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 Stevie Wonder. (Remove this filter)
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"Good morn or evening, friends. Here's your friendly announcer. I have serious news to pass on to everybody. What I'm about to say could mean your world's disaster. Could change your joy and laughter to tears and pain. It's that love's in need of love today"
My first favorite musician, Stevie Wonder capped off his run of legendary albums in the 1970's with quite arguably his all time best with Songs. Not a skippable track on the album and each has fantastic melodies, harmonies and instrumentation. No pun intended, truly a wonderful album. Seeing him perform the entire album live in Detroit was truly breathtaking. An all time classic of beauty, love, life, spirituality, and gorgeous, often untouchable music.
This was the album along with Stevie's greatest hits that made me realize what music was in the first place and made me fall in love with it on a grand scale.
From the performances to the writing to the arranging, sequencing, mixing, mastering, artwork... this is a masterpiece so full of life it's hard for me to break down how important it is to me in just a couple paragraphs.
This is not a “concept album” necessarily, but it isn’t not one either. And with a title like Songs in the Key of Life, it would have been disappointing for Stevie to not have taken the challenge to break down the world around him. He did just that through his view on love, life, birth, death, religion, race relation, politics, history.. There is no false advertising in the title. Although Songs was released in 1976, after 2 years of Stevie locking himself in the studio for often times 48+ consecutive hours, this is an album that could be released today and would be no less musically relevant or culturally significant. The messages found throughout this record are too important to ignore and the music is too vibrant not to love and be moved by.
The cohesion in Stevie's writing is more prevalent here than almost anywhere else in his catalog. Never before had he mixed so many styles so effortlessly. Funk (I Wish), soul (Knocks Me Off My Feet), rock (All Day Sucker), jazz fusion (Contusion), and even big band (Sir Duke) and classical influence (Village Ghetto Land) are all on display here, none of them feeling out of place. What's more is the obvious influence it had on the generations to come. The impact this album had on artists like Prince, The Roots, Justin Timberlake, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Michael Jackson, Erykah Badu, Kendrick Lamar and so many others is screamingly obvious and a joy to infer. You've heard Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise, and if you haven't, you've heard Weird Al's Amish Paradise, both of which stem from the original structure of Stevie's Pastime Paradise from this album.
Stevie is such a great lyricist. Forget his superb voice and out of this world ear for melody, how can a blind man write a lyric like "I see us in the park, strolling the summer days of imaginings in my head. And words from our heart told only to the wind felt even without being said" that paints as clear of a picture as any song I've ever heard? Absolute genius.
Aside from what a great listening experience Songs In The Key of Life is, what I love specifically about this album is how it makes me feel as close to spiritual as I've ever been. I'm not a religious person, god to me is any positive person, place, or item I find. Discovering this album changed me and lead me down the path to eventually playing drums, teaching music, and meeting all of the people in my life that are important to me now. Songs in the Key of Life is almost a bible of sorts to me. From the first listen, it was something new and it had a visceral effect on me. It gave me the feeling that I could connect to something, in this case music, and stick with it, which I had never done before. I still feel it whenever I decide to play it. It's my go-to uplifting album.
Bury me with a copy of Songs In The Key of Life, my favorite album of all time.
Favorite tracks: As, Another Star, Knocks Me Off My Feet
Drummer(s): Stevie Wonder, Raymond Pounds, Greg Brown, [First added to this chart: 03/21/2014]
My first favorite musician, Stevie Wonder capped off his run of legendary albums in the 1970's with quite arguably his all time best with Songs. Not a skippable track on the album and each has fantastic melodies, harmonies and instrumentation. No pun intended, truly a wonderful album. Seeing him perform the entire album live in Detroit was truly breathtaking. An all time classic of beauty, love, life, spirituality, and gorgeous, often untouchable music.
This was the album along with Stevie's greatest hits that made me realize what music was in the first place and made me fall in love with it on a grand scale.
From the performances to the writing to the arranging, sequencing, mixing, mastering, artwork... this is a masterpiece so full of life it's hard for me to break down how important it is to me in just a couple paragraphs.
This is not a “concept album” necessarily, but it isn’t not one either. And with a title like Songs in the Key of Life, it would have been disappointing for Stevie to not have taken the challenge to break down the world around him. He did just that through his view on love, life, birth, death, religion, race relation, politics, history.. There is no false advertising in the title. Although Songs was released in 1976, after 2 years of Stevie locking himself in the studio for often times 48+ consecutive hours, this is an album that could be released today and would be no less musically relevant or culturally significant. The messages found throughout this record are too important to ignore and the music is too vibrant not to love and be moved by.
The cohesion in Stevie's writing is more prevalent here than almost anywhere else in his catalog. Never before had he mixed so many styles so effortlessly. Funk (I Wish), soul (Knocks Me Off My Feet), rock (All Day Sucker), jazz fusion (Contusion), and even big band (Sir Duke) and classical influence (Village Ghetto Land) are all on display here, none of them feeling out of place. What's more is the obvious influence it had on the generations to come. The impact this album had on artists like Prince, The Roots, Justin Timberlake, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Michael Jackson, Erykah Badu, Kendrick Lamar and so many others is screamingly obvious and a joy to infer. You've heard Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise, and if you haven't, you've heard Weird Al's Amish Paradise, both of which stem from the original structure of Stevie's Pastime Paradise from this album.
Stevie is such a great lyricist. Forget his superb voice and out of this world ear for melody, how can a blind man write a lyric like "I see us in the park, strolling the summer days of imaginings in my head. And words from our heart told only to the wind felt even without being said" that paints as clear of a picture as any song I've ever heard? Absolute genius.
Aside from what a great listening experience Songs In The Key of Life is, what I love specifically about this album is how it makes me feel as close to spiritual as I've ever been. I'm not a religious person, god to me is any positive person, place, or item I find. Discovering this album changed me and lead me down the path to eventually playing drums, teaching music, and meeting all of the people in my life that are important to me now. Songs in the Key of Life is almost a bible of sorts to me. From the first listen, it was something new and it had a visceral effect on me. It gave me the feeling that I could connect to something, in this case music, and stick with it, which I had never done before. I still feel it whenever I decide to play it. It's my go-to uplifting album.
Bury me with a copy of Songs In The Key of Life, my favorite album of all time.
Favorite tracks: As, Another Star, Knocks Me Off My Feet
Drummer(s): Stevie Wonder, Raymond Pounds, Greg Brown, [First added to this chart: 03/21/2014]
Year of Release:
1976
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,077
Rank in 1976:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
90
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"A touch of rain and sunshine made the flowers grow into a lovely smile that’s blooming. And it’s so clear to me you’re my dream come true. There’s no way that I’ll be losing."
It's really quite fitting that Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life are so close on our overall chart. They are both SO phenomenal. You all know my favorite of the two (my favorite of all time) but this record might be the single greatest soul/funk/r&b of all time. From top to bottom, there isn't anything more complete in that genre, not SITKOL, not What's Going On?, not anything. I listen to it in sheer wonder.
Favorite tracks: Living For The City, All in Love is Fair, Higher Ground
Drummer: Stevie Wonder (Yes, on every single track) [First added to this chart: 10/08/2015]
It's really quite fitting that Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life are so close on our overall chart. They are both SO phenomenal. You all know my favorite of the two (my favorite of all time) but this record might be the single greatest soul/funk/r&b of all time. From top to bottom, there isn't anything more complete in that genre, not SITKOL, not What's Going On?, not anything. I listen to it in sheer wonder.
Favorite tracks: Living For The City, All in Love is Fair, Higher Ground
Drummer: Stevie Wonder (Yes, on every single track) [First added to this chart: 10/08/2015]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,875
Rank in 1973:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
“I’ll blame on the sun that didn’t fill the sky, I’ll blame it on the birds and trees. I’ll blame it on the day that ended once too soon. I’ll blame it on the nights that could not be. But my heart blames it on me.”
One of the first full albums I ever sat down with, Talking Book was my first favorite Stevie Wonder album. The story goes: I was getting in my dad's blue S-10 after school and he had a new CD in the car. Stevie Wonder's The Definitive Collection (actually a fine single CD greatest hits collection, one of the few I still own). I got in as Superstition was ending and Higher Ground was about to kick in. Living for the City also played on that ride home and from then I was hooked. How does this lead to Talking Book though?
Well, since I knew my dad liked Stevie, my mom and I picked him up a copy of Talking Book for his birthday that same year. Shamelessly, it has stayed in my CD collection ever since. I played the shit out of this album. It became an instant pick me up when I needed it. Song-wise, it may not quiiiite stand up next to Songs In the Key of Life or Innervisions but it is a strong 3rd in his catalog. So funky. So moving. So varied! And let’s not forget, so important to the history of music as far as contractual reworkings in favor of artists creative freedom. Give Talking Book a(nother) listen, friends.
Favorite tracks: Superstition, You and I, Big Brother
Drummer: Stevie Wonder [First added to this chart: 10/13/2015]
One of the first full albums I ever sat down with, Talking Book was my first favorite Stevie Wonder album. The story goes: I was getting in my dad's blue S-10 after school and he had a new CD in the car. Stevie Wonder's The Definitive Collection (actually a fine single CD greatest hits collection, one of the few I still own). I got in as Superstition was ending and Higher Ground was about to kick in. Living for the City also played on that ride home and from then I was hooked. How does this lead to Talking Book though?
Well, since I knew my dad liked Stevie, my mom and I picked him up a copy of Talking Book for his birthday that same year. Shamelessly, it has stayed in my CD collection ever since. I played the shit out of this album. It became an instant pick me up when I needed it. Song-wise, it may not quiiiite stand up next to Songs In the Key of Life or Innervisions but it is a strong 3rd in his catalog. So funky. So moving. So varied! And let’s not forget, so important to the history of music as far as contractual reworkings in favor of artists creative freedom. Give Talking Book a(nother) listen, friends.
Favorite tracks: Superstition, You and I, Big Brother
Drummer: Stevie Wonder [First added to this chart: 10/13/2015]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,047
Rank in 1972:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 3. Page 1 of 1
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| 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% | |
| Genesis | 3 | 3% | |
| David Bowie | 3 | 3% | |
| Metallica | 3 | 3% | |
| Tool | 3 | 3% | |
| Stevie Wonder | 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 | | 85/100 |
| 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 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 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. Nirvana | |
| 10. The Velvet Underground | |
| 11. Kendrick Lamar | |
| 12. Neil Young | |
| 13. Miles Davis | |
| 14. The Smiths | |
| 15. The Beach Boys | |
| 16. Kanye West | |
| 17. R.E.M. | |
| 18. Pixies | |
| 19. Jimi Hendrix | |
| 20. Bruce Springsteen |