The Definitive 200 Albums Everyone Must Have (Wizbang Pop!)

It's list time again. The Definitive 200 was developed by NARM, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers in celebration of the art form of the record album. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is pleased to recognize this varied collection of some of history's most influencial and popular albums, many of which are Hall of Fame Inductees.

You'll find the incredibly long 21 - 200 at the cut.

1. BEATLES - SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND
2. PINK FLOYD - DARK SIDE OF THE MOON
3. MICHAEL JACKSON - THRILLER
4. LED ZEPPELIN - LED ZEPPELIN IV
5. U2 - JOSHUA TREE
6. ROLLING STONES - EXILE ON MAIN STREET
7. CAROLE KING - TAPESTRY
8. BOB DYLAN - HIGHWAY '61 REVISITED
9. BEACH BOYS - PET SOUNDS
10. NIRVANA - NEVERMIND
11. PEARL JAM - TEN
12. BEATLES - ABBEY ROAD
13. SANTANA - SUPERNATURAL
14. METALLICA - METALLICA
15. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - BORN TO RUN
16. PRINCE - PURPLE RAIN
17. AC/DC - BACK IN BLACK
18. ROLLING STONES - LET IT BLEED
19. DOORS - DOORS
20. GRATEFUL DEAD - AMERICAN BEAUTY

