Classic rock. The term itself conjures images of roaring guitars, thunderous drums, and vocals that defined generations. It’s a genre that has stood the test of time, continuing to inspire and captivate music lovers across the globe. Recently, radio station 102.9 WLBM in Portland, Maine, embarked on an epic journey, counting down the top 500 Classic Rock Albums as voted by their listeners. Spanning weeks of airtime, this countdown was a deep dive into the heart of rock history, sparking debates, memories, and the pure joy of experiencing these iconic records once more. For anyone who considers themselves a classic rock aficionado, or for those just beginning to explore this incredible musical landscape, this list offers a roadmap through the essential albums that have shaped the genre. From blues-infused beginnings to hard rock anthems and progressive masterpieces, get ready to explore a curated selection of 500 classic rock albums that every music enthusiast should know.
The countdown itself was a testament to the breadth and depth of classic rock. While some placements might have surprised listeners – The Doors at number 20 sparked some debate, and the top spot was an unexpected twist – the overall selection is a fantastic representation of the genre’s most influential and beloved albums. The dominance of bands like The Beatles, with three albums in the top ten, underscores their undeniable impact, while the inclusion of artists from across decades highlights the evolving nature of classic rock itself. Whether you’re a fan of stadium-filling anthems, intricate studio productions, or raw, live energy, this list has something for everyone. Dive in and discover (or rediscover) the albums that have become cornerstones of classic rock history.
Here is the complete list of 500 classic rock albums, a treasure trove for any music lover:
- IRON BUTTERFLY – IN-A-GADDA-DA-VIDA
- MARSHALL TUCKER BAND – DEBUT
- ELVIS COSTELLO – THIS YEAR’S MODEL
- STEVE MILLER BAND – BRAVE NEW WORLD
- INXS – LISTEN LIKE THIEVES
- DEEP PURPLE – PERFECT STRANGERS
- MOODY BLUES – EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR
- BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – TUNNEL OF LOVE
- JOHNNY WINTER – SECOND WINTER
- AEROSMITH – DONE WITH MIRRORS
- DAVID BOWIE – DIAMOND DOGS
- BOB DYLAN – DESIRE
- AC/DC – FLY ON THE WALL
- JEFF BECK – WIRED
- THE DOORS – THE SOFT PARADE
- PATTI SMITH – EASTER
- GRATEFUL DEAD – BLUES FOR ALLAH
- LOU REED – TRANSFORMER
- ERIC CLAPTON – ANOTHER TICKET
- LITTLE FEAT – DIXIE CHICKEN
- NEIL YOUNG – LIVE AT MASSEY HALL, 1971
- JEFFERSON STARSHIP – RED OCTOPUS
- THE BAND – STAGE FRIGHT
- ROLLING STONES – VOODOO LOUNGE
- FLEETWOOD MAC – BARE TREES
- THE DOORS – ABSOLUTELY LIVE
- IAN HUNTER – YOU’RE NEVER ALONE WITH A…
- FRANK ZAPPA – OVER-NITE SENSATION
- J. GEILS BAND – BLOODSHOT
- MELISSA ETHERIDGE – DEBUT
- THE KINKS – SOMETHING ELSE
- CINDERELLA – LONG COLD WINTER
- RAMONES – ROAD TO RUIN
- ELTON JOHN – DON’T SHOOT ME I’M ONLY…
- OASIS – (WHAT’S THE STORY) MORNING GLORY
- JETHRO TULL – BENEFIT
- MOBY GRAPE – DEBUT
- BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – GREETINGS FROM ASBURY PARK, N.J.
