The Ten Most IMPORTANT Albums - EVER!!

[@austake]

Just another video of chin scratching trollop.......🤔

[@99tonnes]

You've misused that trollop - you cad!

[@tendraftsdeep]

Nice list! Of course we could all come up with an additional 100 albums, but definitely some game changers here.

[@seanwelch71]

I enjoy your voice and writing. Your idioms are well chosen. Ten best is a tough choice, but you picked solid LPs.

[@classicalbum]

Thank you very much!

[@LuisValentino-zt6lg]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉

[@nicoladolby2154]

Completely agree with you over some of these albums! My top 10 would be… 1. Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced? 2. Deep Purple - In Rock 3. Patti Smith - Horses 4. David Bowie - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars 5. The Beatles - Revolver 6 - The Rolling Stones - Exile On Main Street 7. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti 8. Nirvana - Nevermind 9. The Moody Blues - Days Of Future Past 10. Jeff Beck - Truth

[@garyh.238]

Absolutely agree with your inclusion of Deep Purple's In Rock on the list. It was groundbreaking, especially in the development of various sub-genres of Metal.

[@tommccafferty5591]

I would have chosen Highway 61 Revisited as Dylan's most influential album. Changed radio. Like a Rolling Stone may be the most influential single song ever.

[@MrDubyadee1]

Hunky Dory is still my favorite Bowie LP and the first 4 Roxy Music albums never grow old.

[@royscott3432]

So glad you included Pet Sounds. God Only Knows is one of the most beautiful songs ever. Ziggy Stardust HAD to be on this list.

[@Stonecutter334]

Pet Sounds is unbelievably overrated. A few good tracks doesn’t make a great lp. Brian Wilson wrote great singles but the Beach Boys really don’t have any great albums. Including that over say Never Mind the Bollocks or any Buddy Holly or Chuck Berry or Little Richard lps makes me think you work for the R n R Hall of Shame. I did like you included Horses however. Although I don’t play it much these days it really was the beginning of my move away from just classic rock back in the day. Along with Elvis Costello’s This Years Model and The Jams This is the Modern World. All of which are far more important than Pet Sounds. Yes even that lesser Jam lp!

[@smalltown4855]

Great choices. Some important albums for me would be, in no particular order. Marquee Moon - Television Graceland - Pail Simon Solid Air - John Martyn Kind of Blue - Miles Davis Remain in Light - Talking Heads Hotel California - Eagles Never Mind The Bollocks - Sex Pistols The Hissing of Summer Lawns - Joni Mitchell Live Rust - Neil Young Going For The One - YES Its interesting, musical taste is so diverse. I once read an article, ill never forget. It was about a survey somebody did that concluded, if you like a certain artist, it would be likely that you would like certain other artists from different genres. For instance if you like Neil Young, you would likely also like ABBA, if you like Stevie Wonder, you'll probably like AC/DC etc.Almost every example I agreed with, and made me feel more comfortable about being open to everything and to not be 'afraid' of admitting to all your preferences. Love it!

[@normanhunt]

Here is my list: Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley Chuck Berry - After School Special Everly Brothers - Everly Brothers Beatles - Revolver Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited Beach Boys - Pet Sounds Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced Who - Live at Leeds Joni Mitchell - Blue Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street

[@byrd-is-the-word]

All good choices, but missing ... "Rubber Soul" by the Beatles ... "Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd ... "live at Leeds" by the Who ... and "Never mind the Bollocks" by the Sex Pistols ... according to Brian Wilson ... "Pet Sounds" was influenced by Rubber Soul ...

[@vman365]

OMG!!! You're the first person...well 2nd person....that I've ever heard of that has cited Patti Smith's "Horses" as one of the most influential albums of their time. "Wave" is another of my favorites but Horses definitely broke barriers. WTG Barry!

[@peterfarmer3810]

I’m glad that Tangerine Dream got a kind of mention. Ricochet was performed at Coventry Cathedral and was not only an amazing and unique sound but a breathtaking visual experience too for the time (late 1975). It certainly influenced a great deal of synth based bands over the following decade.

[@stuartraybould6433]

It wasn't actually, most of that album was recorded in the studio, only parts of the second side was from a live show. The Coventry Cathedral music was released many years later. The BBC show was heavily edited and Ricochet was used instead. The audience noise was added to make it sound live. They did the same with Encore, only side four of that album was live, the rest was put together from studio tapes. They advertised both albums as live but they were not. All this information is in the book in the Hades box set released just a few years ago.

[@southsheff]

@@stuartraybould6433 I was at the Coventry Catherdral gig bored out of my mind ...no wonder I went on to embrace the energy of Pun

[@michaelmonastra775]

I. Would. Have. Liked. To. See. Please,please. Beatles. On. List🎉 as. Well. As. Cream. Disraeli. Gears, piper. At. Gates. Of. Dawn. This. List could. Go. On. And on. Love. Your. Reviews,and. Humor. Keep. On. 🚛🚒 trucking

[@RogerMayer-i3l]

That, my friend, is one banger of a list. Erudite in a Lester Bangs non-didactic or pretentious manner. Spoken with a hushed emotional resonance. So happy to have found ya.

[@donaldwesterhazy9333]

Big Star was hugely influential, so I'd suggest Number One Record as meriting at least an honorable mention.

[@xrandy11]

Great list and kuddos for the Horses inclusion. I remember watching a video where the narrator was going over all of Rolling Stone's Top 500 albums and when he got to Smith's Horses he said he'd never heard it. Talk about a total loss of credibility.

