Most Influential Albums Of All Time Top Five

1. 61

   BritishRockposted 14 years ago

   1. The Beatles - Sgt Peppers Lonely Bands Club.
   
   This is the eight studio album from the iconic Beatles the album spent 27 weeks at the top of the UK charts and fifteen weeks at the top of the American Billboard charts. This album is perhaps The Beatles finest hour it is often regarded as the greatest rock album ever being ranked No.1 on Rolling Stones magazine list of 500 greatest albums of all time.
   
   2. Michael Jackson - Thriller.
   
   Thriller is the sixth studio album from Michael Jackson it is his best selling album and is regarded as the greatest pop and dance album of all time. Jackson became a house hold name with the huge mainstream success the album broke down racial walls via his appreances on MTV and meeting President Ronald Reagan. This album changed dance forever and has influenced most if not all popular hip hop and RnB singers of today.
   
   3. Black Sabbath - Paranoid.
   
   Black Sabbath is seen by most as the creators of Heavy Metal and there second studio album Paranoid in 1970 is hailed by metal fans as the greatest metal album ever. Paranoid was the only Sabbath album to reach number 1 in the UK charts although sales for the album arent incredibly high the impact it has had on music is incredible many bands over the years have cited this album and Sabbath in genral as major influences amoungst the metal scene this record stands out from the rest.
   
   4. Nirvana - Nevermind.
   
   In 1991 Nevermind made the biggest impact on music since The Beatles. It changed the mainstream music and style at the time hair metal was out grunge was in not only that the whole sound of the 90,s turned punk rock. Almost everyone at the time copied Nirvana the grunge look the grunge sound it all became mainstream. Nevermind was ranked No.19 on Rolling Stones magazine list of 500 greatest albums.
   
   5. Pink Floyd - The Wall.
   
   The elenth studio album The Wall from progressive rock group Pink Floyd used elements and sounds unlike anything ever recorded. The album largely deals with themes of abandonment and personal isolation. It is one of the highest selling albums in the US and remains a landmark album of the 20th century.

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   1. 67

      PhoenixVposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I think these albums also had a big impact on rock
      
      
      Frampton Comes Alive!
      
      Boston  debut album
      
      Led Zeppelin IV
      
      AC/DC     Back in Black

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         DoorMattnomoreposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         any and all Led Zepplin.
         
         also Rolling Stones. or where they influenced?

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         1. 67

            PhoenixVposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I think Zeppelin had probably the biggest impact on rock and roll than any other band.
            
            I think the Stones had the biggest impact on varieties of rock and roll than any other band. The Stones opened the doors for punk rock etc.
            
            I agree with OP's choice of Pink Floyd, because they have staying power ie sales etc.  I also like his Beatles choice.

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               DoorMattnomoreposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               on a personal level I love both bands. AND they were quite influential in my life. They came out before me tho, so for me to realize how influential they are/were to the progression of music I need to watch more documentaries and stuff like that. I would have to say in all, I agree.

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               1. 67

                  PhoenixVposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  If I was to guess I would say that Jimmy Page of Zeppelin probably influenced more people to learn how to play rock on guitar than any other guitarist. I would also say the first songs they ever learned to play was probably Neil Young or ACDC songs.
                  
                  
                  We left out Van Halen as an influential band. Pearl Jam, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix.
                  
                  Man there are so many great bands

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            2. 61

               BritishRockposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Zepplin and The Stones had a big impact on music but the list was about albums not bands.

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      2. 61

         BritishRockposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I did consider ACDC Back In Black and Led Zepplin 4 but I didnt feel like they changed much in music at the time just massive records.

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   2. 54

      Shinkickerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      How about ......
      
      * Bridge Over Troubled Water .... Simon and Garfunkel
      
      * Dark Side of the Moon ..... Pink Floyd
      
      * Never Mind the Bollocks .... The Sex Pistols
      
      * Nevermind .... Nirvana
      
      * Rage Against the Machine ..... RATM

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2. 88

   I am DB Cooperposted 14 years ago

   Isn't it interesting that all the albums on your list were released within a 30 year period, and now it's been almost 20 years since the release of the newest album on your list (Nirvana - Nevermind). I think it's true, there have not been any major, influential albums released in nearly two decades. Is this because the current state of the record industry prevents "new sounds" from being heard? Did mp3's kill the album by giving rise to the popularity of individual songs?

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      DoorMattnomoreposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! 20 years? I feel so old.
      
      ha ha, MP3's killed the album. Like "video killed the radio star"?
      
      I bet the definition of influential (and where the influence comes from)depends on the listener. For me, my method of "discovering" music has changed since MP3's and on line radio. I can't listen to late night radio and there is no headbanger's ball, anymore. But I still find new-to-me sounds. Maybe there are no new sounds? Just different ways of arranging them.

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   2. 61

      BritishRockposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I think there have been some great albums that have come after Nevermind but none that have changed music or created a new sound but the last 10 years have been a poor time for influential albums there hasnt been much if any.

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      1. 61

         BritishRockposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Influential means how big a audience it expanded too how many artist or fans lives were changed because of a certain album. Its also just creating something that sounds diffrent from anything else thats around thats the true meaning of influential albums.

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            DoorMattnomoreposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I am sure there are albums that have been greatly influential to listeners.  As far as changing the face of music, I wouldn't know as I am stuck in my own little world. It does seem not much has happened since "grunge", at least in my section of the USA.
            
            well, I take it back, there is EMO now? but that wouldn't exist if punk hadn't already happened.....
            
            makes you wonder about whats is really new anywhere

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            1. 61

               BritishRockposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Nu Metal was after Grunge it had a big explosion in the late 90,s early 2000,s bands like Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit hit the mainstream charts but most of it was purposely staged by MTV as a money grabbing scam.

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            2. 61

               BritishRockposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Emo isnt that mainstream bands like 30 Seconds To Mars and Panic At The Disco dress Emo but there not.

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                  DoorMattnomoreposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  where I live, trust me....EMO is a big deal.
                  
                  I guess if you want to get technical about definitions you would have to say things like...the Pixies, and Frank Black are the beginnings of emo. But most kids who listen to 30 seconds to mars, and the killers, will look at you with their perfectly obsessed over for hours messy hair, skint tight pleather jeans and made up eyes, like.."what? your way old dude,you don't know what your talking about" if you mention that.

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                  1. 61

                     BritishRockposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     I have never considered The Killers as an emo band The Pixies werent emo they were punk they influenced most of the grunge sound of in the 90,s its well known that Kurt ripped off The Pixies.

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                     1. 61

                        BritishRockposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        Theres punk bands theres goth bands then theres emo bands here are the bands I like to use for style The Offspring is punk Smashin Pumpkins is goth and Marilyn Manson is emo.

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                           DoorMattnomoreposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           don't say that to a sixteen year old kid now.
                           
                           they think Green Day is new. 

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                              DoorMattnomoreposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                              ooops. sorry if your 16.

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                           DoorMattnomoreposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           Rancid, Type O negative, and Fugazi for punk goth and EMO

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                        DoorMattnomoreposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        Killers are kinda borderline to me. My point is I feel the whole EMO thing was started by punk. Going on to the point, I wonder if there is anything new left?

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         2. 0

            ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            You could argue that it is too early to judge the influence of albums released since Nevermind.
            
            I would perhaps suggest that OK Computer by Radiohead has been a major influence musically. The true test is longevity, The Beatles are still influencing people now. How do you know what is going to influence people in 20 years time? Maybe stuff from the noughties and nineties.
            
            You are also disregarding other genres, your thread title should have read Most Influential Pop Albums or Most Influential Indie Albums.
            
            There are other genres, e.g. Hip Hop, that likely draw almost none of its influence from these albums.

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3. 61

   BritishRockposted 14 years ago

   I like old Greenday much better then new Greenday all the fans today are uneducated. Just curious can u name the person on my profile picture?

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      DoorMattnomoreposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        Im awful at this stuff. Looks familiar, and if you say it Ill be like..OH YEAH!!!! But I cant think of a name off the top of my head. It looks like a guy from a band in the late 60's or so.

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         BritishRockposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Liam Gallgher lead singer of Oasis. haha hes pretty much the most well known UK face in rock in the 90,s.

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            ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Britpop didn't get big in America though, as it was an anti-grunge movement. Oasis had their one big hit, Wonderwall, nothing else made it there at the time. They didn't understand the movement.

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            1. 61

               BritishRockposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               I agree America didnt understand the Britpop movement but if u research and watch some shows done about Britpop OK Computer or Radiohead in genral dont get mentioned as apart of the Britpop movement. So Nevermind was released in 1991 and OK Computer was released about 5 years later yet u say Ok Computer is influential and Nevermind isnt because it hasnt been long enough? doesnt make any sense. A recent list voted by over 200 artists of today and the past ranked Nrvana at 13th greatest artists of all time so theres proof right there influential to many of todays music. Radiohead wasnt in the top 20 of even top 50 but then again I dont know how many of the artists who voted were from the UK. I cant have put OK Computer down on the list cause then I would have to kick out Pink Floyds The Wall which would also be debated about if I choose to do that.

