10 best by year (or your own Pazz & Jop ballots)

[MK]

Anybody up for this? Going back to, say, 1965 and pick whichever years, and put out your own top 10 list. Rank them if you like, even 'score' them like some do at P&J. I'll post something later to start it off, unless there's no interest, in which case, FUGHETTABOUTIT....

[MK]

1977
1. Television: Marquee Moon
2. The Ramones: Rocket To Russia
3. The Clash (UK version)
4. Elvis Costello: My Aim Is True
5. David Bowie: Low
6. David Bowie: "Heroes"
7. Kraftwerk: Trans-Europe Express
8. Fleetwood Mac: Rumours
9. Talking Heads '77
10. The Ramones: Leave Home

[Crummy Old Label Avatar]

1974
1. Elvis: Having Fun With Elvis On Stage
2. David Bowie: Having Fun With Cocaine On Stage (aka David Live)
3. Bill Wyman: Monkey Grip
4. Carl Douglas: Kung Fu Fighting
5. Rick Wakeman: Journey To The Centre Of The Earth
6. Ringo Starr: Goodnight Vienna
7. Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells
8. Eric Clapton: 461 Ocean Boulevard
9. George Harrison: Dark Horse
10. Genesis: The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway


1974... Such a banner year for rock and roll titans.... Oh wait a minute! These albums SUCK (with the possible exception of the Carl Douglas LP, which I've never heard). Never mind.

[Crummy Old Label Avatar]

But seriously, is there a better year than 1979? Hard to pick only 10.

1. The Fall: Live at the Witch Trials
2. The Fall: Dragnet
3. Red Crayola: Soldier Talk
4. Young Marble Giants: Colossal Youth
5. The Pop Group: Y
6. Pere Ubu: Dub Housing (one could argue that this technically came out in 1978, but it really didn't make it into the shops until 1979)
7. Wire: 154
8. Swell Maps: A Trip to Marineville
9. The Raincoats: The Raincoats
10. Cabaret Voltaire: The Mix-Up

[Ess Ay Cee Dee]

nt

[Rob P]

I like lists such as these, just to see the interesting albums I've never heard of that someone will post. Keep them coming, and I'll try a post a year or two, so long as I'm not embarrassed by what I might put on it.

[Ess Ay Cee Dee]

nt

[Ess Ay Cee Dee]

nt

[dcooper]

1973 ... the immortal year that brought us DSOTM AND Band on the Run AND The Wild, The Innocent, and the E-Street Shuffle

1. Stevie Wonder: Innervisions
2. Brian Eno: Here Come The Warm Jets
3. Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy
4. Tom Waits: Closing Time
5. Tood Rundgren: A Wizard, A True Star
6. The Stooges: Raw Power
7. The Who: Quadrophenia
8. Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
9. Sly & The Family Stone: Fresh
10. The New York Dolls: s/t

I wanted to add Overnite Sensation and Mind Games as a shout-out to Frank & John, but i really can't stand either of those albums, so...

[Ess Ay Cee Dee]

nt

[MK]

Some years are tougher than others. Some years, all ten are right on top of each other and you end up cutting a few classics. Other years, it's a huge difference from no. 1 to no. 10. Some more votes for the following years:

1967
1. The Velvet Underground and Nico
2. The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced? (UK version)
3. Aretha Franklin: I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You
4. The Kinks: Something Else By The Kinks
5. The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
6. Buffalo Springfield Again
7. Bob Dylan: John Wesley Harding
8. Love: Forever Changes
9. The Who: Sell Out
10. Frank Zappa and the Mothers Of Invention: We're Only In It For The Money
* honorable mention: Bob Dylan & the Band: The "Basement Tapes"

1969
1. The Band
2. The Beatles: Abbey Road
3. Creedence Clearwater Revival: Willy and the Poor Boys
4. The Rolling Stones: Let It Bleed
5. Creedence Clearwater Revival: Green River
6. The Flying Burrito Brothers: Gilded Palace Of Sin
7. Sly & the Family Stone: Stand!
8. Captain Beefheart: Trout Mask Replica
9. The Velvet Underground (Closet Mix)
10. Neil Young and Crazy Horse: Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

1971
1. Marvin Gaye: What's Goin' On?
2. The Who: Who's Next
3. Rod Stewart: Every Picture Tells A Story
4. Sly & The Family Stone: There's A Riot Goin' On
5. The Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers
6. Joni Mitchell: Blue
7. Led Zeppelin IV
8. The Allman Brothers Band: Live At Fillmore East
9. David Bowie: Hunky Dory
10. Black Sabbath: Paranoid

1973
1. Stevie Wonder: Innervisions
2. Al Green: Call Me
3. Bob Marley: Catch A Fire (U.S. Island version)
4. Iggy Pop & The Stooges: Raw Power
5. Roxy Music: For Your Pleasure
6. The New York Dolls
7. Pink Floyd: Dark Side Of The Moon
8. Mott The Hoople: Mott
9. Bob Marley & the Wailers: Burnin'
10. Bruce Springsteen: The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle

1974
1. Steely Dan: Pretzel Logic
2. Richard & Linda Thompson: I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
3. New York Dolls: Too Much Too Soon
4. King Crimson: Red
5. Big Star: Radio City
6. Van Morrison: It's Too Late To Stop Now
7. Joni Mitchell: Court and Spark
8. Jackson Browne: Late For The Sky
9. Randy Newman: Good Old Boys
10. Gram Parsons: Grievous Angel
(BTW, I've grown to like 461 Ocean Boulevard, but Crummy's post was still hilarious.)

