It started as a simple idea, come up with a list of around 100 albums that are essential to most rock collections but after beginning the task of putting such a list together it became apparent that there are far more than 100 albums that can be considered essential. So instead of a one time special, we will continue this list with you’re help! Here are the first 135 albums selected by iconoFAN’s staff, check em out and then you can nominate your own selection of albums that you think are essential. Then in the second part of this special, we will add 178 of the readers picks for a total list of 303 essential albums!  (Your chance to submit your picks is found further on in this special)

Essential Albums – Mach I - The iconoFAN list.

Here is the debut list. These titles were nominated by some of our featured writers and cover a wide spectrum. For most of the titles the writer who submitted them gives us the reason why they picked that particular title and we also included links to listen to samples or purchase the CD so you can add them to your personal collection if you don't already own them. 

Keep in mind that some of the albums you might have expected are not on the list yet. You can nominate them or wait for future installments to see if they make the cut. 
 

Before we get to the lists, a few of our writers who submitted their selections wanted to give a little introduction to explain a little of why they picked the titled they did. 

antiGUY: My list is a mixed bag, I did pick some predictable albums but I also tried to vary the list with some of my personal favorites as well as albums that are absolutely essential (in my mind at least!) 

Dr Fever: I have been called a music snob. I admit that, sometimes, that can be an accurate description. At any rate, the albums I have contributed to this list may not suit your tastes on a number of levels, but trust me, give the albums I've listed (and the albums that everyone else has listed for that matter) a try. Who knows, you might just be surprised and realize 'Hey, that asshole Fever was right! this ROCKS!'

Greenmuse: I did try to make my list somewhat diverse, as my first urge was to name all the Clash albums, but that would be a bit biased and there are many artists that I don’t always name, but I actually like.. Besides who doesn’t own Thriller? Well,  these young whipper snappers may not, but back in the day everyone had a cassette or vinyl of that album. 

Dan Grote: I in no way think I should be tapped to pick so-called “Essentials.” I don’t own any Beatles or Stones, Led Zeppelin I-IV, and the only Hendrix or Doors I own come in Greatest Hits form. I do however own the first six Van Halen albums and a buttload of AC/DC reissues. So really, these are mostly my personal picks, though I do believe that some of these albums should be taught in public school.

Tom Spanks: I knew everyone else would be listing rock cd’s so I came up with a list that focuses on must have non-rock cd’s. Ok, ok, I put Nirvana on there but the rest of my list covers other forms of music.  Can’t let you rockers ignore the good stuff, even if it isn’t rock! 

Keavin Wiggins: I kind of cheated a little with my list. I already had everyone else’s selections before I came up with mine so I included some that I thought were overlooked and also some of my all time favorites. 
 

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