7 Albums Every Music Lover Should Hear

The Beatles — Abbey Road (1969)

Abbey Road is one of the most famous and influential works in the history of rock music. The Beatles' final studio album showcases their incredible musical diversity and sonic experimentation. Songs like "Come Together" and "Here Comes the Sun" have become classics, and the famous cover of the zebra crossing in London has become an icon. It shows how the band was able to combine different styles and create something unique.

The album saw the band take a leap forward in technical sonic performance:

"Abbey Road" was recorded on eight-track reel-to-reel tape recorders rather than four-track, and was the first Beatles album not to be released in mono;

The album was also the first and only Beatles album to be recorded entirely on an EMI TG12345 MkI solid-state transistor mixing console, which added greater clarity and definition to the Beatles' sound.

Johann Sebastian Bach – Brandenburg Concertos

This cycle of 6 concertos is a masterpiece of Baroque music that showcases Johann Sebastian Bach's mastery as a composer and virtuoso. Written for various instruments, these concertos are a perfect balance between harmony and melody. They have inspired countless musicians and composers over the centuries and remain relevant to this day.

Bach sent the notes of the concertos as a gift to the Margrave, hoping for a position as the court orchestra leader. For this purpose, he copied them in calligraphic handwriting. Although the concertos were composed in the Italian style, they contain much that was new from Bach. He did not receive a response, and the manuscript lay in the Margrave's library for more than 100 years until it was accidentally discovered and published.

This recording will help to reveal the potential of any audio system and serves as an excellent test of the detail and tonal balance of the sound.

David Bowie — Blackstar (2016)

David Bowie's 25th and final studio album was released on January 8, 2016, on the singer's 69th birthday. The collection turned out to be very versatile, and the style varies from rock compositions and industrial to soul ballads, airy folk songs and even hip-hop. The recording featured several New York jazz musicians, whose virtuoso work in the album immediately catches the eye.

Rolling Stone called this disc Bowie's best masterpiece since the 1970s. It received positive reviews from music critics and, after the musician's death, debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart for the first time in his career.

In 2017, the album won a Grammy Award in the Best Alternative Album category.

Marvin Gaye — What’s Going On (1971)

Marvin Gaye has recorded an album about the state of the world as he sees it with his own eyes. All nine songs on the collection flow seamlessly into each other, telling the story of how the musician's country has changed during his absence. Each element of the album's soundscape is written very clearly, precisely, combining blues, jazz and soul, over which Marvin's velvety voice soars.

"What's Going On" was a commercial and critical success, standing the test of time to become a classic of early 1970s soul. It peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 in the United States and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in December 1993.

In 2003, the album was ranked sixth on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and in 2020, the magazine awarded the album first place.

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)

This is the 9th studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd. The material for the album was collected during a concert tour of Europe, and the recording after multiple sessions was made at London's Abbey Road Studios. Can you imagine an audiophile whose collection would not have this album? Very difficult. The albums of this group are distinguished by high-quality recording and sound amazing on most types of devices.

In the first week after its release in the United Kingdom, 250,000 copies of the album were sold and it reached the first position in the chart; due to such unexpected popularity, the first batch of albums was not enough. About 900,000 orders were received for the American edition, thanks to which the album reached the first place in the ranking of "Billboard 200" in the second week. Until 1991, "Wish You Were Here" remained the best-selling Pink Floyd album.

Frank Sinatra – In The Wee Small Hours (1955)

"In the Wee Small Hours" is the ninth studio album by Frank Sinatra. All the songs on it deal with certain themes, such as loneliness, introspection, lost love, failed relationships, depression and nightlife.

The collection was called one of the first concept albums and became one of the singer's best projects.

The album was a commercial success, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200, Sinatra's highest chart position since Songs by Sinatra was released in 1947.

In 2002, the album was certified gold in the United States for sales of 500,000.

In 2012, Rolling Stone ranked the album number 101 on its list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time".

Stevie Wonder — Innervisions (1973)

The album's nine tracks cover a wide range of issues and topics: drug abuse in "Too High," social problems in "Living for the City," and the theme of love in the ballads "All in Love is Fair" and "Golden Lady." And the innovative blend of different styles (funk, gospel, and soul) on the collection only emphasizes the breadth and variety of the topics raised.

Innervisions has been hailed by fans, critics, and peers as one of Stevie Wonder's best albums and one of the greatest albums in music history. In 2001, VH1 ranked the album #31 on its list of the greatest albums of all time.

Rolling Stone ranked the album #23 in its 2003 list of the greatest albums of all time.

Conclusion

These seven albums represent only a small part of the richness of musical culture, but each of them left an indelible mark on the history of art. They inspire, make you think and remind you that music is not just entertainment, but a way to communicate with the world. If you haven’t heard these masterpieces yet, you should definitely take the time to listen to them.

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