A Review: 'Classic Rock Magazine's' 100 Greatest Rock Albums

Classic Rock Magazine normally hits the nail right on the head, especially when it comes to choosing their favourite Beatles albums. In the past, I've found Classic Rock Magazine to be a good source for either new information concerning up and coming bands, or great articles on some older bands I listen to.

Now we come on to the problem, and I've been thinking about this for a while. The problem is when they published their 100 Greatest Classic Rock albums of all time, I found myself shaking my head a lot. I showed it to my Dad, and he shook his head—there are either things missing (which we aren't going to cover, because I'll get mad), or, what we are going to cover—things in the wrong places. I found that I disagreed with the placement of albums, either too high or too low—but I understood that they were placed for popularity, and not my own personal choices.

What we're going to have a look at first are some of the albums that didn't make the top 100, but are listed in the section "Bubbling Under" that I thought at least, should have been listed lowly in the top 100. I didn't think leaving these albums out was totally fair.

The Albums from "Bubbling Under" That Should Be in the Top 100

Let's take a look:

Like Clockwork by Queens of the Stone Age

Out of the Cellar by Ratt

Too Fast For Love by Motley Crue

Love it to Death by Alice Cooper

Script for a Jester's Tear by Marillion

Six by Mansun

Trash by Alice Cooper

Permission to Land by The Darkness

'The Man Who Sold the World' by David Bowie

Listen to it here.

I think this should have at least made the 90s in the top 100. No it isn't the best Bowie album, but it is very good, and has some great tracks. It really isn't fair that this album got left off, and the Sex Pistols have an album on the list. Yeah, the Sex Pistols have an album in the top 100—but this Bowie classic got left off.

Surfer Rosa by The Pixies

Goo by Sonic Youth

Freak Out by The Mothers of Invention

Plastic Surgery Disasters by Dead Kennedys

Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan

Eat 'Em and Smile by David Lee Roth

Electric by The Cult

Blackbird by Alter Bridge

Tapestry by Carole King

To Our Children's Children by the Moody Blues

Glory Road by Gillian

Kill 'Em All by Metallica

Songs for the Deaf by QOTSA

Woodstock Soundtrack by Various

Harvest by Neil Young

Full Moon Fever by Tom Petty

Beck, Boggart and Appice by Beck, Boggart and Appice

'Bringing it All Back Home' by Bob Dylan

Listen to it here.

Yes, it didn't make it on to the top 100—this was difficult to stomach. I was sitting there with a bit of an attitude problem, and my Mom had to ask me what happened in my magazine that made me sad. This album is near-perfect, and should have been at least in the top 20. It's a brilliant creation of music and artistry. Oh come on, just look at the track list. This was a damn insult, and I am personally offended.

Band on the Run by Wings

'All Things Must Pass' by George Harrison

Listen to it here.

All I can say is with so many great songs on the album, including classics like "My Sweet Lord"and "Art of Dying";how dare they not include this on the top 100. This album should be at least in the top 50. It is a beautiful album, and just this album alone makes me want to write a rival article on my essential albums. Oh wait, I already have.

Blind Faith by Blind Faith

Skid Row by Skid Row

Roger the Engineer by The Yardbirds

Hero and Heroine by the Strawbs

Crime of the Century by Supertramp

Sweet Baby James by James Taylor

Fresh Cream by Cream

'Rubber Soul' by The Beatles

Listen to it here.

Oh good, now I've got your attention. This album didn't make it into the top 100, but the Sex Pistols and U2 did. Let that sink in. This album should have been at least top 50, because of "Nowhere Man"and "Norwegian Wood" alone. It's a beautiful album, and the song "Run For Your Life"is just one of those fantastically dark songs with a happy sound who's atmosphere would later be mirrored by Abbey Road's "Maxwell's Silver Hammer."

