The Top 25 Albums to Start Your Vinyl Collection

Whether you're just beginning your journey into vinyl or reigniting a passion for records, there's nothing like building a solid foundation of essential albums. Here are 25 must-have records according to us) that are not only iconic and widely loved, but also accessible and regularly reissued so you can actually find them!

Each pick includes a little history and some suggestions for similar records to keep your collection growing in the right direction. Let's go...

1. Fleetwood Mac – Rumours (1977)

Why it matters: A perfect storm of tension, heartbreak, and harmonies, "Rumours" is pop-rock perfection from start to finish. It's one of the best-selling albums ever for a reason. If you like this, try: Eagles – Hotel California, Carole King – Tapestry, Stevie Nicks – Bella Donna

2. The Beatles – Abbey Road (1969)

Why it matters: Iconic from the cover to the closing medley, this is The Beatles at their most polished and forward-thinking. If you like this, try: The Beatles – Revolver, George Harrison – All Things Must Pass, The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds

3. Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)

Why it matters: A mind-bending concept album that pairs cosmic themes with sonic perfection. Essential listening, especially on vinyl. If you like this, try: King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King, Radiohead – OK Computer, Yes – Fragile

4. Michael Jackson – Thriller (1982)

Why it matters: The best-selling album of all time, packed with genre-crossing hits and masterful production. If you like this, try: Prince – Purple Rain, Madonna – Like a Virgin, Janet Jackson – Control

5. David Bowie – The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)

Why it matters: Glam rock at its finest. This is Bowie at his most theatrical and influential. If you like this, try: T. Rex – Electric Warrior, Lou Reed – Transformer, Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure

6. Nirvana – Nevermind (1991)

Why it matters: The album that defined a generation. Grunge made mainstream, raw and unforgettable. If you like this, try: Pearl Jam – Ten, Soundgarden – Superunknown, Alice in Chains – Dirt

7. The Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed (1969)

Why it matters: Gritty, bluesy, and full of swagger. A classic Stones album with timeless appeal. If you like this, try: The Who – Who's Next, The Kinks – Muswell Hillbillies, The Faces – A Nod Is as Good as a Wink...

8. AC/DC – Back in Black (1980)

Why it matters: One of rock's most powerful comeback albums, it delivers riff after riff of hard rock glory. If you like this, try: Guns N' Roses – Appetite for Destruction, Led Zeppelin – II, Van Halen – 1984

9. Amy Winehouse – Back to Black (2006)

Why it matters: Retro soul meets modern tragedy. Winehouse’s voice is unmatched, her impact undeniable. If you like this, try: Adele – 21, Erykah Badu – Baduizm, Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

10. Radiohead – OK Computer (1997)

Why it matters: An art-rock masterpiece that predicted the digital age with eerie precision. If you like this, try: Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here, Blur – 13, Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

11. Bob Dylan – Highway 61 Revisited (1965)

Why it matters: Electric Dylan changed the game with this biting, brilliant collection. If you like this, try: The Byrds – Mr. Tambourine Man, Neil Young – After the Gold Rush, Leonard Cohen – Songs of Leonard Cohen

12. The Clash – London Calling (1979)

Why it matters: Punk with brains, heart, and groove. One of the most eclectic double albums of all time. If you like this, try: The Jam – Sound Affects, Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks, Elvis Costello – Armed Forces

13. Joni Mitchell – Blue (1971)

Why it matters: Vulnerable, poetic, and achingly beautiful. A benchmark for singer-songwriters. If you like this, try: Carole King – Tapestry, Nick Drake – Pink Moon, Laura Marling – Song for Our Daughter

14. Beastie Boys – Paul's Boutique (1989)

Why it matters: A sample-heavy, genre-defying hip-hop record that was way ahead of its time. If you like this, try: De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising, A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory, Run-DMC – Raising Hell

15. The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

Why it matters: Art rock meets street grit. Wildly influential despite poor initial sales. If you like this, try: Patti Smith – Horses, Iggy Pop – The Idiot, Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation

16. Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run (1975)

Why it matters: An epic, cinematic tribute to chasing dreams and escaping small-town life. If you like this, try: Tom Petty – Damn the Torpedoes, Bob Seger – Night Moves, John Mellencamp – Scarecrow

17. Daft Punk – Discovery (2001)

Why it matters: Funky, futuristic, and totally danceable. A must-have for electronic and pop fans. If you like this, try: Justice – Cross, LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver, The Chemical Brothers – Dig Your Own Hole

18. Johnny Cash – At Folsom Prison (1968)

Why it matters: The Man in Black delivers a raw, unforgettable live performance behind bars. If you like this, try: Willie Nelson – Red Headed Stranger, Kris Kristofferson – Kristofferson, Merle Haggard – Mama Tried

19. The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead (1986)

Why it matters: Witty, melancholic, and melodically rich. An essential 80s alt-rock album. If you like this, try: The Cure – Disintegration, Echo & the Bunnymen – Ocean Rain, Morrissey – Viva Hate

20. Miles Davis – Kind of Blue (1959)

Why it matters: The greatest jazz record ever made? Quite possibly. Cool, complex, and timeless. If you like this, try: John Coltrane – A Love Supreme, Herbie Hancock – Maiden Voyage, Dave Brubeck – Time Out

21. The Strokes – Is This It (2001)

Why it matters: Garage rock revival done right. Effortlessly cool and full of swagger. If you like this, try: The White Stripes – Elephant, Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am..., Franz Ferdinand – Self-Titled

22. Billie Eilish – When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019)

Why it matters: Dark pop for a new generation. Inventive production and haunting vocals. If you like this, try: Lorde – Melodrama, Lana Del Rey – Born to Die, Grimes – Art Angels

23. Black Sabbath – Paranoid (1970)

Why it matters: Heavy metal started here. Loud, gritty, and groundbreaking. If you like this, try: Led Zeppelin – IV, Deep Purple – Machine Head, Judas Priest – British Steel

24. Taylor Swift – 1989 (2014)

Why it matters: Synth-pop perfection that marked a bold reinvention for Swift. Hit after hit. If you like this, try: Carly Rae Jepsen – Emotion, Haim – Days Are Gone, Robyn – Body Talk

25. Elvis Presley – Elvis Presley (1956)

Why it matters: The album that brought rock 'n' roll into the mainstream. A cornerstone of music history. If you like this, try: Chuck Berry – The Great Twenty-Eight, Buddy Holly – 20 Golden Greats, Little Richard – Here's Little Richard

Building your vinyl collection should be about passion, not perfection. These 25 albums are a great place to start — accessible, iconic, and sure to spark joy every time that needle drops. And remember, at Rockaway Records, we're always spinning something good. Come in, say hi, and let us help you find your next favourite record.