This was the first record I bought. I must have been around 10 or 11. I was lucky enough to have some friends who were also interested in music and we all loved The Beatles.
This one is a double LP with lots of great songs. Little later, I started collecting the whole discography of the lads from Liverpool. It was kind of funny as I didn't buy them chronologically, which meant I bought them at random, going from the early years to psychedelia or viceversa.
I still love them and listen to them very often. Probably, my favorite records are Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Release date: 1973
Another compilation double LP. I'm starting to realize that as I didn't have enough money when I was 14, I had to buy greatest hits albums.
These 24 songs are a superb collection of their Satanic Majesties. From then on, I have followed them and enjoyed their eccentricities; probably being Keith Richards the funniest of them all when stating that he sniffed his father's ashes or when falling from a coconut tree.
I take my hat off to this on-going band.
Release date: 1972
Parallel Lines is the third studio album by the American rok band Blondie. I was 15 when I bought this LP and then I loved the singer, Debbie Harry.
It had international commercial success, reaching No. 1 in the United Kingdom and No. 6 in the United States.
When nowadays I listen to this album, I still find the songs memorable and well-shaped.
I realise how important is for music lovers to listen to the right stuff when you are young as it is going to leave a mark In your life. I pity some of my students who listen to complete rubbish.
This double LP was sold at the price of one, which made me very happy when I bought it. It was a huge success for the band and nowadays it still sounds great.
I recently read that it is ranked at No. 8 on Rolling Stone's list of the The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
I still play it when driving my car and enjoy singing London Calling, Hateful or Spanish Bombs. The themes in the songs explored social displacement, unemployment, racial conflict, drug use and the responsibilities of adulthood.
Release date: 1980
The chamaleonic David Bowie had an active career spanning for more than 50 years. During these years he recorded many different albums and covered different styles.
The Duke -as he was known- is one of the greatest musicians ever. He is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s. He is known for his distinctive voice as well as the intellectual depth and considerable ecclecticism of his work. This album is an absolute masterpiece and I was impressed with everything I read regarding his alter ego, Ziggy Stardust. This was my first contact with glam rock.
Release date: 1972
I bought this record and Seventeen Seconds from this band in a trip to Paris when I was 18. They were not available in Spain and I came back very happy with my purchase.
The Cure had very powerful songs before they turned so gothic and its singer, Robert Smith, had a queer look. Years later, they adapted a more popish style.
The two singles: Boys Don't Cry and Jumping Someone Else's Train are great. My dad used to complain about how loud I played them on my stereo.
Here comes the British New Wave of the 80s!
That was an incredible bunch of bands with ties to first-wave punk and with characteristics of pop music.
Any of the first Elvis Costello's albums could be in my selection. I don't know why I've chosen this one in particular. Maybe because of the song The Imposter.
If you listen to the album, you can tell the influences by R&B, ska and soul music.
I've always liked his look with those black glasses which remind me of Buddy Holly.
Release date: 1980
I knew from Joe Jackson thanks to the radio stations I used to listen then. In those times, radio stations were an incredible source of knowing new artists. I'm afraid there were no Youtube or Spotify then.
This guy started in the New Wave and evolved throughout the years covering many different genres. The album, Jumping Jive, dedicated to swing/jazz is wonderful. He then went to more jazz inflected pop music, and he has even composed classical music.
I saw him once in Madrid and enjoyed a lot. I still buy all his albums.
Release date: 1979
What can I say of my all time favorite band?
The Jam were the band. They were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
They had 18 consecutive Top 40 singles in the United Kingdom, from their debut in 1977 to their break-up in December 1982, including four number one hits.
But it much more than that. Their leader, Paul Weller, was and still is, a mod icon. His lyrics contain lots of colloquial references to life in Britain, social conflicts and politics.
The band separated in 1982 after five years of success.
The two albums chosen are masterpieces:
All Mod Cons firmly established Paul Weller and The Jam as a major talent for the 80s. In 2013, NME ranked it at number 219 in its list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Sound Affects is, according to Paul Weller, the best album The Jam released in their career; freely admitting the Beatles' Revolver had been a major influence upon much of the material upon the album.
