Taylor Swift — Red (2-LP)

Double Black Vinyl in Gatefold Jacket For her fourth album, Red, Swift moves straight ahead into pop. Nowhere is this shift clearer than on the album’s first single, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” a song co-written and produced by Max Martin, who is hardly the only big-name collaborator here. Dan Wilson, who co-wrote a chunk of Adele’s 21, works with Swift here, as does L.A. staple Butch Walker, Mark Foster of Foster The People, and singer/songwriter Lori McKenna, each musician guaranteeing the success of Red. Rolling Stone described the album as “Swift’s most eclectic set ever, ranging from ‘State Of Grace,’ a howling, U2-style epic with reverb-drenched guitars, to a sweet acoustic duet with Ed Sheeran. Another key track even features a Dubstep-inspired bass breakdown. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” became Swift’s first number #1 single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, recording the highest ever one-week sales figures for a female artist. Released: 12/4/12