Posted in: Rock by jharmon on May 17th, 2009 | 9 Comments
This isn’t a comprehensive list of every classic rock album ever made, but there’s still some pretty cool stuff here.
Aerosmith is another of those bands with so much material that it’s difficult to pick which album is their best, and I wanted to stay away from greatest-hits albums for this listing. But after giving it some thought, I concluded that “Toys in the Attic” from 1975 is deserving of attention. If for no other reason, two powerful Aerosmith staples made me pick this album, “Walk This Way” and “Sweet Emotion.” But there are other great songs to be found here, including “Round and Round” and “Toys in the Attic.”
This might be one of the greatest rock albums of all time. It had a humongous effect on rock music over the next dozen years after its release in 1978. Eddie Van Halen’s howling guitar and singer David Lee Roth’s flashy wardrobe are just two of the things from this band that had a big impact on hard rock music in the 1980s and beyond. This might not be Van Halen’s best-known album, but in my opinion, it’s the band’s bestalbum overall. What classic rock fan could forget such songs as “Runnin’ With the Devil” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love?”
This band has a ton of albums and a ton of songs, but “Back in Black” is likely the best known of the lot. Released in 1980, this album contains some hard-rocking tunes like “Hell’s Bells,” “Back in Black” and “You Shook Me All Night Long.” There’s even the slower-edged “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” to round things off. This is another of the greatest rock albums ever.
If you’re old enough to remember 1987, you should remember that it seemed like hard rock music was just about dead. Sure, the hair bands were around, but other than Motley Crue most of them were pretty soft compared to true hard rock and classic rock. But then “Appetite for Destruction” came on the scene and it changed everything. Really, it was like a breath of fresh air, and this album is definitely one of the best, if not thebest, rock album from the 1980s. With kicking songs like “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Paradise City” and “Nighttrain,” you can’t go wrong.
I can imagine what some of you who are reading this right now are thinking. Nirvana? A classic rock band? Yes, definitely. Don’t believe me? Listen to you local FM classic rock radio station for a day or two and I bet you’ll hear at least “Smells Like Teen Spirit” from this 1991 album. Much like “Appetite for Destruction,” this album forever changed rock music, but in a much bigger way. This album basically kicked off a national music craze that stayed strong for the next several years and can still be felt today. Songs such as “Polly” and “In Bloom” only helped to fuel the grunge drive.
Too new a band for you? Are you thinking classic rock died off in the 1970s? You’re wrong, and this 1999 album proves it. Yes, this isn’t the most popular album from this band, but it’s the one that kicks the most tail. There’s lot of hard, guitar-driven, bluesy tunes here, including “The Big Three Killed My Baby,” “Stop Breaking Down” and “Jimmy the Exploder.” I wanted to make sure to list some more modern music, because classic rock still lives today, and this album is living proof.
Yeah, Kid Rock was originally known more for his hip hop and rapping abilities, but his handful of albums have included not only classic rock tunes, but sometimes out-and-out Southern rock music. I picked this 2001 album because of its variety of songs. Yep, there’s some hard-rockin’ stuff like “I’m Wrong, But You Ain’t Right” and “Forever” to be found here, but there are also some some slower, soul-filled tunes like “Lonely Road of Faith” and the ballad duet with Sheryl Crow, “Picture.” Kid Rock keeps to his roots on this album, also, with some hip hop flavor and some country added in. But that’s what Kid Rock is about, mixing up the genres.
10 More Albums Every Classic Rock Fan Should Own
rjb May 17th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Nothing by the Beatles? The word “classic” is open to a pretty wide interpretation, and no list can be all-inclusive, but this is a pretty glaring omission.
jharmon May 17th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I understand where you’re coming from. I was originally going to include The Beatles, probably the White Album, but I was trying to focus a little more on harder-edged material (not that The Beatles didn’t have such songs, “Come Together” and the like). I’m considering doing another such list, and likely The Beatles will make it there.
you're kidding with this list right? May 25th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I can’t imagine how someone could be a “classic rock” fan and not be familiar with The Who. Heck, for that matter how many people even if they aren’t fans haven’t heard of The Who?
Nirvana, GnR, Kid Rock?? What a joke.
Rynn Michaelz June 4th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I think this is a cool list, the only addition I’d query is Kid Rock as to me he’s just like a bad parody of a lot of elements from real classic bands. Totally agree with your comments on Appetite For Destruction though, what an album.
J. Ponce June 14th, 2009 at 12:39 am
‘My Generation’ isn’t on ‘Who’s Next.’ It’s on “The Who Sing ‘My Generation.’”
jharmon June 14th, 2009 at 1:46 am
Funny, “My Generation” is song 11 on disc 2 of my copy of “Who’s Next.” Maybe I’ve got a later release or something.
J. Ponce June 14th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
You own the deluxe edition. The original release consists of only nine songs.
Disc one from ‘Baba’ through ‘Fooled’ is the original release; everything else is bonus outtakes.
Disc two is from a live concert.
child of the 60's June 18th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
How are there no beatles albums up there???? How about sgt. pepper’s or rubber soul?? And Van Halen??? Are you kidding me?? They are the one of the cheesiest groups ever. Eddie Van Halen was an amazing guitarist but he just couldn’t write songs. i love The Who and Zeppelin but i don’t agree with anything else up there. And by the way, Toys in the Attic is definitely NOT Aerosmith’s best album. It’s either Rocks or their first self-titled album. I can tell that you need a lesson in music history.
zoeyclark December 25th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
It is all relative when it comes to listing bands. I have so much fun listening to glam rock and well, if Kid Rock is there, why not Whitesnake? Poison or Def Leppard who have great albums?
Why not punk rock? Green Day and Offspring have some pretty good songs.I think these bands are much “purer” rockers than Kid Rock.
I am not a great fan of Led Zeppelin. I adore some songs and I just can’t stand some. But apart from Kid Rock, I own all the albums you list. I enjoy them all. But hey, lists are subjective and personal.