Just fancied making a note of my top 10 albums that I have ever bought. Now these aren’t necessarily ones I still listen to today, although obviously I have them all in my collection, but they are the 10 albums that have made the biggest impact on me – the ones I have listened to the most over the years and have bought me most enjoyment.
Although they are not in order, I’m typing as I think, so it makes sense that those near the top of the list came to mind first and are probably deserving of their spot.
1. Organisation by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
I remember getting this as an Xmas present the year it came out – which I think was 1980. It featured “Enola Gay” but that track bucked the dark, broody trend of the album as a whole and it was the dark moodyness that really made this record for me. I obviously got it on vinyl, but played it so much that I had to go acquire the CD and even listened again recently. Top quality.
2. 17 Seconds by The Cure
Another dark moody album. It marginally pushes out the superb “Faith” album by the same group for the track “A Forest”. It had such a brooding and beautiful production quality that it still stands up today.
3. Deep & Chilled Euphoria by Various Artists
I was into Trance music big time and bought this by accident. Was just wandering around looking for something trancey when I realised I was late for something, so picked this up because I liked the cover. It’s so chilled – all the trance classics bought down to a slow tempo with a fantastic mood. I still play this regularly several years on and in retrospect, it probably acted as the gateway to the stuff I mainly listen to today.
4. Upstairs At Erics by Yazoo
It’s fair to say this sounds a bit dated now, but of all the albums I ever bought, this was the one I played the most. Living at home, even my parents could probably have recited all the lyrics! I was a huge Vince Clarke fan and have hundreds of vinyls featuring his work in all sorts of formats.
5. The Luxury Gap by Heaven 17
I remember rushing to buy this the day after it came out – a Saturday – and going round to a mate’s house, well actually it was a pub, and playing it to death. Another one which rocked it’s era but hasn’t stood the test of time that well.
6. Phonic Peace by Cell
This is one of my more recent acquisitions, but I was familiar with Cell’s work via di.fm. It’s a fantastic chillout album by a guy called Alex Scheffer which creates a mood like I’ve never heard on CD before. If you like chillout with a tuneful vibe and which creates images as you listen, this CD should be top of the list.
7. Quarknosis by Various Artists
This CD was another impulse buy never having heard any of the tracks. It was from a small label and released in the early/mid 90s. Its kinda ambient with slow beats and some superb textures. It was the backdrop to my work when I took a year off in the hot summer of 1995 to learn programming and one I’d still listen to today, although it sounds a little dated now.
8. Architecture & Morality by OMD
The second OMD entry I know, but I was a big fan and this album, while short, was so original, mixing weird sounds, the odd poppy riff (Joan Of Arc) and had a very experimental vibe while still being accessible. It was never going to be a big commercial hit, but has since become one of the fan’s favourite albums by the group.
9. It’s Alive by The Ramones
The Ramones made a huge impact on me back then and I went to see them live – one of the best shows I ever attended. It’s alive just takes a sledgehammer to your head in 1-2-3-4 fashion but it’s brilliant. It loses impact on CD IMO, but the vinyl album oozed adrenaline and testosterone!
10. Kimono My House by Sparks
The first album I ever bought myself and bloody brilliant. The single “This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us” which featured on this LP is probably in my Top 10 all time favourite tracks too. And the excellent Amateur Hour…ah memories. *sigh*
Albums That Didn’t Quite Make The List:
Faith by The Cure (Dark & Moody)
Northern Exposure by Sasha & Digweed (Chillaxing)
Dazzle Ships by OMD (Experimental)
A Different Kind Of Tension by The Buzzcocks
Inflammable Material by Stiff Little Fingers
American Idiot by Green Day
Nevermind by Nirvana
The Joshua Tree by U2 (Seminal)
I really feel I ought to put a Depeche Mode album on the list as they were one of my all time favourite bands, but truth is their singles and b-sides while superb and one or two would definately hit my Top 10 tracks, the albums never really quite gelled enough for me. Saw them live on every tour through the 80s though!
Julien Peter Benney Says:
January 8th, 2009 at 4:46 am
Not a very wide range of music I must admit, but still notable.
Did you know that the brilliant critic Joe S. Harrington listed “A Differen Kind of Tension”, commonly viewed as one of the lesser Buzzcocks albums, as #8 in his Top 100 Albums between 2001 and 2003. In the same list “Inflammable Material” made #29.
The list should still be online at “www.blastitude.com/14/pg4.htm” bu I have not checked for some time now.
Ian Says:
January 8th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Interesting…glad to see I’m not alone then. Mind you, I’d dispute the fact that “It’s Alive” and “Organisation” don’t seperate a fairly wide range 
I see he also has “Kimono My House” @ #67 too!
Actually, frontman with the Buzzcocks, Pete Shelley, (conveniently ignoring Howard Devoto!) went on to do some interesting electronic solo stuff – “Homosapien” being the prime example. In fact Joe eludes to that in a side-comment about his homosexuality. I went to see OMD at Hammersmith once and sat in the bar while the support act played, only to find out I’d missed Mr. Shelley! Gutted I was.
John Shove Says:
March 9th, 2009 at 2:02 am
I can’t believe ELO didn’t get in your top 10!!