Top 100 Albums of the 20th Century
Well, the 20th century only if you conclude the first six decades didn't count. From an old list I had compiled about seven years ago. Enjoy!
The Rolling Stones: Exile on Main Street (Rolling Stones ‘72)
"The Indestructible Beat of Soweto" (Shanachie ‘86)
The Grateful Dead: Live/Dead (Warner Bros. '69)
David Murray Quartet: Shakill’s Warrior (DIW/Columbia ‘91)
Joe Cocker: Joe Cocker! (A&M ‘69)
Neil Young: Rust Never Sleeps (Reprise ‘79)
The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Capitol ‘67)
The Clash: London Calling (Epic ‘80)
Randy Newman: 12 Songs (Reprise ‘70)
"Lucinda Williams" (Rough Trade ‘88)
Bruce Springsteen: Born in the USA (Columbia ‘84)
Bob Dylan: Blonde on Blonde (Columbia ‘66)
Al Green: Call Me (Hi ‘73)
Fugees: The Score (Ruffhouse/Columbia ‘96)
Derek & The Dominos: Layla (Atco ‘70)
Miles Davis: A Tribute to Jack Johnson (Columbia ‘71)
Lucinda Williams: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (Mercury ‘98)
Iris Dement: My Life (Warner Bros. ‘94)
Bob Dylan / The Band: The Basement Tapes (Columbia ‘75)
Sly & The Family Stone: There’s a Riot Goin’ On (Epic ‘71)
James Carter: The Real Quietstorm (Atlantic Jazz ‘95)
Jimi Hendrix: Are You Experienced? (Reprise ‘67)
Ornette Coleman: Of Human Feelings (Antilles ‘82)
Tricky: Maxinquaye (Island '95)
Steely Dan: Pretzel Logic (ABC ‘74)
Talking Heads: Remain in Light (Sire ‘80)
Television: Marquee Moon (Elektra '77)
DeBarge: In a Special Way (Gordy ‘83)
Rod Stewart: Every Picture Tells a Story (Mercury ‘71)
The Beatles: Abbey Road (Capitol ‘69)
Prince: Sign o’ the Times (Paisley Park ‘87)
The Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols! (Warner Bros. ‘77)
L.L. Cool J: Mama Said Knock You Out (Def Jam ‘90)
"Paul Simon" (Columbia ‘72)
Bob Marley & The Wailers: Natty Dread (Island ‘75)
The New York Dolls: In Too Much Too Soon (Mercury ‘74)
The Band: Music From Big Pink (Capitol ‘68)
Dusty Springfield: Dusty in Memphis (Atlantic ‘69)
Graham Parker & The Rumour: Squeezing Out Sparks (Arista ‘79)
Liz Phair: Exile in Guyville (Matador ‘93)
Beck: Mellow Gold (DGC ‘94)
Sonic Youth: Dirty (DGC ‘92)
Aretha Franklin: I Never Loved A Man (Atlantic ‘67)
Nick Lowe: Pure Pop for Now People (Columbia ‘78)
The English Beat: Special Beat Service (I.R.S. ‘82)
Sonny Rollins: G-Man (Milestone ‘87)
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Willy and the Poor Boys (Fantasy ‘69)
Randy Newman: Good Old Boys (Reprise '74)
The Robert Cray Band: Strong Persuader (Mercury ‘86)
The Magnetic Fields: 69 Love Songs (Merge '99)
Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (Warner Bros. ‘77)
Rosanne Cash: Interiors (Columbia ‘90)
Billy Bragg & Wilco: Mermaid Avenue (Elektra ‘98)
Kid Creole & The Coconuts: Wise Guy (Sire/ZE ‘82)
The Who: Who’s Next? (MCA ‘71)
The Roches: A Dove (MCA ‘92)
"Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band" (RCA Victor ‘76)
Stevie Wonder: Innervisions (Tamla ‘73)
Neil Young: After the Gold Rush (Reprise ‘70)
Joni Mitchell: Blue (Reprise ‘71)
P.J. Harvey: To Bring You My Love (Island ‘95)
David Bowie: Station To Station (RCA Victor ‘76)
John Prine: Sweet Revenge (Atlantic ‘73)
"The Wild Tchoupitoulas" (Island ‘76)
The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds (Capitol ‘66)