- VAN HALEN – BALANCE
- AEROSMITH – ROCK IN A HARD PLACE
- DAVID BOWIE – SPACE ODDITY
- STEVE WINWOOD – BACK IN THE HIGH LIFE
- JONATHAN EDWARDS – DEBUT
- PAUL SIMON – GRACELAND
- THE YARDBIRDS – OVER UNDER SIDEWAYS DOWN
- VAN MORRISON – IT’S TOO LATE TO STOP NOW
- NILSSON – NILSSON SCHMILSSON
- J. GEILS BAND – LOVE STINKS
- FREE – FIRE AND WATER
- ELVIS COSTELLO – MY AIM IS TRUE
- GRATEFUL DEAD – SHAKEDOWN STREET
- BOB DYLAN/THE BAND – BEFORE THE FLOOD
- BLACK CROWES – SOUTHERN HARMONY AND MUSICAL COMPANION
- CAROLE KING – TAPESTRY
- B-52’S – DEBUT
- SIMON AND GARFUNKEL – BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
- R.E.M – AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE
- STEVE MILLER BAND – SAILOR
- RINGO STARR – RINGO
- PAUL MCCARTNEY – TUG OF WAR
- GRATEFUL DEAD – TERRAPIN STATION
- ROLLING STONES – FLOWERS
- SPIRIT – THE 12 DREAMS OF DR. SARDONICUS
- TODD RUNDGREN – SOMETHING/ANYTHING?
- FACES – A NOD IS AS GOOD AS A WINK…TO A BLIND HORSE
- BONNIE RAITT – NICK OF TIME
- ROLLING STONES – 12 X 5
- SEX PISTOLS – NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS, HERE’S THE SEX PISTOLS
- JONI MITCHELL – BLUE
- ROXY MUSIC – AVALON
- TEN YEARS AFTER – A SPACE IN TIME
- STEVIE RAY VAUGHN – LIVE ALIVE!
- JEFF BECK GROUP – TRUTH
- FRANK ZAPPA – SHEIK YERBOUTI
- JAMES TAYLOR – SWEET BABY JAMES
- JOHNNY WINTER AND – LIVE!
- INXS – KICK
- J. GEILS BAND – BLOW YOUR FACE OUT
- T. REX – ELECTRIC WARRIOR
- THE KINKS – LOLA VERSUS POWERMAN AND THE MONEYGOROUND, PART ONE
- PEARL JAM – TEN
- MONTEREY POP FESTIVAL ’67
- STEPHEN STILLS – STEPHEN STILLS
- CHEAP TRICK – HEAVEN TONIGHT
- NEIL YOUNG – LIVE RUST
- JACKSON BROWNE – THE PRETENDER
- LITTLE FEAT – WAITING FOR COLUMBUS
- THE WHO – SELL OUT
- BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS – LIVE!
- AC/DC – POWERAGE
- TALKING HEADS – STOP MAKING SENSE
- TRAVELING WILBURYS – VOL. 1
- LOU REED – ROCK ‘N’ ROLL ANIMAL
- NIRVANA – NEVERMIND
- AEROSMITH – LIVE! BOOTLEG
- BOB DYLAN – BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME
- DAVID BOWIE – ALADDIN SANE
- THE ROLLING STONES – THE ROLLING STONES
- ELVIS COSTELLO – ARMED FORCES
- GRATEFUL DEAD – EUROPE ’72
- EDDIE MONEY – EDDIE MONEY
- THE TUBES – THE COMPLETION BACKWARD PRINCIPLE
- HUMBLE PIE – ROCKIN’ THE FILLMORE
- THE CARS – SHAKE IT UP
- GUESS WHO – THE BEST OF THE GUESS WHO
- PINK FLOYD – THE DIVISION BELL
- FRANK ZAPPA – APOSTROPHE (‘)
- ZZ TOP – EL LOCO
- PRINCE – PURPLE RAIN
- DIRE STRAITS – MAKING MOVIES
- BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND – LIKE A ROCK
- YES – CLOSE TO THE EDGE
- PAT BENATAR – IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT
- STEELY DAN – PRETZEL LOGIC
- U2 – OCTOBER
- ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA – OUT OF THE BLUE
- ROLLING STONES – EMOTIONAL RESCUE
- JOHN LENNON – WALLS AND BRIDGES
- BRYAN ADAMS – CUTS LIKE A KNIFE
- BOSTON – THIRD STAGE
- MONTROSE – MONTROSE
- FLEETWOOD MAC – TUSK
- JOE WALSH – SO WHAT
- TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS – SOUTHERN ACCENTS
- PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS – VENUS AND MARS
- J. GEILS BAND – SANCTUARY
- DAVID BOWIE – SCARY MONSTERS (AND SUPER CREEPS)
- JIMI HENDRIX – BAND OF GYPSYS
- ROBERT PLANT – NOW AND ZEN
- JEFF BECK – BLOW BY BLOW
- JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS – I LOVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
- GRAND FUNK RAILROAD – WE’RE AN AMERICAN BAND
- THE BEATLES – THE BEATLES’ SECOND ALBUM
- STEELY DAN – THE ROYAL SCAM
- THE OUTLAWS – THE OUTLAWS
- ROLLING STONES – BETWEEN THE BUTTONS
- SWEET – DESOLATION BOULEVARD
- TED NUGENT – CAT SCRATCH FEVER
- JACKSON BROWNE – HOLD OUT
- BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE – BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE
- CAT STEVENS – TEASER AND THE FIRECAT
- MOODY BLUES – ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM
- THE DOOBIE BROTHERS – TAKIN’ IT TO THE STREETS
- THE WHO – WHO BY NUMBERS
- DAVID BOWIE – LET’S DANCE
- URIAH HEEP – DEMONS AND WIZARDS
- KISS – LOVE GUN
- FOREIGNER – 4
- DIO – HOLY DIVER
- THE BYRDS – GREATEST HITS
- THE DOORS – STRANGE DAYS
- DON HENLEY – THE END OF THE INNOCENCE
- FOGHAT – FOOL FOR THE CITY
- JETHRO TULL – STAND UP
- THE CLASH – COMBAT ROCK
- THE KINKS – LOW BUDGET
- R.E.M. – DOCUMENT
- ELTON JOHN – 17-11-70
- GENESIS – WIND & WUTHERING
- OZZY OSBOURNE – NO MORE TEARS
- STYX – CRYSTAL BALL
- JUDAS PRIEST – BRITISH STEEL
- ROLLING STONES – THEIR SATANIC MAJESTIES REQUEST
- STEELY DAN – COUNTDOWN TO ECSTASY
- DIRE STRAITS – DIRE STRAITS
- KANSAS – POINT OF KNOW RETURN
- TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS – HARD PROMISES
- JOHN MELLENCAMP – LONESOME JUBILEE
- THE KINKS – ONE FOR THE ROAD
- PETE TOWNSHEND – EMPTY GLASS
- JAMES GANG – JAMES GANG RIDES AGAIN
- EDGAR WINTER GROUP – THEY ONLY COME OUT AT NIGHT
- BLACK SABBATH – MASTER OF REALITY
- JOURNEY – FRONTIERS
- THE CARS – HEARTBEAT CITY
- JERRY GARCIA – GARCIA
- THIN LIZZY – JAILBREAK
- TESLA – MECHANICAL RESONANCE
- PINK FLOYD – MEDDLE
- HUMBLE PIE – SMOKIN’
- STEVIE WONDER – INNERVISIONS
- THE BEATLES – YELLOW SUBMARINE
- ROLLING STONES – BLACK AND BLUE
- AEROSMITH – DRAW THE LINE
- DAVID BOWIE – STATION TO STATION
- JUDAS PRIEST – SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE
- U2 – BOY
- PETER GABRIEL – PETER GABRIEL
- PAT BENATAR – PRECIOUS TIME
- LED ZEPPELIN – PRESENCE
- ALICE COOPER – WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE
- CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – GREEN RIVER
- GENESIS – TRICK OF THE TAIL
- U2 – RATTLE AND HUM
- THE POLICE – REGATTA DE BLANC
- MÖTLEY CRÜE – DR. FEELGOOD
- SANTANA – SANTANA III
- DEF LEPPARD – HIGH ‘N’ DRY
- ROLLING STONES – STEEL WHEELS
- VAN HALEN – FUCK
- DAVID BOWIE – YOUNG AMERICANS
- HEART – LITTLE QUEEN
- THE PRETENDERS – PRETENDERS
- TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS – YOU’RE GONNA GET IT!