[@douglasjaeger1559]

Upon reading the theme of this video I knew I’d disagree with many of your selections, but that’s perfectly OK because this is totally subjective. Great video.

[@scottdavis4689]

Important v your favs…. Important to get the context right. What impact did these albums have on rock music when released or years on, uniqueness (their sound could never be confused with anybody else), are we still talking about these albums…. are some of the things we should consider…

[@Foul_Quince]

I agree Scott. I think the single criteria should be how many kids did this record make want to pick up a guitar (or what have you) and form a band of their own? For example, Horses. The important and influential Patti Smith albums are the next two, Radio Ethiopia and Wave. I doubt kids were forming bands to do covers of Birdland, but Ask The Angels or Rock and Roll N*gg*r were an altogether different story. Unfortunately, for the higher critics, that would make Taylor Swift's first two albums, which caused guitar sales to girls to go through the roof, to be critically important records. Thats how you keep people interested in making music.. Similarly, none of the first 3 Ramones albums are there. With The Beatles or A Hard Days night might better serve there instead of Sgt Pepper for the same reason. I have an issue with Are You Experienced/ Electric Ladyland simply because developmentally, they weren't influential - the only person who could have surpassed those albums on their own terms was Hendrix. I am mystified as to the inclusion of Pet Sounds, a commercial flop and another developmental dead end which Wilson was, frustratingly, perhaps possible to surpass had his demons not consumed him. It's not even the best Beach Boys Album, anyway 😄 I'm not sure how Robert Johnson was so terribly influential - he lay ignored for 21 years until that album came out. The blues had gone electric and was reaching for the first time, to a white audience by the time he was exhumed. If you want to nominate blues album, the first two Rolling Stones albums were the important ones that reached a mass audience and put it in touch with the authentic sources. No idea, even with an eloquent explanation, why Ziggy and Raw Power were there but the second Led Zeppelin album isn't. Elvis, sure but in the long term Chuck Berry's first two albums probably sewed more enduring seeds - although, in terms of the economy of the music business, Elvis and Elvis clones were enormously important. I think the problem is sometimes in all or nothing list making, people tend to look at the records that shape their listening experience as the most important.

[@scottdavis4689]

@@Foul_Quince … Elvis may have been The King but Chuck Berry write the book on RnR… Some great comments… ‘best lists’ are always going to be a source of disagreement… but the conversations are always interesting! Ziggy and Iggy deserve to be somewhere on the list… for me Ziggy Stardust was influential but not his best imho… believe the Berlin era was his best work.

[@Foul_Quince]

@@scottdavis4689 The question is, in the case of Ziggy, "what" did it influence?

[@scottdavis4689]

@@Foul_Quince you can find the answer in Bowie’s later music (with some exceptions) where he was ripping off people that had ripped him off. The ultimate compliment??? Glam rock itself had shallow roots in any case and was quickly moved on from but the lasting influence was more than just the music…

[@darrylwalker1867]

Like all lists, it isn't perfect in the eyes of all. Which is what makes it excellent. Well researched and argued. More to the point, it gets us listening and talking (hopefully in that order). Bravo.

[@Eric31477]

Wow! I thought you were going to end with Dark Side Of The Moon. Very interesting list. I love your videos and especially your wordsmith deliveries, not to mention your puns. Here's my list: 1. Pink Floyd - Dark side of the Moon 2. Crosby stills and Nash - Deja Vu 3. The Grateful Dead - Europe '72 4. Eric Clapton - Slowhand 5. The Doors - The Doors 6. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced? 7. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds 8. Led Zeppelin I 9. The Beatles - Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 10. Yes - Close To The Edge

[@peteshallcross787]

I agree Eric, and I had every one of your 10 picks at one time or another, even if I grew tired of them. I'll never grow tired of Europe '72. There's a great story on the making of that album on one of the Dead's documentaries.

[@Eric31477]

@Pete Shallcross Ooooh! Which Dead documentary?!?

[@peteshallcross787]

@@Eric31477 I believe it is Long Strange Trip. The recording producer tells how Jerry was hoping he'd put Morning Dew from a particular show on that album and he did. Jerry was a very humble person, just put too high on a pedestal. The drugs took a toll on him also, causing him to lose the love of his life after reuniting 20yrs later. Phil Lesh seems to be the most level headed of the band and still is to this day, Imo. Over the years, I've known people that could never really get into their music. But there is no denying there was never and will never be again a more influential movement in music than what The Grateful Dead gave us.

[@Eric31477]

@@peteshallcross787 Agreed. Yes, I saw Long Strange Trip". I was great! I'm sure you are aware that Martin Scorsese is working on a grateful Dead biopic with the role of Jerry Garcia being played by Jonah Hill

[@peteshallcross787]

@@Eric31477 Yes I am. I hope it's accurate. Jerry lived a complicated life .Scorcese's project The Last Waltz was great, but the performers did the job for him...Btw, is that your house on the ridgetop with the 2 dogs in front? Where is that? We live about 30 min west of Milwaukee in a track home in a nice town , close to small music venues that attract some talented mostly local musicians. I've been many places in the Pacific northwest and southwestern states.

[@david-vp4ku]

My list (rock): fats domino swings, Elvis Presley, cliff Richard and the drifters, please please me, John Wesley harding, let it bleed, the who live at Leeds, we are six by steeleye span, in the court of the crimson king, thick as a brick, tales from topographic oceans, Elton John, and black Sabbath. (Rearranged in order of release). I would like to do 20 but I might miss my bus!!

