Transformer
by Lou Reed

Overall rank: 146th | 1970s rank: 36th | 1972 rank: 6th
Calculated from aggregate positions across 60,000 charts (2 million album rankings).(Last updated: 5 hours ago)

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Year	Source	Chart	Rank	Rank Score
2026	HelsinkiSnorkel	Top 89 Music Albums of the 1970s	17/89	16
2026	jlsfourth	Top 10 Music Albums of 1972	4/10	4
2026	Liedzeit	Top 66 Music Albums of 1972	30/66	3
2026	Rich150	Top 100 Greatest Music Albums	5/100	95
2026	davidhuret	Top 37 Music Albums of 1972	10/37	4
2026	Wasinski	Top 85 Music Albums of 1972	3/85	5
2026	matterhornrider	Top 101-200 Greatest Music Albums	55/100	-
2026	Kettwig	Top 19 Music Albums of 1972	5/19	4
2026	bertrandu	Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	2/100	20
2026	Tamthebam	Best Of The 70s Pt.3 (201-300)	20/100	-
		Total Charts: The total number of charts that this album has appeared in.		1,260
		Total Rank Score: The total rank score.		9,248

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Transformer collection

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Transformer ratings

Average Rating:

83/100 (from 1,561 votes)

Showing latest 3 ratings for this album. | Show all 1,561 ratings for this album.

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Album ratings	Avg. album rating
75/100 !	09/28/2026 21:01	luukvdschepop	767	75/100
80/100 !	09/26/2026 14:12	Bach	732	75/100
65/100 !	09/23/2026 09:31	TheWongs	881	71/100

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 albums can have several thousand ratings)
This album is rated in the top 1% of all albums on BestEverAlbums.com. This album has a Bayesian average rating of 83.2/100, a mean average of 82.3/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 83.3/100. The standard deviation for this album is 13.2.

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Transformer favourites

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Transformer forum mentions

This album has been referenced 125 times on the forums, Explore the wider forum discussion to see what members have said about it.

From

BestEverAlbums 09/29/2026 08:00 in Chart of the day (#5450): By DeusExMackia

“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by DeusExMackia () 1. by (1971) 2. by (1985) 3. by (1988) 4. by (1984) 5. by (1967) 6. (1987) 7. (1991) 8. (1996) 9. by (1976) 10. (1972) 11. by (1973) 12. (2016) 13. by by (2019) 15. by by (1972) 18. by (1979) 19. by (2020) 20. (1977) 21. by…”

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From

Rhyner 09/05/2026 17:32 in What album are you listening to? (cont.)

“What album are you listening to? (cont.)”

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From

BestEverAlbums 08/23/2026 08:00 in Chart of the day (#5413): By telegram

“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by telegram () 1. by (1972) 2. by (1967) 3. (1980) 4. by (1979) 5. by (2006) 8. (1999) 9. by (1988) 10. by (2004) 11. by (1979) 12. by by (1969) 14. by (2020) 15. by by (2008) 17. by by by (1979) 21. by (1998) 22. by (1983) 23. by (2013) 25. by…”

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Transformer comments

Rating:

70/100

From Simon_bramhall 03/07/2016 04:37 | #161478 | TOP COMMENT

I guess I shouldn't have invested time and money into this album as I don't like Velvet Underground. I understand people have a passion for certain artists but I just can't get into this album or the Velvets. I have tried. I do like the hit "Walk on the Wild Side", but that is about as memorable as this album will ever be for me.

Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 5

Rating:

95/100

From

buzzdainer TOP 100 COMMENTER 11/28/2020 03:29 | #261532 | TOP COMMENT

There's always been something of the urban hipster in Lou Reed's aesthetic, and as a result I've always felt there was something about his musical style that misaligns with my tastes. That said, I've always found a way to like him nonetheless. I first came to appreciate him in high school when I first heard his aptly named live album Rock 'n' Roll Animal, but it's Transformer that has emerged as my favorite Lou Reed album. The great "Walk on the Wild Side" is here, of course, but for me it's songs such "Satellite of Love" and "Perfect Day" that beautifully encapsulate Lou Reed's gifts as a lyricist as well as his skill as a musical artist. That "Satellite of Love" has been covered by a bunch as eclectic as Morrissey, U2, Porno for Pyros, Leo Sayer, and Milla Jovovich is testimony to its wide-ranging influence.

Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 4

Rating:

100/100

From

revolver94 01/04/2012 22:00 | #34474 | TOP COMMENT

This album is wildly underrated. I'd argue it's in the top 20 of all time.

Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 7

Rating:

75/100

From c.snow 12/29/2011 03:11 | #33917 | TOP COMMENT

not as good solo as with the VU, but i still especially like perfect day, hangin round, and walk on the wild side

Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 4

Rating:

90/100

From garycottier TOP 100 COMMENTER 05/07/2016 11:24 | #165361 | TOP COMMENT

An absolute classic, an essential seventies album. Lou Reed always had a pop mentality even in his most inaccessible moments, and, transformer, with production help from David Bowie, helps to mold Reed's songs into a tight rock/pop album. It's full of that camp seventies New York attitude, and featuring all great outcast characters Reed is so good at writing about. Vicious, kicks things off in bitchy style, and that's followed by the nonsensical, Andy's chest. The most famous songs off course are the transgender, walk on the wild side, satellite of love, and, perfect day, all are excellent. Other standouts are the coming out anthem, make up, and the brilliant closing track, the late night jazz number, goodnight ladies. Transformer, is Reed's ultimate pop record, if you can call it pop, and one of his very best.

Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 2

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Best Albums of 1972

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3. Pink Moon by Nick Drake

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6. Transformer by Lou Reed

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