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Lists that rank the best musical records to ever hit our ears.

Greatest Albums

This is a list of the greatest albums of all time, created and ranked by music fans worldwide. Music is as subjective as any art form, but most people can agree that there are works that rise above the rest and go down as the best albums of all time, regardless of their genre. This is not a list of your &quot;favorite&quot; albums, but a list of the &quot;greatest&quot; albums. Whatever your musical tastes, vote and rank the albums you think had the most impact on music, the most influence on culture and other musicians... the greatest relevance to their genre. From <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/diamond-certified-albums/ranker-music" target="_blank">Diamond-certified albums</a> to the most popular albums ever, this list has them all.If you see an album that should be listed here, be sure to add it! And to really impact this list's order, rerank&nbsp;it to add your own version of how these albums should be ranked.&nbsp;So what are the best albums ever? How about the top albums of all time? Vote now!

poll

The Velvet Underground & Nico

Besides the music, some of the most iconic bands are known for their creative artwork. Often times this extends to their album covers. <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/memorable-oscar-moments/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">The most memorable</a> and famous album covers add an element of coolness to the music that can turn a great album into a transcendent one. Some of the greatest album covers are the most basic. When Andy Warhol designed the Velvet Underground &amp; Nico, no one outside of the artist himself would have associated a banana with that band. Now they do. Here's your chance to vote for the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/red-carpet-looks-2019/samantha-dillinger?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best album covers of all time</a>.Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, is another album that achieved greater fame thanks to it's cover. It turned the prism into an iconic image and is one of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-albums-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best rock album</a> covers. The same goes for Nirvana's Nevermind album cover. The kid whose photo was used is never going to live down being the focal point of the most important album of the '90s. These are some of the most recognizable albums in music history and the creativity that went into writing and recording the album went into making the album cover as great as the music, and one of the top album covers in music. Looking at the records on this list, that was no easy task.Vote for the album you think has the greatest album artwork and qualifies as one of the coolest album covers of all time. There are plenty of good options here, so it's impossible to go wrong.

Albums

Elvis Presley (Legacy Edition)

It’s no coincidence that great bands and artists have some of the best debut <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-albums-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">albums of all time</a>. You can tell a lot about a music artist from their first album, for better or worse. A debut album sets the stage for what audiences can expect, including genre, style, inventiveness, and many more details. For some talented artists, a debut album can be genre changing and influence pop culture. But what are the greatest debut albums of all time? See what music lovers have to say in the ranking below.For some bands, a debut album may be their best work or even their only work. More than a few break up after their first effort. For many others, it may be their best work and they may end up being <a href="/list/greatest-songs-by-one-hit-wonders/ranker-music">one-hit wonders</a>. Not many artists continue to find more success after initial efforts.For the purpose of this list however, we only care about that first seminal album. So vote for the artists that you think have the very best debut albums of all time. No sophomore albums allowed. If you don’t see a particularly great debut album listed, add it so that others may vote on it. All genres welcome.

Worst Music

Blurred Lines

Horrible music released by usually-great artists and bands. Sometimes even the most ingenious, original and creative musical voices can turn out work that's just... not up to snuff. This should not be confused with simply being ahead of one's time. Certainly, many now-renowned and significant musicians were not appreciated in their own time, or proved to be far ahead of the curve. (Those early negative notes that inspired the band name Led Zeppelin, for example. Or everyone who didn't get what Iggy Pop was up to when he first broke on to the scene. Or Neil Young's "Tonight's the Night" album.)Instead, these are experiments, new directions or returns to the well that just didn't go well, and that have grown even worse with time. So it's time to be brutally honest, and fess up to the low points for some of the great musical artists of all time. Have at it by voting, or if you don't see your picks already on the list, start your own to get them on there.

Rock

Update:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/693nUJzIqPADySoYwTFCGu?si=HVODKpb_QZaRJeSbp67Tfg" target="_blank">Follow Ranker&#39;s official New Rock 2020 playlist&nbsp;on Spotify</a>!

Remember when sex was safe and motorcycles were dangerous, and every rock song had at least a half assed decent guitar solo, and people were doing real drugs and not bath salts? Well, this is a tribute to the music in a time when America was simply about life, liberty, and the pursuit of SEX, DRUGS, AND ROCK-N-ROLL! That said, guitar rock may not be as popular as it was in the past, but that doesn&#39;t mean that in the genre&#39;s heyday, there weren&#39;t albums that transcended genres, music types and connected with fans from all over the globe. For starters, who can forget the entire Led Zeppelin catalog? Jimmy Page&#39;s bonecrunching riffs and Robert Plant&#39;s howls brought heavy blues chords to the mainstream while establishing the band as one of guitar rock&#39;s greatest bands.

There are so many influential albums and top guitar albums here that it&#39;s impossible to list them all right here. But so many of the biggest bands in the world populate this list and all of the biggest guitar players in the world are rightfully present on here. Their mere presence alone means that their particular album is going to rock. You have dudes like Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Angus Young, Tony Iommi and Stevie Ray Vaughn amongst others whose guitar prowess is showcased on so many of these albums.&nbsp;

So what are the best guitar rock <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-albums-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">albums of all time</a>? You&#39;ll notice Led Zeppelin II, Are You Experienced and Couldn&#39;t Stand the Weather, but there are so many more. If you think something including amazing guitars is missing, feel free add that album to this list. Vote and re-rank to how you deem it to be fit.

