Top 200 Rock Albums - My Ass!

Not sure which word best describes the recent list of the Definitive 200 rock albums that was developed by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) and put out by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Words that immediately spring to my mind after looking at the list include - abomination, absurd, ridiculous, insane - but maybe the phrase "are you f*cking kidding me?" expresses the sentiment best.

I won't take the time to deconstruct the entire list but just to show you how ridiculous the list is - I will quickly list 20 albums they include that I say don't belong on a rock and roll list and 20 albums these "experts" somehow overlooked.

Just some of the albums that don't belong on a rock and roll list (in no particular order):

- Luther Vandross - Never Too Much
- Andrea Bocelli - Andrea
- Willie Nelson - Stardust
- Anita Baker - Rythm of Love
- Barbara Streisand - A Star is Born
- Anita Baker - Rapture
- Sade – Diamond Life
- Original Cast – Phantom of the Opera Highlights
- Avril Lavigne - Let Go
- George Michael - Faith
- Toni Braxton - Toni Braxton
- Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger (I like Willie but this ain't the top country albums and he gets 2 while Creedence is shut out?)
- Soundtrack - Footloose
- Natalie Cole - Unforgettable with Love Natalie Cole (her dad doesn't make the list but she does?)
- ENYA – Day Without Rain
- Soundtrack - O Brother Where Art Thou?
- Christina Aguilera – Christina Aguilera (whoo-er)
- Soundtrack – Top Gun
- Kenny G – Breathless (Kenny freakin' G?)
- Soundtrack – Titanic (Celine Dion was not a bigger influence on Rock and Roll than Joey Ramone)

Here are 20 ablums that should have made the list (in no particular order)

- Bob Seger - Against the Wind
- Bob Seger - Live Bullet
- Bob Seger - Nine tonight
- Bruce Springsteen - Greetings from Asbury Park
- Bruce Springsteen - The River
- Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town
- The Who - Tommy
- Soundtrack - Tommy
- Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo's Factory
- The Band - The Band
- Elvis Costello - This Year's Model
- Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True
- Dire Straits - Dire Straits
- Dire Straits - Making Movies
- The Ramones - The Ramones
- The Clash - The Clash
- The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
- Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
- The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
- Peter Gabriel - So

I could go on and on. For instance - I think Peter Frampton's Frampton Comes Alive is still the biggest selling live album of all-time yet that did not make the list. My guess is these folks had a bunch of CD's in overstock and they thought if they put them on the Top 200 list that they could sell some extra copies. Having the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame go along with this scam is disgusting though. It's like Topps Trading cards getting the Baseball Hall of Fame name Mike Greenwell one of the top 200 players of the 20th century just because they were overstocked in his card.