With modern music being brought to us by MP3, Spotify or YouTube, there is less room for nostalgia and emotions. Although sound quality is superb and these carriers are really practical, music is not only about those things. Especially with music the emotion, thoughts and atmosphere are the main part of the experience. It is for this reason that both classic recordings and new albums are being produced and distributed on vinyl LP’s. WE’ve put together some of the most iconic vinyl albums.
The Best Albums on Vinyl
(Random listing)
Amy Winehouse- Back to Black
At the age of only 23, Winehouse shocked the world with her voice and performance on het second album. Her music can be described as a combination of a raw jazzy sound and swinging soul music. Back to Black is her masterpiece with tracks as “Me and mr. Jones”, “Rehab” and “addicted”. Winning 5 Grammy Awards the singer still holds the record of wining most female awards in one year. The music on this album is taking you back to the memories, thoughts and emotions of Winehouse. Singing with soul and R&B she created an collection of songs that was already timeless at the moment is came out. With her death at only 27, Winehouse’ Back to Black became an iconic combination of jazz and soul.
Michael Jackson – Thriller
The best selling album ever. Over 50 million copies were sold. But more impressive than the number of copies sold is the impact of the album on music history. Being the sixth studio album of Jackson this 1982 album was a success in every way. Both commercially and critically the album was received with huge positive response. With a record of 8 Grammy Award the combination of pop, R&B and funk was this album the truth breakthrough of the artist. With having a hard time getting on MTV because of racial inequality, this album was one of the first that enabled black artist to get airing time on television. Paving the way for other black artist. The 24 old Jackson made his name with this album that has the hits Billie Jean and Beat It. Both for the impact on racial equality and the brilliant music, this album has to be in your vinyl collection.
AC/DC – Back in Black
Back in Black was the first recorded album of the Ausie rockers without former lead singer Bon Scott, who died at the age of 33. The whole album was dedicated to him. Rolling stone said about the album at its release: “the first LP since Led Zeppelin II that captures all the blood, sweat and arrogance of the hard rock scene”. And that is what this album is all about, the rough live of rockers, with alcohol, lust and depression as main ingredients. The album became the standard for rock bands ever after. For AC/DC it meant the new lead singer Brian Johnson proved the be able to handle the legacy of Scott. When you love the rock sound of the eighties combined with the true insight in the rock scene artists’ live, this is the album that will answer your question.
The Beatles – Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Considered (one of) the most influential albums ever. The British pop band experimented with a shiny cover, new recording Technics and a mixture of music from different styles and genres. With songs about drug abuse and fame, the album tells the live of young famous artist in the late seventies. Not only the album cover did receive a Grammy, also the album itself was awarded. With musical instruments from India, rock and roll and classical music, the album was inspired by many different styles. For all these experimental and innovative sound, the album has been considered the base of the Beatles fame and legacy.
The Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique
The second studio album of what is considered the longest-lived hip-hop acts worldwide. The group, consisting of Michael “Mike D”Diamond, Adam “MCA” Yauch and Adam “Ad Rock” Horovitz, released 7 platinum or better albums from 1986 to 2004, and sold over 76 million copies. Their first album, Licensed to Ill, was a great success and put the Beastie Boys on the hip-hop map. Becoming famous with simple, heavy and somewhat commercial beats, the goal of their second album was to provide their audience with more creative material. The lyrics have more depth on topics like drug abuse, racism, assault and other crimes. Although the backbone of their message is socially intelligent, the signature of the group is obvious; they bring you the message in a hilarious way.
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
A lot can be said and goes around about Mr. West. Being married to socialite Kim Kardashian, emphasizing his status as a public phenomena and controversial behaviour troughout his whole career are just a couple of items on what undoubtley would be a long list. Yet his highly valuable contribution towards the music industry is undeniable. West’s music style is a combination of R&B, Hip-Hop, House, Folklore, Rock, Pop, Electro and many more. With 21 Grammy Awards, he ranks among the most awarded artists of all time. West produced this album in 2009 and 2010, after a heavy period of public and legal controversy. It contains influences of his early work, with an accent on soul, baroque and electro. The title of this albums tells you excactly what West is trying to show us; All that is going on in his heart and in his mind, with a certain vulnerability that is not common around all artists.
Kings of Leon – The Early Vinyl
The Kings of Leon is an American Rockband composed of three brothers and one cousin of the Followill family. They were all born in the early-eighties, and spend most of their childhood and teenage years travelling trough the eastern part of the United States, because their father was a preacher. Aside from being home schooled and attend their dad’s services, they occasionally killed their time with playing drums and guitars. They initially performed in bars, and as time went by they would play for bigger and bigger audiences. In the late-nineties they settlted down in Nashville, Tennessee. In this period of time they formed the Kings of Leon, named after their grandfather Leon.
The trademark of the group is garage rock, and that is what defined them en brought them their first commercial succes. The Early Vinyl contains remastered material of their first three albums (Youth and Young Manhood – Aha Shake Heartbrake – Because of the times) as well as een full album with unknown and unreleased songs of that period, and four yet unreleased live perfomances.
Miles Davis – Kind of Blue
The beste selling Jazz album of all time, with estimated sales of around 4 million copies. Miles Davis is recognized as one of the key players in the history of Jazz, and often described as the most revered Jazz trompeter of all time. Born and raised in the late-twenties in Illinois, Davis started performing in New York in the 1940’s. Troughout his career he has been the innovator of the Jazz industry, experimenting with rock, funk, african rhythm and electronic technology. Kind of Bleu is the one Jazz Album that people who don’t listen to Jazz, have in their collection. Miles composed a group of highly skilled musicians, excisting of John Coltrane and Julian Adderley on saxophones, Bill Evans on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums. The result is the most influential Jazz record ever produced, which set the standard for the following decades.
