Triple albums are a rare breed. They’re not just collections of songs — they’re full-blown experiences. They demand your attention, challenge your patience, and reward your soul. They say to the listener, “Strap in, we’ve got a lot to say.” And if done right, a triple album doesn’t feel like too much. It feels like exactly enough.
Whether it’s because the band was on fire creatively, had a sprawling story to tell, or just didn’t want to leave anything on the cutting room floor, triple albums are a beautiful musical flex — and some of them have become essential pieces of rock, jazz, and hip-hop history.
Here are 15 of the greatest triple albums ever released — no filler, all killer. Let’s go.
George Harrison – All Things Must Pass
When the quiet Beatle finally got the mic, he delivered a cosmic, spiritual, hit-packed epic. “My Sweet Lord” was just the beginning — this triple LP is overflowing with warmth, wisdom, and a little help from his friends (Phil Spector! Eric Clapton!).
The Clash – Sandinista!
Punk? Sure. Reggae? Yep. Hip-hop, gospel, dub, funk, calypso? Why not! Sandinista! is the sound of a band busting out of every box they were ever put in. 36 songs, infinite ambition, and not a safety net in sight.
Prince – Emancipation
Three discs. One hundred and eighty minutes. One Purple legend. This 1996 release marked Prince’s freedom from his Warner Bros. contract, and he celebrated with a genre-hopping joyride of funk, soul, pop, and covers. Prince wasn’t just prolific—he made being prolific sound magical.
The Magnetic Fields – 69 Love Songs
This one does what it says on the tin: 69 songs, all about love, all by Stephin Merritt and co. It’s witty, heartbreaking, theatrical, minimalist, maximalist, and downright brilliant. A triple album for the indie romantics.
Yes – Yessongs
Prog rock at its most unrestrained, Yessongs captures Yes live in all their dazzling complexity. Every note is played like it’s part of a mission from the cosmos. It’s bombastic, beautiful, and completely over the top—in the best way.
Erykah Badu – Erykah Badu: Live (vinyl edition)
The original CD version isn’t technically a triple, but the deluxe vinyl release of Badu’s live debut spreads the magic over three LPs. Soulful, raw, spiritual, and funky—it’s proof that she could command a stage with nothing but a groove and the truth.
Frank Sinatra – Trilogy: Past Present Future
Only Sinatra could turn a triple album into a time machine. He croons the classics in The Past, swings into contemporary tunes in The Present, and goes full concept album in The Future. You haven’t lived until you’ve heard Sinatra sing about space colonies.
The Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
Ok, technically a double CD, but on vinyl? Triple LP all the way. It’s the defining alt-rock epic of the ’90s. Guitars crunch, strings soar, and Billy Corgan dreams in loud, distorted poetry.
Miles Davis – Live at the Plugged Nickel 1965
This triple LP (expanded to even more in later box sets) captures Miles and his “second great quintet” at their most exploratory. These performances redefined jazz standards in real time and a masterclass in spontaneous reinvention.
Woodstock – Music from the Original Soundtrack and More
Peace, love, mud, and music — this triple album immortalized the sound of a generation. From Hendrix to Joplin to CSNY, it’s a sonic time capsule from the most legendary music festival of them all.
Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me
Three discs of baroque folk, harp-plucked introspection, and lyrical labyrinths. This is a modern classic that rewards patience, headphones, and repeated listens. It’s not background music — it’s a whole world.
Coheed and Cambria – The Afterman: Ascension + Descension (Deluxe Vinyl Edition)
When split across deluxe triple vinyl, this sci-fi prog saga becomes even more cinematic. Conceptual rock operas never sounded so polished, punchy, or passionate.
Dream Theater – The Astonishing
A rock opera told over 34 tracks and three LPs. Dystopian themes? Check. Symphonic arrangements? Absolutely. Guitars that sound like they’re powered by AI? You bet. This is prog-metal for the maximum-effort crowd.
The Grateful Dead – Europe ’72
You can’t talk triple albums without The Dead. Europe ’72 bottles up the magic of their legendary tour with pristine sound, crowd energy, and jam sessions that go wherever they feel like. This, my friends, is what you call a psychedelic journey.
Peter Gabriel – Rated PG + Flotsam and Jetsam + Growing Up Live (vinyl box set)
Okay, it’s technically a compilation of three LPs, but if you want triple album vibes with cinematic flair, Gabriel’s songbook of soundtrack cuts, rarities, and stunning live performances delivers in spades.