Ultimate Albums: 800+ Big Records--All Rock, Rhythm and Jazz
Here's my batch of more than 800 spectacular albums worth owning. I have documented 12 favorites per year, going back to 1950. In the main, I have resisted listing live albums or compilations, though it should be noted that many early rock albums were collections of the singles released up to that point. Additionally, there are but six performers who have placed two LPs in any one year. How does one rank, say, 50 records annually in a meaningful way? Some can do it, but I can't. Instead, just a dozen 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. 2023: 1. PJ Harvey--I Inside the Old Year Dying (Partisan) 2. The Rolling Stones--Hackney Diamonds (Rolling Stones) 3. Lucinda Williams--Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart (Highway 20) 4. Mudhoney--Plastic Eternity (Sub Pop) 5. Lana Del Rey--Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd (Polydor) 6. Rodney Crowell--The Chicago Sessions (New West) 7. Arina Fujiwara--Neon (Arina Fujiwara) 8. Slaid Cleeves--Together Through the Dark (Candy House Media) 9. Graham Parker & the Goldtops--Last Chance to Learn the Twist (Big Stir) 10. Paul Simon--Seven Psalms (Owl) 11. Mya Byrne--Rhinestone Tomboy (Kill Rock Stars) 12. Hudspeth & Taylor--Ridin' the Blinds (Hudtone)
2022: 1. Shemekia Copeland--Done Come Too Far (Alligator) 2. Elvis Costello & the Imposters--The Boy Named If (Capitol) 3. Cecile McLorin Salvant--Ghost Song (Nonesuch) 4. Bonnie Raitt--Just Like That... (Redwing) 5. Spoon--Lucifer on the Sofa (Matador) 6. Delbert McClinton--Outdated Emotion (Hot Shot) 7. Wet Leg (Domino) 8. John Mellencamp--Strictly a One-Eyed Jack (Republic) 9. Sloan--Steady (Yep Roc) 10. Jack White--Entering Heaven Alive (Third Man) 11. Fantastic Negrito--White Jesus Black Problems (Storefront) 12. Steve Earle & the Dukes--Jerry Jeff (New West)
2021: 1. Amythyst Kiah--Wary + Strange (Rounder) 2. Carsie Blanton--Love & Rage (So Ferocious) 3. Amyl & the Sniffers--Comfort to Me (Rough Trade) 4. John Hiatt with the Jerry Douglas Band--Leftover Feelings (New West) 5. Neil Young/Crazy Horse--Barn (Reprise) 6. Carolyn Wonderland--Tempting Fate (Alligator) 7. Sue Foley--Pinky's Blues (Stony Plain) 8. Joanna Connor--4801 South Indiana Avenue (Keeping the Blues Alive) 9. Jon Batiste--We Are (Verve) 10. Jackson Browne--Downhill from Everywhere (Inside Recordings) 11. James McMurtry--The Horses and the Hounds (New West) 12. Modest Mouse--The Golden Casket (Epic) 2020: 1. Bob Dylan--Rough and Rowdy Ways (Columbia) 2. Fantastic Negrito--Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? (Cooking Vinyl) 3. Drive-By Truckers--The Unraveling (ATO) 4. Lucinda Williams--Good Souls Better Angels (Thirty Tigers) 5. Bruce Springsteen--Letter to You (Columbia) 6. Fiona Apple--Fetch the Bolt Cutters (Epic) 7. Shemekia Copeland--Uncivil War (Alligator) 8. Steve Earle & the Dukes--Ghosts of West Virginia (New West) 9. The Pretenders--Hate for Sale (BMG) 10. Gregory Porter--All Rise (Blue Note/Verve) 11. Chris Stapleton--Starting Over (Mercury Nashville) 12. Eliza Gilkyson--2020 (Red House)
2019: 1. Ryan Bingham--American Love Song (Axster Bingham) 2. Betty Carter--The Music Never Stops (live, 3/92, NYC) (previously unreleased) (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. Todd Snider--Cash Cabin Sessions, Vol. 3 (Aimless) 10. Carsie Blanton--Buck Up (Carsie Blanton) 11. Lizzo--Cuz I Love You (Atlantic) 12. Amyl & the Sniffers (Rough Trade)
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. Bettye LaVette--Things Have Changed (Verve) 9. John Prine--The Tree of Forgiveness (Oh Boy) 10. Bruce Springsteen--Springsteen on Broadway (Columbia) 11. Mary Gauthier--Rifles & Rosary Beads (In the Black) 12. 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. Angaleena Presley--Wrangled (Mining Light) 9. Chuck Berry--Chuck (Dualtone) 10. The Replacements--For Sale: Live at Maxwell's 1986 (previously unreleased) (Rhino) 11. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings--Soul of a Woman (Daptone) 12. Sunny Sweeney--Trophy (Thirty Tigers)
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. Radiohead--A Moon Shaped Pool (XL) 9. Suzanne Vega--Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers (Perpetual Obscurity) 10. Lori McKenna--The Bird and the Rifle (CN) 11. Thao & the Get Down Stay Down--A Man Alive (Ribbon Music) 12. Iggy Pop--Post Pop Depression (Loma Vista)
