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Here are my personal favorite albums by decade. Under each heading, albums are in rank order, with the #1 album being the top left corner, #2 to its immediate right, etc. Hover your mouse over an album to get the name of the album and the recording act. You can also click on an album for a full page of information on that album. This list focuses only on studio albums; live recordings and other compilations such as box sets or greatest hits collections are not included. Enjoy!


Dave’s Top 50 Albums of 2000-2009

Kevin Gilbert: The Shaming of the True (2000) Kevin Gilbert: Nuts & Bolts (2009) Bruce Springsteen: The Rising (2002) Hooters: Time Stand Still (2007) Crowded House: Time on Earth (2007) Finn Brothers: Everyone Is Here (2004) Eagles: Long Road Out of Eden (2007) Marillion: Marbles (2004) Tori Amos: Strange Little Girls (2001) U2: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004)
Bruce Springsteen: Magic (2007) David Baerwald: Here Comes the New Folk Underground (2002) John Mellencamp: Life, Death, Love & Freedom (2008) U2: All That You Can’t Leave Behind (2000) Toni Childs: Keep the Faith (2008) Dennis DeYoung: One Hundred Years from Now (2007) Uncle Devil Show: A Terrible Beauty (2004) Bob Walkenhorst: The Beginner (2003) Styx: Big Bang Theory (2005) The White Stripes: Elephant (2003)
The Strokes: Is This It (2001) Green Day: American Idiot (2004) Mika: Life in Cartoon Motion (2007) The White Stripes: White Blood Cells (2001) Kevin Gilbert: The Kaviar Sessions (2002) Tears for Fears: Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (2004) Keb’ Mo’: Peace – Back by Popular Demand (2004) Lyle Lovett: My Baby Don’t Tolerate (2003) Amy Winehouse: Back to Black (2006) Styx: Cyclorama (2003)
The Killers: Hot Fuss (2004) Sheryl Crow: Detours (2008) The Who: Endless Wire (2006) John Mellencamp: Freedom’s Road (2007) Fish: Field of Crows (2004) Glenn Tilbrook: Transatlantic Ping Pong (2004) Franz Ferdinand: Franz Ferdinand (2004) Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company (2004) Guns N’ Roses: Chinese Democracy (2008) U2: No Line on the Horizon (2009)
Green Day: 21st Century Breakdown (2009) Johnny Cash: American IV – The Man Comes Around (2002) Scissor Sisters: Scissor Sisters (2004) The Vines: Highly Evolved (2002) Arctic Monkeys: Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (2006) Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002) Eddie Vedder: Into the Wild (ST: 2007) Eric Clapton & B.B. King: Riding with the King (2000) Del Amitri: Can You Do Me Good? (2002) The Hives: Veni Vidi Vicious (2000)




Dave’s Top 50 Albums of 1990-1999

Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes (1992) Pearl Jam (1991) Toy Matinee: Toy Matinee (1990) The Williams Brothers: The Williams Brothers (1991) Fish: Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors (1990) Sheryl Crow: Tuesday Night Music Club (1993) Kevin Gilbert: Thud (1995) Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill (1995) David Baerwald: A Fine Mess (1999) Crowded House: Woodface (1991)
Nirvana: Nevermind (1991) U2: Achtung Baby (1991) Tori Amos: Under the Pink (1994) Seal: Seal (1991) The Williams Brothers: Harmony Hotel (1993) David Baerwald: Bedtime Stories (1990) Lou Reed & John Cale: Songs for Drella (1990) Pearl Jam: Vs. (1993) Eric Woolfson: Freudiana (1990) Sinead O’Connor: I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got (1990)
Live: Throwing Copper (1994) Temple of the Dog: Temple of the Dog (1991) The Commitments: The Commitments (ST: 1991) Sting: Ten Summoner’s Tales (1993) Marillion: Holidays in Eden (1991) Roger Waters: Amused to Death (1992) Shawn Colvin: Fat City (1992) Lyle Lovett: Joshua Judges Ruth (1992) 3rd Matinee: Meanwhile (1994) Fish: Internal Exile (1991)
Guns N’ Roses: Use Your Illusion II (1991) Indigo Girls: Nomads Indians Saints (1990) Pearl Jam: Vitalogy (1994) Crowded House: Together Alone (1993) David Bowie: Outside (1995) Enigma: mcmxc a.d. (1991) Marillion: Brave (1994) Styx: Edge of the Century (1990) Pink Floyd: The Division Bell (1994) Dire Straits: On Every Street (1991)
Lyle Lovett: I Love Everybody (1994) Sting: Mercury Falling (1996) The Rainmakers: Skin (1997) Nirvana: In Utero (1993) Melissa Etheridge: Yes I Am (1993) David Baerwald: Triage (1992) Live: Mental Jewelry (1992) Seal: Seal (1994) Sheryl Crow: Sheryl Crow (1996) R.E.M.: Automatic for the People (1992)




