Sloop, leaving out the bootlegs, the Can discography is quite small.
Essentially their work can be split into two periods: 1968 to 1974; and 1975 and after.
All the albums - with the possible exception of Delay (1968) - from the first period are absolutely essential: Monster Movie, Tago Mago (their masterwork), Soundtracks, Ege Bamyasi, Future Days and Soon After Babaluma. If you like TM I'd go for Monster Movie next.
The second period is more patchy: I'd say the only ones from this period that are completely essential are Flow Motion and Unlimited Edition. The others - Landed, Saw Delight, and Can (or Inner Space) all have their moments, and are worth having, but they aren't classic, game-changing Can. The 1989 reunion album Rite Time is OK at best. Out of Reach isn't as bad as the band say it is but I'd definitely say it's for completists.
The Peel Sessions is brilliant but quite hard to find. The Lost Tapes set has some great stuff on it but is aimed at the hardcore fan.
The hybrid SACD masters of the core catalogue all sound excellent and were done by the band.
Tago Mago is THE place to start - go for the 40th anniversary edition which contains the 2001 master plus an additional disc of live material.
Then (in order):
Monster Movie (1969)
Ege Bamyasi (1972)
Future Days (1973)
Soundtracks (1970)
Soon Over Babaluma (1974)
Delay (1968)
Unlimited Edition (1975)
Peel Sessions (1994)
Lost Tapes (2012)
Flow Motion (1976)
Saw Delight (1977)
Landed (1975)
Inner Space (1980)
Rite Time (1989)
Out of Reach (1978)
The Can Live 2-CD set is really good but SQ is variable.
Enjoy the journey, Can are one of the greatest and most influential bands there has ever been, and their drummer Jaki Liebezeit is pretty much without equal as a sticksman.
Any questions, please ask!
