“What really matters is what you like, not what you are like.”
– Nick Hornby, High Fidelity (1995)
Readers who have enjoyed our interviews from time to time know that we typically ask artists to share their five favorite albums of all time at the end of our conversations with them. No matter who the artist is, it’s always fascinating to discover which long players have impacted their personal and professional lives. A few of our interview subjects have even scoffed at the standard five-album limit, rattling off upwards of a dozen or so titles and second-guessing if they’ve made the right choices.
Today, and considering that we’re still in the midst of the year 2020, we’re excited to reveal our writers’ respective lists of their 20 all-time favorite albums. We all reserve the right to change our minds about these choices in the future, but for now, here are the indispensable albums that we can’t live without and the reasons why.
Explore Terry Nelson’s 20 favorites below, click the “Next” button at the bottom of the page to browse the lists or return to the main index.
David Bowie | Young Americans
RCA (1975)
David Bowie's Young Americans stands out because, at the time, there was nothing else in his catalog that sounded like it. Bowie's ninth studio album still holds up today and is a great lead-in to Station to Station (1976). Without a doubt, it is unquestionably one of his best.
David Bowie | Station to Station
RCA (1976)
Station to Station is Bowie’s last studio LP before his famous Berlin trilogy. Stripped away of Young Americans’ more pop leanings, this six-song album, which features a cover of Johnny Mathis’ “Wild is the Wind,” is the perfect prelude to Bowie’s next LP, Low.
The Cars | The Cars
Elektra (1978)
This is one of the first LPs that made me stand up and take notice of a band. The Cars’ eponymous debut ushered in the New Wave era and to this day, it’s a very listenable classic. One of the best debuts by any band in the modern rock era.
The Clash | London Calling
CBS/Epic (1979)
This is the one album that brings me back to a time in my life when I actively sought comfort in music. It was fierce, angry, and just what I needed at the time. It's what we all needed at the time. London Calling is a classic double album that doesn’t disappoint from beginning to end.
Aretha Franklin | Aretha Live at Fillmore West
Atlantic (1971)
Recorded live at the famous Fillmore West, this LP finds Aretha Franklin at her absolute best, singing a mix of her material and cover songs such as "Love the One You're With.” As live albums go, Aretha Franklin Live at Fillmore West is one of the best.
Peter Gabriel | So
Charisma/Geffen (1986)
Without question, Gabriel's exceptional fifth studio album still sounds as amazing as it did upon its release three decades ago. So manages to stay true to Gabriel’s unique style of music while appearing to be more listenable to a wider audience. It’s a great listen and amongst Gabriel’s best LPs.
Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On
Tamla (1971)
This is a timeless masterpiece that is just as relevant today as it was when it was released. Marvin Gaye’s performance is a reflection of the world in 1971 and a peek inside his own inner turmoil.
PJ Harvey | Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
Island (2000)
This album got me through a nasty breakup and provided the soundtrack for the year 2000. My personal highlight is her duet with Thom Yorke on “This Mess We’re In.” Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea is fierce and beautiful.
Grace Jones | Nightclubbing
Island (1981)
This one has been in my steady rotation ever since I bought it in 1981. I still don’t know how Jones combined New Wave, Disco and Reggae and made it all work. Nightclubbing is an underrated classic you should have in your collection.
Robert Plant | The Principle of Moments
Es Paranza/Atlantic (1983)
Robert Plant's second solo LP The Principle of Moments is a vast departure from anything he had previously done with Led Zeppelin. With songs like "Big Log" and "In The Mood,” The Principle of Moments launched Plant towards a successful solo career that continues today.
The Police | Outlandos d’Amour
A&M (1978)
The Police's Outlandos d'Amour is one of the finest debut albums in rock history. It's a ten-track, thirty-eight minute and fourteen-second glimpse at what would become in a few short years, the most popular band in the world. We just didn't know it at the time.
Prince | Sign O’ the Times
Paisley Park/Warner Bros. (1987)
This is my favorite Prince LP because he merged the styles of all of his previous albums and created a sound that set this work apart from all the others. Prince also managed to pull off the near-impossible feat of making a double album that is listenable from beginning to end.
Public Enemy | It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Def Jam/Columbia (1988)
Public Enemy’s sophomore effort remains one of the fiercest political statements of the ‘80s. Lyrically strong and flawlessly produced, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back was the standard-bearer for hip-hop’s politically conscious era.
The Rolling Stones | Let It Bleed
Decca (1969)
Blessed with what is arguably the best opening song ("Gimme Shelter") of any rock album ever, Let It Bleed is one of the most important and pivotal albums in the Rolling Stones' catalog. Brian Jones' heavy drug use rendered him incapable of contributing anything to the album and was subsequently fired and replaced by Mick Taylor. It's also the first featuring a lead vocal by Keith Richards ("You Got the Silver"). Let It Bleed is the perfect lead-in to the Stones' next era.
Steely Dan | Aja
ABC (1977)
Aja, despite its detractors calling it too slick, is one hell of an album that demands not just one play, but multiple spins. It's an album that makes you think. It compels you to listen again and again, as you continually uncover new elements and flourishes you hadn’t heard before. Great albums make you want to come back for more and Aja is a great album.
Talking Heads | Remain in Light
Sire (1980)
This is the album through which Talking Heads cemented their status as one of the era's most experimental bands. With a supporting cast that included Adrian Belew and Nona Hendryx, the Heads merged their signature style with African rhythms, giving them fresh new sound that was innovative and unique. It has been a mainstay in many ‘80s "best of" lists.
Tom Waits | Franks Wild Years
Island (1987)
From the beginning of "Hang on St.Christopher,” I felt like I was watching a cabaret/lounge act at a carnival located in the middle of a junkyard and I enjoyed every minute of it. Franks Wild Years is definitely one of the stranger albums in Tom Waits' catalog and I mean strange even for Tom Waits, but it's a fun ride. "Way Down in the Hole" was used for the opening theme for Season 2 of HBO's The Wire (the best TV series ever). Franks Wild Years is an odd, but fun ride.
Bill Withers | Just As I Am
Sussex (1971)
Produced by Booker T. Jones of Booker T & the MGs fame, Bill Withers' debut LP Just As I Am instantly made him a household name. "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Grandma's Hands" are the two standout tracks on an album that I can only describe as soulful folk. It has long been a favorite of mine.
Stevie Wonder | Innervisions
Tamla (1973)
Innervisions is not just a reflection on life interpreted through the genius of Stevie Wonder, but it's a nine-track spiritual journey that doesn’t preach, but instead, invites the listener to just take it all in and enjoy. There are not many songs on this earth better than "Living For the City.”
X | More Fun in the New World
Elektra (1983)
Imagine a punk album with the lyrical sensibilities of Woody Guthrie. More Fun in the New World is a brilliant look at the Reagan era through the eyes of L.A. punk legends X. Their cover of Otis Blackwell’s “Breathless” has no rival.