A Review: 'Classic Rock Magazine's' 100 Greatest Rock Albums
What do they think, and do I personally agree with them?
Classic Rock Magazine normally hits the nail right on the head, especially when it comes to choosing their favourite Beatles albums. In the past, I've found Classic Rock Magazine to be a good source for either new information concerning up and coming bands, or great articles on some older bands I listen to.
Now we come on to the problem, and I've been thinking about this for a while. The problem is when they published their 100 Greatest Classic Rock albums of all time, I found myself shaking my head a lot. I showed it to my Dad, and he shook his head—there are either things missing (which we aren't going to cover, because I'll get mad), or, what we are going to cover—things in the wrong places. I found that I disagreed with the placement of albums, either too high or too low—but I understood that they were placed for popularity, and not my own personal choices.
What we're going to have a look at first are some of the albums that didn't make the top 100, but are listed in the section "Bubbling Under" that I thought at least, should have been listed lowly in the top 100. I didn't think leaving these albums out was totally fair.
The Albums from "Bubbling Under" That Should Be in the Top 100
Let's take a look:
Like Clockwork by Queens of the Stone Age
Out of the Cellar by Ratt
Too Fast For Love by Motley Crue
Love it to Death by Alice Cooper
Script for a Jester's Tear by Marillion
Six by Mansun
Trash by Alice Cooper
Permission to Land by The Darkness
'The Man Who Sold the World' by David Bowie
Listen to it here.
I think this should have at least made the 90s in the top 100. No it isn't the best Bowie album, but it is very good, and has some great tracks. It really isn't fair that this album got left off, and the Sex Pistols have an album on the list. Yeah, the Sex Pistols have an album in the top 100—but this Bowie classic got left off.
Surfer Rosa by The Pixies
Goo by Sonic Youth
Freak Out by The Mothers of Invention
Plastic Surgery Disasters by Dead Kennedys
Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan
Eat 'Em and Smile by David Lee Roth
Electric by The Cult
Blackbird by Alter Bridge
Tapestry by Carole King
To Our Children's Children by the Moody Blues
Glory Road by Gillian
Kill 'Em All by Metallica
Songs for the Deaf by QOTSA
Woodstock Soundtrack by Various
Harvest by Neil Young
Full Moon Fever by Tom Petty
Beck, Boggart and Appice by Beck, Boggart and Appice
'Bringing it All Back Home' by Bob Dylan
Listen to it here.
Yes, it didn't make it on to the top 100—this was difficult to stomach. I was sitting there with a bit of an attitude problem, and my Mom had to ask me what happened in my magazine that made me sad. This album is near-perfect, and should have been at least in the top 20. It's a brilliant creation of music and artistry. Oh come on, just look at the track list. This was a damn insult, and I am personally offended.
Band on the Run by Wings
'All Things Must Pass' by George Harrison
Listen to it here.
All I can say is with so many great songs on the album, including classics like "My Sweet Lord"and "Art of Dying";how dare they not include this on the top 100. This album should be at least in the top 50. It is a beautiful album, and just this album alone makes me want to write a rival article on my essential albums. Oh wait, I already have.
Blind Faith by Blind Faith
Skid Row by Skid Row
Roger the Engineer by The Yardbirds
Hero and Heroine by the Strawbs
Crime of the Century by Supertramp
Sweet Baby James by James Taylor
Fresh Cream by Cream
'Rubber Soul' by The Beatles
Listen to it here.
Oh good, now I've got your attention. This album didn't make it into the top 100, but the Sex Pistols and U2 did. Let that sink in. This album should have been at least top 50, because of "Nowhere Man"and "Norwegian Wood" alone. It's a beautiful album, and the song "Run For Your Life"is just one of those fantastically dark songs with a happy sound who's atmosphere would later be mirrored by Abbey Road's "Maxwell's Silver Hammer."
