Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by 
calsper 
The difficult task of turning something as subjective as the power of music into an objective measure seems both arbitrary and heuristic if one is to avoid leaving readers with an undifferentiated overview.
In this chart I try to take into consideration certain aspects that I regard as crucial in order to rank the top 100 albums in music history, in which I believe a multifaceted approach is needed.
I rank by taking into account components of the individual album related to:
- Memories: my personal testemonies, confessions and experiences related to the music album as a listener, musician and human being
- History: the significance of music history and the vast impact and ways that single recordings have echoed throughout time as seminal artistic testamonies
- State-dependent emotion: the creative impact that I experience in listening and the emotional states that emerge during the course of the album's runtime
- Production: the soundstage, instrumentation, transparency and mastering of certain albums inducted into this chart as musical detail and presence to me is a highly enriching aspect of experiencing music.
This is a wonderful website. I am honored to be part of it and to have the privilege of being inspired by the whole-hearted music lovers in it. ..Enjoy
Best Casper
- Chart updated: 06/01/2022 08:45
- (Created: 03/09/2015 01:47).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 40 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 90 out of 100 (from 66 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 the 1970s. (Remove this filter)
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You know that something's up with an album if you name your first born after it, and mine is named Aja. This is flat out the album that I'd listen to the rest of my life if I could only choose one. So groovy, so sophisticated, so well-produced, so many mind-bending musicians, so elaborate compositions - the list goes on.
My father, being a radio host for 30 years, mostly played rock and pop "On Air". But at home, Steely was among what was constantly played - to my immediate adoration. I clearly remembered listening to these guys as a young kid and an aspiring drummer and losing all sense of hope of ever being a genuine musician while doing this.
Be that as it may, Steely have long been notorious for being among if not the most perfectionist band in music history. If anyone would question that statement, take a look through the liner notes of their releases with up to 40 of the world's leading session musicians participating on single releases.
From the complex arrangement on the title track, which is hugely progressive and evolving, to the slick "Peg" that sounds like pure recorded happiness, the album is a true masterpiece in my opinion.
"Aja" was the record that brought Steely to their commercial peak with great tracks. People who might listen and grow fond of this album really should listen to the rest of their discography.
Their signature and reference production method is no exception on "Aja". it simply sounds fantastic as all their records do with the sleekest and most stellar production. Special credit to Gary Katz, the magnificent and leading producer of Steely's years from '72 to '80. [First added to this chart: 03/25/2015]
My father, being a radio host for 30 years, mostly played rock and pop "On Air". But at home, Steely was among what was constantly played - to my immediate adoration. I clearly remembered listening to these guys as a young kid and an aspiring drummer and losing all sense of hope of ever being a genuine musician while doing this.
Be that as it may, Steely have long been notorious for being among if not the most perfectionist band in music history. If anyone would question that statement, take a look through the liner notes of their releases with up to 40 of the world's leading session musicians participating on single releases.
From the complex arrangement on the title track, which is hugely progressive and evolving, to the slick "Peg" that sounds like pure recorded happiness, the album is a true masterpiece in my opinion.
"Aja" was the record that brought Steely to their commercial peak with great tracks. People who might listen and grow fond of this album really should listen to the rest of their discography.
Their signature and reference production method is no exception on "Aja". it simply sounds fantastic as all their records do with the sleekest and most stellar production. Special credit to Gary Katz, the magnificent and leading producer of Steely's years from '72 to '80. [First added to this chart: 03/25/2015]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,429
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Comments:
63
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The previously mentioned mental breakdown of genius and founder Syd Barrett, which had forced him to leave the group seven years before would not only echo on Meddle and Dark Side but indeed on the final statement about the missing persona of Syd.
The sounds and flow of the album is impeccable. "Shine On [...]" is so great (and inseparable, really) but it remains as the highlight on the album for me. The title track is one of my favourite melodies and is a fantastic song - and also proof of the impact Barrett had on this group.
The level of musical sophistication once again is magnificent thanks to the wonderful compositions and writing.
Thanks to the greats for this great 1975 pearl that shines on to this day.
- "Come on you raver, you seer of visions, come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!". [First added to this chart: 03/10/2015]
The sounds and flow of the album is impeccable. "Shine On [...]" is so great (and inseparable, really) but it remains as the highlight on the album for me. The title track is one of my favourite melodies and is a fantastic song - and also proof of the impact Barrett had on this group.
