What makes a classic a classic?

[Noname]

Is it sales? How many people like it? Can you have a classic that most people dont know?
What are the qualifications to make a classic? Can a classic be a classic after 1 year?

What makes a classic a classic?


Im curious how people rate an album a classic. Cuz there havent been a lot of classics lately, but does that depend on the people or the artist making the music?

[JMan]

it is a good question, and by the way the word "classic" is thrown around now a days dont think many people do.. but i always thought classic status should be award to material that captures an era and defines it with a new sound...

[Miuzi]

I consider Public Enemys Nation of millions album a classic, why? because when i first got it (88/89) it blew me away, I hadn't heard anything like it.  It is a complete album -  beats, rhymes and overall production. I still listen to it and my opinion is the same.

Albums today have a number of producers on them and all have different styles, they don't compliment each other so it seems like your listening to a compilation album.

I also think debut albums have a better chance of being "classic" because you are most likely going to hear something fresh and new, althought not always(Nation of millions was PE's second album).

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Practically every album these days are labelled a classic. The word has lost it's meaning. For me there are certain things that an album has to do in order for it to be considered a classic (examples in brackets).

Quality - Duh, this is an obvious one. It has to be widly acknowledged as being a superioir album by experts/fans of the genre.
Impact - How did it change the music industry? People had to be affected by it in some way. Did artists try to duplicate it's formula or borrow elements from its sounds? (The Chronic, Straight Outta Compton, The Infamous)
Innovation - Idealy an album should bring something new to the table. Kind of similar to impact, but it doesn't have to be as widly recognized or as popular. Just something unique (ie. not sounding like albums before it). (Illmatic, Enter the Wu-Tang)
Sales - Yes even sales matter to a certain degree. Because if no one here's it, how will can it be a labelled a classic? It doesn't have to do 50 Cent numbers, but unless it it an unpopular genre at the time, it should push gold. (2001, All Eyez on Me)
Time - After 5 years will people still talk about the album? 10 years? (It takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back)