Albums everyone should own

These are some recordings I have recommended to (or given to) people who are not familiar with the respective genres.

Louis Armstrong - Hot 5s/Hot 7s
Duke Ellington - Blanton/Webster Band
Frank Sinatra - Songs for Swingin' Lovers and In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning
Ella Fitzgerald - Ella in Berlin
John Coltrane - My Favorite Things
Your favorite Beethoven symphony cycle (my top recommendation would be Szell/Cleveland Orchestra)
Your favorite cycle of the Bach cello suites (my top recommendation would be Janos Starker)
Strength in Numbers - Telluride Sessions

 

There's no such thing. You should own the ones YOU like and give a feck about everyone else's opinion.

 

bob mould workbook
elvis Costello imperial bedroom
the stranglers black and white

 

If I were king of the world, this album would be manadatory.

 

I reject the premise. Musical taste is too subjective. Even among the most widely loved albums of all time, there are going to be some dissenters. I think that Smile is one of the most extraordinary pieces of music ever, but I don't expect everyone to agree with me.

 

Exactly. I have some pretty strong opinions concerning what's good and what's bad in music, but I would never be so presumptuous as to expect the rest of the world to fall in line with my choices.

 

You are most welcome! They are based in Philly! Album of the year - 2014 - from lots of publications, etc. Music youtube is loaded with live performances. I discovered this from a lot of guys on this forum. the damn thing has me intoxicated!
Two of the band are from here in MA - including Adam the writer, singer, and lead guitarist.

 

Yeah! It's just an extraordinary piece of work! Hoping for a live album to come out of the current tour.

 

It's not like Jefferson Airplane ever saw that album cover or tried to rip anyone off.

 

There are so many, I would be here all day listing them. As far as others are concerned, if you can come up with a simple list, you are easy to satisfy.

 

FUNHOUSE !

 

Almost everywhere I've lived around the world, every one seems to own KOB, and many other Miles Davis lps.

 

And that just cracks open the door! EVERY Petty Booka album is essential!

 

I agree and it's totally subjective. I just think it's fun to hear what other people view as the must have albums. Great way to learn about new music.

 

I just mentioned Petty Booka in jest because I don't think there are any albums that everyone should have to own.

I do love Petty Booka though!

 

It would be interesting to see if any of these albums could achieve a significant consensus of agreement. A lot of what is listed here is stuff I consider over-hyped shyte, but it's all subjective. What one record is absolutely bullet-proof? And please don't say Sgt. Pepper. I know it has huge historical significance, but Revolver wipes for floor with it for me. Is it Sinatra? Elvis? Who crosses all boundaries?

 

Sometimes art is ubiquitous for a reason. It's just that good.

 

A few slightly less obvious choices...

Muddy Waters - Folk Singer
Midnight Oil - Diesel & Dust
Southside Johnny - Hearts of Stone
Peter Wolf - Long Line
Little Steven - Men Without Women
10cc - Sheet Music
Joe Jackson - Summer in the City

 

I agree with the previous poster - thanks for this recommendation! I've seen the title before on this forum but finally decided to listen to it when you posted it here. It's amazing! Thanks so much.

 

What's Going On
Exile on Main Street
Kind of Blue
Led Zep IV or Physical Graffiti
London Calling
Exodus or The Harder they Come
Astral Weeks or Moondance

A bit of soul, r and b, jazz, heavy rock, punk/white reggae, jamaican reggae, and celtic. Should cover the bases.

 

Terrific! I want this band to be really big!

 

I don't want people to *own* certain albums, but I do hope they would listen to some at least once…

Some Jazz
- Miles Davis, Kind of Blue / Sketches of Spain
- Herbie Hancock, Man-child / River
- Gregory Porter, Be Good

Some Jazz crossover
- Buckshot Lefonque, Music Evolution
- Harry Connick Jr, She
- Jamie Cullum, Catching Tales / The Pursuit

Some classical music
- Beethoven 7th symphony
- Gorecki, 3rd symphony
- Mozart, Requiem
- Tschaikowsky, String Serenade in C-dur (op 48)
- Verdi, La Traviata

Some pop
- ABBA, The Album
- Arcadia, So Red The Rose
- Kate Bush, Never for Ever
- Eurythmics, Sweet Dreams
- Peter Gabriel, So
- Joe Jackson, Body and Soul
- Pink Floyd, DSOTM / WYWH
- Radiohead, OK Computer
- Talk Talk, The Colour of Spring
- Tears For Fears, Songs from the Big Chair / The Seeds of Love
- U2, The Jishua Tree / Achtung Baby

Some electronica/dance
- Air, Moon Safari
- Daft Punk, Random Access Memories
-Depeche Mode, Songs of Faith and Devotion
- Everything But The Girl, Temperamental
- Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Welcome to the Pleasuredome
- Madonna, Ray Of Light
- Massive Attack, Mezzanine
- Pet Shop Boys, Disco
- Propaganda, A Secret Wish
- Propellorheads, DECKSANDDRUMSANDROCKANDROLL
- Trentemøller, The Trentemøller Chronicles

Some funky/soulful stuff
- Terence Trent d'Arby, Introducing the Hardline According to …
- Erykah Badu, Baduism
- Chic, C'est Chic
- EW&F, Raise!
- Marvin Gaye, What's Going On
- Isaac Hayes, Hot Buttered Soul
- Jonathan Jeremiah, A Solitary Man
- Labelle, Nightbirds
- Alicia Keys, The Diary Of
- Nils Landgren, Funky ABBA
- Prince, Purple Rain / Indigo Nights
- Rose Royce, Strikes Again
- Selah Sue, S/T
- Donna Summer, The Dance Collection
- Gino Vannelli, Powerful People
- Steve Winwood, Arc of a Diver
- Stevie Wonder, Innervisions / Songs in the Key of Life

Some hardcore synths
- Jean Michel Jarre, Equinoxe / Magnetic Fields / The Concerts in China
- Klaus Doldinger, Constelation
- Dweller at the Threshold, Generation, Transmission, Illumination
- Kraftwerk, Trans Europe Express
- Nova, Terranova
- Tangerine Dream, Poland
- Tranceport, Tranceglobal
- Vangelis, Blade Runner
- Yellow Magic Orchestra, S/T

Okay, sorry, it became quite a list . And tomorrow it will probably be a bit different. And not mentioning the really good Dutch albums…