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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!

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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 a stage in the history of music.

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  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Classic Albums Season 7 Episode 2 - Jay Z: Reasonable Doubt
    0.0/10(1 votes)

    #1 - Jay Z: Reasonable Doubt

    S7:E2

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Classic Albums Season 9 Episode 4 - The Rolling Stones: Beggar's Banquet
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #2 - The Rolling Stones: Beggar's Banquet

    S9:E4

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Classic Albums Season 9 Episode 5 - The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds
    0.0/10(1 votes)

    #3 - The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Classic Albums Season 10 Episode 7 - The Crickets: The Chirping Crickets
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #4 - The Crickets: The Chirping Crickets

    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!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Classic Albums Season 10 Episode 8 - Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair
    0.0/10(0 votes)

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

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Classic Albums Season 10 Episode 10 - Soul II Soul: Club Classics Vol. 1
    0.0/10(0 votes)

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

    S10:E10

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Classic Albums Season 10 Episode 11 - Suede: Coming Up
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #7 - Suede: Coming Up

    S10:E11

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Classic Albums Season 10 Episode 12 - Gil Scott-Heron: Pieces Of A Man
    0.0/10(0 votes)

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

    S10:E12

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Classic Albums Season 10 Episode 13 - The Doors: Morrison Hotel
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #9 - The Doors: Morrison Hotel

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Classic Albums Season 10 Episode 14 - Freak Out!
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #10 - Freak Out!

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Classic Albums Season 10 Episode 6 - Amy Winehouse: Back to Black
    3.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - Amy Winehouse: Back to Black

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Classic Albums Season 5 Episode 3 - Motorhead: Ace Of Spades
    4.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - Motorhead: Ace Of Spades

    S5:E3

    This album, while not a huge seller in the US, was definitely a landmark in the annals of crushingly loud hard rock. Bassist/singer Lemmy and drummer Phil Taylor are in the studio reminiscing about the making of the music, and life while touring. Guitarist Fast Eddie Clark is interviewed separately, but all three discuss candidly what went into the making of the songs. Included are clips from live shows, and even one of Lemmy while with his earlier band, Hawkwind.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Classic Albums Season 5 Episode 2 - Nirvana: Nevermind
    5.0/10(2 votes)

    #13 - Nirvana: Nevermind

    S5:E2

    In 1991 Nirvana’s Nevermind, with the songs of Kurt Cobain, changed the music business without compromise, record company hype or media overkill. The album replaced Michael Jackson at the top of the American charts and so began a rapid rise to international superstardom for the band. This is the story of how Nirvana came to record Nevermind and the effect the record had on the music world and on the band themselves. It offers an insight into the songwriting genius of Kurt Cobain and reveals why Nevermind remains a milestone in rock history.

    Director:Bob Smeaton
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Classic Albums Season 10 Episode 5 - Don McLean: American Pie
    5.0/10(1 votes)

    #14 - Don McLean: American Pie

    S10:E5

    Series focusing on the albums that have influenced the course of music. This edition looks at Don McLean's album American Pie, crowned by its titular overture and the song Vincent.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Classic Albums Season 8 Episode 3 - Duran Duran: Rio
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #15 - Duran Duran: Rio

    S8:E3

    Tells the story behind the writing, recording and subsequent success of Rio through interviews, musical demonstrations, and archive footage. Original band members Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor are all interviewed along with director Russell Mulchay, former manager Paul Berrow, journalist Beverley Glick, designer Antony Price and Bob Geldolf amongst others.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Classic Albums Season 8 Episode 2 - John Jennon: Plastic Ono Band
    6.5/10(43 votes)

    #16 - John Jennon: Plastic Ono Band

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Classic Albums Season 6 Episode 1 - Queen: A Night at the Opera
    6.7/10(40 votes)

    #17 - Queen: A Night at the Opera

    S6:E1

    The musicianship that went into one of rock's premier achievements is examined. Surviving members Brian May and Roger Taylor talk about Freddie Mercury's contributions, and producer Roy Thomas Baker shows us some isolated channels from the master tapes. Also commentary from Joe Perry and Ian Hunter is included.

