EL PAÍS DE LAS TENTACIONES: LA DISCOTECA PERFECTA
(“THE LAND OF TEMPTATIONS: THE PERFECT RECORD COLLECTION”)

The staff of “El País de las Tentaciones” (“The Land of Temptations”), the cultural supplement of the main Spanish general newspaper “El País” (“The Country” or “The Land”) published from July to September of 1994 “La discoteca perfecta” (“The Perfect Record Collection”, I think “Discothèque” in English relates only to a dancing place and not to a record collection, am I wrong?). Every week they published the best records of a musical style, pointing the best album of the style and other 9 to complete a Top Ten (with no order). But every week they added another 10 records (11-20) in order of preference (¡!). A lot of the records were compilations or CD reissues with extra material, so some of them don’t fit with Henrik criteria for inclusion in AM lists.
Well, although some possible mistakes (IMO):
- the division in styles leaves outside many artists difficult to classify (David Bowie for instance)
- and the concept of the style is sometimes to narrow in time, IMO some lists should include more contemporary records of the style (by example Prince in the soul list)
it’s a very good list overall. And remarkably 2 of the 10 lists are of Spanish music. These were the albums selected:

1. BLUES (published 22/07/1994):
The best:
- ROBERT JOHNSON “The Complete Recordings”
2-10 (no order):
- MUDDY WATERS “Muddy Waters Sings Big Bill Bronzy”
- ELMORE JAMES “The Sky Is Crying”
- SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON “Keep It to Ourselves”
- ALBERT COLLINS, ROBERT CRAY & JOHNNY COPELAND “Showdown!”
- HOWLIN’ WOLF “Howlin’ Wolf / Moanin’ in the Moonlight” (CD reissue of the first 2 LPs)
- BESSIE SMITH “The Complete Recordings Vol. 1”
- B. B. KING “Live at the Regal”
- LITTLE WALTER “The Best of Little Walter Vol. 2”
- LEADBELLY “Last Sessions Part One”
11-20:
1. JOHN LEE HOOKER “John Lee Hooker… Alone”
2. FREDDIE KING “1934-1976”
3. BUKKA WHITE “Aberdeen Mississippi Blues 1937-1940”
4. SON HOUSE “The Legendary 1941-1942 Recordings”
5. ALBERT KING “I’ll Play the Blues For You”
6. HOUND DOG TAYLOR “Beware of the Dog”
7. KOKO TAYLOR “Off the Record”
8. BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON “King of the Country Blues”
9. WILLIE DIXON “Willie’s Blues”
10. MAGIC SAM “Magic Sam Live”

2. R & R (published 29/07/1994):
The best:
- CHUCK BERRY “St. Louis to Liverpool”
2-10 (no order):
- ELVIS PRESLEY “Elvis Presley”
- BO DIDDLEY “Go Bo Diddley”
- BUDDY HOLLY “First Time Anywhere”
- JERRY LEE LEWIS “The EP Collection”
- VARIOUS “American Graffiti Original Soundtrack”
- LITTLE RICHARD “His Greatest Recordings”
- EDDIE COCHRAN “Eddie Cochran”
- FATS DOMINO “Live in Europe”
- ROY ORBISON “At the Rock House”
11-20:
1. BILL HALEY AND HIS COMETS “Armchair Rock and Roll”
2. THE COASTERS “The Coasters”
3. PHIL SPECTOR “Back to Mono (1958-1969)”
4. CARL PERKINS, CHARLIE RICH & JERRY LEE LEWIS “Trio”
5. JOHNNY BURNETTE “Rock’n’Roll Trio”
6. THE DRIFTERS & CHARLIE THOMAS “Greatest Hits Live”
7. THE PLATTERS “Twenty Classic Hits”
8. RITCHIE VALENS “The History of Ritchie Valens”
9. EVERLY BROTHERS “Rockin’ With”
10. BO DIDDLEY / CHUCK BERRY “Two Great Guitars”