L.A Guns by L.A Guns

Slave to the Grind by Skid Row

Diary of a Madman by Ozzy Osbourne

Kingdom of Desire by Toto

Leftoverture by Kansas

Tim by the Replacements

The Modern Lovers by The Modern Lovers

Battering Ram by Saxon

Violator by Depeche Mode

Dookie by Green Day

All Mod Cons by The Jam

Script of the Bridge by The Chameleons

Blast Tyrant by Clutch

One More for the Road by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Leave Home by Ramones

Foxtrot by Genesis

Blow by Blow by Jeff Beck

Day for Night by The Tragically Hip

One Hot Minute by The Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Surfing with the Alien by Joe Satriani

Captain Beyond by Captain Beyond

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by the Smashing Pumpkins

Vol. 4 by Black Sabbath

A Bit of What You Fancy by Quireboys

Pile Driver by Status Quo

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath by Black Sabbath

Presence by Led Zeppelin

Graceland by Paul Simon

Some Girls by the Rolling Stones

Next by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

Scenes from a Memory by Dream Theatre

A Day at the Races by Queen

Caravanserai by Santana

Definitely Maybe by Oasis

My Aim is True by Elvis Costello

Stained Class by Judas Priest

Moving Waves by Focus

Wind and Wuthering by Genesis

Blackwater Park by Opeth

Power Trip by Monster Magnet

Hand Cannot Erase by Steven Wilson

Eye of the Tiger by Survivor

Bridge of Sighs by Robin Trower

Slash by Slash

Black Rose by Thin Lizzy

High Voltage by AC/DC

Wings Over America by Wings

Synchronicity by The Police

Teaser by Tommy Brolin

Wheels of Steel by Saxon

Fear of a Blank Planet by Steven Wilson

Cosmo's Factory by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Alchemy by Dire Straits

Night Moves by Bob Seger

A Nod's as Good as a Wink to a Blind Horse by Faces

Meddle by Pink Floyd

Live Full House by J. Geils Band

Passion and Warfare by Steve Vai

Ride the Lightning by Metallica

Overkill by Motorhead

Live by Status Quo

Welcome to My Nightmare by Alice Cooper

Heroes by David Bowie

Free by Free

Out of the Blue by ELO

Toto IV by Toto

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John

Damn the Torpedoes by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Come Taste the Band by Deep Purple

Village Green Preservation Society by Kinks

Skylarking by XTC

Repeater by Fugazi

Throwing Cooper by Live

Tago Mago by Can

Low by David Bowie

Days of Future Passed by The Moody Blues

Sheer Heart Attack by Queen

Idlewind South by Allman Brothers

Selling England by the Pound by Genesis

Camembert Electrique by Gong

Irish Tour '74 by Rory Gallagher

John Barleycorn Must Die by Traffic

The River by Bruce Springsteen

Moondance by Van Morrison

Automatic for the People by REM

News of the World by Queen

Images and Words by Dream Theatre

Contraband by Velvet Revolver

Use Your Illusion by Guns N'Roses

Animals by Pink Floyd

Thick as a Brick by Jethro Tull

Darkness on the Edge of Town by Bruce Springsteen

Fair Warning by Van Halen

The Final Cut by Pink Floyd

Brain Salad Surgery by ELP

Argus by Wishbone Ash

Montrose by Montrose

House of the Holy by Led Zeppelin

Frampton Come Alive by Peter Frampton

Heaven and Hell by Black Sabbath

Queen II by Queen

Weezer by Weezer

Close to the Edge by Yes

Last Decade Dead Century by Warrior Soul

Loveless by My Bloody Valentine

Powerslave by Iron Maiden

Mott by Mott the Hoople

Korn by Korn

Cat Scratch Fever by Ted Nugent

Peter Gabriel by Peter Gabriel

Rated R by Queens of the Stone Age

Born Under a Bad Sign by Albert King

Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins

The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails

'Horses' by Patti Smith

Listen to it here.

Classic Rock Magazine has just told you that one of the greatest pieces of songwriting in classic rock did not make it into a top 100 albums about classic rock. I am disappointed, because this album is an amazing example of great, poetic songwriting—it is an example of an iconic album cover, and it is an example of brilliant music. Patti Smith deserved better; she deserved at least top 50.

Reckless by Brian Adams

Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen

Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division

Second Helping by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Cheap Thrills by Big Brother and the Holding Company

The Pretenders by The Pretenders

Sonic Temple by The Cult

Pearl by Janis Joplin

Kick Out the Jams by MC5

Tarkus by Emerson, Lake and Palmer

Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park

Marquee Moon by Television

Pieces of Eight by Styx

The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses

Nothing's Shocking by Jane's Addiction

Heart by Heart

Back Street Symphony by Thunder

The Bends by Radiohead

Astral Weeks by Van Morrison

So by Peter Gabriel

'Grace' by Jeff Buckley

Listen to it here.