Awards

Hotel California

Over the years, there have been a number of times that the Grammy voters have gotten it right with their selections in the major categories. However, there are still a bunch of albums that have not taken home the gold statue. Some of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-albums-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest albums of all time</a>, you'd be surprised to learn, haven't been honored. While this might seem obvious, there are still a number of egregious snubs and top, acclaimed albums that weren't recognized. There are plenty of critical darlings, and even best selling albums on this list that weren't nominated for music's biggest award.A number of outstanding albums are on this list of Album of the Year snubs. After all, people generally consider albums like Jay Z's The Blueprint, Beastie Boys's&nbsp;Paul's Boutique, and The Rolling Stones's Exile on Main St. to be classics. Yet, these distinctly different albums - many of which are widely considered the artist's seminal album - didn't win a Grammy.So, it's up to you to pick the best album that didn't win Best Album at the Grammys. All of these albums should have won something, so you can't go wrong. It will be interesting to see what other great records don't take home the hardware in the years to come.

Whether you call them Diamond certified or the best-selling albums of all time, this list features every album certified by the RIAA&nbsp;with over 10 million copies sold in the US. While other countries have their own forms of certification, a Diamond-certified album means serious business for musicians. Of all the best-selling albums in history, however, which one do you think is the very best Diamond album? Where do they find themselves on the list of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-albums-of-all-time" target="_blank">best albums of all time</a>?Though every album on this list has sold over 10 million copies in America, most of them have far surpassed this criteria. For instance, Michael Jackson's 1982 Thriller album has gone 33x platinum (platinum requires 1&nbsp;million copies sold). Keep in mind, it's not just original studio albums that make this list of Diamond albums; numerous <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-soundtracks-of-all-time" target="_blank">top movie soundtracks</a> and greatest hits compilations have been certified Diamond as well, including Elton John's Greatest Hits: One Night Only&nbsp;from Madison Square Gardens and Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Soundtrack—among plenty of others. From <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-hip-hop-albums" target="_blank">hit rap albums</a> to the best albums of the 80s—a wide range of artists have achieved the Diamond status on their top albums.Who else makes this list of the best Diamond certified albums? Check out the complete list of albums that went Diamond below and cast a vote for your top picks.&nbsp;

2000s Music

List of the best albums of the 2000s decade, voted on and ranked by fans and critics. This list includes the greatest albums released between January 2000 and December 2009. Despite the rising popularity of song singles and accessibility through iTunes and other mp3 formats, the titles listed prove that the in the 00s, the album was as strong and creative as ever. This list contains the best 00s albums from all genres, from hip hop to pop to indie rock to metal. Vote for your favorites to move them up the list, or press "rerank" to create your own personalized order that will impact this ultimate list.

The Idler Wheel... (2012)

As a musician, there's danger in delaying any album: no album&nbsp;flops harder than a long-awaited album.&nbsp;On the other hand, there's a chance for magic: albums that lived&nbsp;up to the hype sometimes become instant legends, ranking among <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-albums-of-all-time">the best records of all time</a>. The anticipation before their&nbsp;releases makes them&nbsp;that much more memorable, and the time spent crafting the music lends to the myth of their greatness.Frank Ocean's Blonde has already seemingly reached legendary status. With over four years between Blonde and his previous release, channel ORANGE, Ocean did more than just deliver a great delayed album: he upended the music industry by severing ties with Def Jam, his record label, just a few days before released Blonde independently. A money move.Not every delayed album causes an industry-wide stir, of course, but between Blonde, Kanye's The Life of Pablo, and Rihanna's Anti, 2016 is been a year of delayed gratification. And we wouldn't have it any other way.Here are the delayed albums that were most worth the wait. Vote up the records that delivered the most.

Hip-Hop Albums

All Eyez on Me

What are the best hip hop <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-albums-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">albums of all time</a>? The answer, of course, is totally subjective. Everyone has differing opinions about which hip hop and rap albums should be ranked on top, and that&#39;s what this list is all about. Vote for your personal favorite hip hop albums ever, and vote down those albums listed that you don&#39;t feel are worthy of the honor.

The hip-hop albums here represent decades of great music from notables rappers and hip-hop artists -- some we&#39;ve lost, and others who continue to make <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/old-school-hip-hop-bands-and-artists/ranker-music" target="_blank">great new hip hop tracks</a>&nbsp;year after year. Some of the biggest and best hip hop albums ever made include classics like The Chronic from Dr. Dre, Fear of a Black Planet&nbsp;by Public Enemy, Paid in Full&nbsp;by Eric B. and Rakim and N***az4Life&nbsp;by N.W.A. And no list of amazing hip hop albums would be complete without Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers&nbsp;by Wu-Tang Clan and Life After Death&nbsp;by The Notorious B.I.G.

If any of your top 10 favorite hip hop albums aren&#39;t listed here, by all means, add them. Whether you&#39;re a fan of more recent hits or those&nbsp;classic hip hop albums, be sure to vote up what you think are truly the greatest rap albums of all time.

