Here goes (and it is a work in progress):

Kate Bush - "The Kick Inside": Kate's inaugural album was spectacular. With a voice that soar, swoop, cut glass, and knock bats out of flight, this album from 1978 had me locked in my room, staring at the cover, listening, drooling. It's magic.

Steely Dan - "Can't Buy A Thrill": another debut album. Steely Dan set a high standard with this album from 1972, one I think they never matched with any of their later releases.

Pink Floyd - "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn": Of course the Floyds' "Dark Side of the Moon", "Animals", and "The Wall" easily qualify for the list but this album, their first, from 1967 is special. This was when they had guy named Syd Barrett writing most of their material before he succumbed to the effects of too much Vitamin L. Look him up on the Net if you want more info but get this album and discover genius of the "crazy diamond". Warning: do NOT listen to this album while under the influence of anything.

Flogging Molly - "Drunken Lullabyes": A recent group! I'm not entirely out of it and punk rock refuses to die. Irish punk at it's absolute best and shows that Los Angeles can still turn out a decent band. Singin' drunken lullabyes.

Black Sabbath - "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath": The album name alone could get you grounded for a month but this is Black Sabbath's best work period. This is the definitive monster rock album.

Cat Stevens - "Tea For The Tillerman": This album could easily double as his "Best of" - it's that good. Not quite Easy Listening, more than simply Folk Rock, it's I dunno. It's a shame that too many people are willing to judge this work based on Cat Steven's, now Yusuf Islam, current politics and religion.

Elvis Costello, oh he of large glasses and dubious look, started off his career with IMHO three (3) - yes three, tres, trois, drei, tri - perfect albums. I haven't been impressed with his works since then. Anyway here are the big 3 - "My Aim Is True", "Armed Forces", and "This Year's Model". Get one; get them all - you can't go wrong.

Led Zeppelin - "In Through The Out Door": This may be blasphemy but I consider this their only perfect album. Their other albums had one or two songs that just weren't quite high enough but this album is wall-to-wall gems. Stop throwing rocks! Led Zeppelin is still the second greatest rock group ever (see below).

Jethro Tull - "Thick As A Brick" and "Aqualung". Two albums to make you "start away uneasy". These are the best examples of what I'd call Renaissance Faire Rock which included King Crimson and lesser beings. "Thick As A Brick" is essentially a 45-minute song, famous not only for it's length but for the record cover and insert. The album was a piece of art that tragically didn't transfer from vinyl to CD, though the CD has extra tracks.

Fleetwood Mac - "Rumours": Way too easy to have this on the list. It sold a bazillion copies, won a bazillion awards, and deservedly so. Very close to perfect was the previous album Fleetwood Mac - "Fleetwood Mac" showing the first incarnation of the superstar lineup - Fleetwood, McVie, McVie, Buckingham, and Nicks.

Beatles: They have too many perfect albums to list. Any one care to disagree when I say the the Beatles were The Greatest Rock Group? Didn't think so.

I'm stopping now but this list isn't done. Expect "more, more, more" - how d'you like it? ("Gosh, Mahatma, no disco?!?" - yeah, I may be old but I'm not stupid.)

OK, not done yet. I have to mention a group that didn't have perfect albums though a few came darn close. They didn't stay together all that long and they had a tendency to switch lead guitarists. Their music however was unbelievable. Their influence undeniable. Give you a hint: their lead guitarists were Eric Clapton (AKA God), Jimmy Page (Led who?), and Jeff Beck (who?). The group: The Yardbirds. Find an album like "Over Under Sideways Down" and hold on for a great ride. Pity that the guitarists never amounted to anything.