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Collections
 ABBA
- Gold: Greatest Hits
 (Polydor) 1976-1983
A guilty pleasure.
Ace (featuring Paul Carrack)
- The Best Of...
 (See For Miles) 1974-1977
Anything sung by Paul Carrack is worth having in your collection. Based on talent and material this band should have been more popular.
Acoustic Alchemy
- Natural Elements
 (MCA) 1988
Mellow, acoustic guitar driven jazz. Think Kenny G without a sax.
Hasil Adkins
- Live in Chicago
 (Pravda) 1992
Rockabilly/Folk loner must have been something to see live. Problem is that his show did not translate well to record.
Agnes Gooch
- Blind (Revolution) 1997
Loud, sinister guitar without much depth.
Alice in Chains
- Facelift (Columbia) 1990
Seattle born metal grunge.
- Dirt (Columbia) 1992
More thick, sludgy riffs behind brutal, truthful lyrics.
Dave Alvin
Tori Amos
- Little Earthquakes (Atlantic) 1991
Thoughtful lyrics with challenging music. This is an acquired taste.
- Under the Pink (Atlantic) 1994
The song God is a must listen.
- Boys for Pele (Atlantic) 1996
A logical progression from earlier work.
THE APPLES in stereo
- Tone Soul Evolution
 (Elephant 6/Sire) 1997
Harmony rich jangle pop reminiscent of Badfinger and Big Star.
Artificial Joy Club
- Melt (Crunchy/Interscope) 1997
Blunt and melodic in the tradition of mid-to-late 90s female voiced alternative.
Ass Ponys
- Electric Rock Music (A&M) 1994
Minimalistic lo-fi rock. A demo tape that was good enough to be released.
- The Known Universe (A&M) 1996
Jangly, laid back music with unpredictable, literate lyrics.
Athenaeum
- Radiance (Atlantic) 1998
Edgy, harmony rich garage pop with a southern sensibility.
B-52's
- Cosmic Thing (Reprise) 1989
Party music.
- Good Stuff (Reprise) 1992
Strays away from normal formula with more thoughtful, adventurous material.
Dan Baird
- Love Songs for the Hearing Impaired (Def American) 1992
Former Georgia Sattelites front man with a country tinged guitar driven set.
- Buffalo Nickel (Def American) 1996
Interesting, but not much growth from his earlier work.
The Band
- Music From Big Pink
 (Capitol) 1968
Unbelievable musicianship on the first solo album from Dylan's former backup band.
- The Band
 (Capitol) 1969
Classic collection set the standard for all roots rock bands.
- Stage Fright (Capitol) 1970
A step down from first two efforts, but still a treasure trove.
- Rock of Ages (Capitol) 1972
Live set spotlights band members skillful musicianship.
- The Last Waltz (Warner Bros.) 1978
An event.
- Jericho (Rhino) 1993
Helm, Danko, and Hudson reunite. They miss Robbie Robertson's song writing, but their version of Springsteen's Atlantic City is worth having.
- Across the Great Divide (Capitol) 1994
The Smithsonian of American music from the house band of the classic rock era.
- Live at Watkins Glen (Capitol) 1995
Release of recording made in 1973. This album does not add to the Band's mystique, but their live performances are always worth a listen.
- Jubilation (River North) 1998
The material is not as strong as one would hope. Still, there is something soothing about hearing the voices of Helm and Danko.
Barenaked Ladies
- Gordon (Sire) 1992
Catchy hooks and hilarious lyrics with a funky, acoustic background.
Bay City Rollers
- Greatest Hits
 (Arista) 1975-1977
Bubblegum pop. Worth having for I Only Want To Be With You and Saturday Night.
The Beach Boys
- Surfin' Safari/Surfin' USA (Capitol) 1962/1963
A few throw away songs lower the rating. Casual Beach Boys fans are better off with a greatest hits album.
- Concert/Live in London (Capitol) 1964/1969
A strange combination of CDs. The difference in a Beach Boys live performance from 1964 to 1969 is amazing. Note: Live in London was actually not released in the USA until 1976.
- Today/Summer Days and Summer Nights (Capitol) 1965
Brian Wilson's maturation as a song writer begins in earnest.
- Pet Sounds (Capitol) 1966
Wilson's magnum opus was ahead of it's time.
- Friends/20-20 (Capitol) 1968
A hit or miss effort.
- Holland (Brother) 1973
A funkier, more mature sound. California Saga is a must listen.
- Good Vibrations: 30 Years of the Beach Boys (Capitol) 1993
The chronicle of a great (but underappreciated) American band.
The Beatles
- With the Beatles (Parlophone) 1963
A snapshot of the mop tops that took England by storm.
