Being the huge Philly music advocates we are here at The Key, of course we’re going to look at the 2,021 All-Time Greatest Albums list and think our city is underrepresented. But at the same time, the 53 albums from the greater Philly region that did make the cut are an incredible range of genres and eras, a perfect cross-section of our regional music community.
From blue-eyed soul to simmering indie-rock to expressive hip-hop and introspective folk, a broad spectrum of Philly-adjacent albums and artists were deemed “classics” by the XPN community. Read below for a rundown…and happy listening!
No. 154 — Abandoned Luncheonette by Hall & Oates
No. 161 — A Deeper Understanding by The War on Drugs
No. 187 — Lost In The Dream by The War on Drugs
No. 299 — A Wizard / A True Star by Todd Rundgren
No. 337 — Something / Anything? by Todd Rundgren
No. 365 — Things Fall Apart by The Roots
No. 494 — Fate by Dr. Dog
No. 505 — Private Lives by Low Cut Connie
No. 616 — Mission Bell by Amos Lee
No. 773 — Jubilee by Japanese Breakfast
No. 770 — Throwing Copper by Live
No. 894 — The Köln Concert by Keith Jarrett
No. 910 — You Don’t Mess Around With Jim by Jim Croce
No. 955 — Kids in Philly by Marah
No. 988 — Life and Times by Jim Croce
No. 998 — Beelzebubba by The Dead Milkmen
No. 1050 — Nervous Night by The Hooters
No. 1055 — Plastic Soul by Mondo Cozmo
No. 1057 — Runt by Todd Rundgren
No. 1120 — Lady Sings The Blues by Billie Holiday
No. 1149 — Do You Want More?!!!??! by The Roots
No. 1150 — Undun by The Roots
No. 1158 — Hermit of Mink Hollow by Todd Rundgren
No. 1190 — Eventide by Grey Eye Glances
No. 1237 — Amore by The Hooters
No. 1267 — Philadelphonic by G. Love & Special Sauce
No. 1342 — Amos Lee by Amos Lee
No. 1403 — Private Eyes by Hall & Oates
No. 1417 — Phrenology by The Roots
No. 1425 — Wakin On A Pretty Daze by Kurt Vile
No. 1461 — Mental Jewelry by Live
No. 1472 — Cooleyhighharmony by Boyz II Men
No. 1519 — Wake Up Everybody by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
No. 1528 — Who is Jill Scott? Words And Sounds Vol. 1 by Jill Scott
No. 1601 — Glow by The Innocence Mission
No. 1609 — Pandemonium Years by Kenn Kweder
No. 1626 — Walkin’ On The Water by Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers
No. 1628 — Supply and Demand by Amos Lee
No. 1640 — Lady In Satin by Billie Holiday
No. 1649 — Big Lizard In My Backyard by The Dead Milkmen
No. 1713 — Time Stand Still by The Hooters
No. 1729 — Let’s Cut The Crap and Hook Up Later On Tonight by Marah
No. 1736 — I Don’t Live Here Anymore by The War On Drugs
No. 1746 — Get Disowned by Hop Along
No. 1747 — Voices by Hall & Oates
No. 1785 — Juturna by Circa Survive
No. 1806 — Todd Rundgren’s Utopia by Todd Rundgren
