For people who always ask, "What are your favorite albums?" here's the answer. I start with my top pick from each year as a starting point. No, it's not "the most important albums" period, just the album that meant the most to me from each year; usually that means the album I play the most. Some years the choice was obvious, other times a few battled it out. But you could do worse as a music buff than making sure you listen to all my #1 picks. I follow this list with a breakdown of my favorite albums year by year.
THE BEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME (MY #1 PICK EACH YEAR 1924 TO THE PRESENT)
THE 2020s
THE SMILE -- Wall of Eyes / Cutouts (2024 work-in-progress list)
JANELLE MONÁE -- The Age Of Pleasure (2023)
ELVIS COSTELLO -- The Boy Named If /The Resurrection of Rust (2022)
FLOATING POINTS AND PHAROAH SANDERS -- Promises (2021)
A GIRL CALLED EDDY -- Been Around (2020)
THE 2010s
iLe -- Almadura (2019)
KAMASI WASHINGTON -- Heaven And Earth (2018)
CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- Dreams And Daggers (2017)
DAVID BOWIE -- Blackstar and Lazarus ep (2016 -- tie)
LEONARD COHEN -- You Want It Darker (2016 -- tie)
SUFJAN STEVENS -- Carrie and Lowell (2015)
KAISER CHIEFS -- Education, Education, Education and War (2014)
JANELLE MONAE -- The Electric Lady (2013)
RUMER -- Seasons Of My Soul/Boys Don't Cry (2012)
FLEET FOXES -- Hopelessness Blues (2011)
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- The Wild Hunt (2010)
THE 2000s
THE AVETT BROTHERS -- I And Love And You (2009)
WILLIE NELSON AND WYNTON MARSALIS -- Two Men With The Blues (2008 tie)
SUFJAN STEVENS -- Carrie and Lowell (2015)
KAISER CHIEFS -- Education, Education, Education and War (2014)
JANELLE MONAE -- The Electric Lady (2013)
RUMER -- Seasons Of My Soul/Boys Don't Cry (2012)
FLEET FOXES -- Hopelessness Blues (2011)
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- The Wild Hunt (2010)
THE 2000s
THE AVETT BROTHERS -- I And Love And You (2009)
WILLIE NELSON AND WYNTON MARSALIS -- Two Men With The Blues (2008 tie)
WYNTON MARSALIS -- Standards and Ballads (2008 tie)
SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS -- 100 Days 100 Nights (2007)
GREEN DAY -- American Idiot (2004)
THE WHITE STRIPES -- Elephant (2003)
NORAH JONES -- Come Away With Me (2002)
MANU CHAO -- Proxima Estacion: Esperanza (2001)
EMINEM -- The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
THE 1990s
DAVID GRAY -- White Ladder (1999)
BILLY BRAGG AND WILCO -- Mermaid Avenue (1998)
RADIOHEAD -- O.K. Computer (1997)
SUZANNE VEGA -- Nine Objects Of Desire (1996)
THE MAVERICKS -- Music For All Occasions (1995 -- tie)
ALISON KRAUSS -- Now That I've Found You: A Collection (1995 -- tie)
JOHNNY CASH -- American Recordings (1994)
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Blue Light 'Til Dawn (1993)
kd lang -- Ingenue (1992)
NIRVANA -- Nevermind (1991)
MADONNA -- The Immaculate Collection (1990)
THE 1980s
BEASTIE BOYS -- Paul's Boutique (1989)
PUBLIC ENEMY -- It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988)
DOLLY PARTON, LINDA RONSTADT, EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Trio (1987)
PAUL SIMON -- Graceland (1986)
KATE BUSH -- Hounds Of Love (1985)
U2 -- The Unforgettable Fire (1984)
R.E.M. -- Murmur (1983)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Nebraska (1982)
JOAN JETT -- Bad Reputation/I Love Rock 'n' Roll (1981)
JOHN LENNON AND YOKO ONO -- Double Fantasy (1980)
THE 1970s
THE CLASH -- London Calling (1979)
SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS -- 100 Days 100 Nights (2007)
CORINNE BAILEY RAE -- Corinne Bailey Rae (2006 -- tie)
JAMES HUNTER -- People Gonna Talk (2006 -- tie)
SUFJAN STEVENS -- (Come On Feel The) Illinoise (2005)GREEN DAY -- American Idiot (2004)
THE WHITE STRIPES -- Elephant (2003)
NORAH JONES -- Come Away With Me (2002)
MANU CHAO -- Proxima Estacion: Esperanza (2001)
EMINEM -- The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
THE 1990s
DAVID GRAY -- White Ladder (1999)
BILLY BRAGG AND WILCO -- Mermaid Avenue (1998)
RADIOHEAD -- O.K. Computer (1997)
SUZANNE VEGA -- Nine Objects Of Desire (1996)
THE MAVERICKS -- Music For All Occasions (1995 -- tie)
ALISON KRAUSS -- Now That I've Found You: A Collection (1995 -- tie)
JOHNNY CASH -- American Recordings (1994)
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Blue Light 'Til Dawn (1993)
kd lang -- Ingenue (1992)
NIRVANA -- Nevermind (1991)
MADONNA -- The Immaculate Collection (1990)
THE 1980s
BEASTIE BOYS -- Paul's Boutique (1989)
PUBLIC ENEMY -- It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988)
DOLLY PARTON, LINDA RONSTADT, EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Trio (1987)
PAUL SIMON -- Graceland (1986)
KATE BUSH -- Hounds Of Love (1985)
U2 -- The Unforgettable Fire (1984)
R.E.M. -- Murmur (1983)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Nebraska (1982)
JOAN JETT -- Bad Reputation/I Love Rock 'n' Roll (1981)
JOHN LENNON AND YOKO ONO -- Double Fantasy (1980)
THE 1970s
THE CLASH -- London Calling (1979)
BRIAN ENO -- Ambient 1: Music For Airports (1978)
STEELY DAN -- Aja (1977)
STEVIE WONDER -- Songs In The Key Of Life (1976)
BOB DYLAN -- Blood On The Tracks/The Basement Tapes (1975)
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight (1974)
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Catch A Fire/Burnin' (1973)
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Greatest Hits (1972)
JONI MITCHELL -- Blue (1971)
THE GRATEFUL DEAD -- Workingman's Dead/American Beauty (1970)
THE 1960s
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL -- Green River/Willie and the Poor Boys (1969)
VAN MORRISON -- Astral Weeks (1968)
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) (1967)
THE BEACH BOYS -- Pet Sounds (1966 -- tie)
THE BEATLES -- Revolver (1966 -- tie)
BOB DYLAN -- Bringing It All Back Home/Highway 61 (1965)
STAN GETZ AND JOAO GILBERTO -- Getz/Gilberto (1964)
PATSY CLINE -- The Patsy Cline Story (1963)
RAY CHARLES -- Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music Vol 1 and 2 (1962)
BILL EVANS -- Sunday At The Village Vanguard/Waltz For Debby (1961)
ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Intimate Ella (1960)
THE 1950s
MILES DAVIS -- Kind Of Blue/Workin'/Porgy and Bess (1959)
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Elvis' Golden Records Vol. 1 (1958)
LERNER AND LOEWE -- My Fair Lady Original Broadway Cast (1957)
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Sings The Cole Porter Songbook (1956)
FRANK SINATRA -- In The Wee Small Hours (1955)
DINAH WASHINGTON -- Dinah Jams (1954)
PEGGY LEE -- Black Coffee (1953)
VARIOUS ARTISTS/HARRY SMITH -- The Anthology Of American Folk Music (1952)
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits (1951)
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Complete Decca Recordings (1944-1950) (1950)
THE 1940s
DJANGO REINHARDT -- Djangology 49 (1949)
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits (1948)
WOODY GUTHRIE -- Songs To Grow On: Nursery Days aka For Mother And Child (1947)
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951) (1946)
BING CROSBY -- Merry Christmas (1945)
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- Oklahoma! (1944)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1943 (1943)
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor (1942)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band (1941)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band/1937-1940 on Classics Label (1940)
THE 1930s
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller (1939)
BENNY GOODMAN -- Benny Goodman At Carnegie Hall (1938)
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 3-4 1936-1937 (1937)
ROBERT JOHNSON -- King Of The Delta Blues Singers Vol. 1 (1936)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Decca 1934-1954] (1935)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954] (1934)
BESSIE SMITH -- The Collection (1933)
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- The 1930's Recordings (1932)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934] (1931)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930/1924-1930 on Classics Label (1930)
THE 1920s
CHARLEY PATTON -- King Of The Delta Blues (1929-1934) (1929)
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- Avalon Blues: The Complete 1928 Okeh Recordings (1928)
HENRY THOMAS -- Bull Doze Blues (1927-1929) (1927)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings (1926)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings (1925)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label (1924)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2024 (work-in-progress)
STEVIE WONDER -- Songs In The Key Of Life (1976)
BOB DYLAN -- Blood On The Tracks/The Basement Tapes (1975)
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight (1974)
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Catch A Fire/Burnin' (1973)
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Greatest Hits (1972)
JONI MITCHELL -- Blue (1971)
THE GRATEFUL DEAD -- Workingman's Dead/American Beauty (1970)
THE 1960s
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL -- Green River/Willie and the Poor Boys (1969)
VAN MORRISON -- Astral Weeks (1968)
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) (1967)
THE BEACH BOYS -- Pet Sounds (1966 -- tie)
THE BEATLES -- Revolver (1966 -- tie)
BOB DYLAN -- Bringing It All Back Home/Highway 61 (1965)
STAN GETZ AND JOAO GILBERTO -- Getz/Gilberto (1964)
PATSY CLINE -- The Patsy Cline Story (1963)
RAY CHARLES -- Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music Vol 1 and 2 (1962)
BILL EVANS -- Sunday At The Village Vanguard/Waltz For Debby (1961)
ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Intimate Ella (1960)
THE 1950s
MILES DAVIS -- Kind Of Blue/Workin'/Porgy and Bess (1959)
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Elvis' Golden Records Vol. 1 (1958)
LERNER AND LOEWE -- My Fair Lady Original Broadway Cast (1957)
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Sings The Cole Porter Songbook (1956)
FRANK SINATRA -- In The Wee Small Hours (1955)
DINAH WASHINGTON -- Dinah Jams (1954)
PEGGY LEE -- Black Coffee (1953)
VARIOUS ARTISTS/HARRY SMITH -- The Anthology Of American Folk Music (1952)
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits (1951)
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Complete Decca Recordings (1944-1950) (1950)
THE 1940s
DJANGO REINHARDT -- Djangology 49 (1949)
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits (1948)
WOODY GUTHRIE -- Songs To Grow On: Nursery Days aka For Mother And Child (1947)
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951) (1946)
BING CROSBY -- Merry Christmas (1945)
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- Oklahoma! (1944)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1943 (1943)
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor (1942)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band (1941)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band/1937-1940 on Classics Label (1940)
THE 1930s
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller (1939)
BENNY GOODMAN -- Benny Goodman At Carnegie Hall (1938)
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 3-4 1936-1937 (1937)
ROBERT JOHNSON -- King Of The Delta Blues Singers Vol. 1 (1936)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Decca 1934-1954] (1935)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954] (1934)
BESSIE SMITH -- The Collection (1933)
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- The 1930's Recordings (1932)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934] (1931)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930/1924-1930 on Classics Label (1930)
THE 1920s
CHARLEY PATTON -- King Of The Delta Blues (1929-1934) (1929)
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- Avalon Blues: The Complete 1928 Okeh Recordings (1928)
HENRY THOMAS -- Bull Doze Blues (1927-1929) (1927)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings (1926)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings (1925)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label (1924)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2024 (work-in-progress)
THE SMILE -- Wall of Eyes / Cutouts
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Ship To Shore THE LEMON TWIGS -- A Dream Is All We Know
MANU CHAO -- Viva Tu
GREEN DAY -- Saviors
KACEY MUSGRAVES -- Deeper Well
NICK CAVE -- Wild God
RICHARD HAWLEY -- In This City They Call You Love
GRUPO FRONTERA -- Jugando a Que No Pasa Nada
BEYONCÉ -- Cowboy Carter
PAUL KELLY -- Fever Longing Still
LINDA THOMPSON -- Proxy Music
BRIGHT EYES -- Five Dice, All Threes
ESLABAN ARMADO -- Amor Perdido
ELLIOT BROOD -- Town and Country
MARCUS KING -- Mood Swings
GEPE -- Undesastre
STURGILL SIMPSON -- Passage du Desir
M. WARD -- For Beginners: The Best of M. Ward
JACK WHITE -- Hentch-Forth guesting w The Hentchmen/ No Name
JAY WHEELER -- Música Buena Para Días Malos
THE AVETT BROTHERS -- The Avett Brothers
WILLIE NELSON -- The Border
PET SHOP BOYS -- Nonetheless
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2023
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2022
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2021
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2019
iLe -- Almadura
BAD BUNNY AND J BALVIN -- Oasis
LIZZO -- Cuz I Love You
ARI LENNOX -- Shea Butter Baby
BRANFORD MARSALIS -- The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul
SOLANGE -- When I Get Home
NICK CAVE -- Ghosteen
ANDY BURROWS AND MATT HAIG -- Reasons To Stay Alive
DORI FREEMAN -- Every Little Star
TINARIWEN -- Amadjar
MDOU MOCTAR -- Ileana (The Creator)
WEYES BLOOD -- Titanic Rising
TANYA TUCKER -- While I'm Living
JUDY COLLINS -- Winter Stories (w Jonas Fjeld and Chatham County Line)
MANSION HARLOTS -- All Around A Fairground
TYLER, THE CREATOR -- IGOR
CAROLINE SHAW -- Orange
DEREK BERMEL -- Migrations
STURGILL SIMPSON -- Sound & Fury
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood
MARIACHI LOS CAMPEROS -- De Ayer Para Siempre
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- I Love You. It's A Fever Dream
BILLIE EILISH -- When We All Fall Asleep
VAMPIRE WEEKEND -- Father Of The Bride
LAKOU MIZIK -- HaitiNola
CHRISTIAN SCOTT ATUNDE ADJUAH -- Ancestral Blues
ANGELIQUE KIDJO -- Celia
NEIL YOUNG -- Colorado
KALI MALONE -- The Sacrificial Code
(Click here for a complete breakdown of who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- The Window
ARCTIC MONKEYS -- Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino
KASEY CHAMBERS -- Campfire
BENJAMIN JAFFE -- Oh, Wild Oceans Of Love
SHAKEY GRAVES -- Can't Wake Up
ESPERANZA SPALDING -- 12 Little Steps
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Look Now
COURTNEY BARNETT -- Tell Me How You Really Feel
TONY BENNETT AND DIANA KRALL -- Love Is Here To Stay
BIRCH PEREIRA -- Western Soul
TRACEY THORN -- Record
SCOTT MATTHEWS -- The Great Untold
MACY GRAY -- Ruby
JASON ALDEAN -- Rearview Town
MADELEINE PEYROUX -- Anthem
DRAKE -- Scorpion
JAMES HUNTER -- Whatever It Takes
TROYE SIVAN -- Bloom
RICK SPRINGFIELD -- The Snake King
LINDA THOMPSON -- My Mother Doesn't Know I'm On The Stage
FALL OUT BOY -- Mania
ROSEANNE CASH -- She Remembers Everything
BUDDY GUY -- The Blues Is Alive And Well
GORILLAZ -- The Now Now
MANDY PATINKIN -- Diary: January 27, 2018/April May 2018
JOSH ROUSE -- Love In The Modern Age
THE VINES -- In Miracle Land
JEFF TWEEDY -- Warm
BOZ SCAGGS -- Out Of The Blues
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2017
CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- Dreams And Daggers
CHRIS STAPLETON -- From A Room, Vol. 1
ORCHESTRA BAOBAB -- Tribute To Ndiouga Dieng
SZA -- Ctrl
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Hadestown Original Cast Album (Off Bway)
JOHN MORELAND -- Big Bad Luv
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- 50 Song Memoir
SIA -- Everyday is Christmas
THE JOHN SALLY RIDE -- A New Set Of Downs
COURTNEY BARNETT AND KURT VILE -- Lotta Sea Lice
KASEY CHAMBERS -- Dragonfly
BOB DYLAN -- Triplicate
DANIEL CAESAR -- Freudian
JASON ISBELL -- The Nashville Sound
MARGO PRICE -- All American Made
KENDRICK LAMAR -- Damn
NICK HEYWARD -- Woodland Echoes
CHARLY BLISS -- Guppy
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sunday in The Park With George (Bway 2017)
THE NATIONAL -- Sleep Well Beast
MOSES SUMNEY -- Aromanticism
SAMPHA -- Process
WESLEY STACE'S JOHN WESLEY HARDING -- Wesley Stace's John Wesley Harding
DORA FREEMAN -- Letter Never Sent
ANNA TIVEL -- Small Believer
KAMASI WASHINGTON -- Harmony of Difference
CHEAP TRICK -- We're All Alright!
SAZ'SIO -- At Least Wave Your Handkerchief At Me
RON SEXSMITH -- The Last Rider
INDIA.ARIE -- Songversation: Medicine
LARRY CAMPBELL AND TERESA WILLIAMS -- Contraband Love
KHALID -- American Teen
ZULI -- On Human Freakout Mountain
LEWIS CAPALDI -- Bloom
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Baby Driver OST
RODNEY CROWELL -- Close Ties
JOHN MELLENCAMP -- Sad Clowns and Hillbillies
OZUNA -- Odisea
LIAM GALLAGHER -- As You Were
DAVID RAWLINGS -- Poor David's Almanack
JUANES -- Mis Planes Son Amarte
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO -- Songs Of Peace and Love
HOBO JOHNSON -- The Rise Of Hobo Johnson
X -- Smoke & Fiction
BILLIE EILISH -- Hit Me Hard and Hit Me Soft
FANTASTIC CAT -- Now That's What I Call Fantastic Cat
BRIAN ENO -- Soft Edges ep
WILLOW -- Empathogen
BUZZARD BUZZARD BUZZARD -- Skinwalker
MGMT -- Loss Of Life
BOSS CAPONE AND GEORGE DEKKER -- Blackfire
THE JOHN SALLY RIDE -- Melomaniacs
THE BLACK CROWES -- Happiness Bastards
KAISER CHIEFS -- The Kaiser Chiefs' Easy Eighth Album
KALI MALONE -- All Life Long
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Uptown Top Ranking: Trojan Ska & Reggae Chartbusters
AFRICATOWN, AL -- Ancestor Sounds
LIAM GALLAGHER AND JOHN SQUIRE -- Liam Gallagher and John Squire
MDOU MOCTAR -- Funeral For Justice
ROSIE TUCKER -- Utopia Now!
LONE JUSTICE -- Viva Lone Justice (reissue?)
BETA RADIO -- Waiting For The End To Come
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2023
JANELLE MONÁE -- The Age Of Pleasure
SUFJAN STEVENS -- Javelin
JOE JACKSON -- Mr. Joe Jackson Presents Max Champion in "What A Racket!"
MADNESS -- Theatre of the Absurd presents C'est La Vie
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Fuse
BRAD MEHLDAU -- Your Mother Should Know: Brad Mehldau Plays The Beatles
THE WHIFFS -- Scratch 'N' Sniff
THE LEMON TWIGS -- Everything Harmony
BOYGENIUS -- The Record
PESO PLUMA -- Génesis
ESLABÓN ARMADO -- Desvelado
RODNEY CROWELL -- The Chicago Sessions
TANYA TUCKER -- Sweet Western Sound
BALLAKÉ SISSOKO, VINCENT SEGAL, EMILE PARISIEN & VINCENT PIERANI -- Les Égarés
PETER GARLAND -- The Basketweave Elegies (performed by William Winant)
GRUPO FRONTERA -- El Comienzo
BECKY G -- Esquinas
KAROL G -- Mañana Será Bonito
SUSANNA HOFFS -- The Deep End
TEDDY THOMPSON -- My Love Of Country/ Once More: Jenni Muldaur & Teddy Thompson Sing The Great Country Duets
AFRICAN HEAD CHARGE -- A Trip To Bolgatonga
FALL OUT BOY -- So Much (For) Stardust
BETTY LAVETTE -- LaVette!
THE HIVES -- The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons
WYNTON MARSALIS -- Plays Louis Armstrong's Hot Fives and Hot Sevens
JESSIE WARE -- That! Feels! Good!
M. WARD -- Supernatural Thing
THE BLASTERS -- Mandatory: The Best Of The Blasters
COWBOY JUNKIES -- Such Ferocious Beauty
BLACK PUMAS -- Chronicles Of A Diamond
FATOUMATA DIAWARA -- London Ko
PETER GABRIEL -- i/o
ROLLING STONES -- Hackney Diamonds
TAJ MAHAL -- Savoy
RAYE -- My 21st Century Blues
BAD BUNNY -- Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana
SIGUR RÓS -- Átta
CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- Mésuline
GINA BURCH -- I Play My Bass Loud
NATION OF LANGUAGES -- Strange Disciple
ALEX LAHEY -- The Answer Is Always Yes
BRIAN ENO -- I Dormienti ep
PAUL SIMON -- Seven Psalms
DORI FREEMAN -- Do You Recall
AWADAGIN PRATT -- Still Point
THE NATIONAL -- First Two Pages Of Frankenstein
DURAND JONES -- Wait Till I Get Over
THE CORAL -- Sea Of Mirrors
ALLISON MILLER -- Rivers In Our Veins
PETER ONE -- Come Back To Me
ÓLAFUR ARNALDS -- Trying To Think Of Nothing/It's 2am And I'm Not Tired Yet
MITSKI -- The Land Is Inhospitable And So Are We
ELLIOT BROOD -- Town
BRIAN HARNETTY -- The Workbench ep
PHARAOH SANDERS -- Harvest Time Live 1977
RYAN BEATTY -- Calico
HARP -- Albion
REISSUE: THE BEATLES -- 1962-1966 (The Red Album expanded)/1967-1970 (The Blue Album expanded)
REISSUE: JONI MITCHEL -- Archives Volume 3: The Asylum Years 1972-1975
REISSUE: THE REPLACEMENTS -- Tim: Let It Bleed Edition
REISSUE: THE SHIRELLES -- Mama Said: 52 Original Sceptre Records Recordings
REISSUE: NEIL YOUNG -- Chrome Dreams (1977/2023)
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Piconema: East African Hits on the Colombian Coast
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2022
ELVIS COSTELLO -- The Boy Named If /The Resurrection of Rust
HARRY STYLES -- Harry's House ESLABÓN ARMADO -- Nostalgia
iLe -- Nacarile
ALTAMEDA -- Born Losers
TOMMY MCLAIN -- I Ran Down Every Dream
CHARLIE GABRIEL AND THE PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND -- 89
WET LEG -- Wet Leg
BUZZARD BUZZARD BUZZARD -- Backhand Deals
KALI MALONE -- Living Torch
TCHOTCHKE -- Tchotchke
CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- Ghost Song
THE SMILE -- A Light For Attracting Attention
WEYES BLOOD -- And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow
BUCK OWENS -- Bakersfield Gold: Top 10 Hits 1959-1974
BAD BUNNY -- Un Verano Sin Ti
MIRANDA LAMBERT -- Palomino
JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON -- Drone Mass
LADY BLACKBIRD -- Black Acid Soul
NOORI & HIS DORPA BAND -- Beja Power! Electric Soul & Brass From Sudan's Red Sea Coast
THE LICKERISH QUARTET -- Threesome
SILVANA ESTRADA -- Marchita
DR. JOHN -- Things Happen That Way
JOEL ROSS -- The Parable Of The Poet
ASHLEY MCBRYDE -- Presents Lindeville
IAN NOE -- River Fools and Mountain Saints
JULIA BULLOCK -- Walking In The Dark
STEVE LACY -- Gemini Rights
JUDY COLLINS -- Spellbound
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Music From And Inspired By
COLIN HAY -- Now and The Evermore OUMOU SANGARÉ -- Timbuktu
DUNCAN SHEIK -- Claptrap
GOGOL BORDELLO -- Solidaritine
VIGÜELA -- A La Manera Artesana
PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Viva Las Vengeance
BINKER & MOSES -- Feeding The Machine
MEGHAN TRAINOR -- Takin' It Back
ALEC BENJAMIN -- (Un)Commentary
MIDLAKE -- For The Sake Of Bethel Woods
RENÉE FLEMING -- Voice Of Nature: The Anthropocene
REISSUE: JOHNNY ADAMS -- South Side Of Soul Street (The SSS Sessions)/Only Want To Be With You comp
REISSSUE: ÁFRICA NEGRA -- Antologia Vol. 1
REISSUE: BARBRA STREISAND -- Live At The Bon Soir
REISSUE: ROLLING STONES -- Live At The El Mocambo
REISSUE: THE MOVERS -- Vol. 1: 1970-1976
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Gotta Get A Good Thing Goin': Black Music In Britain In The Sixties
REISSUE: MADONNA -- Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2021
FLOATING POINTS AND PHAROAH SANDERS -- Promises
THE CORAL -- Coral Island
C. TANGANA -- El Madrileño
ROBERT PLANT AND ALISON KRAUSS -- Raise The Roof
BRANDI CARLILE -- In These Silent Days (In The Canyon Haze edition) (out 2022)
AIMEE MANN -- Queen Of The Summer Hotels
JOHN MAYER -- Sob Rock
ALLISON RUSSELL -- Outside Child
CHEAP TRICK -- In Another World
SHELBY LYNNE -- The Servant
THE JOHN SALLY RIDE -- Now Is Not A Good Time
JEREMIAH FRAITES -- Piano Piano
FLEET FOXES -- A Very Lonely Solstice
DORI FREEMAN -- Ten Thousand Roses
JUSTIN BIEBER -- Justice
MIRANDA LAMBERT, JACK INGRAM, JON RANDALL -- The Marfa Tapes
CARÍN LEON -- Inédito
BILLIE EILISH -- Happier Than Ever
IKE REILLY -- Because The Angels
ALICIA KEYS -- Keys
MICKY DOLENZ -- Dolenz Sings Nesmith
ASHE -- Ashlyn
EMILE MOSSERI -- Minari soundtrack
LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM -- Lindsey Buckingham
NATALIA LAFOURCADE -- Un Canto por México, Vol. II
LORD HURON -- Long Lost
SAULT -- Nine
CARLY PEARCE -- 29: Written In Stone
MON LAFERTE -- Seis
POKEY LAFARGE -- In The Blossom Of Their Shade
ST. VINCENT -- Daddy's Home
BOB DYLAN -- Shadow Kingdom
WILLIAM TYLER -- First Cow soundtrack
AROOJ AFTAB -- Vulture Prince
SELF ESTEEM -- Prioritize Pleasure
LUCY DACUS -- Home Video
NICK CAVE AND WARREN ELLIS -- Carnage
MANDY BARNETT -- Every Star Above
MARGO TIMMINS -- The Ty Tyrfu Sessions
RODRIGO AMARANTE -- Drama
COURTNEY BARNETT -- Things Take Time, Take Time
COLIN HAY -- I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself
THE FLATLANDERS -- Treasure of Love
ABBA -- Voyage
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2020
(Click here for a complete breakdown of who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
A GIRL CALLED EDDY -- Been Around
BEASTIE BOYS -- Beastie Boys Music
FIONA APPLE -- Fetch The Bold Cutters
BAD BUNNY -- YHLQMDLG/Las Que No Iban A Salir/El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo
THE MAVERICKS -- En Español
LINA RODRIGUEZ -- Lina_Raul Refree
CHUCK PROPHET -- The Land That Time Forgot
MIKE VIOLA -- Godmuffin
RUMER -- Nashville Tears: The Songs Of Hugh Prestwood
IMMANUEL WILKINS -- Omega
TEYANA TAYLOR -- The Album
SAULT -- Untitled (Black Is) and Untitled (Rise)
CLARICE JENSEN -- The Experience Of Repetition As Death
FRANKIE SIRAGUSA -- Goodbye, My Love
OLAFUR ARNALDS -- Some Kind Of Peace
REISSUE: NEIL YOUNG -- Homegrown (recorded in 1975)
BRANDY CLARK -- Your Life Is A Record
GREEN DAY -- Father of All Motherfuckers
DUA LIPA -- Future Nostalgia
MARIA MCKEE -- La Vita Nuova
MOSES SUMNEY -- grae
PHOEBE BRIDGERS -- Punisher
HAIM -- Women In Music III
ROBERT CRAY -- That's What I Heard
ERROL LINTON -- No Entry
TEDDY THOMPSON -- Heartbreaker Please
TAMI NEILSON -- Chickaboom!
REISSUE: ELLA FITZGERALD -- Ella: The Lost Berlin Tapes (Live) (recorded in 1962)
BARRY MANILOW -- Night Songs II
LIANNE LA HAVAS -- Lianne La Havas
HAROLD LOPEZ-NUSSA -- Te Lo Dije
THE STRUTS -- Strange Days
BOB DYLAN -- Rough and Rowdy Ways
HAROLD BUDD AND ROBIN GUTHRIE -- Another Flower
BRIAN ENO AND ROGER ENO -- Mixing Colours
FLEET FOXES -- Shore
GROUPE RTD -- The Dancing Devils Of Djibouti
BOB MOULD -- Blue Hearts
PHILIP GLASS -- Music In Eight Parts
TRISTAN PERICH -- Drift Multiply
REISSUE: SHARHABIL AHMED -- The King Of Sudanese Jazz
STEVE EARLE -- Ghosts Of West Virginia
CARLA BLEY -- Life Goes On
JIMMY HEATH -- Love Letter
THE JAYHAWKS -- Xoxo
MICHAEL HARRISON W ROOMFUL OF TEETH -- Just Constellations
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- Quickies
SPARKS -- A Steady Drip Drip Drip
JOHN BEASLEY -- MONK'estra Plays John Beasley
JAKE BLOUNT -- Spider Tales
TONY ALLEN AND HUGH MASEKALA -- Rejoice!
