Some of my favourite albums of all time

Amazing illustration by my sister, Martha. (Instagram: @martys.arty.party)

I think writing about my favourite albums is an interesting topic, because while the individual songs may not necessarily be in my top 10 songs of all time (some of them are), I love these albums as sums of their entities. I have many but not all of these albums on vinyl, which I really love because a lot of the songs that I mention are from the 70’s and 80’s, and I find it satisfying to listen to them through the same medium that people then would have listened to them.

I generally listen to a large range of music, and often I will like particular songs from random artists, but not necessarily any other songs from that particular singer or band. However, these albums that I mention on this list are from artists that I enjoy listening to more generally, and love their other albums too.

In no particular order, here are some of my favourite albums of all time:

1. Tapestry by Carole King (1971)

This album is an absolute masterpiece. The collections of songs are so beautifully sung as well as written. Despite being released in 1971, many of these songs are timeless and still beautiful nearly 50 years later. I also really love the cover of this album. The highlights on this album for me would be:

• It’s Too Late

• So Far Away

• Home Again

• Way Over Yonder
  

2. Double Fantasy by John Lennon and Yoko Ono (1980)

This was the last album released before John Lennon was shot in 1980. Because of this, I feel this album has a bittersweet feeling surrounding it, and I think that is what makes the music so beautiful and at times poignant. Some of the songs by Yoko Ono are perhaps more challenging to listen to than the songs by John Lennon, but also good in their own way. My favourite songs on this album would be:

• Just like) Starting Over

• Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)

• Woman

• Dear Yoko

• Every Man Has A Woman Who Loves Him

3. The Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd (1973)

I love every song on this album. I really like how experimental Pink Floyd were with both their music and lyrics, and I think this album was a precursor to their other amazing albums such as ‘Animals’, ‘The Wall’ and ‘Wish You Were Here’, which are all albums I could have also mentioned on this list. I love how all the songs are continuous, giving the illusion that when you put the album on you are listening to one long song rather than ten separate ones. Some of my favourite songs on this album are:

• Breathe (In The Air)

• The Great Gig In The Sky

• Us And Them

• Brain Damage

4. Meat Is Murder by The Smiths (1985)

My love for The Smiths began when I was around fourteen, and I would say they are my favourite band of all time. I feel like people either love them or hate them, and I happen to be one of the people who connect with their music, and see that a lot of the things they sing about are very tongue in cheek. Many people say that their music is very depressing, and while on the surface it appears this is true, delving deeper into their music was something that I found really enjoyable, and I think their best album is either ‘Meat Is Murder’ or ‘Hatful of Hollow’. My favourite songs on this album are:

• The Headmaster Ritual

• That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore

• Nowhere Fast

• Barbarism Begins At Home.

5. Fine Line by Harry Styles (2019)

This album perhaps does not fit with the other albums mentioned on this list because it is much more contemporary, having been released last year. However, I really love many of the songs on this album, and I think they tie together really nicely. I was never much of a fan of One Direction, but I think Harry Styles has gone down a really refreshing and experimental route with his latest music. The highlights on this album for me would be:

• Adore You

• Lights Up

• Fine Line

• Sunflower, Vol. 6

• Golden

6. Rumours by Fleetwood Mac (1977)

This is a classic album which I think many people would claim as one of their favourite albums of all time. When I listen to this album I find it quite nostalgic even though it was released decades before I was born. I think that is why this album is so effective and loved by so many people. It has the ability to transport people to a place of nostalgia, even if they weren’t born before the 1970s. In my opinion the best songs on this album are:

• Dreams

• Songbird

• You Make Loving Fun

• Go Your Own Way