Music
Classic Albums
Series on the best rock albums ever
A series celebrating the classic albums that many of us have tucked away on vinyl at the back of a wardrobe. We say get them out, dust them off and give them a spin! This series will remind you why you really, really should. Like cornflakes, you may have forgotten how good they are...
Def Leppard
Hysteria
Formed in Sheffield in the 70s, Def Leppard were the architects of a new wave of British heavy metal music. Discover the story of the creation of their fourth album, Hysteria.
Judas Priest
British Steel
It's home to Living After Midnight, Breaking the Law and Metal Gods. Lead singer Rob Halford talks about Judas Priest's rise to fame with the 1980s album British Steel.
Sex Pistols
Never Mind The Bollocks
Never Mind The Bollocks rewrote the rock'n'roll rule book and defined the punk sound of 1977. The impact of Sex Pistols continues to be felt even today. God save Johnny Rotten!
Catch the series at 9pm every weeknight on Sky Arts 1
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
U2 - Joshua Tree - watch video >>
Deep Purple - Machine Head - watch video >>
Phil Collins - Face Value - watch video >>
The Who - Who's Next - watch video >>
Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours - watch video >>
Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks - watch video >>
Bob Marley and the Wailers - Catch a Fire
Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland
Meatloaf - Bat Out of Hell
Band - Band
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life
Metallica - Metallica
Steely Dan - AJA
Def Leppard - Hysteria
Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast
Lou Reed - Transformer
Paul Simon - Graceland
Grateful Dead - Anthem to Beauty
Judas Priest - British Steel watch video >>
Search for additional broadcast times in our TV Guide
Def Leppard
Hysteria
Formed in Sheffield in the 70s, Def Leppard were the architects of a new wave of British heavy metal music. Discover the story of the creation of their fourth album, Hysteria.
Judas Priest
British Steel
It's home to Living After Midnight, Breaking the Law and Metal Gods. Lead singer Rob Halford talks about Judas Priest's rise to fame with the 1980s album British Steel.
Sex Pistols
Never Mind The Bollocks
Never Mind The Bollocks rewrote the rock'n'roll rule book and defined the punk sound of 1977. The impact of Sex Pistols continues to be felt even today. God save Johnny Rotten!
Catch the series at 9pm every weeknight on Sky Arts 1
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
U2 - Joshua Tree - watch video >>
Deep Purple - Machine Head - watch video >>
Phil Collins - Face Value - watch video >>
The Who - Who's Next - watch video >>
Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours - watch video >>
Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks - watch video >>
Bob Marley and the Wailers - Catch a Fire
Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland
Meatloaf - Bat Out of Hell
Band - Band
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life
Metallica - Metallica
Steely Dan - AJA
Def Leppard - Hysteria
Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast
Lou Reed - Transformer
Paul Simon - Graceland
Grateful Dead - Anthem to Beauty
Judas Priest - British Steel watch video >>
Search for additional broadcast times in our TV Guide
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Latest comments
Sarah Palmer
Sat 24 January 2009, 20:25
Will you be repeating Classic Albums - The Band at any time soon??
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c macleod
Sun 25 January 2009, 09:11
will you be repeating classic albums-The Band ?
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Soulman
Wed 4 February 2009, 15:43
Hey, will you be showing Queen’s “Classic Albums” where they profile their “A Night @ The Opera” album?.
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Mandy Anne Cameron
Wed 8 April 2009, 17:22
Very disappointed that you haven’t included any of Hawkwinds classic psychadelic early output....especially ‘Space Ritual’. This band have always been true innovators and are experimental in the real sense of the word...they’re still going strong and packing them in. The electronic/trance/dance scene owes much to Hawkwind’s brand of space-rock so c’mon guys use your heads when you do the next series and give this great band some credit. Djmandythe witch.
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Rebekah Maidment
Thu 9 April 2009, 19:46
I’m not implying that ‘classic albums’ should be all about ‘rock music’, but Phil Collins ‘Face Value’ are you serious? Whoever does the research for this programme seriously needs psychiatric help.
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John Cave
Sun 12 April 2009, 16:42
What no Pet Sounds.
What kind of programme is this?
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Michael Welsh
Mon 13 April 2009, 13:54
I know people have personal favourites and so on. But no Led Zeppelin anywhere. That is ridiculous they’ve sold more albums than anyone on your list probably,and if your talkin about influential zeppelin must surely figure in that equation aswell!
