all-time fav artists (subj), #001-100
by paladisiac

Here i will list my favorite artists of all-time. This list takes into account an artist's entire catalogue, giving highest marks to quality across quantity. (I will list my fav album by each artist.) This list is subjective not really based on BEA-entered data.

Runners up: the minus 5, fun/the_format, iron & wine, of montreal, sheryl crow, gram parsons, the bee gees. You can probably find a bunch of these artists on the continuation of this chart, "all-time fav artists (subj), #101-200".

03/13/2018 UPDATE: I need to revisit this (and the continuation) chart as it hasn't been updated since after 2013. However, if there are any changes, they'd most likely be subtle.

• Chart updated: 04/25/2018 17:45
• (Created: 01/17/2014 18:04).
• Chart size: 100 albums.

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1. (=)

The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway 

 Genesis

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If you've seen my overall albums top 100, then you could've already guessed Genesis was my favorite of all-time. Their career spans really intricate, musically-talented prog-rock pieces in the 70s, what i call their transition of autumnal, pastoral pop-rock between decades, into the 80's where they produced some of the best pop songs of that decade and all-time, and finally a retrospective phase that melded their prog and pop tendencies. They're an awesome band that i regretfully have never seen live in person. :-( [First added to this chart: 01/17/2014]

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

792 charts

Rank Score:

6,431

Rank in 1974:

3

Rank in 1970s:

59

Overall Rank:

252

Average Rating:

 82 (965 votes)

Comments:

71

2. (=)

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

 David Bowie

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Bowie obviously has a great body of work that spans 6 decades. Sure, the 90s and 00s were a bit spotty as it seemed he chased trends more than being part of them, but he basically put out a very-good album every year of the 70s and has recently touched past greatness with his last 2 albums before his demise. [First added to this chart: 01/17/2014]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

3,018 charts

Rank Score:

43,391

Rank in 1972:

1

Rank in 1970s:

3

Overall Rank:

7

Average Rating:

 90 (3,543 votes)

Comments:

304

3. (=)

Purple Rain 
Soundtrack

 Prince And The Revolution

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He's under many band names here in BEA, from prince to prince & the revolution to his time with the npg, but he's a talented and funky mutherf*cker under any name. He's been good from his debut through the gold experience and then a smattering of good songs since. I'm looking forward to his new album with 3rd eye girl. [First added to this chart: 01/17/2014]

Year of Release:

1984

Appears in:

1,440 charts

Rank Score:

15,912

Rank in 1984:

1

Rank in 1980s:

9

Overall Rank:

72

Average Rating:

 83 (1,661 votes)

Comments:

131

4. (=)

Bridge Over Troubled Water 

 Simon & Garfunkel

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Now some would call this a cheat, but this spot is allocated to Simon and Garfunkel AND Paul Simon's solo work. He was the main visionary behind Simon and Garfunkel, so I'm combining the two. Paul Simon is a master storyteller, whether it's down a folk alleyway or across the globe soaking in african vibes. He's not flashy, he's just a great musician with fun and highly-relatable lyrics. [First added to this chart: 01/17/2014]

Year of Release:

1970

Appears in:

1,288 charts

Rank Score:

12,039

Rank in 1970:

4

Rank in 1970s:

29

Overall Rank:

104

Average Rating:

 84 (1,541 votes)

Comments:

97

5. (=)

OK Computer 

 Radiohead

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It was a tough choice for me between Prince, Simon & Garfunkel and Radiohead. Ultimately, Radiohead was bested as a result of Prince's longevity and slightly more extensive quality discography. But Radiohead hasn't experienced the slumps Prince experienced during his hey dey ("Parade" for example), so maybe with 1 or 2 more albums, Radiohead will rise. They were the first artist i purposefully saw in concert twice. [First added to this chart: 01/17/2014]

Year of Release:

1997

Appears in:

4,422 charts

Rank Score:

63,588

Rank in 1997:

1

Rank in 1990s:

1

Overall Rank:

1

Average Rating:

 92 (5,636 votes)

Comments:

855

6. (=)

Picaresque 

 The Decemberists

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I love Colin Meloy's highly literary sea shanties and doomed romances in any flavor -- from prog rock to rock opera to alt-country. Colin's the artist I've seen live the most (3 with decemberists and 1 solo). [First added to this chart: 01/17/2014]

Year of Release:

2005

Appears in:

277 charts

Rank Score:

1,667

Rank in 2005:

18

Rank in 2000s:

156

Overall Rank:

1,039

Average Rating:

 78 (297 votes)

Comments:

15

7. (=)

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Nevermind 

 Nirvana

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I used to not give it much credence for those older than myself when they'd discuss beatles or floyd or something like that and they'd say "you had to be there", but I think that's the case with Nirvana. You had to be there to know that the simple lyrics and melody along with the ragged voice and miminal accompanyment really was (and is) more than the sum of its parts. Kurt sang and played from a real place which you can hear in nearly all of his work. Would the alt/grunge movement happened without Kurt/Nirvana? Probably -- someone else would've come along. But that's not what happened -- Nirvana sparked the last mainstream rock revolution. And it was a blast witnessing. [First added to this chart: 01/17/2014]

Year of Release:

1991

Appears in:

3,223 charts

Rank Score:

37,740

Rank in 1991:

1

Rank in 1990s:

2

Overall Rank:

13

Average Rating:

 87 (4,334 votes)

Comments:

413

8. (=)

...But Seriously 

 Phil Collins

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Despite many peoples' incorrect impression that Genesis was Phil Collins' group, Genesis was actually a highly-collaborative effort, especially during the 70s, so i don't count them together. However, his albums stand well on their own. His perspective of failed relationships hits home from Face Value through his releaeed demo Both Sides. A multi-instrumentatlist, including my favorite drummer of all-time (in his hey day), and a nice, funny guy, Phil Collins has been a long-time fav. [First added to this chart: 01/17/2014]

Year of Release:

1989

Appears in:

149 charts

Rank Score:

677

Rank in 1989:

29

Rank in 1980s:

354

Overall Rank:

2,353

Average Rating:

 69 (180 votes)

Comments:

7

9. (=)

Thriller 

 Michael Jackson

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Michael Jackson was the consumate artist. Sure, he didn't really play an instrument and didn't write his own stuff, and probably owes Quincy Jones an afterlife favor, but this guy worked hard and knew how to entertain. "Thriller" was one of those albums at the time that everyone loved and everyone had. Thriller was everywhere in 1982 and Jacko was untouchable after that until his eccentricities overwhelmed his music. But even "Dangerous" was a great, new jack swing r&b album. [First added to this chart: 01/17/2014]

Year of Release:

1982

Appears in:

1,642 charts

Rank Score:

16,133

Rank in 1982:

1

Rank in 1980s:

8

Overall Rank:

70

Average Rating:

 82 (2,165 votes)

Comments:

162

10. (=)

Ten 

 Pearl Jam

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Honestly, i didn't like Pearl Jam when "Ten" came out. Most of the grunge sound, except Nirvana which i instantly loved, sounded to murky and like regular rock for me to enjoy. I slowly changed my opinion of those other grunge bands and ultimately loved Pearl Jam by the time Vitalogy came out. For a while, "No Code"'s aping of Neil Young was my favorite PJ album, but i've since moved back to Ten. If you like this kind of alt-rock, you can't go wrong from Ten through Yield. [First added to this chart: 01/17/2014]

Year of Release:

1991

Appears in:

1,843 charts

Rank Score:

18,324

Rank in 1991:

3

Rank in 1990s:

7

Overall Rank:

51

Average Rating:

 82 (2,346 votes)

Comments:

181

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Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10

all-time fav artists (subj), #001-100 composition

Country	Albums	%
	60	60%
	28	28%
	5	5%
	2	2%
	2	2%
	1	1%
	1	1%
Show all

all-time fav artists (subj), #001-100 chart changes

all-time fav artists (subj), #001-100 similar charts

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all-time fav artists (subj), #001-100 similarity to your chart(s)

Other custom charts by paladisiac

Title	Source	Type	Published	Country
best albums, 1 per artist, #1-100	paladisiac	Custom chart	2017
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most important albums in my life	paladisiac	Custom chart	2021
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paladisiac

all-time fav artists (subj), #001-100 ratings

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
95/100  !	03/13/2018 17:05	bobbyb5	725	90/100
90/100  !	11/05/2014 19:07	ewhittenburg	25	81/100
65/100  !	09/02/2014 19:10	Nickie	489	79/100

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all-time fav artists (subj), #001-100 comments

Showing all 4 comments |
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From baystateoftheart 07/30/2018 22:49 | #218974

Nice concept. There's a humorous typo on Nine Inch Nails. I think you mean self-flagellating, not self-flatulating.

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

Rating:  

95/100

From bobbyb5 03/13/2018 17:07 | #210819

This was so cool. Surprising to say the least. I love the unbelievable range of people. It's awesome .

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

Rating:  

90/100

From ewhittenburg 11/05/2014 19:08 | #126252

Great list from top to bottom (although I did a double-take on the Richard Marx). Good comments

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

From tgarritsen 02/10/2014 13:51 | #102753

Cool list, funny to see.

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

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