Creedence Clearwater Revival created an influential roots-rock sound, despite breaking up after only five years. Released in 1970, 'Cosmo's Factory' contained some of their finest work, including 'Travelin' Band,' 'Up Around the Bend,' 'Lookin' Out My Back Door,' 'Who'll Stop the Rain,' and an 11-minute take on Marvin Gaye's 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine.'
Revered as perhaps the greatest guitarist in history, Jimi Hendrix released just three albums during his lifetime, but packed plenty of unforgettable performances in those records. His stunning 1967 debut 'Are You Experienced' blended blues and soul with his unparalleled electric guitar work in gems like 'Purple Haze,' 'Manic Depression,' 'Foxy Lady' and 'The Wind Cries Mary.'
Though it was obvious the Beatles' bond was slipping away in 1969, the final album they recorded, 'Abbey Road,' contained some of their best work. Included was John's hard-rocking 'Come Together,' Paul's R&B-influenced 'Oh! Darling,' the Lennon/McCartney eight-minute collabo, 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)', Ringo's fun pop number 'Octopus's Garden,' and two of the best songs George ever contributed to the group, 'Something' and 'Here Comes the Sun.'
Fans often argue about which of the Rolling Stones' 20-plus studio albums was their best, but 'Let it Bleed' is a good place to start. Bookended by two of the Stones' most popular songs, 'Gimme Shelter' and 'You Can't Always Get What You Want,' the 1969 album also included the edgy 'Midnight Rambler' and a cover of Robert Johnson's 'Love in Vain.'
In 1976 the Eagles spent eight months working with producer Bill Szymczyk to perfect this classic rock album masterpiece. Powered by 'Life in the Fast Lane' and two No. 1 singles, 'New Kid in Town' and the superb title track, 'Hotel California' rocked harder than the Eagles' previous efforts and sold more than 16 million copies.
When guitarist Pete Townshend's rock opera 'Lifehouse' collapsed, several of its songs formed the heart of the 1971 album 'Who's Next.' Tracks like 'Won't Get Fooled Again' and 'Behind Blue Eyes' have stood the test of time, but most noteworthy is 'Baba O'Riley,' which married synthesizers with a booming rock sound, as Townshend and Roger Daltrey sang about a "teenage wasteland."
Even if Lynyrd Skynyrd had never released another album after this debut, the Southern rockers' place in music history would have been secure thanks to classic rock radio staples 'Simple Man,' 'Gimme Three Steps,' and 'Free Bird,' the nine-minute anthem honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.
AC/DC considered splitting up after the death of singer Bon Scott in 1980, but before long the Aussie rockers decided to bring in Brian Johnson and carry on. Five months later they released 'Back in Black,' a monster of a record that contained many of their signature songs -- 'Hells Bells,' 'Back in Black,' and 'You Shook Me All Night Long.'
With albums like 'The Dark Side of the Moon' and 'Wish You Were Here' to their credit, Pink Floyd could've placed any number of records on this list. The 1980 double-album 'The Wall,' a concept album based on rock star disillusionment, may have been the band's best, featuring classics like 'Comfortably Numb' and the chart-topper 'Another Brick in the Wall (Part II).'
Heading the list of Best Classic Rock Albums is 1971's 'Led Zeppelin IV,' the 23x platinum release by the English rock gods. Its eight tracks helped define the sound of what came to be known as classic rock, from the bluesy 'When the Levee Breaks' to the acoustic 'Going to California' and to the epic 'Stairway to Heaven.'
1. aerosmith toys in the attic is number 11.
Posted at 9:28PM on Oct 4th 2010 by Jd newman