PAUL WELLER -- On Sunset
ALEC BENJAMIN -- These Two Windows
ELLIOTT BROOD -- Keeper
REISSUE: ONENESS OF JUJU -- African Rhythms 1970-1982
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2019
iLe -- Almadura
BAD BUNNY AND J BALVIN -- Oasis
LIZZO -- Cuz I Love You
ARI LENNOX -- Shea Butter Baby
BRANFORD MARSALIS -- The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul
SOLANGE -- When I Get Home
NICK CAVE -- Ghosteen
ANDY BURROWS AND MATT HAIG -- Reasons To Stay Alive
DORI FREEMAN -- Every Little Star
TINARIWEN -- Amadjar
MDOU MOCTAR -- Ileana (The Creator)
WEYES BLOOD -- Titanic Rising
NELLIE MCKAY -- Bagatelles ep
JOHN LUTHER ADAMS -- Become Desert
ANDREW NORMAN -- Sustain
JOHN LUTHER ADAMS -- Become Desert
ANDREW NORMAN -- Sustain
TANYA TUCKER -- While I'm Living
JUDY COLLINS -- Winter Stories (w Jonas Fjeld and Chatham County Line)
MANSION HARLOTS -- All Around A Fairground
TYLER, THE CREATOR -- IGOR
CAROLINE SHAW -- Orange
DEREK BERMEL -- Migrations
STURGILL SIMPSON -- Sound & Fury
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood
MARIACHI LOS CAMPEROS -- De Ayer Para Siempre
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- I Love You. It's A Fever Dream
BILLIE EILISH -- When We All Fall Asleep
VAMPIRE WEEKEND -- Father Of The Bride
LAKOU MIZIK -- HaitiNola
CHRISTIAN SCOTT ATUNDE ADJUAH -- Ancestral Blues
THE WHIFFS -- Another Whiff
ANGELIQUE KIDJO -- Celia
NEIL YOUNG -- Colorado
KALI MALONE -- The Sacrificial Code
FRANK TURNER -- No Man's Land
STILE ANTICO -- In A Strange Land: Elizabethan Composers in Exile
BECK -- Hyperspace
MICHAEL KIWANUKA -- Kiwanuka
ALLISON MOORER -- Blood
DAVE MALLOY --- Octet (Original Cast Recording)
THE GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE -- Aban
WILCO -- Ode To Joy
JOE JACKSON -- Fool
JEFF LYNNE'S ELO -- From Out Of Nowhere
PAUL KELLY -- Songs From The South: Paul Kelly's Greatest Hits 1985-2019
JULIA JACKLIN -- Crushing
KEVIN MORBY -- Oh My God
LOS LOBOS -- Llegó Navidad
STILE ANTICO -- A Spanish Nativity
ROBBIE WILLIAMS -- The Christmas Present
STILE ANTICO -- In A Strange Land: Elizabethan Composers in Exile
BECK -- Hyperspace
MICHAEL KIWANUKA -- Kiwanuka
ALLISON MOORER -- Blood
DAVE MALLOY --- Octet (Original Cast Recording)
THE GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE -- Aban
WILCO -- Ode To Joy
JOE JACKSON -- Fool
JEFF LYNNE'S ELO -- From Out Of Nowhere
PAUL KELLY -- Songs From The South: Paul Kelly's Greatest Hits 1985-2019
JULIA JACKLIN -- Crushing
KEVIN MORBY -- Oh My God
LOS LOBOS -- Llegó Navidad
STILE ANTICO -- A Spanish Nativity
ROBBIE WILLIAMS -- The Christmas Present
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nostalgique Porto Rico (Puerto Rican Roots 1940-1960)
REISSUE: OSCAR "PAPA" CELESTIN/SAM MORGAN -- Recorded In New Orleans 1925-1928
(Click here for a complete breakdown of who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
KAMASI WASHINGTON -- Heaven And Earth
JANELLE MONÁE -- Dirty Computer
ANGELIQUE KIDJO -- Remain In Light
BAD BUNNY -- X100PRE
PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Pray For The Wicked
BRANDI CARLISLE -- By The Way, I Forgive You
THE JOHN SALLY RIDE -- Nothing Doing
NELLIE MCKAY -- Sister Orchid
BETA RADIO -- Transition
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Black Panther
JANELLE MONÁE -- Dirty Computer
ANGELIQUE KIDJO -- Remain In Light
BAD BUNNY -- X100PRE
PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Pray For The Wicked
BRANDI CARLISLE -- By The Way, I Forgive You
THE JOHN SALLY RIDE -- Nothing Doing
NELLIE MCKAY -- Sister Orchid
BETA RADIO -- Transition
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Black Panther
YOUNG GUN SILVER FOX -- AM Waves
CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- The Window
ARCTIC MONKEYS -- Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino
KASEY CHAMBERS -- Campfire
BENJAMIN JAFFE -- Oh, Wild Oceans Of Love
SHAKEY GRAVES -- Can't Wake Up
ESPERANZA SPALDING -- 12 Little Steps
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Look Now
COURTNEY BARNETT -- Tell Me How You Really Feel
NAS -- Nasir
BIRCH PEREIRA -- Western Soul
TRACEY THORN -- Record
SCOTT MATTHEWS -- The Great Untold
MACY GRAY -- Ruby
JASON ALDEAN -- Rearview Town
MADELEINE PEYROUX -- Anthem
DRAKE -- Scorpion
JAMES HUNTER -- Whatever It Takes
TROYE SIVAN -- Bloom
RICK SPRINGFIELD -- The Snake King
LINDA THOMPSON -- My Mother Doesn't Know I'm On The Stage
FALL OUT BOY -- Mania
ROSEANNE CASH -- She Remembers Everything
BUDDY GUY -- The Blues Is Alive And Well
GORILLAZ -- The Now Now
MANDY PATINKIN -- Diary: January 27, 2018/April May 2018
JOSH ROUSE -- Love In The Modern Age
THE VINES -- In Miracle Land
JEFF TWEEDY -- Warm
BOZ SCAGGS -- Out Of The Blues
REISSUE: BOBBIE GENTRY -- The Girl From Chickaswaw County boxed set
REISSUE: ELLA FITZGERALD/LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- Cheek To Cheek: The Complete Duet Recordings
(Click here for a complete breakdown of who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
REISSUE: ELLA FITZGERALD/LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- Cheek To Cheek: The Complete Duet Recordings
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- African Scream Contest 2
(Click here for a complete breakdown of who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2017
CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- Dreams And Daggers
CHRIS STAPLETON -- From A Room, Vol. 1
ORCHESTRA BAOBAB -- Tribute To Ndiouga Dieng
SZA -- Ctrl
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Hadestown Original Cast Album (Off Bway)
JOHN MORELAND -- Big Bad Luv
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- 50 Song Memoir
SIA -- Everyday is Christmas
THE JOHN SALLY RIDE -- A New Set Of Downs
COURTNEY BARNETT AND KURT VILE -- Lotta Sea Lice
KASEY CHAMBERS -- Dragonfly
BOB DYLAN -- Triplicate
DANIEL CAESAR -- Freudian
JASON ISBELL -- The Nashville Sound
MARGO PRICE -- All American Made
KENDRICK LAMAR -- Damn
NICK HEYWARD -- Woodland Echoes
KRONOS QUARTET AND TRIO DA KALI -- Ladilikan
STANTON MOORE -- With You In Mind
AIMEE MANN -- Mental Illness
JAKE XERXES FUSSELL -- What In The Natural World
LORDE -- Melodrama
DON BRYANT -- Don't Give Up On Love
ROBERT CRAY AND HI RHYTHM -- Robert Cray and Hi Rhythm
CURTIS HARDING -- Face Your Fears
STANTON MOORE -- With You In Mind
AIMEE MANN -- Mental Illness
JAKE XERXES FUSSELL -- What In The Natural World
LORDE -- Melodrama
DON BRYANT -- Don't Give Up On Love
ROBERT CRAY AND HI RHYTHM -- Robert Cray and Hi Rhythm
CURTIS HARDING -- Face Your Fears
THE WHIFFS -- Take A Whiff
CHARLY BLISS -- Guppy
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sunday in The Park With George (Bway 2017)
THE NATIONAL -- Sleep Well Beast
MOSES SUMNEY -- Aromanticism
SAMPHA -- Process
WESLEY STACE'S JOHN WESLEY HARDING -- Wesley Stace's John Wesley Harding
DORA FREEMAN -- Letter Never Sent
ANNA TIVEL -- Small Believer
KAMASI WASHINGTON -- Harmony of Difference
CHEAP TRICK -- We're All Alright!
SAZ'SIO -- At Least Wave Your Handkerchief At Me
RON SEXSMITH -- The Last Rider
INDIA.ARIE -- Songversation: Medicine
LARRY CAMPBELL AND TERESA WILLIAMS -- Contraband Love
KHALID -- American Teen
ZULI -- On Human Freakout Mountain
LEWIS CAPALDI -- Bloom
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Baby Driver OST
RODNEY CROWELL -- Close Ties
JOHN MELLENCAMP -- Sad Clowns and Hillbillies
OZUNA -- Odisea
LIAM GALLAGHER -- As You Were
DAVID RAWLINGS -- Poor David's Almanack
JUANES -- Mis Planes Son Amarte
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO -- Songs Of Peace and Love
HOBO JOHNSON -- The Rise Of Hobo Johnson
REISSUE: FAIRPORT CONVENTION -- Come All Ye -- The First Ten Years (1968-1978)
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Southern Soul Crate
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2016
DAVID BOWIE -- Blackstar + Lazarus EP
LEONARD COHEN -- You Want It Darker
MAXWELL -- blackSUMMERnights
CHANCE THE RAPPER -- Coloring Book
JOSHUA REDMAN AND BRAD MEHLDAU -- Nearness
TEDDY THOMPSON AND KELLY JONES -- Little Windows
SOLANGE -- A Seat At The Table
JAMES HUNTER -- Hold On!
STURGILL SIMPSON -- A Sailor's Guide To Earth
KANYE WEST -- The Life Of Pablo
THE MONKEES -- Good Times!
REGINA SPEKTOR -- Remember Us To Life
KENNY BARRON -- Book Of Intuition
RADIOHEAD -- A Moon Shaped Pool
MIRANDA LAMBERT -- The Weight Of These Wings
GREEN DAY -- Revolution Radio
BOB DYLAN -- Fallen Angels
PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Death Of A Bachelor
DORI FREEMAN -- Dori Freeman
MARGO PRICE -- Midwest Farmer's Daughter
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST -- We've Got It From Here...Thank You For Your Service
PET SHOP BOYS -- Super
MUDCRUTCH -- Mudcrutch 2
KAMASI WASHINGTON -- The Epic
BOZ SCAGGS -- A Fool To Care
KACEY MUSGRAVES -- Pageant Material
LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA -- Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast)
ORANGE HUMBLE BAND -- Depressing Beauty
COWBOY JUNKIES -- Notes Falling Slowly
TINARIWEN -- Live In Paris, 2014
CARRIE UNDERWOOD -- Storyteller
TAME IMPALA -- Currents
LARRY CAMPBELL AND TERESA WILLIAMS -- Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams
AMY LAVERE AND WILL SEXTON -- Hallelujah I'm A Dreamer
DRAKE -- If You're Reading This, It's Too Late
WYNTON MARSALIS/JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER BIG BAND -- Big Band Holiday
SARA BAREILLES -- What's Inside: Music From Waitress
JASON ISBELL -- Something More Than Free
VINCE STAPLES -- Summertime '06
VERUCA SALT -- Ghost Notes
LOS LOBOS -- Gates Of Gold
LINDI ORTEGA -- Faded Gloryville
SHAKEY GRAVES -- Nobody's Fool
STEVE EARLE -- Terraplace
FALL OUT BOY -- American Beauty/American Psycho
CECILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- WomanChild
THE LONE BELLOW -- The Lone Bellow
DAFT PUNK -- Random Access Memories
LORDE -- Pure Heroin(e)
EMINEM -- The Marshall Mathers LP2
JOHN MAYER -- Paradise Valley
KELLY WILLIS AND BRUCE ROBISON -- Cheater's Game
KODALINE -- In A Perfect World
PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die
MAVIS STAPLES -- One True Vine
BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG AND NORAH JONES -- Foreverly
ALICE RUSSELL -- To Dust
WILLIAM TYLER -- Impossible Truth
JASON ISBELL -- Southeastern
JOHN MORELAND -- In The Throes
LINDI ORTEGA -- Tin Star
VAN DYKE PARKS -- Song Cycled
THE CIVIL WARS -- The Civil Wars
PREFAB SPROUT -- Crimson Red
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Inside Llewyn Davis
TIM CHRISTENSEN -- Pure McCartney
REISSUE: BOB DYLAN -- Another Self Portrait
PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND AND DEL MCCOURY BAND -- American Legacies (an institution finds new life via collaboration)
AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE -- When the Heart Emerges Glistening (quietly probing jazz)
JAMES BLAKE -- James Blake (trippy pop)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Live From the Old Town School (folk's beating heart)
GIRLS -- Father, Son, Holy Ghost (interesting identity crisis)
TINARIWEN -- Tassili (bluesy, distinctive, campfire sing-alongs)
JOY FORMIDABLE -- The Big Roar (noisy pop)
DARI0 MARINELLI WITH JACK LIEBECK -- Jane Eyre soundtrack (the year's best score)
MATTHEW COOPER -- Some Days Are Better Than Others (the year's best untraditional score)
THE CORAL -- Butterfly House
THE MAGIC NUMBERS -- Runaway (pop, unimported, unrecognized)
PISTOL ANNIES -- Pistol Annies
MIRANDA LAMBERT -- Four The Record (country's top gal and friends)
THE LOW ANTHEM -- Smart Flesh (brainy Americana)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2008
THE CURE -- 4:13 Dream
DAVID BYRNE AND BRIAN ENO -- Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
DAVID BYRNE -- Big Love: Hymnal
CONOR OBERST -- Conor Oberst
NICK CAVE -- Dig Lazarus Dig!!!
SIGUR ROS -- Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
RON SEXSMITH -- Exit Strategy Of The Soul
ELBOW -- The Seldom Seen Kid
THE REAL TUESDAY WELD -- The End Of The World (Live)
THE RACONTUERS-- Consolers Of The Lonely
ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS -- Another World EP
SUGARLAND -- Love On The Inside
JAMEY JOHNSON -- That Lonesome Song
DANIELA COTTON -- Rare Child
THE WHIGS -- Mission Control
CORY CHISEL AND THE WANDERING SONS -- Cabin Ghosts
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2007
ARCADE FIRE -- Neon Bible (art rock a la Talking Heads)
ANDY BEY -- Ain't Necessarily So (searching jazz vocals)
FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE -- Traffic and Weather (pure pop)
RON SEXSMITH -- Time Being (purer pop)
TABU LEY ROCHEREAU -- The Voice Of Lightness (floating, Al Green-like world music)
THE FEELING -- Twelve Stops and Home (Seventies AM radio)
THE FRATELLIS -- Costello Music (raucous rock)
TEDDY THOMPSON -- Upfront and Down Low (dignified country classics)
LINDA THOMPSON -- Versatile Heart (delicate folk pop)
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Sweet Warrior (sterling rock)
BASSEKOU KUYATE AND NGONI BA -- Segu Blue (irresistible)
HERBIE HANCOCK -- River: The Joni Letters (Mitchell done proud via jazz))
WILLIE NELSON, MERLE HAGGARD, RAY PRICE -- Last Of The Breed (country summit) LEVON HELM -- Dirt Farmer (Lazarus-like revival)
PORTER WAGONER -- Wagonmaster (classy send-off)
ARCTIC MONKEYS -- Favourite Worst Nightmare (jagged Brit pop)
KAISER CHIEFS -- Yours Truly, Angry Mob (spiky but smooth Brit pop)
JOAN ARMATRADING -- Into The Blues (do call it a comeback)
THE MAGIC NUMBERS -- Those The Brokes (disappointing but good)
DARREN HAYES -- This Delicate Thing We've Made (good but disappointing)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN WITH THE SESSIONS BAND -- Live In Dublin (party in the barn music)
NICOLE ATKINS -- Neptune City (brooding, Orbison-like pop)
SERGIO AND ODAIR ASSAD -- Jardim Abandonado (telepathic classical guitar)
RAUL MALO -- After Hours (countrypolitan with velvet vocals)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Company Original Broadway Cast (2007) (Sondheim, passionately)
KELLY WILLIS -- Translated From Love (country, smartly)
BRAD PAISLEY -- 5th Gear
PANDA BEAR -- Person Pitch (Brian Wilson on LSD, if that's not redundant)
OVER THE RHINE -- Snow Angels (Christmas rock for NPR listeners)
JENS LEKMAN -- Night Falls Over Kortedala (Magentic Fields via Sweden)
IAN HUNTER -- Shrunken Heads (cock rock)
BEIRUT -- The Flying Cup Club
JUANES -- La Vida (fist-shaking rock)
THE HOLMES BROTHERS -- State of Grace (master class in the blues)
GLEN HANSARD AND MARKETA IRGLOVA -- The Swell Season (you know, those great songs from the movie Once)
RYAN ADAMS AND THE CARDINALS -- Follow The Lights (Americana, again)
JOHN CORIGLIANO -- Music For String Quartet (American classical)
DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER -- Red Earth: A Malian Journey (jazz meets Mali)
ABBEY LINCOLN -- Abbey Sings Abbey (astringent jazz)
THE DONNAS -- Bitchin' (dumb, fun as hell Eighties rock)
REISSUE: BLIND WILLIE MCTELL -- Statesboro Blues: When The Sun Goes Down Series
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2002
NORAH JONES -- Come Away With Me
ORCHESTRA BAOBAB -- Specialist In All Styles
BRIGHT EYES -- Lifted or The Story Is In The Soil Keep Your Ear To The Ground
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Music from The Singing Detective And More
WILLIAM BASINSKI -- The Disintegration Loops
REISSUE: LINDA LEWIS -- Reach For The Truth: Best Of The Reprise Years 1971-1974)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2001
MANU CHAO -- Proxima Estacion: Esperanza
RYAN ADAMS -- Gold
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1998
BILLY BRAGG AND WILCO -- Mermaid Avenue
LUCINDA WILLIAMS -- Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
THE BETA BAND -- The Three E.p.'s
BEASTIE BOYS -- Hello Nasty
THE MAVERICKS -- Trampoline
OUTKAST -- Aquemini
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Painted From Memory
DIXIE CHICKS -- Wide Open Spaces
NEIL FINN -- Try Whistling This
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1992
kd lang -- Ingenue
R.E.M. -- Automatic For The People
ABBA -- Gold
LOS LOBOS -- Kiko
THE JAYHAWKS -- Hollywood Town Hall
MORRISSEY -- Your Arsenal
LYLE LOVETT -- Joshua Judges Ruth
JELLYFISH -- Bellybutton
TOM WAITS -- Bone Machine
CHARLIE HADEN QUARTET WEST -- Haunted Heart
NEIL YOUNG -- Harvest Moon
DR. DRE -- The Chronic
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1991
NIRVANA -- Nevermind
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1990
MADONNA -- The Immaculate Collection
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1989
BEASTIE BOYS -- Paul's Boutique
THE BLUE NILE -- Hats
CHET BAKER -- Best Of Chet Baker Plays and Sings
THE STONE ROSES -- The Stone Roses
ORCHESTRA BAOBAB -- Pirates Choice
BOB DYLAN -- Oh Mercy
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2016
DAVID BOWIE -- Blackstar + Lazarus EP
LEONARD COHEN -- You Want It Darker
MAXWELL -- blackSUMMERnights
CHANCE THE RAPPER -- Coloring Book
JOSHUA REDMAN AND BRAD MEHLDAU -- Nearness
TEDDY THOMPSON AND KELLY JONES -- Little Windows
SOLANGE -- A Seat At The Table
JAMES HUNTER -- Hold On!
STURGILL SIMPSON -- A Sailor's Guide To Earth
KANYE WEST -- The Life Of Pablo
THE MONKEES -- Good Times!
REGINA SPEKTOR -- Remember Us To Life
KENNY BARRON -- Book Of Intuition
RADIOHEAD -- A Moon Shaped Pool
MIRANDA LAMBERT -- The Weight Of These Wings
GREEN DAY -- Revolution Radio
BOB DYLAN -- Fallen Angels
PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Death Of A Bachelor
DORI FREEMAN -- Dori Freeman
MARGO PRICE -- Midwest Farmer's Daughter
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST -- We've Got It From Here...Thank You For Your Service
PET SHOP BOYS -- Super
MUDCRUTCH -- Mudcrutch 2
JUDY COLLINS -- Silver Skies Blue
SHIRLEY COLLINS -- Lodestar
NICHOLAS KRGOVICH -- The Hills
JANE SIBERRY -- Ulysses' Purse
CAR SEAT HEADREST -- Teens Of Denial
JACK WHITE -- Acoustic Recordings: 1998-2016
DUNCAN SHEIK -- Legerdemain/American Psycho
JOE LOVANO -- Classic! Live At Newport
DWIGHT YOAKUM -- Swimming Pools, Movie Stars
KING CREOSOTE AND MICHAEL JOHNSTON -- When I Was A Thief
LUCKY PETERSON -- Long Nights
PJ HARVEY -- The Hope Six Demolition Project
COMMON -- Black America Again
CALYPSO ROSE -- Far From Home
ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM -- Dear Evan Hansen
BRIAN ENO -- The Ship
PSYCHIC TEMPLE -- Plays Music For Airports
THE STRUTS -- Everybody Wants Some
case/lang/viers -- case/lang/viers
CONOR OBERST -- Ruminations
HOUSTON PEARSON AND RON CARTER -- Chemistry
CHARLIE PUTH -- Nine Track Mind
BRENNEN LEIGH -- Sings Lefty Frizzell
THE LUMINEERS -- Cleopatra
LAURA MVULA -- The Dreaming Room
ESPERANZA SPALDING -- Emily's D-evolution
CORINNE BAILEY RAE -- The Heart Speaks
SHIRLEY COLLINS -- Lodestar
NICHOLAS KRGOVICH -- The Hills
JANE SIBERRY -- Ulysses' Purse
CAR SEAT HEADREST -- Teens Of Denial
JACK WHITE -- Acoustic Recordings: 1998-2016
DUNCAN SHEIK -- Legerdemain/American Psycho
JOE LOVANO -- Classic! Live At Newport
DWIGHT YOAKUM -- Swimming Pools, Movie Stars
KING CREOSOTE AND MICHAEL JOHNSTON -- When I Was A Thief
LUCKY PETERSON -- Long Nights
PJ HARVEY -- The Hope Six Demolition Project
COMMON -- Black America Again
CALYPSO ROSE -- Far From Home
ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM -- Dear Evan Hansen
BRIAN ENO -- The Ship
PSYCHIC TEMPLE -- Plays Music For Airports
THE STRUTS -- Everybody Wants Some
case/lang/viers -- case/lang/viers
CONOR OBERST -- Ruminations
HOUSTON PEARSON AND RON CARTER -- Chemistry
CHARLIE PUTH -- Nine Track Mind
BRENNEN LEIGH -- Sings Lefty Frizzell
THE LUMINEERS -- Cleopatra
LAURA MVULA -- The Dreaming Room
ESPERANZA SPALDING -- Emily's D-evolution
CORINNE BAILEY RAE -- The Heart Speaks
REISSUE: EMMYLOU HARRIS, DOLLY PARTON, LINDA RONSTADT -- Trio: The Complete Collection
REISSUE: LED ZEPPELIN -- The BBC Sessions
REISSUE: LED ZEPPELIN -- The BBC Sessions
REISSUE: MAHALIA JACKSON -- Moving On Up A Little Higher
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2015
SUFJAN STEVENS -- Carrie and Lowell
JILL SCOTT -- Woman
KENDRICK LAMAR -- To Pimp A Butterfly
CHRIS STAPLETON -- Traveller
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- Dark Bird Is Home
COURTNEY BARNETT -- Sometimes I Just Sit And Think And Sometimes I Just Sit
TONY BENNETT AND BILL CHARLAP -- The Silver Lining: The SongsOf Jerome Kern
THE FRATELLIS -- Eyes Wide Tongue Tied
IRIS DEMENT -- The Trackless Woods
IKE REILLY -- Born On Fire
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2015
SUFJAN STEVENS -- Carrie and Lowell
JILL SCOTT -- Woman
KENDRICK LAMAR -- To Pimp A Butterfly
CHRIS STAPLETON -- Traveller
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- Dark Bird Is Home
COURTNEY BARNETT -- Sometimes I Just Sit And Think And Sometimes I Just Sit
TONY BENNETT AND BILL CHARLAP -- The Silver Lining: The SongsOf Jerome Kern
THE FRATELLIS -- Eyes Wide Tongue Tied
IRIS DEMENT -- The Trackless Woods
IKE REILLY -- Born On Fire
KAMASI WASHINGTON -- The Epic
BOZ SCAGGS -- A Fool To Care
KACEY MUSGRAVES -- Pageant Material
LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA -- Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast)
ORANGE HUMBLE BAND -- Depressing Beauty
COWBOY JUNKIES -- Notes Falling Slowly
TINARIWEN -- Live In Paris, 2014
CARRIE UNDERWOOD -- Storyteller
TAME IMPALA -- Currents
LARRY CAMPBELL AND TERESA WILLIAMS -- Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams
AMY LAVERE AND WILL SEXTON -- Hallelujah I'm A Dreamer
DRAKE -- If You're Reading This, It's Too Late
WYNTON MARSALIS/JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER BIG BAND -- Big Band Holiday
SARA BAREILLES -- What's Inside: Music From Waitress
JASON ISBELL -- Something More Than Free
VINCE STAPLES -- Summertime '06
VERUCA SALT -- Ghost Notes
LOS LOBOS -- Gates Of Gold
LINDI ORTEGA -- Faded Gloryville
SHAKEY GRAVES -- Nobody's Fool
STEVE EARLE -- Terraplace
FALL OUT BOY -- American Beauty/American Psycho
CONNIE CONVERSE -- How Sad, How Lovely
PATTY GRIFFIN -- Servant Of Love
LADY LAMB THE BEEKEEPER -- After
BONES -- Powder
DWIGHT YOAKAM -- Second-Hand Heart
DANIEL ROMANO -- If I've Only One Time Askin'
ADELE -- 25
THE MAVERICKS -- Mono
ANDERSON EAST -- Delilah
DON HENLEY -- Cass County
CAGE THE ELEPHANT -- Tell Me I'm Pretty
ERIC CHURCH -- Mr. Misunderstood
BOB DYLAN -- Shadows In The Night
PATTY GRIFFIN -- Servant Of Love
LADY LAMB THE BEEKEEPER -- After
BONES -- Powder
DWIGHT YOAKAM -- Second-Hand Heart
DANIEL ROMANO -- If I've Only One Time Askin'
ADELE -- 25
THE MAVERICKS -- Mono
ANDERSON EAST -- Delilah
DON HENLEY -- Cass County
CAGE THE ELEPHANT -- Tell Me I'm Pretty
ERIC CHURCH -- Mr. Misunderstood
BOB DYLAN -- Shadows In The Night
REISSUE: GARNET MIMMS -- Looking For You: The Complete United Artists and Veep Singles /
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2014
KAISER CHIEFS -- Education, Education, Education and War
STURGILL SIMPSON -- Metamodern Sounds In Country Music
SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS -- Give The People What They Want
COURTNEY BARNETT -- Double EP: A Sea Of Spilt Peas
JOHN LUTHER ADAMS -- Become Ocean
BONES -- Skinny and Rotten and Seabed et al
BECK -- Morning Phase
THE FEELING -- Boy Cried Wolf
AMY LAVERE -- Runaway's Diary
BETTY BUCKLEY -- Ghostlight
BRIAN ENO AND KARL HYDE -- Someday World
BETA RADIO -- Colony Of Bees
BEN L'ONCLE SOUL -- A Coup de Reves
REISSUE: EDDIE CONDON -- The Eddie Condon Collection 1927-1961
JIMMER PODRASKY -- The Would-Be Plans
CHUCK PROPHET -- Night Surfer
HENRY BUTLER AND STEVEN BERNSTEIN -- Viper's Drag
ARIANA GRANDE -- My Everything
TINARIWEN -- Emmar
THE VINES -- Wicked Nature
BENJAMIN BOOKER -- Benjamin Booker
DAMON ALBARN -- Everyday Robots
MARY J BLIGE -- The London Sessions
J COLE -- 2014 Forest Hills Drive
HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF -- Small Town Heroes
ROSANNE CASH -- The River And The Thread
HAMILTON LEITHAUSER -- Dark Hours
DYLAN GARDNER -- Adventures In Real Time (tie) and
PETE MOLINARI -- Theosophy '14 (tie)
COMMON -- Nobody's Smiling
KELLY WILLIS AND BRUCE ROBISON -- Our Year
LEONARD COHEN -- Popular Problems
GREG ASHLEY -- Another Generation of Slaves
STANTON MOORE -- Conversations
THE GHOST OF A SABER TOOTH TIGER -- Midnight Sun
SKATERS -- Manhattan
TOM PETTY -- Hypnotic Eye
BEN HOWARD -- I Forget Where We Were
RUMER -- Into Colour
ROBBIE WILLIAMS -- Under The Radar, Vol. 1
JOHN HIATT -- Terms Of My Surrender
SHE AND HIM -- Classics
THE VERONICAS -- The Veronicas
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW -- Remedy
tUnE yArDs -- Nikki Nack
TIM MCGRAW -- Sundown Heaven Town
NEIL DIAMOND -- Melody Road (tie)
BARRY MANILOW -- Night Songs (tie)
THE LIVING SISTERS -- Harmony Is Real: Songs For A Happy Holiday
MARGO GURYAN -- 27 Demos
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2013
JANELLE MONAE -- The Electric Lady
DAVID BOWIE -- The Next Day
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- New
FRANK TURNER -- Tape Deck Heart
BOMBINO -- Nomad
LINDA THOMPSON -- Won't Be Long Now
ARCTIC MONKEYS -- AM
VAMPIRE WEEKEND -- Modern Vampires Of The City
JAMES COTTON -- Cotton Mouth Man
KEITH JARRETT -- Somewhere
PATTY GRIFFIN -- American Kid and Silver Bell
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2014
KAISER CHIEFS -- Education, Education, Education and War
STURGILL SIMPSON -- Metamodern Sounds In Country Music
SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS -- Give The People What They Want
COURTNEY BARNETT -- Double EP: A Sea Of Spilt Peas
JOHN LUTHER ADAMS -- Become Ocean
BONES -- Skinny and Rotten and Seabed et al
BECK -- Morning Phase
THE FEELING -- Boy Cried Wolf
AMY LAVERE -- Runaway's Diary
BETTY BUCKLEY -- Ghostlight
BRIAN ENO AND KARL HYDE -- Someday World
BETA RADIO -- Colony Of Bees
BEN L'ONCLE SOUL -- A Coup de Reves
REISSUE: EDDIE CONDON -- The Eddie Condon Collection 1927-1961
JIMMER PODRASKY -- The Would-Be Plans
CHUCK PROPHET -- Night Surfer
HENRY BUTLER AND STEVEN BERNSTEIN -- Viper's Drag
ARIANA GRANDE -- My Everything
TINARIWEN -- Emmar
THE VINES -- Wicked Nature
BENJAMIN BOOKER -- Benjamin Booker
DAMON ALBARN -- Everyday Robots
MARY J BLIGE -- The London Sessions
J COLE -- 2014 Forest Hills Drive
HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF -- Small Town Heroes
ROSANNE CASH -- The River And The Thread
HAMILTON LEITHAUSER -- Dark Hours
DYLAN GARDNER -- Adventures In Real Time (tie) and
PETE MOLINARI -- Theosophy '14 (tie)
COMMON -- Nobody's Smiling
KELLY WILLIS AND BRUCE ROBISON -- Our Year
LEONARD COHEN -- Popular Problems
GREG ASHLEY -- Another Generation of Slaves
STANTON MOORE -- Conversations
THE GHOST OF A SABER TOOTH TIGER -- Midnight Sun
SKATERS -- Manhattan
TOM PETTY -- Hypnotic Eye
BEN HOWARD -- I Forget Where We Were
RUMER -- Into Colour
ROBBIE WILLIAMS -- Under The Radar, Vol. 1
JOHN HIATT -- Terms Of My Surrender
SHE AND HIM -- Classics
THE VERONICAS -- The Veronicas
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW -- Remedy
tUnE yArDs -- Nikki Nack
TIM MCGRAW -- Sundown Heaven Town
NEIL DIAMOND -- Melody Road (tie)
BARRY MANILOW -- Night Songs (tie)
THE LIVING SISTERS -- Harmony Is Real: Songs For A Happy Holiday
MARGO GURYAN -- 27 Demos
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2013
JANELLE MONAE -- The Electric Lady
DAVID BOWIE -- The Next Day
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- New
FRANK TURNER -- Tape Deck Heart
BOMBINO -- Nomad
LINDA THOMPSON -- Won't Be Long Now
ARCTIC MONKEYS -- AM
VAMPIRE WEEKEND -- Modern Vampires Of The City
JAMES COTTON -- Cotton Mouth Man
KEITH JARRETT -- Somewhere
PATTY GRIFFIN -- American Kid and Silver Bell
CECILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- WomanChild
THE LONE BELLOW -- The Lone Bellow
DAFT PUNK -- Random Access Memories
LORDE -- Pure Heroin(e)
EMINEM -- The Marshall Mathers LP2
JOHN MAYER -- Paradise Valley
KELLY WILLIS AND BRUCE ROBISON -- Cheater's Game
KODALINE -- In A Perfect World
PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die
MAVIS STAPLES -- One True Vine
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Electric
RHYE -- Woman
LAURA MVULA -- Sing To The Moon
BRAD PAISLEY -- Wheelhouse
THE MAVERICKS -- In Time
RON SEXSMITH -- Forever Endeavor
KING KRULE -- 6 Feet Beneath The Moon
MIDLAKE -- Antiphon
HOLLY WILLIAMS -- The Highway
KACEY MUSGRAVES -- Same Trailer, Different Park
LITTLE GREEN CARS -- Absolute Zero
RHYE -- Woman
LAURA MVULA -- Sing To The Moon
BRAD PAISLEY -- Wheelhouse
THE MAVERICKS -- In Time
RON SEXSMITH -- Forever Endeavor
KING KRULE -- 6 Feet Beneath The Moon
MIDLAKE -- Antiphon
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Divided and United: Songs Of The Civil War
ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ROOTS -- Wake Up Ghost
CAGE THE ELEPHANT -- Melophobia
CAGE THE ELEPHANT -- Melophobia
GUY CLARK -- My Favorite Picture Of You
BASTILLE -- Bad Blood
ALLEN TOUSSAINT -- Songbook
DANNY BROWN -- Old
THE AVETT BROTHERS -- Magpie and the DandelionHOLLY WILLIAMS -- The Highway
KACEY MUSGRAVES -- Same Trailer, Different Park
LITTLE GREEN CARS -- Absolute Zero
BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG AND NORAH JONES -- Foreverly
ALICE RUSSELL -- To Dust
WILLIAM TYLER -- Impossible Truth
JASON ISBELL -- Southeastern
JOHN MORELAND -- In The Throes
LINDI ORTEGA -- Tin Star
VAN DYKE PARKS -- Song Cycled
THE CIVIL WARS -- The Civil Wars
PREFAB SPROUT -- Crimson Red
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Inside Llewyn Davis
TIM CHRISTENSEN -- Pure McCartney
REISSUE: BOB DYLAN -- Another Self Portrait
REISSUE: THE WATERBOYS -- Fisherman Box
REISSUE: BETTYE SWANN -- The Complete Atlantic Recordings
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2012
RUMER -- Seasons Of My Soul/Boys Don't Cry (70s pop perfection)
BRANFORD MARSALIS -- Four MF's Playin' Their Tunes (hard-driving jazz; faultless)
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- There's No Leaving Now(inspiringly good Dylanesque rock)
FRANK OCEAN -- Channel Orange (state of the art soul)
PAUL BUCHANAN -- Mid Air (emotionally intense, late night confessions)
BILL FAY -- Life Is People (age+wisdom+piano+God)
JOHANN JOHANNSSON -- The Miners' Hymns (the film score of the year)
FIONA APPLE -- The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (pop artist at peak of her powers)
JAMEY JOHNSON -- Living For A Dream: A Tribute To Hank Cochran (all-star country hoedown)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Wrecking Ball (life in them old dogs yet)
BOB DYLAN -- Tempest (life in them old dogs yet)
DR. JOHN -- Locked Down (triumphant New Orleans music)
TRACEY THORN -- Tinsel and Lights (Christmas, sadly)
KASEY CHAMBERS AND SHANE NICHOLSON -- Wreck And Ruin (world class folk-country-blues)
NAS -- Life Is Good (rap for grown ups)
LEONARD COHEN -- Old Ideas (magisterial pop)
JOSEPHINE -- Portrait (two English lasses with talent to burn)
LIANNA LA HAVAS -- Is Your Love Big Enough
GRANT LEE-PHILLIPS -- Walking In The Green Corn (acoustic gem)
ANTIBALAS -- Antibalas (Fela Kuti lives!)
