Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by henrygreen0203 
100 artists, 100 albums released between the 1950s-2020s. I unashamedly love the music of American "hillbillies" playing rock music (the literal meaning of "rockabilly") but I also like singer-songwriter country-folk, power-pop, alternative rock and alternative R&B.
I include my ratings and my recommendations.
I hope you discover something here that you never dreamed you would enjoy!
- Chart updated: 1 hour ago
- (Created: 04/26/2013 16:15).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 43 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 87 out of 100 (from 67 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from the 1970s. (Remove this filter)
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My favorite male-fronted American band of the 1970s.
GENRE: Country Rock
What do you do when your founding songwriter (Richie Furay) leaves the band? You carry on with the members you have and ask the pedal steel player if he writes any good shit.
Although the band was originally birthed from the remains of Buffalo Springfield, no members remained at this point, yet the energy of the debut is recaptured here with some exceptional songwriting from three core members of Poco: Paul Cotton, Timothy B. Schmit and Rusty Young. THIS is what I think about when I want to listen to Poco. It’s a delicious blend of West Coast acoustic folk ballads, luscious harmonies, blissed out hard rockers a la Neil Young and a touch of Southern Rock jamming a la Allman Brothers.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
PAUL COTTON: Western Waterloo
RUSTY YOUNG: High and Dry
TIM SCHMIT: Whatever Happened to Your Smile
FURTHER LISTENING: Crazy Eyes, Pickin’ Up the Pieces, Good Feelin’ to Know, Legend [First added to this chart: 09/19/2023]
GENRE: Country Rock
What do you do when your founding songwriter (Richie Furay) leaves the band? You carry on with the members you have and ask the pedal steel player if he writes any good shit.
Although the band was originally birthed from the remains of Buffalo Springfield, no members remained at this point, yet the energy of the debut is recaptured here with some exceptional songwriting from three core members of Poco: Paul Cotton, Timothy B. Schmit and Rusty Young. THIS is what I think about when I want to listen to Poco. It’s a delicious blend of West Coast acoustic folk ballads, luscious harmonies, blissed out hard rockers a la Neil Young and a touch of Southern Rock jamming a la Allman Brothers.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
PAUL COTTON: Western Waterloo
RUSTY YOUNG: High and Dry
TIM SCHMIT: Whatever Happened to Your Smile
FURTHER LISTENING: Crazy Eyes, Pickin’ Up the Pieces, Good Feelin’ to Know, Legend [First added to this chart: 09/19/2023]
2
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GENRE: Progressive Country
Influential outlaw singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury demonstrates that spirit and soul, not trucks and twang, make for a great country soul song. Cortelia Clark and San Francisco Mabel Joy, in particular, are like any other country/folk songs I have ever heard.
ESSENTIAL
Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: Why You Been Gone So Long
B-Side: Cortelia Clark
FURTHER LISTENING: An American Trilogy compilation, In a New Age, After All These Years [First added to this chart: 03/08/2021]
Influential outlaw singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury demonstrates that spirit and soul, not trucks and twang, make for a great country soul song. Cortelia Clark and San Francisco Mabel Joy, in particular, are like any other country/folk songs I have ever heard.
ESSENTIAL
Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: Why You Been Gone So Long
B-Side: Cortelia Clark
FURTHER LISTENING: An American Trilogy compilation, In a New Age, After All These Years [First added to this chart: 03/08/2021]
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My favorite female-fronted American band of the 1970s.
GENRE: New Wave
Christgau called it a successful hybrid of Dixie Cups and...some punk group. I have to agree. Another classic.
ESSENTIAL
Track: Heart of Glass [First added to this chart: 08/01/2021]
GENRE: New Wave
Christgau called it a successful hybrid of Dixie Cups and...some punk group. I have to agree. Another classic.
ESSENTIAL
Track: Heart of Glass [First added to this chart: 08/01/2021]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,282
Rank in 1978:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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My favorite English artist of the 1970s.
GENRE: Progressive Rock
Supertramp creeped into my life in a lot of strange ways: First I saw Roger Hodgson in concert, and then me, my brother, my uncle and a close friend all happened to enjoy this record. I even owned it on vinyl at some point in my life. It’s got great storytelling, good build in the songs, and the interplay between Hodgson and Rick Davies is excellent.