3. COUNTRY (published 05/08/1994):
The best:
- HANK WILLIAMS “20 Greatest Hits”
2-10 (no order):
- THE CARTER FAMILY “The Carter Family on Border Radio”
- WOODY GUTHRIE “Original Recordings Made by Woody Guthrie”
- JOHNNY CASH “The Vintage Years (1955-1963)”
- BILL MONROE “Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys”
- PATSY CLINE “The Patsy Cline Collection”
- INTERNATIONAL SUBMARINE BAND “Safe at Home”
- THE BYRDS “Sweetheart of the Rodeo”
- CHET ATKINS “The RCA Years”
- FLACO JIMÉNEZ “El sonido de San Antonio”
11-20:
1. JIMMIE RODGERS “Best of the Legendary Jimmie Rodgers”
2. WILLIE NELSON “Willie Nelson Live (Drunk)”
3. THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS “The Gilded Palace of Sin”
4. THE NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”
5. LESTER FLAT & EARL SCRUGGS “20 All Time Greatest Hits”
6. DANNY & DUSTY “The Lost Weekend”
7. EMMYLOU HARRIS “Pieces in the Sky”
8. GENE AUTRY “Sound of the Border / All American Cowboy”
9. BOB WILLS & HIS TEXAS PLAYBOYS “For the Last Time”
10. GARTH BROOKS “No Fences”

4. JAZZ (published 12/08/1994):
The best:
- DUKE ELLINGTON “The Original Edward ‘Duke’ Ellington Hits. Vol. 1 1927 / 31”
2-10 (no order):
- LOUIS ARMSTRONG “The Complete Louis Armstrong & The Singers 1924 / 30”
- MILES DAVIS “Kind of Blue”
- DJANGO REINHARDT “Djangologie / USA”
- BILLIE HOLIDAY “The Quintessential Billie Holiday Volume 3 (1936-37)”
- JOHN COLTRANE “Giant Steps”
- BENNY GOODMAN “Live at Carnegie Hall”
- DIZZY GILLESPIE “Groovin’ High”
- CHARLIE PARKER “The Savoy Recordings (Master Takes)”
- THELONIOUS MONK TRIO “Thelonious Monk”
11-20:
1. JERRY ROLL MORTON “The Pearls”
2. BENNY CARTER “The Chronological Benny Carter and His Orchestra, 1933-36”
3. COUNT BASIE “The American Decca Years”
4. CHARLIE CHRISTIAN “The Genius of the Electric Guitar”
5. CLIFFORD BROWN & MAX ROACH “At Basin Street”
6. ELLA FITZGERALD “Ella Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook”
7. BILL EVANS “Waltz for Debby”
8. ART BLAKEY & THE JAZZ MESSENGERS “Moanin’”
9. LESTER YOUNG “These Foolish Things”
10. ART TATUM & BEN WEBSTER “The Tatum Group Masterpieces”

5. SOUL (published 19/08/1994):
The best:
- SAM COOKE “The Man and His Music”
2-10 (no order):
- OTIS REDDING “The Dock of the Bay”
- ARETHA FRANKLIN “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)”
- MARVIN GAYE “What’s Going On”
- WILSON PICKETT “In the Midnight Hour”
- JAMES BROWN “Sex Machine”
- SAM & DAVE “Soul Men”
- RAY CHARLES “The Genius of Ray Charles”
- EDDIE FLOYD “Proud Mary”
- PERCY SLEDGE “The Best of Percy Sledge”
11-20:
1. STEVIE WONDER “Tribute to Uncle Ray”
2. AL GREEN “Green in Blues”
3. ISAAC HAYES “In the Beginning”
4. ETTA JAMES “Sings for Lovers”
5. BEN E. KING “Ben E. King Story”
6. SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES “Hi We’re the Miracles”
7. IKE & TINA TURNER “Black Man’s Soul”
8. CURTIS MAYFIELD “Roots”
9. JACKIE WILSON “Body & Soul”
10. BOBBY BLAND “Soul of the Man”

6. FLAMENCO (published 26/08/1994); I’ve added the year of first release of the non-compilation records.
The best:
- CAMARÓN “La leyenda del tiempo” (1979)
2-10 (no order):
- ANTONIO MAIRENA “Antología Antonio Mairena, volumen 9”
- PACO DE LUCÍA “Fuente y caudal” (1973)
- ANTONIO CHACÓN “Leyendas del cante”
- VENENO “Veneno” (1977)
- SABICAS “Flamenco puro” (1961)
- KETAMA “Ketama” (1985)
- PATA NEGRA “Blues de la frontera” (1988)
- MANUEL TORRE “Leyendas del cante”
- PEPE DE LA MATRONA “Maestros del cante”
11-20:
1. PEPE MARCHENA “Leyendas del cante”
2. MANOLO CARACOL “El rey del cante (tres volúmenes)”
3. ANTONIO MAIRENA “La gran historia del cante gitano andaluz”
4. ENRIQUE MORENTE – PEPE HABICHUELA “Homenaje a Antonio Chacón” (1976)
5. FOSFORITO “Grandes cantaores flamencos”
6. VARIOUS “Magna antología del cante flamenco”
7. EL LEBRIJANO “Grandes cantaores flamencos”
8. VARIOUS “Los jóvenes flamencos (tres volúmenes)”
9. FERNANDA Y BERNARDA DE UTRERA “Cante flamenco” (1984)
10. KETAMA / TOUMANI DIABATE / DANNY THOMPSON “Songhai” (1988)

