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Wednesday 31 August 2011

A Blast From the Past: 2008 Interview with Manufactured Romance

This was originally posted on Soundtrack4Life's Myspace page and seeing as we no longer use I thought I'd shift a few things over here. Firstly from 27th February 2008 an interview with a band I loved when I was a teenager.


Welcome to the Time of My Life
A Soundtrack4Life Exclusive
In conversation with Manufactured Romance

Personel:
Nina Spencer - Vocals

Nick Medlin - Bass 
Chips Chapman - Guitar
Benny Di Massa - Drums .

I love it when bands I followed when I was a kid take an opportunity to get back together and play live for the first time in years. A couple of those bands I'll mention in passing just so you can catch my drift a little. Penetration, fronted by Pauline Murray were one of my favourite live bands back in the late 70's and early 80's. After a couple of albums and some truly amazing singles they shut up shop and Pauline started another band The Invisible Girls, but it was never the same. A few years ago they got back together, did a few live shows and made a DVD capturing one of those performances. It was a wonderful experience.

Last year as a benefit for Paul Fox, the remaining members of The Ruts got back together and did a one off show that featured Henry Rollins on vocals. A few months after the show Foxy passed away. In January of this year a live DVD was released that captured that benefit gig and included performances by Eddie Ten Pole Tudor, Max Splodge, The Damned, UK Subs. TV Smith and Tom Robinson as well as a strong set by The Ruts. I have to admit that I was very emotional watching the show because I had attended many gigs by The Ruts when Malcom was alive and seeing three of the original band playing together for the first time in more than 20 years just melted me. Add to that the fact that Foxy was very sick and it was a real roller coaster ride to watch.

So I was more than surprised to hear the news that another band I loved was getting back together. Now this band had not had the breaks that Penetration or The Ruts had enjoyed. In fact their musical output amounted to one single and a couple of tracks on a compilation, but they are a band that I treasured seeing live way back in 1979 and once again will be excited at the prospect of seeing them hit the stage later this year (more about that to come).

The band I am talking about is probably unknown to most people but for the past couple of years they have had a prescence here on MySpace and it seems all the old punk rockers are coming out of the woodwork to welcome back Manufactured Romance.




Formed in 1978 and beginning life as Fourth Reich (though a name change would be needed as many thought the band had right wing leanings - which they didn't) they made their live debut at The Marquee Club in Wardour Street, London (the club no longer exists on that site but is now situated in Upper St. Martin's Lane) supporting the UK Subs in 1979. They released one single on Fresh Records entitled 'Time of My Life' and not long after that they appeared to vanish off the face of the earth (well not physically as we shall hear from two of the band).



 


Recently we caught up with Nick Melden and Nina Spencer to chat about the old days and also to hear a little bit about what's coming up in the life of Manufactured Romance in 2008.

(Nina)

S4L: Manufactured Romance have been a presence on My Space for a couple of years now. What made you want to draw attention to the band again after so many years?

Nick: We found an old fan Chris Lloyd on the internet, who with the help an American girl had set up a band tribute page. We were surprised how many visits he'd had. So Chips did this myspace site, he put a couple of songs on there the whole thing just took off. Its had nearly 20,000 hits now and has been the main reason for the planned reunion. Its great to see comments from so many people worldwide who enjoy the music. The range of ages surprised us too, different generations from every continent have asked us to release material and tour their countries. Its just great to know that things we did years ago still means something to people today.



S4L: Since the 80's what have the band been up to? Have you all stayed in the music business in one form or another?

Nick: Funilly enough none of us has ever stopped making music. Benny owns a recording studio in West London and has been a producer for many years now. Chips started a band  with Annabella Lwuin and had some success there. Then he linked up with Chris from the Wolfmen for a while. He has kept all his equipment and we regularly meet up and play / write together. I was lucky having two boys who adore music. As soon as they were old enough to understand how it was made they wanted guitars, drums, keyboards you name it. So there have always been instruments around the house. Its hard not to pick up the bass or a guitar in that environment. My wife Dani was a backing singer with us for a few years and toured Italy with us so music is always there.  

Nina: I have never really stopped being involved in music in some shape or form. I did a lot of recording and MCing with different djs during the dance music scene in the early 90s it was still with the same attitude that I had in the band, you know just grab a mic and go for it pretty much making the whole thing up as I went along. I learnt more about the technical side of being in the studio and started recording my own stuff on the computer.

In 2000 I landed in Oakland with little more then a mic in my back pocket and a few outfits intending to stay just a while. But within days I was programme manager and Dj on a pirate radio station that served the bayarea in east Oakland.  8 years later I am now living with my son 5yrs old and my husband! It just shows you that anything is possible. We had to close down the radio station as the FCC here were busting people all over the place and I did not want to be deported!. I have never stopped writing and performing when ever I got the chance and I  record here under the name Steel Kitten.

S4L: I believe that you are going to be playing at Rebellion this year. Have you tried to get the band back together at other points in time and what have been the obstacles to that happening previously?

 Nick: We were asked to do Rebellion last August but we just ran out of time really. With Nina in the USA it's a little tricky. She has a young family which obviously takes priority so her time is very limited.

Nina:  I feel I have such a long history with the band and we clik in a way I never have with any other musicians that though it never occurred to me to get back together with my boys it seemed perfect thing to do when the idea was put to me, and I have no reservations about the quality of our work yet to come, some of our material is still relevant and fresh hahaha now as it was back in the day. We did not try to be anything we just were what we were and the style we had was based on what we wanted to play not what was popular or all around us…this is partly why we never accepted or got involved in the BIG money deals going at the time…too  stubborn. Some of our old material feels a bit juvenile now but its fun and good to be silly sometimes…maybe in the past we took ourselves too seriously…now this girl just wants to have fun. 

S4L: There are some tracks on Soundclick under the name of Manufactured Romance that were released in 2005 were they tracks that were done with the band or was that Nina's handiwork?

Nick: They are old recordings we did over a number of years in various studios. We have recently unearthed a load of old material which we are trawling through and will be putting a cd out in the very near future. Mostly early stuff but the quality of some of the early recordings has suffered over the years which means there is quite a bit we can't release it. It may escape on its own though!

Nina: The tracks on Soundclick are all works of the band, recorded when we performed under the name "Foreign Flags". (The band also went under the name of "Lost Property" ed.)

S4L: When you look back all those years to 1979 when the band got a break supporting the UK Subs at The Marquee club did you have expectations about where it might lead you as a band? What for you are the highlights of those days? 

Nina: Just the drama and the dressing up the feeling that we were doing something exiting, Wishing  that Thatcher was going to die and the miners would get a break and being spat at by Teddy Boys and beaten up by Arsenal fans and Skinheads….walking miles home from gigs in squeaky sweaty rubber stockings and having my picture taken everyday…rehearsing till my voice went and then spending all night sewing an outfit for the next gig…sleeping in vans with the band and listening to them fart while condensation dripped from the ceiling…learning how to sleep on trains without messing up my make up and hair…playing white riot  over and over for the first time sleeping in doorways getting pneumonia being turned away from pubs….crazy s*** all the time. Then there was the music and the live stuff it always felt good even when it was bad…we rehearsed religiously and wrote a lot and played a lot so we could pretty much set up anywhere at short notice ad bring it together…the band was sincere and hilarious and I love them for it. It was great to be able to say our first ever gig was at the Marquee it says a lot about what is possible and that nothing is for certain so why not go for broke…all day every day…

 People forget that everyone and his dog was in a band then. All we wanted was to be able to keep doing what we were doing….we were stubborn in those days and wanted to earn a living by being in a band but we wanted full control over content, art work, pr, and all of it and until we got it our way we decided to do it on our own, managers came and went they came with stupid ideas and big pockets of cash and we basically ignored them, spent their cash, got the chance to go in the studio etc and then they would get all greedy and paranoid and start talking contracts, points, producers, song writers!!!and always some bright idea of splitting up the band in some way…so they had to go and another band name change would occur…this happened so often in the 10 years we played together that we ran out of names and stamina. They also usually kept the masters of our recordings so we don't have them to use now but we will still produce a cd from what we can get together and if those managers etc want to crawl out of the wood work to sue us bring it on….we will deal with it in our own way hahaha.

Nick: Its odd looking back at how certain events lead to where you are now. The whole punk ethos of DIY meant that anybody could be a musician and start a band. All four of us have always been very very serious about our music and once this movement allowed us to be musicians there was never any doubt really. Our expectations? I must be honest in that all we wanted to do was write and play music. Most of the time we were together we had no management so no-one was really pushing to get us anywhere. Nina used to get most of our live bookings which for the most part had to be in and around London as no of us could drive. Highlight for me was probably our first ever gig which was at the  Marquee. I had spent the previous three years bouncing around the audience there and every other club in London. To be up on stage giving the audience the tools to do the same is a feeling like no other.

S4L: I can still remember the joy on discovering your release of 'Time of My Life' on Fresh Records. Jerry Floyd (DJ at the Marquee) played it like crazy. On the first night he had it he played it at least three or four times. What are your thoughts about that time when you had released the single? Was it only a single deal or were there plans to do an album? How did it all come to a grinding halt?


 Nina: We recorded it on Friday the 13th I remember in a small studio in Tin Pan Ally down near Soho. It was fun we did not have any experience recording and a lot of producers and engineers were used to dealing with disco or heavy rock so it was hard to get the right sound…it was exiting and we pushed to get different colors on the sleeve and had to repeat ourselves in meetings which we went to as a band and always ended up disappointed we were good at organizing ourselves and did not want any part of our projects farmed out this pissed a lot of business types off so no we did not plan anything more then the single which did really well and is still selling numbers today…We never saw a penny in fact we got it pressed in France ourselves. We had a good friend Mark Mason (ex manager of Muvvers Pride where I was the drummer) do the art work we sold them at gigs etc and Fresh Records distributed a few …what can I say. We stuck to our guns and in some ways shot ourselves in the foot….but anyone who suggests we compromised our punk integrity at the time is talking out of their arses..sorry its not a nice state of affairs nothing much has changed and we are still fighting the good fight..having said that now I think we would be happy to get some help dealing with the day to day affairs of the music business. It's a nice thought that somehow we could just get on with being a band again... if we could one day just get paid hahahaha.


Nick: Time Of My Life was the only single although we did a couple of tracks on an album called 'Backstage Pass'. Time of My Life is still being released by our old label every few years on punk compilation albums along side Johnny Thunders and The Slits etc. We fell out with Fresh Records soon after the single was released. We were never very good at dealing with record companies and treated them with suspision most of the time. We were a very tight little unit and after our experience at Fresh we were even more wary.

S4L: You mentioned that there are plans to put out some material of the band. How much fun has it been rediscovering old tapes of the band and what has been the criteria for what will end up on the CD? Will it contain old 4th Reich favourites as well as Manufactured Romance songs? Are you releasing it independantly or do you have a label? How will you sell the CD, via the Internet or will you try and get it in some stores?




Nick: I've just spent a couple of days with Chips putting this new cd together which we are very excited about. If it goes well we have enough material to put a couple more out in the future. We mentioned yesterday that this is the way we should have done it from the start, a lot of bands did. The standards we set ourselves have always been high so we could have done a good job but we never even considered it back then and had no money to get it started anyway. These things are much easier now with the internet having such a large audience.

Nina: Its been a nice surprise to listen to all the old tunes..some I feel good about performing again and some feel like they represent another time for me and maybe feel a bit ingenuine to sing now but really they all hold a lot of different memories of an amazing time so its not just about the songs themselves…I am sure we have enough rousing material to create a set that will get everyone young and not so young on their feet…People have said our music was not strictly punk….Well those of us that were there from the start, who met up at Global Village before the Roxy was ever heard of , dressing in a way that drew attention and often provocative responses from all but a few, understand that punk is an attitude and not a set of chords set to a thundering 4/4 beat. Yes there was The Dammed but there was also Siouxsie's waltzing swaying crazy beautiful songs and don't forget folk punkster Patrick Fitzgerald with a big saftey pin stuck in his heart; bring in Blondie and Stop Your Sobbing with The Pretenders and you have a cross section out there defying the urge for the music press and industry at large to try putting them/us in a box. I forgot how many times I was told to be more like Kate Bush or compared to Stevie Nicks what the **** I was happy to be me and felt free to do that as a punk and it's a shame when so called punks try to put us in a box now, I was there. I know the truth. They can't tell me s*** I lived this.. I know we refused to compromise sometimes on reflection to our detriment . We are still doing it! We have no record label, manager, agent or even a van driver and our roadies will be whoever is kind enough to get it together and help. So Punks the word…we have had some great support on MySpace and offers of cash and sweat and heart felt effort from people we had not seen in 20 years!!!! It warms me deep inside to think its still out there for us and I am exited. We will be selling T shirts cds dvds etc on the internet don't know when or how but we will shout it out when we are ready…it won't be long…poor Nick and Chips have their hands full as there is only so much I can do from here so any help is well appreitiated. Thanks for this opportunity to tell it..like it still is..hahahaha

S4L: It's our pleasure Nina. Is Rebellion going to be the only show or do you have a few more in the works? I realise the difficulties of this what with Nina being in the States.

Nick: No, as well as Rebellion on 8th August we have the following Friday 15th August at Camden Underworld. There will certainly some more confirmed in next couple of months once it is clear what Nina's arrival date will be. It is difficult only having Nina over for such a short time. But it will be great fun and we are all looking forward to performing live again. If it goes well in August we could do further shows next year. We have had interest from the US, most countrys in Europe and Japan. But we need to understand the constraints Nina is under and make our plans accordingly.

 S4L: Were you surprised that people still remember the band with such fondness after all these years? Was that a catalyst in getting the band back together?

Nina: I can only speak for myself…but no not really surprised..We always spent  time with the people that came to see the band and had a very loyal fan base. We played live a lot and for along time so some of the people that really got into the band grew up with us in their lives..We used to have loads of people hanging out at our rehearsals and some came on tours with us. In those days it was never them and us, we were all in this thing together and so many of the crowd were starting bands of there own or already in one that it wasn't like today where you have bands on some kind of pedestal and body guards etc.  I have had the Soundclick thing up for a few years now but it was Nick and Chips who set the MySpace page up. It all really kicked off from there. We were asked if we wanted to do the Rebellion festival last year and we were all up for it but I had already been to UK with my family in February so the purse was empty and we did not have time to raise my airfare but we are soon to be selling t.shirts and cds etc to help this time.

Nick: I have been extremely surprised by the response to the MySpace site. There have been loads of old punks, mods, skins etc from back in the day dropping by to say hello but what has really surprised us is the number of teens and early twenty somethings who have left comments and messages. Some of our material was written over 30 years ago while we were still learning our instruments. That it still sounds good to kids today is very pleasing. There has always been a lot of crap around from the music industry and today is no different but when I look at the profiles of some of our younger listeners they are following some great bands and music is very important to them. It is easy to understand Nina's voice receiving attention but they genuinely seem to get excited abut the songs we wrote – That's great news!

S4L:With the Rebellion show and the forthcoming CD do you have any other expectations for Manufactured Romance in 2008 and beyond?

 Nina: I don't really think like that I really do take each day as it comes…if we could play here it would be fun as I have always thought we could do well here (in the USA ed.)..and I want the band to have that chance but my heart is always going to be in London. There is no city like it in the world.  my radio show was called "Strictly London" however I must say I would not live in London again. So who knows? Things are different now and I have strong feelings about the state of the planet and the corruption of big money and the greediness of the idiots I see around me. Not enough has changed since we first started the band so I still feel I have a lot to say and sing about….I like to vent in a musical fashion ! so it would feel good to write about some of this stuff with the band.

Nick: I have to be honest and say that I don't have too many high expectations for myself musically. I'm so looking forward to playing with the band again and if that turns out to be a regular event brilliant. I have been writing new material for sometime now and really enjoying it. But I can't see myself touring for any period of time. Having said that if Benny ever needed a bass player for a session he is doing, or if we were offered a couple of dates in the States I would be delighted. I've been very lucky and have loads of things in my life that I love and music will always be one of them. Who knows, if this cd lands on the right desk this could happen but I won't hold my breath.



S4L: Nina, living in the States must be quite interesting for you. Are you involved with the music scene at all? Are people aware of your musical history? If so what is the response you get?

Nina: I don't really tell people here about what I have done. I find America, well I should say South California, really as that's where I live and know people, very conservative…narrow minded and ignorant , I love the actual land here and have some sweet friends  but I hate the culture and stupidity here. The music scene I don't know enough about, I just listen to what I like and have been to a few hip hop, funk and groove nights in LA that were incredible and I love "the coup" but really I download most of my music and its not from the U.S.

S4L: With so many bands from the old punk days getting back together (or some never having split up) who were the bands that influenced you to get involved with music and why do you think someone like Charlie Harper is still doing what he is doing after all these years? I ask that because there was always an odd mentality that punk bands would do a few shows, make a few records and the call it a day after achieving their 15 minutes of fame. But look at bands like The Buzzcocks, Stiff Litte Fingers, 999, UK Subs and even Sham 69 and they are still producing great music and playing lots of shows more than 20-30 years later!

Nick: I was never a big advocate of old bands getting back together again. I was glad The Clash never did and sorry when The Pistols re-formed. We went to see Pauline Murray at the 100 club last year and The Damned in Kentish Town. I will go to see Poly at the Roundhouse in September too. I must say though its been great going to see live music again. We went to Shanne Bradleys 50th last year at the 12 bar in Denmark St. and it all started up again from there. I've seen the Carbon Silicon set in Portobello Road a few times now and love Mick's (Mick Jones formerly of the Clash) music. He has found himself a brand new sound nothing like The Clash or BAD but it still has everything I love about his music. We will probably rehearse two sets for August. The first one for a punk audience at Rebellion for example, and another one with some new material and some of the later songs we wrote. It would be nice to do some of that stuff too. The live bands I always loved were 999, The Boys, Menace, Gen X, Siouxsie, Buzzcocks, early Ants shows and as it happens Chelsea who are doing the rounds again. I always thought Gene had one of the best voices in punk rock. Best live band ever.. no question THE CLASH!

Nina: I never did that die before I am 30 thing. I was very sick when I was in my 20s and decided to just do what made me feel alive for as long as I could. Also there was something unique about the punk movement then that has not been replaced yet…so a lot of the bands playing still have a lot to say and a commitment that is still rare. Hahaha I never knew Charlie as a youth so it just feels like he has been and will be around forever..He is a force to be recognized and I am glad I know him he's a diamond hahaha

S4L: What are you favourite punk rock records? Do you still dig them out once in awhile and have a listen? What would be on your Soundtrack4Life?

Nick: Favourite punk records would be Snuff Rock by Alberto y Los Trios Paranois, In the City by The Jam and XTC's Science Friction. Too Expierienced by the Bodysnatchers, I will always love, and Emergency by 999.

Nina: Wow, well my soundtrack4life would start with James Brown and Motown followed by Bob Marley and the Mad Professor which would lead me into The Clash and The Damned….then for a wikked live show we would get the jam up there with Killing Joke and Joy Division…and The Banshees of course, throw in a hundred bands I don't even know the names of  and Screaming Blue Messiahs and the UK Subs, Chelsea, Cocksparrer and The Stranglers...the list goes on. It wasn't just the bands it was the crowd too I remember certain people throughout the time we played evolving their own styles and being as well known as the bands they followed and quite rightly so.

S4L: Final question. Can you share three things about Manufactured Romance that you think everyone needs to know but might be afraid to ask?

Nick: Three things you need to know?

1). Nina is on the cover of Clash City Rockers offering some Ted a ruck.




2). In the Subs film 'Punk can take it' I'm the punk slashing his wrist in the restaurant scene.

3). Ninas first time on stage was singing 'Peanuts' with the late George Melly in some Soho jazz club in the 60's as a five year old. 

Nina:  Hahahhhaa firstly there is nothing I would be afraid of being asked if you have the questions I will have an answer. What do you want to know!!!!????????? I am honestly afraid of nothing!

Great to hear that both Nina and Nick have lost none of their passion for music in the years since Manufactured Romance last played together in a live setting. Also it is nice to hear some of the problems that they experienced as a young band and how they are now seeking to bring their music to a new generation of fans as well as those who had the pleasure of seeing them first time around.

The Rebellion Festival in August is going to be an exciting time for music fans and it is going to be a real joy once again to hear Manufactured Romance enjoying the Time of Their Lives.

Monday 29 August 2011

EXCLUSIVE Coming Soon To Soundtrack4Life


I am very excited about this little piece of news that I felt a need to share about it and prepare you for a nice little exclusive interview that will be coming your way very soon.

Honey Bane has agreed to chat about things old and new (especially new seeing that she has a brand new album out)




The classic 'You Can Be You EP' that contains the brilliant 'Girl on the Run'



The new album was released in April 2011 and is available From this place - Click here!





Sunday 28 August 2011

Gems from my Collection: Songs With Numbers


John Robb on his excellent blog LouderThanWar posted about songs with numbers in them and I thought it was pretty good and something I could easily do from my own collection. So hang on to your hats, we are off on a musical and numerical journey. Here's 15 from my collection.


Three Sevens Clash - The Alarm


Twenty Flight Rock - Eddie Cochran


Sixteen Again - The Buzzcocks


54-36 Was My Number - Toots and the Maytals


78 RPM - Stiff Little Fingers


48 Crash - Suzi Quatro


The Sixteens - Sweet


One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer - George Thorogood and The Destroyers


Nine Below Zero - Sonny Boy Williamson


32-20 Blues - Robert Johnson


A13 - Billy Bragg


Land of a Thousand Dances - Wilson Pickett



Six Sixty Six - Larry Norman


Thirteen - Johnny Cash


52 Girls - B-52's



Friday 26 August 2011

Big Country - Another Country Official Video



Released on August 29th on Track Records UK and produced by Steve Lilywhite


Another Country



In A Big Country ('Dreams Stay With You - Live At Edinburgh Picture House - April 2011')

Friday 12 August 2011

The Ramones Musikladen 1978


I'm so excited to see the release of this show recorded in September 13th 1978 in Bremen, Germany, whilst The Ramones were out touring their latest album 'Road to Ruin'. What you get are a DVD of the show packed with 25 songs in 50 minutes and a CD as well.

1. Rockaway Beach
2. Teenage Lobotomy
3. Blitzkrieg Bop
4. Don't Come Close


1. I Don't Care
2. She's The One
3. Sheena is a Punk Rocker
4. Cretin Hop
5. Listen To My Heart


1. Havana Affair
2. Commando
3. Needles & Pins
4. Surfin' Bird


1. Cretin Hop
2. Listen to My Heart
3. California Sun
4. I Don't Wanna Walk Around with You
5. Pinhead
6. Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue


Want to go and grab a copy?
Check It Out At Amazon

See A Little Light by Bob Mould and Michael Azzerrad


From Amazon:
Product Description
Bob Mould emerged at the epicenter of America's punk rock scene upon forming Husker Du in 1979. Their music roused a generation. For the very first time, Mould opens up to tell the passionate story of life inside that furnace, creating music that mattered. He details the growth of his own music, from an early love of the Ramones to the making of Husker Du classics like 'Bed of Nails' and '59 Times the Pain.' Opening up about drug addictions, suicide, what it meant to come out as gay in a heavily hetero music world, and the band's violent implosion, Mould takes us on a whirlwind ride, culminating with his sobriety, his solo career, and creating the band Sugar. A classic story of individualism and persistence, Mould's memoir is an open account of one man's driving force, which altered the shape of American music.

I am quite tempted to get hold of this. I loved Husker Du and Sugar and have a lot of time for the music of Bob Mould. He is one of those very underrated songwriters that has produced some great music down through the years.

In Record Collector's review they mentioned that Bob Mould also used to write scripts for Hulk Hogan and the WCW!!

Saturday 6 August 2011

Henry Rollins and The Ruts



I can hardly believe that it's been more than four years since The Ruts played their show with Henry Rollins on vocals.


Staring At The Rude Boys (ft Henry Rollins)


Henry Rollins has made a big point of his spoken word shows of talking about his time with The Ruts and here are four videos from one of those shows where he talks all things Ruts.







