The Top 20 Perfect Classic Rock Albums of All Time!

[@royceinthehouse842]

Cool show Michael, I enjoyed it from start to finish. It's always difficult to rank top albums and top songs. I've been doing some rankings lately on my show.. Join me tonight for the show on Psychedelic music, it shoild be a fun time!

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Rock on Royce! I plan to show up a little early, so we could connect for about 5 minutes or so before the stream! BTW folks, thanx for all of you who subbed to Royce’s channel! His channel is my home away from home, so THANK YOU ALL!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@royceinthehouse842]

Sounds perfect!@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

👌👍❤

[@brucewhittier7915]

Thanks for your videos. Just added 6 of the albums to my library. Love the comment about Roger Waters. My “bias” switches #1 with #2. Both great choices.

[@frankpentangeli7945]

ALL these albums are in my top 10: Deep Purple: Made In Japan Black Sabbath: Vol. 4 Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy David Bowie: Station to Station Stevie Wonder: Innervisions Elton John: Honky Chateau The Guess Who: Live at the Paramount Joan Armatrading: Joan Armatrading XTC: English Settlement Rush: A Farewell to Kings Yes: Fragile Depeche Mode: Violator Genesis: Selling England by the Pound Jethro Tull: Aqualung CCR: Cosmo's Factory Joni Mitchell: Court and Spark Bob Dylan: Bringing It All Back Home Soundgarden: Superunknown Roxy Music: For Your Pleasure Tangerine Dream: Stratosfear The Police: Synchronicity Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks Santana: Abraxas Roy Buchanan: Roy Buchanan Thomas Dolby: The Flat Earth Lana Del Rey: Born to Die Dead Can Dance: Aion Peter Frampton: Frampton Comes Alive Bad Company: Straight Shooter Crowded House: Temple of Low Men Kate Bush: Hounds of Love Elvis Costello: Imperial Bedroom System of a Down: Toxicity Gordon Lightfoot: Sundown Cat Stevens: Tea for the Tillerman Supertramp: Crime of the Century Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here King Crimson: In the Court of the Crimson King The Beatles: Rubber Soul Joe Jackson: Rain Rage Against the Machine: Rage Against the Machine Shawn Phillips: Rumplestiltskin's Resolve The Moody Blues: Every Good Boy Deserves Favour Steppenwolf: Live R.E.M.: Lifes Rich Pageant The Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers Dwight Yoakam: This Time Paul McCartney & Wings: Band on the Run Carly Simon: Anticipation Gentle Giant: Three Friends kd lang: Absolute Torch and Twang Donovan: Sunshine Superman Steely Dan: Countdown to Ecstasy Linda Ronstadt: Simple Dreams Al Stewart: Live / Indian Summer Jeff Beck: Blow by Blow

[@placeholder_7-lud]

Sorry to point this out, but you actually only put 9 albums on this Top 10

[@frankpentangeli7945]

@@placeholder_7-lud Dammit! I knew I miscounted.

[@jimf4492]

Thanks for taking the time to talk about Aqualung. I'm a long-time Tull fan (50+ years), and sometimes I've wondered what was wrong with me, given how others react to them! Dark Side of the Moon is my absolute favorite album of all time - I think I wore out the grooves on my original copy.

[@marcelobarroso5880]

Ahi va mi lista: Romantic warrior-Return to Forever Relayer-Yes Mirage-Camel Moving waves-Focus Apocalypse-Mahavishnu Orchestra Village green-Tke Kinks Los delirios del mariscal-Crucis Quadrophenia-The Who Forever change-Love Rubber soul-The Beatles Borboletta-Santana Ommadawn-Mike Oldfield Songs from the wood-Jethro Tull Felona e sorona-Le orme Then play on-Fleetwood Mac Larks tongues on aspic-King crimson Durazno sangrando-Invisible Burn-Deep Purple Mr.fantasy-Traffic In search of lost chord-Moody Blues Abrazo y rockeros saludos desde Argentina

[@carminelombardi9575]

For me, the only voice of reason and good taste on the internet.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Wow, than Carmine, you’re too kind! ❤❤❤

[@kylesmith1786]

Michael you made some great choices But!! Joe Walsh in top 5 is a stretch. I haven't even heard of album and I was born in 1961. How about Bad Company 1 or Eltons Goodbye Yellow brick road. I know I know it was you list.

[@MadCap2025]

I recently bought I Robot because of this video and what a great album it is. Thanks, Michael.

[@bruceanderson2103]

I really enjoyed your list. Being a big Who and Rolling Stones fan ( in my top three with of course The Beatles) I would have included "Who's Next or "Sticky Fingers " but your list is solid.

[@robertshirley3422]

Agree with you. ANY list has to include Sticky Fingers (IMHO their best) and Who's Next!!!

[@Terrytuesday1]

I agree with you totally. Sticky Fingers is my No1 and Who's Next is No2, and although I don't have much in common with Michael's list his love for his favorites is infectious.

[@blueberrypie8691]

Great list as always although very surprised The Who's "Who's Next" or " Quadrophenia" didn't make it on but hard to argue with most of it, again great stuff MN keep it coming :)

[@jeffreyg4626]

I don't think he's a Who fan. I am.

[@ltaylor770]

Nice list. I would have found a place for Leftoverture by Kansas

[@winchesterp05]

Well… while I agree with you, and Kansas first 5 albums were awesome, and Leftoverture is my favorite of the lot, it is his list. BTW… I saw Kansas 7 years ago, and I think they are better now live than they were the first time I saw them in 1977!

[@kevingill648]

It's hard to pick Perfect Rock Albums but I have 3 in mind which are also my favourites.... Dark Side Of The Moon, Pink Floyd.... Sticky Fingers, The Rolling Stones and Who's Next, The Who.

[@claydontplay8783]

Absolutely stellar taste and selection! House of the Holy deserves more love for sure, and it’s my favorite Led Zeppelin album, followed closely by Physical Graffiti. Rubber Soul is my favorite Beatles album as well, they were just a song writing tour de force at that time! Steely Dan’s Royal Scam is incredible, I just love Gaucho and Countdown to Ecstasy a little bit more. Awesome video!

[@bsimoncpa]

Wow Michael I love your videos, but this is the best one yet! Pink Floyd is my favorite band and The Beatles second favorite so needless to say I think you nailed the top 2. Happy to see Synchronicity getting the love it deserves as well, King of Pain is my personal favorite there. The passion and storytelling on this video deserves to reach a wide audience and I hope this one goes viral so others can enjoy it as much as I did and widen your audience. I just put my son on a plane this morning to fly across the country after he lost his mother last week and I really needed to check out. Listening to your animated take on these albums was just what I needed and I am going to visit or revisit some of them in their entirety over the next week. Thanks for what you do and keep on killing it brother!!

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Wow, thanx so much for your awesome comment herenBsimoncpa! This one took it outta me! You are awesome! ❤❤❤

[@haydenwalton2766]

​@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLinefinally ! some youtube love for my all time fav record - caravanserai. and btw - houses of the holy IS LZ's best album. which reminds me of one of my fav rock trivia questions - what does houses of the holy and the doors waiting for the sun albums have in common ? the title tracks didn't appear until the next album

[@christanner3761]

Thank you for mentioning the late great Science Fiction author, Isaac Asimov during your album countdown. I love his books too. He doesn't get mentioned enough. Fun video Michael.

[@RichardHansbury]

My top any would have to include Moody Blues, Days of Future Passed. The Deluxe has b-sides and remixes i love. Bob Seger Live Bullet. With Van Morrison and the band. Need i say more? Iron Maiden Number of the Beast. My debut. Bruce's debut. Rock on, brother. So many good memories.

[@noreligion2]

Good Job mentioning The Moody Blues!! None of these videos ever include the Moodys!!

[@thomaspurvis8047]

So glad to see APP and I robot get some love. I think it is a FANTASTIC album and listen to it regularly

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Yeah me too Thomas! It’s one of my ‘walk’ albums! I walk 5 miles a day, and it’s on quite frequently on those walks! ❤❤❤

[@Baz63]

so glad you chose The Royal Scam. It is the only album i will buy under the UHQR heading due to the silly prices we pay here in the U.K for these releases (usually about the equivalent of of $280). Also many thanks for choosing Caravanserai the album that i listened to whilst 'not quite on the planet' so to speak. Heady days! As for Deep Purple for me Purpendicular is the band's most 'musical' and diverse album.

[@scottmcneely1927]

Thank you for giving some love to Caravanserai. Great jazz/rock/latin album with a meditative feel.

[@Peach-vj7xl]

The 'Santana marathon' (Santana 1, Abraxis, Santana III and Caravanserai) is a great listen for a long Sunday lunch

[@orno8906]

fantastic list, Michael. if I were still drinking, would love to sit down over beers and talk about favorite artist/albums with you! Disagree with some of your selections, but it’s your list and loved your reasoning for each and every one. two quick things I can’t let go - no Rolling Stones, and Quadrophenia by The Who is my number one.

[@stevecowder4774]

Great listing Michael ! And I particularly love your take on The Royal Scam album. Although personally, it’s not my favorite from SD, it’s still very good and without question, has the best cover art. As a graphic design artist, it displays the most perfect design of any cover I’d ever seen. And I love your choice for the Caravanaserai album. I’ve only recently become attached to this beauty. It’s an absolute, total dark horse by Santana. A smooth and stoney, laid back adventure to say the least. Love your top 10 as well.

[@drrick8839]

Michael, This show was so good I’ve come back to it several times. I don’t know if it’s because we both bloomed rather late in getting to college or because we’re the same age, or what, but I agree with everything you said in this show and with all of your selections. Perhaps the reason I’ve come back to listen to this show so often is the brilliant choices you’ve made, lol. Peace my friend, DrRick

[@johnbyrnes7912]

Well Michael I haven't in my life listened to many albums due to sad reasons but I remember all the Beatle albums and Brubeck's Time Out , Something Else (Kinks) , Ogden's Nut Gone Flake (Small Faces) , Willy And The Poor Boys (Creedence Clearwater Revival) , Tea For The Tillerman (Cat Stevens) , Physical Graffiti (Led Zeppelin) and Nilsonn's The Point and a forgotten George Thorogood album and that's about it. I enjoyed the lot! 🤡

[@drrick8839]

I saw J Tull live the week Aqualung was released. The show was my first and I was amazed at how much the live show and the album sounded alike! It was in a local college gym where later, as a high school drop out , I got a BS and MBA degrees and managed the student radio station.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

I didn’t make it to college until I was 34 DrRick! We have a bit in common brother! ❤❤❤

[@drrick8839]

Hey brother , Thanks for sharing that. @@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine

[@erestube]

I could care a less about numbers in music, but happy to see your appreciation of Queen II and Ram. Those are albums that I have often felt that I'm the only one who even knows they exist! Close to the Edge, Dark Side and Abbey Road, perfect from start to finish (Maxwell might be the exception but passes the Abbey Road production test). Venus and Mars over Band on the Run though? OK OK. It's got lots of gloss, but BOTR passes the start to finish test. For me, Venus and Mars has three or four craters to get through. (P.S. I saw the concert, too.) 😄

[@keithroberts4952]

Great video! I am very happy Venus and Mars got mentioned as well as Ram. I respected your choices. My top three classic rock albums would have been Are you experienced by jimi hendrix, van Halen's debut album and Frampton comes alive!

[@yourworstnightmare5902]

Not to change the subject, but I agree with you about Isaac Asimov. I’m five years older than you are and I don’t know how many times I’ve read all seven books of his Foundation series. The entire storyline comes down to the last paragraph of the last book :-) Now back to our regular scheduled programming. Great list of albums, I would agree with most of them👍

[@onsenkuma1979]

'Caravanserai' and 'Barnstorm' in your list...VERY cool Michael. And 'The Royal Scam'? Simply fantastic....

[@Mykuss001us]

Never heard of BarnStorm , thanks for turning my on to it!

[@Zoetropeification]

Check out James Gang too.

[@LarryGonzalez00]

The Band's self titled second album, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy by Elton John, Every Picture Tells A Story by Rod Stewart, The Game by Queen, The Wall by Pink Floyd, Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan, They Only Come Out At Night by The Edgar Winter Group, Billion Dollar Babies by Alice Cooper, Moondance by Van Morrison, Candy-O by The Cars. Ten perfect albums (to me) that I've got to have.

[@beaubradley2171]

Great list.

[@konstantinoskamoudis2680]

Hey Michael, great video; I am 19 so probably on the younger side of your audience. A few months ago I decided to create a 70s playlist consisting of whole albums instead of songs with the catch that there should only be 1 album per band. From the albums you mention here I included All Things Must Pass, the Royal Scam, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, RAM and Close to the Edge. I also debated including Houses of the Holy, but ended up with Presence as I find it to be greatly underrated (Achilles Last Stand is probably my favorite Zeppelin piece followed by No Quarter). I have to say I am pretty pleased with my choices seeing this video. If you see the comment and are interested in the content of the playlist, I have a very analytical excel file with everything there. I believe you will find it at least somewhat interesting.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

19 and such great taste in music Konstantinos! Kudos to you for embracing the finest form of music known to man! It;s heartening to see that the next generation will take good care of the music that changed the freakin’ world! Welcome! You are a breath of fresh air!❤❤❤

[@Octavian7771]

With regards to McCartney's 'Ram', He simultaneously released the single ;Another Day, which was recorded at the same sessions as Ram.

[@adamfindlay7091]

Let her rip!😻 My wife, a Queen fan sang that weird Prophets song on Night @Opera. Word for word. Have to admit that album is perfect .You bring up Synchronicity, check out RegattaDe Blanc, hypnotic and pretty underrated.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

It was a tough call between the two Adam! ❤❤❤

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Agreed Adam! A true Classic! ❤❤❤

[@drothberg3]

Very interesting video, with several albums I don’t know or don’t know well or wouldn’t have chosen. I’ll have to give them a listen. All such lists are personal, as you say. Myself, I’d have included the Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers, The Who’s Who’s Next, something by Dylan like Highway 61 Revisited, CSN or Deja Vu by CSN (or CSNY), something by Tom Petty like Full Moon Fever, Joni Mitchell’s Court and Spark, Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run.

[@progrocktommyscorner]

WOW! Great video. Enjoyed your insights to these great records. Love the insight about the Tull album - I agree never understood why folks say it is a bad sounding album. I love the darkness and the sound of that record..

[@davidcook4457]

Great list i could listen to your opinions all day respect toyou sir from london england

[@jeffreyflint6286]

Great choices Micheal. The Beatles definitely number one! My list is a little different from yours. There's that individual thought train coming into play. Great commentary with fantastic insight brother!! ❤❤❤ 👍👍

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

That;s exactly want I want Jeffrey! I’ve had my say, now let The Tribe speak!❤❤❤

[@lilajagears8317]

I would put Led Zeppelin at the #1 spot for so many reasons, love the Beatles but Zepp has brought me so much pleasure growing up in the 70s.​@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine

[@ohsoedgy6888]

I would put a David Bowie album on my list but there so many ones to choose! Hunky Dory,Ziggy Stardust,Diamond Dogs,Young Americans,Aladdin Sane,Station to Station,Low,Heroes,Lodger and Scary Monsters!

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Oh David came so close OhSoEdgy ! ❤❤❤

[@XCaliKev]

👍🤠 I’m about 1/2 way through this video, agree with most (Alan Parsons Mamajamma is my favorite by him) I think I’m a little older than you but grew up with same music. I really hate what computers have done to music. And one more thing, albums are a lost enjoyment, people nowadays don’t take the time, quick 3-4 minute songs is all they can have the attention span for. I got my daughter who was probably 22 at the time to sit in a dark room, give me her phone, and listen to Wish You Were Here in it’s entirety, she came out saying, “wow that was really good, not what I expected” sense then iv been able to do that kind of thing a few times. You seem like a really cool guy I could talk with you about music all day. I’ve loved music all my life (even helped save my life, story for another time). Been able to see a lot of bands in concert, no one I’ve ever met or showed the list of the concerts I’ve seen wasn’t impressed. Had to write them down cuz memories fading and didn’t want to forget. Sorry so long, please let me know if you read this, it’d make me feel good.

[@anthonypirera7598]

Thanks Michael a great video maybe I would have put Queen ll in the ten and I wish that a lot more people would listen to this masterpiece but got it right with all the other albums

[@stevenrussell5148]

Great list I personal would put Rush Moving Pictures and Doobie Brothers Captain and Me.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

The Doobs! But of course Steven! I’m a major Tommy Johnston fan brother! ❤❤❤

[@docsamson198]

Thanks, Michael. As a Queen fan, I love your reasoning for preferring Queen 2 to A Night At The Opera. I actually prefer Sheer Heart Attack by a nose over both of them. SHA has the best flow of any album I have ever heard. Plus, I love that it ends with “In the Lap of the Gods (revisited.) Just epic. Thanks again.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Sheer Heart Attack is actually my second favorite Queen album, narrowly beating out A Night at the Opera Doc! Thanx!❤❤❤

[@AntonXul]

I love Queen. My top 3 are Queen II, Queen debut, Sheer Heart Attack. Those 1st 3 are almost perfect. After that the albums have songs that become hit or miss despite having huge songs in them.

[@docsamson198]

@@AntonXul Cool. Another reason I love Sheer Heart Attack is because it set a lot of song templates (in a good way) for their future albums. Pop songs, diverse music genres, big harmonies, epic guitar songs, etc.

[@novisnick6928]

Outstanding rational thought, that’s how I’d describe this video. I can’t agree 100% but that’s why they make chocolate AND vanilla! I now intend to revisit your choices. Thanks so much!

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Thanx so much Nick! I value your input always brother! Your whole lets just talk music attitude always gets me thinking brother! ❤❤❤👌👍🏆

[@williamlangan5902]

There’s a reason the Tribe loves your videos, Michael. Did I say A reason? Many! 1. You know what you like. And why you like it! 2. You know what you’re talking about. 3. Your opinions aren’t “right or wrong” or more important “or else!” This was no exception! Not sure I could state my case for why it’s top 20 or top 10! Queen 2 showed remarkable growth for a 2nd album! I need to hear Royal Scam. Ok, Bloody Sabbath I’ll add to my “must listen” list. I need to hear all of Venus and Mars to that list. I happen to love You Gave Me The Answer. I’d hear it every morning in the Summer of 1975. Great memories! Ram was another great one all the way through. I can’t imagine anybody not loving Back Sear Of My Car. I’ll bet he influenced a lot of Prog rockers. Santana’s Caravan was an album I gave to someone who loved it. Years later, I checked it out at my library. Then I realized why he loved it! Desperado is probably my favorite, too! 2nd place goes to both One Of These Nights and On The Border. I’m adding I Robot and Barnstormer to my bucket listen list!

[@peteshallcross787]

Nice job, Michael! You are spot on with The Dan and it's hard to pick a fav but it's hard not to love their first album. Incredibly done by such youngsters. Not much of a Beatles fan anymore but I couldn't have a 70s top ten without Allman Bros at Fillmore, Traffic Low Spark and Genesis Selling England. Take care, brother in music.

[@gregtapevideo1464]

Great list Mike. Mine would be quite different. But that's music!✌

[@nicolesalzmann5119]

I am so glad to at least hear Pyramids mentioned. My favorite Parsons album ever, even if it isn’t yours. Absolutely underrated in my opinion

[@MIB_63]

I generally agree with your choices, except that I would have included the first V.U. album, Avalon by Roxy Music and Out of the Blue by ELO in my own list.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Fair enough MIB! Avalon missed this list by one freakin spot btw! ❤❤❤

[@H-mu4bo]

ELO "A New Worlds Record"..perfection from start to finish

[@mitchellbatchelor1594]

Surprised to see “Desperado” on your list. What a great LP.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

It’s one of my favorite albums ever Mitchell! 😉👌❤️🏆

[@richardberesford3993]

Not a bad list and I like your thought process. Who's Next and the Emerson Lake and Palmer first album would be in my top 20.

[@GaryIrving-x5o]

My 10 Perfect Albums: 1) Abbey Road / The Beatles 2) Quadrophenia / The Who 3) Bridge Over Troubled Water / Simon and Garfunkel 4) Hats / The Blue Nile 5) So / Peter Gabriel 6) Graham Nash and David Crosby / David Crosby and Graham Nash 7) The Joshua Tree / U2 8) Stand Up / Jethro Tull 9) Avalon Sunset / Van Morrison 10) Lonesome Dream / Lord Huron

[@Gino65]

Michael you opened up my mind & ears. I call you the Maestro for your generosity in the time you put into educating me as part of the tribe. Bravo ! I salute you 🙌

[@guywoznicki7847]

After watching this vid I can honestly say I Get You. I thought about several of your choices and how they weren’t my favorites but they all made sense when you followed your criteria. I can site at least 3 that may not be a particular artist’s best but they’re great all the way through. Sure there are some huge records on there too. But I must mention the 2 that really impressed me. Machine Head is my favorite metal album and I also love the interplay between guitar and keyboard. The other was the obscure Ram. I owned every album by Wings and McCartney except for that one. One snowy day in January ‘80 high school was closed and I went to the mall with mom. While she was shopping I browsed the record store. I picked up In Through the Out Door and Ram to complete both my collections. Not only did Ram become my favorite Macca LP, it became one of my favorite records of all time (top 20). Thanks.

[@caramanico1]

Love the topics you come up with Mike. On this one, we're half and half. But a notable inclusion - IMHO - is "I, Robot." A fantastic and perfect mating of enjoyable/listenable "straight" classic rock and more the more heady prog rock. It was the first album that I used to snag my young son in order to kindle his love for music. The second was when he saw a picture of and heard the voice of Annie Haslam of Renaissance. He fell in love with her just as I did years earlier...

[@djknox2]

Kudos Michael for making this effort! Not sure about the "gloss" factor in addition to personal bias. Is gloss not just one's bias? OK some comments that challenge your list: John Lennon, George Harrison, and Paul McCartney solo LPs: Good but hardly top 20 in the grand scheme of Rock music. Queen II is not even close to A Night at the Opera, and THAT album certainly deserves a top 10 Desperado vs Hotel California: Deperado also has too many weak songs to be top 20 The Royal Scam: not a chance as their best LP Machine Head: the best you've mentioned thus far, but probably not top 20 Sabbath Bloody Sabbath: not a chance as their best LP Carravanserai: top 20??? #10 I too love Pyramid but it's probably 2nd to I Robot, which is definitely a top 10 - you got this one spot on. #9 I think it's a tight race between Harvest and After The Gold Rush, and would personally put After the Gold Rush in the top 20 - respectable choice however. #8 RAM is a decent LP, but #8? Come on Michael! It must have gotten you the lay of your life to rank it that high LOL. #7 Close to the Edge is my favourite YES lp, but it cannot be a top 10 - respectable choice #6 Aqulung is again my favourite Jethro Tull lp, but tough to put it in the top 10 - respectable choice #5 Synchronicity is again my favourite Police lp, but again, it's not a top 10 - respectable choice #4 Barnstorm - sorry #3 Houses of the Holy - most Zep albums qualify as top 20. I still think Zoso is their best album and deserves to be here instead. #2 Dark Side of the Moon - this lp is unapproachable and cannot be challenged. Great choice and like Zep, many of their lps could make this list #1 Abbey Road - is yes a masterpiece. Like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, other albums could qualify, but I think you've got this one right. The first problem with ranking top albums is that everyone's efforts to be objective fall very short. The truth is that many good bands were not proficient at releasing great albums, but because one has a favourite band, they insist on picking their favourite album of that band for their top XX list. Examples of this include albums from Rush, The Who, Neil Young, Queen or The Rolling Stones. Great bands but not too many great albums. The other problem is that Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles probably occupy half of the top 30 albums of all time. It's hard to put much light between each of these band's top 5 albums. 25 more albums (not from the big 3) worthy of contention: Dire Straights Brothers in Arms Fleetwood Mac Rumours Supertramp Crime of the Century or Even in the Quietest Moments U2 Joshua Tree Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited Roxy Music Avalon ELP debut album Boston debut album The Cars debut album Van Halen debut album Rolling Stones Let It Bleed Peter Gabriel So The Doors LA Woman Tom Petty Into the Great Wide Open Styx The Grand Illusion Elton John Captain Fantastic and... David Bowie Ziggy Stardust and... The Who Who's Next Foreigner Double Vision Frank Zappa Sheik Yer Bouti Joe Jackson Look Sharp The Clash London Calling ZZ Top Eliminator Al Stewart Year of the Cat And, if I was to get a little more personal, and if the 90s still count as classic rock: For the Beauty of Wynona by Daniel Lanois, Blood Sugar Sex Magik by the RHCP, and a couple albums by the highly underrated The Tragically Hip: try Day for Night, Fully Completely, or Trouble at the Henhouse. And just to re-emphasize: these are best albums and NOT necessarily best bands. Some bands produced amazing songs over decades, but no individual album was spectacular.

[@drothberg3]

Great response. I especially like your list of 25 additional albums.

[@djknox2]

@@drothberg3 Thanks. Just trying to keep Michael real 🙃

[@jimcullen2211]

A agree almost wholeheartedly with your pics. I too love Venus and Mars over Band on the Run. It's a great set of slick rockers and lush melodies that hits the spot for me. I have to check out Barnstorm. I hate to admit that I'm ignorant of it. Rarely do I nod in agreement with someones best of list but this one felt like you were reading out of the same textbook as me. My only replacement would be Aerosmith Rocks instead of Santana but what the hell.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

And your choice is awesome Jim! Aerosmith gets way too much flack these days! ❤❤❤

[@tproudboomer5965]

I also love each and every one of these albums. That being said, I think “your own personal preference” factored in to this list more than you let on. 😉Way too many glaring omissions. Lennon had some great solo songs, but not one album that qualifies as a masterpiece. All Things Must Pass would have qualified as a two record set, but way to much indulgent, jamming songs that disrupt the flow and keep it from being a perfect rock album. It’s kind of like the White Album; it’s one of my personal favorite Beatles albums, but Revolution 9 disqualifies it from being a perfect rock album. It’s all about flow baby! Also, SBS over Paranoid?😬 Great job on this channel. Big fan!

[@piowrz4833]

One can disagree with the selection (indeed almost everyone would make the selection slightly or entirely different), but the way you are talking about this stuff is really magnificent. Thanks a lot.

[@randytaylor220]

Great list! I would only suggest “Who’s Next” as a perfect album. It’s one of those albums that’s very easy to play beginning to end. The best opener and closer.

[@MellissaBoomeroftheNight]

YOUR TOP THREE!!! YES!!! I'll sign in for the polls lol. I prefer Sheer Heart Attack & all Steely Dan albums are amazing imho. I'm not educated enough on prog or early heavy to comment (I know the singles). Being a big champion of getting D&B&F into the RRHOF, H.C. along with their vocal warm up, and it could've been the perfect album. Buttache Tonight lol. Wait...NO BOWIE? Harvest is in mine, though.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Shear Heart Attack is my 2nd favorite Queen album, with A Night at the Operah 3rd Millissa! Awesome choice! ❤❤❤

[@MellissaBoomeroftheNight]

@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine posting a live response fyi. P.S. I think YT holds my lives for a day or so.

[@melodylynn1012]

Hi from Petaluma. When watching this video today, you mentioned that you had sent a notification to all your subscribers. I knew I didn't receive one so I looked at my status and found that I was no longer subscribed. I subscribed to your channel at least a year ago. KZbin somehow unsubscribed me. This may have happened to other followers so it might be a good idea to let people know to check to make sure they are properly subscribed. I love your videos and watch and give a thumbs up to to all of them. My first concert was the Beatles at Red Rocks in August of 1964, and I love how you love them. Rubber Soul is my favorite album as well. I have been a Paul girl since I was 11 and saw them perform om that first Ed Sullivan show. Please take care. Melody

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Yeah I’m hearing this from a few people Melody! I think I;ll have to mention that in upcoming videos! BTW, Petaluma was a place I hung out all the time back in the day! I even remember when highway 101 went right through downtown Petaluma! ❤❤❤

[@BruceColon-BSides]

Venus and Mars was a great follow up to BOTR and really solidified Wings for the 75-76 tour. Like you, I often prefer listening to it over BOTR. 🟡🔴 Loved seeing Synchronicity on the list. It’s my favorite swan song album next to Abbey Road. What a way to go out. 💙💛❤️ Awesome list overall. Can’t go wrong with any of these choices here.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

I kinda thought you might agree with me regarding Venus & Mars Bruce! That album is often missing or way down on many people’s favs lists! And of course I agree with you regarding Synchronicity! and I wasn’t kidding about Synchronicity 2, it’s one of my favorite songs in Classic Rock! We missed ya on Royce’s brother! You would have been the perfect cohost for Psychedelia my friend! 👌❤️🏆

[@BruceColon-BSides]

@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine It looked like another solid discussion. I’ll have to catch up with it later. It’s been difficult finding time for any YT stuff lately. But I still try to watch everyone’s stuff when I can. In fact, I’m off to watch Royce’s big unboxing video next. 😉

[@robm9999]

Pink Floyd as Hades? Hmmm, that’s interesting never thought of them that way so I’ll have to noodle on that a bit. But make no doubt, I completely agree they are definitely on that high altar of the greatest bands of all time! They are my personal #1, and IMO they are joined by The Beatles, Zeppelin, The Who and The Clash so I am pretty aligned with you as well. Nice list Michael! Keep up the great content.

[@duff0120]

very good list, I could agree with ur list, but I need at least one glam rock album -either the rise of Ziggy Stardust by bowie or ,Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John, my favorite double glam/pop rock album of all time.the song Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding by Elton John introduced me to rock many years ago, and fell in love with the genre.. pet sounds is very classic rock album too.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Both ultra excellent choices Duff! Spot on! ❤❤❤

[@robertfmorton]

Thanks, Michael. As usual, your choices, with a couple of exceptions, coincide with mint. But also as usual, I learned a lot. I was surprised to here that 'Aqualung' has critics regarding the mix! I absolutely adored it from the first list. Of course, being a child of the sixties and born in Liverpool, I stand with you as number one Beatles fan. But in terms of George's 'ATMP', I have to say that I think Spector spoils it. The songs are amongst George's best, but a little overproduced imho. And YES!! Joe Walsh and 'Barnstorm'. About time that album got a shout out. Cheers, bro!

[@DaveGava]

My favorite is Sargent Peppers . Dark Side of the Moon and Moving Pictures by Rush as well as some others on your list . If you're American Crime of the Century by Supertramp may not be on your radar as it didn't sell well in America when it was released. Recorded roughly at the same time as Dark side of the Moon in London as well. A real gem !

[@geoffclarke3796]

Some cool albums there. The Dark Side of the Moon blew me away when I first heard it around age 10 in the early 80's. I didn't fully appreciate the lyrics at that age but I could recognize the brilliant instrumentation and vocals. Abbey Road vies with Revolver as my favourite Bealtles album.

[@jamess7626]

Some more to consider: The White Album, Revolver, Chicago 2, DejaVu, Tea For The Tillerman, The Band, Blond On Blond, Blood Sweat and Tears 2, Workingman's Dead, John Barleycorn Must Die, What's Going On?, Rumours, Blood On The Tracks, Layla and..., Court and Spark, Blue, Joshua Tree.

[@donhitchman4227]

In those days I had a huge collection of vinyl and an outstanding system My manual turntable would track at a quarter gram and I had it in a closet that was lined with sound deadening insulation. I hung the turntable from soft springs anchored into the ceiling so that it would not Skip from vibration. The preamp and amp had fans built in to keep them cool and I put them out the back wall like a dryer vent.

[@donhitchman4227]

I absolutely love the Allen Parsons project and their album I robot was probably my all time favorite. And I appreciate the Isaac Asimov reference because he was possibly my favorite author as a teenager I couldn't read enough of his material

[@markburns-williamson9723]

Very hard to Separate Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack and Night at the Opera...but definitely Queen's best period. So creative, artistic and totally unique, surely the most versatile band ever!!

[@garytrew2766]

Good video my friend this has to do with the labeling of album sides Rod. Stewart had a couple of albums where he put fast side and slow side I thought it was cool . I agree with your choices of course the eagles was my favorite of theirs KEEP up the great work I'm still watching I just don't comment as much as I used to. Take are and Rock and Roll forever!!!

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Good point Gary! Rod Stewart is one of Rock’s truly great singers, and I loved his work with Jeff Beck! ❤❤❤

[@masudashizue777]

You're right. Some songs can be listened to only so many times. I would love to hear some of the old classics, such as Stairway to Heaven, for the first time again.

[@andygluehere8266]

Call me weird, but Meddle was my go to floyd album as a kid. I had my Zeppelin, Doors, Beatles, Black Sabbath, Frank Zappa mix tape playing after school every day while playing video games, envying everyone who got to listen and see these bands in their prime, and see the unique styles as they started their influence on everything.

[@donhitchman4227]

I got to see the Who in their very first American tour. It was in Sacramento at the municipal auditorium, and I was absolutely amazed at the show. At that point I had only heard the song My generation on what was considered underground radio back then FM stations in particular KPPC in Pasadena because I was living in Temple City at the time but was visiting my mother in Rancho Cordova when I heard about the concert. I was absolutely astounded when Pete Townsend through his guitar so high in the air that it disappeared behind the upper balance of the stage, then caught it a moment later without missing a beat! Keith Moon was absolutely amazing on drums and of course I discovered that he had a habit of throwing drumsticks out into the crowd, because I caught one of them. The young lady that I had taken with me was so enamored with Keith Moon she was almost swooning, so I gave her the drumstick of the souvenir. I probably should have kept it because it was like a one-time date and I never saw her again after that. Oh well

[@alanlinfield8207]

Hey Michael. Very interesting list. And I mean that in the truest sense of the word, not euphemistically. I don't know if anyone else would make a top 20 list that included two albums by McCartney - and neither of them were Band On The Run. I liked the comparison of Venus and Mars to Magical Mystery Tour: while neither boasts the "legendary classic" status of its predecessor, it could be argued that, song-for-song, they are actually better albums. (I think that's where you were going.) Worth a ponder. I think nearly all of your selections are deserving of inclusion on a top 20 perfect rocks albums list. But I believe I would have made room for one entry apiece from the Stones, the Beach Boys, and the Kinks. All obvious choices, yes, but they all earned their lofty reputations. An all-time personal favorite I would need to include is Odessey and Oracle by the Zombies. Finally, I was a bit surprised that Who's Next did not make the cut. That masterpiece fulfills all of your criteria brilliantly. Cheers!

[@stephanegosselin2861]

My top five (in no special order); Rumours, DSOTM, Abbey Road, Killer & Station to Station Memorable mention; Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Songs from the Wood & Avalon

[@susanfreeman9500]

I like that you do list like these with a specific set of criteria. 'Best' is so indefinite.

[@davesbucket]

Nice list Michael...of course everything is opinion but Houses is probably 4th favorite Zep for me (Although SRTS is one of my favorite songs) I consider Graffiti the best album of all time You gotta stop leaving Rush off your lists man! Big props for putting Tull on the list Who's Next? Gotta be in the top 5

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

I do need to turn my attention to Rush a bit more Janney! Thanx for the prompt! ❤❤❤

[@lilajagears8317]

​@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLineI agree!

[@catsofsherman1316]

That was an interesting list. I'm not sure if you had a one album per artist rule or it just turned out that way. If I did a top 20 list it would have a lot more Beatles on it. An album like Dark Side I would have ranked very highly years ago. It's a magnificent album and a production marvel. I'm just really tired of it. What are your thoughts on the Steven Wilson remix of Aqualung? The Joe Walsh album was a surprise. I don't even know that one.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

I’ve heard good things about Steven;s Aqualung Sherman! I’m looking for a copy and hope to do a video on it in the future! ❤❤❤

[@ulfbrommelhorster1490]

What about Rainbow Rising? In my opinion one of the best classic rock albums of all time.

[@AntonXul]

#1 for me will always be Queen II. To me it’s the most underrated album of all time. Only die hard Queen fans acknowledge this album. Many casual Queen fans skip this album, because it had no hits and the songs aren’t played on the radio, so they don’t recognize them. They and non-Queen fans are missing out what I call perfection in musical form. There are no bad songs on here. It’s a great listen from beginning to end. Just awesome. My personal top perfect to near perfect albums in no particular order Queen II (Queen) Piece of Mind (Iron Maiden) Van Halen (Van Halen) Dead Hearts in a Dead World (Nevermore) For All Tid (Dimmu Borgir) Mob Rules (Black Sabbath) Superunknown (Soundgarden) Taken By Force (Scorpions) Lights Out (UFO) Sweet Freedom (Uriah Heep) Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd) Back in Black (AC/DC) Rising (Rainbow) Stay Hungry (Twisted Sister) Appetite for Destruction (Guns N’ Roses) Horror Show (Iced Earth) In the Court of the Crimson King (King Crimson) The White Album (The Beatles) Wishmaster (Nightwish) The Halls of Eternity (Ancient) Blot (Mactätus) Led Zeppelin IV (Led Zeppelin) Holy Diver (Dio) Machine Head (Deep Purple) My rock music tastes ranges from Bubblegum Pop like The Monkees to Death Metal like Cannibal Corpse and everything in between. ‘70s hard rock is what I like the most, but sometimes I need some heavy stuff or some softer stuff, so my rock music really varies.

[@lib556]

I just dropped your name in the comments section of another channel (Norman Maslov). He mentioned that he saw the Who in 69 at the Filmore West when he was 15. I'm so jealous! Then I remembered you saw the infamous show at the Cow Palace in 73 when Moonie passed out. It's interesting that you both were in SF around the same time and similar age and you both saw classic Who concerts... I wrote the above before the list was done. Imagine my shock and dismay at there being no Who album on your list of 20... 😥

[@mikehaliday8302]

Good list, well explained. Can't say I agree with all of it (I listen to Wish You Were Here routinely, had my fill of DSOTM in the 70's, and I like Relayer more than CTTE), but you've given me some great assignments for my playlist ideas!

[@cjd12319721]

I'm 62 and you are introducing me to names I know but have not paid attention to. It's very interesting

[@ljw5768]

It’s always interesting to hear such well thought out opinions, whether you agree or not.

[@ronaldmorgan7632]

Don't know if I could come up with a top twenty like that. I'm happy that Close to the Edge made it. By the way, I grew up in the Bay Area from the 50s to 2014, and the 70s were dominated by the great radio station KSJO.

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

We’re from the same backyard Ronald! What a time it was for the Bay Area brother! Magic!❤❤❤

[@robertsavelle7367]

Wonderful list, even though I've not heard every one! More importantly, the justifications were so well argued and inspires me to listen to a couple new ones. Your #10 comment on APP was exactly the way I was on Hunky Dory by Bowie. I taped a buddy's album and was hooked. And while still my personal favourite, it's not my go to and based on your 6 assessments, I would probably rank a couple others of his albums higher.

[@paulf.5261]

Queen 2.....still one of my favourites! Discovered that I'd listened to the sides backwards.....😮 still prefer it this way. Quite appropriate considering Ogre Battle 😀

[@srvuk]

There are too many artists in here that would never get near the moniker of Classic Rock, more Classic Pop. But for the ones that do such as Sabbath and Purple, plus one that I have never heard bit am intrigued about, so still a fun watch.

[@greenatom]

I agree about the sound on Aqualung. It sounds just as it should. It's like an old wooden pub sign, with the gold lettering starting to weather away, and a bit of moss growing here and there. So Olde English and non-glossy. I don't feel that the whole album is one story though. Cross-eyed Mary and Aqualung only observe each other through the railings, each in their own world. The only other connection between all of the songs is Ian Anderson's sensibility and the overall sound of the album.

[@Williamottelucas]

Going to listen to all of the albums on this list that I've not previously persevered with. My own list would include albums by the Doors, the Who, Jimi Hendrix, Love, the Byrds, Crosby Stills and Nash, Oasis, Ten Years After, Moody Blues, Joni Mitchel, David Bowie, Traffic, Beach Boys and U2. Edit: Man, Plastic Ono Band knocks it out of the park! Why haven't I listened to it before?

[@tommccafferty5591]

I think Astral Weeks is a masterpiece of recording. Also, Disraeli Gears was big when I was a senior in high school, so it is a favorite of mine. And finally, Hot Rats by Frank Zappa is, in my opinion, a great album.

[@NicholasSadlier]

The Led Zep cover picture scene (The Giant's Causeway) is an hour and a half's drive up the road from me

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

If I walked that causeway, I’d hold my wife above my head just to say I did it Nicholas! ❤❤

[@MJEvermore853]

By older brother bought me a vinyl copy of Venus And Mars for my 7th birthday when it was released. I wore the grooves out of the damn thing. I still love it to this very day and it's my most favorite post-beatles album in existence! Great songs on it. I rate it higher than Band On The Run. There's just something about this album that I can't explain. I just totally dig it. Jimmy McCulloch with 'Medicine Jar' is unbeatable. Same with 'Spirits Of Ancient Egypt'. 'Rock Show' with Page in the lyrics! So many kick ass songs on it! George and John got nothing on this record on my opinion. 😎👍

[@judmcc]

You should hear the Steve Wilson remix of Aqualung! Especially in high resolution.

[@jessem470]

Hi Michael New Subscriber and Big Thumbs Up 👍 For Me here are some Albums for your consideration Anything by Frank Zappa has greatest players and production so i will throw out 2 Hots Rats and Joes Garage Radiohead : phenomenal band Ok Computer Wilco : Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Ry Cooder : Bop til you Drop Alice Cooper : Billion. Dollar Baby Great Songs , Great Sleeve design and amazing production by Bob Ezrin. Cat Stevens : cant pick , so anything from 70s

[@ltjjenkins]

Grabbing popcorn 🍿

[@stevenmaginnis1965]

My top ten: Revolver - the Beatles (1966) Who's Next - the Who (1971) The Great Twenty-Eight - Chuck Berry (1956 to 1965, released in 1984) John Wesley Harding - Bob Dylan (1968) Beggars' Banquet - the Rolling Stones (1968) Fearless - Family (1971) Pretzel Logic - Steely Dan (1974) Unhalfbricking - Fairport Convention (1969) The Band (1969) The Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd (1973)

[@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine]

Wow! Several of yours barely missed tonight’s list Steven! Who’s Next, Pretzel Logic, and Revolver to mention but 3! ❤❤❤

[@stevenmaginnis1965]

@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine Yeah, well I knew 'Fearless' wasn't going to make it either! British rock albums that peak at #177 in the USA don't normally make top-ten albums lists compiled by Americans! 😃

[@donhitchman4227]

I think that if you had expanded slightly then the Kinks would have definitely been on the list. They're one of the most underrated groups of all time in my opinion but also one of my all-time favorites

[@thoso1973]

Glad to see The Police being rediscovered and acknowledged these last couple of years. Pink Floyd had an epic run from 1971 to 1979 - five perfect or almost perfect studio albums in a row. No other band I know of, has accomplished a similar run, not even The Beatles.

[@mel124177]

Listing a top 20 (much more a top 10) classic rock albums is an audacious feat; moreso is putting Alan Parsons Project and The Police in it! Love that to bits, being a Floydian and a Parsonist myself (lol). Can't understand why APP is not getting the love from conceited snobs (aka stupid) 'music critics' (mostly, agenda-driven or paid shills for big corporate music), or the Police's "Synchronicity" in anybody's top 10 or 20! PF, APP, Zep, Beatles, DP, my big 5. For that alone, you've earned a [younger] fan and a sub, Mike! 🥰