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. Alabama Shakes--Sound and Color (ATO) 11. Joe Ely--Panhandle Rambler (Rack 'Em) 12. James McMurtry--Complicated Game (Complicated Game)
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) 11. Ex Hex--Rips (Merge) 12. The Budos Band--Burnt Offering (Daptone)
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) 11. Patty Griffin--American Kid (New West) 12. Pistol Annies--Annie Up (RCA)
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. Bonnie Raitt--Slipstream (Redwing) 10. Jake Bugg (Mercury) 11. Alabama Shakes--Boys and Girls (ATO) 12. 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) 11. Tom Waits--Bad as Me (Anti-) 12. Nils Lofgren--Old School (Vision)
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. Leela James--My Soul (Stax) 11. The Len Price 3--Pictures (Wicked Cool) 12. Lynn Miles--Fall for Beauty (True North)
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) 11. Guy Clark--Some Days the Song Writes You (Dualtone) 12. Leela James--Let's Do It Again (Shanachie)
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) 11. Hayes Carll--Trouble In Mind (Lost Highway) 12. Taj Mahal--Maestro (Heads Up)
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. Levon Helm--Dirt Farmer (Vanguard) 5. Sterling Harrison--South of the Snooty Fox (Hacktone) 6. Arcade Fire--Neon Bible (Merge) 7. Bruce Springsteen--Magic (Columbia) 8. The Sadies--New Seasons (Yep Roc) 9. The White Stripes--Icky Thump (Warner Bros.) 10. Kevin Ayers--The Unfairground (Lo-Max) 11. Robert Plant/Alison Krauss--Raising Sand (Rounder) 12. 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. Maria Muldaur--Heart of Mine: Love Songs of Bob Dylan (Telarc) 10. Dr. John--Mercernary: The Songs of Johnny Mercer (Blue Note) 11. Yo La Tengo--I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass (Matador) 12. Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3--Ole! Tarantula (Yep Roc)
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. Shelby Lynne--Suit Yourself (Capitol) 10. The White Stripes--Get Behind Me Satan (V2) 11. Gossip--Standing In the Way of Control (Kill Rock Stars) 12. 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) 11. Mekons--Punk Rock (Quarterstick) 12. Elliott Smith--From a Basement on the Hill (Anti-)
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) 11. Bettye LaVette--A Woman Like Me (Blues Express) 12. Al Green--I Can't Stop (Blue Note)
2002: 1. Guy Clark--The Dark (Sugar Hill) 2. Dap Dippin' with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings (Daptone) 3. Bruce Springsteen--The Rising (Columbia) 4. The Pretenders--Loose Screw (Artemis) 5. Solomon Burke--Don't Give Up on Me (Fat Possum/Anti-) 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) 11. Beck--Sea Change (DGC) 12. The Meat Purveyors--All Relationships Are Doomed to Fail (Bloodshot)
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) 11. Gillian Welch--Time (the Relevator) (Acony) 12. Rodney Crowell--The Houston Kid (Sugar Hill)
2000: 1. Radiohead--Kid A (Capitol) 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. Marah--Kids In Philly (Artemis) 6.Willie King & the Liberators--Freedom Creek (Rooster Blues) 7. Merle Haggard--If I Could Only Fly (Epitaph) 8. Mirah--You Think It's Like This But Really It's Like This (K) 9. Black Box Recorder--The Facts of Life (Nude) 10. Frankly a Cappella: The Persuasions Sing Zappa (EarthBeat) 11. I Am Shelby Lynne (Island) 12. 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) 11. Ruth Brown--A Good Day for the Blues (Bullseye Blues) 12. XTC--Apple Venus, Vol. 1 (TVT)
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. B.B. King--Blues on the Bayou (MCA) 8. Big Sandy--Dedicated to You (HighTone) 9. Elliott Smith--XO (DreamWorks) 10. Heather Myles--Highways and Honky Tonks (Rounder/Mercury) 11. Mose Allison--Gimcracks and Gewgaws (Blue Note) 12. John Lee Hooker--The Best of Friends (Pointblank)
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. Paul McCartney--Flaming Pie (Capitol) 9. Irma Thomas--The Story of My Life (Rounder) 10. The Previous--UnPop... (City Limits) 11. Dan Bern (Columbia) 12. John Fogerty--Blue Moon Swamp (Warner Bros.)
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. R.E.M.--New Adventures In Hi-Fi (Warner Bros.) 7. Iris DeMent--The Way I Should (Warner Bros.) 8. Shawn Colvin--A Few Small Repairs (Columbia) 9. W.C. Clark--Texas Soul (Black Top) 10. Veda Hille--Spine (Bottom Line) 11. Sleater-Kinney--Call the Doctor (Chainsaw) 12. Johnny Cash--Unchained (American) 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. Robin Lane--Catbird Seat (Ocean Music) 11. Marshall Chapman--It's About Time...Recorded Live at the Tennessee State Prison for Women (Margaritaville) 12. 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. Iris DeMent--My Life (Warner Bros.) 5. Dan Penn--Do Right Man (Sire) 6. Latin Playboys (Slash/Warner Bros.) 7. Nick Lowe--The Impossible Bird (Upstart) 8. Oasis--Definitely Maybe (Epic) 9. Tom Petty--Wildflowers (Warner Bros.) 10. Denise LaSalle--Still Bad (Malaco) 11. The Last Real Texas Blues Band featuring Doug Sahm (Antone's) 12. 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) 11. Angela Strehli--Blonde & Blue (Rounder) 12. Sue Foley--Without a Warning (Antone's)
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. Lucinda Williams--Sweet Old World (Chameleon) 9. Sonic Youth--Dirty (DGC) 10. PJ Harvey--Dry (Island) 11. Tish Hinojosa--Culture Swing (Rounder) 12. 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) 11. Sam Phillips--Cruel Inventions (Virgin) 12. Kirsty MacColl--Electric Landlady (Charisma)
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) 11. Midnight Oil--Blue Sky Mining (Columbia) 12. Clive Gregson & Christine Collister--Love Is a Strange Hotel (RNA/Rhino) 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. James McMurtry--Childish Things (Compadre) 9. Ruth Brown--Blues on Broadway (Fantasy) 10. Bob Dylan--Oh Mercy (Columbia) 11. Van Morrison--Avalon Sunset (Mercury) 12. 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. Patti Smith--Dream of Life (Arista) 9. The Scott Morgan Band--Rock Action (Revenge [France]) 10. Etta James--Seven Year Itch (Island) 11. Steve Forbert--Streets of This Town (Geffen) 12. Toots Hibbert--Toots In Memphis (Mango)
1987: 1. John Hiatt--Bring the Family (A&M) 2. Prince--Sign 'O' the Times (Paisley Park) 3. Bruce Springsteen--Tunnel of Love (Columbia) 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. Midnight Oil--Diesel and Dust (Columbia) 9. U2--The Joshua Tree (Island) 10. Los Lobos--By the Light of the Moon (Slash/WB) 11. The Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby (Columbia) 12. R.E.M.--Document (I.R.S.)
