8. Van Halen, Van Halen

This album is Desert Island level for me, and VH is one of my all-time faves (I'll still listen to every David Lee Roth album except 1984). Van Halen II is mostly vicious, although it cheeses out on "Dance the Night Away." Fair Warning triumphantly signaled the return of Eddie's attack mode (from the uneven Women and Children First). But both of them combined don't match our savage, yet melodic, introduction to these L.A. party boys.

7. Eric Clapton, Eric Clapton

I like the Derek and the Dominoes album the best of all Clapton's work. The John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers album is awesome as well. But when it comes to his solo stuff, the easy choice is Eric Clapton. In fact, Clapton's studio stuff went downhill after . . . and never came close. Lots of good songs, and a couple of decent albums like 461 Ocean Boulevard, but the first one, and its stellar cast of musicians (including his most of his Delaney & Bonnie/Domino mates), still reigns.

6. George Harrison, All Things Must Pass Clapton's best buddy (and my same-birthday mate!). You might have heard of him. He wrote a truckload of great Beatles songs, but thanks to the "two songs for George" rule, he still had enough for the inspirational triple album, All Things Must Pass once he went out on his own.

Sometimes you just write something that can't be beat. This was one of those times.