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New York Daily News (MCT)
At a time when CD sales are wobbling like Britney Spears, the National Association of Record Manufacturers and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have fought back with a celebration of the greatest albums ever. Tuesday, the two organizations released "The Definitive 200," a list of 200 albums they think every popular-music fan should own. To no one's shock, Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper," Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" and Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Like any best-of list, its first goal is to start arguments. I saw that the list doesn't include either Bob Dylan's "Blonde on Blonde" or James Brown's "Live at the Apollo," and muttered, "This is ridiculous." That part of the plan works. What works less well is the list's more ambitious goal: persuading us that in the downloading age the CD/album is still the basic unit of popular music. The idea has warm, nostalgic resonance for millions and millions of people who own or remember albums and CDs. It just isn't true. Albums aren't the basic unit of popular music. They are a means of packaging the basic unit, which is the single. Songs. Individual songs. That's where it starts. Sure, most of us can name a handful of albums where every note is right. I'd say that about Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited," "Warren Zevon," "Kate and Anna McGarrigle," the Stones' "Beggars Banquet," Springsteen's "Seeger Sessions" and "My Fair Lady." But there are many more albums I love that include cuts I don't really care about. Skip them and give me "Oh Girl" by the Chi-Lites or "Double Shot" by the Swingin' Medallions or "Gimme the Light" by Sean Paul, all by themselves. For most of human history, that's how music has spread: one song at a time. It was true before recorded music and remained true all through the golden age of American popular standards into the early years of rock `n' roll. Then the album packagers moved in, and there's no doubt the album age produced some wonderful music, as the "Definitive 200" list confirms. But when today's downloaders pick their music one song at a time, it's hardly a revolution. It's more a return to the natural order - one to which, we can be reasonably certain, marketers will adjust. ____________________ Top 200 albums of all time: 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 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 DEJA 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 BEYONCE 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 Have a comment? Please e-mail us. ŠThe Voice 2006 Revised 01/13/2008 03:10:33 PM — http://www.uamont.edu/Organizations/TheVoice/4_20/albums.htm |