Friday 5 August 2011

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2000's


o Doves – Lost Souls
o Air – Virgin Suicides: Original Motion Picture Score
o Adams, Ryan – Heartbreaker
o Gilberto, Bebel – Tanto Tempo
o Cole, MJ – Sincere
o Harris, Emmylou – Red Dirt Girl
o Limp Bizkit – Chocolate Starfish & the Hot Dog Flavored Water
o Radiohead – Kid A
o U2 – All That You Can’t Leave Behind
o Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory
o Smith, Elliott – Figure 8
o Badly Drawn Boy – Hour of Bewilderbeast
o Harvey, P.J. – Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
o Badu, Erykah – Mama’s Gun
o Coldplay – Parachutes
o Common – Like Water for Chocolate
o Ladd, Mike – Welcome to the Afterfuture
o Red Snapper – Our Aim is to Satisfy
o Eminem – Marshall Mathers LP
o Goldfrapp – Felt Mountain
o Giant Sand – Chore of Enchantment
o Lambchop – Nixon
o Lemper, Ute – Punishing Kiss
o Madonna – Music
o Avalanches – Since I Left You
o OutKast – Stankonia
o Radiohead – Amnesiac
o Silver Jews – Bright Flight
o Björk – Vespertine
o Gorillaz – Gorillaz (1st Album)
o Adams, Ryan – Gold
o Destiny’s Child – Survivor
o Strokes – Is This It
o Welch, Gillian – Time (The Revelator)
o Gotan Project – Revancha del Tango, la
o White Stripes – White Blood Cells
o Beta Band – Hot Shots II
o Jay Z – Blueprint
o Röyksopp – Melody AM
o Drive-By Truckers – Southern Rock Opera
o Super Furry Animals – Rings Around the World
o Jurassic 5 – Power in Numbers
o Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
o Ms Dynamite – A Little Deeper
o Bees – Sunshine Hit Me
o Jones, Norah – Come Away with Me
o Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head
o Coral – Coral (2002)
o Cash, Johnny – American IV: Man Comes Around
o Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
o Doves – Last Broadcast
o Elliott, Missy – Under Construction
o Springsteen, Bruce – Rising, the
o Aguilera, Christina – Stripped
o Roots – Phrenology
o Beck – Sea Change
o Timberlake, Justin – Justified
o Vines – Highly Evolved
o Hives – Your New Favourite Band
o Radiohead – Hail to the Thief
o Winehouse, Amy – Frank
o Calexico – Feast of Wire
o Darkness – Permission to Land
o White Stripes – Elephant
o Dizzee Rascal – Boy in da Corner
o Kings of Leon – Youth & Young Manhood
o Thrills – So Much for the City
o Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever to Tell
o OutKast – Speakerboxxx/Love Below
o 50 Cent – Get Rich or Die Tryin’
o Mars Volta – Deloused in the Comatorium
o Lightning Bolt – Wonderful Rainbow
o Wainwright, Rufus – Want One
o Scissor Sisters – Scissor Sisters (1st Album)
o Morrissey – You Are the Quarry
o Björk – Medúlla
o Mylo – Destroy Rock & Roll
o Wilson, Brian – SMiLE
o Icarus Line – Penance Soirée
o Arcade Fire – Funeral
o Banhart, Devendra – Rejoicing in the Hands
o Cave, Nick & the Bad Seeds – Abattoir Blues/Lyre of Orpheus
o Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand (1st Album)
o N*E*R*D – Fly or Die
o Beta Band – Heroes to Zeros
o Ozamatli – Street Signs
o Libertines – Libertines (1st Album)
o West, kanYe – College Dropout
o Green, Cee-Lo – Is the Soul Machine
o TV on the Radio – Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
o Liars – They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
o Streets – A Grand Don’t Come for Free
o Wainwright, Rufus – Want Two
o Zutons – Who Killed the Zutons?
o Killers – Hot Fuss
o Kings of Leon – Aha Shake Heartbreak
o MIA (UK) – Arular
o Beck – Guero
o White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan

There's probably too many albums to mention that could be added to the list. I'll give it a think and add more later in the comments.

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 1990's






o Cocteau Twins – Heaven or Las Vegas
o Shamen – En-Tact
o Deee Lite – World Clique
o La’s – La’s
o Black Crowes – Shake Your Money Maker
o Depeche Mode – Violator
o Pixies – Bossanova
o Megadeth – Rust in Peace
o Digital Underground – Sex Packets
o Pet Shop Boys – Behaviour
o Happy Mondays – Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches
o Michael, George – Listen Without Prejudice: Vol 1
o Young, Neil – Ragged Glory
o Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted
o Jane’s Addiction – Ritual de lo Habitual
o LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out
o Public Enemy – Fear of a Black Planet
o O’Connor, Sinéad – I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got
o Tribe Called Quest, a – People’s Instinctive Travels & the Paths of Rhythm
o Sonic Youth – Goo
o Ride – Nowhere
o My Bloody Valentine – Loveless
o Nirvana – Nevermind
o Crowded House – Woodface
o Cypress Hill – Cypress Hill (1st Album)
o Cope, Julian – Peggy Suicide
o Gang Starr – Step in the Arena
o MC Solaar - Qui Sème le Vent Récolte le Tempo
o Jah Wobble – Rising Above Bedlam
o Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik
o Ice T – OG: Original Gangster
o Mudhoney – Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
o Public Enemy – Apocalypse 91… Enemy Strikes Back
o Tribe Called Quest, a – Low End Theory
o Pearl Jam – Ten
o Saint Etienne – Foxbase Alpha
o Sepultura – Arise
o Slint – Spiderland
o U2 – Achtung Baby
o KLF – White Room
o Massive Attack – Blue Lines
o Primal Scream – Screamadelica
o Teenage Fanclub – Bandwagonesque
o Metallica – Metallica [aka Black Album]
o Pavement – Slanted & Enchanted
o Aphex Twin – Selected Ambient Works 85-92
o Arrested Development – 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life of…
o Olomidé, Koffi – Haut de Gamme: Koweït, Rive Gauche
o Morrissey – Your Arsenal
o Maal, Baaba – Lam Toro
o Lemonheads – It’s a Shame About Ray
o Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine (1st Album)
o Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy – Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury
o lang, k.d. – Ingénue
o Dr Dre – Chronic, the
o REM – Automatic for the People
o Pharcyde – Bizarre Ride II the…
o Spiritualized – Lazer Guided Melodies
o Sugar – Copper Blue
o Waits, Tom – Bone Machine
o Sonic Youth – Dirty
o Stereo MCs – Connected
