Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/5-albums-that-flopped-on-release-but-became-classics-years-later/
Every so often, a record arrives to indifference or outright rejection, only to be rediscovered years or even decades later as something essential. The gap between an album’s commercial fate and its lasting reputation can be strange to look back on, especially once the record in question has shaped entire genres. These five albums prove that sales figures and cultural impact do not always move in the same direction.
1. The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
When The Velvet Underground and Nico released their self-titled debut in March 1967, the public response was close to nonexistent. The album eked into the Billboard 200 at number 199 in May 1967, peaking at number 195. Brian Eno famously noted in 1982 that the album sold approximately 30,000 copies in its first five years, joking that everyone who bought one of those copies started a band.
Verve gave the record minimal promotional support, and radio simply had no place for its abrasive sound at the time. The band’s label gave the album a soft sell, and commercial radio had yet to have an opening for acts as mold-breaking. Decades on, the album is now widely regarded as one of the most influential rock records ever made, its impact far outpacing its original chart performance.
2. Big Star, #1 Record (1972)
Big Star’s debut earned some of the most glowing reviews any young rock band could…
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-08-04 08:03:00
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