The Top 10 Heavy Psychedelic Rock Albums of All Time
Contents
If you’re a fan of heavy psychedelic rock, then this list is for you. We’ve compiled the top 10 heaviest psychedelic rock albums of all time, so you can rock out and trip out at the same time.
The Doors – The Doors
The Doors’ self-titled debut album is not only one of the greatest psychedelic rock albums of all time, but also one of the most important albums in the history of rock and roll. Released in 1967, The Doors took the world by storm with their unique blend of rock, blues, jazz, and classical influences. With songs like “Light My Fire” and “Break On Through (To the Other Side)”, The Doors introduced a new sound that would change the landscape of music forever.
Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced
Are You Experienced is the debut studio album by English-American rock band the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Released in 1967, the LP was an immediate commercial and critical success, and it is widely regarded as one of the greatest debuts in the history of rock music. The album features Hendrix’s inventive guitar work, which combines elements of blues and R&B with psychedelic rock. He is supported by Noel Redding’s fluid bass playing and Mitch Mitchell’s dynamic drumming.
Cream – Disraeli Gears
Cream’s second album is a perfect blend of bluesrock, pop and psychedelia, with standout tracks like ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’, ‘Crossroads’ and ‘Tales Of Brave Ulysses’. If you want a taste of what psychedelic rock is all about, this is the perfect place to start.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Electric Ladyland
Released in 1968, Electric Ladyland is the third and final album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. It is a double album and features some of Hendrix’s most popular songs, including “All Along the Watchtower”, “Cross Town Traffic”, and “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”. The album reached #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and has been certified 4x platinum by the RIAA.
Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV
IV is a masterpiece in classic rock storytelling, packing more punch than any other hard rock album of its time. Every song is anthemic, from the hard-hitting “Black Dog” to the gentle acoustic ballad “Going to California.” This is Led Zeppelin at their peak, and the standard by which all other heavy psychedelic rock albums are measured.
Deep Purple – In Rock
Deep Purple – In Rock
Released: June 3, 1970
Recorded: April–May 1970
Length: 41:49
Label: Harvest, EMI
Producer: Deep Purple, Derek Lawrence
Deep Purple – In Rock is the fourth studio album by English rock band Deep Purple, released on 3 June 1970. It was the first studio album recorded by the Mark II lineup of Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice. Rod Evans and Nick Simper from the Mark I lineup were fired in June 1969 before the album was recorded. The album peaked at number four in the UK and number six in the US. It was certified gold in August 1970.
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Black Sabbath’s Paranoid is not only the greatest heavy psychedelic rock album of all time, it’s also one of the most important albums in the history of rock music. Released in 1970, Paranoid perfectly encapsulated the zeitgeist of an entire generation and defined the sound of heavy metal for years to come. Featuring such timeless classics as “Iron Man”, “War Pigs” and the title track, Paranoid is a true masterpiece from start to finish. If you don’t already own it, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy today.
Iron Butterfly – In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the second studio album by the American rock band Iron Butterfly, released in 1968. It is most notable for the 17-minute title track which occupies the entire second side of the LP record.
The album was saw commercial success upon its release, spending 140 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart and becoming a certified Platinum album by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1993. In addition to being one of the first hard rock albums to achieve mainstream success, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is considered by many to be one of the defining statements of the psychedelic rock genre.
Rainbow – Rising
Rainbow – Rising is the second studio album by British rock band Rainbow, released in 1976.
It is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time, and was ranked 3rd on Classic Rock’s “The 50 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time” list.
In 2017, it was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
UFO – Phenomenon
1974’s Phenomenon was the third album release from the English rock band UFO, and it was also their first album with new guitarist Michael Schenker. The album was a commercial success, reaching number 4 on the UK charts and number 16 on the US Billboard 200. Phenomenon is considered by many to be UFO’s best album, and it is certainly their most psychedelic release. Featuring spacey, Hendrix-inspired guitar work from Schenker and Sean Harris’s powerful drumming, Phenomenon is a true classic of heavy psychedelic rock.