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. Elvis Costello & the Attractions--Blood and Chocolate (Columbia) 11. Husker Du--Candy Apple Grey (Warner Bros.) 12. Billy Bragg--Talking With the Taxman About Poetry (Elektra)
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) 11. Luther Vandross--The Night I Fell In Love (Epic) 12. The Rave-Ups--Town & Country (Fun Stuff)
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) 11. Don Henley--Building the Perfect Beast (Geffen) 12. The Judds--Why Not Me (RCA)
1983: 1. R.E.M.--Murmur (I.R.S.) 2. Aztec Camera--High Land, Hard Rain (Sire) 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. U2--Boy (Island) 9. X--More Fun In the New World (Elektra) 10. NRBQ--Grooves In Orbit (Bearsville) 11. John Mellencamp--Uh-Huh (Mercury) 12. Los Lobos--...And a Time to Dance [EP] (Slash)
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. Ted Hawkins--Watch Your Step (Rounder) 8. Michael Jackson--Thriller (Epic) 9. Elvis Costello & the Attractions--Imperial Bedroom (Columbia) 10. The Clash--Combat Rock (Epic) 11. Lou Reed--The Blue Mask (RCA) 12. 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. Willie Nelson--Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Columbia) 9. Rick James--Street Songs (Gordy) 10. The Go-Gos--Beauty and the Beat (I.R.S.) 11. Rickie Lee Jones--Pirates (Warner Bros.) 12. 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) 11. Peter Gabriel (Mercury) 12. The English Beat--I Just Can't Stop It (Sire) 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. Michael Jackson--Off the Wall (Epic) 10. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers--Damn the Torpedoes (MCA) 11. Dave Edmunds--Repeat When Necessary (Swan Song) 12. Buzzcocks--A Different Kind of Tension (United Artists)
1978: 1. Elvis Costello & the Attractions--This Year's Model (Columbia) 2. Nick Lowe--Jesus of Cool (Radar [UK]) 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. Townes Van Zandt--Flyin' Shoes (Tomato) 9. The Clash--Give 'Em Enough Rope (Epic) 10. Steve Forbert--Alive on Arrival (Nemperor) 11. The Rolling Stones--Some Girls (Rolling Stones) 12. The Cars (Elektra)
1977: 1. The Clash (CBS [UK]) 2. Elvis Costello--My Aim Is True (Columbia) 3. Lynyrd Skynyrd--Street Survivors (MCA) 4. Television--Marquee Moon (Elektra) 5. Muddy Waters--Hard Again (Blue Sky) 6. Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols (Warner Bros.) 7. Garland Jeffreys--Ghost Writer (A&M) 8. Ramones--Rocket to Russia (Sire) 9. Pete Townshend & Ronnie Lane--Rough Mix (MCA) 10. Fleetwood Mac--Rumours (Warner Bros.) 11. Iggy Pop--Lust for Life (RCA) 12. 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. Joni Mitchell--Hejira (Asylum) 6. Ramones (Sire) 7. Warren Zevon (Asylum) 8. The Wild Tchoupitoulas (Antilles) 9. Arlo Guthrie--Amigo (Reprise) 10. Jackson Browne--The Pretender (Asylum) 11. Kate and Anna McGarrigle (Warner Bros.) 12. James Talley--Tryin' Like the Devil (Capitol)
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. Johnny Shines--Too Wet to Plow (Blue Labor) 8. Delbert McClinton--Victim of Life's Circumstances (ABC) 9. Roxy Music--Siren (Atco) 10. Earth, Wind & Fire--That's the Way of the World (Columbia) 11. The Band--Northern Lights-Southern Cross (Capitol) 12. 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. Willie Nelson--Phases and Stages (Atlantic) 5. Bob Marley & the Wailers--Natty Dread (Island) 6. Roxy Music--Country Life (Atco) 7. New York Dolls--Too Much Too Soon (Mercury) 8. Richard & Linda Thompson--I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (Island) 9. Ann Peebles--I Can't Stand the Rain (Hi) 10. The Meters--Rejuvenation (Reprise) 11. Van Morrison--Veedon Fleece (Warner Bros.) 12. 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. Sly & the Family Stone--Fresh (Epic) 10. Bob Marley & the Wailers--Catch a Fire (Island) 11. Paul McCartney & Wings--Band On the Run (Apple) 12. Lynyrd Skynyrd--Pronounced Leh'-nerd Skin'-nerd (Sounds of the South/MCA)
