1001 Albums Summary

It’s hard to get away from the context here – Aretha is a legend and this is a legendary album. With Chain of Fools kicking things off, and the soaring soulfulness of A Natural Woman, Franklin’s vocals are so silky and on point, you might not notice Cissy Houston singing back up or Eric Clapton playing guitar on one of the tracks. I’m not sure I’d feel compelled to listen to the album in its entirety very often, but there’s no doubt it’s a key part of R&B history. Favourite track: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

Achingly cool and soooo laid back, this was one of the anthems of early 90s musos. Really enjoyed listening to it again and have added it to my mellow work playlist. Favourite track: Can I kick it?

I have to admit I inwardly groaned when this came up to review so soon after Paranoid. But this feels like a very different beast. With some stripped back tracks, including the instrumental Laguna Sunrise, and Ozzy's more established and plaintive vocals, I found this an unexpectedly soothing listen. Favourite track: Changes

I wasn’t blown away by this on the first listen, but it's a grower and I was enjoying by the third listen, especially the first 3 tracks...catchy dance that reminds me a bit of Feist. Favourite track: Zero / Heads Will Roll

Take me out is the only track I'd give another listen, and that would be for nostalgic purposes alone really. Not my fave...

Dookie was one of the soundtracks of my 90s. I've always loved how Green Day finish their tracks, a kerplunk or melodic tinkle beats a slow repetitive fade hands down. American Idiot takes the clever lyrics, rock guitar, and thumping almost tribal drums they're known for, and takes it up a notch – the title track is standout, with Wake me up when September ends adding some mellow fabulousness. Green Day will always make me smile too for their huge influence on so many early 00s bands, including and especially my beloved Busted :) Favourite track: Boulevard of broken dreams

Quite enjoyed, but only as a background tinkle. Favourite track: Kicks

I wanted to like this...but it just sounds like a bad day in the Eagles recording studio to me.

Hmm, this is a band just starting to get into their stride...but the brilliance of Out of Time and Automatic for the People is a way off yet. Favourite track: Orange Crush

Surely the very album the term 'guilty pleasure' was coined for? It makes me feel like a happy 14 year old. Love it. Favourite track: The trinity of Animal/Love Bites/Pour Some Sugar On Me is hard to beat

A bit head do-ing to start with...Poly Styrene's voice isn't the easiest of initial listens. But it grew on me and, as a complete album, it works pretty well. Favourite track: The Day the World turned Dayglo

Sublime dance album. I tend to agree with Bowie, who apparently said of it "An amazing record, it impressed me quite a lot." Favourite track: No Good (Start the Dance)

Great classic 60s album, with clear influences from The Beatles' early stuff in some of the tracks, especially Straight Shooter. So many familiar songs, including a few I hadn't appreciated were by them, like Spanish Harlem and The 'In' Crowd. And of course the melodies and harmonies of California Dreamin' and Monday, Monday are divine. Favourite track: You Baby (reminds me of Let Her Dance by The Bobby Fuller Four)

I don't mean to be a grouch...and maybe it was the mood I was in...but I just wanted this to stop. Annoying noises on repeat :(

Cool bluesy album – enjoyed

I love me a bit of country, and I can hear they're fantastic at what they do, but this is just a bit raw and plinkyplonky for me.

This one is pure 90s nostalgia for me – from the distinctive album cover, to some of the more poignant lyrics I remember noting down wistfully in my university notebook. I probably haven't listened to this since 1995 though, and it has dated, or I've changed (more likely), but really good to hear it again. Gentle and whimsical. Favourite track: As Sure As I Am, and the sublime harmonies on She Goes On

For some reason, I always think of The Who as being a bit more modern, but this is proper retro sixties – raw and rebellious. My mum always says how cool Roger Daltrey was, and I kind of get it now. Vibes. Favourite track: My Generation (o'course!)

Short and sweet and funky and nostalgic. Favourite track: It's Tricky (White Chicks innit!)

Unexpected mix, but I like both artists individually so it sounded promising (not sure how I've managed to miss this collaboration over the past 25 years?) It feels a bit disjointed though, doesn't hang together very well, and consequently feels more like a compilation. Awarding 3 stars for what it might have been...

I've always appreciated Neil Young rather than actively loving his music, but I really enjoyed this album. Favourite track: Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)

Johnny Cash at Folmon Prison is the first and better known of the two live prison albums he recorded, but San Quentin really showcases his calm ease managing a crowd, and, let's face it, quite a formidable crowd of rowdy male prisoners. He has them in the palm of his hand throughout – they love him and they identify with him, and he with them. Even though Cash never actually did a spell in prison, despite being arrested a number of times, he communicates respectfully and on a level with the inmates. Because of this, he's able to transport them from their gritty reality through his honest, often funny, storytelling, and his rich, plaintive, unique voice. Here and always, Johnny Cash is the musical embodiment of the human condition, with melody seeping osmotically from every pore. Love love love him. Favourite track: A Boy Named Sue

Superb. Favourite track(s): Free Ride and Pink Moon

Familiar and funky – but shifts a little uncomfortably between cool 70s vibe and 80s TV theme. Favourite track: Peg (famously sampled by De La Soul on 'Eye Know')

Though initially delighted to see this come up as it's a Finnish fave, two songs in I felt like I needed a lie down...

Fun fact about 10cc's name – it represents a volume of semen slightly above the average amount ejaculated, thus emphasising potency or prowess. This album is similarly quirky. Undecided.

Sunshine in album form. Love. Favourite track: It has to be The Girl from Ipanema :)

OK

Interesting and theatrical but not my cup of tea :(

Some of this sounds like the soundtrack to glamorous tango nights of yesteryear, while other sections are straight out of a vintage English steam fair, with many messy movements in between. Overall, not an easy listen and induces slightly stressful feelings. Wanted it to end.

Oh dear, not my thing either :(

Quirky and enjoyably nuts. Favourite track: Dreamer is standout – I've always loved it.

A spectacular and ageless work of genius. Favourite track: Lady Grinning Soul

Listening to this, I'm transported back to the magical early 80s...the likes of The Thompson Twins, Adam and the Ants, and Howard Jones are doing their thing in the UK charts, Madonna is about to release her first album, and the world doesn't know it yet, but we're counting down to Live Aid. This context makes Cyndi Lauper's debut with such a fresh and different voice and image, even more impressive. And that was further highlighted when she sang so memorably two years later on the US for Africa single 'We Are the World'. N.B. I immediately knew Prince had written the track 'When You Were Mine'...his is such a distinctive sound. I also noticed that Freiheit stole the build-up bit from Cyndi's 'All Through the Night' and used it in the Christmas classic 'Keeping the Dream Alive', released in 1988 :) Favourite track: It has to be Time After Time

First off, I love how Paul Simon's fringe looks like Art Garfunkel has a handlebar moustache on the cover photo. Then to the album itself. Brilliant.

Favourite track: Self Esteem is bloody brilliant

Hmmm...not awful but also wanted him to stop.

I like The Libertines much more now than I did when this album came out twenty years ago. Then they were so notorious in the press for drugs and Kate Moss, it clouded the music a bit. But their new music appeals to me, particularly Run, Run, Run which was released last year, and listening back to this, I'm drawn to their clever lyrics and catchy silliness, backed by a very enthusiastic drum beat – all the good bits of British indie. Favourite track: Can't Stand Me Now is total vibes, and I love the guitar riff on Music When the Lights Go Out.

Didn't expect to but loved this!

Incredible – absolutely love this album