50 Years on the Planet / 50 Years of Music

Last month, I turned 50. In the months leading up to my birthday, I thought that it would be fun to look back over the past 50 years in music, choosing a few albums that I love from each year that I have been alive. The logic behind these choices has nothing to do with the album's ostensible importance or popularity. These are just albums that I really like, right now, as I reach the half century mark. I thought I’d share them. Hopefully, there are a few that you’ve never heard and will grow to love as much as I have.

1974

• Billy Harper, Capra Black https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV1XXVk1wCQ

• Gil Scott-Heron, Winter in America https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2zKdIcOV5s

• Stevie Wonder, Fulfillingness' First Finale https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hYPl3f_npw&t=10s

1975

• Billy Harper, Black Saint https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqDv3QyVME8&t=1s

• Bob Dylan, Blood on the Tracks https://fb.watch/uLEHH0vt6s/

• Dizzy Gillespie and Machito, Afro-Cuban Jazz Moods https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nUagowZwns

• Parliament, Mothership Connection https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5aHD5ruSZ0

• Keith Jarrett, The Köln Concert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd_Kti6jvy8

1976

• Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZditPOzJnM

1977

• Pink Floyd, Animals https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX5x9wzMN4s

• David Bowie, Low https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpL1IokHH5Y

• David Bowie, Heroes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsFPSYAy_7E

• Television, Marquee Moon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LmVeXJHM9s&t=197s

1978

• Brian Eno, Ambient 1: Music for Airports https://youtu.be/LKZ3fGR2SDY

• Wire, Chairs Missing https://youtu.be/AYv3TqwCle4

1979

• Joy Division, Unknown Pleasures https://youtu.be/5BIElTtN6Fs?feature=shared

• The Clash, London Calling https://youtu.be/Ul0uJfhywW8

• Ornette Coleman, Of Human Feelings

1980

• David Bowie, Scary Monsters and Super Creeps https://youtu.be/HyMm4rJemtI

• X, Los Angeles https://youtu.be/sqZ7rUJ0yM8

• Dead Kennedys, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables https://youtu.be/A95yLXVgrn4

1981

• Joan Jett, Bad Reputation https://youtu.be/_uOcx10o6Yg

• Kraftwerk, Computer World https://youtu.be/zZt64_XOflk

• Tom Verlaine, Dreamtime https://youtu.be/fmowrByoKwI

1982

• Siouxsie and The Banshees, A Kiss in the Dreamhouse https://youtu.be/xN-vbUmDHQA

• Prince, 1999 https://youtu.be/v0KpfrJE4zw

1983

• Philip Glass, Koyaanisqatsi https://youtu.be/QI2IlA3ztIo

• Tom Waits, Swordfishtrombones https://youtu.be/9zwjndhFhGk

• The Police, Synchronicity https://youtu.be/tFN5DveQH0o

• Pylon, Chomp https://youtu.be/msI44VWLcQY

1984

• This Mortal Coil, It'll End in Tears https://youtu.be/HFWKJ2FUiAQ

• Prince, Purple Rain https://youtu.be/lElCzhjiPX

• Depeche Mode, Some Great Reward https://youtu.be/o3EAzf5fDpY

1985

• Jesus and Mary Chain, Psychocandy https://youtu.be/b2bzrCCKDwc

• Tom Waits, Rain Dogs https://youtu.be/VhWTDvPLGTE

• R.E.M., Fables of the Reconstruction https://youtu.be/Sm5MjIr9-QY

1986

• Courtney Pine, Journey To The Urge Within https://youtu.be/RJB7_lwkxq4

• The Smiths, The Queen Is Dead https://youtu.be/3r-qDvD3F3c

1987

• Prince, Sign O' the Times https://youtu.be/eWmnc7oapaE?

• Tom Waits, Frank's Wild Years https://youtu.be/0gX6psVPrCw

1988

• Pixies, Surfer Rosa https://youtu.be/xJncHEZ3URs

• Galaxie 500, Today https://youtu.be/FUFWkuMY6xM

• Sonic Youth, Daydream Nation https://youtu.be/Y8QCgo9w9CI

1989

• Miles Davis, Aura https://youtu.be/G-2i3jkYB4A

• Pixies, Doolittle https://youtu.be/XGYbYgLP1Z0

• Nine Inch Nails, Pretty Hate Machine https://youtu.be/ZdFaadxJl4g

• The Cure, Disintegration https://youtu.be/_gq013-k7so

1990

• Sonic Youth, Goo https://youtu.be/AlPrEocc4oE

• Angelo Badalamenti, Soundtrack from Twin Peaks https://youtu.be/nITuHzF4ryk

• Depeche Mode, Violator https://youtu.be/M2VBmHOYpV8

• Cocteau Twins, Heaven or Las Vegas https://youtu.be/6KnYw4EwYGc

• The Sundays, Reading, Writing and Arithmetic https://youtu.be/FHsip5xOenQ

1991

• Nirvana, Nevermind https://youtu.be/hTWKbfoikeg

• My Bloody Valentine, Loveless https://youtu.be/3bwpoM1k50U

• A Tribe Called Quest, The Low End Theory https://youtu.be/cxN4nKk2cfk

1992

• Tori Amos, Little Earthquakes https://youtu.be/9ipCKIxdHTs

• Indigo Girls, Rites of Passage https://youtu.be/dEu38h6Ug58

1993

• Mazzy Star, So Tonight That I Might See https://youtu.be/o4m5jQy5A2U

• Frank Morgan, Listen to the Dawn https://youtu.be/RvQ0vnNw0RM

• Digable Planets, Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) https://youtu.be/cM4kqL13jGM

1994

• Nirvana, MTV Unplugged in New York https://youtu.be/bVjeYbRmkQ4

• Tom Petty, Wildflowers https://youtu.be/m2OFxeg4spU

• Portishead, Dummy https://youtu.be/1v2HuxCIcTQ

• Digable Planets, Blowout Comb https://youtu.be/McAXP8Kzurg

1995

• Cassandra Wilson, New Moon Daughter https://youtu.be/m4n86NTraQg

• Joe Lovano, Quartets: Live at the Village Vanguard https://youtu.be/f6JmphHg6RY

• Cyrus Chestnut, The Dark Before Dawn https://youtu.be/q0oiPQhGyjM

• Pulp, Different Class https://youtu.be/yuTMWgOduFM

1996

• Paco De Lucía, Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, The Guitar Trio https://youtu.be/_qgrmKUUuDs

• James Carter, Conversin’ With The Elders https://youtu.be/E39dwyHJhKc

1997

• Radiohead, OK Computer https://youtu.be/XX4EpkR-Sp4

• Björk, Homogenic https://youtu.be/WxL1rw6cw-E

1998

• Lauryn Hill, *The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill https://youtu.be/cE-bnWqLqxE

• Sonic Youth, A Thousand Leaves https://youtu.be/DcLTVqbiZi0

• Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star https://youtu.be/JW4Tm5wWW34

1999

• Magnetic Fields, 69 Love Songs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHYvUJyYUXE

• Cassandra Wilson, Traveling Miles https://youtu.be/nyZf4xxvkIg

• Tom Waits, Mule Variations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAcTyXdKl9o

2000

• Radiohead, Kid A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUnXxh5U25Y

• Dee Dee Bridgewater, Live at Yoshi's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2Ku8z-Bxcw

• Kenny Barron and Regina Carter, Freefall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI98FUesZT0

2001

• Radiohead, Amnesiac https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcmbLpCXUGk

• Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot https://youtu.be/3RQcPC8KY_g?feature=shared

• Orlando “Cachaíto” Lopez, Cachaíto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT7CEiZKX8Q

2002

• David Bowie, Heathen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvKRGp0syKM

• Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-9mCAA1YYY

2003

• David Bowie, Reality https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I3k9h4KaAg

• Radiohead, Hail to the Thief https://youtu.be/11oAXmVdEyQ?si=iqrwbO0STADuq9L-

2004

• Fred Anderson and Hamid Drake, Back Together Again https://youtu.be/5vp7PgztcZM?si=A81fqePL__KdyGxt

• Alice Coltrane, Translinear Light https://youtu.be/vWqv1CvOkyI?si=S7VH-8Glbyx7KYKW

• Yo-Yo Ma, Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyKkgXeSNkk

2005

• Paul Motian, Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano, I Have the Room Above Her https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j1Vmoea78g

• Heloísa Fernandes, Fruto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6jJOTTI0CA

• Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm1A5RYKjJQ

2006

• Tom Waits, Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmuYa9n4s1s

2007

• Terence Blanchard, _A Tale of God's Will A Requiem for Katrina https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkiguBj1EbE

• Robert Glasper, In My Element https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDBxWQtgypY

2008

• Rudresh Mahanthappa, Kinsmen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVPnDXp_RwU

• Esperanza Spalding, Esperanza https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-rWNAQx1ZE

2009

• Mos Def, The Ecstatic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdeWxYkckxc

• Cecilia Bartoli, Sacrificium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iVaQQp7lsc

• Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It’s Blitz! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auzfTPp4moA

2010

• Arcade Fire, The Suburbs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oI27uSzxNQ

• Joanna Newsom, Have One on Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AHoyVHd0oQ

2011

• Freddie Hubbard, Pinnacle: Live and Unreleased from Keystone Korner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o59JgLWBSm0

2012

• Father John Misty, Fear Fun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLxtvqrmSVo

• Beach House, Bloom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43UhokH9bYg

2013

• David Bowie, The Next Day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWtsV50_-p4

• Chick Corea Trio, Trilogy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXa0F7yWx5I

2014

• Aphex Twin, Syro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LChn8xOVzUQ

• Sonny Rollins, Sonny Rollins: Road Shows, vol. 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DZoD8msjpM

2015

• Kamasi Washington, The Epic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YbPSIXQ4q4

• Beach House, Depression Cherry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO9ozIvXdLM

2016

• David Bowie, Blackstar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-JqH1M4Ya8

• Leonard Cohen, You Want It Darker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU5FPAR7ass

• Esperanza Spalding, Emily's D+Evolution https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joq3teY9f1U

2017

• Father John Misty, Pure Comedy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIsT3dJ60Uk

• Chromatics, Cherry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjQ2jGUNSck

• Nubya Garcia, Nubya's 5ive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzWIJ-5bNAU

• Japanese Breakfast, Soft Sounds from Another Planet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvrbBYz11JY

2018

• Kamasi Washington, Heaven and Earth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrT8FddyqzM

• Azar Lawrence, Elementals https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMEraFxxndM

2019

• Ludovico Einaudi, Seven Days Walking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNRJVVt-T1A

• Flying Lotus, Flamagra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY7KaUkApL4

• Jamael Dean, Black Space Tapes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8owwzAnWlM

2020

• Roy Ayers, Marcos Valle, Azymuth, Doug Carn, Gary Bartz, João Donato, and Brian Jackson, Jazz is Dead 001https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKaz_BEx4OM

• Nduduzo Makhathini, Modes Of Communication: Letters From The Underworlds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWB18fIiwlI

• Nubya Garcia, Source https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi2ni9GDyLk

2021

• Avishai Cohen Trio, Shifting Sands https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VDYTW3TCIs

• Kenny Garrett, Sounds from the Ancestors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3EeELhgAlI

• Makaya McCraven, Deciphering the Message https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT32LyUzrZI

• Benito Gonzalez, Sing to the World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1C542udWCc

2022

• John Zorn, Spinoza https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGdmPD_UkAU

• Lucrecia Dalt, ¡Ay! https://youtu.be/7go4E689iJw?si=VS9-hJ4sti59w6Wm

2023

• Darius Jones, fLuXkit Vancouver i​̶​t​̶​s suite but sacred https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl-Jlbkt9Bk

• Yussef Dayes, Black Classical Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1BuRprwXNc

2024

• Amaro Freitas, Y'Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuFf8KgXr5k&list=PLpiTL-bgx2EX-_6D-3r_bvWej_PeBdmb-&index=2

• The Cure, Songs of a Lost World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aWDlaxvEZo