IRIS DEMENT -- Sing The Delta (comeback of the year)
BOO HANS WITH DON FLEMONS -- Buffalo Junction
VIJAY AYER TRIO -- Accelerando (jazz piano)
BRAD MEHLDAU -- Where Do You Start/Ode
THE HIVES -- Lex Hives (rock, by god)
JAPANDROID -- Celebration Rock
THE DOUGHBOYS -- Shakin' Our Souls
MUMFORD AND SONS -- Babel (flowering of Americana)
THE LUMINEERS -- The Lumineers
PIGPEN THEATRE CO. -- Bremen
THE AVETT BROTHERS -- The Carpenter
CHRIS SMITHER -- Hundred Dollar Valentine (blues master)
DIANA KRALL -- Glad Rag Doll (digging deeper jazz talent)
ED SHEERAN -- + (thoughtful British pop)
KENDRICK LAMAR -- good kid, mA.A.d city (rap smarts)
MELODY GARDOT -- The Absence (singular voice heads to Brazil)
FATHER JOHN MISTY -- Fear Fun (Fleet Foxes redux, in a good way)
DAMIEN JURADO -- Maraqopa
LORD HURON -- Impossible Dreams
BOY AND BEAR -- Moonfire
THE TIME JUMPERS -- The Time Jumpers (Western swing)
NEIL YOUNG AND CRAZY HORSE -- Psychedelic Pill/Americana (still kicking, still stinging)
WILLIAM TYLER -- Impossible Truth (guitar instrumental) (officially out March 2013)
BETTYE LAVETTE -- Thankful N' Thoughtful (soul survivor)
BILLY BRAGG AND WILCO -- Mermaid Avenue Volume 3 (unexpected gem from vault)
MICHAEL KIWANUKA -- Home Again (70s soul circa Bill Withers)
MIGUEL -- Kaleidoscope Dream (70s soul circa Marvin Gaye)
REGINA SPEKTOR -- What We Saw From The Cheap Seats (quirky pop)
NORAH JONES -- Little Broken Hearts (leaving jazz behind)
JACK WHITE -- Blunderbuss (eclectic; electric)
TAME IMPALA -- Lonerism (psychedelica redefined)
GREEN DAY -- Uno!/Dos!/Tres! (purging punk pop)
BRANDI CARLILE -- Bear Creek (an indie voice in the wilderness)
RAVI COLTRANE -- Spirit Fiction (jazz royalty, wearing the crown well)
JOHN MAYER -- Born And Raised (skip the interviews, play the music)
PUNCH BROTHERS -- Who's Feeling Young Now?/Ahoy (bluegrass expanded)
JASON ALDEAN -- Night Train (country demanded)
DWIGHT YOAKUM -- 3 Pears (rebel remanded)
BRIAN ENO -- Lux (genius in solo instrumental mode)
BRUNO MARS -- Unorthodox Jukebox (Michael Jackson's heir apparent)
SUZANNE VEGA -- Close Up Vol. 4: Songs Of Family (revealing catalog)
JAKE BUGG -- Jake Bugg (promising UK folkie)
BAND OF HORSES -- Mirage Rock (career best for rockers)
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- Love At The Bottom Of The Sea (miserablist pop)
BRYAN FERRY -- The Jazz Age (left turn instrumentals)
DAVID BYRNE AND ST. VINCENT -- Love This Giant (a rock giant shows signs of life)
DAMON ALBARN -- Dr. Dee (pastoral concept album about English eccentric)
KRIS KRISTOFFERSON -- Feeling Mortal (one foot in the grave country)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2011
FLEET FOXES -- Helplessness Blues (CSN rocks out)
TOM WAITS -- Bad As Me (bohemian troubadour in top form)
KING CREOSOTE AND JON HOPKINS -- Diamond Mine (quirky concept album, gorgeously done)
GILLIAN WELCH -- The Harrow and the Harvest (simple, straightforward, striking folk)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2012
RUMER -- Seasons Of My Soul/Boys Don't Cry (70s pop perfection)
BRANFORD MARSALIS -- Four MF's Playin' Their Tunes (hard-driving jazz; faultless)
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- There's No Leaving Now(inspiringly good Dylanesque rock)
FRANK OCEAN -- Channel Orange (state of the art soul)
PAUL BUCHANAN -- Mid Air (emotionally intense, late night confessions)
BILL FAY -- Life Is People (age+wisdom+piano+God)
JOHANN JOHANNSSON -- The Miners' Hymns (the film score of the year)
FIONA APPLE -- The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (pop artist at peak of her powers)
JAMEY JOHNSON -- Living For A Dream: A Tribute To Hank Cochran (all-star country hoedown)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Wrecking Ball (life in them old dogs yet)
BOB DYLAN -- Tempest (life in them old dogs yet)
DR. JOHN -- Locked Down (triumphant New Orleans music)
TRACEY THORN -- Tinsel and Lights (Christmas, sadly)
KASEY CHAMBERS AND SHANE NICHOLSON -- Wreck And Ruin (world class folk-country-blues)
NAS -- Life Is Good (rap for grown ups)
LEONARD COHEN -- Old Ideas (magisterial pop)
JOSEPHINE -- Portrait (two English lasses with talent to burn)
LIANNA LA HAVAS -- Is Your Love Big Enough
GRANT LEE-PHILLIPS -- Walking In The Green Corn (acoustic gem)
ANTIBALAS -- Antibalas (Fela Kuti lives!)
IRIS DEMENT -- Sing The Delta (comeback of the year)
BOO HANS WITH DON FLEMONS -- Buffalo Junction
VIJAY AYER TRIO -- Accelerando (jazz piano)
BRAD MEHLDAU -- Where Do You Start/Ode
THE HIVES -- Lex Hives (rock, by god)
JAPANDROID -- Celebration Rock
THE DOUGHBOYS -- Shakin' Our Souls
MUMFORD AND SONS -- Babel (flowering of Americana)
THE LUMINEERS -- The Lumineers
PIGPEN THEATRE CO. -- Bremen
THE AVETT BROTHERS -- The Carpenter
CHRIS SMITHER -- Hundred Dollar Valentine (blues master)
DIANA KRALL -- Glad Rag Doll (digging deeper jazz talent)
ED SHEERAN -- + (thoughtful British pop)
KENDRICK LAMAR -- good kid, mA.A.d city (rap smarts)
MELODY GARDOT -- The Absence (singular voice heads to Brazil)
FATHER JOHN MISTY -- Fear Fun (Fleet Foxes redux, in a good way)
DAMIEN JURADO -- Maraqopa
LORD HURON -- Impossible Dreams
BOY AND BEAR -- Moonfire
THE TIME JUMPERS -- The Time Jumpers (Western swing)
NEIL YOUNG AND CRAZY HORSE -- Psychedelic Pill/Americana (still kicking, still stinging)
WILLIAM TYLER -- Impossible Truth (guitar instrumental) (officially out March 2013)
BETTYE LAVETTE -- Thankful N' Thoughtful (soul survivor)
BILLY BRAGG AND WILCO -- Mermaid Avenue Volume 3 (unexpected gem from vault)
MICHAEL KIWANUKA -- Home Again (70s soul circa Bill Withers)
MIGUEL -- Kaleidoscope Dream (70s soul circa Marvin Gaye)
REGINA SPEKTOR -- What We Saw From The Cheap Seats (quirky pop)
NORAH JONES -- Little Broken Hearts (leaving jazz behind)
JACK WHITE -- Blunderbuss (eclectic; electric)
TAME IMPALA -- Lonerism (psychedelica redefined)
GREEN DAY -- Uno!/Dos!/Tres! (purging punk pop)
BRANDI CARLILE -- Bear Creek (an indie voice in the wilderness)
RAVI COLTRANE -- Spirit Fiction (jazz royalty, wearing the crown well)
JOHN MAYER -- Born And Raised (skip the interviews, play the music)
PUNCH BROTHERS -- Who's Feeling Young Now?/Ahoy (bluegrass expanded)
JASON ALDEAN -- Night Train (country demanded)
DWIGHT YOAKUM -- 3 Pears (rebel remanded)
BRIAN ENO -- Lux (genius in solo instrumental mode)
BRUNO MARS -- Unorthodox Jukebox (Michael Jackson's heir apparent)
SUZANNE VEGA -- Close Up Vol. 4: Songs Of Family (revealing catalog)
JAKE BUGG -- Jake Bugg (promising UK folkie)
BAND OF HORSES -- Mirage Rock (career best for rockers)
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- Love At The Bottom Of The Sea (miserablist pop)
BRYAN FERRY -- The Jazz Age (left turn instrumentals)
DAVID BYRNE AND ST. VINCENT -- Love This Giant (a rock giant shows signs of life)
DAMON ALBARN -- Dr. Dee (pastoral concept album about English eccentric)
KRIS KRISTOFFERSON -- Feeling Mortal (one foot in the grave country)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2011
FLEET FOXES -- Helplessness Blues (CSN rocks out)
TOM WAITS -- Bad As Me (bohemian troubadour in top form)
KING CREOSOTE AND JON HOPKINS -- Diamond Mine (quirky concept album, gorgeously done)
GILLIAN WELCH -- The Harrow and the Harvest (simple, straightforward, striking folk)
PJ HARVEY -- Let England Shake (furious folk)
TEDDY THOMPSON -- Bella / kd lang Sing It Loud
RON SEXSMITH -- Long Player, Late Bloomer (pure pop by pure pros)
WYNTON MARSALIS AND ERIC CLAPTON -- Play the Blues
BRANFORD MARSALIS AND JOEY CALDARAZZO -- Songs of Mirth and Melancholy (trad jazz)
GLEN CAMPBELL -- Ghost on the Canvas (haunting country pop)
BOMBINO -- Agadez (Tuareg rocks!)
BOUBACAR TRAORE -- Mali Denhou (gentle African guitar)
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO -- Songs From a Zulu Farm (ecstatic and playful children's music)
ADELE -- 21 (unstoppable soul diva)
TEDDY THOMPSON -- Bella / kd lang Sing It Loud
RON SEXSMITH -- Long Player, Late Bloomer (pure pop by pure pros)
WYNTON MARSALIS AND ERIC CLAPTON -- Play the Blues
BRANFORD MARSALIS AND JOEY CALDARAZZO -- Songs of Mirth and Melancholy (trad jazz)
GLEN CAMPBELL -- Ghost on the Canvas (haunting country pop)
BOMBINO -- Agadez (Tuareg rocks!)
BOUBACAR TRAORE -- Mali Denhou (gentle African guitar)
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO -- Songs From a Zulu Farm (ecstatic and playful children's music)
ADELE -- 21 (unstoppable soul diva)
GROUPLOVE -- Never Trust a Happy Song (raucous LA pop-rock)
PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Vices and Virtues (sterling but overlooked pop-rock)
NICK LOWE -- The Old Magic (vintage wine, vintage bottle)
WILD FLAG -- Wild Flag (giving super groups a good name)
BRAD MEHLDAU -- Modern Music (dependably adventurous jazz trio)
COLIN VALLON -- Rruger (bold EU trio following in Mehldau's wake)
JAY-Z AND KANYE WEST -- Watch the Throne (braggadocio taken to new heights)
BON IVER -- Bon Iver (stares down success with quiet confidence)
PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Vices and Virtues (sterling but overlooked pop-rock)
NICK LOWE -- The Old Magic (vintage wine, vintage bottle)
WILD FLAG -- Wild Flag (giving super groups a good name)
BRAD MEHLDAU -- Modern Music (dependably adventurous jazz trio)
COLIN VALLON -- Rruger (bold EU trio following in Mehldau's wake)
JAY-Z AND KANYE WEST -- Watch the Throne (braggadocio taken to new heights)
BON IVER -- Bon Iver (stares down success with quiet confidence)
BALLAKE SISSOKO AND VINCENT SEGAL -- Chamber Music (delicate instrumentals)
PAUL SIMON -- So Beautiful or So What (mortality, musically)
BETH HART AND JOE BONAMASSA -- Don't Explain (the blues, thumpingly good)
PAUL SIMON -- So Beautiful or So What (mortality, musically)
BETH HART AND JOE BONAMASSA -- Don't Explain (the blues, thumpingly good)
PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND AND DEL MCCOURY BAND -- American Legacies (an institution finds new life via collaboration)
AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE -- When the Heart Emerges Glistening (quietly probing jazz)
JAMES BLAKE -- James Blake (trippy pop)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Live From the Old Town School (folk's beating heart)
GIRLS -- Father, Son, Holy Ghost (interesting identity crisis)
TINARIWEN -- Tassili (bluesy, distinctive, campfire sing-alongs)
JOY FORMIDABLE -- The Big Roar (noisy pop)
DARI0 MARINELLI WITH JACK LIEBECK -- Jane Eyre soundtrack (the year's best score)
MATTHEW COOPER -- Some Days Are Better Than Others (the year's best untraditional score)
THE CORAL -- Butterfly House
THE MAGIC NUMBERS -- Runaway (pop, unimported, unrecognized)
PISTOL ANNIES -- Pistol Annies
MIRANDA LAMBERT -- Four The Record (country's top gal and friends)
THE LOW ANTHEM -- Smart Flesh (brainy Americana)
CHARLIE HADEN AND QUARTET WEST -- Sophisticated Ladies (female singers, jazz swingers)
THE BLACK KEYS -- El Camino (rock, no fuss)
M83 -- Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (ambient pop)
ALISON KRAUSS AND UNION STATION -- Paper Airplanes
JOHN HIATT -- Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns (old dogs, old tricks, happily so)
BEASTIE BOYS -- Hot Sauce Committee, Part Two (feisty hip-hop from the old-timers)
BEN HOWARD -- Every Kingdom (gentle pop)
MIKE BLOOM -- King Of Circles (warm singer-songwriter vibe for this solo debut)
ALEXI MURDOCH -- Towards The Sun (Nick Drake reincarnation)
VINICIUS CANTUARIA AND BILL FRISELL -- Lagrimas Mexicanas (two great guitars, one great voice equal haunting Latin music)/
THE GOURDS -- Old Mad Joy (rootsy celebration)
MARC BROUSSARD -- Marc Broussard (bluesy rock)
SUZANNE VEGA -- Close-Up Volume 3: State Of Being (acoustic songs, electric songwriting)
THE BLACK KEYS -- El Camino (rock, no fuss)
M83 -- Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (ambient pop)
ALISON KRAUSS AND UNION STATION -- Paper Airplanes
JOHN HIATT -- Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns (old dogs, old tricks, happily so)
BEASTIE BOYS -- Hot Sauce Committee, Part Two (feisty hip-hop from the old-timers)
BEN HOWARD -- Every Kingdom (gentle pop)
MIKE BLOOM -- King Of Circles (warm singer-songwriter vibe for this solo debut)
ALEXI MURDOCH -- Towards The Sun (Nick Drake reincarnation)
VINICIUS CANTUARIA AND BILL FRISELL -- Lagrimas Mexicanas (two great guitars, one great voice equal haunting Latin music)/
THE GOURDS -- Old Mad Joy (rootsy celebration)
MARC BROUSSARD -- Marc Broussard (bluesy rock)
SUZANNE VEGA -- Close-Up Volume 3: State Of Being (acoustic songs, electric songwriting)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Book of Mormon Original Cast Album (religiously funny)
DRAKE -- Take Care (emo-rap)
SHABAZZ PALACES -- Black Up
BRAD PAISLEY -- This Is Country Music (yes it is)
STEVE EARLE -- I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive (determined, focused country)
MEGAFAUN -- Megafaun ('70s-ish rock)
FATOUMATA DIAWARA -- Fatou (Malian guitar talent combined with impeccable vocals) KHAIRA ARBY -- Timbukto Traab (country to Diawara's city sound)
HOUSTON PERSON -- So Nice (late period capper for understated jazz blower)
REAL ESTATE -- Days -- (shimmering indie pop)
EILEEEN JEWELL -- Queen of the Minor Key (sneakily impressive)
FRANK OCEAN -- nostalgia/ultra (backward/forward looking moody pop)
DRAKE -- Take Care (emo-rap)
SHABAZZ PALACES -- Black Up
BRAD PAISLEY -- This Is Country Music (yes it is)
STEVE EARLE -- I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive (determined, focused country)
MEGAFAUN -- Megafaun ('70s-ish rock)
FATOUMATA DIAWARA -- Fatou (Malian guitar talent combined with impeccable vocals) KHAIRA ARBY -- Timbukto Traab (country to Diawara's city sound)
HOUSTON PERSON -- So Nice (late period capper for understated jazz blower)
REAL ESTATE -- Days -- (shimmering indie pop)
EILEEEN JEWELL -- Queen of the Minor Key (sneakily impressive)
FRANK OCEAN -- nostalgia/ultra (backward/forward looking moody pop)
REISSUE: REISSUE: THE BEACH BOYS -- The Smile Sessions boxed set
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- This May Be My Last Time Singing: Raw African American Gospel on 45 RPM (1957-1982) (lo-fi, high flying gospel that's so good you'll convert)
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Those Shocking, Shaking Days: Indonesia Hard, Psychedelic, Progressive Rock and Funk (1970-1978) (rock and roll knows no borders)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2010
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- The Wild Hunt/Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird (Dylanesque folk-rock)
PETER WOLF -- Midnight Souvenirs (raucous career peak)
ALI FARKA TOURE AND TOUMANI DIABTE -- Ali And Toumani (transcendent world music)
ARCADE FIRE -- The Suburbs (state of the art rock)
JANELLE MONAE -- The ArchAndroid
ERYKAH BADU -- New Amerykah Part Two: Return of The Ankh (Prince-like funky soul pop craziness)
BUDDY GUY -- Living Proof (ferocious blues)
EMINEM -- Recovery
KANYE WEST -- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (rap comebacks)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2010
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- The Wild Hunt/Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird (Dylanesque folk-rock)
PETER WOLF -- Midnight Souvenirs (raucous career peak)
ALI FARKA TOURE AND TOUMANI DIABTE -- Ali And Toumani (transcendent world music)
ARCADE FIRE -- The Suburbs (state of the art rock)
JANELLE MONAE -- The ArchAndroid
ERYKAH BADU -- New Amerykah Part Two: Return of The Ankh (Prince-like funky soul pop craziness)
BUDDY GUY -- Living Proof (ferocious blues)
EMINEM -- Recovery
KANYE WEST -- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (rap comebacks)
JOHN GRANT -- Queen Of Denmark
MIDLAKE -- The Courage Of Others (gorgeous rock; British folk)
KEITH JARRETT AND CHARLIE HADEN -- Jasmine (sublime, beautiful jazz)
MUMFORD AND SONS -- Sigh No More (literate rock)
MIDLAKE -- The Courage Of Others (gorgeous rock; British folk)
KEITH JARRETT AND CHARLIE HADEN -- Jasmine (sublime, beautiful jazz)
MUMFORD AND SONS -- Sigh No More (literate rock)
SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS -- I Learned The Hard Way (soul -- not retro, just timeless)
SUFJAN STEVENS -- All Delighted People EP (nutty rock)
ROBERT PLANT -- Band Of Joy (folk-rock, Fairport Convention via Nashville)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Afrocubism (Buena Vista Social Club spliced with Malian pop)
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE -- Danger Days (anthemic rock)
TRACEY THORN -- Love and Its Opposite (adult pop)
PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND -- Preservation (an all-star album that actually works)
BRUNO MARS -- Doo-Wops And Hooligans
ROBYN -- Body Talk (irresistible pop)
GORILLAZ -- Plastic Beach (genre-jumping rock)
NEIL YOUNG -- Le Noise (stomping folk)
SUFJAN STEVENS -- All Delighted People EP (nutty rock)
ROBERT PLANT -- Band Of Joy (folk-rock, Fairport Convention via Nashville)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Afrocubism (Buena Vista Social Club spliced with Malian pop)
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE -- Danger Days (anthemic rock)
TRACEY THORN -- Love and Its Opposite (adult pop)
PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND -- Preservation (an all-star album that actually works)
BRUNO MARS -- Doo-Wops And Hooligans
ROBYN -- Body Talk (irresistible pop)
GORILLAZ -- Plastic Beach (genre-jumping rock)
NEIL YOUNG -- Le Noise (stomping folk)
CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS -- Genuine Negro Jigs (trad, modern, country, folk, blues, unclassifiable)
ELIZABETH AND THE CATAPULTS -- Other Side Of Zero (promising debut)
BEACH HOUSE -- Teen Dreams (alterna-pop)
JAMEY JOHNSON -- The Guitar Song (no fuss country)
BEST COAST -- Crazy For You (lo-fi Beach Boys pop)
BRENDAN JAMES -- Brendan James (a career peak)
THE BLACK KEYS -- Brothers (smart rock)
HOLE -- Nobody's Daughter (Courtney Love doesn't get any respect but deserves it)
CYRUS CHESNUTT - Journeys (trad jazz done with class)
SADE -- Soldier Of Love (smooth pop, never misses a beat)
ELIZABETH AND THE CATAPULTS -- Other Side Of Zero (promising debut)
BEACH HOUSE -- Teen Dreams (alterna-pop)
JAMEY JOHNSON -- The Guitar Song (no fuss country)
BEST COAST -- Crazy For You (lo-fi Beach Boys pop)
BRENDAN JAMES -- Brendan James (a career peak)
THE BLACK KEYS -- Brothers (smart rock)
HOLE -- Nobody's Daughter (Courtney Love doesn't get any respect but deserves it)
CYRUS CHESNUTT - Journeys (trad jazz done with class)
SADE -- Soldier Of Love (smooth pop, never misses a beat)
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Silver Pony (jazz vocals, classy)
THE NATIONAL -- High Violet (moody rock sounds more like the Swans every day)
THE ROOTS -- How I Got Over (hip-hop for adults)
SUZANNE VEGA -- Close Up Vol 1: Love Songs (folk-pop)
ELTON JOHN AND LEON RUSSELL -- The Union (old friends, strong new music)
SHE AND HIM -- Volume 2 (girl group pop)
FOXES IN FICTION -- Swung From The Branches (swirly, headphone rock)
LIL BAND O' GOLD -- Lil Band O' Gold (New Orleans gem)
ELIZABETH MITCHELL -- Sunny Day (infectious kids' music)
LIONEL LUEKE -- Mwaliko (sophisticated jazz)
THE NATIONAL -- High Violet (moody rock sounds more like the Swans every day)
THE ROOTS -- How I Got Over (hip-hop for adults)
SUZANNE VEGA -- Close Up Vol 1: Love Songs (folk-pop)
ELTON JOHN AND LEON RUSSELL -- The Union (old friends, strong new music)
SHE AND HIM -- Volume 2 (girl group pop)
FOXES IN FICTION -- Swung From The Branches (swirly, headphone rock)
LIL BAND O' GOLD -- Lil Band O' Gold (New Orleans gem)
ELIZABETH MITCHELL -- Sunny Day (infectious kids' music)
LIONEL LUEKE -- Mwaliko (sophisticated jazz)
TOM JONES -- Praise And Blame (joyful gospel)
WILLIAM TYLER -- Behold The Spirit (terrific instrumental a la Fahey)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Sound of Siam (eye-opening Asian pop)
VAMPIRE WEEKEND -- Contra (world pop)
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB -- Tourist History (if Vampire Weekend had a kid brother)
ELVIS COSTELLO -- National Ransom (rootsy rock from the genre-hopping savant)
3 FERVENT TRAVELERS -- Time For Three (bluegrass taken out of the museum)
CORINNE BAILEY RAE -- The Sea (dark, vulnerable pop)
MEAGHAN SMITH -- The Cricket's Orchestra (refined pop)
BRIAN ENO -- Small Craft On A Milk Sea (electronic noodling)
WILLIAM TYLER -- Behold The Spirit (terrific instrumental a la Fahey)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Sound of Siam (eye-opening Asian pop)
VAMPIRE WEEKEND -- Contra (world pop)
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB -- Tourist History (if Vampire Weekend had a kid brother)
ELVIS COSTELLO -- National Ransom (rootsy rock from the genre-hopping savant)
3 FERVENT TRAVELERS -- Time For Three (bluegrass taken out of the museum)
CORINNE BAILEY RAE -- The Sea (dark, vulnerable pop)
MEAGHAN SMITH -- The Cricket's Orchestra (refined pop)
BRIAN ENO -- Small Craft On A Milk Sea (electronic noodling)
REISSUE: DENNIS BROWN -- The Crown Prince Of Reggae: Singles 1972-1985 (incomplete but still great anthology)
51. REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Classic Appalachian Blues (a rich vein of folk blues)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2009
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2009
THE AVETT BROTHERS -- I And Love And You (Americana)
MAXWELL -- BLACKsummers'night (Seventies soul)
WILLIE NELSON -- American Classic (Stardust II)
ROSANNE CASH -- The List (the Great American Songbook, country style)
MADELEINE PEYROUX -- Bare Bones
MELODY GARDOT -- My One And Only Thrill
KRISTINA TRAIN -- Spilt Milk (songbirds, via Paris and Memphis)
MARK OLSON AND GARY LOURIS -- Ready For The Flood (Jayhawks redux)
MAYER HAWTHORNE -- A Strange Arrangement (blue eyed soul)
LOUDON WAINWRIGHT -- High, Wide And Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project (hilarious, heartfelt blues)
THE XX -- The XX (boy-girl dynamics)
GIRLS -- Album (quietly ambitious rock)
MAXWELL -- BLACKsummers'night (Seventies soul)
NELLIE MCKAY -- Normal As Blueberry Pie: A Tribute To Doris Day (effortless old-fashioned pop)
KEITH JARRETT -- SomewhereWILLIE NELSON -- American Classic (Stardust II)
ROSANNE CASH -- The List (the Great American Songbook, country style)
MADELEINE PEYROUX -- Bare Bones
MELODY GARDOT -- My One And Only Thrill
KRISTINA TRAIN -- Spilt Milk (songbirds, via Paris and Memphis)
MARK OLSON AND GARY LOURIS -- Ready For The Flood (Jayhawks redux)
MAYER HAWTHORNE -- A Strange Arrangement (blue eyed soul)
LOUDON WAINWRIGHT -- High, Wide And Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project (hilarious, heartfelt blues)
THE XX -- The XX (boy-girl dynamics)
GIRLS -- Album (quietly ambitious rock)
DUNCAN SHEIK -- Whisper House (the real twilight soundtrack)
REGINA SPEKTOR -- Far (quirky pop via Russian kitsch)
THE BLACK CROWES -- Before The Frost...Until The Freeze (roots rock enlivened by a live audience)
BRAD PAISLEY -- American Saturday Night (country with a dash of humor)
CHEAP TRICK -- The Latest (rock w a big dash of humor)
ALLEN TOUSSAINT -- The Bright Mississippi (casual jazz brilliance)
ALLEN TOUSSAINT -- The Bright Mississippi (casual jazz brilliance)
IRMA THOMAS -- The Soul Queen Of New Orleans 50th Anniversary Celebration
PEARL JAM -- Backspacer (the sound of veterans waking up)
GREEN DAY -- 21st Century Breakdown (worthy successor to American Idiot; really)
BASSEKOU KOUYATE -- I Speak Fula
VIEUX FARKA TOURE -- Fondo (world class world music)
CONOR OBERST AND THE MYSTIC VALLEY BAND -- Outer South (Americana)
ELLIOTT BROOD -- Mountain Meadows (Canadiana)
LOW ANTHEM -- Oh My God, Charlie Darwin (evolutiona)
ALICIA KEYS -- The Element Of Freedom (tougher beats; same talent)
M WARD -- Hold Time (faithful pop)
RZA -- Afro Samurai: Resurrection
PEARL JAM -- Backspacer (the sound of veterans waking up)
GREEN DAY -- 21st Century Breakdown (worthy successor to American Idiot; really)
BASSEKOU KOUYATE -- I Speak Fula
VIEUX FARKA TOURE -- Fondo (world class world music)
CONOR OBERST AND THE MYSTIC VALLEY BAND -- Outer South (Americana)
ELLIOTT BROOD -- Mountain Meadows (Canadiana)
LOW ANTHEM -- Oh My God, Charlie Darwin (evolutiona)
ALICIA KEYS -- The Element Of Freedom (tougher beats; same talent)
M WARD -- Hold Time (faithful pop)
RZA -- Afro Samurai: Resurrection
JAMES HAND -- Shadow On The Ground (honky-tonk to its bone)
MONSTERS OF FOLK -- Monsters Of Folk (a super supergroup)
BRENDAN BENSON -- My Old, Familiar Friend (power pop)
ST. VINCENT -- Actor (quiet/loud/quiet/strange)
MATTHEW SWEET AND SUSANNA HOFFS -- Under The Covers Vol. 2 (Seventies power pop done to perfection)
MIRANDA LAMBERT -- Revolution (a Nashville star)
CLAIRE LYNCH -- Whatcha Gonna Do (bluegrass heaven)
PHOENIX -- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (college rock, but still good)
SUFJAN STEVENS AND OSSO -- Run Rabbit Run (instrumentals a la Glass)
JAY-Z -- The Blueprint 3 (luxury hip hop)
MONSTERS OF FOLK -- Monsters Of Folk (a super supergroup)
BRENDAN BENSON -- My Old, Familiar Friend (power pop)
ST. VINCENT -- Actor (quiet/loud/quiet/strange)
MATTHEW SWEET AND SUSANNA HOFFS -- Under The Covers Vol. 2 (Seventies power pop done to perfection)
MIRANDA LAMBERT -- Revolution (a Nashville star)
CLAIRE LYNCH -- Whatcha Gonna Do (bluegrass heaven)
PHOENIX -- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (college rock, but still good)
SUFJAN STEVENS AND OSSO -- Run Rabbit Run (instrumentals a la Glass)
JAY-Z -- The Blueprint 3 (luxury hip hop)
JESSE WINCHESTER -- Love Filling Station (journeyman troubadour delivers)
CONNIE CONVERSE -- How Sad, How Lovely (late 1950s recordings)
PREFAB SPROUT -- Let's Change The World With Music (lost in the vaults gem 1993/2009)
GERAINT WATKINS -- In A Bad Mood (Randy Newman and Tom Waits' love child)
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Secret, Profane And Sugarcane (elder statesman can still deliver)
CHIP TAYLOR -- Yonkers NY (story-song oddity)
TORI AMOS -- Midwinter Graces (a holiday album for the ages)
DIANA KRALL -- Quiet Nights (Elvis's better half delivers again)
THE BLACK HOLLIES -- Softly, Towards The Light (psychedelic nuggets)
MIKA -- The Boy Who Knew Too Much (pure pop, with swagger)
RICKIE LEE JONES -- Balm In Gilead (return to form)
PREFAB SPROUT -- Let's Change The World With Music (lost in the vaults gem 1993/2009)
GERAINT WATKINS -- In A Bad Mood (Randy Newman and Tom Waits' love child)
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Secret, Profane And Sugarcane (elder statesman can still deliver)
CHIP TAYLOR -- Yonkers NY (story-song oddity)
TORI AMOS -- Midwinter Graces (a holiday album for the ages)
DIANA KRALL -- Quiet Nights (Elvis's better half delivers again)
THE BLACK HOLLIES -- Softly, Towards The Light (psychedelic nuggets)
MIKA -- The Boy Who Knew Too Much (pure pop, with swagger)
RICKIE LEE JONES -- Balm In Gilead (return to form)
REISSUE: ELLA FITZGERALD -- Twelve Nights In Hollywood (swinging jazz vocalese)
REISSUE: TITO PUENTE -- Dance Mania Legacy Edition
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds AND Ghanaian Blues 1968-1981 (Soundways, the world music label du jour, delivers again)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2008
WILLIE NELSON AND WYNTON MARSALIS -- Two Men With The Blues
WYNTON MARSALIS -- Standards and Ballads
FLEET FOXES -- Fleet Foxes
PETER BRODERICK -- Home
WYNTON MARSALIS -- Standards and Ballads
FLEET FOXES -- Fleet Foxes
PETER BRODERICK -- Home
MAVIS STAPLES -- Live: Hope At The Holdout
TEDDY THOMPSON -- A Piece Of What You Need
kd lang -- Watershed
DEL MCCOURY BAND AND VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Moneyland
BON IVER -- For Emma, Forever Ago/Blood Bank
KAISER CHIEFS -- Off With Their Heads
THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS -- The Age Of The Understatement
BOZ SCAGGS -- Speak Low
ERYKAH BADU -- New Amerykah (4th World War) Part One
kd lang -- Watershed
DEL MCCOURY BAND AND VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Moneyland
BON IVER -- For Emma, Forever Ago/Blood Bank
KAISER CHIEFS -- Off With Their Heads
THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS -- The Age Of The Understatement
BOZ SCAGGS -- Speak Low
ERYKAH BADU -- New Amerykah (4th World War) Part One
B.B. KING -- One Kind Favor
Q-TIP -- The Renaissance
NAS -- Nas
PAUL WELLER -- 22 Dreams
JENNY LEWIS -- Acid Tongue
SAM ROBERTS -- Love At The End Of The World
KASEY CHAMBERS AND SHANE NICHOLSON -- Rattlin' Bones
SHE AND HIM -- Volume One
SANTOGOLD -- Santogold
NEIL DIAMOND -- Home Before Dark
JOAN BAEZ -- Day After Tomorrow
SONNY ROLLINS -- Road Show Vol. 1
SOUTSIDE JOHNNY WITH LABAMBA'S BIG BAND -- Grapefruit Moon: The Songs Of Tom Waits
THE FRATELLIS -- Here We Stand
INARA GEORGE -- An Invitation with Van Dyke Parks
AL GREEN -- Lay It Down
LIONEL LOUKE -- Karibu
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM -- The '59 Sound
CHARLIE HADEN -- Family And Friends: Rambling Boy
JAMES HUNTER -- The Hard Way
MARTHA WAINWRIGHT -- I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too
NAS -- Nas
PAUL WELLER -- 22 Dreams
JENNY LEWIS -- Acid Tongue
SAM ROBERTS -- Love At The End Of The World
KASEY CHAMBERS AND SHANE NICHOLSON -- Rattlin' Bones
SHE AND HIM -- Volume One
SANTOGOLD -- Santogold
NEIL DIAMOND -- Home Before Dark
JOAN BAEZ -- Day After Tomorrow
SONNY ROLLINS -- Road Show Vol. 1
SOUTSIDE JOHNNY WITH LABAMBA'S BIG BAND -- Grapefruit Moon: The Songs Of Tom Waits
THE FRATELLIS -- Here We Stand
INARA GEORGE -- An Invitation with Van Dyke Parks
AL GREEN -- Lay It Down
LIONEL LOUKE -- Karibu
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM -- The '59 Sound
CHARLIE HADEN -- Family And Friends: Rambling Boy
JAMES HUNTER -- The Hard Way
MARTHA WAINWRIGHT -- I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too
RICKY IAN GORDON AND MICHAEL KORIE -- The Grapes Of Wrath
VAMPIRE WEEKEND -- Vampire Weekend
OTIS TAYLOR -- Recapturing The Banjo
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- Distortion
SHELBY LYNNE -- Just A Little Lovin'
BLACK MOUNTAIN -- In The Future
AIMEE MANN -- @#%&*! Smilers
BILL HENDERSON -- Live At The Vic
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Loverly
JONAS BROTHERS -- A Little Bit Longer
VAMPIRE WEEKEND -- Vampire Weekend
OTIS TAYLOR -- Recapturing The Banjo
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- Distortion
SHELBY LYNNE -- Just A Little Lovin'
BLACK MOUNTAIN -- In The Future
AIMEE MANN -- @#%&*! Smilers
BILL HENDERSON -- Live At The Vic
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Loverly
JONAS BROTHERS -- A Little Bit Longer
THE CURE -- 4:13 Dream
DAVID BYRNE AND BRIAN ENO -- Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
DAVID BYRNE -- Big Love: Hymnal
CONOR OBERST -- Conor Oberst
NICK CAVE -- Dig Lazarus Dig!!!
SIGUR ROS -- Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
RON SEXSMITH -- Exit Strategy Of The Soul
ELBOW -- The Seldom Seen Kid
THE REAL TUESDAY WELD -- The End Of The World (Live)
THE RACONTUERS-- Consolers Of The Lonely
ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS -- Another World EP
SUGARLAND -- Love On The Inside
JAMEY JOHNSON -- That Lonesome Song
DANIELA COTTON -- Rare Child
THE WHIGS -- Mission Control
CORY CHISEL AND THE WANDERING SONS -- Cabin Ghosts
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- New Orleans Funk Volume 2
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds And Nigerian Blues 1970-1976
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nigeria Disco Funk Special: The Sounds Of The Underground Lagos Dancefloor 1974-1979
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The George Mitchell Collection Volumes 1-45
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2007
SHARON JONES AND THE DAP-KINGS -- 100 Days 100 Nights (classic soul)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Great Debaters Soundtrack (juke joint music)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Great Debaters Soundtrack (juke joint music)
AMY WINEHOUSE -- Back To Black (bruised retro soul)
RADIOHEAD -- In Rainbows (the world-conquering pop they were born to make)
TINARIWEN -- Aman Iman: Water Is Life (desert rock)
ROBERT PLANT AND ALISON KRAUSS -- Raising Sand (adult pop)
THE WHITE STRIPES -- Icky Thump (bluesy, stomping rock n roll)
TERENCE BLANCHARD -- A Tale of God's Will (a requiem for Katrina) (melancholic jazz
JONNY GREENWOOD -- There Will Be Blood (spooky, spine-tingling score)
PATTY GRIFFIN -- Children Running Through (career-capping Americana)
STEVE EARLE -- Washington Square Serenade (country triumph)
SUZANNE VEGA -- Beauty and Crimes (folk pop triumph)
MGMT -- Oracular Spectacular
TINARIWEN -- Aman Iman: Water Is Life (desert rock)
ROBERT PLANT AND ALISON KRAUSS -- Raising Sand (adult pop)
THE WHITE STRIPES -- Icky Thump (bluesy, stomping rock n roll)
TERENCE BLANCHARD -- A Tale of God's Will (a requiem for Katrina) (melancholic jazz
JONNY GREENWOOD -- There Will Be Blood (spooky, spine-tingling score)
PATTY GRIFFIN -- Children Running Through (career-capping Americana)
STEVE EARLE -- Washington Square Serenade (country triumph)
SUZANNE VEGA -- Beauty and Crimes (folk pop triumph)
MGMT -- Oracular Spectacular
JAMIE T -- Panic Prevention
LIVESAVAS - Gutterfly (Brit rap; Seventies funk fantasia)
LIVESAVAS - Gutterfly (Brit rap; Seventies funk fantasia)
AIMEE MANN -- Another Drifter In The Snow (Christmas gem)
WORLD PARTY -- Best In Show (compilation)
ARCADE FIRE -- Neon Bible (art rock a la Talking Heads)
ANDY BEY -- Ain't Necessarily So (searching jazz vocals)
FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE -- Traffic and Weather (pure pop)
RON SEXSMITH -- Time Being (purer pop)
TABU LEY ROCHEREAU -- The Voice Of Lightness (floating, Al Green-like world music)
THE FEELING -- Twelve Stops and Home (Seventies AM radio)
THE FRATELLIS -- Costello Music (raucous rock)
TEDDY THOMPSON -- Upfront and Down Low (dignified country classics)
LINDA THOMPSON -- Versatile Heart (delicate folk pop)
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Sweet Warrior (sterling rock)
BASSEKOU KUYATE AND NGONI BA -- Segu Blue (irresistible)
HERBIE HANCOCK -- River: The Joni Letters (Mitchell done proud via jazz))
WILLIE NELSON, MERLE HAGGARD, RAY PRICE -- Last Of The Breed (country summit) LEVON HELM -- Dirt Farmer (Lazarus-like revival)
PORTER WAGONER -- Wagonmaster (classy send-off)
ARCTIC MONKEYS -- Favourite Worst Nightmare (jagged Brit pop)
KAISER CHIEFS -- Yours Truly, Angry Mob (spiky but smooth Brit pop)
ROBERT WYATT -- Comicopera (eccentric pop-jazz thingamajig)
COMMON -- Finding Forever (rap for adults)
STEPHEN FRETWELL -- Man On The Roof (unheralded UK folk-pop)
BETTYE LAVETTE -- The Scene Of The Crime (steeped in wisdom soul)
MARY WEISS -- Dangerous Game (old school pop, happily)
JOSH RITTER -- The Historical Conquests Of Josh Ritter (literate folk pop with a smile)
ANDY PALACIO AND THE GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE -- Watina
PUERTO PLATA -- Mujer de Cabaret (both beautiful, vanishing traditions)
THE HIVES -- The Black and White Album (confident, swaggering rock)
DAVID BROMBERG -- Try Me One More Time
JOHN HAMMOND -- Push Comes To Shove (grizzled old white man blues)
WATERMELON SLIM AND THE WORKERS - The Wheel Man (the blues, you fool)
THE REAL TUESDAY WELD -- The London Book Of The Dead (sneakily ambitious retro pop)
COMMON -- Finding Forever (rap for adults)
STEPHEN FRETWELL -- Man On The Roof (unheralded UK folk-pop)
BETTYE LAVETTE -- The Scene Of The Crime (steeped in wisdom soul)
MARY WEISS -- Dangerous Game (old school pop, happily)
JOSH RITTER -- The Historical Conquests Of Josh Ritter (literate folk pop with a smile)
ANDY PALACIO AND THE GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE -- Watina
PUERTO PLATA -- Mujer de Cabaret (both beautiful, vanishing traditions)
THE HIVES -- The Black and White Album (confident, swaggering rock)
DAVID BROMBERG -- Try Me One More Time
JOHN HAMMOND -- Push Comes To Shove (grizzled old white man blues)
WATERMELON SLIM AND THE WORKERS - The Wheel Man (the blues, you fool)
THE REAL TUESDAY WELD -- The London Book Of The Dead (sneakily ambitious retro pop)
JOAN ARMATRADING -- Into The Blues (do call it a comeback)
THE MAGIC NUMBERS -- Those The Brokes (disappointing but good)
DARREN HAYES -- This Delicate Thing We've Made (good but disappointing)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN WITH THE SESSIONS BAND -- Live In Dublin (party in the barn music)
NICOLE ATKINS -- Neptune City (brooding, Orbison-like pop)
SERGIO AND ODAIR ASSAD -- Jardim Abandonado (telepathic classical guitar)
RAUL MALO -- After Hours (countrypolitan with velvet vocals)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Company Original Broadway Cast (2007) (Sondheim, passionately)
KELLY WILLIS -- Translated From Love (country, smartly)
BRAD PAISLEY -- 5th Gear
PANDA BEAR -- Person Pitch (Brian Wilson on LSD, if that's not redundant)
OVER THE RHINE -- Snow Angels (Christmas rock for NPR listeners)
JENS LEKMAN -- Night Falls Over Kortedala (Magentic Fields via Sweden)
IAN HUNTER -- Shrunken Heads (cock rock)
BEIRUT -- The Flying Cup Club
JUANES -- La Vida (fist-shaking rock)
THE HOLMES BROTHERS -- State of Grace (master class in the blues)
GLEN HANSARD AND MARKETA IRGLOVA -- The Swell Season (you know, those great songs from the movie Once)
RYAN ADAMS AND THE CARDINALS -- Follow The Lights (Americana, again)
JOHN CORIGLIANO -- Music For String Quartet (American classical)
DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER -- Red Earth: A Malian Journey (jazz meets Mali)
ABBEY LINCOLN -- Abbey Sings Abbey (astringent jazz)
THE DONNAS -- Bitchin' (dumb, fun as hell Eighties rock)
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Roots Of Chica - Psychedelic Cumbias From Peru (garage rock via South America)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2006
CORINNE BAILEY RAE -- Corinne Bailey Rae (tie)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2006
CORINNE BAILEY RAE -- Corinne Bailey Rae (tie)
JAMES HUNTER -- People Gonna Talk (tie)
BOB DYLAN -- Modern Times
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE -- The Black Parade
ARCTIC MONKEYS -- Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
MIDLAKE -- The Trials of Van Occupanther
ROSEANNE CASH -- Black Cadillac (tie)
JOHNNY CASH -- American V: A Hundred Highways
MAX RICHTER -- Songs From Before
CAT POWER -- The Greatest
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions -- American Land Edition
BOB DYLAN -- Modern Times
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE -- The Black Parade
ARCTIC MONKEYS -- Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
MIDLAKE -- The Trials of Van Occupanther
ROSEANNE CASH -- Black Cadillac (tie)
JOHNNY CASH -- American V: A Hundred Highways
MAX RICHTER -- Songs From Before
CAT POWER -- The Greatest
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions -- American Land Edition
SOLOMON BURKE -- Nashville
RICHARD THOMPSON -- 1000 Years of Popular Music
IRMA THOMAS -- After The Rain
RICHARD THOMPSON -- 1000 Years of Popular Music
IRMA THOMAS -- After The Rain
ELVIS COSTELLO AND ALLEN TOUSSAINT -- The River In Reverse
The LA'S -- BBC In Session
CANDI STATON -- His Hands/ The Ultimate Gospel Collection
The LA'S -- BBC In Session
CANDI STATON -- His Hands/ The Ultimate Gospel Collection
DUNCAN SHEIK -- White Limousine (tie)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Spring Awakening Original Cast Recording
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Spring Awakening Original Cast Recording
HOWARD TATE -- A Portrait Of Howard
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Tropicalia: A Brazilian Revolution In Sound
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Tropicalia: A Brazilian Revolution In Sound
M. WARD -- Post-War
REGINA SPEKTOR -- Begin To Hope
TEDDY THOMPSON -- Separate Ways (tie)
THE STROKES -- First Impressions Of Earth
TEDDY THOMPSON -- Separate Ways (tie)
THE STROKES -- First Impressions Of Earth
TOUMANI DIANATE'S SYMMETRIC ORCHESTRA -- Boulevard De L'Independance
MUSE -- Black Holes and Revelations
ALI FARKA TOURE -- Savane
THE STREETS -- The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living
JAMES HAND -- The Truth Will Set You Free
DRAKE BELL -- It's Only Time
MUSE -- Black Holes and Revelations
ALI FARKA TOURE -- Savane
THE STREETS -- The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living
JAMES HAND -- The Truth Will Set You Free
DRAKE BELL -- It's Only Time
VETIVER -- To Find Me Gone
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Thunderbird
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Grey Gardens Original Cast Recording
THE RACONTEURS -- Broken Boy Soldiers
LARRY LEVAN -- Journey Into Paradise...The Larry Levan Story
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Billy Elliot Original Cast Recording
RAHIM ALHAJ -- When The Soul Is Settled: Music Of Iraq
WOLFMOTHER -- Wolfmother
SMOKEY ROBINSON -- Timeless Love
CAST KING -- Saw Mill Man
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Grey Gardens Original Cast Recording
THE RACONTEURS -- Broken Boy Soldiers
LARRY LEVAN -- Journey Into Paradise...The Larry Levan Story
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Billy Elliot Original Cast Recording
RAHIM ALHAJ -- When The Soul Is Settled: Music Of Iraq
WOLFMOTHER -- Wolfmother
SMOKEY ROBINSON -- Timeless Love
CAST KING -- Saw Mill Man
THE ROOTS -- Game Theory
JOSH RITTER -- The Animal Years
MANA -- Amar Es Combatir
MANA -- Amar Es Combatir
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sweeney Todd Original Cast Recording
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sunday In The Park With George 2006 London Cast Recording
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sunday In The Park With George 2006 London Cast Recording
MATTHEW SWEET AND SUSANNA HOFFS -- Under The Covers Vol. 1
DIXIE CHICKS -- Taking The Long Way
LUPE FIASCO -- Food And Liquor
THE FRATELLIS -- Costello Music
THE VINES -- Vision Valley
DIXIE CHICKS -- Taking The Long Way
LUPE FIASCO -- Food And Liquor
THE FRATELLIS -- Costello Music
THE VINES -- Vision Valley
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man Motion Picture Soundtrack
LINDA RONSTADT AND ANN SAVOY-- Adieu False Heart
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE -- Futuresex/LoveSounds
PAUL SIMON -- Surprise
BEIRUT -- Gulag Orkestar
NELLIE MCKAY -- Pretty Little Head
ALEXI MURDOCH -- Time Without Consequences
LINDA RONSTADT AND ANN SAVOY-- Adieu False Heart
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE -- Futuresex/LoveSounds
PAUL SIMON -- Surprise
BEIRUT -- Gulag Orkestar
NELLIE MCKAY -- Pretty Little Head
ALEXI MURDOCH -- Time Without Consequences
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Rough Guide To Latin-Arabia
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2005
SUFJAN STEVENS – (Come On Feel The) Illinoise (eclectic pop)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2005
SUFJAN STEVENS – (Come On Feel The) Illinoise (eclectic pop)
KATE BUSH -- Aerial
RICHARD SWIFT – The Richard Swift Collection, Volume One (literate pop)
THE EELS – Blinking Lights and Other Revelations (suicidal pop)
AMADOU AND MARIAM – Dimanche a Bamako (world pop)
BETTYE LAVETTE – I’ve Got My Own Hell To Raise (soul pop)
VARIOUS ARTISTS – I Believe To My Soul (soul pop)
THE WHITE STRIPES – Get Behind Me Satan (bluesy pop)
BRIGHT EYES – I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (folkie pop)
KAISER CHIEFS -- Employment (righteous rock)
AMADOU AND MARIAM – Dimanche a Bamako (world pop)
BETTYE LAVETTE – I’ve Got My Own Hell To Raise (soul pop)
VARIOUS ARTISTS – I Believe To My Soul (soul pop)
THE WHITE STRIPES – Get Behind Me Satan (bluesy pop)
BRIGHT EYES – I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (folkie pop)
KAISER CHIEFS -- Employment (righteous rock)
NEIL DIAMOND – 12 Songs (Brill Building pop)
HANNA MCEUEN -- Hanna McEuen (country pop by way of Everly Brothers)
BRAD PAISLEY -- Time Well Wasted (radical traditionalist pop)
BRAD PAISLEY -- Time Well Wasted (radical traditionalist pop)
THE MAGIC NUMBERS – The Magic Numbers (UK 60s pop)
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Chaos and Creation In The Backyard (Beatles-esque pop, surprisingly)
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Chaos and Creation In The Backyard (Beatles-esque pop, surprisingly)
LEWIS TAYLOR – Stoned (what Prince and Stevie Wonder used to be)
WOLF PARADE – Apologies to the Queen Mary
CLAP YOUR HANDS, SAY YEAH -- Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah
BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE -- Broken Social Scene
MARAH – If You Didn’t Laugh, You’d Cry (return of Talking Heads)
WOLF PARADE – Apologies to the Queen Mary
CLAP YOUR HANDS, SAY YEAH -- Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah
BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE -- Broken Social Scene
MARAH – If You Didn’t Laugh, You’d Cry (return of Talking Heads)
BILL CHARLAP AND SANDY STEWART – Love Is Here To Stay (telepathic jazz duets)
NEIL YOUNG – Prairie Wind (folk rock staring death in the face and smiling)
ALI FARKA TOURE AND TOUMANI DIABATE – In The Heart Of The Moon (world music)
FIONA APPLE – Extraordinary Machine (pop, the hard way)
HEARTLESS BASTARDS – Stairs and Elevators (rock n roll)
SUPERGRASS – Road To Rouen (under-appreciated rock)
NEIL YOUNG – Prairie Wind (folk rock staring death in the face and smiling)
ALI FARKA TOURE AND TOUMANI DIABATE – In The Heart Of The Moon (world music)
FIONA APPLE – Extraordinary Machine (pop, the hard way)
HEARTLESS BASTARDS – Stairs and Elevators (rock n roll)
SUPERGRASS – Road To Rouen (under-appreciated rock)
HARD-FI – Stars Of CCTV (British rock)
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS – Son Cubano NYC: Cuban Roots, New York Spices 1972-82 (salsa)
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS – Does Anybody Know I’m Here? Vietnam Through The Eyes of Black America (protest pop)
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Night Train To Nashville: Music City Rhythm And Blues 1945-1970 Vol. Two
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Night Train To Nashville: Music City Rhythm And Blues 1945-1970 Vol. Two
REISSUE: LORETTA LYNN -- The Definitive Collection
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2004
GREEN DAY -- American Idiot
JOHNNY CASH -- My Mother's Hymn Book
kd lang -- Hymns Of The 49th Parallel
BRIAN WILSON -- Brian Wilson Presents Smile
AMADOU AND MARIAM -- Dimanche a Bamako
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2004
GREEN DAY -- American Idiot
JOHNNY CASH -- My Mother's Hymn Book
kd lang -- Hymns Of The 49th Parallel
BRIAN WILSON -- Brian Wilson Presents Smile
AMADOU AND MARIAM -- Dimanche a Bamako
MAX RICHTER -- The Blue Notebooks
A GIRL CALLED EDDY -- A Girl Called Eddy
NICK CAVE -- Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus
NICK CAVE -- Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus
SPANISH HARLEM ORCHESTRA -- Across 110th Street
BRIAN ENO AND ROBERT FRIPP -- The Equatorial Stars
NORAH JONES -- Feels Like Home
LEONARD COHEN -- Dear Heather
MORRISSEY -- You Are The Quarry
THE ROOTS -- The Tipping Point
LORETTA LYNNE -- Van Lear Rose
ANDY BEY -- American Song
THE STREETS -- A Grand Don't Come For Free
KONONO NO. 1 -- Congotronics
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- i
ELTON JOHN -- Peachtree Road
LEONARD COHEN -- Dear Heather
MORRISSEY -- You Are The Quarry
THE ROOTS -- The Tipping Point
LORETTA LYNNE -- Van Lear Rose
ANDY BEY -- American Song
THE STREETS -- A Grand Don't Come For Free
KONONO NO. 1 -- Congotronics
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- i
ELTON JOHN -- Peachtree Road
THE FINN BROTHERS -- Everyone Is Here
KANYE WEST -- College Dropout
WILCO -- A Ghost Is Born
KANYE WEST -- College Dropout
WILCO -- A Ghost Is Born
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Night Train To Nashville: Music City Rhythm And Blues 1945-1970
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2003
THE WHITE STRIPES -- Elephant
JOHNNY CASH -- Unearthed
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT -- Want One
BOZ SCAGGS -- But Beautiful
OUTKAST -- Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Avenue Q (Original Cast Recording)
AMY WINEHOUSE -- Frank
TIM CHRISTENSEN -- Honeyburst
FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE -- Welcome Interstate Managers
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2003
THE WHITE STRIPES -- Elephant
JOHNNY CASH -- Unearthed
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT -- Want One
BOZ SCAGGS -- But Beautiful
OUTKAST -- Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Avenue Q (Original Cast Recording)
AMY WINEHOUSE -- Frank
TIM CHRISTENSEN -- Honeyburst
FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE -- Welcome Interstate Managers
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Stumble Into Grace
DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES -- Do It For Love
THE STROKES -- Room On Fire
HOWARD TATE -- Rediscovered
THE STROKES -- Room On Fire
HOWARD TATE -- Rediscovered
THE JAYHAWKS -- Rainy Day Music
MARIA MCKEE -- High Dive
MARTHA REEVES AND THE VANDELLAS -- Gold
MARIA MCKEE -- High Dive
MARTHA REEVES AND THE VANDELLAS -- Gold
BRAD PAISLEY -- Mud On The Tires
JOE JACKSON -- Volume 4
ALICIA KEYS -- The Diary Of Alicia Keys
SUFJAN STEVENS -- Michigan
JUNE CARTER CASH -- Wildwood Flower
JOE JACKSON -- Volume 4
ALICIA KEYS -- The Diary Of Alicia Keys
SUFJAN STEVENS -- Michigan
JUNE CARTER CASH -- Wildwood Flower
REISSUE: BLIND WILLIE MCTELL -- Statesboro Blues: When The Sun Goes Down Series
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2002
NORAH JONES -- Come Away With Me
ORCHESTRA BAOBAB -- Specialist In All Styles
BRIGHT EYES -- Lifted or The Story Is In The Soil Keep Your Ear To The Ground
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Music from The Singing Detective And More
WILLIAM BASINSKI -- The Disintegration Loops
BECK -- Sea Change
DIXIE CHICKS -- Home
DAVID BOWIE -- Heathen
DIXIE CHICKS -- Home
DAVID BOWIE -- Heathen
LINDA THOMPSON -- Fashionably Late
SOLOMON BURKE -- Don't Give Up On Me
PETER WOLF -- Sleepless
JOHNNY CASH -- American IV: The Man Comes Around
EMINEM -- The Eminem Show
YOUSSOU N'DOUR -- Nothing's In Vain
RON SEXSMITH -- Cobblestone
BILLIE HOLIDAY AND LESTER YOUNG -- A Musical Romance
SOLOMON BURKE -- Don't Give Up On Me
PETER WOLF -- Sleepless
JOHNNY CASH -- American IV: The Man Comes Around
EMINEM -- The Eminem Show
YOUSSOU N'DOUR -- Nothing's In Vain
RON SEXSMITH -- Cobblestone
BILLIE HOLIDAY AND LESTER YOUNG -- A Musical Romance
TOM WAITS -- Alice/Blood Money
BRYAN FERRY -- Frantic
BRYAN FERRY -- Frantic
NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Will The Circle Be Unbroken Vol. III
DAMON ALBARN -- Mali Music
SUPER FURRY ANIMALS -- Rings Around The World
COLDPLAY -- A Rush of Blood To The Head
THE ROOTS -- Phrenology
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Hairspray (Original Cast Recording)
THE VINES -- Highly Evolved
STEVE EARLE -- Jerusalem
THE STREETS -- Original Pirate Material
PHILIP GLASS -- The Hours
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT -- Poses
WEEZER -- Maladroit
SUPER FURRY ANIMALS -- Rings Around The World
COLDPLAY -- A Rush of Blood To The Head
THE ROOTS -- Phrenology
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Hairspray (Original Cast Recording)
THE VINES -- Highly Evolved
STEVE EARLE -- Jerusalem
THE STREETS -- Original Pirate Material
PHILIP GLASS -- The Hours
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT -- Poses
WEEZER -- Maladroit
REISSUE: LINDA LEWIS -- Reach For The Truth: Best Of The Reprise Years 1971-1974)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2001
MANU CHAO -- Proxima Estacion: Esperanza
RYAN ADAMS -- Gold
WILCO -- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
BOB DYLAN -- Love And Theft
THE STROKES -- Is This It?
kd lang and TONY BENNETT -- A Wonderful World
ELO aka Electric Light Orchestra -- Zoom
BOB DYLAN -- Love And Theft
THE STROKES -- Is This It?
kd lang and TONY BENNETT -- A Wonderful World
ELO aka Electric Light Orchestra -- Zoom
RADIOHEAD -- Amnesiac
LEONARD COHEN -- Ten New Songs
SUZANNE VEGA -- Songs In Red And Gray
DOLLY PARTON -- Little Sparrow
THE WHITE STRIPES -- White Blood Cells
DIANA KRALL -- The Look Of Love
THE HIVES -- Your New Favourite Band
LEONARD COHEN -- Ten New Songs
SUZANNE VEGA -- Songs In Red And Gray
DOLLY PARTON -- Little Sparrow
THE WHITE STRIPES -- White Blood Cells
DIANA KRALL -- The Look Of Love
THE HIVES -- Your New Favourite Band
MERLE HAGGARD -- Roots
WEEZER -- Weezer (The Green Album)
RON SEXSMITH -- Blue Boy
GILLIAN WELCH -- Time (The Revelator)
ELTON JOHN -- Songs From The West Coast
NEIL DIAMOND -- Three Chord Opera
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- 30
BEN FOLDS -- Rockin' The Suburbs
WEEZER -- Weezer (The Green Album)
RON SEXSMITH -- Blue Boy
GILLIAN WELCH -- Time (The Revelator)
ELTON JOHN -- Songs From The West Coast
NEIL DIAMOND -- Three Chord Opera
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- 30
BEN FOLDS -- Rockin' The Suburbs
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts From The British Empire And Beyond
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2000
EMINEM -- The Marshall Mathers LP
RYAN ADAMS -- Heartbreaker
RADIOHEAD -- Kid A
JONI MITCHELL -- Both Sides Now
OUTKAST -- Stankonia
JOHNNY CASH -- American III: Solitary Man
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- O Brother, Where Art Thou?
SHELBY LYNNE -- I Am Shelby Lynne
AIR -- The Virgin Suicides soundtrack
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2000
EMINEM -- The Marshall Mathers LP
RYAN ADAMS -- Heartbreaker
RADIOHEAD -- Kid A
JONI MITCHELL -- Both Sides Now
OUTKAST -- Stankonia
JOHNNY CASH -- American III: Solitary Man
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- O Brother, Where Art Thou?
