In an attempt to broaden my musical horizons, I have embarked on a journey to listen to the greatest albums released over the last 70 years. I have scoured the internet for best of lists and reviews to compile a comprehensive list of around 430 albums that are considered some of the best and most influential albums of all time.
It should be noted, this list has a strong North American bias and does not include many non-English international albums. Those albums deserve a list of their own. I’ve also made a concerted effort to limit the number of albums from the same artist, with some notable exceptions.
I will work my way through the list in chronological order starting in 1954 and ending in 2019. Each Friday I’ll chronicle my thoughts on the albums I listened to that week and give them a letter grade. Check out last week’s albums here. As I listen to each album, I will pick and choose my favourite songs and add them to a Spotify playlist.
This week’s albums are:
Jerry Lee Lewis (aka High School Confidential)
Jerry Lee Lewis
Released: 1958
Grade: B-
A very very similar feel to Elvis, you could even say that Jerry Lee Lewis is a watered down version of Elvis with slightly less charisma. The album has some good moments but doesn’t really have that high energy feel that Jerry Lee Lewis would ultimately be known for.
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Lady in Satin
Billie Holiday
Released: 1958
Grade: A-
The start of this album is anxiety inducing, Holiday’s voice is so fragile and wavering that you think at any moment she’s going to break but when she doesn’t you settle into this sad and tormented album. It’s very similar to In the Wee Small Hours but in that album you get the feeling that Sinatra is going to be okay and get over it, this album has sense of impending dread about it. It also has a massive lush instrumentation that makes it feel like a farewell album.
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Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Released: 1958
Grade: A
So many hits on this album including standouts “Rave On” and “Peggy Sue.” I think the thing that distinguishes Buddy Holly from Elvis and Little Richard is that he incorporated a lot of different styles into his music, gospel, blues, hillbilly, country, rock. This album jumps around to a lot of different places and Buddy Holly’s voice is really versatile. The backing band leaves a little to be desired. Another artist that you can clearly tell was a heavy influence on the Beatles.
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The Shape of Jazz to Come
Ornette Coleman
Released: 1959
Grade: C
I don’t want to be too critical of this album but this is exactly the kind of jazz that I don’t like. It lacks structure, it’s dissonant, but that’s the whole point of free jazz. The players’ skill is commendable but the final product just doesn’t connect with me. There were some moments where I felt the groove but they were fleeting.
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Moanin’ in the Moonlight
Howlin’ Wolf
Released: 1959
Grade: A-
Nothing much to say about this album, it is the quintessential blues record. Howlin’ Wolf’s voice is unmistakable; it has a dirty, nasty, gruff quality and the howls he does are iconic.
