Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by 
Robert Anton Wilson 
This would stand as my 100 desert island record list - as long as anthology box sets are not allowed of course.
Usually, I showcase albums that I had a "moment" with. A "moment" is a period of at least a month when the album was on repeat and made it almost impossible for me to listen to something else during that period. Sometimes when I discovered a new band late -I often do that, it was a series of album that played on repeat - like when I discovered STP on their second album (both albums were on repeat on a reversible cassette), or when I discovered Muse, they already had 5 albums.
The ordering is not really reliable. True objectivity is a myth. When you feel like listening to music by the Offspring it ranks higher in your gut than Miles Davis or St. Vincent -even if your head tells you that Miles should rank highest!! The gut and the ears listen, the head tries to order things and create a chart that would be be true both to me and to the reality of the "objective" world -But hey! It is not the objective world that gives me goosebumps when I listen to great music.
Chart corrected early 2023, years after the chart was first posted. Not really additions but significant shifts in position. I just realised that some albums that had been extremely significant for me I haven't listened to in a while and do not feel like listening to now. It does not mean they are less important for me, I would still go mad if they were to be "disappeared", but currently they go-to-ness is lower.
Finally, I must admit that I wanted to showcase diversity with my chart, hence why the first 5 albums are not all Pink Floyd;)
- Chart updated: 04/25/2026 21:45
- (Created: 06/05/2011 02:23).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 70 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 90 out of 100 (from 121 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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One of the great composers alive. Now a Nobel Price laureate. Bob Dylan has succeeded in doing the impossible, his late 90's /early millenium albums are even better -as albums- than his earlier ones (yes the ones that included some of the most influential songs of music history). "Time out of Mind", "Modern Times". I doubt he will write any more era changing songs -but, dang, he's still writing exquisitely powerful songs and great music. Highlight: the discussion he has with the waitress towards the middle of the 16 minutes 'highlands' is just plain hilarious.
[First added to this chart: 06/10/2011]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,441
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A different era for King Crimson. The launching album of their 80s trilogy which also includes Beat and Three of Perfect Pair. It was tough to adapt at first because this is so different from their earlier albums, but when it comes to King Crimson being thrown out of your comfort zone is the modus operandi and the rewards are duly worth it. The 80's sucked, but King crimson never did.
[First added to this chart: 12/19/2011]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,270
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When released in its original vinyl form, side 1 was a collection of great songs and side 2 was a suite named "The Ninth Wave" -which is a long epic prog suite telling a story from beginning to end. To me listening to such a suite is like reading a great book with the story unfolding and the music setting the atmosphere. A very mature album and Kate's voice is particularly warm and motherly on this album.
[First added to this chart: 12/19/2011]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,943
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A prodigy's debut album that gave some iconic images and sound bites. He plays nearly all instruments himself. Iconic and epic, yes that sums it well. The success of this album nearly built and funded Virgin records on its own leading its founder into space -not before a spat between Mike and him first though.
[First added to this chart: 08/01/2011]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,353
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Harmonium made only 3 albums (plus one live album) and all are classics. L'heptade is often listed among the best prog concept albums ever, if you can be bothered listening to an non-English language record. The main songs are based on the 8 levels of consciousness we cyclically go through each day and through our lifetime interlaced with musical interludes. We all go through those levels of consciousness. Some of us sometime get stuck and life becomes less harmonious. Here's me wishing you good fluid cycles.
[First added to this chart: 12/14/2011]
Great rock from France, yes that is rare. With such raunchy guitar sound it is allowed for a rocker like me to get on the dance floor. And Muriel was so sexy ...
[First added to this chart: 11/08/2011]
Is Supertramp too pop to be prog? BTW, if you have an open mind and want something new, don't miss out on their too often overlooked debut album. It does not sound much like Supertramp at all. It has that bluesy feel that reminds more of the Doors or early Mac. Bloody well right I'd say!
[First added to this chart: 06/10/2011]
Year of Release:
1974
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,234
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My first four albums were Billy Joel ones and I still listen to them. Standard rock'n roll at its best. Compilations are OK.
[First added to this chart: 08/01/2011]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,249
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In my opinion, the only neo-prog bands of the 80s to have made a sound for themselves. Fish's singing was quite unique, the band had energy and the result was much more hard hitting energy than prog usually is. Their first album and tour with a new singer (Season's End) was great, but they lost me after that. I came back to the fold, but not with the same enthusiasm. Interesting note, this was for the longest time, one of the rare prog band that has a 50/50 split between men and women for their concert audience.
[First added to this chart: 04/28/2017]
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,499
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Among the softest albums from this list. A great troubadour and storyteller. A younger years favorite that still holds the road perfectly. Yes, it was hard for me to continue the musical odyssey with Chris De Burgh once the Lady in red stepped into the room.
[First added to this chart: 06/10/2011]
Total albums: 100. Page 6 of 10
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 1 | 1% | |
| 1960s | 8 | 8% | |
| 1970s | 41 | 41% | |
| 1980s | 15 | 15% | |
| 1990s | 25 | 25% | |
| 2000s | 6 | 6% | |
| 2010s | 2 | 2% | |
| 2020s | 2 | 2% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| King Crimson | 3 | 3% | |
| Genesis | 3 | 3% | |
| Van Der Graaf Generator | 2 | 2% | |
| Kate Bush | 2 | 2% | |
| U2 | 2 | 2% | |
| R.E.M. | 2 | 2% | |
| The Last Dinner Party | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
 |
47 | 47% | |
 |
35 | 35% | |
| |
9 | 9% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 3 from 48th to 51stTime Out Of Mind by Bob Dylan |
| Down 1 from 27th to 28thSt. Vincent by St. Vincent |
| Down 1 from 28th to 29thMoving Pictures by Rush |
| New entries |
|---|
| From The Pyre by The Last Dinner Party |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AVwhere:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.
Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 121 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/20/2025 14:45 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,089 | 85/100 | |
| 01/15/2025 17:30 | Exist-en-ciel | 160 | 97/100 | |
| 09/26/2024 09:46 |  Tamthebam | 651 | 85/100 | |
| 04/21/2024 19:50 |  Larcx13 | 1,139 | 86/100 | |
| 03/17/2024 01:07 | mrmcrook | 853 | 92/100 |
Rating metrics:
Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some charts can have several thousand ratings)
This chart is rated in the top 3% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 89.6/100, a mean average of 89.2/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 89.9/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 10.3.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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From Tamthebam 09/26/2024 09:55 | #305429
Tamthebam 09/26/2024 09:55 | #305429
I love the sentiment behind your choices "Albums that were on repeat for a month" that is a brilliant way to measure an albums worth. I need to revaluate some of my choices in my chart !
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From mrmcrook 03/17/2024 01:09 | #302566
Great chart. Enjoyable notes being informative but with the personal touch. Has made me add a few albums to my Wishlist.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From KineticEchoes02 01/08/2024 02:32 | #300979
Loving this chart - great work! Really enjoyed your writeups too. There's a lot I need to check out in here. Very eclectic, great diversity in genres among the classics, and would agree that basically all your prog choices deserve a spot on this list.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Moondance 09/14/2021 00:22 | #273702
I've revisited this chart and have to say that I was engaged with your comments (from 1 - 100) more than any other chart I have checked out on this site. I really liked the personal 'lived' connection between you & the albums and you not being afraid to include outliers (like Samantha Fish).
Good to see one Aussie band make the list. I appreciate the conundrum of including 'After The Goldrush' or 'Harvest'. I've gone for 'Harvest' in my own list.
After revisiting the chart, I have also revisited my ranking.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
rockbluesfolkjaz 09/13/2021 19:40 | #273690
rockbluesfolkjaz 09/13/2021 19:40 | #273690
Very nice list. I can relate to many. The others make me think enough to listen.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Steppenwolf666 03/12/2021 10:16 | #267268
Outstanding. I think I have about 90% of these records because most of them are must have masterpieces.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
StefanR10 09/09/2020 20:01 | #257968
StefanR10 09/09/2020 20:01 | #257968
A really good mixed collection. I find something new but there are some classics here very good selected.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
DommeDamian 09/09/2020 08:23 | #257947
DommeDamian 09/09/2020 08:23 | #257947
RAW list.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
EyeKanFly 02/02/2020 21:41 | #247423
EyeKanFly 02/02/2020 21:41 | #247423
Interesting list. Not a lot from the past 2 decades but what is there is definitely not the expected. Love the explanation of a "moment" - I certainly had one of those when I was introduced to Muse as well!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
ExTeaSea 08/26/2018 17:17 | #220127
ExTeaSea 08/26/2018 17:17 | #220127
Happy to see so much prog on a list! You even have Triumvarat!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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