[@uprebel5150]

Many guitarists have stated the huge impact of the debut album from Van Halen. In many ways EVH saved the world from disco.

[@magicsinglez]

Van Halen II is extremely impressive

[@rohnnyjotten3985]

Here in the UK, we saved ourselves from Disco! and not too soon after that we saved ourselves from god awful hair metal and I've never heard a British musician state any impact from Van Halen, thats a very U.S thing, us in the UK gave short thrift to all those bands and their poodle haircuts, we went down a more 'miserable' route lol (we were in Thatchers Britain) starting with Unkown Pleasures from Joy Division then The Cure, The Smiths (Johnny Marr is a much more lauded guitarist in the UK than any of the late 70s and 80s American ones) Then we 'cheered up a bit' and got into Acid-House in the late 80s, this took us to 'Madchester' in the early 90s then onto Brit-Pop in the mid 90s. There are 4 albums that influenced Brits after the Sex Pistols arrived and theses 4 albums IMO made the split in taste between the UK and the US who up until then had been on the same path.. Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division. The Smiths by The Smiths. Stone Roses by The Stone Roses. OK Computer by Radiohead. Those are the 4 most influential albums (in the UK) since 1979, not a single American album in there. The general taste in Music between the US and UK has never been the same since then.

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

​@rohnnyjotten3985 you didn't invent Rock in the first place the Americans did all you did was steal from the American artists especially the blues Artists..and most of your music was stolen zeppelin very guilty of that..and many corney bands also

[@adamfindlay7091]

​@@rohnnyjotten3985so you despise American music. Funny, your countries artists draw alot from Muddy Waters, Little Richard, Fats Waller, HowlinWolf, Willie Dixon, the Stooges, Nirvana, The Ramones, Buddy Holly, Velvet Underground, Patti Smith, Captain Beef heart, The Kingsmen, The Doors, Lou Reed, Tom Waits, Alice Cooper, shall I go on, love?

[@rohnnyjotten3985]

@@adamfindlay7091 all of those artists you mention were before 1979 (Nirvana, the exception) , did you read what i wrote, love? After 1979 the UK and the US parted ways, The US went nuts for hair metal (I do despise that with a passion) The UK went down another road, we have not really been on the same page since then, love.

[@paulmortimer4131]

Great video I agree with your album ranking I love all this on your list and they are on my list of classic albums of all time as well so happy you mentioned Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk these bands are part prog music

[@MrCountrySteak]

That is one hell of a list. Would not argue a single title or order for that matter. And yeah...listen to 5 on the first day and the remaining 5 on the next day and that is one hell of a weekend.

[@darrylmars]

Surprised Tommy & that Pink Floyd album didn't make the list. Personal choice Anthem of the Sun by Grateful Dead

[@CRsVideoVaults]

My selection would include The Sex Pistols Nevermind the Bollocks which influenced Joy Division, The Smiths, The Fall, The Pogues, Guns N Roses, Oasis etc and is quite possibly the UK version in influence of the Velvets first album

[@scottdavis4689]

I agree, with ‘Never Mind the Bollocks’…. has to be in there somewhere. It gave music in general a huge kick up the arse and proved once and for all that anybody can start a band..

[@ceannairereibiliunach8133]

Except Joy Division was already a thing before that album was released...

[@davek729]

That is a most excellent list. It is impossible to limit it to 10 and you've done a very credible job. The only inclusion I would quarrel with is the first Elvis album. There's no denying Elvis' huge impact and influence. However, listeners of the 50s and 60s were exposed to the singles. Albums became a mass market phenomena in pop music the mid 60s. In terms of exclusions, no band had more influencing in shaping contemporary rock music and creating the blues rock template than the Rolling Stones. There are several albums to choose from. I would go with Sticky Fingers. In a similar vein, I would throw in Led Zeppelin 1 and Who's Next. The Clash's London Calling was also an immensely influential album. Others than come to mind are Neil Young's After the Goldrush, Carole King Tapestry, Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation and many others. Thank you!

[@davidcooper8621]

An enjoyable if doomed exercise. The list felt very 'blokey NME' lacking some key artists such as Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonder.

[@classicalbum]

As wonderful as the Stevie wonder is, he wouldn't be the first name i reach for in terms of 'important rock albums' as i state at the start of the video. My choices of Hendrix and Robert Johnson I think are much more influential. Joni should have been on the list, but just got overlooked. In my defense I did include Patti Smith for her influence on many 90s artists

[@jmorra]

Excellent list. You don't have to like any of these, because that isn't the point. It's their influence...which is hard to deny.

[@pedroschiavinato9692]

Brazilian greetings my friend. I love your channel and I’ve been learning a lot with you. I listen pretty much everything you recommend. I’d love to see a video with your favourite jazz albums (if you like jazz). Thank you.

[@richardblock2458]

So glad you left the Stones off this list, and everyone I know rates BIABH over 61 or BOB. I could go on, but there are some decent choices.

[@samuraidarryl]

Masterpiece. Absolutely nailed it. Incredible band. Great review

[@geoffreyfowler9198]

Fun topic to argue all day about!!!!! I’ll add “peter gabriel”-the 3rd one-as both experimental & influential enough for at least an honorable mention.

[@christophermoebs5514]

Detroit native here who saw the original Stooges a couple times loved Raw Power and many people thought I was nuts. I agree with the Doors and don't forget Freak Out

[@robinkpop2093]

This is a brilliant selection! Difficult to disagree with any of these choices!

