Yes, you’ve seen lists like this everywhere, every year. We’ve tried to mix things up a little bit by including old and new, as well as a mixture of styles and genres that have produced amazing guitar recordings. There are tons more than this list, of course, so I invite you all to share your favorite recordings by commenting below. It is also by no means an exhaustive list, so don’t get scared if we left anything out; there will be plenty more lists like this in the future. Without any further adieu, here is my first list of must-have guitar CDs:

Joe Satriani – Surfing with the Alien
For those of you like me, who grew up in the 1980′s, my first pick should certainly come as no surprise. The guitar teacher-cum-guitar hero credited with teaching the likes of Steve Vai and Kirk Hammett finally got his due with the release of his second CD, Surfing With the Alien. What makes this CD so important, aside from the brilliant compositions and excellent performances by everyone, is for many it was the first time that modal playing came to the forefront and really went beyond the typical pentatonic soloing of the 70′s. You could even see the guitar magazines follow suit and start to write article after article about modal improvisation and chord voicings going way beyond power chords.

Steve Vai – Flexable
The first time I heard Steve Vai play was the song “Blue Powder” which he wrote to promote a Carvin amp that was new at the time. (Consequently, the song was included on Vai’s “Passion and Warfare” CD.) Vai’s time with Frank Zappa is quite evident on Flexable;alien squeaks, stacked guitar harmonies, and swirling chord constructs make for a truly unique guitar record that takes many, many listens to get the full effect. Although “Passion” became Vai’s breakout CD that made him a household guitar name, it is the raw energy of Flexable that put him on the road to superstardom.

Allan Holdsworth – Road Games
UK-born guitarist Allan Holdsworth is, without question, one of the greatest guitarists ever. Dare I say he belongs in the Top 10? Brought to the attention of Warner Brothers Records by Eddie Van Halen, Holdsworth cut his teeth in bands such as Gong, U.K., and a stint with Level 42. Road Games (currently unavailable, but I suggest trying eBay to purchase) turned the world of guitar on its head. Saxophone-inspired hammer-on lead lines, haunting chord melodies, and even a vocal appearance by Cream’s Jack Bruce all combine to create one of the most sophisticated guitar records ever made. As saxophone players look to John Coltrane as the epitome of instrument mastery, so too do guitar players look to Allan Holdsworth.

Jeff Beck – Wired
In the interest of fairness and full disclosure I feel compelled to tell you that I’m not a huge fan of Jeff Beck. My personal taste tends to lean away from “blues” players, though I certainly respect their abilities and contributions to the guitar. Jeff Beck is known for his incredible tone and smooth lines, and his playing on Wired is certainly no exception. My favorite track is Beck’s interpretation of Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, an class jazz song written by Charles Mingus. You can also check out Beck playing GPPH on YouTube with Vinnie Colaiuta and teen bass sensation Tal Wilkenfeld.

Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced
What could I possibly say that hasn’t been said before about Jimi? Purple Haze, Manic Depression, Hey Joe, The Wind Cries Mary, Foxey Lady… classic after classic after classic. His unmistakable tone, sexually-charged stage presence, and unique songwriting has inspired generations to pick up the guitar. Are You Experienced is the quintessential Hendrix recording and certainly a necessary fixture in your CD collection.

Yngwie Malmsteen – Rising Force
He single-handedly started the neo-classical guitar revolution and turned millions of hard rock and heavy metal guitarists onto composers such as Bach and Mozart. Lightning-fast diminished runs and three-octave arpeggios highlight Malmsteen’s virtuosity, while slower passages (what there are of them) shows a melodic and – dare I say – tender side of his playing that amplifies the mystique.

Wes Montgomery – Smokin’ at the Half Note
Wes Montgomery is unarguably (in my opinion) the great jazz guitarist to ever touch the instrument. Always at the top of everyone’s “favorites” list, Wes’ Smokin’ at the Half Note CD puts his musical lyricism, soul, and beautiful improvisational structures on display for all to hear. From his thumb-picking single note lines to his octave runs, and even his simple yet gorgeous chord melody work, this CD is a great example of everything that Sir Wes was able to do with only six strings and no pick.

Pat Martino – Live at Yoshi’s
Pat’s is an amazing story of triumph over tragedy. After suffering a brain aneurysm and losing much of his memory (including his ability to play guitar) Pat relearned to play guitar by listening to his old albums. Accompanied by Joey DeFrancesco and Billy Hart, Live at Yoshi’s is the definitive example of Martino’s minor conversion bebop style, and his searing solo lines captivate the listener. I have seen Pat perform live many times, and every time I see him I am inspired to go home and practice.

Meshuggah – ObZen
I realize that to some, ObZen may seem like a bit of a stretch for a “must-have” CD; it did only just come out in 2009. But I was so impressed with the depth and range of this offering by the Swedish math-core metal band, I am compelled to put it on my list. 8-string guitars, very sophisticated polyrhythms, Allan Holdsworth-inspired lead lines, and haunting slow passages turn the CD into a beautifully-tortuous listening experience. I’ve been shedding my picking technique to be able to play along to the breakout song “Bleed”; almost there…

Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine
You have to understand, when this CD came out in 1992 there was no nu-metal, no Linkin Park, and save for the Public Enemy/Anthrax collaboration on “Bring Tha Noise” rap had no place alongside rock music. Sure, Aerosmith had “Walk This Way” with Run DMC, but it was viewed more as a novelty than a legitimate music style. Fueled by polarizing political lyrics and booming grooves, RATM’s debut CD Rage Against the Machine very much turned the music world upside down. Further, Tom Morello’s quirky guitar noises, turntable scratch-like rhythms, and pitch-shifting lead lines showed the metal world that it was okay to do something different, to be yourself and, more importantly, rage against the homogenized music scene of the late 1980′s.

So as to not have this list go on forever and ever, I will spare you my personal commentary on the next 10 must-have CDs and, instead, provide you with their CD covers. Suffice it to say that all of these CDs/players have greatly influenced guitarists all over the world, and you would be missing out tremendously by not having them in your collection.