The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

There have been plenty list available that rank the top 100 greatest albums of all time. What makes this list different is that it compiles and aggregates data from other best of lists, including both critics lists such as Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums books and fan polls such as Q magazine’s 100 Greatest Albums Ever poll. The goal of this list to find not only the greatest albums of all time but also the most influential and culturally significant albums as well, so in addition to just the opinions of critics and fans to compile the list other metrics where used as well such as Billboard chart statistics, RIAA sales figures and several others to help determine the final rankings of the best albums.

This chart is not meant to be static and unchanging. It will be updated and recalculated from time-to-time as more data and information is added to the list.

In all 236 different albums were eligible for the list of greatest albums (#236 was Different Class by Pulp), and they span from the earliest days of rock in the 1950s through today, covering many different genres and styles of music. In the end these are the must have albums that every serious music fan should have in their vinyl, CD or mp3 collection.

Below you will find a short list of the top albums by decade and a chart of the entire top 100 list. You can also start at #100 Axis: Bold as Love by Jimi Hendrix and work your way through the list.

Top Three Great Albums of the 1950's

  1. Kind of Blue by Miles Davis
  2. Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley
  3. Here's Little Richard by Little Richard

Top Five Great Albums of the 1960's

  1. The Beatles (White Album) by The Beatles
  2. Revolver by The Beatles
  3. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
  4. Abbey Road by The Beatles
  5. Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys

Top Five Great Albums of the 1970's

  1. Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
  2. Exile on Main St. by the Rolling Stones
  3. What's Going On by Marvin Gaye
  4. Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan
  5. Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd

Top Five Great Albums of the 1980's

  1. Thriller by Michael Jackson
  2. The Joshua Tree by U2
  3. London Calling by The Clash
  4. Purple Rain by Prince
  5. Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses

Top Five Great Albums of the 1990's

  1. Nevermind by Nirvana
  2. Achtung Baby by U2
  3. OK Computer by Radiohead
  4. Automatic for the People by R.E.M.
  5. (What's the Story) Morning Glory? by Oasis

