In the vast world of music there have been so many bands and artists who have shaped the landscape. From The Beatles to James Brown to the White Stripes, so many bands and their work have all left a legacy on the art form; breaking barriers and bringing issues to the forefront, making music one of the most argued, debated, and analysed forms of expression. While the importance of many musical artists often spans an entire career, there are albums that have been game-changers in one fell swoop. Theyve either introduced a new sound, popularized a musical movement previously overlooked by the masses, or have brought disparate demographics together. A single album can innovate or inspire an era of music. Sometimes the effect is instantaneous and impossible to ignore or is the first step in an evolution in sound. Here is a list of 15 albums that had a long lasting effect on music, from the fifties to the 21st century.
15. Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley
Elvis didnt invent rock and roll. What he did do was give it an image and took it one step further from being musics dirty little secret. While he had been recording music for Sun Studios since 1953 and had become well known in the south, it wasnt until his 1956 major label debut with RCA Records that he became an unofficial spokesperson for rock and roll. Everything from the oft-repeated album cover to the songs themselves established Elvis as an icon and created a public frenzy that wouldnt be rivalled until the Beatles in 1964. It also didnt hurt that Elviss distinctive vocals and guitar strumming would add an element of sex appeal to rock and roll, making it even harder to be overlooked by the mainstream. As an album it also introduced rock and roll versions of R&B hits by Ray Charles and the Drifters as well as Little Richard. While this was not a major step in the Civil Rights Movement, it certainly made it harder for a segregated country to ignore the important influence of black musicians in music. As a contrast, it also took country and rockabilly standards and pushed them closer to what rock and roll would be identified with, leading to decades of influence on artists to come. Album Highlights: Blue Suede Shoes, I Got A Woman, Blue Moon
