Essential Album List

Rather than torture myself with some sort of "100 Greatest Albums" list, I've simply included all albums that have received either an A or A+ rating, the level above which I consider an album to be absolutely essential. Please note that this list only includes albums that have been reviewed on this Web site.

20/20 - 20/20/Lookout!
Accept - Restless And Wild
AC/DC - Let There Be Rock
AC/DC - Powerage
AC/DC - Highway To Hell
AC/DC - Back In Black
Aerosmith - Toys In The Attic
Aerosmith - Rocks
Alice Cooper - Greatest Hits
Alice In Chains - Dirt
Alice In Chains - Jar Of Flies
Gregg Allman - Laid Back
Allman Brothers Band - The Allman Brothers Band
Allman Brothers Band - Idlewild South
Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East
Allman Brothers Band - Eat A Peach
Amon Duul II - Yeti
...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead - Source Tags & Codes
Arcade Fire - Funeral
Joan Armatrading - Joan Armatrading
At The Drive-In - Relationship Of Command
The Band - Music From Big Pink
The Band - The Band
The Beach Boys - The Beach Boys Today!
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys - Sunflower
The Beach Boys - Sounds of Summer: The Very Best of the Beach Boys
The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night
The Beatles - Rubber Soul
The Beatles - Revolver
The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour
The Beatles - The Beatles (The White Album)
The Beatles - Abbey Road
The Beatles - 1962-1966 (The Red Album)
The Beatles - 1967-1970 (The Blue Album)
The Beatles - Past Masters (Volume Two)
The Beatles - 1
Jeff Beck Group - Truth
Jeff Beck - Beckology
Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister
Belle & Sebastian - Push Barman To Open Old Wounds
Big Brother and the Holding Company - Cheap Thrills
Big Star - #1 Record /Radio City
Bjork - Greatest Hits
The Black Crowes - The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality
Black Sabbath - Vol. 4
Black Sabbath - Sabotage
Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
Bobby "Blue" Bland - Two Steps From The Blues
The Blue Nile - Hats
Blur - Parklife
Blur - The Best Of Blur
Tommy Bolin - Teaser
Boston - Boston
David Bowie - The Man Who Sold The World
David Bowie - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
David Bowie - Station To Station
David Bowie - Low
David Bowie - Changesbowie
David Bowie - The Singles
James Brown - Live At The Apollo, 1962
James Brown - Star Time
Roy Buchanan - That's What I am Here For
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Built To Spill - Perfect From Now On
Built To Spill - Keep It Like A Secret
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - East-West
The Buzzcocks - Singles Going Steady
The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds - Younger Than Yesterday
The Byrds - Greatest Hits
Terry Callier - Occasional Rain
Terry Callier - What Color Is Love
Camel - Music Inspired by The Snow Goose
James Carr - You Got My Mind Messed Up
The Cars - The Cars
The Cars - Complete Greatest Hits
Catherine Wheel - Ferment
Catherine Wheel - Chrome
Catherine Wheel - Happy Days
Ray Charles - The Birth of Soul: The Complete Atlantic Rhythm and Blues Recordings
Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles - Ultimate Hits Collection
Cheap Trick - Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick - At Budokan: The Complete Concert
Chicago - Chicago IX - Greatest Hits
Eric Clapton - Crossroads
Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Collective Soul - 7even Year Itch: Greatest Hits 1994-2001
Sam Cooke - A Man And His Music
Sam Cooke - Live At The Harlem Square Club, 1963
Sam Cooke - Night Beat
Counting Crows - August and Everything After
The Cranberries - Everybody Else Is Doing It So Why Can't We?
Cream - Disraeli Gears
Cream - The Very Best Of Cream
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Chronicle
Crowded House - Together Alone
The Cure - Staring At The Sea: The Singles
The Cure - Disintegration
Deep Purple - Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple - Machine Head
Deep Purple - Made In Japan
Deep Purple - Burn
Deep Purple - Deep Purple In Concert
Def Leppard - Pyromania
Derek & The Dominos - Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs
Diamond Head - Lightning To The Nations
Al Di Meola, John McLauglin, Paco de Lucía - Friday Night in San Francisco
Dinosaur Jr. - You're Living All Over Me
Dinosaur Jr. - Bug
Dinosaur Jr. - Ear Bleeding Country: The Best Of Dinosaur Jr.
Dio - Holy Diver
DJ Shadow - Entroducing...
The Doors - The Doors
The Doors - Strange Days
The Doors - L.A. Woman
Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake - Bryter Layter
Nick Drake - Pink Moon
Nick Drake - Fruit Tree
The Drifters - The Very Best Of The Drifters
The Eagles - The Greatest Hits 1971-1975
Earth, Wind, & Fire - Greatest Hits
Elastica - Elastica
The Faces - Five Guys Walk Into A Bar
Faith No More - The Real Thing
Faith No More - Angel Dust
The Flaming Lips - In A Priest Driven Ambulance
The Flaming Lips - Transmissions From The Satellite Heart
The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin
Fleetwood Mac - Then Play On
Fleetwood Mac - Greatest Hits
Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Flying Burrito Brothers - The Gilded Palace Of Sin
The Four Tops - The Ultimate Collection
Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man The Way I Loved You
Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin - Spirit In The Dark
Aretha Franklin - Amazing Grace
Aretha Franklin - 30 Greatest Hits
Fugazi - Repeater + 3 Songs
Fugazi - The Argument
Galaxie 500 - On Fire
Gang Of Four - Entertainment!
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
Marvin Gaye - The Master 1961-1984
Al Green - I'm Still In Love With You
Al Green - Call Me
Al Green - The Belle Album
Al Green - Greatest Hits
Guided By Voices - Bee Thousand
Guided By Voices - The Best of Guided by Voices: Human Amusements at Hourly Rates
Guns n' Roses - Appetite For Destruction
Tim Hardin - Tim Hardin 1 & 2
Emmylou Harris - Wrecking Ball
George Harrison - All Things Must Pass
Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes - Shaft
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland
Husker Du - Eight Miles High/Makes No Sense At All (2-for-1 single)
Husker Du - New Day Rising
The Impressions - The Greatest Hits
Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden - Piece Of Mind
Iron Maiden - Powerslave
Iron Maiden - Live After Death
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Jane's Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Michael Jackson - The Essential Michael Jackson
The Jayhawks - Hollywood Town Hall
Jethro Tull - Stand Up
Billy Joel - The Stranger
Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Volume I & II
Elton John - Tumbleweed Connection
Elton John - Honky Chateau
Elton John - Greatest Hits 1970-2002
Freedy Johnston - This Perfect World
Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division - Closer
Joy Division - Substance
Joy Division - Les Bains Douches 18 December 1979
Judas Priest - Stained Class
Judas Priest - Unleashed In The East
Judas Priest - Painkiller
Albert King - King Of The Blues Guitar
B.B. King - Live At The Regal
Carole King - Tapestry
KISS - Alive!
KISS - The Very Best Of KISS
Kyuss - Blues From The Red Sun
Kyuss - Sky Valley
Ronnie Lane - One For The Road
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin I
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin (Box Set)
Led Zeppelin - How The West Was Won
John Lennon - John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon - Lennon Legend: The Very Best Of John Lennon
Lovin' Spoonful - Anthology
Luna - Penthouse
The Magetic Fields - 69 Love Songs
The Mahavishnu Orchestra - Inner Mounting Flame
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Burnin'
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Live!
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Exodus
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Legend
Dave Mason: Alone Together
Mastodon - Leviathan
Mastodon - Crack the Skye
Martha & the Vandellas - Greatest Hits
Curtis Mayfield - Curtis
Curtis Mayfield - Superfly
Paul and Linda McCartney - Ram
Paul McCartney & Wings - Band On The Run
MC5 - High Time
Metallica - Ride The Lightning
Metallica - Master Of Puppets
The Minutemen - Double Nickels On The Dime
Modern Lovers - The Modern Lovers
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
Van Morrison - Moondance
Van Morrison - Saint Dominic's Preview
Van Morrison - Veedon Fleece
Van Morrison - Into The Music
Motley Crue - Shout At The Devil
Motorhead - Overkill
Motorhead - Ace Of Spades
Motorhead - No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith
Motorhead - No Remorse
Mountain - Climbing!
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
My Morning Jacket - Z
My Morning Jacket - Okonokos
Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Randy Newman - Sail Away
Randy Newman - Good Old Boys
The New Pornographers - Mass Romantic
The New Pornographers - Electric Version
Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
Nirvana - Nevermind
Nirvana - In Utero
Nirvana - Unplugged In New York
Nirvana - Live At Reading
Oasis - Definitely Maybe
Oasis - (What's The Story) Morning Glory?
Roy Orbison - For The Lonely: 18 Greatest Hits
Ozzy Osbourne - Diary Of A Madman
Ozzy Osbourne - Tribute
Pantera - Vulgar Display Of Power
Graham Parker - Heat Treatment
Graham Parker - Sqeezing Out Sparks
Pavement - Slanted And Enchanted
Pavement - Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
Pearl Jam - Ten
Pearl Jam - Vs.
Pearl Jam - Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003
Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Greatest Hits
Pink Floyd - Meddle
Pink Floyd - The Darkside Of The Moon
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd - Animals
Pink Floyd - The Wall
Wilson Pickett - A Man And A Half: The Best Of Wilson Pickett
Pixies - Doolittle
Pixies - Wave Of Mutilation: Best Of Pixies
The Police - Greatest Hits
Pooh Sticks - The Great White Wonder
Portishead - Dummy
John Prine - John Prine
Rainer Ptacek - Live At The Performance Center
Pulp - Different Class
Queens Of The Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf
Radio Birdman - The Essential Radio Birdman (1974-1978)
Radiohead - The Bends
Radiohead - OK Computer
Radiohead - Kid A
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Rainbow - Rising
The Ramones - Ramones
The Ramones - Leave Home
The Ramones - Rocket To Russia
The Ramones - It's Alive
The Rascals - Groovin'
The Rascals - Once Upon A Dream
The Rascals - Time Peace: The Rascals' Greatest Hits
Otis Redding - Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding - Complete Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul
Otis Redding - The Immortal Otis Redding
Otis Redding - The Very Best of Otis Redding
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Greatest Hits
R.E.M. - Murmur
R.E.M. - Out Of Time
R.E.M. - Automatic For The People
The Replacements - Let It Be
The Replacements - Tim
The Replacements - Pleased To Meet Me
Ride - Nowhere
Riot - Fire Down Under
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles: The Ultimate Collection
The Rolling Stones: Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass)
The Rolling Stones: Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones: Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones: Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!
The Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones: Hot Rocks (1964-1971)
The Rolling Stones: Exile On Main Street
Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, A True Star
Sam & Dave - The Best Of Sam & Dave
Santana - Santana III
Boz Scaggs - Silk Degrees
Screaming Trees - Sweet Oblivion
Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols
The Shangri-Las - The Best Of The Shangri-Las
Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun
Sigur Ros - Takk...
Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel - Greatest Hits
Paul Simon - Graceland
Sly & The Family Stone - Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone - There's A Riot Goin' On
Sly & The Family Stone - The Essential Sly & The Family Stone
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness
Sleater-Kinney - Call The Doctor
Sleater-Kinney - Dig Me Out
Sloan - Navy Blues
Slowdive - Souvlaki
Elliott Smith - Either/Or
Elliott Smith - XO
Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger
Soundgarden - Superunknown
Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes - Hearts Of Stone
Phil Spector - Back To Mono (1958-1969)
The Spinners - The Very Best Of The Spinners
Dusty Springfield - Dusty In Memphis
Bruce Springsteen - The Wild, The Innocent, and the E. Street Shuffle
Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen - Darkness On The Edge Of Town
Bruce Springsteen - The Rising
Bruce Springsteen - Hammersmith Odeon London '75
Squeeze: Singles: 45's And Under
Steely Dan - Can't Buy A Thrill
Steely Dan - Countdown To Ecstacy
Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan - Katy Lied
Steely Dan - Aja
Stereolab - Transient Random Noisebursts With Announcements
Stereolab - Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Stereolab - ABC Music
Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells A Story
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
Stone Temple Pilots - Purple
Stone Temple Pilots - Thank You
The Strokes - Is This It
The Stylistics - The Best Of The Stylistics
Sugar - Copper Blue
Sunny Day Real Estate - How It Feels To Be Something On
The Supremes - The Ultimate Collection
Sweet - Desolation Boulevard
Talk Talk - Spirit Of Eden
Teenage Fanclub - Four Thousand Seven Hundred And Sixty-Six Seconds - A Shortcut To Teenage Fanclub
The Temptations - Anthology
Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak
Thin Lizzy - Bad Reputation
Thin Lizzy - Live And Dangerous
Tiamat - Wildhoney
Tindersticks - Tindersticks
Tindersticks - Tindersticks (The Second Album)
Toots and the Maytalls - Funky Kingston
TV On The Radio - Dear Science
UFO - Strangers In The Night
U2 - War
U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
U2 - The Joshua Tree
U2 - Achtung Baby
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Anthology
Van Halen - Van Halen I
Van Halen - Fair Warning
Van Halen - 1984
Various Artists - Atlantic Rhythm And Blues, Volume 5 (1962-1966)
Various Artists - Atlantic Rhythm And Blues, Volume 6 (1966-1969)
Various Artists - The Best Of The Girl Groups Volume 1
Various Artists - Can You Dig It? The '70s Soul Experience
Various Artists - The Harder They Come
Various Artists - Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971
Various Artists - Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era (1965-1968)
Various Artists - Poptopia! Power Pop Classics Of The 70's
Various Artists - Singles
Various Artists - Phil Spector: Back To Mono (1958-1969)
The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground
Weezer - Weezer (The Blue Album)
The White Stripes - Elephant
The Who - The Who Sings My Generation
The Who - Tommy
The Who - Live At Leeds
The Who - Who's Next
The Who - Meaty Beaty Big And Bouncy
The Who - Quadrophenia
The Who - Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival 1970
Wilco - Being There
Wilco - Summerteeth
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Lucinda Williams - Lucinda Williams
Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Brian Wilson - Smile
Edgar Winter - White Trash
Bill Withers - Just As I am/Still Bill
Bill Withers - Live At Carnegie Hall
Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
Stevie Wonder - Innervisions
Stevie Wonder - Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Live
Steve Wynn - Here Come The Miracles
The Yardbirds - Ultimate!
Yes - The Yes Album
Yes - Fragile
Yes - Close To The Edge
Yes - Yessongs
Yes - Relayer
Yo La Tengo - Painful
Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One
Neil Young - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young - After The Goldrush
Neil Young - On The Beach
Neil Young - Tonight's The Night
Neil Young - Decade
The Zombies - Odessey and Oracle
The Zombies - The Singles A's & B's


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