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. Aretha Franklin--Young, Gifted and Black (Atlantic) 9. Rod Stewart--Never a Dull Moment (Mercury) 10. Van Morrison--Saint Dominic's Preview (Warner Bros.) 11. David Bowie--The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars (RCA) 12. Leon Thomas--Blues and the Soulful Truth (Flying Dutchman) 1971: 1. Rod Stewart--Every Picture Tells a Story (Mercury) 2. The Who--Who's Next (Decca) 3. Joni Mitchell--Blue (Reprise) 4. Marvin Gaye--What's Going On (Tamla) 5. John Prine (Atlantic) 6. Alice Cooper--Love It to Death (Warner Bros.) 7. Led Zeppelin IV (Atlantic) 8. Carole King--Tapestry (Ode) 9. Jimi Hendrix--The Cry of Love (Reprise) (reissued and expanded in 1997 under the title that Hendrix intended, 'First Rays of the New Rising Sun') 10. The Mahavishnu Orchestra with John McLaughlin --The Inner Mounting Flame (Columbia) 11. Janis Joplin--Pearl (Columbia) 12. 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. Creedence Clearwater Revival--Cosmo's Factory (Fantasy) 8. Swamp Dogg--Total Destruction to Your Mind (Canyon) 9. Esther Phillips--Burnin' (Atlantic) 10. Neil Young--After the Gold Rush (Reprise) 11. George Harrison--All Things Must Pass (Apple) 12. Leon Russell (Shelter)
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. Procol Harum--A Salty Dog (A&M) 11. Fleetwood Mac--Then Play On (Reprise) 12. Joe Cocker! (A&M)
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--Black Magic (Delmark) 10. The Byrds--The Notorious Byrd Brothers (Columbia) 11. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell--You're All I Need (Tamla) 12. Big Brother & the Holding Company--Cheap Thrills (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. Something Else By the Kinks (Reprise) 8. Bob Dylan--John Wesley Harding (Columbia) (released 12/27/67) 9. The Rolling Stones--Between the Buttons (London) 10. James Brown & his Famous Flames--Cold Sweat (King) 11. Buffalo Springfield Again (Atco) 12. The Doors (Elektra) 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 Butterfield Blues Band--East-West (Elektra) 7. The Beach Boys--Pet Sounds (Capitol) 8. The New Lee Dorsey (Amy) 9. Them Again (Parrot) 10. Nina Simone--Wild Is the Wind (Philips) 11. The Animals--Animalization (MGM) 12. Sam & Dave--Hold On I'm Comin' (Stax) 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. Bob Dylan--Bringing It All Back Home (Columbia) 9. The Shangri-Las--Leader of the Pack (Red Bird) 10. The Many New Sides of Charlie Rich (Smash) 11. Martha & the Vandellas--Dance Party (Gordy) 12. Junior Wells' Chicago Blues Band with Buddy Guy --Hoodoo Man Blues (Delmark) 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. Lonnie Mack--The Wham of That Memphis Man! (Fraternity) 6. Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes featuring Veronica (Philles) 7. Otis Redding--Pain In My Heart (Atco) 8. Muddy Waters--Folk Singer (Chess) 9. The Rolling Stones--12 x 5 (London) 10. Beatles for Sale (Parlophone [UK]) 11. Sam Cooke--Ain't That Good News (RCA Victor) 12. Etta James Rocks the House (Argo) 1963: 1. Sam Cooke--Night Beat (RCA Victor) 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 from Philles Records (Philles) 6. Solomon Burke--If You Need Me (Atlantic) 7. Barbara Lynn--You'll Lose a Good Thing (Jamie) 8. The Beatles--Please Please Me (Parlophone [UK]) 9. Presenting Dionne Warwick (Scepter) 10. The Impressions (ABC-Paramount) 11. Pete Seeger--We Shall Overcome (Columbia) 12. Doris Troy Sings Just One Look and Other Memorable Hits (Atlantic) 1962: 1. Ray Charles--Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music (ABC Paramount) 2. Bobby Blue Bland--Here's the Man! (Duke) 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. Dexter Gordon--Go! (Blue Note) 8. Willie Nelson--...And Then I Wrote (Liberty) 9. The Electrifying Aretha Franklin (Columbia) 10. Ike & Tina Turner--Dynamite! (Sue) 11. Timi Yuro--What's a Matter Baby (Liberty) 12. John Lee Hooker--Burnin' (Vee Jay)