Chart Countdown of the 100 Greatest Albums Ever

#AlbumArtistYearGenrePointsBuy
100.Axis: Bold as LoveJimi Hendrix Experience1968Rock484Axis: Bold As Love - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
99.Born in the U.S.A.Bruce Springsteen1984Rock487Born In the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen
98.Kid ARadiohead2000Alternative488Kid A - Radiohead
97.Goodbye Yellow Brick RoadElton John1973Rock493Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
96.Trout Mask ReplicaCaptain Beefheart and His Magic Band1969Rock497
95.Meet the BeatlesThe Beatles1964Rock507
94.Al Green - Greatest HitsAl Green1975R&B / Soul508Al Green: Greatest Hits - Al Green
93.Here's Little RichardLittle Richard1957Rock510Here's Little Richard - Little Richard
92.Elvis PresleyElvis Presley1956Rock517.5Elvis Presley (Remastered) - Elvis Presley
91.Music from Big PinkThe Band1968Rock517.5Music From Big Pink (Remastered) - The Band
90.Stand!Sly and the Family Stone1969R&B / Soul528Stand! (Bonus Version) - Sly & The Family Stone
89.Otis BlueOtis Redding1965R&B / Soul530Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul [Collector's Edition] - Otis Redding
88.Sex MachineJames Brown1970R&B / Soul535Sex Machine - James Brown
87.OdelayBeck1996Alternative536Odelay - Beck
86.LowDavid Bowie1977Rock538Low - David Bowie
85.1999Prince1982R&B / Soul5441999 - Prince
84.DummyPortishead1995Electronic547.5Dummy - Portishead
83.TommyThe Who1969Rock557Tommy (Remastered) - The Who
82.SuperflyCurtis Mayfield1972Soundtrack583Superfly (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) - Curtis Mayfield
81.The Miseducation of Lauryn HillLauryn Hill1998R&B / Soul583The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill
80.Beggars BanquetThe Rolling Stones1968Rock620Beggars Banquet - The Rolling Stones
79.Bringing it All Back HomeBob Dylan1965Folk623Bringing It All Back Home - Bob Dylan
78.After the Gold RushNeil Young1970Rock627After the Gold Rush (Remastered) - Neil Young
77.ExodusBob Marley1977Reggae631.5Exodus (Remastered) - Bob Marley
76.SynchronicityThe Police1983Rock648Synchronicity (Remastered) - The Police
75.Live at the Apollo (1963)James Brown1963R&B / Soul653Live at the Apollo (Remastered 1962) - James Brown
74.Saturday Night FeverBee Gees1977Soundtrack663Saturday Night Fever (The Original Movie Soundtrack) [Remastered] - Various Artists
73.Definitely MaybeOasis1994Alternative668Definitely Maybe - Oasis
72.At Fillmore EastThe Allman Brothers Band1971Rock680At Fillmore East (Live) [Deluxe Edition] - The Allman Brothers Band
71.Lady SoulAretha Franklin1968R&B / Soul680.5Lady Soul - Aretha Franklin
70.The Unforgettable FireU21984Rock684The Unforgettable Fire (Remastered) - U2
69.TenPearl Jam1991Rock692Ten - Pearl Jam
68.I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love YouAretha Franklin1967R&B / Soul698.5I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You - Aretha Franklin
67.Out of TimeR.E.M.1991Rock705Out of Time - R.E.M.
66.Plastic Ono BandJohn Lennon1970Rock710.5Plastic Ono Band (Remastered) - John Lennon
65.A Hard Day's NightThe Beatles1964Rock723A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles
64.Jagged Little PillAlanis Morissette1995Alternative723Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette
63.The RamonesThe Ramones1976Punk734Ramones (Deluxe Version) - Ramones
62.Wish You Were HerePink Floyd1975Rock738Wish You Were Here (Remastered) - Pink Floyd
61.Off the WallMichael Jackson1979Pop776Off the Wall - Michael Jackson
60.LegendBob Marley1984Reggae789Legend (Remastered) [Bonus Tracks] - Bob Marley
59.Physical GraffitiLed Zeppelin1975Rock791Physical Graffiti (Remastered) - Led Zeppelin
58.The Queen is DeadThe Smiths1986Rock797.5The Queen Is Dead - The Smiths
57.GracelandPaul Simon1986Pop809Graceland - Paul Simon
56.Back in BlackAC/DC1980Rock819Back in Black - AC/DC
55.The BandThe Band1969Rock842The Band (Remastered) - The Band
54.The Stone RosesThe Stone Roses1989Alternative852The Stone Roses (Remastered) - The Stone Roses
53.The BendsRadiohead1995Alternative858The Bends - Radiohead
52.Led Zeppelin IILed Zeppelin1969Rock879Led Zeppelin II (Remastered) - Led Zeppelin
51.MoondanceVan Morrison1970Rock880Moondance - Van Morrison