Companies

Naming an album has got to be hard. This list of the best self-titled albums shows that at least a band or musician can use their name with an eponymous album if they can&#39;t think of anything else.

An eponymous debut album or EP is also a common way to introduce the world to a band, but not all of the eponymous albums on this list are self-titled EPs. Some were quite a way into their discography before releasing an eponymous studio album. Cher&#39;s self-titled album, Cher, was her 18th studio album. The band that waited for the longest to release an eponymous album might be The Beach Boys, who didn&#39;t make The Beach Boys until they&#39;d already released 24 other albums.

None of the albums on this list are compilations or &quot;best-of&quot; albums, even though it is common practice to name compilation albums after the band. And although some albums, like Madonna: The First Album, were later renamed to make the musician&#39;s back catalog easier to follow, they were originally self-titled releases. Others, like what is commonly called The White Album, are actually eponymous albums that are referred to in a different way to make conversation easier. Weezer has several self-titled albums and, although they aren&#39;t the only ones to have multiple eponymous albums, they are also commonly differentiated by the color of the cover, like The Blue Album and The Green Album.

Which of these self-titled albums are the best? Be sure to add any self-titled album we missed, but be sure it is actually an eponymous studio album or EP and not a compilation.

Automatic for the People

&nbsp;List of the best albums released in the 1990s, from the years 1990 to 1999. These albums span all music genres – though tend to focus largely on <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-genres-of-music?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">popular music genres</a> like rock, hip-hop, R&amp;B and pop – and cover both new '90s bands that exploded on the scene along with older acts from previous generations that continued making music at the time. The list order is based both on votes and on individual lists made by users – to have the most influence on the rankings, add your own list of favorite '90s albums.Popular trends in the '90s largely carried over from the previous decade, including a fascination with teen pop and dance pop music, along with the growing popularity of hip-hop and rap albums among a mainstream audience. The early 1990s were dominated by the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/west-coast-hip-hop-bands-and-musicians/ranker-music?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">West Coast gangsta rap</a> sound, particularly following the release of Dr. Dre's &quot;The Chronic&quot; in 1992. The mid '90s were notable for the shocking, violent deaths of two of the era's most popular rappers – Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace (aka Notorious BIG). Wallace's producer and collaborator, Sean &quot;Puffy&quot; Combs, went on to dominate the mainstream hip-hop charts in the ensuing years.Contemporary R&amp;B and soul – sometimes in the '90s grouped under the term &quot;urban music&quot; – also remained extremely popular with acts such as En Vogue, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, Whitney Houston, Babyface, and R. Kelly dominating the charts.Rock in the '90s was notable for the explosion of the &quot;grunge&quot; sound in the early part of the decade, with <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/bands-like-nirvana/music-lover?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">bands like Nirvana</a>, Alice in Chains, and Pearl Jam bringing the grimy, less polished style of the Pacific Northwest to mainstream radio. Later, the grunge trend melded with the popularity of what was termed &quot;alternative rock,&quot; an umbrella term incorporating styles as varied as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine, Smashing Pumpkins, and Sublime. British acts making up the &quot;Britpop&quot; sub-genre of rock, which remained popular throughout the decade, included Blur, Oasis, Pulp, and Supergrass.What are greatest albums of the 90s? Take a look here and you'll see.

The Best of the 2010s

Here are the&nbsp;best albums&nbsp;of the decade, ranked by fans everywhere.&nbsp;Featuring popular music from some of the biggest artists today, this list of the top 2010s albums&nbsp;includes the best of rock, pop, rap, EDM, R&amp;B, and more.&nbsp;From Adele&#39;s&nbsp;2012&nbsp;Grammy-winning album 21 to Janelle Mon&aacute;e&#39;s 2019 critically acclaimed concept album&nbsp;Dirty Computer,&nbsp;the 2010s decade was filled with so many good albums. Which 2010s release will be regarded as the album of the decade?&nbsp;

Vote up the best albums of the 2010s, and add your favorites if they deserve to be on this list.&nbsp;

The Number of the Beast

Shreddit's top metal albums include some of the best and most classic extreme metal albums ever made. For casual fans, some of these album titles might be new, but they're certainly worth checking out. Longtime fans, however, will likely instantly recognize several of these albums, and realize that they are from some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-heavy-metal-bands-that-i-know" target="_blank">greatest heavy metal bands</a> of all time. This is where the votes come in: Cast your votes up or down, based on your own personal opinions. You can also add any of your favorites that might not be listed, and of course, you can (and should) re-rank this list of Shreddit's favorite metal albums any way you want.

From the doom metal of bands like Sweden's Candlemass to albums by the "stoner" metal band Sleep, the albums listed here reflect the diversity of the metal genre. Again, these are some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-heavy-metal-albums-you_ve-never-heard-/king-dinosaur" target="_blank">best heavy metal albums you've possibly never heard</a>, but they are all worth your time to track down.

Interested in other heavy metal-related lists? Check out and vote on these lists of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-female-hard-rock-and-metal-guitar-shredders" target="_blank">best female hard rock/metal guitar shredders</a>, the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-10-screamo-bands-of-all-time" target="_blank">best screamo bands of all time</a> and the best overall <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-metal-guitarists-and-guitar-teams" target="_blank">metal guitarists and guitar teams</a>.