7. ÉTNICAS (published 02/09/1994).
The best:
- YOUSSOU N’DOUR ET LE SUPER ETOILE DE DAKAR “Immigrés”
2-10 (no order):
- CESARIA EVORA “Miss perfumado”
- CELIA CRUZ Y TITO PUENTE “Quimbo quimbumbia”
- CHEB KHALED & SAFI BOUTELLA “Kutché”
- TIBETAN BUDDHISM “Tibetan Buddhism / Tantras of Gyütö”
- CAETANO VELOSO “The Best of Caetano Veloso”
- JOHNNY CLEGG & SAVUKA “Shadow Man”
- VARIOUS “Cuba Fully Charged”
- NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN “Devotional Songs”
- ALI FARKA TOURÉ “The Source”
11-20:
1. SALIF KEITA “Soro”
2. VARIOUS “Live from El Salvador”
3. VARIOUS “A Luaka Bop: Roots, Rock and Rhtyhm”
4. PIGMÉES AKA “Centreafrique: antologie de la musique des pigmées aka”
5. THAMILA “Thamila aux enfants berberes”
6. VARIOUS “The Spirit Cries: Music from the Rainforest of South America & the Caribbean”
7. THE TEREM QUARTET “Terem”
8. VARIOUS “Las diosas del ritmo”
9. VARIOUS “Huayno Music of Peru Volumen 1 (1949-1989)”
10. SHAKUHACHI “The Japanese Flute”

8. ROCK (published 09/09/1994).
The best:
- BOB DYLAN “Blonde on Blonde”
2-10 (no order):
- THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE “Are You Experienced”
- THE ROLLING STONES “Sticky Fingers”
- LED ZEPPELIN “Led Zeppelin IV”
- BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN “Born to Run”
- THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO “The Velvet Underground & Nico”
- PINK FLOYD “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn”
- CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL “Willy and the Poor Boys”
- 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS “13th Floor Elevators Live”
- SEX PISTOLS “Never Mind the Bollocks Here’s the Sex Pistols”
11-20:
1. THE KINKS “Face to Face”
2. BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD “Buffalo Springfield”
3. TOM WAITS “Blue Valentine”
4. THE DOORS “Strange Days”
5. IGGY & THE STOOGES “Raw Power”
6. FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS “Over-Nite Sensation”
7. NEIL YOUNG “Harvest”
8. THE CLASH “London Calling”
9. FLAMIN’ GROOVIES “Shake Some Action”
10. THE ANIMALS “Animalization”

9. POP (published 16/09/1994).
The best:
- THE BEATLES “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”
2-10 (no order):
- THEM “Them”
- THE BEACH BOYS “Pet Sounds”
- EASYBEATS “It’s 2 Easy”
- LOVE “Da Capo”
- ROCKPILE “Seconds of Pleasure”
- STEVE FORBERT “Jackrabbit Slim”
- ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS “Armed Forces”
- R.E.M. “Murmur”
- THE BEAT “The Beat” (it’s Paul Collins’ Beat and not The English Beat)
11-20:
1. QUESTION MARK & THE MYSTERIANS “96 Tears”
2. JONATHAN RICHMAN “Rock’n’Roll with the Modern Lovers”
3. GRAHAM PARKER “Squeezing out Sparks”
4. DAVE EDMUNDS “Repeat When Necessary”
5. THE KINKS “Face to Face”
6. BRINSLEY SCHWARZ “Silver Pistols”
7. THE REMAINS “The Remains”
8. THE PRETENDERS “The Pretenders”
9. THE ROMANTICS “The Romantics”
10. THE STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK “Incense and Peppermints”

