By: Neil McCormick, music critic / The Telegraph
Partial translation: Telegrafi.com
Countless albums have been released since the [long-play] record came into being amid the technological and cultural explosion of the 50s. Estimates range from 2.5 million to 10 million albums. In my 30 years as a music journalist, I have probably listened to thousands of them and spent countless hours getting to know the recordings that have shaped the soundtrack of our time. This is a personal record of the best of the best.
Everyone is likely to find something they disagree with - that's the nature (and half the fun) of lists. Sometimes I even disagree with myself. So let me explain my criteria: I've focused on rock and pop music that has created a lasting legacy. I've excluded classical music and jazz, genres that shaped the sound of the 20th century but have had a declining influence in the album era. I've largely ignored the vast diaspora we used to call World Music, which (until recently) hasn't had the same cultural weight as the Anglo-American pop core.
I'm sure many of my picks have brought you as much pleasure as they have brought me over the years - and I hope others inspire future musical journeys. Let the countdown begin...
50. Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
49. The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds (1966)
48. REM: Automatic for the People (1992)
47. The Smiths: The Queen Is Dead (1986)
46. Taylor Swift: 1989 (2014)
45. Van Morrison: Astral Weeks (1968)
44. Madonna: like a prayer (1989)
43. Amy Winehouse: Back to Black (2006)
42. Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)
41. Paul Simon: Graceland (1986)
40. Bob Marley & The Wailers: Exodus (1977)
39. Aretha Franklin: Lady Soul (1968)
38. Kraftwerk: Trans Europe Express (1977)
37. Black Sabbath: Paranoid (1970)
36. Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man (1988)
35. Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)
34. Massive Attack: Protection (1994)
33. The Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols (1977)
32. Kanye West: My beautiful dark twisted fantasy (2010)
31. The Eagles: Hotel California (1976)
30. Elvis Presley: Elvis Presley (1956)
29. The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric ladyland (1968)
28. Patti Smith: Horses (1975)
27. Lou Reed: Transform (1972)
26. The Clash: London Calling (1979)
25. Carole King: Tapestry (1971)
24. The Who: Who's Next (1971)
23. U2: Achung Baby (1991)
22. Miles Davis: Bitches brew (1970)
21. Radiohead: OK Computer (1997)
20. The Beatles: Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
19. Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
18. Led Zeppelin: IV (1971)
17. Bruce Springsteen: Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978)
16. Michael Jackson: Thriller (1982)
15. Bob Dylan: Blonde On Blonde (1966)
14. Joni Mitchell: Hejira (1976)
13. Prince: Purple Rain (1984)
12. David Bowie: Aladdin sane (1973)
11. The Beatles: Revolver (1966)
10. The Rolling Stones: Exile on Main St. (1972)
9. Daft Punk: Random Access Memories (2013)
8. Beyoncé: Lemonade (2016)
7. Nirvana: Nevermind (1991)
6. Kate Bush: hounds of love (1985)
5. Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
4. Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (1977)
3. Marvin Gaye: What's going on (1971)
2. Bob Dylan: Blood on the Tracks (1975)
1. The Beatles: Abbey Road (1969)
/Telegraph/
