The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time - Updated 2025 Edition

Best Albums of the 1950s

1. Kind of Blue by Miles Davis
2. Here's Little Richard by Little Richard
3. Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley
4. Music From Peter Gunn by Henry Mancini - #219 overall
5. Come Dance wiht Me! by Frank Sinatra - #246 overall

The 1950s, the dawn of the rock 'n' roll era, put 1 groundbreaking album on the list.

Best Albums of the 1960s

1. Abbey Road by The Beatles
2. Revolver by The Beatles
3. Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
4. The Beatles (White Album) by The Beatles
5. Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan

The 1960s gave us 23 albums that changed the course of popular music forever.

Best Albums of the 1970s

1. Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
2. What's Going On by Marvin Gaye
3. Blue by Joni Mitchell
4. Exile on Main St. by the Rolling Stones
5. Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

The 1970s, often called the golden era of the album, landed 32 records in the rankings, more than any other decade, with 1971 standing out as the single most popular year, producing 8 of them.

Best Albums of the 1980s

1. Thriller by Michael Jackson
2. London Calling by The Clash
3. Purple Rain by Prince
4. The Joshua Tree by U2
5. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back by Public Enemy

The 1980s contributed 16 albums that still inspire artists and listeners today.

Best Albums of the 1990s

1. Nevermind by Nirvana
2. OK Computer by Radiohead
3. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill
4. Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette
5. Achtung Baby by U2

The 1990s produced 16 albums that reshaped genres and influenced a generation.

Best Albums of the 2000s

1. Kid A by Radiohead
2. Back to Black by Amy Winehouse
3. The Blueprint by Jay-Z
4. Voodoo by D'Angelo
5. Discover by Daft Punk - #109 Overall

The 2000s brought 4 albums that defined the sound of a new millennium.

Best Albums of the 2010s

1. Lemonade by Beyoncé
2. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West
3. 21 by Adele
4. Blonde by Frank Ocean
5. 1989 by Taylor Swift

The 2010s delivered 7 albums that earned a place among the greatest of all time.