Norah Jones' debut album took the world by storm, a jazz-inspired disc that started out as a favorite of critics. The album went on to sell more than 18 million copies. It also earned Jones eight Grammy Awards.

Eddie Vedder and Company were coping with the new found fame from their debut album when they recorded this follow-up. This album sealed them a hardcore fan base with seven of its twelve songs becoming hits.

Belle and Sebastian grew out of a class project and became a sensation in the U.K. due to word of mouth. Their third album, which is steeped in a wide array of musical influences, grew their audience even more, and earned them a coveted Brit Award.

Before this album was released Warren Zevon was a singer/songwriter with a few albums out. His biggest claim to fame was that Linda Ronstadt had recorded some of his songs. "Excitable Boy" was the big breakout album for him, containing the big hit "Werewolves of London", a song that takes days to get out of my head.

Shortly after the American Folk revival that followed the frenzy around the "O, Brother Where Art Thou?" soundtrack, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings released this album filled with heartfelt folk songs.

Oasis' second album came somewhere between the band having the fastest selling debut in British history, and their declaration that they were bigger than the Beatles. This album is often considered one of the greatest albums in British rock.

James Brown and his 16-piece band did a weeklong stint at Harlem's Apollo Theater late in 1962. This live recording was financed completely by Brown, and he went against his record label's wishes to make it in the first place. The album has been called one of the greatest live albums ever recorded, and was on the album charts for close to a year and a half.

Nina Simone and her music were just being rediscovered in 2003, when she passed away at age 70. This album, a selection of blues originals and covers, is considered to be one of her most solid albums.

For Dar Williams' long time fans, hearing this album must have been rather shocking, like when Dylan went electric. Williams set aside her acoustic singer-songwriter side and released this more "plugged in" album that features drum machines and electric guitars backing up her soprano voice and colorful songwriting skills.

This could be considered Robyn Hitchcock's break out album, but it's

also the band's major label debut. Globe of Frogs demonstrates Hitchcock's quirky songwriting with members of the Soft Boys, R.E.M. and Squeeze along for the ride.