The best sophomore albums of all time include some of the <a href=http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-albums-of-all-time">greatest albums of all time</a> and will largely divide music fans as to whether they're the best second albums ever or just another record in a musician's collection. Many of these second albums by bands are superior to the first albums, while others are simply better than most other albums ever released.It was Elvis Costello who once said something to the effect of "you have your whole life to write your first record and six months to write the second"; it's quite the daunting task for a musician or band who has found themselves fast in the spotlight and under pressure to turn out a second album that's as successful as the first. Most bands fail when it comes to record #2 and never rebound (The Strokes, Futureheads, Tokyo Police Club) while others have done some of their best work many albums in (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bad Religion, Gogol Bordello). Many of the bands on this list of the greatest sophomore albums went on put out albums better than the first or second, and some just gave up after their sophomore effort.What is the best sophomore album of all time? What band put out the greatest second album? What bands had better second records than the first? This list of the best second albums by bands is sure to spark a debate among music fans, and that's precisely the point. Make sure to vote for your favorite sophomore album and feel free to add any great second albums that aren't on the list. If your favorite band made an awful second album, do not put them on the list just because they are your favorite band! This list is about the top second records by bands, not a <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/australia-bands-and-musical-artists-from-here/ranker-music?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">list of bands</a> that people like. These are important albums that have stood the test of time that will still be the top albums in years to come. If you're out to vote for the best bands ever, check out <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-rock-bands-of-all-time">the greatest bands of all time</a> and vote there.

Grievous Angel

This list of the best albums release posthumously represents some of the greatest musical accomplishments of artists who died way too soon. When you look at the individual albums listed here, it's hard not to be overwhelmed by the sheer brilliance. From Otis Redding to Amy Winehouse, artists who had albums released after they died live on through their music, forever. Some of these albums are among the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-albums-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest of all time</a>, too. Vote for your favorite posthumous albums and certainly, add any that are missing. You also have the option of reranking this list in any order you choose.No list of great albums albums released by dead musicians would be complete without Tupac Shakur. After his untimely death in 1996, a string of incredible 2Pac albums were released, including (arguably) his best: The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. It's hard to find anyone who doesn't love this album, which was released under 2Pac's stage name, Makaveli. It is without a doubt one of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-hip-hop-albums" target="_blank">best hip hop albums</a> ever recorded. It's just a shame that 2Pac didn't live to see its release.Some of the greatest <a href="/crowdranked-list/rock-stars-whose-deaths-were-the-most-untimely" target="_blank">artists in music whose deaths were the most untimely</a> had amazing posthumous album's released, in some cases long after their passing. One good example: Nick Drake. Drake died in 1974, never having gained great fame. In the decades since his death, however, his three albums have been adored by critics and fans alike (especially Pink Moon).Artists who died young but continued to have a slew of posthumous albums released also include Jimi Hendrix (First Rays of the New Rising Sun is incredible), The Notorious B.I.G., Frank Zappa (a ton of live albums) and Amy Winehouse, whose compilation posthumous album, Lioness: Hidden Treasures, certainly lives up to its name.And then, there's Otis Redding. Redding was killed in a plane crash in 1967 (he was just 26 years old), and his sixth studio album, The Dock of the Bay, came out just months later. Anyone who argues that posthumous albums are always a bad thing need only take a listen to Dock of the Bay, The Immortal Otis Redding, or any other albums in Otis&nbsp;Redding's discography&nbsp;to know they're wrong.

Grammys

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Since 1959, only one album from each year can claim that it was bestowed with Album of the Year honors by the Grammys. While many of these albums were rightful winners, not all get the respect they deserve. This means that thought they took home the night's big prize, overall, they haven't been remembered fondly, or history has ignored them in favor of other full-lengths that were released that year. Other albums are properly rated as outstanding works and in some cases, Album of the Year winners are actually&nbsp;overrated.&nbsp;So, which album of the year winners are underrated or under appreciated? With the slew of fantastic albums on this list, that isn't necessarily the easiest question to answer. But what you will see on this list are a slew of familiar and popular names. The likes of Frank Sinatra, U2, Norah Jones, Judy Garland, Stevie Wonder, and Adele have all taken home the Grammy for Album of the Year. Now it's up to you to decide whether, despite the big win, these albums were still underrated.So, the ball is in your court when it comes to determining the most underrated Album of the Year Grammy winner. Vote for the albums that you think are the most underrated, and give a thumbs down to the albums that you think are overrated.&nbsp;

2020

Here are the top 100 most anticipated albums of 2020. Spanning all genres, this list features the most popular artists and bands with albums coming out in 2020. The most famous pop singers right now, such as Lana Del Rey, Kesha, and Alicia Keys all have <a href="//www.ranker.com/list/upcoming-pop-albums-2020/kareem-gantt" target="_blank">upcoming pop albums in 2020</a>. The biggest&nbsp;rappers, like Cardi B, Drake, Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne, all have&nbsp;<a href="//www.ranker.com/list/upcoming-rap-albums-2020/kareem-gantt" target="_blank">2020 rap albums</a> on the way as well. Good singers and bands from country music, like Luke Bryan and Drive-By Truckers have announced <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/upcoming-country-albums-2020/kareem-gantt/" target="_blank">new country album releases in 2020</a>,&nbsp;while indie rock and electronic&nbsp;artists Tame Impala and Grimes, both of whom have <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/upcoming-indie-albums-2020/kareem-gantt" target="_blank">indie albums slated for a 2020&nbsp;release</a>.

