Top 5 Music Albums That Changed the Course of Music History
Music history is filled with many legendary albums. Some have inspired people to pick up instruments, while others have inspired people to get out of the various dark phases of life they were in but some albums have gone even a few steps further than this and have completely changed the course of music history. Here are five of them which arguably changed the course of music history:
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles
Released in 1967, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is often considered one of the greatest albums ever made. This album introduced the concept of a ‘concept album’ which is a record where all tracks contribute to a central theme or narrative rather than functioning as disconnected songs. The albums also introduced experimental recording techniques, orchestral arrangements and deep narratives.
It also was one of the cornerstone albums that defined the ‘psychedelic rock’ and the ‘hippie movement’ of the 1960s. Songs like ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ and ‘A Day in the Life’ pushed the limits of what popular music could achieve. The Beatles also changed their perception with this album, transitioning from a poppy boy band to a full on psychedelic rock band.
No other album defined pop culture more than the King of Pop’s highest grossing album, ‘Thriller’. The album was released in 1982, and became the best-selling album of all time and turned Michael Jackson into a global phenomenon. The album had a unique ability to blend pop, rock, funk, R&B, and dance music into one polished package. Tracks like Billie Jean, Beat It, and Thriller became worldwide sensations. The album also showcased the importance of a good music video and the Thriller short film completely changed visual storytelling in music and helped MTV become a cultural powerhouse.
In the late 1980s to early 1990s hair metal dominated music and people were getting sick of its repetitive formula and then came Nirvana with its hard hitting alternative rock commonly referred to as ‘grunge’. Kurt Cobain’s raw vocals on songs like ‘In Bloom’ and ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ spoke to the youth and was very popular to the masses who were tired with overproduced music.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles
Released in 1967, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is often considered one of the greatest albums ever made. This album introduced the concept of a ‘concept album’ which is a record where all tracks contribute to a central theme or narrative rather than functioning as disconnected songs. The albums also introduced experimental recording techniques, orchestral arrangements and deep narratives.
It also was one of the cornerstone albums that defined the ‘psychedelic rock’ and the ‘hippie movement’ of the 1960s. Songs like ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ and ‘A Day in the Life’ pushed the limits of what popular music could achieve. The Beatles also changed their perception with this album, transitioning from a poppy boy band to a full on psychedelic rock band.
Thriller – Michael Jackson
No other album defined pop culture more than the King of Pop’s highest grossing album, ‘Thriller’. The album was released in 1982, and became the best-selling album of all time and turned Michael Jackson into a global phenomenon. The album had a unique ability to blend pop, rock, funk, R&B, and dance music into one polished package. Tracks like Billie Jean, Beat It, and Thriller became worldwide sensations. The album also showcased the importance of a good music video and the Thriller short film completely changed visual storytelling in music and helped MTV become a cultural powerhouse.
Nevermind – Nirvana
In the late 1980s to early 1990s hair metal dominated music and people were getting sick of its repetitive formula and then came Nirvana with its hard hitting alternative rock commonly referred to as ‘grunge’. Kurt Cobain’s raw vocals on songs like ‘In Bloom’ and ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ spoke to the youth and was very popular to the masses who were tired with overproduced music.
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