but gets harder and harder.

Some of us have work to do you know...

I am already in possession of a list from 1966-2007.

1966 - The Beatles - Revolver
1967 - Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced
1968 - Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet
1969 - Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed
1970 - Curtis Mayfield - Curtis
1971 - The Who - Who's Next
1972 - Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
1973 - Terry Reid - The River
1974 - Shuggie Otis - Inspiration Information
1975 - Dion - Born To Be With You
1976 - AC/DC - High Voltage
1977 - Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue
1978 - The Band - The Last Waltz
1979 - The Clash - London Calling
1980 - AC/DC - Back in Black
1981 - Rolling Stones - Tattoo You
1982 - Michael Jackson - Thriller
1983 - R.E.M. - Murmur
1984 - The Smiths - The Smiths
1985 - R.E.M. - Fables of the Reconstruction
1986 - Redskins - Neither Washington Nor Moscow
1987 - Guns n' Roses - Appetite for Destruction
1988 - Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back
1989 - Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
1990 - Janes Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual
1991 - Massive Attack - Blue Lines
1992 - Lemonheads - It's A Shame About Ray
1993 - Paul Weller - Wild Wood
1994 - Beastie Boys - Ill Communication
1995 - Teenage Fanclub - Grand Prix
1996 - Fugees - The Score
1997 - Whiskeytown - Stranger's Almanac
1998 - Beck - Mutations
1999 - Shack - HMS Fable
2000 - Queens Of The Stone Age - Rated 'R'
2001 - Ryan Adams - Gold
2002 - The Streets - Original Pirate Material
2003 - The Jayhawks - Rainy Day Music
2004 - Rufus Wainwright - Want Two
2005 - Ry Cooder - Chavez Ravine
2006 - Jenny Lewis - Rabbit Fur Coat
2007 - Hold Steady - Boys & Girls In America

1958 - High School Confidential - Jerry Lee Lewis
1959 - The Genius of Ray Charles
1960 - Have Guitar Will Travel - Bo Diddley
1961 - King of the Delta Blues Singers - Robert Johnson
1962 - Green Onions - Booker T and the MGs
1963 - Live at The Apollo - James Brown
1964 - Beatles For Sale
1965 - Otis Blue
1966 - Pet Sounds
1967 - Something Else By The Kinks
1968 - Beggars Banquet - The Stones
1969 - Let It Bleed - The Stones
1970 - Funhouse - The Stooges
1971 - A Nod Is As Good As A Wink - The Faces
1972 - Exile on Main Street

and of course I don't know the gentleman in question's partner, so I apologise for any offence caused, but this sounds like someone who buys his wife a nice Black & Decker drill for Christmas: not because she wants one, but because he does.

If it's as easy as you say, David ("Just go to this page on Wikipedia and pick your first album and then just change the date in the URL to go to the next year."), and given that the gentleman in question knows his GLW's musical foibles far better than we do, isn't he better off doing it himself...? I mean how do I know whether she'd prefer Big Black or The Style Council, to pick two names from my iPod at random?

Or is the whole "lady's birthday" construct a red herring?

and it may just fit on 2 cd's is the number one from her birthday each year, it makes for more talking points than getting copies of revolver and and led zep 4.

i got from 1958 - 1980, with ella fitzgerald albums,for a start, and maybe one could find a whole heap of faux ella from then until today

i think the lady, any lady, would lurve that..!

I may have got carried away.

I moved away from wiki and i do like Ella.

