In celebration of my 48th birthday earlier this month, I am doing three special posts: one on my 48 favorite books for the 48 years of my life, which published this past Sunday; then, my 48 favorite movies, this past Wednesday; and my 48 favorite albums, here today.
I compiled this list roughly from elementary school to high school to college to the present. I tried to think of the albums that I’ve listened to a lot, either on the school bus when I was a kid or in the car (whichever one I or we had at the time). When I was a teen, I went through a phase of Christian rock, which is represented, as well as metal. Much of the latter part of the list can be attributed to finding music via Pitchfork. As much as possible, I also tried not to include collections, but had to include a few that were too important not to exclude.
- Kenny Rogers – 20 Greatest Hits
- Elvis Presley – His Hand in Mine
- Styx – Paradise Theater
- Michael Jackson – Thriller
- Prince – Purple Rain
- RUN-DMC – Raising Hell
- Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet
- Petra – More Power to Ya
- Mylon Lefevre & Broken Heart – Sheep in Wolves’ Clothing
- Stryper – Soldiers Under Command
- Tonio K – Romeo Unchained
- The Call – Reconciled
- The Beatles – The White Album
- U2 – The Joshua Tree
- R.E.M. – Green
- Vinnie Moore – Mind’s Eye
- Joe Satriani – Surfing with the Alien
- Queensrÿche – Operation: Mindcrime
- Metallica – …And Justice For All
- Temple of the Dog – Temple of the Dog
- Soundgarden – Superunknown
- Pearl Jam – No Code
- King’s X – Dogman
- Lone Justice – Shelter
- Dwight Yoakam – This Time
- John Mellencamp – The Lonesome Jubilee
- Larry Norman – Something New Under The Son
- Etta James – The Essential Etta James
- Donna Summer – On The Radio – Greatest Hits
- Blind Willie Johnson – The Complete Blind Willie Johnson
- Grateful Dead – American Beauty
- Pink Floyd – The Wall
- Terence Trent D’Arby – Symphony or Damn
- Public Enemy – Fear of a Black Planet
- Bruce Springsteen – Nebraska
- Johnny Cash – American Recordings
- Sturgill Simpson – Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
- Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
- Burial – Rival Dealer
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
- Thee Silver Mt. Zion Orchestra – Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light on Everything
- Todd Terje – It’s Album Time
- Kanye West – Yeezus
- Bon Iver – 22, A Million
- Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
- Beyoncé – Lemonade
- Beach House – Bloom
- Max Richter – Sleep
And here is one song from each album, minus one: Beyoncé’s Lemonade, which isn’t available on Spotify.
If you had a list of favorite albums for the number of years for every year of your life, what would be some of those you’d have to include? Any crossovers?
Still an unfinished person... 
Wow, what a list! You and I would have a few albums in common. Not surprising as we share the same age. Kenny Rogers, Thriller, Purple Rain, RUN-DMC, Petra and Mylon Lefevre. (We actually just popped in the Crack the Sky cd the other day for our kids to hear. Mike still has his Crack the Sky tour t-shirt.:))
I would add Switchfoot – Vice Verses, The Soundtrack to Grease, DC Talk – Jesus Freak and Andy Gibb.
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I love the Jesus Freak album too.
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Now here is where our tastes definitely differ. Although, The White Album and Thriller are among some of my favorite albums too.
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So what else would you have on your list?
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One’s I listened to a lot? Janet Jackson’s Control album. Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation. George Michael’s Faith. Nirvana’s Unplugged in New York. Any album by Muse. The Woodstock album (record courtesy of my dad). Queen’s Greatest Hits. Depeche Mode Violator.
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I’m not familiar enough with Muse’s music, but I like all the rest.
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