1979
1. The Clash: London Calling (maybe this should be 1980...)
2. Elvis Costello & The Attractions: Armed Forces
3. Pere Ubu: Dub Housing
4. Neil Young: Rust Never Sleeps
5. The Buzzcocks: Singles Going Steady
6. Van Morrison: Into The Music
7. Wire: 154
8. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers: Damn The Torpedoes
9. Graham Parker: Squeezing Out Sparks
10. The B-52's

1980
1. Talking Heads: Remain In Light
2. The Pretenders
3. Prince: Dirty Mind
4. Gang Of Four: Entertainment!
5. Michael Jackson: Off The Wall
6. Peter Gabriel: Third Album
7. Joy Division: Closer
8. Public Image Ltd.: Second Edition
9. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band: Doc at the Radar Station
10. Elvis Costello & The Attractions: Get Happy!!

Plus two later years:
1991
1. Nirvana: Nevermind
2. U2: Achtung Baby
3. My Bloody Valentine: Loveless
4. A Tribe Called Quest: The Low End Theory
5. Public Enemy: Apocalypse '91: The Empire Strikes Black
6. Massive Attack: Blue Lines
7. Richard Thompson: Rumour and Sigh
8. The Mekons: Curse of the Mekons
9. Bonnie Raitt: Luck Of The Draw
10. Matthew Sweet: Girlfriend

1999
1. Moby: Play
2. Wilco: Summerteeth
3. The Flaming Lips: The Soft Bulletin
4. The Magnetic Fields: 69 Love Songs
5. The Roots: Things Fall Apart
6. Tom Waits: Mule Variations
7. Rage Against The Machine: The Battle Of Los Angeles
8. TLC: Fanmail
9. Sleater-Kinney: The Hot Rock
10. Beck: Midnite Vultures

[Crummy Old Label Avatar]

1981

1. Keiji Haino: Watashi Dake
2. Felt: Crumbling the Antiseptic Beauty
3. Television Personalities: ...And Don't the Kids Just Love It
4. The Fall: Slates
5. The Birthday Party: Prayers on Fire
6. Red Crayola: Kangaroo?
7. Die Tödliche Doris: "LP"
8. Art Bears: The World As It Is Today
9. Einstürzende Neubauten: Kollaps
10. Cluster: Curiosum

[Leppo]

1972 (in no particular order)

1. Nick Drake – Pink Moon
2. The Rolling Stones – Exile On Main Street
3. David Bowie – The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
4. Roxy Music – Roxy Music
5. Neil Young – Harvest
6. Pete Townshend - Who Came First
7. Big Star - #1 Record
8. Steely Dan - Can't Buy A Thrill
9. Rod Stewart - Never A Dull Moment
10. Gram Parsons – g.p.

[CitizenDan]

The song's the thing, my friends (pardon the length):

1954:
1. Elvis Presley, "Good Rockin' Tonight"
2. The Clovers, "Alrighty Oh Sweetie"
3. Muddy Waters, "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man"
4. The Jewels, "Hearts of Stone"
5. The Robins, "Riot in Cell Block #9"
6. Elvis Presley, "Blue Moon of Kentucky"
7. The Chords, "Sh-Boom"
8. Nolan Strong and the Diablos, "The Wind"
9. LaVern Baker, "Tweedlee Dee"
10. Webb Pierce, "Slowly"

1955:
1. The Robins, "Smokey Joe's Cafe"
2. Bo Diddley, "Bo Diddley"
3. Bobby Bland, "It's My Life, Baby"
4. Elvis Presley, "Mystery Train"
5. Bo Diddley, "Pretty Thing"
6. The Harptones, "Life is But a Dream"
7. Ray Charles, "Greenbacks"
8. Johnny Cash, "Folsom Prison Blues"
9. The Turbans, "Sister Sookey"
10. Elvis Presley, "Baby Let's Play House"

1956:
1. Bo Diddley, "Who Do You Love"
2. The Cadets, "Stranded in the Jungle"
3. Little Richard, "The Girl Can't Help it"
4. Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps, "Race With the Devil"
5. Fats Domino, "Blue Monday"
6. Shirley and Lee, "Let the Good Times Roll"
7. Louis Prima, "Oh Marie"
8. Chuck Berry, "Brown Eyed Handsome Man"
9. The Coasters, "Down in Mexico"
10. The Platters, "My Prayer"

1957:
1. Ricky Nelson, "Stood Up"
2. The Hollywood Flames, "Buzz-Buzz-Buzz"
3. Johnny Cash, "Big River"
4. Little Richard, "Keep a-Knockin'"
5. Johnny Cash, "Give My Love to Rose"
6. Jerry Lee Lewis, "Great Balls of Fire"
7. Fats Domino, "I'm Walkin'"
8. The Rays, "Daddy Cool"
9. Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps, "Cruisin'"
10. Elvis Presley, "Treat Me Nice"

1958:
1. Frankie Ford, "Sea Cruise"
2. Chuck Berry, "Sweet Little Sixteen"
3. Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns, "High Blood Pressure"
4. The Silhouettes, "Miss Thing"
5. Jerry Lee Lewis, "Down the Line"
6. Buddy Holly, "Well...All Right"
7. The Big Bopper, "Big Bopper's Wedding"
8. The Collins Kids, "Mercy!"
9. Elvis Presley, "I Got Stung"
10. Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns, "Don't You Just Know it"

1959:
11. The Flamingos, "I Only Have Eyes For You"
12. Eddie Cochran, "Somethin' Else"
13. Chuck Berry, "Almost Grown"
14. The Coasters, "Along Came Jones"
15. Bo Diddley, "Crackin' Up"
16. Ray Charles, "The Right Time"
17. Ray Price, "Heartaches by the Number"
18. Tarheel Slim, "Number Nine Train"
19. Phil Phillips and the Twilights, "Sea of Love"
20. Miss Toni Fisher, "The Big Hurt"