This one hurt. I can't believe Jeff Buckley's Grace didn't make it on to the top 100. The title song is absolutely beautiful, as is the song "Mojo Pin," and his version of "Hallelujah" should be enough on its own. His cover of Bob Dylan's "Mama You've Been on My Mind" was incredible, and he has an iconic singing voice. I can't believe classic rock left him out—that is an insult.

The Real Thing by Faith No More

Transformer by Lou Reed

Earth vs. The Wildhearts by The Wildhearts

Clutching at Straws by Marillion

Asia by Asia

Electric Warrior by T. Rex

Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane

New Jersey by Bon Jovi

American Beauty by The Grateful Dead

Demons and Wizards by Uriah Heep

Pump by Aerosmith

Seasons in the Abyss by Slayer

Outlandos d'Amour by The Police

The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion by the Black Crowes

Raw Power by Iggy Pop and the Stooges

Escape by Journey

Permanent Vacation by Aerosmith

Shake You Money Maker by the Black Crowes

American Idiot by Green Day

Fire and Water by Free

Badmotorfinger by Soundgarden

Deja Vu by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

The Band by The Band

Dirt by Alice in Chains

Blackout by Scorpions

Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan*

*(if you're asking, yes I'm mad about this one, but I've also realised that Classic Rock Magazine seems to be very biased. So I'll leave it there).

Eliminator by ZZ Top

Abraxas by Santana

Every Picture Tells a Story by Rod Stewart

In the Land of the Grey and Pink by Caravan

(What's the Story) Morning Glory? by Oasis

Achtung Baby by U2

No Sleep 'till Hammersmith by Motorhead

Vulgar Display of Power by Pantera

Aja by Steely Dan

The Velvet Underground and Nico by The Velvet Underground and Nico

Blues Breakers by John Mayall and Eric Clapton

The Rotter's Club by Hatfield and the North

Smash by the Offspring

The Clash by The Clash

Part 2: The Top 100

We're now going to go through the top 100, and don't worry, I'm not going to go through every single album, and see what they're doing on the list. Instead, we're going to only cover in detail the albums I disagree with the position of, and have a look at why I disagree with their position. So let us begin!

100-91

100. 4 by Foreigner

99. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

98. Peace Sells but Who's Buying? by Megadeath

97. 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn' by Pink Floyd

This album deserves to be much, much higher than it is on this list. It is one of my personal favourite albums by the band, as it is the brain-child of the underrated genius—Syd Barrett. I would have personally placed this album at around number 15-20, if I was making a list of my own essential albums. But, on the greatest albums of all time, it definitely deserves a place in the top 50.

96. Superunknown by Soundgarden

95. 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway' by Genesis

This one is personal, I'm not going to lie to you when I say this, but I do not like Genesis that much. Not that I don't like them at all, I just don't like them enough to put them on the top 100. It's a bit strange that they'd put The Piper at the Gates of Dawn below this, and that there are several Queen, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and David Bowie albums that didn't make it, but this did. I just find that wrong.

94. Sabotage by Black Sabbath

93. Cheap Trick at Budokan by Cheap Trick

92. 'Beggars Banquet' by The Rolling Stones

Again, a personal one. I thought that this album should have been a bit higher, maybe in the top 60. It doesn't deserve to be so low on the list, not when it has a song like "Sympathy for the Devil" on it. Imagine someone putting just the song "Sympathy for the Devil"at number 92 for anything. I mean as an album altogether it isn't great, but for that song alone, it deserves better.

91. The Hombres by ZZ Top

90-81

90. Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chilli Peppers

89. Destroyer by Kiss

88. 'Hunky Dory' by David Bowie

Now, I really like this album, and I've heard people online say that this is one of the greatest albums ever recorded. I'm not going to lie, but it is probably in the top 30 greatest albums ever made—why it is so low on the scale I will never know. The track "A Song for Bob Dylan"is absolutely brilliant, and other songs on the album have gained such intense popularity—I can't imagine what was going through their heads when they decided to put this iconic album at number 88.

