Glam: Top 25 Albums

Glam: The Top 25 Albums

Glam rock was a genre which emerged in the early 1970s that was characterized as much by fashion as the music itself. Performers wore flamboyant costumes (which often included glitter and platform shoes), makeup, and hairstyles. The look often flirted with andryogyny and fluid gender roles and a camp style. Musically, the genre drew largely from rock and roll, but incorporated cabaret, bubblegum pop, and throwaway pop culture. The movement was largely British. David Bowie, T-Rex, Mott the Hoople, Sweet, and Slade were among the genre’s most popular artists. Some American artists such as Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, and the New York Dolls also incorporated glam into their music in the 1970s. There were also British artists such as Elton John and Queen who adopted some elements of glam in their ‘70s music. The genre influenced punk rock, goth, new wave, and hair bands. This list was created by aggregating 14 lists focused on the best glam rock albums of all time. Check out other best-of-genre/category lists here. 1. David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) 2. Lou Reed Transformer (1972) 3. New York Dolls New York Dolls (1973) 4. Roxy Music For Your Pleasure (1973) 5. T-Rex Electric Warrior (1971) 6. Roxy Music Roxy Music (1972) 7. David Bowie Aladdin Sane (1973) 8. Mott the Hoople Mott (1973) 9. David Bowie Hunky Dory (1971) 10. Brian Eno Here Come the Warm Jets (1974) 11. Roxy Music Country Music (1974) 12. Sparks Kimono My House (1974) 13. Queen Sheer Heart Attack (1974) 14. Roxy Music Stranded (1973) 15. Alice Cooper Billion Dollar Babies (1973) 16. Roxy Music Siren (1975) 17. Suede (aka “London Suede”) Dog Man Star (1994) 18. T-Rex The Slider (1972) 19. Alice Cooper Love It to Death (1971) 20. David Bowie The Man Who Sold the World (1970) 21. David Bowie Diamond Dogs (1974) 22. Slade Slayed? (1973) 23. Mott the Hoople All the Young Dudes (1972) 24. Pulp Different Class (1995) 25. Queen A Night at the Opera (1975) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Glam Rock: Top 50 Songs” Dave’s Music Database: other best-of-genre lists First posted 9/2/2024.