Why Do Fans Dislike These Notorious Rock Records So Much?

First, let's clarify the difference between Rock's Worst Records and Rock's Most Hated Records. They do overlap, for sure; as you'll see, some records aren't just bad, they're totally despised.

Terrible records can be ignored. They often disappear after their short shelf lives expire. But hated records? They can live on forever. Younger music fans may not know a single thing about Paul Anka's gloopy '70s ballad "(You're) Having My Baby," but they can probably tell you that Starship's "We Built This City" from the following decade is all kinds of awful. And that they really, really hate it.

The same goes for Trans by Neil Young, who has shifted gears dozens of times over his five-decade career, recording both all-in, speaker-shredding rock 'n' roll songs and spare acoustic country ballads – often on the same album. He has released LPs dedicated to rockabilly, big band, R&B, and grunge. Many of his albums are beloved; several are overlooked. Trans, an exploration of synthesizer-enhanced sounds, is particularly disliked due to its jarring shift.

That's the sort of thing you'll find on our list of Rock's Most Hated Records. We made it easy for you by combining albums and singles in one place, so you don't have to look far for full-length dives into ego-inflating excess (remember that album Gregg Allman and Cher made together?) and four-minute slices of head-shaking confusion (hello, "Mr. Roboto"!).

You may not break into Hulk-sized fits of anger while revisiting these records, but we advise a calming drink or two beforehand.