Can you believe that during the golden era of rock and roll, many bands’ songs were overlooked? Fans sometimes snuffed tunes by some of the greatest musicians of all time.
There were many reasons why a great band whiffed. Some bands took years to produce an album, leaving fans to wonder if they had retired. Once the new album was out, some fans didn’t know what to expect or just ignored it. Other times, people didn’t like when a band experimented with new sounds.
So, which albums bombed when they should’ve gone platinum? Here are the top 15 rock music albums that fans overlooked, ranked by number of albums sold.
15. ‘Goodbye’ by Cream (Tie)
Year released: 1969
No. of albums sold: 500,000
Bottom Line: ‘Goodbye’
“Goodbye” was Cream’s swan song album. This was a sad moment since Cream was one of the top bands in the late ’60s, led by vocals and guitarists Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton. Figuring out what Cream would give fans for their final album was challenging. But it was a pleasant surprise, with a great mix of studio work and live performances.
My favorites off this album are “I’m So Glad” and “Badge.” The mixture of upbeat vocals and superb guitar work could’ve worked for some time, but performers like Clapton knew it was time to go out alone.
15. ‘Secret Treaties’ by Blue Oyster Cult (Tie)
Year released: 1974
No. of albums sold: 500,000
Bottom Line: ‘Secret Treaties’
I understand that most fans identify Blue Oyster Cult with its mellow hit “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” Still, in my opinion, Blue Oyster Cult’s true calling shines in Secret Treaties with high-octane thrillers such as “Dominance and Submission,” “ME 262” and “Subhuman.”
Secret Treaties is one of rock’s most underrated albums, with disappointing sales. Interestingly, the band did not write any of the lyrics to the album. That task went to producer Sandy Pearlman, rock critic Richard Meltzer, and singer Patti Smith. Eric Bloom and Albert Bouchard executed the music quite well.
15. ‘Bridge of Sighs’ by Robin Trower (Tie)
Year released: 1974
No. of albums sold: 500,000
Bottom Line: ‘Bridge of Sighs’
Robin Trower is one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He delivered quality from his beginning with Procol Harum and projects like “Bridge of Sighs.”
Even as a gifted musician, Trower flew under the radar in the early 1970s compared to Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Rick Derringer. Because of this, the album’s ability to fly was partially cut. When “Bridge of Sighs” came out in 1974, rock fans witnessed a legend emerging.
Trower eventually became noted for classics like “Day of The Eagle,” “Bridge of Sighs” and “Lady Love.” As the vocalist, James Dewar perfectly matched Trower’s lightning guitar play.
15. ‘Beck-Ola’ by Jeff Beck (Tie)
Year released: 1969
No. of albums sold: 500,000
Bottom Line: ‘Beck-Ola’
This was the second album by the Jeff Beck Group following a strong debut album, “Truth,” made in collaboration with the likes of Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, and Beck. It wasn’t clear if Beck’s group could retain a strong following with “Beck-Ola.” Well, it did.
Beck’s style of R&B and blues mixed with hard rock showed fans that Beck had what it takes to be among the game’s legends. In addition, Stewart’s vocals and Wood’s bass play made this one of the top rock albums of its time. Personally, my favorites include “Rice Pudding” and “Plynth (Water Down the Drain).”
15. ‘Countdown to Ecstasy’ by Steely Dan (Tie)
Year released: 1996
No. of albums sold: 500,000
Bottom Line: ‘Countdown to Ecstasy’
I find this album quite puzzling. This is my favorite Steely Dan production with classics such as “Bodhisattva,” “Pearl of the Quarter,” “My Old School” and “Show Biz Kids.” Steely Dan shines in its versatility as a rock and jazz band. They also performed well in concerts and on the radio.
So why should the album produce fewer sales than it should have? Donald Fagen took over for singer David Palmer and did a masterful job. Yet, for some reason, the album did not generate a hit single in the U.S. Sadly, many rock fans missed the boat on this gem of an album.
10. ‘Motley Crue’ by Motley Crue
Year released: 1984
No. of albums sold: 600,000
Bottom Line: ‘Motley Crue’
Motley Crue’s decision to replace Vince Neil as lead singer with John Coribi didn’t sit well with die-hard fans. Released in 1984, the band’s eponymous album was the first without Neil. Coribi’s deeper voice steered a new course for Motley Crue, though it was temporary.