1960:
1. Elvis Presley, "Reconsider Baby"
2. The Ventures, "Walk - Don't Run"
3. Gary U.S. Bonds, "New Orleans"
4. Bobby Marchan, "There is Something on Your Mind"
5. The Flamingos, "Mio Amore"
6. Jorgen Ingmann, "Apache"
7. Elvis Presley, "Such a Night"
8. The Ray Bryant Combo, "The Madison Time (Part 1)"
9. The Fendermen, "Mule Skinner Blues"
10. Roy Orbison, "Up Town"

1961:
1. Del Shannon, "Runaway"
2. Elvis Presley, "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame"
3. The Pips, "Every Beat of My Heart"
4. The Mar-Keys, "Last Night"
5. Bobby Bland, "Little Boy Blue"
6. Howlin' Wolf, "Shake For Me"
7. Ricky Nelson, "Hello Mary Lou"
8. Bobby Lewis, "Tossin' and Turnin'"
9. The Senors, "May I Have This Dance"
10. Joe Barry, "I'm a Fool to Care"

1962:
1. Dion, "Ruby Baby"
2. Irma Thomas, "It's Raining"
3. Chris Montez, "Let's Dance"
4. Timi Yuro, "What's a Matter Baby (Is it Hurting You)"
5. Link Wray and His Ray Men, "Big City After Dark"
6. Mary Wells, "The One Who Really Loves You"
7. Bo Diddley, "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover"
8. The Drifters, "Up on the Roof" (45 version)
9. James Brown, "Night Train"
10. Roy Orbison, "Dream Baby"

1963:
1. The Beatles, "I Saw Her Standing There"
2. Lonnie Mack, "Memphis"
3. The Dynamics, "Misery"
4. Dave Dudley, "Six Days on the Road"
5. The Trashmen, "Surfin' Bird"
6. Dionne Warwick, "Anyone Who Had a Heart"
7. Ray Price, "Night Life"
8. Marvin Gaye, "Pride and Joy"
9. The Beatles, "It Won't Be Long"
10. James Brown, "I've Got Money"

1964:
1. The Kinks, "All Day and All of the Night"
2. The Beatles, "Eight Days a Week"
3. Brenda Holloway, "Every Little Bit Hurts"
4. The Beach Boys, "All Summer Long"
5. Brenda Lee, "Is it True?"
6. Roy Orbison, "It's Over"
7. The Yardbirds, "I Wish You Would"
8. The Ventures, "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue"
9. The Beatles, "Baby's in Black"
10. The Rolling Stones, "I Wanna Be Your Man"

1965:
1. The Byrds, "It Won't Be Wrong"
2. Them, "Mystic Eyes"
3. The Yardbirds, "I'm Not Talking"
4. Bob Dylan, "Tombstone Blues"
5. Jackie DeShannon, "I Remember the Boy"
6. The Guess Who, "Shakin' All Over"
7. The Young Rascals, "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore"
8. The Knickerbockers, "Lies"
9. The Yardbirds, "The Train Kept a-Rollin'"
10. The Who, "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere"

1966:
1. The Beach Boys, "God Only Knows"
2. The Rolling Stones, "19th Nervous Breakdown"
3. The Marvelettes, "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game"
4. The Kinks, "Big Black Smoke"
5. The Beatles, "I'm Only Sleeping"
6. The Zombies, "Gotta Get Ahold of Myself"
7. The Yardbirds, "You're a Better Man Than I"
8. The Who, "Substitute"
9. The Clefs of Lavender Hill, "Stop! Get a Ticket"
10. The Shadows of Knight, "Light Bulb Blues"

1967:
1. The Who, "Pictures of Lily"
2. The Turtles, "She's My Girl"
3. The Miracles, "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage"
4. The Beatles, "Penny Lane"
5. James Brown, "Cold Sweat" (LP version)
6. Wilson Pickett, "Funky Broadway"
7. The Jimi Hendrix Experience, "Manic Depression"
8. Sagittarius, "My World Fell Down"
9. Diana Ross and the Supremes, "Reflections"
10. The Hollies, "Dear Eloise"

1968:
1. The Rolling Stones, "Jumpin' Jack Flash"
2. The Who, "A Quick One While He's Away" (live, rel. 1979)
3. Booker T. and the MGs, "Hang 'em High"
4. Cream, "Crossroads" (live)
5. The Kinks, "She's Got Everything"
6. James Brown, "There Was a Time" (live, rel. 1991)
7. The Bob Seger System, "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man"
8. The Zombies, "Time of the Season"
9. The Flirtations, "Nothing But a Heartache"
10. Donovan, "Hurdy Gurdy Man"

1969:
1. Sly and the Family Stone, "Everybody is a Star"
2. Neil Young, "Cowgirl in the Sand"
3. The Kinks, "Victoria"
4. Charlie Rich, "Life's Little Ups and Downs"
5. The Beatles, "The Ballad of John and Yoko"
6. Elvis Presley, "Stranger in My Own Hometown" (alternate, rel. 1985)
7. James Brown, "Mother Popcorn"
8. Evie Sands, "Any Way That You Want Me"
9. The Rolling Stones, "Honky Tonk Women"
10. Lulu, "Oh Me Oh My (I'm a Fool For You Baby)"

1970:
1. Freda Payne, "Band of Gold"
2. Paul McCartney, "Maybe I'm Amazed"
3. Elvis Presley, "Kentucky Rain"
4. The Who, "Summertime Blues" (live)
5. The Grass Roots, "Temptation Eyes"
6. James Brown, "Call Me Super Bad"
7. Jerry Reed, "Amos Moses"
8. Badfinger, "No Matter What"
9. The Rolling Stones, "Midnight Rambler" (live)
10. The Jackson 5, "The Love You Save"

1971:
1. Rod Stewart, "Every Picture Tells a Story"
2. The Allman Brothers Band, "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" (live)
3. War, "Slippin' Into Darkness" (LP version)
4. The Rolling Stones, "Sway"
5. Holwin' Wolf, "Do the Do"
6. Sly and the Family Stone, "Family Affair"
7. The Beach Boys, "Surf's Up"
8. Al Green, "Tired of Being Alone"
9. Yes, "Starship Trooper"
10. T. Rex, "Jeepster"

