Building a 100 album vinyl collection 3 must have albums are?

Aja

Dark Side

Kind of Blue

Too easy. A better discussion if you are trying to discover (to some degree) under appreciated albums for a 100 must have list is to ask for 10 albums of a specific type: pop/rock, classic jazz (acoustic), progressive jazz, big band, heavy metal, classical, etc.

I would have included the following for a top 10 that haven't been mentioned (my apologies if I missed an already listed):

Cannonball Adderley - Something' Else (a Miles album in my mind)

Steely Dan - Royal Scam

The Who - Quadrophenia

Jackson Browne - Running on Empty

Alan Parsons - I Robot

Traffic - John Barleycorn Must Die

Boz Scaggs - S/T

Bill Evans - Portrait in Jazz

Pat Metheny Group - S/T

Springsteen - The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle

XTC- English Settlement

Kraftwerk - Computer World

Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder

I take it a rap opera would be unsuitable?

OK, serious question: do you care for jazz? classical music? Have to check because some of the best recordings I know are in those genres.

Can’t do it. 
 

I need at least a vague idea of what your preferences are. 
 

I have 6,000 LPs, dunno if I could choose 30, never mind 3. 

What a great thread!!! My three faves are all live albums.....I like to go to the show. In no particular order because I love them all:

1.  Live From Deep in the Heart of Texas, Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen.  THIS is beer drinking music by some of the best musicians you will ever hear. I have worn out 2 LPs...

2. Have to agree with WYOBOY "Waiting for Columbus" by Little Feat may be the best live album recorded. Got a MOFI copy that I prize!

3. A Show of Hands by Rush is just superb. The lyrics are as relevant today as when they were written. Excellent recording and production. My neighborhood knows this album well....

And just a throw in, one of the best produced albums I've ever heard

Recycled-Nektar I have clipped more amps with this recording than anything else in my library. Great fun, maybe the best album art ever!