Let's say that you're stranded on a desert island. Somehow, it has power. You can pick a "best of" or "greatest hits" CD of ten bands or singers with twenty songs on each. Who would you choose?
My Choices:
.Beatles
.Rolling Stones
.Depeche Mode
.U2
.Judas Priest
.Queen
.Lynyrd Skynyrd
.ZZ Top
.Killers
.The Police
@Nucky Nolan BBC had a great show with this subject where they would ask various people from all walks of life, academia, or fame this question. I expand to say full repertoire, not just single albums.
Karl Ritcher's set of Bach and Hayden
Iron Maidens catalog
Skynyrd
Hank Williams: Sr and Jr
Furtwängler's entire stuff
the Art Bell bumper music
Willie Nelson
Art Bell shows
Pantera
D.A.C.
Judas Priest
Megadeth
I could not stick to 10.