1972:
1. Al Green, "I'm Still in Love With You"
2. Alice Cooper, "Public Animal #9"
3. Big Star, "Feel"
4. Roxy Music, "Virginia Plain"
5. Badfinger, "Baby Blue" (45 version)
6. Al Green, "You Ought to Be With Me"
7. Toots and the Maytals, "Funky Kingston"
8. Todd Rundgren, "Couldn't I Just Tell You"
9. The Spinners, "Could it be I'm Falling in Love"
10. The Flamin' Groovies, "Slow Death"

1973:
1. Paul McCartney and Wings, "Jet"
2. Dobie Gray, "Drift Away"
3. Deep Purple, "Highway Star" (live)
4. Sutherland Brothers and Quiver, "(I Don't Want to Love You But) You Got Me Anyway"
5. The Isley Brothers, "That Lady" (LP version)
6. Kool and the Gang, "Jungle Boogie"
7. Mott the Hoople, "All the Way From Memphis"
8. Bryan Ferry, "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall"
9. Golden Earring, "Radar Love" (LP version)
10. Sly and the Family Stone, "If You Want Me to Stay"

1974:
1. Steely Dan, "Rikki Don't Lose That Number"
2. Big Star, "September Gurls"
3. Al Green, "Love Ritual"
4. The Raspberries, "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)"
5. Elvis Presley, "Promised Land"
6. James Brown, "The Payback"
7. AWB, "Pick up the Pieces" (LP version)
8. The New York Dolls, "(There's Gonna Be a) Showdown"
9. John Lennon, "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night"
10. Van Morrison, "Linden Arden Stole the Highlights"

1975:
1. Dwight Twilley Band, "I'm on Fire"
2. Bruce Springsteen, "Thunder Road"
3. ZZ Top, "Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings"
4. Kool and the Gang, "Spirit of the Boogie"
5. The Who, "Slip Kid"
6. Ian Hunter, "Lounge Lizard"
7. Gwen McCrae, "Rockin' Chair"
8. The Spinners, "They Just Can't Stop it (Games People Play)"
9. John Fogerty, "Rockin' All Over the World"
10. Neil Young, "Lookout Joe"

1976:
1. Nick Lowe, "Heart of the City"
2. Thin Lizzy, "Jailbreak"
3. Diana Ross, "Love Hangover"
4. The Damned, "New Rose"
5. Brick, "Dazz"
6. Thelma Houston, "Don't Leave Me This Way"
7. The Ramones, "Judy is a Punk"
8. Sweeney Todd, "Roxy Roller"
9. Rose Royce, "I Wanna Get Next to You"
10. ABBA, "Knowing Me, Knowing You"

1977:
1. The Sex Pistols, "Holidays in the Sun"
2. The Ramones, "Rockaway Beach"
3. Donna Summer, "I Feel Love" (LP version)
4. David Bowie, "Sound and Vision"
5. Wreckless Eric, "Whole Wide World"
6. Cheap Trick, "Down on the Bay" (live, rel. 1996)
7. Steely Dan, "Deacon Blues"
8. Eddie and the Hot Rods, "Do Anything You Wanna Do"
9. Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane, "Heart to Hang Onto"
10. Cheap Trick, "He's a Whore"

1978:
1. Cheap Trick, "Auf Wiedersehen"
2. Elvis Costello, "Lipstick Vogue"
3. Chris Bell, "I Am the Cosmos"
4. The Babys, "Every Time I Think of You"
5. Elvis Costello (dba Nick Lowe and His Sound), "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding"
6. Nick Lowe, "Nutted By Reality"
7. Bruce Springsteen, "Adam Raised a Cain" (live, rel. 1986)
8. The Band with Paul Butterfield, "Mystery Train" (live)
9. Cheap Trick, "Clock Strikes Ten" (live)
10. Jackie Moore, "Personally"

1979:
1. XTC, "Making Plans For Nigel"
2. Neil Young, "Sedan Delivery"
3. Fleetwood Mac, "Walk a Thin Line"
4. Elvis Costello, "Busy Bodies"
5. Bram Tchaikovsky, "Girl of My Dreams"
6. The Clash, "Four Horsemen"
7. The Buzzcocks, "Ever Fallen in Love?"
8. Squeeze, "Up the Junction"
9. ZZ Top, "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide"
10. Dave Edmunds, "Girls Talk"

1980:
1. The Jam, "Start!"
2. T Bone Burnett, "Driving Wheel"
3. The Specials, "Stereotypes" (LP version)
4. XTC, "Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins)"
5. The Kings, "This Beat Goes On/Switchin' to Glide" (LP version)
6. The Ramones, "Do You Remember Rock'n'Roll Radio?"
7. Elvis Costello, "Clowntime is Over"
8. Bruce Springsteen, "Incident on 57th Street" (live, rel. 1987)
9. The Pretenders, "Up the Neck"
10. The Clash, "The Crooked Beat"

1981:
1. Marshall Crenshaw, "Something's Gonna Happen"
2. The Pretenders, "Day After Day"
3. Neil Young and Crazy Horse, "Southern Pacific"
4. Lindsey Buckingham, "Bwana"
5. Billy Squier, "Lonely is the Night"
6. Soft Cell, "Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go" (12-inch single)
7. Cheap Trick, "Just Got Back"
8. Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"
9. The Specials, "Ghost Town"
10. Pete Townshend, "Drowned" (live)

1982:
1. George Clinton, "Atomic Dog"
2. Elvis Costello, "Beyond Belief"
3. Paul McCartney, "Take it Away"
4. XTC, "Senses Working Overtime"
5. Donald Fagen, "New Frontier"
6. Marshall Crenshaw, "She Can't Dance"
7. Bruce Springsteen, "State Trooper"
8. Jules Shear, "I Know, I Know"
9. X, "Motel Room in My Bed"
10. Trio, "Sunday You Need Love, Monday Be Alone"

1983:
1. S.O.S. Band, "Just Be Good to Me" (LP version)
2. The Pretenders, "Middle of the Road"
3. Marshall Crenshaw, "For Her Love"
4. Aztec Camera, "Oblivious"
5. R.E.M., "Radio Free Europe"
6. The Violent Femmes, "Prove My Love"
7. X, "The New World"
8. Special A.K.A., "Free Nelson Mandela"
9. The Motels, "Suddenly Last Summer"
10. Eurythmics, "Here Comes the Rain Again"

1984:
1. Prince and the Revolution, "Erotic City"
2. The Replacements, "I Will Dare"
3. Husker Du, "New Day Rising"
4. The Bangles, "Hero Takes a Fall"
5. Sheila E., "The Belle of St. Mark"
6. Lindsey Buckingham, "I Must Go"
7. Prince and the Revolution, "I Would Die For U" (12-inch single)
8. Bruce Springsteen, "Jersey Girl" (live)
9. Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Welcome to the Pleasuredome"
10. Bruce Springsteen, "I'm on Fire"

1985:
1. Rosanne Cash, "Second to No One"
2. Husker Du, "Flip Your Wig"
3. Dream Academy, "Life in a Northern Town"
4. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, "Trapped" (live)
5. Pet Shop Boys, "West End Girls"
6. XTC (dba The Dukes of Stratosphear), "25 o'Clock"
7. Sheila E., "A Love Bizarre"
8. Force M.D.s, "Tender Love"
9. Katrina and the Waves, "Walking on Sunshine"
10. Prince and the Revolution, "Pop Life"

1986:
1. Jesse Johnson, "Baby Let's Kiss" (12-inch single)
2. Prince and the Revolution, "Mountains" (12-inch single)
3. Crowded House, "Don't Dream it's Over"
4. The Golden Palominos, "I've Been the One"
5. The Smithereens, "Blood and Roses"
6. The Georgia Satellites, "Battleship Chains"
7. Neil Young, "I Got a Problem"
8. Prince and the Revolution, "Love or Money"
9. XTC, "Season Cycle"
10. Run-D.M.C., "It's Tricky"

1987:
1. Public Enemy, "Bring the Noise"
2. Prince, "If I Was Your Girlfriend"
3. LL Cool J., "Jack the Ripper"
4. Guns n' Roses, "Sweet Child o'Mine"
5. Eric B. and Rakim, "I Know You Got Soul"
6. Rosanne Cash, "The Way We Make a Broken Heart" (LP version)
7. Bruce Springsteen, "One Step Up"
8. Eric B. and Rakim, "Paid in Full (Seven Minutes of Madness Mix)" (12-inch single)
9. The Jungle Brothers, "Jimbrowski"
10. The Bangles, "Hazy Shade of Winter"

1988:
1. The La's, "There She Goes"
2. Pet Shop Boys, "Left to My Own Devices"
3. MC Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, "It Takes Two"
4. Public Enemy, "Don't Believe the Hype"
5. Keith Richards, "Take it So Hard"
6. Prince, "When 2 R in Love"
7. The Smithereens, "Only a Memory"
8. Salt-n-Pepa, "Let the Rhythm Run"
9. Sam Phillips, "I Don't Know How to Say Goodbye"
10. Roy Orbison, "All I Can Do is Dream You"

1989:
1. Soul II Soul, "Keep on Movin'" (12-inch single)
2. The Pursuit of Happiness, "Consciousness Raising as a Social Tool"
3. Aerosmith, "F.I.N.E."
4. Public Enemy, "Fight the Power"
5. Bruce Springsteen, "Fire" (live, from 'The Complete Video Anthology' video)
6. The Smithereens, "A Girl Like You"
7. The Beastie Boys, "And What You Give is What You Get"
8. De La Soul, "Say No Go"
9. Neneh Cherry, "Buffalo Stance"
10. The Replacements, "I'll Be You"

1990:
1. Nick Lowe, "You Got the Look I Like"
2. Lush, "De-Luxe"
3. Urban Dance Squad, "A Deeper Shade of Soul"
4. World Party, "Way Down Now"
5. The Rembrandts, "Just the Way it is, Baby"
6. Jane's Addiction, "Been Caught Stealing"
7. Jellyfish, "The King is Half Undressed"
8. Jerry Lee Lewis, "It Was the Whiskey Talking (Not Me)"
9. Seal, "Crazy"
10. The Cavegurls, "Theme From Cavegurl"

1991:
1. Matthew Sweet, "Girlfriend"
2. Nirvana, "Come as You Are"
3. Ministry, "Jesus Built My Hotrod" (12-inch single)
4. Pet Shop Boys, "Where the Streets Have No Name/Can't Take My Eyes Off of You"
5. Nirvana, "Territorial Pissings"
6. King's X, "It's Love"
7. Teenage Fanclub, "Star Sign"
8. Metallica, "Sad But True"
9. Divinyls, "I Touch Myself"
10. Blur, "There's No Other Way"

1992:
1. The Black Crowes, "Remedy"
2. R.E.M., "Man on the Moon"
3. Los Lobos, "Kiko and the Lavender Moon"
4. Alice in Chains, "Them Bones"
5. Soul Asylum, "Runaway Train"
6. Throwing Muses, "Firepile"
7. Prince, "Sexy MF"
8. The Jayhawks, "Waiting for the Sun"
9. L7, "Shitlist"
10. Chris Mars, "Popular Creeps"