Many of the best rock bands of all time will have some of the most anticipated <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/upcoming-rock-albums-2020/kareem-gantt" target="_blank">new rock albums</a> in 2020, from classic rock bands&nbsp;AC/DC and Deep Purple, to more current bands, including Green Day, Weezer, and The Killers. Top metal bands and artists, like Ozzy Osbourne and the Scorpions, also feature on this list because of their <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/upcoming-metal-albums-2020/kareem-gantt" target="_blank">upcoming 2020 metal albums</a>. And, lest we forget, there are a number of top electronic music artists with <a href="//www.ranker.com/list/upcoming-edm-albums-2020/kareem-gantt" target="_blank">new EDM&nbsp;albums to be released in 2020</a> as well, from mainstream groups Major Lazer and Galantis, to crossover producers like Mura Masa, and underground techno DJs Recondite and Louisahhh.&nbsp;

What do you think will be the best new album of 2020? Which genre has the best musicians coming out with new albums in 2020? Vote up the albums you&#39;re most excited for, and feel free to add any that you think we may have missed.&nbsp;

Whether you&#39;re hanging at your best friend&#39;s house, taking a peek at your aunt&#39;s record collection, or rifling through the glove box in your dad&#39;s car, the results are always&nbsp;the same: you find those few albums every parent owns. It seems like the exact same mix of early 2000s albums and classic records filled up every CD tower and drawer. These <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-guitar-rock-albums" target="_blank">guitar rock albums</a> and soft contemporary hits&nbsp;probably provided the soundtrack to your childhood, before you got your own taste in music and had enough allowance to buy some discs yourself.

To be fair, some of the CDs in your parent&#39;s collection are probably among the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-albums-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest albums of all time</a>. Who doesn&#39;t love Michael Jackson&#39;s Thriller, or the the Beatles&#39; top hits? But some of these albums beloved by your mom or dad might <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/embarrassing-90s-cds/chaz-fletcher" target="_blank">make you cringe</a>. Sure, you love them, but it&#39;s awkward to watch your parents throw on Abba and attempt some &#39;80s-inspired&nbsp;moves.

How do these albums get into each parent&#39;s collection? Who knows! However they end up in that CD rack, it&#39;s time to celebrate the music your mom listens to and the CDs your dad loves.

The Greatest Albums

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20 Albums In Every Parent's CD Collection

Albums You're Guaranteed To Find In Every Parent's CD Collection

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AMAZON

Dark Side Of The Moon

The Dark Side of the Moon

The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released in March 1973. It built on ideas explored in the band's earlier recordings and live shows, but lacks the extended instrumental excursions that characterised their work following the departure in 1968 of founder member, principal composer, and lyricist, Syd Barrett. The themes on The Dark Side of the Moon include conflict, greed, the passage of time, and mental illness, the latter partly inspired by Barrett's deteriorating mental state.
Developed during live performances, an early version of the suite was premiered several months before studio recording began; new material was recorded in two sessions in 1972 and 1973 at Abbey Road Studios in London. The group used some of the most advanced recording techniques of the time, including multitrack recording and tape loops. Analogue synthesizers were given prominence in several tracks, and a series of recorded interviews with the band's road crew and others provided the philosophical quotations used throughout.

Led Zeppelin IV

The untitled fourth studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, commonly referred to as Led Zeppelin IV, was released on 8 November 1971 on Atlantic Records. Produced by guitarist Jimmy Page, it was recorded between December 1970 and March 1971 at several locations, most prominently the Victorian house Headley Grange.
After the group's 1970 album Led Zeppelin III received lukewarm reviews from critics, Page decided their fourth album would officially be untitled. This, along with the inner sleeve's design featuring four symbols that represented each band member, led to the album being referred to variously as, Four Symbols, The Fourth Album, Untitled, Runes, The Hermit, and ZoSo. In addition to lacking a title, the original cover featured no band name, as the group wished to be anonymous and to avoid easy pigeonholing by the press.
Led Zeppelin IV was a commercial and critical success, producing many of the band's most well-known songs, including "Black Dog", "Rock and Roll", "Going to California", and the band's signature song, "Stairway to Heaven".

BHinz

Rumours

Rumours is the eleventh studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac. Largely recorded in California during 1976, it was produced by the band with Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut and was released on 4 February 1977 by Warner Bros. Records. The record reached the top of both the United States Billboard chart and the United Kingdom Albums Chart. The songs "Go Your Own Way", "Dreams", "Don't Stop", and "You Make Loving Fun" were released as singles. Rumours is Fleetwood Mac's most successful release; along with winning the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978, the record has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. Rumours has received diamond certifications in several countries, including the US, Canada, and Australia.
The band wanted to expand on the commercial success of the 1975 record Fleetwood Mac, but struggled with relationship breakups before recording started. The Rumours studio sessions were marked by hedonistic behaviour and interpersonal strife between Fleetwood Mac members; these experiences shaped the album's lyrics.