10. POP ESPAÑOL (published 23/09/1994), I’ve included the year of release.
The best:
- NACHA POP “Nacha Pop” (1980)
2-10 (no order):
- KIKO VENENO “Échate un cantecito” (1992)
- LOS BRINCOS “Los Brincos (I)” (1964)
- SINIESTRO TOTAL “¿Cuándo se come aquí?” (1982)
- EL ÚLTIMO DE LA FILA “Enemigos de lo ajeno” (1986)
- BURNING “El fin de la década” (1979)
- GOLPES BAJOS “Golpes Bajos” (1983)
- RADIO FUTURA “La ley del desierto / La ley del mar” (1984)
- JOAN MANUEL SERRAT “Mediterráneo” (1971)
- ALASKA Y LOS PEGAMOIDES “Grandes éxitos” (1982), it’s not a compilation, although the title (Spanish for “Greatest Hits”) could make think so.
11-20:
1. GABINETE CALIGARI “Cuatro rosas” (1984)
2. NACHA POP “Buena disposición” (1982)
3. LOQUILLO Y LOS INTOCABLES “Los tiempos están cambiando” (1980)
4. RADIO FUTURA “La canción de Juan Perro” (1987)
5. LOS RODRÍGUEZ “Buena suerte” (1991)
6. LOS SECRETOS “Los Secretos” (1981)
7. SISA “Qualsevol nit pot sortir el sol” (1975)
8. LOS BRAVOS “Los Bravos” (1966)
9. ANTONIO VEGA “No me iré mañana” (1991)
10. TEQUILA “Rock And Roll” (1979)

In the last number they’ve included the complete list of Spanish records with the number of votes (so, in order of preference), including also 3 records previously published in the flamenco lists. So the complete list was:
1. NACHA POP “Nacha Pop” (1980)
2. KIKO VENENO “Échate un cantecito” (1992)
3. LOS BRINCOS “Los Brincos (I)” (1964)
4. SINIESTRO TOTAL “¿Cuándo se come aquí?” (1982)
5. EL ÚLTIMO DE LA FILA “Enemigos de lo ajeno” (1986)
6. VENENO “Veneno” (1977)
7. PATA NEGRA “Blues de la frontera” (1988)
8. BURNING “El fin de la década” (1979)
9. GOLPES BAJOS “Golpes Bajos” (1983)
10. RADIO FUTURA “La ley del desierto / La ley del mar” (1984)
11. JOAN MANUEL SERRAT “Mediterráneo” (1971)
12. ALASKA Y LOS PEGAMOIDES “Grandes éxitos” (1982)
13. NACHA POP “Buena disposición” (1982)
14. CAMARÓN “La leyenda del tiempo” (1979)
15. GABINETE CALIGARI “Cuatro rosas” (1984)
16. LOQUILLO Y LOS INTOCABLES “Los tiempos están cambiando” (1980)
17. RADIO FUTURA “La canción de Juan Perro” (1987)
18. LOS RODRÍGUEZ “Buena suerte” (1991)
19. LOS SECRETOS “Los Secretos” (1981)
20. SISA “Qualsevol nit pot sortir el sol” (1975)
21. LOS BRAVOS “Los Bravos” (1966)
22. ANTONIO VEGA “No me iré mañana” (1991)
23. TEQUILA “Rock And Roll” (1979)

Many thanks, Honorio!

Do you have the newspapers so that it's easy for you to sort out the compilations?

Of course I can help, Henrik. I’ve kept the newspapers for more than 10 years, but I forgot the lists till I’ve found it recently when I was arranging my room. The papers are completely yellow, you know.
In the newspapers they published the name of the albums, the record references of the 20 albums along with the covers, the list of songs and a short review of the 1-10 albums of every style. But, with help from allmusic, I can select the compilation albums. But probably it takes a little time, so I will post it in a few days.

The date of release referenced is the first release and it’s not always related with the catalog # referenced.

