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The Worst Episodes of Classic Albums

Every episode of Classic Albums ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Classic Albums!

The Worst Episodes of Classic Albums

A documentary series about pop and rock albums that are considered the best or most distinctive of a well-known band or musician or that exemplify...

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    #1 - Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life

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    S1:E3

    Stevie's 1976 double album is looked at here. Stevie had already released the smash album, Innervisions, but as Berry Gordy explains, he took the experimentation to a new level. Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock are in the studio with Stevie, along with some other top musicians who contributed, as we examine the creation and recording process, of what many consider Stevie Wonder's finest hour.

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    #2 - The Band: The Band

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    S1:E4

    Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, and Garth Hudson discuss the making of their classic 1969 release. Each member explains how they achieved their distinct sound, with all of them often switching instruments. We hear from Eric Clapton and George Harrison on the influence the record had. Also included is a tribute to suicide victim Richard Manuel.

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    #3 - The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland

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    S1:E5

    Jimi is recalled here with archival footage, and current interviews with Noel Redding, Mitch Mitchell, and engineer Eddie Kramer, explain the creative processes that went into the 1968 album. Jimi's manager, Chas Chandler, contributes some details, in what was to be his final interview.

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    #4 - U2: The Joshua Tree

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    S2:E1

    'Joshua Tree' elevated U2 to superstar status internationally, and confirmed their position as one of rock's most influential and powerful forces. Here we examine the making of the album, with the four group members, along with producers Brian Eno, Steve Lillywhite, and Daniel Lanois. Elvis Costello is also on hand to lend friendly comments.

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  5. 0.0/10(1 votes)

    #5 - Meat Loaf: Bat Out Of Hell

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    S2:E3

    In 1977, Marvin Lee Aday, aka Meat Loaf, shocked the music world by releasing this 30 million-selling blockbuster. Previously little-known as an actor and singer , he hooked up with writer Jim Steinman, producer Todd Rundgren, and vocalists Ellen Foley and Carla Devito, to create one of the top five sellers of all time. Kasim Sultan and Max Weinberg, who also played on the album are heard from, and Todd isolates some of the masters to show how the sounds were created.

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    #6 - Elton John: Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road

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    S3:E2

    Elton John, along with some of his past and present band members discuss the creation of his opus, 'Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road'. Producer Gus Dudgeon and engineer David Henschel pull up some of the original multi-tracks, and demonstrate how the music was played and sang. Bernie Taupin is also on hand to describe his lyric writing, and some rare footage of rehearsals, and photos shot in the studio, are presented.

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  8. 0.0/10(1 votes)

    #7 - Jay Z: Reasonable Doubt

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    S7:E2

    Behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Jay-Z's 1996 debut album Reasonable Doubt.

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  9. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #8 - The Rolling Stones: Beggar's Banquet

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    S9:E4

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  10. 0.0/10(1 votes)

    #9 - The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds

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    S9:E5

    A look at the creation of the Beach Boys' classic album "Pet Sounds", including conversations with Brian Wilson and group members, lyricist Tony Asher, and members of the studio supergroup The Wrecking Crew.

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    #10 - The Who: Tommy

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    S10:E3

    1968 was a time of soul-searching for the Who - with three badly performing singles behind them, they needed a big new idea to put them back at the top and, crucially, to hold them together as a band. Inspired by Indian spiritual master Meher Baba, Pete Townshend created the character of Tommy, the 'deaf, dumb and blind boy'. Broke and fragmenting when they started recording, the album went on to sell over 20 million copies. In this film, the Who speak for the first time about the making of the iconic album and how its success changed their lives.

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  12. 0.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - Carly Simon: No Secrets

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    S10:E4

    Carly Simon reveals the challenges behind No Secrets - the classic album that made her a global star and included the enigmatic song You're So Vain.

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    #12 - The Crickets: The Chirping Crickets

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    S10:E7

    The story of the first album by The Crickets, crowned by four of their best-loved songs: That’ll Be the Day, Not Fade Away, Maybe Baby and Oh, Boy!

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    #13 - Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair

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    S10:E8

    Documentary that explores Songs from the Big Chair, Tears for Fears second, seminal album, which saw the band's music transform from synth-pop into arena-ready anthems.

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    #14 - The Who Sell Out

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    S10:E9

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    #15 - Soul II Soul: Club Classics Vol. 1

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    S10:E10

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    #16 - Suede: Coming Up

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    S10:E11

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    #17 - Gil Scott-Heron: Pieces Of A Man

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    S10:E12

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    #18 - The Doors: Morrison Hotel

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    S10:E13

    A look at the American rockers' fifth studio album. It saw them return to their blues-rock style and earned them their highest charting album in the UK.

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    #19 - Freak Out!

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    S10:E14

    The Mothers of Invention's 1966 cult classic debut "Freak Out!" is analyzed, with insights from Frank Zappa's band members, family and fans.

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  21. 2.0/10(1 votes)

    #20 - Metallica: Metallica (Black Album)

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    S3:E3

    Metallica's 12 million selling breakthrough album is examined in depth. Taped at One on One Studios, where it was recorded, Producer Bob Rock, along with all four band members, discuss the making of each song, and how they polished their sound to command a wider audience.

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  22. 3.0/10(1 votes)

    #21 - Lou Reed: Transformer

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    S3:E4

    Co-produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson, this 1972 landmark album took Lou Reed from cult idol to glam superstar status. Here Reed examines each track, discussing with engineer Ken Scott the creation process. Bassist Herbie Flowers shows us how the riff for 'Walk On The Wild Side', was recorded, and we see some archives of Lou's performances.

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  23. 3.0/10(1 votes)

    #22 - Simply Red: Stars

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    S5:E1

    Simply Red, the loosely based group of musicians led by Mick Hucknall, take us into the studio to examine the making of this album. While not as commercially successful in the US, it was the biggest selling album in the UK in 1991, and shipped 8.5 million copies worldwide. The musicians who were with the group at that time runite and take us through the tracks. Included is an interview with songwriting legend Lamont Dozier.

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  24. 3.0/10(1 votes)

    #23 - Frank Zappa: Apostrophe (')/Over-Nite Sensation

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    S7:E1

    Tells the story of the recording of Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention's "Over-Nite Sensation" and Zappa's solo album "Apostrophe (')".

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  25. 3.0/10(1 votes)

    #24 - John Jennon: Plastic Ono Band

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    S8:E2

    Examines in detail the creation of John Lennon's first solo album and the effect it had on music, and the people who created it.

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  26. 3.0/10(1 votes)

    #25 - Amy Winehouse: Back to Black

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    S10:E6

    The true story of how Amy Winehouse’s best known and most celebrated body of work came into being. Featuring previously unseen footage of Amy, new interviews with producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, and the musicians who worked with Amy on the album, offering fresh insights into Amy’s remarkable gifts as a singer, songwriter, musician and performer.

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life" is the worst rated episode of "Classic Albums". It scored N/A/10 based on 0 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 4/16/1997. This episode scored NaN points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Band: The Band".