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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!

Worst episode
S8E2 John Lennon: Plastic Ono Band
6.343 votes
Best episode
S5E1 Simply Red: Stars
8.41,932 votes
Top season
Season 4
7.7avg
Binge time
1d 15h
51 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Classic Albums Season 8 Episode 2 - John Lennon: Plastic Ono Band
    6.3/10(43 votes)

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

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

    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 6 Episode 1 - Queen: A Night at the Opera
    6.7/10(40 votes)

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

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

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

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

    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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  9. Classic Albums Season 8 Episode 3 - Duran Duran: Rio
    6.5/10(2 votes)

    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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  10. Classic Albums Season 10 Episode 9 - The Who Sell Out
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    S10:E9

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Classic Albums Season 9 Episode 3 - Rush: 2112 & Moving Pictures
    7.0/10(133 votes)

    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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  12. Classic Albums Season 2 Episode 2 - Phil Collins: Face Value
    7.0/10(229 votes)

    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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  13. Classic Albums Season 4 Episode 4 - Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon
    7.8/10(6 votes)

    S4:E4

    Engineers Chris Thomas and Alan Parsons peel layers off the master tapes from this 1973 masterpiece. The songs are dissected methodically, and Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Rick Wright are on hand, (though separately), to demonstrate how simplistic some of the writing was.

    Director:Matthew Longfellow
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Classic Albums Season 2 Episode 4 - Bob Marley & The Wailers: Catch A Fire
    7.1/10(261 votes)

    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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  15. Classic Albums Season 10 Episode 4 - Carly Simon: No Secrets
    7.4/10(141 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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

    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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  17. Classic Albums Season 10 Episode 2 - Peter Gabriel: So
    7.4/10(175 votes)

    S10:E2

    So stands as one of the greatest records of the 1980s, helping define its time to become a true classic album. The film features interviews with Gabriel himself, co-producer Daniel Lanois, bass players Tony Levin and Larry Klein, performer Laurie Anderson, drummer Manu Katché and Rolling Stone editor David Fricke amongst others.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Classic Albums Season 1 Episode 1 - Paul Simon: Graceland
    7.4/10(237 votes)

    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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  19. Classic Albums Season 3 Episode 6 - Elvis Presley: Elvis Presley
    7.4/10(237 votes)

    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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  20. Classic Albums Season 1 Episode 3 - Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life
    7.5/10(118 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Classic Albums Season 3 Episode 4 - Lou Reed: Transformer
    7.4/10(266 votes)

    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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  22. Classic Albums Season 9 Episode 2 - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Damn the Torpedoes
    7.5/10(162 votes)

    S9:E2

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Classic Albums Season 2 Episode 1 - U2: The Joshua Tree
    7.4/10(524 votes)

    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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  24. Classic Albums Season 6 Episode 3 - Cream: Disraeli Gears
    7.5/10(189 votes)

    S6:E3

    Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton are interviewed in the studio for a track by track analysis of their 1967 classic. Each of them play acoustically, including Bruce on the piano, and some archival footage is presented. Lyricist Peter Brown discusses the creative process for 'Sunshine Of Your Love', among other things.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Classic Albums Season 7 Episode 1 - Frank Zappa: Apostrophe (')/Over-Nite Sensation
    7.5/10(204 votes)

    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 (')".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"John Lennon: Plastic Ono Band" is the worst rated episode of Classic Albums. It scored 6.3/10 from 43 votes. Written and directed by Unknown, it aired on June 24, 2008.

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