50.(What's the Story) Morning Glory?Oasis1995Alternative897(What's the Story) Morning Glory - Oasis
49.HorsesPatti Smith1975Rock899Horses - Patti Smith
48.Automatic for the PeopleR.E.M.1992Rock913Automatic for the People - R.E.M.
47.Forever ChangesLove1967Rock928Forever Changes - Love
46.Hunky DoryDavid Bowie1971Rock948Hunky Dory - David Bowie
45.InnervisionsStevie Wonder1973R&B / Soul958Innervisions (Reissue) - Stevie Wonder
44.It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us BackPublic Enemy1988Rap965It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back - Public Enemy
43.OK ComputerRadiohead1997Alternative1017OK Computer - Radiohead
42.The Sun SessionsElvis Presley1976Rock1027.5
41.Sticky FingersThe Rolling Stones1971Rock1072Sticky Fingers (Remastered) - The Rolling Stones
40.Sign 'o' the TimesPrince1987Rock1076Sign 'O' the Times - Prince
39.Appetite for DestructionGuns N' Roses1987Rock1093Appetite for Destruction - Guns N' Roses
38.Electric LadylandJimi Hendrix Experience1968Rock1109Electric Ladyland - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
37.The DoorsThe Doors1967Rock1114The Doors - The Doors
36.The WallPink Floyd1979Rock1118The Wall (Remastered) - Pink Floyd
35.Bridge Over Troubled WaterSimon and Garfunkel1970Pop1133Bridge Over Troubled Water (Remastered) - Simon & Garfunkel
34.Led ZeppelinLed Zeppelin1969Rock1145Led Zeppelin (Remastered) - Led Zeppelin
33.TapestryCarole King1971Pop1164Tapestry - Carole King
32.Purple RainPrince1984Soundtrack1173Purple Rain (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) - Prince & The Revolution
31.Songs in the Key of LifeStevie Wonder1976R&B / Soul1188Songs in the Key of Life - Stevie Wonder
30.Led Zeppelin IVLed Zeppelin1971Rock1191Led Zeppelin IV (Remastered) - Led Zeppelin
29.Achtung BabyU21991Rock1233Achtung Baby - U2
28.Kind of BlueMiles Davis1959Jazz1253Kind of Blue - Miles Davis
27.Hotel CaliforniaThe Eagles1976Rock1290Hotel California - Eagles
26.Rise and Fall of Ziggy StardustDavid Bowie1972Rock1314.5The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars - David Bowie
25.Astral WeeksVan Morrison1968Rock1334.5Astral Weeks - Van Morrison
24.Let it BleedThe Rolling Stones1969Rock1355Let It Bleed - The Rolling Stones
23.Who's NextThe Who1971Rock1396Who's Next (Remastered) - The Who
22.Never Mind the BollocksThe Sex Pistols1977Punk1413Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols - The Sex Pistols
21.BlueJoni Mitchell1971Pop1483Blue - Joni Mitchell
20.Are You ExperiencedJimi Hendrix Experience1967Rock1485Are You Experienced - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
19.Velvet Underground & NicoThe Velvet Underground1967Rock1534The Velvet Underground & Nico - The Velvet Underground
18.Born to RunBruce Springsteen1975Rock1568Born to Run (30th Anniversary Edition) [Remastered] - Bruce Springsteen
17.Dark Side of the MoonPink Floyd1973Rock1573Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
16.London CallingThe Clash1980Punk1618London Calling - The Clash
15.Highway 61 RevisitedBob Dylan1965Rock1652Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan
14.Blonde on BlondeBob Dylan1966Rock1656Blonde On Blonde - Bob Dylan
13.Blood on the TracksBob Dylan1975Rock1669Blood On the Tracks - Bob Dylan
12.What's Going OnMarvin Gaye1971R&B / Soul1670.5What's Going On (Remastered) - Marvin Gaye
11.Exile on Main St.The Rolling Stones1972Rock1712Exile On Main Street (Remastered) - The Rolling Stones
10.RumoursFleetwood Mac1977Rock1758Rumours - Fleetwood Mac
9.The Joshua TreeU21987Rock1785The Joshua Tree (Remastered) - U2
8.Rubber SoulThe Beatles1965Rock1804Rubber Soul - The Beatles
7.ThrillerMichael Jackson1982Pop1835Thriller - Michael Jackson
6.Pet SoundsThe Beach Boys1966Rock1878Pet Sounds (Mono / Stereo) - The Beach Boys
5.NevermindNirvana1991Alternative1890Nevermind - Nirvana
4.Abbey RoadThe Beatles1969Rock1974Abbey Road - The Beatles
3.Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club BandThe Beatles1967Rock2040Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles
2.RevolverThe Beatles1966Rock2050Revolver - The Beatles
1.The Beatles (White Album)The Beatles1968Rock2086The Beatles (White Album) - The Beatles

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