Ultimate Albums: 700 Big Records--All Rock, Rhythm and Jazz
Here's my batch of 700 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 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. 2019: 1. Ryan Bingham--American Love Song (Axster Bingham) 2. Betty Carter--The Music Never Stops (live, 3/92, NYC) (Blue Engine) 3. Catherine Russell--Alone Together (Dot Time) 4. Justin Townes Earle--The Saint of Lost Causes (New West) 5. Raphael Saadiq--Jimmy Lee (Columbia) 6. Gary Clark Jr.--This Land (Warner Bros.) 7. Olivia Jean--Night Owl (Third Man) 8. The New Pornographers--In the Morse Code of Brake Lights (Concord) 9. Eilen Jewell--Gypsy (Signature Sounds) 10. Diane Blue--Look for the Light (Regina Royale) 2018: 1. Courtney Barnett--Tell Me How You Really Feel (Mom + Pop Music) 2. Sue Foley--The Ice Queen (Stony Plain) 3. Ry Cooder--The Prodigal Son (Nonesuch) 4. Ty Segall--Freedom's Goblin (Drag City) 5. Shemekia Copeland--America's Child (Alligator) 6. Rosanne Cash--She Remembers Everything (Blue Note) 7. Cecile McLorin Salvant--The Window (Mack Avenue) 8. John Prine--The Tree of Forgiveness (Oh Boy) 9. Bruce Springsteen--Springsteen on Broadway (Columbia) 10. Richard Thompson--13 Rivers (New West) 2017: 1. Cecile McLorin Salvant--Dreams and Daggers (Mack Avenue) 2. Robyn Hitchcock (Yep Roc) 3. Justin Townes Earle--Kids In the Street (New West) 4. Ani DiFranco--Binary (Righteous Babe) 5. Old 97s--Graveyard Whistling (ATO) 6. Randy Newman--Dark Matter (Nonesuch) 7. Hurray for the Riff Raff--The Navigator (ATO) 8. The Replacements--For Sale: Live at Maxwell's 1986 (Rhino) 9. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings--Soul of a Woman (Daptone) 10. Eilen Jewell--Down Hearted Blues (Signature Sounds) 2016: 1. Alejandro Escovedo--Burn Something Beautiful (Fantasy) 2. Drive-By Truckers--American Band (ATO) 3. David Bowie--Blackstar (ISO/Columbia) 4. Bonnie Raitt--Dig In Deep (Redwing) 5. Charles Bradley--Changes (Daptone/Dunham) 6. Ian Hunter & the Rant Band--Fingers Crossed (Proper) 7. Rene Marie--Sound of Red (Motema Music) 8. Suzanne Vega--Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers (Perpetual Obscurity) 9. Case/lang/Veirs (Anti-) 10. Thao & the Get Down Stay Down--A Man Alive (Ribbon Music) 2015: 1. Buffy Sainte-Marie--Power In the Blood (True North) 2. Courtney Barnett--Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Mom + Pop Music) 3. Sleater-Kinney--No Cities to Love (Sub Pop) 4. Bettye LaVette--Worthy (Cherry Red) 5. This Is the Sonics (Re:Vox) 6. Ryan Bingham--Fear and Saturday Night (Axster Bingham) 7. Samantha Crain--Under Branch & Thorn & Tree (Ramseur) 8. Yo La Tengo--Stuff Like That There (Matador) 9. Guy Davis--Kokomo Kidd (M.C.) 10. Joe Ely--Panhandle Rambler (Rack 'Em) 2014: 1. Meshell Ndegeocello--Comet, Come to Me (Naïve) 2. D'Angelo & the Vanguard--Black Messiah (RCA) 3. Bob Dylan & the Band--The Basement Tapes (recorded 1967) (Columbia/Legacy) 4. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers--Hypnotic Eye (Reprise) 5. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings--Give the People What They Want (Daptone) 6. Lucinda Williams--Where the Spirit Meets the Bone (Highway 20) 7. Angaleena Presley--American Middle Class (Slate Creek) 8. The Holmes Brothers--Brotherhood (Alligator) 9. Ty Segall--Manipulator (Drag City) 10. The Blues Soul of Billy Boy Arnold (Stony Plain) 2013: 1. Richard Thompson--Electric (New West) 2. Willie Nile--American Ride (River House) 3. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts--Unvarnished (Blackheart) 4. Trudy Lynn--Royal Oaks Blues Cafe (Connor Ray Music) 5. Ron Sexsmith--Forever Endeavour (Cooking Vinyl) 6. Neko Case--The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You (Anti-) 7. Darden Smith--Love Calling (Compass) 8. Samantha Crain--Kid Face (Ramseur) 9. Holly Williams--The Highway (Georgiana) 10. Unknown Mortal Orchestra II (Jagjaguwar) 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. Neil Young with Crazy Horse--Psychedelic Pill (Reprise) 5. Bruce Springsteen--Wrecking Ball (Columbia) 6. John Hiatt--Mystic Pinball (New West) 7. Bobby Womack--The Bravest Man In the Universe (XL) 8. Ani DiFranco--Which Side Are You On? (Righteous Babe) 9. Jake Bugg (Mercury) 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. Meshell Ndegeocello--Weather (Naive) 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) 10. The Len Price 3--Pictures (Wicked Cool) 2009: 1. Loudon Wainwright III--High Wide & Lonesome: The Charlie Poole Project (2nd Story) 2. M. Ward--Hold Time (Merge) 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) 8. Eilen Jewell--Sea of Tears (Signature Sounds) 9. Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles--The Stars Are Out (Sugar Hill) 10. Tommy Keene--In the Late Bright (Second Motion) 2008: 1. Shelby Lynne--Just a Little Lovin' (Lost Highway) 2. Alejandro Escovedo--Real Animal (EMI) 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) 9. Eliza Gilkyson--Beautiful World (Red House) 10. Curtis Salgado--Clean Getaway (Shanachie) 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. The Sadies--New Seasons (Yep Roc) 8. Kevin Ayers--The Unfairground (Lo-Max) 9. Robert Plant/Alison Krauss--Raising Sand (Rounder) 10. Chuck Prophet--Soap and Water (Yep Roc) 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. Amy Winehouse--Back to Black (Island) 5. Rory Block--The Lady and Mr. Johnson (Rykodisc) 6. The BellRays--Have a Little Faith (Cheap Lullaby) 7. Janiva Magness--Do I Move You? (Northern Blues) 8. Bob Dylan--Modern Times (Columbia) 9. Dr. John--Mercernary: The Songs of Johnny Mercer (Blue Note) 10. Yo La Tengo--I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass (Matador) 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. Dar Williams--My Better Self (Razor & Tie) 6. Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion--Exploration (New West) 7. Mem Shannon--I'm from Phunkville (Northern Blues) 8. Ry Cooder--Chavez Ravine (Nonesuch) 9. Gossip--Standing In the Way of Control (Kill Rock Stars) 10. Thea Gilmore--Songs from the Gutter (Compass) 2004: 1. Brian Wilson--Smile (Nonesuch) 2. Steve Earle--The Revolution Starts...Now (E Squared) 3. The Mountain Goats--We Shall All Be Healed (4AD) 4. The Avett Brothers--Mignonette (Ramseur) 5. Green Day--American Idiot (Reprise) 6. Modest Mouse--Good News for People Who Love Bad News (Epic) 7. Mirah--C'mon Miracle (K) 8. Ron Sexsmith--Retriever (Nettwerk) 9. Robin Sylar--Tricked Out (Top Cat) 10. Loretta Lynn--Van Lear Rose (Interscope) 2003: 1. The White Stripes--Elephant (V2) 2. Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros--Streetcore (Hellcat) 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. Amy Rigby--Til the Wheels Fall Off (Signature Sounds) 8. James Blood Ulmer--No Escape from the Blues (Hyena) 9. Joe Ely--Streets of Sin (Rounder) 10. Hot Club of Cowtown--Continental Stomp (HighTone) 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. Russell Smith--The End Is Not In Sight (Muscle Shoals) 7. Wilco--Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Nonesuch) 8. Sue Foley--Where the Action Is... (Shanachie) 9. Karl Denson's Tiny Universe--The Bridge (Relaxed) 10. 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) 8. Ryan Adams--Gold (Lost Highway) 9. Marcia Ball--Presumed Innocent (Alligator) 10. Now Time Delegation--Watch for Today (In the Red) 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. Merle Haggard--If I Could Only Fly (Epitaph) 7. Mirah--You Think It's Like This But Really It's Like This (K) 8. Black Box Recorder--The Facts of Life (Nude) 9. Frankly a Cappella: The Persuasions Sing Zappa (EarthBeat) 10. The Handsome Family--In the Air (Carrot Top) 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) 9. Man or Astroman?