Sean G. From Fairfield

1. Bob Marley: Songs of Freedom – An unbelievable collection of Bob’s best. Very few are missing from this collection.
2. Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions: Anthology – Curtis Mayfield was an unbelievably talented musician and songwriter. “Move On Up” is possibly the greatest song ever.
3. B.B. King: Got the Blues – This CD was released on a UK label called Catfish Records in 2001 or 2002. It’s a compilation of some of King’s best material, in my opinion. I found this one at the library one day and made sure to add it to my collection. 20 tracks deep and every one of them great. This being an import, it’s likely that it will not be found at your local Best Buy. I love playing it for people though.
4. Muddy Waters: The Anthology – The Blues master.
5. Little Brother: The Minstrel Show – Bringing the soul back to hip hop, LB’s sophomore effort is an undeniable classic. The title refers to the control that record labels have over hip hop artists, forcing them to conform to the image that the execs feel is marketable if they want to be heard.
6. Billie Holiday: Lady in Autumn – There is no one like her. Passion, pain, and soul.
7. Jay-Z: Reasonable Doubt – If pressed, I’d probably say that this is my favorite hip hop CD. Jay’s flow has developed to monumental proportions since his debut, but this album can hold up to the best of anyone’s catalog. I never get tired of it.
8. 2Pac: Me Against the World – Definitely the best from Tupac. This album shows every side of the man more than any other.
9. The Beatles: The White Album – I’m actually a little embarrassed to say how and why I first came across this and gave it a chance. Some true Beatles fans probably wouldn’t appreciate it. But, hey I finally listened and now it’s on this list. That’s all that matters, right? It’s all thanks to DangerMouse, who before being well known as one half of Gnarls Barkley, broke out in the US with his blend of this album with the acapella version of Jay-Z’s masterpiece The Black Album (not on this list because I could only pick 10). This effort, called The Grey Album, forced me to take note of the musical genius that is The Beatles.
10. Isley Brothers: It’s Your Thing Box Set – Everyone’s gotta have the Isley’s in their life.

Andrea M. from Massachusets

1. U2 - "Rattle & Hum"
2. The Police - "The Police"
3. Paul Simon - "Graceland"
4. Eva Cassidy - "Songbird"
5. Indigo Girls - "Rites Of Passage"
6. Aretha Franklin - "Respect & Other Hits"
7. Broadway cast - "March Of The Falsettos"
8. Shawn Colvin - "Fat City"
9. Dar Williams - "The Green World"
10. David Wilcox - "Big Horizon"

Love Eva Cassidy. I have “Songbird” (and 3 others). “The Police”…. Classic!! - Grapple00

From Jerry T. From Somewhere in space and Time

1. Miles Davis "Kind Of Blue"
2. Pink Floyd "Dark Side Of The Moon"
3. Steely Dan "Aja"
4. Grateful Dead "Europe '72"
5. Grover Washington Jr. "Paradise"
6. Beatles "1967-1970"
7. Willie Dixon "I Am The Blues"
8. Stevie Ray Vaughan "Couldn't Stand The Weather"
9. Soundtrack to "Fantasia"
10. Jimi Hendrix "Are You Experienced?"

Nice variety! Absolutely LOVE SRV!! Another on gone too soon. But I have to admit... I just don't understand The Grateful Dead.... - Grapple00

Chiquetta J. - From Ohio

1. Vivaldi - The Four Seasons
2. Marion Meadows "For Lovers Only"
3. Louis Armstrong "Jazz 'Round Midnight"
4. various "Atlantic Jazz Legends, Vol. 1"
5. UB40 "Promises and Lies"
6. Al Green "I'm still in Love With You"
7. Born Jamericans "Kids from Foreign"
8. Beres Hammond "In Control"
9. Patra "Queen of the Jack"
10. Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington "Armstrong/Ellington"

Thanks Ms. J from Ohio. Nice variety there!! Vivaldi, Patra and Satchmo?!? Impressive. - Grapple00

My Personal top 10 (In no particular Order)

1. Richard Pryor "...And It's Deep Too: The Complete Warner Recordings (1968-1992)" - If I'm going to be on this island, then dammit, I HAVE to laugh...
   
2. Cassandra Wilson - "New Moon Daughter" - Blue Note, 1995 - Simply the best recording of one of the best artists around. Her cover of "Strange Fruit" alone is almost worth putting this project on the list, but the whole thing is magical.
3. "The Tom Joyner Morning Show Old School Mix, Vol.1" - Cause I gots to have my funk.
4. Tito Puente - "Fifty Years Of Swing" - RMM, 1997 - El Rey with his band and a who's who of latin music.
5. Kurt Elling - "Man In The Air" - Blue Note, 2003 - Again, the best recording of one of the best artists around. (Nightmoves was a close second). Just an incredible project, most especially Resolution which is the second section of John Coltrane's suite "A Love Supreme".
6. Jimi Hendrix - "Are You Experienced?" - All the hits: Hey Joe, Foxy Lady, Purple Haze... Damn.
7. Dave Brubeck "Vocal Encounters" - Columbia Records, 2001 - An anthology of Dave Brubeck accompanying a wide variety of singers From Carmen McRae and Louis Armstrong to Lambert Hendricks and Ross. Wow!
8. Betty Carter - "The Audience With Betty Carter" - Verve 1980 - If you need a definition of bebop singing, listen to this. Period.
9. Jean-Luc Ponty - "Cosmic Messenger" Atlantic 1978 - During his spacey, fusion heyday... Amazing. Artful. Complete. The best from that period...and that is saying something.
10. Elvis Costello & The Brodsky Quartet - "The Juliet Letters" - Warner Bros. 1993 - Elvis C's haunting voice and singing style combines with the Brodsky Quartet's masterful playing resulting in a gem. In my opinion, this is the future of modern classical music.