- A - Tori Amos

Yes, that's right, so what's Tori doing in a Rock Blog? Exhibit one Y Kant Tori Read one of those classic first albums that seem to disappear as the artist changes direction and creates a new first album ( Little Earthquakes ), which by the way is still a good album.

Y Kant sees Tori as a rocker, there's still a melodic undertone but I put this album forward as her best and she's never quite got there again (check out the Limited Edition cd single of Winter, containing stunning covers of Angie and Smells Like Teen Spirit). No apologies here, both of these recommendations will take a bit of searching for but that's what collecting is all about.

It only took me 20 years to track down a copy of the one and only album by Siam (Thank You and Goodbye).

Oh and those 'first albums' don't let anyone tell you Alanis Morissette's first album is Jagged Little Pill she has another two prior to that one that you'll have a challenge finding Alanis and Now Is The Time, both released five years before the 'debut' good luck.

- A - Ayreon

Another 'band' discovered on a trip to Holland. Strictly speaking Ayreon is the work of Arjen Anthony Lucassen plus one of the largest list of guest artists you're ever likely to find. With elements of Prog Rock, Metal and Ballads the music is hard to categorise but the quality never falters.

The guest musicians are a who's who of  rock royalty. In no particular order Universal Migrator: Vol.1 & 2 features Helloween's Andi Deris and Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson. Into the Electric Castle a space opera, brings in Fish and Thijs van Leer from Focus amongst others.

The Human Equation: +DVD features guest vocals from Heather Findlay (Mostly Autumn) and Dream Theater's James LaBrie. Epica's Simone Simons and Bob Catley from Magnum appear on 2008's double cd and dvd 01011001 Bonus DVD.

Even the bonus dvd's are worth a viewing, adding an insight into the creative process behind these epic releases.

- A - Apollo Four Forty, Attila

I may be stretching the bounds of the definition Rock music here. Apollo Four Forty possibly fall into a dance or electro category. However, stay with me. My first evidence for the jury is they covered Blue Oyster Cults Don't Fear The Reaper (well). The second and final piece of evidence is Getting High on Your Own Supply which includes the Lost in Space (movie theme) and Stop the Rock, buy this album for those two tracks, then visit their other (less rocky) work.

Attila has to be one of the most unlikely bands. I give you hard rocking Billy Joel and Jon Small. This oddity from 1970 Attila (Digipak) is a bit like Emmerson Lake and Palmer but as a duo. I only picked this up after reading an article in Classic Rock magazine (and glad I did). Be warned, it's a bit odd.

Another rule for collecting Rock music  - strange, odd and eccentric are all good. Start to worry when it turns into self indulgence, but I'm sure I'll uncover examples there that still work.

- A - Andrew W.K. , Angry Johnny & The Killbillies, Anouk

Moving away from the more traditional Rock music and into rap and punk influences to arrive at Andrew W.K. and my recommendation of his debut I Get Wet, the stand out tracks are Party Hard and Party Til You Puke although the whole album is refreshing.

I've no idea what Johnny has to be so angry about as this slice of American Hillbilly Rock is highly entertaining if a little challenging to track down. My first dose was in the form of What's So Funny which led to a search for Live At the Brass Cat vol 1 and 2 and One Bad Day in 93. If you are tempted I would suggest a visit to the Killbillies website Get Angry where most of the back catalogue is still available. Any  recommendations for further essential purchases are welcome as it looks like I've only scratched the surface.

Every time I travel overseas I try to find record shops and a helpful assistant to point me to that countries best Rock music. The initial reaction at a shop in Rotterdam was "all the Rock music we listen to is from the UK and America". As I aready had examples by Golden Earring and Herman Brood I knew this wasn't quite true.

Luckily I was right and I discovered one of Europe's best kept secrets - Anouk. This girl has a powerful voice and stage presence and better still sings mostly in English. If pressed I'd catalogue Anouk somewhere between Cher and Anastacia which really isn't a bad start.

My first introduction to Anouk was Is Alive followed by Urban Solitude, Who's Your Momma and The Lost Tracks (try to find the limited edition version with a bonus DVD). I am baffled why Anouk remains largely unknown in the UK.

-A- Airbourne, Alarm, Allman Brothers

Either the ultimate AC/DC tribute band or another hard rocking Aussie four piece. Take your pick, but which ever you decide, both of Airbourne's albums Runnin Wild and No Guts, No Glory provide a very promising start for the band.

Hailing from possibly the least rocking home town of Rhyl in North Wales, Mike Peter's Alarm started as Punks and graduated to a fully fledged Rock band sharing the bill with Queen and U2 amongst others. I first saw them live at Wembley for Queen's 1986 tour. Debut Declaration (which seems to be a little tricky to get hold of) and the follow up Strength are both excellent. Must hear tracks - Knife Edge, Strength, Sixty Eight Guns and Blaze of Glory.

Mike is still touring and recording both as a solo artist, with the Alarm and the rather excellent Dead Men Walking - punk, rock, indie supergroup.