87. Fragile by Yes

86. 'Highway 61 Revisited' by Bob Dylan

Okay, if I wasn't angry before—you can probably tell that I am now. Bob Dylan's greatest album at number 86 almost made me choke when I first read this. This album should be at number one, because it set the bar for everyone else to beat when it came to new-styled music. Bob Dylan was the first guy to make this fusion between folk and rock, between acoustic and electric, between songwriter and performer. It is quite possibly the most important album in rock history, and you all just shoved it here. As you can tell, I'm angry.

85. Operation: Mindcrime by Queensryche

84. Rage Against the Machine by Rage Against the Machine

83. 1987 by Whitesnake

82. Burn by Deep Purple

81. Ramones by The Ramones

80-71

80. Billion Dollar Babies by Alice Cooper

79. OK Computer by Radiohead

78. Seventh Son of the Seventh Son by Iron Maiden

77. Tommy by The Who

76. 'Slippery When Wet' by Bon Jovi

There's songs like "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Wanted Dead or Alive" on this album, so I don't understand why it only made 76. It is far better than 76, because really, there is not a single bad song on that album—it deserves at least a place in the top 40. I mean come on, it's Bon Jovi, and one of their most-loved albums as well. But of course, the album would not be complete without the amazing "Livin' on a Prayer"—yes that song is on the album, and yes, Classic Rock Magazine stuck it at 76. No I don't know why either.

75. Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits

74. Powerage by AC/DC

73. 'Born in the USA' by Bruce Springsteen

Let me have a think about yet another album that doesn't have a single bad song on it that also sounds great as an entire album, and amazing as single tracks. Oh, I have one! It's Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA. Why is this album at number 73, when it clearly deserves a space in the top 40? With songs like "Dancing in the Dark"and "My Hometown," they really did just put it this low. I can't explain how upset I am by this; this album is just too good to be this low!

72. Disraeli Gears by Cream

71. Alive by Kiss

70-61

70. Strangers in the Night by UFO

69. Axis: Bold as Love by The Jimi Hendrix Experience

68. 'Pronounced "Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd"' by Lynyrd Skynyrd

I like this album far too much for it to be this low in the ranking. This album does deserve its space in the top 50, because of the fact that it's more than an album—it's an icon. With songs like "Free Bird," "Mississippi Kid," and "Tuesday's Gone"—this album has no excuse being this low, and if I were Classic Rock Magazine, I would seriously rethink this one, because of the status it holds as being such a good album.

67. Live at Leeds by The Who

66. Bad Company by Bad Company

65. Live and Dangerous by Thin Lizzy

64. Layla and Other Absorbed Love Songs by Derek and the Dominos

63. Ace of Spades by Motorhead

62. In Rock by Deep Purple

61. Let There Be Rock by AC/DC

60-51

60. Pyromania by Def Leppard

59. In the Court of the Crimson King by King Crimson

58. Quadrophenia by The Who

57. Rocks by Aerosmith

56. Aqualung by Jethro Tull

55. Jailbreak by Thin Lizzy

54. British Steel by Judas Priest

53. 'Pet Sounds' by the Beach Boys

Pet Sounds is one of the most iconic albums in classic rock, and really set one of those high bars for others to follow. It was a blend of 50s fusion rock and psychedelia, and The Beach Boys really outdid themselves on this one. I would've thought with a song like "God Only Knows," and such a well-made album—this record would've made at least the top 30. Number 53 is hardly fair at all. Not for such an iconic album.

52. 'Born to Run' by Bruce Springsteen

Some cite this album as one of the greatest albums ever recorded in any type of music, not just rock. Springsteen's awesome and legendary Born to Run is an icon of rock music especially 70s rock music. It has some incredible tracks, and I wager you to tell me one bad song on that album. The entire album being put together this well deserves a spot in the top 30, not as low as the fifties. Sorry, Classic Rock Magazine, but you got this one wrong.

51. 'Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols' by Sex Pistols

I'm sorry, but I hate the Sex Pistols for reasons I cannot explain, please get them off the list.

50-41

50. Purple Rain by Prince and the Revolution

49. '1984' by Van Halen

Again, another album that deserves to be higher on the list. Any of Van Halen's albums, for the guitar work alone—are musically brilliant, and do not deserve a space in the 40s. I would go as far as to say for the musical ability, they deserve a space in the top 20. This album especially. Now go on, and tell me which song is bad on this album; don't worry, I'll wait.

