1001 Albums Summary

Oddly, this is an album where I mostly enjoyed the hits...Otherside, Californication. It wanders all over the place, some good, some...meh.

I'm old enough to remember: This is exactly what 1975 sounded like. Bring on 'da funk, at least for 35 minutes.

Not Curtis Mayfield's best, but this album defined the soundtrack of the blaxploitation era in the 1970s. Curtis was a GIANT talent.

I suppose it's referred to as...atmospheric? Some is, some is just atonal. I wouldn't put it on my album shuffle list. (and I sure wish we could give half-stars)

I approach Eminem the same way I approach NASCAR. I respect it, I see the talent, I see the impact it has on many. But it's not music (or racing) that I enjoy. Give me Jazz and F1. But I get it.

I have little appetite for this music, even in small doses.

I didn't have a lot of eight-track tapes back in the 70s, but I had this one, and I can still sing most of the words to most of the songs. This was an important album for baby-boomers, and an important album for Paul McCartney to show the world he was more than just a Beatle. He has proved it, hasn't he?

A little more melodic, at times, than I thought it would be. But...eh.

I hadn't heard Elliott Smith in a very long time, thanks for jogging my memory. This is powerful music, worth revisiting.

This is exactly what the late 60s and early 70s was supposed to sound like. Powerful music, then and now. If you're under 50, spend more time with Fairport Convention.

Redifining 'all over the place,' no?

I can take The Killer in small doses. Two songs is usually enough.

Still a delightful listen. 50+ years later, this album, and this singer, still persevere.

Besides the musical legacy, Lou Reed is most responsible for most of us New Yorkers wearing black 12 months out of the year.

Angst x 100. I can get through about 15 seconds of each song. Hard pass.

Is it possible that this album is 60+ year old? Wow. Here you see how heavily the Stones were influenced by American blues.

An important album, then and now. 50+ years later, it remains relevant. Every. Single. Song. Musically and lyrically, this album is close to perfect.

David Byrne is still a genius.

I don't know how I missed The Beta Band, but this is impressive. This is the first time I've wanted to dive into an artist further!

I get it, but that doesn't mean I have to listen to it.

An extraordinary musical document of the second half of the 20th Century. Powerful words, amazing musicianship. Stevie Wonder is IMPORTANT.

Could Cyndi Lauper be as big in 2024? I don't know, because the industry has changed. But she combined musicianship and fun to create some excellent music. Plus, anyone who partners with Captain Lou Albano is all right in my book.

Helped to define New Wave. Solid.

For 1968, The Band was pretty progressive. The music is still relevant.

Didn’t you think Neil Young was from the Deep South when you first heard this album? A classic, in every way.

One of the top albums of the last century. Everything about these songs is defining.

It shows you the versatility and Genius of Ray Charles.

An interesting, experimental approach. Really, the only song that didn't work was their attempt at Curtis Mayfield's 'Freddie's Dead.'

Hard to get involved with this album. No thanks.

With all due respect, I just don't get it. Never have, never will.

If Meet The Beatles didn't convince you, their second album did, no?

An important album. I preferred their older, slower groove, but everything about this album was groundbreaking.

A great songwriter and an important voice who didn't get acknowledged until much later in life. These are powerful songs.

Nobody has taken more chances and been more experimental in sound than Peter Gabriel. From the first Genesis album to today, he has pushed barriers and made amazing music. This album is no exception. And let's be honest, 'In Your Eyes' is one of the great love songs of all time.

I'm not sure if Neil Young is a fan of the author Nevil Shute, but this album suggests much the same as the great novel 'On The Beach.'

Still relevant, still powerful. How many rockers have Broadway shows built around their music? (a few, but not many)

An important soundtrack to my college years. (yeah, I'm that old) She always found a way to make her message melodic.

A defining album by the defining musicians of the Rock and Roll era. Everything about this album showed that they were the real deal.

A delightful album, true to bossa nova with modern touches. I guess if your name is Gilberto, you are inclined to excellent musicianship.

Do I like power pop. Yeah Yeah.

I'm still not entirely sure what genre Coldplay fits in, but this is decent music. That is all.

