Classic Albums You Should Own: Part Two

There's just some albums that all rock fans should have in their collections or at the very least have listened to at some point. The albums that changed music or to paraphrase the Scorpions, just plain rocked you like a hurricane. No doubt this list could go on forever and everyone has their own opinions. You'll see some that are standard for a list of this type and some maybe not so. But this is just my list of essentials. Enjoy.

Please note: I in no way claim this to be the definitive list of classic albums so just calm down, yer vultures!

Ted Nugent - Cat Scratch Fever (1977)

The gun toting, deer hunting rock star Ted Nugent produced one of his greatest albums in 77 singing mostly about sex, typified by 'Wang Dang Sweet Poontang'. The title track has been covered by just about everyone from Motorhead to Pantera and remains one of Nugent's classics while other gems 'Death By Misadventure', 'Live It Up' and 'Home Bound' see the Motor City Madman in fine form. He may be crazy but he writes some rockin' tunes and 'Cat Scratch Fever' is an excellent hard rock album.

The Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols (1977)

Never has an album or band been so brazen in rejecting everything the world stands for. This is the one that realistically started it all for British Punk and the reverberations can still be heard around the globe today. 'Never Mind...' is as raw as it gets and the controversial nature of 'Anarchy In The UK' and 'God Save The Queen' sent shivers down the spine of Thatcher's Britain. The whole thing spits with vitriol and disgust with a snarling Johnny Rotten leading the way. There will never be anything like it again.

Van Halen - Van Halen (1978)

This album cracked and sizzled when it hit the airwaves and is held in high esteem as one of the debut albums of all time. Who can forget Eddie's technical showpiece 'Eruption', the outstanding lead off track 'Runnin With The Devil', those opening riffs to 'Ain't Talkin Bout Love' and Diamond Dave's outrageous charisma. 'Van Halen' was a hard, fast album with just enough pop to make the big crossover. It was without doubt ahead of it's time musically and technically.

Rose Tattoo - Rose Tattoo (1978)

Inspired Guns N Roses and LA Guns so that can't be a bad thing. The Tatts are an Australian rock n roll institution as much as AC/DC and I'd argue they may even be ahead of AC/DC for most fans at home. With the snarling Angry Anderson leading the way the 78 self titled debut is certainly an Aussie staple with 'Rock N Roll Outlaw', 'Bad Boy For Love', 'One For The Boys' and 'Nice Boys' all dominant Aussie rockers.

Judas Priest - British Steel (1980)

Machine gun rhythms and explosive vigour are the order of the day on the 'Priest classic 'British Steel'. The sure fire party starter 'Living After Midnight', though simplistic compared to other material, is simply a fantastic song. Opener 'Rapid Fire' is exactly that. 'Breaking The Law' rollicks and 'United' is a call to arms. But the whole album is noteworthy for being a straight out metal album that does away with the blues oriented metal of the past becoming somewhat of a template.

Motorhead - Ace of Spades (1980)

On the back of the title track this album has become one of the greatest metal albums ever. It's seen as a hugely influential precursor to thrash and speed metal but put simply 'Ace of Spades' is just a hard rock classic. It's even listed in the book, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. This album contains one Motorhead anthem after another; 'Ace of Spades' 'We Are The Road Crew', 'Live To Win', 'Fast and Loose', and is best played loud with a glass of whisky (yes, a whole glass!).

AC/DC - Back in Black (1980)

It's not Bon Scott but it's hard to argue with an album that has gone on to sell millions of copies and become one of the greatest blues based rock albums ever. There's no shortage of anthems on 'Back In Black' with the title track obviously, 'You Shook Me All Night Long', 'Shoot To Thrill', 'Rock N Roll Ain't Noise Pollution' and 'Hells Bells'. Maybe it had something to do with the fact Bon had been rehearsing this album before he died, but certainly this is the best album of the Brian Johnson era.

Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz (1980/81)

After leaving Black Sabbath and being stuck in a haze of booze and drugs Ozzy needed to prove to himself and the world that he still had what it takes. Enter the great Randy Rhoads. Once they started collaborating they took on a nothing to lose attitude and delivered one of the strongest rock albums of the 80s let alone Ozzy's career. No fewer than five tracks are considered some of the Ozz-man's best; 'I Don't Know', the Sabbath like 'Mr Crowley', the controversial 'Suicide Solution', the tribute to former colleagues 'Goodbye to Romance' and of course 'Crazy Train'. An excellent album of hard rock/metal.

Motley Crue - Too Fast For Love (originally 1981, re-released 1982)

This is the one that started it all on the Sunset Strip during the 80s. Motley Crue were the reference point for every copy cat band that followed and still are today for the new wave of sleaze metal. Combining heavy metal with glam rock and punk, 'Too Fast For Love' is a raw and dirty offering without all the shine and glitz the genre became known for later on. Maybe because it didn't go platinum right away this album doesn't tend to be grouped with the usual all time classics. But there's no denying the influence and impact this album had.

Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast (1982)

All of Maiden's albums could be considered essential listening but for the sake of this list I'll go for the subject of one of those fantastic Classic Albums programs, 'The Number of the Beast'. Paul Di'Anno had left the band and so Bruce Dickinson would take up the mantle and become one of the bands signature characteristics. Add to that the strength of the haunting title track and mega anthem 'Run To The Hills', plus 'Children of the Damned', 'The Prisoner', the epic 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' and you have a classic metal album my friend.

Dio - Holy Diver (1983)

A classic staple of heavy metal, 'Holy Diver' is probably Dio's best work. Like Ozzy, departing Black Sabbath didn't slow Ronnie James Dio down one bit and it's thought that on 'Holy Diver' he sounds somewhat more inspired here than on his previous Sabbath albums in 1980 and 81. The strangely upbeat 'Rainbow In The Dark' was an MTV favourite and anthems 'Holy Diver', 'Stand Up And Shout', 'Invisible' and 'Don't' Talk To Strangers' are all significant highlights.

Van Halen - 1984 (1984)

They really hit their straps with this album and it's a shame it happened to be the last of the Roth era (until now maybe?). 'Jump' of course was huge with its synth-pop style but the real stars were hard and heavy 'Hot For Teacher' and 'Panama'. The bad boy boogie of 'Top Jimmy' and the sleazy 'Drop Dead Legs' provide some great contrasts to the other synth-pop offering 'I'll Wait' and the fantastic bone crunchers 'Girl Gone Bad' and 'House of Pain'.

Metallica - Master of Puppets (1986)

'Master of Puppets' was the first thrash metal album to make it into the Top 40 of the Billboard 200 Chart and one listen proves why. The combination of aggressive speed metal and hard driven rhythm ensure this album is highly rated. It's also the last album to feature original bassist Cliff Burton before he passed away after the band's bus crashed on tour.

Def Leppard - Hysteria (1987)

Say what you like about 'Hysteria' but you can't really argue with 20 million record sales and seven hit singles! For those reasons and the fact the material is annoyingly catchy and intricately structured, this album makes it onto the list ahead of other great albums 'Pyromania' and 'High N Dry'. In the studio this album changed the face of recording and production techniques as Mutt Lange used all his tricks to make 'Hysteria' a multi layered monster of huge proportions.

Whitesnake - 1987 (1987)

Okay, okay. Hardcore Whitesnake fans are going to point you in the direction of the earlier blues heavy stuff. And yeah, I agree they have a point. But like 'Hysteria' it's hard to ignore the phenomenal success of the '1987' album. Two reworked classics really kicked things off for this record, 'Cryin In The Rain' and 'Here I Go Again', but 'Still of the Night', 'Bad Boys' 'Is This Love' and 'Give Me All Your Love Tonight' surely helped to put it over the edge. Sure it had all the sheen and gloss of American Hair Metal that purists weren't so keen on, but having reached 8 times platinum in the US and going on to boost sales of its predecessor 'Slide It In' (without the hair metal touch), it's tough to overlook.

Guns N Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987)

What can you say about this album that hasn't already been said? 'Appetite For Destruction' had such a huge impact at a time when it was easy for bands with big hair and some catchy tunes to make a successful album. The difference with Guns' was their combined raw punk edge with the influences of big 70s rock n roll, most notably Aerosmith. Axl's unpredictable dynamic and unique vocals capped off what was to be the band's most harmonious era and recording. Greats 'Sweet Child O' Mine', 'Welcome to the Jungle' and 'Paradise City' are still timeless and just as vital as in 1987 while the swathe of other tracks, 'My Michelle', 'Mr Brownstone', 'It's So Easy' et al, really bring home one of the greatest albums ever recorded.

Metallica - Metallica (Black Album) (1991)

True, Metallica have some amazing albums to choose from. But this is the one that broke the mould for the band and showed a dynamic song writing side not expected from these thrash kings. This was a huge seller and spawned some of Metallica's biggest and best songs; 'Enter Sandman', 'The Unforgiven', 'Sad But True', Nothing Else Matters' and 'Wherever I May Roam'. All true heavyweights I'm sure you'll agree. It's wasn't a complete abandonment of their previous work like many would have you believe but it was an adjustment to the way Metallica usually constructed songs. A move I think they pulled off amazingly well.

Ozzy Osbourne - No More Tears (1991)

Not many people get the chance to redeem themselves twice. But that's exactly what Ozzy did on 91's 'No More Tears'. After trying to strangle wife Sharon in a drunken rage during 89 before rehab and reconciling, then enduring another lawsuit, Ozzy needed to come back in an even bigger way than 'Blizzard of Ozz'. Again he managed to surpass expectations with an album packed with memorable songs in arguably his best work since the early 80s. 'No More Tears' was a real collaborative effort and it's all the stronger for it's multiple influences and styles.

Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)

I guess this is where I should mention 'Nevermind'. Admittedly I poke fun at Grunge and all it stands for and I even hold a little resentment toward the genre for killing off 80s metal. But I can acknowledge that 'Nevermind' was one of those revered "change the face of music" albums and forgetting all the Grunge hyperbole, as a standalone recording this is very, very good. There, I said it.