Best Albums Ever?

Today I was reading on ExploreMusic (an excellent Canadian music blog produced by Alan Cross) about the re-release of Legend – the Greatest hits of Bob Marley and The Wailers.

Now, I don’t know much Bob Marley…only the stuff I’ve heard over the radio (No Woman No Cry, Buffalo Soldier, etc.) and after reading this article
I realized that this is a staple that should be in everyone’s music collection, even if they don’t generally enjoy reggae music.

I shall be picking this up tonight but then I started thinking “If I don’t even care for reggae music, why am I even bothering to pick this up?” I believe it was the article that made me realize that there are certain albums out there that are in ‘global consciousness’, meaning that everyone and their Mother own it. It’s part of a global connection.

This got me thinking of what ‘classics’ are out there that are ‘must-have’s’ in the music collection. I’m not talking in YOUR music collection persay, but everyone’s music collection.

I can think of one in particular that everyone either has or should have in their collection:

Abba Gold. Freakin’ Abba Gold. This Swedish sensation has tunes ringing in my head…from Money, Money, Money, Waterloo…all the hits. I remember specifically buying this while on summer vacation with the folks thinking that the tune ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ was an Abba tune (yes, yes, I know) and perhaps it had a different title and that’s why I didn’t recognize it by the track list. I believe Dad cringed when I said “Can we put this album on?” while Mom was dancing away. I was disappointed that Brown Eyed Girl was *not* on the album, but heck, there were some melodies that stuck in my head over time.

So what other classics are out there that are in everyone’s record collection?

Here’s some thoughts:
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Chronicle Vol. 1
Eagles Greatest Hits (1971-1975)
Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill