Guitar Worlds 100 Greatest Guitar Albums

[likeitloud]

The Readers Choice, 100 Greatest Guitar Albums Of All Time;

1. Led Zeppelin IV--Led Zeppelin
2. Appetite For Destruction--G N' R
3. Are You Experienced--Hendrix
4. Master Of Puppets--Metallica
5. Dark Side Of The Moon--Pink Floyd
6. Paranoid--Black Sabbath
7. Van Halen--Van Halen
8. Nevermind--Nirvana
9. Physical Graffiti--Led Zeppelin
10. Revolver--Beatles
11. Cowboys From Hell--Pantera
12. And Justice For All--Metallica
13. Blizzard Of Oz--Ozzy
14. Aenima--Tool
15. Ten--Pearl Jam
16. The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble--Stevie Ray Vaughan
17. The Number Of The Beast--Iron Maiden
18. Blood Sugar Sex Magik--Red Hot Chili Peppers
19. Exile On Main Street--Rolling Stones
20. Surfing With The Alien--Joe Satriani
21. Rage Against The Machine--Rage Against The Machine
22. Wish You Were Here--Pink Floyd
23. Who's Next--The Who
24. Rising Force--Yngwie Malmsteen
25. Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?--Megadeth
26. Alive!--Kiss
27. Moving Pictures--Rush
28. OK Computer--Radiohead
29. Reign In Blood--Slayer
30. British Steel--Judas Priest
31. Passion And Warfare--Steve Vai
32. Mafia--Black Label Society
33. Toxicity--System Of A Down
34. The Joshua Tree--U2
35. 1984--Van Halen
36. Vulgar Display Of Power--Pantera
37. Elephant--White Stripes
38. Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness--The Smashing Pumpkins
39. Disraeli Gears--Cream
40. Electric Ladyland--Hendrix
41. Highway 61 Revisited--Bob Dylan
42. Follow The Leader--Korn
43. Pronounced LehNerd Skin-nerd--Lynyrd Skynyrd
44. Hate Crew Deathroll--Children Of Bodom
45. Badmotorfinger--Soundgarden
46. Metallica--Metallica(Black Album)
47. A Night At The Opera--Queen
48. Boston--Boston
49. Ashes Of The Wake--Lamb Of God
50. The Doors--The Doors
51. Machine Head--Deep Purple
52. Ascendency--Trivium
53. Red--King Crimson
54. Ghost Reveries--Opeth
55. De-Loused In The Comatorium--The Mars Volta
56. Toys In The Attic--Areosmith
57. Diary Of A Madman--Ozzy
58. At The Fillmore East--The Allman Brothers Band
59. Slipnot--Slipnot
60. Destroyer--Kiss
61. Dirt--Alice In Chains
62. Layla And Assorted Love Songs--Derek And The Dominos(Clapton)
63. City Of Evil--Avenged Sevenfold
64. Strictly Commercial; The Best Of Frank Zappa--Frank Zappa
65. The Wall--Pink Floyd
66. Enema Of The State--Blink-182
67. Close To The Edge--Yes
68. Highway To Hell--AC/DC
69. Through The Eyes Of Maddness--Coheed And Cambria
70. London Calling--The Clash
71. Rust Never Sleeps--Neil Young And Crazy Horse
72. Abraxas--Santana
73. Purple--Stone Temple Pilots
74. American Idiot--Green Day
75. Goo--Sonic Youth
76. Pinkerton--Weezer
77. Sing The Sorrow--AFI
78. Chaosphere--Meshuggah
79. Ah Via Musicom--Eric Johnson
80. Clayman--In Flames
81. Shout At The Devil--Motley Crue
82. Human--Death
83. Led Zeppelin II--Led Zeppelin
84. The Complete Recordings--Robert Johnson
85. Cat Scratch Fever--Ted Nugent
86. The War Within--Shadows Fall
87. Blow By Blow--Jeff Beck
88. This Godless Endeavor--Nevermore
89. Eliminator--ZZ Top
90. Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton--John Mayall
91. 10,000 Years--Tool
92. Extreme II; Pornograffitti--Extreme
93. Black Metal--Venom
94. Relationship Of Command--At The Drive-In
95. Scenes Of A Memory--Dream Theater
96. Bridge Of Sighs--Robin Trower
97. Love At First Sting--Scorpions
98. No More Tears--Ozzy
99. Band Of Gypsys--Hendrix
100.The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion--Black Crowes
Wheew, I decided to do this all at once, or it would'nt get done. GW polls are
always voted on by there readers/players who understand the instrument. They
do 1 or 2 every couple years so newer subscribers have a say. There are always
around 10 albums that are always on this list (and always will be) but this
years covers alot of ground. More Blackmore, Clapton, Tipton, EVH is always
a good thing, but hey, thats just me.

[nobody]

Funny, the album I always think of whe I think guitars would be Television's debut...but its more subtle and laid back than what made the list. Absolute metal prejudice on there...reader taste certainly played a very large role.

[likeitloud]

Agreed 100%. GW has always been about shredders. The reason, according to there
editor, is you need to know what they know, to play basic guitar. The list is VERY
long, and I'm done with lists for awhile. But yeah, you won't find james taylor, "you've
got a friend" tabs in GW. If that is what your into cool. GW readers are into this months
steve morse lesson about phrasing/developing soloing ideas. I mean there tech advisor
is EVH's touring guitar tech, so you know were there heads are at. Searing solo's,
chugging rhythm's, and thats about it. Except for ozzy's stuff, who cares about lyrics.

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[ForeverAutumn]

Dream Theater should be much higher up the list in my view. But I'm sure that comes as no surprise to anyone here.

[likeitloud]

John Petrucci is one of the great players of the last 10-15 years IMO, and very
underrated, and has produced much of DT stuff. That has to be a huge undertaking
with whats going on with their sound. Plus his tone is killer. I was never into prog,
until Images and Words, I have many DT discs, and they always surprise me. For
the bands in the first 50, they should be there, and move one to the last 50(Smashing
Pumpkins is my choice).

[bobsticks]

"GW polls are always voted on by their readers/players who understand the instrument."
Evidently not.
Obviously, as stated, most of the submissions were based on an inclination toward technique. That shouldn't be surprising given the demographic of the readers of GW. In a differing vein, ZZ Top, The Mars Volta, and Radiohead each have some pithy offerings.
It does, however, sadden me that with the vast library of recorded music on this planet that anyone could nominate Blink-182. If one isn't capable of mastering this catalog by the fourth month of lessons, one should put down the instrument forever...

[N. Abstentia]

59. Slipnot--Slipnot

:shocked:

[likeitloud]

"GW polls are always voted on by their readers/players who understand the instrument."
Evidently not.
Obviously, as stated, most of the submissions were based on an inclination toward technique. That shouldn't be surprising given the demographic of the readers of GW. In a differing vein, ZZ Top, The Mars Volta, and Radiohead each have some pithy offerings.
It does, however, sadden me that with the vast library of recorded music on this planet that anyone could nominate Blink-182. If one isn't capable of mastering this catalog by the fourth month of lessons, one should put down the instrument forever...

Yeeeah, whatever, as usual, your reading to much into it. Lets not get into a bunch
of bullsh#@t about what band sucks, and who dosn't. The GW subscriber list ain't
that long, and it's sure dosn't fly of the shelves at my bookstore, You get the rag
because you play in some shape or form, and if you play just a little, you atleast
understand whats being played thru your speakers, if you have that, you know
what albums you like with the guitar at the forefront of said album/song. If a couple
thousand clowns like Blink-182, so what, they got enough votes, and thats that.
GW readers are saying, Hey, these lp's have some cool guitar work on them,
check'em out.

[likeitloud]

59. Slipnot--Slipnot

:shocked:

Should they be higher/lower/or not even on the list. Those guys are a little
over the top, even for me.

[bobsticks]

My post was brief and fairly specific. As such, I can see how you might think I was downgrading the list or even flaming. Not so. I actually own at least fourty, maybe fifty of those discs--like some, love some. At the same time a list was posted, and presumably inviting comment. Also, you'll forgive me if I don't remember a negative exchange between us that would establish a history that "as usual" I'm reading too much into something. Either way if you want to stick with positives I'm all for that.
Yer never gonna hear me say anything bad about PF or Stevie or Jimi or Dimebag. I thought the inclusion of U2 was interesting; not always considered a "guitar" band. I'm glad to see people still remember Rising Force. While I no longer play exclusively in that style I still revisit that album often. The amount of emotional playing within a complex structure on that album was truly the apex of his work. And its definetly an album best played loud...

[likeitloud]

My post was brief and fairly specific. As such, I can see how you might think I was downgrading the list or even flaming. Not so. I actually own at least fourty, maybe fifty of those discs--like some, love some. At the same time a list was posted, and presumably inviting comment. Also, you'll forgive me if I don't remember a negative exchange between us that would establish a history that "as usual" I'm reading too much into something. Either way if you want to stick with positives I'm all for that.
Yer never gonna hear me say anything bad about PF or Stevie or Jimi or Dimebag. I thought the inclusion of U2 was interesting; not always considered a "guitar" band. I'm glad to see people still remember Rising Force. While I no longer play exclusively in that style I still revisit that album often. The amount of emotional playing within a complex structure on that album was truly the apex of his work. And its definetly an album best played loud...

My bad, guess I read something that was'nt there. I actually think some of your
posts are informative, and they keep things intresting. I would personally toss out
about 20 of those lp's myself. Or just make it the top 50. There are some omissions
but hey, whatya gonna do. Apology if I went alittle nutso. I'll grab a bud, and chill.

[unleasHell]

Idiots, morons, sheesh, not anyone here mind you, but I wonder if anyone who helped compile the list ever heard of
Rory Gallagher
Al Dimeola
and seems to me Thin Lizzy had a few good Geetar albums...

what a joke...

[likeitloud]

Idiots, morons, sheesh, not anyone here mind you, but I wonder if anyone who helped compile the list ever heard of
Rory Gallagher
Al Dimeola
and seems to me Thin Lizzy had a few good Geetar albums...

what a joke...
There's omissions, no question, it's a question of how well known are you, did you
get any air play, are you mentioned as a force in the guitar world, You know,
marketing. If you were well known in the 60's/70's, or whenever, what did you
do that will help us remember you. There's picks on that list that are no brainers
and for the rest there is enough going on that someone remembered it and picked
it (the tone/harmony/solo) they like the frontman, whatever. If you did'nt do any-
thing great, you did'nt make the cut, and thats it. How a list omitting Michael
Schenker and MSG/UFO or The James Gang or as you say Thin Lizzy is
an injustice, they just have'nt been thought of for awhile.

[Mr MidFi]

There are a great many albums I could nominate here that have not been mentioned so far. But for the umpteenth time, I have to plead the case for Lou Reed's Rock N Roll Animal disc. Absolutely stunning twin-lead work from Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner. An undeniable classic of guitar-rock.

[musicoverall]

There are a great many albums I could nominate here that have not been mentioned so far. But for the umpteenth time, I have to plead the case for Lou Reed's Rock N Roll Animal disc. Absolutely stunning twin-lead work from Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner. An undeniable classic of guitar-rock.

1) Don't take these lists too seriously. Opinions are like a certain backside part of the anatomy. Ask 100 people to list their 100 most influential albums and you'll get 101 different lists. Everybody will leave out someone important. My top 100 would be about 50 different from the list mentioned.

2) You're spot on about Hunter and Wagner, IMHO (see? Toldja about opinions!). In fact, the riff that opens up "Sweet Jane" (one of the most powerful ever!) is made all the more powerful by the tension of their twin guitar attack in the introduction. That one should be on everybody's list!

[3-LockBox]

Idiots, morons, sheesh, not anyone here mind you, but I wonder if anyone who helped compile the list ever heard of
Rory Gallagher
Al Dimeola
and seems to me Thin Lizzy had a few good Geetar albums...

what a joke...

I have to agree on the account of Thin Lizzy. They pretty much laid down the blue print for '80s heavy metal with their twin lead guitar attack. And that's not being nit-picky. Thin Lizzy should be on a list like this and its a glaring mistake that they're not.

Where's Joe Walsh?

I'm not saying that there isn't a bunch of those albums on the list that I agree with, having heard and or owned most of them. Besides, there aren't a whole lot of rock-n-roll albums that doesn't qualify by those standards. But Rush's Moving Pistures?

Younger people are going to have a different list than older people. This list could be 200 albums long and it wouldn't satisfy everyone.