TOP ROCK ALBUMS: 40-31

CHAD COLLINS

40. LOVE: “FOREVER CHANGES”

• Singer in Love, Arthur Lee thought he was dying during the album’s creation so needless to day he poured everything he had into it

• His soul was written down and sung beautifully on this piece of musical history

• Hits such as “Alone Again Or” and “You Set the Scene” blazed through listeners and and concert goers alike

• Lee even used his brief stint in prison to draw creativity for the album

39. THE BEATLES: “PLEASE PLEASE ME”

• This album is special for many reasons but one notable fact was that 10 of the 14 songs on the album were recorded in 12 hours at the band’s Abbey Road Studio in London

• The recording took place in February of 1963

• The band had already proved themselves as rock stars the world over but they continued on their hunt for musical immortality with unique instruments, sounds, and vocal harmonies

• Billboard top hits like “There’s a Place” and “Twist and Shout” will be eternally recorded on this album for listeners of every generation

38. MUDDY WATERS: “THE ANTHOLOGY”

• Born McKinley Morganfield, the musician began his career playing acoustic music that represented the delta area of Mississippi

• However when Muddy Waters moved from Mississippi to Chicago in 1943, he found a new inspiration

• His beat changed from delta blues to rock n’ roll with strong guitar chords

• Muddy became such a hit in the music industry that he began working with top talent like Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards

37. THE EAGLES: “HOTEL CALIFORNIA”

• This is truly one of the most iconic albums in rock n’ roll history

• The Eagles reigned supreme for a time where they churned out amazing music and the public loved them for it

• The band became infamously known for locking themselves away in seclusion to write and develop their new songs and albums

• This amazing album was produced by Asylum in 1976

36. CAROLE KING: “TAPESTRY”

• Carole King was not always her own singer and songwriter

• For quite awhile Carole wrote songs for others that turned into major hits

• It wasn’t until James Taylor encouraged her to strike her on path and she began on her solo career

• Top hits like “So Far Away” and “It’s Too Late” struck the hearts of millions and reminded us of her talent every day

35. DAVID BOWIE: “THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS”

• While is may have a strange or misleading name for the record, David Bowie was the classic rock star

• He had is all in his prime and wasn't afraid to show it with his alter-ego Ziggy Stardust

• Ziggy was covered in glitter and sparkly object and teased the crowd with his scandalous antics

• RCA produced the album and released it in 1972

34. THE BAND: “MUSIC FROM BIG PINK”

• This Capitol Records power record hit the public at the end of the 60s but made it all worth the wait

• After not including Bob Dylan in the albums creation, The Band wanted to blaze their own trail and achieved their goals 100 times over

• The Band presented a dramatic record that takes a deeper look into the band members lives, families, and the work they were involved with at the time

33. RAMONES: “RAMONES”

• From beginning their rise to fame in a garage to rocking every stage in the United States, The Ramones released hit album after hit album

• It is said that Johnny Ramone refused to play solos because his chords were too much for listeners

• The album was recorded for just over $6,000 and has brought in over millions of dollars between sales and use of cover art

32. THE ROLLING STONES: “LET IT BLEED”

• Another iconic band that released one of their top albums in the wake of the 60s, The Rolling Stones

• All the Stones played an integral role in the success of this album, whether they each took lead or provided the perfect background addition to each and every track

• “Let it Bleed” will always be a top rock album

31. BOB DYLAN: “BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME”

• Bob Dylan released this album in conjunction with Columbia records in 1965

• Bob Dylan, a man of many talents used everything he had in his musical arsenal to create a world renowned album played generation after generation

• Dylan’s complex lyrics and electric guitar ballads solidified him as a rock n’ roll god