The golden age of rock music brought with it some of the finest vinyl albums ever pressed, and if you’re a vinyl collector, you owe it to yourself to check out some of the classics. When out shopping for new records or vinyl record accessories, take the time to track some of these timeless treasures down.
Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin had a hit on their hands with their self-titled first album, and their follow-up album brought fans more of the hard rock blues sound that had made them a success; however, not content to rehash the same thing, Zeppelin began incorporating new sounds into their repertoire. While tracks like “Whole Lotta Love” and “What Is and What Should Never Be” carried much of the blues-tinged rock sounds of the original album, tracks like “Ramble On” and “Thank You” found the band exploring ballads and folk tunes–sounds that would come to dominate their polarizing third album a year later.
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
In 1975, Pink Floyd unleashed “Wish You Were Here” upon the world. With only five tracks, psychedelic rockers Pink Floyd created a tapestry of sound that would go on to influence legions of progressive and art rock groups. Two massive tracks bookend the album and take listeners on a synthesizer and guitar filled journey across an incomparable musical soundscape. The rest of the album is filled out with the classic tracks, “Welcome to the Machine,” “Have a Cigar,” and “Wish You Were Here,” all of which still receive substantial radio play.
Rush – Moving Pictures
Moving Pictures, released in 1981, saw Rush at the pinnacle of creativity. While not getting overly pretentious, the band created an unforgettable blend of hard rock riffing and prog-rock stylings that cemented them as one of the greatest rock bands of all time. The incredible song writing and musicianship found on Moving Pictures would go on to influence thousands of budding musicians. Fan favorites such as “Tom Sawyer” and “Limelight” are rock staples to this day..