Hotel California is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Eagles, released on Asylum in late 1976. It is the first Eagles album without the appearance of their founding member Bernie Leadon and their first album with guitarist Joe Walsh. It is also the last album featuring original bassist Randy Meisner. The album became the band's best-selling studio album, with over 16 million copies sold in the U.S. alone and over 32 million copies sold worldwide. The album topped the charts and won the band two Grammy awards for "Hotel California" and "New Kid in Town". The album was nominated for Album of the Year but lost to Fleetwood Mac's Rumours.
The album yielded three Top 20 singles, "New Kid in Town", "Hotel California", and "Life in the Fast Lane". "New Kid in Town" and "Hotel California" both topped the Billboard Hot 100, and "Life in the Fast Lane" reached number 11 on the charts. The album was ranked number 37 on Rolling Stone '​s list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". The album further established the group as the most successful American band of the decade, making the Eagles household names.

Abbey Road

Abbey Road is the eleventh studio album by the English rock band the Beatles, released on 26 September 1969 in the United Kingdom and on 1 October 1969 in the United States. The recording sessions for the album were the last in which all four Beatles participated. Although Let It Be was the final album that the Beatles completed before the band's dissolution in April 1970, most of the album had been recorded before the Abbey Road sessions began. A double A-side single from the album, "Something"/"Come Together", released in October, topped the Billboard chart in the US.
Abbey Road is a rock album that incorporates genres such as blues, pop and progressive rock, and it makes prominent use of the Moog synthesizer and the Leslie speaker. Side two contains a medley of nine songs that has subsequently been covered by other notable artists. The album was recorded amidst a more collegial atmosphere than the Get Back/Let It Be sessions earlier in the year, but there were still frequent confrontations within the band, particularly over Paul McCartney's song "Maxwell's Silver Hammer", one of four tracks on which John Lennon did not perform.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. Released on 1 June 1967, it was an immediate commercial and critical success, spending 27 weeks at the top of the albums chart in the United Kingdom and 15 weeks at number one in the United States. Time magazine declared it "a historic departure in the progress of music" and the New Statesman praised its elevation of pop to the level of fine art. It won four Grammy Awards in 1968, including Album of the Year, the first rock LP to receive this honour.
In August 1966, the Beatles permanently retired from touring and began a three-month holiday from recording. During a return flight to London in November, Paul McCartney had an idea for a song involving an Edwardian era military band that would eventually form the impetus of the Sgt. Pepper concept. Sessions for the Beatles' eighth studio album began on 24 November in Abbey Road Studio Two with two compositions inspired from their youth, "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Penny Lane", but after pressure from EMI, the songs were released as a double A-side single; they were not included on the album.

Back in Black

Back in Black is the seventh studio album by Australian rock band AC/DC. Produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange, the album was released on 25 July 1980 by Albert Productions and Atlantic Records. By the late 1970s, AC/DC began to achieve significant popularity outside their native Australia, with high-energy live performances and a string of successful albums. In 1979, they paired with producer Lange and recorded their international breakthrough, Highway to Hell. Shortly before the recording of their follow-up, lead vocalist Bon Scott died after a night of heavy alcohol consumption. The group continued on with ex-Geordie singer Brian Johnson.
Back in Black was recorded over seven weeks in the Bahamas in spring 1980. The area was hit by tropical storms at the time, making the sessions difficult at times. Johnson penned the album's lyrics and melodies, while guitarists Angus and Malcolm Young composed the music. Its musical content consists of hard rock–styled numbers with lyrics relating to sex, alcohol, partying and rock and roll. Lange demanded perfection in the band's recordings, particularly on Johnson's vocals.

Twiggsy

Boston

Boston is the debut studio album by Boston-based American rock band Boston. Produced by Tom Scholz and John Boylan, the album was released on August 25, 1976 in the United States by Epic Records. Scholz had first begun playing music in the late 1960s after graduating from MIT with a master's degree, which led to a senior position at Polaroid. After being involved in the Boston music scene for several years, Scholz concentrated on demos recorded in his apartment basement with singer Brad Delp. His previous group, Mother's Milk, had received numerous rejection letters from major record labels in the early 1970s. By 1975, the demo tape had fallen into the hands of CBS-owned Epic Records, who signed the band.
Epic wanted the band to record in Los Angeles with a record producer; Scholz was unwilling and desired to record the album in his basement studio. He hired John Boylan to run interference with the label and, in an elaborate ruse, trick them into thinking the band was recording on the West Coast when in reality the bulk was being tracked solely by Scholz at his Massachusetts home.

The Wall

The Wall is the eleventh studio album by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd. It is the last studio album released with the classic lineup of Gilmour, Waters, Wright and Mason before keyboardist Richard Wright left the band. Released as a double album on 30 November 1979, it was supported by a tour with elaborate theatrical effects, and adapted into a 1982 feature film, Pink Floyd – The Wall.
As with Pink Floyd's previous three albums, The Wall is a concept album and explores themes of abandonment and personal isolation. The album is a rock opera that follows Pink, a character whom bassist and lyricist Roger Waters modelled after himself and the band's original leader, Syd Barrett. Pink's life begins with the loss of his father during the Second World War and continues with abuse from his schoolteachers, an overprotective mother, and the breakdown of his marriage; all contribute to his eventual self-imposed isolation from society, represented by a metaphorical wall. Waters conceived the album during Pink Floyd's 1977 In the Flesh Tour, when his frustration with the audience became so acute that he imagined a wall between the audience and the stage.

