📚 Listening Diary📚

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
Going into this, I have heard 280 of the 1001 albums already. I won’t relisten to them all, but I will include my thoughts.

✅ = I’d heard it already
💎= Creme de la creme
♥ = I love it
1. Frank Sinatra - In The Wee Small Hours (1955)

Genres: Standards, Vocal Jazz

Rating: ★★★½

Notes: Comfy standards, about what you’d expect from Mr. Sinatra. Great for date night!
2. Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley (1956)

Genre: Rock & Roll

Rating: ★★★

✅ 1/27/2019

Note: It has some great songs, like Blue Suede Shoes, but it’s just not that consistent. Honestly, the most notable thing about it is that The Clash paid homage to the album art.
3. The Louvin Brothers - Tragic Songs of Life (1956)

Genres: Close Harmony, Country

Rating: ★★

Note: It’s cute at first, but by the end you just want it to stop...
4. Louis Prima - The Wildest! (1956) ♥

Genres: Swing, Traditional Pop, Big Band

Rating: ★★★★

Note: This is so much fun! I really dig how the male and female vocals compliment each other, as well as the instrumental tracks. Variety!
5. Fats Domino - This Is Fats Domino! (1956)

Genres: Rhythm & Blues, Rock & Roll

Rating: ★★★

Note: It’s pleasant. It sounds like any Rock & Roll record from the Fifties, for better or worse. Very within-the-lines.
6. Duke Ellington - Ellington at Newport (1956)

Genre: Big Band

Rating: ★★★½

Note: I LOOOVE when the instruments sound eerily like human vocals, I wish that happened more often! This is the type of album that gets me excited about Jazz.
7. Frank Sinatra - Songs for Swingin’ Lovers (1956)

Genres: Standards, Vocal Jazz

Rating: ★★★½

Note: More comfy standards, this time they’re happy and romantic rather than sad.
8. The Crickets - The “Chirping Crickets” (1957)

Genres: Rockabilly, Rock & Roll

Rating: ★★★

✅ 9/16/19

Note: I enjoyed it, but it lacks that special something to set it apart from other Rock & Roll albums. Still, though, Buddy Holly had so much potential, it’s so sad.
9. Count Basie and His Orchestra - Basie (1958) ♥

Genres: Big Band, Swing

Rating: ★★★★

Note: Absolutely delightful, I really think this could become one of my favourite Jazz albums!
10. Thelonious Monk - Brilliant Corners

Genre: Hard Bop

Rating: ★★★½

Note: It’s pleasant!
11. Sabu - Palo Congo

Genre: Cuban Rumba

Rating: ★★

Note: Too many drums
12. Miles Davis - Birth of the Cool (1958)

Recorded: January 1949- March 1950

Genre: Cool Jazz

Rating: ★★★½

Note: Liked this more than his other albums. Definitely less ambitious, but that's what makes it comforting. I think his other stuff will grow on me, though!
13. Machito - Kenya (1958)

Genres: Afro-Cuban Jazz, Big Band

Rating: ★★★
14. Little Richard - Here’s Little Richard (1957) ♥

Genres: Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues

Rating: ★★★★

Note: this is easily the best rock & roll album I’ve ever heard!
15. Tito Puente and His Orchestra - Dance Mania (1958)

Genres: Mambo, Guaguancó, Cuban Music

Rating: ★★★

Note: A fun album, but it wears thin.
16. Billie Holiday - Lady in Satin (1958) ♥

Genre: Vocal Jazz

Rating: ★★★★½

✅ 10/21/19

Note: Even though it was recorded well after Billie Holiday’s prime, this record represents a peak in her discography and is an essential Vocal Jazz album.
17. Ramblin’ Jack Elliot - Jack Takes the Floor (1958)

Genres: Contemporary Folk, Country Blues, Traditional Country

Rating: ★★★½

Note: Woody Guthrie makes an appearance!
18. Sarah Vaughan and Her Trio - At Mister Kelly's (1958)

Genre: Vocal Jazz

Rating: ★★★½

Note: This live album is a curious pick, since it’s Vaughan’s only one to appear in the book and she has some great studio albums. Still, though, it’s great!
19. Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book (1959) ♥

Genres: Vocal Jazz, Standards

Rating: ★★★★½

Note: 3 hours long, it’s just one of 8 albums spanning the Great American Songbook, an epic pet project of Ella’s—she’s earned my respect
20. Ray Charles - The Genius of Ray Charles (1959)

