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Imagine creating songs so legendary that people still listen to them 75 years after their initial release.
The best rock album of all time was gifted to the world in 1968, and its influence continues to impact rock music to this day.
The "Architect of Rock 'N' Roll" as he was so fondly nicknamed, crafted the record and rose to fame with the likes of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Fats Domino, releasing one of his most legendary hits, "Tutti Frutti," in 1955 (per The Irish Times).
The album in question set the tone for a bold new era and features a slew of the legend's most popular tracks including, "Long Tall Sally," "Good Golly Miss Molly," and Ready Teddy," penned when rock music was just emerging as a distinct sound.
According to a list compiled by Udiscovermusic, Little Richard's 17 Grooviest Original Hits is the best rock album of all time. The star, named Richard Penniman, played a pivotal role in shaping an entire genre with his energetic charisma and undertones of rhythm and blues. The icon passed away in 2020 at age 87, but his music dares to stand the tests of time.
Other albums that made the top five include Chuck Berry's The Great Twenty-Eight, The Beatles' The Beatles (The White Album), Nirvana's Nevermind, and Jimmy Hendrix's Electric Ladyland. Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Jerry Lee Lewis, Guns N' Roses, and The Rolling Stones were all mentioned among the top 10.
Here's what Udiscovermusic had to say about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and the absolute best rock album ever made:
"This is it, the essential sound that made most of the greatest rock albums possible. The deeper tracks here, like “Boo-Hoo-Hoo-Hoo” and “Send Me Some Lovin’”, bear out the gospel and blues roots that Little Richard channeled into rock’n’roll. But to listen to “Tutti Frutti” and “Long Tall Sally,” you have to wonder if rock ever got any wilder."
Check out Udiscovermusic for a continued list of the best rock albums of all time & watch Little Richard wow the crowd with a live performance of "Tutti Frutti" below!