Thursday, March 8, 2007

The not-so-Definitive 200.

The National Association of Record Manufacturers and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have released "The Definitive 200," a list of 200 albums they think every popular-music fan should own. The ones I own, or have owned in some form or other (from 8-track to cassette to vinyl to CD to mp3) are in red.

1 BEATLES SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND 1967 Rock

2 PINK FLOYD DARK SIDE OF THE MOON 1973 Rock

3 MICHAEL JACKSON THRILLER 1982 Pop

4 LED ZEPPELIN LED ZEPPELIN IV 1971 Rock

5 U2 THE JOSHUA TREE 1987 Rock

6 ROLLING STONES EXILE ON MAIN STREET 1972 Rock

7 CAROLE KING TAPESTRY 1971 Adult Contemporary

8 BOB DYLAN HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED 1965 Rock

9 BEACH BOYS PET SOUNDS 1966 Rock

10 NIRVANA NEVERMIND 1991 Rock

11 PEARL JAM TEN 1991 Rock

12 BEATLES ABBEY ROAD 1969 Rock

13 SANTANA SUPERNATURAL 1999 Rock

14 METALLICA METALLICA 1991 Rock

15 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BORN TO RUN 1975 Rock

16 PRINCE PURPLE RAIN 1984 Pop

17 AC/DC BACK IN BLACK 1980 Rock

18 ROLLING STONES LET IT BLEED 1969 Rock

19 DOORS THE DOORS 1967 Rock

20 GRATEFUL DEAD AMERICAN BEAUTY 1970 Rock

21 SHANIA TWAIN COME ON OVER 1997 Country (this wins, hands down, for most embarrassing admission)

22 WHO WHO'S NEXT 1971 Rock

23 STEVIE WONDER SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE 1976 R&B

24 FLEETWOOD MAC RUMOURS 1977 Pop

25 PINK FLOYD THE WALL 1979 Rock

26 ALANIS MORISSETTE JAGGED LITTLE PILL 1995 Pop

27 NORAH JONES COME AWAY WITH ME 2002 Pop

28 EMINEM THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP 2000 Rap

29 OUTKAST SPEAKERBOXX-LOVE BELOW 2003 R&B

30 DR. DRE THE CHRONIC 1992 Rap

31 BEASTIE BOYS LICENSED TO ILL 1986 Rap

32 GUNS N' ROSES APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION 1987 Rock

33 DIXIE CHICKS WIDE OPEN SPACES 1998 Country

34 MILES DAVIS KIND OF BLUE 1959 Jazz

35 EAGLES HOTEL CALIFORNIA 1976 Rock

36 DEF LEPPARD HYSTERIA 1987 Rock

37 SOUNDTRACK: GREASE 1978 Soundtrack

38 MARVIN GAYE WHAT'S GOING ON 1971 R&B

39 BEATLES THE WHITE ALBUM 1968 Rock

40 SOUNDTRACK: SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER 1977 Soundtrack

41 JIMI HENDRIX ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? 1967 Rock

42 BEATLES REVOLVER 1966 Rock

43 BOSTON BOSTON 1976 Rock

44 BON JOVI SLIPPERY WHEN WET 1986 Rock

45 U2 ACHTUNG BABY 1991 Rock

46 WHITNEY HOUSTON WHITNEY HOUSTON 1985 R&B

47 LED ZEPPELIN LED ZEPPELIN II 1969 Rock

48 DAVE MATTHEWS BAND CRASH 1996 Rock

49 ROLLING STONES STICKY FINGERS 1971 Rock

50 GREEN DAY DOOKIE 1994 Rock

51 LED ZEPPELIN HOUSES OF THE HOLY 1973 Rock

52 JONI MITCHELL BLUE 1971 Rock

53 ELVIS PRESLEY ELVIS PRESLEY AT SUN 2004 Rock

54 AEROSMITH TOYS IN THE ATTIC 1975 Rock

55 LAURYN HILL THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL 1998 R&B

56 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BORN IN THE U.S.A. 1984 Rock

