Greg Michaels: What is Your Favorite Album of All Time? – Mine, ‘Hysteria’ Def Leppard

October and November over the years looks to have been a huge time for big album releases including many greatest hits compilations. Maybe it's because the gift giving season is coming up? In the case of new material maybe it is to get the album out in time for award consideration? 'Artpop' from Lady Gaga was released earlier this week. The new Eminem as well was out fairly recently.

I was looking back at the years, 1984 was massive for fourth quarter releases. Wham's 'Make It Big' 'Big Bang Boom' from Hall And Oates, Madonna's 'Like A Virgin' and 'Reckless' from Bryan Adams were all out in a matter of a few weeks. 'Building the Perfect Beast' by Don Henley and I'll even throw in 'Welcome To The Pleasure Dome' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood as big releases late in 1984.

I had everyone of those cassettes mentioned from 1984. Not sure if it was age where I was 12 but I must have spent a lot of paper route and or Christmas money at the record store that fall and winter. I even had 'Arena' from Duran Duran and 'The Riddle from Nik Kershaw, smaller releases but both from the same fourth quarter.

What are your favorite albums of all-time? My Top 20 without spending forever thinking are:

1.'Hysteria', Def Leppard
2. '1984', Van Halen
3. 'License To Ill', Beastie Boys
4. 'Back in Black', AC/DC
5. 'Waking Up The Neighbours', Bryan Adams
6. 'Heartbeat City', The Cars
7. 'Mad Mad World', Tom Cochrane
8. 'Slippery When Wet', Bon Jovi
9. 'Permanent Vacation', Aerosmith
10. 'Cross of Changes, Enigma
11. 'Ooh on the TLC Tip', TLC
12. 'Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness', Smashing Pumpkins
13. 'Purple Rain', Prince
14. 'Sports' Huey Lewis & The News
15. 'Bigger & Deffer', LL Cool J
16. 'Full Moon Fever', Tom Petty
17. 'Appetite For Destruction' Guns N' Roses
18. 'Fumbling Towards Ecstasy', Sarah McLachlan
19. 'Thriller', Michael Jackson
20. 'Blood Sugar Sex magik', Red Hot Chilli Peppers