Who's Next

Who's Next is the fifth studio album by English rock band The Who, released on 14 August 1971. Its origins lie in an abortive multi-media rock opera written by chief songwriter Pete Townshend called Lifehouse. The album was commercially and critically successful, and became the only one by the group to top the UK charts.
Townshend had begun to consider a follow-up to Tommy during the latter half of 1970, and came up with Lifehouse as a means of integrating the band and audience together, using rock music as a means of enlightenment. The group played a series of concerts at the Young Vic theatre in London, and recorded material at the Record Plant studios in New York, before abandoning the project due to its complexity and manager Kit Lambert's addiction to hard drugs. Following the cancellation of Lifehouse, Townshend was persuaded to record the songs as a straightforward studio album, with assistance from recording engineer Glyn Johns. After recording "Won't Get Fooled Again" at Mick Jagger's house Stargroves using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio, the group relocated to Olympic Studios where most of the material was recorded and mixed.

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin is the debut studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was recorded in October 1968 at Olympic Studios in London and released on Atlantic Records on 12 January 1969 in the United States and 31 March in the United Kingdom. Featuring integral contributions from each of the group's four musicians, the album established their fusion of blues and rock. It also attracted a large and devoted following to the band; Zeppelin's take on the emerging heavy metal sound endeared them to parts of the counterculture on both sides of the Atlantic.
Although the album first received negative reviews, it was commercially very successful, and critics have come to view it in a much more positive light. In 2003, the album was ranked No. 29 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In 2004, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

The White Album

The Beatles, also known as the White Album, is the ninth studio album by English rock group the Beatles, released on 22 November 1968. A double album, its plain white sleeve has no graphics or text other than the band's name embossed.
Most of the songs on the album were written during early 1968 at a Transcendental Meditation course in Rishikesh, India. Although the group's experience of the course was mixed, the lack of external influences or drugs sparked the band's creativity and they returned to England with around 40 new songs. They regrouped at George Harrison's house, Kinfauns, in May and recorded demos of 26 songs, enough for a double album. The group returned to EMI Studios to record the new material, with sessions lasting through to mid October, but their experiences in Rishikesh did not help motivate them in the studio. Because the Beatles had unlimited recording time, there was little attempt to rehearse anything as a group, so everything was captured on tape, after which they would overdub voices and additional instruments. Arguments broke out between the Beatles, and witnesses in the studio saw John Lennon and Paul McCartney quarrel with one another.

Highway to Hell

Highway to Hell is an album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It was the band's fifth internationally released studio album and the sixth to be released in Australia. It was the last album featuring lead singer Bon Scott, who died early the following year from over-consumption of alcohol.
It was originally released on 27 July 1979 by Albert Productions, who licensed the album to Atlantic Records for release outside of Australia, and was then re-released by Epic Records in 2003 as part of the AC/DC Remasters series. On 25 May 2006, Highway to Hell was certified 7x Platinum by the RIAA. In 2003, the album was ranked number 200 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

The Cars

The Cars is the eponymous debut studio album by the American new wave rock band the Cars. It was released on June 6, 1978 on Elektra Records. The album, which featured the three charting singles "Just What I Needed","My Best Friend's Girl", and "Good Times Roll," as well as an abundance of radio hits, was a major success for the band, remaining on the charts for 139 weeks. It has been recognized as one of the band's greatest albums.

Revolver

Revolver is the seventh studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 5 August 1966 in the United Kingdom and three days later in the United States. The album marked a progression from their 1965 release Rubber Soul and signalled the band's arrival as studio innovators, a year before the seminal Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. On release, Revolver was widely recognised by critics as having redefined the parameters of popular music. The album's diverse influences and sounds include the incorporation of tape loops on the experimental "Tomorrow Never Knows", the use of a classical string octet on "Eleanor Rigby", and the Indian-music setting of "Love You To". Together with the children's novelty song "Yellow Submarine", "Eleanor Rigby" became an international hit when issued as a double A-side single.
The album's Grammy Award-winning cover design was created by Klaus Voormann, one of the Beatles' friends from their fledgling years in Hamburg. In the UK, Revolver '​s 14 tracks were released to radio stations throughout July 1966, with the music signifying what author Ian MacDonald later described as "a radical new phase in the group's recording career".

Foreigner

Foreigner is the self-titled debut studio album by British-American rock band Foreigner, released in 1977. It spun off a barrage of hit singles, including "Feels Like the First Time", "Cold as Ice" and "Long, Long Way from Home". It also features album tracks such as "Headknocker" and "Starrider", the latter of which features a rare lead vocal from lead guitarist and co-founder Mick Jones. The first attempt at mixing the album was done at Sarm Studios, London, but dissatisfied with result the album was re-mixed at Atlantic Recording Studios by Mick Jones and Jimmy Douglass.