Neil Young wasn't even 30 when he recorded this album. Wise beyond his years, and a genius storyteller. This Canadian figured out America in a way that America still hasn't.

This mostly passed me by. I don't miss it.

One of those British bands that I missed here in the States. Nice sound, jazzy undertones, good writing. Thanks for the introduction!

Legendary, in every way. We forgive geniuses their trespasses, don't we?

He changed the way we listened to music and made us pay attention to the Caribbean. A genius.

Is there a more 'self-aware' rock group than R.E.M.? Occasionally interesting music here. In my opinion. :)

Wasn't a fan then, haven't changed. The only singer who could get away with dressing up did it in support of the music: Peter Gabriel during the early days of Genesis.

You can tell Lenny grew up listening to the Beatles all the time. His music evolved, but for a debut, this is an excellent effort.

Proper punk, this is. If you were anywhere near London in the late '70s, you couldn't miss hearing an album as important as this one.

The first Led Zeppelin album I ever bought. They were never top-tier for me, but that's personal. The talent, still, is obvious.

We need half-stars here. This is a 3.5 star album, import for early hard rock, but it hasn't survived as well as many other artists/albums of the era.

Meh.

Early EDM? Great for focusing while working, but I'm not sure that's what it was intended for.

At some point the screaming becomes too much, no?

This was the very first album I ever bought. (Yes, I'm *that* old.) The music is timeless, and the message is more relevant than ever.

You knew, the first time you heard this album, that George Harrison had moved past the Beatles. Seeing how many hit songs came out of All Things Must Pass was a pleasant surprise!

Is there another group that lived their lives through their music as intensely as Fleetwood Mac? I don't think so. A legendary album, another transition for a group always pushing the boundaries.

I have never heard of David Ackles, and I've been around a long time. He is a troubadour who would be equally as comfortable on the Broadway stage. This is the most American album I have ever heard.

Nope.

Glimpses of melody and nothing else.

Still fun. In small doses.

A terrific songwriter for the times. Solid music.

The man has it all figured out, doesn’t he?

Fifty years later, this is still great Rock & Roll. Powerful arrangements, Ian Anderson's distinctive voice, and...flutes? It all worked then, and it still works now. Probably one of the first albums I ever bought and it was nice to listen to the entire performance again.

Occasionally interesting, IMO.

Not their best work, but it showed how early rock bands could incorporate honky tonk into their arrangements and make it last forever.

We were all caught up by her beautiful singing back then. Great arrangements and Anita has an instantly recognizable voice. This is a delightful album still.

Their music instantly transports you to 1990's London, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Mark Knofpler = musical genius.

Tommy defined 'concept album.' The fact that it's back on Broadway shows you just how powerful this music still is. One of the great recordings of all time.

Like Johnny Cash's last album, you knew when you heard this that Leonard Cohen was about to depart this veil of tears. Powerful music from one of the most important songwriters of the past 100 years.

Forty years old? Still has a nice vibe, in small does.

If you needed somebody to represent the turn of the century, Wilco would be a good choice.. Their music stands testament, 20+ years on.

New to me. Solid guitar music, powerful lyrics from a talented group of musicians in exile. Thanks!

I'm 67, and I grew up on Long Island. This is my story. I'm not alone.

Easy listening for the new century. Are they still around?

A different world, a different time

Legendary music from one of the greatest guitars of all time.

Extraordinary musicianship from a damaged human.

Angry, powerful, on target, and infused with tremendous musicianship. Public Enemy needed to be taken seriously.

Some interesting moments in a couple of the songs, but otherwise...meh.

Funky, optimistic, fun. This is just terrific music to elevate your mood.

Probably 3.5 stars if I could choose.

Trance Chill Alternative. That's Radiohead. It works.

Legendary. They got better, but out of the box, they recreated rock & roll.

There's clearly some musicianship tucked into these recordings, but there's so much noise in the midrange that it's impossible to cut through it all. I don't get the appeal.

3.5 stars, if I could add a half

Still fun, still in your face. Wonderful in small doses

There wasn't just a British Invasion in the early 1960s, there was also a musical invasion from Brazil. It was led by Astrud Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim and...this extraordinary album from Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd. The music is expressive, melodic and wonderful, still.