P.M. Dawn: The Bliss Album ...? (Gee Street ‘93)
Joni Mitchell: Court and Spark (Asylum ‘74)
Public Enemy: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (Def Jam ‘87)
Van Morrison: Moondance (Warner Bros. ‘70)
Nirvana: In Utero (DGC ‘93)
Ray Charles: Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (Dunhill ‘62)
X: Wild Gift (Slash ‘81)
Amy Rigby: Diary of a Mod Housewife (Koch ‘96)
Bonnie Raitt: Give It Up (Warner Bros. ‘72)
Marshall Crenshaw: Field Day (Warner Bros. ‘83)
Elvis Costello: Trust (Columbia ‘81)
The Rolling Stones: Beggar's Banquet (London ‘68)
Pere Ubu: Dub Housing (Chrysalis ‘79)
Blondie: Parallel Lines (Chrysalis ‘78)
The Flying Burrito Brothers: Gilded Palace of Sin (A&M ‘69)
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Street Survivors (MCA ‘77)
The Mekons: Fear and Whiskey (Sin import ‘85)
Beastie Boys: Licensed to Ill (Def Jam ‘86)
Toots & The Maytals: Funky Kingston (Island ‘75)
Eno: Another Green World (Island ‘76)
Jimmy Cliff, et al: The Soundtrack to "The Harder They Come" (Mango ‘73)
Aretha Franklin: Who's Zoomin' Who? (Arista '85)
Arto Lindsay: Mundo Civilizado (Bar/None ‘97)
Bonnie Raitt: Luck of the Draw (Capitol ‘91)
The Pogues: Rum, Sodomy and the Lash (MCA ‘86)
Culture: Two Sevens Clash (Shanachie ‘87)
B.B. King: Live in Cook County Jail (MCA ‘71)
Lou Reed: New Sensations (RCA Victor ‘84)
The Neville Brothers: Yellow Moon (EMI-America ‘89)
Patti Smith: Horses (Arista ‘75)
The Blasters: Non Fiction (Slash ‘83)
M People: Elegant Slumming (Epic ‘94)
Black Uhuru: Anthem (Island ‘84)
The Ramones: Rocket to Russia (Sire ‘77)
Michael Jackson: Off the Wall (Epic '79)
Top 10 Albums of the ‘60s
The Grateful Dead: Live/Dead
Joe Cocker: Joe Cocker!
The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Bob Dylan: Blonde on Blonde
Jimi Hendrix: Are You Experienced?
Aretha Franklin: I Never Loved a Man
The Band: Music From Big Pink
The Rolling Stones: Beggar’s Banquet
"The Velvet Underground & Nico"
Ray Charles: Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Top Artist(s) of the ‘60s
Ray Charles
Johnny Cash
Top 10 Albums of the ‘70s
The Rolling Stones: Exile on Main Street
Neil Young: Rust Never Sleeps
Randy Newman: 12 Songs
Al Green: Call Me
Derek & The Dominos: Layla
Miles Davis: A Tribute to Jack Johnson
Sly & The Family Stone: There’s a Riot Goin’ On
Steely Dan: Pretzel Logic
Rod Stewart: Every Picture Tells a Story
The Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols!
Top Artist(s) of the ‘70s
Linda Ronstadt
Elton John
Top 10 Albums of the ‘80s
"The Indestructible Beat of Soweto"
The Clash: London Calling
"Lucinda Williams"
Bruce Springsteen: Born in the USA
Ornette Coleman: Of Human Feelings
Talking Heads: Remain in Light
DeBarge: In a Special Way
Prince: Sign o’ the Times
Aretha Franklin: Who’s Zoomin’ Who?
The Mekons: Fear and Whiskey
Top Artist(s) of the ‘80s
Madonna
Prince
Top 10 Albums of the ‘90s
David Murray: Shakill’s Warrior
Fugees: The Score
Lucinda Williams: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Iris Dement: My Life
James Carter: The Real Quietstorm
Tricky: Maxinquaye
Liz Phair: Exile in Guyville
Bob Dylan: Time Out of Mind
P.J. Harvey: To Bring You My Love
P.M. Dawn: The Bliss Album ...?
