Taken from a variety of live concerts by the doors from August 1969 to June 1970.  Containing some songs not found on any of the studio albums, this two record set, which is the only authorised live LP released during the time the band was together, gives a great feel of what the doors were like live.  Here is Soul Kitchen:

Released in April 1971, L.A. Woman is the final studio album by the doors with Jim Morrison.  He died less that three months after the release.  The original issues of this great album, came with a die cut cover with clear acetate on which the bands photo is printed.  Later editions emulated this cover without the costly die cut.  Early issues with the die cut cover command a premium (sometimes $100+) over later editions, but range greatly with condition. This is definitely one for the collection, if you like the doors at all, you won't be disappointed. Here is The Changeling:

The final doors album in my collection is a double compilation album from 1972.  Other that a couple of B-sides from earlier singles, the songs on this album are all from the previous studio releases.   Except for the absence of anything off L.A. Woman, 13 (the first best of album) is a better compilation album for anyone looking for the "lighter" side of the doors.  Weird Scenes contains much darker, moodier songs, like this one Who Scared You:

Among the most influential and certainly one of the more controversial rock groups of the '60's, their influence has definitely persisted, as has the demand for and love of their music. The doors debut album released at the end of 1966 is their best album when taken as a whole. Not one mediocre song on the entire album.  There are some individual songs from later albums I like better, but the strength of this album as a whole is not surpassed on any of the following releases.  I have two copies of this album, a 1st pressing in stereo on the tan Elekta label and a fourth pressing from 1980, red Elektra label with Warner Comm logo.  This is an amazing version of Willie Dixons Back Door Man, so much emotion; followed by the haunting and psychedelic End Of The Night:

Strange Days was released in September 1967 and went to #3 on the charts, while their debut was still sitting in the top 10.  Again, I have two copies of this album.  One is a 1st pressing mono copy, which is rather rare, as stereo was more popular at this time, less mono records were being produced.  Book value on the mono copy in near mint condition (which this is not) is about $600.  The other record is the first issue stereo.  My picks from this album are Moonlight Drive, (from mono recording) followed by People Are Strange (stereo):

Third studio release from The Doors,  Waiting For The Sun, became their only #1 album, probably on the back of the previous two strong records.  It also produced a number one single with the catchy Hello, I Love You.  This is not a record of the doors that I choose to play often; I feel it is a little weak lyrically, and some of the songs are boring. So if you are looking for some doors for you collection don't start here; this is really an album to purchase to complete the "doors" collection.  That being said, if you come across this in mono grab it!  It is worth more that Strange Days in mono. 

Here in the style of a chain gang song is My Wild Love followed by the Five To One:

This is a strange mix of music, experimenting with orchestrations on some songs like Touch Me, and spoken work in the beginning of the Title Track suite. As with Waiting For the Sun, not a particularly strong album, in fact is has some of their worst songs (Tell all the people & Do It), and it is not very coherent as an album.  Unlike most songs on this album, Shaman's Blues at least sounds like the doors:

After two rather disappointing albums, Morrison Hotel starts off with one of my favourite Doors songs Roadhouse Blues.  That song alone makes this album worth getting.  Add to that the funky Peace Frog, Ship of Fools, and bluesy The Spy... you got a pretty good album. Redeemed!

Here is the spy:

A compilation of hits during his time with Imperial Records, Fats Domino Sings Million Record Hits was released in 1960 as a mono LP. This copy from 1964 is a "rechanneled" or "faked stereo" copy.
Here is I'm Ready:

Southern California Blues/Rock band The Doobie Brothers, broke onto the music scene with their second studio album Toulouse Street released in 1972.  After the poor reception or their debut album, their fortunes turned with this album making it to #21 on the pop charts.  With a style between Allman Brothers and the Eagles, their music is both diverse and engaging as shown here in Rockin' down the Highway:

Perhaps the most popular album during their early career, The Captain and Me, from 1973, produced two of their biggest hits with China Grove and Long Train Runnin'  but my pick from this great album is Dark Eyed Cajun Woman:

what were once vices are now habits was the first Doobie Brothers album that I bought, and it is still my favourite; plus I think it has a great title!  Producing their first #1 hit with Black Water, this album has many great songs and a good variety of styles too.
Here is rather short but hard hitting Pursuit on 53rd Street:

Released in 1977, this is a greatest hits album of songs by Dion and the Belmonts, a vocal group from the Bronx in the late '50s and early 60's, with some hits by Dion on his own after he left the group in '61.
Here is I Wonder Why, followed by one of their biggest hits A Teenager in Love:

Starting off with a bang, Dire Straits, named for their financial condition at the time of recording this album, released there eponymous debut in late '78 to critical acclaim, thus quickly transforming their "dire straits". This is a great album, and the favourite in my collection.  My pick from this album is Six Blade Knife:

Following their debut with another release less that a year later came Communique'.  Considered not as strong an album as their first, perhaps due to the lack of  "hit" songs, but I feel this is still a very good album and certainly one for the collection.  Here is Portobelle Belle:

Jumping ahead a few records, and a number of years, we come to Brothers in Arms from 1985, which became one of the world's best selling albums at over 30 million copies sold!  This was the first album to sell 1 million copies in CD format, and to outsell the LP format. So you probably have this in your collection like everyone else, but here it is again.  First pressings of this album credit only Mark Knopfler with Money For Nothing; while later pressings correctly credit Mark Knopfler and Sting.  Here is the title track:

The final Dire Straits album in my collection is their first compellation album, Money For Nothing, with songs from their 5 studio albums and one live album to date. Released in 1988 on Vertigo.  

If I didn't already know of Rick Derringer from Edgar & Johnny Winter albums I have, I likely would not have bought this album.  The cover is so bad it gave me a very negative first impression.  It is actually a fairly good classic rock album and contains his big hit Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo first recorded on Johnny Winter and (1970).  All American Boy is Derringers debut solo album and was released in October of  '73.  My pick from this album is Uncomplicated:

Shilo is a compilation album of Neil Diamonds best songs recorded during his time with Bang Records.  Released in 1970, it became his best selling album with that label.  Here is his song, I'm a Believer, which is probably more familiar as a hit by the Monkees in '67 or more recently the version by Smash Mouth off the Shrek soundtrack.

Perhaps one of the earlier recordings of what today we would call world music, Tap Root Manuscript was a very experimental record for its day, with a side long suite The African Trilogy. From that suite here is
I Am The Lion:

Originally released in 1972 by Fiesta Records in France, Atlantic licenced this album for release on it's own label in '73.  The title track Soul Makossa (meaning dance) went to 35 on the top 100 that year.
The song was so popular that at one point in '73 there were 9 different versions of the song on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at the same time!  Manu Dibango is a saxophone & vibraphone player originally from Cameroon, and plays a blend of  jazz, funk and traditional African music.  "When we talk together with my musicians we call our music Afro-something. I am told that in the United States our music is now called Black Ivory Soul" (M. Dibango, album cover '72) .  Here is that famous song some say may be the first Disco album:

With such an iconic cover, I'm sure I don't even need a title here!  After touring with Delaney and Bonnie, along with three other "friends" from that tour, (Bobby Whitlock, Jim Gordon & Carl Radle) Eric Clapton put together the short lived Derek & The Dominos and along with Duane Allman on slide guitar, produced their one and only studio album.  Initially release in 1970 "LAYLA" and other assorted love songs, was poorly received, but by 1972 "Layla", which was also released as a single, had become such a huge hit that the LP sales took off.  A very emotionally raw and personal album for Clapton. This music, written and recorded at a time of turmoil for Clapton because of his love for Patti Boyd (wife of close friend George Harrisons) as well as excessive use of heroin and alcohol, comes through as his most impassioned. Layla, was chosen by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of their "500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll".  Following Layla is their tribute to Jimi Hendrix with his song Little Wing. Hendrix died shortly after they recorded this song.  Lastly is their cover of the blues standard by Jimmy Cox, Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out, featuring the awesome combination of Claptons Fender and Duane Allmans Gibson Les Paul guitars.