o Ministry – Psalm 69 (Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs)
o Amos, Tori – Little Earthquakes
o Ice Cube – Predator
o Pantera – Vulgar Display of Power
o Alice in Chains – Dirt
o Cave, Nick & the Bad Seeds – Henry’s Dream, by…
o Khan, Nusrat Fateh Ali – Devotional Songs
o Harvey, P.J. – Dry
o Suede – Suede (1st Album)
o Weller, Paul – Wild Wood
o Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
o Auteurs – New Wave
o Phair, Liz – Exile in Guyville
o Afghan Whigs – Gentlemen
o Mann, Aimee – Whatever
o Grant Lee Buffalo – Fuzzy
o Nirvana – In Utero
o Jamiroquai – Emergency on Planet Earth
o Pet Shop Boys – Very
o Harvey, P.J. – Rid of Me
o Blur – Modern Life is Rubbish
o Crow, Sheryl – Tuesday Night Music Club
o Fall – Infotainment Scan
o Wu Tang Clan – Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers)
o Björk – Debut
o Orbital – Orbital [aka Brown Album]
o Snoop Doggy Dogg – Doggystyle
o Sebadoh – Bubble & Scrape
o Boo Radleys – Giant Steps
o Orbit, William – Strange Cargo: III
o Method Man – Tical
o Black, Frank – Teenager of the Year
o Girls Against Boys – Venus Luxure No 1 Baby
o Jeru the Damaja – Sun Rises in the East
o Pavement – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
o Portishead – Dummy
o Sabres of Paradise – Haunted Dancehall
o Nas – Illmatic
o Beastie Boys – Ill Communication
o Costello, Elvis – Brutal Youth
o Morrissey – Vauxhall & I
o TLC – CrazySexyCool
o Oasis – Definitely Maybe
o Soundgarden – Superunknown
o Offspring – Smash
o Drive Like Jehu – Yank Crime
o Blur – Parklife
o G Love & Special Sauce - G Love & Special Sauce (1994)
o Touré, Ali Farka – Talking Timbuktu
o Hole – Live Through This
o Massive Attack – Protection
o Manic Street Preachers – Holy Bible
o Suede – Dog Man Star
o Notorious BIG – Ready to Die
o Buckley, Jeff – Grace
o Orbital – Snivilisation
o Nirvana – MTV Unplugged in New York
o Nine Inch Nails – Downward Spiral
o Prodigy – Music for the Jilted Generation
o Green Day – Dookie
o Foo Fighters – Foo Fighters (1st Album)
o Garbage – Garbage (1st Album)
o Nightmares on Wax – Smokers Delight
o Tricky – Maxinquaye
o Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
o Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness
o Rocket from the Crypt – Scream, Dracula, Scream
o Chemical Brothers – Exit Planet Dust
o 2Pac – Me Against the World
o Elastica – Elastica (1st Album)
o Supergrass – I Should Coco
o Radiohead – Bends, the
o Guided by Voices – Alien Lanes
o Kuti, Femi – Femi Kuti (1995)
o Verve – A Northern Soul
o Genius GZA – Liquid Swords
o Pulp – Different Class
o Leftfield – Leftism
o D’Angelo – Brown Sugar
o Oasis – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
o Goldie – Timeless
o Morissette, Alanis – Jagged Little Pill
o Screaming Trees – Dust
o Super Furry Animals – Fuzzy Logic
o Fatboy Slim – Better Living Through Chemistry
o Dr Octagon – Dr Octagonecologyst
o Stereolab – Emperor Tomato Ketchup
o Tortoise – Millions Now Living Will Never Die
o Beck – Odelay
o Belle & Sebastian – Tigermilk
o DJ Shadow – Endtroducing
o Eels – Beautiful Freak
o Divine Comedy – Casanova
o Apple, Fiona – Tidal
o Wilco – Being There
o Sepultura – Roots
o Adamson, Barry – Oedipus Schmoedipus
o Fun Lovin’ Criminals – Come Find Yourself
o Maxwell – Urban Hang Suite
o Charlatans – Tellin’ Stories
o Manic Street Preachers – Everything Must Go
o Everything But the Girl – Walking Wounded
o Cave, Nick & the Bad Seeds – Murder Ballads
o Bukem, LTJ – Logical Progression
o Underworld – Second Toughest in the Infants
o Jon Spencer Blues Explosion – Now I Got Worry
o Cardigans – First Band on the Moon
o Marilyn Manson – Antichrist Superstar
o Fugees – Score, the
o Ash – 1977
o Belle & Sebastian – If You’re Feeling Sinister
o Blur – Blur (1997)
o Radiohead – OK Computer
o Quaye, Finley – Maverick a Strike
o Elliott, Missy Misdemeanor – Supa Dupa Fly
o Chemical Brothers – Dig Your Own Hole
o Primal Scream – Vanishing Point
o Wyatt, Robert – Shleep
o Holmes, David – Let’s Get Killed
o Sleater Kinney – Dig Me Out
o Prodigy – Fat of the Land
o Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club (1997)
o Cave, Nick & the Bad Seeds – Boatman’s Call
o Divine Comedy – A Short Album About Love
o Cornershop – When I was Born for the 7th Time
o Daft Punk – Homework
o Williams, Robbie – Life Thru a Lens
o Carey, Mariah – Butterfly
o Supergrass – In it for the Money
o Dylan, Bob – Time Out of Mind
o Size, Roni & Reprazent – New Forms
o Smith, Elliott – Either/Or
o Verve – Urban Hymns
o Spiritualized – Ladies & Gentlemen, We are Floating in Space
o Dandy Warhols – Dandy Warhols (1997)
o Dylan, Bob – Bootleg Series Vol 4: Live 1966 [rec: 1966 at Free Trade Hall, Manchester]
o Chao, Manu – Clandestino
o Bragg, Billy & Wilco – Mermaid Avenue
o Turbonegro – Apocalypse Dudes
o Fatboy Slim – You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby
o Gray, David – White Ladder
o Williams, Lucinda – Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
o Pulp – This is Hardcore
o Madonna – Ray of Light
o Hill, Lauryn – Miseducation of…
o Hole – Celebrity Skin
o Mercury Rev – Deserter’s Songs
o System of a Down - System of a Down (1st Album)
o Queen of the Stone Age - Queen of the Stone Age (1st Album)
o Air – Moon Safari
o Singh, Talvin – OK
o Korn – Follow the Leader
o Khalèd, (Cheb) – Kenza
o Kid Rock – Devil Without a Cause
o Boards of Canada – Music Has the Right to Children
o Suba - São Paulo Confessions
o XTC – Apple Venus: Volume 1
o Skunk Anansie – Post Orgasmic Chill
o Incubus – Make Yourself
o Magnetic Fields – 69 Love Songs
o Travis – Man Who
o Slipknot – Slipknot (1st Album)
o Orton, Beth – Central Reservation
o Sawhney, Nitin – Beyond Skin
o Death in Vegas – Contino Sessions
o Moby – Play
o Flaming Lips – Soft Bulletin
o Rhymes Digitales, les – Darkdancer
o Tigre, le – Tigre, le (1999)
o Eminem – Slim Shady LP
o Spears, Britney – Baby One More Time
o Metallica – S&M
o Bonnie Prince Billy – I See a Darkness
o Shack – HMS Fable
o Basement Jaxx – Remedy
o Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication
o Sigur Rós – Ágætis Byrjun