[@jdd3786]

Like Black Sabbath's first album defining metal, The Ramones first album defined punk rock and was massively influential.

[@scottdavis4689]

Except punk has generally shallow roots.. so the influence wasn’t as far reaching, but brilliant and important nonetheless

[@herchelleonwood7463]

it was a familiar sight to see Michael Stipe and PattI Smith at many of the numerous Ann Arbor art shows in the mid 90's.

[@herchelleonwood7463]

both always exceptionally polite, down to earth and friendly. and always very welcome.

[@brianmurray6287]

Love your choices here ...I take from this they are not your personal favourites but what you see as influential.

[@classicalbum]

yes

[@brianmurray6287]

Love to hear your top ten or have you done this already I'm new to your channel.

[@dankrolikowski9271]

Yes...I agree with those that have mentioned Van Halen's debut album... For the exact same reasons you gave Jimi's debut album love. EVH changed rock music, and guitar playing on that album.

[@garyh.238]

Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple was the bridge between Hendrix and Van Halen.

[@scottdavis4689]

EVH not fit to shine JH’s shoes…

[@mateosimon4237]

I always take the time to listen/watch these GOATs lists with great interest, and I almost always notice the same pattern: exceptionalism (for lack of a better word) always ends in the 70s... It amazes me how people that surely know a lot about Rock appear so dismissive (or a bit at least) of whatever came afterwards. I know that the foundations were laid in those decades (50s 60s and 70s) but if you really go bare knuckles you have to admit that there are albums that are superior in quality and came in the 80s or 90s. What I always receive as an answer is that the INFLUENCE these early albums have is unmatched. You surely have a point there but the overall Quality and impact of an album regarding the age ahould also be noteworthy. Albums like Brothers in Arms, The Game, Invisible Touch, The Joshua Tree, 1984, Apetite for Destruction, Thriller, Achtung Baby, Ten, Nevermind, the Black Album, Automátic for the People, 1.Outside, Ok Computer, The Downward Spiral..., just to name some, all of them are worthy of appearing in any such list

[@classicalbum]

I know but it is only al ist of ten, so it needs some serious wittling.

[@Foul_Quince]

The other problem is that you limit yourself to rock music, which limits your ability to consider what from outside the genre influences the music and moves it forward. That becomes far more pronounced as the insular 60's and 70's recede.

[@SeptemberChild1835]

As you wrote, the artists of the 1950’s and 1960’s laid the foundation, therefore, those artists are most influential. An album can be released today that is brilliant, and could influence others, but it can’t be as influential as works that are 50-70 years old. Those earlier works are what led to the newer material.

[@garyh.238]

Very interesting list presented here today. We all hear these things differently. I cannot deny the influence of the artists in your list, however most of them, as well as those they influenced, are not among the groups I prefer to listen to. (That in itself could be a topic worthy of discussion....how does one arrive at one's own musical preferences?.....through the radio airwaves of the day, a friend's big brother's record collection, media presentations, other influences?) I do totally agree with your citations of Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles - they were absolutely groundbreaking and highly influential.

[@SeptemberChild1835]

Most influential was Elvis Presley.

[@kevinjohnson8220]

I ordered Horses from my local record store in 1979 when I was 16. I had no idea what I was in for, I saw the album in a book of rock music in the school library and liked the photo. I couldn't believe my ears when I heard it. 😅 I just didn't know what to think, but it was effectively my first introduction to the New York punk scene. Picked up several more of her albums after that.

[@pappiricki]

Deep Purple in Rock

[@iainmorrison-lf1sg]

Have others in mind but can't fault your choices. Good work. Thank you

[@mournblade1066]

I absolutely LOVE The Beach Boys' version of "Sloop John B."

[@tomrudolsen6235]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE PET SOUNDS AND SURF'S UP .....👌😎😯😯😯👌

[@PJS2136]

One of the greatest sounding albums ever for sure👍👍👍

[@t0mn8r35]

Another excellent and riveting presentation. Thank you!

[@stephanegosselin2861]

Great List! Any of those albums could be first no matter how you look at Rock N Roll music

[@UncleTonyGuitar]

Like “The Velvet Underground & Nico”, music pivoted on “Here Come the Warm Jets”, as well... oft forgotten...

[@thatwilldonicely1314]

Great list, personally I think pepper is first but hey😊. I think there is a strong case for Revolver being in the top 10 as well, certainly a good 'substitute' waiting to come on , cheers

[@thechronicnoizeco.6675]

Not just prog-rock. Good for you.

[@riverisle1]

Three come to mind... Dark Side Of The Moon (Pink Floyd), Bitches Brew (Miles Davis) and Daydream Nation (Sonic Youth). That's spur of the moment, off the top of my head, but I'm sure there's others.

[@64north20west]

Very good list. I can't complain because I never have the same 10 albums in my list from one day to another. Shout out Revolver.

[@lawrencejhutchinson]

Very good attempt to list just 10! I would add Chuck Berry's After School Session, Freewheelin', Albert King's Born Under A Bad Sign, What's Going On, Ramones, My Aim Is True, and It Takes A Nation Of Millions.

[@andynaz5631]

My most important albums. Christmas with the Chipmunks Volume 1 Sargeant Peppers.. In the Court of the Crimson King The Who-Tommy Moody Blues- Days of Future Passed Allan Parsons- Tales of Mystery and Imagination Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds Crack the Sky- Safety in Numbers Triumvirat- Ala Carte Starcastle- Starcastle

[@roboi2241]

Citing Lenny Kravitz as one of the two artists mentioned as being hugely influenced by Hendrix's Are You Experienced in a list too many to go through, for some reason reminds me of Alan Partridge in I'm Alan Partridge talking about critical reaction to his new autobiography and singling out a positive one with the line "Not my words Michael but the words of Shakin Stevens!!"

[@rjm4091]

Your deep gravely voice adds to your insite. All your album choices were highly influential. No friction from me with your choices

[@stuarthecht8196]

Good and interesting list, Barry! I agree with you about the cultural significance of these albums. Personally, though, the only artists I listen to regularly from that list are the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Doors, and Hendrix. Also, from my viewpoint, a most important albums list would also include Brain Salad Surgery, for pioneering the extensive use of synthesizers, and Led Zeppelin II, as it established a blueprint for heavy metal.

[@garyh.238]

I would also add Deep Purple's In Rock re the blueprint for metal.

[@Octavian7771]

I agree so much with your list. If your list was 20, then I would include 'Harry Smith's Anthology of America Music' released in 1952. Three records, 84 recordings of American folk, blues and country music recorded between 1926 and 1933. Back in the early 1950's, this collection was issued, and mostly available to listen at college library's. The collection "could well be the most influential document of the '50's folk revival". Everybody that became the '50's -60's Folk scene, including Dylan, Seeger, Fahey, Biaz, was listening to this LP. Your videos rock!!!

[@clivesilver463]

Sargent Pepper Beatles, Hendrix Are You Experience, Van Halen Debut album, King Crimson In The Court, Pink Floyd DSOTM, Deep Purple In Rock, Yes Close To The Edge The Who Tommy, Metallica the black album, Genesis Foxtrot, Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin 2.

[@MrCherryJuice]

You might want to learn how to count. The list is 10, not 12.

[@craighendrickson7938]

Influencing

[@danzemacabre8899]

Hmmmm...Black Sabbath???

[@cu6454]

Get lost the Cream LPs launch a thousand ships bands and musician's tell the truth

[@clivesilver463]

@@cu6454 Cream yes had a blueprint that many would follow, Rush being just one of them.

[@denni-sl.c]

Can't argue with this list, but I want to give a shout to The Shadows their early 60's albums. Hank Marvin's guitar sound hugely influental!

[@johnchristophertonks2528]

I think Hank was responsible for more guitar sales than anyone else.

[@coryburris8211]

Robert Johnson, not only highly influential from a musical standpoint, but also in terms of mythology, plus he was the unwitting founder of the 27 Club

[@Amptronique]

Black Sabbath - Vol 4 Sleep - Holy Mountain Tangerine Dream - Phaedra King Crimson - Court of the Crimson King Albums that started genres

[@elongatedborzoi1160]

a couple i would include -daydream nation by sonic youth, hugely influential noise rock album and one that influenced some of the greats - ok computer by radiohead, quite possibly the greatest alternative rock album and became a major inspiration for many rock and non-rock musicians -spiderland by slint, almost a breakthrough within post-rock and post-hardcore and inspiring many amazing bands -in the court of the crimson king by king crimson, while not my favorite kc album, the influence it had on rock and almost single handedly popularizing progressive rock. -dark side of the moon by pink floyd, helping popularize prog even further and inspiring many bands to venture into the world of psychedelia -loveless by my bloody valentine, almost single-handedly (along with cocteau twins) creating shoegaze and popularizing dream pop -the downward spiral by nine inch nails, bringing industrial rock to the mainstream and popularizing the style of electronic mixed with rock. theres definitely more but these are ones off the top of my head

[@danpearce4547]

I give you Zen Arcade by Husker Du.

[@elongatedborzoi1160]

@Dan Pearce i have not heard any husker du actually, ill give it a listen

[@Foul_Quince]

@@danpearce4547 or Candy Apple Grey, even.

[@danpearce4547]

@@Foul_Quince It's all good!

[@nickcooper1260]

Great selections, I would have The Strokes deut album .Is This It. from 2001, very influential and Gang of four 'Entertainment!' (1979).

[@wolfetom10]

Great list. I was Waiting for Velvet Underground and you didn't disappoint. Not sure #1 is the right place for it, but certainly top 5 in terms of its long-term influence.

[@rickyaz8640]

Aged better than a lot of the’67 albums. Something for everyone on it

[@Capillus]

"Priapic Guitar Posturings" is my new favourite quote of yours.

[@davehandelman2832]

"Dampening their young audience" i LOVE your wordplay!!!

[@scottdavis4689]

Dylan’s ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ was the prototype for RnR performance and writing in the early 60s and was his ticket to immortality

[@bonaquador]

Haven't considered Horses to be THAT important before. It's one of my favorites, sure, but it doesn't seem as iconic as a Marquee Moon. You make a good point though, and I'd bet that Patti Smith inspired a slough of female artist, if not also Television and post-punk in its entirety.

[@barrymoore4470]

I remember cultural critic and provocateuse Camille Paglia (who has been oddly silent for the past six years or so) once cited Patti Smith as a key voice of her era, pivotal even, though I don't recall her singling out any particular Smith album as more important than another.

[@FatNorthernBigot]

What a great idea for a video. 👍

[@classicalbum]

Glad you think so!

[@FatNorthernBigot]

@@classicalbum I can't argue with your choices, either, although I personally think Sgt Pepper is indirectly responsible for a lot of overblown production in the late 60s.

[@mainzergirl9610]

Great choices. IMHO Black Sabbaths debut had as much impact as a number of these.

[@mike196212]

Great list and honorable mentions. However,I could never narrow a list down to just ten.

[@michaeldillon3113]

Roxy Music 1&2 ( For your pleasure ) . There is a great documentary of all the bands who were influenced by Roxy - there were a lot ! Of course Brian Eno went on to produce so many bands . Saw Roxy at Chatham Central Hall 1971 and the O2 2021 ✌️. Early Rixy my favourite band but ' Blood on the tracks my favourite album . ✌️☮️

[@pierremartin9048]

Excellent

[@classicalbum]

Thank you so much 😀

[@needfoolthings]

Twisted Sister, Stay Hungry. Nah, 'm just messin' 'round.

[@classicalbum]

I listen to that album at the gym

[@needfoolthings]

@@classicalbum That's awesome. Tried Under the Blade? It's harsher, more garagy. I can imagine it fits the gym, too. Oh, and Widowmaker's Stand By For Pain. Sorry, but it's so unknown that I pish it on everybody who talks about music.

[@growlerthe2nd712]

Here’s my top 10 ,Astral Weeks Van Morrison,9 The hangman’s beautiful daughter Incredible string band,8 Hard days night The Beatles,7White light white heat The velvet underground,6 Raw power Iggy and the Stooges,5 Never mind the bollocks The Sex Pistols,4 Metal box PIL 3 Bringing it all back home Bob Dylan,2 Nursery Cryme Genesis,1 Rubber Soul The Beatles ❤️

[@thatwilldonicely1314]

Hi hard day's night is an incredible pop album, strangely a 'forgotten' album as it's a film track !

[@stephenpaulson5242]

Terrific list.

[@hartleycwhite]

Thanks for your opinion on the ten most important albums. While I agree with some of your choices like The Beachboys- Pet Sounds, The Beatles-Sgt. Pepper, Robert Johnson- Delta Blues, Hendrix- Are You Experienced, Bowie -ZiggyStardust, and Dylan- Bringing it All Back Home, I believe the others have no place on a top ten list(maybe a top 30). And what about albums by Muddy Waters(Electric Mud), Carole King(Tapestry), Paul Simon(GraceLand) and numerous albums by other artists like Marvin Gaye, Milton Nascimento, Gal Costa, Stevie Wonder, and also the Beatles- Revolver. And you didn't even touch on Miles Davis(Kind Of Blue) and many others. Your top ten was good but very limited.

[@garyh.238]

You make good points. I agree with some of your choices as well, particularly Miles Davis.....hugely influential in the development of jazz-rock fusion starting with B's Brew, Jack Johnson, On the Corner, etc.

[@christopherjones7241]

Good to see Velvet Underground and Nico at #1. An absolute barnstorming and the dark vibes the absolute antithesis of what was currently popular

[@johncollier9280]

Some interestin' choices there...How 'bout: Mothers Of Invention-Freak Out! (although my fave is We're Only In It For The Money.) Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band-Trout Mask Replica (although my fave is Lick My Decals Off, Baby.) Nick Drake-Bryter Layter, Genesis-The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, Here's Little Richard, Led Zeppelin 1, Moody Blues-To Our Children's Children's Children, Simon & Garfunkel-Bookends, 13th Floor Elevators-Easter Everywhere, Porcupine Tree- Signify, James Brown-Cool, Tough Pure Excitement: Mr. Dynamite!, Jimi Hendrix-Electric Ladyland,

[@Doc_Tar]

Hard list to compile, but I find myself agreeing with most of these choices.

[@MullyShaves]

Van Halen’s first album 1978. That album changed guitar as we know it.

[@E.V.hMcFadden]

Yes it did

[@MullyShaves]

@@efilrekib4446 Ok, how would you like me to respond to such a childish comment? Am I supposed to lash out at you? What are you hoping for?

[@Dbag5000]

Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures has influenced as many bands and generations as any album ever made. There's bands performing right now that probably don't even realize they were influenced by it because the bands they were influenced by were influenced by bands that were influenced by it.

[@classicalbum]

Indeed.

[@seancassidy674]

Every album on this list is legitimate - but naturally it will be a bit subjective based on the tastes and interests of the compiler - there are definitely highly influential albums that came after the mid 70s (yeah, Joy Division, early Pixies, etc.) but given this channel is focused on classic rock, the list leans in that direction (with the exceptions perhaps of Kraftwerk and Patti Smith). Interestingly, it doesn't have an origins of metal contributor given how resilient that genre has been.

[@sex6cult9revolution]

LOL and they weren't even terribly pioneering. Just overhyped as a result of the tragedy. There were other bands that were either as influential out of that scene or should have been but were overshadowed. Wire, Killing Joke and Gang of Four are of particular interest. Besides, people need to drop the whole JD thing. It's been beaten into the ground and depression is no longer interesting when you've risen out of it. If I want to hear a funeral dirge, I'll put on Dead Can Dance - the aesthetics are much more pleasing.