There are a host of bands that I will put my hands up and admit a mere passing knowledge about. The Allman Brothers is one such band, their classic Jessica (maybe better known these days as BBC's Top Gear theme tune can be found on Brothers And Sisters plus a number of compilation albums.

- A - Aerosmith

Any band clocking up sales of over 150 million albums deserves a mention and when their name is Aerosmith they are also on the list for essential Rock collections. Starting with the self titled Aerosmith in 1973. For the definitive 70's era, pick up a copy of the excellent Pandora's Box .

Bootlegs (illegal recordings of concerts and sometimes studio sessions) have always been an issue with music fans. Probably only appealing to the true fan, are they stealing revenue from the artist? Maybe, but the same fan will already have a copy of the legitimate releases and wants more. Aerosmith came up with a novel solution, release their own Live! Bootleg and what better way to kick it of with than Back in the Saddle. Despite the convenience and lack of clicks and jumps, one thing the CD has failed to do is compete with some of the elaborate packaging of the vinyl original. Aerosmith's Live Bootleg was packaged to look and feel like a real bootleg recording.

I will come back to packaging at some stage as there have been many many exotic and extravagant ways to sell music and Rock has been no exception - the picture disc, shaped record, metal box, wooden box  even a mascot's head.....

The band have had some ups and downs during the years. Owing one memorable comeback to none other than Run-D.M.C. covering Walk This Way.

"Hello Mr Tyler, going down?" - Love in an Elevator was one of the stand out tracks from 1989's Pump , also on the recommended list is 1993's Get a Grip featuring the hit Livin' on the edge and Eat the Rich.

If you've not yet sampled the Aerosmith experience, there are a few greatest hits packages to choose from, I'd go for O Yeah! Ultimate Hits which even includes their version of the theme from Spider Man.

- A - AC/DC

Where to start? I'm often asked, with a slight mocking in the voice if I keep all of my records/Cds in alphabetical order. With no mocking in the voice the answer is "of course" otherwise it would take me a week to find a particular disc. With that in mind, let's start at A.

AC/DC

Another rule - loose your lead singer and that's the end of the band. Well that's another rule shot down in flames as Brian Johnson stepped into the seemingly impossible shoes of Bon Scott. As I look down the list of over 20 albums there's no weak disc to be seen. So how do you start collecting AC/DC? Buy anything they release is the simple answer. But if pressed, Highway To Hell is the essential Bon Scott era disc and then immediately invest in the definitive box set Bonfire which includes five discs of classic rock plus a remastered Back In Black the debut for Brian Johnson. To my shame I've only seen the band live once for the 2000 Stiff Upper Lip tour, all I can say is if they return to the UK touring get a ticket!

I'd normally steer clear of the greatest hits package however when AC/DC do it they do it in style. The Iron Man 2 (With DVD) (Collectors Edition) is just about perfect including Highway to Hell, If You Want Blood, Shoot To Thrill and TNT plus a bonus film tie in DVD, Marvel comic, poster and stickers all housed in a hard backed book - did I mention I'm a collector?

Of course the Iron Man soundtrack wasn't their first movie tie in. 1986 Who Made Who contained pounding tracks used in Stephen King's Maximum Overdrive. including the immortal For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) aah thought there was a reason I'd picked that title for this blog :-)

shazbot na-nu na-nu  (one for the die hards)

The Beginning

When did it all start? What were the first records to start the whole collecting bug? Confession; the first two singles (remember them- 7" plastic spinning around at 45rpm) were not really the most head banging tunes you could pick (then again, this was years before the headbangers started).

First, and earliest single I can remember was The Batman Theme by Neal Hefti in 1966. A catchy little ditty not over taxing on the lyrics front. The other single that I remember was the first introduction to the Beatles with She Loves You from 1963. This was quite a few years before I actually walked into a record shop and bought a disc.

The Beatles single must have made some impact, as jumping ahead a few years I can remember the first two albums I bought. The first, won't appear on the must buy shopping list as it's definately not the definitive fab four disc. So Album number one was 1969's The Yellow Submarine by the Beatles, and the great disappointment to discover side two (yes we had side one and side two in those days) was an instrumental.

I'm sure I'll come back to the Beatles at a later day, but for now, Revolver is generally heralded as the best Beatles album, I'd however probably pick Sgt Peppers. For the beginner (is there anyone out there who doesn't have a Beatles CD)?  I'd recommend 1962-1966 (The Red Album) there's not a poor track on this essential compilation. Hooked? Then dive straight in with the pricey but must have re-mastered box sets available in Mono and Stereo. I struggled a bit for which to recommend and have chosen The Beatles In Mono . Why? Because it's the set I bought and it's hard to beat with every Mono album sounding as is was meant to be when originally recorded.

The second album I can remember buying is a total contrast from the Beatles and I don't really know how I chose it but  I'm very glad I did. The second album was The Sensational Alex Harvey Band The Impossible Dream / Tomorrow Belongs To Me (well actually Tomorrow Belongs To Me) the fifth album by SAHB in 1975. The gravel voiced Alex Harvey was my first introduction to Rock music and as they say, I've never looked back - So thanks Alex....