--EEVIAC (Embedded Electronic Variably Integrated Astro Console) (Touch & Go) 10. Corey Harris--Greens from the Garden (Alligator) 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) 6. Billy Bragg & Wilco--Mermaid Avenue (Elektra) 7. Big Sandy--Dedicated to You (HighTone) 8. Elliott Smith--XO (DreamWorks) 9. Heather Myles--Highways and Honky Tonks (Rounder/Mercury) 10. Mose Allison--Gimcracks and Gewgaws (Blue Note) 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. Patti Smith--Peace and Noise (Arista) 6. Elliott Smith--Either/Or (Kill Rock Stars) 7. Greg Brown--Slant 6 Mind (Red House) 8. R+B = Ruth Brown (Bullseye Blues) 9. Irma Thomas--The Story of My Life (Rounder) 10. The Previous--UnPop... (City Limits) 1996: 1. Los Lobos--Colossal Head (Warner Bros.) 2. Mike Henderson--Edge of Night (Dead Reckoning) 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. Veda Hille--Spine (Bottom Line) 9. Prince--Chaos and Disorder (Warner Bros.) 10. 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. John Prine--Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings (Oh Boy) 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. Iris DeMent--My Life (Warner Bros.) 7. Nick Lowe--The Impossible Bird (Upstart) 8. Oasis--Definitely Maybe (Epic) 9. The Last Real Texas Blues Band featuring Doug Sahm (Antone's) 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. Jimmie Dale Gilmore--Spinning Around the Sun (Elektra) 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. Iris DeMent--Infamous Angel (Philo) 2. Los Lobos--Kiko (Slash/Warner Brothers) 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. John Prine--The Missing Years (Oh Boy) 7. Prince & the New Power Generation--Diamonds and Pearls (Paisley Park) 8. Crowded House--Woodface (Capitol) 9. Van Morrison--Hymns to the Silence (Polydor) 10. Marion Williams--Strong Again (SpiritFeel) 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. Carmen McRae--Carmen Sings Monk (Novus) 8. Neil Young & Crazy Horse--Ragged Glory (Reprise) 9. Mary Chapin Carpenter--Shooting Straight In the Dark (Columbia) 10. John Hiatt--Stolen Moments (A&M) 1989: 1. Bonnie Raitt--Nick of Time (Capitol) 2. Neil Young--Freedom (Reprise) 3. Lou Ann Barton--Read My Lips (Antone's) 4. Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble--In Step (Epic) 5. The Neville Brothers--Yellow Moon (A&M) 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. Rosanne Cash--King's Record Shop (Columbia) 5. John Mellencamp--The Lonesome Jubilee (Mercury) 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. Charles Brown--One More for the Road (Blue Side) 9. The Shy--In Fashion (Shy Stuff) 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--Can't Run Away from Your Heart (Columbia) 6. The Blasters--Hard Line (Warner Bros.) 7. Tom Waits--Rain Dogs (Island) 8. Marshall Crenshaw--Downtown (Warner Bros.) 9. Koko Taylor--Queen of the Blues (Alligator) 10. The Beat Farmers--Tales of the New West (Rhino) 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. Los Lobos--How Will the Wolf Survive? (Slash/Warner Bros.) 8. Lyres--On Fyre (Ace of Hearts) 9. Meat Puppets II (SST) 10 The Bangles--All Over the Place (Columbia) 1983: 1. R.E.M.--Murmur (I.R.S.) 2. U2--Boy (Island) 3. Tom Waits--Swordfishtrombones (Island) 4. John Hiatt--Riding With the King (Geffen) 5. Richard Thompson--Hand of Kindness (Hannibal) 6. The Blasters--Non Fiction (Slash/Warner Bros.) 7. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts--Album (MCA) 8. NRBQ--Grooves In Orbit (Bearsville) 9. John Mellencamp--Uh-Huh (Mercury) 10. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band--The Distance (Capitol) 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. X--Wild Gift (Slash) 8. The Raybeats--Guitar Beat (PVC) 9. Rickie Lee Jones--Pirates (Warner Bros.) 10. Moving Hearts (WEA) 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. Bruce Springsteen--The River (Columbia) 6. Talking Heads--Remain In Light (Sire) 7. Professor Longhair--Crawfish Fiesta (Alligator) 8. The Soft Boys--Underwater Moonlight (Armageddon [UK]) 9. Mink DeVille--Le Chat Bleu (Capitol) 10. Squeeze--Argybargy (A&M) 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. Talking Heads--Fear of Music (Sire) 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. Joe Ely--Honky Tonk Masquerade (MCA) 4. Bruce Springsteen--Darkness on the Edge of Town (Columbia) 