The 50 Most Inspirational Albums
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Introduction by Jim Liddane
Putting together a list of the most inspirational albums of all time from a songwriting point of view is like arguing over how many angels can sit on the head of a pin.
Pointless.
Anyway, after several years of picking and publishing our own list (and getting roundly abused in the process), we chickened out in 1990, and from then on, we let our members pick them for us!
That meant that when they had stuck their collective necks out - we could for a change weigh in with our derogatory remarks about their choice!
Anyway the criteria remains very simple.
"Name one classic album ("classic" as far as we are concerned, means an album released more than five years ago), which you consider to be the single most inspiratonal album from a songwriting point of view"?
So if you would like to choose an album (one only) for inclusion in the next ballot, then simply click
HERE and let us have your choice.
Needless to say, absolutely nobody will agree with this latest list - so no change there!.
Jim Liddane
And yes, we know that due to ties, there may actually be more than 50 on the list - but as Bill said, "if we don't number them, then who's going to count them? And anyway, nobody ever reads beyond the first ten".
Bit of a cynic, our Bill.
The 50 Most Inspirational Albums
The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
The ISA's Opinion? A groundbreaking concept album that redefined the possibilities of studio recording.
Best Track? "A Day In The Life".
Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
The ISA's Opinion? Marked Dylan's transition to electric music, blending rock and poetic lyrics.
Best Track? "Like A Rolling Stone".
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (1966)
The ISA's Opinion? An innovative album with complex harmonies and production techniques.
Best Track? "God Only Knows".
The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main St. (1972)
The ISA's Opinion? A raw and eclectic double album showcasing the band's versatility.
Best Track? "Tumbling Dice".
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (1971)
The ISA's Opinion? A socially conscious soul album addressing pressing issues of the time.
Best Track? "What's Going On".
Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
The ISA's Opinion? Featured lush arrangements and introspective lyrics.
Best Track? "The Boxer".
Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)
The ISA's Opinion? Brought grunge to the mainstream and defined a generation.
Best Track? "Smells Like Teen Spirit".
Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)
The ISA's Opinion? The best-selling album of all time, blending pop, rock, and R&B.
Best Track? "Billie Jean".
Taylor Swift - Folklore (2020)
The ISA's Opinion? Not her biggest album perhaps, but certainly her best to date.
Best Track? "August".
Prince - Purple Rain (1984)
The ISA's Opinion? A fusion of rock, funk, and pop that showcased Prince's musical genius.
Best Track? "Purple Rain".
The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
The ISA's Opinion? Though initially overlooked, it became a blueprint for alternative music.
Best Track? "Heroin".
Joni Mitchell - Blue (1971)
The ISA's Opinion? A deeply personal and influential singer-songwriter album.
Best Track? "A Case of You".
Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
The ISA's Opinion? A double album masterpiece covering a range of themes and styles.
Best Track? "Sir Duke".
David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust (1972)
The ISA's Opinion? A glam rock concept album that cemented Bowie's status as an icon.
Best Track? "Starman".
The Clash - London Calling (1979)
The ISA's Opinion? A punk album that incorporated diverse musical styles and political themes.
Best Track? "London Calling".
Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)
The ISA's Opinion? A politically charged hip-hop album with innovative production.
Best Track? "Bring the Noise".
Radiohead - OK Computer (1997)
The ISA's Opinion? A dystopian rock album that pushed the boundaries of alternative music.
Best Track? "Paranoid Android".
Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967)
The ISA's Opinion? Showcased Franklin's powerful vocals and became a soul classic.
Best Track? "Respect".
The Who - Who's Next (1971)
The ISA's Opinion? Featured pioneering use of synthesizers in rock music.
Best Track? "Baba O'Riley".
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run (1975)
The ISA's Opinion? An epic rock album capturing the American spirit.
Best Track? "Thunder Road".
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (1977)
The ISA's Opinion? A polished pop-rock album born out of personal turmoil.
Best Track? "Go Your Own Way".
U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987)
The ISA's Opinion? Combined spiritual themes with atmospheric rock.
Best Track? "Where the Streets Have No Name".
The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead (1986)
The ISA's Opinion? A defining album of British indie rock.
Best Track? "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out".
Patti Smith - Horses (1975)
The ISA's Opinion? Merged poetry with punk rock, influencing countless artists.
Best Track? "Gloria: In Excelsis Deo".
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced (1967)
The ISA's Opinion?
Introduced Hendrix's revolutionary guitar work.
Best Track? "Purple Haze".
Bob Marley and the Wailers - Exodus (1977)
The ISA's Opinion? Brought reggae to a global audience.
Best Track? "Exodus".
The Doors - The Doors (1967)
The ISA's Opinion? A psychedelic rock debut with dark, poetic lyrics.
Best Track? "Light My Fire".
Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
The ISA's Opinion? A concept album exploring themes of conflict and mental illness.
Best Track? "Time".
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
The ISA's Opinion?
Featured the iconic "Stairway" and solidified their rock legacy.
Best Track? "Stairway To Heaven".
The Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks (1977)
The ISA's Opinion? A raw and rebellious punk statement.
Best Track? "Anarchy in the U.K."
The Strokes - Is This It (2001)
The ISA's Opinion? Revitalized garage rock in the early 2000s.
Best Track? "Hard to Explain".
Kanye West - The College Dropout (2004)
The ISA's Opinion? Blended soul samples with introspective lyrics, reshaping hip-hop.
Best Track? "Jesus Walks".
Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)
The ISA's Opinion? A fusion of hip-hop, soul, and reggae with personal themes.
Best Track? "Doo Wop (That Thing)."
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (1989)
The ISA's Opinion? A sample-heavy album that expanded hip-hop's sonic palette.
Best Track? "Shake Your Rump".
The Beatles - Revolver (1966)
The ISA's Opinion? Marked a shift towards more experimental songwriting.
Best Track? Here, There and Everywhere.
Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley (1956)
The ISA's Opinion? The debut album that launched rock 'n' roll into the mainstream.
Best Track? "Blue Suede Shoes".
The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man (1965)
The ISA's Opinion? Pioneered folk-rock with jangly guitars and harmonies.
Best Track? "Mr. Tambourine Man".
Otis Redding - Otis Blue (1965)
The ISA's Opinion? A soul album that showcased Redding's emotive vocals.
Best Track? "I've Been Loving You Too Long".
The Crickets - The Chirping Crickets (1957)
The ISA's Opinion? Three guitars and drums, the prototype which would spawn a thousand bands.
Best Track? "That'll Be The Day".
James Brown - Live at the Apollo (1963)
The ISA's Opinion? Captured the energy of Brown's live performances.
Best Track? "Lost Someone".
The Kinks - Village Green Preservation Society (1968)
The ISA's Opinion?
A nostalgic but charming look at English life.
Best Track? "Do You Remember Walter?
The Police - Synchronicity (1983)
The ISA's Opinion? Blended rock, reggae, and new wave influences.
Best Track? "Every Breath You Take".
AC/DC - Back in Black (1980)
The ISA's Opinion? A hard rock album that became one of the best-selling records ever.
Best Track? "You Shook Me All Night Long".
Metallica - Master of Puppets (1986)
The ISA's Opinion? A thrash metal masterpiece with complex compositions.
Best Track? "Master of Puppets".
Madonna - Like a Prayer (1989)
The ISA's Opinion? Combined pop sensibilities with controversial themes.
Best Track? Like a Prayer".
R.E.M. - Murmur (1983)
The ISA's Opinion? Helped define alternative rock in the 1980s.
Best Track? "Radio Free Europe".
The Cure - Disintegration (1989)
The ISA's Opinion? A moody and atmospheric gothic rock album.
Best Track?
"Pictures of You"..
Talking Heads - Remain in Light (1980)
The ISA's Opinion? Incorporated African rhythms into new wave music.
Best Track? "Once in a Lifetime".
The White Stripes - Elephant (2003)
The ISA's Opinion? A raw garage rock album with blues influences.
Best Track? "Seven Nation Army".
Adele - 21 (2011)
The ISA's Opinion? A soulful pop album that showcased Adele's powerful vocals.
Best Track? "Rolling in the Deep".
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (1959)
The ISA's Opinion? A seminal album that introduced modal jazz and influenced countless musicians.
Best Track?"So What".
Beyonce - Lemonade (2016)
The ISA's Opinion? A visual album that blended genres and addressed personal and political themes.
Best Track? "Formation".
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