Top 10 Rock and Roll Albums That Changed Music Forever
#10: “Purple Rain” (1984)
Top 10 Deep Purple Songs
Prince & the Revolution
The term “fusion” can refer to a lot of things, from the jazz fusion boom of the early ‘70s, to albums outside of that spectrum that still juxtapose many seemingly disparate elements. “Purple Rain” was one such album, a potent blend of funk, rock, psychedelia and pop that somehow all came together at the perfect time. Prince’s captivating visual aesthetic and genuine aura of mystery helped create “Purple Rain” mania amongst both his established fans, as well as those coming from the pop music realm. This was radio-friendly music that still managed to sound dangerous. A mixture of sleaze and class that could’ve only been delivered by The Purple One…and delivered in style.
#9: “London Calling” (1979)
London, England: a guide to London’s Music History - Sound Travels
The Clash
There are a number of names that can lay claim to being there at the earliest days of punk. Both “Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols” and the self-titled debut from Ramones are absolute watersheds. “London Calling” was something a bit different, however, an album that signified both change and progression. The Clash had already proved themselves with two fiery full lengths prior to “London Calling,” and it was time to show critics and fans that punk rock wasn’t just a fad. The album contains a wide swath of diverse influences, from reggae and ska to rockabilly, and was musically inspired in a way much different from The Clash’s peers. To paraphrase the Oscar-winning film: “London Calling” is everything, everywhere, all at once!
#8: “Black Sabbath” (1970)
Top 10 Black Sabbath Songs
Black Sabbath
The birth of the heavy metal genre is similar to punk rock, in that there are a number of debated “first offenders.” One thing’s for sure, though: nothing quite captured the doom and gloom atmosphere of Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut at the time. This was an album that may have possessed its fair share of blues influences, but it took those dreary tones and twisted them into something sinister-sounding. This is an album that opens with howling wind, driving rain, ominous church bells…and THAT riff. The title track to “Black Sabbath” pretty much says it all, really. Tony Iommi’s utilization of the tritone interval makes this The Devil’s Music: darkness made flesh that went on to permanently cement heavy metal as a worldwide phenomenon.
#7: “Are You Experienced” (1967)
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The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Jimi Hendrix certainly wasn’t the first guitar player to bust out some flashy theatrics on stage. However, one could also argue that “Are You Experienced” from The Jimi Hendrix Experience, helped usher in the age of the guitar hero. That’s because no one had seen anyone quite like Jimi before: the pomp, the circumstance…the absolute fretboard bombast. This was scorched earth playing that took the blues, amplified it to eleven and laid waste to all pretenders. There’s a jazzy tightness to the rhythm section of Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding that always reins in Jimi’s extravagant playing. It’s this combination of virtuoso musicianship and devil-may-care attitude that immediately sent everyone rushing to their collective bedrooms, eager to practice and catch-up to Jimi’s level.
#6: “Bringing It All Back Home” (1965)
Bob Dylan
People listen to music in a variety of different ways. Sometimes, the lyrics are a secondary thought. However, Bob Dylan’s “Bringing It All Back Home” helped shift the perception of rock and pop music wordplay, bringing it some real attention on an international scale. Here was a musician that came from the folk scene, a genre often known for its confessional style of lyricism. Yet, by going electric in 1965, Bob Dylan paved the way for folk-rock to emerge in his wake. “Bringing It All Back Home” is very much emblematic of this fusion, an outstanding combination of musicality, songcraft and charm that reveals just as much poignancy on the fiftieth listen, as the first.
#5: “Nevermind” (1991)
Nirvana
There are a number of factors that went into the eventual decline in public favor for the hair metal that once ruled 1980s airwaves. 1991’s “Nevermind” is often cited as a death knell for that genre, and a signal for the emergence of a new musical trend: grunge. Setting aside for a moment the fact that grunge’s “anti-image” was, in fact, a cultivated image in and of itself, “Nevermind” still stands out for its songwriting. This was an album that took Nirvana’s heavy metal, punk and noise roots and made them palatable for the masses. This was no easy feat, yet there’s also no denying how immediate and memorable songs like “Come as You Are” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” were then, and are today.
#4: “Pet Sounds”
Po Lazarus - Rock N Roll N Ritual (Official Music Video)
The Beach Boys (1966)
One word comes up again and again whenever the subject of “Pet Sounds” emerges amongst rock critics: production. Said quite simply, “Pet Sounds” changed the game when it came to how rock albums sounded. Brian Wilson’s arrangements and orchestrations made “Pet Sounds” feel like no other rock LP on the market. As a result, it made the full-length album format feel more vital, and encouraged other artists to experiment more in the studio. Additionally, the popularity of “Pet Sounds” made the record-buying public pay more attention to LPs, as opposed to the 45 RPM single that had long ruled the charts. Essentially, the success of “Pet Sounds” signified that a new era of classic rock radio was on the horizon.
#3: “Led Zeppelin” (1969)
Led Zeppelin - The Story & the Songs
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin is another band that often comes into the conversation when it comes to the progenitors of heavy metal. Their self-titled debut is still very much steeped in the blues, however, right down to the cover songs included from artists like Willie Dixon. This isn’t Chicago blues, however, but an over-amplified and oversexed British take on the genre that was loud and raw as hell. At the same time, however, there was an atmosphere of high fantasy present within their lyrics and image. Led Zeppelin was a band that revelled in occult excesses, and albums like this self-titled effort and “Led Zeppelin IV '' helped make the band into the legends they are today.
#2: “The Dark Side of the Moon” (1973)
Denny Somach on Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
The progressive rock genre isn’t one that’s largely known for its commercial successes. There have, however, been outliers over the years. Pink Floyd were absolutely one of prog’s biggest and most successful bands, with albums like “The Wall” and 1973’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” serving as cornerstones for the genre. Floyd had already moved through early psychedelia and musically complex prog epics on their earlier releases, but “The Dark Side of the Moon” struck upon a 1970s nerve. The era of drug experimentation had moved beyond hippie subcultures into mainstream rock radio, and “Dark Side” encouraged legions of listeners to turn on, tune in and drop out.
Before we name our number one pick, here are some iconic honorable mentions!
“Rumours” (1977), Fleetwood Mac
The Sweet Sound of Band Breakup Drama
“Van Halen” (1978), Van Halen
Arguably the Genesis of Sunset Strip Glam Metal
“Exile on Main Street” (1972), The Rolling Stones
Retroactively Appreciated
“Born to Run” (1975), Bruce Springsteen
Anthemic, Poetic & Confessional
“The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” (1972), David Bowie
A Glam Rock Opera & Concept Album
#1: “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (1967)
Interview with Tokyo Police Club
The Beatles
Some of the greatest pieces of art were divisive in their day. Not everyone was on board with “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” back when it was released in 1967. Some critics felt that the album’s infatuation with artistry led to a case of diminishing returns. The Fab Four had a pop-art past, yet “Sgt. Pepper’s” embraced a full, concept album structure that made the most out of every production trick available to The Beatles and producer George Martin while in the studio. The one-two punch of this album and 1968’s “Abbey Road” helped make rock and roll into something that could change the world. They are true compositional achievements that are envied and copied by artists all the way to the modern day.