    Director:Matthew Longfellow
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Classic Albums Season 9 Episode 3 - Rush: 2112 & Moving Pictures
    7.0/10(132 votes)

    #18 - Rush: 2112 & Moving Pictures

    S9:E3

    2112 was the album that saw Rush break through to major chart success, going to No.1 in their native Canada and Top 75 in the USA where it would eventually be certified triple platinum. Moving Pictures opened them to a mass audience for the first time and remains the biggest selling album of their career. It also went to No.1 in Canada and went quadruple platinum there while hitting No.3 in both the UK and USA. Rush members Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart talk us through the making of the albums, together with original producer Terry Brown via interviews, demonstrations, archive videos and use of the original multi-track tapes.

    Director:Martin R. Smith
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Classic Albums Season 2 Episode 2 - Phil Collins: Face Value
    7.1/10(227 votes)

    #19 - Phil Collins: Face Value

    S2:E2

    Phil's first solo album, which launched his career outside of Genesis, is examined here. Engineer Hugh Padgham peels the layers of sound back, and Phil explains how the lyrics to many of the songs wrote themselves, as he was going through a bitter divorce. Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, and Darrell Stuermer are on hand, and many of the studio musicians who contributed are seen as they describe working with Phil.

    Director:Jeremy Marre
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Classic Albums Season 2 Episode 4 - Bob Marley & The Wailers: Catch A Fire
    7.1/10(263 votes)

    #20 - Bob Marley & The Wailers: Catch A Fire

    S2:E4

    Producer Chris Blackwell is the main focus of this episode, as he recounts bringing in some top American session men to the studio, in an attempt to break Bob Marley to the US audiences. Wailer Peter Tosh, and instrumentalists Wayne Perkins and Rabbit Bundrick are interviewed, and we see some rare clips of Bob himself.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Classic Albums Season 1 Episode 1 - Paul Simon: Graceland
    7.4/10(238 votes)

    #21 - Paul Simon: Graceland

    S1:E1

    This premiere episode spotlights Paul's 1986 Grammy-winning 'comeback' album. Introduced by Ringo Starr, each song is examined from the studio perspective. Paul considers the title track to be "The best I ever did". He describes how he came up with the musical and lyrical ideas, and we hear comments from the engineers and from prominent critics, and some of the South African musicians who contributed.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Classic Albums Season 2 Episode 1 - U2: The Joshua Tree
    7.4/10(525 votes)

    #22 - U2: The Joshua Tree

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Classic Albums Season 3 Episode 4 - Lou Reed: Transformer
    7.4/10(264 votes)

    #23 - Lou Reed: Transformer

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Classic Albums Season 3 Episode 5 - Judas Priest: British Steel
    7.4/10(174 votes)

    #24 - Judas Priest: British Steel

    S3:E5

    The metal classic 'British Steel' is examined here. The band, minus drummer Dave Holland, explain the songwriting process and lyrical ideas, interspersed with live footage of performances from that period. Producer Tom Allom demonstrates how the sound effects were achieved, and the two guitarists show how their 'trademark' twin guitar sound is generated.

    Director:Tim Kirkby
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Classic Albums Season 3 Episode 6 - Elvis Presley: Elvis Presley
    7.4/10(235 votes)

    #25 - Elvis Presley: Elvis Presley

    S3:E6

    The debut album of the King is examined here. It was the first million-selling rock album, and the first million-selling popular music album for RCA. We hear from some of the producers and musicians who contributed, and each track is discussed in depth. Five of the songs were taken from Elvis' Sun Sessions, and Sam Phillips is on hand to discuss those sessions. Elvis' version of Carl Perkins' classic, 'Blue Suede Shoes' is dissected, and his first smash single, 'Heartbreak Hotel', is included, though not originally on the album.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Jay Z: Reasonable Doubt" is the worst rated episode of "Classic Albums". It scored 0/10 based on 1 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 10/3/2007. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Rolling Stones: Beggar's Banquet".