[@sex6cult9revolution]

@@snowflakedevelopers While I appreciate that you know the music we're talking about, I think you're nitpicking what I'm saying (and not reflecting the bigger picture of it). Though Joy Division clearly reach a lot of people (and New Order sadly more), I don't consider it as constructive or groundbreaking as say the Beatles, Kraftwerk or the Velvet Underground had been. You could even call them the Bob Marley or Tupac of goth because of the iconography. There's a lot of merch with that Unknown Pleasures album image. Like a 4-20 ball cap. And as far as Wire, they were possibly the MOST trailblazing of the three bands I mentioned and not just because they're the oldest. In just their first three albums, they had grown exponentially and run the gamut - where Gang of Four had pretty much one sound and Joy Division a couple. Check out the solo work of Colin Newman or Dome, these guys were out in left field in the 80's while New Order were simply streamlining their sound. I'm not even saying these guys are better per se - but there's no debate they were covering more ground. Also, a more interesting direction with the JD sound, IMO, is what Psychic TV did with one tiny sample from She's Lost Control. Using a single sample as a springboard, they made a tribute to Ian Curtis (called I. C. Water) that is uplifting and shows Ian more love than New Order ever did.

[@Alaskanbrawl]

Iggy Pop and Velvet Underground. Emperors New Clothes to me. Love the channel and it’s all about opinions.

[@classicalbum]

You don't like the Velvet Underground??? Good Lord Sir, that there is fighting talk. ...

[@Alaskanbrawl]

@@classicalbum I’ve tried. Everything else I like suggests I should. I just can’t get them. I think it’s Lou Reed 😂. Don’t rate him at all. 🙄

[@barrymoore4470]

I do appreciate 'The Velvet Underground & Nico', which can be seen as the great-granddaddy of alternative rock (released in 1967, the year of the "Summer of Love"!), but I'm not particularly fond of Lou Reed myself. I wonder if you've explored any of Nico's solo catalog--I'm familiar with 'Desertshore' from 1970, which contains several of her classic efforts minus the Velvet Underground. You get some of the brooding, artful flavor associated with the Velvet Underground and Lou Reed, without Lou Reed!

[@marktrickett5081]

Better than that Beach Boys Barber Shop rubbish

[@brycejacobsen123]

Hey mate I enjoy your schtick. Maybe Nevermind and London Calling on the the next go-round....

[@detroitlady7201]

Hard to believe DSOTM was not on your list as one of most ground breaking, influential albums of all time and still going strong! PF took prog rock to whole new level!

[@jasonjames6383]

King Crimson's debut may be more 'influential'. I'm not sure DTOSM, as great as it was, is the most 'influential' prog album of all time. I think it was more like the peak of prog.

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

@@jasonjames6383 If it’s prog at all….😵‍💫😳

[@jasonjames6383]

@@JohnnyArtPavlou I wasn't going to go there 😯

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

@@jasonjames6383 i’m kind of messing around… Cause I’m a big Pink Floyd fan. I’m only saying that because someone said that the other day… Maybe in a KZbin video or in an article. They said that they didn’t think that’s Lloyd was really a progressive rock band… That they’re more of a kind of outgrowth of a psychedelic art rock band. I say, any colour you like. 🌈😉

[@jasonjames6383]

@@JohnnyArtPavlou I've heard people say they're not prog as well :). Psychedelic? Art Rock? Prog? Does it really matter? and all these musical styles are all pretty closely aligned with each other anyway.

[@thesjkexperience]

My list would have had more UK artists. I was surprised how many USA artists you chose. Still, hard to choose only 10 for a music lover. 🎉

[@scottdavis4689]

Coming from neither UK or US gives more clarity in choosing a balanced list

[@harrynewiss4630]

interesting selection

[@danwallach8826]

"Revolver" is the best record ever recorded in the recorded history of record-recording.

[@dj71162]

It's not even the best Beatles album.

[@lpquagmire3621]

I don't believe our host is staking the claim these are the ten best albums of all-time, but, rather, measuring the impact and influence the albums had on generations of listeners and future musicians. That said, ask a crowd of people to name the ten most important albums of all-time and the only consensus that will be reached is that everyone will make a different list. PEPPER is a great album, but I believe REVOVER did much of the heavy lifting and is responsible for most of the innovations attributed to its concept cousin. REVOLVER is the stronger album, but PEPPER also set a new standard for album art and packaging. It also ushered in the Summer of Love, and remains the most symbolic document of its era. And while some may deem my favourite Beatles album (A HARD DAY'S NIGHT) to be merely a pleasant collection of songs, I would argue for its inclusion on a Most Important/Influential Album list for one very monumental reason: it was the first pop album on which all the songs were written by the group performing them! Following A HARD DAY'S NIGHT, more and more artists took it upon themselves to write their own hits, and that was a major shift for the industry.

[@SeptemberChild1835]

Exaggerate much?

[@scottdavis4689]

It’s good, even great, but not the best me thinks..

[@henrywest7217]

It's a very solid list. Food for thought.

[@MrDubyadee1]

I’ve never understood the regard so many hold Sgt Pepper’s. I still think they peaked with Rubber Soul. I preferred the Kinks, Who and Stones of the day.

[@awickedtribe]

My favorite Iggy Pop moment was when he was on the Dinah Shore show and she asked him why he cut himself on stage... She looked so dismayed, and it was like she wanted to give him a big ol' mommy hug.

[@jabbahursty]

we both go with "bringing it all back home" as our dylan album. hard to choose just one though!

[@mrkitewine7700]

I've never understood why Pet Sounds is so highly regarded. It's ok, but I think it is very overrated. I wasn’t around in the 60’s so I have no first hand experience of the impact it had, I guess “you had to be there”. So I am not saying it does not belong on this list, just that I personally struggle to see its importance.

[@robertcapek2425]

Me neither but taken in the context of the time it came out it was an atom bomb. In 1966, the production and sound was out of this world.

