Ten classic rock albums that work as no-skip, start-to-finish records

Collider has compiled a list of ten classic rock albums it calls "bangers" from start to finish, highlighting records that play as no-skip, consistent-energy listening experiences.

The selections range across decades and styles, including Big Brother and the Holding Company’s Cheap Thrills (1968), Santana’s self-titled debut (1969), The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967), Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A. (1984), Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Green River (1969), The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Are You Experienced (1967), The Grateful Dead’s American Beauty (1970), The Beatles’ Abbey Road (1969), Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours (1977), and Led Zeppelin IV (1971).

The write-up notes specific receptions and influences: Cheap Thrills showcases Janis Joplin’s powerful covers and enduring hits, Santana’s debut was originally panned, The Velvet Underground & Nico faced bans before becoming highly influential, and Led Zeppelin IV contains "Stairway to Heaven," helped set the stage for the heavy metal movement that swept America the following decade, and includes the frequently sampled drums on "When the Levee Breaks." The list frames these albums as made for easy, enthusiastic listening.

Key Topics

Culture, Led Zeppelin Iv, Rumours, Abbey Road, Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen