) 2. Another Side of Bob Dylan (Columbia) 3. Chuck Berry--St. Louis to Liverpool (Chess) 4. Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes featuring Veronica (Philles) 5. Buffy Sainte-Marie--It's My Way! (Vanguard) 6. Lonnie Mack--The Wham of That Memphis Man! (Fraternity) 7. Otis Redding--Pain In My Heart (Atco) 8. The Rolling Stones--12 x 5 (London) 9. The Zombies--Begin Here (Decca [UK]) 10. Etta James Rocks the House (Argo) 1963: 1. Sam Cooke--Night Beat (RCA) 2. James Brown--Live at the Apollo (King) 3. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (Columbia) 4. With the Beatles (Parlophone [UK]) 5. Various Artists/produced by Phil Spector--A Christmas Gift for You (Philles) 6. Bobby Blue Bland--Call on Me (Duke) 7. Presenting Dionne Warwick (Scepter) 8. The Impressions (ABC-Paramount) 9. The Beatles--Please Please Me (Parlophone [UK]) 10. Doris Troy Sings Just One Look and Other Memorable Hits (Atlantic) 1962: 1. Bobby Blue Bland--Here's the Man!! (Duke) 2. Ray Charles--Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music (ABC-Paramount) 3. Howlin' Wolf (Chess) 4. Mose Allison--I Don't Worry About a Thing (Atlantic) 5. Bob Dylan (Columbia) 6. Bo Diddley (Checker) 7. Ike & Tina Turner--Dynamite! (Sue) 8. (Smokey Robinson &) The Miracles--I'll Try Something New (Tamla) 9. Gene Pitney--Only Love Can Break a Heart (Musicor) 10. The Electrifying Aretha Franklin (Columbia)
1961: 1. Bobby Blue Bland--Two Steps from the Blues (Duke) 2. John Coltrane--My Favorite Things (Atlantic) 3. Robert Johnson--King of the Delta Blues Singers (Columbia) (The first time this material had been commercially available since the 1930s) 4. Gary 'U.S.' Bonds--Dance 'til Quarter to Three (Legrand) 5. Hi, We're the Miracles (Tamla) 6. Aretha Franklin--Aretha: With the Ray Bryant Combo (Columbia) 7. Miles Davis In Person, Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk, San Fran., Vols. 1 & 2 (Columbia) 8. Jimmy Reed at Carnegie Hall (Vee Jay) 9. Buck Owens Sings Harlan Howard (Capitol) 1960: 1. Ray Charles In Person (Atlantic) 2. Muddy Waters at Newport (Chess) 3. Elvis Presley--Elvis Is Back! (RCA) 4. The Everly Brothers--It's Everly Time! (Warner Bros.) 5. Wanda Jackson--Rockin' With Wanda (Capitol) 6. Helen Humes--'Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness If I Do (Contemporary) 7. The Return of Roosevelt Sykes (Bluesville) 8. Roy Orbison Sings Lonely and Blue (Monument) 9. Brenda Lee (Decca) 10. Charlie Rich--A Time for Tears (Phillips International)
1959: 1. Chuck Berry Is on Top (Chess) 2. Miles Davis--Kind of Blue (Columbia) 3. Late Date With Ruth Brown (Atlantic) 4. The Genius of Ray Charles (Atlantic) 5. Bo Diddley--Have Guitar, Will Travel (Checker) 6. Ritchie Valens (Del-Fi) 7. T-Bone Walker--T-Bone Blues (Atlantic) 8. Frank Sinatra--Come Dance With Me! (Capitol) 9. Count Basie & Tony Bennett--Basie Swings/Bennett Sings (Roulette)
1958: 1. Buddy Holly (Coral) 2. The '5' Royales--Dedicated to You (King) 3. LaVern Baker Sings Bessie Smith (Atlantic) 4. Jerry Lee Lewis (Sun) 5. Chuck Berry--One Dozen Berrys (Chess) 6. The Everly Brothers (Cadence) 7. Pete Seeger--Gazette (Folkways) 8. Little Richard (Specialty) 9. Ray Charles--Yes Indeed!! (Atlantic) 10. Nina Simone--Little Girl Blue (Bethlehem) 1957: 1. Here's Little Richard (Specialty) 2. The Dance Album of Carl Perkins (Sun) 3. (Buddy Holly &) The Crickets--The 'Chirping' Crickets (Brunswick) 4. Ray Charles (Atlantic) 5. Chuck Berry--After School Session (Chess) 6. LaVern Baker (Atlantic) 7. Gene Vincent & his Blue Caps (Capitol) 8. Elvis Presley--Jailhouse Rock [EP] (RCA) 9. Patsy Cline (Decca) 10. John Coltrane--Blue Train (Blue Note)
1956: 1. Elvis Presley (RCA) 2. Fats Domino--Rock & Rollin' (Imperial) 3. Big Joe Turner--Boss of the Blues (Atlantic) 4. Sonny Rollins--Saxophone Colossus (Prestige) 5. Louis Prima--The Wildest! (Capitol) 6. Little Willie John--Fever (King) 7. Gene Vincent & his Blue Caps--Bluejean Bop! (Capitol) 8. The Clovers (Atlantic) 9. B.B. King--Singin' the Blues (Crown) 10. Chet Baker Sings (Pacific Jazz)
1955: 1. Frank Sinatra--In the Wee Small Hours (Capitol) 2. Louis Armstrong & the All-Stars--Satch Plays Fats: The Music of Fats Waller (Columbia) 3. Ella Fitzgerald--Sweet and Hot (Decca) 4. Johnny Ace--Memorial Album (Duke) 5. Anita O'Day--This Is Anita (Verve) 6. Chris Connor--This Is Chris (Bethlehem)
1954: 1. Dinah Washington--After Hours with Miss D (EmArcy) 2. Dinah Washington & friends--Dinah Jams! (EmArcy) 3. Ella Mae Morse--Barrelhouse Boogie and the Blues (Capitol) 1953: 1. Leadbelly's Last Sessions (recorded 1948) (Folkways) 2. Charlie Parker (Verve) 3. Louis Jordan & his Tympany Five [EP] (Decca)