RECOMMENDED
Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: Dreamer
B-Side: Rudy [First added to this chart: 07/17/2015]
GENRE: Progressive Rock
Supertramp creeped into my life in a lot of strange ways: First I saw Roger Hodgson in concert, and then me, my brother, my uncle and a close friend all happened to enjoy this record. I even owned it on vinyl at some point in my life. It’s got great storytelling, good build in the songs, and the interplay between Hodgson and Rick Davies is excellent.
RECOMMENDED
Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: Dreamer
B-Side: Rudy [First added to this chart: 07/17/2015]
Year of Release:
1974
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,563
Rank in 1974:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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GENRE: Reggae
An absolute classic by a phenomenal genius. What a solid, soulful album with a wonderful message of peace. We need more albums like this.
ESSENTIAL
Condensed to a 7” Single:
A-Side: Three Little Birds
B-Side: One Love / People Get Ready [First added to this chart: 07/26/2013]
An absolute classic by a phenomenal genius. What a solid, soulful album with a wonderful message of peace. We need more albums like this.
ESSENTIAL
Condensed to a 7” Single:
A-Side: Three Little Birds
B-Side: One Love / People Get Ready [First added to this chart: 07/26/2013]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,402
Rank in 1977:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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GENRE: Soul
I will never tire of this masterpiece. The song Don't You Worry About a Thing is a vocal exercise in itself.
ESSENTIAL
Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: Higher Ground
B-Side: Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing [First added to this chart: 07/12/2014]
I will never tire of this masterpiece. The song Don't You Worry About a Thing is a vocal exercise in itself.
ESSENTIAL
Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: Higher Ground
B-Side: Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing [First added to this chart: 07/12/2014]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,940
Rank in 1973:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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GENRE: Soul
No one bore their soul more than Marvin Gaye and this is a stone cold classic for a reason.
ESSENTIAL
Track: What's Going On [First added to this chart: 04/27/2014]
No one bore their soul more than Marvin Gaye and this is a stone cold classic for a reason.
ESSENTIAL
Track: What's Going On [First added to this chart: 04/27/2014]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
19,711
Rank in 1971:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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GENRE: Pop Rock
A superb collaborative effort from several talented musicians and songwriters. This deserves all the praise it gets and then some. Excellent from top to bottom
ESSENTIAL
LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM: Go Your Own Way
STEVIE NICKS: Dreams
CHRISTIE MCVIE: Songbird [First added to this chart: 09/07/2016]
A superb collaborative effort from several talented musicians and songwriters. This deserves all the praise it gets and then some. Excellent from top to bottom
ESSENTIAL
LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM: Go Your Own Way
STEVIE NICKS: Dreams
CHRISTIE MCVIE: Songbird [First added to this chart: 09/07/2016]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
34,080
Rank in 1977:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
GENRE: Jazz Rock
Steely Dan has a unique charm. Practically no one else can sing about dildos, porn stars and washed-up middle-age men and make it sound so classy and smooth.
Essential
Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: Peg
B-Side: Deacon Blues [First added to this chart: 09/07/2013]
Steely Dan has a unique charm. Practically no one else can sing about dildos, porn stars and washed-up middle-age men and make it sound so classy and smooth.
Essential
Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: Peg
B-Side: Deacon Blues [First added to this chart: 09/07/2013]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,429
Rank in 1977:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
GENRE: Jazz Rock
This one is hard to beat for accessible jazz-pop. It's an excellent collection of introspective folk songs jazzed up with some fine musicians.
ESSENTIAL
Condensed to a 7” Single:
A-Side: Help Me
B-Side: People’s Parties [First added to this chart: 10/06/2013]
This one is hard to beat for accessible jazz-pop. It's an excellent collection of introspective folk songs jazzed up with some fine musicians.
ESSENTIAL
Condensed to a 7” Single:
A-Side: Help Me
B-Side: People’s Parties [First added to this chart: 10/06/2013]
Year of Release:
1974
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,127
Rank in 1974:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 13. Page 1 of 2
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 12 | 12% | |
| 1960s | 13 | 13% | |
| 1970s | 13 | 13% | |
| 1980s | 13 | 13% | |
| 1990s | 13 | 13% | |
| 2000s | 12 | 12% | |
| 2010s | 12 | 12% | |
| 2020s | 12 | 12% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Jimmy Eat World | 1 | 1% | |
| Fleetwood Mac | 1 | 1% | |
| The Crickets | 1 | 1% | |
| Raye | 1 | 1% | |
| The Muffs | 1 | 1% | |
| Frank Ocean | 1 | 1% | |
| Slobberbone | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
64 | 64% | |
 |
18 | 18% | |
 |
4 | 4% | |
 |
4 | 4% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 5 from 69th to 64th Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz |
| Up 1 from 64th to 63rd This Woman by K. T. Oslin |
| Up 1 from 63rd to 62nd Gordon by Barenaked Ladies |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 3 from 66th to 69th Everything You Thought Was Right Was Wrong Today by Slobberbone |
| Down 3 from 67th to 70th CopingMechanism by Willow (US) |
| Down 3 from 68th to 71st In Absentia by Porcupine Tree |
| New entries |
|---|
 Odessey And Oracleby The Zombies |
| Talk To Your Heart by Ray Price |
| A Lot About Livin' (And A Little 'Bout Love) by Alan Jackson |
| Leavers |
|---|
 August And Everything Afterby Counting Crows |
| The Merle Travis Guitar by Merle Travis |
| Wynn Stewart by Wynn Stewart |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
87/100 (from 67 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 67 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 90/100  | 06/09/2023 15:56 |  Applerill | | 75/100 |
| 100/100 | 11/16/2022 00:40 |  Arthurknight | | 89/100 |
| 75/100 | 11/15/2022 04:32 | Mmorrison22 | | 77/100 |
| 90/100 | 07/18/2022 04:40 | leniad | | 85/100 |
| 85/100 | 10/16/2021 14:54 |  Tamthebam | | 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 87.1/100, a mean average of 86.0/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 87.2/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 14.3.
Please log in or register if you want to be able to leave a rating
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
Showing all 2 members who have added this chart as a favourite
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 43 comments |
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85/100
From Johnnyo 12/24/2023 14:42
Like the chart a lot. Just out of interest, was the 12 or 13 per decade deliberate or a happy coincidence?
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From Arthurknight 11/16/2022 00:40
Arthurknight 11/16/2022 00:40
really nice unapologetic taste; nice to be reminded about nanci griffith too
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
75/100
From Mmorrison22 11/15/2022 04:32
lot's of stuff I haven't heard of - love the inclusion of Meat Puppets & Rina Sawayama!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From leniad 07/18/2022 04:41
changing my opinion, interesting chart !!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Goliath 07/04/2021 14:52
Goliath 07/04/2021 14:52
There are non-US artists as well, just saying.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
70/100
From 
Jbalbinolr 05/02/2021 23:11
Jbalbinolr 05/02/2021 23:11
Don't know many of the albums in here, this'be a tough one to visit, pretty eclectic indeed.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From Johnnyo 03/28/2020 09:52
Excellent chart
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From 
salahshoori 01/24/2020 10:47
salahshoori 01/24/2020 10:47
Great chart! There's lots of albums that I have to check from your chart, and isn't that the goal of sharing our taste?
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From pctrooper 09/24/2019 00:52
Certainly quite an original chart. Nice stuff.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
75/100
From 
Paule 05/03/2019 20:54
Paule 05/03/2019 20:54
Good chart idea! Even though I am personally not that into americana, some solid albums can be found here.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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| Best Artists of the 1980s | |
|---|---|
| 1. The Smiths | |
| 2. Prince | |
| 3. Pixies | |
| 4. The Cure | |
| 5. Talking Heads | |
| 6. U2 | |
| 7. Metallica | |
| 8. Kate Bush | |
| 9. R.E.M. | |
| 10. The Stone Roses | |
| 11. Sonic Youth | |
| 12. Michael Jackson | |
| 13. Bruce Springsteen | |
| 14. Tom Waits | |
| 15. Iron Maiden | |
| 16. Prince And The Revolution | |
| 17. Joy Division | |
| 18. New Order | |
| 19. Talk Talk | |
| 20. Rush |