isitback

Is Classic Albums coming back?

Classic Albums (1997–present) — music on Sky Arts

The answer: Between seasons — last episode October 8, 2021, no return date announced yet.
Classic Albums poster
Genre
Music
Network / streamer
Sky Arts
Premiered
April 14, 1997
Runtime
~53 min per episode
12seasons
52episodes

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

DateEp.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