5. The Jam--All Mod Cons (Polydor) 6. Blondie--Parallel Lines (Chrysalis) 7. The Steve Gibbons Band--Down In the Bunker (Polydor) 8. The Clash--Give 'Em Enough Rope (Epic) 9. The Rolling Stones--Some Girls (Rolling Stones) 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. Delbert McClinton--Genuine Cowhide (ABC) 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. Steely Dan--Katy Lied (ABC) 7. Delbert McClinton--Victim of Life's Circumstances (ABC) 8. Richard & Linda Thompson--Pour Down Like Silver (Island) 9. The Band--Northern Lights-Southern Cross (Capitol) 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. The Who--Quadrophenia (MCA) 8. David Bowie--Aladdin Sane (RCA) 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. Paul Simon (Columbia) 8. Van Morrison--Saint Dominic's Preview (Warner Bros.) 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. Alice Cooper--Love It to Death (Warner Bros.) 7. Carole King--Tapestry (Ode) 8. The Mahavishnu Orchestra with John McLaughlin --The Inner Mounting Flame (Columbia) 9. Janis Joplin--Pearl (Columbia) 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 (Island) 7. The Temptations--Cloud Nine (Gordy) 8. The Flying Burrito Brothers--The Gilded Palace of Sin (A&M) 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. The Beatles (The White Album) (Apple) 6. Aretha Franklin--Lady Soul (Atlantic) 7. The Jimi Hendrix Experience--Electric Ladyland (Reprise) 8. Laura Nyro--Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (Columbia) 9. Magic Sam Blues Band--West Side Soul (Delmark) 10. The Byrds--The Notorious Byrd Brothers (Columbia) 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. The Velvet Underground and Nico (Verve) 6. The Beatles--Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Capitol) 7. Buffalo Springfield Again (Atco) 8. The Rolling Stones--Between the Buttons (London) 9. Nina Simone Sings the Blues (RCA) 10. Something Else By the Kinks (Reprise) 1966: 1. Bob Dylan--Blonde on Blonde (Columbia) 2. The Beatles--Revolver (Capitol) 3. The Rolling Stones--Aftermath (Decca [UK]) 4. The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul (Complete and Unbelievable) (Volt) 5. The Exciting Wilson Pickett (Atlantic) 6. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band--East-West (Elektra) 7. The Beach Boys--Pet Sounds (Capitol) 8. The New Lee Dorsey (Amy) 9. The Animals--Animalization (MGM) 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. Buffy Sainte-Marie--It's My Way! (Vanguard) 5. Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes featuring Veronica (Philles) 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. Sam Cooke--Ain't That Good News (RCA) 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) (released 11/22/63 and quickly withdrawn) 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. The Drifters--Save the Last Dance for Me (Atlantic) 7. John Lee Hooker--Burnin' (Vee Jay) 8. Ike & Tina Turner--Dynamite! (Sue) 9. Willie Nelson--...And Then I Wrote (Liberty) 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. The Shirelles--Tonight's the Night (Scepter) 7. Dion--Runaround Sue (Laurie) 8. Jimmy Reed at Carnegie Hall (Vee Jay) 9. Buck Owens Sings Harlan Howard (Capitol) 10. Chuck Berry--New Juke Box Hits (Chess) 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. Miles Davis--Sketches of Spain (Columbia) 7. Helen Humes (Contemporary) (later titled "Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness If I Do') 8. The Return of Roosevelt Sykes (Bluesville) 9. Roy Orbison Sings Lonely and Blue (Monument) 10. Brenda Lee (Decca) 1959: 1. Chuck Berry Is on Top (Chess) 2. Miles Davis--Kind of Blue (Columbia) 3. Ornette Coleman--The Shape of Jazz to Come (Atlantic) 4. The Genius of Ray Charles (Atlantic) 5. Sonny Boy Williamson #2--Down and Out Blues (Checker) 6. Howlin' Wolf--Moanin' In the Moonlight (Chess) 7. Ritchie Valens (Del-Fi) 8. T-Bone Walker--T-Bone Blues (Atlantic) 9. Frank Sinatra--Come Dance With Me! (Capitol) 10. Nina Simone--Little Girl Blue (Bethlehem) 1958: 1. Buddy