1961: 1. Bobby Blue Bland--Two Steps from the Blues (Duke) 2. Robert Johnson--King of the Delta Blues Singers (Columbia) (The first time this material had been commercially available since the 1930s) 3. John Coltrane--My Favorite Things (Atlantic) 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. Bill Evans Trio--Explorations (Riverside) 9. Aretha Franklin with the Ray Bryant Combo--Aretha (Columbia) 10. Jimmy Reed at Carnegie Hall (Vee Jay) 11. The Fabulous Wailers featuring Rockin' Robin and Gail Harris at the Castle (Etiquette) 12. Buck Owens Sings Harlan Howard (Capitol)
1960: 1. Muddy Waters at Newport 1960 (Chess) 2. Ray Charles In Person (Atlantic) 3. Elvis Presley--Elvis Is Back! (RCA Victor) 4. The Everly Brothers--It's Everly Time! (Warner Bros.) 5. Wanda Jackson--Rockin' With Wanda (Capitol) 6. Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus (Candid) 7. John Coltrane--Giant Steps (Atlantic) 8. Etta James--At Last! (Argo) 9. Helen Humes (Contemporary) (later titled "Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness If I Do') 10. The Return of Roosevelt Sykes (Bluesville) 11. Brenda Lee (Decca) 12. Roy Orbison--Lonely and Blue (Monument)
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. Blossom Dearie--My Gentleman Friend (Verve) 9. T-Bone Walker--T-Bone Blues (Atlantic) 10. Frank Sinatra--Come Dance With Me! (Capitol) 11. Nina Simone--Little Girl Blue (Bethlehem) 12. Various Artists--From Spirituals to Swing: Carnegie Hall Concerts, 1938-1939 (Vanguard)
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) 11. Blues, Candy and Big Maybelle (Savoy) 12. Chuck Willis--King of the Stroll (Atlantic) 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. Sonny Rollins--Saxophone Colossus (Prestige) 9. Anita O'Day Sings the Most (Verve) 10. Fats Domino--This Is Fats (Imperial) 11. Elvis Presley--Jailhouse Rock [EP] (RCA Victor) 12. Patsy Cline (Decca)
1956: 1. Elvis Presley (RCA Victor) 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. Sister Rosetta Tharpe--Gospel Train (Mercury) 10. The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon (Gee) 11. Tito Puente--Puente In Percussion (Tico) 12. 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. Sarah Vaughan (EmArcy) 7. Anita O'Day--This Is Anita (Verve) 8. Dinah Washington & friends--Dinah Jams! (EmArcy) 9. Chris Connor--This Is Chris (Bethlehem) 10. Jimmy Rushing Sings the Blues (Vanguard) 11. Mel Torme--It's a Blue World (Bethlehem) 12. Wanderin' with Eddy Arnold (RCA Victor)
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. Dizzy Gillespie & his Latin Rhythm--Afro (Norgren) 5. Nat King Cole Sings for Two In Love (Capitol) 6. Miles Davis All Star Sextet (Riverside) 7. June Christy--Something Cool (Capitol) 8. Roy Eldridge & Dizzy Gillespie--Roy & Diz (Clef) 9. Mahalia Jackson--Queen of the Gospel Singers (Apollo) 10. Burl Ives--Coronation Concert (Decca) 11. Count Basie Dance Session (Clef) 12. 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) 11. Eartha Kitt--That Bad Eartha (RCA Victor) 12. Joe Turner Sings Kansas City Jazz (Decca)
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 (Clef) 7. Duke Ellington & his Orchestra--Ellington Uptown (Columbia) 8. Amos Milburn--Rock the Boogie (Aladdin) 9. Dinah Washington--Blazing Ballads (Mercury) 10. Tony Bennett--Because of You (Columbia) 11. The Dave Brubeck Quartet (Fantasy) 12. 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's Fabulous Jam Session (Dial) 9. Frankie Laine--Mr. Rhythm Sings (Mercury) 10. Machito--Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite (Mercury) 11. Bing Crosby Sings Song Hits From...(Decca) 12. Earl Bostic and his Alto Sax [EP] (King)
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. Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn--Great Times! (Riverside) 10. Nellie Lutcher--Real Gone! (Capitol) 11. Mary Lou Williams & her Orchestra [EP] (Stinson) 12. Benny Goodman--The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert (Columbia) _______________________________________________________