1. BLUES:
2-10 (no order):
- MUDDY WATERS “Muddy Waters Sings Big Bill Bronzy” (Chess-MCA CH-9197, 1960).
- ALBERT COLLINS, ROBERT CRAY & JOHNNY COPELAND “Showdown!” (Alligator Records / Sonet SNTCD-954, 1985).
- HOWLIN’ WOLF “Howlin’ Wolf / Moanin’ in the Moonlight” (Chess-MCA CHD-5908, CD reissue of the first 2 LPs, first release of the originals 1962).
- B. B. KING “Live at the Regal” (ABC 509/MCA UDCD 548, 1965).
11-20:
11. JOHN LEE HOOKER “John Lee Hooker… Alone” (Specialty SPS-2125, 1976).
15. ALBERT KING “I’ll Play the Blues For You” (Stax 8513, 1972).
16. HOUND DOG TAYLOR “Beware of the Dog” (Alligator AL4707, 1975).
17. KOKO TAYLOR “Off the Record” (the reference listed is Chess CH 9263, that appears in allmusic as “Koko Taylor” the first album by the artist, released in 1969; I don’t really know if “Off the Record” exists at all or if it was an Spanish release).
19. WILLIE DIXON “Willie’s Blues” (Prestige / Bluesville 1003 OBC-501, 1960).
20. MAGIC SAM “Magic Sam Live” (Delmark 645/646, 1982).


And the compilation albums (although some of them were released close to the recording dates like the one from Sonny Boy Williamson or were from artist not able to record albums for “time” reasons, like Robert Johnson or Leadbelly):
- ROBERT JOHNSON “The Complete Recordings” (Columbia C2K 46222-1990, 1990).
- ELMORE JAMES “The Sky Is Crying” (Charly R&B CD BM12, 1964)
- SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON “Keep It to Ourselves” (Storyville STCD-4179,1963)
- BESSIE SMITH “The Complete Recordings Vol. 1” (Columbia/Legacy C2K 47091, 1991).
- LITTLE WALTER “The Best of Little Walter Vol. 2” (Chess/MCA CHD-9292, 1989).
- LEADBELLY “Last Sessions Part One” (Folkways Records FA 2941, 1963).
- FREDDIE KING “1934-1976” (Polydor 831817-1, 1977).
- BUKKA WHITE “Aberdeen Mississippi Blues 1937-1940” (Travelin’ Man TM806, release date not available).
- SON HOUSE “The Legendary 1941-1942 Recordings” (Folklyrics 9002, release date not available).
- BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON “King of the Country Blues” (Yazoo L-1069, 1985).
- MAGIC SAM “Magic Sam Live” (Delmark 645/646, 1982). Not exactly a compilation, but released after the artist’s death.

2. R & R:
The best:
- CHUCK BERRY “St. Louis to Liverpool” (Chess/Zafiro 30112205, 1964).
2-10 (no order):
- ELVIS PRESLEY “Elvis Presley” (RCA Victor PL-85198, 1956).
- BO DIDDLEY “Go Bo Diddley” (Chess/Zafiro 30112206, 1959).
- EDDIE COCHRAN “Eddie Cochran” (Liberty LBY 1174F, I supposed that refers to the first LP of Eddie Cochran “Eddie Cochran” released in 1960 by Liberty, but the catalog reference, the cover and the list of songs don’t match exactly).
- FATS DOMINO “Live in Europe” (United Artist Records/Ariola 25610-1, 1977).
- ROY ORBISON “At the Rock House” (Charly-CFE ES-163, 1959).
11-20:
12. THE COASTERS “The Coasters” (ATCO 33101, 1958).
14. CARL PERKINS, CHARLIE RICH & JERRY LEE LEWIS “Trio” (Sun Records/Auvi L7 SU28, 1978).
15. JOHNNY BURNETTE “Rock’n’Roll Trio” (Coral 10041, 1956).
19. EVERLY BROTHERS “Rockin’ With” (Cadence Records 333, 1960).
20. BO DIDDLEY/CHUCK BERRY “Two Great Guitars” (Chess Records CH 9170, 1964).


And the compilation albums:
- BUDDY HOLLY “For the First Time Anywhere” (MCA MCM 1002, not really a compilation but an album released in 1983 with the original, undubbed versions of songs appeared in posthumous albums like “Reminiscing”).
- JERRY LEE LEWIS “The EP Collection” (See For Miles Records SEECD 307, release date not available).
- VARIOUS “American Graffiti” (Chess/MCA Records CHD-5908, 1973).
- LITTLE RICHARD “His Greatest Recordings” (ACE CDCH 109, 1990).
- BILL HALEY AND HIS COMETS “Armchair Rock and Roll” (MCA/Fonogram 63 28 864 GT.04, 1978).
- PHIL SPECTOR “Back to Mono (1958-1969)” (ABKCO 7118 2-EMI, 1991).
- THE DRIFTERS & CHARLIE THOMAS “Greatest Hits Live” (Topline Records/Zafiro 30112197, release date not available).
- THE PLATTERS “Twenty Classic Hits” (Mercury 9100 048, 1978).
- RITCHIE VALENS “The History of Ritchie Valens” (Twins TC3 (TE), 1985).

Honorio,

Thousand thanks for doing this!

Not at all, Henrik. It's a pleasure for me to help.

3. COUNTRY:
2-10 (no order):
- INTERNATIONAL SUBMARINE BAND “Safe at Home” (Statik Records ATAT LP 26, 1968).
- THE BYRDS “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” (CBS EMB 31124, 1968).
- FLACO JIMÉNEZ “El sonido de San Antonio” (Arhoolie Records 3014, 1980).
11-20:
13. THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS “The Gilded Palace of Sin” (Edsel ED 191, 1969).
14. THE NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” (United Artists UA-LA 9801, 1972).
16. DANNY & DUSTY “The Lost Weekend” (Zippo Records Zong 007, 1985).
17. EMMYLOU HARRIS “Pieces of the Sky” (Reprise K54037, 1975).
18. GENE AUTRY “South of the Border / All American Cowboy” (Republic 6011, 1976).
19. BOB WILLS & HIS TEXAS PLAYBOYS “For the Last Time” (United Artists UA LA 216-J2, 1974).
20. GARTH BROOKS “No Fences” (Capitol 7955032, 1990).


And the compilation albums (some of them strange choices, not included in allmusic.com, maybe Spanish editions):
- HANK WILLIAMS “20 Greatest Hits” (Grand Canyon 35001, release date not available).
- THE CARTER FAMILY “The Carter Family on Border Radio” (JEMF 101, release date not available).
- WOODY GUTHRIE “Original Recordings Made by Woody Guthrie (1940-1946)” (Hispavox HRES 291-90, possible release date 1977).
- JOHNNY CASH “The Vintage Years (1955-1963)” (Rhino RNLP 70229, 1987).
- BILL MONROE AND THE BLUEGRASS BOYS “Live Recordings 1956-1959” (Smithsonian Folkways SF CD 40063, 1993).
- PATSY CLINE “The Patsy Cline Collection” (MCA MCAD4-10421, 1991).
- CHET ATKINS “The RCA Years” (RCA 61095-2, 1992).
- JIMMIE RODGERS “Best of the Legendary Jimmie Rodgers” (RCA LSP 3315, possible release date 1965).
- WILLIE NELSON “Willie Nelson Live (Drunk)” (RCA APL1, release date not available).
- FLATT & SCRUGGS “20 All Time Greatest Recordings” (Columbia CG 30, 1983).

I never thought I'd see Danny and Dusty's "The Lost Weekend" (a very occasional on-the-side project by Dan Stuart of Green On Red and Steve Wynn) in an all-time list. I'll put the thing on as soon as I get home.

4. JAZZ:
2-10 (no order):
- MILES DAVIS “Kind of Blue” (CBS 460603 2, 1959).
- JOHN COLTRANE “Giant Steps” (Atlantic 7567-81337-2, 1960).
- BENNY GOODMAN “Live at Carnegie Hall” (Columbia SL-160 , 1950).
- THELONIOUS MONK TRIO “Thelonious Monk Trio” (Prestige OJCCD 010-2, 1954).
11-20:
15. CLIFFORD BROWN & MAX ROACH “At Basin Street” (Emarcy/Mercury 8336 707, 1956).
16. ELLA FITZGERALD “Ella Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook” (Verve MGV-4010-4, 1957).
17. BILL EVANS “Waltz for Debby” (Riverside OJCCD 210-2, 1961).
18. ART BLAKEY & THE JAZZ MESSENGERS “Moanin’” (Blue Note CD B21Y-46516, 1958).
20. ART TATUM & BEN WEBSTER “The Tatum Group Masterpieces Vol 8” (Pablo CD 2405-31, 1956).


And the compilation albums:
- DUKE ELLINGTON “The Original Edward ‘Duke’ Ellington Hits. Vol. 1 1927 / 31” (King Jazz KJ 144 FS, 1993, not in allmusic.com).
- LOUIS ARMSTRONG “The Complete Louis Armstrong & The Singers 1924 / 30” (King Jazz KJ 140 FS, 1993, not in allmusic.com).
- DJANGO REINHARDT “Djangologie / USA” (Swing CDSW 8421/2, 1988).
- BILLIE HOLIDAY “The Quintessential Billie Holiday Volume 3 (1936-37)” (CBS 460820/2, 1988).
- DIZZY GILLESPIE “Groovin’ High” (Savoy/Denon SV-0152, 1992).
- CHARLIE PARKER “Bird / The Savoy Recordings (Master Takes)” (Savoy-RCA/Ariola ZD 70737, 1978).
- JERRY ROLL MORTON “The Pearls” (RCA/Bluebird CD ND 86588, 1993).
- BENNY CARTER “The Chronological Benny Carter and His Orchestra, 1933-36” (Classics CD 530, 1990, not in allmusic.com).
- COUNT BASIE “The American Decca Years” (the number relates really to “The Complete Decca Recordings”, Decca/GRP 36112, 1992).
- CHARLIE CHRISTIAN “The Genius of the Electric Guitar” (Columbia CD 460612-2, 1990).
- LESTER YOUNG “These Foolish Things” (Aladdin/Jazz workshop, not in allmusic.com, and anywhere else).


I’ve got valuable help from the nice Spanish jazz page http://www.apoloybaco.com/paginamaestrajazz.htm (well, really a page about jazz, wine and Spanish literature). Henrik, you probably may find useful “Los mejores 100 discos de Jazz” (“The best 100 Jazz Records”), if you don’t have use it already you can find it in http://www.apoloybaco.com/discosbasicosprincipal.htm.

Yes, I have this list already (it's included).

Thanks!

5. SOUL:
2-10 (no order):
- OTIS REDDING “The Dock of the Bay” (Atlantic-ATCO 7567-80254-2, 1968).
- ARETHA FRANKLIN “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” (Atlantic-Hispavox 500-107 S, 1967).
- MARVIN GAYE “What’s Going On” (Motown 530 022-2, 1971).
- WILSON PICKETT “In the Midnight Hour” (Atlantic-Rhino 8122-71275-2, 1965).
- SAM & DAVE “Soul Men” (Atlantic-Rhino 8122-70296-2, 1967).
- RAY CHARLES “The Genius of Ray Charles” (Atlantic-Warner 7567-81338-2, 1959).
- EDDIE FLOYD “Proud Mary” (Stax 2017, the number and the song listing relates to “You’ve Got to Have Eddie” published in 1969, maybe “Proud Mary” was the name of the Spanish edition).
11-20:
11. STEVIE WONDER “Tribute to Uncle Ray” (Tamla 232, 1963).
12. AL GREEN “Green Is Blues” (Hot Line 32055, 1970).
13. ISAAC HAYES “In the Beginning” (Atlantic 1599, 1972).
14. ETTA JAMES “Sings for Lovers” (Cadet 4018, 1963).
16. THE MIRACLES “Hi We’re the Miracles” (Motown 220, 1961).
17. IKE TURNER “A Black Man’s Soul” (Pompeii 6003, 1969).
18. CURTIS MAYFIELD “Roots” (Buddah BDLH 5006, 1971).
19. JACKIE WILSON “Body & Soul” (Brunswick 754105, 1962).
20. BOBBY BLAND “Soul of the Man” (Duke X79, 1966).


And the compilation albums:
- SAM COOKE “The Man and His Music” (RCA PD87127, 1986).
- JAMES BROWN “Sex Machine. The Very Best of James Brown Volume 1” (Polydor 845 828-2, 1991, not in allmusic.com).
- PERCY SLEDGE “The Best of Percy Sledge” (Atlantic-Warner LB 40026, 1969).
- BEN E. KING “Ben E. King Story” (Atlantic K50139, 1975).

I thought "Sex Machine" was the live album from 1970. Are you sure it isn't?

Henrik, there is in fact an anthology titled SEX MACHINE: THE VERY BEST OF JAMES BROWN. It's on Amazon.uk, and it appears to be a UK release from the Nineties. It is not to be confused with the "live" 1970 album, which isn't really live but that's a whole other story ...

Yes, Henrik and Harold, it's the James Brown unknown compilation, not the original 1970 album.