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                  ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Radiohead were not considered to be a Britpop band, they weren't part of that movement. I have a 1500 hubpage on Britpop if you would like to read it. Britpop was considered a sub-genre, of which Radiohead were not participants; mainly because the use of British terminology, slang, and reference to British culture were fully intentional in order to repel a tendancy for British bands to become far too influenced by American grunge culture. Blur, one of the bands which started the movement (it was an intentional direction by established bands within the Camden clique) had previously sought to appeal to the American market.
                  
                  I actually specifically stated that OK Computer IS an influential album, my point about time was that we just don't know which albums from the past two decades are going to be considered influential in the longer term.
                  
                  Neither did I state at any point that Nevermind wasn't an influential album, I would appreciate it if you avoid misquoting me in any futher responses, I clearly and specifically stated that OK Computer is equally influential as Nevermind; at no stage did I suggest that either album is more or less influential than the other.
                  
                  And then you quote a list of the most influential artists of all time, after having stated in a previous post that this thread is about albums and not about artists. If you are talking about artists then you are entering an entirely new zone, and chopping and changing the topic to suit your own argument when you see fit.
                  
                  I was not questioning the validity of your list, neither attempting to challenge your right to your own perception or opinion. I was simply offering my own take on the influence of OK Computer, simply because the thread evolved in such a fashion. As it happens, I like your list, and agree that each of those albums are extremely influential. Even if you did a top 1000 you would have people suggest other albums.
                  
                  To find my Hubpage search 'What Is Britpop?', I did a fair bit of research for that, so you might enjoy it.

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                     BritishRockposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     OK Computer wasnt the only album I could have put in there was plenty of albums who missed out I will do a bigger list in the future.

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4. 84

   rebekahELLEposted 14 years ago

   you have a great selection, but I'm not sure if anything was more influential than Sgt. Pepper. The Beatles have reached more listeners of all ages than the rest of your excellent picks. Although I would probably add an early Bob Dylan. Sgt. Pepper was a turning point not only for the Beatles but for music.
   
   Sgt. Pepper influenced a generation of young and their parents. It was released in the late 60's, the summer of love, before the tumultuous 1968. The music was different, they dressed differently, it was very influential not only in music, but in lifestyles, the way people thought.
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-Q9D4dcYng

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5. 68

   Flightkeeperposted 14 years ago

   Madonna and Michael Jackson are in my top five, I don't know what my other three would be.  I would say these two have really influenced me and it's not so much that I like all of their songs.

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6. 38

   slc334posted 14 years ago

   What about Kid A by Radiohead, or even OK Computer for that matter?  These are hugely influential records by a hugely influential band!  There has been some great albums recently, and I think that we won't know just how influential some albums are until years from now.  Their very newness is what handicaps them in forums like this.

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      PhoenixVposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I agree. Like the OP's choice of Nirvana I can agree with, but in 10 years could we replace Nirvana with Pearl Jam?
      
      I like Radiohead too and forgot to mention RUSH

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      1. 61

         BritishRockposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         No I dont think PJ,s Ten album will ever be more influential then Nevermind.

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7. 67

   PhoenixVposted 14 years ago

   One More from the Road         
             for
   
   
   Skynyrd

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8. 0

   jerrylposted 14 years ago

   Just thought I'd throw in a couple names. 
   
   Creedence Clearwater Revival
   
   Three dog night.

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9. 60

   Ron Montgomeryposted 14 years ago

   Last Waltz - The Band,an inspiration for much of Clapton's work.
   
   Steely Dan - Can't Buy a Thrill - greatly influenced advances in stereo technology.  They're music was so precise, and expertly  produced that it was common practice in the 70's to buy a new Steely Dan album and take it to the store with you to help you chose which stereo components to buy.

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10. 39

    wavegirl22posted 14 years ago

    
    
    Born to Run

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    1. 60

       Ron Montgomeryposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Good call.  It was a great influence on my ability to score with Debbie James the night of October 7th, 1978.
       
       Thank you Bruce.

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11. 61

    BritishRockposted 14 years ago

    This list had nothing to do with influential bands Ill do that list later it was about a certain album sure Radiohead and Zepplin are influential and Zep 4 and OK Computer were big albums but do they deserve to go in the top 5? and this list wasnt made on my personaly favourites it was based on what I know about music. If this was my personal choice list then 4 of the albums I put down wouldnt be in there.

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       ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Yes, OK Computer is a huge album, just as equally revered and influential as Nevermind.

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