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Glen Blackwell
Mon 13 April 2009, 15:44
I’d say ‘Suede’ by Suede. At least from a British point of view. It kickstarted the move away from Grunge music. Radiohead, Blur and Oasis all great in their way but Suede’s debut was the beginning of a major shift in British music.
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Colin
Mon 13 April 2009, 21:51
What about Disintegration by The Cure?
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Laura
Wed 15 April 2009, 09:59
I’m gutted I’ve just caught the end of Classic Albums Fleetwood Mac again. And I’ll be at work this afternoon when it’s on again. Will it be repeated again?? I don’t have Sky+ :(
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winstonlegthigh
Wed 15 April 2009, 16:27
Just because its called classic albums doesn’t mean that its done in order of importance or that the insinuation is that every album left off the list is somehow not classic, it just means the ones reviewed ARE classics in their own right. One thing has nothing to do with the other.
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paul
Fri 17 April 2009, 22:11
A nods as good as a wink to a blind horse the faces enoegh said
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Graham K
Mon 20 April 2009, 20:14
Its been great,i hope you keep putting this kind of stuff on sky arts 1
cheers
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James R
Mon 27 April 2009, 22:47
Would anyone at Sky Arts ever bother to answer all our questions? Please?
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Dick
Sun 3 May 2009, 10:14
T.Rex - Electric Warrior
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ron
Mon 4 May 2009, 21:06
achtung baby?
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jamie scruff
Wed 13 May 2009, 09:24
t.rex is a defo idea
same with led zep
i cant believe theres none
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Mark
Tue 22 September 2009, 07:33
Yawn -the usual middle aged white rock fans record collection..Some great records there sure,but come on Judas Priest???!!! Public Enemys “ Nation Of Millions” would have outflanked most of these “Rock” albums on pure rock n roll-abilty!! and no Led Zeppelin...! No Bitches Brew..!,No Endtroducing..! it should have been called “Classic White Rockfan Albums”.
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Desperado
Tue 22 September 2009, 07:35
Hotel California?
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Trun
Tue 22 September 2009, 11:04
Jethro Tull?
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Frank Patterson
Thu 1 October 2009, 17:46
Whatever happened to the Moodie Blues?
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Wardy
Thu 1 October 2009, 19:49
Yow’v all missed the point. Heavy rock in its truest form (not warmed over blues) began with Birmingham’s magnificent Black Sabbath. Paranoid?
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Kev
Thu 1 October 2009, 19:57
Having read Mark’s comment I’ve felt the urge to complain that the recent MOBO AWARDS once again completely ignored the Wurzels. Clearly any attempt to narrow selection parameters in order to make meaningful comparisons is pointless.
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STEVE MOON
Fri 2 October 2009, 07:14
surely the series has missed a great opportunity to celebrate one of the best ever albums of all time ELECTRIC WARRIOR by the superb and much over looked by the music industry and BRIT AWARDS which is T.REX
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GARY MILLS
Fri 2 October 2009, 08:41
FRANK ZAPPA. SECOND TO NONE.
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Adam Robertson aka Robbo
Fri 2 October 2009, 11:39
simple minds alive and kicking
depeche mode violator
as someone else quoted who does this research must look in there own collection
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Nick
Fri 2 October 2009, 11:41
Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division
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Evel Knievel
Fri 2 October 2009, 13:42
I would just like to say that there is no such thing as a classic band or album. If you take a look at any album from such pretend greats,mostly hyped by fake radio or tv or so called music critics who have not got a clue about music, you will be lucky to find more than 5 songs on the album you like. When you add up all their back catalogue you’ll probably find 12 songs in total that you still listen to.It’s a lot of nonsense this classic,legend or god like status. Only sad lonely, gullible individuals believe that their is such a thing as classic or legend status.
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Nobby
Thu 8 October 2009, 20:01
Has Evel Knievel ever heard a Beatles album?
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Dave
Fri 9 October 2009, 23:08
No Sabbath No Stones No Hope No Dope must be a new labour thing
mr evel knievel yes there are classic albums so stay sad and lonely
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frank the rabbit
Thu 15 October 2009, 20:08
One album conspicuous by it’s absence: Tubular Bells
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Digit09
Thu 29 October 2009, 23:29
Gary Numan?
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Dick
Mon 16 November 2009, 16:58
Oasis - What’s The Story Morning Glory
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Andy H
Thu 7 January 2010, 21:04
ACDC Back in Black - love em or not still being regularly sampled by todays tv/film scores and still selling by the bucket load
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