Sixteen of my all-time favourite albums

For years, I've struggled with this on multiple levels.

Firstly, every time I try to compile a list of my own personal favourite albums, I always get sidetracked toward a list of 'most historically significant' albums, or a list of albums 'most representative of my musical tastes' instead.

Plus, as always with these lists, my choices change constantly. A list that might look reasonable tonight may appear totally foreign and inappropriate the next morning!

And I could never finalise a top-10 list, cos there always will be that 11th album that just had to go on the list. But that's a never ending problem - I'd have the same issue with a top-20 or even a top-50 list!

And would it be fair to other artistes if I included multiple albums of a single artiste?
But if I impose a 'one album per artiste' rule, I'd have to chose between *gasps* The Bends and OK Computer!
Or between *horrors* Abbey Road and Revolver!
Or between Blonde On Blonde and Highway 61 Revisited!!!

Help!!! (a genuine cry for assistance, not a reference to the Beatles album)

So it's a wonder that I managed to compile this list last night - I decided I should showcase it in a square, Instagram-friendly, more visually arresting photo-grid format, so that would mean a compilation of either 9, 16, 25, or 36 albums.

I eventually settled on a 4x4 grid, but only cos I couldn't find a programme that could make me a 5x5 grid, and I figured a 6x6 grid would be a bit of an overkill! =P

I've attempted such a compilation on many occasions in the past, but I never managed to come up with a list that I was happy with.
Finally, this time, I seem to have curated a selection of 16 albums that I'm reasonably proud of, and actually happy to be associated with!

So, without further ado, here's sixteen of my all-time favourite albums, in chronological order no less, correct as of 14 January, 2017!

1. Way Out West - Sonny Rollins (1957)

This is an easy choice, being my favourite jazz album of all time. I've always loved the happy, sunny 'sound' of Sonny Rollin's saxophone, more so than, say, the more intense, serious Coltrane tone.

But even amongst the Sonny Rollins discography, I have many favourites, including Saxophone Colossus, The Sound Of Sonny, and The Bridge (featuring the late, great Jim Hall on guitar, who despite not having an album on this list, is mentioned twice in this article!), but Way Out West just about shades them all.

There are literally thousands of such simple jazz trios, but the incredible chemistry between Sonny Rollins and bassist Ray Brown and drummer Shelly Manne for the Way Out West session simply stands out.

Might have been something to do with the fact that they recorded it thorough the night, cos everyone was fully booked up for other sessions during the daytime!

2. Rubber Soul - The Beatles (1965)

I only got into The Beatles relatively late - there was a time in my life when I actually preferred The Hollies over the Fab Four! - but once I eventually 'got' them, there was no looking back.

I love so many of their songs and albums, from the early Please Please Me, to the mercurial Revolver, to the awesome Abbey Road, but somehow I've always had a soft spot for Rubber Soul.

To me, it's their coming-of-age album, where, perhaps via the LSD that Bob Dylan had introduced them to, they lost the wide-eyed, 'Love Me Do' innocence of their early work, and finally started to blossom and mature in terms of their songwriting, creativity, and music-craft.

He's a real nowhere man
Sitting in his nowhere land
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
Doesn't have a point of view
Knows not where he's going to
Isn't he a bit like you and me?

3. Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs - Derek and the Dominos (1970)

Eric Clapton at his creative bluesy peak + the unrequited angst of being in forbidden love with his BFF George Harrison's wife Patti Boyd + the slide guitar genius of Duanne Allman + the great lineup of Bobby Whitlock (keyboards), Carl Radle (bass), and Jim Gordon (drums) in his backing band + loads and loads of hedonistic drugs and booze = the powerful, awesomely messy masterpiece that is Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.

Clapton's discography can be so frustratingly inconsistent at times, but Layla will always stand out as his musical crowning glory, his artistic tour-de-force.

'Nuff said!

4. Blood On The Tracks - Bob Dylan (1975)

As a lifelong Dylan fan, there are many of his albums that I could have included here, including Highway 61 Revisited, Blonde on Blonde, but Blood On The Tracks remains my longtime favourite. Much influenced by his recent divorce, BOTT is Dylan at his most tender and introspective, yet it is understandably significantly tinged with bitterness, anger and unbridled pain.

The lyric that best reflects the desolate mood of the album is from the tract You're A Big Girl Now:

I’m going out of my mind, oh, oh 

With a pain that stops and starts 

Like a corkscrew to my heart 

Ever since we’ve been apart

5. Blonde On The Rocks - Shoji Yokouchi Quartet (1976)

I'm a big fan of guitar jazz, and I have amassed a fairly diverse collection of albums from jazz guitar maestros like Jim Hall, Kenny Burrell, Grant Green, and John Scofield.

Having said that, Japanese jazz in general, and Shoji Yokouchi in particular, is new to me.

Unfortunately, there isn't much online information in English about Shoji Yokouchi - he's evidently done a series of albums with distinctly cheesecake covers - but this album Blonde On The Rocks most definitely is not one of them.

From the very first note, you'll realise that this is absolutely powerful stuff, and the relentless swinging groove that first hits you, the tightness of his ensemble, doesn't ever let go till the last note. Brilliant stuff!

6. Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division (1979)

I've always been drawn to the intrigue of Joy Division, a band that seemed to define the post-punk sound of the late 70s, a band at the cusp of greatness; when their enigmatic lead singer Ian Curtis tragically kills himself in macabre fashion just before they were due to embark on their debut US tour. 

Like Yazoo, JD only release 2 formal albums in their lifetime, but how awesome these pair of albums were. Both showcased their signature dark, sombre sound with Peter Hook's driving rhythm, and powerful tunes sung in the equally deep, dark, brooding voice of Ian Curtis.

I gave my preference to their debut Unknown Pleasures (with one of the most iconic of album covers) for this list, but it could just as easily have been their sophomore effort Closer.

7. Upstairs At Eric's - Yazoo (1982)

Back in '82, I must have listened to the cassette of this, over and over, like a gazillion times! Yazoo remains my favourite synth-pop band - I prefer them over Depeche Mode, Erasure and the like. It's the special chemistry between the brilliant catchy song-writing of Vince Clarke, and the smokey, bluesy, soul-tinged vocals of Alison Moyet. It's a shame she never managed to achieve mainstream success anywhere proportionate to her massive, distinctive voice.

Their sophomore and final album You And Me Both is great as well, but this, their debut, will always stand out. At times dark and eerie, but mostly awesomely catchy, with the added bonus of arguably the coolest album cover of all time!!!

8. Low-Life - New Order (1985)

I always find fascinating that from the ashes of the dark, haunting sounds of Joy Division could arise the electro-synth dance rock of New Order.

Their first 2 albums Movement and Power, Corruption & Lies showcased their gradual evolution away from the primarily guitar based sound of JD with the increasing use of synths (courtesy of new member Gillian Gilbert), and to me, it's Low-Life, their third album, that they perfected their signature synthesizer based 'techno' rock sound, supported by the robotic beats of drummer Stephen Morris, Bernard Sumner's distinctive whine, and of course, Peter Hook's throbbing bass - just listen to the awesomeness of tracks like This Time Of Night, Sub-Culture, and the magnificent instrumental Elegia.

9. Girlfriend - Matthew Sweet (1991)

I have a particular fondness for sad, breakup albums (I've had ample opportunity to indulge in those), including Dylan's Blood On The Tracks, Jackson Browne's I'm Alive, but this will always be my favourite.

So many times I've blockaded myself in my room, and played this album on repeat, full blast, as manner of catharsis.

Matthew Sweet can write a mean catchy song, and this album is chockful of them, but it also contains the awesomely bittersweet longing of the tracts Winona, You Don't Love Me, and Your Sweet Voice.

An alternate country rock-pop album with crunching guitars, exquisite songwriting, and achingly beautiful tunes...no wonder it's been described as a modern day Revolver - that's high compliment indeed!

10. The Sky Is Crying - Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble (1991)

Thankfully, this posthumously released album is not technically a greatest hits selection, otherwise it would not have been 'allowed' in this list!

But The Sky Is Crying houses a great curation of classic Stevie Ray Vaughn tunes (courtesy of his younger brother Jimmie Vaughn), with his signature powerful blues riffs and raspy vocals.

Here he does a great cover of the Kenny Burrell's Chitlins con Carne, Jimi Hendrix's Little Wing, and of course, the great Elmore James classic in the title tract - all great stuff, made all the more poignant by the reference to his tragic death in a helicopter crash the year before....sigh.

11. Achtung Baby - U2 (1991)

No introduction needed for this one - Achtung Baby is almost universally and uncontroversially regarded as U2's best work.

At that time, U2 was always evolving with every album they recorded, from the straightforward post-punk rock of their first few albums, to the American influenced Joshua Tree and Rattle & Hum, to their horrid 'disco' phase of Zooropa etc, but Achtung Baby was their perfect blend of creative dancefloor-friendly glam-art meets industrial grunge rock.

With solid songs like One, Ultraviolet, Acrobat, Mysterious Ways - Achtung Baby will always hold a special place in my heart.

Plus I get to see a naked Adam Clayton's schlong at the back of the album cover - woohoo!!

