being a guitar player and growing up in 80's, i need to include a van halen album. i first listened to this in the late 80's and i think it has eddie's most inventive playing. his solos have more of an improvised/stretching quality.
It's always tough to choose between Fear of a Black Planet and It Takes a Nation of Millions. I went with the one that (seemingly at least) had less Flavor Flav.