SHANIA TWAIN - COME ON OVER
WHO - WHO'S NEXT
STEVIE WONDER - SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE
FLEETWOOD MAC - RUMOURS
PINK FLOYD - WALL
ALANIS MORISSETTE - JAGGED LITTLE PILL
NORAH JONES - COME AWAY WITH ME
EMINEM - MARSHALL MATHERS LP
OUTKAST - SPEAKERBOXX-LOVE BELOW
DR. DRE - CHRONIC
BEASTIE BOYS - LICENSED TO ILL
GUNS 'N ROSES -APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION
DIXIE CHICKS - WIDE OPEN SPACES
MILES DAVIS - KIND OF BLUE
EAGLES - HOTEL CALIFORNIA
DEF LEPPARD - HYSTERIA
SOUNDTRACK - GREASE
MARVIN GAYE - WHAT'S GOING ON
BEATLES - WHITE ALBUM
SOUNDTRACK - SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
JIMI HENDRIX - ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?
BEATLES - REVOLVER
BOSTON - BOSTON
BON JOVI - SLIPPERY WHEN WET
U2 - ACHTUNG BABY
WHITNEY HOUSTON - WHITNEY HOUSTON
LED ZEPPELIN - LED ZEPPELIN II
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND - CRASH
ROLLING STONES - STICKY FINGERS
GREEN DAY - DOOKIE
LED ZEPPELIN - HOUSES OF THE HOLY
JONI MITCHELL - BLUE
ELVIS PRESLEY - ELVIS AT SUN
AEROSMITH - TOYS IN THE ATTIC
LAURYN HILL - MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - BORN IN THE U.S.A.
50 CENT - GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN'
AC/DC - HIGHWAY TO HELL
NOTORIOUS B.I.G. - LIFE AFTER DEATH
VAN HALEN - VAN HALEN
GREEN DAY - AMERICAN IDIOT
BLACK SABBATH - PARANOID
EMINEM - EMINEM SHOW
JEWEL - PIECES OF YOU
COLDPLAY - RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD
MEATLOAF - BAT OUT OF HELL
USHER - CONFESSIONS
KID ROCK - DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE
GEORGE HARRISON - ALL THINGS MUST PASS
BILLY JOEL - STRANGER
EAGLES - HELL FREEZES OVER
VAN MORRISON - MOONDANCE
REM - AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE
PHIL COLLINS - NO JACKET REQUIRED
METALLICA - MASTER OF PUPPETS
FAITH HILL - BREATHE
JOHNNY CASH - AT FOLSOM PRISON
JOHN COLTRANE - LOVE SUPREME
PINK FLOYD - WISH YOU WERE HERE
MICHAEL JACKSON - OFF THE WALL
MARVIN GAYE - LET'S GET IT ON
BOB SEGER - NIGHT MOVES
PAUL SIMON - GRACELAND
LINKIN PARK - HYBRID THEORY
PRINCE - 1999
DEF LEPPARD - PYROMANIA
JANET JACKSON - CONTROL
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS - BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK
DIRE STRAITS - BROTHERS IN ARMS
TUPAC - ALL EYEZ ON ME
MATCHBOX TWENTY - YOURSELF OR SOMEONE LIKE YOU
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS - CALIFORNICATION
LED ZEPPELIN - PHYSICAL GRAFFITI
NELLY - COUNTRY GRAMMAR
CREED - HUMAN CLAY
CLASH - LONDON CALLING
CELINE DION - FALLING INTO YOU
NEIL YOUNG - HARVEST
SOUNDTRACK - DIRTY DANCING
DIXIE CHICKS - HOME
TOM PETTY - FULL MOON FEVER
VAN HALEN - 1984
SOUNDTRACK - TITANIC
CROSBY STILLS & NASH - DÉJÀ VU
TLC - CRAZYSEXYCOOL
BECK - ODELAY
KENNY G - BREATHLESS
NWA. - STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
SEX PISTOLS - NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS
BEATLES - RUBBER SOUL
RADIOHEAD - O.K. COMPUTER
SIMON & GARFUNKEL - BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
DIXIE CHICKS - FLY
METALLICA - AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
MICHAEL JACKSON - DANGEROUS
MARIAH CAREY - DAYDREAM
SOUNDTRACK - TOP GUN
ELTON JOHN - GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD
POLICE - SYNCHRONICITY
NO DOUBT - TRAGIC KINGDOM
ROLLING STONES - BEGGAR'S BANQUET
R KELLY - R
TOOL - LATERALUS
OASIS - WHAT'S THE STORY MORNING GLORY
BOB MARLEY - EXODUS
JOURNEY - ESCAPE
CHRISTINA AGUILERA - CHRISTINA AGUILERA
JAY-Z - BLUEPRINT
ALICIA KEYS - DIARY OF ALICIA KEYS
SOUNDTRACK - O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU?
CARS - CARS
ENYA - DAY WITHOUT RAIN
NATALIE COLE - UNFORGETTABLE WITH LOVE NATALIE COLE
SOUNDTRACK - FOOTLOOSE
LIONEL RICHIE - CAN'T SLOW DOWN
SARAH MCLACHLAN - SURFACING
BONNIE RAITT - NICK OF TIME
METALLICA - RIDE THE LIGHTNING
SHERYL CROW - TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB
FRANK SINATRA - IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS
EARTH WIND FIRE - GRATITUDE
ZZ TOP - ELIMINATOR
WILLIE NELSON - RED HEADED STRANGER
JOHN LENNON - IMAGINE
TONI BRAXTON - TONI BRAXTON
ETTA JAMES - AT LAST
ELVIS PRESLEY - ELVIS PRESLEY
CAT STEVENS - TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN
SMASHING PUMPKINS - MELLON COLLIE & THE INFINITE SADNESS
DAVE BRUBECK - TIME OUT
JANET JACKSON - JANET
QUEEN - A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
OZZY OSBOURNE - BLIZZARD OF OZZ
WILL SMITH - BIG WILLIE STYLE
PRINCE - SIGN OF THE TIMES
PUBLIC ENEMY - IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS TO HOLD US BACK
BOB DYLAN - BLOOD ON THE TRACKS
GEORGE MICHAEL - FAITH
BOYZ II MEN - COOLEYHIGHHARMONY
DESTINY'S CHILD - WRITING'S ON THE WALL
JAY-Z - BLACK ALBUM
AVRIL LAVIGNE - LET GO
FUGEES - SCORE
MADONNA - LIKE A VIRGIN
LED ZEPPELIN - LED ZEPPELIN
STEVIE RAY VAUGHN - TEXAS FLOOD
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS - CORE
ORIGINAL CAST - PHANTOM OF THE OPERA HIGHLIGHTS
JETHRO TULL - AQUALUNG
TUPAC - ME AGAINST THE WORLD
DAVID BOWIE - RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST
SHAKIRA - LAUNDRY SERVICE
SOUNDTRACK - FORREST GUMP
AL GREEN - CALL ME
CURTIS MAYFIELD - SUPERFLY
LIVE - THROWING COPPER
GEORGE BENSON - BREEZIN'
WHITE STRIPES - WHITE BLOOD CELLS
LYNYRD SKYNYRD - PRONOUNCED LEH-NERD SKIN-ERD
SADE - DIAMOND LIFE
FLEETWOOD MAC - FLEETWOOD MAC
PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS - BAND ON THE RUN
BEYONCE - DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE
ANITA BAKER - RAPTURE
NAS - IIIMATIC
BARBRA STREISAND - A STAR IS BORN
EARTH WIND FIRE - THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD
ANITA BAKER - RHYTHM OF LOVE
JAY-Z - IN MY LIFETIME VOL 1
LL COOL J - MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT
STEELY DAN - AJA
WILLIE NELSON - STARDUST
ARETHA FRANKLIN - SPARKLE
ANDREA BOCELLI - ANDREA
BOB DYLAN - BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME
LUTHER VANDROSS - NEVER TOO MUCH
U2 - ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND
RUSH - 2112
OUTKAST - AQUEMINI
GRAND FUNK RAILROAD - WE'RE AN AMERICAN BAND