SHELBY LYNNE -- I Am Shelby Lynne
AIR -- The Virgin Suicides soundtrack
D'ANGELO -- Voodoo
AIMEE MANN -- Bachelor No. 2
COREY HARRIS AND HENRY BUTLER -- Vu-Du Menz
THE FIGGS -- Sucking In Stereo
AIMEE MANN -- Bachelor No. 2
COREY HARRIS AND HENRY BUTLER -- Vu-Du Menz
THE FIGGS -- Sucking In Stereo
BILLY BRAGG AND WILCO -- Mermaid Avenue Vol. II
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Wild Party (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
THE JAYHAWKS -- Smile
MERLE HAGGARD -- If I Could Only Fly
NEIL YOUNG -- Silver and Gold
WORLD PARTY -- Dumbing Up
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Wild Party (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
THE JAYHAWKS -- Smile
MERLE HAGGARD -- If I Could Only Fly
NEIL YOUNG -- Silver and Gold
WORLD PARTY -- Dumbing Up
TEDDY THOMPSON -- Teddy Thompson
REISSUE: THE BEATLES -- 1
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Kings Of The Gospel Highway: The Golden Age Of Gospel Quartets
REISSUE: ELVIS PRESLEY -- Peace In The Valley: The Complete Gospel Recordings
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1999
DAVID GRAY -- White Ladder
LINDA RONSTADT AND EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Western Wall
REISSUE: ELVIS PRESLEY -- Peace In The Valley: The Complete Gospel Recordings
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1999
DAVID GRAY -- White Ladder
LINDA RONSTADT AND EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Western Wall
DOLLY PARTON -- The Grass is Blue
DOLLY PARTON, LINDA RONSTADT, EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Trio II
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- 69 Love Songs
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- 69 Love Songs
WILCO -- Summerteeth
MOBY -- Play
THE ROOTS -- Things Fall Apart
STEVE EARLE AND THE DEL MCCOURY BAND -- The Mountain
EMINEM -- The Slim Shady LP
JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL -- Hedwig and the Angry Inch
MOBY -- Play
THE ROOTS -- Things Fall Apart
STEVE EARLE AND THE DEL MCCOURY BAND -- The Mountain
EMINEM -- The Slim Shady LP
JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL -- Hedwig and the Angry Inch
BLUR -- 13
TOM WAITS -- Mule Variations
FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE -- Utopia Parkway
FIONA APPLE -- When The Pawn...
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Mock Tudor
FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE -- Utopia Parkway
FIONA APPLE -- When The Pawn...
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Mock Tudor
PEE WEE CRAYTON -- Blues After Hours
DIXIE CHICKS -- Fly
MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO -- Bitter
DIXIE CHICKS -- Fly
MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO -- Bitter
HANK SNOW -- The Essential Hank Snow
THE MAYFLIES USA -- Summertown
REISSUE: DESMOND DEKKER -- Israelites: The Best Of Desmond Dekker 1963-1971
REISSUE: THE BEATLES: Yellow Submarine Songtrack
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1998
BILLY BRAGG AND WILCO -- Mermaid Avenue
LUCINDA WILLIAMS -- Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
THE BETA BAND -- The Three E.p.'s
BEASTIE BOYS -- Hello Nasty
THE MAVERICKS -- Trampoline
OUTKAST -- Aquemini
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Painted From Memory
DIXIE CHICKS -- Wide Open Spaces
NEIL FINN -- Try Whistling This
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT -- Rufus Wainwright
MANU CHAO -- Clandestino
DAVID GRAY -- Lost Songs 95-98
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN -- The Boy With The Arab Strap
AIR -- Moon Safari
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- The McGarrigle Hour
EVA CASSIDY -- Songbird
LAURYN HILL -- The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill
MANU CHAO -- Clandestino
DAVID GRAY -- Lost Songs 95-98
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN -- The Boy With The Arab Strap
AIR -- Moon Safari
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- The McGarrigle Hour
EVA CASSIDY -- Songbird
LAURYN HILL -- The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968 (boxed set)
REISSUE: SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES -- The Ultimate Collection
REISSUE: BOB DYLAN -- The Bootleg Series Vol. 4, Bob Dylan Live 1966, The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1997
RADIOHEAD -- O.K. Computer
BOB DYLAN -- Time Out Of Mind
BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB -- Buena Vista Social Club
THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. -- Life After Death
SUPERGRASS -- In It For The Money
SINEAD O'CONNOR -- Gospel Oak EP
BLUR -- Blur
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1997
RADIOHEAD -- O.K. Computer
BOB DYLAN -- Time Out Of Mind
BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB -- Buena Vista Social Club
THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. -- Life After Death
SUPERGRASS -- In It For The Money
SINEAD O'CONNOR -- Gospel Oak EP
BLUR -- Blur
WHISKEYTOWN -- Strangers Almanac
WORLD PARTY -- Egyptology
WORLD PARTY -- Egyptology
ALISON KRAUSS -- So Long So Wrong
ADAM GUETTEL -- Floyd Collins
NICK CAVE -- The Boatman's Call
STEVE EARLE -- El Corazon
ADAM GUETTEL -- Floyd Collins
NICK CAVE -- The Boatman's Call
STEVE EARLE -- El Corazon
PREFAB SPROUT -- Andromeda Heights
RUBY BRAFF AND ELLIS LARKINS -- Calling Berlin, Vol. 2
THE DIVINE COMEDY -- A Short Album About Love
JEFFREY FOSKETT -- Cool and Gone (Gone Gone)
VAN MORRISON -- The Healing Game
VAN MORRISON -- The Healing Game
REISSUE: STAN GETZ -- The Complete Roost Recordings
REISSUE: LITTLE WALTER -- His Best
REISSUE: LITTLE WALTER -- His Best
REISSUE: DOLLY PARTON -- The Essential Dolly Parton, Vol. 2
REISSUE: RAY CHARLES -- Genius and Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Beg, Scream and Shout! The Big Ol' Box of 60s Soul
REISSUE: MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- Legend
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1996
SUZANNE VEGA -- Nine Objects Of Desire
BECK -- Odelay
RADIOHEAD -- The Bends
WILCO -- Being There
REISSUE: MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- Legend
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1996
SUZANNE VEGA -- Nine Objects Of Desire
BECK -- Odelay
RADIOHEAD -- The Bends
WILCO -- Being There
RUBY BRAFF AND ELLIS LARKINS -- Calling Berlin, Vol. 1
JOHNNY CASH -- Unchained
WEEZER -- Pinkerton
DARYL HALL -- Can't Stop Dreaming
JOHNNY CASH -- Unchained
WEEZER -- Pinkerton
DARYL HALL -- Can't Stop Dreaming
NICK CAVE -- Murder Ballads
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- Matapedia
STEVE EARLE -- I Feel Alright
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- Matapedia
STEVE EARLE -- I Feel Alright
JOHNNY ADAMS -- One Foot In The Blues
MARIA MCKEE -- Life Is Sweet
PHILIP GLASS -- The Secret Agent
MAXWELL -- Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Walking Wounded
THE BLUE NILE -- Peace At Last
THE FUGEES -- The Score
BOZ SCAGGS -- Fade Into Light
MARIA MCKEE -- Life Is Sweet
PHILIP GLASS -- The Secret Agent
MAXWELL -- Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Walking Wounded
THE BLUE NILE -- Peace At Last
THE FUGEES -- The Score
BOZ SCAGGS -- Fade Into Light
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN -- Tigermilk/If You're Feeling Sinister
REISSUE: THE BEATLES -- Anthology 2/ Anthology 3
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Doo Wop Box II
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1995
THE MAVERICKS -- Music For All Occasions
ALISON KRAUSS -- Now That I've Found You: A Collection
PJ HARVEY -- To Bring You My Love
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1995
THE MAVERICKS -- Music For All Occasions
ALISON KRAUSS -- Now That I've Found You: A Collection
PJ HARVEY -- To Bring You My Love
D'ANGELO -- Brown Sugar
OASIS -- (What's The Story) Morning Glory
THE JAYHAWKS -- Tomorrow The Green Grass
BLUR -- The Great Escape
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Thunder Before Dawn: The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Volume Two/The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Volume Three: Freedom FireRON SEXSMITH -- Ron Sexsmith
OASIS -- (What's The Story) Morning Glory
JOHNNY ADAMS -- The Verdict
BJORK -- PostTHE JAYHAWKS -- Tomorrow The Green Grass
BLUR -- The Great Escape
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Thunder Before Dawn: The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Volume Two/The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Volume Three: Freedom FireRON SEXSMITH -- Ron Sexsmith
STEVE EARLE -- Train A Comin'
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters Collection
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Wrecking Ball
CHRIS ISAAK -- Forever Blue
ALANIS MORISSETTE -- Jagged Little Pill
DWIGHT YOAKUM -- Gone
CASSANDRA WILSON -- New Moon Daughter
PAUL WELLER -- Stanley Road
SUPERGRASS -- I Should Coco
AIMEE MANN -- I'm With Stupid
THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH -- Carry On...Up The Charts
MANDY PATINKIN -- Oscar and Steve
AL STEWART -- Between The Wars
JERRY LEE LEWIS -- Young Blood
THE 6THS -- Wasps' Nests
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters Collection
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Wrecking Ball
CHRIS ISAAK -- Forever Blue
ALANIS MORISSETTE -- Jagged Little Pill
DWIGHT YOAKUM -- Gone
CASSANDRA WILSON -- New Moon Daughter
PAUL WELLER -- Stanley Road
SUPERGRASS -- I Should Coco
AIMEE MANN -- I'm With Stupid
THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH -- Carry On...Up The Charts
MANDY PATINKIN -- Oscar and Steve
AL STEWART -- Between The Wars
JERRY LEE LEWIS -- Young Blood
THE 6THS -- Wasps' Nests
REISSUE: BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On
REISSUE: LESTER YOUNG -- The Complete Aladdin Recordings Of Lester Young (w Helen Humes, Nat King Cole)
REISSUE: DOLLY PARTON -- The Essential Dolly Parton, Vol. 2
REISSUE: THE BEATLES -- Anthology 1
REISSUE: ELVIS PRESLEY -- Walk A Mile In My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters
REISSUE: THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1994
JOHNNY CASH -- American Recordings
NAS -- Illmatic
GREEN DAY -- Dookie
NIRVANA -- Unplugged In New York
ROSEMARY CLOONEY -- Still On The Road
THE MAVERICKS -- What A Crying Shame
HOLE -- Live Through This
BLUR -- Parklife
BEASTIE BOYS -- Ill Communication
OASIS -- Definitely Maybe
IRIS DEMENT -- My Life
BOZ SCAGGS -- Some Change
BECK -- Mellow Gold/One Foot In The Grave
MORRISSEY -- Vauxhall And I
REISSUE: THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1994
JOHNNY CASH -- American Recordings
NAS -- Illmatic
GREEN DAY -- Dookie
NIRVANA -- Unplugged In New York
ROSEMARY CLOONEY -- Still On The Road
THE MAVERICKS -- What A Crying Shame
HOLE -- Live Through This
BLUR -- Parklife
BEASTIE BOYS -- Ill Communication
OASIS -- Definitely Maybe
IRIS DEMENT -- My Life
BOZ SCAGGS -- Some Change
BECK -- Mellow Gold/One Foot In The Grave
MORRISSEY -- Vauxhall And I
THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. -- Ready To Die
PEARL JAM -- Vitalogy
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Passion (Original Cast Recording)
PEARL JAM -- Vitalogy
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Passion (Original Cast Recording)
RUBY BRAFF AND ELLIS LARKINS -- 2X2
WEEZER -- Weezer
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Amplified Heart
CHARLIE HADEN QUARTET WEST -- Always Say Goodbye
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- The Charm Of The Highway Strip
WEEZER -- Weezer
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Amplified Heart
CHARLIE HADEN QUARTET WEST -- Always Say Goodbye
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- The Charm Of The Highway Strip
APHEX TWIN -- Selected Ambient Works Vol. II
JEFF BUCKLEY -- Grace
S.E. ROGIE -- Dead Men Don't Smoke Marijuana
TONY BENNETT -- MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett
SOUNDGARDEN -- Superunknown
SOUNDGARDEN -- Superunknown
REISSUE: FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor
REISSUE: GRANDMASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS FIVE -- Message From Beat Street: The Best Of Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel and the Furious Five
REISSUE: GRANDMASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS FIVE -- Message From Beat Street: The Best Of Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel and the Furious Five
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Doo Wop Box
REISSUE: JUDY GARLAND -- The Complete Decca Masters
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1993
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Blue Light 'Til Dawn
AIMEE MANN -- Whatever
PEARL JAM -- Vs.
MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO -- Plantation Lullabies
CHRIS ISAAK -- San Francisco Days
ROSEMARY CLOONEY -- Do You Miss New York?
ARVO PART -- Te Deum
REISSUE: JUDY GARLAND -- The Complete Decca Masters
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1993
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Blue Light 'Til Dawn
TOM PETTY -- Greatest Hits
DWIGHT YOAKAM -- This TimeAIMEE MANN -- Whatever
PEARL JAM -- Vs.
MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO -- Plantation Lullabies
CHRIS ISAAK -- San Francisco Days
ROSEMARY CLOONEY -- Do You Miss New York?
ARVO PART -- Te Deum
JIMMIE DALE GILMORE -- Spinning Around The Sun
NIRVANA -- In Utero
CROWDED HOUSE -- Together Alone
PET SHOP BOYS -- Very
WU-TANG CLAN -- Enter The Wu-Tang
PREFAB SPROUT -- Let's Change The World With Music (lost in the vaults gem 1993/2009)BLUR -- Modern Life Is Rubbish
SHELBY LYNNE -- Temptation
TOM WAITS -- The Black Rider
MANCE LIPSCOMB -- You Got To Reap What You Sow: Texas Songster Vol. 2
TOM WAITS -- The Black Rider
MANCE LIPSCOMB -- You Got To Reap What You Sow: Texas Songster Vol. 2
TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY -- Symphony Or Damn
ZAP MAMA -- Adventures In Afropea
TONY BENNETT -- Steppin' Out
BOB DYLAN -- World Gone Wrong
ELVIS COSTELLO -- The Juliet Letters
JELLYFISH -- Spilt Milk
COUNTING CROWS -- August And Everything After
TONY BENNETT -- Steppin' Out
BOB DYLAN -- World Gone Wrong
ELVIS COSTELLO -- The Juliet Letters
JELLYFISH -- Spilt Milk
COUNTING CROWS -- August And Everything After
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Mambo Kings Play Songs Of Love (compilation, not soundtrack)
REISSUE: BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON -- The Complete Blind Willie Johnson
REISSUE: ELVIS PRESLEY -- From Nashville To Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Great Gospel Men: 27 Classic Performances
REISSUE: SPINNERS -- The Very Best Of the Spinners
REISSUE: SPINNERS -- The Very Best Of the Spinners
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1992
kd lang -- Ingenue
R.E.M. -- Automatic For The People
ABBA -- Gold
LOS LOBOS -- Kiko
THE JAYHAWKS -- Hollywood Town Hall
MORRISSEY -- Your Arsenal
LYLE LOVETT -- Joshua Judges Ruth
JELLYFISH -- Bellybutton
TOM WAITS -- Bone Machine
CHARLIE HADEN QUARTET WEST -- Haunted Heart
NEIL YOUNG -- Harvest Moon
DR. DRE -- The Chronic
CLIFTON CHENIER -- King Of The Bayous: I'm Coming Home
BRIAN ENO -- The Shutov Assembly
BRIAN ENO -- The Shutov Assembly
ERIC CLAPTON -- Unplugged
HENRYK GORECKI -- Symphony No. 3
ANNIE LENNOX -- Diva
HENRYK GORECKI -- Symphony No. 3
ANNIE LENNOX -- Diva
LEONARD COHEN -- The Future
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Acoustic
BOB DYLAN -- Good As I Been To You
SHIRLEY HORN -- Here's To Life
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- At The Ryman
BOB DYLAN -- Good As I Been To You
SHIRLEY HORN -- Here's To Life
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- At The Ryman
TONY BENNETT -- Perfectly Frank
LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM -- Out Of The Cradle
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT -- 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days In The Life Of...
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- 25
LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM -- Out Of The Cradle
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT -- 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days In The Life Of...
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- 25
REISSUE: ELVIS PRESLEY -- The King Of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete '50s Masters
REISSUE: NAT KING COLE -- The Best Of The King Cole Trio
REISSUE: NAT KING COLE -- The Best Of The King Cole Trio
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1991
NIRVANA -- Nevermind
U2 -- Achtung Baby
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Rumor And Sigh A TRIBE CALLED QUEST -- The Low End Theory
SHIRLEY HORN -- You Won't Forget Me
PEARL JAM -- Ten
JOHNNY ADAMS -- Sings Doc Pomus
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Beauty and the Beast Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
CROWDED HOUSE -- Woodface
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Beauty and the Beast Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
CROWDED HOUSE -- Woodface
JIMMIE DALE GILMORE -- After Awhile
BLUR -- Leisure
STEPHEN SONDHEIM -- Assassins Original Cast Recording
ARVO PART -- Miserere
COLE PORTER/EVANS HAILE -- Fifty Million Frenchmen
PUBLIC ENEMY -- Apocalypse 91: The Empire Strikes Black
JOHN PRINE -- The Missing Years
ABBEY LINCOLN -- You Gotta Pay The Band
ABBEY LINCOLN -- You Gotta Pay The Band
REISSUE: RAY CHARLES -- The Birth of Soul (boxed set)
REISSUE: BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Complete Decca Recordings
REISSUE: BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve 1945-1959 (1991 boxed set)
REISSUE: PHIL SPECTOR -- Back To Mono 1958-1969 (boxed set)
REISSUE: BARBRA STREISAND -- Just For The Record... (boxed set)
REISSUE: LEAD BELLY -- Midnight Special: The Library Of Congress Recordings
REISSUE: BOB DYLAN -- The Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3 (Rare and Unreleased)
REISSUE: LOUIS PRIMA -- Capitol Collector's Series
REISSUE: JOE TEX -- Greatest Hits (on Curb)
REISSUE: JOE TEX -- Greatest Hits (on Curb)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1990
MADONNA -- The Immaculate Collection
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST -- People's Instinctive Travels and The Paths Of Rhythm
HAPPY MONDAYS -- Pills And Thrills And Bellyaches
WORLD PARTY -- Goodbye Jumbo
SINEAD O'CONNOR -- I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
PUBLIC ENEMY -- Fear Of A Black Planet
ROSEANNE CASH -- Interiors
PREFAB SPROUT -- Jordan: The Comeback
SUZANNE VEGA -- Days Of Open Hand
THE LA'S -- The La's
THE GO-GO'S -- Greatest Hits
PAUL SIMON -- The Rhythm Of The Saints
PET SHOP BOYS -- Behavior
COWBOY JUNKIES -- The Caution Horses
HAPPY MONDAYS -- Pills And Thrills And Bellyaches
WORLD PARTY -- Goodbye Jumbo
SINEAD O'CONNOR -- I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
PUBLIC ENEMY -- Fear Of A Black Planet
ROSEANNE CASH -- Interiors
PREFAB SPROUT -- Jordan: The Comeback
SUZANNE VEGA -- Days Of Open Hand
THE LA'S -- The La's
THE GO-GO'S -- Greatest Hits
PAUL SIMON -- The Rhythm Of The Saints
PET SHOP BOYS -- Behavior
COWBOY JUNKIES -- The Caution Horses
WYNTON MARSALIS -- Tune In Tomorrow... (soundtrack)
DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES -- Change Of Season
MORRISSEY -- Bona Drag
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- Heartbeats Accelerating
GEORGE MICHAEL -- Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
MARION WILLIAMS -- Surely God Is Able
THE BLACK CROWES -- Shake Your Moneymaker
DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES -- Change Of Season
MORRISSEY -- Bona Drag
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- Heartbeats Accelerating
GEORGE MICHAEL -- Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
MARION WILLIAMS -- Surely God Is Able
THE BLACK CROWES -- Shake Your Moneymaker
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- The Language Of Life
TONY BENNETT -- Astoria: Portrait Of The Artist
EVANS HAILE/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Babes In Arms
BRIAN ENO AND JOHN CALE -- Wrong Way Up
NEIL YOUNG -- Ragged Glory
BRIAN ENO AND JOHN CALE -- Wrong Way Up
NEIL YOUNG -- Ragged Glory
PEGGY LEE -- The Peggy Lee Songbook: There'll Be Another Spring
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- We Are In Love
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- We Are In Love
DEPECHE MODE -- Violator
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Atlantic Soul Classics
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Songs That Got Us Through WWII
REISSUE: MUDDY WATERS -- The Chess Box
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Best Of The Girl Groups Vol. 1 and 2
REISSUE: THE FOUR TOPS -- Anthology
REISSUE: CARL STALLING -- The Carl Stalling Project, Music From Warner Bros. Cartoons 1936-1958
REISSUE: CARL STALLING -- The Carl Stalling Project, Music From Warner Bros. Cartoons 1936-1958
REISSUE: BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON -- Praise God I'm Satisfied
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1989
BEASTIE BOYS -- Paul's Boutique
THE BLUE NILE -- Hats
CHET BAKER -- Best Of Chet Baker Plays and Sings
THE STONE ROSES -- The Stone Roses
ORCHESTRA BAOBAB -- Pirates Choice
BOB DYLAN -- Oh Mercy
KATE BUSH -- The Sensual World
NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Will The Circle Be Unbroken Volume Two
BAABA MAAL -- Djam Leelii: The Adventurers (w Mansour Seck)
NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Will The Circle Be Unbroken Volume Two
BAABA MAAL -- Djam Leelii: The Adventurers (w Mansour Seck)
DAWN UPSHAW -- Knoxville: Summer Of 1915
JUNGLE BROTHERS -- Done By The Forces of Nature
LAURIE ANDERSON -- Strange Angels
DE LA SOUL -- 3 Feet High And Rising
kd lang -- Absolute Torch And Twang
FRANK MORGAN -- Easy Living/Mood Indigo
MARIA MCKEE -- Maria McKee
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Black and Blue (Original Cast Recording)
PAULINE OLIVEROS -- Deep Listening
JUNGLE BROTHERS -- Done By The Forces of Nature
LAURIE ANDERSON -- Strange Angels
DE LA SOUL -- 3 Feet High And Rising
kd lang -- Absolute Torch And Twang
FRANK MORGAN -- Easy Living/Mood Indigo
MARIA MCKEE -- Maria McKee
XTC -- Oranges & Lemons
BONNIE RAITT -- Nick Of TimeVARIOUS ARTISTS -- Black and Blue (Original Cast Recording)
PAULINE OLIVEROS -- Deep Listening
LOU REED -- New York
PETER GABRIEL -- Passion: Music For The Last Temptation Of Christ
TRACY CHAPMAN -- Crossroads
MANDY PATINKIN -- Mandy Patinkin
MADONNA -- Like A Prayer
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- When Harry Met Sally
LYLE LOVETT -- Lyle Lovett And His Large Band
DURAN DURAN -- Decade
TRACY CHAPMAN -- Crossroads
MANDY PATINKIN -- Mandy Patinkin
MADONNA -- Like A Prayer
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- When Harry Met Sally
LYLE LOVETT -- Lyle Lovett And His Large Band
DURAN DURAN -- Decade
JOHNNY ADAMS -- Walking On A Tightrope: The Songs Of Percy Mayfield
RICKIE LEE JONES -- Flying Cowboys
DJIVAN GASPARYAN -- I Will Not Be Sad in This World
RICKIE LEE JONES -- Flying Cowboys
DJIVAN GASPARYAN -- I Will Not Be Sad in This World
CLINT BLACK -- Killin' Time
TOM PETTY -- Full Moon Fever
DAVID BYRNE -- Rei Momo
PIXIES -- Doolittle
NEVILLE BROTHERS -- Yellow Moon
NEIL YOUNG -- Freedom
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Spike
DAVID BYRNE -- Rei Momo
PIXIES -- Doolittle
NEVILLE BROTHERS -- Yellow Moon
NEIL YOUNG -- Freedom
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Spike
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Brazil Classics 1: Beleza Tropical Compiled By David Byrne
REISSUE: DIONNE WARWICK -- The Dionne Warwick Collection: Her All-Time Greatest Hits (Rhino)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1988
PUBLIC ENEMY -- It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
kd lang -- Shadowland
U2 -- Rattle and Hum
COWBOY JUNKIES -- The Trinity Sessions
HAL WILLNER/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music From Vintage Disney Films
PEGGY LEE -- Miss Peggy Lee Sings The Blues
THE POGUES -- If I Should Fall From Grace With God
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Idlewild
LEONARD COHEN -- I'm Your Man
ELOMAR -- Cantoria 2
REISSUE: DIONNE WARWICK -- The Dionne Warwick Collection: Her All-Time Greatest Hits (Rhino)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1988
PUBLIC ENEMY -- It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
kd lang -- Shadowland
U2 -- Rattle and Hum
COWBOY JUNKIES -- The Trinity Sessions
HAL WILLNER/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music From Vintage Disney Films
PEGGY LEE -- Miss Peggy Lee Sings The Blues
THE POGUES -- If I Should Fall From Grace With God
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Idlewild
LEONARD COHEN -- I'm Your Man
ELOMAR -- Cantoria 2
SADE -- Stronger Than Pride
MORRISSEY -- Viva Hate
JUNGLE BROTHERS -- Straight Out The Jungle
DWIGHT YOAKUM -- Buenos Noches From A Lonely Room
CARMEN MCRAE -- Carmen Sings Monk
JOHN HIATT -- Slow Turning
SHIRLEY HORN -- Close Enough For Love
STEVE EARLE -- Copperhead Road
N.W.A. -- Straight Outta Compton
ARVO PART -- Passio
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Blue Skies
JUNGLE BROTHERS -- Straight Out The Jungle
DWIGHT YOAKUM -- Buenos Noches From A Lonely Room
CARMEN MCRAE -- Carmen Sings Monk
JOHN HIATT -- Slow Turning
SHIRLEY HORN -- Close Enough For Love
STEVE EARLE -- Copperhead Road
N.W.A. -- Straight Outta Compton
ARVO PART -- Passio
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Blue Skies
JOHNNY ADAMS -- Room With A View Of The Blues
PHILIP GLASS -- The Thin Blue Line
TRACY CHAPMAN -- Tracy Chapman
RODNEY CROWELL -- Diamonds and Dirt
TRAVELING WILBURYS -- Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- 20
LYLE LOVETT -- Pontiac
PREFAB SPROUT -- From Langley Park To Memphis
CHRIS ISAAK -- Heart-Shaped World
TALK TALK -- Spirit Of Eden
PHILIP GLASS -- The Thin Blue Line
TRACY CHAPMAN -- Tracy Chapman
RODNEY CROWELL -- Diamonds and Dirt
TRAVELING WILBURYS -- Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- 20
LYLE LOVETT -- Pontiac
PREFAB SPROUT -- From Langley Park To Memphis
CHRIS ISAAK -- Heart-Shaped World
TALK TALK -- Spirit Of Eden
HOTHOUSE FLOWERS -- People
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Flowers In The Dirt
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Flowers In The Dirt
'TIL TUESDAY -- Everything's Different Now
THE GO-BETWEENS -- 16 Lovers Lane
VAN MORRISON and THE CHIEFTAINS -- Irish Heartbeat
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Amnesia
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- Some Hearts
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO -- Journey Of Dreams
FAIRGROUND ATTRACTION -- The First Of A Million Kisses
VAN MORRISON and THE CHIEFTAINS -- Irish Heartbeat
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Amnesia
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- Some Hearts
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO -- Journey Of Dreams
FAIRGROUND ATTRACTION -- The First Of A Million Kisses
REISSUE: THE BEATLES -- Past Masters Vol. One/Past Masters Vol. Two
REISSUE: CHUCK BERRY -- The Chess Box
REISSUE: VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Irving Berlin Always
REISSUE: FRANKIE VALLIE AND THE FOUR SEASONS -- Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons 25th Anniversary Collection
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1987
DOLLY PARTON, LINDA RONSTADT, EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Trio
PRINCE -- Sign O' The Times
REISSUE: FRANKIE VALLIE AND THE FOUR SEASONS -- Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons 25th Anniversary Collection
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1987
DOLLY PARTON, LINDA RONSTADT, EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Trio
PRINCE -- Sign O' The Times
U2 -- The Joshua Tree
SINEAD O'CONNOR -- The Lion and the Cobra
THE SMITHS -- Louder Than Bombs/Strangeways, Here We Come
STING -- ...Nothing Like The Sun
THE REPLACEMENTS -- Pleased To Meet Me
SINEAD O'CONNOR -- The Lion and the Cobra
THE SMITHS -- Louder Than Bombs/Strangeways, Here We Come
SONNY ROLLINS -- G-Man
GEORGE MICHAEL -- Faith JENNIFER WARNES -- Famous Blue Raincoat
ERIC B AND RAKIM -- Paid In Full STING -- ...Nothing Like The Sun
THE REPLACEMENTS -- Pleased To Meet Me
HÜSKER DÜ -- Warehouse: Songs and Stories
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Into The Woods (Original Cast Recording)
JOHN HIATT -- Bring The Family
JOHN HIATT -- Bring The Family
DEPECHE MODE -- Music For The Masses
PUBLIC ENEMY -- Yo! Bum Rush The Show
JOHN MELLENCAMP -- The Lonesome Jubilee
NEW ORDER -- Substance 87
JOHN MELLENCAMP -- The Lonesome Jubilee
NEW ORDER -- Substance 87
JOHN ADAMS -- Nixon In China
CHARLIE HADEN-- Quartet West
SHIRLEY HORN -- I Thought About You
LINDA RONSTADT -- Canciones De Mi Padre
GUNS N' ROSES -- Appetite For Destruction
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Tunnel Of Love
SUZANNE VEGA -- Solitude Standing
ROY ORBISON -- In Dreams: The Greatest Hits
LYLE LOVETT -- Pontiac
ROSEANNE CASH -- King's Record Shop
SHIRLEY HORN -- I Thought About You
LINDA RONSTADT -- Canciones De Mi Padre
GUNS N' ROSES -- Appetite For Destruction
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Tunnel Of Love
SUZANNE VEGA -- Solitude Standing
ROY ORBISON -- In Dreams: The Greatest Hits
LYLE LOVETT -- Pontiac
ROSEANNE CASH -- King's Record Shop
TOM WAITS -- Frank's Wild Years
DINOSAUR JR. -- You're Livin' All Over Me
DINOSAUR JR. -- You're Livin' All Over Me
R.E.M. -- Document
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
PET SHOP BOYS -- Actually
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO -- Shaka Zulu
MEL TORME AND GEORGE SHEARING -- A Vintage Year
10,000 MANIACS -- In My Tribe
BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS -- Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
MICHAEL JACKSON -- Bad
BOBBY SHORT -- Guess Who's In Town: Bobby Short Sings The Songs Of Andy Razaf
BILLY IDOL -- Vital Idol
kd lang -- Angel With A Lariat
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
PET SHOP BOYS -- Actually
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO -- Shaka Zulu
MEL TORME AND GEORGE SHEARING -- A Vintage Year
10,000 MANIACS -- In My Tribe
BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS -- Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
MICHAEL JACKSON -- Bad
BOBBY SHORT -- Guess Who's In Town: Bobby Short Sings The Songs Of Andy Razaf
BILLY IDOL -- Vital Idol
kd lang -- Angel With A Lariat
REISSUE: JAMES BROWN -- The CD of JB II
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1986
PAUL SIMON -- Graceland
ELVIS COSTELLO -- King Of America/Blood and Chocolate
PRINCE -- Parade
THE SMITHS -- The Queen Is Dead
R.E.M. -- Life's Rich Pageant
RUN D.M.C. -- Raising Hell
NANCI GRIFFITH -- The Last Of The True Believers
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1986
PAUL SIMON -- Graceland
ELVIS COSTELLO -- King Of America/Blood and Chocolate
PRINCE -- Parade
THE SMITHS -- The Queen Is Dead
R.E.M. -- Life's Rich Pageant
RUN D.M.C. -- Raising Hell
NANCI GRIFFITH -- The Last Of The True Believers
BEASTIE BOYS -- Licensed To Ill
LINDA RONSTADT -- For Sentimental Reasons
THE REPLACEMENTS -- Boink!!
LINDA RONSTADT -- For Sentimental Reasons
THE REPLACEMENTS -- Boink!!