Top Artist(s) of the 90's
P.M. Dawn
P.J. Harvey
Well, the 20th century only if you conclude the first six decades didn't count. From an old list I had compiled about seven years ago. Enjoy!
The Rolling Stones: Exile on Main Street (Rolling Stones ‘72)
"The Indestructible Beat of Soweto" (Shanachie ‘86)
The Grateful Dead: Live/Dead (Warner Bros. '69)
David Murray Quartet: Shakill’s Warrior (DIW/Columbia ‘91)
Joe Cocker: Joe Cocker! (A&M ‘69)
Neil Young: Rust Never Sleeps (Reprise ‘79)
The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Capitol ‘67)
The Clash: London Calling (Epic ‘80)
Randy Newman: 12 Songs (Reprise ‘70)
"Lucinda Williams" (Rough Trade ‘88)
Bruce Springsteen: Born in the USA (Columbia ‘84)
Bob Dylan: Blonde on Blonde (Columbia ‘66)
Al Green: Call Me (Hi ‘73)
Fugees: The Score (Ruffhouse/Columbia ‘96)
Derek & The Dominos: Layla (Atco ‘70)
Miles Davis: A Tribute to Jack Johnson (Columbia ‘71)
Lucinda Williams: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (Mercury ‘98)
Iris Dement: My Life (Warner Bros. ‘94)
Bob Dylan / The Band: The Basement Tapes (Columbia ‘75)
Sly & The Family Stone: There’s a Riot Goin’ On (Epic ‘71)
James Carter: The Real Quietstorm (Atlantic Jazz ‘95)
Jimi Hendrix: Are You Experienced? (Reprise ‘67)
Ornette Coleman: Of Human Feelings (Antilles ‘82)
Tricky: Maxinquaye (Island '95)
Steely Dan: Pretzel Logic (ABC ‘74)
Talking Heads: Remain in Light (Sire ‘80)
Television: Marquee Moon (Elektra '77)
DeBarge: In a Special Way (Gordy ‘83)
Rod Stewart: Every Picture Tells a Story (Mercury ‘71)
The Beatles: Abbey Road (Capitol ‘69)
Prince: Sign o’ the Times (Paisley Park ‘87)
The Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols! (Warner Bros. ‘77)
L.L. Cool J: Mama Said Knock You Out (Def Jam ‘90)
"Paul Simon" (Columbia ‘72)
Bob Marley & The Wailers: Natty Dread (Island ‘75)
The New York Dolls: In Too Much Too Soon (Mercury ‘74)
The Band: Music From Big Pink (Capitol ‘68)
Dusty Springfield: Dusty in Memphis (Atlantic ‘69)
Graham Parker & The Rumour: Squeezing Out Sparks (Arista ‘79)
Liz Phair: Exile in Guyville (Matador ‘93)
Beck: Mellow Gold (DGC ‘94)
Sonic Youth: Dirty (DGC ‘92)
Aretha Franklin: I Never Loved A Man (Atlantic ‘67)
Nick Lowe: Pure Pop for Now People (Columbia ‘78)
The English Beat: Special Beat Service (I.R.S. ‘82)
Sonny Rollins: G-Man (Milestone ‘87)
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Willy and the Poor Boys (Fantasy ‘69)
Randy Newman: Good Old Boys (Reprise '74)
The Robert Cray Band: Strong Persuader (Mercury ‘86)
The Magnetic Fields: 69 Love Songs (Merge '99)
Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (Warner Bros. ‘77)
Rosanne Cash: Interiors (Columbia ‘90)
Billy Bragg & Wilco: Mermaid Avenue (Elektra ‘98)
Kid Creole & The Coconuts: Wise Guy (Sire/ZE ‘82)
The Who: Who’s Next? (MCA ‘71)
The Roches: A Dove (MCA ‘92)
"Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band" (RCA Victor ‘76)
Stevie Wonder: Innervisions (Tamla ‘73)
Neil Young: After the Gold Rush (Reprise ‘70)
Joni Mitchell: Blue (Reprise ‘71)
P.J. Harvey: To Bring You My Love (Island ‘95)
David Bowie: Station To Station (RCA Victor ‘76)
John Prine: Sweet Revenge (Atlantic ‘73)
"The Wild Tchoupitoulas" (Island ‘76)
The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds (Capitol ‘66)
