This is a tough thing to decide. I know I'm going to feel later like I left something, more deserving, off the list. I'm listing this in the order I remembered them, so the numbering isn't important. Well, too dive right in:
10)ARGUS - WISHBONE ASH: I love late 1960's, early 1970's rock (especially progressive) music. I only became acquainted with this album last year, and boy, did I love it. Wishbone Ash sounds like a mix of blues (Cream), progressive (Yes/Traffic) and hard rock, and it has that dream like feel that dominated the rock music scene at that time. Favorite songs are Time Was, Sometime World, Warrior and Throw Down The Sword.
9)MAHLER SYMPHONY NO.2/PHILHARMONIA CHORUS & ORCHESTRA/CONDUCTOR OTTO KLEMPERER: Ah, Gustav Mahler. He can be difficult for some people. I love him, and nothing shows the majesty of his style like this symphony. Is there some sloppy orchestration? Yes. Is there his typical over-the-top melodies and extreme lengths in movements? Why, yes to that also. Can it move you in ways beyond belief? Definitely, and that's why I love it.
8)FOREVER CHANGES - LOVE: Yes, I actually own this and have heard it innumerable times. This album would be worth listening too if ALONE AGAIN OR was the only good track. It isn't. One of the few things the rock music critics had right.
7)LARK'S TONGUES IN ASPIC - KING CRIMSON: Okay, I love Robert Fripp, so sue me!
I love the way Fripp plays around with the sounds on his albums. Sometimes extremely loud, at others, so soft that you have to strain too hear it. I don't think I have ever heard a better jam then Lark's Tongues In Aspic, Part 2. Extraordinary.
8)A BLACK BOX - PETER HAMMILL: The leader of VDGG, Peter Hammill is my favorite solo artist. On this album, he plays all instruments, including some of the strangest drum parts you will ever hear. Along with Robert Fripp, Frank Zappa, Brian Eno & David Bowie, Peter Hammill was one of the first rock musicians to experiment with musique concrete. Jargon King, Fogwalking and In Slow Time fit that description. My favorite song, though, is the 19 minute Flight, a song about...DNA.
For the next few, I'll be a little obvious.
7)ABBEY ROAD - THE BEATLES: When a song, sung and written by Ringo, ends up being quite good, you know you must have The Beatles masterpiece.
6)THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON - PINK FLOYD: Just like Abbey Road, this album is overplayed, but that doesn't take away from the fact that these 2 albums are rock royalty and a must hear.
5)STICKY FINGERS - THE ROLLING STONES: Can't You Hear Me Knocking? I have always felt this album was much better then Exile On Main Street. The main reason? Variety of songs.
4)GABBY(AKA THE BROWN ALBUM) - GABBY PAHINUI: His first solo album after leaving The Sons Of Hawaii, this was the moment of transition, a key moment in the Hawaiian Renaissance of the 1970's, the change from hapa hoale to a more traditional, but still contemporary, Hawaiian music. An essential for anyone who loves Hawaiian music.
3)TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION - ELTON JOHN: This is my favorite of Elton's string of fantastic albums in the early '70's. It just flows wonderfully from start to finish. Songs like Where To Now St. Peter?, Amoreena and the brilliant Burn Down The Mission make this an album I savor.
2)BOYS FOR PELE - TORI AMOS: If only Tori could have kept up the great work she did on her first three albums. This, her third, I think is her best. Losing the pop sensibilities of Under The Pink, she created an album that is introspective and meditative. It works like a piano recital and must be heard, and judged, as a whole, then by it's separate pieces. Of the songs, Professional Widow, Hey Jupiter & Putting The Damage On are my favorites.
1)LOVE IS THE THING - NAT "KING" COLE: Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day, I thought I'd put my favorite 1950's easy listening album on here. When I Fall In Love, Stardust, Love Letters and Love Is The Thing. Now, if only I wasn't single...
HONORABLE MENTIONS: THICK AS A BRICK - JETHRO TULL, CLOSE TO THE EDGE - YES, TAPESTRY - CAROLE KING, OCTOPUS - GENTLE GIANT, TRAFFIC - TRAFFIC, LAYLA - DEREK AND THE DOMINOES....GOD there's so much more!!