- Please Please Me (Parlophone) 1963
A quickly thrown together effort to cash in on the Beatles early success in England. The quality is a testament to the Beatles talent.
- Beatles for Sale (Parlophone) 1964
The first move away from cute, catchy lyrics with No Reply, I'm a Loser, and Baby's in Black.
- Help (Parlophone) 1965
A movie soundtrack with no filler.
- Rubber Soul (Parlophone) 1965
The first album with all Lennon/McCartney and Harrison compositions.
- Revolver (Parlophone) 1966
An intriguing collections of hook laden rock from McCartney and drug induced hallucinations from Lennon.
- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Parlophone) 1967
Not just an album, but an event that defined a generation. The music does not translate into the present as well as some other Beatles efforts.
- Magical Mystery Tour (Parlophone) 1967
The TV special was the Beatles first failure, but the music is still beautifully crafted pop.
- The Beatles "White Album" (Parlophone) 1968
A collection of material often recorded without participation of the entire band. Not as polished as other works, but an interesting look at the individual directions of the four band mates.
- Yellow Submarine (Parlophone) 1969
Not really a Beatles album. A collection of four new originals, two older hits, and seven instrumental background tracks not involving the Beatles.
- Abbey Road (Parlophone) 1969
Although released before Let it Be, this was the last Beatles album recorded. A masterpiece of pop craftmanship.
- Let it Be (Parlophone) 1969
Phil Spector's production has been ridiculed, but the undeniable beauty of Across the Universe, The Long and Winding Road, and Let it Be can not be ignored.
- 1962-1966 "Red Album" (Capitol) 1973
With the Blue Album, a retrospective of the most influential and celebrated band in rock history.
- 1967-1970 "Blue Album" (Capitol) 1973
Companion piece to the Red Album.
- Past Masters: Volume 1 (Parlophone) 1988
A collection of singles and B sides, some of which were not on an original album.
- Past Masters: Volume 2 (Parlophone) 1988
A second collection of singles and B sides (you know the story).
- Live at the BBC (Capitol) 1994
Sixty-nine songs taped live (mostly in '63) for the BBC. A time capsule that explains the Beatles early popularity.
- Anthology 1 (Capitol) 1995
Rarities that caused an unbelievable stir 25 years after the Beatles broke up. Includes newly recorded Free as a Bird with Lennon vocals from 1979.
- Anthology 2 (Capitol) 1996
An interesting look at the recording process of some of the Beatles most intriguing songs. Includes newly recorded Real Love with Lennon vocals from 1979.
- Anthology 3 (Capitol) 1996
And in the end...
Chris Bell
- I am the Cosmos (Rykodisc) 1992
Shockingly brilliant pop visions from Big Star co-founder who died in a car wreck 15 years before this material was released.
Ben Folds Five
- Whatever and Ever Amen (Caroline/Epic) 1997
Piano driven lounge rock.
Tony Bennett
- MTV Unplugged (Columbia) 1994
Swinging sounds in a setting that enhances Bennett's vocal stylings.
Chuck Berry
- Live at the Fillmore Auditorium (Mercury) 1967
Live set with help from the Steve Miller Band.
- The Great Twenty-Eight (MCA) 1984
The seminal works of the inventor of the most famous rock guitar lick.
Better than Ezra
- Deluxe (Elektra) 1995
Catchy jangle pop in the guise of mid-90's alternative.
Bettie Serveert
- Lamprey (Matador) 1995
Haunting mood rock with a mournful, desolate feel and eerily detached vocals.
Big Head Todd and the Monsters
- Strategem (Giant) 1994
Old fashioned, Zepplinesque guitar rock.
Big Star
- #1 Record/Radio City (Stax/Ardent) 1972/1973
The seminal works of a relatively unknown, but widely influencial pop band.
- Third/Sister Lovers (Rykodisc) 1975
A chronicle of the disintegration of a melodic, critically aclaimed pop band that couldn't buck the mid-70's progressive rock trend.
- Live (Rykodisc) 1992
Release of a 1974 live performance on radio station WLIR.
- Columbia: Live at Missouri University (Zoo Entertainment) 1993
One time reunion of Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens supported by the Posies lead guitarist and bass player.
- Nobody Can Dance (Norton) 1999
1974 rehersal and concert in Memphis. The rehersal provides a great performance with awesome sound quality. The concert has a looser feel and repeats 4 songs.
Frank Black
- Frank Black (Elektra) 1993
Dark, edgy, punk from the former front man of the Pixies.
- The Cult of Ray (American) 1996
A bit more melodic than earlier work, but with the same punk attitude and reliance on discordant tones.
