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 Best 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 Best 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 Best 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 Best 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 Best 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 List of the 100 Greatest Albums Ever

#AlbumArtistYearGenrePointsBuy
100.Axis: Bold as LoveJimi Hendrix Experience1968Rock484Apple Music
99.Born in the U.S.A.Bruce Springsteen1984Rock487Apple Music
98.Kid ARadiohead2000Alternative488Apple Music
97.Goodbye Yellow Brick RoadElton John1973Rock493Apple Music
96.Trout Mask ReplicaCaptain Beefheart and His Magic Band1969Rock497
95.Meet the BeatlesThe Beatles1964Rock507
94.Al Green - Greatest HitsAl Green1975R&B / Soul508Apple Music
93.Here's Little RichardLittle Richard1957Rock510Apple Music
92.Elvis PresleyElvis Presley1956Rock517.5Apple Music
91.Music from Big PinkThe Band1968Rock517.5Apple Music
90.Stand!Sly and the Family Stone1969R&B / Soul528Apple Music
89.Otis BlueOtis Redding1965R&B / Soul530Apple Music
88.Sex MachineJames Brown1970R&B / Soul535Apple Music
87.OdelayBeck1996Alternative536Apple Music
86.LowDavid Bowie1977Rock538Apple Music
85.1999Prince1982R&B / Soul544Apple Music
84.DummyPortishead1995Electronic547.5Apple Music
83.TommyThe Who1969Rock557Apple Music
82.SuperflyCurtis Mayfield1972Soundtrack583Apple Music
81.The Miseducation of Lauryn HillLauryn Hill1998R&B / Soul583Apple Music
80.Beggars BanquetThe Rolling Stones1968Rock620Apple Music
79.Bringing it All Back HomeBob Dylan1965Folk623Apple Music
78.After the Gold RushNeil Young1970Rock627Apple Music
77.ExodusBob Marley1977Reggae631.5Apple Music
76.SynchronicityThe Police1983Rock648Apple Music
75.Live at the Apollo (1963)James Brown1963R&B / Soul653Apple Music
74.Saturday Night FeverBee Gees1977Soundtrack663Apple Music
73.Definitely MaybeOasis1994Alternative668Apple Music
72.At Fillmore EastThe Allman Brothers Band1971Rock680Apple Music
71.Lady SoulAretha Franklin1968R&B / Soul680.5Apple Music
70.The Unforgettable FireU21984Rock684Apple Music
69.TenPearl Jam1991Rock692Apple Music
68.I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love YouAretha Franklin1967R&B / Soul698.5Apple Music
67.Out of TimeR.E.M.1991Rock705Apple Music
66.Plastic Ono BandJohn Lennon1970Rock710.5Apple Music
65.A Hard Day's NightThe Beatles1964Rock723Apple Music
64.Jagged Little PillAlanis Morissette1995Alternative723Apple Music
63.The RamonesThe Ramones1976Punk734Apple Music
62.Wish You Were HerePink Floyd1975Rock738Apple Music
61.Off the WallMichael Jackson1979Pop776Apple Music
60.LegendBob Marley1984Reggae789Apple Music
59.Physical GraffitiLed Zeppelin1975Rock791Apple Music
58.The Queen is DeadThe Smiths1986Rock797.5Apple Music
57.GracelandPaul Simon1986Pop809Apple Music
56.Back in BlackAC/DC1980Rock819Apple Music
55.The BandThe Band1969Rock842Apple Music
54.The Stone RosesThe Stone Roses1989Alternative852Apple Music
53.The BendsRadiohead1995Alternative858Apple Music
52.Led Zeppelin IILed Zeppelin1969Rock879Apple Music
51.MoondanceVan Morrison1970Rock880Apple Music
50.(What's the Story) Morning Glory?Oasis1995Alternative897Apple Music
49.HorsesPatti Smith1975Rock899Apple Music
48.Automatic for the PeopleR.E.M.1992Rock913Apple Music
47.Forever ChangesLove1967Rock928Apple Music
46.Hunky DoryDavid Bowie1971Rock948Apple Music
45.InnervisionsStevie Wonder1973R&B / Soul958Apple Music
44.It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us BackPublic Enemy1988Rap965Apple Music
43.OK ComputerRadiohead1997Alternative1017Apple Music
42.The Sun SessionsElvis Presley1976Rock1027.5
41.Sticky FingersThe Rolling Stones1971Rock1072Apple Music
40.Sign 'o' the TimesPrince1987Rock1076Apple Music
39.Appetite for DestructionGuns N' Roses1987Rock1093Apple Music
38.Electric LadylandJimi Hendrix Experience1968Rock1109Apple Music
37.The DoorsThe Doors1967Rock1114Apple Music
36.The WallPink Floyd1979Rock1118Apple Music
35.Bridge Over Troubled WaterSimon and Garfunkel1970Pop1133Apple Music
34.Led ZeppelinLed Zeppelin1969Rock1145Apple Music
33.TapestryCarole King1971Pop1164Apple Music
32.Purple RainPrince1984Soundtrack1173Apple Music
31.Songs in the Key of LifeStevie Wonder1976R&B / Soul1188Apple Music
30.Led Zeppelin IVLed Zeppelin1971Rock1191Apple Music
29.Achtung BabyU21991Rock1233Apple Music
28.Kind of BlueMiles Davis1959Jazz1253Apple Music
27.Hotel CaliforniaThe Eagles1976Rock1290Apple Music
26.Rise and Fall of Ziggy StardustDavid Bowie1972Rock1314.5Apple Music
25.Astral WeeksVan Morrison1968Rock1334.5Apple Music
24.Let it BleedThe Rolling Stones1969Rock1355Apple Music
23.Who's NextThe Who1971Rock1396Apple Music
22.Never Mind the BollocksThe Sex Pistols1977Punk1413Apple Music
21.BlueJoni Mitchell1971Pop1483Apple Music
20.Are You ExperiencedJimi Hendrix Experience1967Rock1485Apple Music
19.Velvet Underground & NicoThe Velvet Underground1967Rock1534Apple Music
18.Born to RunBruce Springsteen1975Rock1568Apple Music
17.Dark Side of the MoonPink Floyd1973Rock1573Apple Music
16.London CallingThe Clash1980Punk1618Apple Music
15.Highway 61 RevisitedBob Dylan1965Rock1652Apple Music
14.Blonde on BlondeBob Dylan1966Rock1656Apple Music
13.Blood on the TracksBob Dylan1975Rock1669Apple Music
12.Whats Going OnMarvin Gaye1971R&B / Soul1670.5Apple Music
11.Exile on Main StreetThe Rolling Stones1972Rock1712Apple Music
10.RumoursFleetwood Mac1977Rock1758Apple Music
9.The Joshua TreeU21987Rock1785Apple Music
8.Rubber SoulThe Beatles1965Rock1804Apple Music
7.ThrillerMichael Jackson1982Pop1835Apple Music
6.Pet SoundsThe Beach Boys1966Rock1878Apple Music
5.NevermindNirvana1991Alternative1890Apple Music
4.Abbey RoadThe Beatles1969Rock1974Apple Music
3.Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club BandThe Beatles1967Rock2040Apple Music
2.RevolverThe Beatles1966Rock2050Apple Music
1.The Beatles (White Album)The Beatles1968Rock2086Apple Music

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