1993:
1. The Breeders, "Cannonball"
2. Sarah McLachlan, "Hold On"
3. Urge Overkill, "Sister Havana"
4. PJ Harvey, "Wang Dang Doodle"
5. Liz Phair, "Divorce Song"
6. Beck, "Loser"
7. Tony! Toni! Tone!, "If I Had No Loot"
8. The Rembrandts, "Rollin' Down the Hill"
9. Bjork, "Human Behavior"
10. Nirvana, "Milk It"

1994:
1. Weezer, "Buddy Holly"
2. Nirvana, "The Man Who Sold the World" (live)
3. Nick Lowe, "The Beast in Me"
4. The Breeders, "Shocker in Gloomtown"
5. Grant Lee Buffalo, "Mockingbirds"
6. Portishead, "Numbed in Moscow"
7. Sheryl Crow, "All I Wanna Do"
8. Pizzicato Five, "Twiggy Twiggy/Twiggy vs. James Bond"
9. Stereolab, "Ping Pong"
10. Neil Young and Crazy Horse, "Change Your Mind"

1995:
1. Wilco, "Casino Queen"
2. The Muffs, "Sad Tomorrow"
3. Garbage, "Only Happy When it Rains"
4. Ben Folds Five, "Underground"
5. Edwyn Collins, "A Girl Like You"
6. The Presidents of the United States of America, "Lump"
7. The Jayhawks, "Blue"
8. Son Volt, "Drown"
9. Foo Fighters, "This is a Call"
10. Dinosaur Jr, "Feel the Pain"

1996:
1. Tracy Bonham, "The One"
2. Supergrass, "Melanie Davies"
3. Lush, "Ladykillers"
4. Pearl Jam, "Leaving Here"
5. Luscious Jackson, "Naked Eye"
6. The Cardigans, "Lovefool"
7. Tupac with Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman, "California Love"
8. Space, "Female of the Species"
9. Nick Cave with Polly Harvey, "Henry Lee"
10. Wilco, "Dreamer in My Dreams"

1997:
1. Sloan, "The Good in Everyone"
2. Radiohead, "Paranoid Android"
3. Ben Folds Five, "Kate"
4. Sleater-Kinney, "Dig Me Out"
5. Marshall Crenshaw, "All or Nothin' at All"
6. Hanson, "Where's the Love?"
7. Supergrass, "Tonight"
8. The Honeydogs, "Rumor Has It"
9. Cheap Trick, "Brontosaurus"
10. Blur, "Song 2"

1998:
1. Busta Rhymes, "Gimme Some More"
2. Madonna, "Ray of Light"
3. The Verve, "Bitter Sweet Symphony"
4. Shania Twain, "You're Still the One"
5. Ben Folds Five, "Bad Idea"
6. Elliott Smith, "Sweet Adeline"
7. Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, "Worried Man"
8. Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach, "This House is Empty Now"
9. Billy Bragg and Wilco, "Ingrid Bergman"
10. Johnny Cash, "Rusty Cage"

1999:
1. Len, "Steal My Sunshine"
2. Ben Folds Five, "Army"
3. LFO, "Summer Girls"
4. Fiona Apple, "On the Bound"
5. Madonna, "Beautiful Stranger"
6. Lisa Loeb, "Summer"
7. Bad Livers, "Honey I've Found a Brand New Way/It's All the Same to Me"
8. D'Angelo, "Chicken Grease"
9. Eminem, "My Name Is"
10. The Backstreet Boys, "I Want it That Way"

2000:
1. The Apples in Stereo, "The Rainbow"
2. Nelly Furtado, "I'm Like a Bird"
3. Elliott Smith, "Stupidity Tries"
4. Ryan Adams "To be Young (is to be Sad, is to be High)"
5. Papas Fritas, "Way You Walk"
6. Sleater-Kinney, "You're No Rock'n'Roll Fun"
7. Sutrasonic, "Cosmic Flute"
8. Supergrass, "Moving"
9. Travis, "Why Does it Always Rain on Me?"
10. Hefner, "The Day That Thatcher Dies"

2001:
1. Basement Jaxx, "Where's Your Head At"
2. The White Stripes, "Fell in Love With a Girl"
3. The Detroit Cobras, “Hey Sailor”
4. OutKast, "So Fresh, So Clean"
5. Bob Dylan, "Honest With Me"
6. Shonen Knife, "Buttercup (I'm a Super Girl)"
7. No Doubt, "Hella Good"
8. Eminem, "The Real Slim Shady"
9. Kylie Minogue, "Can't Get You Out of My Head"
10. Gorillaz, "Clint Eastwood"

2002:
1. Freelance Hellraiser, "A Stroke of Genie-us"
2. The Hives, "Supply and Demand"
3. Tegan and Sara, "Living Room"
4. The Roots, "The Seed"
5. Wilco, "Heavy Metal Drummer"
6. Soulwax, "Push it/No Fun"
7. Osymyso, "Intro-Inspection"
8. Queens of the Stone Age, "No One Knows"
9. Eminem, "Lose Yourself"
10. The Rapture,"House of Jealous Lovers"

2003:
1. OutKast, "Happy Valentine's Day"
2. A Band of Bees, "A Minha Menina"
3. The Dials, "Dead Beat"
4. Basement Jaxx, "Cish Cash"
5. Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, "Crazy in Love"
6. Johnny Cash, "Hurt"
7. The Darkness, "I Believe in a Thing Called Love"
8. The Electric Six, "Danger! High Voltage"
9. Pink, "Trouble"
10. The Honeydogs, "Poor Little Sugar"

2004:
1. The Streets, "Fit But You Know It"
2. Neko Case, "The Tigers Have Spoken"
3. Stereo Total, "Hungry"
4. Sondra Lerche, "Two-Way Monologue"
5. Lifesavas, "Hellohihey"
6. Green Day, "Jesus of Suburbia"
7. Eleni Mandell, "Say Goodbye"
8. Chris Joss, "You've Been Spiked"
9. Soft Pink Truth, "Media Friend/VSB"
10. Marah, "Freedom Park"

[MK]

Not as interesting as Crummy's list (I gotta check those out), but mine for 1981 + others:

1981
1. X: Wild Gift
2. Black Flag: Damaged
3. Black Uhuru: Red
4. King Crimson: Discipline
5. The Clash: Sandinista!
6. Elvis Costello: Trust
7. The Police: Ghost In The Machine
8. Squeeze: East Side Story
9. The Rolling Stones: Tattoo You
10. Prince: Controversy

1966
1. The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds
2. The Beatles: Revolver (UK version)
3. Bob Dylan: Blonde On Blonde
4. Otis Redding: Dictionary Of Soul
5. Frank Zappa and the Mothers Of Invention: Freak Out!
6. The Rolling Stones: Aftermath (UK version)
7. The Byrds: Turn! Turn! Turn!
8. The Yardbirds: Roger The Engineer (UK release)
9. The Byrds: Fifth Dimension
10. John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton

1968
1. Van Morrison: Astral Weeks
2. Aretha Franklin: Lady Soul
3. The Byrds: Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
4. The Rolling Stones: Beggar's Banquet
5. The Byrds: The Notorious Byrd Brothers
6. The Band: Music From Big Pink
7. The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland
8. The Beatles
9. The Velvet Underground: White Light/White Heat
10. The Kinks: The Village Green Preservation Society (UK version - mono version)

1970
1. Derek And The Dominoes: Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
2. The Stooges: Funhouse
3. John Lennon: Plastic Ono Band
4. Van Morrison: Moondance
5. The Velvet Underground: Loaded (Inglot remix)
6. Aretha Franklin: Spirit In The Dark
7. Creedence Clearwater Revival: Cosmo's Factory
8. Randy Newman: 12 Songs
9. Rod Stewart: Gasoline Alley
10. Neil Young: After The Goldrush

1972
1. The Rolling Stones: Exile On Main Street
2. Nick Drake: Pink Moon
3. Stevie Wonder: Talking Book
4. Aretha Franklin: Young, Gifted And Black
5. Van Morrison: Saint Dominic's Preview
6. Randy Newman: Sail Away
7. Rod Stewart: Never A Dull Moment
8. Al Green: Let's Stay Together
9. David Bowie: Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
10. Aretha Franklin: Amazing Grace
* honorable mention: The Harder They Come [OST] (compilation of new and previously released material)

1975
1. Patti Smith: Horses
2. Bob Dylan: Blood On The Tracks
3. Neil Young: Tonight's The Night
4. Bob Marley and the Wailers: Natty Dread
5. Roxy Music: Siren
6. Bruce Springsteen: Born To Run
7. Toots and the Maytals: Funky Kingston
8. Steely Dan: Katy Lied
9. Richard & Linda Thompson: Hokey Pokey
10. Neil Young: Zuma

1976
1. Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life
2. The Ramones
3. The Modern Lovers
4. Brian Eno: Another Green World
5. Richard & Linda Thompson: Pour Down Like Silver
6. David Bowie: Station To Station
7. Graham Parker & The Rumour: Howlin' Wind
8. Aerosmith: Rocks
9. Warren Zevon
10. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band: Night Moves

1978
1. Elvis Costello & The Attractions: This Year's Model
2. Wire: Pink Flag
3. Bruce Springsteen: Darkness On The Edge Of Town
4. Talking Heads: More Songs About Buildings And Food
5. Big Star: Big Star's Third Album/Sister Lovers
6. Funkadelic: One Nation Under A Groove
7. Brian Eno: Before And After Science
8. Blondie: Parallel Lines
9. Pere Ubu: The Modern Dance
10. The Rolling Stones: Some Girls

1982
1. Bruce Springsteen: Nebraska
2. Richard & Linda Thompson: Shoot Out The Lights
3. Prince: 1999
4. Roxy Music: Avalon
5. Laurie Anderson: Big Science
6. Lou Reed: The Blue Mask
7. X: Under The Big Black Sun
8. Elvis Costello & The Attractions: Imperial Bedroom
9. The English Beat: Special Beat Service
10. King Sunny Ade & His African Beats: Juju Music

1983
1. R.E.M.: Murmur
2. New Order: Power, Corruption and Lies
3. Tom Waits: Swordfishtrombones
4. The Police: Synchronicity
5. U2: War
6. Talking Heads: Speaking In Tongues
7. X: More Fun In The New World
8. The Blasters: Non Fiction
9. Richard Thompson: Hand Of Kindness
10. Lou Reed: Legendary Hearts

1984
1. The Replacements: Let It Be
2. Prince and the Revolution: Purple Rain
3. Husker Du: Zen Arcade
4. The Minutemen: Double Nickels On The Dime
5. The Pretenders: Learning To Crawl
6. Meat Puppets II
7. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Born In The U.S.A.
8. R.E.M.: Reckoning
9. Los Lobos: How Will The Wolf Survive?
10. Run DMC

1985
1. Husker Du: New Day Rising
2. The Mekons: Fear & Whiskey
3. Tom Waits: Rain Dogs
4. The Replacements: Tim
5. Husker Du: Flip Your Wig
6. Talking Heads: Little Creatures
7. L.L. Cool J: Radio
8. Run DMC: King Of Rock
9. John Mellencamp: Scarecrow
10. Lone Justice

1986
1. Run DMC: Raising Hell
2. Paul Simon: Graceland
3. R.E.M.: Life's Rich Pageant
4. The Beastie Boys: Licensed To Ill
5. The Costello Show: King Of America
6. The Smiths: The Queen Is Dead
7. The Jesus And Mary Chain: Psychocandy
8. The Mekons: The Edge Of The World
9. Elvis Costello & The Attractions: Blood & Chocolate
10. The Pogues: Rum, Sodomy and the Lash
* honorable mention: The Indestructible Beat of Soweto (compilation of previously released material)

