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The best rock albums of all time: 60 greatest rock albums

For those well-nigh to stone, we salute you. Now get voting.

As before long as guitars went electrical, music changed forever - equally this best rock album list showcases beautifully.

Allied to the ability of crazy drummers, rhino-like bass players and flamboyant frontmen, the era of rock was and is an unstoppable force of nature; a primordial assail that engages with the listener heart first, head 2nd.

UPDATE: If you lot are a Beatles fan (and judging by the votes in this best rock albums list, yous probably are) then you need to check out Get Back on Disney Plus immediately. Director Peter Jackson has done a stunning job of remastering behind-the-scenes footage of the iconic rehearsal sessions, bringing new light to ane of the greatest bands of all time.

Simply what were the best of the best? The timeless records that will withal be with united states of america in 50 years' time, when their creators are pushing up the daisies? There's some serious competition, simply we've tried our best to select the very best rock albums e'er made.

We want to know what y'all recollect. Upvote your favourites, and downvote others to sent them flight down the charts similar a band's rubbish 3rd album.

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Best rock albums of all time

Yr: 1973

After the initial Syd Barrett-inspired success of their debut album The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, it took a while for Pink Floyd Mk II to discover their feet. There were moments of greatness throughout the subsequent 6 albums, but information technology all came to a caput with The Nighttime Side Of The Moon. Everything about it was epic; the ambition, the scope, the dynamics. And, of course, it featured one of the greatest album covers of all fourth dimension, designed past the legendary Storm Thorgerson. The public agreed: upon release, it stayed in the Billboard charts for an amazing 741 weeks from 1973 to 1988. Profits from information technology fifty-fifty went on to help fund Monty Python & The Holy Grail and you tin can't argue with that.

Key Rail: Usa And Them

Year: 1971

Arguably Led Zeppelin's finest moment, this was the record with the perfect blend of what fabricated them ane of the greatest bands of all time. Pure rock and scroll thrills (literally, on rail two), gentle folk and bulldozing hard rock. And, of form, in the case of Stairway To Sky - all three in i song, complete with probably the greatest guitar solo of all fourth dimension. Essentially, a faultless album.

Key track: Stairway To Sky

Year: 1969

The last music recorded by the band with Sir George Martin, Abbey Road was created in a far-from-ideal environment for the Fab Iv. Tensions within the ring were high and Lennon proposed splitting the A and B sides between him and McCartney. Nonetheless, things came together - literally - for both principle songwriters, while George Harrison contributed two of his best-ever songs in the shape of Something and Here Comes The Sun. It stands, confronting all the odds, equally a brilliantly cohesive slice of work.

Key Track: Come Together

Year: 1969

It's very difficult to option a second Led Zep anthology for this list, to stand aslope 4, but II but about gets our vote. The pattern for and then much of what was to come in rock, it saw Jimmy Page come of age in the studio and equally a guitar role player, and Robert Found refine his, in turns, howlin', then gentle, vocal style. And, of course, what opens the tape? Probably the greatest guitar riff of all time in Whole Lotta Love. According to engineer Eddie Kramer, the mid-song breakdown, "where everything is going bananas, is a combination of Jimmy and myself just flight around on a small console twiddling every knob known to man." Well, it came out pretty good Eddie.

Key Track: Whole Lotta Love

Year: 1975

How could Pinkish Floyd follow up The Dark Side Of The Moon? Well, past recording an album that'due south arguably superior. Information technology extensively explored the theme of absence - inspired by original vocalist Syd Barrett'due south plight - peculiarly on the stunning Shine On You Crazy Diamond, which bookended the record. A majestic record, dynamically and sonically rich, which explored different time signatures and sounds, but never forgot about the tunes and the lyrics. And of course, that iv-note riff in Shine On… which never fails to raise the hairs on the back of your cervix.

Key rails: Smoothen On Yous Crazy Diamond (Parts I-Five)

Year: 1966

How to choice the best of the Beatles' stone albums? It'southward difficult, but it's hard to argue that Revolver deserves the crown. A work of breathtaking quality - be information technology songwriting, performance, or sonically - and information technology opened up the boundaries of what was possible in popular music. Full of classics, of varying styles: if you've never listened to information technology, you should practice then correct now.

