“What really matters is what you like, not what you are like.”
– Nick Hornby, High Fidelity (1995)
Readers who have enjoyed our interviews from time to time know that we typically ask artists to share their five favorite albums of all time at the end of our conversations with them. No matter who the artist is, it’s always fascinating to discover which long players have impacted their personal and professional lives. A few of our interview subjects have even scoffed at the standard five-album limit, rattling off upwards of a dozen or so titles and second-guessing if they’ve made the right choices.
And now, we’re excited to reveal our writers’ respective lists of their 25 all-time favorite albums. We all reserve the right to change our minds about these choices in the future, but for now, here are the indispensable albums that we can’t live without and the reasons why.
Explore Terry Nelson’s 25 favorites below, click the “Next” button to browse the lists or return to the main index.
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David Bowie
Young Americans
RCA (1975)
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Young Americans by David Bowie is a standout in his extensive discography due to its distinct sound that sets it apart from the rest of his catalog. Bowie’s ninth studio album still holds up today and is a great lead-in to Station to Station (1976).
David Bowie
Station to Station
RCA (1976)
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Station to Station is Bowie’s last studio LP before his famous Berlin trilogy. Stripped away of Young Americans’ more pop leanings, this six-song album, which features a cover of Johnny Mathis’ “Wild is the Wind,” is the perfect prelude to Bowie’s next LP, Low (1977).
The Cars
The Cars
Elektra (1978)
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This is one of the first LPs that made me stand up and take notice of a band. The Cars’ eponymous debut ushered in the New Wave era and to this day, it’s a very listenable classic. One of the best debuts by any band in the modern rock era.
The Clash
London Calling
CBS/Epic (1979)
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Out of all the albums I’ve listened to, this is the one that has the most incredible ability to take me on a nostalgic journey to a time in my life when music was my ultimate source of solace and comfort. It was fierce, angry and just what I needed at the time. It’s what we all needed at the time. London Calling is another example of a double album that works from beginning to end.
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Live at Fillmore West
Atlantic (1971)
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Recorded live at the famous Fillmore West, this LP finds Aretha Franklin at her absolute best, singing a mix of her material and cover songs such as "Love the One You're With.” As live albums go, Aretha Franklin Live at Fillmore West is one of the best.
Peter Gabriel
So
Charisma/Geffen (1986)
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Peter Gabriel’s exceptional fifth studio album still sounds as amazing as it did upon its release nearly four decades ago. He performed the difficult task of staying true to his style of music while making an album that was more listenable to a wider audience. It’s a great listen and amongst Gabriel’s best LPs.
Marvin Gaye
What’s Going On
Tamla (1971)
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This is a timeless masterpiece that is just as relevant today as it was when it was released. Through his performance, Marvin Gaye offers a profound reflection of the state of the world in 1971 and allows us a glimpse into the depths of his own inner turmoil.
PJ Harvey
Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
Island (2000)
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This album got me through a nasty breakup and provided the soundtrack for the year 2000. My personal highlight is Harvey’s duet with Thom Yorke on “This Mess We’re In.” Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea is fierce and beautiful.
Freddie Hubbard
Red Clay
CTI (1970)
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Freddie Hubbard’s career took a new direction and reached new heights thanks to the groundbreaking album Red Clay. Along with Miles Davis’ groundbreaking album Bitches Brew (1970), it had a profound impact on the jazz landscape, forever altering the course of the genre.
Grace Jones
Nightclubbing
Island (1981)
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This one has been in my steady rotation ever since I bought it in 1981. I still don’t know how Jones combined New Wave, Disco and Reggae and made it all work. Nightclubbing is an underrated classic you should have in your collection.
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin IV
Atlantic (1971)
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Following the mixed reviews of the folk and Celtic influenced Led Zeppelin III, the band retreated to a country house in Headley, Hampshire to write and record Led Zeppelin IV, which became one of the best-selling albums of all time. In the ‘70s, if you were listening to an FM rock station, chances were pretty good you were going to hear “Stairway to Heaven.” Led Zeppelin IV is one of those “must-haves” in your record collection.
Joni Mitchell
Hejira
Asylum (1976)
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Hejira is Joni Mitchell’s eighth studio album and one that made me a fan for life. While I appreciate her prior work, incorporating jazz fusion and having a more electric sound sold me. It didn’t hurt to have Jaco Pastorius as her bass player either. “Amelia” is one of the most underrated breakup songs.
The Police
Outlandos d’Amour
A&M (1978)
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The Police's Outlandos d'Amour is one of the finest debut albums in rock history. It's a ten-track, thirty-eight minute and fourteen-second glimpse at what would become in a few short years, the most popular band in the world. We just didn't know it at the time.
Prince
Dirty Mind
Warner Bros. (1980)
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In February 1981, I was watching an episode of Saturday Night Live and in the last fifteen minutes of the show, host Charlene Tilton introduced Prince. He ripped through a killer version of “Partyup,” from his album Dirty Mind. I knew who he was, but I didn’t own any of his albums. That night I became a believer. I bought Dirty Mind the next day and never looked back.
Prince
Sign O’ the Times
Paisley Park/Warner Bros. (1987)
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What sets this Prince LP apart from the rest and makes it my favorite is the way he seamlessly blended the styles found in his previous albums, resulting in a sound that is truly one of a kind. Prince also pulled off the near impossible feat of making a double album that is listenable from beginning to end.
Public Enemy
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Def Jam/Columbia (1988)
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Public Enemy’s sophomore effort remains one of the fiercest political statements of the ‘80s. Lyrically strong and flawlessly produced, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back was the standard-bearer for hip-hop’s politically conscious era.
The Rolling Stones
Let It Bleed
Decca (1969)
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Blessed with what is arguably the best opening song (“Gimme Shelter”) of any rock album ever, Let It Bleed is one of the most important and pivotal albums in the Rolling Stones’ catalog. The sheer power and emotion in Merry Clayton’s vocals on “Gimme Shelter” is the stuff of legends. It’s also the first featuring a lead vocal by Keith Richards (“You Got the Silver”). With Let It Bleed, the Rolling Stones entered the Mick Taylor era, a time that I consider to be their best.
Roxy Music
Avalon
E.G./Polydor (1982)
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There’s much to be said about going out on top or at your best. Avalon, Roxy Music‘s eighth and final studio album is one of their best efforts. When the band reunited in 1978 after an almost three-year hiatus, only three members from the original lineup remained: Bryan Ferry (lead singer), Phil Manzanera (guitar), and Andy Mackay (Saxophone and oboe). It’s more than just a great album—it’s a mood.
Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan
Rufusized
ABC (1974)
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Rufusized is the band’s third studio album and the one that turned Chaka Khan into a superstar. The band took elements of R&B, funk, and rock along with the commanding vocals of Khan and turned themselves into headliners. “Once You Get Started,” “Please Pardon Me,” and “Your Smile” are the standout songs that make this album truly exceptional.
Steely Dan
Aja
ABC (1977)
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Aja, despite its detractors calling it too slick, is one hell of an album that demands not just one play, but multiple spins. It’s an album that makes you think. The more you listen, the more you will be compelled to listen again, uncovering new elements and flourishes that you may have missed on previous listens. The ability of great albums to captivate listeners and leave them yearning for more is truly remarkable, and Aja is a prime example of this.
T. Rex
Electric Warrior
Fly/Reprise (1971)
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In the mid ‘80s, I worked at Tower Records Lincoln Center in New York City. It was during the mornings when my co-worker Billy would play Electric Warrior that I found myself becoming a fan. The LP is acknowledged as the one that kick-started the UK glam rock movement. “Get It On” and “Jeepster” highlight the album, which is thirty-nine minutes of pure joy.
Talking Heads
Remain in Light
Sire (1980)
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This is the album through which Talking Heads cemented their status as one of the era's most experimental bands. With a supporting cast that included Adrian Belew and Nona Hendryx, the Heads merged their signature style with African rhythms, giving them fresh new sound that was innovative and unique. It has been a mainstay in many ‘80s "best of" lists.
Tom Waits
Franks Wild Years
Island (1987)
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From the beginning of "Hang on St. Christopher,” I felt like I was watching a cabaret/lounge act at a carnival located in the middle of a junkyard and I enjoyed every minute of it. Franks Wild Years is definitely one of the stranger albums in Tom Waits' catalog and I mean strange even for Tom Waits, but it's a fun ride. "Way Down in the Hole" was used for the opening theme for Season 2 of HBO's The Wire (the best TV series ever). Franks Wild Years is an odd, but fun ride.
Bill Withers
Just As I Am
Sussex (1971)
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Produced by Booker T. Jones of Booker T & MGs fame, Bill Withers’ debut LP Just As I Am instantly made him a household name. “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Grandma’s Hands” are the two standout tracks on an album that I can only describe as soulful folk. I have vivid memories of constantly playing my aunt’s 8-track when it was first released. It has long been a favorite of mine.
Stevie Wonder
Innervisions
Tamla (1973)
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Innervisions is not just a reflection on life interpreted through the genius of Stevie Wonder, but it's a nine-track spiritual journey that doesn’t preach, but instead, invites the listener to just take it all in and enjoy. There are not many songs on this earth better than "Living For the City.”