48. Let it Bleed by the Rolling Stones

47. London Calling by The Clash

46. At Fillmore East by The Allman Brothers Band

45. Master of Reality by Black Sabbath

44. 'Bat out of Hell' by Meat Loaf

My mother wouldn't be impressed with this position, she loves Meat Loaf. But if you're telling me, one of the greatest selling albums in history (of any kind of music) only made it to number 44? I don't think so. The title track alone gives it the position of at least top 10. I can't say I'm surprised because Classic Rock Magazine tends to drool over Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin, but leaves out people like Meat Loaf. This album deserves far more than 44.

43. Electric Landlady by The Jimi Hendrix Experience

42. 'The Joshua Tree' by U2

I just really don't like U2, I'm sorry I can't explain it.

41. Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith

40-31

40. Hysteria by Def Leppard

39. LA Woman by The Doors

38. Holy Diver by Dio

37. Exile on Main St. by The Rolling Stones

36. 'Nevermind' by Nirvana

I would say that this album is way too high on the list. Let's just put it this way, this album made above icons like Born to Run, Pet Sounds and Highway 61 Revisited. It even beat Bat Out of Hell to the top 40. I just really don't think it should be in the top 50. It was thoroughly average, but it didn't do a lot compared to the other albums I've mentioned in this section.

35. Ten by Pearl Jam

34. Blizzard of Ozz by Ozzy Osbourne

33. Moving Pictures by Rush

32. Hotel California by Eagles

31. Boston by Boston

30-21

30. The Black Album by Metallica

29. Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones

28. Who's Next by The Who

27. Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

26. The Doors by The Doors

25. 'Revolver' by The Beatles

Revolver is one of the greatest albums ever made, and well, I think it deserves a space in the top 10. Songs like "Eleanor Rigby"and "Taxman"are great on their own, but including songs like "Doctor Robert" makes the album even more iconic. It is a true classic rock legend, and definitely deserves more than the top 25. I would say that this album is possibly better than Abbey Road.

24. Machine Head by Deep Purple

23. 'Aladdin Sane' by David Bowie

This is a near-perfect album, and quite possibly deserves to be in the top 10. Songs like "Cracked Actor,"and the amazing "Drive-In Saturday"are incredible additions to the album. The album is an icon of David Bowie's most experimental character, and I definitely think that this album deserves more.

22. Are You Experienced? by The Jimi Hendrix Experience

21. Rainbow Rising by Rainbow

20-11

20. Paranoid by Black Sabbath

19. 2112 by Rush

18. 'The Wall' by Pink Floyd

I think that this album deserves to be in the top five. The Wall isn't just an icon of music, it's quite possibly one of the most important albums ever recorded. Songs like "Another Brick in the Wall Pt.2,"and—(my personal favourite song on the album), "Mother"make this record more than just revered—it is legend. The Wall deserves much more than number 18. If I was writing this, it would definitely be top five, and top five in any genre of music.

17. Master of Puppets by Metallica

16. Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie

15. 'A Night at the Opera' by Queen

Personally, I just think Innuendo was so much better, I would've put it here instead of A Night at the Opera.

14. Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin

13. 'The White Album' by The Beatles

I would've put this in the top ten, I don't like how this very experimental and life-changing album is put so low on the scale. But, each to their own—I think they put it here, because the album isn't really well put together, and even though it has great songs on it, the whole album is a bit messy.

12. The Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden

11. Van Halen by Van Halen

10-1

10. Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin

9. Highway to Hell by AC/DC

8. 'Abbey Road' by The Beatles

I would definitely swap this entry for Revolver, because of the fact Revolver is better in terms of a constant sound and story. There's definitely a lot of storytelling going on in Revolver, and in comparison to Abbey Road, everything fits together better. I think in Abbey Road, the song "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" stands out like a sore thumb, and not in a good way.

7. Back in Black by AC/DC

6. Appetite for Destruction by Guns N'Roses

5. 'Wish You Were Here' by Pink Floyd

I do agree with this addition in being one of the greatest rock albums ever, but as a personal thing—I'd swap it for The Piper at the Gates of Dawn purely because I think that album did more for changing music than this one did. The Piper at the Gates of Dawn really made psychedelia more popular, and the album is a masterpiece, I feel like Wish You Were Here is more Pink Floyd being comfortable.

4. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles

3. II by Led Zeppelin

2. IV by Led Zeppelin

1. Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd