18 albums with major problems that became classics

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As a huge music fan, I always think about everything artists go through to release an album. It’s seriously a complicated process with so many steps where things can easily go wrong. There are just so many potential problems – way more than you can count on both hands and feet! It could be anything from fights with the record label or censorship issues, to technical glitches, personal struggles, or even disagreements within the band itself. It’s a real minefield, and I have so much respect for artists who manage to get their music out there.

These issues can sometimes completely ruin a potentially amazing work – think of the famous, unfinished Beach Boys album Smile – or they can lead to an album that clearly has flaws you can both hear and see.

Many albums considered classics actually faced significant challenges during their creation – problems listeners would never suspect from the finished recordings. Here are 18 examples of albums that overcame serious issues to become great successes.

Making these 18 albums was a pain, but they are worth it

The Beach Boys –  Pet Sounds (1966)

Recording this album was difficult for the Beach Boys, mainly because Mike Love disagreed with Tony Asher being the primary lyricist, leading to some lyrics being altered. Their record label, Capitol Records, was also hesitant, feeling the album moved away from the band’s familiar themes of surfing, girls, and cars. Although initial sales in the U.S. were slow, critics praised the album, and over time, it gained a wide audience and became hugely influential.

Johnny Cash – At Folsom Prison (1968)

The mid-1960s were a difficult time for Johnny Cash, as declining record sales added to his personal struggles. Determined to revive his career, he proposed recording a live album inside a prison, for an audience of inmates. While Columbia Records initially thought the idea was too unusual and risky, Cash convinced them to move forward, resulting in one of the most impactful live albums ever made.

The Beatles – Let It Be (1970)

While recording this album, tensions were high within The Beatles, and disagreements over producer Phil Spector’s initial work only made things worse. George Harrison briefly left the band, putting the project on hold for a year. When he returned, Paul McCartney took the lead on a completely new final production.

Marvin Gaye –  What’s Going On (1971)

Motown Records became famous for creating incredibly popular pop, soul, and R&B music. So, when Marvin Gaye wanted to create something different – a deeply thoughtful and socially conscious soul album – many of the label’s executives were hesitant. Gaye stood his ground and insisted on pursuing his vision, and thankfully, he succeeded in creating a timeless masterpiece.

The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St. (1972)

Ian Dury’s hit song “Sex, Drugs & Rock ‘n’ Roll” might have been inspired by the wild scene surrounding the recording of this album. The Rolling Stones reportedly had plenty of all three – plus some tax issues – while renting a house in France. Perhaps all that chaos was exactly what made the album a rock and roll masterpiece.

The Stooges – Raw Power (1973)

Iggy Pop and his band always stuck to their artistic vision, creating raw and energetic music. This didn’t sit well with their record label, Columbia, who wanted a more polished sound during mixing, leading to disagreements. To resolve the conflict, David Bowie was brought in, and the resulting album became a hugely influential work in the punk genre.

Neil Young – Tonight’s The Night (1973)

Following the success of his album Harvest, Neil Young experienced a period of immense grief when two close friends, Bruce Berry and Danny Whitten, unexpectedly passed away. Deeply affected, he abandoned the album he was working on and instead created a stark, mostly acoustic album filled with raw emotion. This new record ultimately became one of his most acclaimed works.

Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run (1975)

Despite positive reviews and a growing fanbase, Bruce Springsteen’s first two albums weren’t selling as well as Columbia Records had hoped, and they considered dropping him. Feeling the pressure, Springsteen spent over a year perfecting his next album, which only increased the stress. Columbia decided to release the album anyway, and it proved to be a successful decision for both the label and the fans.

Bob Dylan –  Blood on the Tracks (1975)

It’s not uncommon for artists to discard old recordings and try a new approach, and Bob Dylan is known for reinventing his sound. That’s precisely what happened with this album. Dissatisfied with the initial recordings, Dylan scrapped several finished tracks and re-recorded them with an entirely new group of musicians. The result is considered one of his best albums.

Fleetwood Mac – Rumours (1977)

The making of this album was a rollercoaster – the band went through periods of collaboration, disagreement, and rebuilding, all internally. This created a uniquely charged and emotional environment during recording. Surprisingly, this tension may have been a key ingredient in making it one of the best-selling rock albums of all time.

David Bowie – Heroes (1977)

This album didn’t have many technical or production problems, but it was made during a difficult time for David Bowie, who was struggling with addiction and depression. The atmosphere of Cold War-era Berlin, where the album was recorded, also added to the challenges. Despite these difficulties, and some skepticism from the record label, Bowie and the team successfully created one of his most acclaimed works.

Pink Floyd – The Wall (1979)

Tensions were rising rapidly between the band members, especially Roger Waters and David Gilmour. Waters was dominating the creative direction and recording of the album, and the situation nearly caused the band to break up. Despite the conflict, they persevered and the album became one of their biggest successes.

Clash – London Calling (1979)

The Clash were a hugely important punk band, but Joe Strummer and some members wanted to experiment with new sounds. This caused arguments within the band, and the unpredictable recording style of producer Guy Stevens only added to the tension. The album ended up costing a lot to make, and the record label, CBS, was getting worried. Despite all the chaos, the result was the most critically and commercially successful album of The Clash’s career.

AC/DC – Back In Black (1980)

The band was recording a new album after their previous one, Highway to Hell, had become a major success when their singer, Bon Scott, unexpectedly passed away. The remaining members were heartbroken and considered stopping the recording altogether. However, Malcolm Young proposed they cope with their grief by finding a new singer and practicing relentlessly. As it turned out, his idea worked, and the album they eventually created was a triumph.

Prince – 1999 (1982)

When Prince turned in the finished recordings for this album to Warner Bros., the company was puzzled. They couldn’t easily categorize the music into a single genre, making it hard to know how to promote it. Prince was firm about releasing the album exactly as it was, and ultimately, his vision proved successful.

Nirvana – Nevermind (1991)

When Nirvana moved from the independent label Sub Pop to the much larger Geffen Records, Geffen wasn’t sure how to handle the band’s sound. They initially printed only 50,000 copies of Nirvana’s first album for them. However, after the song “Smell Like Teen Spirit” became a huge hit on MTV, demand for the album skyrocketed and they struggled to produce enough copies.

Radiohead – OK Computer (1997)

Before this album, Radiohead was generally seen as a typical guitar band, often compared to other Britpop groups. Whether they disliked that label or just wanted to explore new sounds, they created something drastically different. Their record label wasn’t thrilled with the result, but they released the album anyway, and it went on to become a hugely influential progressive rock record.

Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)

Tweedy and the band finished an album, but their original record label, Reprise (part of Warner), rejected it and ended their contract, returning the master tapes. The band then began sharing the songs online through their website, and the positive response led to a new deal with Nonesuch, another label owned by Warner. Nonesuch recognized the album’s potential, offering the band double their previous advance, and it ultimately proved to be a major success.

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2025-10-27 13:01