Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by 
RockyRaccoon 
I was raised on classic rock (read as: I was a total dadrocker for a lot of my life) and many of these albums (if not all of them) carry a personal attachment to me. Whether it reminds me of something, or it was something I listened to a lot growing up, whatever it is, I assign a lot of personal meaning to these albums, and being that much of the traditional rock canon was part of my formative years in music listening, many of those albums carry a lot of meaning to me.
That being said, I'm always listening to new music and this chart may (and likely will) change every now and then. I also might just re-arrange it based on how I'm feeling. In all honesty, the order of the albums on this chart doesn't matter too much, as on any one day, one could be interchanged with another.
I'll be slowly adding notes as I get the chance.
- Chart updated: 12/20/2024 02:15
- (Created: 07/10/2013 21:42).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 61 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 91 out of 100 (from 95 votes). Please log in or create an account to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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This is life-changing stuff. It's hard for me to accurately articulate in words what Blood On The Tracks actually means to me personally. It was the first album that really got me into Dylan, and it's been a major part of my life since then. I've personally covered just about half this album at different shows I've played here and there, it's an incredibly important album to me personally.
But what is it about this album? What makes this different from any other Dylan album? It's the intimacy, it's how deeply personal this album feels. He may deny it up and down forever, but there's no way this album isn't at least somewhat influenced by Dylan's estrangement from his wife. This album is somber, but at the same time, it's peaceful, like someone who has come to grips with where their life is at and has accepted it for what it is, good or bad. The album is wrapped in allegories and metaphors, as is per usual for Dylan, but it's about as close as we've ever come to seeing the deepest, darkest parts of Dylan's mind (perhaps the only closer is when he did "Not Dark Yet" on Time Out Of Mind) and as such, it's an incredible masterpiece.
It also contains one of my absolute favorite Dylan tunes in "Simple Twist of Fate". While lyrically the song is beautiful, the chord progression fascinates me:
E | Emaj7 | E7 | A | Am| E B/D#| A | E | B11 | A
That progression is fantastic, and from a music-theory standpoint, is a little wonky. Not to say it's impossible, as anything in a post-20th century world is possible in music theory, but it's unconventional. The use of the major seven, to the minor seven and the use of Am in the key of E, it's all so weird, but it turns out perfect for the song
This is easily my favorite Dylan album and probably my favorite album ever (or at least, one of). Dylan's always been a storyteller, and these are his best stories. [First added to this chart: 07/11/2013]
But what is it about this album? What makes this different from any other Dylan album? It's the intimacy, it's how deeply personal this album feels. He may deny it up and down forever, but there's no way this album isn't at least somewhat influenced by Dylan's estrangement from his wife. This album is somber, but at the same time, it's peaceful, like someone who has come to grips with where their life is at and has accepted it for what it is, good or bad. The album is wrapped in allegories and metaphors, as is per usual for Dylan, but it's about as close as we've ever come to seeing the deepest, darkest parts of Dylan's mind (perhaps the only closer is when he did "Not Dark Yet" on Time Out Of Mind) and as such, it's an incredible masterpiece.
It also contains one of my absolute favorite Dylan tunes in "Simple Twist of Fate". While lyrically the song is beautiful, the chord progression fascinates me:
E | Emaj7 | E7 | A | Am| E B/D#| A | E | B11 | A
That progression is fantastic, and from a music-theory standpoint, is a little wonky. Not to say it's impossible, as anything in a post-20th century world is possible in music theory, but it's unconventional. The use of the major seven, to the minor seven and the use of Am in the key of E, it's all so weird, but it turns out perfect for the song
This is easily my favorite Dylan album and probably my favorite album ever (or at least, one of). Dylan's always been a storyteller, and these are his best stories. [First added to this chart: 07/11/2013]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
19,449
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David Gilmour has always been one of my favorite guitarists. The way he makes his guitar wail and sing, the way he utilizes the "less is more" approach of guitar playing, through bends and long-held notes, makes his playing some of the most beautiful work out there. In my opinion, Animals is Gilmour at his best.
I have a lot of great memories of when I first got into this album. I was a senior in high school and spent all of my time in the music department. One of my friends hooked up his iPod to the sound system we had in the band room and started blasting Animals. He'd do this every now and then, Pink Floyd was one of his favorite bands, and I'd just sit in the room (the acoustics were pretty decent) and just absorb this album. Every note and every beat was a new adventure to me, it's like the album became a part of me, I fused myself with it. It was like the whole room was filled with this album (we probably played it too loud) and it just enveloped me and I was fascinated by it.
Since then, I've heard the album a million times, I have it on vinyl and it's spun on my record player a ton. I remember spending time at night just laying in bed in the dark listening to this album. It's perfect. From top to bottom, it's perfect. Like I said, it's some of Gilmour's best guitar work, but it's some of the best instrumental work from the entire band. Richard Wright's intro to "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" is incredible, better than just about anything any other keyboardist from the era has done, the whole album fits together perfectly. Roger Waters' vocals and lyrics are full of imagery, some of the best he's done, heavily critical and bitter.
This whole album is one that will bore itself into your consciousness, it's one of the most harrowing, powerful, and beautiful albums I've ever heard. [First added to this chart: 07/11/2013]
I have a lot of great memories of when I first got into this album. I was a senior in high school and spent all of my time in the music department. One of my friends hooked up his iPod to the sound system we had in the band room and started blasting Animals. He'd do this every now and then, Pink Floyd was one of his favorite bands, and I'd just sit in the room (the acoustics were pretty decent) and just absorb this album. Every note and every beat was a new adventure to me, it's like the album became a part of me, I fused myself with it. It was like the whole room was filled with this album (we probably played it too loud) and it just enveloped me and I was fascinated by it.
Since then, I've heard the album a million times, I have it on vinyl and it's spun on my record player a ton. I remember spending time at night just laying in bed in the dark listening to this album. It's perfect. From top to bottom, it's perfect. Like I said, it's some of Gilmour's best guitar work, but it's some of the best instrumental work from the entire band. Richard Wright's intro to "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" is incredible, better than just about anything any other keyboardist from the era has done, the whole album fits together perfectly. Roger Waters' vocals and lyrics are full of imagery, some of the best he's done, heavily critical and bitter.
This whole album is one that will bore itself into your consciousness, it's one of the most harrowing, powerful, and beautiful albums I've ever heard. [First added to this chart: 07/11/2013]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
21,091
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If I had the ability to make a wish upon a star and get the singing voice of any one person, I would probably wish for Sam Cooke's singing voice. I truly believe that Cooke has one of the most beautiful, most pure singing voices to ever grace pop music.
And while I love all the hits he's put out over the years, something about Night Beat really stuck with me. There's nothing on this album that was a massive hit for Cooke. There's no Cupid or Saturday Night or anything like that. This is Sam Cooke having some fun in the studio just jamming with some amazing musicians.
It feels like a very intimate album. We've heard plenty from Sam Cooke the pop star. But here, we get to hear from Sam Cooke the man, Sam Cooke the guy who loves music and singing. These are mostly covers, lots of old classics like Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen and Little Red Rooster, and Cooke just nails every single one of them every single time. And on top of that, he's backed by a group of fabulous studio musicians that includes the legendary Hal Blaine and Billy Preston.
It's chill, it's fun, it's impressive, Night Beat is just a great time all around. [First added to this chart: 02/12/2016]
And while I love all the hits he's put out over the years, something about Night Beat really stuck with me. There's nothing on this album that was a massive hit for Cooke. There's no Cupid or Saturday Night or anything like that. This is Sam Cooke having some fun in the studio just jamming with some amazing musicians.
It feels like a very intimate album. We've heard plenty from Sam Cooke the pop star. But here, we get to hear from Sam Cooke the man, Sam Cooke the guy who loves music and singing. These are mostly covers, lots of old classics like Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen and Little Red Rooster, and Cooke just nails every single one of them every single time. And on top of that, he's backed by a group of fabulous studio musicians that includes the legendary Hal Blaine and Billy Preston.
It's chill, it's fun, it's impressive, Night Beat is just a great time all around. [First added to this chart: 02/12/2016]
Year of Release:
1963
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,317
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[First added to this chart: 02/12/2014]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,964
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[First added to this chart: 07/11/2013]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,296
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[First added to this chart: 07/11/2013]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
35,112
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[First added to this chart: 07/11/2013]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
26,342
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[First added to this chart: 02/16/2016]
Year of Release:
1960
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,197
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[First added to this chart: 07/11/2013]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
36,321
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[First added to this chart: 07/11/2013]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,782
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Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 5 | 5% | |
| 1960s | 30 | 30% | |
| 1970s | 21 | 21% | |
| 1980s | 7 | 7% | |
| 1990s | 13 | 13% | |
| 2000s | 18 | 18% | |
| 2010s | 6 | 6% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Beatles | 5 | 5% | |
| Bob Dylan | 5 | 5% | |
| The Tallest Man On Earth | 4 | 4% | |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 3% | |
| Tom Waits | 3 | 3% | |
| Led Zeppelin | 3 | 3% | |
| John Coltrane | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| |
55 | 55% | |
 |
27 | 27% | |
 |
7 | 7% | |
 |
4 | 4% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
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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 3 ratings for this chart. | Show all 95 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 02/12/2025 14:09 | BorderFreeAndrew | 118 | 82/100 |
| ! | 01/29/2025 12:48 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,089 | 86/100 |
| ! | 01/19/2024 04:31 | Moondance | 476 | 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).
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This chart is rated in the top 2% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 90.5/100, a mean average of 90.8/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 91.0/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.3.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums forum mentions
This chart has been referenced 10 times on the forums, Explore the wider forum discussion to see what members have said about it.
From 
BestEverAlbums 02/12/2025 09:00 in Chart of the day (#4858): By RockyRaccoon
BestEverAlbums 02/12/2025 09:00 in Chart of the day (#4858): By RockyRaccoon“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by RockyRaccoon () 1. Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan (1975) 2. Animals by Pink Floyd (1977) 3. Night Beat by Sam Cooke (1963) 4. Closing Time by Tom Waits (1973) 5. Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin (1969) 6. The Beatles (The White Album) by The…”
View forum post →From BestEverAlbums 01/18/2024 09:00 in Chart of the day (#4468): By RockyRaccoon
BestEverAlbums 01/18/2024 09:00 in Chart of the day (#4468): By RockyRaccoon“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by RockyRaccoon () 1. Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan (1975) 2. Animals by Pink Floyd (1977) 3. Night Beat by Sam Cooke (1963) 4. Closing Time by Tom Waits (1973) 5. Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin (1969) 6. The Beatles (The White Album) by The…”
View forum post →From BestEverAlbums 06/04/2023 08:00 in Chart of the day (#4240): By RockyRaccoon
BestEverAlbums 06/04/2023 08:00 in Chart of the day (#4240): By RockyRaccoon“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by RockyRaccoon () 1. Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan (1975) 2. Animals by Pink Floyd (1977) 3. Night Beat by Sam Cooke (1963) 4. Closing Time by Tom Waits (1973) 5. Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin (1969) 6. The Beatles (The White Album) by The…”
View forum post →Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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From
ForegroundNoise 05/19/2018 14:32 | #215203
ForegroundNoise 05/19/2018 14:32 | #215203
Considering you're one of the major titans on this site (and on every obscure electronic record I review you seem to have already got there before me) I'm surprised there's such a neglect for electronic music? That said your notes for your top 2 are stunning, would love to see some more (especially for the album of your namesake, my fave Beatles record!!)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 3
From
ShadowColossi 03/08/2016 08:28 | #161567
ShadowColossi 03/08/2016 08:28 | #161567
Nice chart, love the appreciation for Animals! I agree 100% that it is Gilmore's best guitar work... I've learned just about every guitar part in this record. I think it gets overshadowed by Wish You Were Here and Dark Side of the Moon a lot (not to say they're not good- they're both fantastic records as well). His bends and the little 2-to-3 note chords he uses in his solos are fantastic, as well as his ability to quickly switch from fast to slow dynamics in his solos. Flawless record.
Other than that one, great chart, loved the notes on Blood On the Tracks, too!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 1
From
RockyRaccoon TOP 100 COMMENTER 11/09/2013 20:16 | #91496
RockyRaccoon TOP 100 COMMENTER 11/09/2013 20:16 | #91496
@MotherNature'sSon - Yes, "Resistance" is far and away my favorite Muse album, glad we agree on that one. Also, while I love ELO, I haven't found an album of theirs that I've loved enough to put it on the overall chart. There'll be a couple on my decade charts though.
@MercuryDylan- Oh yea, I love "Pink Moon", it's hand down my favorite Nick Drake album. I can definitely hear the influence on Mattson now that you mention it.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 1
From
Mother Nature's Son TOP 100 COMMENTER 11/03/2013 22:19 | #90526
Mother Nature's Son TOP 100 COMMENTER 11/03/2013 22:19 | #90526
I thought I had already commented back, but it seems I haven't!
Anyway, thanks for your comment. Your chart is also pretty awesome. I'm pretty sure "Blood on the Tracks" is my favourite Bob Dylan album too. If you loved my ELO inclusions, how come there not be any ELO albums here? :(
..and cool we agree on "Resistance" being the greatest Muse album, too bad others are too blind to realize that!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 1
From
EyeKanFly 07/13/2013 17:01 | #81349
EyeKanFly 07/13/2013 17:01 | #81349
I was definitely expecting Blood on the Tracks as #1 (not too surprised with it being second though). Damn, I really like this chart. In addition to Beatles and Dylan and some of the more obvious classics, we have a lot in common. 2 Muse albums, Rockin the Suburbs, Truth, Licensed to Ill? Hell. Yes. I really like this chart, good job!
Oh, and the comments are all great too. Kudos.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 1
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