Cardinal Track: Tomorrow Never Knows

Year: 1971

In a quandary over how exactly to follow up the sprawling stone opera Tommy, guitarist Pete Townshend attempted to create another concept piece in the grade of Lifehouse. Withal, when audiences - who were meant to be role of the operation - failed to respond, it drove Townshend to the edge of a nervous breakdown and nearly caused a band split. Eventually, they enlisted engineer Glyn Johns and instead recorded a straight-alee rock record. It was a wise move - all 9 tracks were incredible, they'd never sounded sonically meliorate or more interesting, and every member was on top form. An undisputed classic.

Key Track: Baba O'Riley

Year: 1967

One of the greatest debut albums of all time, Hendrix announced his inflow on the scene with this record, which showcased his songwriting power, virtuoso guitar skills and his not inconsiderable vocal skills - about which Hendrix was famously shy. It refined what was possible in rock, showcasing new sounds, new ideas, and a host of astounding songs. It'south still irresistible today.

Key Track: Purple Haze (originally left off the British release, but restored after)

Twelvemonth: 1975

Having released Sheer Heart Attack the yr before - the album where it all came together for the early on Queen era - they spread their wings still further on the follow-upwards A Dark At The Opera. Full of incredible songs written by all four members and sung by three of them, laden with studio trickery and a whole range of styles, it is a masterpiece. And, of course, while its sheer ubiquity makes the states take it for granted, Bohemian Rhapsody remains pretty much the greatest six minutes of music ever created.

Primal Track: Bohemian Rhapsody

Year: 1976

Information technology's fair to say that this one didn't do too badly on the sales forepart - over 32 million and counting worldwide. It wasn't all manifestly sailing though - Blackness Sabbath were recording in the studio next door and the band ofttimes had to terminate because of the noise coming through the walls. A classic tape in every sense, with its championship track one of the almost famous tracks ever recorded, it was inspired by a dark concept: the turn down of America into materialism and decadence. A heavy theme for a grand record.

Key Rail: Hotel California

Year: 1967 The anthology which introduced the globe to the shamanic genius of Doors frontman Jim Morrison and which was probably the best record they made. Their psychedelic sound, rocking tracks and Morrison'south poetic lyrics set them out from the crowd, and nobody could contend with songs as skillful equally Intermission On Through (To The Other Side), Light My Fire and the ballsy anthology closer The Cease, which was later to be used to mesmerising effect in Apocalypse At present.

Key Rails: Lite My Fire

Year: 1980

Just how could Air conditioning/DC follow up Highway To Hell and, in particular, how could they even carry on subsequently the tragic expiry of vocalist Bon Scott? With the approval of Scott's family, they recruited Geordie frontman Brian Johnson and promptly made the best album of their career: a masterpiece in riffing, pure rock energy and tight songwriting and production. The ominous, slow and heavy Hells Bells set the tone for the record and, with barely any gaps between songs, it'southward goose egg less than 42 minutes of unrelenting battering-ram rock and scroll.

Fundamental runway: Shoot To Thrill

Year: 1972

And so much has been written virtually this anthology in the past that it seems a fruitless job to endeavor and add whatever more. But when this record was released, it must have seemed like a literal alien had descended from Mars. A bisexual conflicting rock superstar alter-ego, lyrical themes of politics, sex and drugs, progressive production; it redefined what a rock star could do. And yet, all of this would have meant nothing if the songs were no skillful, simply Bowie had that covered too. Yet a thrilling mind.

Key Track: Starman

Year: 1968

A sprawling double anthology, this was to prove Hendrix's masterpiece. Not only was the great human himself on the form of his life, but and then were his compatriots Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell. A dense, psychedelic opus, it also contained taut singles, including his legendary cover of All Forth The Watchtower, Crosstown Traffic and Voodoo Child (Slight Return). A genius in full period.

Key track: Voodoo Child (Slight Render)

Year: 1969

Described at the fourth dimension past Rolling Stone every bit "the most vivid American stone since Music from Big Pinkish", Light-green River had a lot in mutual with The Band's classic record. Rootsy, bluesy, state rock was the gild of the day while, lyrically, it featured classic storytelling, and erstwhile childhood memories from frontman John Fogerty. Stick this on the stereo to be transported to a globe of 60s Americana and good quondam rockin' tunes.