Miss Ella's Playhouse
2008
The Ultimate Ella Fitzgerald
2008
My Man
2008
Unique Ella Fitzgerald
2008
Ella Fitzgerald Classics
2008
Volume Three
2008
What A Wonderful Duet
2007
Sign Song Swing
2007
The Very Best Of The Duke Ellington Songbook
2007
The Very Best Of The Gershwin Songbook
2007
Love Letters From Ella - The Never-Before-Heard Recordings
2007
The Very Best Of The Irving Berlin Songbook
2007
The Very Best Of The Harold Arlen Songbook
2007
The Quintessence : New York 1936-1948
2007
Lullabies Of Birdland
2007
Rhino Hi-Five: Ella Fitzgerald
2007
The Very Best Of The Rodgers And Hart Songbook
2007
The Very Best Of The Cole Porter Songbook
2007
Jazz Ballads Vol.2
2007
Early Autumn
2007
Dream A Little Dream
2007
Live At Mister Kelly's
2007
It Ain't What You Do
2007
The Very Best Of The Songbooks: Golden Anniversary Edition
2006
Live From The Cave Supper Club 19 May 1968
2006
The Essence Of Ella Fitzgerald
2006
Ella Fitzgerald
2006
My Heart Belongs To Daddy
2006
I'm The Loneliest Gal In The World
2006
To Go
2006
Ella Fitzgerald
2006
Ella Fitzgerald 1936-1950 - CD D
2006
Ella Fitzgerald 1936-1950 - Cd C
2006
Ella Fitzgerald 1936-1950 - Cd A
2006
Ella Fitzgerald 1936-1950 - Cd B
2006
Ella Fitzgerald Live, Lady Be Good
2006
Great Collection
2006
Songs In A Mellow Mood
2006
Complete Recordings 1935 - 1939 CD3
2006
Complete Recordings 1935 - 1939 CD2
2006
Complete Recordings 1935 - 1939 CD1
2006
Forever Young
2006
1918-1996
2006
Ella Fitzgerald
2006
Golden Legends: Ella Fitzgerald
2005
Smooth Sailing
2005
Ella and her Fellas
2005
Hello Dolly!
2005
The Best Of
2005
Ella & Louis For Lovers
2005
The Legendary Volume 2
2005
One Side Of Me
2005
The Legendary Volume 1
2005
This Is Gold
2005
A Tisket A Tasket
2004
The Jazz Biography Series
2004
El Perico
2004
Timeless Classics
2004
BD Jazz
2004
Latin Dance Party with Alberto Romero
2004
1952
2004
Jazz Voice Masters
2004
Hello Love
2004
Magica Luna
2004
Airmail Special
2004
Celtic Twilight, Vol. 6
2003
Lady Ella
2003
Jukebox Ella: The Complete Verve...Vol. 1
2003
Best Of The Concert Years: Trios & Quartets...
2003
IV: The Movement
2003
At Close Range: Mix CD
2003
Ella Fitzgerald - Golden Collection
2003
1951-1952 Decca Recordings
2003
The Diva Series
2003
Soul Strata
2003
Early Ella: 1935-1940
2003
Legendary Jazz: Ella and Her Fellas for Sentimental Reasons
2003
Jazz Masters
2003
How High the Moon [Jazz Hour]
2003
Love You Madly
2003
1936-1950
2003
20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection...
2003
Ella For Lovers
2003
Cheap Date
2003
Ella Fitzgerald
2003
1951
2002
Oh, Lady Be Good!: Ella Fitzgerald Sings Gershwin...And More
2002
Just Been So Good
2002
Golden Greats
2002
Ella Fitzgerald [Legend]
2002
Jazz Collection: Love and Kisses/That Old Black Magic [#2]
2002
Bacdafucup, Pt. II [Clean]
2002
Exposure, Vol. 1
2002
Break of Dawn
2002
Putumayo Presents: World Lounge
2002
A Fine Romance
2002
Swinging in the Starlight Hour
2002
1950
2002
One and Only
2002
Kooky Tunes [Jay]
2002
Cabaret
2001
Sings The Harold Arlen Songbook
2001
Sings Christmas
2001
Ella Fitzgerald [Platinum Disc 2001]
2001
Voyager Series: Argentinian Favorites
2001
Sophisticated Lady
2001
Ella and Her Fellas [Columbia River]
2001
The Masters: 20 Classic Tracks
2001
1949
2001
Star Power: Ella Fitzgerald
2001
Modifications
2001
Ella Fitzgerald & Friends at Birdland: Summer 1952
2001
Ella Sings, Chick Swings/Back to Back
2001
Two Sides of Ella: Her Early Recordings
2001
Sing, Song, Swing [Rajon]
2001
Cabaret with The Tommy Flanagan Trio
2001
Back to Back
2000
The Very Best of Ella Fitzgerald [Cleopatra]
2000
The Very Best Of
2000
The Enchanting Ella Fitzgerald: Live at Birdland, 1950-1952
2000
First Lady of Song [Golden Stars]
2000
All Yours
2000
Ken Burns JAZZ Collection
2000
Lover Come Back to Me
2000
Ella Fitzgerald - How High The Moon
2000
Ella Fitzgerald - Time Alone Will Teil
2000
Ella Fitzgerald - Take It From The Top
2000
Ella Fitzgerald - Holiday In Harlem
2000
Ella Fitzgerald - All My Life
2000
Ella Fitzgerald - I Got It Bad
2000
Ella Fitzgerald - If Dreams Come True
2000
Ella Fitzgerald - That Was My Heart
2000
Ella Fitzgerald - You Won't Be Satisfied
2000
Ella Fitzgerald - I Had To Live And Learn
2000
In The Groove
2000
Radio Years 1940
1999
Something To Live For
1999
1957-1958
1999
Forever Gold
1999
Sixties Power, Vols.1 & 2
1999
T'aint What You Do It's The Way That You Do It
1999
Millennium Dancehall, Vol. 1
1999
14 Vallenatos Romanticos, Vol. 2
1999
A Wishing Well
1999
Cocktail Hour
1999
The Last Decca Years 1949-1954
1999
Quiet Now: Ella's Moods
1999
First Lady of Song [Prism]
1999
Ella [St. Clair]
1999
Ella Fitzgerald In Budapest, Hungary
1999
I Got A Guy
1999
Beat Noir
1998
Masters [Cleopatra]
1998
Ultimate Divas [Box]
1998
Cote D'Azur Concerts On Verve
1998
Gold Collection [Fine Tune]
1998
Great Ladies of Jazz [Boxsets]
1998
1945-1947
1998
Jazz Round Midnight
1998
Priceless Jazz Collection Vol. 2
1998
Celebrated
1998
Our Love Is Here To Stay:Ella&Louis Sing Gerswhin
1998
Swingsation
1998
Revue Collection
1997
Rock It for Me
1997
Priceless Jazz Collection
1997
Rhythm & Romance [ASV]
1997
Todo Terreno
1997
Colombia: Nuevas Voces
1997
Buenisimas, Vol. 1
1997
The Best Of Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
1997
The Complete Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
1997
That Old Black Magic [32 Jazz]
1997
Pure Ella
1997
Jazz After Dark: Great Songs
1996
Public Solitude
1996
Jazz Ladies [Delta]
1996
The young Ella (1936-1939)
1996
Ella & Friends
1996
Stockholm Concert
1996
The Best Of Ella Fitzgerald
1996
Bluella: Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Blues
1996
Ella
1996
Oh, Lady, Be Good! Best Of The Gershwin Songbook
1996
A Tisket A Tasket
1996
Three Shades of Blues [Relic]
1995
Christmas with Ella Fitzgerald
1995
Notorious
1995
The Jazz Sides: Verve Jazz Masters 46
1995
Sing Me a Swing Song
1995
The Early Years - Part 1 & Part 2
1995
Daydream: The Best Of The Duke Ellington Songbook
1995
Jazz Round Midnight Again
1995
The Best of Ella Fitzgerald [Decca]
1995
That Old Black Magic [Universal]
1995
Hallelujah!
1995
Best Of Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady Of Song
1994
The War Years
1994
The Essential: Great Songs
1994
The Best Of The Songbooks: The Ballads
1994
Verve Jazz Masters 6
1994
Rock of the 80's, Vol. 13
1994
Jazz Com Bossa
1994
Rock of the 80's, Vol. 12
1994
Rock of the 80's, Vol. 8
1994
Round Our Way
1994
Rock of the 80's, Vol. 7
1994
The Best of Ella Fitzgerald [Curb]
1993
Love and Kisses [1993]
1993
Compact Jazz: Ella & Duke
1993
75th Anniversary Collection
1993
The Best Of The Song Books
1993
1950's
1992
Ella Fitzgerald [Laserlight]
1992
Exchange
1992
75th Birthday Celebration
1992
The Early Years Part I: With Chick Webb & His Orchestra
1992
Ella/Things Ain't What They Used To Be...
1991
Ella Sings, Chick Swings
1991
Compact Jazz
1990
Compact Jazz: Ella Fitzgerald
1990
For The Love Of Ella
1990
All That Jazz
1989
Starlit Hour
1989
Ella In Rome: The Birthday Concert
1988
Sings The Irving Berlin Songbook
1986
Easy Living
1986
Nice Work If You Can Get It
1983
The Concert Years
1983
Speak Love
1982
The Best Is Yet To Come
1982
Ella Abraca Jobim
1981
Digital III At Montreux
1979
A Perfect Match
1979
A Classy Pair
1979
Lady Time
1978
Dream Dancing: Ella Fitzgerald & Cole Porter
1978
Montreux '77
1977
Fitzgerald & Pass...Again
1976
Ella & Oscar
1976
At The Montreux Jazz Festival 1975
1975
Ella In London
1974
Fine and Mellow
1974
The Best Of Ella Fitzgerald
1973
Newport Jazz Festival, Live At Carnegie Hall
1973
Take Love Easy
1973
Ella A Nice
1971
Things Ain't What They Used To Be
1971
Sunshine Of Your Love
1970
Masters of Jazz, Vol. 6: Male Vocal Classics
1969
Misty Blue
1967
Masters of Jazz, Vol. 7: Jazz Hit Singles
1967
Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas
1967
Brighten the Corner
1967
First Lady Of Song (Verve)
1966
Ella Fitzgerald Live
1966
Whisper Not
1966
The Stockholm Concert 1966
1966
Ella & Duke At The Cote D'Azur
1966
Ella In Hamburg
1965
Ella At Duke's Place
1965
The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books
1964
The Silver Collection: The Songbooks
1964
Love Songs: Best Of The Verve Songbooks
1964
Sings The Johnny Mercer Songbook
1964
Ella At Juan-Les-Pins
1964
Sings Jerome Kern Song Book
1963
Ella & Basie
1963
These Are The Blues
1963
The Jerome Kern Songbook
1963
Ella Sings Broadway
1962
30 By Ella
1962
Ella Swings Gently With Nelson
1962
Rhythm Is My Business
1962
Ella Swings Brightly With Nelson
1961
Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie
1961
Returns To Berlin
1961
Harold Arlen Songbook Vol. 2
1961
Ultimate Ella Fitzgerald
1961
Harold Arlen Songbook Vol. 1
1961
The Intimate Ella
1960
The Complete Ella In Berlin: Mack The Knife
1960
Wishes You A Swinging Christmas
1960
Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas
1960
Get Happy!
1959
Sings The Gershwin Song Book
1959
Sings Sweet Songs For Swingers
1958
The Irving Berlin Songbook Vol. 1
1958
Ella Swings Lightly
1958
At Newport
1958
The Irving Berlin Songbook Vol. 2
1958
Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book

Something Else - Cannonball Adderley
Kind of Blue - Miles Davis
Giant Steps - John Coltrane
Hi We're The Miracles - The Miracles
R&B From The Marquee - Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated
The Sidewinder - Lee Morgan
The Cat - Jimmy Smith
My Generation - The Who
Revolver - The Be'atles
Axis Bold As Love - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Odessey and Oracle - The Zombies
Jimmy Cliff - Jimmy Cliff
After The Goldrush - Neil Young
Maggot Brain - Funkadelic
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars - Dave Bowie
Quadrophenia - The Who
Rock Bottom - Robert Wyatt
Young Americans - David Bowie
King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown - Augustus Pablo
Pacific Ocean Blue - Dennis Wilson
This Year's Model - Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Specials - The Specials
Searching for the Young Soul Rebels - Dexys Midnight Runners
Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret - Soft Cell
English Settlement - XTC
Snap! - The Jam
(Who's Afraid of) the Art of Noise - Art of Noise
Psychocandy - The Jesus & Mary Chain
Infected - The The
Sisters - Sonic Youth
If I Should Fall From Grace With God - The Pogues
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
Kool Aid - Big Audio Dynamite II
Blue Lines - Massive Attack
Play More Music - Consolidated
Giant Steps - Boo Radleys
The Holy Bible - Manic Street Preechers
Leftism - Leftfield
Fuzzy Logic - Super Furry Animals
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space - Spiritualized
Deserter's Songs - Mercury Rev
The Soft Bulletin - The Flaming Lips

I'm having a little rest now.

Consolidated's Play More Music contains the Yeastie Girl assisted gem You Suck which more than makes up for the unrestrained masculinity having a kickabout up the reccy in the rest of the list.

Failing that, I've the last eight still to compile.

1958 - Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Irving Berlin Songbook
1959 - Charles Mingus Mingus Ah Um
1960 - Odetta Odetta At Carnegie Hall
1961 - Ray Charles The Genius Sings The Blues
1962 - Howlin' Wolf Howlin' Wolf
1963 - Antonio Carlos Jobim The Composer Of Desafinado, Plays
1964 - The Ronettes Presenting The Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica
1965 - The Beatles Rubber Soul
1966 - Bob Dylan Blonde On Blonde
1967 - The Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced?
1968 - Dr John Gris Gris
1969 - Dusty Springfield Dusty In Memphis
1970 - The Meters Look-Ka Py Py
1971 - Marvin Gaye What's Going On
1972 - Randy Newman Sail Away
1973 - Gram Parsons GP
1974 - Little Feat Feats Don't Fail Me Now
1975 - Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti
1976 - Steely Dan The Royal Scam
1977 - Fleetwood Mac Rumours
1978 - Chic C'est Chic
1979 - The Clash London Calling
1980 - Peter Gabriel Peter Gabriel
1981 - The Human League Dare
1982 - Richard & Linda Thompson Shoot Out The Lights
1983 - Tom Waits Swordfishtrombones
1984 - The Smiths Hatful Of Hollow
1985 - The Pogues Rum, Sodomy And The Lash
1986 - Various Artists Le Mystère Des Voix Bulgares
1987 - The Cure Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
1988 - Sonic Youth Daydream Nation
1989 - De La Soul 3 Feet High And Rising
1990 - Jane's Addiction Ritual De Lo Habitual
1991 - Nirvana Nevermind
1992 - K.D. Lang Ingénue
1993 - Ali Farka Toure The Source
1994 - Blur Parklife
1995 - PJ Harvey To Bring You My Love
1996 - Beck Odelay
1997 - Radiohead OK Computer
1998 - Massive Attack Mezzanine
1999 - Built To Spill Keep It Like A Secret
2000 - Lambchop Nixon
2001 - Gillian Welch Time (The Revelator)
2002 - Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man Out Of Season
2003 - Lhasa The Living Road
2004 - Bebel Gilberto Bebel Gilberto
2005 - The Magic Numbers The Magic Numbers
2006 - Tinariwen Aman Iman: Water Is Life
2007 - Various Artists The Very Best Of Éthiopiques

but it was worth it.

Hardest years to choose from: probably 1969, 1971 and 1975

Hardest years to find anything decent: 1987, 1989 and 1990

And although my taste is of course impeccable (hem hem), I have tried to tailor as best I can to my (imagined) audience's likely tastes. So wilful obscurantism is out and the "testosterone-fuelled" is steered clear of (to a certain extent).

Only other discipline I have set myself is no more than one album per artist.

Here we go 2-3-4:

1958 Somethin' Else - Cannonball Adderley
1959 Kind of Blue - Miles Davis
1960 The Sound of Fury - Billy Fury
1961 Judy at Carnegie Hall - Judy Garland
1962 Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall - Tony Bennett
1963 Live at the Apollo - James Brown
1964 A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles
1965 Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan
1966 Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys
1967 Forever Changes - Love
1968 Electric Ladyland - Jimi Hendrix Experience
1969 From Elvis in Memphis - Elvis Presley
1970 Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
1971 Tapestry - Carole King
1972 Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie
1973 Innervisions - Stevie Wonder
1974 Court & Spark - Joni Mitchell
1975 Horses - Patti Smith
1976 Hotel California - The Eagles
1977 Exodus - Bob Marley & the Wailers
1978 Darkness on the Edge of Town - Bruce Springsteen
1979 London Calling - The Clash
1980 Back in Black - AC/DC
1981 Dare - The Human League
1982 The Lexicon of Love - ABC
1983 High Land, Hard Rain - Aztec Camera
1984 Rattlesnakes - Lloyd Cole
1985 Hounds of Love - Kate Bush
1986 The Queen Is Dead - The Smiths
1987 Sign 'o' the Times - Prince
1988 Straight Outta Compton - NWA
1989 The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
1990 Heaven or Las Vegas - Cocteau Twins
1991 Blue Lines - Massive Attack
1992 Loveless - My Bloody Valentine
1993 Very - Pet Shop Boys
1994 Dummy - Portishead
1995 (What's the Story) Morning Glory - Oasis
1996 Odelay - Beck
1997 OK Computer - Radiohead
1998 Painted From Memory - Costello/Bacharach
1999 HMS Fable - Shack
2000 Figure 8 - Elliott Smith
2001 Oh, Inverted World - The Shins
2002 Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots - Flaming Lips
2003 Speakerboxx/The Love Below - Outkast
2004 Funeral - The Arcade Fire
2005 Takk - Sigur Ros
2006 Whatever People Say I am... - Arctic Monkeys
2007 Boys & Girls in America - The Hold Steady
2008 The Seldom Seen Kid - Elbow

Phew! That got a bit difficult!

Overall, not often the 'best' album of the year each year, but I think a pretty varied and balanced selection?

And plenty for the laydeez in there!

the age and gender, and based on some brief market research, I would suggest simply buying 50 copies of Elton John's Greatest Hits - in my experience they never want to listen to anything they haven't already heard. But if you must then ...

1958 - Frank Sinatra - Come Fly With Me
1959 - Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
1960 - Joan Baez - Joan Baez
1961 - Ray Charles & Betty Carter - Ray Charles & Betty Carter
1962 - Roy Orbison - Greatest Hits
1963 - Sam Cooke - Night Beat
1964 - The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night
1965 - Otis Redding - Otis Blue
1966 - The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
1967 - Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man ...
1968 - The Byrds - Sweetheart of The Rodeo
1969 - The Beatles - Abbey Road
1970 - James Taylor - Sweet Baby James
1971 - Marvin Gaye - What's Goin' On
1972 - Al Green - Let's Stay Together
1973 - John Martyn - Solid Air
1974 - Richard & Linda Thompson - I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
1975 - Joni Mitchell - The Hissing of Summer Lawns
1976 - The Eagles - Hotel California
1977 - Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
1978 - Blondie - Parallel Lines
1979 - Mariane Faithfull - Broken English
1980 - Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel III
1981 - The Human League - Dare
1982 - Michael Jackson - Thriller
1983 - The Police - Synchronicity
1984 - Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Rattlesnakes
1985 - Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
1986 - Paul Simon - Graceland
1987 - U2 - The Joshua Tree
1988 - Leonard Cohen - I'm Your Man
1989 - The Blue Nile - Hats
1990 - Everything But The Girl - The Language of Life
1991 - Massive Attack - Blue Lines
1992 - Eric Clapton - Uplugged
1993 - Aimee Mann - Whatever
1994 - Jeff Buckley - Grace
1995 - Stevie Wonder - Natural Wonder
1996 - Beck - Odelay
1997 - The Verve - Urban Hymns
1998 - Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach - Painted From Mmory
1999 - Travis - The Man Who ...
2000 - Kathryn Williams - Little Black Numbers
2001 - Ryan Adams - Gold
2002 - Kate Rusby- 10
2003 - The Sleepy Jackson - Lovers
2004 - Josh Rouse - Nashville
2005 - Richard Hawley - Cole's Corner
2006 - Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
2007 - Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full
2008 - Glen Campbell - Meet Glen Campbell

Obviously as I say catered to age and gender, wouldn't want you chaps to think this was my own personal best of ... heavens no!

Good Job I don't have to get up in the morning ( started this bloody list at 10-30)

1958 Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely
1959 Kind of Blue -Miles Davis
1960 Sketches of Spain- Miles Davis
1961 The Genius Sings the Blues -Ray Charles
1962 Green Onions- Booker T and the MGs
1963 Live at the Apollo – James Brown
1964 A Hard Days Night – The Beatles
1965 Bringing it all back home- Bob Dylan
1966 Pet Sounds – The Beach Boys
1967 Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
1968 Beggars Banquet – The Rolling Stones
1969 From Elvis in Memphis – Elvis Presley
1970 After the Gold Rush – Neil Young
1971 Hunky Dory – David Bowie
1972 Sail Away – Randy Newman
1973 Innervisions – Stevie Wonder
1974 Veedon Fleece – Van Morrison
1975 Blood on the tracks- Bob Dylan
1976 The Royal Scam- Steely Dan
1977 Low – David Bowie
1978 All Mod Cons – The Jam
1979 Off The Wall- Michael Jackson
1980 More Specials- The Specials
1981 Dare- The Human League
1982 English Settlement- XTC
1983 War- U2
1984 The Smiths- The Smiths
1985 Around the world in a day- Prince and The Revolution
1986 Raising Hell- Run DMC
1987 Sign O’ The Times – Prince
1988 It takes a nation of millions to hold us back- Public Enemy
1989 Pauls Boutique- The Beastie Boys
1990 Bellybutton – Jellyfish
1991 Out of Time – R.E.M
1992 It’s a shame about Ray – The Lemonheads
1993 Modern life is rubbish- Blur
1994 Definitely Maybe- Oasis
1995 Different Class- Pulp
1996 Endtroducing- DJ Shadow
1997 In it for the money- Supergrass
1998 This is Hardcore- Pulp
1999 There is nothing left to lose – Foo Fighters
2000 Parachutes- Coldplay
2001 White Blood Cells – The White Stripes
2002 The man comes around- Johnny Cash
2003 Want one – Rufus Wainwright
2004 A grand don’t come for free- The streets
2005 Funeral- Arcade Fire
2006 The trials of Van Occupanther- Midlake
2007 The Crane wife – The Decemberists
2008 Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes

is off to a poor start.

I'd choose this lot -

1959 Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue
1960 Memphis Slim - Blue This Evening
1963 Beatles - Please Please Me
1966 Bob Dylan - Blonde On Blonde
1967 Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
1968 The Band - Music From Big Pink
1969 Johhny Cash - At San Quentin
1970 Derek And The Dominoes - Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
1971 BB King - Live From Cook County Jail
1972 Chuck Berry - The London Sessions/Steely Dan - Can't Buy A Thrill
1973 Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
1974 The Eagles - On The Border
1975 Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run
1976 Boston - Boston
1977 Randy Newman - Little Criminals
1978 Steve Forbert - Alive On Arrival/George Thorogood - Move It On Over
1979 Neil Young - Rust Never Sleeps
1980 Dire Straits - Making Movies
1981 Elvis Costello - Almost Blue
1982 BB King - Love Me Tender
1983 Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood
1984 Diamond Life - Sade
1985 Tom Waits - Rain Dogs
1986 Dwight Yoakam - Guitars Cadillacs
1987 Steve Earle - Exit 0
1988 Lyle Lovett - Pontiac
1989 Kirsty MacColl - Kite
1990 Uncle Tupelo - No Depression
1991 Richard Thompson - Rumour And Sigh
1992 Loudon Wainwright III - History
1993 John Hiatt - Perfectly Good Guitar
1994 The Pretenders - Last Of The Independants
1995 Steve Earle - Train A Comin'
1996 Various Artists - Twisted Willie(songs of willie nelson)
1997 Jack Ingram - Livin' Or Dyin'
1998 Bap Kennedy - Domestic Blues/Lucinda Williams Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
1999 Mary Gauthier - Drag Queens In Limousines
2000 Dan Hicks And His Hot Licks - Beatin' The Heat
2001 Chris Richards - Jam The Breeze
2002 Warren Zevon - Genius
2003 Jayhawks - Rainy Day Music
2004 Ray Lamontagne - Trouble
2005 James McMurtry - Childish Things
2006 Tom Waits - Orphans
2007 Richard Thompson - Sweet Warrior
2008 Seth Lakeman - Poor Mans Heaven

These are my favourites from my collection...no wiki lookup used. I don't have much at the beginning as these are the only records I have of the late 50's/early 60's. I've made up for it though as I couldn't pick a winner from years '72, '78 or '98....apologies if I cheated.

