This is stolen from Havard's new thread, with apologies to Havard for snitching this -- and I hope Joe or Jeri can cross link this to that thread -- but I would be interested in the much bigger category of top 100 Folk/Blues albums of the century (any 1880's albums can be included of course). You can submit from 1-10 (no multiple postings please) and at the end of the year (or when we get really sick of this) give a cleaned up list on Mudcat to supplement Havard's. In order to assist people who might like to buy these to fill out their libraries, some description, and availability would be nice. What are not just the best, but the essential records one has to have!!!!
I will kick this off with 3 basic folk records (maybe to save the other 7 for later):

1. The Carter Family: Anchored in Love (Complete Recordings, Rounder Vol. 1 -- CD)

2. The Carter Family: My Clinch Mountain Home
(Complete Recordings, Rounder Vol. 2 - CD)

These records of A.P., Sara, and Maybelle Carter are more or less the basic "big bang" records for the Appalachian and later folk/country boom. Volume 1 was recorded 72 years ago this week by Ralph Peer. Volume 2 months later. Volume 1 contains Wildwood Flower; Volume 2, I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes. All done over and over again by many artists in the next 72 years!!

3. The Essential Jimmie Rodgers (RCA - CD)

Among the other acts recorded by Ralph Peer in that famours week, was Jimmie Rodgers, who went on to be the most famous of all white country singers, including yodelling songs, hobo songs, blues, and others in his repertoire.

Anyone?
yours, Peter T. P.S. Sorry about the spelling of "Blues" -- ran out of space otherwise.