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, 10/15/24, 6/11/25
- Chart updated: 12/01/2025 21:15
- (Created: 03/18/2014 17:15).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 49 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 90 out of 100 (from 86 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
View the complete list of 57,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.
This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from Genesis. (Remove this filter)
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"Can't you feel our souls ignite? Shedding ever-changing colors in the darkness of the fading night. Like the river joins the ocean, and the germ in a seed grows, we've finally been freed to get back home."
A work of art. A criminally underrated album in my opinion, although Supper's Ready has been (rightfully so) acknowledged as one of the all time great prog tracks. That's certainly not the only bright spot on this record though. The opening track, Watcher of the Skies is an epic marvel, and Get Em Out By Friday is one of the more underrated and gallivanting tracks of the Peter Gabriel era.
The production value has this rugged DIY charm even when they are reaching for the heavens sonically and thematically. Production on prog records from this time can be a huge turn off for me, but man I love the sound and feel of this record.
I decided a while ago this record eclipsed Selling England for me. While I still love that album (and the other PG era records), Foxtrot is my most listened and most beloved. This album has been with me before I could count Apocalypse in 9/8. Incredible, fantastical, transcendental, and so important to me.
Favorite tracks: Watcher of the Skies, Get Em Out By Friday, Supper's Ready.
Drummer: Phil Collins [First added to this chart: 10/03/2015]
A work of art. A criminally underrated album in my opinion, although Supper's Ready has been (rightfully so) acknowledged as one of the all time great prog tracks. That's certainly not the only bright spot on this record though. The opening track, Watcher of the Skies is an epic marvel, and Get Em Out By Friday is one of the more underrated and gallivanting tracks of the Peter Gabriel era.
The production value has this rugged DIY charm even when they are reaching for the heavens sonically and thematically. Production on prog records from this time can be a huge turn off for me, but man I love the sound and feel of this record.
I decided a while ago this record eclipsed Selling England for me. While I still love that album (and the other PG era records), Foxtrot is my most listened and most beloved. This album has been with me before I could count Apocalypse in 9/8. Incredible, fantastical, transcendental, and so important to me.
Favorite tracks: Watcher of the Skies, Get Em Out By Friday, Supper's Ready.
Drummer: Phil Collins [First added to this chart: 10/03/2015]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,103
Rank in 1972:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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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]
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:
10,583
Rank in 1973:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Maybe the most polarizing album in the discussion for greatest prog rock album ever. I made this clear in the comment on the page for the album itself: The first disc is out of this world, or to quote Sterogum on the topic of this album, "change-your-fuckin-life good." The second disc, while not bad, is just not up to the standard met by the first disc even if it boasts some legitimately good material, namely in the form of slightly early ambient/instrumental/shoegazey even type of work.
I still love this album and at this point the Lamb has been with me for a long time. I return to it occasionally and still feel the same way. It didn't leave my CD player for over a month upon disvoery. And for my money it is one of the most unique and ambitious projects a band has ever embarked upon. If the second disc was close to being as good as the first, look out BEA's all time top 50.
Favorite tracks: Broadway Melody of 1974, Carpet Crawlers, In the Cage.
Drummer: Phil Collins [First added to this chart: 10/13/2015]
I still love this album and at this point the Lamb has been with me for a long time. I return to it occasionally and still feel the same way. It didn't leave my CD player for over a month upon disvoery. And for my money it is one of the most unique and ambitious projects a band has ever embarked upon. If the second disc was close to being as good as the first, look out BEA's all time top 50.
Favorite tracks: Broadway Melody of 1974, Carpet Crawlers, In the Cage.
Drummer: Phil Collins [First added to this chart: 10/13/2015]
Year of Release:
1974
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,450
Rank in 1974:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 3. Page 1 of 1
Don't agree with this chart? Create your own from the My Charts page!
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 1 | 1% | |
| 1960s | 12 | 12% | |
| 1970s | 32 | 32% | |
| 1980s | 13 | 13% | |
| 1990s | 22 | 22% | |
| 2000s | 11 | 11% | |
| 2010s | 6 | 6% | |
| 2020s | 3 | 3% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Rush | 4 | 4% | |
| The Beatles | 4 | 4% | |
| Tool | 3 | 3% | |
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 3% | |
| Genesis | 3 | 3% | |
| David Bowie | 3 | 3% | |
| Metallica | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| |
58 | 58% | |
 |
29 | 29% | |
 |
5 | 5% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 2 from 63rd to 65th Cosmo's Factory by Creedence Clearwater Revival |
| Down 2 from 64th to 66th Odessey And Oracle by The Zombies |
| Down 2 from 65th to 67th Stand! by Sly & The Family Stone |
| New entries |
|---|
| Ram by Paul & Linda McCartney |
| 98.12.28 男達の別れ [98.12.28 Otokotachi No Wakare] by フィッシュマンズ [Fishmans] |
| Leavers |
|---|
| Long Season by フィッシュマンズ [Fishmans] |
| Crack The Skye by Mastodon |
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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 86 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 03/14/2025 17:39 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,105 | 85/100 |
| ! | 03/07/2025 14:27 | DrewHamster | 317 | 79/100 |
| ! | 02/27/2025 11:02 |  zwiebel | 189 | 86/100 |
| ! | 08/31/2024 20:46 | Johnnyo | 2,549 | 80/100 |
| ! | 03/06/2024 20:43 | 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).
(*In practice, some charts can have several thousand ratings)
This chart is rated in the top 2% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 90.1/100, a mean average of 90.6/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 90.6/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.5.
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 49 comments |
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From 
ffudnebbuh 05/02/2023 03:05 | #296530
ffudnebbuh 05/02/2023 03:05 | #296530
nice variety
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From BraddlesHendo 05/01/2023 12:32 | #296518
5 stars just for time and effort given to your chart. Some absolute beautiful albums in your Top 100.?
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From bobnickmad 03/04/2023 19:28 | #294700
Great chart both on diversity and quality.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Johnnyo 10/13/2022 16:55 | #290436
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) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Moondance 10/13/2022 09:12 | #290426
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) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From leniad 07/10/2022 01:29 | #287233
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)
From KineticEchoes02 07/06/2022 07:43 | #287136
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)
From leniad 03/01/2022 12:05 | #282077
Love it!
Great taste and like your writing , keep going
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Larcx13 11/22/2020 01:30 | #261211
Larcx13 11/22/2020 01:30 | #261211
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 AAL2014 11/02/2020 13:10 | #260085
AAL2014 11/02/2020 13:10 | #260085
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 Artists of the 1970s | |
|---|---|
| 1. Pink Floyd | |
| 2. David Bowie | |
| 3. Led Zeppelin | |
| 4. Neil Young | |
| 5. The Rolling Stones | |
| 6. The Clash | |
| 7. Black Sabbath | |
| 8. Fleetwood Mac | |
| 9. Stevie Wonder | |
| 10. The Who | |
| 11. Genesis | |
| 12. Brian Eno | |
| 13. Joni Mitchell | |
| 14. Paul McCartney | |
| 15. Yes | |
| 16. Bob Dylan | |
| 17. Bob Marley | |
| 18. Bruce Springsteen | |
| 19. Nick Drake | |
| 20. Marvin Gaye |
