This is a hard question which is why I have decided to start a list, which I will update from time to time to see which of the songs and albums actually survive over time. I haven’t included any new music because during the first few years my opinion of it often changes. My self imposed rule is: to qualify as an all time favourite, I first have to like the music for a few years. So here are some of my current favourite albums and songs in no particular order. Where possible, I have included a Youtube link to the track which may or may not work in your country. Feel free to leave any and all of your favourite music in the comments.

Thelonious Monk – Alone in San Francisco

John Coltrane – The John Coltrane Quartet Plays Chim Chim Cheree

Charlie Parker – Ornithology

Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti

Charles Mingus – The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady

AC DC – Back in Black

Slayer – Divine Intervention

Ween – White Pepper

Ennio Morricone – Farewell to Chayenne

Tito Puente – Dance Mania Vol. 1

Louis Prima – Buona Sera

Eric Dolphy – Out to Lunch

Julie London – Julie Is Her Name

Su Ra – Enlightenment

Count Basie – Atomic Basie

Django Reinhardt – Out of Nowhere

Chet Baker – Summertime

Parliament – Mothership Connection

James Brown – Live At The Apollo

Sam Cooke – Chain Gang

Glenn Gould – Goldberg Variations (1955 and 1981)

Karl Richter – Bach Organ Works (here is a fine example of him playing the Toccata and Fugue in d-minor)

Johann Strauss – An der Schönen Blauen Donau

NWA – Straight Outta Compton

Matt Monro – From Russia With Love

Chet Baker – Let’s Get Lost (There is also a great documentary with the same name)

The Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu-Tang 36 Chambers

Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Nigga Please

Photek – Modus Operandi

Skip James – Devil Took my Woman

Laurie Anderson – Oh Superman

Squarepusher – Plotinus

Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart

Cab Calloway – Minnie the Moocher

Lydia Mendoza – Mal Hombre

The Lord Invader – Rum And Coca Cola

Blondie – Hanging on the Telephone

Motorhead – Ace of Spades

Bad Brains – Pay to Cum

The Five Stairsteps – Ohh Child

David Bowie – Life on Mars

Radiohead – Paranoid Android

Frank Zappa – Black Napkins

Elton John – Amoreena

Martin Denny – Caravan

The Three Degrees – Everybody Gets to Go to the Moon

Trans Am – Total Information Awareness