PFM - Per Un Amico - just a beautiful and imaginative album, understated yet extremely effective.

Genesis - Selling England By The Pound - honestly, I could have made up half of this list with the 1970-76 Genesis albums, but this one, wonderfully evocative of an England long since vanished, just about pips the others to the post

Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden - spare, haunting, and incredibly atmospheric. Talk Talk were way ahead of their time.

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of The Moon - OK, predictable choice, but its a big seller for a reason, this is a fantastic album that still sounds fresh.

Scott Walker - Scott 4 - brilliantly composed and arranged songs topped by Walker's wonderfully evocative voice. The Seventh Seal is a masterful track, one of my favourite opening songs of any album.

Midnight Oil - Red Sails In The Sunset - I've always loved the Oils; although Diesel And Dust was their commercial breakthrough, its the rawer and more vital-sounding predecessor which I return to most often

Death - Symbolic - An utter master-class in technical death metal. Some of the guitar soloing is out of this world, and Gene Hoglan's drumming is monsterous

Judas Priest - Stained Class - Still my favourite Priest album; how can any metaller worth their salt not thrill to the likes of Exciter, Saints In Hell and Beyond The Realms of Death?

Marillion - Clutching At Straws - I love both the Fish and Hogarth eras of Marillion, but this album still just shades it over the likes of Brave and Marbles - a great late-night listen.

Rush - Moving Pictures - Just a brilliant album that I never tire of. Enough said!

Queen - A Night At The Opera - the first album I ever bought, and I still play this regularly - such a varied but consistent album, with numerous stand-outs.

Steely Dan - Aja - wonderful songs, impecably played. Steve Gadd plays one of the more memorable drum solo's on the title track.

Opeth - Still Life - the album that got me into this superb Swedish band, and still the one I spin the most, although its got some close competition!

Joni Mitchell - The Hissing of Summer Lawns - this album immediately relaxes me when I'm feeling stressed - which I imagine I would do at times, stranded on an island!

Metallica - And Justice For All - pips Slayer's Reign In Blood to the post as my classic thrash album to take - despite the bass being inaudible, this is jam-packed full of some of the best thrash you will ever hear.

The Enid - In The Region Of The Summer Stars - where the worlds of classical and rock merge, The Enid's debut stands the test of time.

David Bowie - Station To Station - A pioneering classic, the missing link between Bowie's glam and new wave phases.