Here are some of my favourite albums. The criteria is simple: these are the albums that I enjoy listening to over and over again. Many have gone down in history as all time classic albums, many remain relatively obscure, all are essentials to any serious music collection. If you’re looking to expand your horizons, try out some of these.
The Who – Live At Leeds (1970)
When this album was released it was hailed by Rolling Stone as the greatest sounding live album ever. Today, 33 years later, it still sounds great.
The Who – By Numbers (1975)
The Who had many great albums: Tommy, Quadrophenia, Whos Next, Who Are You. After the excesses of the late sixties and early seventies, this album represents a refreshing return to the basics.
Yes – Close To The Edge (1972)
This album was a defining moment for Yes as a band and for the whole progressive rock genre and the magic here is that the side long title track works.
Yes – Going For The One (1977)
This album represents a return to the classic line-up and doesn't pretend to be anything more than a collection of great songs.
The Spacelords – Space Flowers (2020)
Lots of heavy psychedelic guitars, echos, phasers, wah-wah, heavy bass, solid and interesting drums and also Hammond and Mellotron makes me a happy camper!
Suzi Quatro – Your Mama Won’t Like Me (1975)
This is Suzi's third album and represents a mature and established artist looking to break out of the mold that was cast for her.
Rick Wakeman – The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973)
Rick Wakeman became famous as the genius keyboard player in Yes in the early seventies. Given his classical training and compositional abilities, it was inevitable that he would develop a need to find expression outside of the band.
The Beatles – Revolver (1966)
While everyone raves about Sgt Pepper's, I didn't find it that great an album. Revolver, on the other hand, along with it's brother, Rubber Soul, was a genuine ground breaker and turning point for rock and roll.
Frank Zappa – The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life (1991)
The story goes that Zappa put together the most awesome band in the world, rehearsed them to death for four months and set up a world tour that was to last for over a year.
Robin Trower – Bridge Of Sighs (1974)
One of the world's great (relatively) unknown blues guitarists, Robin Trower to this day continues the tradition he took up in the late sixties.
Foghat – Live (1977)
These four English lads took that distinctive American style southern boogie sound, added a few decibels and threw it right back in their faces.
King Crimson – In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969)
At the very least this album presents an excellent introduction to facial mechanics, but in addition you also get an excellent introduction to the roots of progressive rock.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced (1967)
Cited as one of the greatest rock debut albums ever, it continues to impress me over thirty years after first hearing it.
Jimi Hendrix – Rainbow Bridge (1971)
These are without a doubt the best songs Hendrix had in the can and despite being hobbled together after his death, it feels like a complete album.
Rick Wakeman – Lisztomania (1975)
As you would expect, anything by Wakeman from this period could at least be loosely described as "progressive rock" but this is not anything you're going to hear on Henry VIII or King Arthur.
Bluesbreakers – John Mayall With Eric Clapton (1966)
I was introduced to this album by a guitar player who was in London in the late sixties and went to the clubs and saw everyone who was anyone at the time. Out of everything that was going on, he regarded this album as the most important thing I should be aware of.
The Monkees (1966)
As if my selections to this point weren't controversial, I will now include the one band which many do not regard as an actual band. No matter, I grew up with this group and have continued to listen to them throughout my adult life. Why? Because they recorded some of the best pop songs ever and the T.V. show was heaps big fun.