Remember when being a music fan was all about buying albums? You would head down to your local shop and see what was new, who was hot, and what album art caught your eye. Today, though, it’s all about singles and streaming. With that, we’ve all lost something. Here below, we wanted to take a trip down memory lane and dive into three classic rock albums that were perfect from start to finish. Indeed, this is no skips: three classic rock albums from the 1980s you’ll never have to fast-forward.
‘Purple Rain’ by Prince (1984)
Prince’s 1984 album has garnered a lot of praise over the years, and rightly so. Not only did the LP include the iconic song of the same name, but it was also part of a film by the same name that still holds up (and then some). But when diving into Purple Rain, we see a great deal more than just the title track. Songs like “Let’s Go Crazy”, “Take Me With U”, “Darling Nikki”, and “When Doves Cry” are all iconic. They could all be put in the Grammy Museum right now.
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‘Appetite For Destruction’ by Guns N’ Roses (1987)
When you open a 1980s rock record with a song like “Welcome To The Jungle”, you’re automatically entered into the pool of potentially great LPs. But when listening through the rest of the 1987 record, Appetite For Destruction, by Guns N’ Roses, you find a number of other amazing songs, including “Paradise City”, “Sweet Child O’ Mine”, and “It’s So Easy”. If you like bombastic rock, if you like earth-shattering songs, if you like high energy, this is your album.
‘Tracy Chapman’ by Tracy Chapman (1988)
The great Tracy Chapman has enjoyed a resurgence of late thanks to country star Luke Combs covering her timeless track “Fast Car”. But the 1988 LP that originally featured that song includes many more tunes worth your time. The 11-track record opens with the spirited “Talkin’ ‘Bout A Revolution” and continues with songs like “Baby Can I Hold You”, “She’s Got Her Ticket”, and “If Not Now…” If you want to hear a songwriter at the top of her game, check it out now.
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More The List
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Australian singer and actress Olivia Newton-John and American actor John Travolta as they appear in the Paramount film 'Grease', 1978. (Photo by Paramount Pictures/Fotos International/Getty Images) -
(L-R) Steve Harwell, Paul De Lisle, Greg Camp and Kevin Coleman of Smash Mouth on 8/30/97 in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Paul Natkin/WireImage) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 28: Kelsea Ballerini seen in West Village on July 28, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Aeon/GC Images) -
British rock band, Badfinger, filming a performance of 'Day After Day' to be used as an insert for the 'Top Of The Pops', music show, BBC Television Centre, London, 26th January 1972. It is unclear whether the segment was ever broadcast. Left to right: Mike Gibbins (1949 – 2005), Pete Ham (1947 – 1975), Tom Evans (1947 – 1983) and Joey Molland. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) -
Kyu Sakamoto. (1941-1985) Japanese singer, best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Aruko" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number one in the United States Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963, making Sakamoto the first Asian recording artist to have a number one song on the chart. (Photo by Sjöberg Bildbyrå/ullstein bild via Getty Images) -
Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImages -
CIRCA 1965: Country singer Eddy Arnold poses for a portrait sitting in a chair in circa 1965. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 09: Alan Jackson performs onstage at The 56th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 09, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/WireImage)