Advertisments

Comments (10)

Missing: Bill Evans... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by Space of aides | March 8, 2007 12:17 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Space of aides:

Missing:

Bill Evans, "Everybody Digs Bill Evans"
Talking Heads, "Remain In Light"
Elvis Costello, "My Aim Is True", "This Year's Model"
Yes, "Fragile", "Close To The Edge"
King Crimson, "Starless and Bible Black", "Red", "Discipline"
Brian Eno, "Another Green World", "Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)"
Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Harry Nilsson, Mamas and Papas: greatest hits collections, at least

Also: "The Titanic" soundtrack? Kenny G?!

Whatever.

Posted on March 8, 2007 12:17

Am I correct in not seeing ... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by Steve_in_Corona | March 8, 2007 12:48 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Steve_in_Corona:

Am I correct in not seeing even one album featuring the work of Eric Clapton? No Cream, Derek & the Dominoes, solo stuff..nothing?

And what is always amazing in these lists is the glaring lack of representation by the black blues artists - especially since much of those Zep and Stones albums are songs "covered" (or often ripped off without credit) from these artists.

Blind Willie Johnson is a must. (And a Christian no less) that Plant, Jagger and others stole from.

Robert Johnson of course must also be included, since half the albums listed here would credit him as one of their greatest influences, (or in the case of recent bands - influence of their influences)

Posted on March 8, 2007 12:48

3 Dixie Chicks albums? Ser... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by Rob | March 8, 2007 1:31 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Rob:

3 Dixie Chicks albums? Seriously? And no Clapton?

Posted on March 8, 2007 13:31

WTF, 3 Dixie Chick albums, ... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by Joe Gringo | March 9, 2007 2:05 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Joe Gringo:

WTF, 3 Dixie Chick albums, Avril Lavigne, Will frickin' Smith, Lionel Ritchie, Christine Aguilera, Titanic Soundtrack, Faith Hill?

No George Strait? 13 multi-platinum, 30 platinum and 33 gold albums. All in all George Strait - 62 million albums!

I'll still visit here though

Posted on March 9, 2007 14:05

Aerosmith "Pump" was the be... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by taz | March 10, 2007 10:44 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

taz:

Aerosmith "Pump" was the best Aerosmith Album.

I think this list is over weighted to the Beatles, Metalica, Dixie Chicks.

I do have to admit I own most of the albums on the list from the 80's to the 90's (except for that country "twang-twang" crap); I even have Nelly's album.

Posted on March 10, 2007 10:44

I heard yesterday that Eric... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by Steve_in_Corona | March 10, 2007 11:50 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

I heard yesterday that Eric Clapton is the only artist to be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame on three different occasions.

Which adds to the puzzlement that the hall is associating itself with this list.

Posted on March 10, 2007 11:50

No Leonard Cohen or Lou Ree... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by G. Harvey | March 23, 2007 7:14 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

G. Harvey:

No Leonard Cohen or Lou Reed and you list the boring Norah Jones album

Posted on March 23, 2007 19:14

As previously mentioned, NO... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by Graham | March 27, 2007 9:44 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Graham:

As previously mentioned, NO CLAPTON? The Yardbirds weren't definitive? There are sound tracks included, so where are The Last Waltz and The Big Chill? The Sounds of Silence isn't definitive? There was country music, but conspicuously absent were the names Hank Williams and Garth Brooks. I guess Jefferson Airplane just wasn't original enough. Maybe Gordon Lightfoot didn't write enough songs. I know these list are meant to stir up disagreement, but this one has too many gaping holes.

Posted on March 27, 2007 21:44

First let me say that I lov... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by Don Torrie | April 5, 2007 3:29 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Don Torrie:

First let me say that I love Lex and her afternoon show. Our radio dial does not move off this station. However, I have to agree with some of the previous comments...No Clapton...No Supertramp "Crime of the Century"...No Yes...the list goes on & on. There are many on this list that should not be and many who are absent. I truly believe that Q107 is the only station that even aknowledges the old true Classic rock & roll, but they are still going a little too main stream. What ever happen to the songs on "Side B"

Posted on April 5, 2007 15:29

Not one David Bowie? At lea... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by Gordon | November 2, 2007 9:42 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Gordon:

Not one David Bowie? At least The Rise and Fall Of Ziggy Stardust if not Hunky Dory, Aladdin Sane, Station To Station, Low??

Posted on November 2, 2007 09:42