Probably 3.5 stars. Lots of interesting music, but better in small doses.

OK. Nothing new here, just OK

Legendary. A musical genius, still at it. Plus...50+ year old hit songs!

Legendary. Any questions?

Understandably angst-filled but with hints of melody. Not bad.

Imagine is one of the great, hopeful songs of all time. The rest of the album is solid.

I'm still waiting for it shift into second gear...

Whattya call this? Easy listening? Nice music, makes sense for summer.

Canada's finest.

Winwood's transition from Traffic clarified that he was pop-focused, much like Phil Collin's latter Genesis recordings. Fun but...different.

Van Morrison is a musical genius, but attending live performances can be frustrating. Here's this amazing concert, and he doesn't say one single word to the crowd. With all due respect, that's wrong. I saw him once and said that was enough. I will always listen to his music, I don't need to see him live.

Still fresh, still relevant. This Elvis rocks.

Straight-ahead, pure rock & roll. Still works.

I'm glad that Herbie Hancock returned (mostly) to standards and straight ahead jazz, but I'm grateful that albums like this helped to define funk jazz.

New to me. Spend a little time listening to Jim Morrison over and over and over and over and over and......???

Fun hipster yuppie New England band. Dazzling!

A terrific album, exploratory, interesting, and you can still move along to it.

Important music, then and now. John Fogerty is one of the great voices of America in the last 50 years.

He still had voice ,and he always had amazing writing skills. He's Dylan.

If I were 10 years younger, this would have been an important album for me all the way through my life. Still good, still worth listening to, but not a driver for an oldie like me.

A complicated, tragic figure. But this man made some terrific music.

Trailblazing. Epic. Aretha.

One of the great storytellers of Rock & Roll, and this album was his story. Still terrific.

I totally understand the phenomenon and how much he shaped music in the last 70 years. I still prefer listening to Sinatra.

An interesting but odd way to approach early rock songs.

I think this was the second album (OK...8-track) I ever bought. It sounds as fresh as ever.

I'm still trying to figure out how this became a radio hit but yet, Trance 101 right here, kids...

Never heard of them. When I hear Tracey Thorn (EBTG is a favorite) on the first song, I was intrigued. This is an interesting mix of styles and it works well.

3 1/2 stars really, for early '80's fun to dance with memories.

There isn't a single bad note on this album. Yes, he was a genius.

Ahead of its time. We continue to devolve as a species. We are not men.

Early '80s, London. It's all good.

I kept waiting to see where these sessions would go. Still waiting...

He was a trendsetter then and a wizened and still talented musician now. Plus, he's married to one of the great jazz and standards singers of the 21st century. WTG.

Just so damn powerful.

At the top of the list of musical geniuses of the 20th century sits Frank Zappa. Any other questions?

This music is so much more approachable when it's acoustic, no?

A terrific album that covers all the bases and I'm sure still helps pay the bills.

Is it just me, or does this get old really quick?

This is terrific music. If I still owned restaurants, this would be the soundtrack.

This is a solid album. On target, beginning to end.

Mature, powerful music. An artist tuned into the planet and all its angst.

Post 9/11 angst music. How soon we forget.

Happy Birthday, Mark Knopfler. This is a terrific album, far more complex than it sounds. Great music.

One of the great prog rock albums of all time, and one of the Top Three Genesis Albums.® I know what I like, and it's this.

The '80's, defined. Annie Lennox is great.

Montreal's best rock, despite the protestations of the Quebec government. ;-)

Power Pop from Britain at its best. This is fine, fun music.

Amazing that this album is over 60 years old. Still funky, still makes you move. Timeless.

Still trying to figure Cocteau Twins out. And you?

As good as hard rock got back in the day.

My favorite part of 1001 Albums Generator is finding new artists, and Nitin Sawhney is a great discovery. Thanks!

In case you're wondering how angst-ridden Great Britain was during the Thatcher years, here you go...

Well, duh.

All music should be this chill, no?

I have always been a fan of Mick Hucknall. This is superb pop music with a jazzy feel, and he has only gotten better over the decades.

As good as World Music gets.

They got better. IMO.

I remember how dazzled we were when this came out. If you're from NYC, you were immediately drawn in by Phil Rizzuto's voice, but for everyone, this is just fun, over-the-top opera rock.

Masterful talent who left us way too young. This is a magnum opus album.

Really 4.5 stars. Timeless is a great title for this album, it created a new genre and then ensured it would be...timeless.

The music of my youth. The songs that stick with you forever are from when you're 8-9-10 years old; that's what these are. AND...they're great songs.

Has anyone before or since sounded like The Kinks? No. They were unique, and this music is very good.

A masterpiece of writing and performance. Ne plus ultra.

It was great then, and it was great just a few years ago when they brought a retrospective of this album on tour to NYC. The Zombies are STILL relevant.

A bright, shining, shooting star.

Unique and pretty damn good. It holds up.

Does the rest of the country dig this, or just us New Yorkers of a certain age?

Exquisite.

3.5 stars, really. Still fun, in small doses.

Relevant then, equally relevant now. The only thing they got wrong? The revolution WILL be televised.

This is one of the other reasons this lady makes $10 million every single day.

Not his best, but even his very good is still amazing.

It's not easy to combine jazz and standards and country and make it sound so good. Norah Jones's debut was sublime.

New to me and very listenable. Strange album title, interesting audio drop-ins, but overall, a fine album. (This is what I enjoy most about 1001 Albums Generator)

Forgetful.

One of the most important recordings of all time. A call to arms delivered in a positive, forward-thinking and soulful way.

From the beginning, one of the great bands of all time. And nobody had better production skills than these two dudes, nobody.

The soundtrack of my teen years. I was never a huge Eagles fan, but these songs worked.

New to me, and thanks. All over the place, but in a fun, musical way.

At times swinging, at times melodic, and at times experimental. Mingus was always pushing the limits of jazz.

Dusty Springfield is one of the unsung heroes of the '60s. This was an introduction to what was coming, and what followed was amazing music.

The sound of the late 80's, when many (many!) were in a trance.

A terrific songwriter.

You either are a huge fan of Deep Purple or you ain't. I ain't.

Solid rock and roll from an unsung musician.

This band just got better and better and better and better and..........

Not a Top 5 Bowie album, but still excellent, like everything he did.

Fun ballads. 45 minutes is enough. ;-)

Solid music, unique at the time. Many, many hits.

A musical genius, then and now. Always pushing the boundaries, but at the same time, crafter of terrific hit songs. Go see him while you still can.

Probably 3.5 stars. Beck is good at expressing the mood of the country.

The roots of the Stones, bluesy and still filled with hits.

Solid straight-ahead rock with a nod to country. Fine musicianship.

20-25 minutes is enough.

A troubadour in the style of his father. Great stories.

New to me. This is EXCELLENT EDM music. Thanks.

Fantastic and timeless. The 1950s were a great time for all genres of music. Then Mitch Miller showed up and ruined it all.

He's been making some of the world's best music for nearly 60 years. Not great in concert, and terrible in interviews, but he's Van Morrison. He gets to do what he wants.

Defining music of the era. There's nothing that comes close today even though we are again in remarkably challenging times.

They should have kept going. The maturity of this album is obvious.

Legendary, healing, powerful.

Pretty close to perfect. A great Quincy Jones arrangement, and not over-produced. Michael at his peak, before the parody began

Quintessential funk! Terrific music from the guys who allowed it to evolve.

Top 100 album of all time.

Didn't this define Britain in the late 70s! Great music, spot on for the times.

Good music, and a unique song. Nobody sounded like Supertramp.

Some of the greatest songwriting ever. And young Leonard Cohen had as much emotional depth as old Leonard Cohen.

Mid 70s prog rock fans went two ways...either to Genesis/Yes/ELP or to groups like Soft Machine. This is good music, but not as good as early Genesis.

An important recording. A very important recording.

4.5 stars really. This is terrific, melodic music.

The beginning of a masterclass in Rock & Roll. The first line of 'American Girl' defines the U.S.A.

One of the most essential live Jazz recordings of all time. Astounding musicianship.

I listened to the remastered version. You might want to find someone with better mastering skills. ;) But...The Who are great live.

Glam Bowie. Not the best Bowie, but Bowie nonetheless.

This is luscious music, isn't it?

Isn't it amazing that a Canadian has, since the beginning, understood America so clearly? And this album shows every single side of Neil Young. A masterpiece.

Solid music from the streets of blue-collar England.

It has survived the test of time. It's not the best Xmas rock album of all time, but it goes on.

Solid European pop. A great album for a semi-mellow party vibe.

Defining. Legendary. Important. This. Is. Jazz.

One of the top two or three musical voices of the Civil Rights movement. Still important.

New to me, and terrific.

Diggin' on this for an entire generation. Still wonderful.

The soundtrack of my very early years. Great harmony, still.

Still relevant. They really were EDM trailblazers, weren't they?

Interesting, at times melodic. But there's a reason this group didn't have the same staying power as so many 60s bands.

I'm still trying to figure Tom Waits out, but I guess we all are. Whatever this genre is, it's awesome.

New to me. Who knew??

We didn't listen then, are we listening now? Happy MLK Day

He helped bridge the gap between jazz and rock & roll and had more fun doing it than anyone. Louis (and Keeley) were awesome.

Still charming, innit?

John Fogerty was and is important to music and to the U.S.A.

Find raw, early rock. They got better. :)

He got better but this is still very good Bowie.

More relevant and more powerful 50+ years later. Who makes music like this nowadays?

I was around, but I was never a big fan.

Energy x5; Soul x10. The Godfather reigns supreme.

Raise your hand if you remember Fred Neil. Talented songwriter!

Funk. Starts. Here.

Come on, who else even approaches the level of expertise of Hendrix? The ONLY thing this album is missing is the greatest Rock & Roll song of all time, which is on Electric Ladyland. (you figure it out)

Tortured soul, always trying different ways to approach music. If you're 55+ and didn't recognize the name but thought the voice was familiar, take it easy on yourself. ;-)

New to me. Solid what...EDM Pop?

Pure twang. Not The Byrds I grew up with, but fine.

Top-notch songwriting

Powerful, fun, excellent.

The roots of Brit Rock. Good to revisit annually.

Better than I remember! Thanks for the nudge back to some really good music.

Brilliant. Not as spare as most Monk, but that's Sonny Rollins for you.

Great music. Legendary singer. Tragically missed.

Coltrane defied the laws of physics and helped to define Jazz. This is an important album.

Soul defined!

The Sam Cooke you never heard in the studio. Huge talent, tragic early passing.

Spanning generations of the Blues. Terrific collaborations.

Goes nowhere for me.

An album that changed music when it was released. Yes, it was THAT important. The only question? Would it have had as big an impact if it didn't have one of the most recognizable album covers in history?

Happy funk, with a mostly positive message. Sorely missed.

New to me, and...excellent. I guess this is easy listening? Works!

About 20 minutes is enough.

Montreal's finest!

OK. Not great, OK. That's why you don't hear them on the radio anymore.

The world would be a little less crazy if we all spent more time listening to ambient music.

Ambient, elevated.

And you thought Kraftwerk was the only German band to crank out ambient, meditative music.

Who could predict that we would be in such a mess in 2025? The science fiction writers...and the musicians of the 1960s. This is an important and timeless album.

Punky Britpop. Works.

Massively important. The only question is: When you're that cool, how do you know it? How did they know they were birthing The Cool?

I still don't understand it. I like it, but I don't understand it. ;-)

Moody, introspective, powerful, intelligent. Spare and wonderful.

Extraordinary music from a tragic hero.

Strong, challenging album. Kudos.

Stellar. Soulful, funky, jazzy. This is solid music.

A bittersweet explanation of America in the 21st century. Where are we headed and what's with this handbasket??

Music for uncomfortable, sleepless nights.

Fabulous, pithy, bittersweet. Great music.

This is still important and relevant music.

Muy bien.

A tantalizing recording

It wanders to many different places, some enjoyable, some not so much.

