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Chris's Top 25 Albums
Rubber SoulRubber Soul by The Beatles
Buy new: £7.40 / Used from: £5.68
The link between the Mop Top era Fabs and the experimentation of the later years. A true classic - 'In My Life', 'Michelle', 'Drive My Car' & 'Norweigen Wood. Both McCartney & Lennon were on fire.
WoodfaceWoodface by Crowded House
Buy new: £3.98 / Used from: £0.04
Neil & Tim Finn's masterpiece. Crowded House never bettered Woodface. It produced 4 Uk hit singles and stayed in the album charts for over a year.
Skylarking: RemasteredSkylarking: Remastered by XTC
Buy new: £5.97 / Used from: £4.02
XTC's very own 80's Sgt Pepper. Beautiful orchestral arrangements, stunning harmonies and Andy Partridge's erudite lyrics. Time has aged Skylarking to perfection.
Some Fantastic PlaceSome Fantastic Place by Squeeze
Buy new: £12.09 / Used from: £4.98
Chris Difford & Glenn Tilbrook's best long player of the 90's. 'Some Fantastic Place', 'It's Over', 'Third Rail', 'Pinnochio' and no filler. Smart UK powerpop at it's very best
ParklifeParklife by Blur
Buy new: £3.98 / Used from: £0.60
Damon Albarn & co's finest by far. Classic mix of influences - Bowie, Madness, Kinks, Squeeze - and not a bad track in site. 'End Of A Century' is sublime. They also invented Brit pop and looked great
Urban HymnsUrban Hymns by The Verve
Buy new: £4.97 / Used from: £1.39
Richard Ashcroft hit the bullseyes with this classic British record. His band were'nt bad either. very nearly the best record of the 90's
ViolatorViolator by Depeche Mode
Buy new: £8.98 / Used from: £4.40
Depeche mode went weird and then released this. Violator is stunning - 'Enjoy The Silence', 'Personal Jesus', World In my Eyes' and lots, lots more. Synth rock was born.
GuiltyGuilty by Barbra Streisand
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £3.99
What is this doing in my top 10 !!? Well don't be fooled - this is Babs best record by miles and Barry Gibbs songs are stunning. In 1980 she had it all - the voice - the songs and a number 1 hit !
JollityJollity by Pugwash
Buy used from: £27.53
Thomas Walsh is an underated genius. Despite it's small indie label origins 'Jollity' is a sonic and songwriting masterclass. Think ELO, Beatles, XTC - it's that good !
SoSo by Peter Gabriel
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £3.80
Gabriel's classic is also his biggest seller. No one else in the mid 80's could have made this record - 'Sledgehammer' & 'Don't Give Up' are worth the admission price alone
RevolverRevolver by The Beatles
Buy new: £7.58 / Used from: £3.46
Erudite and experimental pop. Taxman, For No One, Here There & Everywhere, Dr Robert - FABulous
Traffic and WeatherTraffic and Weather by Fountains Of Wayne
Buy new: £6.30 / Used from: £5.40
The Stacey's Mum quartet make the best record of their career with this. Sharply observed and melodic powerpop with energy and invention to spare. Highly recommended
Victory for the Comic MuseVictory for the Comic Muse by Divine Comedy
Buy new: £4.43 / Used from: £3.69
Neil Hannon's most consistent set to date - The perfect starting place for DC virgins. The Light Of Day is gorgeous
Together AloneTogether Alone by Crowded House
Buy new: £6.90 / Used from: £0.78
Darker and moodier than Woodface this is Neil Finn's other masterpiece. Distant Sun, Fingers Of Love, Locked Out, Walking on the Spot and Catherine's Wheel. Master craftsmen at work.
Automatic for the PeopleAutomatic for the People by REM
Buy new: £4.55 / Used from: £0.10
REM's most sublime and consistent long player. A thought and intelligent set that briefly made Stipe and co the biggest band in the world. Everybody Hurts, Man On The Moon, Nightswimming and Drive.
Luxury GapLuxury Gap by Heaven 17
Buy new: £5.97 / Used from: £3.19
The smart end of 80's synth pop. Heaven 17 looked like gods and had the songs to match - Temptation, Come Live With Me and the magnificent Let Me Go. Inventive vocal arrangements too.
Oranges and LemonsOranges and Lemons by XTC
Buy new: £4.26 / Used from: £3.79
Partridge, Moulding & Gregory at their most mainstream. Worth it alone for the genius that is Mayor Of Simpleton and Chalkhills And Chidren. Outstanding cover artwork too.
PlayPlay by Squeeze
Buy new: £3.80 / Used from: £6.38
The darkest record in Squeeze's output is also a real 'grower'. Let it under your skin and you'll be playing it for ever. A great lost classic.
BellybuttonBellybutton by Jellyfish
Buy new: £6.98 / Used from: £5.10
The most underated American band of the 90's. They wanted to be the Beatles and ELO - and very nearly were. Beautifully realised songs and harmonies.
Hopes and FearsHopes and Fears by Keane
Buy new: £5.48 / Used from: £0.99
Keane's debut is a graceful blinder. Outstanding songs and arrangements. Gets better with age - and it was pretty good to start with !!!
Twelve Stops and HomeTwelve Stops and Home by The Feeling
Buy new: £1.87 / Used from: £1.90
The Feeling love ELO, Supertramp and Squeeze. If you do then this is a beautifully crafted and clever gem. Fill My Little World was single of 2006 - no question.
Abbey RoadAbbey Road by The Beatles
Buy new: £7.53 / Used from: £5.12
The Beatles swangsong simply gets better with age. Bonkers in places and sublime in others - Something, Come Together, Oh Darling, Here Comes The Sun and the audacious near operatic second side. Fab
JollificationJollification by Lightning Seeds
Buy new: £2.98 / Used from: £0.01
90's mainstream pop with added brains. Lucky You and Feeling Lazy are classics. One of the most underated bands of the decade. Ian Broudie made intelligent, commercial pop music for the masses
Be Yourself TonightBe Yourself Tonight by Eurythmics
Dave and Annie's most consistent and thrilling album as the Eurythmics. Covers rock, pop, synth ballads and gospel. Its Alright (Baby's Coming Back) is genius.
Band On The RunBand On The Run by Paul McCartney
Buy new: £4.49 / Used from: £3.90
Macca's greatest post Beatles release. Jet, Band on the Run, Let Me Roll it - great gutsy performances and the return of the muse. The one indespensible McCartney album