So many classic rock albums through the years have become legendary pieces of work, revered for their sound, pioneering aesthetics, and overall awesome songs. However, some of the greatest works of the 20th century didn’t actually chart as well as one might think. In fact, the following four classic rock albums that just about everyone on the planet knows about didn’t even crack the Top 20 in the United States. A few of these might just shock you!

‘The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars’ by David Bowie

This album is one of David Bowie’s finest. Even non-fans of Bowie can recognize songs from this 1972 glam rock record, as well as Bowie’s chosen aesthetics for this era. However, when the rock opera first dropped, it didn’t even chart that well in the US. It was critically acclaimed almost across the board, but the album itself ranked just shy of the Top 20 on the US Billboard 200 chart, where it peaked at No. 21. The album eventually became a No. 1 hit on the Vinyl Albums chart in the US, though.

‘Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.’ by Bruce Springsteen

Who doesn’t love this classic Bruce Springsteen release from 1973? It was the one that started it all, and was followed by some even more incredible records from the Boss. Surprisingly, Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. only peaked at No. 60 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US. It did better in the UK and a few other countries by the 80s, but at the time of its release, it didn’t make it super far in the US.

‘Black Sabbath’ by Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath has officially come to an end, decades after their debut self-titled record dropped in 1970. They enjoyed quite an era, to say the least. But, despite becoming one of the greatest heavy metal bands of all time, their debut album wasn’t a Top 20 hit in the United States, where plenty of their fans still are today. The now-historic heavy metal album made it as far as No. 23 on the Billboard 200. Though, it quickly shot to No. 8 on the UK Albums chart.

‘Music From Big Pink’ by The Band

For a somewhat enigmatic band as eternally loved as The Band, their most revered album didn’t top the charts back in 1968. This is one of the most famous classic rock albums of the late 1960s. And despite it being an iconic album in Americana and country rock, the album itself only peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard 200 chart.

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