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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!

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...
Genre:Documentary

Worst Episodes Summary

"The Rolling Stones: Beggar's Banquet" 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 11/17/2010. This episode scored NaN points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Crickets: The Chirping Crickets".

  • The Rolling Stones: Beggar's Banquet
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    #1 - The Rolling Stones: Beggar's Banquet

    Season 9 Episode 4 - Aired 11/17/2010

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Crickets: The Chirping Crickets
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    #2 - The Crickets: The Chirping Crickets

    Season 10 Episode 7 - Aired 7/12/2019

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair
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    #3 - Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair

    Season 10 Episode 8 - Aired 2/14/2020

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Who Sell Out
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    #4 - The Who Sell Out

    Season 10 Episode 9 - Aired 4/23/2021

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Soul II Soul: Club Classics Vol. 1
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    #5 - Soul II Soul: Club Classics Vol. 1

    Season 10 Episode 10 - Aired 4/30/2021

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Suede: Coming Up
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    #6 - Suede: Coming Up

    Season 10 Episode 11 - Aired 5/7/2021

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Gil Scott-Heron: Pieces Of A Man
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    #7 - Gil Scott-Heron: Pieces Of A Man

    Season 10 Episode 12 - Aired 9/24/2021

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Doors: Morrison Hotel
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    #8 - The Doors: Morrison Hotel

    Season 10 Episode 13 - Aired 10/1/2021

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Freak Out!
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    #9 - Freak Out!

    Season 10 Episode 14 - Aired 10/8/2021

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Jay Z: Reasonable Doubt
    6.4/1041 votes
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    #10 - Jay Z: Reasonable Doubt

    Season 7 Episode 2 - Aired 10/3/2007

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Simply Red: Stars
    6.7/1035 votes
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    #11 - Simply Red: Stars

    Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 1/7/2005

    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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Primal Scream: Screamadelica
    6.7/1059 votes
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    #12 - Primal Scream: Screamadelica

    Season 10 Episode 1 - Aired 5/6/2011

    Primal Scream's seminal album Screamadelica was released in 1991, and synthesized the band's rock 'n' roll roots with the dance culture of that time; for many, the album's sound and imagery came to be regarded as quintessential symbols of the acid house era, perfectly catching the spirit and mood of the early 90s. Using rare archive footage and special performances, this film tells the story of Screamadelica and its hit singles and dance anthems Loaded, Movin' On Up, Come Together and Don't Fight It, Feel It. From the formation of the band in Glasgow to winning the first-ever Mercury prize, the band members explain the record's inception with insights from main producer Andrew Weatherall, Creation Records founder Alan McGee and many others involved with or inspired by this joyful record. Screamadelica both defines a generation and transcends its time, and is a true Classic Album.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Phil Collins: Face Value
    7.0/10213 votes
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    #13 - Phil Collins: Face Value

    Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 11/2/1999

    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: N/A

  • Bob Marley & The Wailers: Catch A Fire
    7.0/10260 votes
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    #14 - Bob Marley & The Wailers: Catch A Fire

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 12/1/1999

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Duran Duran: Rio
    7.0/10125 votes
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    #15 - Duran Duran: Rio

    Season 8 Episode 3 - Aired 11/22/2008

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds
    7.3/10136 votes
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    #16 - The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds

    Season 9 Episode 5 - Aired 11/19/2010

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Paul Simon: Graceland
    7.4/10226 votes
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    #17 - Paul Simon: Graceland

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 4/14/1997

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • U2: The Joshua Tree
    7.4/10517 votes
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    #18 - U2: The Joshua Tree

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 10/27/1999

    '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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Lou Reed: Transformer
    7.4/10256 votes
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    #19 - Lou Reed: Transformer

    Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 11/26/2001

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Judas Priest: British Steel
    7.4/10169 votes
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    #20 - Judas Priest: British Steel

    Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 12/10/2001

    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: N/A

  • Elvis Presley: Elvis Presley
    7.4/10225 votes
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    #21 - Elvis Presley: Elvis Presley

    Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 12/29/2001

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Damn the Torpedoes
    7.4/10170 votes
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    #22 - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Damn the Torpedoes

    Season 9 Episode 2 - Aired 6/9/2010

    The latest addition to Eagle s critically acclaimed and highly successful Classic Albums series is Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 1979 breakthrough album Damn The Torpedoes . The band s third album defined their musical style and took them into the mainstream hitting No.2 on the US charts and spawning the top 10 single Don t Do Me Like That . The DVD features newly filmed contributions from the band members Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Ron Blair and Stan Lynch along with co-producer Jimmy Iovine and engineer Shelly Yakus as they analyse the tracks from the original multi-track tapes and through new and archive performances. Damn The Torpedoes has stood the test of time as one of the great American rock albums of its era and is a worthy addition to the Classic Albums series.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Grateful Dead: American Beauty
    7.5/10202 votes
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    #23 - Grateful Dead: American Beauty

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 4/15/1997

    This 1970 release was an important step in the rise of the Grateful Dead to legend status. Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, along with some interviews with Jerry Garcia, discuss what went into the writing and recording.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life
    7.5/10106 votes
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    #24 - Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 4/16/1997

    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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Elton John: Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road
    7.5/10255 votes
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    #25 - Elton John: Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road

    Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 11/6/2001

    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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A