Classic Rock series

Classic Rock series
The logo used in the
Classic Rock series
Studio album series by
Released1977–2013
GenreClassical rock
LabelK-tel, Telstar, Portrait, Horizon, Union Square Music

The Classic Rock series of albums are a collection of classical crossover records by the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Choral Society, consisting of orchestral/choral arrangements of pop/rock songs. They began with a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The first album in the series was released in 1977 with the release of Classic Rock on K-tel Records. The album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios and produced by Jeff Jarratt & Don Reedman. Andrew Pryce Jackman was the primary arranger and conductor for the series.

Year Album title,
UK record label
and catalogue number
Peak chart positions Certifications Notes
UK GER
1977 3 5
  • UK: Platinum
1978
  • Classic Rock - The Second Movement
  • K-tel
  • Cat No ONE 1039
26 3
  • Re-released in the UK on Telstar Records as Classic Rock 2 - The Second Movement
  • Cat No STAR 6007
1979
  • Classic Rock - Rhapsody In Black
  • K-tel
  • Cat No ONE 1063
34 UK: Gold
  • Re-released in 1986 in the UK on Telstar Records as Classic Rock 3 - Rhapsody In Black
  • Cat No TCD 6003
1981
  • Classic Rock - Rock Classics
  • K-tel
  • Cat No ONE 1123
5 UK: Gold
  • Re-released in 1987 (LP & cassette) & 1989 (CD) in the UK by Telstar Records as Classic Rock 4 - Rock Classics
  • Cat No STAC 600 (LP & cassette) / STAR 6004 (CD)
1982
  • The Best of Classic Rock
  • K-tel
  • Cat No ONE 1080
35 UK: Gold
1983
  • Classic Rock - Rock Symphonies
  • K-tel
  • Cat No ONE 1243
40 6 UK: Silver:
  • Re-released in 1989 in the UK by Telstar Records as Classic Rock 5 - Rock Symphonies
  • Cat No STAR 6005
  • Released in Germany and Switzerland by K-tel as New Classic Rock (Cat No TG 1467) but with a different running order.
1985 13 14 UK: Gold
1987
  • Classic Rock - Countdown
  • Portrait Records
  • Cat No MOOD 3
32
1989
  • Classic Rock - The Living Years
  • Portrait Records
  • Cat No MOOD 9
51 UK: Silver
1991
  • Wind of Change Classic Rock
  • Portrait Records
  • Cat No MOOD 19
24
2006
  • This is a 4-CD box set of Classic Rock, Classic Rock 2 - The Second Movement, Classic Rock 3 - Rhapsody In Black, and Classic Rock 4 - Rock Classics.
2013
  • Simply Orchestral Rock - Music from the Classic Rock series
  • Union Square Music
  • Cat No DDSIMPLY119
  • A collection of 48 tracks with a playing time of 4 hours