Tag Archives: 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time

UFO: Lights Out

Leave a comment

In May 1977, “Chrysalis” label released “Lights Out”, the sixth UFO studio album. It was recorded February-March 1977, at “Air Studios” in London and was produced by Ron Nevison. Magazine “Kerrang!” ranked “Lights Out” at number 28 on the list of the “100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Phil Mogg- vocals
  • Michael Schenker- lead guitar
  • Paul Raymond- rhythm guitar, keyboards
  • Pete Way- bass
  • Andy Parker– drums
  • Alan McMillan – horn and string arrangements
  • Hipgnosis- cover art

Track listing:

  1. Too Hot to Handle – Pete Way, Phil Moog
  2. Just Another Suicide – Phil Moog
  3. Try Me – Michael Schenker, Phil Moog
  4. Lights Out – Michael Schenker, Andy Parker, Phil Moog, Pete Way
  5. Getting’ Ready – Michael Schenker, Phil Moog
  6. Alone Again Or – Bryan MacLean
  7. Electric Phase – Pete Way, Phil Moog, Michael Schenker
  8. Love to Love – Michael Schenker, Phil Moog

Black Sabbath: Paranoid

Leave a comment

black_sabbath_-_paranoid

On September 18, 1970, “Vertigo” label released “Paranoid”, the second Black Sabbath studio album. It was recorded in June 1970, at “Regent Sound Studios” and “Island Studios” in London, and was produced by Rodger Bain. In 1989, Kerrang! magazine listed the album at number 39 on its list of the “100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time”. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 130 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2006, “Guitar World” magazine ranked “Paranoid” at number 6 on its list of “The Greatest 100 Guitar Albums of All Time. The album was certified Platinum in Canada by CRIA, and Platinum in the US by the “RIIA:.

Personnel:

  • Ozzy Osbourne– vocals
  • Tony Iommi– guitar, flute
  • Geezer Butler– bass guitar
  • Bill Ward– drums, congas
  • Tom Allom – piano, engineer
  • Brian Humphries – engineer
  • Marcus Keef – design, photography

Track listing:

All lyrics by Geezer Butler, except where noted; all music by Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne.

  1. War Pigs
  2. Paranoid
  3. Planet Caravan
  4. Iron Man
  5. Electric Funeral
  6. Hand of Doom
  7. Rat Salad
  8. Fairies Wear Boots – lyrics by Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler

Metallica: …And Justice For All

Leave a comment

And_Justice_for_All

On August 25, 1988, “Elektra” label released “…And Justice for All”, the fourth  Metallica studio album. It was recorded January – May 1988, at “One on One Recording Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by James Hetfield,  Kirk Hammett, Jason Newsted, Lars Ulrich and Flemming Rasmussen. “Kerrang!” magazine listed the album at number 42 on its list of the “100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time” In 1990, the album single “One” won Metallica its first “Grammy Award” for “Best Metal Performance”.“…And Justice for All” became band’s best-selling album of the time; it was certified 3 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in Finland by “IFPI”; Platinum in Germany by “BVMI”, and 8 x platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • James Hetfield– lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Kirk Hammett– lead guitar
  • Jason Newsted– bass guitar
  • Lars Ulrich– drums
  • Flemming Rasmussen– engineer
  • Mike Clink– drums engineering
  • George Cowan – engineer assistant
  • Toby Wright– additional engineering
  • Michael Barbiero– mixing
  • Steve Thompson– mixing
  • Bob Ludwig– mastering
  • Stephen Gorman –cover art
  • Pushead– illustrations
  • Reiner Design Consultants, Inc. – design, layout
  • Ross Halfin – photography

Track listing:

  1. Blackened – James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Jason Newsted
  2. …And Justice for All – James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett
  3. Eye of the Beholder – James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett
  4. One – James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
  5. The Shortest Straw – James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
  6. Harvester of Sorrow – James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
  7. The Frayed Ends of Sanity – James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett
  8. To Live Is to Die – James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Cliff Burton
  9. Dyers Eve – – James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett

Bad Company: Same

Leave a comment

BadCompany BadCompany

On June 26, 1974, “Swan Song” label released the self-titled, debut Bad Company album. It was recorded in November 1973, at “Headley Grange” with “Ronnie Lane’s Mobile Studio”, and was produced by Paul Rodgers, Mike Ralphs, Boz Burrell, and Simon Kirke. “Kerrang!” magazine ranked the album at number 40 among the “100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Paul Rodgers– vocals, rhythm and acoustic guitars, piano, tambourine
  • Mick Ralphs– lead guitar, keyboards
  • Boz Burrell– bass
  • Simon Kirke– drums
  • Mel Collins– saxophones
  • Sue Glover, Sunny Leslie– backing vocals
  • Ron Fawcus – tape operator
  • Ron Nevison – engineer, mixing
  • Steve Hoffman– mastering
  • Barry Diament – mastering
  • Bob Wynne – art direction
  • Hipgnosis– design, photography
  • Beverly Taddei – production co-ordinatio

Track listing:

  1. Can’t Get Enough – Mike Ralphs
  2. Rock Steady – Paul Rodgers
  3. Ready for Love – Mike Ralphs
  4. Don’t Let me Down – Paul Rodgers, Mike Ralphs
  5. Bad Company – Paul Rodgers, Simon Kirke
  6. The Way I Choose – Paul Rodgers
  7. Movin’ On – Mike Ralphs
  8. Seagull – Paul Rodgers, Mike Ralphs

Deep Purple: Machine Head

Leave a comment

Machine_Head

On March 25, 1972, “Purple Records” label released “Machine Head”, the sixth Deep Purple album .It was recorded in December 1971 in Montreux, and was produced by Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, ian Paice, Ian Gillan and Roger Glover.  In 1989, “Kerrang!” magazine ranked the album at number 35 on its list of “100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Ritchie Blackmore– guitar
  • Jon Lord– keyboards
  • Ian Gillan– vocals, harmonica
  • Roger Glover– bass, design
  • Ian Paice– drums, percussion
  • Martin Birch– engineer, mixing
  • Jeremy (Bear) Gee – engineer assistant
  • Nick Watterton – technician
  • John Coletta – design
  • Shephard Sherbell – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice.

  1. Highway Star
  2. Maybe I’m a Leo
  3. Pictures of Home
  4. Never Before
  5. Smoke on the Water
  6. Lazy
  7. Space Truckin’

Motörhead: Overkill

Leave a comment

Overkill_

On March 24, 1979, “Bronze” label released “Overkill”, the second Motörhead album. It was recorded December 1978 – January 1979 at “Roundhouse Studios” and “Sound Development Studios” in London, and was produced by Jimmy Miller and Neil Richmond. “Kerrang!” magazine ranked the album at number 46 on its list of “100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time.”

Personnel:

  • Lemmy (Ian Kilmister) – lead vocals, bass guitar, guitar
  • “Fast” Eddie Clarke– guitars, backing vocals
  • Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor– drums
  • Ashley Howe , Trevor Hallesy – engineer
  • Joe Petagno– artwork

Track listing:

All tracks by Ian Kilmister, Phil Taylor and Eddie Clarke, except where noted.

  1. Overkill – Phil Yay
  2. Stay Clean
  3. (I Won’t) Pay Your Price
  4. I’ll Be Your Sister
  5. Capricorn
  6. No Class
  7. Damage Case – Eddie Clarke, Ian Kilmister,Phil Taylor, Mick Farren
  8. Tear Ya Down
  9. Metropolis
  10. Limb from Limb

 

 

Black Sabbath: Same

Leave a comment

Black_Sabbath

On February 13, 1970, “Vertigo” label released the self-titled, debut Black Sabbath studio album. It was recorded on October 16, at “Regent Sound Studios” in London, and was produced by Rodger Bain. In 1989, magazine “Kerrang!” ranked “Black Sabbath” at number 31 on its list of “100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time”.In 2000, magazine “Q” included “Black Sabbath” in its list of the “Best Metal Albums of All Time”. In 2005, magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked the album at number 238 on its  list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”, and at number 44 in its list of the “100 Best Debut Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Ozzy Osbourne– vocals, harmonica
  • Tony Iommi– guitar
  • Geezer Butler– bass
  • Bill Ward– drums
  • Marcus Keef – design, photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne, except where noted.

  1. Black Sabbath
  2. The Wizard
  3. Behind the Wall of Sleep
  4. I.B.
  5. Evil Woman – Larry Weigand, Dick Weigand, David Wagner
  6. Sleeping Village
  7. Warning – Aynsley Dunbar, Alex Dmochowski, Victor Hickling , John Moorshead