Album 300. Loveless- My Bloody Valentine

Released 1991
This is the final album of the challenge and it is only right I choose my favorite
Loveless was the second studio by MBV, recorded over a two year period
Every time I listen to it, I hear something new
Creation Records

Album 299. Screamadelica- Primal Scream

Released 1991
Double album, gatefold sleeve
Eclectic third album from Primal Scream
This album consists of  rock, house, jazz, dub, ambient, electronica, soul and blues, and it all somehow works brilliantly
Creation Records

Album 298. The Stone Roses- The Stone Roses

Released 1989
When the Roses appeared in the late 1980s they seemed to come from another planet in terms of music and fashion
They never matched the quality of this album again, but when something is this good who cares
Purchased from Frank's Wild Records, Birmingham
Silverstone Records

Album 297. Forever Changes- Love

Released 1967, this is a reissue from 1971
This was a Christmas present in 1991, I have listening to this hundreds of times and its still sounds fresh
It's hard to believe that it didn't find an bigger audience upon its release
I saw Arthur Lee perform in the early 2000s and his voice was still amazing
Elektra

Album 296. Playing With Fire- Spaceman 3

Released 1989
I think this album contains the best work both Sonic Boom and Jason Pierce have produced during Spacemen 3 and after the band split
Purchased from Swordfish Records, Birmingham
Fire Records

Album 295. Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow- Funkadelic

Released 1970 this is a reissue from 1990
Gatefold sleeve
More P Funk from George Clinton on this second album
Westbound Records

Album 294. LA Woman- The Doors

Released 1971 this is a reissue from 1990
The last album to feature Jim Morrison
Elektra

Album 293. Weapon in my Lyric- Overlord X

Released 1989
UK Hip Hop from Hackney, its good but the beats are a bit samey
The back cover features an illustration from comic book artist Simon Bisley
Mango Street

Album 292. Emperor Tomato Ketchup- Stereolab

Published 1996
Limited edition, gatefold sleeve with yellow translucent (with silver glitter) vinyl
This album saw Stereolab move into a more electronic direction
Duophonic Records

Album 291. The Ted Heath Orchestra Plays, Beatles, Bach and Bacharach-The Ted Heath Orchestra

Released 1971
Has a great version of Hey Jude on it
It's a bit battered, but it still plays
Charity shop purchase
Decca Records

Album 290. Performance- Spacemen 3

Released 1998, this is a reissue from 1990
Live performance from Melkweg, Amsterdam, 1998
This album features a more heavier MC5 inspired sound
Fire Records

Album 289. Loaded- The Velvet Underground

Released 1970, this is an issue from 1972
The last Velvets album to feature Lou Reed
I know it doesn't feature the classic line up, but this is one of my favorite album
Atlantic Records

Album 288. Fox Base Alpha- Saint Etienne

Released 1991
Debut album from Saint Etienne, it's style is a mix of 1960s pop and dance culture
The band are still going strong today some 26 years later
Heavenly Records

Album 287. Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme- Simon and Garfunkel

Released 1966
There is something melancholic and eerie about this album
Its ends with 7 o'clock News/ Silent Night, the track is a rendition of  Silent Night juxtaposed with a news bulletin.
CBS

Album 286. Go Away Dream- Delroy Wilson

Released 1982, this is a re-issue from 2017
Produced by Bunny Lee
The Aggrovators on backing duties
Pressure Sounds

Album 285. Closer- Joy Division

 

 

Released 1980, this is a reissue from 2015
Final studio album from the band , released weeks after the death of lead singer, Ian Curtis
Warner Records

Album 284. The Sound Gallery Volume Two- Various

Released 1996
Double album, 27 tracks
More easy listening tunes from the EMI achieve, not quite as good as volume one, but still much to enjoy
EMI Premier

Album 283. Black is Soul Volume 1- Various

Released 2000
Compilation of Soul and Reggae from the Pama record label
Top track is 'The Champ' by The Mohawks
Wah Wah Records

Album 282. The Sound Spectrum- Various

Released 1995
Compilation of 'easy listening' tracks from the Pye Recordings archive
Contains five tracks by Roy Budd, composer of Get Carter. There is not a duff track on it
When! Recordings

Album 281. Thriller- Michael Jackson

Released 1982
This was bought on a Saturday morning in the early eighties from Woolworths , I don't think I was aware of Record Shops at that time.
Epic

Album 280- Sign 'O' The Times

Released 1987
Double album
Prince had originally wanted this to be a triple album, imagine what that would have sounded like.
Paisley Park

Album 279. Going Blank Again- Ride

Released 1992
Double album, gatefold sleeve with lyric sheet insert
Second album from Ride, this had the same ingredients as Nowhere but was a bit 'poppier'
After this Ride lost direction, and didn't release anything as solid as this again
Creation Records

Album 278- Four Fold Remedy- Velocette

Released 1998
Debut and only album from short lived British band Velocette
Wiiiija Records

Album 277. Recurring- Spacemen 3

Released 1991
Limited edition with gold embossed cover
Fourth and final studio album from Spacemen 3
The band had split by the time of release, and relationships between the two band leads was so bad, they released a side each- Sonic Boom with a side of up tempo songs and Jason Pierce with a side of songs by what would eventually become Spiritualized
Fire Records

Album 276. Joe Gibbs Productions- Various

Released 2003
Double album
Compilation of Joe Gibbs productions from Soul Jazz Records
Soul Jazz Records

Album 275. A Paean to Wilson- Durutti Column

Released 2010 this is a reissue from 2017
Double album, on blue vinyl
Vini Reilly's beautiful and very personal album in memory of Tony Wilson
Kookydisc

Album 274. Curtains- Tindersticks

Released 1997
Limited double album, come with a 12"card insert
Not as strong as the first two albums but still worth a listen
Island Records

Album 273. The Best of The Spencer Davis Group Featuring Stevie Winwood- The Spencer Davis Group

Released 1967, this is a reissue from 1986
14 great tunes on this best of album particular the organ driven instrumentals
Island Records

Album 272. Funk Spectrum- Josh Davis and Keb Darge

Released 1999
Double Album
Great compilation, where Josh Davis (DJ Shadow) and Keb Darge get a disc each
BBE

Album 271- Blade Runner 2049 OST- Hans Zimmer & Benjamin Wallfisch

Released 2017
Double album
Johaan Johannsson was scoring the film, however following a change of direction by the director, Denis Villenuve he was replaced by Hans Zimmer & Benjamin Wallfisch
It's a very atmospheric soundtrack, however its let down by the last track, which is a bit out of place
Epic

Album 270. Hup- The Wonder Stuff

Released 1989
Second album from the 'Stuffies'
I haven't listened to this in a long time, it's more upbeat and urgent than I remember
This was a birthday present, and the first Wonder Stuff record I owned
Polydor/ The Far Out Recording Company

Album 269. The Beach Boys Christmas Album- The Beach Boys

Released 1964, this is a reissue from 1984
The album is a mixture of original material and covers of Christmas classics
Little Saint Nick is still one of my favorite Christmas songs
Capital/EMI Records

268. Hey! Hey! It's The Monkees Greatest Hits- The Monkees

Released 1989
Gatefold sleeve, with notes on the inner sleeve
Contains songs from the TV show and one song recorded in 1986
Purchased from Kenny's Records, Sheffield
K-tel

267. The Magic Roundabout present Dougal and the Blue Cat- Eric Thompson

Released 1972
It's not in great condition but it still plays
I'm not entirely sure what the story is about, maybe if I watched the film, it would make more sense
MFP

Album 266. Document- R.E. M

Released 1987
Contains the singles 'The one I love' and ' Its the end of the world as we know it'
This album starts to give R.E.M more mainstream recognition
IRS Records

Album 265. Hot Sweet Home- Various

Released 1975, reissued 2016
Reggae compilation, tracks recorded at Black Ark and King Tubby's studios
Artists include Augustus Pablo, I-Roy and Al Griffith
Fay Music Inc.

Album 264. Forever Changing- Various

Released 1991
Indie dance compilation featuring, Blur, World of Twist and Rain and some bands I cannot remember!
Beachwood Music

Album 263. Easy Rider OST- Various

Released 1969, this is a reissue from 1981
Classic soundtrack with songs by The Byrds, The Electric Prunes, The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Steppenwolf
MCA

Album 262. Reading, Writing and Arithmetic- The Sundays

Released 1990
Debut (and best) album from The Sundays
A sort of fusion of The Smiths and The Cocteau Twins, Harriet Wheeler really had an incredible voice
Rough Trade

Album 261. Ska Fantastic- The Ska-Ville

Released 1980, reissue from 2015 (Maybe)
Who ever designed the cover loves to play with as many fonts as possible!
Decent Ska compilation
Studio 16

Album 260. They Call Me Mister Tibbs OST- Quincy Jones

Released 1970, this is a reissue from the late 1990s
Soundtrack to the second film to feature the character ' Virgil Tibbs'
Worth buying for the main theme alone
Label unknown

Album 259. Suede- Suede

Released 1993.
Debut album from Suede, contains four hit singles!
It still stands up as a really strong album
Nude

Album 258. Up The Junction OST- Manfred Mann

Released 1968
The soundtrack is probably better than film
Purchased this from The Diskery in Birmingham in the early nineties for £30, which was too much , but I was desperate to get hold of a copy
Fontana

Album 257. Reggae Chartbusters- Various

Released 1969
Comes in a metallic effect cover
This is my favorite reggae compilation, contains classic songs from the The Upsetters, Harry J. All Stars, Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker and Pioneers.
I found this in a charity shop in Bournemouth, I'm grateful to the person who donated it
Trojan Records

Album 256. The Best of Acid Jazz Volume 2- Various

Released 1993
Contains tracks by The Brand New Heavies, Corduroy and Diana Brown
The label formed back in the late 1980s, and is still releasing new stuff
Acid Jazz

Album 255. 2001 A Space Odyssey- The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Released 1968
This has slightly different version of tracks that appear in the film
MGM

Album 254. Beyond The Valley of The Dolls OST- Various

Released 1970, this is a re-issue from the early 2000s
Brilliant soundtrack to the bonkers film by Russ Meyers
Features The Sandpipers, The Strawberry Alarm Clock and the fictional band from the film ' The Carrie Nations'
20th Century- Fox Records

Album 253. The Early Years of Joe Gibbs 1967-73- Various Artists

Released 2017
Collection of early Joe Gibbs productions complied by Winston Edwards
I wish I could have visited the shop featured on the cover
Amalgamated Records

Album 252. Greetings From The Pioneers- The Pioneers

Released 1968, this is a reissue from 2017
I love the postcard inspired cover
Amalgamated Records

Album 251. At The Grass Roots of Dub- King Tubby Meets The Upsetter

Released 1974, this is a reissue from 2015
Classic dub produced by Winston Edwards
£10 well spent.
Studio 16