The best thing to come out of the last countdown for me was A Tribe Called Quest. A group that I was previously unfamiliar with that I quickly grew to love. This album fuses Jazz, Funk, Soul and R&B, alongside witty, socially conscious lyrics.

“Thought that I could organise freedom/How Scandinavian of me,” Björk sings on the utterly brilliant opening track and third single, ‘Hunter.’ That sets the tone for the record, a record that heralds a shift in sound for the Icelandic singer. The album marries the sounds of electronic beats, with Icelandic music, bringing in elements of Classical and Baroque.

Nick Drake is the artist that many singer-songwriters credit as a major inspiration. I was introduced to his music by one such singer-songwriter. This album was the third and final record to be released by Drake. The album simply features Drake on acoustic guitar and vocals with a brief tickle of the ivories on track one. Drake’s fingerpicking guitar style carries the melodies of his vocals and at times you often forget that it’s just one guy and his guitar.

‘Graduation’ is West’s “stadium” album. After touring with U2, West was inspired by Bono; every night he’d see adulating fans singing U2’s songs back to them, which made him want to write anthemic rap songs. He approached this record differently to his first two, drawing inspiration from, other than Bono, Prog Rock, Hard Rock, House Music, Synthpop, Reggae, Dancehall, Krautrock and Dub.

Cat Stevens is an artist whose voice I’ve never really loved. I don’t quite hate it but there’s just something about the timbre of it that puts me off. I guess kinda like how some people inexplicably hate coriander. Voice aside, he really has a knack for melodies and lyrics, and that’s the key to this album. The album features one of the most beautiful songs ever written in ‘Father and Son.’ Originally intended to be part of a musical project about the Russian Revolution, that project faded away when Stevens contracted tuberculosis.

With this album, Bowie attempted to hit the restart button. He had struggled with cocaine addiction and his mental health, so he decided to join best mate, Iggy Pop in France to try and kick his habits. ‘Low’ is the first of the career-defining “Berlin Trilogy” of records (this album was finished off in Berlin).

The album that launched one of the biggest-selling bands of all time, Eagles’ self-titled debut record married the sounds of Folk Rock, Country and straight Rock ‘n Roll to create a new laid back sound that would become synonymous with L.A. The album opens with ‘Take It Easy,’ a song co-written by Glenn Frey and Jackson Browne, the latter would release it the following year as the lead track of his second album.

How does it go from Run-DMC’s ‘Raising Hell,’ to this? Following on from the second instalment of this record at #370, we get a 16-track record of more of the same. Another appearance by Robin Thicke, as well as contributions from JAY-Z, T-Pain, Babyface and Busta Rhymes. It won 3 of its 4 nominations at the Grammys and has been certified 6x Platinum.

While their debut album (#378) was the first Hip Hop record to be certified Gold, this, Run-DMC’s third record, was the first Hip Hop record to be certified Platinum and multi-Platinum. The album was produced by Hip Hop mogul, Russell Simmons, as well as Rick Rubin, which explains why it reminds me so much of early Beastie Boys.

‘The Birth Of Soul’ is a definitive collection including singles and B-Sides released on Atlantic Records between 1952 and 1959. I’m a massive fan of Ray Charles, but one again, a two and a half hour boxset is too much. There’s just so much to pack in, though. As the title suggests, Ray Charles was responsible for the birth of Soul music. Fusing Blues, Jazz, RnB and Gospel, he managed to create a sound so unique and so groundbreaking. It was filled with the essence of life, something so otherworldly, there was nothing else to call it but Soul.

With an album cover as famous as the album itself, the debut album by Joy Division was the one and only record of theirs to be released in vocalist, Ian Curtis’s lifetime. It was produced by Martin Hannett, whose production technique was so unusual and unique that it made this record sound like nothing before or after. He allowed the music space, giving it room to meander around a sonic environment. As it was their first record, the band had no idea and gave him the freedom to do what he wanted. He used digital delay, tape bounce, sounds of bottles smashing, backwards guitar, munching of crisps and even a Leslie speaker whirring inside the studio lift.

Nina Simone’s sixth studio album was compiled from songs that were left over from other sessions. What. How were these songs leftovers? The album starts with the sexy RnB song, ‘I Love Your Lovin’ Ways.’ It set the tone, or so I thought. Song 2 stopped me in my tracks. Seriously. ‘Four Women,’ is, as the title suggests, about four African American women, four different stereotypical African American women.

Its long title is derived from a poem written by Apple. Following the delays of ‘Extraordinary Machine’ (#444), Apple recorded this album in secret sometime between 2008 and 2011. Apple originally wanted to release the album in 2011, but held off until her label, Epic, had appointed a new President, as she didn’t want her record to get lost in amongst the disarray. When it came time to showcase the record, she couldn’t remember how to play any of the songs as they’d been done for months, some even for years.

Strictly speaking, the second solo record by Tom Petty, although, his backing band is, in fact, The Heartbreakers. Petty decided not to credit it as a Heartbreakers record, as he wanted the freedom to work outside the confines of the band’s sound. The album was produced by Rick Rubin, who managed to give Perry’s vocals less of a “Dylan but in tune” quality, and more of a Californian George Harrison type sound. To be honest, his vocals on this record are amongst my favourite vocal performances on record by him.

Arguably the greatest record by the greatest jam band of all time; if not the most, the definitely one of the most prolific touring bands in history. Grateful Dead’s 5th album is a music of Southern Rock, Country, Bluegrass and Folk.

This record is a textbook indie folk record. Definitely a record ahead of its time, though. If you told me that this record was from the early 2000s, I’d believe you. His voice is understated, not the centrepiece of the music. The guitar melodies are front and centre and his voice is a supporting character.

Justice for this record. Last time around, ‘Definitely Maybe’ was a glaring omission. How was the UK’s fastest selling debut album, a landmark album not included? Glad to see it here. ‘Definitely Maybe’ was the album that launched the mighty Oasis. This album sparked a major revival in British music internationally. Infamous Gallagher Brothers, Bonehead, Guigsy and one-time drummer, Tony McCarroll created a record worthy of The Beatles, a band the brothers idolised, and whose music is referenced throughout this, and subsequent records.

TLC’s second album was a breakthrough; commercially and creatively. It was an album that rose to such heights that it cemented TLC as the best-selling American Girl Group of all time. It was a major shift in sound from their debut, amongst other things, owing to Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes’s dimished role on the recording due to forced stay in a rehab facility due to alcoholism and an arson charge (she had set fire to her boyfriend’s shoes, which spread to their mansion destroying it).

This record is Wu-Tang Clan member, Raekwon’s debut solo record and is considered one of the greatest Hip Hop records of all time, inspiring artists such as Jay-Z and Notorious B.I.G. A concept record or sorts, the album loosely runs like a film, with Raekwon as our hero, Ghostface as the guest star and RZA as the director.

The second studio album by Crosby, Stills and Nash, now with added Young. The album was recorded around the same time as their iconic Woodstock performance, a moment that was highlighted in the Jon Mitchell-penned track, ‘Woodstock.’ The recording was a tumultuous time for the band members.