Stooges, Clash, Velvets, Ramones in Guardian's list of albums that “changed music”

by

A number of classic punk rock and related records have appeared on the The Observer's 50 Albums That Changed Music. The list compiles the "select few records have actually altered the course of music" and includes detailed commentary on each entry.

Decidedly better argued and less adept at missing the point than other recent lists, the list includes notable records from The Stooges, The Clash, The Velvet Underground, The Ramones, The Strokes, NWA, The Beach Boys, Miles Davis, The Who, The Smiths, Talking Heads and others. The list curiously omits two list staples however, neither the Pixies nor the Rolling Stones appear.

You can read the analysis here.

  1. The Velvet Underground and Nico - The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967)
  2. The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
  3. Kraftwerk - Trans-Europe Express (1977)
  4. NWA - Straight Outta Compton (1989)
  5. Robert Johnson - King of the Delta Blues Singers (1961)
  6. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (1971)
  7. Patti Smith - Horses (1975)
  8. Bob Dylan - Bringing it All Back Home (1965)
  9. Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley (1956)
  10. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (1966)
  11. David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars (1972)
  12. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (1959)
  13. Frank Sinatra - Songs for Swingin' Lovers (1956)
  14. Joni Mitchell - Blue (1971)
  15. Brian Eno - Discreet Music (1975)
  16. Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved a Man the Way I love You (1967)
  17. The Stooges - Raw Power (1973)
  18. The Clash - London Calling (1979)
  19. Mary J Blige - What's the 411? (1992)
  20. The Byrds - Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968)
  21. The Spice Girls - Spice (1996)
  22. Kate Bush - The Hounds of Love (1985)
  23. Augustus Pablo - King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown (1976)
  24. Youssou N'Dour - Immigres (1984)
  25. James Brown - Live at the Apollo (1963)
  26. Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
  27. Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced (1967)
  28. Prince and the Revolution - Purple Rain (1984)
  29. Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
  30. The Wailers - Catch a Fire (1973)
  31. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (1989)
  32. Otis Redding - Otis Blue (1965)
  33. Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters (1973)
  34. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath (1970)
  35. The Ramones - The Ramones (1976)
  36. The Who - My Generation (1965)
  37. Massive Attack - Blue Lines (1991)
  38. Radiohead - The Bends (1995)
  39. Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)
  40. Run DMC - Run DMC (1984)
  41. Chic - Chic (1977)
  42. The Smiths - The Smiths (1984)
  43. Primal Scream - Screamadelica (1991)
  44. Talking Heads - Fear of Music (1979)
  45. Fairport Convention - Liege and Lief (1969)
  46. The Human League - Dare (1981)
  47. Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)
  48. The Strokes - Is This It? (2001)
  49. De La Soul - Feet High and Rising (1989)
  50. LFO - 3 Frequencies (1991)