57 50 CENT GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN' 2003 Rap

58 AC/DC HIGHWAY TO HELL 1979 Rock

59 NOTORIOUS B.I.G. LIFE AFTER DEATH 1997 Rap

60 VAN HALEN VAN HALEN 1978 Rock

61 GREEN DAY AMERICAN IDIOT 2004 Rock

62 BLACK SABBATH PARANOID 1971 Rock

63 EMINEM THE EMINEM SHOW 2002 Rap

64 JEWEL PIECES OF YOU 1995 Pop

65 COLDPLAY A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD 2002 Pop

66 MEAT LOAF BAT OUT OF HELL 1977 Rock

67 USHER CONFESSIONS 2004 R&B

68 KID ROCK DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE 1998 Rock

69 GEORGE HARRISON ALL THINGS MUST PASS 1970 Pop

70 BILLY JOEL THE STRANGER 1977 Pop

71 EAGLES HELL FREEZES OVER 1994 Rock

72 VAN MORRISON MOONDANCE 1970 Rock

73 R.E.M. AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE 1992 Pop

74 PHIL COLLINS NO JACKET REQUIRED 1985 Pop

75 METALLICA MASTER OF PUPPETS 1986 Rock

76 FAITH HILL BREATHE 1999 Country

77 JOHNNY CASH AT FOLSOM PRISON 1968 Country

78 JOHN COLTRANE A LOVE SUPREME 1964 Jazz

79 PINK FLOYD WISH YOU WERE HERE 1975 Rock

80 MICHAEL JACKSON OFF THE WALL 1979 Pop

81 MARVIN GAYE LET'S GET IT ON 1973 R&B

82 BOB SEGER NIGHT MOVES 1976 Rock

83 PAUL SIMON GRACELAND 1986 Pop

84 LINKIN PARK HYBRID THEORY 2000 Rock

85 PRINCE 1999 1983 Pop

86 DEF LEPPARD PYROMANIA 1983 Rock

87 JANET JACKSON CONTROL 1986 R&B

88 RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK 1991 Rock

89 DIRE STRAITS BROTHERS IN ARMS 1985 Rock

90 TUPAC ALL EYEZ ON ME 1996 Rap

91 MATCHBOX TWENTY YOURSELF OR SOMEONE LIKE YOU 1996 Pop

92 RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS CALIFORNICATION 1999 Rock

93 LED ZEPPELIN PHYSICAL GRAFFITI 1975 Rock

94 NELLY COUNTRY GRAMMAR 2000 Rap

95 CREED HUMAN CLAY 1999 Rock

96 CLASH LONDON CALLING 1979 Rock

97 CELINE DION FALLING INTO YOU 1996 Adult Contemporary

98 NEIL YOUNG HARVEST 1972 Rock

99 SOUNDTRACK: DIRTY DANCING 1987 Soundtrack

100 DIXIE CHICKS HOME 2002 Country

101 TOM PETTY FULL MOON FEVER 1989 Rock

102 VAN HALEN 1984 1984 Rock

103 SOUNDTRACK: TITANIC 1997 Soundtrack

104 CROSBY STILLS & NASH DÉJÀ VU 1970 Rock

105 TLC CRAZYSEXYCOOL 1999 R&B

106 BECK ODELAY 1994 Rock

107 KENNY G BREATHLESS 1992 Adult Contemporary

108 NWA STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON 1989 Rap

109 SEX PISTOLS NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS 1977 Rock

110 BEATLES RUBBER SOUL 1965 Rock

111 RADIOHEAD O.K. COMPUTER 1993 Rock

112 SIMON & GARFUNKEL BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER 1970 Pop

113 DIXIE CHICKS FLY 1999 Country

114 METALLICA AND JUSTICE FOR ALL 1988 Rock

115 MICHAEL JACKSON DANGEROUS 1992 Pop

116 MARIAH CAREY DAYDREAM 1995 Pop

117 SOUNDTRACK: TOP GUN 1986 Soundtrack

118 ELTON JOHN GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD 1973 Pop

119 POLICE SYNCHRONICITY 1983 Rock

120 NO DOUBT TRAGIC KINGDOM 1995 Pop

121 ROLLING STONES BEGGARS BANQUET 1968 Rock

122 R KELLY R 1998 R&B

123 TOOL LATERALUS 2001 Rock

124 OASIS WHAT'S THE STORY MORNING GLORY 1995 Rock

125 BOB MARLEY EXODUS 1977 Reggae

126 JOURNEY ESCAPE 1981 Rock

127 CHRISTINA AGUILERA CHRISTINA AGUILERA 1999 Pop

128 JAY-Z BLUEPRINT 2001 Rap

129 ALICIA KEYS DIARY OF ALICIA KEYS 2003 R&B

130 SOUNDTRACK: O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? 2000 Soundtrack

131 CARS THE CARS 1978 Pop

