BEST OF 2018: Fred Rudofsky’s Top 31 Albums

By Greg Haymes On Dec 26, 2018

By Fred Rudofsky

Why 31? It’s a prime number, and it was a prime year for new albums in CD and LP formats.

31. Sister Sparrow: Gold (Thirty Tigers)

30. Bombino: Deran (Partisan)

29. Sam Lewis: Loversity (Loversity Records)

28. Joan Baez: Whistle Down the Wind (Razor & Tie)

27. John Hiatt: The Eclipse Sessions (New West)

26. Charlie Musselwhite & Ben Harper: No Mercy in This Land (ANTI-)

25. Joe Louis Walker, Bruce Katz, & Giles Robson: Journeys to the Heart of the Blues (Alligator)

24. Amy Helm: This Too Shall Light (Yep Roc)

23. Paul NcCartney: Egypt Station (Capitol)

22. Sue Foley: The Ice Queen (Stony Plain)

21. Marcia Ball: Shine Bright (Alligator)

20. Hamell on Trial: The Night Guy at the Apocalypse Profiles of a Rushing Midnight (Saustex)

19. Willie Nelson: Last Man Standing (Legacy)

18. Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio: Something Smells Funky ‘Round Here (Alligator)

17. Rosanne Cash: She Remembers Everything (Blue Note)

16. The Chandler Travis Three-O: Backward Crooked from the Sunset (Iddy Biddy)

15. Cyrille Aimee: Live (Mack Avenue)

14. John Prine: The Tree of Forgiveness (Oh Boy)

13. Sam Phillips: World on Sticks (Littlebox)

12. Richard Thompson: 13 Rivers (New West)

11. Alejandro Escovedo: The Crossing (Yep Roc)

10. Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles: Love’s Middle Name (Blue Corn Music)

9. Barrence Whitfield & The Savages: Soul Flowers of Titan (Bloodshot)

8. Walter “Wolfman” Washington: My Past Is My Future (ANTI-)

7. Ry Cooder: The Prodigal Son (Fantasy)

6. Shemekia Copeland: America’s Child (Alligator)

5. Willie Nile: Children of Paradise (River House)

4. Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore: Downey to Lubbock (Yep Roc)

3. Buddy Guy: The Blues Is Alive and Well (Silvertone)

2. Bettye LaVette: Things Have Changed (Verve)

1. Neko Case: Hell-On (ANTI-)