Music 81-63: Like Discs Through the Hourglass, These Are the Albums of My Life

I have to admit as these lists get older it gets harder, partially as some more classic artists I enjoy more on greatest hits packages or live recordings than any single album (I'm looking at James Brown, for instance, but the Buzzcocks, too). Trying to compile this lsit also made me realize how much I'm not into "classic" rock. I mean I want to like Hendrix and Van Morrison, to pick two very different types, and all sorts of other talented people more than I do, but I just don't have the urge to go back and do it when new stuff keeps coming out and getting me interested. So take this with a huge grain of salt. (For the previous lists see 1995-1982 here and 2007-1996 here.)

1981
X Wild Gift
Eno/Byrne My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
Garland Jeffreys Escape Artist
Joy Division Closer
King Crimson Discipline

1980
The Clash London Calling
Gang of Four Entertainment!
Talking Heads Remain in Light
The Clash Black Market Clash
Rockpile Seconds of Pleasure
XTC Black Sea

1979
Graham Parker and the Rumour Squeezing Out Sparks
Neil Young Rust Never Sleeps
Nick Lowe Labour of Lust
The Clash The Clash
XTC Drums and Wires

1978
Steve Reich Music for 18 Musicians
Elvis Costello This Year's Model
Nick Lowe Pure Pop for Now People (Jesus of Cool)
Anthony More Flying Doesn't Help
Wire Pink Flag
Big Star Third

1977
Television Marquee Moon
Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols
Richard Hell and the Voidoids Blank Generation
Talking Heads Talking Heads 77
David Bowie "Heroes"

1976
Brian Eno Another Green World
The Modern Lovers The Modern Lovers
Graham Parker and the Rumour Heat Treatment
The Ramones The Ramones
Graham Parker and the Rumour Howling Wind

1975
Roxy Music Siren
Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks
Bob Dylan and the Band The Basement Tapes
Brian Eno Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
Neil Young Tonight's the Night

1974
Richard and Linda Thompson I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Roxy Music Country Life
Big Star Radio City
Gram Parsons Grievous Angel
John Cale Fear

1973
Mott the Hoople Mott
John Cale Paris 1919
Harder They Come sdtrk
Roxy Music Stranded
Al Green Call Me

1972
Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street
Randy Newman Sail Away
Big Star #1 Record
Mott the Hoople All the Young Dudes
David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

1971
Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers
The Who Who's Next
Miles Davis Jack Johnson
Sly & the Family Stone There's a Riot Goin' On

1970
The Velvet Underground Loaded
Miles Davis Bitches Brew
Fairport Convention Unhalfbricking

1969
The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground
The Band The Band
Rolling Stones Let It Bleed

1968
The Band Music from Big Pink
The Velvet Underground White Light/White Heat
The Beatles The White Album
The Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Dusty Springfield Dusty in Memphis

1967
The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground and Nico
Love Forever Changes
The Who The Who Sell Out

1966
Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde
The Beatles Revolver

1965
Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited
The Who My Generation
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Whipped Cream and Other Delights
Vince Guaraldi A Charlie Brown Christmas

1964
Bob Dylan The Times They Are a-Changin'
John Coltrane A Love Supreme

1963
James Brown Live at the Apollo (I know I wasn't including live albums, but it's the only album from the year I want to mention)