40 albums

Since I wrote about my nostalgia trip w/ vinyl, and since I'm still on this 40 theme, I decided to compile a list of albums from each year of my life. In each listing, either the album or the artist has some significance to me. Perhaps it's a favorite of mine (you'll figure out the obvious ones, and my creature-of-habit tendencies shine through). Perhaps it's a favorite (or a reminder) of one of my siblings. Perhaps it's symbolic of the year it was released.

The mid-80s was when I couldn't just choose one album, and as the 90s went on, my choices got harder since I started my slide into the generation gap I so vehemently insisted to my mother back when I was 16 that I never would. By the new millenium I was cooked because I was only buying one CD a year, if that much.

This is by no means a "Best Of" list, and I was really tempted to list "Spiceworld" just to be a troublemaker. Please feel free to share your own notable albums. I left a lot of good ones off, I'm sure, especially in the last ten years. You'll also see that I left 2010 blank. (I'm hoping the new Duran Duran album will be ready and released this year.)


1970. Let it Be: The Beatles
1971. Tapestry: Carole King
1972. Trilogy: Emerson, Lake and Palmer
1973. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: Elton John
1974. Pretzel Logic: Steely Dan
1975. That's the Way of the World: Earth, Wind and Fire
1976. Hotel California: The Eagles
1977. Out of the Blue: ELO, Saturday Night Fever: Bee Gees, Born Late: Shaun Cassidy
1978. Shadow Dancing: Andy Gibb, Van Halen: Van Halen
1979. Off the Wall: Michael Jackson
1980. Zenyatta Mondatta: The Police
1981. Duran Duran: Duran Duran, Private Eyes: Hall & Oates
1982. Rio: Duran Duran, Thriller: Michael Jackson
1983. Seven and the Ragged Tiger: Duran Duran, Sports: Huey Lewis and the News, She's So Unusual: Cyndi Lauper
1984. Purple Rain: Prince, Stop Making Sense: Talking Heads, 1984: Van Halen, Big Bam Boom: Hall & Oates
1985. The Power Station 33 1/3: The Power Station, Riptide: Robert Palmer, Dream Into Action: Howard Jones
1986. Notorious: Duran Duran, So: Peter Gabriel
1987. The Joshua Tree: U2, Kick: INXS
1988. Big Thing: Duran Duran, The Traveling Wilburys, Vol. I: The Traveling Wilburys
1989. Rhythm Nation 1814: Janet Jackson
1990. Liberty: Duran Duran, Violator: Depeche Mode
1991. Achtung Baby: U2
1992. Unplugged: Eric Clapton
1993. The Wedding Album: Duran Duran
1994. Crazy Sexy Cool: TLC, Hell Freezes Over: The Eagles
1995. Thank You: Duran Duran, The Beatles Anthology: The Beatles
1996. (What's the Story) Morning Glory?: Oasis
1997. Medazzaland: Duran Duran
1998. Seriously, I couldn't find one for this year. Any suggestions?
1999. Supernatural: Santana
2000. Pop Trash: Duran Duran
2001. Room For Squares: John Mayer
2002. Come Away with Me: Norah Jones
2003. Heavier Things: John Mayer, Concert for George CD: Eric Clapton and friends of George Harrison
2004. Astronaut: Duran Duran
2005. The Essential Daryl Hall & John Oates
2006. Continuum: John Mayer
2007. Red Carpet Massacre: Duran Duran
2008. Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles: John Mayer
2009. Battle Studies: John Mayer
2010. ?????