Probably listened to a lot less than some of the other decades but there are still a few titles that I would include that are "missing": 'Stray' - Aztec Camera has a real mix of musical styles but does contain some of Roddy Frame's finest tunes. The Travelling Wilbury's 'Volume 1' is brilliant I think and deserves to be part of the list. 'Damn Right I Got The Blues' by Buddy Guy from 1991 is a classic Blues album and well worth checking out. 'Electric Landlady' by Kirsty MacColl is another that is sadly absent from the list but deserves a hearing. 'All Change' by Cast as well is another that is strangely absent and is a classy album that's worth reinvestigating. 'Poison Love' by Nashville's finest guitarist Buddy Miller as well should be on the list but isn't.

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 1980's





o Adam & the Ants – Kings of the Wild Frontier
o Dexys Midnight Runners – Searching for the Young Soul Rebels
o AC/DC – Back in Black
o Cramps – Songs the Lord Taught Us
o Dead Kennedys – Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
o Gabriel, Peter – Peter Gabriel (III)
o Soft Boys – Underwater Moonlight
o Cure – Seventeen Seconds
o Echo & the Bunnymen – Crocodiles
o Motörhead – Ace of Spades
o Killing Joke – Killing Joke (1st Album)
o Judas Priest – British Steel
o Circle Jerks – Group Sex
o Talking Heads – Remain in Light
o Joy Division – Closer
o Iron Maiden – Iron Maiden (1st Album)
o Undertones – Hypnotised
o Jam – Sound Affects
o Waits, Tom – Heartattack & Vine
o UB40 – Signing Off
o Teardrop Explodes – Kilimanjaro
o Specials – More Specials
o Winwood, Steve – Arc of a Diver
o Pretenders – Pretenders (1st Album)
o Einstürzende Neubauten – Kollaps
o Siouxsie & the Banshees – Juju
o Heaven 17 – Penthouse & Pavement
o Go-Gos – Beauty & the Beat
o Motörhead – No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith
o Soft Cell – Non Stop Erotic Cabaret
o Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Architecture & Morality
o Eno, Brian & David Byrne – My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
o Black Flag – Damaged
o X – Wild Gift
o Psychedelic Furs – Talk, Talk, Talk
o Human League – Dare
o Gun Club – Fire of Love
o Bauhaus – Mask
o Womack, Bobby – Poet
o Tom Tom Club – Tom Tom Club (1st Album)
o Rush – Moving Pictures
o ABBA – Visitors
o ABC – Lexicon of Love
o Prince – 1999
o Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five – Message, the
o Costello, Elvis – Imperial Bedroom
o Cure – Pornography
o Dexys Midnight Runners – Too Rye Ay
o Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84)
o Madness – Rise & Fall
o Fagen, Donald – Nightfly
o Haircut One Hundred – Pelican West
o Bush, Kate – Dreaming, the
o Orange Juice – Rip it Up
o Jackson, Michael – Thriller
o Birthday Party – Junkyard
o Venom – Black Metal
o Springsteen, Bruce – Nebraska
o Associates – Sulk
o Iron Maiden – Number of the Beast
o Duran Duran – Rio
o Violent Femmes – Violent Femmes (1st Album)
o McLaren, Malcolm – Duck Rock
o Def Leppard – Pyromania
o REM – Murmur
o The The – Soul Mining
o Waits, Tom – Swordfishtrombones
o Blue Nile – A Walk Across the Rooftops
o Hanoi Rocks – Back to Mystery City
o Lauper, Cyndi – She’s So Unusual
o Simon, Paul – Hearts & Bones
o Echo & the Bunnymen – Porcupine
o ZZ Top – Eliminator
o Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
o U2 – War
o Police – Synchronicity
o Meat Puppets – II
o Culture Club – Colour by Numbers
o Frankie Goes to Hollywood – Welcome to the Pleasuredome
o Run DMC – Run DMC (1984)
o Sade – Diamond Life
o Cocteau Twins – Treasure
o Minor Threat – Out of Step
o Van Halen – 1984
o Prince – Purple Rain
o Replacements – Let it Be
o Style Council – Café Bleu
o Turner, Tina – Private Dancer
o Echo & the Bunnymen – Ocean Rain
o Minutemen – Double Nickels on the Dime
o Cole, Lloyd & the Commotions – Rattlesnakes
o N’Dour, Youssou – Immigrés
o Springsteen, Bruce – Born in the USA
o Fall – This Nation’s Saving Grace
o Ibrahim, Abdullah – Water from an Ancient Well
o Aha – Hunting High & Low
o Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair
o Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms
o Prefab Sprout – Steve McQueen (aka Two Wheels Good)
o Mekons – Fear & Whiskey
o Big Black – Atomizer
o Vega, Suzanne – Suzanne Vega (1st Album)
o Pogues – Rum, Sodomy & the Lash
o Bush, Kate – Hounds of Love
o Smiths – Meat is Murder
o Waits, Tom – Rain Dogs
o Jesus & Mary Chain – Psychocandy
o New Order – Low Life
o Simply Red – Picture Book
o Dexys Midnight Runners – Don’t Stand Me Down
o Scritti Politti – Cupid & Psyche 85
o Costello, Elvis – Blood & Chocolate
o Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force – Planet Rock: The Album
o Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill
o Metallica – Master of Puppets
o The The – Infected
o Griffith, Nanci – Last of the True Believers
o Bragg, Billy – Talking with the Taxman About Poetry
o Talk Talk – Colour of Spring
o Megadeth – Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?
o Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet
o Sonic Youth – Evol
o Slayer – Reign in Blood
o Throwing Muses – Throwing Muses (1986)
o Simon, Paul – Graceland
o Run DMC – Raising Hell
o XTC – Skylarking
o Earle, Steve – Guitar Town
o Bad Brains – I Against I
o Baker, Anita – Rapture
o Smiths – Queen is Dead
o Gabriel, Peter – So
o Anthrax – Among the Living
o Dinosaur Jr – You’re Living All Over Me
o Parton, Dolly with Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris – Trio
o Def Leppard – Hysteria
o REM – Document
o Prince – Sign ‘O’ the Times
o Cult – Electric
o Depeche Mode – Music for the Masses
o Sisters of Mercy – Floodland
o Michael, George – Faith
o Hüsker Dü – Warehouse: Songs & Stories
o Butthole Surfers – Locust Abortion Technician
o Piazzolla, Astor & Gary Burton – New Tango
o Smiths – Strangeways Here We Come
o Guns N’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction
o Jesus & Mary Chain – Darklands
o Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Shaka Zulu
o Laibach – Opus Dei
o Napalm Death – Scum
o Sonic Youth – Sister
o Triffids – Calenture
o Jackson, Michael – Bad
o Pet Shop Boys – Actually
o U2 – Joshua Tree
o D’Arby, Terence Trent – Introducing the Hardline According to…
o Pogues – If I Should Fall from Grace with God
o Cohen, Leonard – I’m Your Man
o Waterboys – Fisherman’s Blues
o Fishbone – Truth &; Soul
o Everything But the Girl – Idlewild
o Living Colour - Vivid
o Mudhoney – Superfuzz Bigmuff
o REM – Green
o Happy Mondays – Bummed
o Go Betweens – 16 Lovers Lane
o Cowboy Junkies – Trinity Session
o Chapman, Tracy – Tracy Chapman (1st Album)
o My Bloody Valentine – Isn’t Anything
o Pixies – Surfer Rosa
o Metallica – And Justice for All
o Dinosaur Jr – Bug
o Krause, Dagmar – Tank Battles
o lang, k.d. – Shadowland
o American Music Club – California
o Morrissey – Viva Hate
o Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation
o Sugarcubes – Life’s Too Good
o Yoakam, Dwight – Beuenas Noches from a Lonely Roomn
o Jane’s Addiction – Nothing’s Shocking
o Public Enemy – It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
o Faith No More – Real Thing
o Kravtiz, Lenny – Let Love Rule
o Hooker, John Lee – Healer, the
o New Order – Technique
o Madonna – Like a Prayer
o Queen Latifah – All Hail the Queen
o Spacemen 3 – Playing with Fire
o fIREHOSE – fROMOHIO
o Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique
o Young Gods – Eau Rouge, l’
o Zorn, John – Spy vs Spy: Music of Ornette Coleman
o Stone Roses – Stone Roses (1st Album)
o Cherry, Neneh – Raw Like Sushi
o Maal, Baaba & Mansour Seck – Djam Leelii
o Bush, Kate – Sensual World
o Cure – Disintegration
o 808 State – 808:90
o Coldcut – What’s That Noise?
o Adamson, Barry – Moss Side Story
o Aerosmith – Pump
o Pixies – Doolittle
o Raitt, Bonnie – Nick of Time
o Fugazi – Repeater
o Soul II Soul – Club Classics: Vol One
o De La Soul – 3 Feet High & Rising
o Jackson, Janet – Rhythm Nation 1814
o Jungle Brothers – Done by the Forces of Nature
o NWA – Straight Outta Compton

 Cannot believe that 'The River' by Springsteen is not in that list! Neither for that matter are 'High land Hard Rain' by Aztec Camera, 'Declaration' by The Alarm, 'Two Steps From The Move' by Hanoi Rocks, 'Once Upon a Time' by Simple Minds, The Psychedelic Furs self titled debut, The Waterboys 'This is the Sea' and 10,000 Maniacs' 'In My Tribe' and 'Blind Man's Zoo'.

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 1970's


Listened to in Italics, and have listened to and actually own in Bold

o Creedence Clearwater Revival – Cosmo’s Factory
o Derek & the Dominos – Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs
o Davis, Miles – Bitches Brew
o Spirit – Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus
o Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath (1st Album)
o Doors – Morrison Hotel
o Carpenters – Close to You
o Still, Stephen – Stephen Stills (1st Album)
o Lennon, John – Plastic Ono Band
o Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Déjà vu
o Black Sabbath – Paranoid
o Young, Neil – After the Gold Rush
o Led Zeppelin – III
o Deep Purple – In Rock
o Morrison, Van – Moondance
o Grateful Dead – American Beauty
o Drake, Nick – Bryter Layter
o Shankar, Ananda – Ananda Shankar (1970)
o Who – Live at Leeds
o Soft Machine – Third
o Stewart, Rod – Gasoline Alley
o Harrison, George – All Things Must Pass
o Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water
o Stevens, Cat – Tea for the Tillerman
o Traffic – John Barleycorn Must Die
o Stooges – Fun House
o James Taylor - Sweet Baby James
o McCartney, Paul – McCartney (1970)
o Santana – Abraxas
o Barrett, Syd – Madcap Laughs
o Jethro Tull – Aqualung
o Crosby, David – If Only I Could Remember My Name
o Sly & the Family Stone – There’s a Riot Goin’ On
o Gaye, Marvin – What’s Going On
o Yes – Yes Album
o Bee Gees – Trafalgar
o Who – Who’s Next
o King, Carole – Tapestry
o Hayes, Isaac – Shaft: Music from the Soundtrack
o Allman Brothers – At Fillmore East
o Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers
o Lennon, John – Imagine
o Beach Boys – Surf’s Up
o Yes – Fragile
o Doors – LA Woman
o Can – Tago Mago
o John, Elton – Madman Across the Water
o Parton, Dolly – Coat of Many Colors
o McLean, Don – American Pie
o Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Tarkus
o Led Zeppelin – IV [aka Untitled / aka Four Symbols]
o Gainsbourg, Serge – Histoire de Melody Nelson
o Stewart, Rod – Every Picture Tells a Story
o Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Pictures at an Exhibition
o Cohen, Leonard – Songs of Love & Hate
o Mitchell, Joni – Blue
o Funkadelic – Maggot Brain
o Joplin, Janis – Pearl
o Kuti, Fela - With Ginger Baker: Live!
o Faces – A Nod is as Good as a Wink… To a Blind Horse
o Flamin’ Groovies – Teenage Head
o Clark, Gene – White Light
o Prine, John – John Prine (1st Album)
o Nilsson, Harry – Nilsson Schmilsson
o T.Rex – Electric Warrior
o Bowie, David – Hunky Dory
o Newman, Randy – Sail Away
o Deep Purple – Machine Head
o Big Star – # 1 Record
o Black Sabbath – Vol 4
o Steely Dan – Can’t Buy a Thrill
o Young, Neil – Harvest
o Mayfield, Curtis – Superfly: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
o Slade – Slayed?
o Deep Purple – Made in Japan
o Yes – Close to the Edge
o Reed, Lou – Transformer
o Masekela, Hugh – Home is Where the Music Is
o Nascimento, Milton & Lo Borges – Clube da Esquina (1972)
o Rundgren, Todd – Something/Anything
o Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Will the Circle Be Unbroken?
o Wonder, Stevie – Talking Book
o Still, Stephen – Manassas
o T.Rex – Slider
o Ackles, David – American Gothic
o Eagles – Eagles (1st Album)
o Buckley, Tim – Greetings from LA
o Drake, Nick – Pink Moon
o Simon, Paul – Paul Simon (1972)
o Roxy Music – Roxy Music (1st Album)
o Alice Cooper – School’s Out
o Temptations – All Directions
o Bowie, David – Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
o War – World is a Ghetto
o Green, Al – Let’s Stay Together
o Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St
o Lynyrd Skynyrd – Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd
o Incredible Bongo Band – Bongo Rock
o Bowie, David – Aladdin Sane
o King Crimson – Lark’s Tongues in Aspic
o Marley, Bob & the Wailers – Catch a Fire
o Hawkwind – Space Ritual
o Cale, John – Paris 1919
o Can – Future Days
o Reed, Lou – Berlin
o Genesis – Selling England by the Pound
o Gaye, Marvin – Let’s Get it On
o Martyn, John – Solid Air
o Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure
o Faust – IV
o Hancock, Herbie – Head Hunters
o Mott the Hoople – Mott
o Oldfield, Mike – Tubular Bells
o Rundgren, Todd – A Wizard, a True Star
o John, Elton – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
o Steely Dan – Countdown to Ecstasy
o Jennings, Waylon – Honky Tonk Heroes
o Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
o Wonder, Stevie – Innervisions
o ZZ Top – Tres Hombres
o McCartney, Paul & Wings – Band on the Run
o Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Next
o Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies
o Iggy & the Stooges – Raw Power
o Isley Brothers – 3 + 3
o New York Dolls – New York Dolls (1st Album)
o Eno, Brian – Here Come the Warm Jets
o Bad Company – Bad Company (1st Album)
o Genesis – Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
o Otis, Shuggie – Inspiration Information
o Wonder, Stevie – Fullfillingness’ First Finale
o Clapton, Eric – 461 Ocean Boulevard
o Kraftwerk – Autobahn
o Morrison, Van – It’s Too Late to Stop Now
o Mitchell, Joni – Court & Spark
o Queen – II
o Roxy Music – Country Life
o Tangerine Dream – Phaedra
o Sparks – Kimono My House
o Supertramp – Crime of the Century
o Thompson, Richard & Linda – I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
o Scott-Heron, Gil & Brian Jackson – Winter in America
o Queen – Sheer Heart Attack
o 10cc – Sheet Music
o Young, Neil – On the Beach
o Jones, George – Grand Tour
o Clark, Gene – No Other
o Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic
o Newman, Randy – Good Old Boys
o Marley, Bob & the Wailers – Natty Dread
o Wyatt, Robert – Rock Bottom
o Parsons, Gram – Grievous Angel
o Eno, Brian – Another Green World
o Dictators – Go Girl Crazy!
o Neu! – ‘75
o Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti
o Jarrett, Keith – Köln Concert
o Aerosmith – Toys in the Attic
o Bowie, David – Young Americans
o Burning Spear – Marcus Garvey
o Springsteen, Bruce – Born to Run
o Harris, Emmylou – Pieces of the Sky
o Dion – Born to Be With You
o Mitchell, Joni – Hissing of Summer Lawns
o Tom Waits - Nighthawks At The Diner
o Burman, Rahul Dev – Shalimar (Soundtrack)
o Young, Neil – Tonight’s the Night
o Dylan, Bob – Blood on the Tracks
o Smith, Patti – Horses
o Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
o Queen – A Night at the Opera
o Nelson, Willie – Red Headed Stranger
o Earth, Wind & Fire – That’s the Way of the World
o Mayfield, Curtis – There’s No Place Like America Today
o Petty, Tom & the Heartbreakers - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1st Album)
o Modern Lovers – Modern Lovers [Rec 1972, not released until 1976]
o Bowie, David – Station to Station
o Mitchell, Joni – Hejira
o Boston – Boston (1st Album)
o Eagles – Hotel California
o ABBA – Arrival
o Kiss – Destroyer
o Rush – 2112
o Ben, Jorge – África Brasil
o Armatrading, Joan – Joan Armatrading (1st Album)
o Aerosmith – Rocks
o Parliament – Mothership Connection
o Penguin Café Orchestra – Music from the Penguin Café
o Jarre, Jean Michel – Oxygene
o Ramones – Ramones (1st Album)
o Kuti, Fela – Zombie
o Tosh, Peter – Legalize It
o Wonder, Stevie – Songs in the Key of Life
o Frampton, Peter – Frampton Comes Alive
o Eno, Brian – Before & After Science
o Kraftwerk – Trans-Europe Express
o Joel, Billy – Stranger, the
o Marley, Bob & the Wailers – Exodus
o Electric Light Orchestra – Out of the Blue
o Weather Report – Heavy Weather
o Muddy Waters – Hard Again
o Stranglers – Rattus Norvegicus
o Clash – Clash (1st Album)
o Bowie, David – Low
o Steely Dan – Aja
o Wire – Pink Flag
o Martyn, John – One World
o Talking Heads – 77
o Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
o Bowie, David – ‘Heroes’
o Wilson, Dennis – Pacific Ocean Blue
o Suicide – Suicide (1st Album)
o Iggy Pop – Idiot, the
o Gabriel, Peter – Peter Gabriel (I)
o Television – Marquee Moon
o Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell
o Costello, Elvis – My Aim is True
o Iggy Pop – Lust for Life
o Dury, Ian – New Boots & Panties!!
o Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the…
o Pere Ubu – Modern Dance
o Kraftwerk – Man Machine
o Blondie – Parallel Lines
o Regina, Elís – Vento de Maio
o Pere Ubu – Dub Housing
o Only Ones – Only Ones (1st Album)
o Costello, Elvis – This Year’s Model
o Jam – All Mod Cons
o Ely, Joe – Honky Tonk Masquerade
o Adverts – Crossing the Red Sea with the…
o Big Star – Third (aka Sister Lovers)
o Residents – Duck Stab/Buster & Glen
o Public Image Ltd – Public Image
o Magazine – Real Life
o Springsteen, Bruce – Darkness on the Edge of Town
o Funkadelic – One Nation Under a Groove
o Throbbing Gristle – DOA: Third & Final Report
o Thin Lizzy – Live &Dangerous
o Talking Heads – More Songs About Buildings & Food
o Buzzcocks – Another Music in a Different Kitchen
o Van Halen – Van Halen (1st Album)
o Colón, Willie & Rubén Blades – Siembra
o Cars – Cars (1st Album)
o Devo – Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
o Dire Straits – Dire Straits (1st Album)
o Saints – Eternally Yours
o Gaye, Marvin – Here, My Dear
o Nelson, Willie – Stardust
o Chic – C’est Chic
o X-ray Spex – Germ Free Adolescents
o Eno, Brian – Ambient 1: Music for Airports
o Siouxsie & the Banshees – Scream, the
o AC/DC – Highway to Hell
o Sister Sledge – We Are Family
o Crusaders – Street Life
o Germs – GI
o B52s – B52s (1st Album)
o Czukay, Holger – Movies
o Police – Reggatta de Blanc
o Fall – Live at the Witch Trials
o Talking Heads – Fear of Music
o Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures
o Chic – Risqué
o Undertones – Undertones (1st Album)
o Clash – London Calling
o Japan – Quiet Life
o Faithfull, Marianne – Broken English
o Slits – Cut
o Costello, Elvis – Armed Forces
o Young, Neil – Rust Never Sleeps
o Gang of Four – Entertainment!
o Cheap Trick – At Budokan
o Fleetwood Mac – Tusk
o Pink Floyd – Wall, the
o Public Image Ltd – Metal Box
o Jackson, Michael – Off the Wall
o Damned – Machine Gun Etiquette
o Numan, Gary – Pleasure Principle
o Specials – Specials (1st Album)

There are so many I could add to this list that I think are definetely worth a listen and are brilliant albums, I mean where on earth is 'Quadrophenia' by The Who? I would rather have that in there than 'Live at Leeds' (though it is an amazing album).And not a single Doctor Feelgood album listed!! I'd add 'Stupidity' and 'Sneaking Suspicion' to the list. Also Jackson Browne - The Pretender, Eddie & The Hot Rods - Teenage Depression', The Dead Boys - Young, Loud and Snotty, Patti Smith - Easter, Madness - One Step Beyond, Penetration - Moving Targets, and The Ruts - The Crack.

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 1960's


This is a much more comprehensive list compared to the 1950's. Same as last time, ones I've heard in Italics and ones that I own and have of course heard in Bold

o Baez, Joan – Joan Baez (1960)
o Presley, Elvis – Elvis is Back!
o Makeba, Miriam – Miriam Makeba (1960)
o Everly Brothers – A Date with the…
o Smith, Jimmy – Back at the Chicken Shack
o Muddy Waters – At Newport
o Evans, Bill – Sunday at the Village Vanguard
o Charles, Ray - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
o Booker T and  the MGs – Green Onions
o Getz, Stan and Charlie Byrd – Jazz Samba
o Price, Ray – Night Life
o Beatles – With the…
o Dylan, Bob – Freewheelin’…
o Spector, Phil and Various Artists – A Christmas Gift for You
o Cooke, Sam – Live at the Harlem Square
o Mingus, Charles – Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
o Brown, James – Live at the Apollo (1963)
o Getz, Stan and  João Gilberto – Getz/Gilberto
o Beatles – A Hard Day’s Night
o Brel, Jacques – Olympia 64
o Burke, Solomon – Rock ‘n’ Soul
o Springfield, Dusty - A Girl Called Dusty
o Rolling Stones – Rolling Stones (1st Album)
o Owens, Buck – I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail
o Lewis, Jerry Lee – Live at the Star Club, Hamburg
o Sonics – Here Are the…
o Dylan, Bob – Bringing it All Back Home
o Redding, Otis – Otis Blue… Sings Soul
o Beach Boys – Today!
o Coltrane, John – A Love Supreme
o King, B.B. – Live at the Regal
o Beatles – Rubber Soul
o Jansch, Bert – Bert Jansch (1st Album)
o Byrds, Mr Tambourine Man
o Dylan, Bob – Highway 61 Revisited
o Who – My Generation
o Beatles – Revolver
o Beach Boys – Pet Sounds
o Neil, Fred – Fred Neil (1st Album)
o Byrds – Fifth Dimension
o Dylan, Bob – Blonde on Blonde
o Monks – Black Monk Time
o Kinks – Face to Face
o Mamas & the Papas – If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
o Revere, Paul & the Raiders – Midnight Ride
o Mothers of Invention – Freak Out!
o Rolling Stones – Aftermath
o Simon & Garfunkel – Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme
o 13th Floor Elevators – Psychedelic Sounds of the…
o John Mayall’s Blues Breakers – With Eric Clapton
o Yardbirds – Yardbirds [aka Roger the Engineer] (1st Album)
o Simone, Nina – Wild is the Wind
o Gilberto, Astrud – Beach Samba
o Nico – Chelsea Girl
o Beatles – Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
o Country Joe & the Fish – Electric Music for the Mind & Body
o Buffalo Springfield – Again
o Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band – Safe as Milk
o Moby Grape – Moby Grape (1st Album)
o Love – Da Capo
o Beau Brummels – Triangle
o Monkees – Headquarters
o Buckley, Tim – Goodbye & Hello
o Love – Forever Changes
o Cream – Disraeli Gears
o Pink Floyd – Piper at the Gates of Dawn
o Who – Sell Out
o Velvet Underground - & Nico
o Sinatra, Frank - Frank Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
o Doors – Doors (1st Album)
o The Byrds - Younger Than Yesterday
o Young Rascals – Groovin’
o Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow
o Kinks – Something Else by the…
o Donovan – Sunshine Superman
o Haggard, Merle – I’m a Lonesome Fugitive
o Hendrix, Jimi – Are You Experienced
o Electric Prunes – I Had too Much to Dream (Last Night)
o Lynn, Loretta – Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)
o Sharma, Shivkumar / Brij Bushan Kabra / Hariprasad Chaurasia – Call of the Valley
o Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat
o Hendrix, Jimi – Axis: Bold as Love
o Franklin, Aretha – I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
o Rolling Stones – Beggars Banquet
o Traffic – Traffic (2nd Album)
o Incredible String Band – Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter
o Kinks – Village Green Preservation Society
o Shankar, Ravi – Sounds of India (1968)
o Mutantes, os – Mutantes, os (1st Album)
o Hendrix, Jimi – Electric Ladyland
o Cohen, Leonard – Songs of…
o Cash, Johnny – At Folsom Prison
o Nyro, Laura – Eli & the Thirteenth Confession
o Franklin, Aretha – Lady Soul
o Blue Cheer – Vincebus Eruptum
o Byrds – Notorious Byrd Brothers
o Big Brother & the Holding Company – Cheap Thrills
o United States of America – United States of America
o Dr John – Gris Gris
o Iron Butterfly – In a Gadda da Vida
o Pretty Things – S.F. Sorrow
o Simon & Garfunkel – Bookends
o Small Faces – Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake
o Band – Music from Big Pink
o Beck, Jeff – Truth
o Veloso, Caetano – Caetano Veloso (1968)
o Walker, Scott – Scott 2
o Zombies – Odessey & Oracle
o Morrison, Van – Astral Weeks
o Byrds – Sweetheart of the Rodeo
o Beatles – Beatles [aka White Album]
o Mothers of Invention – We’re Only in it for the Money
o Young, Neil – Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
o Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band – Trout Mask Replica
o Creedence Clearwater Revival – Bayou Country
o Crosby, Stills & Nash – Crosby, Stills & Nash
o Blood, Sweat & Tears - Blood, Sweat & Tears (2nd Album)
o Flying Burrito Brothers – Gilded Palace of Sin
o Cash, Johnny – At San Quentin
o Creedence Clearwater Revival – Green River
o Beatles – Abbey Road
o Who – Tommy
o Davis, Miles – In a Silent Way
o Bee Gees – Odessa
o Pentangle – Basket of Light
o Rolling Stones – Let it Bleed
o Drake, Nick – Five Leaves Left
o Springfield, Dusty – Dusty in Memphis
o Presley, Elvis – From Elvis in Memphis
o Velvet Underground – Velvet Underground (3rd Album)
o Quicksilver Messenger Service – Happy Trails
o Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin (1st Album)
o Band – Band (2nd Album)
o Led Zeppelin – II
o MC5 – Kick Out the Jams
o Temptations – Cloud Nine
o Sly & the Family Stone – Stand!
o Buckley, Tim – Happy Sad
o Chicago Transit Authority [Chicago] - Chicago Transit Authority (1969)
o Fairport Convention – Unhalfbricking
o Youngbloods – Elephant Mountain
o Hayes, Isaac – Hot Buttered Soul
o Grateful Dead – Live/Dead
o Kinks – Arthur: Or the Decline & Fall of the British Empire
o King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King
o Cohen, Leonard – Songs from a Room
o Fairport Convention – Liege & Lief
o Walker, Scott – Scott 4
o Stooges – Stooges (1st Album)
o Spence, Alexander ‘Skip’ – Oar
o Zappa, Frank – Hot Rats

I think what amazed me as I went through that list was actually how many of them I actually have in my own collection!
There are probably a few albums that should be in the list but I can't actually think of them at the moment apart from the the 1968 classic by Wilson Pickett called 'The Exciting Wislon Pickett'. Atlantic/Stax Volt soul is probably better remembered for singles rather than albums. Also only one of Otis Redding's albums are mentioned in the list. I would add to it his 2nd album, The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads, released in 1965. Not only does it include the superb 'Mr Pitiful' but also a blinding verion of 'That's How Strong My Love Is' and a beautiful rendition of Sam Cooke's 'Nothing Can Change This Love'.

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