Holly (Coral) 2. Jerry Lee Lewis (Sun) 3. LaVern Baker Sings Bessie Smith (Atlantic) 4. Chuck Berry--One Dozen Berrys (Chess) 5. The Everly Brothers (Cadence) 6. Pete Seeger--The Gazette, Vol. 1 (Folkways) 7. B.B. King--The Blues (Crown) 8. Bo Diddley (Checker) 9. Little Richard (Specialty) 10. The Fabulous Johnny Cash (Columbia) 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. The '5' Royales--Dedicated to You (King) 7. Ruth Brown (Atlantic) 8. Sarah Vaughan & her Trio at Mr. Kelly's (EmArcy) 9. Elvis Presley--Jailhouse Rock [EP] (RCA) 10. Patsy Cline (Decca) 1956: 1. Elvis Presley (RCA) 2. Fats Domino Rock & Rollin' (Imperial) 3. Big Joe Turner--Boss of the Blues (Atlantic) 4. Little Willie John--Fever (King) 5. Clyde McPhatter & the Drifters (Atlantic) 6. Louis Prima featuring Keely Smith with Sam Butera & the Witnesses--The Wildest! (Capitol) 7. Gene Vincent & his Blue Caps--Bluejean Bop! (Capitol) 8. The Clovers (Atlantic) 9. The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon (Gee) 10. Chet Baker Sings (Pacific Jazz) (reissue--expanded edition of 1954 LP) 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. Dinah Washington--For Those In Love (EmArcy) 5. Johnny Ace--Memorial Album (Duke) 6. Anita O'Day--This Is Anita (Verve) 7. Thelonious Monk & Sonny Rollins (Prestige) 8. Dinah Washington & friends--Dinah Jams! (EmArcy) 9. Chris Connor--This Is Chris (Bethlehem) 10. Mel Torme--It's a Blue World (Bethlehem) 1954: 1. Dinah Washington--After Hours with Miss D (EmArcy) 2. Ella Mae Morse--Barrelhouse Boogie and the Blues (Capitol) 3. The Genius of Art Tatum (Clef) 4. Nat King Cole Sings for Two In Love (Capitol) 5. Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie--Roy & Diz (Clef) 6. June Christy--Something Cool (Capitol) 7. Burl Ives--Coronation Concert (Decca) 8. Mahalia Jackson--Queen of the Gospel Singers (Apollo) 9. Count Basie Dance Session (Clef) 10. Wynonie Harris [EP] (King) 1953: 1. Leadbelly's Last Sessions (recorded 1948) (Folkways) 2. Charlie Parker (Verve) 3. The Amazing Bud Powell (Blue Note) 4. An Evening with Billie Holiday (Clef) 5. Peggy Lee--Black Coffee (Decca) 6. Louis Jordan & his Tympany Five [EP] (Decca) 7. Slim Gaillard--Slim Gaillard Cavorts (Clef) 8. Clifford Brown--New Star On the Horizon (Blue Note) 9. A Foggy Day with Carmen McRae (split LP with Ivie Anderson) (Stardust) 10. Capitol Presents Kay Starr (Capitol) 1952: 1. Various Artists--American Folk Music (Folkways) (Iconic roots music from the 1920s and '30s, assembled by Harry Smith. It was expanded in 1997 and retitled 'Anthology of American Folk Music') 2. Hank Williams & his Driftin' Cowboys--Moanin' the Blues (MGM) 3. Thelonious Monk--Genius of Modern Music (Blue Note) 4. Lefty Frizzell--Listen to Lefty (Columbia) 5. Louis Armstrong with Sy Oliver & his Orchestra --Satchmo Serenades (Decca) 6. Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie--Bird & Diz (Mercury) 7. Duke Ellington & his Orchestra--Ellington Uptown (Columbia) 8. Amos Milburn--Rock the Boogie (Aladdin) 9. Tony Bennett--Because of You (Columbia) 10. Les Paul & Mary Ford--Bye Bye Blues! (Capitol) 1951: 1. Billie Holiday--Lover Man (Decca) 2. Bud Powell--Piano Solos (Mercury) 3. Sarah Vaughan Sings (MGM) 4. Albert Ammons--Boogie Woogie Classics (Blue Note) 5. Erroll Garner--Gone With Garner (Mercury) 6. Ernest Tubb--Jimmie Rodgers Songs (Decca) 7. Mildred Bailey Sings (Royale) 8. Red Norvo & friends--Red Norvo's Fabulous Jam Session (Dial) 9. Frankie Laine--Mr. Rhythm Sings (Mercury) 10. Earl Hines (Columbia) 1950: 1. The Charlie Parker Sextet (Dial) 2. Billie Holiday Sings (Columbia) 3. Woody Guthrie--Talking Dust Bowl (Folkways) 4. Nat King Cole & his Trio--Harvest of Hits (Capitol) 5. Ella Fitzgerald--Ella Sings Gershwin (Decca) 6. Johnny Mercer Sings (Capitol) 7. Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra (Columbia) 8. Julia Lee--Party Time (Capitol) 9. Nellie Lutcher--Real Gone! (Capitol) 10. Mary Lou Williams & her Orchestra [EP] (Stinson) |
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