L.A Guns by L.A Guns
Slave to the Grind by Skid Row
Diary of a Madman by Ozzy Osbourne
Kingdom of Desire by Toto
Leftoverture by Kansas
Tim by the Replacements
The Modern Lovers by The Modern Lovers
Battering Ram by Saxon
Violator by Depeche Mode
Dookie by Green Day
All Mod Cons by The Jam
Script of the Bridge by The Chameleons
Blast Tyrant by Clutch
One More for the Road by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Leave Home by Ramones
Foxtrot by Genesis
Blow by Blow by Jeff Beck
Day for Night by The Tragically Hip
One Hot Minute by The Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Surfing with the Alien by Joe Satriani
Captain Beyond by Captain Beyond
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by the Smashing Pumpkins
Vol. 4 by Black Sabbath
A Bit of What You Fancy by Quireboys
Pile Driver by Status Quo
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath by Black Sabbath
Presence by Led Zeppelin
Graceland by Paul Simon
Some Girls by the Rolling Stones
Next by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Scenes from a Memory by Dream Theatre
A Day at the Races by Queen
Caravanserai by Santana
Definitely Maybe by Oasis
My Aim is True by Elvis Costello
Stained Class by Judas Priest
Moving Waves by Focus
Wind and Wuthering by Genesis
Blackwater Park by Opeth
Power Trip by Monster Magnet
Hand Cannot Erase by Steven Wilson
Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
Bridge of Sighs by Robin Trower
Slash by Slash
Black Rose by Thin Lizzy
High Voltage by AC/DC
Wings Over America by Wings
Synchronicity by The Police
Teaser by Tommy Brolin
Wheels of Steel by Saxon
Fear of a Blank Planet by Steven Wilson
Cosmo's Factory by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Alchemy by Dire Straits
Night Moves by Bob Seger
A Nod's as Good as a Wink to a Blind Horse by Faces
Meddle by Pink Floyd
Live Full House by J. Geils Band
Passion and Warfare by Steve Vai
Ride the Lightning by Metallica
Overkill by Motorhead
Live by Status Quo
Welcome to My Nightmare by Alice Cooper
Heroes by David Bowie
Free by Free
Out of the Blue by ELO
Toto IV by Toto
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John
Damn the Torpedoes by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Come Taste the Band by Deep Purple
Village Green Preservation Society by Kinks
Skylarking by XTC
Repeater by Fugazi
Throwing Cooper by Live
Tago Mago by Can
Low by David Bowie
Days of Future Passed by The Moody Blues
Sheer Heart Attack by Queen
Idlewind South by Allman Brothers
Selling England by the Pound by Genesis
Camembert Electrique by Gong
Irish Tour '74 by Rory Gallagher
John Barleycorn Must Die by Traffic
The River by Bruce Springsteen
Moondance by Van Morrison
Automatic for the People by REM
News of the World by Queen
Images and Words by Dream Theatre
Contraband by Velvet Revolver
Use Your Illusion by Guns N'Roses
Animals by Pink Floyd
Thick as a Brick by Jethro Tull
Darkness on the Edge of Town by Bruce Springsteen
Fair Warning by Van Halen
The Final Cut by Pink Floyd
Brain Salad Surgery by ELP
Argus by Wishbone Ash
Montrose by Montrose
House of the Holy by Led Zeppelin
Frampton Come Alive by Peter Frampton
Heaven and Hell by Black Sabbath
Queen II by Queen
Weezer by Weezer
Close to the Edge by Yes
Last Decade Dead Century by Warrior Soul
Loveless by My Bloody Valentine
Powerslave by Iron Maiden
Mott by Mott the Hoople
Korn by Korn
Cat Scratch Fever by Ted Nugent
Peter Gabriel by Peter Gabriel
Rated R by Queens of the Stone Age
Born Under a Bad Sign by Albert King
Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins
The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails
'Horses' by Patti Smith
Listen to it here.
Classic Rock Magazine has just told you that one of the greatest pieces of songwriting in classic rock did not make it into a top 100 albums about classic rock. I am disappointed, because this album is an amazing example of great, poetic songwriting—it is an example of an iconic album cover, and it is an example of brilliant music. Patti Smith deserved better; she deserved at least top 50.
Reckless by Brian Adams
Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen
Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division
Second Helping by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Cheap Thrills by Big Brother and the Holding Company
The Pretenders by The Pretenders
Sonic Temple by The Cult
Pearl by Janis Joplin
Kick Out the Jams by MC5
Tarkus by Emerson, Lake and Palmer
Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park
Marquee Moon by Television
Pieces of Eight by Styx
The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses
Nothing's Shocking by Jane's Addiction
Heart by Heart
Back Street Symphony by Thunder
The Bends by Radiohead
Astral Weeks by Van Morrison
So by Peter Gabriel
'Grace' by Jeff Buckley
Listen to it here.
This one hurt. I can't believe Jeff Buckley's Grace didn't make it on to the top 100. The title song is absolutely beautiful, as is the song "Mojo Pin," and his version of "Hallelujah" should be enough on its own. His cover of Bob Dylan's "Mama You've Been on My Mind" was incredible, and he has an iconic singing voice. I can't believe classic rock left him out—that is an insult.
The Real Thing by Faith No More
Transformer by Lou Reed
Earth vs. The Wildhearts by The Wildhearts
Clutching at Straws by Marillion
Asia by Asia
Electric Warrior by T. Rex
Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane
New Jersey by Bon Jovi
American Beauty by The Grateful Dead
Demons and Wizards by Uriah Heep
Pump by Aerosmith
Seasons in the Abyss by Slayer
Outlandos d'Amour by The Police
The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion by the Black Crowes
Raw Power by Iggy Pop and the Stooges
Escape by Journey
Permanent Vacation by Aerosmith
Shake You Money Maker by the Black Crowes
American Idiot by Green Day
Fire and Water by Free
Badmotorfinger by Soundgarden
Deja Vu by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
The Band by The Band
Dirt by Alice in Chains
Blackout by Scorpions
Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan*
*(if you're asking, yes I'm mad about this one, but I've also realised that Classic Rock Magazine seems to be very biased. So I'll leave it there).
Eliminator by ZZ Top
Abraxas by Santana
Every Picture Tells a Story by Rod Stewart
In the Land of the Grey and Pink by Caravan
(What's the Story) Morning Glory? by Oasis
Achtung Baby by U2
No Sleep 'till Hammersmith by Motorhead
Vulgar Display of Power by Pantera
Aja by Steely Dan
The Velvet Underground and Nico by The Velvet Underground and Nico
Blues Breakers by John Mayall and Eric Clapton
The Rotter's Club by Hatfield and the North
Smash by the Offspring
The Clash by The Clash
Part 2: The Top 100
We're now going to go through the top 100, and don't worry, I'm not going to go through every single album, and see what they're doing on the list. Instead, we're going to only cover in detail the albums I disagree with the position of, and have a look at why I disagree with their position. So let us begin!
100-91
100. 4 by Foreigner
99. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
98. Peace Sells but Who's Buying? by Megadeath
97. 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn' by Pink Floyd
This album deserves to be much, much higher than it is on this list. It is one of my personal favourite albums by the band, as it is the brain-child of the underrated genius—Syd Barrett. I would have personally placed this album at around number 15-20, if I was making a list of my own essential albums. But, on the greatest albums of all time, it definitely deserves a place in the top 50.
96. Superunknown by Soundgarden
95. 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway' by Genesis
This one is personal, I'm not going to lie to you when I say this, but I do not like Genesis that much. Not that I don't like them at all, I just don't like them enough to put them on the top 100. It's a bit strange that they'd put The Piper at the Gates of Dawn below this, and that there are several Queen, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and David Bowie albums that didn't make it, but this did. I just find that wrong.
94. Sabotage by Black Sabbath
93. Cheap Trick at Budokan by Cheap Trick
92. 'Beggars Banquet' by The Rolling Stones
Again, a personal one. I thought that this album should have been a bit higher, maybe in the top 60. It doesn't deserve to be so low on the list, not when it has a song like "Sympathy for the Devil" on it. Imagine someone putting just the song "Sympathy for the Devil"at number 92 for anything. I mean as an album altogether it isn't great, but for that song alone, it deserves better.
91. The Hombres by ZZ Top
90-81
90. Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chilli Peppers
89. Destroyer by Kiss
88. 'Hunky Dory' by David Bowie
Now, I really like this album, and I've heard people online say that this is one of the greatest albums ever recorded. I'm not going to lie, but it is probably in the top 30 greatest albums ever made—why it is so low on the scale I will never know. The track "A Song for Bob Dylan"is absolutely brilliant, and other songs on the album have gained such intense popularity—I can't imagine what was going through their heads when they decided to put this iconic album at number 88.
87. Fragile by Yes
86. 'Highway 61 Revisited' by Bob Dylan
Okay, if I wasn't angry before—you can probably tell that I am now. Bob Dylan's greatest album at number 86 almost made me choke when I first read this. This album should be at number one, because it set the bar for everyone else to beat when it came to new-styled music. Bob Dylan was the first guy to make this fusion between folk and rock, between acoustic and electric, between songwriter and performer. It is quite possibly the most important album in rock history, and you all just shoved it here. As you can tell, I'm angry.
85. Operation: Mindcrime by Queensryche
84. Rage Against the Machine by Rage Against the Machine
83. 1987 by Whitesnake
82. Burn by Deep Purple
81. Ramones by The Ramones
80-71
80. Billion Dollar Babies by Alice Cooper
79. OK Computer by Radiohead
78. Seventh Son of the Seventh Son by Iron Maiden
77. Tommy by The Who
76. 'Slippery When Wet' by Bon Jovi
There's songs like "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Wanted Dead or Alive" on this album, so I don't understand why it only made 76. It is far better than 76, because really, there is not a single bad song on that album—it deserves at least a place in the top 40. I mean come on, it's Bon Jovi, and one of their most-loved albums as well. But of course, the album would not be complete without the amazing "Livin' on a Prayer"—yes that song is on the album, and yes, Classic Rock Magazine stuck it at 76. No I don't know why either.
75. Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits
74. Powerage by AC/DC
73. 'Born in the USA' by Bruce Springsteen
Let me have a think about yet another album that doesn't have a single bad song on it that also sounds great as an entire album, and amazing as single tracks. Oh, I have one! It's Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA. Why is this album at number 73, when it clearly deserves a space in the top 40? With songs like "Dancing in the Dark"and "My Hometown," they really did just put it this low. I can't explain how upset I am by this; this album is just too good to be this low!
72. Disraeli Gears by Cream
71. Alive by Kiss
70-61
70. Strangers in the Night by UFO
69. Axis: Bold as Love by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
68. 'Pronounced "Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd"' by Lynyrd Skynyrd
I like this album far too much for it to be this low in the ranking. This album does deserve its space in the top 50, because of the fact that it's more than an album—it's an icon. With songs like "Free Bird," "Mississippi Kid," and "Tuesday's Gone"—this album has no excuse being this low, and if I were Classic Rock Magazine, I would seriously rethink this one, because of the status it holds as being such a good album.
67. Live at Leeds by The Who
66. Bad Company by Bad Company
65. Live and Dangerous by Thin Lizzy
64. Layla and Other Absorbed Love Songs by Derek and the Dominos
63. Ace of Spades by Motorhead
62. In Rock by Deep Purple
61. Let There Be Rock by AC/DC
60-51
60. Pyromania by Def Leppard
59. In the Court of the Crimson King by King Crimson
58. Quadrophenia by The Who
57. Rocks by Aerosmith
56. Aqualung by Jethro Tull
55. Jailbreak by Thin Lizzy
54. British Steel by Judas Priest
53. 'Pet Sounds' by the Beach Boys
Pet Sounds is one of the most iconic albums in classic rock, and really set one of those high bars for others to follow. It was a blend of 50s fusion rock and psychedelia, and The Beach Boys really outdid themselves on this one. I would've thought with a song like "God Only Knows," and such a well-made album—this record would've made at least the top 30. Number 53 is hardly fair at all. Not for such an iconic album.
52. 'Born to Run' by Bruce Springsteen
Some cite this album as one of the greatest albums ever recorded in any type of music, not just rock. Springsteen's awesome and legendary Born to Run is an icon of rock music especially 70s rock music. It has some incredible tracks, and I wager you to tell me one bad song on that album. The entire album being put together this well deserves a spot in the top 30, not as low as the fifties. Sorry, Classic Rock Magazine, but you got this one wrong.
51. 'Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols' by Sex Pistols
I'm sorry, but I hate the Sex Pistols for reasons I cannot explain, please get them off the list.
50-41
50. Purple Rain by Prince and the Revolution
49. '1984' by Van Halen
Again, another album that deserves to be higher on the list. Any of Van Halen's albums, for the guitar work alone—are musically brilliant, and do not deserve a space in the 40s. I would go as far as to say for the musical ability, they deserve a space in the top 20. This album especially. Now go on, and tell me which song is bad on this album; don't worry, I'll wait.
48. Let it Bleed by the Rolling Stones
47. London Calling by The Clash
46. At Fillmore East by The Allman Brothers Band
45. Master of Reality by Black Sabbath
44. 'Bat out of Hell' by Meat Loaf
My mother wouldn't be impressed with this position, she loves Meat Loaf. But if you're telling me, one of the greatest selling albums in history (of any kind of music) only made it to number 44? I don't think so. The title track alone gives it the position of at least top 10. I can't say I'm surprised because Classic Rock Magazine tends to drool over Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin, but leaves out people like Meat Loaf. This album deserves far more than 44.
43. Electric Landlady by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
42. 'The Joshua Tree' by U2
I just really don't like U2, I'm sorry I can't explain it.
41. Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith
40-31
40. Hysteria by Def Leppard
39. LA Woman by The Doors
38. Holy Diver by Dio
37. Exile on Main St. by The Rolling Stones
36. 'Nevermind' by Nirvana
I would say that this album is way too high on the list. Let's just put it this way, this album made above icons like Born to Run, Pet Sounds and Highway 61 Revisited. It even beat Bat Out of Hell to the top 40. I just really don't think it should be in the top 50. It was thoroughly average, but it didn't do a lot compared to the other albums I've mentioned in this section.
35. Ten by Pearl Jam
34. Blizzard of Ozz by Ozzy Osbourne
33. Moving Pictures by Rush
32. Hotel California by Eagles
31. Boston by Boston
30-21
30. The Black Album by Metallica
29. Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones
28. Who's Next by The Who
27. Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
26. The Doors by The Doors
25. 'Revolver' by The Beatles
Revolver is one of the greatest albums ever made, and well, I think it deserves a space in the top 10. Songs like "Eleanor Rigby"and "Taxman"are great on their own, but including songs like "Doctor Robert" makes the album even more iconic. It is a true classic rock legend, and definitely deserves more than the top 25. I would say that this album is possibly better than Abbey Road.
24. Machine Head by Deep Purple
23. 'Aladdin Sane' by David Bowie
This is a near-perfect album, and quite possibly deserves to be in the top 10. Songs like "Cracked Actor,"and the amazing "Drive-In Saturday"are incredible additions to the album. The album is an icon of David Bowie's most experimental character, and I definitely think that this album deserves more.
22. Are You Experienced? by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
21. Rainbow Rising by Rainbow
20-11
20. Paranoid by Black Sabbath
19. 2112 by Rush
18. 'The Wall' by Pink Floyd
I think that this album deserves to be in the top five. The Wall isn't just an icon of music, it's quite possibly one of the most important albums ever recorded. Songs like "Another Brick in the Wall Pt.2,"and—(my personal favourite song on the album), "Mother"make this record more than just revered—it is legend. The Wall deserves much more than number 18. If I was writing this, it would definitely be top five, and top five in any genre of music.
17. Master of Puppets by Metallica
16. Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie
15. 'A Night at the Opera' by Queen
Personally, I just think Innuendo was so much better, I would've put it here instead of A Night at the Opera.
14. Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin
13. 'The White Album' by The Beatles
I would've put this in the top ten, I don't like how this very experimental and life-changing album is put so low on the scale. But, each to their own—I think they put it here, because the album isn't really well put together, and even though it has great songs on it, the whole album is a bit messy.
12. The Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden
11. Van Halen by Van Halen
10-1
10. Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin
9. Highway to Hell by AC/DC
8. 'Abbey Road' by The Beatles
I would definitely swap this entry for Revolver, because of the fact Revolver is better in terms of a constant sound and story. There's definitely a lot of storytelling going on in Revolver, and in comparison to Abbey Road, everything fits together better. I think in Abbey Road, the song "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" stands out like a sore thumb, and not in a good way.
7. Back in Black by AC/DC
6. Appetite for Destruction by Guns N'Roses
5. 'Wish You Were Here' by Pink Floyd
I do agree with this addition in being one of the greatest rock albums ever, but as a personal thing—I'd swap it for The Piper at the Gates of Dawn purely because I think that album did more for changing music than this one did. The Piper at the Gates of Dawn really made psychedelia more popular, and the album is a masterpiece, I feel like Wish You Were Here is more Pink Floyd being comfortable.
4. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
3. II by Led Zeppelin
2. IV by Led Zeppelin
1. Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
About the Creator
Annie Kapur
200K+ Reads on Vocal.
English Lecturer
🎓Literature & Writing (B.A)
🎓Film & Writing (M.A)
🎓Secondary English Education (PgDipEd) (QTS)
📍Birmingham, UK
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