The Best Psychedelic Rock Albums of All Time

A list of the best psychedelic rock albums of all time, as voted on by music fans and experts.

The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Pepper was The Beatles at the height of their powers, masterfully weaving together myriad musical styles (classical, rock, vaudeville) into a Sgt. citizens band that was both timeless and of its time. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were inspired by the psychedelic sounds of the day – LSD was legal in Britain when they recorded the album – but they also took the music in bold new directions of their own. The result is a timeless work that captures both the hope and anxiety of a rapidly changing world.

Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon

One of the most iconic and influential psychedelic rock albums of all time, Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon was released in 1973. The album was an instant success, reaching the top of the charts in multiple countries and selling over 50 million copies worldwide. The album’s concept is based on the pressures and anxieties of modern life, and its distinctive sound is marked by extended solos, experimental production techniques, and a wide range of unique sounds and textures.

Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy

Houses of the Holy is the fifth studio album by English rock band Led Zeppelin, released on 28 March 1973 by Atlantic Records. It was the first Led Zeppelin album for which the band wrote all original material, and is also notable for featuring further blending of genres such as Celtic and Middle Eastern music.

The Who – Quadrophenia

Number one on our list of the best psychedelic rock albums of all time is The Who’s 1973 concept album ‘Quadrophenia’. The double album was a critical and commercial success and is often cited as one of the greatest rock albums of all time. ‘Quadrophenia’ was also adapted into a successful 1979 film of the same name.

The album tells the story of a mod named Jimmy and his struggle to come to terms with his place in the world. The four quadraphonic speakers in the title refers to the four main characters in the story, each representing a different side of Jimmy’s personality.

The music on ‘Quadrophenia’ is some of the most ambitious and complex The Who ever recorded. It features extended jams, complex instrumentation, and dynamic changes in tempo and mood. While it is certainly a psychedelic rock album, it also incorporates elements of jazz, R&B, and classical music.

If you are looking for an album that truly exemplifies the best of what psychedelic rock has to offer, then look no further than ‘Quadrophenia’ by The Who.

David Bowie – The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is one of the most influential and important psychedelic rock albums of all time. Released in 1972, the album helped to define a new era of music and fashion, and has been cited as an inspiration by many artists since. Ziggy Stardust is a must-have for any fan of psychedelic rock.

The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St.

You could make a strong case that The Rolling Stones’ 1972 double album Exile on Main St. is not only the best psychedelic rock album of all time, but the best rock album, period. It’s certainly the Stones’ magnum opus, a sprawling, darkly hypnotic rumination on fame, hedonism, and the intermittent joys and trials of life in the fast lane.

Recorded over a period of nearly two years in various studios in London, Los Angeles, and France (including the famed Villa Nellcote in the south of France), Exile captures the Stones at their rawest and most elemental – a band making music for themselves and nobody else. This is most evident on side four of the album, a six-song suite that finds Keith Richards and Mick Taylor locked in an unforgettable groove as they trade licks and lines with an ease and facility that belies the chaos that surrounded the making of Exile.

There’s no disputing that Exile is one of the greatest albums of all time – but it’s also one of the most important documents of its era, a living, breathing embodiment of the wild excesses and dark underside of ‘70s rock & roll.

Neil Young – After the Gold Rush

Released in September 1970, After the Gold Rush was Neil Young’s third solo album and his second with backing band Crazy Horse. The album was a commercial and critical success, reaching number eight on the US Billboard 200 and number three on the UK Albums Chart. In 2003, the album was ranked number 201 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

The album features some of Young’s most well-known songs, including “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”, “Southern Man”, and “Ohio”. The latter song, written in response to the Kent State shootings, would go on to become an anthem of the anti-war movement.

Recorded in both Los Angeles and Topanga Canyon, After the Gold Rush showcased Young’s growing interest in country music and featured a more stripped-down acoustic sound than its predecessor, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. The album also featured contributions from members of Young’s former band Buffalo Springfield, including Stephen Stills and drummers Dewey Martin and Bruce Palmer.

Fleetwood Mac – Rumours

With help from top-notch musicians such as Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, Rumours delivered some of Fleetwood Mac’s biggest hits, including “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” and “Don’t Stop.” The album was a commercial and critical success, spending 31 weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 and winning the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

Bob Dylan – Blood on the Tracks

Bob Dylan’s album Blood on the Tracks is often considered one of the best psychedelic rock albums of all time. The album was released in 1975 and received critical acclaim. It is Dylan’s 16th studio album and was produced by him. The album features a raw and personal sound, with lyrics that deal with love, breakups, and betrayal.

Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run

Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run: On August 13, 1975, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band released their third album, Born to Run. The album was a critical and commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 and selling more than six million copies in the United States. Born to Run was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014.