Cardinal Rails: Bad Moon Ascension

Twelvemonth: 1985

They might exist dismissed in some quarters as slow and middle of the road, merely those people are wrong: there's a reason Brothers In Artillery sold more than than 30 1000000 copies and catapulted Dire Straits to stadiums everywhere - it's fantastic. Combining high cease production, pop melodies, a impact of boogie as well every bit direct upwardly rock, information technology boasted the enormous hits Walk Of Life, Money For Null and the epic, heartbreaking title rails. Mark Knopfler proved throughout that while there might be quicker, and more fancy guitar players out in that location, he was one of the most effective, always choosing the right notes at the right time.

Key Track: Money For Nothing

17. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

For many a band, their 11th album (if they make it that far) isn't going to be a classic, more a tiresome re-rendition of songs of their past. Not for Fleetwood Mac, they create Rumours - both a highlight of the band'southward career and one of the best records ever made. Now, this is shine rock, the blazon that tin send y'all to another place by massaging your senses - which is surprising as information technology's written past a ring at war with each other.

Key track: The Chain

Twelvemonth: 1972

A record not highly regarded by the band themselves - Mick Jagger said that "when I listen to Exile it has some of the worst mixes I've ever heard" - but it remains a classic; a sprawling double anthology which captured the Stones at their most rootsy, their near bluesy, their most rock & gyre. It was Keith Richards' finest moment and, although it didn't yield any boom hits, is a fantastically cohesive body of work.

Key Track: Tumbling Dice

Year: 1973

Prolific doesn't really do justice to Elton John'due south early on output. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was his seventh album in four years and independent 17 songs, with John writing the music for virtually all of them in just three days (For his function, Bernie Taupin took only two and one-half weeks to write the lyrics). This was Elton at his rocking, rollocking all-time, with a host of classic singles, including Candle In The Wind, Bennie & The Jets, the championship track and the ultimate hedonistic stone and roll track, Sabbatum Night'south Alright For Fighting; information technology was to go his all-time-selling anthology, and rightly and then.

Key Track: Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting

Twelvemonth: 1979

If Dorsum In Blackness heralded the showtime of a brave new era for AC/DC and a staggering debut for Brian Johnson, then Highway To Hell was the glorious final act of original singer Bon Scott. The first of their records to be produced by Mutt Lange, he refined and beefed up their sound to stunning effect as it became their quantum record. 10 tracks of no-nonsense rock and curl with riffs a-plenty, the most solid rhythm department in rock, and Scott's vocals blasting over the top: a fitting bye.

Primal Track: Highway To Hell

Year: 1975

The anthology that saw Springsteen break into the mainstream, Born To Run was a masterclass in product and songwriting, total of swaggering tunes and coming-of-age lyrics which resonated with listeners across the globe. It took 14 months to record, with 6 of those being spent simply on the title track. It is safe to say it was worth it.

Central Rails: Born To Run

Year: 1976

The story of Boston's debut anthology is an incredible i. Upon getting a record bargain, Boston main man Tom Scholz was unhappy at his label's proposition that a producer be brought in to oversee the project. He hired a friend of a friend to human activity equally an intermediary and stage an elaborate ruse to brand Epic believe they were recording on the West Declension in a state-of-the-art location, while Scholz got to work in his tiny basement studio. He wrote or co-wrote every song, played most every instrument and engineered and produced the entire thing for a cost of only $2,000. It went on to sell 25 one thousand thousand copies and spawn huge, timeless, stone radio hits: all the product of a lonely genius.

Key Track: More than A Feeling

Year: 1967

Probably rock's most successful supergroup, as the supreme private talents of Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton combined to stunning effect. Disraeli Gears was their masterpiece, combining their archetype rock and blues roots with psychedelia - every bit the embrace hinted at (very subtly). It took merely three and a half days to record; the product of a band at the summit of their powers.

Key Track: Sunshine Of Your Love

Year: 1978

Hit singles came later, but Van Halen's self-titled debut anthology was a thunderbolt from the blue for rock music. David Lee Roth swaggered and crooned, merely information technology was Eddie Van Halen that was the star of the testify, redefining rock guitar playing through his legendary Eruption - a song that was literally entirely a solo and which brought tapping into the mainstream.

Key Track: Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love

Year: 1972

If it didn't have a single other song on information technology, Car Head would merit its identify in this list purely for the four bars of the riff in Smoke On The Water, which millions of aspiring guitars would go on to learn. Fortunately, the rest of the record is as well brilliant, laying the roots for the later development of heavy metal, with stellar guitar, drum and organ work completed past Ian Gillan's howlin' vocals.

Cardinal Track: Smoke On The Water

Yr: 1987

Most the perfect distillation of pure rock songs, debauched lyrics and general insanity, Appetite for Devastation has information technology all. From the guitar blasts at the start of Welcome To The Jungle all the way through to the groupie-assisted stop of Rocket Queen, in that location is just no let up, with Duff McKagan, Izzy Stradlin and Steven Adler's powerhouse rhythm section laying the background for the regal guitar playing of Slash and the raw vocal power of Axl Rose. They burnt briefly, but brightly, and this was their truthful peak.

Primal track: Sugariness Child o' Mine

27. Nirvana - Nevermind

Nevermind doesn't sound similar an album that's now thirty years onetime. Butch Vig's clinical production may have took the fuzz away from Nirvana but it also gave them a unique audio that yet resonates today. Teen Spirit may take stolen the pop charts but there'southward darkness throughout - from the scarily prophetic Come up Equally You Are to Polly and its talk of the abduction of a trivial girl. This is rock with an edge that only Cobain could give.

Key track: Come up Every bit Y'all Are

Yr: 1975

Aerosmith had already released two well-received albums before their major commercial quantum, and information technology was Toys In The Attic that did information technology for the Boston boys. A heady mix of the Stones and Led Zep, with Joe Perry providing the riffs and solos and Steven Tyler the blues and sex on lead vocals, information technology was dirty no-expert rock and gyre at its accented finest.

Primal Track: Sweet Emotion

29. Black Sabbath - Paranoid

If you had to stick a pin in the dawn of metal then it would pierce Black Sabbath's Paranoid, a record that both signified that the 60s had well and truly ended and showed off the power of rock. It feels like a tape that was most the end of the world - and for the kids from the Blackness Country that made it, the industrialisation surrounding them probably felt like that. Ozzy Osbourne's voice is perfect, conjuring up a psychedelic darkness that the band is at present famed for.

Fundamental rail: Paranoid

30. The Embankment Boys - Pet Sounds

It tore Brian Wilson up, perfecting the album's wall of sound, er, sound only the farthermost endeavour created an exceptional record that is one of the greatest of all time. Melding pop, Jazz, electronic - Pet Sounds is a rare rock tape that sounds similar nothing before it and goose egg has sounded the same since.

Cardinal track: God Only Knows

31. Clash - London Calling

From the acrimony seething from the iconic anthology sleeve image to its haunting call to arms of a title track, London Calling is The Disharmonism at their rockiest, bristling with punk fervor and spittle, gnarling abroad at the globe they detect themselves in. Information technology'due south a sprawling political polemic that's also a masterpiece.

Key rails: London Calling

32. Rush - Moving Pictures

While prog rock can get out a sour taste in the mouth for some, Canadian stone outfit Blitz were different. With Moving Pictures they showed progression inside prog rock, creating a sound that non merely has fantastic rhythm only some of the all-time guitar riffs on any tape - a yr afterwards, the guitar was ditched for synths which makes information technology even more special.

Key rails: Tom Sawyer

33. Pearl Jam - ten

While information technology could have been that Pearl Jam's x disappeared with grunge, Eddie Veder's timeless vocalisation, the guitar arrangements and sheer beauty of the tracks mean that this is an album that has stuck effectually. And nosotros love that information technology has: there'due south withal a real majesty to many of the songs, from the power-sodden Jeremy, heartbreaking Black to the ballsy Live it's just sublime.

Key track: Black

Year: 1983

Named later the auto that frontman Baton Gibbons built - and which features on the cover - Eliminator was Texas band ZZ Meridian'south finest hour. The car was an advisable metaphor, seeing as the tape motors along, rocking throughout, with three enormous hits - Legs, Sharp Dressed Man and Gimme All Your Lovin'. A archetype record from a ring at the peak of their powers.

Key track: Gimme All Your Lovin'

Year: 1979

An anthology with an interesting genesis, it was generally recorded live at San Francisco'due south Boarding House and during a tour, with half the record being audio-visual, and half electrical. Arguably Immature's greatest album, his beautiful melodies and lyrical brilliance smoothen out through all the album's nine tracks.

Key Runway: Powderfinger

36. Radiohead: OK Calculator

Radiohead had already ruled the earth. Kickoff with a striking song on a and then-so record (Creep). 2d, with a guitar album brimming with melodies and beauty that skirted on the border of britpop (The Bends). They didn't desire to be known as Britpop darlings, so they reconfigured themselves with guitar pedals and computers, distorting their sound into something unique and not of this earth. The effect is ane of the greatest albums of all time. 1 that opens with a auto crash and ends with Thom Yorke wanting the world to 'slow downward'.

Key rails: Paranoid Android

Year: 1971

With Rod Stewart now indulging in easy listening covers and the like, it's piece of cake to forget that he always had an effortlessly powerful rock voice. Nowhere was information technology better showcased that on this record, his tertiary solo anthology, which featured guest appearances from fellow members of The Faces throughout. A bang-up rock vocalizer at the top of his game.

Cardinal Track: Maggie May

Year: 1968

A beguiling cocktail of land, stone, folk, classical and soul, Music From Large Pinkish was quite unlike anything that had been heard earlier. Striking out on their own after working as Bob Dylan's backing ring, they however employed Dylan's help - he co-wrote five of the songs on this, but the residue - including the laidback style, was all their own. Hugely influential for fellow artists including Pink Floyd, George Harrison and Eric Clapton: a great record.

Key Track: The Weight

39. Metallica: Master of Puppets

Filled with heavy melodies and deep aggression, Chief of Puppets is a timeless record that feels a world away from the mid 80s it was recorded. Each song is a statement, almost an album in its ain right - they are sprawling, epic music-filled rooms. This is an album that redefined what metal is, what Metallica were and questioned what your life was really for. It's proper cinematic, soul searching stuff.

Key track: Primary of Puppets

Twelvemonth: 1977

An utterly unique piece of work, Bat Out Of Hell married the Wagnerian dreams of composer Jim Steinman with the truly larger-than-life quasi-operatic frontman that is Meat Loaf. It took years to record, information technology was rejected by many labels and executives, and fifty-fifty when information technology did find a home, almost everyone at that place hated it. Still, slowly just surely, the record grew into a monstrous hit, selling more than 43 million copies, becoming a beloved stone classic. Thrilling, operatic and truly powerful.

Key track: Bat Out Of Hell

Year: 1991

After achieving worldwide fame with The Joshua Tree and then capitalising with the good, but flawed continuation of Rattle & Hum, U2 were in need of a creative refresh. They promptly decamped to Berlin, embraced electronic and industrial sounds and took themselves a whole lot less seriously. Information technology was probably their darkest, densest record; simply, paradoxically, contained their most uplifting hitting, the anthemic 1. Inventive, interesting and total of corking songs, it's probably their best album.

Fundamental Track: The Fly

Yr: 1981

Journey had already undergone quite a musical, erm, journey, prior to this record, their eighth album - but here the elements combined to perfection. Timeless songs - including the ballsy opener Don't Stop Believin', which would become the ultimate dull burn hit and a track that even Glee couldn't ruin - Steve Perry's peerless vocals, lashings of rhythm department groove and virtuoso guitar playing; it's goose egg less than a archetype. It'south sold over 12 1000000 copies and nearly certainly inspired many more air guitarists the world over.

Key Runway: Don't Terminate Believin'

Year: 1987

Yet another appearance on the listing for legendary producer Robert "Mutt" Lange, with the rock masterpiece that is Hysteria. It was a triumph for a variety of reasons, not least the recovery of Rick Allen. The drummer lost his arm in a motorcar accident prior to recording, but the ring waited for him to come out of hospital and recorded the biggest album of their career, full of huge-sounding no-nonsense stadium rock anthems - indeed, they aimed to make every song a potential single. It was to exist the last album to feature guitarist Steve Clark, but what a fitting legacy.

Key track: Pour Some Sugar On Me

Year: 1976

The band'due south breakthrough album, Jailbreak, came afterward diverse lineup changes and iv albums which had failed to chart. This record, however, was where information technology all came together: duelling guitars, a hard rock swagger and the descriptive lyrics of frontman Phil Lynott. The title track was a classic and, of course, information technology featured the irresistible nail of youthful rebellion that is The Boys Are Back In Town. It broke them in America and set them on the route to rock stardom.