 The debut EP,Talk's Cheap, from London Ontario's punk/new wave band the Demics,  on Toronto's Ready Records, was released in early 1979.  They produced this EP as well as one full length album, & I think a couple of singles.  A some what collectible EP, due to the rarity, probably worth around $40-$50 in great condition. The band, although short lived ('78-'81) had a fairly big hit with New York City. Following that is the edgier title track:

Considered the father of "Exotica", Martin Denny produced many albums of exotic sounds built around instruments he collected travelling the world.  On this album Afro-Desia from 1959, Denny's interpretation of the sounds of Africa is perhaps a little comical from today's perspective, but he was not trying to produce "authentic" sounds, just in his words, "lounge music".  Given that the backing vocals are by the same people who did music for the Flintstones & Jetsons cartoons, the comic sound is rather justified.  For a taste of this style here is Simba:

Their last album of the 80's, Music for the Masses, by British Synth-Pop/Electronic Rock band Depeche Mode is certainly among the top albums of that decade, and helped launch the band to the forefront of the electronic rock music scene. Despite the tongue in cheek name, this is not music for the masses, but if you like OMD, The The or Cabaret Voltaire, you will certainly like this.  I suppose if you like those bands you probably already have some Depeche Mode!  My pick from this album is the dark and moody Little 15:

The debut album by folk/soul duo Delaney & Bonnie, Home, was released in mid 1969 on Stax records.  This was their only release on the Stax label, and with competition from 26 other albums released by Stax that year, was not overly successful.  Soon becoming know as Delaney & Bonnie  & Friends, they played with "Friends" like Gregg and Duane Allman, George Harrison, Leon Russell, Eric Clapton, Gram Parsons and others.  Here is A Right Now Love followed by
Piece of my Heart:

Their first studio album with their new label Atco, was released in September of 1970. More of a blues/rock album that soul, this album was recorded with a huge list of guest start like Duane Allman, Jim Gordon & Bobby Whitlock (Derek & the Dominos), Mike Utley (Jimmy Buffet, coral reefer band), Little Richard, Sneaky Pete Kleinow (Flying Burrito Bros.) and others!  Although not the best condition, this soulful track The Love of my Man shows Bonnies' vocal strength, in league with Janis Joplin. Following that song is Soul Shake:

Making the Guinness Book of World Records in 1975 as the worlds loudest band, Deep Purple, was at the fore front of the Heavy Metal/Hard Rock music wave from the early 70's.  Fireball is their 5th studio album, released in 1971, and certainly one for the collection!
Here is Strange Kind of Woman:

Following Fireball, with perhaps their best album; Machine Head was certainly their most commercially successful, going double platinum in the US!  Of course everyone knows Smoke on the Water, the source of my favourite misheard lyrics "slow moving Walter, fire engine guy"; but this album has much more than that for your hard rockers! Give a listen to Highway Star:

If you are a fan of this band at all, then this is an essential album for your collection.  Deep Purple resisted releasing a live album, feeling that they could never replicate on vinyl the power of their live performance.  But in order to compete with the flood of bootlegs being produce, Made in Japan was recorded over a three night period at live concerts in, you guessed it! Japan.  This album comes as close as you could to being there.  This was the era of long live songs, as recorded here with Space Truckin' at just over 20 minutes!  This was the first album I bought.  Not the first in my collection, I was given some as gifts before this, but this is the first I saved for and bought myself.  Considering my first stereo was not all that great, this is still in fairly good condition; and I played it a lot then! I won't subject you to the 20 minute version of Space Truckin', but here is Lazy at half that:

I have 6 albums by Balladeer and Soft Rock artist Chris de Burgh in my collection.  His first three albums, Far Beyond These Castle Walls, from 1974, followed by Spanish Train and Other Stories in '75, and At The End of A Perfect Day released in 1977. Then his sixth studio release, The Getaway from 1982, and Into the Light, his eighth studio album, which contains his most famous hit The Lady in Red, from 1986. And the final album in my collection Flying Colours from 1988.

Although I enjoy Chris de Burgh's music, I can't say that it is high on my list of favourites.  He has a very beautiful and soothing voice and is an interesting story teller, but his music just doesn't grab me the way some does. Following are a few of my more favourite of his songs; From his debut album is Sin City, then Old Friend from Spanish Train..followed by a rather more popular tune Don't Pay The Ferryman, from The Getaway:

Booked for what was to be a weekend gig, Joey Dee and His Starliters, were such a hit at the Peppermint lounge that they became the house band!  The Peppermint Twist was written at a a tribute to the lounge and ended up becoming a # 1 hit and million seller.  From 1962 here is that famous song followed by Fanny Mae: