A 6-sided Greatest Hits collection of one of the most successful groups of all time. Hailing from the motor city, Detroit, they were, of course, signed to Motown Records. This anthology tracks their career up to that point in 1973, it really kicks into gear around track 5; their signature song and first #1 hit, ‘My Girl.’

Janis Joplin was one of the most iconic and unique singers that ever lived. There had never been anyone like her before, and there hasn’t been anyone since. Sure, there singers as good as her, even better, but I don’t think I’ve heard anyone that sings with the raw, gritty power that she did. She grabbed songs by the proverbial horns and made them her own. Taming them in an untamed way. Case in point, this album features 3 covers, one of which was a major hit.

Isaac Hayes, probably most famous for his ‘Theme From Shaft,’ and in later years as the voice of Chef from ‘South Park, released his sophomore album in 1969. His label, Stax Records, was in a bit of strife; their biggest artist, Otis Redding, had just died and they had lost their entire back catalogue to Atlantic Records. Executive Vice President, Al Bell, called for 27 albums from the various artists on the label.

Last time around, ‘The Complete Recordings’ featured at #22, this time they’ve chosen to include this compilation, which only include 16 of Johnson’s 29 songs. That’s it. 29 songs is all Robert Johnson had recorded in his short life, and all in two sessions in 1936 and 1937 respectively. Robert Johnson was the first really mythical figure in music. As legend would have it, he sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads in return for musical talent. Whether you believe that or not, there’s no denying his talent.

A massively important album from my teen years. Could this possibly the first major pop punk record? I think it might very well be. It was definitely the album that launched Green Day into the mainstream and brought punk to Top 40 radio. Remarkably, this album only sold 9,000 copies in its first week. It took a few months for the album to take off, but once it did, it didn’t stop.

Over the years, this album has come up in multiple conversations I’ve had with fellow music fans, many citing it as a huge favourite of theirs. I listened to it a few years ago, but to be honest, I didn’t remember a note. On release its reviews were luke warm. Not bad, as such, but nothing to write home about. In subsequent years, this record has been hailed by critics and fans alike.

At the fore of the Garage Rock revival exploding out of the New York music scene along with The Strokes, Interpol, TV On The Radio and LCD Soundsystem. While working in a Brooklyn clothing store, vocalist and guitarist, Karen O and Nick Zinner met TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek who would go on to produce this record. The production is sparse and raw. Thankfully Sitek never stripped them of their raw playing-in-your-parents’-garage type sound.

Arguably the first great Hip Hop album and indisputably a groundbreaking record. It was tougher, grittier and more hardcore than Hip Hop records that has come before it and was the first Rap record to be certified gold (just 9 months after it was released). The video for ‘Rock Box’ was the first rap video to be played on MTV. Imagine that – there was a time that MTV didn’t play rap music. These three broke down barriers that would ultimately change the course of music.

Another glaring omission from the previous list has now been vindicated. As the old idiom warns, don’t judge a book by its cover. Ignore the punny dad joke that is the album cover (people literally moving pictures) and get into this album. ‘Moving Pictures’ is one of the most important and influential prog rock albums of all time. Featuring the incomparable, and recently departed Neil Peart on drums (and lyrics), guitar wizard, Alex Lifeson and the stunning falsetto and bass skills of Geddy Lee, this band had talent oozing from every pore.

The 14th album in 10 years (and first for Columbia Records) from the incredibly prolific Charles Mingus. So far the Jazz albums have been few and far between. Released in 1959, a couple of months after Miles Davis’s ‘Kinda Blue,’ this album sounds as fresh as ever.

A Southern Rock classic featuring mainstays of dive bars everywhere. The story of Lynyrd Skynyrd is a tragic one. Named after their high school gym teacher, Leonard Skinner, the band, when at the height of their fame, was abruptly halted when their plane crashed on the way to a gig killing band leader and vocalist, Ronnie Van Zant, as well as guitarist, Steve Gaines, and backing vocalist, Cassie Gaines. The rest of the band was seriously injured.

The solo project of annoyingly talented Australian musician, Kevin Parker, he took it to the next level with this one. Not only did he write, produce and play on all the songs, he also mixed the album himself and conceptualised the art. On his previous album, ‘Lonerism,’ Parker established himself as a musical force to be reckoned with, but on this album, he became a headline artist.

A landmark album in trip hop, ‘Mezzanine,’ almost ripped the band apart. The band spent most of its creation disagreeing on the direction of the band. Robert Del Naja had spent of a lot of time listening to and experimenting with New Wave records, while Grant Marshall and Andrew Vowles spent their time experimenting with bass and drum loops. Ultimately, the band survived.

Following ‘Something Else By The Kinks’ (#478), this record was another commercial flop on release. Much like its predecessor, its success was hampered by The Beatles, released on the same day as ‘The White Album.’ Despite this, the album would go on to become the band’s best-selling record. Ray Davies has called it “the most successful ever flop.”

Released at the height of punk rock, ‘Rocket To Russia’ is Ramones’ third record, and final with the original line up. On the first day of recording, guitarist, Johnny Ramone showed up with a copy of Sex Pistol’s ‘God Save The Queen.’ He complained that the band had robbed them of their sound and insisted that this record needed to sound better than theirs.

A 31-track album of samples kicking off with the familiar sounds of Beastie Boys. ‘Donuts,’ the second album by Hip Hop producer, J Dilla, was released on his 32nd birthday. In a story very reminiscent of Bowie’s ‘Black Star,’ J Dilla would pass away just three days later.

This album turned the music industry on its head. The first album in 4 years from Radiohead, this record was the first by a major act to be offered as pay-what-you-want. It was announced 10 days before release and available as download only for the first 3 months. In 2020, we’re used to this. Artists like Drake, Beyoncé and Kanye have all released albums at the drop of a hat, a strategy that allows the artist to control the narrative.

The 18th album in 11 years for the 30-year-old Aretha Franklin, the title could not be more fitting if it tried. The recently crowded the Queen Of Soul would go on to win the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for this record.

In 2001, Mariah suffered a major emotional and physical breakdown following the flop of her film, ‘Glitter.’ Her label, Virgin Records,’ dropped her and her divorce from her previous label boss at Sony, Tommy Mottola still fresh, Mariah was done. She released her intended “comeback” album, ‘Charmbracelet,’ in 2002, which unfortunately didn’t live up to expectations. Deciding to give it one more try, Carey released this, her ACTUAL comeback album.

When you think of the most influential artists of the ‘90s, and subsequently the past 30 years, you think of artists such as Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, maybe even PJ Harvey. There’s one artist that was a major influence on all of them; Pixies. ‘Surfer Rosa,’ their debut album, one of the most influential rock records of the ‘90s, was released 2 years before the ‘90s even started.