Top Rock Albums
The Beatles' 1967 album topped the "Definitive 200" list of top rock albums, a list of some of record buyers' all-time favorite albums gathered by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM).
No. 2
Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" 1973 (Rock)Considered one of the band's masterpiece albums. "This is probably Pink Floyd's best-known work, and it's an excellent place to start if you're new to the band," according to the Definitive 200 Web site.
No. 3
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" 1982 (Pop)"Thriller" remains the best-selling album of all time, with 45 million worldwide sales, seven Top 10 U.S. singles and eight Grammy Awards.
No. 4
Led Zeppelin: "Led Zeppelin IV" 1971 (Rock)Jimmy Page was a top London studio guitarist before he got rich and famous as the musical leader of Led Zeppelin. The group's fourth--and arguably their finest--album is as much a tribute to his technique as a monument to his versatility. produced the album, co-wrote all eight songs, and played mandolin as well as all the guitars.
No. 5
U2's "The Joshua Tree" 1987 (Rock)The band reached a level of mega-stardom with this highly praised release. The album debuted at No. 1 in the UK and quickly reached No. 1 in the U.S. It won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and a Grammy for the Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal.
No. 6
Rolling Stones: "Exile On Main St." 1972 (Rock)The double album was an immediate commercial success, hitting No. 1 worldwide just as the band embarked on their famed 1972 American Tour, their first in the U.S. in three years, and during which they played many songs from the new album. Like "Sgt. Pepper," the album is a staple on all-time "best" lists.
No. 7
Carole King: "Tapestry" 1971 (Adult ContemporaryConsidered one of the rock era's quintessential recordings, the album was ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for 15 weeks and remained on the charts for over six years. It won four Grammy Awards including Album of the Year; Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female; Record of the Year ("It's Too Late"); and Song of the Year ("You've Got a Friend").
No. 8
Bob Dylan: "Highway 61 Revisited" 1965Dylan plugged in with a full band for this album, featuring rockers "Tombstone Blues" and the title track. Yet it is his way with words that made him a folk legend remains front and center.
No. 9
The Beach Boys: "Pet Sounds" 1966"I don't know (why)," noted the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson of the album's ranking on the Definitive 200 list. Wilson, widely considered the band's mastermind, said "I think 'cause it's artistic and beautiful. I don't know."
No. 10
Nirvana: "Nevermind" 1996Rounding out the Top 10 of the Definitive 200 album list is the album by the grunge band that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart. In 2004, it was one of 50 recordings chosen that year by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry, it is also the newest album in the registry.