The albums that are still a hit… after all these years.

I’m sure it’s not possible to deliberately contrive an everlasting classic album. But after a cursory glance at the streaming and vinyl charts in 2024; after the flukey new releases (hello Shed Seven), the blockbusting wallpaper acts (hello Taylor) and best of’s (hello ABBA and Queen) there are some classic albums that simply will not fade from the collections of the British music fan as they take up a permanent residency in the charts. This edition, will pick through some of these classics.

Oasis – (What’s the story) Morning Glory (1995)

Was it the anthematic singalongs, the quirky northernisms, the vintage Epiphone’s or the bowl headed waddle of the band members that made this such a fan favourite? Well, you get all of this and more on this, the second album from Oasis, who even by their own standards, never made a better album again.

Fleetwood Mac – Rumours (1977)

For my money, the best era of this band was between 1968 and 1972, but I’m clearly in a minority here. There’s nothing offensive about Rumours. The production is smooth and sanguine and the range of styles makes for a varied collection of songs. I might risk criticism here, but they don’t deliver the quality of songwriting or the dramatic crunch of their contemporaries such as Heart or ABBA. Neither of those bands though have a single album that has such an iconic status as this.

Amy Winehouse – Back to Black (2006)

Need a party starting? Need a slice of Rhythm and Blues that celebrates the past as well informing the future? Need an Icon that captured her generation? Amy delivered all of this on one record. Mark Ronson’s production secured his career for years to come. And Amy? Like Janis before her, became a casualty of her own self destruction. A cautionary tale. But she left behind a record for everyone.

Metallica – Master of Puppets (1986)

There is little doubt that Metallica’s first five albums showed a development and progression to the Black Album which was their best selling and secured them as the most popular Metal band of all time. Master of Puppets however, is the album that contentiously is probably the ‘Fan favourite’. My view is, whether you prefer ‘Ride The lightning’ or not, this is well deserved. From the bludgeoning ‘Battery’, to the doom laden ‘The Thing that should not be’ and the progressive leanings of ‘Orion’.

Even if you only hear one metal album in your life, it should probably be this one.