1 - The White Album - The Beatles - The world's greatest hit-making machine grows up and releases a combined solo album using each other as a backing band.
2 - Tales From Topographic Oceans -Yes - Looonnngg songs and wonderful sounds. Yes fans either love this one or hate it. I happen to love it!
3 - Still Life (Talking) - Pat Metheny Group - South American-influenced jazz, great songwriting and soloing, and a terrific ensemble performance.
4 - The Tiki Bar Is Open - John Hiatt - The best album from one of America's most underrated singer/songwriters.
5 - Action Packed - Richard Thompson - A greatest hits collection from THE most underrated singer/songwriter/guitarist in the world.
6 - Intersections - Bruce Hornsby - A career-spanning box set including hits, solo piano pieces, jazzy stuff and even a disc full of videos. Killer drum playing by John Molo and Sonny Emory.
7 - In Progress & In Motion - Taj Mahal - If you've never heard this guy, you need to, and this is the place to start. Afro-roots, Carib-soul, scratch band and rural blues at their best.
8 - Big Jake & the Phat Cats Live - The most fun band I ever played in caught on a very "on" night. This was a truly live album, without a single overdub anywhere. Soon to be available on this website.
9 - Arriving Somewhere (DVD) - Porcupine Tree - No-one seems to have heard of these guys, but they absolutely rock. A great live performance of powerful songs written by Steven Wilson.
10 - The Deepest End Live in New Orleans (DVD) - Gov't Mule - The finale of the Deep End project, inviting some of the world's greatest bassists to join The Mule in a tribute to founding member Allen Woody.
11 - Growing Up Live (DVD) - Peter Gabriel - An amazing technical performance from one of the world's greatest touring artists and his band.
12 - One Trick Pony (Movie) - Paul Simon - Not the best rock'n'roll movie ever, but a lot of fun to see great musicians like Simon, Tony Levin and Steve Gadd attempt acting without hurting themselves.
13 - Have a Nice Decade - Compilation - My dirty little secret is that I'm severely addicted to '70s pop music, and this five-disc set has 'em all, from the bestest to the lamest.
14 - Hunky Dory - David Bowie - Bowie never topped this one, put out all the way back in '72. Great songs by Bowie, great piano from Rick Wakeman and groundbreaking electric guitar from Mick Ronson.
15 - Chick Corea Live at Montreaux (DVD) - Chick Corea's Elektrik Band - Jazz doesn't get any better than this - and did I mention Dave Weckl on drums?
16 - The Healing Game - Van Morrison - Soulful, spiritual, beautiful...a free pass to every sacred place in the world every time you slip this CD into the deck.
17 - Beatin' the Heat - Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks - Long-overdue comeback album from the original jazz/folkie. Includes guest appearances by lots of big names he influenced from Elvis Costello to Rickie Lee Jones. Just plain fun!
18 - If Summer Has Its Ghosts - Bill Bruford - Almost everything this guy ever did has been wonderful, but this straight-up jazz trio album with Ralph Towner and Eddie Gomez is my favorite.
19 - Pieces of the Sun - The Tony Levin Band - A sonic masterpiece. Great songs and great playing, although Jesse Gress's guitar solos get a little old after a while.
20 - Imagine - John Lennon - Lennon at his peak, with great session players and Phil Spector producing...and the title track is quite simply the greatest song in the history of the world.
21 – Watershed – k.d. lang – After twenty years of experimenting with a variety of styles k.d. finally puts out a GREAT album.