Our Ten Most Listened To Albums Of All Time is a list that is about as subjective as one can get. Every person will, of course, have their own ten. Yet what will make this enjoyable is comparing everyone’s list. There is no right or wrong, only what albums seemed to be the most played records one has ever owned. Of course, when we all first started collecting albums, we started with just a few. With only a handful of albums, those originals would be played all the time due to the lack of a big collection. However, over time, as our collections expanded and with the emergence of CDs, we became more picky over which ones we played more than others. In the end, looking back at your past, choosing which ones you can remember playing the most may be hard. However, if you can remember and you want to share your list…. send us an email or leave your lists in the comments. This should be fun. The staff here at ClassicRockHistory.com will start this one out.
Brian Kachejian- Editor-in-Chief
# 10 – Elton John’s Greatest Hits
This was the first album I ever purchased. I was only 13 at the time and pretty much had no money. I played this album every day until I purchased my second album, which was Elton John’s Caribou. Of course, as my collection increased and I eventually brought every Elton John album ever released, I would never play this album anymore. However, it got a lot of plays for that first year as the only one I owned, earning it a sentimental spot on this list
# 9 – Bat Out Of Hell – Meat Loaf
I bought this album the day it was released because I just happened to be in the record store when it was placed on the shelves. I purchased it simply because I thought the cover was cool. I was completely unprepared for what I was about to hear.
# 8 – The Runaways – The Runaways
Once again, this was another album I purchased just because of the cover when I was 15/16. I remember thinking how much older they looked than me. They were only a year older, if that.
# 7 – Street Survivors – Lynyrd Skynyrd
I saw the original band just before the plane crash. I bought this album the day it was released. I will never forget the news of the crash. They were on the verge of really taking it to the next level. You can hear that so well on this spectacular album.
# 6 – Silk Degrees – Boz Scaggs
I was blown away by how great the songs were, as well as the band’s musicianship, which turned out to be the soon-to-be Toto; I was always so impressed by just how good this album sounded on my turntable.
# 5 – The Wild Heart – Stevie Nicks
I purchased this album a week after Nancy broke my heart. I listened to this every day. I’m not sure if it helped or made it worse, but I couldn’t stop listening to it.
# 4 – Upside Downside – Mike Stern
This is the album that turned me onto jazz fusion.
# 3 – Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy – Elton John
To me, this will always be the greatest Elton John album ever released.
# 2 – Darkness On The Edge Of Town – Bruce Springsteen
If I had not played Born To Run the number of times I played it from 1976 to 1978, this would have been my number one most played album. Born to Run spoke to me as a teenager, Darkness spoke to me my entire adult life.
# 1 – Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen
There are albums that literally change lives for so many reasons. This was the one that did it for me. After hearing this, I heard my calling. I have spent my entire life making a living in the music business and it all began when I was in ninth grade and purchased this album in 1976.
Andrew Daly – Staff Writer
Be Here Now by Oasis (1997)
Most people will choose Definitely Maybe, or (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?, but this cocaine-fueled epic is as good as it gets from Oasis. It’s all that made them over-the-top combined with the magic of Noel Gallagher’s songwriting.
Alive! by Kiss (1975)
This is still what I judge all live albums and music by. I first heard this when I was maybe eight, and would play drums and guitar along to it (badly) after that. It’s never left me, and Ace Frehley’s second solo on “Duece” is still the stuff of legend.
In Through The Out Door by Led Zeppelin (1978)
Another weirdo pick. Most Zeppelin fans are whatever about this record, but I love it. Jimmy Page was deep into drug addiction here, and John Paul Jones saved the day. That shows in the weird vibe and varied songs, but I still revisit this often.
The Prize by Hannah Wicklund (2024)
A brand new album by a young artist in her 20s. It’s been a long time since an album affected me like this one has. Had the pleasure of interviewing her, and she’s one that will stick around. Just listen to “Witness,” and you’ll catch the vibe.
Stoner Witch by the Melvins (1994)
Most “true” Melvins fans will be bothered I didn’t choose something more obtuse. Whatever. I love it when Buzz Osborne gets weird, but this major label album rules, and the riff from “Revolve” still chugs.
Ace Frehley by Ace Frehley (1978)
Ace with Kiss rules, but he’s better as a solo artist. The ‘78 debut smokes and songs like “Rip it Out” and “Snow Blind” prove it. Ace was never better than this, as his focus and licks were spot on.
The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses (1989)
There is no Brit-pop without this album. John Squire is a man among boys and a true low-key guitar hero for the ages. Few look cooler, riff harder, chime louder, and solo more melodically than John.