CHRIS ISAAK -- Chris Isaak
HIROSHI YOSHIMURA -- Green/Surround Soundscape 1: Surround
HIROSHI YOSHIMURA -- Green/Surround Soundscape 1: Surround
XTC -- Skylarking
AFRIKA BAMBAATA & THE SOULSONIC FORCE -- Planet Rock: The Album
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Live 1975-1985
PETER GABRIEL -- So
MADONNA -- True Blue
TALK TALK -- The Color Of Spring
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Daring Adventures
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- Born Yesterday
'TIL TUESDAY -- Welcome Home
WHAM! -- The Final
PETER GABRIEL -- So
MADONNA -- True Blue
TALK TALK -- The Color Of Spring
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Daring Adventures
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- Born Yesterday
'TIL TUESDAY -- Welcome Home
WHAM! -- The Final
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Easy Living (w Joe Pass)
RANDY TRAVIS -- Storms Of Life
ANITA BAKER -- Rapture
DAVID AND DAVID -- Welcome To The Boomtown
STING -- Bring On The Night
STEVE EARLE -- Guitar Town
WORLD PARTY -- Private Revolution
BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS -- Lonely Avenue
STEVE WINWOOD -- Back In The High Life
STEVE EARLE -- Guitar Town
WORLD PARTY -- Private Revolution
BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS -- Lonely Avenue
STEVE WINWOOD -- Back In The High Life
REISSUE: SAM COOKE -- The Man And His Music
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1985
KATE BUSH -- Hounds Of Love
THE REPLACEMENTS -- Tim
PREFAB SPROUT -- Steve McQueen aka Two Wheels Good
BARBRA STREISAND -- The Broadway Album
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Volume One
STEELY DAN -- A Decade Of Steely Dan
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Les Miserables (Original London Cast Recording)
BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS -- It's The Talk Of The Town (and Other Sad Songs)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Gospel At Colonus (1985 Philadelphia Cast)
TOM WAITS -- Rain Dogs
PAUL MCCARTNEY/ELVIS COSTELLO -- Flowers In The Dirt (Demos on later editions)
SADE -- Promise
JOHN MELLENCAMP -- Scarecrow
KATRINA AND THE WAVES -- Katrina and the Waves
THE WATERBOYS -- This Is The Sea
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- The Ballad of Sally Rose
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1985
KATE BUSH -- Hounds Of Love
THE REPLACEMENTS -- Tim
PREFAB SPROUT -- Steve McQueen aka Two Wheels Good
BARBRA STREISAND -- The Broadway Album
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Volume One
STEELY DAN -- A Decade Of Steely Dan
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Les Miserables (Original London Cast Recording)
BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS -- It's The Talk Of The Town (and Other Sad Songs)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Gospel At Colonus (1985 Philadelphia Cast)
TOM WAITS -- Rain Dogs
PAUL MCCARTNEY/ELVIS COSTELLO -- Flowers In The Dirt (Demos on later editions)
SADE -- Promise
JOHN MELLENCAMP -- Scarecrow
KATRINA AND THE WAVES -- Katrina and the Waves
THE WATERBOYS -- This Is The Sea
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- The Ballad of Sally Rose
PHILIP GLASS -- Mishima: A Life In Four Chapters
CHRIS ISAAK -- Silvertone
R.E.M. -- Fables Of The Reconstruction
MEL TORMÉ -- An Elegant Evening (w George Shearing)
CHRIS ISAAK -- Silvertone
R.E.M. -- Fables Of The Reconstruction
MEL TORMÉ -- An Elegant Evening (w George Shearing)
THE POGUES -- Rum, Sodomy and the Lash
U2 -- Wide Awake In America
EURYTHMICS -- Be Yourself Tonight
JIMMY BUFFETT -- Songs You Know By Heart
U2 -- Wide Awake In America
EURYTHMICS -- Be Yourself Tonight
JIMMY BUFFETT -- Songs You Know By Heart
NEW ORDER -- Low-Life
LINDA THOMPSON -- One Clear Moment
STING -- Dream Of The Blue Turtles
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Across A Crowded Room
LONE JUSTICE -- Lone Justice
JOHN FOGERTY -- Centerfield
BRYAN FERRY -- Boys And Girls
SUZANNE VEGA -- Suzanne Vega
REISSUE: ARETHA FRANKLIN -- 30 Greatest Hits
REISSUE: JAMES BROWN -- The CD of JB
REISSUE: THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- Cadence Classics: Their 20 Greatest Hits
LINDA THOMPSON -- One Clear Moment
STING -- Dream Of The Blue Turtles
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Across A Crowded Room
LONE JUSTICE -- Lone Justice
JOHN FOGERTY -- Centerfield
BRYAN FERRY -- Boys And Girls
SUZANNE VEGA -- Suzanne Vega
REISSUE: ARETHA FRANKLIN -- 30 Greatest Hits
REISSUE: JAMES BROWN -- The CD of JB
REISSUE: THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- Cadence Classics: Their 20 Greatest Hits
REISSUE: SANDY DENNY -- Who Knows Where The Times Goes (boxed set)
REISSUE: BOB DYLAN -- Biograph
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1984
U2 -- The Unforgettable Fire
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Legend
THE SMITHS -- The Smiths
LAURIE ANDERSON -- Mister Heartbreak/United States Live
PRINCE -- Purple Rain
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Born In The USA
MADNESS -- Keep Moving (US 14 track version)
SADE -- Diamond Life
RUN D.M.C. -- Run D.M.C.
TINA TURNER -- Private Dancer
THE BLUE NILE -- A Walk Across The Rooftops
THE PRETENDERS -- Learning To Crawl
LEONARD COHEN -- Various Positions
LOS LOBOS -- How Will The Wolf Survive?
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Eden
TALKING HEADS -- Stop Making Sense
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sunday in the Park with George (Original Cast Recording)
REISSUE: BOB DYLAN -- Biograph
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1984
U2 -- The Unforgettable Fire
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Legend
THE SMITHS -- The Smiths
LAURIE ANDERSON -- Mister Heartbreak/United States Live
PRINCE -- Purple Rain
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Born In The USA
MADNESS -- Keep Moving (US 14 track version)
SADE -- Diamond Life
RUN D.M.C. -- Run D.M.C.
TINA TURNER -- Private Dancer
THE BLUE NILE -- A Walk Across The Rooftops
THE PRETENDERS -- Learning To Crawl
LEONARD COHEN -- Various Positions
LOS LOBOS -- How Will The Wolf Survive?
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Eden
TALKING HEADS -- Stop Making Sense
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sunday in the Park with George (Original Cast Recording)
THE REPLACEMENTS -- Let It Be
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- EB84
BARRY MANILOW -- 2. A.M. Paradise CafeTHE EVERLY BROTHERS -- EB84
MINUTEMEN -- Double Nickels On The Dime
THE BANGLES -- All Over The Place
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Goodbye Cruel World
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Goodbye Cruel World
JOE JACKSON -- Body and Soul
PREFAB SPROUT -- Swoon
ELOMAR -- Cantoria 1
PREFAB SPROUT -- Swoon
ELOMAR -- Cantoria 1
THE YOUNG FRESH FELLOWS -- The Fabulous Sounds of the Pacific Northwest
R.E.M. -- Reckoning
LINDA RONSTADT -- Lush Life
JOHNNY ADAMS -- From The Heart
LLOYD COLE AND THE COMMOTIONS -- Rattlesnakes
ELIZABETH COTTEN -- Live!
VAN DYKE PARKS -- Jump!
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Small Town Romance
LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM -- Go Insane
BRIAN ENO AND HAROLD BUDD -- The Pearl
LLOYD COLE AND THE COMMOTIONS -- Rattlesnakes
ELIZABETH COTTEN -- Live!
VAN DYKE PARKS -- Jump!
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Small Town Romance
LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM -- Go Insane
BRIAN ENO AND HAROLD BUDD -- The Pearl
MEAT PUPPETS -- II
REISSUE: DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES -- 20 Greatest Hits: Compact Command Performance
REISSUE: JERRY LEE LEWIS -- 18 Original Sun Greatest Hits
REISSUE: DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES -- 20 Greatest Hits: Compact Command Performance
REISSUE: JERRY LEE LEWIS -- 18 Original Sun Greatest Hits
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1983
R.E.M. -- Murmur
U2 -- War/Under A Blood Red Sky
BILLY JOEL -- An Innocent Man
R.E.M. -- Murmur
U2 -- War/Under A Blood Red Sky
BILLY JOEL -- An Innocent Man
EURYTHMICS -- Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)/Touch
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Big Chill Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
THE ENGLISH BEAT -- What Is Beat?
TOM WAITS -- Swordfishtrombones
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Say Amen, Somebody (Original Soundtrack)
PHILIP GLASS -- Akhnaten
MADNESS -- Madness (US compilation)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Big Chill Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
THE ENGLISH BEAT -- What Is Beat?
TOM WAITS -- Swordfishtrombones
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Say Amen, Somebody (Original Soundtrack)
PHILIP GLASS -- Akhnaten
MADNESS -- Madness (US compilation)
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Punch The Clock
BARBRA STREISAND -- Yentl 40th Anniversary soundtrack (w demos)
TALKING HEADS -- Speaking In Tongues
THE POLICE -- Synchronicity
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Nice Work If You Can Get It: Ella and André Do Gershwin/Speak Love w Joe Pass
TALKING HEADS -- Speaking In Tongues
THE POLICE -- Synchronicity
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Nice Work If You Can Get It: Ella and André Do Gershwin/Speak Love w Joe Pass
THE REPLACEMENTS -- Hootenanny
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Hand Of Kindness
PAUL SIMON -- Hearts and Bones
CHEAP TRICK -- Next Position, Please (The Authorized Version)
PAUL SIMON -- Hearts and Bones
CHEAP TRICK -- Next Position, Please (The Authorized Version)
CULTURE CLUB -- Colour By Numbers
BRYAN FERRY -- These Foolish Things
WILLIE NELSON AND MERLE HAGGARD -- Pancho and Lefty
BOB DYLAN -- Infidels
BRYAN FERRY -- These Foolish Things
WILLIE NELSON AND MERLE HAGGARD -- Pancho and Lefty
BOB DYLAN -- Infidels
CYNDI LAUPER -- She's So Unusual
DEBARGE -- In A Special Way
PINK FLOYD -- The Final Cut
PINK FLOYD -- The Final Cut
TEARS FOR FEARS -- The Hurting
MALCOLM MCLAREN -- Duck Rock
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1982
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Nebraska
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1982
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Nebraska
PHILIP GLASS -- Glassworks/Koyaanisqatsi
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- Shoot Out The Lights
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- Shoot Out The Lights
MICHAEL JACKSON -- Thriller
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Imperial Bedroom
ROXY MUSIC -- Avalon
DONALD FAGEN -- The Nightfly
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Tug Of War
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Imperial Bedroom
ROXY MUSIC -- Avalon
DONALD FAGEN -- The Nightfly
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Tug Of War
JAMES BOOKER -- Classified
BILLY JOEL -- The Nylon Curtain
VANGELIS -- Blade Runner
PETER GABRIEL -- Peter Gabriel (Security)
GEORGE WINSTON -- December
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Dreamgirls (Original Broadway Cast Album)
STEVIE WONDER -- Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I
ABC -- The Lexicon Of Love
THE EAGLES -- Eagles Greatest Hits Vol. 2
PRINCE -- 1999
THE ENGLISH BEAT -- Special Beat Service
NEIL DIAMOND -- 12 Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
KING SUNNY ADE -- Juju Music
TOM WAITS -- One From The Heart
JOE JACKSON -- Night and Day
SQUEEZE -- Singles: 45's And Under
LYDIA MENDOZA -- La Alondra de la Frontera: Live!
BILLY JOEL -- The Nylon Curtain
VANGELIS -- Blade Runner
PETER GABRIEL -- Peter Gabriel (Security)
GEORGE WINSTON -- December
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Dreamgirls (Original Broadway Cast Album)
STEVIE WONDER -- Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I
ABC -- The Lexicon Of Love
THE EAGLES -- Eagles Greatest Hits Vol. 2
PRINCE -- 1999
THE ENGLISH BEAT -- Special Beat Service
NEIL DIAMOND -- 12 Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
KING SUNNY ADE -- Juju Music
TOM WAITS -- One From The Heart
JOE JACKSON -- Night and Day
SQUEEZE -- Singles: 45's And Under
LYDIA MENDOZA -- La Alondra de la Frontera: Live!
TALKING HEADS -- The Name of This Band is Talking Heads
TOM PETTY -- Long After Dark
DURAN DURAN -- Rio
R.E.M. -- Chronic Town
TOM PETTY -- Long After Dark
DURAN DURAN -- Rio
R.E.M. -- Chronic Town
HAIRCUT ONE HUNDRED -- Pelican West
REISSUE: CHUCK BERRY -- The Great 28
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1981
JOAN JETT -- Bad Reputation/I Love Rock 'n' Roll
QUEEN -- Greatest Hits
THE ENGLISH BEAT -- Wha'ppen?
FRANK SINATRA -- She Shot Me Down
SQUEEZE -- East Side Story
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1979
THE CLASH -- London Calling
TALKING HEADS -- Fear of Music
VAN MORRISON -- Into The Music
MICHAEL JACKSON -- Off The Wall
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1977
STEELY DAN -- Aja
DAVID BOWIE -- Low/Heroes
FLEETWOOD MAC -- Rumours
MEAT LOAF -- Bat Out Of Hell
ELVIS COSTELLO -- My Aim Is True
MUDDY WATERS -- Hard Again
SEX PISTOLS -- Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols
STEVIE WONDER -- Fulfillingness' First Finale
BIG STAR -- Radio City
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL -- Green River/Willie and the Poor Boys
THE BAND -- The Band
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1963
PATSY CLINE -- The Patsy Cline Story
JOHN COLTRANE -- John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman/Both Directions At Once
JAMES BROWN -- Live At The Apollo
DORIS DAY AND ROBERT GOULET -- Annie Get Your Gun
PHIL SPECTOR/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- A Christmas Gift For You From Philles Records
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1961
BILL EVANS -- Sunday At The Village Vanguard/Waltz For Debby
JUDY GARLAND -- Judy At Carnegie Hall
JOHN COLTRANE -- My Favorite Things/Coltrane Jazz
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Twelve Nights In Hollywood/ Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Harold Arlen Songbook/ Clap Your Hands, Here Comes Charlie!
RAY CHARLES -- The Genius Sings The Blues/The Genius After Hours/Ray Charles and Betty Carter/Genius + Soul = Jazz
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1959
MILES DAVIS -- Kind Of Blue/Workin'/Porgy and Bess
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Ella Fitzgerald Sings The George and Ira Gershwin Songbook
BUDDY HOLLY -- The Buddy Holly Story
LERNER AND LOEWE -- My Fair Lady Original Broadway Cast
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1981
JOAN JETT -- Bad Reputation/I Love Rock 'n' Roll
QUEEN -- Greatest Hits
THE ENGLISH BEAT -- Wha'ppen?
FRANK SINATRA -- She Shot Me Down
SQUEEZE -- East Side Story
BRIAN ENO AND DAVID BYRNE -- My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts
RUSH -- Moving Pictures
ROLLING STONES -- Tattoo You
BLONDIE -- Best Of Blondie
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Trust/Almost Blue
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Trust/Almost Blue
GLENN GOULD -- A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations 1955 and 1981
ORCHESTRAL MANOUEVRES IN THE DARK -- Architecture and Morality
LENA HORNE -- Lena Horne: The Lady And Her Music
TOM PETTY -- Hard Promises
WILLIE NELSON -- Greatest Hits (And Some That Will Be)
NEVILLE BROTHERS -- Fiyou On The Bayou
TOM PETTY -- Hard Promises
WILLIE NELSON -- Greatest Hits (And Some That Will Be)
NEVILLE BROTHERS -- Fiyou On The Bayou
TODD RUNDGREN -- Healing
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- French Record
DAVID BOWIE -- Changestwobowie
KATE BUSH -- The Dreaming
VANGELIS -- Chariots Of Fire
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- French Record
DAVID BOWIE -- Changestwobowie
KATE BUSH -- The Dreaming
VANGELIS -- Chariots Of Fire
JOE JACKSON -- Jumpin' Jive
REISSUE: MARTHA REEVES AND THE VANDELLAS -- Greatest Hits
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1980
JOHN LENNON AND YOKO ONO -- Double Fantasy
THE ENGLISH BEAT -- I Just Can't Stop It
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Roses In The Snow
TALKING HEADS -- Remain In Light
U2 -- Boy
AC/DC -- Back In Black
THE PRETENDERS -- The Pretenders
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Get Happy!
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- The River
JOHN LENNON AND YOKO ONO -- Double Fantasy
THE ENGLISH BEAT -- I Just Can't Stop It
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Roses In The Snow
TALKING HEADS -- Remain In Light
U2 -- Boy
AC/DC -- Back In Black
THE PRETENDERS -- The Pretenders
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Get Happy!
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- The River
BETTY CARTER -- The Audience With Betty Carter
THE DOORS -- Greatest Hits
THE DOORS -- Greatest Hits
DARYL HALL -- Sacred Songs
BRIAN ENO -- The Plateaux Of Mirror (w Harold Budd)/ Day Of Radiance (w Laraaji)
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Uprising
DAVID BOWIE -- Scary Monsters
DAVID BOWIE -- Scary Monsters
MADNESS -- Absolutely
AEROSMITH -- Greatest Hits
STEVE WINWOOD -- Arc Of A Diver
PETER GABRIEL -- Peter Gabriel (melt)
STEVIE WONDER -- Hotter Than July
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART -- Doc At The Radar Station
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Popeye: Music From The Motion Pictue Deluxe Edition
STEVE WINWOOD -- Arc Of A Diver
PETER GABRIEL -- Peter Gabriel (melt)
STEVIE WONDER -- Hotter Than July
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART -- Doc At The Radar Station
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Popeye: Music From The Motion Pictue Deluxe Edition
THE CLASH -- Sandinista!
PROFESSOR LONGHAIR -- Crawfish Fiesta
PRINCE -- Dirty Mind
KENNY ROGERS -- Greatest Hits
KATE BUSH -- Never For Ever
PRINCE -- Dirty Mind
KENNY ROGERS -- Greatest Hits
KATE BUSH -- Never For Ever
GEORGE JONES -- I Am What I Am
FRANK SINATRA -- Trilogy: Past Present Future
THE SELECTER -- Too Much Pressure
PETE TOWNSEND -- Empty Glass
CIRCLE JERKS -- Group Sex
BARBRA STREISAND -- Guilty
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1979
THE CLASH -- London Calling
TALKING HEADS -- Fear of Music
VAN MORRISON -- Into The Music
MICHAEL JACKSON -- Off The Wall
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Blue Kentucky Girl/Light Of The Stable
FLEETWOOD MAC -- Tusk
DAVID BOWIE -- Lodger
PHILIP GLASS -- Satyagraha
FLEETWOOD MAC -- Tusk
DAVID BOWIE -- Lodger
PHILIP GLASS -- Satyagraha
EL GRAN COMBO DE PUERTO RICO -- ¡Aqui No Se Siente Nadie!
AC/DC -- Highway To Hell
AC/DC -- Highway To Hell
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Fine and Mellow
KRAFTWERK -- Computer World
JOE JACKSON -- Look Sharp!
ARTHUR BLYTHE -- Lenox Avenue Breakdown
PEGGY LEE -- Close Enough For Love
PEGGY LEE -- Close Enough For Love
NEIL YOUNG -- Rust Never Sleeps
WILLIE NELSON -- Pretty Paper
DONNA SUMMER -- On The Radio (Greatest Hits)
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sweeney Todd (Original Cast Recording)
RICKIE LEE JONES -- Rickie Lee Jones
LEONARD COHEN -- Recent Songs
WILLIE NELSON -- Pretty Paper
DONNA SUMMER -- On The Radio (Greatest Hits)
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sweeney Todd (Original Cast Recording)
RICKIE LEE JONES -- Rickie Lee Jones
LEONARD COHEN -- Recent Songs
CHET BAKER -- Blue Room: The 1979 Vara Sessions
TOM PETTY -- Damn The Torpedoes!
THE RAINCOATS -- The Raincoats
TOM PETTY -- Damn The Torpedoes!
THE RAINCOATS -- The Raincoats
BUZZCOCKS -- Singles Going Steady
THE GERMS -- GI
PINK FLOYD -- The Wall
MADNESS -- One Step Beyond...
GRAHAM PARKER -- Squeezing Out Sparks
PINK FLOYD -- The Wall
MADNESS -- One Step Beyond...
GRAHAM PARKER -- Squeezing Out Sparks
LED ZEPPELIN -- In Through The Out Door
PETER GREEN -- In The Skies
PETER GREEN -- In The Skies
KEN NORDINE -- Stare With Your Ears
THE ROCHES -- The Roches
DAVE EDMUNDS -- Repeat When Necessary
MERLE HAGGARD -- Serving 190 Proof (1979)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1978
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1978
BRIAN ENO -- Ambient 1: Music For Airports
WILLIE NELSON -- StardustFUNKADELIC -- One Nation Under A Groove
KATE BUSH -- The Kick Inside
ROLLING STONES -- Some Girls
TALKING HEADS -- More Songs About Buildings and Food
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Ain't Misbehavin' (Original Cast Recording)
ELVIS COSTELLO -- This Year's Model
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Darkness On The Edge Of Town
BARBRA STREISAND -- Greatest Hits Vol. 2
TALKING HEADS -- More Songs About Buildings and Food
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Ain't Misbehavin' (Original Cast Recording)
ELVIS COSTELLO -- This Year's Model
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Darkness On The Edge Of Town
BARBRA STREISAND -- Greatest Hits Vol. 2
TITO PUENTE -- Homenaje a Beny
KRAFTWERK -- The Man-Machine
MARVIN GAYE -- Here, My Dear
NEIL YOUNG -- Comes A Time
BLONDIE -- Parallel Lines
THE CLASH -- Give 'em Enough Rope
BLONDIE -- Parallel Lines
THE CLASH -- Give 'em Enough Rope
BUZZCOCKS -- Another Music In A Different Kitchen/ Love Bites
ISMAEL RIVERA -- Esto Si Es Lo Mio
PETER GABRIEL -- Peter Gabriel (scratch)
PETER GABRIEL -- Peter Gabriel (scratch)
THE ADVERTS -- Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts
THE BAND/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Last Waltz
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town
CHEAP TRICK -- Heaven Tonight
EARTH WIND AND FIRE -- The Best of Earth Wind And Fire
WARREN ZEVON -- Excitable Boy
THE CARS -- The Cars
WARREN ZEVON -- Excitable Boy
THE CARS -- The Cars
WILLIE COLON AND RUBEN BLADÉS -- Siembra
JOHNNY ADAMS -- After All The Good Is Gone
JOHNNY ADAMS -- After All The Good Is Gone
GERRY RAFFERTY -- City To City
VAN HALEN -- Van Halen
REISSUE: HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits
REISSUE: BUDDY HOLLY -- 20 Golden Greats
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1977
STEELY DAN -- Aja
DAVID BOWIE -- Low/Heroes
FLEETWOOD MAC -- Rumours
MEAT LOAF -- Bat Out Of Hell
ELVIS COSTELLO -- My Aim Is True
MUDDY WATERS -- Hard Again
SEX PISTOLS -- Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols
JOHN WILLIAMS -- Star Wars Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
TALKING HEADS -- Talking Heads: 77
ELTON JOHN -- Greatest Hits Volume 2
ELTON JOHN -- Greatest Hits Volume 2
KRAFTWERK -- Trans Europe Express
PETER TOSH -- Equal Rights
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- ExodusPETER TOSH -- Equal Rights
LEON REDBONE -- On The Track
RAMONES -- Leave Home/Rocket To Russia
RAMONES -- Leave Home/Rocket To Russia
KENNY BURRELL -- Ellington Is Forever Vol. 2
TELEVISION -- Marquee Moon
NEIL YOUNG -- Chrome Dreams
PHARAOH SANDERS -- Harvest Time Live 1977
IGGY POP -- The Idiot/Lust For Life
BRYAN FERRY -- In Your Mind
AL GREEN -- The Belle Album/Greatest Hits Vol. 2
UTOPIA/TODD RUNDGREN -- Oops! Wrong Planet
THE SAINTS -- (I'm) Stranded
ROLLING STONES -- Live At The El Mocambo
ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA -- Out Of The Blue
PETER GABRIEL -- Peter Gabriel (car)
PETER GABRIEL -- Peter Gabriel (car)
SUICIDE -- Suicide
WILLIE NELSON -- To Lefty From Willie
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- Dancer With Bruised Knee
MERLE HAGGARD -- A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- Dancer With Bruised Knee
MERLE HAGGARD -- A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today
PAUL SIMON -- Greatest Hits, Etc.
TONY BENNETT AND BILL EVANS -- Together Again
JACKSON BROWNE -- Runnin' On Empty
THE CLASH -- The Clash
TONY BENNETT AND BILL EVANS -- Together Again
JACKSON BROWNE -- Runnin' On Empty
THE CLASH -- The Clash
THE PERSUASIONS -- Chirpin'
WIRE -- Pink Flag
WIRE -- Pink Flag
THE BEACH BOYS -- The Beach Boys Love You
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Saturday Night Fever
GLENN GOULD -- The Quiet In The Land (available on The Solitude Trilogy)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1976
STEVIE WONDER -- Songs In The Key Of Life
JAMES TAYLOR -- Greatest Hits
JORGE BEN/JOR -- África Brasil
GLENN GOULD -- The Quiet In The Land (available on The Solitude Trilogy)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1976
STEVIE WONDER -- Songs In The Key Of Life
JAMES TAYLOR -- Greatest Hits
JORGE BEN/JOR -- África Brasil
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL -- Chronicle Vol. 1 (20 Greatest Hits)
BUNNY WAILER -- Blackheart Man
BILLY JOEL -- Turnstiles
THE EAGLES -- Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)
THE EAGLES -- Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)
PHILIP GLASS -- Einstein On The Beach
BOZ SCAGGS -- Silk Degrees
DAVID BOWIE -- Station To Station/Changesonebowie
JONI MITCHELL -- Hejira
BOZ SCAGGS -- Silk Degrees
DAVID BOWIE -- Station To Station/Changesonebowie
JONI MITCHELL -- Hejira
ELLA FITZGERALD AND JOE PASS -- Fitzgerald and Pass...Again
THE MODERN LOVERS -- The Modern Lovers
RASPBERRIES -- Raspberries' Best
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Rastaman Vibration
LINDA RONSTADT -- Greatest Hits
LINDA RONSTADT -- Greatest Hits
ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA -- A New World Record
FRANCO AND TABU LEY ROCHEREAU -- Omana Wapi
RAMONES -- Ramones
ISMAEL RIVERA -- La Quiniela de Dia
RAMONES -- Ramones
ISMAEL RIVERA -- La Quiniela de Dia
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Luxury Liner
STEELY DAN -- The Royal Scam
PENGUIN CAFE ORCHESTRA -- Music From The Penguin Cafe
PETER TOSH -- Legalize It
RICHARD PRYOR -- Bicentennial N----r
BOSTON -- Boston
RAY BARRETTO -- Indestructible
WARREN ZEVON -- Warren Zevon
RUSH -- 2112
AUGUSTUS PABLO -- King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown
CORTIJO Y SU COMBO W ISMAEL RIVERA -- La Quiniela Del Dia
RUSH -- 2112
AUGUSTUS PABLO -- King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown
CORTIJO Y SU COMBO W ISMAEL RIVERA -- La Quiniela Del Dia
BLONDIE -- Blondie
GRAHAM PARKER -- Heat Treatment/Howlin' Wind
CARTOLA -- Cartola II
THE ABYSSINIANS -- Satta Massagana
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1975
BOB DYLAN -- Blood On The Tracks/The Basement Tapes
KEITH JARRETT -- The Köln Concert
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Born To Run
PARLIAMENT -- Mothership Connection
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1975
BOB DYLAN -- Blood On The Tracks/The Basement Tapes
KEITH JARRETT -- The Köln Concert
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Born To Run
PARLIAMENT -- Mothership Connection
FLEETWOOD MAC -- Fleetwood Mac
NEIL YOUNG -- Tonight's The Night/ Zuma/ Homegrown
BRIAN ENO -- Discreet Music / Evening Star (w Robert Fripp)
BRIAN ENO -- Discreet Music / Evening Star (w Robert Fripp)
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- Kate And Anna McGarrigle
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- Pour Down Like Silver
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- Pour Down Like Silver
RICHARD PRYOR -- ...Is It Something I Said?
LED ZEPPELIN -- Physical Graffiti
BRIAN ENO -- Another Green WorldPINK FLOYD -- Wish You Were Here
KENNY BURRELL -- Ellington Is Forever Vol. 1
JONI MITCHELL -- The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Live!
STEELY DAN -- Katy Lied
PAUL SIMON -- Still Crazy After All These Years
NEU! -- Neu! 75
NEU! -- Neu! 75
TONY BENNETT AND BILL EVANS -- The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
LEON REDBONE -- On The Track
LEON REDBONE -- On The Track
THE FOUR SEASONS -- The Four Seasons Story
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- A Chorus Line (Original Cast Recording)
AL GREEN -- Greatest Hits Vol. 1
AL GREEN -- Greatest Hits Vol. 1
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Ella and Oscar (w Oscar Peterson)
THE WHO -- The Who By Numbers
HECTOR LAVOE -- La Voz
HECTOR LAVOE -- La Voz
DICK HYMAN -- Scott Joplin: The Complete Works For Piano
JIMMY CLIFF -- The Best Of Jimmy Cliff
JIMMY CLIFF -- The Best Of Jimmy Cliff
ROXY MUSIC -- Siren
SONNY CRISS -- Criss Craft
WAYLON JENNINGS -- Dreaming My Dreams
PEGGY LEE -- Mirrors
BURNING SPEAR -- Marcus Garvey
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse
CHICAGO -- Chicago IX: Chicago's Greatest Hits
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Pieces of The Sky/Elite Hotel
BARRY WHITE -- Greatest Hits, Volume 1
BARRY WHITE -- Greatest Hits, Volume 1
WILLIE NELSON -- Red Headed Stranger
LINDA LEWIS -- Fathoms Deep
AEROSMITH -- Rocks
PATTI SMITH -- Horses
PATTI SMITH -- Horses
JOE HIGGS -- Life Of Contradictions
ART GARFUNKEL -- Breakaway
ART GARFUNKEL -- Breakaway
GARY BURTON & STEVE SWALLOW -- Hotel Hello
HAROLD MELVIN AND BLUE NOTES FEATURING TEDDY PENDERGRASS -- To Be True
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1974
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
THE BEACH BOYS -- Endless Summer
JONI MITCHELL -- Court And Spark
ELTON JOHN -- Greatest Hits
LINDA RONSTADT -- Heart Like A Wheel
STEELY DAN -- Pretzel Logic
HAROLD MELVIN AND BLUE NOTES FEATURING TEDDY PENDERGRASS -- To Be True
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1974
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
THE BEACH BOYS -- Endless Summer
JONI MITCHELL -- Court And Spark
ELTON JOHN -- Greatest Hits
LINDA RONSTADT -- Heart Like A Wheel
STEELY DAN -- Pretzel Logic
GRAM PARSONS -- Grievous Angel
BOB MARLEY -- Natty Dread
ELLIS REGINA AND ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM -- Ellis & Tom
BRIAN ENO -- Here Come The Warm Jets/Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
ELLA FITZGERALD & JOE PASS -- Take Love Easy
NEIL YOUNG -- On The Beach
CELIA CRUZ AND JOHNNY PACHECO -- Celia And Johnny
PHILIP GLASS -- Music in Twelve Parts
PARLIAMENT -- Up For The Down Stroke
RANDY NEWMAN -- Good Old Boys
VAN MORRISON -- Veedon Fleece
NEIL DIAMOND -- 12 Greatest Hits
BILL WITHERS -- +'Justments
VAN MORRISON -- Veedon Fleece
NEIL DIAMOND -- 12 Greatest Hits
BILL WITHERS -- +'Justments
RICHARD PRYOR -- That N----'s Crazy
BETTYE SWANN -- The Complete Atlantic Recordings (1972-1976)
THE METERS -- Rejuvenation
THE METERS -- Rejuvenation
ROBERT WYATT -- Rock Bottom
JORGE BEN JOR -- A Tabua de Esmeralda
JAMES TALLEY -- Got No Bread, No Milk, No Money, But We Sure Got A Lot Of Love
RACHEL FARO -- Refugees
TOM WAITS -- The Heart Of Saturday Night
AL GREEN -- Explores Your Mind
TANGERINE DREAM -- Phaedra
AL GREEN -- Explores Your Mind
TANGERINE DREAM -- Phaedra
SANDY DENNY -- Like An Old-Fashioned Waltz
SANTANA -- Santana's Greatest Hits
ROXY MUSIC -- Country Life
LORETTA LYNN -- Loretta Lynn's Greatest Hits Vol. 2
SANTANA -- Santana's Greatest Hits
ROXY MUSIC -- Country Life
LORETTA LYNN -- Loretta Lynn's Greatest Hits Vol. 2
ANN PEEBLES -- I Can't Stand The Rain
ISMAEL RIVERA WITH CORTIJO Y SU COMBO ORIGINAL -- Juntos Otra Vez
GENE CLARK -- No Other
KRAFTWERK -- Autobahn
GEORGE HARRISON -- Living in the Material World
RASPBERRIES -- Starting Over
MARIA MULDAUR -- Waitress in a Donut Shop
SPINNERS -- Mighty Love
ERIC CLAPTON -- 461 Ocean Boulevard
BLUE MAGIC -- Blue Magic
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- Hokey Pokey
CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH -- So Far
JACKSON BROWNE -- Late For The Sky
JIM CROCE -- Photographs And Memories: His Greatest Hits
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- Hokey Pokey
CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH -- So Far
JACKSON BROWNE -- Late For The Sky
JIM CROCE -- Photographs And Memories: His Greatest Hits
AUDIOBOOK: NICOL WILLIAMSON -- The Hobbit abridged
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1973
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Catch A Fire/Burnin'
PINK FLOYD -- The Dark Side Of The Moon
JOHN MARTYN -- Solid Air
THE CARPENTERS -- The Singles 1969-1973
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle
STEVIE WONDER -- Innervisions
PAUL SIMON -- There Goes Rhymin' Simon
MARVIN GAYE -- Let's Get It On
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1973
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Catch A Fire/Burnin'
THE BEATLES -- 1962-1966 (The Red Album)/1967-1970 (The Blue Album)
HARRY NILSSON -- A Little Touch Of Schmilsson In The NightPINK FLOYD -- The Dark Side Of The Moon
JOHN MARTYN -- Solid Air
THE CARPENTERS -- The Singles 1969-1973
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle
STEVIE WONDER -- Innervisions
PAUL SIMON -- There Goes Rhymin' Simon
MARVIN GAYE -- Let's Get It On
DOLLY PARTON -- My Tennessee Mountain Home
TODD RUNDGREN -- A Wizard, A True Star
DAVID BOWIE -- Aladdin Sane
TODD RUNDGREN -- A Wizard, A True Star
DAVID BOWIE -- Aladdin Sane
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Newport Jazz Festival At Carnegie Hall
LED ZEPPELIN -- Houses Of The Holy
HALL & OATES -- Abandoned Luncheonette
BETTYE SWANN -- The Complete Atlantic Recordings (1972-1976)
GRAM PARSONS -- GP
BETTYE SWANN -- The Complete Atlantic Recordings (1972-1976)
GRAM PARSONS -- GP
IRMA THOMAS -- In Between Tears
NEW YORK DOLLS -- New York Dolls
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE -- Fresh
DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES -- Anthology
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Band On The Run
AL GREEN -- Call Me/Livin' For You
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Anthology
BRIAN ENO AND ROBERT FRIPP -- (No Pussyfooting)
DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES -- Anthology
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Band On The Run
AL GREEN -- Call Me/Livin' For You
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Anthology
BRIAN ENO AND ROBERT FRIPP -- (No Pussyfooting)
BOBBY SHORT -- Bobby Short Is C-R-A-Z-Y For Gershwin
ELTON JOHN -- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
MOTT THE HOOPLE -- Mott
AEROSMITH -- Aerosmith
ELTON JOHN -- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
MOTT THE HOOPLE -- Mott
AEROSMITH -- Aerosmith
BILLY JOEL -- Piano Man
THE SPINNERS -- The Spinners
RASPBERRIES -- Side 3
RASPBERRIES -- Side 3
THE FOUR TOPS -- 19 Greatest Hits
TIPICA 73 -- Tipica 73
VINCE GUARALDI -- A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
LITTLE FEAT -- Dixie Chicken
SLADE -- Slayed?
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1972
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Greatest Hits
ROLLING STONES -- Exile On Main St.
NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Will The Circle Be Unbroken
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- Amazing Grace
SLADE -- Slayed?
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1972
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Greatest Hits
ROLLING STONES -- Exile On Main St.
NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Will The Circle Be Unbroken
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- Amazing Grace
NOVOS BAIANOS -- Acabou Chorare
NICK DRAKE -- Pink Moon
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Harder They Come soundtrack
JONI MITCHELL -- For The Roses
STEVIE WONDER -- Music Of My Mind/Talking Book
DAVID BOWIE -- The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
NICK DRAKE -- Pink Moon
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Harder They Come soundtrack
JONI MITCHELL -- For The Roses
STEVIE WONDER -- Music Of My Mind/Talking Book
DAVID BOWIE -- The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- A Little Night Music (Original Cast Recording)/Follies (Original Cast Recording)
BIG STAR -- #1 Record
RANDY NEWMAN -- Sail Away
TODD RUNDGREN -- Something/Anything?
OTIS REDDING -- The Best Of Otis Redding (on Atlantic)
BIG STAR -- #1 Record
RANDY NEWMAN -- Sail Away
TODD RUNDGREN -- Something/Anything?
OTIS REDDING -- The Best Of Otis Redding (on Atlantic)
FANIA ALL-STARS -- Live At The Cheetah Vol. 1-3
GRATEFUL DEAD -- Europe '72
GRATEFUL DEAD -- Europe '72
PAUL SIMON -- Paul Simon
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968
AL GREEN -- Let's Stay Together/I'm Still In Love With You
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968
AL GREEN -- Let's Stay Together/I'm Still In Love With You
LOU REED -- Transformer
SANDY DENNY -- Sandy
CURTIS MAYFIELD -- Superfly
ROY ORBISON -- All-Time Greatest Hits
THE FLATLANDERS -- More A Legend Than A Band
CURTIS MAYFIELD -- Superfly
ROY ORBISON -- All-Time Greatest Hits
THE FLATLANDERS -- More A Legend Than A Band
ALICE CLARK -- Alice Clark
ROXY MUSIC -- Roxy Music
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- The Last Sessions
BILL WITHERS -- Still Bill
RUBY BRAFF AND ELLIS LARKINS -- The Grand Reunion
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- The Last Sessions
BILL WITHERS -- Still Bill
RUBY BRAFF AND ELLIS LARKINS -- The Grand Reunion
ELVIS PRESLEY -- He Touched Me
MILTON NASCIMENTO & LO BORGES -- Clube de Esquina
BOBBY SHORT -- Bobby Short Is Mad About Noel Coward
MICHAEL NESMITH -- And The Hits Just Keep On Comin'
MICHAEL NESMITH -- And The Hits Just Keep On Comin'
JIMMY SMITH -- Root Down
MOTT THE HOOPLE -- All The Young Dudes
HOWARD TATE -- Howard Tate
WILLIS ALAN RAMSAY -- Willis Alan Ramsay
RASPBERRIES -- Fresh
CYMANDE -- Cymande
JOHN PRINE -- Diamonds In The Rough
JOHN PRINE -- Diamonds In The Rough
NEIL YOUNG -- Harvest
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1971
JONI MITCHELL -- Blue
MARVIN GAYE -- What's Going On
BILL WITHERS -- Just As I Am
BOB DYLAN -- Greatest Hits Vol. II
OTIS SPANN -- Walking The Blues (1960 recorded/1972 released)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1971
JONI MITCHELL -- Blue
MARVIN GAYE -- What's Going On
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Ram
CAROLE KING -- TapestryBILL WITHERS -- Just As I Am
BOB DYLAN -- Greatest Hits Vol. II
ROLLING STONES -- Sticky Fingers/Hot Rocks 1964-1971
ROD STEWART -- Every Picture Tells A Story
ROD STEWART -- Every Picture Tells A Story
DAVID BOWIE -- Hunky Dory
ISAAC HAYES -- Black Moses
DOLLY PARTON -- Coat Of Many Colors
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE -- There's A Riot Goin' On
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE -- There's A Riot Goin' On
FELA KUTI -- Live with Ginger Baker
THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND -- Live At Fillmore East
LED ZEPPELIN -- Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV)GIL SCOTT-HERON -- Pieces Of A Man
LAURA NYRO -- Gonna Take A Miracle
LABELLE -- Nightbirds
LAURA NYRO -- Gonna Take A Miracle
LABELLE -- Nightbirds
THE WHO -- Who's Next/Meaty Beaty Big And Bouncy
BOBBIE GENTRY -- Patchwork
FOTHERINGAY -- Fotheringay 2
TODD RUNDGREN -- Runt: The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren
FOTHERINGAY -- Fotheringay 2
TODD RUNDGREN -- Runt: The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren
ISMAEL RIVERA -- La Ültimo En La Avenida (with Kako Y Su Orquestra)
THE KINKS -- Muswell Hillbillies
MILES DAVIS -- Jack Johnson MICKEY NEWBURY -- Frisco Mabel Joy
T. REX -- Electric Warrior
T. REX -- Electric Warrior
THE BAND -- Cahoots
CURTIS MAYFIELD -- Roots
JACKSON 5 -- Greatest Hits
CURTIS MAYFIELD -- Roots
JACKSON 5 -- Greatest Hits
ANTHONY BRAXTON -- For Alto
JANIS JOPLIN -- Pearl
JANIS JOPLIN -- Pearl
PEE WEE CRAYTON -- Things I Used To Do
JOHN LENNON -- Imagine
HOWLIN' WOLF -- The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions
LORETTA LYNN -- Coal Miner's Daughter
HOWLIN' WOLF -- The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions
LORETTA LYNN -- Coal Miner's Daughter
DON MCLEAN -- American Pie
HARRY NILSSON -- Nilsson Schmilsson
BOBBY SHORT -- Bobby Loves Cole Porter
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Sky's The Limit
HARRY NILSSON -- Nilsson Schmilsson
BOBBY SHORT -- Bobby Loves Cole Porter
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Sky's The Limit
TOM T. HALL -- In Search Of A Song
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1970
THE GRATEFUL DEAD -- Workingman's Dead/American Beauty
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1970
THE GRATEFUL DEAD -- Workingman's Dead/American Beauty
JONI MITCHELL -- Ladies Of The Canyon
RANDY NEWMAN -- 12 Songs
HARRY NILSSON -- Nilsson Sings Newman
HARRY NILSSON -- Nilsson Sings Newman
THE WHO -- Live At Leeds
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Bridge Over Troubled Water
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Bridge Over Troubled Water
FRANK SINATRA -- Sinatra-Jobim
JOHN LENNON -- Plastic Ono Band
VAN MORRISON -- Moondance
CELIA CRUZ -- Etc. Etc. Etc.
JOHN LENNON -- Plastic Ono Band
VAN MORRISON -- Moondance
CELIA CRUZ -- Etc. Etc. Etc.
NEIL YOUNG -- After The Gold Rush
BARBRA STREISAND -- Greatest Hits
MILES DAVIS -- Bitches Brew
FOTHERINGAY -- Fotheringay
MILES DAVIS -- Bitches Brew
FOTHERINGAY -- Fotheringay
LED ZEPPELIN -- Led Zeppelin III
THE BEACH BOYS -- Sunflower
EMITT RHODES -- Emitt Rhodes
SAMMI SMITH -- He's Everywhere aka Help Me Make It Through The Night
GEORGE HARRISON -- All Things Must Pass
THE BEATLES -- Let It Be (but Glynis Johns was right! His Get Back version great)
NICK DRAKE -- Bryter Layter
GEORGE HARRISON -- All Things Must Pass
THE BEATLES -- Let It Be (but Glynis Johns was right! His Get Back version great)
NICK DRAKE -- Bryter Layter
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL -- Cosmo's Factory
JAMES TAYLOR -- Sweet Baby James
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Company (Original Cast Recording)
GIL SCOTT-HERON -- Small Talk At 125th and Lenox
SANTANA -- Abraxas
DEREK AND THE DOMINOS -- Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
TODD RUNDGREN -- Runt
JORGE BEN -- Forca Bruta
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE -- Greatest Hits
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Psychedelic Shack
JAMES TAYLOR -- Sweet Baby James
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Company (Original Cast Recording)
GIL SCOTT-HERON -- Small Talk At 125th and Lenox
SANTANA -- Abraxas
DEREK AND THE DOMINOS -- Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
TODD RUNDGREN -- Runt
JORGE BEN -- Forca Bruta
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE -- Greatest Hits
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Psychedelic Shack
SOFT MACHINE -- Third
SYD BARRETT -- The Madcap Laugh
ROD STEWART -- Gasoline Alley
MARVIN GAYE -- That's The Way Love Is
MARVIN GAYE -- That's The Way Love Is
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND -- Loaded
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Greatest Hits Vol. 2
THE KINKS -- Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneyground Part One
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Greatest Hits Vol. 2
THE KINKS -- Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneyground Part One
EVIE SANDS -- Any Way That You Want Me
THE MOVERS The Movers
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- McCartney
LEON RUSSELL -- Leon Russell
LEON RUSSELL -- Leon Russell
LINDISFARNE -- Fog On The Tyne
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1969
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1969
THE BAND -- The Band
THE BEATLES -- Abbey Road
NINA SIMONE -- Nina Simone and Piano
FAIRPORT CONVENTION -- What We Did On Our Holidays/Unhalfbricking/Liege And Leaf
FAIRPORT CONVENTION -- What We Did On Our Holidays/Unhalfbricking/Liege And Leaf
MERLE HAGGARD -- A Tribute To The Best Damn Fiddle Player In The World or My Salute To Bob Wills/ Same Train, A Different Time: Merle Haggard Sings The Great Songs Of Jimmie Rodgers
LED ZEPPELIN -- Led Zeppelin/Led Zeppelin II
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD -- Dusty In Memphis
NICK DRAKE -- Five Leaves Left
ROLLING STONES -- Let It Bleed
JONI MITCHELL -- Clouds
LED ZEPPELIN -- Led Zeppelin/Led Zeppelin II
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD -- Dusty In Memphis
NICK DRAKE -- Five Leaves Left
ROLLING STONES -- Let It Bleed
JONI MITCHELL -- Clouds
MILES DAVIS -- In A Silent Way
MICKEY NEWBURY -- Looks Like Rain
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE -- Stand!
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE -- Stand!
NEIL YOUNG -- Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
ISAAC HAYES -- Hot Buttered Soul
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND -- The Velvet Underground
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND -- The Velvet Underground
JOHNNY ADAMS -- Heart & Soul
SHIRLEY AND DOLLY COLLINS -- Anthems In Eden
TOMMY MCCOOK -- Top Secret
KAREN DALTON -- It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best
HARRY NILSSON -- Harry
HARRY NILSSON -- Harry
JORGE BEN -- Jorge Ben
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART -- Trout Mask Replica
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART -- Trout Mask Replica
THE BEACH BOYS -- 20/20
LA LUPE -- La Lupe Es La Reina
THE ISLEY BROTHERS -- It's Our Thing
THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS -- The Gilded Palace Of Sin
JIMMY SCOTT -- The Source
SANTANA -- Santana
PENTANGLE -- Basket Of Light
JIMMY SCOTT -- The Source
SANTANA -- Santana
PENTANGLE -- Basket Of Light
TOWNES VAN ZANDT -- Townes Van Zandt
GLENN GOULD -- The Latecomers (available on The Solitude Trilogy)
CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH -- Crosby, Stills and Nash
CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH -- Crosby, Stills and Nash
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Live 1969 (released 2008)
JOHNNY CASH -- At San Quentin
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1968
VAN MORRISON -- Astral Weeks
THE BEATLES -- The Beatles (The White Album)
JIMI HENDRIX -- Electric Ladyland
THE BAND -- Music From Big Pink
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- Lady Soul
VAN MORRISON -- Astral Weeks
THE BEATLES -- The Beatles (The White Album)
JIMI HENDRIX -- Electric Ladyland
THE BAND -- Music From Big Pink
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- Lady Soul
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Tropicalia Ou Panis Et Circensis
THE BYRDS -- Sweethearts of the Rodeo/The Notorious Byrd Brothers/Greatest Hits
THE BYRDS -- Sweethearts of the Rodeo/The Notorious Byrd Brothers/Greatest Hits
ROLLING STONES -- Beggars Banquet
HERB ALPERT AND THE TIJUANA BRASS -- Christmas Album
BOBBIE GENTRY -- The Delta Sweete
HERB ALPERT AND THE TIJUANA BRASS -- Christmas Album
BOBBIE GENTRY -- The Delta Sweete
TERRY RILEY -- In "C"
THE DRIFTERS -- The Drifters' Golden Hits
FAIRPORT CONVENTION -- Fairport Convention
JOHNNY CASH -- At Folsom Prison
THE DRIFTERS -- The Drifters' Golden Hits
FAIRPORT CONVENTION -- Fairport Convention
JOHNNY CASH -- At Folsom Prison
THE RASCALS -- Time Peace: The Rascals' Greatest Hits
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Bookends
THE ZOMBIES -- Odessey and Oracle
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Bookends
THE ZOMBIES -- Odessey and Oracle
SONNY CRISS -- Sonny's Dream (Birth Of The New Cool)
THE KINKS -- The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- Roots
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND -- White Light/White Heat
JERRY LEE LEWIS -- Another Time, Another Place
JONI MITCHELL -- Song To A Seagull
JONI MITCHELL -- Song To A Seagull
CAETANO VELOSO -- Caetano Veloso aka Tropicalia
GILBERTO GIL -- Gilberto Gil
DAVID AXELROD -- Song Of Innocence
MERLE HAGGARD -- Sing Me Back Home/ The Legend Of Bonnie & Clyde
OTIS REDDING -- The Immortal Otis Redding
MAGIC SAM -- West Side Soul
BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY -- Cheap Thrills
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Elvis (TV Special)
RANDY NEWMAN -- Randy Newman
RANDY NEWMAN -- Randy Newman
ELLA FITZGERALD -- 30 by Ella
BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD -- Last Time Around
TINY TIM -- God Bless Tiny Tim
BLUE CHEER -- Vincebus Eruptum
BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD -- Last Time Around
TINY TIM -- God Bless Tiny Tim
BLUE CHEER -- Vincebus Eruptum
BEACH BOYS -- Friends
THE BEAU BRUMMELS -- Bradley's Barn
THE BEAU BRUMMELS -- Bradley's Barn
OS MUTANTES -- Os Mutantes
THE SMALL FACES -- Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
LORETTA LYNN -- Loretta Lynn's Greatest Hits
HARRY NILSSON -- Aerial Ballet
MARGO GURYAN -- Take A Picture/27 Demos
THE SMALL FACES -- Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
LORETTA LYNN -- Loretta Lynn's Greatest Hits
HARRY NILSSON -- Aerial Ballet
MARGO GURYAN -- Take A Picture/27 Demos
BOBBY SHORT AND MABEL MERCER -- At Town Hall
JAMME -- Jamme
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1967
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
JIMI HENDRIX -- Are You Experienced/Axis: Bold As Love
THE BEATLES -- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band/Magical Mystery Tour
FRANK SINATRA -- Frances Albert Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim
BOBBIE GENTRY -- Ode To Billie Joe
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND -- The Velvet Underground And Nico
BOB DYLAN -- Greatest Hits
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1967
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
JIMI HENDRIX -- Are You Experienced/Axis: Bold As Love
THE BEATLES -- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band/Magical Mystery Tour
FRANK SINATRA -- Frances Albert Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim
BOBBIE GENTRY -- Ode To Billie Joe
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND -- The Velvet Underground And Nico
BOB DYLAN -- Greatest Hits
DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES -- Greatest Hits
THE WHO -- The Who Sell Out
PATSY CLINE -- Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits
THE BEACH BOYS -- Smile
THE BEACH BOYS -- Smile
LEONARD COHEN -- Songs Of Leonard Cohen
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- The Immortal Mississippi John Hurt
LOVE -- Forever Changes
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE -- Surrealistic Pillow
MILES DAVIS -- Miles Smiles
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- The Immortal Mississippi John Hurt
LOVE -- Forever Changes
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE -- Surrealistic Pillow
MILES DAVIS -- Miles Smiles
ELVIS PRESLEY -- How Great Thou Art
GLENN GOULD -- The Idea Of North (available on The Solitude Trilogy)
LOU RAWLS -- Merry Christmas Ho! Ho! Ho!
GLENN GOULD -- The Idea Of North (available on The Solitude Trilogy)
LOU RAWLS -- Merry Christmas Ho! Ho! Ho!
MOBY GRAPE -- Moby Grape
BOB DYLAN -- John Wesley Harding
BOB DYLAN -- John Wesley Harding
CARLOS PAREDES -- Guitarra Portuguesa
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART AND HIS MAGIC ORCHESTRA -- Safe As Milk
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART AND HIS MAGIC ORCHESTRA -- Safe As Milk
ROLLING STONES -- Between The Buttons
THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL -- The Best Of The Lovin' Spoonful
PINK FLOYD -- The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
DESMOND DEKKAR & THE ACES -- Action!
THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL -- The Best Of The Lovin' Spoonful
PINK FLOYD -- The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
DESMOND DEKKAR & THE ACES -- Action!
THE SHIRELLES -- Greatest Hits Vol. II
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Far East Suite
THE YOUNG RASCALS aka THE RASCALS -- Groovin'
THE YOUNG RASCALS aka THE RASCALS -- Groovin'
MERLE HAGGARD -- Branded Man
THE TEMPTATIONS -- With A Lot O' Soul
GLEN CAMPBELL -- Gentle On My Mind/By The Time I Get To Phoenix
THE FOUR TOPS -- Greatest Hits
GLEN CAMPBELL -- Gentle On My Mind/By The Time I Get To Phoenix
THE FOUR TOPS -- Greatest Hits
THE DOORS -- The Doors/Strange Days
ALBERT KING -- Born Under A Bad Sign
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Live From New York City, 1967 (released 2002)
SCOTT WALKER -- Scott
DORIS DAY -- The Love Album
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1966
THE BEACH BOYS -- Pet Sounds (tie)
THE BEATLES -- Revolver (tie)
BOB DYLAN -- Blonde on Blonde
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Live From New York City, 1967 (released 2002)
SCOTT WALKER -- Scott
DORIS DAY -- The Love Album
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1966
THE BEACH BOYS -- Pet Sounds (tie)
THE BEATLES -- Revolver (tie)
BOB DYLAN -- Blonde on Blonde
BOB DYLAN -- The Bootleg Series Vol. 4, Bob Dylan Live 1966, The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert
IRMA THOMAS -- Take A Look
IRMA THOMAS -- Take A Look
WAYNE SHORTER -- Speak No Evil
ROLLING STONES -- Aftermath
HERBIE HANCOCK -- Blow-Up Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
HERBIE HANCOCK -- Blow-Up Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
WILSON PICKETT -- The Exciting Wilson Pickett
ISMAEL RIVERA -- Con Todos Los Hierros (w Rafael Cortijo)
FRANK SINATRA -- Sinatra At The Sands
RAY CHARLES -- Cryin' Time
RAY CHARLES -- Cryin' Time
THE 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS -- The Psychedelic Sounds of The 13th Floor Elevators
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- Today!
HOWARD TATE -- Get It While You Can
HOWARD TATE -- Get It While You Can
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Greatest Hits
ORNETTE COLEMAN -- At The Golden Circle Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
ORNETTE COLEMAN -- At The Golden Circle Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
THE FOUR SEASONS -- 2nd Vault Of Golden Hits
ELIZABETH COTTEN -- Shake Sugaree
ELIZABETH COTTEN -- Shake Sugaree
LEE MORGAN -- Search For The New Land
ELLA FITZGERLD -- Stockholm Concert, 1966
THE RASCALS aka THE YOUNG RASCALS -- The Young Rascals
THE FOUR TOPS -- 19 Greatest Hits
KANDER AND EBB -- Cabaret Original Broadway Cast Recording
WILLIE BOBO -- Uno Dos Tres 1 2 3
KANDER AND EBB -- Cabaret Original Broadway Cast Recording
WILLIE BOBO -- Uno Dos Tres 1 2 3
THE MARVELETTES -- Greatest Hits
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
MARTY ROBBINS -- The Drifter
NINO TEMPO & APRIL STEVENS -- All Strung Out
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1965
BOB DYLAN -- Highway 61 Revisited /Bringing It All Back Home
THE BEATLES -- Rubber Soul/Help!
JOHN COLTRANE -- A Love Supreme
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Sound Of Music Original Soundtrack
B.B. KING -- Live At The Regal
OTIS REDDING -- Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings SoulThe Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads
FRANK SINATRA -- September Of My Years
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1965
BOB DYLAN -- Highway 61 Revisited /Bringing It All Back Home
THE BEATLES -- Rubber Soul/Help!
JOHN COLTRANE -- A Love Supreme
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Sound Of Music Original Soundtrack
B.B. KING -- Live At The Regal
OTIS REDDING -- Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings SoulThe Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads
FRANK SINATRA -- September Of My Years
JUNIOR WELLS -- Hoodoo Man Blues
MILES DAVIS -- The Complete Live At The Plugged Nickel/E.S.P.
MILES DAVIS -- The Complete Live At The Plugged Nickel/E.S.P.
NINA SIMONE -- Pastel Blues
GRANT GREEN -- Idle Moments
THE WHO -- The Who Sings My Generation
STAN GETZ AND JOAO GILBERTO -- Getz/Gilberto #2
THE BEACH BOYS -- The Beach Boys Today!
PHIL SPECTOR -- Back To Mono 1958-1969 (boxed set)
STAN GETZ AND JOAO GILBERTO -- Getz/Gilberto #2
THE BEACH BOYS -- The Beach Boys Today!
PHIL SPECTOR -- Back To Mono 1958-1969 (boxed set)
THELONIUS MONK -- Solo Monk
CONNIE SMITH -- Connie Smith
CONNIE SMITH -- Connie Smith
DION -- Kickin Child: The Lost 1965 Album
THE FOUR TOPS -- 19 Greatest Hits
THE FOUR TOPS -- 19 Greatest Hits
WAYNE SHORTER -- Juju
FRED NEIL -- Bleecker and MacDougall
ELMORE JAMES -- The Sky Is Crying: The History of Elmore James
FRED NEIL -- Bleecker and MacDougall
ELMORE JAMES -- The Sky Is Crying: The History of Elmore James
HERB ALPERT AND THE TIJUANA BRASS -- Whipped Cream and Other Delights
MANCE LIPSCOMB -- Captain, Captain!: the Texas Country Blues Guitar Of Mance Lipscomb Vol. 3
THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL -- Do You Believe In Magic
WILLIE BOBO -- Spanish Grease
THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL -- Do You Believe In Magic
WILLIE BOBO -- Spanish Grease
THE SHANGRI-LAS -- Leader Of The Pack
EDDIE HARRIS -- The In Sound
BUCK OWENS -- I've Got A Tiger By The Tail
BUCK OWENS -- I've Got A Tiger By The Tail
HERBIE HANCOCK -- Maiden Voyage
TONY BENNETT -- If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set
JUDY RODERICK -- Woman Blue
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1964
STAN GETZ AND JOAO GILBERTO -- Getz/Gilberto
BOB DYLAN -- Another Side Of Bob Dylan
THE BEATLES -- Beatles For Sale/A Hard Day's Night
NINA SIMONE -- In Concert
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1964
STAN GETZ AND JOAO GILBERTO -- Getz/Gilberto
BOB DYLAN -- Another Side Of Bob Dylan
THE BEATLES -- Beatles For Sale/A Hard Day's Night
NINA SIMONE -- In Concert
JERRY LEE LEWIS -- Live At The Star-Club, Hamburg
TONY BENNETT -- When Lights Are Low
THE RONETTES -- Presenting The Fabulous Ronettes, Featuring Veronica
MUDDY WATERS -- Folk Singer
JOAN BAEZ -- Joan Baez 5
THE RONETTES -- Presenting The Fabulous Ronettes, Featuring Veronica
MUDDY WATERS -- Folk Singer
JOAN BAEZ -- Joan Baez 5
WAYNE SHORTER -- Night Dreamer
OTIS SPANN -- Otis Spann
THE DIXIE CUPS -- The Dixie Cups
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Jerome Kern Songbook/Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Johnny Mercer Songbook
MANCE LIPSCOMB -- You Got To Reap What You Sow: Texas Songster Vol. 2
MANCE LIPSCOMB -- You Got To Reap What You Sow: Texas Songster Vol. 2
BARBRA STREISAND -- The Third Album
HORACE SILVER -- Song For My Father
THE IMPRESSIONS -- Keep On Pushing
IRMA THOMAS -- Wish Someone Would Care
LEE MORGAN -- The Sidewinder
CHUCK BERRY -- St. Louis To Liverpool
ERIC DOLPHY -- Out To Lunch
LEE MORGAN -- The Sidewinder
CHUCK BERRY -- St. Louis To Liverpool
ERIC DOLPHY -- Out To Lunch
BOB DYLAN -- The Times They Are A-Changin'
STAN GETZ -- The Getz Age
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Fiddler On The Roof Original Broadway Cast
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Fiddler On The Roof Original Broadway Cast
THE SUPREMES -- Where Did Our Love Go
BURL IVES -- The Wayfaring Stranger (various versions 1944, 1945, 1959, 1960, 1964)
LESLEY GORE -- Girl Talk
JIMMY SMITH -- Christmas '64 aka Christmas Cookin'
LESLEY GORE -- Girl Talk
JIMMY SMITH -- Christmas '64 aka Christmas Cookin'
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD -- A Girl Called Dusty
THE BEACH BOYS -- All Summer Long
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1963
PATSY CLINE -- The Patsy Cline Story
JOHN COLTRANE -- John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman/Both Directions At Once
JAMES BROWN -- Live At The Apollo
DORIS DAY AND ROBERT GOULET -- Annie Get Your Gun
PHIL SPECTOR/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- A Christmas Gift For You From Philles Records
SAM COOKE -- Night Beat/Live at The Harlem Club, 1963
BOB DYLAN -- The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
THE SHIRELLES -- Greatest Hits
THE BEATLES -- Please Please Me/With The Beatles
BARBRA STREISAND -- The Barbra Streisand Album/The Second Barbra Streisand AlbumBOB DYLAN -- The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
THE SHIRELLES -- Greatest Hits
ROY ORBISON -- In Dreams
NANCY WILSON -- Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley and Something Wonderful
DEXTER GORDON -- Our Man In Paris
MILES DAVIS -- Quiet Nights
NANCY WILSON -- Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley and Something Wonderful
DEXTER GORDON -- Our Man In Paris
MILES DAVIS -- Quiet Nights
JORGE BEN -- Samba Esquerra Novo
THELONIOUS MONK -- Monk's Dream
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Ella and Basie!
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Ella and Basie!
EMAHOY TSEGU-MARYAM GUBROU -- Ethiopiques Vol. 21: Ethiopia Song Piano Solo
THE SWAN SILVERTONES -- Blessed Assurance
THE SWAN SILVERTONES -- Blessed Assurance
STANLEY TURRENTINE -- Never Let Me Go
MARTY ROBBINS -- The Return Of The Gunfighter
JOE HENDERSON -- Page One
JOE HENDERSON -- Page One
ROSEMARY CLOONEY -- Love
JIMMY SMITH -- Back At The Chicken Shack
JIMMY SMITH -- Back At The Chicken Shack
DEAN MARTIN -- Country Style/Dean "Tex" Martin Rides Again
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1962
RAY CHARLES -- Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music Vol 1 and 2
STAN GETZ AND CHARLIE BYRD -- Jazz Samba
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1962
RAY CHARLES -- Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music Vol 1 and 2
STAN GETZ AND CHARLIE BYRD -- Jazz Samba
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins/Duke Ellington & John Coltrane
BARBRA STREISAND -- Live At The Bon Soir
BARBRA STREISAND -- Live At The Bon Soir
ROY ORBISON -- Crying
NANCY WILSON -- Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley and Something Wonderful
NANCY WILSON -- Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley and Something Wonderful
PHIL SPECTOR -- Back To Mono 1958-1969 (boxed set)
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Howlin' Wolf (Rocking Chair Album)
TONY BENNETT -- Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall/I Left My Heart In San Francisco
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Howlin' Wolf (Rocking Chair Album)
TONY BENNETT -- Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall/I Left My Heart In San Francisco
SAM COOKE -- The Best Of Sam Cooke
STANLEY TURRENTINE -- Jubilee Shout!
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Rhythm Is My Business/Ella: The Lost Berlin Tapes (Live)
CHARLES MINGUS -- New Tijuana Moods
DINAH WASHINGTON -- Drinking Again
DINAH WASHINGTON -- Drinking Again
JACKIE MCLEAN -- Bluesnik
THE SWAN SILVERTONES -- Savior Pass Me Not
DORIS DAY -- Duet (w Andre Previn Trio)
BEN WEBSTER -- Ben and "Sweets" (w Harry "Sweets" Edison)
KAY STARR -- I Cry By Night
THE SWAN SILVERTONES -- Savior Pass Me Not
DORIS DAY -- Duet (w Andre Previn Trio)
BEN WEBSTER -- Ben and "Sweets" (w Harry "Sweets" Edison)
KAY STARR -- I Cry By Night
DEXTER GORDON -- Go!
ERNESTINE ANDERSON -- Swings The Penthouse
ERNESTINE ANDERSON -- Swings The Penthouse
BOOKER T AND THE M.G.S -- Green Onions
ALBERT KING -- The Big Blues
JACK TEAGARDEN -- Think Well Of Me
ALBERT KING -- The Big Blues
JACK TEAGARDEN -- Think Well Of Me
LENNIE TRISTANO -- The New Tristano
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1961
BILL EVANS -- Sunday At The Village Vanguard/Waltz For Debby
JUDY GARLAND -- Judy At Carnegie Hall
JOHN COLTRANE -- My Favorite Things/Coltrane Jazz
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Twelve Nights In Hollywood/ Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Harold Arlen Songbook/ Clap Your Hands, Here Comes Charlie!
RAY CHARLES -- The Genius Sings The Blues/The Genius After Hours/Ray Charles and Betty Carter/Genius + Soul = Jazz
PATSY CLINE -- Showcase
MILES DAVIS -- Steamin'
PEE WEE RUSSELL AND COLEMAN HAWKINS -- Jazz Reunion
MILES DAVIS -- Steamin'
PEE WEE RUSSELL AND COLEMAN HAWKINS -- Jazz Reunion
TITO PUENTE -- Dance Mania 2
DEXTER GORDON -- Dexter Calling
JAMES BROWN -- James Brown Presents His Band
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
BOBBY "BLUE" BLAND -- Two Steps From The Blues
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
BOBBY "BLUE" BLAND -- Two Steps From The Blues
BENNY CARTER -- Further Definitions
JACK TEAGARDEN -- Mis'ry and the Blues
JOAN BAEZ -- Joan Baez 2
THELONIOUS MONK -- Thelonious Monk With John Coltrane
BLOSSOM DEARIE -- My Gentleman Friend
JOAN BAEZ -- Joan Baez 2
THELONIOUS MONK -- Thelonious Monk With John Coltrane
BLOSSOM DEARIE -- My Gentleman Friend
FREDDIE HUBBARD -- Ready For Freddie
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 7 (1961)
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 7 (1961)
ORNETTE COLEMAN -- This Is Our Music/Free Jazz
ABBEY LINCOLN -- Straight Ahead
ABBEY LINCOLN -- Straight Ahead
BOOKER ERVIN -- That's It!
FRANK SINATRA -- Ring-a-Ding-Ding!
ART BLAKEY -- Art Blakey and the Jazz Passengers
DOC CHEATHAM AND SHORTY BAKER -- Shorty & Doc
FRANK SINATRA -- Ring-a-Ding-Ding!
ART BLAKEY -- Art Blakey and the Jazz Passengers
DOC CHEATHAM AND SHORTY BAKER -- Shorty & Doc
ROSEMARY CLOONEY -- Rosie Solves The Swingin' Riddle!
DONALD BYRD -- Chant
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1960
ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Intimate Ella (released in 1990)/Ella In Hollywood
JOHN COLTRANE -- Giant Steps
DAVE BRUBECK -- Time Out
ETTA JAMES -- At Last!
ELVIS PRESLEY -- His Hand In Mine/50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong Golden Records Vol 2
JAMES BROWN -- Think
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
DONALD BYRD -- Chant
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1960
ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Intimate Ella (released in 1990)/Ella In Hollywood
JOHN COLTRANE -- Giant Steps
DAVE BRUBECK -- Time Out
ETTA JAMES -- At Last!
ELVIS PRESLEY -- His Hand In Mine/50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong Golden Records Vol 2
JAMES BROWN -- Think
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
WES MONTGOMERY -- The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery
BURL IVES -- Return Of The Wayfaring Stranger
THE ABYSSINIAN BAPTIST CHOIR UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PROFESSOR ALEX BRADFORD -- Shakin' The Rafters
THE ABYSSINIAN BAPTIST CHOIR UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PROFESSOR ALEX BRADFORD -- Shakin' The Rafters
MEL TORME -- Swings Schubert Alley
ART BLAKEY -- A Night In Tunisia
JOAN BAEZ -- Joan Baez
ART BLAKEY -- A Night In Tunisia
JOAN BAEZ -- Joan Baez
SOLOMON BURKE -- Rock 'N Soul
FATS DOMINO -- They Call Me The Fat Man...Antoine "Fats" Domino -- The Legendary Imperial Recordings
FATS DOMINO -- They Call Me The Fat Man...Antoine "Fats" Domino -- The Legendary Imperial Recordings
MIRIAM MAKEBA -- Miriam Makeba
ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST -- Camelot
ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST -- Camelot
ETTA JONES -- Don't Go To Strangers
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- It's Everly Time
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 6 (1958-1960)
MILES DAVIS -- Sketches Of Spain
MILES DAVIS -- Sketches Of Spain
ANITA O'DAY -- Anita O'Day And Billy May Swing Rodgers And Hart
ERIC DOLPHY -- Outward Bound/Out There
ERIC DOLPHY -- Outward Bound/Out There
OTIS SPANN -- Walking The Blues (1960 recorded/1972 released) /Otis Spann Is The Blues
ART FARMER & BENNY GOLSON -- Meet The Jazztet
SONNY RED -- Out Of The Blue
MARGARET WHITING -- Sings The Jerome Kern Songbook
SONNY CLARK -- The Sonny Clark Trio
SONNY CLARK -- The Sonny Clark Trio
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1959
MILES DAVIS -- Kind Of Blue/Workin'/Porgy and Bess
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Ella Fitzgerald Sings The George and Ira Gershwin Songbook
BUDDY HOLLY -- The Buddy Holly Story
JOAO GILBERTO -- Chega de Saudade
HARRY BELAFONTE -- Belafonte at Carnegie Hall
CHUCK BERRY -- Chuck Berry Is On Top
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve 1945-1959 (1991 boxed set)
CHUCK BERRY -- Chuck Berry Is On Top
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve 1945-1959 (1991 boxed set)
ART BLAKEY'S JAZZ MESSENGERS -- Moanin'
MARTY ROBBINS -- Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs
FATS DOMINO -- They Call Me The Fat Man...Antoine "Fats" Domino -- The Legendary Imperial Recordings
ORNETTE COLEMAN -- The Shape Of Jazz To Come
FATS DOMINO -- They Call Me The Fat Man...Antoine "Fats" Domino -- The Legendary Imperial Recordings
ORNETTE COLEMAN -- The Shape Of Jazz To Come
RAY CHARLES -- The Genius of Ray Charles
THE SWAN SILVERTONES -- The Swan Silvertones
THE SWAN SILVERTONES -- The Swan Silvertones
CHARLES MINGUS -- Ah Um/Mingus Dynasty
DINAH WASHINGTON -- What A Diff'rence A Day Makes!
ART BLAKEY AND THE JAZZ MESSENGERS -- Moanin'
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Moanin' In The Moonlight
DINAH WASHINGTON -- What A Diff'rence A Day Makes!
ART BLAKEY AND THE JAZZ MESSENGERS -- Moanin'
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Moanin' In The Moonlight
EDDIE "LOCKJAW" DAVIS -- Very Saxy
NINA SIMONE -- Little Girl Blue
BILL EVANS -- On Green Dolphin Street
LITTLE RICHARD -- His Greatest Hits
BILL EVANS -- On Green Dolphin Street
LITTLE RICHARD -- His Greatest Hits
JIMMY SMITH -- The Sermon!
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK -- Black Orpheus
ABBEY LINCOLN -- Abbey Is Blue
ABBEY LINCOLN -- Abbey Is Blue
BURL IVES -- The Wayfaring Stranger (various versions 1944, 1945, 1959, 1964)
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- The Sound Of Music Original Broadway Cast
FRANK SINATRA -- Come Dance With Me!/Live In Australia with The Red Norvo Quintet
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Anatomy Of A Murder
ANITA O'DAY -- Anita Swings Cole Porter With Billy May
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/JULE STYNE -- Gypsy Original Broadway Cast
PEGGY LEE -- Beauty and the Beat
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1958
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Elvis' Golden Records Vol. 1
ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Irving Berlin Songbook/Porgy and Bess/Ella in Rome: The Birthday Concert/Sings Sweet Songs For Swingers/ Live at the Opera House
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- The Sound Of Music Original Broadway Cast
FRANK SINATRA -- Come Dance With Me!/Live In Australia with The Red Norvo Quintet
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Anatomy Of A Murder
ANITA O'DAY -- Anita Swings Cole Porter With Billy May
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/JULE STYNE -- Gypsy Original Broadway Cast
PEGGY LEE -- Beauty and the Beat
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1958
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Elvis' Golden Records Vol. 1
ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Irving Berlin Songbook/Porgy and Bess/Ella in Rome: The Birthday Concert/Sings Sweet Songs For Swingers/ Live at the Opera House
MILES DAVIS -- Relaxin'/Milestones
FRANK SINATRA -- Come Fly With Me/Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely
BILL EVANS -- Everybody Digs Bill Evans
BILL EVANS -- Everybody Digs Bill Evans
JOHNNY MATHIS -- Johnny's Greatest Hits
CANNONBALL ADDERLEY-- Somethin' Else
CANNONBALL ADDERLEY-- Somethin' Else
CHUCK BERRY -- The Great 28
COUNT BASIE -- The Atomic Mr. Basie
COUNT BASIE -- The Atomic Mr. Basie
CARMEN MCRAE -- Book Of Ballads
TITO PUENTE -- Dance Mania
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- Songs Our Daddy Taught Us
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Black Brown And Beige
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Black Brown And Beige
JUDY GARLAND -- Judy In Love
NAT KING COLE -- St. Louis Blues
NAT KING COLE -- St. Louis Blues
BUDDY HOLLY -- Buddy Holly
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- Lady In Satin
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- Lady In Satin
ART BLAKEY -- Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Thelonius Monk
LITTLE WALTER -- The Best Of Little Walter
LITTLE WALTER -- The Best Of Little Walter
RAY CHARLES -- Yes Indeed!
THE PLATTERS -- The Magic Touch: An Anthology
ANITA O'DAY -- Sings The Winners
ELIZABETH COTTEN -- Freight Train And Other North Carolina Folk Songs And Tunes
LOU DONALDSON -- Blues Walk
ANITA O'DAY -- Sings The Winners
ELIZABETH COTTEN -- Freight Train And Other North Carolina Folk Songs And Tunes
LOU DONALDSON -- Blues Walk
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 5 (1956-1958)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- Louis Under The Stars
CHET BAKER -- (Chet Baker Sings) It Could Happen To You
BILLY ECKSTINE -- Billy's Best
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1957
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- Louis Under The Stars
CHET BAKER -- (Chet Baker Sings) It Could Happen To You
BILLY ECKSTINE -- Billy's Best
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1957
LERNER AND LOEWE -- My Fair Lady Original Broadway Cast
THELONIOUS MONK -- Brilliant Corners/Monk's Music/W John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall
JOHN COLTRANE -- Blue Train
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Sings The Rodgers And Hart Songbook/Daydream: The Duke Ellington Songbook/Ella and Louie Again/Like Someone In Love
MILES DAVIS -- Cookin'/Miles Ahead
FATS DOMINO -- They Call Me The Fat Man...Antoine "Fats" Domino -- The Legendary Imperial Recordings
JOHN COLTRANE -- Blue Train
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Sings The Rodgers And Hart Songbook/Daydream: The Duke Ellington Songbook/Ella and Louie Again/Like Someone In Love
MILES DAVIS -- Cookin'/Miles Ahead
FATS DOMINO -- They Call Me The Fat Man...Antoine "Fats" Domino -- The Legendary Imperial Recordings
DORIS DAY -- Day By Night
FLATT & SCRUGGS -- Foggy Mountain Jamboree
ART BLAKEY'S JAZZ MESSENGERS -- A Night in Tunisia
RAY CHARLES -- Ray Charles
RAY CHARLES -- Ray Charles
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- Meets Oscar Peterson
PATSY CLINE -- Patsy Cline
ART PEPPER -- Meets The Rhythm Section
LITTLE RICHARD -- Here's Little Richard COLEMAN HAWKINS -- The Hawk Flies High
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1950
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Complete Decca Recordings (1944-1950)
BING CROSBY -- Merry Christmas
HANK WILLIAMS -- Sing Me A Blue Song
MACHITO -- Kenya
BUDDY HOLLY -- The "Chirping" Crickets
JIMMY SMITH -- Groovin' At Smalls' Paradise Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
BUDDY HOLLY -- The "Chirping" Crickets
JIMMY SMITH -- Groovin' At Smalls' Paradise Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
BING CROSBY -- Bing With A Beat
LAMBERT HENDRICKS AND ROSS -- Sing A Song Of Basie
JUDY GARLAND -- Alone
JUDY GARLAND -- Alone
HENRY RED ALLEN -- Ride, Red, Ride In Hi-Fi aka World On A String
ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST -- West Side Story
TONY BENNETT -- The Beat Of My Heart
TONY BENNETT -- The Beat Of My Heart
NAT KING COLE -- After Midnight
CHRIS CONNOR -- Chris Connor Sings The George Gershwin Almanac Of Song
DICK HAYMES -- Moondreams
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- I've Got The World On A String
ANITA O'DAY -- Anita Sings The Most
CHRIS CONNOR -- Chris Connor Sings The George Gershwin Almanac Of Song
DICK HAYMES -- Moondreams
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- I've Got The World On A String
ANITA O'DAY -- Anita Sings The Most
B.B. King -- Singin' The Blues
DENNY MARTIN -- Exotica
RAVI SHANKAR -- The Sounds Of India
RAVI SHANKAR -- The Sounds Of India
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Fats Waller Songbook aka Sings Fats Waller
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Fats Waller Songbook aka Sings Fats Waller
FRANK SINATRA -- Sinatra '57 In Concert/Close To You/Where Are You?/Christmas Dreaming
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- Cinderella TV Soundtrack
COLEMAN HAWKINS -- The Hawk Flies High
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- Cinderella TV Soundtrack
COLEMAN HAWKINS -- The Hawk Flies High
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Elvis' Christmas Album
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1956
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Sings The Cole Porter Songbook/Ella and Louis
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Ellington At Newport
FRANK SINATRA -- Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
DORIS DAY -- Day By Day
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Elvis Presley/Elvis
BOBBY SHORT -- Bobby Short
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Sings The Cole Porter Songbook/Ella and Louis
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Ellington At Newport
FRANK SINATRA -- Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
DORIS DAY -- Day By Day
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Elvis Presley/Elvis
BOBBY SHORT -- Bobby Short
SONNY ROLLINS -- Tenor Madness/ Saxophone Colossus
PEGGY LEE -- Black Coffee (12 inch version)
CHUCK BERRY -- The Great 28
PEGGY LEE -- Black Coffee (12 inch version)
CHUCK BERRY -- The Great 28
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- Lady Sings The Blues
JULIO GUTTIERREZ -- Cuban Jam Session Vol 1
LOUVIN BROTHERS -- Tragic Songs Of Life
LOUVIN BROTHERS -- Tragic Songs Of Life
JOHNNY SMITH w Stan Getz-- Moonlight In Vermont
STAN GETZ --- The Sound
SERGE CHALOFF -- Blue Serge
THE PLATTERS -- The Magic Touch: An Anthology
HORACE SILVER -- Horace Silver and the Jazz Passengers
HORACE SILVER -- Horace Silver and the Jazz Passengers
BING CROSBY -- Bing Sings Whilst Bregman Swings
FATS DOMINO -- They Call Me The Fat Man...Antoine "Fats" Domino -- The Legendary Imperial Recordings
FATS DOMINO -- They Call Me The Fat Man...Antoine "Fats" Domino -- The Legendary Imperial Recordings
LOUIS PRIMA -- The Wildest!
KEN COLYER -- Club Session With Colyer
KEN COLYER -- Club Session With Colyer
ROSEMARY CLOONEY -- Blue Rose
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
MEL TORME -- Sings Fred Astaire
JUDY GARLAND -- Judy
CHET BAKER -- Sings
DINAH WASHINGTON -- Dinah!/In The Land Of Hi-Fi/The Swingin' Miss "D"
LENNIE TRISTANO Lennie Tristano
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
MEL TORME -- Sings Fred Astaire
JUDY GARLAND -- Judy
CHET BAKER -- Sings
DINAH WASHINGTON -- Dinah!/In The Land Of Hi-Fi/The Swingin' Miss "D"
LENNIE TRISTANO Lennie Tristano
ANITA O'DAY -- Anita aka This Is Anita
VIC DAMONE -- That Towering Feeling
VIC DAMONE -- That Towering Feeling
BIG JOE TURNER -- The Boss Of The Blues Sings Kansas City Jazz
CHRIS CONNOR -- Chris Connor
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1955
FRANK SINATRA -- In The Wee Small Hours
ELVIS PRESLEY -- The Sun Sessions
DICK HAYMES -- Rain Or Shine
CLIFFORD BROWN AND MAX ROACH -- Study In Brown
CHRIS CONNOR -- Chris Connor
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1955
FRANK SINATRA -- In The Wee Small Hours
ELVIS PRESLEY -- The Sun Sessions
DICK HAYMES -- Rain Or Shine
CLIFFORD BROWN AND MAX ROACH -- Study In Brown
BING CROSBY -- Merry Christmas (LP version)
JUNE CHRISTY -- Something Cool
GLENN GOULD -- A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations 1955 and 1981
CONNIE CONVERSE -- How Sad, How Lovely
JUNE CHRISTY -- Something Cool
GLENN GOULD -- A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations 1955 and 1981
CONNIE CONVERSE -- How Sad, How Lovely
HORACE SILVER -- Horace Silver Quintet/ Horace Silver Quintet, Vol. 2
ERROLL GARNER -- Concert By The Sea
ERROLL GARNER -- Concert By The Sea
BOBBY TROUP -- Sings Johnny Mercer
COUNT BASIE -- April In Paris
JOHNNY HARTMAN -- Songs From The Heart
LIONEL HAMPTON AND STAN GETZ -- Hamp and Getz
JOHNNY HARTMAN -- Songs From The Heart
LIONEL HAMPTON AND STAN GETZ -- Hamp and Getz
THE PLATTERS -- The Magic Touch: An Anthology
SERGE CHALOFF -- Boston Blow-Up
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1954
HANK WILLIAMS -- Honky Tonkin'/I Saw The Light/Ramblin' Man
DINAH WASHINGTON -- Dinah Jams/After Hours With Miss "D"
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1954
HANK WILLIAMS -- Honky Tonkin'/I Saw The Light/Ramblin' Man
DINAH WASHINGTON -- Dinah Jams/After Hours With Miss "D"
THELONIUS MONK -- Complete Prestige 10" LP Collection: "Trio," "Monk," "And Sony Rollins"/Piano Solo
FRANK SINATRA -- Songs For Young Lovers/Swing Easy!
ELVIS PRESLEY -- The Sun Sessions
SARAH VAUGHAN -- Sarah Vaughan aka Sarah Vaughan With Clifford Brown
MILES DAVIS -- Walkin'
SARAH VAUGHAN -- Sarah Vaughan aka Sarah Vaughan With Clifford Brown
MILES DAVIS -- Walkin'
ART BLAKEY -- A Night At Birdland, Vol. 1-3
JUNE CHRISTY -- Something Cool
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- Louis Armstrong and the Mills Brothers
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1953
PEGGY LEE -- Black Coffee (10 inch version)
JUNE CHRISTY -- Something Cool
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- Louis Armstrong and the Mills Brothers
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1953
PEGGY LEE -- Black Coffee (10 inch version)
HANK WILLIAMS -- Memorial Album
DAVE BRUBECK -- Jazz At The College Of The Pacific
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1952
VARIOUS ARTISTS/HARRY SMITH -- The Anthology Of American Folk Music
HANK WILLIAMS -- Moanin' The Blues
FRED ASTAIRE -- The Astaire Story
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 2 (1950-1952)
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Ellington Uptown
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Greatest Hits
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1951
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
DAVE BRUBECK -- Jazz At The College Of The Pacific
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1952
VARIOUS ARTISTS/HARRY SMITH -- The Anthology Of American Folk Music
HANK WILLIAMS -- Moanin' The Blues
FRED ASTAIRE -- The Astaire Story
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 2 (1950-1952)
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Ellington Uptown
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Greatest Hits
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1951
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
HANK WILLIAMS -- SingsHOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
ROY MILTON -- Roy Milton and His Solid Senders (1992 comp)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1950
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Complete Decca Recordings (1944-1950)
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Ella Sings Gershwin
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits
FRANK SINATRA -- Dedicated To You/Swing and Dance With Frank Sinatra
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits
FRANK SINATRA -- Dedicated To You/Swing and Dance With Frank Sinatra
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
ROY MILTON -- Roy Milton and His Solid Senders (1992 comp)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1949
DJANGO REINHARDT -- Djangology 49
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 1 (1946-1949) FRANK SINATRA -- Frankly Sentimental
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- South Pacific
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1949
DJANGO REINHARDT -- Djangology 49
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 1 (1946-1949) FRANK SINATRA -- Frankly Sentimental
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- South Pacific
ROY MILTON -- Roy Milton and His Solid Senders (1992 comp)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1948
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 1 (1946-1949)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1948
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 1 (1946-1949)
ROY MILTON -- Roy Milton and His Solid Senders (1992 comp)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1947
LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS -- Thinkin' And Worryin': The Aladdin Singles 1946-1952
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1947
LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS -- Thinkin' And Worryin': The Aladdin Singles 1946-1952
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete RCA Victor Recordings 1932-1933/1946-1947
WOODY GUTHRIE -- Songs To Grow On: Nursery Days
FRANK SINATRA -- Songs By Sinatra
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1946
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS -- Thinkin' And Worryin': The Aladdin Singles 1946-1952
WOODY GUTHRIE -- Songs To Grow On: Nursery Days
FRANK SINATRA -- Songs By Sinatra
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1946
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS -- Thinkin' And Worryin': The Aladdin Singles 1946-1952
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete RCA Victor Recordings 1932-1933/1946-1947
FRANK SINATRA -- The Voice of Frank Sinatra
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
THE INK SPOTS -- The Ultimate Collection (1939-1951)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1946
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1945
FRANK SINATRA -- The Voice of Frank Sinatra
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
THE INK SPOTS -- The Ultimate Collection (1939-1951)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1946
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1945
BING CROSBY -- Merry Christmas
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
WOODY GUTHRIE -- The Asch Recordings Vol. 2
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- Carousel Original Broadway Cast
WOODY GUTHRIE -- The Asch Recordings Vol. 2
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- Carousel Original Broadway Cast
BURL IVES -- The Wayfaring Stranger (various versions 1944, 1945, 1959, 1960, 1964)
HARRY JAMES -- The Essence Of Harry James
HARRY JAMES -- The Essence Of Harry James
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1944
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- Oklahoma!
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933-1944
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- Oklahoma!
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933-1944
BURL IVES -- The Wayfaring Stranger (various versions 1944, 1945, 1959, 1960, 1964)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
WOODY GUTHRIE -- The Asch Recordings Vol. 1
THE INK SPOTS -- The Ultimate Collection (1939-1951)
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Carnegie Hall Concerts: December 1944
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Greatest Hits
HARRY JAMES -- The Essence Of Harry James
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1943
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1943
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Greatest Hits
HARRY JAMES -- The Essence Of Harry James
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
WOODY GUTHRIE -- The Asch Recordings Vol. 1
THE INK SPOTS -- The Ultimate Collection (1939-1951)
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Carnegie Hall Concerts: December 1944
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Greatest Hits
HARRY JAMES -- The Essence Of Harry James
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1943
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1943
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Greatest Hits
HARRY JAMES -- The Essence Of Harry James
EDDIE CONDON -- 1927-1943 Recordings
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1942
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 9 1940-1942 (get remastered boxed set)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller
HARRY JAMES -- The Essence Of Harry James
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1942
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 9 1940-1942 (get remastered boxed set)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller
HARRY JAMES -- The Essence Of Harry James
EDDIE CONDON -- 1927-1943 Recordings
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1941
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller
WOODY GUTHRIE -- Columbia River Collection
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1941
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller
WOODY GUTHRIE -- Columbia River Collection
EDDIE CONDON -- 1927-1943 Recordings
CHICK WEBB AND ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Complete Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald (1934-1941)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1940
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band/1937-1940 on Classics Label
LEAD BELLY -- "The Midnight Special" and other Southern Prison Songs
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1940
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band/1937-1940 on Classics Label
LEAD BELLY -- "The Midnight Special" and other Southern Prison Songs
DJANGO REINHARDT -- Swing In Paris (1936-1940)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller
THE INK SPOTS -- The Ultimate Collection (1939-1951)
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 8 1939-1940 (get remastered boxed set)
WOODY GUTHRIE -- Dust Bowl Ballads
EDDIE CONDON -- 1927-1943 Recordings
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1939
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller
DJANGO REINHARDT -- Swing 39: Jazz In Paris
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 7 1938-1939 (get remastered boxed set)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1937-1940 on Classics Label
COUNT BASIE -- The Complete Decca Recordings 1937-1939
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
THE INK SPOTS -- The Ultimate Collection (1939-1951)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1938
BENNY GOODMAN -- Benny Goodman At Carnegie Hall
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 5-6 1937-1938 (get remastered boxed set)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1937-1940 on Classics Label
CHICK WEBB AND ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Complete Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald (1934-1941)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
COUNT BASIE -- The Complete Decca Recordings 1937-1939
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1937
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 3-4 1936-1937 (get remastered boxed set)
CHICK WEBB AND ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Complete Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald (1934-1941)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1937-1940 on Classics Label
ROBERT JOHNSON -- King Of The Delta Blues Singers Vol. 2
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
COUNT BASIE -- The Complete Decca Recordings 1937-1939
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1936
ROBERT JOHNSON -- King Of The Delta Blues Singers Vol. 1
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 2 1936 (get remastered boxed set)
CHICK WEBB AND ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Complete Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald (1934-1941)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1935
CHICK WEBB AND ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Complete Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald (1934-1941)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Decca 1934-1954]
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 1 1933-1935 (get remastered boxed set)
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1934
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
CHARLEY PATTON -- King Of The Delta Blues (1929-1934)
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1933
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller
THE INK SPOTS -- The Ultimate Collection (1939-1951)
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 8 1939-1940 (get remastered boxed set)
WOODY GUTHRIE -- Dust Bowl Ballads
EDDIE CONDON -- 1927-1943 Recordings
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1939
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller
DJANGO REINHARDT -- Swing 39: Jazz In Paris
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 7 1938-1939 (get remastered boxed set)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1937-1940 on Classics Label
COUNT BASIE -- The Complete Decca Recordings 1937-1939
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
THE INK SPOTS -- The Ultimate Collection (1939-1951)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1938
BENNY GOODMAN -- Benny Goodman At Carnegie Hall
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 5-6 1937-1938 (get remastered boxed set)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1937-1940 on Classics Label
CHICK WEBB AND ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Complete Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald (1934-1941)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
COUNT BASIE -- The Complete Decca Recordings 1937-1939
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1937
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 3-4 1936-1937 (get remastered boxed set)
CHICK WEBB AND ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Complete Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald (1934-1941)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1937-1940 on Classics Label
ROBERT JOHNSON -- King Of The Delta Blues Singers Vol. 2
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
COUNT BASIE -- The Complete Decca Recordings 1937-1939
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1936
ROBERT JOHNSON -- King Of The Delta Blues Singers Vol. 1
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 2 1936 (get remastered boxed set)
CHICK WEBB AND ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Complete Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald (1934-1941)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1935
CHICK WEBB AND ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Complete Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald (1934-1941)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Decca 1934-1954]
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 1 1933-1935 (get remastered boxed set)
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1934
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
CHARLEY PATTON -- King Of The Delta Blues (1929-1934)
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1933
BESSIE SMITH -- The Collection
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete RCA Victor Recordings 1932-1933/1946-1947
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934]
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934]
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
HENRY RED ALLEN -- The Incomparable Henry Red Allen: The Golden Years Vol. 5 1929-1933
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1932
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete RCA Victor Recordings 1932-1933/1946-1947
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934]
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934]
HENRY RED ALLEN -- The Incomparable Henry Red Allen: The Golden Years Vol. 4 1929-1933
BLIND WILLIE MCTELL -- Statesboro Blues: 1927-1932
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1931
HENRY RED ALLEN -- The Incomparable Henry Red Allen: The Golden Years Vol. 3 1929-1933
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934]
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1931
HENRY RED ALLEN -- The Incomparable Henry Red Allen: The Golden Years Vol. 3 1929-1933
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934]
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
BLIND WILLIE MCTELL -- Statesboro Blues: 1927-1932
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1930
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930/1924-1930 on Classics Label
HENRY RED ALLEN -- The Incomparable Henry Red Allen: The Golden Years Vol. 2 1929-1933
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1930
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930/1924-1930 on Classics Label
HENRY RED ALLEN -- The Incomparable Henry Red Allen: The Golden Years Vol. 2 1929-1933
BLIND WILLIE MCTELL -- Statesboro Blues: 1927-1932
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1929
CHARLEY PATTON -- King Of The Delta Blues (1929-1934)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930/1924-1930 on Classics Label
BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON -- The Complete Blind Willie Johnson
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1929
CHARLEY PATTON -- King Of The Delta Blues (1929-1934)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930/1924-1930 on Classics Label
HENRY RED ALLEN -- The Incomparable Henry Red Allen: The Golden Years Vol. 1 1929-1933
BLIND WILLIE MCTELL -- Statesboro Blues: 1927-1932
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1928
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- Avalon Blues: The Complete 1928 Okeh Recordings
HENRY THOMAS -- Bull Doze Blues (1927-1929)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930
BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON -- The Complete Blind Willie Johnson
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1928
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- Avalon Blues: The Complete 1928 Okeh Recordings
HENRY THOMAS -- Bull Doze Blues (1927-1929)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930
BLIND WILLIE MCTELL -- Statesboro Blues: 1927-1932
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1927
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings
HENRY THOMAS -- Bull Doze Blues (1927-1929)
BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON -- The Complete Blind Willie Johnson
OSCAR "PAPA" CELESTIN/SAM MORGAN -- Recorded In New Orleans 1925-1928
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1927
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings
HENRY THOMAS -- Bull Doze Blues (1927-1929)
FRANKIE TRUMBAUER AND BIX BEIDERBECKE -- Bix and Tram
BLIND WILLIE MCTELL -- Statesboro Blues: 1927-1932
OSCAR "PAPA" CELESTIN/SAM MORGAN -- Recorded In New Orleans 1925-1928
OSCAR "PAPA" CELESTIN/SAM MORGAN -- Recorded In New Orleans 1925-1928
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1926
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label
OSCAR "PAPA" CELESTIN/SAM MORGAN -- Recorded In New Orleans 1925-1928
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1925
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1924
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label
BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON -- The Complete Blind Willie Johnson
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1926
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label
OSCAR "PAPA" CELESTIN/SAM MORGAN -- Recorded In New Orleans 1925-1928
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1925
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1924
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label
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