Key Track: The Boys Are Back In Boondocks

Year: 1985

The world of rock might be seriously skewed toward the masculine, but Eye showed it doesn't have to be. Their cocky-titled 8th album, post-obit a menstruation in the commercial wilderness, was a bona fide classic, containing no fewer than five hit singles, including What About Dearest? and the brilliant These Dreams. We heart Heart.

Fundamental Rail: These Dreams

Year: 1997

After the demise of Nirvana, Dave Grohl quickly recorded the first Foo Fighters anthology as a cathartic release; ostensibly but a demo with all instruments played past himself, it all the same performed well commercially. Just The Colour And The Shape was where he really showed what he could practise. With a proper band in place (nevertheless himself still playing most of the drums - a wise choice), they recorded a classic tape, packed full of great songs, both heavy (the peerless Everlong) and gentle (Walking After You). Turned out the drummer's songs were pretty skillful subsequently all then.

Key Track: Everlong

47. Iron Maiden: The Number Of The Beast

The third anthology from Iron Maiden is an absolute cracker. Information technology was the start of the bands to accomplish to the United kingdom top forty and information technology set a huge trend for metal and stone, with its operatic singing, long guitar parts and massiv energy. The themes on the album were wide ranging. From condemned prisoners (Hallowed Exist Thy Name), colonisation (Run to the Hills) and, well, the devil it'due south got some heady stuff in information technology but the riffs are so constant all yous desire to do is wave your head effectually and mosh.

Fundamental rail: The Number Of The Fauna

Year: 1976

Released just a year after Toys In The Attic, there was no let up for Aerosmith on their 4th anthology, which did exactly what it said on the tin. Information technology took the Toys.. blueprint and upped the ante, with its unrelenting rocking proving hugely influential for the likes of Slash and James Hetfield - who both said that Rocks fabricated them want to acquire guitar. For that lone, information technology deserves its place on this list.

Key Rail: Back In The Saddle

Year: 1986

After two albums finding their feet, Bon Jovi decided to go for the jugular with their third album, enlisting the aid of songwriter Desmond Child and producer Bruce Fairbairn. It was to prove a spectacular conclusion, with Slippery When Wet becoming an international smash, packed with stadium rock, sing-along staples such equally You lot Give Love a Bad Name, Livin' On a Prayer and the epic ability ballad Wanted Expressionless Or Alive. By the cease of the subsequent tours after this came out, Jon Bon Jovi had indeed seen a meg faces - and rocked them all.

Key Track: Livin' On A Prayer

Year: 2004

After well-nigh twenty years of success as a punk band with indie sensibilities, it was a fairly unexpected move when Greenish Day really allow rip on American Idiot. A fully-fledged rock opera, frontman Billy Joe Armstrong said that they decided to, "just go balls-out on the guitar audio - plug in the Les Pauls and Marshalls and permit it rip", whilst also, "for the outset time, we fully accepted the fact that we're rock stars." It paid off, with the record becoming an enormous hit, critically-acclaimed and even spawning a Broadway evidence.

Key Track: American Idiot

Twelvemonth: 1984

A Nighttime At The Opera was the high bespeak of Queen in the 70s but, every bit the band revitalised themselves after the relatively disappointing Hot Infinite, they found their stadium-filling sound on 1984's The Works. The title was inspired by a quote from Roger Taylor as recording began - "Let's requite them the works!" - and they certainly achieved that, combining their rock roots together with synth and electronic elements. Radio Ga Ga, Hammer To Fall, I Want To Suspension Free and It's a Hard Life were all office of this record - you simply can't fence with tunes as good as those. A year later they would perform on Live Help and steal the show, with Radio Ga Ga unifying Wembley and the world.

Central Track: Radio Ga Ga

Year: 1978

The follow-up to the nail striking Built-in To Run, Springsteen adopted a unlike approach, recording songs 'equally alive' with a total band and shying abroad from his commercial audio. Despite not boasting any hit singles, as a trunk of piece of work it was arguably superior, and became a boring burn success. The album was summed up by the cover image, with Springsteen commenting: "When I saw the picture I said, 'That's the guy in the songs.' I wanted the role of me that'due south still that guy to be on the comprehend. Frank [Stefanko, photographer] stripped away all [my] celebrity and left [me] with [my] essence. That's what that tape was about."

