Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Boo69

Hi, I was brought up on a diet of Michael Jackson records and Queen's Greatest Hits but I didn't truly love music until I heard R.E.M. and Radiohead in the mid 90s (when I was at the impressionable age of 15). Music soon became my main focus in life and I began building a collection of brit pop and soft rock records, which I loved at the time but I deem most to be quite average now. It wasn't until the end of the millennium when alot of 'greatest ever album' lists were published in the music press that I began to open my eyes (and ears) to older music. I began to purchase as many of these 'classic' records as I could regardless of what style of music it was. Some records I struggled with but mostly I found these records to justify their 'classic' status and I had a great time discovering them. It shaped my taste in music, and you'll see from my list that I like blues influenced guitar bands and male and female singer songwriters but ultimately I like any music that moves or connects with me regardless of style.

This list represents my favourite albums in my collection. I do give some weight to how influential or important an album was but generally this list contains the albums that I like to listen to the most or have had the biggest impact on my life. Albums will move up or down the list occasionally as I will re-assess it from time to time but the top 10 is pretty much set in stone. I have not applied a one album per artist rule or ignored the perceived classics just to be different, so the majority of this list will be familiar to other BEA members with a similar sized collection. Please feel free to give recommendations as I am always on the look out for new artists. I will add comments to each album gradually (as time permits).

• Chart updated: 04/27/2013 22:09
• (Created: 03/25/2013 17:29).
• Chart size: 100 albums.

There are 11 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 86 out of 100 (from 27 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

• Summary
• Composition
• Ratings
• Favourites
• Comments
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The entries in this chart have been awarded a zero rank score because the chart has not been updated within the last ten years.

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31. (=)

Automatic For The People 

 R.E.M.

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Of all the albums in this list this is the first one that I bought. I enjoyed it in my youth and played it endlessly. It contains many of their hits and the album only tracks are mostly pretty good too.
Favourite songs: Drive, Nightswimming [First added to this chart: 03/25/2013]

Year of Release:

1992

Appears in:

1,771 charts

Rank Score:

20,466

Rank in 1992:

1

Rank in 1990s:

6

Overall Rank:

49

Average Rating:

 84 (2,158 votes)

Comments:

174

32. (=)

Abbey Road 

 The Beatles

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Probably the Beatles record that I play the most. It does sound like a lot of individual ideas packaged together but aside from a few songs these ideas are amongst their best work.
Favourite songs: Something, You Never Give Me Your Money [First added to this chart: 03/25/2013]

Year of Release:

1969

Appears in:

3,631 charts

Rank Score:

65,286

Rank in 1969:

1

Rank in 1960s:

1

Overall Rank:

3

Average Rating:

 92 (4,510 votes)

Comments:

466

33. (=)

The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars 

 David Bowie

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Bowie's greatest character and possibly his greatest album (this and Hunky Dory are similar in quality for me). The contributions of Mick Ronson shouldn't be underplayed on this record either, the best moments often come from his guitar or arrangements.
Favourite songs: Moonage Daydream, Ziggy Stardust [First added to this chart: 03/25/2013]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

2,935 charts

Rank Score:

49,957

Rank in 1972:

1

Rank in 1970s:

3

Overall Rank:

9

Average Rating:

 90 (3,449 votes)

Comments:

299

34. (=)

#1 Record 

 Big Star

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A cult classic (along with it's follow up) this record deserved to reach so many more people. Every song is a winner. A near perfect mix of ballads and rockier numbers. You'd be a fool to miss it.
Favourite songs: The Ballad Of El Goodo, The India Song [First added to this chart: 03/25/2013]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

529 charts

Rank Score:

4,277

Rank in 1972:

11

Rank in 1970s:

99

Overall Rank:

420

Average Rating:

 82 (637 votes)

Comments:

43

35. (=)

Sticky Fingers 

 The Rolling Stones

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Of all the so called classic Stones' records this is the only one that I feel fully justifies it's reputation. It's great from start to finish and contains some of their best songwriting.
Favourite songs: Wild Horses, Sister Morphine [First added to this chart: 03/25/2013]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

1,593 charts

Rank Score:

19,238

Rank in 1971:

5

Rank in 1970s:

19

Overall Rank:

57

Average Rating:

 86 (1,865 votes)

Comments:

134

36. (=)

Astral Weeks 

 Van Morrison

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I'm a massive fan of Van Morrison's music and singing style. This is the record that always gets voted into 'best album' lists and it is justly deserved but don't overlook his other albums on my list as they are almost to this standard.
Favourite songs: Beside You, The Way Young Lovers Do [First added to this chart: 03/25/2013]

Year of Release:

1968

Appears in:

1,481 charts

Rank Score:

17,691

Rank in 1968:

3

Rank in 1960s:

17

Overall Rank:

68

Average Rating:

 85 (1,664 votes)

Comments:

135

37. (=)

Dog Man Star 

 Suede

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Commercially this was a disappointment after the success of their debut and yet it is by far their most creative work with a mix of slow and faster songs that retain a high standard throughout the record.
Favourite songs: Daddy's Speeding, Still Life [First added to this chart: 03/25/2013]

Year of Release:

1994

Appears in:

430 charts

Rank Score:

3,706

Rank in 1994:

14

Rank in 1990s:

89

Overall Rank:

484

Average Rating:

 79 (524 votes)

Comments:

31

38. (=)

Blue 

 Joni Mitchell

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A stunning album that has no weak tracks. Don't dismiss it purely because the cover is uninspiring.
Favourite songs: A Case Of You, The Last Time I Saw Richard [First added to this chart: 03/26/2013]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

1,330 charts

Rank Score:

17,123

Rank in 1971:

6

Rank in 1970s:

21

Overall Rank:

74

Average Rating:

 85 (1,451 votes)

Comments:

108

39. (=)

What's Going On 

 Marvin Gaye

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Motown is responsible for many great singles but not so many great albums. This record changed that and the material sounds very different to his most famous material 'Sexual Healing' and 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine'. I find this record very calming to listen to although the subject matter is not and remains a very important statement.
Favourite songs: What's Going On, Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) [First added to this chart: 03/26/2013]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

1,569 charts

Rank Score:

19,673

Rank in 1971:

4

Rank in 1970s:

16

Overall Rank:

53

Average Rating:

 85 (1,886 votes)

Comments:

143

40. (=)

Moondance 

 Van Morrison

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Different in feel to Astral Weeks, this record has shorter songs that are more traditional in arrangement. The title song is the most well known and commercial sounding song but the other tracks are just as good.
Favourite songs: Moondance, Caravan [First added to this chart: 03/26/2013]

Year of Release:

1970

Appears in:

948 charts

Rank Score:

9,281

Rank in 1970:

7

Rank in 1970s:

42

Overall Rank:

173

Average Rating:

 84 (1,115 votes)

Comments:

74

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Total albums: 100. Page 4 of 10

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition

Decade	Albums	%
1930s	0	0%
1940s	0	0%
1950s	0	0%
1960s	20	20%
1970s	37	37%
1980s	12	12%
1990s	19	19%
2000s	11	11%
2010s	1	1%
2020s	0	0%

Artist	Albums	%
R.E.M.	7	7%
Led Zeppelin	6	6%
The Beatles	5	5%
Radiohead	5	5%
The Who	4	4%
Pink Floyd	4	4%
Van Morrison	3	3%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	58	58%
	30	30%
	6	6%
	2	2%
	2	2%
	1	1%
	1	1%

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts

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• Top British Albums of All-Time by nas062080 (2013)
• Virgin All-Time Top 1000 Albums by Virgin (1998)
• TOP 100 IN THE FUTURE by exileonthehell (2016)
• ranking the overall top 100 by OKC1 (2016)
• BEA's Top 100 - The Correct Order by babyBlueSedan (2020)
• Re-Ranking BEA's Top 100 by sunnydhamm (2020)
• BEA forum regulars top 100 by HigherThanTheSun (2014)
• Overall for yours truly by RoundTheBend (2020)
• BEA top 100 reranked - 2020 by LedZep (2023)

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similarity to your chart(s)

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 27 ratings for this chart.

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
95/100	03/28/2017 00:37	Seab	2,017	93/100
85/100	11/17/2016 09:21	TheSmiths82-87	1,839	83/100
90/100	11/02/2016 22:59	vruslov	577	89/100
90/100	01/18/2016 19:10	Applerill	976	75/100
80/100	11/12/2015 18:28	spookiefruit	53	82/100

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 86.1/100, a mean average of 86.1/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 86.1/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 9.5.

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments

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Rating:  

80/100

From greatson 11/11/2015 16:59

Great classical Chart!
It could become a bit more adventurous...

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

85/100

From Oselju 06/04/2015 09:59

Morissette just before Carole King ??? ;)

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Rating:  

95/100

From BraddlesHendo 11/15/2014 02:14

Have some similar choices great stuff

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Rating:  

90/100

From daveybaker 05/01/2013 07:07

Great chart, extra 5pts for the descriptions.

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Rating:  

95/100

From meccalecca 04/25/2013 19:58

I give you a 95/100 just for including the first two Magazine albums.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

90/100

From MrFrogger 04/25/2013 01:24

I really like this, great job man!

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Rating:  

80/100

From quadrophenia17 04/17/2013 03:46

Great chart, especially the descriptions!

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Rating:  

95/100

From armoury 04/02/2013 14:53

Patti Smith and Neil Young have both been in my chart previously and I adore Patti Smith's lyrics, even saw her last year, but neither of them exhilarate me quite as much as other's in my chart. Really like your chart, love the British influence

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Rating:  

100/100

From drakonium 03/27/2013 23:22

Many good things, some "meh" albums, but anyway, Love at number 3 is always good in my book :-)

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Rating:  

90/100

From SingingPeasant96 03/27/2013 15:54

I like your chart!

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