Rolling Stone's Top Albums
This double album includes the poppy and fun "Back in the USSR" and the psychedelic and unsettling "Revolution No. 9." Numerous goofy moments include "Rocky Raccoon" and "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." The George Harrison classic "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is also found here.
No. 9
One of Dylan's more electrified, eclectic records, it contains some of the legendary songwriter's most memorable work, such as "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35," "Just Like a Woman" and the sprawling "Visions of Johanna."
No. 8
The Clash incorporated reggae and rockabilly into an overall sound and attitude categorized as punk, and this double album represented the band at its peak. The title song was the band's biggest hit in its native Britain; "The Guns of Brixton" and "Train In Vain (Stand By Me)" are also included here.
No. 7
Yet another double album on the list, emphasizing how these picks, as Rolling Stone's Anthony DeCurtis explains, strive to be unified albums rather than "one great song and the rest is filler." Among the blues-influenced rock hits here are "Rocks Off" and "Let It Loose."
No. 6
The only R&B appearance in the top 10, this is widely considered the best soul record of all time. The album loosely tells the tale of a Vietnam vet coming home, and in addition to the title track, standouts are "Mercy Mercy Me" and "Inner City Blues."
No. 5
The Beatles started exploring more mature, although largely still romantic, territory here, and boldly began experimenting with instrumentation, most notably the use of sitar on "Norwegian Wood." The tracks differ on the U.S. and U.K. releases, with the American version generally considered superior.
No. 4
Dylan plugged in with a full band for this album, featuring rockers "Tombstone Blues" and the title track. Yet his way with words that made him a folk legend remains front and center.
No. 3
Featuring some of John Lennon's most surreal thoughts ("I'm Only Sleeping") and some of Paul McCartney's greatest pop ("Good Day Sunshine"). Most critics agree there is not a weak song in the bunch.
No. 2
Seeking to top "Rubber Soul," Brian Wilson shut himself in the studio to obsessively craft this lush, orchestrated multi-track pop masterpiece. It redefined the band's sound with a more serious tone, yet their signature harmonies flourished intact. Paul McCartney says this album in turn inspired "Sgt. Pepper's."
No. 1
According to DeCurtis, this album "really epitomized what it was possible for a rock 'n' roll album to be." Magical and manic, it threw out the rules, proving what a rock album could be is, in fact, just about anything.