When it comes to choosing the best classic rock albums, it’s safe to say there are many ways to go about it. Everyone has their own taste, and prioritizes different things when deciding which music they like best. But putting personal preferences aside, most people can probably agree that there are certain albums from certain artists that marked a turning point in music history, and that transcends taste.
You may not like punk rock, but you can’t argue with the relevance of the Ramones. You may not be a fan of psychedelic music, but Sgt. Pepper probably influenced your music taste one way or another. You may know nothing about guitar playing, but your favorite artist probably listened to Jimi Hendrix obsessively. The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, and more. These are the albums, and the artists, that changed music forever.
10
“Back in Black” — AC/DC (1980)
When AC/DC released Back in Black in 1980, it was a monumental moment for the band and for music in general. The Australian band was coming off of what was the highest milestone of their career by that point. Highway to Hell had been released the year before, and thanks to it, the band’s popularity had quickly skyrocketed. And then, tragedy struck. Their original vocalist, Bon Scott, passed away, and it seemed the band was done. Thankfully, they found Brian Johnson, and alongside their new singer, the band wrote Back in Black, an album that, unbelievably, surpassed Highway to Hell commercially. It was critically acclaimed, and to this day, it’s considered an irreplaceable legacy album. This album is also iconic because, thanks to it, AC/DC did the impossible: a band survived their lead singer, and came back stronger.
9
“Led Zeppelin IV” – Led Zeppelin (1971)
“Stairway to Heaven” should be enough to earn Led Zeppelin a spot on every list of the most influential albums in history. The band released this untitled record, commonly known as Led Zeppelin IV, in 1971, and while the whole body of work is worthy of attention, “Stairway to Heaven” is the obvious gem of this album. The legendary guitar solo, the ominous arpeggio you’d recognize everywhere, and of course, the fact that it’s an 8-minute-long hit, are impossible to ignore. Other hits on this album include “Rock and Roll,” “Black Dog,” “Going to California,” and many more. The album topped the charts in the UK, and remains a favorite among classic rock fans.
8
“The Dark Side of the Moon” — Pink Floyd (1973)
Pink Floyd‘s The Dark Side of the Moon is the kind of album that leaves you reeling. When it first came out, it blew people’s minds, and even decades later, it still causes the same effects on new listeners. The band had a lofty goal with this album: they wanted to experiment musically, to tackle important social issues, and most importantly, to process the struggles their former bandmate and close friend, Syd Barrett, was navigating. Songs like “Money” mock the greed and consumerism of society; “Time” confronts head on our own mortality and inability to stop life from slipping through our fingers; and “Brain Damage” is not-so-subtly about Barrett, and talks about fame and popularity driving people to madness.
7
“Ramones” – The Ramones (1976)
Despite not having achieved great commercial success during their career, the Ramones became a cult classic, and their influence is still felt in modern music. Their eponymous debut album from 1976 shaped punk rock, which is even more iconic when you learn that they finished it in only a week. Perhaps this time constraint contributed to the hurried feeling of their uptempo songs, which ultimately ended up becoming their signature sound. Their greatest hit out of this album is undoubtedly “Blitzkrieg Pop,” and even young people who never actively listened to the Ramones can sing along to their catchy chant, “Hey, ho! Let’s go!”
6
“Sticky Fingers” — The Rolling Stones (1971)
Sticky Fingers was The Rolling Stones’ first album after the tragic death of their original guitarist, Brian Jones, and despite their two-year hiatus, the band clearly never lost their touch. The album received glowing reviews across the board, topped the charts worldwide, and was an overwhelming commercial success, with lots of people considering the band’s greatest album. Sticky Fingers includes timeless ballads like “Wild Horses”, dance-rock hits like “Brown Sugar”, and even country-inspired tracks like “Dead Flowers.” Truly a complete work of art.
5
“Are You Experienced” — Jimi Hendrix (1967)
When Jimi Hendrix settled in the United Kingdom and created the Jimi Hendrix Experience, it was clear there was a new sound in the making. Hendrix is one of the most influential guitar players of his time, and this debut album by the band, Are You Experienced, is proof of this. The album was an instant hit, and showed the world what an innovative guitarist and songwriter Hendrix was. Are You Experienced changed not just the course of rock music but also Hendrix’s life. Before the album, he was struggling to make a living as a back-up guitarist. But clearly, it’s because he was destined to be a star and play his own songs, not just play along to someone else’s.
4
“A Night at the Opera” – Queen (1975)
Of course, Queen is in the top five here. A Night at the Opera is, as the title says, an ambitious attempt at mixing genres, or as Freddie Mercury used to put it, “bringing opera to the masses.” He was a great admirer of the opera and the ballet, and he had a vision that the more classical elements of music could enhance rock music. The album’s single, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” made history exactly because of this. With epic choir sections and a guitar that emulates an orchestra, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” an almost 6-minute-long single that Mercury defined as a “mock opera” topped the UK charts. Other songs on this album follow the same epic theme, like “Love of My Life,” “The Prophet’s Song,” and of course, their incredibly arranged rock rendition of “God Save the Queen.”
3
“Revolver” – The Beatles (1966)
Even when it had just come out, The Beatles already knew that Revolver was the kind of album no one could ever top. It’s often referred to as the turning point for The Beatles, the moment when they definitively stepped away from the teenage love songs to truly experiment. This album is different from the previous ones for many reasons. For one, it features three songs written by George Harrison, something that hadn’t ever happened before. They also experimented technically, with tape loops and varispeed. Their closing track, “Tomorrow Never Knows,” was their most daring at the time. With processed vocals over reversed guitar tracks, sitar sections, sounds of seagulls, and more, it was so representative of the psychedelic culture of the time, it’s still mindblowing.
2
“Pet Sounds” — The Beach Boys (1966)
Pet Sounds influenced practically every generation of musicians, including contemporaries of The Beach Boys like The Beatles. This album perfectly encapsulates the sound of the band, with its complex harmonies, avant-garde orchestrations, and innovative sounds that people had yet to hear rock bands include. This album was a great influence on Paul McCartney, who claims it was proof of Brian Wilson’s genius. Songs like “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”, “God Only Knows,” and the title track, “Pet Sounds,” are still staples of the music of the decade, and Wilson’s recent passing only brought new appreciation to this incomparable album.
1
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” — The Beatles (1967)
Often referred to as the album that changed rock ‘n’ roll, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band was a game changer for music in general, and for The Beatles as a band. If Revolver was the beginning of a new era, Sgt. Pepper was its consolidation. From the artwork to the sound techniques used and the content of the songs, the whole album was unlike anything any artist had done before. Opening with the title track, in which they “introduce” the band, the listeners embark on a lysergic, incredibly creative journey. Stories about kids running away from home, absurd but brilliant orchestrations, fictional band members, this album has it all, and has changed the life of an entire generation when it came out.
