The Doors Forum

Good to see John Cale's Paris 1919 here...not a common inclusion.

Critics’ Choice The Top 100 Rock ‘n’ Roll Albums of All Time,
compiled by Paul Gambaccini.




Here’s the book’s full list:

1. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles
2. Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen
3. Blonde on Blonde – Bob Dylan
4. What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
5. Born in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen
6. The Sun Collection – Elvis Presley
7. The Velvet Underground and Nico – The Velvet Underground and Nico
8. Pet Sounds – The Beach Boys
9. Astal Weeks – Van Morrison
10. The Beatles – The Beatles
11. Exile on Main St. – The Rolling Stones
12. Let it Bleed – The Rolling Stones
13. Abbey Road – The Beatles
14. Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder
15. Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd
16. Live at the Apollo – James Brown
17. Revolver – The Beatles
18. Highway 61 Revisited – Bob Dylan
19. Never Mind the Bollocks Here’s the Sex Pistols – The Sex Pistols
20. Who’s Next – The Who
21. Rubber Soul – The Beatles
22. Otis Blue – Otis Redding
23. Thriller – Michael Jackson
24. The Band – The Band
25. Blood on the Tracks – Bob Dylan
26. Rumors – Fleetwood Mac
27. Avalon – Roxy Music
28. My Aim is True – Elvis Costello
29. With the Beatles – The Beatles
30. Tapestry – Carole King
31. The Clash – The Clash
32. Bringing it All Back Home – Bob Dylan
33. Beggar’s Banquet – The Rolling Stones
34. Forever Changes – Love
35. I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight – Richard and Linda Thompson
36. Live! – Bob Marley and the Wailers
37. Court and Spark – Joni Mitchell
38. Innervisions – Stevie Wonder
39. Get Happy!! – Elvis Costello
40. London Calling – The Clash
41. Entertainment! – Gang of Four
42. Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon and Garfunkel
43. Squeezing Out Sparks – Graham Parker and the Rumour
44. Grievous Angel – Gram Parsons
45. Synchronicity – The Police
46. Kate and Anna McGarrigle – Kate and Anna McGarrigle
47. The Unforgettable Fire – U2
48. Hotel California – The Eagles
49. Starsailor – Tim Buckley
50. Electric Ladyland – Jimi Hendrix
51. Private Dancer – Tina Turner
52. Moondance – Van Morrison
53. It’s Too Late to Stop Now – Van Morrison
54. Green River – Creedence Clearwater Revival
55. The Stranger – Billy Joel
56. Building the Perfect Beast – Don Henley
57. Paris 1919 – John Cale
58. Hunky Dory – David Bowie
59. Darkness on the Edge of Town – Bruce Springsteen
60. This Year’s Model – Elvis Costello
61. For Your Pleasure – Roxy Music
62. The Pretenders – The Pretenders
63. Dreamer – Bobby Bland
64. Music From Big Pink – The Band
65. Here’s Little Richard – Little Richard
66. Who Sell Out – The Who
67. Blue – Joni Mitchell
68. Aftermath – The Rolling Stones
69. Can’t Slow Down – Lionel Richie
70. Stand! – Sly and the Family Stone
71. Beatles for Sale – The Beatles
72. Young Americans – David Bowie
72. Sports – Huey Lewis and the News
74. Talking Book – Stevie Wonder
75. King Creole – Elvis Presley
75. The Nororious Byrd Brothers – The Byrds
75. Stranded – Roxy Music
78. The ‘Chirping’ Crickets – The Crickets
78. John Wesley Harding – Bob Dylan
78. Radio City – Big Star
81. Trout Mask Replica – Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band
81. The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground
83. Off the Wall – Michael Jackson
84. Let’s Get it On – Marvin Gaye
85. Imagine – John Lennon
86. Amazing Grace – Aretha Franklin
87. Horses – Patti Smith
87. Making Movies – Dire Straits
87. Swordfishtrombones – Tom Wais
90. Purple Rain – Prince and the Revolution
91. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars – David Bowie
92. L.A. Woman – The Doors
92. Layla – Derek and the Dominoes
94. A Christmas Gift For You – Phil Spector and Various Artists
95. Going to a Go-Go – Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
95. The Last Waltz – The Band
97. Are You Experienced? – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
97. Pearl – Janis Joplin
97. Sweet Dreams – Eurythmics
100. Transformer – Lou Reed

That's a very old book / list now. I recall owning a copy back in 1986, I think it was.

If the same people were asked again what their favourites were today, the list would be quite different although at least half of it would be the same! I bet the debut albums by Stone Roses and Oasis and probably WTSMG as well, would make the list now. Also, Massive Attack "Blue Lines" and many other 90's albums.....Nirvana's "Nevermind" to name just one.....

I can see some going away like The Eurythmics and Huey Lewis, Lionel Richie... but it is fun to see this old book and read what was on the list then.

ADDITIONS today--Maybe a Leonard Cohen or two like "New Songs" (Hallelujah), of course Jeff Buckley, U2's Joshua Tree, Lou Reed New York, all three of Nick Drake's LPs...and MORE Doors (especially their first, and Strange Days)...

What else would you all add, or subtract?!