Got a road trip coming up? Maybe you’re in need of some good ol’ classic rock tunes to add some ambiance to the occasion? We recommend adding these five classic rock albums to your rotation. From hard rock to worldbeat to punk rock to blues rock, these five albums have the perfect blend of the “classic” sound without sounding too similar to one another. Let’s take a look!
1. ‘Live At Leeds’ by The Who
As always, we recommend the Deluxe Edition of this incredible live album. Live At Leeds is a recording of one particularly powerful University Of Leeds Refectory concert put on by The Who in 1970.
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Road trips are always best for listening to whole live albums, in our opinion. You can focus on all the small details and minor changes in songs when you’ve got nothing to do but stare at an open road.
2. ‘Graceland’ by Paul Simon
This album married world music with classic rock, and it’s one of Paul Simon’s best solo works. Graceland is a rich and delightful piece of work to come out of a difficult time for South Africa, and many fans today can listen to it over and over again and still find fresh interest.
There are so many different cultural elements on this album that range from African to Mexican to even Cajun. And Paul Simon’s excellent songwriting is right at the center of it all.
3. ‘London Calling’ by The Clash
Need a dose of classic punk rock among your road trip albums? You can’t beat London Calling by The Clash. Many would say that this very album spawned a wide range of new subgenres in punk and influenced countless musicians after its release in the late 1970s. It’ll definitely take you on a musical journey regardless. At just shy of 20 tracks, this iconic punk rock album has very few songs that won’t capture your attention.
4. ‘At Fillmore East’ by The Allman Brothers Band
This iconic live album is perfect for any fan of blues rock or Southern rock. At Fillmore East is legendary for a reason. Recorded in 1971, The Allman Brothers Band put on an incredible three shows for this album.
We’d be bold enough to say that this particular live album inspired many jam bands that followed in The Allman Brothers Band’s footsteps, though a few of the Brothers have said they didn’t consider themselves a jam band.
5. ‘Let It Bleed’ by The Rolling Stones
This one’s a real classic. Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones is a staple album in any classic rock fan’s collection, and it’s perfect for a road trip.
One could say most of the Stones’ albums would be great for a road trip (Exile On Main Street would be another great option), but there’s something special about this 1969 record. There’s nothing like driving through the country at night to the sound of “Gimme Shelter”.
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