The music was also tweaked, taking a honky-tonk approach — one has to wonder why they took this course. “Misunderstood” and “Poison Apples” displayed the new sound, but there were a couple of songs from the old tradition that worked, such as “Hooligan’s Holiday” and “Hammered.”
This was the first time a Motley Crue album did not go platinum, so guess what? Coribi was out, and Neil returned to the band.
9. ‘Flick of the Switch’ by AC/DC
Year released: 1983
No. of albums sold: 1.7 million
Bottom Line: ‘Flick of the Switch’
Critics had a field day with AC/DC’s “Flick of the Switch.” Rolling Stone magazine stated, “The Australian mega-bar-band AC/DC has now made the same album nine times, surely a record even in heavy-metal circles.”
However, a few things don’t make sense to me. AC/DC has versatility amid its heavy metal backdrop. And whatever happened to it, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. The band returned to its roots because that’s what the fans wanted. Some of their best songs on this album include “Flick of the Switch,” “Rising Power” and “Guns for Hire.”
8. ‘Bark at the Moon’ by Ozzy Osbourne
Year released: 1983
No. of albums sold: 3.1 million (U.S. sales)
Bottom Line: ‘Bark at the Moon’
This was the third album on Ozzy Osbourne’s solo journey after the break up of Black Sabbath, and it wasn’t clear if he could keep it going. The rock star did not disappoint his base with some real upbeat classics that include the signature song.
I am a fast-paced rock and roll nut, and “Bark at the Moon” fits my style. In fact, Ozzy wrote each song on the album for the only time in his career and did a much better job than expected. Of note: There are claims that a man committed a double murder while listening to the song “Bark at the Moon.”
7. ‘Get Your Wings’ by Aerosmith
Year released: 1974
No. of albums sold: 3 million
Bottom Line: ‘Get Your Wings’
Talk about some weird timing: Aerosmith’s second album, “Get Your Wings,” nearly got overlooked among Aerosmith fans. The reason was Aerosmith’s first album, called “Aerosmith,” had a delayed debut. So the second album was released basically at the same time as fans were busy enjoying the album’s first hit, “Dream On.”
But the album did not disappoint. “Get Your Wings” had plenty of hits, including “Same Old Song and Dance,” “Seasons of Whither” and “Lord of the Thighs.” Some fans believe the second album was far better than the debut album. It did well for an album that was nearly an afterthought. Of course, that was only the beginning of many hits to come.
6. ‘Diver Down’ by Van Halen
Year released: 1982
No. of albums sold: 4.4 million
Bottom Line: ‘Diver Down’
Van Halen fans felt they had plenty to complain about with “Diver Down,” especially with the album cover that featured a red background and a big white slash — the SCUBA diver flag that had the faithful scratching their heads. As David Lee Roth put it, “There was something going on that’s not apparent to your eyes.”
That wasn’t the only gamble by Van Halen. One of the album’s hits, “Pretty Woman,” was a remake, and covers usually fail. Not in this case. Van Halen did a fine job with Roy Orbison’s classic. Other note hits include “Where Have All the Good Times Gone” and “Hang Em High,” which brought two thumbs up from the fans.
5. ‘Duke’ by Genesis
Year released: 1980
No. of albums sold: 5 million
Bottom Line: ‘Duke’
This was Genesis’ second album, and figuring out its direction was hard. You had the Genesis side, where the band showed its pop sound, mixed with Phil Collins grabbing at your heartstrings.
They put together an impressive mix of music that was the dawn of things to come. I like the album’s pop side with hits like “Turn It on Again” and “Misunderstanding.” If you want to slow it down, check out “Guide Vocal.” As it turns out, this was the transition album toward many hits in the future.
4. ‘In Through the Out Door’ by Led Zeppelin
Year released: 1979
No. of albums sold: 6 million
Bottom Line: ‘In Through the Out Door’
This was a hot mess from the get-go for Led Zeppelin. “In Through the Out Door” was the last album the band produced, and it had some red flags. Usually, it takes more than a year on average to assemble a quality album — this one took three weeks, so the effort comes into question.
Also, the critics were out in full force, and the fans didn’t know what to expect. Led Zeppelin did some experimenting and put together an impressive album. They even used Latin-based material — including “Fool in the Rain” and “South Bound Suarez” — that worked well. Of course, the standout song for me was “All My Love.”
3. ‘Burn’ by Deep Purple
Year released: 1974
No. of albums sold: 8 million
Bottom Line: ‘Burn’
This is the eighth studio album from Deep Purple, but it was a gamble. David Coverdale was brought in for vocals as a complete unknown, and Glenn Hughes came in for bass and vocals — and they didn’t miss a beat with Ritchie Blackmore.
The overall sound also changed with the band, with boogie rock and blues rock bleeding into the standard hard rock sound. Surprisingly, the changes were embraced by Deep Purple fans. To be honest, I like the new sound, but songs like “Burn” and “Might Just Take Your Life” also delved into the traditional hard-rock sound.
2. ‘Load’ by Metallica
Year released: 1996
No. of albums sold: 8 million
Bottom Line: ‘Load’
It began to look like Metallica was dialing it down a little … and then “Load” came along. It brought Metallica back to its roots as a hard-rock, Southern-style band and it turned things up. Just listen to songs like “Ain’t My Bitch,” “2 X 4” and “Ronnie,” and you can see it was back to the future for Metallica.
With “Load,” fans could grasp Metallica’s versatility as one of the great rock bands of our time. While fans may have been concerned about a change of direction for Metallica, this album settled some nerves, and Metallica was back in business.
1. ‘Don’t Look Back’ by Boston
Year released: 1978
No. of albums sold: 8 million
Bottom Line: ‘Don’t Look Back’
This was Boston’s second album after a successful debut. However, it took over two years to complete, and fans were left wondering when and if a second album would appear. It did, and “Don’t Look Back” was worth the wait.
The album contained many things that the debut album brought, such as the fun choruses with a mix of classic rock and pop. The songs were loaded with catchy beats such as “Don’t Look Back,” “A Man I’ll Never Be” and “Feelin Satisfied.” Unfortunately, the amount of time between the production of the first two albums took its toll on impatient fans.
15 Most Underrated Rock Albums of All Time
Can you believe that during the golden era of rock and roll, many bands’ songs were overlooked? Fans sometimes snuffed tunes by some of the greatest musicians of all time.
There were many reasons why a great band whiffed. Some bands took years to produce an album, leaving fans to wonder if they had retired. Once the new album was out, some fans didn’t know what to expect or just ignored it. Other times, people didn’t like when a band experimented with new sounds.
So, which albums bombed when they should’ve gone platinum? Here are the top 15 rock music albums that fans overlooked, ranked by number of albums sold.
15. ‘Goodbye’ by Cream (Tie)
Year released: 1969
No. of albums sold: 500,000
Bottom Line: ‘Goodbye’
“Goodbye” was Cream’s swan song album. This was a sad moment since Cream was one of the top bands in the late ’60s, led by vocals and guitarists Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton. Figuring out what Cream would give fans for their final album was challenging. But it was a pleasant surprise, with a great mix of studio work and live performances.
My favorites off this album are “I’m So Glad” and “Badge.” The mixture of upbeat vocals and superb guitar work could’ve worked for some time, but performers like Clapton knew it was time to go out alone.
15. ‘Secret Treaties’ by Blue Oyster Cult (Tie)
Year released: 1974
No. of albums sold: 500,000
Bottom Line: ‘Secret Treaties’
I understand that most fans identify Blue Oyster Cult with its mellow hit “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” Still, in my opinion, Blue Oyster Cult’s true calling shines in Secret Treaties with high-octane thrillers such as “Dominance and Submission,” “ME 262” and “Subhuman.”
Secret Treaties is one of rock’s most underrated albums, with disappointing sales. Interestingly, the band did not write any of the lyrics to the album. That task went to producer Sandy Pearlman, rock critic Richard Meltzer, and singer Patti Smith. Eric Bloom and Albert Bouchard executed the music quite well.
15. ‘Bridge of Sighs’ by Robin Trower (Tie)
Year released: 1974
No. of albums sold: 500,000
Bottom Line: ‘Bridge of Sighs’
Robin Trower is one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He delivered quality from his beginning with Procol Harum and projects like “Bridge of Sighs.”
Even as a gifted musician, Trower flew under the radar in the early 1970s compared to Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Rick Derringer. Because of this, the album’s ability to fly was partially cut. When “Bridge of Sighs” came out in 1974, rock fans witnessed a legend emerging.
Trower eventually became noted for classics like “Day of The Eagle,” “Bridge of Sighs” and “Lady Love.” As the vocalist, James Dewar perfectly matched Trower’s lightning guitar play.
15. ‘Beck-Ola’ by Jeff Beck (Tie)
Year released: 1969
No. of albums sold: 500,000
Bottom Line: ‘Beck-Ola’
This was the second album by the Jeff Beck Group following a strong debut album, “Truth,” made in collaboration with the likes of Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, and Beck. It wasn’t clear if Beck’s group could retain a strong following with “Beck-Ola.” Well, it did.
Beck’s style of R&B and blues mixed with hard rock showed fans that Beck had what it takes to be among the game’s legends. In addition, Stewart’s vocals and Wood’s bass play made this one of the top rock albums of its time. Personally, my favorites include “Rice Pudding” and “Plynth (Water Down the Drain).”
15. ‘Countdown to Ecstasy’ by Steely Dan (Tie)
Year released: 1996
No. of albums sold: 500,000
Bottom Line: ‘Countdown to Ecstasy’
I find this album quite puzzling. This is my favorite Steely Dan production with classics such as “Bodhisattva,” “Pearl of the Quarter,” “My Old School” and “Show Biz Kids.” Steely Dan shines in its versatility as a rock and jazz band. They also performed well in concerts and on the radio.
So why should the album produce fewer sales than it should have? Donald Fagen took over for singer David Palmer and did a masterful job. Yet, for some reason, the album did not generate a hit single in the U.S. Sadly, many rock fans missed the boat on this gem of an album.
10. ‘Motley Crue’ by Motley Crue
Year released: 1984
No. of albums sold: 600,000
Bottom Line: ‘Motley Crue’
Motley Crue’s decision to replace Vince Neil as lead singer with John Coribi didn’t sit well with die-hard fans. Released in 1984, the band’s eponymous album was the first without Neil. Coribi’s deeper voice steered a new course for Motley Crue, though it was temporary.
The music was also tweaked, taking a honky-tonk approach — one has to wonder why they took this course. “Misunderstood” and “Poison Apples” displayed the new sound, but there were a couple of songs from the old tradition that worked, such as “Hooligan’s Holiday” and “Hammered.”
This was the first time a Motley Crue album did not go platinum, so guess what? Coribi was out, and Neil returned to the band.
9. ‘Flick of the Switch’ by AC/DC
Year released: 1983
No. of albums sold: 1.7 million
Bottom Line: ‘Flick of the Switch’
Critics had a field day with AC/DC’s “Flick of the Switch.” Rolling Stone magazine stated, “The Australian mega-bar-band AC/DC has now made the same album nine times, surely a record even in heavy-metal circles.”
However, a few things don’t make sense to me. AC/DC has versatility amid its heavy metal backdrop. And whatever happened to it, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. The band returned to its roots because that’s what the fans wanted. Some of their best songs on this album include “Flick of the Switch,” “Rising Power” and “Guns for Hire.”
8. ‘Bark at the Moon’ by Ozzy Osbourne
Year released: 1983
No. of albums sold: 3.1 million (U.S. sales)
Bottom Line: ‘Bark at the Moon’
This was the third album on Ozzy Osbourne’s solo journey after the break up of Black Sabbath, and it wasn’t clear if he could keep it going. The rock star did not disappoint his base with some real upbeat classics that include the signature song.
I am a fast-paced rock and roll nut, and “Bark at the Moon” fits my style. In fact, Ozzy wrote each song on the album for the only time in his career and did a much better job than expected. Of note: There are claims that a man committed a double murder while listening to the song “Bark at the Moon.”
7. ‘Get Your Wings’ by Aerosmith
Year released: 1974
No. of albums sold: 3 million
Bottom Line: ‘Get Your Wings’
Talk about some weird timing: Aerosmith’s second album, “Get Your Wings,” nearly got overlooked among Aerosmith fans. The reason was Aerosmith’s first album, called “Aerosmith,” had a delayed debut. So the second album was released basically at the same time as fans were busy enjoying the album’s first hit, “Dream On.”
But the album did not disappoint. “Get Your Wings” had plenty of hits, including “Same Old Song and Dance,” “Seasons of Whither” and “Lord of the Thighs.” Some fans believe the second album was far better than the debut album. It did well for an album that was nearly an afterthought. Of course, that was only the beginning of many hits to come.
6. ‘Diver Down’ by Van Halen
Year released: 1982
No. of albums sold: 4.4 million
Bottom Line: ‘Diver Down’
Van Halen fans felt they had plenty to complain about with “Diver Down,” especially with the album cover that featured a red background and a big white slash — the SCUBA diver flag that had the faithful scratching their heads. As David Lee Roth put it, “There was something going on that’s not apparent to your eyes.”
That wasn’t the only gamble by Van Halen. One of the album’s hits, “Pretty Woman,” was a remake, and covers usually fail. Not in this case. Van Halen did a fine job with Roy Orbison’s classic. Other note hits include “Where Have All the Good Times Gone” and “Hang Em High,” which brought two thumbs up from the fans.
5. ‘Duke’ by Genesis
Year released: 1980
No. of albums sold: 5 million
Bottom Line: ‘Duke’
This was Genesis’ second album, and figuring out its direction was hard. You had the Genesis side, where the band showed its pop sound, mixed with Phil Collins grabbing at your heartstrings.
They put together an impressive mix of music that was the dawn of things to come. I like the album’s pop side with hits like “Turn It on Again” and “Misunderstanding.” If you want to slow it down, check out “Guide Vocal.” As it turns out, this was the transition album toward many hits in the future.
4. ‘In Through the Out Door’ by Led Zeppelin
Year released: 1979
No. of albums sold: 6 million
Bottom Line: ‘In Through the Out Door’
This was a hot mess from the get-go for Led Zeppelin. “In Through the Out Door” was the last album the band produced, and it had some red flags. Usually, it takes more than a year on average to assemble a quality album — this one took three weeks, so the effort comes into question.
Also, the critics were out in full force, and the fans didn’t know what to expect. Led Zeppelin did some experimenting and put together an impressive album. They even used Latin-based material — including “Fool in the Rain” and “South Bound Suarez” — that worked well. Of course, the standout song for me was “All My Love.”
3. ‘Burn’ by Deep Purple
Year released: 1974
No. of albums sold: 8 million
Bottom Line: ‘Burn’
This is the eighth studio album from Deep Purple, but it was a gamble. David Coverdale was brought in for vocals as a complete unknown, and Glenn Hughes came in for bass and vocals — and they didn’t miss a beat with Ritchie Blackmore.
The overall sound also changed with the band, with boogie rock and blues rock bleeding into the standard hard rock sound. Surprisingly, the changes were embraced by Deep Purple fans. To be honest, I like the new sound, but songs like “Burn” and “Might Just Take Your Life” also delved into the traditional hard-rock sound.
2. ‘Load’ by Metallica
Year released: 1996
No. of albums sold: 8 million
Bottom Line: ‘Load’
It began to look like Metallica was dialing it down a little … and then “Load” came along. It brought Metallica back to its roots as a hard-rock, Southern-style band and it turned things up. Just listen to songs like “Ain’t My Bitch,” “2 X 4” and “Ronnie,” and you can see it was back to the future for Metallica.
With “Load,” fans could grasp Metallica’s versatility as one of the great rock bands of our time. While fans may have been concerned about a change of direction for Metallica, this album settled some nerves, and Metallica was back in business.
1. ‘Don’t Look Back’ by Boston
Year released: 1978
No. of albums sold: 8 million
Bottom Line: ‘Don’t Look Back’
This was Boston’s second album after a successful debut. However, it took over two years to complete, and fans were left wondering when and if a second album would appear. It did, and “Don’t Look Back” was worth the wait.
The album contained many things that the debut album brought, such as the fun choruses with a mix of classic rock and pop. The songs were loaded with catchy beats such as “Don’t Look Back,” “A Man I’ll Never Be” and “Feelin Satisfied.” Unfortunately, the amount of time between the production of the first two albums took its toll on impatient fans.
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About The Author
Steve Dempsey
Steve Dempsey has worked for a variety of news organizations for nearly 40 years. The majority of Steve's work came in sports, including covering the NFL, Major League Baseball, NBA, golf, and motorsports. Steve also wrote editorials in Opinion along with hosting a live-stream online show covering many topics. Steve is also an experienced web designer and CMS operator. He recently completed a web development boot camp named Coding Dojo.