Houses of the Holy

Houses of the Holy is the fifth studio album by British rock band Led Zeppelin, released by Atlantic Records on 28 March 1973. It is their first album composed of entirely original material, and represents a musical turning point for the band, who had begun to record songs with more layering and production techniques.
Containing some of the band's most famous songs, including "The Song Remains the Same", "The Rain Song" and "No Quarter", Houses of the Holy became a huge success, and was certified eleven times platinum by the RIAA. In 2012, it was ranked #148 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
The title track was recorded for the album, but was delayed until the band's next release, Physical Graffiti, two years later.

Bat Out of Hell

Bat Out of Hell is the second album and major-label debut by American rock musician Meat Loaf, as well as being his first collaboration with composer Jim Steinman, released in October 1977 on Cleveland International/Epic Records. It is one of the best-selling albums in the history of recorded music, having sold over 43 million copies worldwide. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it at number 343 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time in 2003.
Its musical style is influenced by Steinman's appreciation of Richard Wagner, Phil Spector, Bruce Springsteen and The Who. Bat Out of Hell has been certified by the Recording Industry Association of America as a platinum album, fourteen times over. The album went on to become one of the most influential and iconic albums of all time and its songs have remained classic rock staples.
This album's title also became the title for two more Meat Loaf albums. Steinman produced the 1993 album, Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell. Desmond Child produced the 2006 album, Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster is Loose.

Rubber Soul

Rubber Soul is the sixth studio album by English rock group the Beatles. It was recorded in just over four weeks to make the Christmas market, and was released on December 3, 1965. It was produced by George Martin. Unlike the five albums that preceded it, Rubber Soul was recorded during a continuous period, whereas the group had previously recorded albums during breaks in between tour dates or other projects. After this, Beatles albums would be made without the burden of other commitments, except for the production of short promotional films.
Rubber Soul is a folk rock album that incorporates R&B, pop, soul, and psychedelic music styles. The album is regarded by musicologists as a major artistic achievement that continued the Beatles' artistic maturation while attaining widespread critical and commercial success. It was the second Beatles album – after the British A Hard Day's Night album – to contain only original material; the Beatles would record no more cover songs for their records until 1969, with the "Maggie Mae" excerpt appearing on the Let It Be album.
Rubber Soul is regarded by fans and critics alike as one of the greatest albums in popular music history.

Candy-O

Candy-O is the second studio album by the American rock band The Cars. It was released in 1979 on Elektra Records. Featuring the Top 20 hit "Let's Go" and the minor hit "It's All I Can Do", the album surpassed the commercial success of its predecessor, charting 15 places better on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also featured a notable album cover by pin-up artist Alberto Vargas.

Infinity

Infinity is Journey's fourth album, released in January 1978 on Columbia Records. It was the band's first album with vocalist Steve Perry and the last to feature drummer Aynsley Dunbar.
Looking for a stronger lead vocalist, Journey briefly enlisted Robert Fleischman and even recorded a few tracks with him, one of which, "For You", later appeared on the Time³ compilation album and Fleischman's solo album Perfect Stranger. Fleischman was soon replaced by Steve Perry, due to musical and management differences. Fleischman would later resurface as the first singer of the glam metal band Vinnie Vincent Invasion.
In "Feeling That Way", Perry dueted with keyboardist Gregg Rolie, who sings lead vocals on "Anytime".
"Patiently" was the first song Perry and Neal Schon wrote together. Perry wrote the lyrics, in which he expresses the sadness of being on the road and away from home, while also expressing admiration for the band's fans, and Schon wrote the music for the song. Other popular singles included "Lights" and "Wheel in the Sky". The latter was co-written with temporary frontman Fleischman.

Gold: Greatest Hits

Scarecrow

Scarecrow is the eighth album by John Mellencamp. Released on November 4, 1985, it peaked at #2 on the U.S. chart behind Heart's comeback album, Heart. The remastered version was released May 24, 2005 on Mercury/Island/UMe and includes one bonus track.
This album contained three Top 10 hits, a record for a Mellencamp album: "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.," which peaked at #2 in the U.S.; "Lonely Ol' Night," which peaked at #6; and "Small Town," which also peaked at #6. "Lonely Ol' Night" also peaked at #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, his second chart-topping single on this chart.
In 1989, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Scarecrow #95 on its list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s, saying: "Scarecrow consolidated the band's rugged, roots-rock thrash and the ongoing maturation of Mellencamp's lyrics."
Rolling Stone also reported that band spent a month in rehearsals, playing a hundred rock and roll songs from the Sixties before going into the studio. According to the record's producer, Don Gehman, the idea was to "learn all these devices from the past and use them in a new way with John's arrangements."

The Beatles

Van Halen

Van Halen is the debut studio album by American rock band Van Halen. Released on February 10, 1978, the album peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album became widely recognized as the band's popularity grew, selling more than ten million copies in the United States by 1999 and achieving RIAA diamond status.
Van Halen contains many of Van Halen's signature songs, including "Runnin' with the Devil", the guitar solo "Eruption", the The Kinks cover "You Really Got Me", "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love", "Jamie's Cryin'", and "Ice Cream Man".

Whether you're hanging at your best friend's house, taking a peek at your aunt's record collection, or rifling through the glove box in your dad's car, the ...