Negotiotiations & Love Songs: 1971-1986, a showcase of Paul Simon's greatest hits, including such standards as "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" & "Slip Slidin' Away". My own faves are "St. Judy's Comet" and the heartwrenching sequence of "Hearts and Bones," "Train in the Distance," and "Rene & Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War."
Graceland, Paul Simon's strongest single album, combining his delicately ironic lyrics & vocals to exotic contributions from African heavyweights as Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Youssou N'dour as well as the very American Los Lobos.
Lean On Me, the best of Bill Withers, with hits like "Lean On Me," "Ain't No Sunshine," and "Lovely Day," as well as such funky gems as "Use Me" and the heart-renching "Grandma's Hands," this is one seriously soulful collection.
The Best of Van Morrison, the collected hits of the Irish songster, including "Moondance," "Brown-Eyed Girl," "Jackie Wilson Said," and (my fave) "Domino".
Kind of Blue, the seminal album by Miles Davis (with Coltraine, Adderly, and Evans).
Medusa, Annie Lennox's 2nd solo effort, this one featuring her brilliant vocal interpretations of other songwriters' works, including "Whiter Shade of Pale" and "Train in Vain" and the hit "No More 'I Love You's'" .
A Decade of Steely Dan, a must-have hits collection from the granddaddies of rock/pop cool.
Brandenberg Concertos 1-6, Johann Sebastian Bach's masterpieces, conducted by Benjamin Britten and Sir Neville Marriner.
Boomtown, an authentically powerful but overlooked rock album from David & David.
Time Out, Dave Brubeck's time-bending jazz masterpiece.
The Best of John Coltraine, Rhino's collection of the tenor god's greatest hits.
Legend the Best of Bob Marley & the Wailers, a must-have for any collection.
The Very Best of Sting & The Police
The Beatles 1962-1966, an early hits collection with lyric sheets.
The Beatles 1967-1970, their later, smarter hits, with complete lyrics.
Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits of Creedence Clearwater Revival, because, after all, what collection is complete without it?
Steve Miller's Greatest Hits 1974-1978, from the psychedelically-influenced "Fly Like An Eagle" to the hippy-tinged "The Joker" to my personal fave "Take the Money and Run", this collection is perhaps my personal number-one album of all time.
The Joshua Tree, U2's most earnest and raw album, despite their early pre-War rough posing.
Achtung Baby, U2 at their smartest, performing at the edge of cynicism.
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