6. FLAMENCO.
The best:
- CAMARÓN “La leyenda del tiempo” (Pilips 838 832-2, 1979).
2-10 (no order):
- PACO DE LUCÍA “Fuente y caudal” (Philips 832 340-2, 1973).
- VENENO “Veneno” (CBS S82275, 1977).
- SABICAS “Flamenco puro” (Hispavox 7 98992 2, 1961).
- KETAMA “Ketama” (Nuevos Medios 15128, 1985).
- PATA NEGRA “Blues de la frontera” (Nuevos Medios 15 289, 1988).
11-20:
14. ENRIQUE MORENTE – PEPE HABICHUELA “Homenaje a Antonio Chacón” (Hispavox/Clave 18-1380-815, 1976).
19. FERNANDA Y BERNARDA DE UTRERA “Cante flamenco” (Radio France OCORAC55 8642, 1984).
20. KETAMA / TOUMANI DIABATE / DANNY THOMPSON “Songhai” (Nuevos Medios 13 335, 1988).


And the compilation albums:
- ANTONIO MAIRENA “Antología Antonio Mairena, volumen 9” (RCA-BMG, 1992).
- ANTONIO CHACÓN “Leyendas del cante” (EMI 7991322, 1992).
- MANUEL TORRE “Leyendas del cante” (EMI 7991342, release date not available).
- PEPE DE LA MATRONA “Maestros del cante” (Hispavox 7 81369 2, 1992).
- PEPE MARCHENA “Leyendas del cante” (EMI 7991332, 1992).
- MANOLO CARACOL “El rey del cante” (3 Volumes, Orfeón/Sony, 1994).
- ANTONIO MAIRENA “La gran historia del cante gitano andaluz” (Alambra SCE 914/16, release date not available).
- FOSFORITO “Grandes cantaores flamencos” (Philips 522-313 2, 1994).
- VARIOUS “Magna antología del cante flamenco” (10 Volumes, Hispavox 7991642, 1992).
- EL LEBRIJANO “Grandes cantaores flamencos” (Philips 552-313 2, 1994).
- VARIOUS “Los jóvenes flamencos” (3 Volumes, Nuevos Medios, 1990, 1992, 1994).

I’ve got lot of help from the book “La discoteca ideal del flamenco” from Ángel Álvarez.

7. ETHNIC.
The best:
- YOUSSOU N’DOUR ET LE SUPER ETOILE DE DAKAR “Immigrés / Bitim Rew” (Earthworks-Virgin CDEWV10, 1984).
2-10 (no order):
- CESARIA EVORA “Miss perfumado” (Mélodie 79540-2, 1992).
- CELIA CRUZ Y TITO PUENTE “Quimbo quimbumbia” (Tito records TRSLP 1193, 1969).
- CHEB KHALED & SAFI BOUTELLA “Kutché” (Stern’s Africa 1024, 1989).
- JOHNNY CLEGG & SAVUKA “Shadow Man” (EMI 7 90815 1, 1989).
- NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN “Devotional Songs” (Real World-Virgin RWMCD2, 1992).
- ALI FARKA TOURÉ “The Source” (World Circuit WCD 030, 1991).
11-20:
11. SALIF KEITA “Soro” (Island 208 904, 1987).
15. THAMILA “Thamila aux enfants berberes” (La voix du Magreb 82842-2, 1992, not in allmusic.com)
17. THE TEREM QUARTET “Terem” (Real World CDRW23, 1992).


And the compilation albums:
- VARIOUS “Tibetan Buddhism / Tantras of Gyütö” (Elektra-Nonesuch 79198-2, 1972).
- CAETANO VELOSO “Sem lenço, sem documento. The Best of Caetano Veloso” (Verve-Polygram 836 528-2, 1990).
- VARIOUS “Cuba Fully Charged” (Earthworks 30, 1993).
- VARIOUS “Live from El Salvador” (Redwood Records RRC 9101, 1991).
- VARIOUS “A Luaka Bop. To Scratch. Roots, Rock and Rhythm” (Warner Bros 26789, 1991).
- VARIOUS “Centreafrique: anthologie de la musique des pygmées aka” (Radio France OCORA C559012, 1980).
- VARIOUS “The Spirit Cries: Music from the Rainforest of South America & the Caribbean” (The Library of Congress-Rykodisc RCD 10250, 1993).
- VARIOUS “Las diosas del ritmo” (Manzana MACD12, 1994, not in allmusic.com).
- VARIOUS “Huayno Music of Peru Volumen 1 (1949-1989)” (Arhoolie CD 320, 1989).
- VARIOUS “Shakuhachi. The Japanese Flute” (Elektra Nonesuch 7559-72076-2, 1991).


And that's all cause there are no compilations in the last three (Rock, Pop and Spanish Pop).