Trev and wpqx's music list got me energised! Here's my bizarre top 26 - some hardened obsessions confirmed yet again (the selections from rock), some beginner's forays (jazz), some insider's knowledge as wpqx says (indian, pakistani and bangladeshi music) and some impulsive "listening to right now" choices (need to stand the test of time). The absence of western classical is sorely regretted. It isn't a case of "not my kind of music"; just that I haven't heard enough of it yet. I am cheating too - 26 instead of 25. had a tough time restricting myself to that!

1. The Beatles - "Sgt Pepper" and "Abbey Road" (if i have to choose)
2. Pink Floyd - everything, simply everything, including the Syd Barrett phase that a lot of people find cacophonic! If i have to choose again, "Obscured By Clouds", "Dark Side of the Moon", Wish You were Here", "Division Bell".
3. Jethro Tull - again everything, particularly, "Aqualung", "Crest of A Knave", "Heavy Horses", "Songs From the Wood" (Tull is like mature wine...i like them more and more as I get on!)
4. Led Zeppelin - "Led Zeppelin", "Physical Grafitti" (I have 3 different live versions of "Whole Lotta Love") 
5. Bob Dylan - he should have made my list as a poet! if i have to choose, "Oh Mercy"
6. Sting - "The Soul Cages"
7. Bob Marley - everything about the man and his music! "Songs of Freedom" and "Legend" (with the Wailers) special mention
8. Grateful Dead - "American Beauty", "Workman's Dead"
9. Deep Purple - "Machinehead", "Purpendicular"
10. U2 - "Joshua Tree", "Rattle and Hum"
11. Dire Straits - "Money for Nothing", "Dire Straits", "Brothers In Arms"
12. John Coltrane - "My Favourite Things', "Giant Steps"
13. Pat Metheny - "Bright Sized Life"
14. Miles Davis - "Kind of Blue"
15. Rabindranath Tagore (this chap wrote 3000+ songs and composed music for each of them!!!...Warning: don't try him if you don't know the language)
16. "Shakti With John McLaughlin"
17. "Real Sugar" Sam Mills & Paban Das Baul
18. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (sufi qawali) - everything, particularly the song "kehna galat galat"
19. Abida Parveen (more for her sufi qawali than her ghazals) - her voice is incredible!
20. Junoon - "Azadi" (this is a pakistani band that does sufi rock)
21. Fuzon - they've produced only one album till date, so the numbers i am moved by - "Khamaj" and "Malhar" (very good work with hindustani classical music and rock)
22. "Lace, Fita, Lace" - James (Bangladesh) - this album uses sound elements and rhythmic patterns from the songs/recitations of hawkers - pathbreaking work!
23. Moheener Ghoraguli (a 70s band from West Bengal) - "Jhara Shomoyer Gaan" - pathbreaking work again!
24. Bangla (band from Bangladesh, working with traditional folk songs of Bengal and rock) - "Kimkortobyobimurha"
25. R. D. Burman - one of the greatest music composers India ever produced. he worked extensively for bollywood. gave a new direction to Hindi film songs.
26. Chandrabindoo (a band from West Bengal) - all their albums work with the idea of pastiche...pathbreaking lyrics... again, don't try this if you don't know the language! 

M