Release dates: 1978 and 1980
This was a fresh band when they came out.
Their charismatic leader (Morrissey) helped the band to hit the charts. The song The Charming Man was an absolute hit. I played it dozens of times and I even bought a maxi-single with an extended version.
I remember that they played in Madrid and it was free as the Town Hall paid for it. Those were the times when there was money and the socialist party wanted the people to enjoy.
Release date: 1984
I knew from this band because I used to buy music magazines as Vibraciones and Rock Especial. They kept me totally updated and it proved right.
This was their debut album of one of the first American alternative rock bands. I remember that the first time I went to work to USA, they were acclaimed by everybody thanks to their album Out of Time (1991). I followed them until they broke up in 2011, but to be honest, their lyrics were really difficult to understand and sometimes they were kind of non-sense.
Release date: 1983
This American singer, songwriter and record producer helped to shape the sound of Motown. His voice was smooth and elegant.
Famous for having duets with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Diana Ross and Tammi Terrell, he recorded beautiful songs. This is a concept album where a story is told from the point of view of a Vietnam veteran who comes back home after seeing hatred, suffering and injustice.
I was shocked when I read that his father shot him dead when he was just 43.
Release date: 1971
They were one of the most influential American R&B vocal groups in pop, rock and roll, and R&B music history.
It's funny because I remember that all these soul and R&B albums were really cheap at that time. I was nearly 20 when I spent a lot of my wages on records and I used to tape them for my friends.
Another thing that I always love and still do, was the choreography of the members of these groups.
Release date: 1965
Soul music would not be the same without Otis Redding.
It is strange that this album, which is considered to be essential, is mostly composed of cover versions from other artists.
I had it on tape and was one of the very first CDs I ever bought.
He died in a plane crash when he was just 26 after recording his iconic (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay.
Release date: 1965
This album was inducted in 1998 into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Although I knew some songs from this band, I didn't come across this album until later on. This is their second studio album, which wasn't particularly acclaimed until years later.
It is considered one of the best albums form the 60s.
Release Date: 1968
Long before actor Jeff Bridges in the film The great Lebowsky praised this band, they were one of the hottest bands in 1969.
This was their fourth studio album, but the funny thing is that they released three in a year! They had double sided hits and they were at their peak.
If you don't know them, it's time to start.
Release time: 1969
I knew about 2 Tone and ska through this English revival band. . Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude".
I loved their mod-style "1960s period rude boy outfits (pork pie hats, tonic andmohair suits and loafers)". Later came other bands which we enjoyed dancing in the crazy days.
Release Date: 1979
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. They were one of the major bands of the Britpop movement. They were electrifying on stage, although when I saw them in Bilbao, they sounded terrible. The band leaders were Noel Gallagher (lead guitar and vocals) and Liam Gallagher (vocals and tambourine), and they were always quarrelling until they split up in 2009. Noel's songwriting isn't for everybody, bit some people consider him a genius.
Date Release: 1995
Blur are an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1988. Following a stylistic change—influenced by English guitar pop groups such as The Kinks, The Beatles and XTC —Blur released “Modern Life is Rubbish” (1993), “Parklife” (1994) and “The Great Escape” (1995). As a result, the band helped to popularise the Britpop genre and achieved mass popularity in the UK. Probably, other albums are as good as this one.
Release Date: 1995
I knew this band thanks to a friend of mine although I had listened to a couple of songs. I liked it a lot and looked for the rest of their albums.
Although often praised by critics, Belle and Sebastian have enjoyed only limited commercial success.
Give them a try!
Release Date: 1998
Back to Black is the second and final studio album by English singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse. When you listen to this album, you are overwhelmed by her songwriting and her emotive singing. The song Rehab became an anthem ad worldwide known.
It was the first time in years that I was really impressed with a soul voice like this one. I was very sad when I read that she died because of drug addiction. I'm sure she would have released more great albums.
Release Date: 2006
