Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list has sparked endless debates. But beyond the rankings are the records that truly shaped the culture. In this special episode, I spotlight the albums that moved me, shaped me, and still live in me today — from Thriller, Purple Rain, and Faith, to Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, CrazySexyCool, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, and more. These albums redefined pop, hip-hop, funk, R&B, and cultural storytelling. Some broke records. Others broke barriers. But all of them broke through. 🎧 Subscribe for more deep dives into the albums that made us. 🛒 Use code THEGROOVE at Vinyl.com for 10% off iconic records. 👇 What’s your favorite album from the Top 500? #RollingStone500 #Thriller #PurpleRain #LaurynHill #VinylCommunity #MusicThatMovedMe #AllisonHagendorf #ClassicAlbums #GreatestAlbums #MusicNostalgia #PopHistory #HipHopHistory 00:00 – Intro: Why Albums Still Matter 02:08 – Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack – Disco Goes Global 04:11 – Michael Jackson’s Thriller – The Album That Changed Everything 07:26 – Prince’s Purple Rain – A Genre-Defying Masterpiece 10:04 – Run-D.M.C. – Raising Hell and Breaking Down Barriers 12:40 – Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill and Hip-Hop Rebellion 14:30 – George Michael’s Faith – Pop Brilliance and Creative Freedom 17:27 – Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation 1814 as Revolution 21:52 – Madonna – The Immaculate Collection and Pop Power 25:03 – TLC – CrazySexyCool and R&B Redefined 28:03 – Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation… and Unfiltered Truth 30:05 – OutKast – Speakerboxxx/The Love Below Changed the Game 32:38 – Outro: What’s YOUR Favorite Album on the List? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices