Best Albums to Start a Vinyl Collection: Top 20 Picks

For music enthusiasts, there is nothing quite like the sound and experience of listening to vinyl records. The tactile experience of handling the record, placing it on the turntable, and hearing the warm, rich sound can transport you to another time and place. Starting a vinyl collection can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience, but where to begin? Here are our top 20 picks for essential vinyl albums to start your collection:

Top 5 Rock Albums to Start a Vinyl Collection:

1. Led Zeppelin IV (1971) – With hits like “Stairway to Heaven,” “Black Dog,” and “Rock and Roll,” this album is a classic and one of the best-selling albums of all time.
2. Fleetwood Mac, Rumours (1977) – The iconic album includes hit songs such as “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” and “Don’t Stop,” and has sold over 45 million copies worldwide.
3. Pink Floyd, The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) – This album has become a cultural phenomenon and includes classic tracks like “Money,” “Time,” and “Us and Them.” It has sold over 45 million copies worldwide.
4. The Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers (1971) – This album includes the hit songs “Brown Sugar” and “Wild Horses” and has sold over 21 million copies worldwide.
5. Nirvana, Nevermind (1991) – This album helped define the grunge era and includes iconic tracks like “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Come as You Are,” and “Lithium.” It has sold over 30 million copies worldwide.

Top 5 Indie Albums to Start a Vinyl Collection:

1. The Smiths, The Queen is Dead (1986) – This album is considered one of the greatest indie albums of all time and includes hit songs like “There is a Light That Never Goes Out” and “The Boy with the Thorn in His Side.”
2. Joy Division, Unknown Pleasures (1979) – The band’s debut album is a post-punk masterpiece and includes iconic tracks like “Disorder,” “She’s Lost Control,” and “Shadowplay.”
3. Radiohead, OK Computer (1997) – This album is a critical and commercial success and includes hit songs like “Paranoid Android,” “Karma Police,” and “No Surprises.”
4. Arcade Fire, Funeral (2004) – This album was an instant classic and helped define the indie rock sound of the 2000s. It includes hit songs like “Wake Up,” “Rebellion (Lies),” and “Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels).”
5. The Strokes, Is This It (2001) – This album helped define the garage rock revival of the early 2000s and includes hit songs like “Last Nite,” “Someday,” and “Hard to Explain.”

Top 5 Hip Hop Albums to Start a Vinyl Collection:

1. Nas, Illmatic (1994) – This album is considered one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time and includes classic tracks like “N.Y. State of Mind,” “The World is Yours,” and “It Ain’t Hard to Tell.”
2. The Notorious B.I.G., Ready to Die (1994) – This album helped define the East Coast hip hop sound of the 1990s and includes hit songs like “Juicy,” “Big Poppa,” and “One More Chance.”
3. Wu-Tang Clan, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993) – This album is a landmark in hip hop history and includes classic tracks like “C.R.E.A.M., “Protect Ya Neck,” and “Method Man.” The album’s influence can still be felt in hip hop today.
4. Dr. Dre, The Chronic (1992) – This album helped define the West Coast hip hop sound and includes hit songs like “Nuthin’ But a G Thang,” “Let Me Ride,” and “Dre Day.”
5. Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) – This album is a modern classic and includes hits like “King Kunta,” “Alright,” and “The Blacker the Berry.” It has won multiple Grammy Awards and has been hailed as a masterpiece of modern hip hop.

Top 5 Pop Albums to Start a Vinyl Collection:

1. Michael Jackson, Thriller (1982) – This album is the best-selling album of all time and includes hit songs like “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and “Thriller.” It has sold over 110 million copies worldwide.
2. Madonna, Like a Virgin (1984) – This album helped define the pop music of the 1980s and includes hit songs like “Material Girl,” “Like a Virgin,” and “Dress You Up.”
3. Prince and the Revolution, Purple Rain (1984) – This album is a classic and includes hits like “When Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” and “Purple Rain.” It has sold over 22 million copies worldwide.
4. Taylor Swift, 1989 (2014) – This album was a commercial and critical success and includes hit songs like “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space,” and “Bad Blood.”
5. ABBA, Gold: Greatest Hits (1992) – This album includes classic pop hits like “Dancing Queen,” “Mamma Mia,” and “Waterloo.” It has sold over 30 million copies worldwide.

Quick list – Top 20 albums to start a vinyl collection

Below is our quick list of top 20 albums to buy when starting a vinyl collection these span the years and the genre’s offering something for everyone. Even if you’re not a fan of the artist at the moment, it will be nice to appreciate some of the greats and their works in years to come.

In no particular order – 20 albums to start any vinyl collection:

1. Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
2. Fleetwood Mac, Rumours (1977)
3. Pink Floyd, The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
4. The Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers (1971)
5. Nirvana, Nevermind (1991)
6. The Smiths, The Queen is Dead (1986)
7. Joy Division, Unknown Pleasures (1979)
8. Radiohead, OK Computer (1997)
9. Arcade Fire, Funeral (2004)
10. The Strokes, Is This It (2001)
11. Nas, Illmatic (1994)
12. The Notorious B.I.G., Ready to Die (1994)
13. Wu-Tang Clan, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)
14. Dr. Dre, The Chronic (1992)
15. Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)
16. Michael Jackson, Thriller (1982)
17. Madonna, Like a Virgin (1984)
18. Prince and the Revolution, Purple Rain (1984)
19. Taylor Swift, 1989 (2014)
20. ABBA, Gold: Greatest Hits (1992)

Starting a vinyl collection can be a wonderful way to connect with music in a new and meaningful way. Whether you’re into rock, indie, hip hop, or pop, there are countless albums out there waiting to be discovered. These 20 picks are a great place to start, and can help introduce you to the beauty and magic of vinyl records. Happy listening!