49 years of music through 49 Albums

Before I reach my magical birthday of 50 this upcoming year, I’ve gone through my musical Rolodex to count down the 49 albums that have shaped my musical taste. These albums don’t necessarily play on repeat as much as they did when I first heard them, but nevertheless, these ones have made a lasting impact. 

Favorite Albums of All Time

Why is this of any importance to you? Well, it might not be. The albums that I have selected cover numerous genres of music. They say, variety is the spice of life, and the honest truth is, I listen to so many different types of music because it helps me to be creative in all aspects of my life. It helps to balance my mood. It energizes me and calms me down when needed. I couldn’t possibly listen to metal, rock and punk music twenty-four hours a day (although I’m sure there are people who do this and I know I did so when I was younger). 

Coming up with this list was actually harder than I had expected. You should try it to see if your tastes have changed. Mine sure has.

49. Simon & Garfunkel – The Concert in Central Park (LIVE)

48. KISS – Destroyer

47. Boston - Boston

46. Nirvana - Nevermind

45. Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

44. Foo Fighters – Sonic Highways

43. Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head

42. The Fratellis – Here We Stand

41. George Thorogood & The Delaware Destroyers - Live

40. George Winston – December (piano solos)

39. Velvet Revolver - Contraband

38. Andy Williams - Christmas Album

37. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication

36. Janes Addiction – Ritual de lo Habitual

35. Kenny Burrell – Midnight Blue

34. The Lumineers – The Lumineers

33. Metallica – …And Justice For All

32. The Mighty, Mighty Bosstones – Let’s Face It

31. Pixies - Doolittle

30. Norah Jones – Come Away With Me

29. Oasis – Definitely Maybe

28. Led Zeppelin IV

27. Pink Floyd – Delicate Sounds of Thunder (Live)

26. The Record Company – Give It Back To You

25. Aerosmith – Done with Mirrors

24. Audioslave - Audioslave

23. The Smiths – Louder Than Bombs

22. Social Distortion – Social Distortion

21. Kay Hanley – Cherry Marmalade

20. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble – Texas Flood

19. U2 – All That You Can’t Leave Behind

18. The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St.

17. Grateful Dead – Europe ’72 LIVE

16. Duran Duran - Greatest

15. UB40 - Labour of Love

14. Sade – Love Deluxe

13. Moby - Play

12. Cheap Trick – At Budokan (Live)

11. The Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood, Sugar, Sex Magic

10. Lost In Translation (soundtrack)

9. The Beastie Boys - Check Your Head

8. The Soup Dragons – Love God

7. The Jesus & Mary Chain - Automatic

6. Jack Johnson – Brushfire Fairytales

5. Paul Oakenfold - Bunkka

4. Pixies – Trompe Le Monde

3. Coldplay - Parachutes

2. Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced?

1. Metallica - (The Black Album)