Black Crowes
- Shake Your Money Maker (Def American) 1990
Southern guitar rockers who infuse a 90's sensibility into the genre.
Black 47
- Fire of Freedom (SBK) 1993
Irish punk fusion with a social consience.
Blasters
- American Music (Hightone) 1997
Reissue of the first Blaster's album from 1980. An amalgam of Rockabilly and Blues with elements of Hillbilly, Cajun, New Orleans, and more.
Blind Melon
- Blind Melon (Capitol) 1992
Debut album that capitalized on the early 90's popularity of alternative music.
Blondie
- Best of (Chrysalis) 1981
Catchy pop with a punk sensability.
Blue Mountain
- Dog Days (Roadrunner) 1995
Blend of country, blues, bluegrass, folk, and plain ol' rock with an acoustic feel (although electric instruments do make some appearances).
Blur
- Parklife (SBK) 1994
Upbeat, British pop that won best album at the 1995 BRIT awards.
BoDeans
- Home (Slash/Reprise) 1989
Straight ahead, good time rock without pretension.
- Go Slow Down (Slash/Reprise) 1993
An exhuberant and emotional exploration of the American musical terrain with elements of pop, rock, rockabilly, blues, R&B, and country.
- Blend (Slash/Reprise) 1996
Having toiled in relative obscurity for years, the BoDeans continue to produce upbeat, multifaceted rock.
Gary U.S. Bonds
- The Best of... (Rhino) 1960-1965
Often forgotten, early 60's rocker who influenced Berry Gordy, James Brown, Bruce Springsteen and others. The song Quarter to Three is a raucous classic that should be a part of everyone's collection.
Bon Jovi
- These Days (Mercury) 1995
Souless formula rock.
Boo Radleys
- Everything's Alright Forever (Columbia) 1992
Swirly noise with a melodic sense and muted, dreamy vocals.
- Giant Steps (Columbia) 1993
Hard to explain combination of harsh sounds and compelling, finely crafted pop.
Bottle Rockets
- These Days (Atlantic) 1997
Indie roots rock heroes on their major label debut. Veers more toward rock than country with gritty vocals and hard edged guitars.
Billy Bragg
- Back to Basics (Elektra) 1987
Thoughtful lyrics with sparse arrangements.
Billy Bragg & Wilco
- (Elektra) 1998
Long forgotten lyrics by Woody Guthrie put to music by Billy Bragg and Wilco.
The Breeders
- Last Splash (Elektra) 1993
Inventive, strangely unpredictable punk musings featuring former Pixie Kim Deal.
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
- Shooting Rubber Bands at the Stars (Geffen) 1988
Loose, rambling late 80's hippie rock that has not aged well.
Brinsley Schwarz
- Brinsley Schwarz/Despite It All (One Way) 1970/1970
Suprisingly contemporary country rock from Nick Lowe and the band that became Graham Parker's Rumour.
- Silver Pistol (Edsel/Demon) 1971
Beginnings of a move from country rock to power pop as Ian Gomm joins the lineup.
- Please Don't Ever Change (Edsel/Demon) 1973
Stellar songwriting from Lowe with Gomm contributing the little known pop classic Hooked on Love.
- The New Favourites Of... (Toshiba EMI) 1974
A polished, pop masterpiece produced by Dave Edmunds.
- Hen's Teeth (Demon) 1998
Brinsley rarities for the fervent collector.
Dave Brubeck Quartet
- The Great Concerts (Columbia) 1958/1963
Magical live performances from modern jazz legends.
Buffalo Tom
- Birdbrain (Beggars Banquet) 1990
Infectious, neo punk with crying guitars, desperate vocals, tomahawk drums, and layers of feedback.
- Big Red Letter Day (Beggars Banquet) 1993
Jangly rhythms and driving hooks with a melancholy tone.
- Sleepy Eyed (Beggars Banquet) 1995
Similar to Big Red Letter Day with a slightly more upbeat sound.
- Smitten (Beggars Banquet) 1998
Earnest guitar pop that deserves more recognition.
Jimmy Buffet
- Live! Feeding Frenzy (MCA) 1990
A live party.
- Banana Wind (MCA) 1990
Mellow, Caribbean flavored blues-based pop.
T Bone Burnett
- The Talking Animals (Columbia) 1988
Thoughtful, narrative pop with some very weird lyrics.
Bush
- Sixteen Stone (Trauma/Interscope) 1994
Carefully honed grunge sound.
- Razorblade Suitcase (Trauma/Interscope) 1996
Forgetable collection that sounds very similar to Sixteen Stone.
Butthole Surfers
- Electriclarryland (Capital) 1996
Unpredictable, thrashing, punk metal.
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