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Lovely rock

Classic rock masterpieces: a roundup of must-listen albums

If you don’t usually listen to Western rock music, you might be thinking, “I want to give it a try, but I don’t know where to start,” and feel a bit stuck.

For those people, I recommend starting with the can’t-miss albums that have long been regarded as “classic masterpieces” in the rock scene.

In this article, we’ll introduce a host of landmark albums that have left their mark on rock history all at once.

From albums by legendary rock bands to records packed with songs everyone has heard at least once, we’ve gathered a wide range.

Use this as a guide and take your first steps into the world of Western rock.

Playlist

Classic rock masterpieces: a roundup of must-listen albums
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1Appetite for DestructionGuns N’ Roses
Appetite for DestructionGuns N' Rosesplay_arrow
Guns N’ Roses’ masterful debut
2Abbey RoadThe Beatles
Abbey RoadThe Beatlesplay_arrow
The Beatles’ masterpiece, the Abbey Road edition
3(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?Oasis
(What's the Story) Morning Glory?Oasisplay_arrow
Oasis’s classic album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
4The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from MarsDavid Bowie
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from MarsDavid Bowieplay_arrow
David Bowie's signature work Ziggy Stardust
5NevermindNirvana
NevermindNirvanaplay_arrow
The appeal of Nirvana’s classic album Nevermind
6The Dark Side of the MoonPink Floyd
The Dark Side of the MoonPink Floydplay_arrow
Introduction to Pink Floyd's classic albums
7Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex PistolsSEX PISTOLS
Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex PistolsSEX PISTOLSplay_arrow
Legendary punk music album
8Back in BlackAC/DC
Back in BlackAC/DCplay_arrow
AC/DC’s iconic song about overcoming adversity
9Bon JoviBon Jovi
Bon JoviBon Joviplay_arrow
Bon Jovi’s debut release is a huge hit
10Exile on Main StreetThe Rolling Stones
Exile on Main StreetThe Rolling Stonesplay_arrow
The Stones’ masterpiece album, an immortal classic
11In The Court Of The Crimson KingKing Crimson
In The Court Of The Crimson KingKing Crimsonplay_arrow
King Crimson’s masterful debut album
12Who’s NextThe Who
Who’s NextThe Whoplay_arrow
The allure and history of The Who’s classic album Who’s Next
13The Velvet Underground & NicoThe Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground & NicoThe Velvet Undergroundplay_arrow
The Velvet Underground’s classic album
14DookieGreen Day
DookieGreen Dayplay_arrow
Green Day’s signature work, Dookie
15MeteoraLinkin Park
MeteoraLinkin Parkplay_arrow
An album of the evolutionary fusion of rock and hip-hop
16OK ComputerRadiohead
OK ComputerRadioheadplay_arrow
A Radiohead masterpiece. Social critique and innovative sound.
17Blood Sugar Sex MagikRed Hot Chili Peppers
Blood Sugar Sex MagikRed Hot Chili Peppersplay_arrow
Red Hot Chili Peppers' classic album
18CalifornicationRed Hot Chili Peppers
CalifornicationRed Hot Chili Peppersplay_arrow
Red Hot Chili Peppers’ signature work, Californication
19Led Zeppelin IVLed Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin IVLed Zeppelinplay_arrow
Led Zeppelin IV masterpiece classic
20The Joshua TreeU2
The Joshua TreeU2play_arrow
The allure of U2’s masterpiece, The Joshua Tree
21Pet SoundsThe Beach Boys
Pet SoundsThe Beach Boysplay_arrow
The innovative nature of the Beach Boys’ masterpiece Pet Sounds
22PearlJanis Joplin
PearlJanis Joplinplay_arrow
Janis Joplin’s posthumous classic album, Pearl
23Greatest HitsQueen
Greatest HitsQueenplay_arrow
A masterpiece by Queen, a gem that distills all their charm
24London CallingThe Clash
London CallingThe Clashplay_arrow
The Clash’s masterpiece album “London Calling”
25Are You ExperiencedThe Jimi Hendrix Experience
Are You ExperiencedThe Jimi Hendrix Experienceplay_arrow
Hendrix’s innovative guitar shocks music history
26The DoorsThe Doors
The DoorsThe Doorsplay_arrow
The Doors' debut is a masterpiece.
27Close To The EdgeYES
Close To The EdgeYESplay_arrow
A British progressive rock band, highly acclaimed for its innovative musicality
28Wheels of FireCream
Wheels of FireCreamplay_arrow
Cream’s masterpiece album “Wheels of Fire”
29WiredJeff Beck
WiredJeff Beckplay_arrow
Jeff Beck's 'Wired' is a masterpiece of fusion music
30Machine HeadDeep Purple
Machine HeadDeep Purpleplay_arrow
Deep Purple's classic album is powerful
31Best Of Volume 1Van Halen
Best Of Volume 1Van Halenplay_arrow
Van Halen Greatest Hits
32The Very Best of Deep PurpleDeep Purple
The Very Best of Deep PurpleDeep Purpleplay_arrow
Deep Purple's Greatest Hits
33News of the WorldQueen
News of the WorldQueenplay_arrow
A classic Queen album with a simple rock sound
34The Freewheelin’ Bob DylanBob Dylan
The Freewheelin' Bob DylanBob Dylanplay_arrow
Dylan’s masterpiece that laid the foundation of folk music
35Toys in the AtticAerosmith
Toys in the AtticAerosmithplay_arrow
Aerosmith masterpiece, hard rock revolution
36Elvis PresleyElvis Presley
Elvis PresleyElvis Presleyplay_arrow
Elvis Presley's classic debut album
37Master of PuppetsMetallica
Master of PuppetsMetallicaplay_arrow
Introducing Metallica’s masterpiece, Master of Puppets
38DestroyerKISS
DestroyerKISSplay_arrow
The appeal and evolution of Kiss’s classic album Destroyer
39AjaSteely Dan
AjaSteely Danplay_arrow
Steely Dan’s masterpiece album “Aja”
40TenPearl Jam
TenPearl Jamplay_arrow
Pearl Jam’s debut release was a huge hit
41Born to RunBruce Springsteen
Born to RunBruce Springsteenplay_arrow
Bruce Springsteen’s masterpiece album “Born to Run”
42RumoursFleetwood Mac
RumoursFleetwood Macplay_arrow
Fleetwood Mac’s masterpiece album