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Cratewise Editorial

Essential Classic Rock on Vinyl

25 records built for the format. Classic rock and vinyl grew up together — the spines you see in every serious collector's shelf.

From Dexx

Classic rock and vinyl grew up together. These are the albums that defined what a record collection means — the spines you see in every serious collector's shelf. You probably own some of these already. Own all of them.

These aren't "greatest of all time" lists — those are arguments. These are starting points. 25 records that give you the vocabulary to go deeper. Every album is on vinyl, in print, and under $40. Most are under $30.

Pick a genre. Start digging.

— Dexx

25

Albums

25

Artists

3

Genres

1965–1985

Span

By Genre

By Decade

Top Labels

The List

1Led Zeppelin — Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin—Led Zeppelin IV
19712Pink Floyd — The Dark Side of the Moon
Pink Floyd—The Dark Side of the Moon
19733The Beatles — Abbey Road
The Beatles—Abbey Road
19694The Rolling Stones — Exile on Main St.
The Rolling Stones—Exile on Main St.
19725The Who — Who's Next
The Who—Who's Next
19716Jimi Hendrix — Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix—Electric Ladyland
19687David Bowie — The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie—The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
19728Fleetwood Mac — Rumours
Fleetwood Mac—Rumours
19779Bob Dylan — Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan—Highway 61 Revisited
196510Cream — Disraeli Gears
Cream—Disraeli Gears
196711The Doors — The Doors
The Doors—The Doors
196712Neil Young — After the Gold Rush
Neil Young—After the Gold Rush
197013Bruce Springsteen — Born to Run
Bruce Springsteen—Born to Run
197514AC/DC — Back in Black
AC/DC—Back in Black
198015Eagles — Hotel California
Eagles—Hotel California
197616Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers — Damn the Torpedoes
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers—Damn the Torpedoes
197917Elton John — Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John—Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
197318Creedence Clearwater Revival — Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival—Cosmo's Factory
197019The Allman Brothers Band — At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band—At Fillmore East
197120Dire Straits — Brothers in Arms
Dire Straits—Brothers in Arms
198521Black Sabbath — Paranoid
Black Sabbath—Paranoid
197022Lynyrd Skynyrd — Pronounced Lĕh-nérd Skin-nérd
Lynyrd Skynyrd—Pronounced Lĕh-nérd Skin-nérd
197323Simon & Garfunkel — Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel—Bridge Over Troubled Water
197024Steely Dan — Aja
Steely Dan—Aja
197725Funkadelic — Maggot Brain
Funkadelic—Maggot Brain
1971

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