132 ENYA DAY WITHOUT RAIN 2000 Adult Contemporary

133 NATALIE COLE UNFORGETTABLE: WITH LOVE 1991 R&B

134 SOUNDTRACK: FOOTLOOSE 1984 Soundtrack

135 LIONEL RICHIE CAN'T SLOW DOWN 1983 Pop

136 SARAH MCLACHLAN SURFACING 1997 Adult Contemporar

137 BONNIE RAITT NICK OF TIME 1989 Rock

138 METALLICA RIDE THE LIGHTNING 1984 Rock

139 SHERYL CROW TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB 1993 Pop

140 FRANK SINATRA IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS 1954 Standards

141 EARTH WIND & FIRE GRATITUDE 1975 R&B

142 ZZ TOP ELIMINATOR 1983 Rock

143 WILLIE NELSON RED HEADED STRANGER 1975 Country

144 JOHN LENNON IMAGINE 1971 Rock

145 TONI BRAXTON TONI BRAXTON 1993 R&B

146 ETTA JAMES AT LAST 1961 Blues

147 ELVIS PRESLEY ELVIS PRESLEY 1956 Rock

148 CAT STEVENS TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN 1970 Pop

149 SMASHING PUMPKINS MELLON COLLIE & THE INFINITE SADNESS 1995 Rock

150 DAVE BRUBECK TIME OUT 1959 Jazz

151 JANET JACKSON JANET 1993 R&B

152 QUEEN A NIGHT AT THE OPERA 1975 Rock

153 OZZY OSBOURNE BLIZZARD OF OZZ 1980 Rock

154 WILL SMITH BIG WILLIE STYLE 1997 Rap

155 PRINCE SIGN O' THE TIMES 1987 Pop

156 PUBLIC ENEMY IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS TO HOLD US BACK 1988 Rap

157 BOB DYLAN BLOOD ON THE TRACKS 1975 Rock

158 GEORGE MICHAEL FAITH 1987 Pop

159 BOYZ II MEN COOLEYHIGHHARMONY 1993 R&B

160 DESTINY'S CHILD WRITING'S ON THE WALL 1999 R&B

161 JAY-Z THE BLACK ALBUM 2003 Rap

162 AVRIL LAVIGNE LET GO 2002 Pop

163 FUGEES THE SCORE 1996 R&B

164 MADONNA LIKE A VIRGIN 1984 Pop

165 LED ZEPPELIN LED ZEPPELIN 1969 Rock

166 STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN TEXAS FLOOD 1983 R&B

167 STONE TEMPLE PILOTS CORE 1992 Rock

168 ORIGINAL CAST: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 1988 Cast Album

169 JETHRO TULL AQUALUNG 1971 Rock

170 TUPAC ME AGAINST THE WORLD 1995 Rap

171 DAVID BOWIE THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST 1972 Rock

172 SHAKIRA LAUNDRY SERVICE 1998 Pop

173 SOUNDTRACK: FORREST GUMP 1994 Soundtrack

174 AL GREEN CALL ME 1973 R&B

175 CURTIS MAYFIELD SUPERFLY 1972 R&B

176 LIVE THROWING COPPER 1994 Rock

177 GEORGE BENSON BREEZIN' 1976 Jazz

178 WHITE STRIPES WHITE BLOOD CELLS 2001 Rock

179 LYNYRD SKYNYRD PRONOUNCED LEH-NERD SKIN-ERD 1973 Rock

180 SADE DIAMOND LIFE 1984 Adult Contemporary

181 FLEETWOOD MAC FLEETWOOD MAC 1975 Pop

182 PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS BAND ON THE RUN 1973 Rock

183 BEYONCÉ DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE 2003 R&B

184 ANITA BAKER RAPTURE 1986 R&B

185 NAS ILLMATIC 1994 Rap

186 BARBRA STREISAND A STAR IS BORN 1976 Soundtrack

187 EARTH WIND & FIRE THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD 1975 R&B

188 ANITA BAKER RHYTHM OF LOVE 1994 R&B

189 JAY-Z IN MY LIFETIME VOL. 1 1997 Rap

190 LL COOL J MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT 1990 Rap

191 STEELY DAN AJA 1977 Rock

192 WILLIE NELSON STARDUST 1978 Country

193 ARETHA FRANKLIN SPARKLE 1976 R&B

194 ANDREA BOCELLI ANDREA 2004 Classical

195 BOB DYLAN BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME 1965 Rock

196 LUTHER VANDROSS NEVER TOO MUCH 1981 R&B

197 U2 ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND 2000 Rock

198 RUSH 2112 1976 Rock

199 OUTKAST AQUEMINI 1998 R&B

200 GRAND FUNK RAILROAD WE'RE AN AMERICAN BAND 1973 Rock



54 (?) out of 200 -- more than I'd have expected. More than a few I'd rather not cop to; this list was obviously created by another '80s-era youth. Why'd I do so badly on the second half?

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Now, if I were creating my own list of influential listens, what would they be???

Let's just try for a top 20, and just off the top of my head:

Love Will Keep Us Together, Captain and Tennille** (hey, it's what started it all!)
Furnace Room Lullaby, Neko Case
Evolve, Ani DiFranco
The Trinity Session, Cowboy Junkies
Blue Billie, Billie Holiday*
Blue Miles, Miles Davis
Wild Planet, B-52's
Johnny Cash Live at Folsom Prison
Surfer Rosa, the Pixies*
Essence, Lucinda Williams
Silver and Gold, Neil Young
Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea, PJ Harvey
Public Enemy, Public Enemy
darksneakloveaction, Tom Tom Club**
You Gotta Sin to Get Saved, Maria McKee
Reckoning, REM
Shakedown Street, Grateful Dead**
Rocket to Russia, the Ramones*
War, U2
The Best of Leonard Cohen*

Not a fair list, really -- mostly the ones that've been influential over the past few chaotic years, via a cursory scan of my iTunes, with a few memories of my formative youth tossed in. Subject to change.

* = HOW could these have not made a "definitive" list???
** = Less for critical acclaim than for conjuring up critical life moments

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8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Finding any of the CDs/tapes/records I own on that 200 list was pretty surprising to me.

Anonymous said...

Wow, this list is right up my alley! I counted 52 that I own or have owned in some format or another. Heavy on the Dylan, Bowie, Springsteen, Beatles and Beatles-related ... my own list would include a lot more Pixies, Radiohead, Doors, Van Morrison and where the hell is Wilco? Also, Morphine, Elliott Smith, Luna, Sleep Station and The Dandys - cut me off now 'cuz the list could go on and on!

Anonymous said...

PS If you hadn't figured it out, that last comment was me - Miz N. :)

Lincoln Writer said...

Oh, I figured you out -- your music gives you away! I knew you'd like this ... the best part of such lists is in citing all the mistakes ... seriously, no Leonard Cohen??? No Frank Black???

Anonymous said...

It frightens me relaizing that Joshua Tree was from 1987 and even worse Born to Run was way back in 1975. I'm still running.

I'm going to borrow your unsolicited advice for a friend of mine who needs to know the same. Thank you.

William

Lincoln Writer said...

well, it's a mutual friend, so ...

my unsolicited advice about unsolicited advice:

either don't give it, or give it in a general way -- i.e., putting it out there for anyone/everyone, or modeling it in your own example. If it's not specifically asked for, specific advice generally isn't welcomed.

BlankPhotog said...

I wish I liked more than 15% of that list! I mean... the Titanic soundtrack made it on? And Kenny G? Geez.

Lincoln Writer said...

Yes, but note the wording: Not "best" but "definitive."

In that light, doesn't Kenny G represent all that is wrong with our society???

Well, him and George W ... but he hasn't released an album. Yet.

Dubya's Greatest Hits: "Where's Osama?" ... "I Bombed Iraq, and Iraq Won" ... "Let's Overextend the Troops" ... and the hits keep comin' ...