3 of the Most Euphoric Classic Rock Albums That Had Me Beaming on First Listen

Sometimes an album needs to grow on you. Sometimes it takes a few listens for it to sink in and become a favorite. However, that is not the case for the three records below. These classic rock albums had me beaming on the first listen, and were put straight into the rotation.

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Band on the Run – Wings

Paul McCartney‘s solo career got off to a shaky start. His affinity for DIY style sounds and variety made listeners who were used to polished Beatles perfection turn away. Though he got back on track before the release of Band on the Run, this classic Wings album feels like a return to form. The tracklist is diverse. He goes from a standard, early rock groove with “Let Me Roll It” only to slow things down on “Bluebird,” so on, so forth. But, unlike the off-kilter mashup of vibes found on some of his other post-Beatles material, Band on the Run feels pitch-perfect. No song feels out of place, but McCartney still followed his creative ambition. It’s hard not to smile while listening to this Wings album. It’s McCartney running on all cylinders.

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Eagles – Eagles

An album doesn’t get much more uplifting than the Eagles‘ self-titled record. This classic album is summer incarnate, producing several soft rock staples that completely transformed the genre. Eagles doesn’t have as much variety as Band on the Run, but it’s a welcome uniformity. Listeners come to this album for easy-going songs. And they get it in spades. Though there are some downers on this record, that energy doesn’t last for long. A windows-down kind of song won’t be too far behind. The Eagles delivered the perfect debut record with this collection of songs, setting the stage for the rest of their West Coast-influenced career.

Out of the Blue – Electric Light Orchestra

A tracklist as robust as the one on Electric Light Orchestra’s classic album, Out of the Blue, runs the risk of becoming weighed down with filler material. However, the band avoided that fate, delivering four record sides of enduring hits. “Mr. Blue Sky” alone would justify this album’s inclusion on this list. We can’t imagine anyone feeling down when this song comes on. But that’s just one of the era-defining songs found on this jam-packed tracklist. If you’re looking for an album to give you a bang for your buck, this is it.

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