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: 11/08/2025 00:15
- (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 69 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 1980s. (Remove this filter)
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GENRE: Alternative Rock
This album is a brilliant mess, but the heart on sleeve approach pays off and the songs will hit you where it hurts the most.
ESSENTIAL
Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: Bastards of Young
B-Side: Swingin' Party
3 ALBUM RUN:
Let It Be
Tim
Pleased to Meet Me [First added to this chart: 08/12/2021]
This album is a brilliant mess, but the heart on sleeve approach pays off and the songs will hit you where it hurts the most.
ESSENTIAL
Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: Bastards of Young
B-Side: Swingin' Party
3 ALBUM RUN:
Let It Be
Tim
Pleased to Meet Me [First added to this chart: 08/12/2021]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,909
Rank in 1985:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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GENRE: Country-Folk
Griffith sings with the sweetness of Joan Baez and the grit of Wanda Jackson. Her original songs are sweet and sentimental.
Essential
Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: Love at the Five and Dime
B-Side: Wing and the Wheel
FURTHER LISTENING: Flyer, Little Love Affairs [First added to this chart: 06/13/2018]
Griffith sings with the sweetness of Joan Baez and the grit of Wanda Jackson. Her original songs are sweet and sentimental.
Essential
Condensed to a 7" Single:
A-Side: Love at the Five and Dime
B-Side: Wing and the Wheel
FURTHER LISTENING: Flyer, Little Love Affairs [First added to this chart: 06/13/2018]
Buy album
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[First added to this chart: 01/20/2020]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,827
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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GENRE: Alternative Rock
When it comes to 80s alternative, it's hard to beat The Replacements in the US and The Smiths in the UK. Maudlin Morrissey strikes again, with self-critical heart-on-sleeve lyrics, infectious jangly Marr guitar, and unforgettable hook. The only thing that goes over my head is some of the British references and humor.
ESSENTIAL
Track: There is a Light That Never Goes Out [First added to this chart: 07/26/2013]
When it comes to 80s alternative, it's hard to beat The Replacements in the US and The Smiths in the UK. Maudlin Morrissey strikes again, with self-critical heart-on-sleeve lyrics, infectious jangly Marr guitar, and unforgettable hook. The only thing that goes over my head is some of the British references and humor.
ESSENTIAL
Track: There is a Light That Never Goes Out [First added to this chart: 07/26/2013]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
34,066
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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Chapman's debut arrived just in time for a folk revival in corporate America, complete with lyrics that pointed out the stresses and inequalities faced by many Americans who simply remained unrecognized and under the radar.
Track: Fast Car [First added to this chart: 06/20/2018]
Track: Fast Car [First added to this chart: 06/20/2018]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,955
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
GENRE: Progressive Pop
Kate Bush is otherworldly, like Bowie and Prince, in a way that just goes over my head. This record, however, sounds like nothing else and it's a work of true genius. I especially like the nods to folk and Celtic music.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Track: Running Up That Hill [First added to this chart: 05/11/2014]
Kate Bush is otherworldly, like Bowie and Prince, in a way that just goes over my head. This record, however, sounds like nothing else and it's a work of true genius. I especially like the nods to folk and Celtic music.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Track: Running Up That Hill [First added to this chart: 05/11/2014]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,200
Rank in 1985:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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[First added to this chart: 05/28/2017]
Buy album
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[First added to this chart: 07/27/2021]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
692
Rank in 1985:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 03/04/2014]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,772
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Vinyl
KT Oslin has all my respect. A talented singer and showman that never got the break she was looking for until one last try landed her a deal in country music, a genre she wasn't quite familiar with. She was a writer, and wrote emotional songs, which resonated with women and mature couples than the traditional men target market. Her production was contemporary, with touches of R&B and pop, preceding the crossover appeal of Shania Twain.
Recommended.
Track: Hold Me [First added to this chart: 06/08/2023]
KT Oslin has all my respect. A talented singer and showman that never got the break she was looking for until one last try landed her a deal in country music, a genre she wasn't quite familiar with. She was a writer, and wrote emotional songs, which resonated with women and mature couples than the traditional men target market. Her production was contemporary, with touches of R&B and pop, preceding the crossover appeal of Shania Twain.
Recommended.
Track: Hold Me [First added to this chart: 06/08/2023]
Total albums: 14. Page 1 of 2
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 5 | 5% | |
| 1960s | 14 | 14% | |
| 1970s | 14 | 14% | |
| 1980s | 14 | 14% | |
| 1990s | 14 | 14% | |
| 2000s | 13 | 13% | |
| 2010s | 13 | 13% | |
| 2020s | 13 | 13% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Smiths | 1 | 1% | |
| Lucinda Williams | 1 | 1% | |
| Gal Costa | 1 | 1% | |
| The Beach Boys | 1 | 1% | |
| Manu Chao | 1 | 1% | |
| Hüsker Dü | 1 | 1% | |
| Ray Price | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| |
65 | 65% | |
 |
18 | 18% | |
 |
4 | 4% | |
 |
4 | 4% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| New entries |
|---|
| The Sound A Body Makes When It’s Still by Hot Mulligan |
| Leavers |
|---|
| Why Would I Watch by Hot Mulligan |
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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 69 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 03/31/2025 12:55 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,105 | 85/100 |
| ! | 12/24/2024 21:47 | Exist-en-ciel | 125 | 99/100 |
| ! | 06/09/2023 15:56 |  Applerill | 974 | 75/100 |
| ! | 11/16/2022 00:40 |  Arthurknight | 382 | 89/100 |
| ! | 11/15/2022 04:32 | Mmorrison22 | 3 | 77/100 |
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 18% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 87.2/100, a mean average of 86.2/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 87.4/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 14.2.
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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From Johnnyo 12/24/2023 14:42 | #300641
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)
From Arthurknight 11/16/2022 00:40 | #291310
Arthurknight 11/16/2022 00:40 | #291310
really nice unapologetic taste; nice to be reminded about nanci griffith too
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Mmorrison22 11/15/2022 04:32 | #291286
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)
From leniad 07/18/2022 04:41 | #287562
changing my opinion, interesting chart !!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Goliath 07/04/2021 14:52 | #271321
Goliath 07/04/2021 14:52 | #271321
There are non-US artists as well, just saying.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Jbalbinolr 05/02/2021 23:11 | #269253
Jbalbinolr 05/02/2021 23:11 | #269253
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)
From Johnnyo 03/28/2020 09:52 | #249187
Excellent chart
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
salahshoori 01/24/2020 10:47 | #247132
salahshoori 01/24/2020 10:47 | #247132
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)
From pctrooper 09/24/2019 00:52 | #242987
Certainly quite an original chart. Nice stuff.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Paule 05/03/2019 20:54 | #235816
Paule 05/03/2019 20:54 | #235816
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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