Genres: Vocal Jazz, Soul

Rating: ★★★½

Note: And he’s humble, to boot!
21. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (1959)

Genres: Modal Jazz, Cool Jazz

Rating: ★★★½

✅ 12/23/18

Note: I appreciate that it’s more melodic than most jazz records, and gets stuck in your head, but I still don’t understand what else sets it apart.
22. Marty Robbins - Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs (1959) ♥

Genre: Cowboy

Rating: ★★★★

Note: I’ve never heard anything like this album before, which begs the question... why not?! This should be the blueprint for many country albums!
23. The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out (1959) ♥

Genre: Cool Jazz

Rating: ★★★★½

Note: Incredible. I might have a new favourite Jazz record!
24. Joan Baez - Joan Baez (1960) ♥

Genres: Contemporary Folk, American Folk Music

Rating: ★★★★

✅ 6/7/19

Note: Joan helped popularize contemporary folk music, and even predated Dylan. She’s always stood up for what was right, even when unpopular. A trailblazer, an icon.
25. Elvis Presley - Elvis Is Back! (1960)

Genres: Rock & Roll, Pop, Rhythm & Blues

Rating: ★★★

Note: welcome back
26. Miriam Makeba - Miriam Makeba (1961)

Genre: Marabi

Rating: ★★★½

Note: This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard, but it gets repetitive after a while. Mbube definitely inspired the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight, the resemblance is uncanny.
27. The Everly Brothers - A Date With The Everly Brothers (1960)

Genres: Close Harmony, Pop

Rating: ★★★
28. The Incredible Jimmy Smith - Back at the Chicken Shack (1963)

Recorded: 1960

Genre: Soul Jazz

Rating: ★★½

Note: This isn’t the best organ-led instrumental album I’ve heard this week, but it is the worst organ-led instrumental album I’ve heard this week!
29. Muddy Waters - Muddy Waters at Newport 1960 (1960)

Genre: Chicago Blues

Rating: ★★★½
30. Bill Evans Trio - Sunday at the Village Vanguard (1961)

Genre: Cool Jazz

Rating: ★★★

Note: Three stars, because I appreciate the chemistry that Evans, LeFaro, & Motian have with one another. But my goodness, cool jazz has to be the most boring genre ever! 😴
31. Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962)

Genres: Country Soul, Rhythm & Blues

Rating: ★★★
32. Booker T. & The M.G.'s - Green Onions (1962)

Genres: Rhythm & Blues, Soul

Rating: ★★★

The best organ-led instrumental album I’ve heard all week. Falls apart after the title track and just becomes an organ cover song album, which... alright, sure, why not?
33. Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd - Jazz Samba (1962)

Genres: Samba-Jazz, Bossa nova

Rating: ★★★
34. Ray Price - Night Life (1963)

Genres: Honky Tonk, Country

Rating: ★★½
35. The Beatles - With The Beatles (1963)

Genres: Merseybeat, Pop Rock

Rating: ★★½

Note: The early Beatles albums border on cute and cringy. I can see why people like them, but this stuff had already been done, and with better execution.
36. Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963) ♥

Genres: Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk

Rating: ★★★★

✅ 6/15/2017

Note: An album so monumental that it changed the world.

Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right is one of the greatest songs ever written.
37. A Christmas Gift for You From Philles Records (1963)

Genres: Christmas Music, Brill Building, Girl Group

Rating: ★★★

Note: You know what really took me out of the holiday spirit? Spector pretending to be a Nice Guy™ at the end, while abusing one of the Ronettes. 🗑
38. Sam Cooke - Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963 ♥

Genre: Southern Soul

Rating: ★★★★
39. Charles Mingus - The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (1963) ♥

Genres: Avant-Garde Jazz, Third Stream

Rating: ★★★★½

✅ 12/23/18

Note: Hands down, one of the greatest albums ever made.
40. James Brown - ‘Live' at the Apollo (1963)

Genres: Soul, Rhythm & Blues

Rating: ★★★½

Note: I’m not sure who shrieked more, James or his adoring fans!
41. Stan Getz & João Gilberto featuring Antônio Carlos Jobim - Getz / Gilberto (1964)

Genre: Bossa Nova

Rating: ★★★½

Note: Delightful throughout, but The Girl From Ipanema is truly special.
42. The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night (1964) ♥

