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NARM and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Announce the Definitive 200

After months of speculation, NARM and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have finally unveiled the official list of the 200 albums and soundtracks that comprise the Definitive 200. The Beatles' massively influential "St. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" tops the list, followed by "Dark Side of The Moon" by Pink Floyd, "Thriller" by Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin's "Led Zepplin IV" and U2's "Joshua Tree."

"The Definitive 200 urges people to remember that most of their favorite songs are part of a unique art form, the album," said NARM President Jim Donio. "In an era when record stores and album sales are somewhat embattled, NARM thought it was the perfect time to release this list, and have retailers promote these great, classic albums. There are no "Greatest Hits" or "Best Of" compilations. We are reminding folks what we already know to be true: albums, just like record stores, aren't going anywhere!"

The list was chosen by a committee of NARM retailers. Their selections spanned the past 50 years of modern popular music. A handful of artists have multiple albums on the list. "In compiling the list," continues Donio, "we asked retailers to think about the titles that fans keep coming back to, the titles that stand out for them. It's not just about sales, although albums that have sold well are obviously represented here. It's really about the passion that music buyers have shown for these particular titles and the albums' potential for enduring popularity today with new audiences. From Pop, Country, R&B, and Hip Hop albums just a few years old, to Rock, Blues, and Jazz classics released decades ago, the Definitive 200 are the albums everyone should own."

"The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation was really pleased to be asked to be part of this celebration," said Rock Hall President and CEO Joel Peresman. "The Definitive 200 honors a very diverse group of releases, and encourages fans to look to their own record collections and see what they are missing. Many of the Definitive 200 albums are by artists we have inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and others are by artists we may be inducting in the future. In fact, this year's induction ceremony on March 12th, will honor two bands with albums on the list: R.E.M. and Van Halen." This year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions will be broadcast live for the first time, on both AOL and VH1 Classic."

The release of the Definitive 200 list is being celebrated with events in Los Angeles and New York . On March 7, 2007, Brian Wilson will perform songs from the Beach Boys' classic album, "Pet Sounds," at a press conference in Capitol Studios' historic Studio A. Not to be outdone by the rich tradition of music in the great city of Los Angeles , the Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, has declared March 12th "Definitive 200 Day." To celebrate, legendary rapper/activist Chuck D will speak at a special event at J&R Music and Computer World. With his group, Public Enemy, Chuck D redefined music by addressing weighty issues about race, rage and inequality with a jolting combination of intelligence and eloquence never seen before.

The complete ranked list is below. For additional information visit www.definitive200.com.

1	BEATLES	SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND	1967
2	PINK FLOYD	DARK SIDE OF THE MOON	1973
3	MICHAEL JACKSON	THRILLER	1982
4	LED ZEPPELIN	LED ZEPPELIN IV	1971
5	U2	JOSHUA TREE	1987
6	ROLLING STONES	EXILE ON MAIN STREET	1972
7	CAROLE KING	TAPESTRY	1971
8	BOB DYLAN	HIGHWAY '61 REVISITED	1965
9	BEACH BOYS	PET SOUNDS	1966
10	NIRVANA	NEVERMIND	1991
11	PEARL JAM	TEN	1991
12	BEATLES	ABBEY ROAD	1969
13	SANTANA	SUPERNATURAL	1999
14	METALLICA	METALLICA	1991
15	BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN	BORN TO RUN	1975
16	PRINCE	PURPLE RAIN	1984
17	AC/DC	BACK IN BLACK	1980
18	ROLLING STONES	LET IT BLEED	1969
19	DOORS	DOORS	1967
20	GRATEFUL DEAD	AMERICAN BEAUTY	1970
21	SHANIA TWAIN	COME ON OVER	1997
22	WHO	WHO'S NEXT	1971
23	STEVIE WONDER	SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE	1976
24	FLEETWOOD MAC	RUMOURS	1977
25	PINK FLOYD	WALL	1979
26	ALANIS MORISSETTE	JAGGED LITTLE PILL	1995
27	NORAH JONES	COME AWAY WITH ME	2002
28	EMINEM	MARSHALL MATHERS LP	2000
29	OUTKAST	SPEAKERBOXX-LOVE BELOW	2003
30	DR. DRE	CHRONIC	1992
31	BEASTIE BOYS	LICENSED TO ILL	1986
32	GUNS 'N ROSES	APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION	1987
33	DIXIE CHICKS	WIDE OPEN SPACES	1998
34	MILES DAVIS	KIND OF BLUE	1959
35	EAGLES	HOTEL CALIFORNIA	1976
36	DEF LEPPARD	HYSTERIA	1987
37	SOUNDTRACK	GREASE	1980
38	MARVIN GAYE	WHAT'S GOING ON	1978
39	BEATLES	WHITE ALBUM	1968
40	SOUNDTRACK	SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER	1977
41	JIMI HENDRIX	ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?	1967
42	BEATLES	REVOLVER	1966
43	BOSTON	BOSTON	1976
44	BON JOVI	SLIPPERY WHEN WET	1986
45	U2	ACHTUNG BABY	1991
46	WHITNEY HOUSTON	WHITNEY HOUSTON	1985
47	LED ZEPPELIN	LED ZEPPELIN II	1969
48	DAVE MATTHEWS BAND	CRASH	1996
49	ROLLING STONES	STICKY FINGERS	1971
50	GREEN DAY	DOOKIE	1994
51	LED ZEPPELIN	HOUSES OF THE HOLY	1973
52	JONI MITCHELL	BLUE	1971
53	ELVIS PRESLEY	ELVIS AT SUN	2004
54	AEROSMITH	TOYS IN THE ATTIC	1975
55	LAURYN HILL	MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL	1998
56	BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN	BORN IN THE U.S.A.	1984
57	50 CENT	GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN'	2003
58	AC/DC	HIGHWAY TO HELL	1979
59	NOTORIOUS B.I.G.	LIFE AFTER DEATH	1997
60	VAN HALEN	VAN HALEN	1978
61	GREEN DAY	AMERICAN IDIOT	2004
62	BLACK SABBATH	PARANOID	1971
63	EMINEM	EMINEM SHOW	2000
64	JEWEL	PIECES OF YOU	1995
65	COLDPLAY	RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD	2002
66	MEATLOAF	BAT OUT OF HELL	1977
67	USHER	CONFESSIONS	2004
68	KID ROCK	DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE	1998
69	GEORGE HARRISON	ALL THINGS MUST PASS	1970
70	BILLY JOEL	STRANGER	1977
71	EAGLES	HELL FREEZES OVER	1994
72	VAN MORRISON	MOONDANCE	1970
73	REM	AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE	1992
74	PHIL COLLINS	NO JACKET REQUIRED	1985
75	METALLICA	MASTER OF PUPPETS	1986
76	FAITH HILL	BREATHE	1999
77	JOHNNY CASH	AT FOLSOM PRISON	1968
78	JOHN COLTRANE	LOVE SUPREME	1964
79	PINK FLOYD	WISH YOU WERE HERE	1975
80	MICHAEL JACKSON	OFF THE WALL	1979
81	MARVIN GAYE	LET'S GET IT ON	1973
82	BOB SEGER	NIGHT MOVES	1976
83	PAUL SIMON	GRACELAND	1986
84	LINKIN PARK	HYBRID THEORY	2000
85	PRINCE	1999	1983
86	DEF LEPPARD	PYROMANIA	1983
87	JANET JACKSON	CONTROL	1986
88	RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS	BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK	1991
89	DIRE STRAITS	BROTHERS IN ARMS	1985
90	TUPAC	ALL EYEZ ON ME	1996
91	MATCHBOX TWENTY	YOURSELF OR SOMEONE LIKE YOU	1996
92	RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS	CALIFORNICATION	1999
93	LED ZEPPELIN	PHYSICAL GRAFFITI	1975
94	NELLY	COUNTRY GRAMMAR	2000
95	CREED	HUMAN CLAY	1999
96	CLASH	LONDON CALLING	1979
97	CELINE DION	FALLING INTO YOU	1996
98	NEIL YOUNG	HARVEST	1972
99	SOUNDTRACK	DIRTY DANCING	1987
100	DIXIE CHICKS	HOME	2002
101	TOM PETTY	FULL MOON FEVER	1989
102	VAN HALEN	1984	1984
103	SOUNDTRACK	TITANIC	1997
104	CROSBY STILLS & NASH	DEJA VU	1970
105	TLC	CRAZYSEXYCOOL	1999
106	BECK	ODELAY	1994
107	KENNY G	BREATHLESS	1992
108	NWA.	STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON	1989
109	SEX PISTOLS	NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS	1977
110	BEATLES	RUBBER SOUL	1965
111	RADIOHEAD	O.K. COMPUTER	1997
112	SIMON & GARFUNKEL	BRIDGE OVER TROUBLE WATER	1970
113	DIXIE CHICKS	FLY	1999
114	METALLICA	AND JUSTICE FOR ALL	1988
115	MICHAEL JACKSON	DANGEROUS	1991
116	MARIAH CAREY	DAYDREAM	1995
117	SOUNDTRACK	TOP GUN	1999
118	ELTON JOHN	GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD	1973
119	POLICE	SYNCHRONICITY	1983
120	NO DOUBT	TRAGIC KINGDOM	1995
121	ROLLING STONES	BEGGAR'S BANQUET	1968
122	R KELLY	R	1998
123	TOOL	LATERALUS	2001
124	OASIS	WHAT'S THE STORY MORNING GLORY	1995
125	BOB MARLEY	EXODUS	1977
126	JOURNEY	ESCAPE	1981
127	CHRISTINA AGUILERA	CHRISTINA AGUILERA	1999
128	JAY-Z	BLUEPRINT	2001
129	ALICIA KEYS	DIARY OF ALICIA KEYS	2003
130	SOUNDTRACK	O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU?	2000
131	CARS	CARS	1978
132	ENYA	DAY WITHOUT RAIN	2000
133	NATALIE COLE	UNFORGETTABLE WITH LOVE NATALIE COLE	1991
134	SOUNDTRACK	FOOTLOOSE	1984
135	LIONEL RICHIE	CAN'T SLOW DOWN	1983
136	SARAH MCLACHLAN	SURFACING	1997
137	BONNIE RAITT	NICK OF TIME	1989
138	METALLICA	RIDE THE LIGHTNING	1984
139	SHERYL CROW	TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB	1993
140	FRANK SINATRA	IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS	1954
141	EARTH WIND FIRE	GRATITUDE	1975
142	ZZ TOP	ELIMINATOR	1983
143	WILLIE NELSON	RED HEADED STRANGER	1975
144	JOHN LENNON	IMAGINE	1971
145	TONI BRAXTON	TONI BRAXTON	1993
146	ETTA JAMES	AT LAST	1961
147	ELVIS PRESLEY	ELVIS PRESLEY	1956
148	CAT STEVENS	TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN	1970
149	SMASHING PUMPKINS	MELLON COLLIE & THE INFINITE SADNESS	1995
150	DAVE BRUBECK	TIME OUT	1959
151	JANET JACKSON	JANET	1993
152	QUEEN	A NIGHT AT THE OPERA	1975
153	OZZY OSBOURNE	BLIZZARD OF OZZ	1980
154	WILL SMITH	BIG WILLIE STYLE	1997
155	PRINCE	SIGN OF THE TIMES	1987
156	PUBLIC ENEMY	IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS TO HOLD US BACK	1988
157	BOB DYLAN	BLOOD ON THE TRACKS	1975
158	GEORGE MICHAEL	FAITH	1987
159	BOYZ II MEN	COOLEYHIGHHARMONY	1993
160	DESTINY'S CHILD	WRITING'S ON THE WALL	1999
161	JAY-Z	BLACK ALBUM	2003
162	AVRIL LAVIGNE	LET GO	2002
163	FUGEES	SCORE	1996
164	MADONNA	LIKE A VIRGIN	1984
165	LED ZEPPELIN	LED ZEPPELIN	1969
166	STEVIE RAY VAUGHN	TEXAS FLOOD	1983
167	STONE TEMPLE PILOTS	CORE	1992
168	ORIGINAL CAST	PHANTOM OF THE OPERA HIGHLIGHTS	1988
169	JETHRO TULL	AQUALUNG	1971
170	TUPAC	ME AGAINST THE WORLD	1995
171	DAVID BOWIE	RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST	1972
172	SHAKIRA	LAUNDRY SERVICE	2002
173	SOUNDTRACK	FORREST GUMP	2001
174	AL GREEN	CALL ME	1973
175	CURTIS MAYFIELD	SUPERFLY	1997
176	LIVE	THROWING COPPER	1994
177	GEORGE BENSON	BREEZIN'	1976
178	WHITE STRIPES	WHITE BLOOD CELLS	2001
179	LYNYRD SKYNYRD	PRONOUNCED LEH-NERD SKIN-ERD	1973
180	SADE	DIAMOND LIFE	1984
181	FLEETWOOD MAC	FLEETWOOD MAC	1975
182	PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS	BAND ON THE RUN	1973
183	BEYONCE	DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE	2003
184	ANITA BAKER	RAPTURE	1986
185	NAS	IIIMATIC	1994
186	BARBRA STREISAND	A STAR IS BORN	1976
187	EARTH WIND FIRE	THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD	1975
188	ANITA BAKER	RHYTHM OF LOVE	1994
189	JAY-Z	IN MY LIFETIME VOL 1	1997
190	LL COOL J	MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT	1990
191	STEELY DAN	AJA	1977
192	WILLIE NELSON	STARDUST	1978
193	ARETHA FRANKLIN	SPARKLE	1976
194	ANDREA BOCELLI	ANDREA	2004
195	BOB DYLAN	BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME	1965
196	LUTHER VANDROSS	NEVER TOO MUCH	1981
197	U2	ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND	2000
198	RUSH	2112	1976
199	OUTKAST	AQUEMINI	1998
200	GRAND FUNK RAILROAD	WE'RE AN AMERICAN BAND	1973

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