Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by TheSmiths82-87 
A maximum of four albums per artist
- Chart updated: 01/18/2022 22:45
- (Created: 03/25/2013 15:38).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 74 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 86 out of 100 (from 154 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
View the complete list of 53,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.
This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from The Smiths. (Remove this filter)
Buy album 
- #Sponsored
The greatest album ever released! How else can the first on the list be introduced? This truly is the peak of Morrissey and Johnny Marr's careers, both a genius in their own field; Morrissey's words and original vocal delivery and Johnny Marr's endless supply of melodies and great guitar hooks.
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out is as chilling in its sadness as it is uplifting in its romanticism.
Cemetry Gates makes it all seem so easy and natural.
Frankly Mr Shankly has one of the funniest lyrics I have ever heard without making the song novelty.
And with Vicar In A Tutu proving that even the very greatest albums still have at least one filler track, this still blows everything else out of the water. This is art.
Best Tracks:
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
I Know It's Over
Cemetry Gates
Frankly Mr Shankly
The Queen Is Dead [First added to this chart: 03/25/2013]
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out is as chilling in its sadness as it is uplifting in its romanticism.
Cemetry Gates makes it all seem so easy and natural.
Frankly Mr Shankly has one of the funniest lyrics I have ever heard without making the song novelty.
And with Vicar In A Tutu proving that even the very greatest albums still have at least one filler track, this still blows everything else out of the water. This is art.
Best Tracks:
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
I Know It's Over
Cemetry Gates
Frankly Mr Shankly
The Queen Is Dead [First added to this chart: 03/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
39,166
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
264
Buy album
- #Sponsored
As debut albums go, this is part of an elite few that can be considered an immediate classic. But this album is fairly underrated and never really receives the credit that the Queen Is Dead gets, but this really holds its own alongside those other great debuts like the Velvet Underground & Nico, The Stone Roses, Unknown Pleasures, Never Mind The Bollocks and The Doors.
Lyrically and melodically, almost everything is irresistible here, the production occasionally lets itself down and these songs arguably found a better home with better production on the Hatful Of Hollow compilation that followed, but this is still a monumental recording.
Best Tracks:
Reel Around The Fountain
The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
Suffer Little Children
What Difference Does It Make
Still Ill [First added to this chart: 03/25/2013]
Lyrically and melodically, almost everything is irresistible here, the production occasionally lets itself down and these songs arguably found a better home with better production on the Hatful Of Hollow compilation that followed, but this is still a monumental recording.
Best Tracks:
Reel Around The Fountain
The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
Suffer Little Children
What Difference Does It Make
Still Ill [First added to this chart: 03/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,646
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Where the debut album was very poetic and reasonably gentle, the follow up here was direct and quite brutal, there seems to be a violent episode in each song, from the tough school regime to a fairground stabbing, from a murdered policeman to someone smoking because they are hoping for an early death, and so on.
Of course the most persistent image of violence is saved for the title track with its battlecry for vegetarians everywhere.
Marr’s writing here was also far removed from his jingly jangly approach previously, whether that be on the complex The Headmaster Ritual or the majestic Well I Wonder.
The production is not as murky as the debut album which would have a lot to do with the onset of Morrissey and Marr’s production credits and this proved to be the perfect bridge between the debut and the Queen Is Dead which would follow later.
‘And if you ever need self-validation, just meet me in the alley by the railway station’
Best Tracks:
Well I Wonder
That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
The Headmaster Ritual
I Want The One I Can't Have
Rusholme Ruffians [First added to this chart: 03/25/2013]
Of course the most persistent image of violence is saved for the title track with its battlecry for vegetarians everywhere.
Marr’s writing here was also far removed from his jingly jangly approach previously, whether that be on the complex The Headmaster Ritual or the majestic Well I Wonder.
The production is not as murky as the debut album which would have a lot to do with the onset of Morrissey and Marr’s production credits and this proved to be the perfect bridge between the debut and the Queen Is Dead which would follow later.
‘And if you ever need self-validation, just meet me in the alley by the railway station’
Best Tracks:
Well I Wonder
That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
The Headmaster Ritual
I Want The One I Can't Have
Rusholme Ruffians [First added to this chart: 03/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,863
Rank in 1985:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
The Smiths final studio album. Both Morrissey and Marr have previously stated this is their favourite Smiths album. It does have some wonderful tracks like Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me, Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before and Paint A Vulgar Picture. I Won't Share You is the perfect closing track for the final album.
Although I do love this album, for me it does contain a couple of filler tracks in Death At Ones Elbow and Unhappy Birthday. Now, filler for the Smiths is still a good deal better than most bands best tracks but overall this LP doesn't quite compete with The Queen Is Dead, Meat Is Murder or The Smiths.
Best Tracks:
I Won't Share You
Paint A Vulgar Picture
Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
A Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours [First added to this chart: 03/25/2013]
Although I do love this album, for me it does contain a couple of filler tracks in Death At Ones Elbow and Unhappy Birthday. Now, filler for the Smiths is still a good deal better than most bands best tracks but overall this LP doesn't quite compete with The Queen Is Dead, Meat Is Murder or The Smiths.
Best Tracks:
I Won't Share You
Paint A Vulgar Picture
Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
A Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours [First added to this chart: 03/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,377
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 4. Page 1 of 1
Don't agree with this chart? Create your own from the My Charts page!
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 21 | 21% | |
| 1970s | 36 | 36% | |
| 1980s | 22 | 22% | |
| 1990s | 16 | 16% | |
| 2000s | 4 | 4% | |
| 2010s | 1 | 1% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Radiohead | 4 | 4% | |
| The Beatles | 4 | 4% | |
| David Bowie | 4 | 4% | |
| Pink Floyd | 4 | 4% | |
| The Doors | 4 | 4% | |
| Leonard Cohen | 4 | 4% | |
| The Smiths | 4 | 4% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 9 from 60th to 51st Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young & Crazy Horse |
| Up 7 from 87th to 80th After The Gold Rush by Neil Young |
| Up 2 from 81st to 79th Lifes Rich Pageant by R.E.M. |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 6 from 90th to 96th I'm Your Man by Leonard Cohen |
| Down 3 from 78th to 81st Sweet Baby James by James Taylor |
| Down 3 from 79th to 82nd Funeral by Arcade Fire |
| New entries |
|---|
 Moondanceby Van Morrison |
| Harvest by Neil Young |
| Veedon Fleece by Van Morrison |
| On The Beach by Neil Young |
| Saint Dominic's Preview by Van Morrison |
| Leavers |
|---|
 Is This Itby The Strokes |
| Get Happy!! by Elvis Costello And The Attractions |
| Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon by James Taylor |
| Happy Sad by Tim Buckley |
| Forever Breathes The Lonely Word by Felt |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
- 5 Albums Per Artist by TheSmiths82-87 (2017)
- Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by EP (2020)
- ranking the overall top 100 by
OKC1 (2016) - Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by
RFNAPLES (2013) - Most Acclaimed Music Albums by Imaybeparanoid (2015)
- Overall Top 100 Ranked Correctly by
Mother Nature's Son (2014) - Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by stryker700 (2021)
- TOP 100 IN THE FUTURE by
exileonthehell (2016) - Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by tim0505 (2024)
- BEA Top 100 Reorganized According To My Taste by bonnequestion (2024)
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similarity to your chart(s)
Not a member? Registering is quick, easy and FREE!
Why register?
Join a passionate community of over 50,000 music fans.- Create & share your own charts.
- Have your say in the overall rankings.
- Post comments in the forums and vote on polls.
- Comment on or rate any album, artist, track or chart.
- Discover new music & improve your music collection.
- Customise the overall chart using a variety of different filters & metrics.
- Create a wishlist of albums.
- Help maintain the BEA database.
- Earn member points and gain access to increasing levels of functionality!
- ... And lots more!
Register now - it only takes a moment!
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
86/100 (from 154 votes)
where:
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 154 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
90/100  | 08/30/2022 10:53 | Thearei30ee | | 88/100 |
 95/100 | 08/14/2021 00:25 | stangetzaway | | 89/100 |
| 70/100 | 06/14/2021 16:14 |  seb7 | | 91/100 |
| 90/100 | 11/29/2020 10:32 |  Goliath | | 86/100 |
| 90/100 | 11/11/2020 23:16 | leniad | | 85/100 |
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 has a Bayesian average rating of 86.5/100, a mean average of 86.3/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 86.5/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 9.0.
Please log in or register if you want to be able to leave a rating
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
Showing all 10 members who have added this chart as a favourite
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 74 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Maximum Rated First |
Longest Comments First
(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. Manage Profile)
70/100
From seb7 06/11/2021 17:03
seb7 06/11/2021 17:03
wow, a whole 10/10 of the top ten of the overall chart, and your own top ten has nothing under the top 100! so original! And, you feature a whole 88 albums sitting within the top 1000.
It did surprise me that you favor the 70s like I do, but it's the same 70s albums that every basic user puts into their chart.
edit: discovered that it's actually 20/20 of the overall chart. Good job, Morrisey Simp
Honestly, I am just salty that you left the 75/100 and left no explanation or comment.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
90/100
From leniad 11/11/2020 23:16
like
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
90/100
From WillyMac 05/04/2020 17:05
I really like your chart and your commentaries. There are 19 albums the same as my chart. It's not just the usual suspects though but things like King of America and The Life Pursuit. Many of your other albums are bubbling under my top 100. Good to see Leonard Cohen getting some love...
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From Strattonfox 07/31/2019 20:10
A truly excellent chart with some interesting views
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From Globe02 07/05/2019 22:29
I really enjoyed your write ups for your chart, especially Dark Side.
Cheers!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From 
gidgidi 06/11/2019 22:23
gidgidi 06/11/2019 22:23
Nice rock picks, cool chart
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From hailey 01/28/2019 15:51
Pretty great chart!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
75/100
From 
Julelios 11/09/2018 13:25
Julelios 11/09/2018 13:25
Nice chart !
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From 
Medelsvensson 10/29/2018 18:41
Medelsvensson 10/29/2018 18:41
Where is the hip hop? And the jazz?
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
75/100
From jeffrey-hodgson 10/12/2018 13:06
Don't completely agree but interesting choices
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Please log in or register if you want to be able to add a comment
Your feedback for Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
Let us know what you think of this chart by adding a comment or assigning a rating below!
If you enjoy our site, please consider supporting us by sparing a few seconds to disable your ad blocker.
A lot of hard work happens in the background to keep BEA running, and it's especially difficult to do this when we can't pay our hosting fees :(
We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.
A lot of hard work happens in the background to keep BEA running, and it's especially difficult to do this when we can't pay our hosting fees :(
We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.