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Classic Albums (1997–present) — music on Sky Arts
About Classic Albums
This series looks at the writing and recording of some of the greatest albums of our era. Musicians, producers, and engineers are interviewed in the studio, and the master tapes are played, sometimes isolating particular channels, to highlight certain instrumental sounds or voices. Many of the musicians play live along with the tracks, demonstrating how they played the parts. In some cases, group members are reuniting after considerable time as they reminisce together. This is usually interspersed with some vintage clips and photos of concert performances. The BBC co-produced series began in 1997 with Ringo Starr as narrator. Later episodes have no narrator. The first seven episodes were licensed to VH1 in the US, then periodically more were released. Some have been shown on the BBC network, ITV, Sky Arts, VH1, A&E, PBS, and Biography Channel. One or two were repackaged by VH1 as 'Ultimate Albums'.
Classic Albums episode schedule
52 aired
Aired · 52
| Date | Ep. | Title |
|---|---|---|
| October 8, 2021 | S12·E6 | Frank Zappa: Freak Out! |
| October 1, 2021 | S12·E5 | The Doors: Morrison Hotel |
| September 24, 2021 | S12·E4 | Gil Scott-Heron: Pieces of a Man |
| May 7, 2021 | S12·E3 | Suede: Coming Up |
| April 30, 2021 | S12·E2 | Soul II Soul: Club Classics Vol. 1 |
| April 23, 2021 | S12·E1 | The Who: The Who Sell Out |
| February 14, 2020 | S11·E3 | Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair |
| July 12, 2019 | S11·E2 | The Crickets: The 'Chirping' Crickets |
| September 14, 2018 | S11·E1 | Amy Winehouse: Back to Black |
| December 8, 2017 | S10·E5 | Don McLean: American Pie |
| May 5, 2017 | S10·E4 | Carly Simon: No Secrets |
| November 19, 2013 | S10·E3 | The Who: Tommy |
| March 23, 2012 | S10·E2 | Peter Gabriel: So |
| May 6, 2011 | S10·E1 | Primal Scream: Screamadelica |
| May 6, 2011 | S9·E5 | Rush: 2112 and Moving Pictures |
| January 7, 2011 | S9·E4 | Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Damn the Torpedoes |
| November 19, 2010 | S9·E3 | The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds |
| November 17, 2010 | S9·E2 | The Rolling Stones: Beggar's Banquet |
| October 29, 2010 | S9·E1 | Black Sabbath: Paranoid |
| October 27, 2008 | S8·E3 | Duran Duran: Rio |
| June 24, 2008 | S8·E2 | John Lennon: Plastic Ono Band |
| April 14, 2008 | S8·E1 | The Doors: The Doors |
| October 3, 2007 | S7·E2 | Jay Z: Reasonable Doubt |
| May 1, 2007 | S7·E1 | Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention: Over-Nite Sensation / Apostrophe |
| November 6, 2006 | S6·E4 | Cream: Disraeli Gears |
| October 19, 2006 | S6·E3 | The Who: Who's Next |
| October 5, 2006 | S6·E2 | Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon |
| May 17, 2006 | S6·E1 | Queen: A Night at the Opera |
| January 15, 2005 | S5·E3 | Nirvana: Nevermind |
| December 30, 2004 | S5·E2 | Simply Red: Stars |
Show 22 earlier episodes
| December 29, 2004 | S5·E1 | Motorhead: Ace of Spades |
| May 4, 2003 | S4·E4 | Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here |
| January 6, 2003 | S4·E3 | Def Leppard: Hysteria |
| November 27, 2002 | S4·E2 | Deep Purple: Machine Head |
| October 26, 2002 | S4·E1 | The Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks |
| December 10, 2001 | S3·E6 | Judas Priest: British Steel |
| December 3, 2001 | S3·E5 | Elvis Presley: Elvis Presley |
| November 26, 2001 | S3·E4 | Lou Reed: Transformer |
| November 12, 2001 | S3·E3 | Metallica: Metallica (Black Album) |
| November 6, 2001 | S3·E2 | Elton John: Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road |
| November 1, 2001 | S3·E1 | Iron Maiden: Number of the Beast |
| February 3, 2000 | S2·E5 | Steely Dan: Aja |
| December 1, 1999 | S2·E4 | Bob Marley & The Wailers: Catch a Fire |
| November 9, 1999 | S2·E3 | Meat Loaf: Bat Out of Hell |
| November 2, 1999 | S2·E2 | Phil Collins: Face Value |
| October 26, 1999 | S2·E1 | U2: The Joshua Tree |
| July 22, 1997 | S1·E6 | Fleetwood Mac: Rumours |
| April 18, 1997 | S1·E5 | The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland |
| April 17, 1997 | S1·E4 | The Band: The Band |
| April 16, 1997 | S1·E3 | Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life |
| April 15, 1997 | S1·E2 | Grateful Dead: American Beauty |
| April 14, 1997 | S1·E1 | Paul Simon: Graceland |