P.M. Dawn: The Bliss Album ...? (Gee Street ‘93)
Joni Mitchell: Court and Spark (Asylum ‘74)
Public Enemy: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (Def Jam ‘87)
Van Morrison: Moondance (Warner Bros. ‘70)
Nirvana: In Utero (DGC ‘93)
Ray Charles: Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (Dunhill ‘62)
X: Wild Gift (Slash ‘81)
Amy Rigby: Diary of a Mod Housewife (Koch ‘96)
Bonnie Raitt: Give It Up (Warner Bros. ‘72)
Marshall Crenshaw: Field Day (Warner Bros. ‘83)
Elvis Costello: Trust (Columbia ‘81)
The Rolling Stones: Beggar's Banquet (London ‘68)
Pere Ubu: Dub Housing (Chrysalis ‘79)
Blondie: Parallel Lines (Chrysalis ‘78)
The Flying Burrito Brothers: Gilded Palace of Sin (A&M ‘69)
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Street Survivors (MCA ‘77)
The Mekons: Fear and Whiskey (Sin import ‘85)
Beastie Boys: Licensed to Ill (Def Jam ‘86)
Toots & The Maytals: Funky Kingston (Island ‘75)
Eno: Another Green World (Island ‘76)
Jimmy Cliff, et al: The Soundtrack to "The Harder They Come" (Mango ‘73)
Aretha Franklin: Who's Zoomin' Who? (Arista '85)
Arto Lindsay: Mundo Civilizado (Bar/None ‘97)
Bonnie Raitt: Luck of the Draw (Capitol ‘91)
The Pogues: Rum, Sodomy and the Lash (MCA ‘86)
Culture: Two Sevens Clash (Shanachie ‘87)
B.B. King: Live in Cook County Jail (MCA ‘71)
Lou Reed: New Sensations (RCA Victor ‘84)
The Neville Brothers: Yellow Moon (EMI-America ‘89)
Patti Smith: Horses (Arista ‘75)
The Blasters: Non Fiction (Slash ‘83)
M People: Elegant Slumming (Epic ‘94)
Black Uhuru: Anthem (Island ‘84)
The Ramones: Rocket to Russia (Sire ‘77)
Michael Jackson: Off the Wall (Epic '79)
Top 10 Albums of the ‘60s
The Grateful Dead: Live/Dead
Joe Cocker: Joe Cocker!
The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Bob Dylan: Blonde on Blonde
Jimi Hendrix: Are You Experienced?
Aretha Franklin: I Never Loved a Man
The Band: Music From Big Pink
The Rolling Stones: Beggar’s Banquet
"The Velvet Underground & Nico"
Ray Charles: Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Top Artist(s) of the ‘60s
Ray Charles
Johnny Cash
Top 10 Albums of the ‘70s
The Rolling Stones: Exile on Main Street
Neil Young: Rust Never Sleeps
Randy Newman: 12 Songs
Al Green: Call Me
Derek & The Dominos: Layla
Miles Davis: A Tribute to Jack Johnson
Sly & The Family Stone: There’s a Riot Goin’ On
Steely Dan: Pretzel Logic
Rod Stewart: Every Picture Tells a Story
The Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols!
Top Artist(s) of the ‘70s
Linda Ronstadt
Elton John
Top 10 Albums of the ‘80s
"The Indestructible Beat of Soweto"
The Clash: London Calling
"Lucinda Williams"
Bruce Springsteen: Born in the USA
Ornette Coleman: Of Human Feelings
Talking Heads: Remain in Light
DeBarge: In a Special Way
Prince: Sign o’ the Times
Aretha Franklin: Who’s Zoomin’ Who?
The Mekons: Fear and Whiskey
Top Artist(s) of the ‘80s
Madonna
Prince
Top 10 Albums of the ‘90s
David Murray: Shakill’s Warrior
Fugees: The Score
Lucinda Williams: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Iris Dement: My Life
James Carter: The Real Quietstorm
Tricky: Maxinquaye
Liz Phair: Exile in Guyville
Bob Dylan: Time Out of Mind
P.J. Harvey: To Bring You My Love
P.M. Dawn: The Bliss Album ...?
Top Artist(s) of the 90's
P.M. Dawn
P.J. Harvey
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