Key Track: Adam Raised A Cain

Year: 1968

More accurately, an album by the Jeff Beck Group, featuring as it did a host of legendary players, including Keith Moon, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart alongside the famous guitarist. Sonically, it was an eclectic span between blues and hard stone, featuring nods to Muddy Waters, B.B. King and Howlin' Wolf amongst others, and was to inspire countless future musicians (including Boston's Tom Schultz, who named it every bit his favourite album). An influential classic.

Key Track: Let Me Love You

Year: 1973

According to Cooper, "the whole thought behind the Billion Dollar Babies album was exploiting the idea that people do take sick perversions." Having achieved fame two years previously with Love It To Death, and followed that up with Killer and School's Out, the band really let rip on this record, writing lyrics that covered necrophilia, horror, sexual activity and - because why not - the fright of dentists. Everything a rock record should be, it was provocative, strange and full of energy.

Central Rails: Elected

Twelvemonth: 2002

Queens of the Stone Historic period had already set down a marker with 2000'southward superb Rated R, simply they seriously upped the ante with Songs For The Deaf, an epic, dust-dry out hard rock record. Core members Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri were bolstered past the supreme talents of Mark Lanegan and Dave Grohl, who promptly reminded anybody why he had a reputation as the best rock drummer around. Heavy, unrelenting, simply never forgetting the songwriting, this is a modern classic.

Key Rail: No One Knows

Year: 1987

A defining tape of 1980s power rock, Whitesnake was a white-knuckle ride through an assortment of large production, huge tunes, David Coverdale's powerhouse vocals and the virtuoso guitar skills of Adrian Vandenberg. Featuring two enormous hits in the shape of the rerecorded Here I Go Again (originally featured on their 1982 anthology Saints & Sinners) and the power carol Is This Beloved, it was a huge crossover hit.

Key Rails: Here I Go Again '87

Year: 1968

A concept record with a title to lucifer, this was the creative acme and last deed of frontman Steve Marriott. A quintessentially British thing, it featured psychedelic elements in both music and lyrics, a story well-nigh a boy named Happiness Stan - narrated by Stanley Unwin - and a host of memorable tracks. Lazy Sun was originally written as a joke about arguments with Marriott'south neighbours and released confronting the band's wishes. You can't continue a good tune down though, and it duly raced to No.two.

Key Track: Lazy Sunday

Twelvemonth: 2003

The culmination of a trio of great albums which marked Muse out every bit far more than Radiohead-copyists, Absolution is a fauna of a rock record. Darker and heavier than the preceding two albums - which took them away from indie towards full-on stone, producer Rich Costey helped bring the band to a bigger audio than previously heard. They never looked back, pushing on to get the stadium-fillers seen today. Bonus points for Hysteria becoming the bass players' equivalent to Stairway To Heaven.

Primal Rail: Hysteria

Twelvemonth: 1993

Afterwards the huge success of Bat Out Of Hell, Meat Loaf and songwriter Jim Steinman endured a torrid personal human relationship, with a serious of fiscal and legal disputes preventing a sequel - Steinman would end up using tracks he had written on his ain Bad For Good album. Thankfully for fans, sixteen years afterward the original album, they finally teamed up again to record the follow-up. Whatsoever fears that it wouldn't match up to the original were soon put to residue by the 12-minute opening opus I'd Practise Anything For Honey (But I Won't Practise That), which was duly an enormous hit. Steinman and Loaf never really did understated, and the residue of the tape was a rip-roaring rock ride back into the furnace of hell.

Key Track: I'd Do Annihilation For Dearest (But I Won't Do That)

Year: 2003

Look past the catsuits, past the moustaches, past the jokey videos and you will find an almost faultless rock record underneath. The messy follow-up album and band divide (they're back together now though) has obscured the fact that at that place was a reason this album catapulted The Darkness to acclaim: it's incredible. 10 tracks of brilliant riffing, superbly constructed songs and virtuoso guitar playing with their influences worn proudly on their sleeves. Plus, any band that can brand a genuinely moving rails featuring lyrics almost ping-pong and badminton deserves their place on this list.

Key Rail: I Believe In a Thing Called Dearest

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Source: https://www.shortlist.com/lists/the-50-greatest-rock-albums-ever

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