Steve Albini’s 20 favourite songs of all time
American musician and record producer Steve Albini once shared his 20 favourite songs of all time, with a list featuring the likes of John Cale, the Birthday Party and Dolly Parton. Though noted most of all for his penchant for punk-tinged revelry, the list showcases what Albini truly championed in the world of music: authenticity.
Though forever aligned with Pixies, Nirvana and PJ Harvey for his production work, Albini was never a producer who categorised himself by genre. His warts-and-all approach to sitting behind the mixing desk may have best suited the alternative rock sounds emanating from the 1990s, but he was always open to the sounds of society’s furthest corners.
To prove that, Albini once shared a list of his favourite tracks of all time. Of course, like any real muso, he caveated his selection by stating that he tried to avoid songs that he had worked on. However, given that he estimates that he worked on several thousand songs over the years, this was easier said than done.
Along with the aforementioned giants of alt-rock, Albini also found himself in the studio with legendary performers such as the Wedding Present, The Breeders, Cheap Trick, Jarvis Cocker, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and hundreds of others.
When Far Out spoke to the Wedding Present’s David Gedge, he explained what it was like working with Albini: “We just really got on,” he said. “He’s got this reputation of being difficult to work with, but he was absolutely perfect for us.“
Gedge continued: “It’s all boring stuff really, but he just knows about EQ’s and where to put microphones so that a drumkit sounds right, all the boring stuff that I have no interest in really.” As Albini said himself, one of the key tenets of his work is to bond with the artists over shared formative experiences and influences.
This has made him a very in-demand producer, and there is one track he worked on that he had to make an exception for, as he stated on Twitter: “Did 20 songs, tried not to include any I worked on but made an exception for Nina.”
On the list are some incredible songs. The heartbreakingly beautiful ‘Jolene’ from Dolly Parton finds a spot on the list alongside fellow country hero Johnny Cash and his song ‘Rock Island Line’. Post-punk is also represented by Wiper’s hit ‘Romeo’ on the list with ‘Rocket USA’ by Suicide, as well as The Birthday Party and The Modern Lovers.
With Stevie Wonder, Bill Wither, and even The Proclaimers included, the list is a showcase of just how wide-reaching Albini’s musical tastes truly were. We’ve wrapped these tracks up in a playlist for your enjoyment below.
Steve Albini’s 20 favourite songs:
- ‘I Don’t Wanna Go Down to the Basement’ – Ramones
- ‘Rock Island Line’ – Johnny Cash
- ‘Barracuda’ – John Cale
- ‘Who is he and What is he to You?’ – Bill Withers
- ‘Every Day’ – Buddy Holly
- ‘Mob Clash’ – Effigies
- ‘Rocket USA’ – Suicide
- ‘Superstition’ – Stevie Wonder
- ‘Mich Kreight ihr Nicht’ – Tommi Stumpff
- ‘Leeches’ – Naked Raygun
- ‘She is Beyond Good and Evil’ – The Pop Group
- ‘I Had a Good Mother and Father’ – Washington Phillips
- ‘Der Mussolini’ – DAF
- ‘Showroom Dummies’ – Kraftwerk
- ‘Big Jesus Trashcan’ – The Birthday Party
- ‘That’s When the Brick Goes Through the Window’ – The Oil Tasters
- ‘Hamburger Martyr’ – Killdozer
- ‘Stingray’ – Didjits
- ‘Let’s Start Doing (What we Came Here to Do)’ – Clarence Carter
- ‘This Is What It Is’ – Nina Nastasia
- ‘500 Miles’ – Proclaimers
- ‘Jolene’ – Dolly Parton
- ‘Hospital’ – The Modern Lovers
- ‘Follow That Car’ – MX-80
- ‘Neo-Fascist’ – Appliances SFB
- ‘Brand New Rambler’ – Smashchords
- ‘Romeo’ – Wipers