1987
1. Prince: Sign 'O' The Times
2. Husker Du: Warehouse: Songs & Stories
3. Eric B. & Rakim: Paid In Full
4. R.E.M.: Document
5. The Replacements: Pleased To Meet Me
6. Sonic Youth: Sister
7. Bruce Springsteen: Tunnel Of Love
8. XTC: Skylarking
9. U2; Joshua Tree
10. Guns 'N' Roses: Appetite For Destruction

1988
1. Public Enemy: It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
2. Sonic Youth; Daydream Nation
3. The Pixies: Surfer Rosa
4. Ministry: The Land Of Rape And Honey
5. Pet Shop Boys: Introspective
6. Jane's Addiction: Nothing's Shocking
7. Midnight Oil: Diesel And Dust
8. Pere Ubu: The Tenement Year
9. Prince: The Black Album
10. Tracy Chapman

1989
1. De La Soul: 3 Feet High And Rising
2. The Beastie Boys: Paul's Boutique
3. The Pixies; Doolittle
4. The Mekons: Rock 'N' Roll
5. Neil Young; Freedom/Times Square
6. N.W.A.: Straight Outta Compton
7. New Order: Technique
8. Bonnie Raitt: Nick Of Time
9. Soul II Soul: Keep On Movin'
10. Madonna: Like A Prayer

1990
1. Sinead O'Connor: I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
2. Public Enemy: Fear Of A Black Planet
3. Ice Cube: AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
4. Neil Young: Ragged Glory
5. The KLF: Chill Out
6. Living Colour: Time's Up
7. LL Cool J: Mama Said Knock You Out
8. A Tribe Called Quest: People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm
9. Jane's Addiction: Ritual de lo Habitual
10. Sonic Youth: Goo

1992
1. R.E.M.: Automatic For The People
2. Pavement: Slanted and Enchanted
3. PJ Harvey: Dry
4. Los Lobos: Kiko
5. The Beastie Boys: Check Your Head
6. Prince and the New Power Generation: Prince XV
7. Arrested Development: 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days In The Life Of...
8. Sonic Youth: Dirty
9. Tom Waits: Bone Machine
10. Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes

1993
1. Liz Phair: Exile In Guyville
2. Nirvana: In Utero
3. Pet Shop Boys: Very
4. Smashing Pumpkins: Siamese Dream
5. Yo La Tengo: Painful
6. PJ Harvey: Rid Of Me
7. Tony Toni Tone: Sons Of Soul
8. A Tribe Called Quest: Midnight Marauders
9. Dr. Dre: The Chronic
10. The Breeders: Last Splash

1994
1. Green Day: Dookie
2. Johnny Cash: American Recordings
3. Nine Inch Nails: The Downward Spiral
4. Beck: Mellow Gold
5. Nirvana: MTV Unplugged In New York
6. Soundgarden: Superunknown
7. Hole: Live Through This
8. Pavement: Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
9. Nas: Illmatic
10. Portishead: Dummy

1995
1. PJ Harvey: To Bring You My Love
2. Tricky: Maxinquaye
3. Moby: Everything Is Wrong
4. Smashing Pumpkins: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
5. Prince: The Gold Experience
6. Bjork: Post
7. Yo La Tengo: Electr-O-Pura
8. Elastica
9. D'Angelo: Brown Sugar
10. Oasis: (What's The Story) Morning Glory?

1998
1. Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill
2. Lucinda Williams: Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
3. Billy Bragg & Wilco: Mermaid Avenue
4. OutKast: Aquemini
5. Beck: Mutations
6. Jay-Z: Vol.2: Hard Knock Life
7. Madonna: Ray Of Light
8. Massive Attack: Mezzanine
9. Elliott Smith: XO
10. Public Enemy: He Got Game

2000
1. OutKast: Stankonia
2. Eminem: The Marshall Mathers Lp
3. PJ Harvey: Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
4. Radiohead: Kid A
5. U2: All That You Can't Leave Behind
6. D'Angelo: Voodoo
7. Sleater-Kinney: All Hands On The Bad One
8. Erykah Badu: Mama's Gun
9. Jill Scott: Who Is Jill Scott? Words & Sounds Vol. 1
10. Common: Like Water For Chocolate

2001
1. Bob Dylan: Love And Theft
2. The Strokes: Is This It?
3. The White Stripes: White Blood Cells
4. Bjork: Vespertine
5. Lucinda Williams: Essence
6. Alicia Keys: Songs In A Minor
7. Gillian Welch: Time (The Revelator)
8. The Shins: Oh, Inverted World
9. "O Brother, Where Are Thou?" Soundtrack
10. Ryan Adams: Gold

2002
1. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
2. Beck: Sea Change
3. DJ Shadow: Private Press
4. The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
5. The Roots: Phrenology
6. The Mekons: OOOH!
7. Bruce Springsteen: The Rising
8. Sonic Youth: Murray Street
9. Steve Earle: Jerusalem
10. Solomon Burke: Don't Give Up On Me

2003
1. OutKast: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
2. The White Stripes: Elephant
3. The Shins: Chutes Too Narrow
4. Basement Jaxx: Kish Kash
5. John Cale: Hobo Sapiens
6. Drive-By Truckers: Decoration Day
7. Lucinda Williams: World Without Tears
8. The Strokes: Room On Fire
9. New Pornographers: Electric Version
10. Neil Young: Greendale

2004
1. Kanye West: The College Dropout
2. Franz Ferdinand
3. Jill Scott: Beautifully Human - Words & Sounds Vol. 2
4. Modest Mouse: Good News For People Who Love Bad News
5. Sons And Daughters: Love The Cup
6. Drive-By Truckers: The Dirty South
7. Arcade Fire: Funeral
8. Danger Mouse: The Grey Album
9. Green Day: American Idiot
10. Loretta Lynn: Van Lear Rose