Wheeler's Top 15 Albums of All-time

By Eric Wheeler
Entertainment Columnist for the
Northwestern News
November 29, 2007

1. Bob Dylan – Blood on the Tracks
2. The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
3. Miles Davis – Kind of Blue
4. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are you Experienced?
5. Nirvana – Nevermind
6. Michael Jackson – Thriller
7. U2 – The Joshua Tree
8. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV
9. The Rolling Stones – Let it Bleed
10. The Doors – The Doors
11. Bob Marley and the Wailers – Legend
12. Van Morison – Moondance
13. AC/DC – Back in Black
14. Johnny Cash – At Folsom Prison
15. Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine

This is a list made-up of albums that I feel have made an impact on pop-culture. They are also albums that I have a personal interest in and also own myself.
When I compiled this list, I used each artist only once to make it easier to condense down to only 15 (my original goal was 10). Using each artist only once created a problem in itself – to quote my dad: “Some artists, like The Rolling Stones, have never put out a bad album.”
I disagree with this statement as some of The Rolling Stones latter releases were a little “shady” for lack of a better word. However, The Rolling Stones have produced chart-topping, amazing albums time and time again thus making it rather difficult to choose a “best album.”
You may also be asking yourself why the two top performers of all-time in record sales are not on this list. Garth Brooks and Elvis Presley, in my opinion have never really put out an album that is really worth listening to from top to bottom (unless you include The Number One Hits album from Elvis, but I don’t really think compilations should count). They have both released 100’s of singles that make them the true kings in the world of record sales.
To state some of my credibility, just know that I grew up in a very musical family. My dad, Ronnie Jay Wheeler, has two CD’s released and my mother is a really good singer/songwriter herself. Also, I spent about 12 years of my life as a brass performer playing in jazz ensembles, marching and concert groups of all sizes and performance levels.
Whether you agree or disagree with my selections, it is what it is. I know that there are many great releases that I have left off and maybe an honorable mentions follow-up would be nice. If you have suggestions to the list or think that I chose the wrong Beatles album or that Michael Jackson shouldn’t be on here because he’s weird, let me know!