Listography : Top 5 Albums by a Male Solo Artist

Listography time and it's another music themed collection.  I'm don't really buy albums unless they are compilation albums or a 'Best Of...' because I'm a bit mainstream but you do get some amazing hidden gems on album tracks.  Here are my chosen six five (Kate made me boot one of my favourites.  You'll never know which one it was now...)  When you're done, head on over to Kate's blog to see what everyone else has chosen.

Freddie Mercury - Mr Bad Guy

I could listen to this album over and over again.  I have it on vinyl (somewhere) and have it downloaded as mp3 files on my phone.  The personal lyrics ooze out of each song and I'll never forget my daughter dancing along to Living On My Own when it was re-released after Freddie's death.  She was only 2 at the time but had fantastic choices in music.

Eminem - The Real Slim Shady LP

Was this the last ever album to officially be called an "LP"?  Marshall Mathers III is a lyrical genius as far as I'm concerned.  He takes poetry and real life situations and turns them into songs.  It's one form of anger management, I suppose.  His videos are great too.  A slight dig at himself sometimes but always relevant to the song.  Have a watch of Guilty Conscience on YouTube - very clever!

Billy Joel - The Ultimate Collection

Dad introduced me to Billy Joel (along with a few other musical favourites) but he has never felt quite my era, if that makes sense so to opt for Ultimate Collection as my favouite album of his is a much better choice for me as it includes all his best songs.  And whilst Piano Man is almost as old as I am, it remains my favourite of his.


Prince - Very

Whilst I could never get my head round the fact that he ordered people to wear peach and black to his concerts, that he decided to use a squiggle as his name (I can do that with my own name in my own handwriting without trying) and the matter of him being about 4' 3" there is no denying that he produced some of the best songs ever written in the 1980s.  Another compilation album that gathers together some of his finest music - especially as he's so up his own arse that he's banned the use of his own music on YouTube unless someone has snuck it on there or named it differently.

Michael Jackson  - Thriller

Michael Jackson - Bad

How do you choose between Thriller and Bad?  Thriller represents the music that was very prevalent at start of my high school years and Bad was very much the music that ended my high school years.  




I know they are corny classics and I'm a bit predictable but you can't change those first impressions and I believe that the music from your teenage years stays with you for a long time if affects you in the right way.