ShutterstockWith Black Friday quickly approaching and vinyl sales reaching record numbers, it only makes sense to give you a little insight as to which records you should include in your collection. I began collecting records about 12 years ago after receiving my first record player, I was hooked instantly. Digging through crates at used record stores was my weekend routine and it hasn’t changed much since.This list was something I created after looking through my own collection to find the ones I thought were necessary for everyone to have in their own collections in no specific order.Prince – Purple RainRelease year: 1984This is one of those records that should probably come standard with every record player purchase. Purple Rain is the soundtrack to the movie of the same name and is one of Prince’s best albums. The 1984 album includes such hits as “Let’s Go Crazy,” “When Doves Cry,” and of course the almost nine minute album closer “Purple Rain.” Even if you don’t think you’re a Prince fan (not sure how that’s possible), you will love this album and it will get so many spins on your turntable. Bob Dylan – Highway 61 RevisitedRelease year:1965‘s sixth album is one of those albums that will really define your personal collection. A lot of people will tell you Blonde On Blonde is more of a necessity to have in your collection but I personally enjoy Highway 61 more.
I like Music On Vinyl a lot, the quality of their vinyl is excellent and for recordings made during the digital era you can't go wrong, on the other hand for releases like the Jimi Hendrix albums that were originally all analogue you are best off buying from Sony Legacy for example. Shop for Christian Music on CD, MP3, and vinyl, with the latest new releases and future favorites, plus bargains, bestsellers and more. Browse our huge selection of Worship, Gospel, contemporary Christian, kids' and Classical music, plus find this year's award winners, featured artists, and WOW collections.
I also don’t think it matters which Dylan album you have in your collection, as long as you have at least one. With tracks like “Ballad Of A Thin Man,” “Like A Rolling Stone,” and the 11-minute “Desolation Row” Highway 61 is a must have for any vinyl fan. Radiohead – In RainbowsRelease year: 2007Radiohead’s seventh studio album wasn’t released on vinyl initially. The self-released pay-what-you-want album was first debuted on the band’s website in October of 2007, followed by a physical release in late December of that same year. Of course, suggesting any Radiohead album to listen to will bring out the worst in some diehard fans but I think In Rainbows is as essential an album as OK Computer or Kid A. The album itself is full of warm poppy melodies that sound amazing on any turntable whether you’re eating breakfast on a Sunday morning or just hanging out with friends, you’ll want to have this in your collection.Fleetwood Mac – RumoursRelease year: 1977Another one that should basically come with every turntable purchase, and if you can’t find it at your local record shop for whatever reason, your parents will absolutely have a copy they can give you. The group’s 1977 album is just hit after hit after hit.
I mean it’s got songs like “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” and “Don’t Stop.” If there were Now That’s What I Call Music albums back in 1977 it would more than likely contain at least five songs from from Rumours. This was Fleetwood Mac’s eleventh studio album and it still holds up almost four decades later.Beck – Morning PhaseRelease year: 2014Perhaps Kanye may disagree with me on this one, but Beck’s Grammy Award winning album, Morning Phase, has become one of my favorite vinyl albums to listen to. As corny as it sounds, Morning Phase is actually a perfect album. The 40 second opening track, “Cycle,” offers a crescendo of strings that bring you into one of the most beautiful albums to come out in the last decade. Known for his more experimental and weirder side, Morning Phase shows off Beck’s acoustic side much like his classic 2002 album Sea Change.
The album’s production is absolutely stunning and will sound incredible even if you have a budget set up.Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted FantasyRelease year: 2010It seemed appropriate to bring up a great Kanye album after including Beck’s album. This is another selection that may get diehard Kanye fans upset, but Kanye’s fifth studio album is the one to own on vinyl. The record is the epitome of a modern day masterpiece that should be heard on the finest medium possible. The songs include some of the best production for a hip-hop album, some of the best features, and the packaging for the vinyl is so intricate only a perfectionist like Kanye could create it. The layering on tracks like “Runaway,” “Gorgeous,” and “So Appalled” makes you wonder if Kanye created this album specifically to be heard on vinyl. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is absolutely one of the albums you need to have in your collection.
For the production and samples alone, this is a perfect vinyl album to own even if you’re not a big Kanye fan.Jeff Buckley – GraceRelease year: 1994Jeff Buckley was a singer-songwriter with voice of an angel who we lost too early, and it should be a crime if you don’t want to put a needle to wax to hear his angelic voice. Michael Jackson – ThrillerRelease year: 1982This album is the perfect example of what proper sound mixing should be. MJ’s Thriller is one of those albums that is loved by everyone worldwide, and I mean of course it is, it’s so great. The Quincy Jones produced album is the perfect example of how music should sound, Jones was a perfectionist who knew exactly what sound he wanted and this album exemplifies his vision. Thriller came out in 1982, so the sounds you’re hearing are what the musicians played, there wasn’t ProTools for recording and it was all done through an analog system. Not only does it sound great, it also has some killer features from Paul McCartney and an insane solo from Eddie Van Halen.Sturgill Simpson – Metamodern Sounds In Country MusicRelease year: 2014Metamodern Sounds In Country Music is the album that made Sturgill Simpson on the map. This is one of the newer albums I’d suggest adding to your record collection as it came out in 2014, and it’s a country album so not really a genre everyone enjoys, or so they think.
After listening to Metamodern Sounds I started seeking out different country albums and found myself listening to more Willie Nelson, Margo Price, Loretta Lynn, and Hank Williams than I’d ever expected I would before. These songs aren’t just great, they’ll open your eyes to a whole new genre you may not have been familiar with before.Elliott Smith – Either/OrRelease year: 1997The perfect album to throw on during a rainy day, a breakup, a death in the family, the end of The Office, or anything sad really.
Of all the Elliott Smith albums I’ve listened to Either/Or is the one I keep coming back to, and once I got the original Kill Rock Stars album on vinyl, I’ve been going back to it more and more. The lo-fi sounds and heartbreak Elliott creates on this album will cut to the core of anyone no matter how strong they think they are.Weezer – Weezer (The Blue Album)Release year: 1994If you’re going to start or add to your record collection, make sure you have some Weezer and make sure you start with The Blue Album. This is the album that gave the world “Buddy Holly,” “Surf Wax America,” “Say It Ain’t So,” and of course “My Name Is Jonas.” The group’s 1994 debut catapulted them from a small club band to the biggest band on college campuses within a year. Not only is the songwriting of Rivers Cuomo impressive in itself on the album, but the Ric Ocasek production is spot on for an early 90’s alternative rock band and for your collection.Wilco – Yankee Hotel FoxtrotRelease year: 2002To be fair, this is an album I personally discovered about six years after its 2002 release. It changed my life. Once I heard this record, I was instantly hooked and immediately looked back on all of Wilco’s albums that I had missed.
The album was an introduction to an already great band who, to my knowledge, didn’t even exist. If you have never heard Wilco’s music before, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is a great introductory record to get started with and a great record to include in your collection.Arcade Fire – The SuburbsRelease year: 2010Another, Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs is one of those albums that should be included in any modern record collection.
The 2010 album was recorded in a church in Canada and is a must-listen from start to finish especially with tracks like “Month Of May,” “Ready To Start,” and “We Used To Wait.” Arcade Fire’s singer Win Butler describes the album as a mix of Depeche Mode and Neil Young, and that’s a perfect introduction to the album.Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The SeaRelease year: 1998Another folk-rock album that needs to be in your collection of awesome records. Jeff Mangum and co.’s second album is one of those albums you can put on during a rainy day but not feel too sad about while listening to it, even though it touches on death and some Anne Frank stuff. This record will definitely raise some eyebrows from the people browsing your records, but once you put it on you’ll have a new Neutral Milk Hotel fan.Beach House – Teen DreamRelease year: 2010If dynamics, production, and shoegaze are your thing than you probably already own this album. If you don’t already have it, than you need to go to your nearest record store and grab Teen Dream immediately. I thought this album would only sound good on headphones and boy was I wrong when I bought the vinyl edition.Shop for these albums at your local record store or online outlets like.