Zeitgeist by The Smashing Pumpkins (2007)
The best Smashing Pumpkins album. Period. No one wants to hear that, let alone admit it, but I’ll be damned if it’s not true. This is my favorite era of the band, and it’s not even close. I love it all, but this is it for me.
Maebe by Maebe (2020)
This album dropped over the pandemic. I remember finding it around that time and having my mind blown. The world of post, math, and instrumental rock was reopened for me. But there are also hints of grunge and shred that send this sucker home. Listen to “Crossing the I’s and dotting the T’s.” Prepare to pick your jaw up off the floor. It seethes like creeping death.
Abbey Road by The Beatles (1969)
My favorite ever album. Nothing will ever come close. Talk about pure perfection—this is it. I am not in “The Beatles are the best ever camp.” That said, I’d be dumb to say they didn’t make a damn perfect album here. I’ll die on that hill… while listening to this record. A happy death it shall be.
A Love Supreme by John Coltrane (1964)
I’d be remiss if I didn’t turn this list to 11 and mention this. I used to listen to much more jazz… not sure what happened. This record blew my mind because it builds sonically and creates perpetual explosive moments. No one, and I mean no one, did that better than Coltrane. Oh, and Elvin Jones is a monster on drums.
Peter Thomas Webb – Contributing Writer
# 10 – Bruce Springsteen – Nebraska
I used to do a lot of driving around Canada and the US and this stripped-down acoustic album by the Boss always made for great late-night highway listening.
# 9 – Rush – 2112
This was my first experience of “high-concept” rock back in high school. The album also rocked and has remained one of my favorites ever since.
# 8 – Hank Williams – The Very Best of Hank Williams
Hank was the ultimate honkytonk performer, many of whose songs and lyrical subjects became part of the foundations of early rock and roll.
# 7 – Black Sabbath – Paranoid
This album scared me the first time I heard it as a young kid. The mail-order copy I received from Columbia House way back when still gets regular rotation at my place.
# 6 – Pink Floyd – Meddle
This underdog among Floyd’s albums of the 1970s has always intrigued me as the transition between Floyd’s early wig-outs and the conceptual albums that came later.
# 5 – The Who – Who’s Next
The album that for me defines the perfect combination of great songwriting, next-level musicianship, and the ultimate rock and roll energy.
# 4 – The Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers
I still have a copy on vinyl with a functioning zipper on the cover, which has somehow survived parties, kids, and thousands of plays over the years.
# 3 – Miles Davis – Kind of Blue
This was the first album that made me truly appreciate jazz. I’ve played it more times than I can count, usually late at night.
# 2 – Neil Young – Decade
A family member gave me this three-album compilation when I was a teenager, and it has stayed in my collection ever since.
# 1 – The Beatles – Rubber Soul
My parents were Beatles fans and this album has remained a favorite throughout my entire life.
Janey Roberts – Staff Writer
# 10 – Court And Spark – Joni Mitchell
# 9 – Rocket To Russia – The Ramones
# 8 – Meddle – Pink Floyd
# 7 – Sticky Fingers – The Rolling Stones
# 6 – Easter Everywhere- The 13th Floor Elevators
# 5 – Led Zeppelin II – Led Zeppelin
# 4 – Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal – Lou Reed
# 3 – The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society – Kinks
# 2 – Revolver – The Beatles
# 1 – Rubber Soul – The Beatles
Thomas Neokleous – Staff Writer
# 10 – Ratcity In Blue – Good Rats
# 9 – Wired – Jeff Beck
# 8 – AJA – Steely Dan
# 7 – Metal Fatigue – Alan Holdsworth
# 6 – Machine Head – Deep Purple
# 5 – Brain Salad Surgery – ELP
# 4 – Yessongs – Yes
# 3 – A Farewell To Kings – Rush
# 2 – Shiek Yerbouti – Frank Zappa
# 1 – Led Zeppelin IV – Led Zeppelin
Skip Anderson – Staff Writer
# 10 – Brothers And Sisters – The Allman Brothers Band
# 9 – Where We All Belong – The Marshall Tucker Band
# 8 – Yellow Fever – Hot Tuna
# 7 – Hasten Down The Wind – Linda Ronstadt
# 6 – Million Mile Reflections- Charlie Daniels Band.
# 5 – Foghat Live – Foghat
# 4 – Surrealistic Pillow – Jefferson Airplane
# 3 – One More from the Road- Lynyrd Skynyrd
# 2 – Eat A Peach– The Allman Brothers Band
# 1 – At Fillmore East – The Allman Brothers Band