12. Amplified Heart - Everything But The Girl (1994)

EBTG remains one of my favourite bands ever - I especially love the sultry voice of Tracey Thorn.

Of their discography, I especially adore the 1988 Idlewild, and this one from 1994, Amplified Heart, both of which I've enjoyed listening to, repeatedly, over the years, and both have gotten me through some rough emotional patches.

Their biggest hit Missing came from this album, but ironically it's the tune that least fits into the mood of this album, which is predominantly melancholic and introspective, with sad tunes like Disenchanted and 25th December.

Tragically, it's their only album that has yet to be released on vinyl, much to my dismay! =(

13. The Bends - Radiohead (1995)

Radiohead was one of many bands trying to emulate Nirvana during the 'grunge' years of the early 90s, but thankfully, unlike many of the rest, they had the talent and foresight to quickly evolve away from that.

To me, The Bends, their sophomore effort, will forever mark their first peak of their supremacy - it's possibly the greatest guitar based rock album ever.

There are literally no weak tracks on the album, with almost every tune a classic - just think The Bends, Fake Plastic Trees, Sulk, Nice Dream, Black Star, Street Spirit, and my favourite song of all time, High And Dry.

If I had to survive on only one desert island disc, it would most likely be this one...an orgasmic delight, from start to finish!

14. Wreaking Ball - Emmylou Harris (1995)

To me, Wreaking Ball epitomises the perfect coming together between artiste and producer in creating a artistic masterpiece that is bigger than the sum of their individual talents.

Emmylou Harris's sometimes thin plaintive voice is perfectly complimented here by an awesomely atmospheric soundscape painted by Daniel Lanois (who was very much at his own artistic peak then).

And Emmylou Harris shows her depth here by covering a range of tunes by artistes as notable and as diverse as Neil Young, Dylan, Hendrix, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, and Anna McGarrigle, amongst others.

Don't need to be a fan of country music (I'm certainly not!) to love this amazing album!

15. A-Go-Go - John Scofield (1997)

Generally I'm a fan of guitar jazz, but I didn't get into John Scofield until a good buddy Desmond introduced me to this album a couple of years ago.

A Go Go is a collaboration between Sco and the New York based jazz-funk trio Medeski, Martin and Wood, and IMHO, this is both his and their best album..they just seem to bring out the best out of each other!

A Go Go is what all modern jazz should sound like....jazzy (duh!), funky, groovy, boppish all at the same time, and always intelligent, always inventive and full of ideas.

And just how cool of a jazz cat is this John Scofield? Let's just say he played guitar for Miles Davis in the early 80s. And his greatest guitar influence is none other than Jim Hall, my absolute favourite jazz guitarist of all time!! That's how cool he is!!! =P

16. OK Computer - Radiohead (1997)

Radiohead were certainly at their zenith in the mid 90s, where they managed to come up with a follow-up album that was totally different from the preceding guitar based The Bends, but which was every bit just as magnificently good.

Ok Computer used a lot more electronica, a lot more sampling, and it sounded more experimental, more dystopian, but taken as a whole, it worked as brilliantly (some say even more so) as on the thematically more straightforward The Bends.

With tracks like Lucky, No Surprises and the defining song of that era, Paranoid Android, OK Computer will forever define Radiohead's 2nd artistic peak.

There's some friggin' awesome stuff in here!

So taking a step back, I see that it's a fairly diverse list encompassing a reasonably broad range of musical genres....a couple of blues albums, a couple of jazz albums, some classic rock, some downtempo, but mostly indie/alternative stuff....even some alt-country! Which I suppose is just about right, cos I do make an effort to listen to a wide range of music, from classical cello to bebop jazz to Chicago blues...they're all fair game to me.

And it's pretty obvious I'm a child of the 90s, with half of these 16 albums from the period between 1991 to 1997.

So even though the music I was first exposed to as a teen was 80s era bands from the British New Wave movement, it seems much/most of what proved to be most influential to me, the stuff that left the most impression, was indie/alternative rock from the 90s - a time when I still had the time and stamina away from work, had newly found independence and financial means, had the occasional romantic pursuit to fuel my angst and passion, was constantly pouring over, and influenced by, music magazines like BiGO, was obsessively frequenting local music stores like DaDa Records, Valentine's and Roxy Records, and was massively indulging in my concurrent love for hi-fi and all things vinyl and turntable related - no wonder my interest and passion for music was so strong then!!!

Anyways, if you have read thus far, thank you...you are very kind!

And you're most welcome to leave a comment or two (be nice!), or better still, your own list of favourite records...I'd love to see/hear your choices! =)