(this article was first published on Facebook on March 15th 2016)
Now that I am 50 years old, I made an inventory of the, according to me anyway, 50 best albums.
Two rules:
- album must have been released during my lifetime;
- one album per artist 1 album (excluding number 1).
Particularly in my early chilhood years there were a number of albums which were important that didn’t make the list, To honour them I have to mention a few:
- Herman Brood – Cha Cha;
- Raymond van het Groenewoud – Kamiel In België;
- Queen – Sheer Heart Attack (as a young boy I adored the band, up to Jazz/Live Killers).
In three parts, today part 1, numbers 50 to 26.

Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
50. Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
My first memories of music are related to this albums, as well as Neil Diamond’s Hot August Night and The Who’s Tommy. Music was a constant in my early years. My father had (and still has) a pretty impressive music collection. A number of these albums I have been playing all my life.
49. Lone Justice – Lone Justice
Pinkpop festival 1987. At the very last moment Lone Justice was added to the line-up of the festival. The show had to be cut short due to heavy rain, but what a show it was. The day after I bought both Lone Justice records. After disbanding the band I never stopped following Maria McKee, one of world´s best female singers.
Also recommended: Shelter, Maria McKee (Maria McKee)
48. Amy Winehouse – Back To Black
Why waste too many words, just a fantastic album by a fantastic singer.
Also recommended: Frank
47. The Fatal Flowers – Younger Days
Often seen them live. With Claw Boys Claw the greatest rockband of the Netherlands during the mid to end eighties.
Also recommended: Fatal Flowers, Johnny D. Is Back!
46. Frank Zappa – In New York
The genious madness of Frank Zappa in all its glory. Topsongs including The Black Page. Terry Bozzio as part of the band, one of the world’s best drummers.
Also recommended: Apostrophe, Joe’s Garage

Motörhead – No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith
45. Motörhead – No Sleep ’til Hammersmith
At the time very loud/rough music, now great and energetic.
Also recommended: Ace Of Spades
44. Joy Division – Still
My first Joy Division album. I was addicted to it, particularly Dead Souls. I remember that, in my parents’ house, I came down the stairs singing ‘I put my trust in you’ and both my parents, seperately, told me: ‘yes, well, you should never do that’. Nowadays our children regularly tell us that Zühâl and I, also seperately, often react identically to statements/situations.
Also recommended: Unknown Pleasures, Closer
43. James Brown – Love Power Peace – Live At The Olympia, Paris, 1971
No list without The Godfather Of Soul. This album, because this was the first (as far as I know anyway) where Bootsy Collins was audible (live) together with James Brown. An energetic funky show.
Also recommended: Live At The Apollo, Say It Live And Loud: Live In Dallas 08.26.68
42. The Pixies – Doolittle
Most enoyable album of this important band.
Also recommended: Surfer Rosa, Bossanova
41. Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted
First soloalbum of Ice Cube, produced by The Bomb Squad. Funky, (stadly still) up to date and passionate.
Also recommended: Death Certificate, Straight Outta Compton (N.W.A.)

Sezen Aksu – Soyluyor
40. Sezen Aksu – Söylüyor
At the end of the year 1991 I saw Zühâl for the first time and I was immediately stricken. Through her I started listening to the Turkish Sezen Aksu. Very happy to know her music. A lot of what Sezen Aksu does is very good en has real emotion (no cheap/plastic sentiments). I feel enriched knowing Sezen Aksu.
Also recommended: Git, Adi Bende Sakli
39. Jimi Hendrix Experience – Live at Winterland
This was released in 1987. Particularly crazy about the version played here of Manic Depression.
Also recommended: Electric Ladyland, Band Of Gypsys
38. Cat Power – Sun
Unfortunately not one of the most stable persons on the planet, but her music is great! Included on this album is the mantra-like Nothing But Time; a moving tribute to youth.
Also recommended: Moon Pix, The Greatest
37. Bob Dylan – Highway 61 revisited
The best Dylan, by far. Fantastic album.
Also recommended: Desire, Time out of mind
36. Discharge – Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing
At the time the roughest and loudest album I ever heard, Exciting anarcho-punk, which was firstly released on the Crass label. Whenever I feel stressed out, I love playing this record. In my teens I played this album very much, combined with some good old Crass – much to the chagrin of my mother.
Also recommended: Why?, Stations Of The Crass (Crass)

Dead Kennedys – Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables
35. Dead Kennedys – Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables
Important and ground-breaking American punkband. Musically fine and the lyrics are very funny and intelligent.
Also recommended: In God We Trust Inc., Plastic Surgery Disasters
34. Talking Heads – Remain In Light
Rated the same as Fear Of Music, but because of the song Once In A Lifetime this album. Eclectic, innovative and original. In 1978 I bought the first album (‘ 77) and kept following Talking Heads ever since. Sad to say I never got to see them live.
Also recommended: 77, Fear Of Music, Speaking In Tongues
33. Linton Kwesi Johnson – Bass Culture
Reggae beat poet. Beautiful lyrics over laid-back music. All the albums with Dennis Bovell are phenomenal.
Also recommended: Independant Intavenshan: The Island Anthology
32. Kraftwerk – Trans Europe Express
Innovative German band. Even now their music sounds contemporary and fresh. At the time misunderstood, but without Kraftwerk there would be no dance, techno, etc. as we know it today.
Also recommended: Autobahn, Computer Welt
31. Simple Minds – New Gold Dream
Never again would they be as good as on this album, in 1982. This album is the culmination of the 4 albums preceding this one.
Also recommended: Empires And Dance, Sparkle In The Rain

The Ramones – It’s Alive
30. The Ramones – It’s Alive
1,2,3,4.
Also recommended: The Ramones, Hey! Ho! Let’s Go: Ramones Anthology
29. Parliament – Mothership Connection
Through Prince I discovered a lot of music. In 1987 I started working at Concerto (renowned Amsterdam record store) and I bought loads and loads of music. As a consequence I found myself in my appartment in Amsterdam without water, gas and light, because my monthly salary was directly transferred back to the Concerto bankaccount. One of my main ‘discoveries’ were George Clinton, Bootsy Collins and Parliament/Funkadelic. With their strange (space) themes (Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome, The Pinocchio theory), one-liners (the bigger the headache, the bigger the pill, if you fake the funk your nose starts to grow) and ‘out-of-this-world’ personas (Uncle Jam, Starchild, Sir Nose D’Voidoffunk, Long haired sucker, Dr Funkenstein, Bootzilla, Mr Wiggles) they mapped out a complete separate world, wherein I could get lost. Just as long as everything comes together on ‘the one’ there are no rules.
Also recommended: One Nation Under A Groove (Funkadelic), Blasters Of The Universe (Bootsy Collins)
28. Underworld – Everything, Everything
Dance was not really my cup of tea until I discoverd Orbital and shortly thereafter The Prodigy released Music For The Jilted Generation. Underworld followed later and this live album is my favorite.
Also recommended: Dubnobasswithmyheadman, Second Toughest In The Infants
27. Outkast – Aquemini
Rap from the south of the United States: warm and funky.
Also recommended: Stankonia, Speakerboxx/The Love Below
26. Sufjan Stevens – Come On Feel The Illinoise
I discovered this mega-talent way too late. Beautiful album: Anyone who can create sincerely moving songs about serial-killers (John Wayne Gacy, Jr) is a natural. Highly recommended.
Also recommended: Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lake State, Carrie & Lowell
2 comments
I am so glad you started your blog. I love it. Very inspiring
Thanks! Really appreciate that!