[@AG-6969]

Agree. I thought it sounded like all the other Beach Boys albums, and I've listened to it a bunch try to get the hype, like California beach music, it is weak at its core.

[@tendraftsdeep]

Massively overrated. That album became stylish to appreciate due to Rolling Stone's top albums mainly due to the magazine owner liking it and pushing it high on the list. It's been said the band didn't play instruments on it. Somehow people think it's credible to like it, just because, and only god knows why indeed.

[@barrymoore4470]

I agree with everyone on this thread that it is an overrated work. But it's still historically important, which is our host's emphasis in this particular upload. One of the Beatles themselves (I think John Lennon?) said that without 'Pet Sounds', there would have been no 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'.

[@Rickengeezer]

With the possible exception of the Elvis and the Robert Johnson albums, I'd consider this a strong list of the most overrated albums.

[@stuartraybould6433]

All down to personal taste, personally I wouldn't have any of these anywhere near my top.

[@ianchisholm9260]

For me Frank Zappa’s Hot Rats should have been there . Considered one of the first Jazz fusion albums , and opened my ears to a completely different direction musically

[@chrisdunn1155]

Great choices and you've given me an urge to go and check out Robert Johnson properly. Mind you, I can't decide whether Sgt. Pepper is more/less important than Revolver.

[@Guedingen]

Many thanks as ever. I think however that Brian Wilson's falsetto isn't ageing well. THe double live album version of Caroline No Shows how Carl much more understood the beauty of Tony Asher's lyrics.

[@robertbrowning3684]

No Tommy, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, The River, Sticky Fingers, Thick as a Brick ?

[@classicalbum]

It's a list of ten not twenty and without the Robert Johnson album, which I list, should come before the Stones and Led Zep. TAAB as great an album as it is, should not be on here. The River and Goodby Yellow Brick Rd?.. now you must be joking.. And 'Tommy' is a great record, but in terms of influence and importance surely 'SF Sorrow' should come before that.

[@PJS2136]

I would put Revolver way ahead of St. Pepper as the best Beatles album and most influential and was their best recorded album also by far.

[@Captain_Rhodes]

great albums. I would argue for public enemy (any of the first 3) as they were a big influence on rock in the 90s and were a very original band for the time who even dabbled in rock themselves. Hip hop and rock were once quite closely aligned, before both genres died.

[@jasonjames6383]

Nation of Millions was a great album (their first 4 were good) but unfortuinately I reckon , for better or worse Straight Outta Compton was more 'influential' (even though a lot of what was influenced by it was crap). I'm not sure I hear a lot of Puiblic Enemy in music (still hear NWA and the 'gangsta' influence) these days, however Public Enemy's version of Bring The Noise with Anthrax was very influential. On a different note Public Enemy's last album released in 2020, What Are You Going To Do When The Grid Goes Down was pretty good, a bit of a return to their earlier albums.

[@Captain_Rhodes]

@@jasonjames6383 My personal favourite was fear of a black planet. This list was "rock" based and I think public enemy did influence rock quite a bit - Rage against the machine for example and all the rap metal bands. Even the manic street preachers were big fans and used to mimic their army gear look. Yes the anthrax collab was good (run DMC did that stuff first) but public enemy broke away from hip hop in some ways with a harder, more punk sound (fight the power, welcome to the terrordome, PE no.1). NWA influenced hip hop a lot yes. I would argue that Ice T was doing the gangsta stuff long before NWA and is arguably more influential than them. NWA were a good band but I dont think they influenced rock bands very much

[@jasonjames6383]

​@@Captain_Rhodes I think Run DMC and Beastie Boys may have been as influential musically as Public Enemy on rock. Although PE may have influenced a political group like Manic Street Preachers and RATM lyrically, I'm not sure the music was heavily influenced, or in the case of RATM there were more rap/rock influences like Run DMC, Beasties and Faith No More. PE seems to have been more influenced by rock rather than the other way around (and that's why many 'rock' fans like us listen/ed to them). Ice T's gangsta rap predated NWA by a couple of years as did Schooly D and BDP's first album (and I'm sure there are others) but I see NWA as something like the Sex Pistols of gangsta rap. Sure it existed beforehand but was never in the mainstream.

[@Captain_Rhodes]

@@jasonjames6383 I consider the sex pistols to be a ground zero of sorts myself. I think they were original because of Lydon and were copied by most of the UK bands. I think theres always influence on everything but where you draw the lines is endlessly debatable. For example I remember Ice T and PE long before NWA came out because of the controversy of the images and popularity of the T shirts in the PE case (I was a kid) so for me it will always be those two. I dont think something has to be mainstream to be very influential (velvet underground for example). We could debate this for hours haha. I mean who was before Ice T and Schooly D? we could say it was Rick James or even Curtis Mayfield and blaxploitation OSTs. I guess its just how we feel and for me public enemy were quite a big deal to hip hop and rock. Probably because of my age and where I was at the time

[@jasonjames6383]

@@Captain_Rhodes I think the Ramones might like to have a word with you about ground zero but as you said we could discuss 'influence' endlessly :). I was a teenager when Ice T, NWA & PE started and I only remember about 12 months' difference in them having an impact (but being in Australia we might've been a bit slow compared to where you are). When I heard Colors as a 15-year-old for the first time I have to say I'd never heard anything like it before.

[@schpleeb]

Surely Talk Talk's Spirit of Eden deserves a mention somewhere!