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: 06/18/2025 05:45
- (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.
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This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from David Bowie. (Remove this filter)
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"It was cold and it rained so I felt like an actor, and I thought of ma and I wanted to get back there. Your face, your race, the way that you talk. I'll kiss you, you're beautiful! I want you to walk! We've got Five Years!!"
So much to say about such an iconic record. But here we are I guess.
Over time, David Bowie’s work has purveyed my taste and listening habits more and more substantially until, overwhelmingly, he became a top tier favorite.
It started with Hunky Dory, one of my favorites in its own right. In fact, Hunky Dory was my top Bowie choice on this chart for years until recently, reaching as high as 13 or 14 I believe. But in recent years, I haven’t returned to that record (as fabulous an album as it is) as much as I have records like Station To Station and this one, the marvelous Ziggy Stardust.
Okay okay so yeah Ziggy is an androgynous alien sent to inform the planet blah blah blah.. we all know the story (one that actually holds up conceptually and thematically better than I think some people give it credit for). What we should acknowledge is how the story is one of a few key elements that makes The Rise and Fall such a brilliant album for AND ahead of the time it was released. He’s leading the glam rock charge while elevating the genre out of the streets and clubs and into the stratosphere.
Musically, the arrangements and orchestral passages serve as music that so mesmerizingly has one foot on Earth’s soil and the other one high above the clouds. Mick Ronson’s beautiful outro to Moonage Daydream is just one example of what I’m talking about. The majestic opener Five Years is another.
Lyrically, Bowie polished some absolute gems on this album too. Going back to Five Years, a song about and dripping in foreboding and impending catastrophe, the lyrics are so provocatively descriptive. Even down to the most minute but somehow very important details.. “Think I saw you at an ice cream parlor. Drinking milkshakes cold and long. Smiling and waving and looking so fine. Didn’t think you knew you were in this song.” Bowie is placing us not only in the song, but unexpected witnesses to the oncoming devastation of Earth. And if that’s not an example of how moving words in a song can be, I’m not really sure what is.
I really think this album excels fantastically with its pacing and having an overall high quality track list, one of the best in fact. For me, Ziggy Stardust is unequivocally and undeniably a 10 and one of this life’s great recordings. I only love it more as time goes on.
Favorite tracks: Five Years, Moonage Daydream, Rock & Roll Suicide
Drummer: Mick Woodsmansy [First added to this chart: 10/04/2015]
So much to say about such an iconic record. But here we are I guess.
Over time, David Bowie’s work has purveyed my taste and listening habits more and more substantially until, overwhelmingly, he became a top tier favorite.
It started with Hunky Dory, one of my favorites in its own right. In fact, Hunky Dory was my top Bowie choice on this chart for years until recently, reaching as high as 13 or 14 I believe. But in recent years, I haven’t returned to that record (as fabulous an album as it is) as much as I have records like Station To Station and this one, the marvelous Ziggy Stardust.
Okay okay so yeah Ziggy is an androgynous alien sent to inform the planet blah blah blah.. we all know the story (one that actually holds up conceptually and thematically better than I think some people give it credit for). What we should acknowledge is how the story is one of a few key elements that makes The Rise and Fall such a brilliant album for AND ahead of the time it was released. He’s leading the glam rock charge while elevating the genre out of the streets and clubs and into the stratosphere.
Musically, the arrangements and orchestral passages serve as music that so mesmerizingly has one foot on Earth’s soil and the other one high above the clouds. Mick Ronson’s beautiful outro to Moonage Daydream is just one example of what I’m talking about. The majestic opener Five Years is another.
Lyrically, Bowie polished some absolute gems on this album too. Going back to Five Years, a song about and dripping in foreboding and impending catastrophe, the lyrics are so provocatively descriptive. Even down to the most minute but somehow very important details.. “Think I saw you at an ice cream parlor. Drinking milkshakes cold and long. Smiling and waving and looking so fine. Didn’t think you knew you were in this song.” Bowie is placing us not only in the song, but unexpected witnesses to the oncoming devastation of Earth. And if that’s not an example of how moving words in a song can be, I’m not really sure what is.
I really think this album excels fantastically with its pacing and having an overall high quality track list, one of the best in fact. For me, Ziggy Stardust is unequivocally and undeniably a 10 and one of this life’s great recordings. I only love it more as time goes on.
Favorite tracks: Five Years, Moonage Daydream, Rock & Roll Suicide
Drummer: Mick Woodsmansy [First added to this chart: 10/04/2015]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
45,146
Rank in 1972:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
304
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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]
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:
19,975
Rank in 1971:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
“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]
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:
12,356
Rank in 1976:
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 | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
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|
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| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 1 | 1% | |
| 1960s | 12 | 12% | |
| 1970s | 31 | 31% | |
| 1980s | 13 | 13% | |
| 1990s | 22 | 22% | |
| 2000s | 12 | 12% | |
| 2010s | 6 | 6% | |
| 2020s | 3 | 3% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| The Beatles | 4 | 4% | |
| Rush | 4 | 4% | |
| Tool | 3 | 3% | |
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 3% | |
| Genesis | 3 | 3% | |
| David Bowie | 3 | 3% | |
| Metallica | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
59 | 59% | |
 |
29 | 29% | |
 |
5 | 5% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 2 from 12th to 10th Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
90/100 (from 86 votes)
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).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 85/100  | 03/14/2025 17:39 | SomethingSpecial | | 86/100 |
| 75/100 | 03/07/2025 14:27 | DrewHamster | | 79/100 |
| 90/100 | 02/27/2025 11:02 |  zwiebel | | 86/100 |
| 95/100 | 08/31/2024 20:46 | Johnnyo | | 80/100 |
| 90/100 | 03/06/2024 20:43 | Moondance | | 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.
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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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90/100
From 
ffudnebbuh 05/02/2023 03:05
ffudnebbuh 05/02/2023 03:05
nice variety
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From BraddlesHendo 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) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From bobnickmad 03/04/2023 19:28
Great chart both on diversity and quality.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From Johnnyo 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) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From Moondance 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) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From leniad 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)
100/100
From KineticEchoes02 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)
100/100
From leniad 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)
100/100
From 
Larcx13 11/22/2020 01:30
Larcx13 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 AAL2014 11/02/2020 13:10
AAL2014 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 Artists of 1983 | |
|---|---|
| 1. R.E.M. | |
| 2. Violent Femmes | |
| 3. New Order | |
| 4. U2 | |
| 5. The Police | |
| 6. Talking Heads | |
| 7. Tom Waits | |
| 8. Metallica | |
| 9. David Bowie | |
| 10. Pink Floyd | |
| 11. The Chameleons | |
| 12. Charly García | |
| 13. The The | |
| 14. Iron Maiden | |
| 15. Tears For Fears | |
| 16. Def Leppard | |
| 17. Dio | |
| 18. ZZ Top | |
| 19. Marillion | |
| 20. Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble |