The Western Music Canon

Add to my lists | Print this list

Here’s a wacky idea: let’s try to create a definitive list of the best ‘western’ music from whenever you think it started to the present. I would suggest that people put on things they think are highlights of a particular type of music or genre (not necessarily just your favourite, ok): symphonies, operas, songs, albums, whatever. Hopefully, enough of us are snobs that we’ll delete all the flavour of month items placed on here by silly people. Just because you really like that new song or album by whomever, doesn’t mean it belongs on this list. I will start, with my only very personal suggestions. They are in no way definitive, and I must say that I lack knowledge of most kinds of "high art" music. I hope this works, but if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.

Pages: 1 2 4 6

  1. 151.
    Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy
    by Louis Armstrong and His All-Stars

    Drag me to re-order


  2. 152.
    Bach: The Goldberg Variations

    Drag me to re-order


  3. 153.
    Sarah Vaughan W/ Clifford Brown
    by Sarah Vaughan and Clifford Brown

    Drag me to re-order


  4. 154.
    Songs for Swingin' Lovers!
    by Frank Sinatra

    Drag me to re-order


  5. 155.
    Pithecanthropus Erectus
    by Charles Mingus

    Drag me to re-order


  6. 156.
    Saxophone Colossus
    by Sonny Rollins

    Drag me to re-order


  7. 157.
    Brilliant Corners
    by Thelonious Monk

    Drag me to re-order


  8. 159.
    Blue Train
    by John Coltrane

    Drag me to re-order


  9. 160.
    Mingus Ah Um
    by Charles Mingus

    Drag me to re-order


  10. 161.
    Blues and Roots
    by Charles Mingus

    Drag me to re-order


  11. 162.
    Waltz for Debby
    by Bill Evans

    Drag me to re-order


  12. 163.
    Money Jungle
    by Duke Ellington

    Drag me to re-order


  13. 164.
    Full House
    by Wes Montgomery

    Drag me to re-order


  14. 165.
    Out to Lunch
    by Eric Dolphy

    Drag me to re-order


  15. 166.
    Getz/Gilberto
    by Stan Getz

    Drag me to re-order


  16. 167.
    The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society
    by The Kinks

    Drag me to re-order


  17. 168.
    In a Silent Way
    by Miles Davis

    Drag me to re-order


  18. 169.
    Fun House
    by The Stooges

    Drag me to re-order


  19. 170.
    Sticky Fingers
    by The Rolling Stones

    Drag me to re-order


  20. 171.
    Pink Moon
    by Nick Drake

    Drag me to re-order


  21. 172.
    Innervisions
    by Stevie Wonder

    Drag me to re-order


  22. 173.
    Rock Bottom
    by Robert Wyatt

    Drag me to re-order


  23. 174.
    Ramones
    by The Ramones

    Drag me to re-order


  24. 175.
    Mingus at Antibes
    by Charles Mingus

    Drag me to re-order


  25. 176.
    ?
    Star Wars Original Soundtrack
    by London Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Williams

    Drag me to re-order


  26. 177.
    Steve Reich: Music for 18 Musicians
    by Composer: Steve Reich

    Drag me to re-order


  27. 178.
    This Year's Model
    by Elvis Costello & the Attractions

    Drag me to re-order


  28. 179.
    Unknown Pleasures
    by Joy Division

    Drag me to re-order


  29. 180.
    Remain in Light
    by Talking Heads

    Drag me to re-order


  30. 181.
    Closer
    by Joy Division

    Drag me to re-order


  31. 182.
    J.S.Bach-Goldberg Variations 1981

    Drag me to re-order


  32. 183.
    Violent Femmes
    by Violent Femmes

    Drag me to re-order


  33. 184.
    The Number of the Beast
    by Iron Maiden

    Drag me to re-order


  34. 185.
    Script of the Bridge
    by The Chameleons UK

    Drag me to re-order


  35. 186.
    Tabula Rasa
    by Dennis Russell Davies

    Drag me to re-order


  36. 187.
    Double Nickels on the Dime
    by Minutemen

    Drag me to re-order


  37. 188.
    Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963
    by Sam Cooke

    Drag me to re-order


  38. 189.
    The Queen is Dead
    by The Smiths

    Drag me to re-order


  39. 190.
    Master of Puppets
    by Metallica

    Drag me to re-order


  40. 191.
    Sign 'O' the Times
    by Prince

    Drag me to re-order


  41. 192.
    Paid in Full
    by Eric B. & Rakim

    Drag me to re-order


  42. 193.
    Spirit of Eden
    by Talk Talk

    Drag me to re-order


  43. 194.
    Doolittle
    by Pixies

    Drag me to re-order


  44. 195.
    Disintegration
    by The Cure

    Drag me to re-order


  45. 196.
    Rust In Peace
    by Megadeth

    Drag me to re-order


  46. 197.
    Dream Letter: Live in London 1968
    by Tim Buckley

    Drag me to re-order


  47. 198.
    Laughing Stock
    by Talk Talk

    Drag me to re-order


  48. 199.
    The Great Deceiver (Live 1973-1974)
    by King Crimson

    Drag me to re-order


  49. 200.
    Mecca and the Soul Brother
    by Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth

    Drag me to re-order


Pages: 1 2 4 6

This is a community list. You can contribute, edit, or help maintain it by adding it to your lists.
Created by rnhaas on May 27, 2007.
 

Comments