Washington, DC is paradise to me! 51 albums of DC history by EyeKanFly

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Washington DC is home to some of the most powerful institutions and people on the planet, yet this is in stark contrast to the 700,000+ people who live within the District's borders: utterly powerless to change all but the most basic tenets of their local government.

These 51 albums encapsulate the artists, producers, venues, labels, and genres most important to the history and legacy of the District of Columbia. Some are by local DC artists, some are by artists who grew up in DC never to return in adulthood. Some are by foreigners who have made this city home, or maybe just passed through on a tour. Some are by artists who experienced DC at its best, and some are by artists who have experienced DC at its worst.

In addition to the 51 albums, here are a handful of honorable mentions, mostly songs or other recordings which don't fit into the "album" format. All however are important to the past, present, and future of Washington, DC:
- "A 1000 Times" - Hamilton Leithauser
- "Crew" - GoldLink
- "Embassy Row" - Pavement
- "Ghost of Old D.C." - J. B. Beverley & The Wayward Drifters
- "God Bless America" - Kate Smith
- "One Mint Julep" - The Clovers
- "Reunited" - Peaches & Herb
- "Summertime" - Billy Stewart
- "Swanee" - Al Jolson
- "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight" - The Postal Service
- "The Hustle" - Van McCoy
- "Ugly Man" - Danny Gatton
- "Washington D.C." - The Magnetic Fields
- "Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues" - Skip James
- Library of Congress recordings - Jelly Roll Morton; Woody Guthrie
- Native American music of the Eastern Woodlands - Piscataway Conoy Tribal Nation musicians

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21. (=)
Jazz Samba 
United States Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd
Buy album United States
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Charlie Byrd lived in and around DC for most of his life. He owned a club in Adam's Morgan which is now known as Songbyrd in tribute. This album was recorded at All Soul's Church on 16th St, 2 blocks away from Byrd's club. This album also set the stage for Getz's later career, especially the more famous album Getz/Gilberto. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
1962
Appears in:
113 charts
Rank Score:
421
Rank in 1962:
9
Rank in 1960s:
304
Overall Rank:
3,481
Average Rating:
 77 (110 votes)
Comments:
3
22. (=)

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Free Yourself 
United States Experience Unlimited
Buy album United States
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E.U. were a go-go band nearly as important to the genre as Chuck Brown. While this album was more funk-based than strict go-go, it helped introduce and develop the genre. Check out their later albums Rock Yuh Butt and Livin' Large for true go-go masterpieces. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
5 charts
Rank Score:
3
Rank in 1977:
793
Rank in 1970s:
7,682
Overall Rank:
89,321
Average Rating:
 76 (8 votes)
Comments:
0
23. (=)
Bows + Arrows 
United States The Walkmen
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While formed in NYC, the members of indie rock band The Walkmen all met and went to school together in DC. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
2004
Appears in:
125 charts
Rank Score:
837
Rank in 2004:
33
Rank in 2000s:
332
Overall Rank:
1,991
Average Rating:
 76 (178 votes)
Comments:
6
24. (=)
Live At The Cellar Door 
Live
United States The Seldom Scene
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The Cellar Door was once a burgeoning nightclub in DC which attracted musicians like Neil Young. While I tried to limit this list to one album per artist, the other album credited to the Seldom Scene is largely a tribute album, so I included this too since features the prog bluegrass band in their prime. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
5 charts
Rank Score:
13
Rank in 1975:
466
Rank in 1970s:
4,645
Overall Rank:
47,866
Average Rating:
 78 (9 votes)
Comments:
1
25. (=)
S.O.C. Mixtape Vol. 1 
United States Tarica June
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Third-generation DC-native Tarica June doesn't create conventional rap music, and it's all the better for it. The first track "But Anyway" is a love/hate-letter to the city. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
2014
Appears in:
3 charts
Rank Score:
3
Rank in 2014:
2,667
Rank in 2010s:
24,872
Overall Rank:
91,550
Average Rating:
 72 (1 vote)
Comments:
0
26. (=)
The Pink Album 
United States Tuscadero
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Tuscadero was of the most important indie acts on TeenBeat Records, based out of Arlington, VA. Their first single "Mt. Pleasant" is an homage to one of the only DC neighborhoods which seems to be even somewhat successful at resisting gentrification, and many of the rest of the tracks also put down gentrification. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
2 charts
Rank Score:
3
Rank in 1994:
1,583
Rank in 1990s:
16,018
Overall Rank:
103,307
Average Rating:
 72 (1 vote)
Comments:
0
27. (=)
Malcolm X Park 
United States Unrest
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Unrest was an indie rock band formed by Mark Robinson, who went on to found TeenBeat Records. This album pays homage to a central DC park. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
5 charts
Rank Score:
4
Rank in 1988:
930
Rank in 1980s:
8,745
Overall Rank:
77,642
Average Rating:
 69 (8 votes)
Comments:
0
28. (=)
Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape 
United States Me'shell Ndegeocello
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Bisexual bassist Me'shell Ndegeocello blends lots of genres, largely funk and soul. This album has references to the Southeast DC neighborhood Barry Farm, a neighborhood founded by free black Americans after the Civil War. Unfortunately the residents of the neighborhood were all evicted or relocated in 2018-2019, and the area is being developed under the Federal Choice program (the new name of the aforementioned Hope VI). [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
2002
Appears in:
21 charts
Rank Score:
22
Rank in 2002:
667
Rank in 2000s:
6,728
Overall Rank:
34,424
Average Rating:
 73 (13 votes)
Comments:
0
29. (=)
Sleepless In Soweto 
United States Asheru
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Asheru is largely known for writing and performing the music for The Boondocks TV series, but he's also been a teacher in DC since the 90s. This is his most developed album, featuring "Funky DC". His EP 3 Stars, 2 Bars (referencing DC's flag) is also worth a listen. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
2013
Appears in:
2 charts
Rank Score:
3
Rank in 2013:
2,692
Rank in 2010s:
28,328
Overall Rank:
103,225
Average Rating:
 72 (1 vote)
Comments:
0
30. (=)
Mr. Hollywood Jr., 1947 
United States Michael Penn
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Michael Penn (brother of actor Sean Penn), wrote a series of songs similar to those on Marvin Gaye's What's Going On. The tracks here largely reference World War II veterans and the changing landscape of post-war America. The intro track "Walter Reed" discusses a trip to the DC-area military hospital. [First added to this chart: 04/22/2021]
Year of Release:
2005
Appears in:
8 charts
Rank Score:
9
Rank in 2005:
1,163
Rank in 2000s:
11,228
Overall Rank:
57,195
Average Rating:
 71 (6 votes)
Comments:
0
Total albums: 51. Page 3 of 6
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Washington, DC is paradise to me! 51 albums of DC history composition

Decade Albums %


1930s 0 0%
1940s 0 0%
1950s 1 2%
1960s 5 10%
1970s 9 18%
1980s 10 20%
1990s 7 14%
2000s 7 14%
2010s 12 24%
2020s 0 0%
Country Albums %


United States 47 92%
Iran 1 2%
United Kingdom 1 2%
Ethiopia 1 2%
Iraq 1 2%
Compilation? Albums %
No 47 92%
Yes 4 8%
Live? Albums %
No 42 82%
Yes 9 18%
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 50 98%
Yes 1 2%

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 BEA's Top 100 re-ranked by EyeKanFly (2020)
50 States by EyeKanFly (2021)
Best Album of Every Year 1940-2021 by EyeKanFly (2021)
EyeKanFly's 1960s #101-200 by EyeKanFly (2020)
EyeKanFly's 1970s #101-200 by EyeKanFly (2020)
EyeKanFly's 1980s #101-200 by EyeKanFly (2020)
EyeKanFly's 1990s #101-200 by EyeKanFly (2020)
EyeKanFly's 2000s #101-200 by EyeKanFly (2023)
EyeKanFly's 2010s #101-200 by EyeKanFly (2023)
EyeKanFly's 2010s #201-300 by EyeKanFly (2023)
#101-200 Overall by EyeKanFly (2023)
#201-300 Overall by EyeKanFly (2023)
#301-400 Overall by EyeKanFly (2023)
#401-500 Overall by EyeKanFly (2023)
#501-600 Overall by EyeKanFly (2023)
#601-700 Overall by EyeKanFly (2023)
#701-800 Overall by EyeKanFly (2023)
#801-900 Overall by EyeKanFly (2024)
#901-1000 Overall by EyeKanFly (2023)
AM 0501-0600 by EyeKanFly (2021)
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AM 0801-0900 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 0901-1000 by EyeKanFly (2021)
EyeKanFly's 2020 #101-141 by EyeKanFly (2021)
NPR: The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women (part 1) by EyeKanFly (2021)
NPR: The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women (part 2) by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 1001-1100 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 1101-1200 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 1201-1300 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 0001-0100 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 0101-0200 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 0201-0300 by EyeKanFly (2021)
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AM 2101-2200 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 2201-2300 by EyeKanFly (2021)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 1) by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 2301-2400 by EyeKanFly (2021)
AM 2401-2500 by EyeKanFly (2021)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 2) by EyeKanFly (2022)
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AM 2601-2700 by EyeKanFly (2021)
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1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 3) by EyeKanFly (2022)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 4) by EyeKanFly (2021)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 5) by EyeKanFly (2022)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 6) by EyeKanFly (2022)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 7) by EyeKanFly (2022)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 8) by EyeKanFly (2022)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 9) by EyeKanFly (2022)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (part 10) by EyeKanFly (2022)
NPR Classical Guide by EyeKanFly (2023)
Albums where the genre is not the genre in the title by EyeKanFly (2024)

Washington, DC is paradise to me! 51 albums of DC history ratings

Average Rating: 
89/100 (from 5 votes)
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75/100
 Report rating		06/30/2022 21:50 MadhattanJack  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 15684/100
 
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Rating:  
100/100
From 08/04/2021 19:52
John Fahey Visits Washington DC...now that's something I need to hear!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 05/06/2021 18:32
Appreciate it EyeKanFly. Was definitely a bit of fun to make. Always wanted to and never got around to it until this year. Not going to kid myself and say it's done, but I'll admit I've stopped digging around the twoonie bins for a sec.

Oddly, Canada just released a 'Canada-based playlist' for people to 'do our census to', and there's a lot of suspicious overlap. I'm assuming the government has stolen my idea (as usual).

(I kid of course, but just a coincidence).

Hoping people pluck a few records from the list, whether or not they like them. The 70s folk scene in particular was very strong, and I'd double down on the northern indigenous work.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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