My 100 Essential Albums
I like Desert Island Disks. For those that do not know this radio show the premiss is very simple. A celebrity is asked to choose just 8 tracks that they would take with them if they were to be marooned on a desert island. Obviously, 8 tracks is a nonsense. That is just too few. So I have set my limit to 100 ( essential albums, not tracks). It is a great way to while away a few hours, actually, more than a few hours.
So far I have produced my top 40, probably, the list could still change. In later posts I will explain why the albums are in the list. Here is the initial List of essential albums;
| 1 | Strictly Personal | Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band |
| 2 | Gone Ain’t Gone | Tim Fite |
| 3 | Horses | Patti Smith |
| 4 | Music From a Doll’s House | Family |
| 5 | Trout Mask Replica | Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band |
| 6 | Transformer | Lou Reed |
| 7 | The Original | Ray Charles |
| 8 | Disraeli Gears | Cream |
| 9 | George Thorogood and the Destroyers | George Thorogood and the Destroyers |
| 10 | Exile on Main Street | Rolling Stones |
| 11 | Velvet Underground with Nico | Velvet Underground with Nico |
| 12 | The Great 28 | Chuckles Berry |
| 13 | The Complete Recordings | Robert Johnson |
| 14 | Led Zeppelin | Led Zeppelin |
| 15 | Bitches Brew | Miles Davis |
| 16 | It’s A Beautiful Day | It’s A Beautiful Day |
| 17 | Punk Single Collection | The Adverts |
| 18 | Berlin | Lou Reed |
| 19 | We’re only in it for The Money | Mothers of Invention |
| 20 | Howlin’ Wolf | Howlin’ Wolf |
| 21 | Go | Bo Diddley |
| 22 | Songs for Swinging Lovers | Frank Sinatra |
| 23 | The Heart of Saturday Night | Tom waits |
| 24 | Bringing it All Back Home | Bob Dylan |
| 25 | Let It Bleed | Rolling Stones |
| 26 | Revolver | The Beatles |
| 27 | The Rise & fall of Ziggy Stardust etc. | David Bowie |
| 28 | The Anthology | Muddy Waters |
| 29 | Live at the Regal | BB King |
| 30 | Marquee Moon | Television |
| 31 | Back in Black | AC/DC |
| 32 | Raw Power | Iggy and the Stooges |
| 33 | Freak Out | The Mothers of Invention |
| 34 | American Beauty | Grateful Dead |
| 35 | Closing Time | Tom Waits |
| 36 | Stripped | Rolling Stones |
| 37 | With Eric Clapton | John Mayall Blues Breakers |
| 38 | Nick of Time | Bonny Raitt |
| 39 | Ramones | Ramones |
| 40 | Saucerful of Secrets | Pink Floyd |
| 41 | In the Court of the Crimson King | King Crimson |
| 42 | Those About to Die | Coliseum |
I know I said 40, but the last 2 just had to be in the list somewhere and so have sneaked on at the end. Those that know me will not be surprised by Beefheart being well represented at the top, or that George T and the Great and Glorious Patti is up there. But perhaps they will be more surprised by Tim Fite. I will explain later.
Oops, just noticed, no White Denim, now that is a BIG mistake.