Rock Hall Names “Definitive 200” Albums

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has named what they consider the Definitive 200 albums of the rock era. The list is topped by Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which was the first Beatles album to be released with identical track listings worldwide. Personally, I prefer Rubber Soul (#110) and Revolver (#42), but the list seems to be about albums that defined their era, not necessarily those that were the best.

Some country albums pop up among the list, and they are:

#21. Shania Twain, Come On Over

#33. Dixie Chicks, Wide Open Spaces

#76. Faith Hill, Breathe

#77. Johnny Cash, At Folsom Prison

#100. Dixie Chicks, Home

#113. Dixie Chicks, Fly

#130. Soundtrack, O Brother, Where Art Thou?

#143. Willie Nelson, Red-Headed Stranger

#192. Willie Nelson, Stardust

Rather than debate the merits of the list – people never agree on these countdowns, as I’ve learned from doing quite a few of my own – here’s my question for all of you who choose to follow the link: How many of these albums do you own in their entirety?

My total: 35

  1. BEATLES – SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND – 1967
  2. U2 – JOSHUA TREE – 1987
  3. CAROLE KING – TAPESTRY – 1971
  4. BEATLES – ABBEY ROAD – 1969
  5. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – BORN TO RUN – 1975
  6. SHANIA TWAIN – COME ON OVER – 1997
  7. FLEETWOOD MAC – RUMOURS – 1977
  8. ALANIS MORISSETTE – JAGGED LITTLE PILL – 1995
  9. NORAH JONES – COME AWAY WITH ME – 2002
  10. EMINEM – MARSHALL MATHERS LP – 2000
  11. OUTKAST – SPEAKERBOXX-LOVE BELOW – 2003
  12. DIXIE CHICKS – WIDE OPEN SPACES – 1998
  13. SOUNDTRACK – GREASE – 1980
  14. BEATLES – WHITE ALBUM – 1968
  15. BEATLES – REVOLVER – 1966
  16. U2 – ACHTUNG BABY – 1991
  17. LAURYN HILL – MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL – 1998
  18. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – BORN IN THE U.S.A. – 1984
  19. GREEN DAY – AMERICAN IDIOT – 2004
  20. MEATLOAF – BAT OUT OF HELL – 1977
  21. FAITH HILL – BREATHE – 1999
  22. JOHNNY CASH – AT FOLSOM PRISON – 1968
  23. DIXIE CHICKS – HOME – 2002
  24. TOM PETTY – FULL MOON FEVER – 1989
  25. BEATLES – RUBBER SOUL – 1965
  26. DIXIE CHICKS – FLY – 1999
  27. ELTON JOHN – GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD – 1973
  28. SOUNDTRACK – O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU? – 2000
  29. SHERYL CROW – TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB – 1993
  30. WILLIE NELSON – RED HEADED STRANGER – 1975
  31. JOHN LENNON – IMAGINE – 1971
  32. CAT STEVENS – TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN – 1970
  33. MADONNA – LIKE A VIRGIN – 1984
  34. WILLIE NELSON – STARDUST – 1978
  35. U2 – ALL THAT YOU CAN’T LEAVE BEHIND – 2000

7 Comments

  1. I have 28 – all eight of the country albums, all of the jazz albums (except Kenny G whose music I detest) and whatever Beatles, Beach Boys, Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel show up plus the Norah Jones, Carol King and Frank Sinatra

  2. My total came to 36 (counting all albums I’ve ever owned, back to Mariah Carey on cassette tape). Besides the country and canonical rock (Beatles, Paul Simon, etc.), I have to say I own more than my fair share of the recent pop (Beyonce, No Doubt, etc.). That said, this is one of the sorriest lists I’ve ever seen. On what planet is “Big Willie Style” a definitive album?

  3. miscounted – I have 37 , I forgot abut a couple of the soundtracks (on vinyl) plus some Springsteen, Elton John and Cat Stevens. There are some others on the list that I had and discarded later

  4. 200 definitive albums of the rock era? or better image era?

    …with Christina Aguilera, Metallica, Janet Jackson, George Michael, Boyz II Men, Madonna….?

    I’m laughing so much! but it is also a scandalous list in the same time!

    Unfortunately in the last 20 years the critics, reviewers are just fans!

    …and Supertramp? one of the most beloved and long-lived Rock bands of all times? their extraordinary melodies in “Even in the Quietest Moments”, “Crime of the Century”, “Breakfast in America”… forgotten!

    We need Julian Jerman and Stephen Holden! they are competent and impartial reviewers!

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