I'm fifty very shortly too. I'm more likely to get the aforementioned Black and Decker drill than 50 cds *groan*. My wife will be 50 in a couple of years. I think she'd rather have the drill than the cds!

Like everyone else, I am not convinced that the lady in question would be enthralled by my selection of 'classc' albums. Looking through my iTunes library I realised that a fair number of tracks come, not from the original album, but from compilation albums. So, I thought that she would prefer albums full of hits, rather than padding. This means that I have been able to include the bestselling albums in the US and UK in the list (Eagles and Queen) and the list is more 'pop' that it would otherwise have been.

I have also included live albums (which gives some 'classic' albums) but which also are full of hit tracks meeting my original criteria. You will notice that there are a couple of years still empty but I'm beginning to lose the will to live.

There is a special treat for blog readers near the end. The list could be improved. I am sure that more recent years should include good hip-hop and dance compilations but I wouldn't know what they are. I have tried to give a varied selection of musical genres. There are some glaring ommissions, e.g. I could decide whether to go with the Beatles Red or Blue compilations in 1973, so I chose neither, and went for Simon and Garfunkel instead.

1958 Elvis’ Golden Records - Elvis Presley
1959 The Buddy Holly Story - Buddy Holiday
1960 At Newport 1960 - Muddy Waters
1961 King of the Delta Blues Singers - Robert Johnson
1962 Roy Orbison’s Greatest Hits - Roy Orbison
1963 Live at the Apollo - James Brown
1964
1965 Live at the Regal - B B King
1966 Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) - The Rolling Stones
1967 Greatest Hits (The Supremes Album) - Diana Ross and the Supremes
1968 NBC TV Special - Elvis Presley
1969 Motown Chartbusters Vol 3 - Various Artists
1970 Live at Leeds - The Who
1971 Relics - Pink Floyd
1972 Nuggets - Various Artists
1973 Greatest Hits - Simon and Garfunkel
1974 It’s Too Late to Stop Now - Van Morrison
1975 Live - Bob Marley and the Wailers
1976 Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) - The Eagles
1977 Saturday Night Fever - O.S.T.
1978 Elton John’s Greatest Hits - Elton John
1979 The Best of Chic - Chic
1980 The Best of Bowie - David Bowie
1981 Greatest Hits - Queen
1982 The Name of this Band is - Talking Heads
1983 Now That’s What I Call Music - Various Artists
1984 Hatful of Hollow - The Smiths
1985 Indestructible Beat of Soweto - Various Artists
1986 Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares - Various Artists
1987
1988 The Story of the Clash vol 1 - The Clash
1989 Girls, Girls, Girls - Elvis Costello
1990 The Immaculate Collection - Madonna
1991 The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 - Bob Dylan
1992 Abba Gold - Abba
1993 Unplugged - Neil Young
1994 Carry On Up The Charts - The Beautiful South
1995 200 More Miles: Live Performances 1985-1994 - Cowboy Junkies
1996 Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977-92 - XTC
1997 Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures : Taken from the Vaults Vol 1 - Various Artists
1998 The Best of 1980–1990 - U2
1999 Hey! Ho! Let's Go: The Anthology - The Ramones
2000 1 - The Beatles
2001 Sacred Hearts & Fallen Angels: The Gram Parsons Anthology
2002 The Definitive Collection - Stevie Wonder
2003 Number Ones - Michael Jackson
2004 Gold - The Carpenters
2005 Retrospectacle - The Supertramp Anthology or
“RT” The Life And Music of Richard Thompson
2006 And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982–1987 - REM
2007 The Very Best of Ethiopiques - Various Artists
2008 The Best of Radiohead - Radiohead

Given that this is meant to lead to a birthday present I have tried to choose compilations which are still available in some form or other. But I did have to include the first 'Now ..." given how long that series has lasted and how many people have bought their favourite tracks that way.

Quite; I'll wager that not many no-tails will bother with such a High Fidelity pursuit – although I'm not proposing a gender bar, just surmising it. Anyone out there without a Y chromosome tempted to indulge? Lord knows I am; Hepworth, you're applying electrodes to our OCD hypothalamus...