Dave’s Top 50 Albums of 1980-1989

Marillion: Misplaced Childhood (1985) Styx: Paradise Theater (1981) Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair (1985) Marillion: Script for a Jester’s Tear (1983) Marillion: Clutching at Straws (1987) Indigo Girls: Indigo Girls (1989) Bruce Springsteen: Born in the U.S.A. (1984) Prince & the Revolution: Purple Rain (1984) The Police: Synchronicity (1983) U2: The Joshua Tree (1987)
Tears for Fears: The Hurting (1983) The Rainmakers: The Rainmakers (1986) Sting: Nothing Like the Sun (1987) Peter Gabriel: So (1986) Journey: Escape (1981) The Police: Zenyatta Mondatta (1980) Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms (1985) Terence Trent D’Arby: Introducing the Hardline (1987) Tracy Chapman: Tracy Chapman (1988) Alan Parsons Project: The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980)
Lyle Lovett: Pontiac (1988) Marillion: Fugazi (1984) Melissa Etheridge: Melissa Etheridge (1988) U2: War (1983) Sting: The Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985) Tears for Fears: The Seeds of Love (1989) Lyle Lovett: Lyle Lovett and His Large Band (1989) David + David: Boomtown (1986) Marillion: Season’s End (1989) Crowded House: Crowded House (1986)
Michael Jackson: Thriller (1982) Violent Femmes: Violent Femmes (1983) Squeeze: East Side Story (1981) U2: Rattle and Hum (1988) Paul Simon: Graceland (1986) XTC: Skylarking (1986) John Cougar Mellencamp: The Lonesome Jubilee (1987) Genesis: Genesis (1983) Yes: 90125 (1983) Pat Benatar: Crimes of Passion (1980)
John Cougar Mellencamp: Scarecrow (1985) Faith No More: The Real Thing (1989) Styx: Kilroy Was Here (1983) Air Supply: Lost in Love (1980) Don Henley: Building the Perfect Beast (1984) Mike + The Mechanics: Mike + The Mechanics (1985) Toni Childs: Union (1988) Del Amitri: Waking Hours (1989) Aha: Scoundrel Days (1986) Shawn Colvin: Steady On (1989)




Dave’s Top 50 Albums of 1970-1979

Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin IV (1971) Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon (1973) Styx: The Grand Illusion (1977) Pink Floyd: The Wall (1979) The Who: Who’s Next (1971) Eagles: Hotel California (1976) Boston: Boston (1976) Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (1977) Billy Joel: The Stranger (1977) Van Halen: Van Halen I (1978)
Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here (1975) Meat Loaf: Bat Out of Hell (1977) Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy (1973) Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young: Déjà Vu (1970) Bruce Springsteen: Born to Run (1975) The Police: Outlandos D’Amour (1978) David Bowie: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) The Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers (1971) Styx: Cornerstone (1979) The Police: Regatta De Blanc (1979)
Styx: Styx II (1973) Genesis: The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974) Lou Reed: Berlin (1973) Derek & the Dominos: Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs (1970) Bad Company: Bad Company (1974) Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) The Cars: The Cars (1978) Lynyrd Skynyrd: Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd (1973) Styx: Pieces of Eight (1978) Styx: Crystal Ball (1976)
Styx: Equinox (1975) Alan Parsons Project: I, Robot (1977) Yes: Fragile (1971) The Beatles: Let It Be (1970) Eagles: The Long Run (1979) Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks (1977) Creedence Clearwater Revival: Cosmo’s Factory (1970) Lou Reed: Transformer (1972) Yes: The Yes Album (1971) Eric Clapton: Slowhand (1974)
Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin III (1970) Eric Clapton: 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974) John Lennon: Plastic Ono Band (1970) Styx: Styx I (1972) Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band: Night Moves (1976) Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band: Stranger in Town (1978) Journey: Infinity (1978) Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti (1975) Carole King: Tapestry (1971) Supertramp: Crime of the Century (1974)




Dave’s Top 50 Albums of 1960-1969

The Beatles: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced? (1967) The Beatles: Abbey Road (1969) Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin II (1969) The Who: Tommy (1969) The Beatles: Please Please Me (1963) The Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour (1967) The Doors: The Doors (1967) The Beatles: The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (1968) The Rolling Stones: Let It Bleed (1969)
The Beatles: Revolver (1966) Velvet Underground & Nico: Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) The Beatles: Rubber Soul (1965) The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Axis – Bold As Love (1968) The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night (1964) Bob Dylan: Blonde on Blonde (1966) Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin I (1969) The Beatles: Beatles for Sale (1964) Bob Dylan: Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964) Bob Dylan: The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963)
The Beatles: Help! (1965) Crosby, Stills & Nash: Crosby, Stills, & Nash (1969) Bob Dylan: Bringing It All Back Home (1965) Velvet Underground: Velvet Underground (1969) The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland (1967) Blind Faith: Blind Faith (1969) The Doors: Strange Days (1967) The Beatles: With the Beatles (1963) Sly & The Family Stone: Stand! (1969) Love: Forever Changes (1967)
The Doors: Waiting for the Sun (1968) Otis Redding: Otis Blue (1965) Velvet Underground: White Light/White Heat (1967) Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited (1965) Cream: Disraeli Gears (1967) Aretha Franklin: I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967) The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds (1966) The Rolling Stones: Beggars Banquet (1968) The Byrds: Mr. Tamborine Man (1965) Simon & Garfunkel: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme (1966)
David Bowie: Space Oddity (1969) Cream: Fresh Cream (1966) Bob Dylan: John Wesley Harding (1967) Cream: Wheels of Fire (1968) The Rolling Stones: Out of Our Heads (1965) The Rolling Stones: December’s Children and Everybody’s (1965) The Doors: Soft Parade (1969) The Rolling Stones: 12 x 5 (1964) The Rolling Stones: Between the Buttons (1967) The Rolling Stones: England’s Newest Hit Makers (1964)
This page last updated January 13, 2010.