Nice thread Jess!
For me, albums were a big thing over singles, though with itunes I have started grabbing more singles here and there (though still get albums every now and again)
Joe Bonamassa - Any album, live ones are very good - Music Entertainer (Blues/Rock) who has been paying his dues musically since he was 11 when he opened for B.B. King. Some great songs (many covers, as is blues tradition) and some great originals. Exciting player, though he admits himself he probably plays too many notes at times. He's part of a spearhead of reviving the blues.
Guns and Roses - Appetite for Destruction - I was young when it came out, but the songs were part of the background sound of my youth. Some of the content is raunchy, and there is mention of drug use. I'll leave you to use your discretion. Songs on it for singles - Welcome to the Jungle, Sweet Child o' Mine, and Paradise City (they got a fair bit of radio play) Also from the Use your illusion albums, November Rain is a nice rock ballad with some good synth-strings and flutes.
Led Zeppelin - Any of their albums. With them you get to hear a lot of other artists work as well (the lifted a fair few bits from others and there were as many law suits
) but a few of my stand outs - Stairway to Heaven (probably their most radio played song), Since I've Been Loving You, Kashmir, Black Dog
B.B. King - Any albums - One of the 3 Kings of the Blues (probably the most well known, Albert and Freddie being the other two). Great touch and emotion through the guitar. Blues feel is all the way though so the lyrics are often simple but have meaning. Notable songs - The Thrill is Gone, Better not look down (an upbeat happy blues), When Love Comes to Town Ft. U2, I Like to Live the Life I Sing about, I'll Survive
Frank Sinatra - Has many songs he is well known for, and you can usually get compilation albums at Tesco (or other store) for fairly little cash. Songs - Fly me to the moon, Autumn Leaves, My Way. I'll add here that much of the music of this style/era have become Jazz Standards. For playing you can buy the scores of many songs in "Real Books" that give you the harmony and melody. For a vocalist you can add little twists to make the songs your own as an exercise
Greenday - Nimrod - probably their most successful album. Teenage angst through and through. Up there with Nirvana in my books. Songs - Good Riddence
(Time of your life), Hitching a Ride, and from the previous album, Dookie, When I Come Around
Nirvana - Nevermind, In Utero - Grunge, speaks to several generations - Smells Like Teen Spirit, Come as You Are, Heart Shaped Box, In Bloom - basically all of their work.
KISS - Sever albums, a best of will get you a good selection - Face painted Glam Rockers, KISS were/are excellent at writing hooks. Fairly simple songs played with gusto, but they tend to draw you in and get stuck in your head.
AC/DC - Back in Black, For those about to Rock ...so many... - Basic Rock and Roll that just gets into you. It's a simple formula that they haven't changed. "I'm sick and tired of people saying that we put out 11 albums that sound exactly the same. In fact, we've put out 12 albums that sound exactly the same." - Angus Young during an interview with Jim Farber (February 27, 2000) - Songs - any of them really.... Back In Black, Hell's Bells, For Those About to Rock, Thunderstruck
I'm sat here and there is over 22GB of music on my work computer alone. The above are some of my favourites though. And yes, most are either guitar driven or feature guitar prominently.
That should keep you going for a bit
