Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by AAL2014

Thanks for checking out my chart! BEA is a godsend of a website for me and has been for close to a decade now. I’ve spent countless hours of my free time here organizing my thoughts and checking out music that’s new to me. Very much in the same way listening to albums is respite for me, ranking them and arranging my thoughts is just the same.

Here you'll find some of that taking shape. My Top 100 will always be a work in progress, as I imagine anyone's would. But here's a couple things you'll find with my chart in particular:

---- My favorite (or thereabouts) lyric from each non-instrumental album.

----Being a drummer for going on 15 years, here you'll find the drummer(s) who played on each of my top 100 records to give a some due credit or to shoutout a hero.

—— As of 7/9/22, I am no longer enforcing 1 entry per artist in the top 25. I want the albums I love the most to be represented the way that accurately depicts what they’ve meant in my life.

Hope you enjoy. Let me know of any thoughts or if you have any recommendations for me in the comments. I’d love to hear them!

CHART OF THE DAY- 8/9/18, 5/10/21, 3/1/22, 10/13/22, 5/1/23

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Red 
Buy album United States
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“Sundown, dazzling day. Gold through my eyes. But my eyes turned within only see Starless and Bible Black.”

One of the heaviest prog rock albums of all time. King Crimson is such an anomaly to popular music. Actually more so that each album is an anomaly to the previous one. This album shows that. A wonderful lineup making incredible music that paved the way for so many other artists and genres to grow. There is a special type of darkness to this album.

The title track leads us off in a near uneasy fashion but it is one of my favorite songs ever. Starless, the closer, one of the band’s and the genre’s finest and most high reaching moments.

Favorite tracks: Red, One More Red Nightmare, Starless

Drummer: Bill Bruford.
[First added to this chart: 06/16/2016]
Year of Release:
1974
Appears in:
Rank Score:
10,484
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Buy album United States
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“So I went to the doctor, see what he could give me. He sad ‘Son, son, you’ve gone too far, cause smokin and trippin is all that you do’. Yeaahhhhhh!!!!”

Paranoid is Black Sabbath showing they caught lightning in a bottle twice (in the same year in fact) this time, their effort was stronger! I understand if you are tired of the title track and Iron Man but as an album, it is such a dark yet fun experience and even cathartic at times. Fairies Wear Boots and Electric Funeral are early heavy metal at its finest and most raw, War Pigs is a harrowing epic and a killer opener, and by my personal bias, both it and Fairies Wear Boots are both in the running for the best Black Sabbath song. The great Bill Ward proves he belongs in the same class as the others legends of his time behind the set of drums with his rugged and wicked performances on Paranoid.

Favorite tracks: War Pigs, Rat Salad, Fairies Wear Boots

Drummer: Bill Ward
[First added to this chart: 12/02/2014]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
19,497
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Buy album United States
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"And my brother lays upon the rocks, he could be dead, he could be not, he could be you. He's chameleon, comedian, Corinthian, and caricature."

Everyone please excuse me for admitting this... I just got done listening to this album for the first time (December 4, 2014). Really my first Bowie experience, aside from watching The Prestige. Where has this been my whole life? The instrumentation, the lyrics, the attitude, the production, the performances (including keys by the great Rick Wakeman). What a masterpiece. I'm certainly looking forward to my next Bowie experience. Maybe Ziggy Stardust? Maybe Hunky Dory again?...

Favorite tracks: Life On Mars?, Andy Warhol, the Bewlay Brothers

Drummer: Mick Woodmansey
[First added to this chart: 12/04/2014]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
22,173
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Buy album United States
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“The sea was red and the sky was grey, wondered how tomorrow could ever follow today.”

A vastly important album for me, 'Zoso' marks the beginning of Zeppelin's prime as far as my favorite era, one of the greatest 3 album stretches in music. The songwriting is superb, detailed, and beautiful. The production is warm and wonderful. The performances are nothing short of spectacular as always. Page and Plant shine like never before, Bonham and Jones lay down incredibly thick and thunderous grooves as usual. A Classic rock masterpiece.

Favorite tracks: Black Dog, Stairway To Heaven, Battle of Evermore.

Drummer: John Bonham
[First added to this chart: 09/18/2015]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
44,725
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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“It’s not the side effects of the cocaine. I’m feeling that it must be love! It’s too late!”



Favorite Tracks: Station To Station, TVC15, Wild Is The Wind

Drummer: Dennis Davis
[First added to this chart: 11/04/2021]
Year of Release:
1976
Appears in:
Rank Score:
13,365
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Comments:
Buy album United States
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"They got music in solar system, they danced around the milky way!"

Even though I admittedly haven't listened to everything Deep Purple has put out, I think it would still be hard for any of them to overtake Machine Head as my favorite Purple record and one of my favorite records of all time. Ritchie's crunching guitar tone, Ian Paice's pounding grooves, and Ian Gillian's soaring vocals make every song on this album great. Trust me.. it's not just Smoke on the Water and Highway Star on this album.

Especially for being an album that I played to the heavens and back when I was younger, this record still holds up. And remarkably well. This is one of rock's most quintessential records.

Favorite tracks: Maybe I'm a Leo, Highway Star, Pictures of Home

Drummer: Ian Paice
[First added to this chart: 03/21/2014]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,149
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Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 04/09/2023]
Year of Release:
2007
Appears in:
Rank Score:
51,470
Rank in 2007:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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“..And though the holes were rather small, they had to count them all. Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall.”

This was the first Beatles album I ever heard all the way through. That's a special moment in anyone's life, mine all the same. I found the album to be interesting and musically very unique but then A Day in the Life kicked in and I forgot about any other song ever made.. ever.

Some may say that this record is overrated or it's importance is overstated, etc etc.. But to me it's pretty much right where it needs to be and deserves its place in music history. Maybe the single most recognized album cover of all time.. okay second to Dark Side of the Moon, but it's still close. I think people get too up in arms about this album. It's not worth it. Just listen to the art, man. For a fresh listen, I recommend to most recent remix.

Favorite tracks: A Day in the Life, She's Leaving Home, Sgt Peppers...

Drummer: Ringo Starr (and probably Paul McCartney)
[First added to this chart: 12/02/2014]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
51,235
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Comments:
Buy album United States
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"The band is just fantastic, yeah that's really what I think. Oh, and by the way, which one's Pink?"

This album really represents in a lot of ways what an album can be. Not only that, but this is one of those records I would consider in the handful of *THE* classic rock albums. I grew up hearing so much of this material (and obviously a lot of other Floyd stuff) on local classic rock radio, I can't help but feel so many memories rush back when I put this record on as I heard so much of it without ever pressing play on the album for years. When I did, it was a treat, and to this day it continues to be.

Wish You Were Here is another sonic masterpiece from one of rock's most treasured ensembles. You put this album on, you sit for what feels like 10 minutes, the albums over, you wonder what happened. It's one of those records. An incredible experience highlighted by terrific production and monstrously good David Gilmour-isms and Roger Waters songwriting.

Favorite Tracks: Wish You Were Here, Have A Cigar, Shine On You Crazy Diamond.

Drummer: Nick Mason
[First added to this chart: 07/19/2015]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
51,012
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Overall Rank:
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Comments:
Buy album United States
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"I have crossed between the polls, for me there's no mystery. Once a man like the sea I raged, once a woman like the Earth I gave. But there is in fact more Earth than sea."

There's something special about Gabriel's Genesis, this record being the centerpiece of their phenomenal tenure. As you've already seen, Foxtrot edges this one out to me as it is a bit more cohesive, but the highlights on here are just as strong and beautiful. Dancing With The Moonlit Knight is one of the most amazing compositions in rock music. Anthemic, well-composed, engaging, musically stunning. Same goes for Firth of Fifth and the Cinema Show. The sing-songy fun of I Know What I Like shows the less serious side of the band while not losing an ounce of musicality and quirk.

Favorite tracks: Dancing With the Moonlit Knight, Firth of Fifth, The Cinema Show

Drummer: Phil Collins
[First added to this chart: 12/02/2014]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
11,697
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 28. Page 2 of 3

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition

Decade Albums %


1930s 0 0%
1940s 0 0%
1950s 1 1%
1960s 10 10%
1970s 34 34%
1980s 13 13%
1990s 21 21%
2000s 13 13%
2010s 6 6%
2020s 2 2%
Artist Albums %


Rush 4 4%
The Beatles 3 3%
Metallica 3 3%
Tool 3 3%
Genesis 3 3%
Stevie Wonder 3 3%
David Bowie 3 3%
Show all
Country Albums %


United States 58 58%
United Kingdom 28 28%
Canada 6 6%
Mixed Nationality 3 3%
Australia 2 2%
Germany 1 1%
Japan 1 1%
Show all
Live? Albums %
No 98 98%
Yes 2 2%
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 99 99%
Yes 1 1%

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

Biggest climbers
Climber Up 7 from 97th to 90th
Nevermind
by Nirvana
Climber Up 7 from 88th to 81st
Electric Ladyland
by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Climber Up 3 from 83rd to 80th
Hounds Of Love
by Kate Bush
Biggest fallers
Faller Down 5 from 86th to 91st
White Pony
by Deftones
Faller Down 3 from 80th to 83rd
Mingus Ah Um
by Charles Mingus
Faller Down 3 from 81st to 84th
The Marshall Mathers LP
by Eminem
New entries
New entryTo Be Kind
by Swans

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


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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Average Rating: 
90/100 (from 83 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
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).
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03/06/2024 20:43 Moondance  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 45184/100
  
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10/13/2022 20:00 BLO  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 2791/100

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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 90.3/100, a mean average of 90.8/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 90.8/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.4.

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 49 comments |
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Rating:  
90/100
From 05/02/2023 03:05
nice variety
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 05/01/2023 12:32
5 stars just for time and effort given to your chart. Some absolute beautiful albums in your Top 100.?
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 03/04/2023 19:28
Great chart both on diversity and quality.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 10/13/2022 16:55
Great chart and really diggin the notes accompanying the albums. Trying to do more of this myself but failing miserably
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 10/13/2022 09:12
Fascinating chart. Enjoyed the intro & album commentary ~ and appreciate the effort required to put the chart together. The chart is far too US-centric for my tastes - but I respect your choices, however they fall. Interestingly, you have Born To Run at #2 & I have it at #3; and the line you quote from the album is also my favourite line ~ so we have that and another 9 albums in common.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 07/10/2022 01:29
i have to give your chart a 100, excellent albums you choose, steview wonder along with prince and bowie are for me top 3 solo artists ever, if you count jazz then is bowie, miles davis, stevie and prince
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 07/06/2022 07:43
Hey man, I've come back to your chart - somehow on a first glance I gave it a 95, but it easily deserves a 100. This is the best chart I have read. Love your work - many similar tastes to mine, and the descriptions and stories within are awesome. From a bass player to a drummer - rock on dude!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 03/01/2022 12:05
Love it!
Great taste and like your writing , keep going
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 11/22/2020 01:30
You put a lot of effort on this chart and you have a lot of really good picks. Really good chart!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 11/02/2020 13:10
11/2/2020

The chart is yet again in transition mode (as always, but now moreso than in a while). Been taking in a lot of music new to me, a lot of music that I'm loving and resonating with. The chart will slowly but surely show that and the specific examples of what I'm talking about.

Just wanted to reach out to everybody who has given me high scores recently, it's always cool to see that every once in a while. However, there's more additions to include, more rearranging to be done, and much better descriptions. I've been feeling very motivated recently.

And look at that.. only 435 chart versions in....
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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Best Ever Artists
1. The Beatles
2. Radiohead
3. Pink Floyd
4. David Bowie
5. Bob Dylan
6. Led Zeppelin
7. The Rolling Stones
8. Arcade Fire
9. The Velvet Underground
10. Kendrick Lamar
11. Nirvana
12. Neil Young
13. The Smiths
14. Miles Davis
15. The Beach Boys
16. Kanye West
17. Pixies
18. R.E.M.
19. Jimi Hendrix
20. Bruce Springsteen
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