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Elliott Smith’s 17 favourite albums of all time
Elliott Smith’s favourite albums reflected the range of music that shaped his songwriting, from quiet folk to experimental records and rock. The choices offer listeners a way to trace some of his influences and see a more varied side of his musical tastes.
Nick Drake’s *Pink Moon* and Bob Dylan’s *The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan* are among the picks, alongside several Beatles records: *Abbey Road*, *Revolver* and *The White Album*. Smith said *The White Album* helped inspire him to become a musician; he also reportedly listened to Nico’s *The Marble Index* for months and admired Kiss.
In short
- Smith’s favourites spanned folk, rock and experimental music.
- The Beatles featured repeatedly, with *The White Album* a key influence.
- His choices also included Nick Drake, Bob Dylan, Nico and Kiss.
Explained simply
Elliott Smith was an American singer-songwriter whose carefully arranged songs often paired soft vocals with lyrics about difficult subjects. His music drew on folk, pop and rock, and the records he admired can help explain the different sounds and approaches behind his own work.
The albums named range from the spare folk of Nick Drake and Bob Dylan to the varied sounds of the Beatles, experimental music by Nico and hard rock by Kiss. Smith said the Beatles’ “White Album” helped inspire him to become a musician, and he reportedly listened to Nico’s “The Marble Index” for months.