Number

Album

Artist

About

Song

Year

77

Erotica

Madonna

Interesting enough Madonna wrote and co-wrote every song on this album bar one. An adventurous album that evolved into a sound of sensual almost sexual overtone. Lyrically complicated but with intellectual prowess which is a credit to her, yet you unravel all the show girl from this album the bras the suspenders, the French kisses – undress the showgirl and your left with quite a well-balanced album. She should have received many more accolades for her writing talent on this album but hey that doesn’t sell records, she proved that (and with the book). Another great talent and to think now over 4 decades she deserves holding the mantel piece of one of the greatest female artists of all time.

Erotica

Bye Bye Baby

My Pick – Rain

1992

Number

Album

Artist

About

Song

Year

78

Outlandos d’Armour

The Police

The first studio debut album that was to lay a platform and strong career for both the Police and of course Sting. Sophistication in the name of the album and sophistication throughout. I have a true appreciation for Sting and his music and whilst I could have chosen other albums containing some great music that has charted well over the years it was the very first that drew them to me. It starts with Sting’s idiosyncratic singular voice that compares to no other that imprisons you into this album leaving you wanting more and hasn’t he given us more over the years. Roxanne is a song that has stood the time but the most memorable one for me on this album was Can’t Stand Losing You a song of losing a lover leading to suicide, I dare say though the song created some social awkwardness back then (BBC banned due to the cover) in today’s world I am sure you wouldn’t openly get away it. A daring somewhat brash song written from the heart I know everyone would have felt the vulnerability at a time in their life it’s just that the honesty is perhaps to honest for people’s acceptance. Still I admire a song like this especially in a debut album – boundaries were always going to be pushed from here onwards and I admire that in an artist, if Sting’s voice wasn’t enough this always was going to be the difference of setting them apart from everyone else.

So Lonely

Roxanne

My Pick – Can’t Stand Losing You

1978

Number

Album

Artist

About

Song

Year

79

Only Revolutions

Biffy Clyro

I love this album and I love this band. I also love the way they can belt out a high rhythm almost punk sounding song and then wind it all back to a soft sounding ballad song like Many of Horrors and of course there is everything in between. Lyrically mature and to reach their sound as a 3 piece you have to be talented. Two brothers and friend produces a tightness to their music and an understanding of each song perhaps both in a lyrical and melody sense, you get that feel from each song, it’s like they all know each other’s next move. Simon and the Johnston boys are true mad Scotsmen but what’s more so, talented ones.

Machines

Bubbles

My Pick – Many of Horrors

2009

Number

Album

Artist

About

Song

Year

80

Divinyls

Divinyls

If Blondie and The Pretenders were to have a baby it would be the Divinyls. The Queen of Australian pub rock bands and if you were to think of all the great Australian Pub Rock bands that we have produced over the years a huge statement but deservingly in my opinion of the crown, even if she would of wore it sideways but hey it would have never of matched the school uniform. I loved the Divinyls they have produced so many great albums over the years and so many hits followed them, she certainly left a legacy of great music behind. I could have placed 3 or 4 albums in this top 100 and it would have been deserved. Yet it was this album that I liked the most probably because of “I’m On Your Side” – a very underrated song written by Billy Steinberg – who wrote hits such as Like A Virgin - Madonna, True Colours – Lauper, I’ll Stand by You – The Pretenders, Eternal Flame – The Bangles to name a few. It baffles me to know how the Divinyls would have got a hold of this song but still it is Amphlett’s voice and McEntree strumming of the guitar that make you believe…RIP Chrissy

Lay Your Body Down

I Touch Myself

My Pick – I’m on your side

1990

Number

Album

Artist

About

Song

Year

81

Demon Days

Gorillaz

One thing I love about music it has a way of reinventing itself, whether it is a new genre or just a new sound or voice it can revitalise the smorgasbord, the buffet of music. The Gorillaz in my opinion were way more than fictitious cartoon figures they were a new wave of sound that in hindsight probably should have never of worked but it did – perhaps it was the hype around those cartoon figures that lent everyone’s ears enough to gain traction in what was a boring time in music for mine. Take nothing away from them though, with the distinctive voice of Albam formerly of Blur, the melodic funky tunes and at times guest appearance artists they managed to produce a modern new wave sound. One that I certainly enjoyed and appreciated. Dare was a song from the future, refreshing and totally non-boring of the mid 2000’s.

Dirty Harry

Feel Good

My Pick - Dare

2005

Number

Album

Artist

About

Song

Year

82

Collective Soul “The Blue Album”

Collective Soul

Post Grunge wasn’t such a bad thing it produced softer bands such as this band and what an album came from it. I am surprised that they didn’t have the commercial success, probably left behind a bit perhaps due to being more mature lyrically on the cusp of what was known as grunge. Still they managed a couple of great albums and over the years this one has really stood out for me. A level album in every sense of the word musically, catchy tunes with well thought out lyrics.

She Gathers Rain

Gel

My Pick - December

1995

Number

Album

Artist

About

Song

Year

83

Feel the Heat

Radiators

An album of my teens, funny enough I remember singing “I wish I was 17 again at 17” oh to be there again without a care in the world. Another pronounced Australian Pub band that stood the test of time for me with their inordinate lyrics backed with some great guitar riffs and drum solos – not to mention even the sound of a bong being smoked in Fess’s Song. They were different to other bands at the time almost surfy like but to contain them to this would be unjust. When I listened back over the album there is certainly meaningful purpose there but placed in a young man’s point of view of life probably why I loved the album so much at 17. But the catchy tunes stuck and so did the appreciation of them and their music, now over 30 years.

I wish I was 17 Again

Coming Home

My Pick – Gimme Head

1980

Number

Album

Artist

About

Song

Year

84

Power Corruption & Lies

New Order

This was the second album that New Order produced and you know by the end of it that 3 members of it were formerly of Joy Division. Why? – because it still had a Joy Division feel about it almost a confusion of a new sound versus an old sound, not that it’s a bad thing, though I grew to love them more once they reinvented themselves. Still in the interim they produced this album and on it the highest selling 12-inch version of any song of all time “Blue Monday”. A great achievement when you think of the periods over the years that the world has gone through extended 12 Inch version phases. One of the pioneers of the electronica sound this album to me was almost a forgiven practice run from what was yet to come. Maybe a little unfair but I am saying this with gratitude of this album, their sound and their pioneering thus it being here.

Leave Me Alone

Age of Consent

My Pick – Blue Monday

1983

Number

Album

Artist

About

Song

Year

85

Lola Versus Powerman

The Kin

With honesty, this album entry was the winner of a coin toss – I was torn between a T Rex album and this one. Two very simular English bands but remove the glamour from them both it was The Kinks who were left standing – along with a song written about a Transsexual and what a masterpiece it turned out to be.I am drawn to the difference of The Kinks especially with songs like the Apeman and though I can draw a lot of similarities of the Stones and the Beatles I still feel there is a uniqueness about them that separates them from the traditional English super groups. Lola was a true masterpiece and one of those songs that will stand the test of time, I can see my Grand Children singing it – as I, they may not understand the lyrics or the meaning of it at the time but singing it all the same, it’s just one of those songs. And with age will come understanding and appreciation of it and the meaning but what’s more realisation of just how good the song is.

Apeman

My Pick – Lola

1970