It's Prince. It's genius. Next?

Psychedelic soul. Still wonderful to listen to.

Somebody needs to explain this to me. Listening to Opus Dei, I felt like I was in an even more dystopic version of The Wizard of Oz.

At times, interesting. At times.

A major talent who led a fierce life.

Major talent. Massive sass.

about 20 minutes is fine, thanks...

I wonder how much they made?

New to me and fabulous. Gentle, transporting, sad.

IF you have to choose a 'best' Sinatra album, this one would serve you well. He's in perfect voice and Nelson Riddle is arranging. It gets no better than this, in any genre.

My life and welcome to it.

Solid, focused, fine.

Legendary

The soundtrack of my childhood, and still groovin’.

Legendary.

THE voice of America. He always has been.

The genius began here.

Legendary

One of the most important albums of all time, regardless of genre. RIP Brian Wilson

A lovely album, all the way through, don't you think?

Are there words that can describe The White Album?

Wonderful music, an important album, still.

Rod Stewart has reinvented himself countless times, but the best Rod Stewart is this...the earliest Rod Stewart.

If you're old enough to remember, this album changed music in many ways back in the '60s. And...there's no music more seductive than bossa nova.

Not the best Bowie, but...interesting.

Close to perfection. And one of the best-produced albums in history.

My youth, all on one fabulous album.

Interesting. Next?

Sade sounds like nobody else. This is legendary music. Timeless.

The early days of folk-rock. Still charming.

A different album. I love Kate Bush, but I don't like to be screamed at, even by her.

The English Ladies Who Know How to Sing American Soul Invasion began with this talented lady.

Soft-Loud? Make it make sense, please.

About 20 minutes is enough. And if push comes to shove, I'm fine with just their one hit.

Fabulous music known to very few outside Europe.

There's my early childhood, encapsulated in a handful of charming songs.

Some of this was good. Some was just...noisy.

Solid pop. Is this considered nostalgia? Am I that old??

New to me and a very pleasant surprise. This is a very good album.

Surprisingly delightful. Well named. 😉

It's the Dead, it's American Beauty. It is America.

Important then. Sorta important now.

It goes to interesting places. When it focuses on electronica, it works well.

A master class in Country music.

Groundbreaking.

Still charming, in an angsty '80s BritPop way. :)

Legendary musicians and...Randy Crawford. This is just a terrific album.

Charming Jet Set Lounge music, and new to me. Nice!

Solid music, Jonathan Richman's voice has never appealed to me. ;)

Fun. Lightweight, but fun.

New to me and excellent. Thanks for adding to my music collection.

Solid.

Boomers will remember his '60s hit 'Grazing in the Grass,' but I think that was his only popular song. This is all excellent music, spend some time here!

Nobody sounded like them when this album was released. (Chicago Transit Authority was close, but had a different approach) This album was startling in its daring and still holds up.

They've done better

New to me! (I know...) World music at a very high level

Good writing, decent music. Yes, these are stories.

New to me. Melodic, impressive.

Wonderfully experimental. Most of it works. Not all of it, but most of it.

Still don't understand him, but I love listening to him.

What the angst of BritReggae was best represented by.

I'm not sure why he didn't make it bigger in the States. Any ideas?

They got better, Lou Reed got better. Some of this is very good, some is still...self-service noise.

Solid dance music from what...40-50 years ago? Freak out!

New to me and more than enjoyable. Thanks.

A different sound of the 70s. Never really attracted enough attention, but this is good music.

Some World Music sounds...otherworldly. Other types make you want to get up and dance. This album is the latter. Get up and dance!

Legendary. Everything good about Country music is embodied in this recording.

New to me, and a fascinating and pleasant surprise. This, for me, is why I do this.

I must have missed this fist time around. Whew.

Solid, powerful, wrestling-focused novelty rock. We're all going under the thunder of Manitoba!

You can write 1,000 words, or you can just say...Early Dylan.

The sound of America...when it's united. Been awhile.

Fascinating. Fascinating...

What America should sound like, always.

Always bittersweet, always beautiful.

Underrated band (even with a huge hit) and a unique sound.

Legendary. One of the great albums.