I asked some of my closest friends what they consider to be the most essential albums to have in their vinyl collections. Think: the classics, the most superior, the albums you could listen to from beginning to end for the rest of your life… I received responses from over 12 people and there was much more consistency than I expected.
Everyone that responded gave multiple answers. They expressed frustration with having to narrow down the top albums of all time because there’s just too many. On top of this indecision, each person has such a distinct music taste; exclusive to listening patterns throughout their life.
I’m compelled to divide the feedback into two separate blog posts. Starting out strong; one for the classics. The albums that have been out for 20+ years. This is the music that people grew up on. Timeless. These say a lot about how older generations have kept their most cherished music alive. This concept map displays a handful of the responses from my friends of music that was produced before the 2000s (keeping in mind that the demographic of my survey is 20 to 22-year-olds).
An interesting aspect about this section is the consistently growing popularity of these albums and artists over time. A well rounded example of this: The Beatles’ albums were a consistent response among the replies I received. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, their self-titled white album, Abbey Road… the list could go on.
The Beatles are considered to be one of the most famously known bands and this admiration continues to grow in following generations, dating back to the 1950s. They stopped producing music in the 1970s and John Lennon and George Harrison have passed away since. They impacted the music scene at the time with such great force and their music has endured decades. There is something about The Beatles’ music that sticks with their listeners.
This matter is tough to wrap my head around. My immediate response as to why many pre-2000s artists have stayed so relevant in the industry is because their music speaks to the entire population in one or more ways. It impacts society on an emotional level. It has the appeal and relatability that many musicians today lack. As you can see in the flow chart, many of the artists’ music has a lasting effect on the population as a whole. Is it their unique voices? The instrumentals? The lyrics? The artist and what they stood for? It has to be a combination of it all for them to remain undying in the face of new generations.
All of the above factors that have created long-lasting legacies can be partly credited to the marketing behind their brand. The constant production of new music, going on tours during their most popular years and gaining attention through the media are all factors in leaving an impactful footprint. Continuing to look at The Beatles as a leading example of this; they embraced every evolution of media. This ensured they would remain relevant as time passed and survive the ages of technology. The marketing done for each member of The Beatles strongly impacted the media as they are known singularly and for the band. Effective marketing for artists in the music industry must consist of creating brand identity, representation through multiple platforms and being consistent.
Take a look at my next blog post, linked here, to find out which essential albums produced after 2000 have already left a mark on current generations.