Channel4 - 100 Greatest Albums

Robbie Williams - I've Been Expecting You (1998)
The album cover features Robbie as James Bond - a theme echoed in Millennium which samples John Barry's You Only Live Twice. It also includes No Regrets - Robbie's look back at his departure from Take That.
Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells a Story (1971)
Rod Stewart made history with this album, becoming the first artist to simultaneously have an album and a single at number one in both the US and the UK, all at the same time. Ironically, Rod's classic Maggie May nearly didn't make it on to the album in the first place.
The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street (1972)
Recorded in the south of France where the Stones exiled to avoid paying taxes. Visitors to the cottage included John and Yoko. Hits from the album include Tumbling Dice and Rocks Off.
The Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed (1969)
Brian Jones left the group and died during the recording of this album. Stand out tracks include Gimme Shelter and You Can't Always Get What You Want. The cake on the album cover was baked by Delia Smith.
Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure (1973)
Lizard lounge Bryan Ferry does sci-fi rock on the band's second album. The transexual sailor on the cover with the panther was rumoured to be David Bowie.
Saturday Night Fever - The Original Movie Soundtrack (1977)
At the time not only was it the biggest selling movie soundtrack in history, it was the biggest selling album in history. The huge hits on the album were all by the Bee Gees (Stayin' Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Night Fever and Jive Talkin) but the album also featured KC and the Sunshine Band and Kool and the Gang.
Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters (2004)
Hits include Mary, Laura and Take Your Mama Out. With this album they brought a sense of sex, glamour and fun back to chart party music that evoked Elton John, T-Rex and Duran Duran. The album sleeve even echoes Elton John's Yellow Brick Road.
Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols (1977)
The band became outcasts and public enemies after this album was released - gig venues banned them, MI5 followed them, MPs denounced them but the public still bought this album in droves. Its biggest hit was their punk anthem, God Save the Queen.
Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
Their biggest and final album before the duo parted ways. The album won three Grammy Awards, and its title track is a contender for the most beautiful pop song of all time.
Sly and the Family Stone - There's a Riot Goin' On (1971)
It documents both the chaos in America in 1971 and the madness of Stone's drug addled personal life. Somehow remaining true to Stone's funky roots, the album contains the groups biggest ever hit A Family Affair.
The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead (1986)
Morrissey's lyrics deal with his own fame, art and his media persona as well as his bitterness towards the music business. Notable tracks include Bigmouth Strikes Again, Frankly Mr Shankly and The Boy With the Thorn in His Side. French Actor Alain Delon's head is on the cover.
Soul II Soul - Club Classics Vol. One (1989)
The sound of late 1980s London: Jazzie B's 'sound system' culture put onto record. From it we heard the singles Back To Life and Keep On Movin'.
The Specials - Specials (1979)
Produced by Elvis Costello, the album gave the world its first extended look at Two Tone. With Jerry Dammers' inspired writing, and Terry Hall as the laid back front man The Specials combined the Rhythm of Ska with the speed of Punk to high critical acclaim. Includes Message To You Rudy and Too Much Too Young.
Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
Stevie Wonder had been a star since the early Sixties but this double album was the first he released following a new $13 million contract with Motown. It went straight to number one in the US and stayed there for 15 weeks. It also took two years to record and includes Isn't She Lovely.
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (1989)
Cited as one of the greatest debuts of all time. There was Jackson Pollockesque art on the front and hits like She Bangs The Drums and Fools Gold inside. Sadly, it took them seven years to release a follow up.
The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free (2004)
A concept album that tackles the real minutiae of life in the 21st century, like taking a DVD back and copping off in Ibiza. Mike Skinner became the poet laureate of the garage scene in Britain with hits like Dry Your Eyes.
The Strokes - Is This It (2001)
Their distinctive sound - 'a layer of filth' - featured Julian Casablancas' distorted vocals. The cover of this album features a leather-clad hand touching what appears to be a female thigh. Last Night put them at the forefront of the fashionably cool bands that have recently emerged from NYC.
Talking Heads - Fear of Music (1979)
Talking Heads married punk rock sensibilities with poppy sounds, clipped funk, art school intellectualism, and latterly world music, as perfectly demonstrated here on their third album. David Byrne was one of the most distinctive front men of that period.
U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987)
With this album U2 sought to paint vivid sound pictures of North America. Dedicated to the memory of their roadie Greg Carroll, a Maori who died in a motorbike accident while the album was being made. Hits include Where The Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For and With Or Without You.
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks (1968)
Van the Man with an album designed to be an experience, not a collection of songs. It blended country, folk and jazz and at the time it wasn't a commercial success. Yet it has been selling millions ever since.
The Velvet Underground - Velvet Underground And Nico (1967)
The dark side of the 1960s: New York paranoia fuelled by speed and heroin. The Velvet Underground were Andy Warhol's prot�g�s and it was Warhol who created the famous banana sleeve, which was originally peelable.
The Verve - Urban Hymns (1997)
The band were on the verge of splitting up but still produced one of the defining albums of the 1990s. Tracks include Bittersweet Symphony, The Drugs Don't Work and Lucky Man.
The White Stripes - Elephant (2003)
Recorded on old instruments and using old technology to capture an original rock 'n' roll sound. Ex-husband and wife duo Jack and Meg White created hits including Seven Nation Army and The Hardest Button to Button.
The Who - Tommy (1969)
The first and arguably best attempt at a real rock opera. It charts the story of a deaf, dumb and blind boy from outcast to prophet and includes the hit Pinball Wizard.
The Who - Who's Next (1971)
The album sleeve has The Who taking a leak by the side of a concrete monolith on a slag heap. Their most successful album, it includes Won't Get Fooled Again and Behind Blue Eyes.