Genres: Merseybeat, Pop Rock

Rating: ★★★★

Note: The first great Beatles album. I even prefer it to some of their later work.
43. Jacques Brel - Olympia 64 (1964)

Genre: Chanson à text

Rating: ★★½
44. Solomon Burke - Rock 'n Soul (1964) ♥

Genres: Soul, Southern Soul

Rating: ★★★★

Note: Love it! It's not all that unique, but he is so charming I love don't really care. Love his vocal delivery and how his voice is balanced with female vocals!
45. The Rolling Stones - The Rolling Stones (1964)

Genres: Blues Rock, British R&B

Rating: ★★

Note: I have the same problem that I did with the first few Beatles albums. It just feels like people were already making this kind of sound in 1964, and better than the Stones.
46. Dusty Springfield - A Girl Called Dusty (1964) ♥

Genres: Pop Soul, Blue-Eyed Soul

Rating: ★★★★

✅11/10/18

Note: You all know how I feel about Dusty: she's an all-time great vocalist, and everyone should check out her music. I recommend starting with Dusty in Memphis.
47. Buck Owens and His Buckaroos - I've Got a Tiger by the Tail (1965)

Genre: Bakersfield Sound

Rating: ★★½

Note: Forgettable
48. Jerry Lee Lewis - Live at the Star-Club, Hamburg (1964)

Genre: Rock & Roll

Rating: ★★★½
49. The Sonics - Here Are The Sonics!!! (1965) ♥

Genres: Garage Rock, Proto-Punk

Rating: ★★★★

Note: This is so ahead of its time. It’s rough around the edges but there’s a hectic energy (including screams!) to it I find really compelling.
50. Bob Dylan - Bringing It All Back Home (1965) ♥

Genres: Folk Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk

Rating: ★★★★

✅ 12/20/18
51. Otis Redding - Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (1965) ♥

Genres: Deep Soul, Southern Soul

Rating: ★★★★½
52. The Beach Boys - The Beach Boys Today! (1965)

Genres: Pop Rock, Baroque Pop

Rating: ★★★½

✅ 1/9/19

Note: We aren’t going to talk about the closing track.
53. John Coltrane - A Love Supreme (1965)

Genres: Spiritual Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz

Rating: ★★★½

✅ 1/8/19

Note: I adore Mingus, but Davis and Coltrane just haven’t clicked with me. I don’t know what I’m missing.
54. B.B. King - Live at the Regal (1965)

Genres: Electric Blues, Soul Blues

Rating: ★★★½
55. The Beatles - Rubber Soul (1965) ♥

Genre: Pop Rock

Rating: ★★★★½

✅ 1/22/2019

Note: this album pisses me off, because it could easily be a five if not for the appalling closing track...
56. Bert Jansch - Bert Jansch (1965)

Genres: Folk Baroque, Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk

Rating: ★★½

Note: the guitar work is very impressive, but other than that, I wasn’t really feeling it
57. The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man (1965)

Genres: Folk Rock, Pop Rock

Rating: ★★★½
58. Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited (1965)

Genres: Folk Rock, Singer/Songwriter

Rating: ★★★½

✅ 12/20/18
59. The Who - My Generation (1965)

Genres: Mod, Beat Music

Rating: ★★★½
60. The Beatles - Revolver (1966) ♥

Genres: Pop Rock, Psychedelic Pop

Rating: ★★★★½

✅ 12/12/18

Note: I’ve completely turned around on it. Top 3 Beatles!
61. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (1966) 💎

Genre: Baroque Pop

Rating: ★★★★★

Note: Some albums are timeless; this is one such album. From the 60’s to 2020’s, anyone feeling depressed and isolated can relate to songs like I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times & That’s Not Me.
62. Fred Neil - Fred Neil (1967)

Genres: Singer/Songwriter, Folk Rock, Contemporary Folk

Rating: ★★★½
63. The Byrds - Fifth Dimension (1966)

Genres: Folk Rock, Psychadelic Rock

Rating: ★★★
64. Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde (1966) ♥

Genres: Folk Rock, Singer/Songwriter

Rating: ★★★★½

✅ Early 2000’s

Notes: My dad loves Bob Dylan. As a kid, I used to get in trouble for playing the first track, which just made me want to play it more!
65. The Monks - Black Monk Time (1966) ♥

Genres: Garage Rock, Proto-Punk

Rating: ★★★★
66. The Kinks - Face to Face (1966)

Genres: Pop Rock, Mod

Rating: ★★★½
67. The Mama's and The Papa's - If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears (1966)

Genres: Sunshine Pop, Pop Rock

Rating: ★★★

✅ 6/14 2019

Note: It hurts rating this so low, but they were a singles band. Outside of California Dreamin’ & Monday Monday, it’s mostly just mediocre.
68. Paul Revere & The Marauders - Midnight Ride (1966)

Genres: Garage Rock, Beat Music

Rating: ★½

Note: The last track is one of the cringest songs I’ve ever heard. What the... what?!
69. The Mothers of Invention (Frank Zappa) - Freak Out! (1966)

Genres: Experimental Rock, Satire

Rating: ★★★★

Note: I was initially nonplussed, but this album really snuck up in me! It won me over so much that I’ve gotta re-listen ASAP!
70. The Rolling Stones - Aftermath (1966)

Genres: Blues Rock, Rock

Rating: ★★★

✅ 2009

Note: Owned as a teenager. The UK version suffers immensely for not having Paint It, Black on it.
71. Simon and Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966) ♥

Genres: Folk Pop, Folk Rock

Rating: ★★★★

Note: They don’t miss!
72. The 13th Floor Elevators - The Psychedelic Sounds of The 13th Floor Elevators (1966)

Genres: Psychedelic Rock, Acid Rock, Garage Rock

Rating: ★★★

Note: If I was rating the cover art alone, it would get 5 stars. Alas, the album loses steam after the first two tracks.
73. John Mayall With Eric Clapton - Blues Breakers (1966)

Genres: Blues Rock, British Blues

Rating: ★★

Note: Nope.
74. Yardbirds - Yardbirds [Roger the Engineer] (1966)

Genres: Blues Rock, Psychedelic Rock

Rating: ★★½
75. Nina Simone - Wild Is the Wind (1966) ♥

Genres: Vocal Jazz, Soul

Rating: ★★★★

Note: It is criminal that this is Ms. Simone’s only entry on the list!!
76. Astrud Gilberto - Beach Samba (1967)

Genres: Bossa nova, Easy Listening

Rating: ★★★

Note: I love Astrud, but unfortunately this album is just so inconsistent.
77. Nico - Chelsea Girl (1967) ♥

Genre: Chamber Folk

Rating: ★★★★½

✅ 2016

Note: As beautiful as it is haunting. Nico would disagree, but the flutes compliment her vocals so well.
78. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

Genres: Psychedelic Pop, Pop Rock

Rating: ★★★

✅ 10/14 2018

Note: This album didn’t grow on me much at all. A few of the best tracks in their discography are on Sgt Pepper’s, but it’s such a mess of a record.
79. Country Joe & The Fish - Electric Music for the Mind and Body (1967)

Genres: Acid Rock, Psychedelic Rock

Rating: ★★
80. Buffalo Springfield - Buffalo Springfield Again (1967)

Genres: Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock

Rating: ★★★½

✅ 1/10/2019
81. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band - Safe as Milk (1967) ♥

Genres: Blues Rock, Psychedelic Rock

Rating: ★★★★

Note: Now THIS is epic!
82. Moby Grape - Moby Grape (1967)

Genres: Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Blues Rock

Rating: ★★★½
83. Love - Da Capo (1967)

Genres: Psychedelic Rock, Psychedelic Pop

Rating: ★★★½
84. The Beau Brummels - Triangle (1967)

Genres: Folk Rock, Folk Pop

Rating: ★★★½
85. The Monkees - Headquarters (1967)

Genres: Sunshine Pop, Pop Rock

Rating: ★★★
86. Tim Buckley - Goodbye and Hello (1967)

Genres: Singer/Songwriter, Folk Rock, Psychedelic Folk

Rating: ★★★½
87. Love - Forever Changes (1967)

Genres: Psychedelic Pop, Psychedelic Rock, Psychedelic Folk

Rating: ★★★½

✅ 12/13/18
88. Cream - Disraeli Gears (1967)

Genres: Blues Rock, Psychedelic Rock

Rating: ★★★½
89. Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)

Genres: Psychedelic Rock, Psychedelic Pop

Rating: ★★★

✅ 9/5/2017
90. The Who - The Who Sell Out (1967)

Genres: Freakbeat, Mod, Pop Rock

Rating: ★★★
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