1001 Albums Summary

A great album even if you aren’t a jazz fan.

I only knew War from the singles released when I was in high school. I never fully appreciated their musicianship

The Stones emerge from the cocoon…

This genre, with screeching inaudible lyrics and thrash metal sound, is not really my cup of tea. Some songs ok, but not something I would choose to revisit.

Been years since I listened to this straight through. Great rocking, and Slash can really bring it. Too bad Axl couldn’t keep it together long enough to have a longer career with these guys.

All I knew about Leonard Cohen was the gravelly voice, the fedora and “Hallelujah”, I couldn’t understand why he was such a cult figure so I was looking forward to listening to this album. It did not disappoint. The clever lyrics and the backing music, brought his deep jazzy voice to life. It was a pleasure to learn what all the fuss was about. I’m sure he would’ve been fun to see in some smoky cabaret. Like a male version of Rickie Lee Jones…

Solid R&B guitar work by Nile Rodgers, although the songs are internally repetitive.

Quincy Jones, along with Phil Spector, is one of the very few non-musician, non-vocalist producers who deserve top credit for an album’s success…and he earns it here, taking Jackson’s talent and drive and turning him into an adult (at least musically). It’s a masterpiece of pop production.

After wearing this album out as a young teen, I hadn’t listened to it straight through in decades. Happy to learn that it still holds up. The Beatles at their groundbreaking best. The second side is a classic combo of songs they couldn’t complete, but still utilized in brilliant fashion. The album reminded me of all the supposed clues to the “Paul is dead” hoax.

I HAD to listen to this before I die?! Maybe it’s ok if it was background music while I was eating in an Indian restaurant, but I can’t imagine ever wanting to put this on to listen. I’m sure the musicians are/were top notch, but I still don’t want to hear it. This must’ve been the 1001st album on the list.

Never gave this album a second thought when it was released. But after seeing him on SNL and in movies, I began to appreciate his talents. Good voice. Solid production. Decent pop album.

I was a closet ABBA fan, since Waterloo. This album was billed as a departure from their pop sound…but, I LIKE their pop sound. This album is ok, but nothing memorable for me. I’ll give it a 3 for effort.

I always lumped Wilco in with Radiohead: bands beloved by the so-called cognoscenti, but which were never really popular. This album is just ok, with a couple songs that were somewhat interesting, but that’s about it. Nothing I would recommend.

How can you NOT get jumping for a Jerry Lee Lewis show? Total high energy from the master of boogie woogie piano.

Schneider’s vocals, the beehive hairdos, the roller-rink organ, the strange lyrics; all of it screams “weird” (in the best possible sense). And then they went on to have a multi-decade career. Apparently they were on to something. This debut album was good at the time and it still holds up.

Tremendous debut album which led to a long career in a variety of musical genres. Fun to listen to even decades later.

10cc is/was (all of them are still alive today) a quirky band with a sense of humor. Not my fave of their albums, but I loved Wall Street Shuffle.

I had never heard of John Grant, or his band before listening to this. His bio is certainly interesting and his life’s travails led to complex music. Fun to listen to, I gave it a 3

I was dreading the appearance of what I thought was the first “rap” album on this eclectic journey, but the music was of sufficient quality to justify calling it “rap and roll”. I really liked it, despite my negative preconceptions. Nice guitar work on “I Can’t Get With That”.

I know I should probably love this album, but it’s just ok. She certainly has the pipes, but a songlist of romantic dirges is a tough listen. Some of the individual songs are good, so…3.

Robert Smith is an unusual guy, and this album is spooky, dreamy, but ultimately listenable. It’s the transition from the 80’s to the ‘90’s

They seemed to have cornered the market on the hushed rock and vocals niche (although Billie Eilish does it now as well). Rock music for the Sunday morning brunch. So easy to listen to; and Sweet Jane is a classic.

A familiar refrain: a band in mid-career doldrums, teams up with a talented producer, with the result being magic (magik). This is the Peppers at their best, as steered by Rick Rubin. A good listen…

I don’t have a consistent thought about this album. Parts are disturbing and sound like a car accident; other parts are inventive and melodic. I think the entire listening experience would be improved by using hallucinogens.

“Somebody” will trigger memories of its generation in the future. Nothing memorable other than that. Nothing bad either. It’s just all right with me.

My headbanger days are pretty much behind me, except for the highest echelon. These guys aren’t it

This was the one Sabbath album that I never really listened to. Great guitar riffs, “Changes”, and of course, OZZY. Liked it.

I’ve always disliked Rush, starting with Lee’s whiny, grating vocals and continuing with the pretentious prog rock music. (In my experience fervent prog rock fans are the guys who sat around all night in their dorm, list egg ing to music and never being able to meet girls; you know…nerds. I don’t care that Peart was allegedly a top-level drummer; I’ve never been a fan of a group just because of their drummer. Some guitar riffs here are good, but all in all, there is nothing on this album to change my mind…

The IDEA of Willie Nelson sometimes seemed better than actually listening to him. But this was pretty decent…

This sounds like an undiscovered album from the ‘60’s British Invasion, or a band following the lead of Oasis, which is kind of the same thing. I never heard of these guys, but the album was pleasant to listen to. No complaints here.

Dylan begins the era of musician as Great American Poet, and HIS era of heading for the Nobel Prize.

I figure only the most crusty contrarians can give this album less than a 5. Buckingham is perhaps the most underrated guitarist in rock, with a genius for crafting a song. Combined with Christine’s musicianship, Nicks’ vocals, and Fleetwood’s muscular percussion, this was the pinnacle of their catalog. They just kept at it, despite, and maybe because of, interpersonal melees and descents into drug abuse. Rock solid album…

The music is great, cuz…John Lennon. But the lyrics? I’m glad that John thinks Yoko rescued him from his destiny as a horrible man, but I don’t need to hear his apologias, nor do I want to hear him airing grievances he has with McCartney. It gets old. I gave it a 3.5, so rounded up to 4

Wow! The music is ok, his voice is interesting, but once you know the backstory of his breakup with “Amy”, this whole album is more than a little stalker-ish. It’s been almost 40 years now. I sure hope he got over her. I wonder if he ever listens to this and feels embarrassed. If he had/has a wife, how does she feel about this effort? I can’t imagine I’d ever listen to this album on a regular basis, or ever again, for that matter.

I had never heard of these guys; the band name is ghastly; the album cover is…strange; and yet their blend of synth/pop, funk and horn section was pretty cool and unique. I will listen to it again and recommend to other.

Lively precursor to rock and roll. His Vegas show must’ve been a blast!

Singer’s voice sounds like Geddy Lee; but I hate Geddy Lee’s voice. Otherwise they’re kind of Ireland’s answer to the Ramone’s. And I like the Ramones. I’ll be generous and give it a 3, but barely.

Some great songs here, and some klunkers. I spent most of my time in high school listening only to the good ones, and skipping over the rest.

Triumphant “comeback” for Bruce as he gets the band back together after 9/11. I forgot how great this album is, and I bought it when it came out! I won’t let it get dusty again…

The Beatles turn rock and roll into art, to the joy of many, and the consternation of a few.

Solid R&B. Very comfortable listening

If Dylan was Irish…

This entire album is George Michael’s handiwork, and it’s damn good. I need to move him up in my creative genius rankings.

Good as far as live albums go. Too few songs. Magic Bus is a plus.

As a rock ‘n’ roll child of the ‘60’s, this is the kind of stuff my parents would listen to, and which I would dismiss out of hand; but with the wisdom of age, I can fully appreciate the Gershwin songs, the Nelson Riddle arrangements and especially the flawless vocals of Ella Fitzgerald. I feel like an adult when I listen to it. The best part of this album experience is being exposed to music that I never really appreciated.

Yikes! I went straight from EllaFitzgerald sings Gershwin right into this. The contrast was jarring. It felt like I was dropped into an acid-fueled dance club experience. This is the auditory equivalent of stroboscopic lights. It would be kind of fun under the right circumstances, but it is the exact opposite of relaxing. I would either love it or hate, depending on where my mind was at…so I gave it a 3

I spent a long time in my youth trying to get past Dylan’s; I succeeded in doing so, mostly because of his lyrical and musical genius. He is a Nobel Prize winner, fer Chrissakes! He is The Master, and this is a top effort. I’ll save my 5 rating for Blood on the Tracks.

One of the classic early rock live albums. Too few songs though.