With songs that alternate between political despair and religious affirmation, What's Going On is unique among modern records for its directness and its consistent beauty.

As exciting as a game of chicken with James Dean: 'In the day we sweat it out in the streets of a runaway American dream / At night we ride through mansions of glory in suicide machines'.

Another of the Stones' great nihilist albums, best PLAYED LOUD in the middle of the night. "Rape, murder / It's just a shot away" - well, yeah, if you must hire racist bigots as bouncers at your gigs.

Dylan, atypically, wears his heart on his sleave, post divorce. As he opens his veins onto the tracks, there's the authentic sound of conflicting emotion - bitterness, anger, regret and nostalgia.

A concept album, but without the usual mawkish twaddle. Ray Davies evokes the suburban sadness of those who, too old or square to join the Swinging Sixties, felt trapped in a declining Britain.

Snarling, androgenous punk: 'You're a prima ballerina on a spring afternoon / change on into the wolfman howlin at the moon'.