- LINDA RONSTADT – HEART LIKE A WHEEL
- THE WHO – FACE DANCES
- JOHN FOGERTY – CENTERFIELD
- NEIL YOUNG – FREEDOM
- LEON RUSSELL – LEON RUSSELL
- ROLLING STONES – AFTERMATH
- VAN HALEN – FAIR WARNING
- THE DOOBIE BROTHERS – MINUTE BY MINUTE
- ELTON JOHN – HONKY CHÂTEAU
- ALAN PARSONS PROJECT – I ROBOT
- BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – THE RIVER
- JACKSON BROWNE – SATURATE BEFORE USING
- ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – IDLEWILD SOUTH
- JOE WALSH – BUT SERIOUSLY, FOLKS…
- GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS – MOVE IT ON OVER
- WARREN ZEVON – EXCITABLE BOY
- GEORGE HARRISON – THE CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH
- THE BEATLES – MEET THE BEATLES!
- ROLLING STONES – OUT OF OUR HEADS
- AC/DC – THE RAZORS EDGE
- ROBERT PLANT – PICTURES AT ELEVEN
- TRAFFIC – MR. FANTASY
- ALICE COOPER – LOVE IT TO DEATH
- QUEEN – JAZZ
- THE DOORS – WAITING FOR THE SUN
- TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS – INTO THE GREAT WIDE OPEN
- LYNYRD SKYNYRD – NUTHIN’ FANCY
- THE POLICE – OUTLANDOS D’AMOUR
- AC/DC – LET THERE BE ROCK
- J. GEILS BAND – LIVE! FULL HOUSE
- BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING COMPANY – CHEAP THRILLS
- PAUL MCCARTNEY – RAM
- NEIL YOUNG – RUST NEVER SLEEPS
- THE BEATLES – HELP!
- STEVIE RAY VAUGHN AND DOUBLE TROUBLE – THE SKY IS CRYING
- EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER – TRILOGY
- ROLLING STONES – GET YER YA-YA’S OUT! THE ROLLING STONES IN CONCERT
- BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – BORN TO RUN
- FOGHAT – FOGHAT LIVE
- BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD – RETROSPECTIVE: THE BEST OF BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD
- ROBERT PLANT – THE PRINCIPLE OF MOMENTS
- ROD STEWART – GASOLINE ALLEY
- U2 – THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE
- STEVE MILLER BAND – THE JOKER
- THE CARS – CANDY-O
- 38 SPECIAL – WILD-EYED SOUTHERN BOYS
- KANSAS – LEFTOVERTURE
- THE WHO – TOMMY
- ZZ TOP – TRES HOMBRES
- THE YARDBIRDS – HAVING A RAVE UP
- STEELY DAN – GAUCHO
- VAN MORRISON – MOONDANCE
- AEROSMITH – TOYS IN THE ATTIC
- CREAM – WHEELS OF FIRE
- LED ZEPPELIN – HOUSES OF THE HOLY
- SANTANA – ABRAXAS
- BAD COMPANY – BAD COMPANY
- DIRE STRAITS – BROTHERS IN ARMS
- BLACK SABBATH – PARANOID
- PINK FLOYD – ANIMALS
- THE DOORS – L.A. WOMAN
- LED ZEPPELIN – PHYSICAL GRAFFITI
- CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – COSMO’S FACTORY
- THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – AT FILLMORE EAST
- DAVID BOWIE – THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST…
- ROLLING STONES – STICKY FINGERS
- LED ZEPPELIN – LED ZEPPELIN IV
- THE BEATLES – ABBEY ROAD
- JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE – ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?
- THE WHO – WHO’S NEXT
- THE ROLLING STONES – EXILE ON MAIN ST.
- PINK FLOYD – WISH YOU WERE HERE
- LED ZEPPELIN – LED ZEPPELIN II
- THE BEATLES – SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND
- THE BEATLES – REVOLVER
- THE BEACH BOYS – PET SOUNDS
This list is more than just a ranking; it’s a journey through the evolution of rock music. From the raw energy of early rock and roll influences to the sophisticated studio albums of the 70s and 80s, these 500 classic rock albums represent the pinnacle of the genre. Whether you are looking to expand your musical horizons or revisit old favorites, this countdown provides an excellent starting point. Explore the discographies of these iconic artists, delve into the stories behind these albums, and most importantly, turn up the volume and enjoy the timeless sound of classic rock.