The level of musical sophistication once again is magnificent thanks to the wonderful compositions and writing.
Thanks to the greats for this great 1975 pearl that shines on to this day.
- "Come on you raver, you seer of visions, come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!". [First added to this chart: 03/10/2015]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
50,667
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This is a fantastic and perfect combination of a band in a situation that forces a magnificent concept album born and this same band being artists at the top of their careers.
At the time, Fleetwood Mac consisted of Buckingham, Fleetwood, the McVies, and Nicks.
After a long period of non-stop touring and prior to the release, the McVies divorced, and completely stopped talking. Buckingham and Nicks had an on/off relationship that led to continuous fights. To top all of this, Fleetwood's wife Jenny had had an affair with his best friend.
These facts make it hard to deny that something great was to be made - and it was. Out of all of the members' chaotic stories and lack of love in their lives, this pearl was born - and this is as serious as a pop album get's.
The way the songs are highly energetic and driven by a very optimist soundscape creates a huge contrast to the devastating stories behind most of the album.
The songs are all great, and this album is so important to me. Formidable production is the cherry on top of this ruby. [First added to this chart: 03/10/2015]
At the time, Fleetwood Mac consisted of Buckingham, Fleetwood, the McVies, and Nicks.
After a long period of non-stop touring and prior to the release, the McVies divorced, and completely stopped talking. Buckingham and Nicks had an on/off relationship that led to continuous fights. To top all of this, Fleetwood's wife Jenny had had an affair with his best friend.
These facts make it hard to deny that something great was to be made - and it was. Out of all of the members' chaotic stories and lack of love in their lives, this pearl was born - and this is as serious as a pop album get's.
The way the songs are highly energetic and driven by a very optimist soundscape creates a huge contrast to the devastating stories behind most of the album.
The songs are all great, and this album is so important to me. Formidable production is the cherry on top of this ruby. [First added to this chart: 03/10/2015]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
34,056
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Hugely affected by his brother's participation in the Vietnam war, Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr. did to pop and soul music what, dare I say, no one have done either before or since.
Gaye must have had an epiphany about the tense political situation that drove his own fantasies behind himself in serving the greater cause to writing songs that would reach, literally, the souls of people.
With this unbelievably important release, Gaye was forcing all Americans to take a stand at what was happening (goin' on) in the world.
The masterpiece, which followed Gaye's awakening, truly revolutionised soul music.
Musically, it is rich, groovy and hugely conceptual in its approach, synergising the boundless sense of responsibility that he urged people to acknowledge.
So, "What's Going On" is, in my opinion, one of the best records ever made, and was truly genre-defining in soul, political involvement and heartfelt musical expression, touching the souls of "God's people" as he probably would have said it himself. [First added to this chart: 03/10/2015]
Gaye must have had an epiphany about the tense political situation that drove his own fantasies behind himself in serving the greater cause to writing songs that would reach, literally, the souls of people.
With this unbelievably important release, Gaye was forcing all Americans to take a stand at what was happening (goin' on) in the world.
The masterpiece, which followed Gaye's awakening, truly revolutionised soul music.
Musically, it is rich, groovy and hugely conceptual in its approach, synergising the boundless sense of responsibility that he urged people to acknowledge.
So, "What's Going On" is, in my opinion, one of the best records ever made, and was truly genre-defining in soul, political involvement and heartfelt musical expression, touching the souls of "God's people" as he probably would have said it himself. [First added to this chart: 03/10/2015]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
19,698
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Naked to the bare bone is the emotional impression that I am left with after each listen - so bare and ultimately vulnerable. An album in such a contrast to "Heijra" - her ultimate feminist effort of '76, five years later to this release.
Mitchell is singing of her personal defeats, helplessness, disaster, her love for the man she couldn't get a hold of this "Richard".
Actually, the pivotal experience in Mitchell's life that drove the emergence of the album was her relationship with James Taylor. Her love and anguish is so beautifully expressed.
Simply put, so beautiful and the defining break-up album for me. [First added to this chart: 03/10/2015]
Mitchell is singing of her personal defeats, helplessness, disaster, her love for the man she couldn't get a hold of this "Richard".
Actually, the pivotal experience in Mitchell's life that drove the emergence of the album was her relationship with James Taylor. Her love and anguish is so beautifully expressed.
Simply put, so beautiful and the defining break-up album for me. [First added to this chart: 03/10/2015]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,064
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Trip-hop most certainly trace its roots back to the early 70's. Serge Gainsbourg's "Histoire de Melody Nelson" is a daring and controversial concept album that I am extremely fond of.
The soundscape, jam, and dynamics of the simple instrumental setup is sharply contrasted with the flamboyant symphonic arrangements that carries the dynamic of this album to an unprecedented level of freely associative instrumentation.
The story in French is in spoken words and is circling around the story of the androgynous person of Melody Nelson that Gainsbourg bumps into and falls in love with - creepy.
What I like most about this album, though, is the stylistic consistency and similarity throughout the album that gives it qualities resemblant of a single extended musical piece with a number of progressions.
"Histoire de Melody Nelson"'s mix of freewheeling guitar, funk style bass, spoken word vocals and lush, deep orchestrated string music together makes this one of my favourite albums. [First added to this chart: 03/10/2015]
The soundscape, jam, and dynamics of the simple instrumental setup is sharply contrasted with the flamboyant symphonic arrangements that carries the dynamic of this album to an unprecedented level of freely associative instrumentation.
The story in French is in spoken words and is circling around the story of the androgynous person of Melody Nelson that Gainsbourg bumps into and falls in love with - creepy.
What I like most about this album, though, is the stylistic consistency and similarity throughout the album that gives it qualities resemblant of a single extended musical piece with a number of progressions.
"Histoire de Melody Nelson"'s mix of freewheeling guitar, funk style bass, spoken word vocals and lush, deep orchestrated string music together makes this one of my favourite albums. [First added to this chart: 03/10/2015]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,226
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Comments:
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A concept album being defining of the genre in its own right. The tracks, or rather pieces, are so intertwined and holistic, and the impression that it leaves is astounding. To me, the album is clearly larger than the sum of its parts, with its songs being so intertwined that they stand out as a unified whole and not as individual tracks.
The concept of lunacy (moon = luna) is chaotic, nerve-wrecking and enticing, filled with complexity.
Meddle, their previous release, truly was facilitating for the progression towards TDSOTM and a turning-point towards what would be realized here.
The unfortunate story of Syd Barrett's mental state and '68 abandonment of the band is so beautifully expressed in the revolving themes of Pink Floyd's next two albums from Meddle, and really states the band's close attachment to their beloved founder.
Luckily for music, the hurt and anguish was expressed in what would become a genre defining album in the exploration of concept and sound in progressive rock, as for music in the broadest sense. [First added to this chart: 03/10/2015]
The concept of lunacy (moon = luna) is chaotic, nerve-wrecking and enticing, filled with complexity.
Meddle, their previous release, truly was facilitating for the progression towards TDSOTM and a turning-point towards what would be realized here.
The unfortunate story of Syd Barrett's mental state and '68 abandonment of the band is so beautifully expressed in the revolving themes of Pink Floyd's next two albums from Meddle, and really states the band's close attachment to their beloved founder.
Luckily for music, the hurt and anguish was expressed in what would become a genre defining album in the exploration of concept and sound in progressive rock, as for music in the broadest sense. [First added to this chart: 03/10/2015]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
71,073
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[First added to this chart: 03/25/2015]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,757
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Comments:
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Led Zeppelin became the origin of everything that sounded, felt, or tasted vaguely metallic, and the raw power that they brought to the public on their debut, just two years earlier was indeed genre defining. This, Led Zeppelin IV, was an even stronger effort.
The strength of the music is crushing, and the interplay between especially Bonham and Paul-Jones is unmatched here through in their career. Page delivers his best riffs, and Plant's vocals are as sharp as ever heard.
An important effort in music history that rocks people into something banal; presence. [First added to this chart: 03/25/2015]
The strength of the music is crushing, and the interplay between especially Bonham and Paul-Jones is unmatched here through in their career. Page delivers his best riffs, and Plant's vocals are as sharp as ever heard.
An important effort in music history that rocks people into something banal; presence. [First added to this chart: 03/25/2015]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
44,263
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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[First added to this chart: 03/25/2015]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,653
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Total albums: 27. Page 1 of 3
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 3 | 3% | |
| 1960s | 17 | 17% | |
| 1970s | 27 | 27% | |
| 1980s | 14 | 14% | |
| 1990s | 9 | 9% | |
| 2000s | 11 | 11% | |
| 2010s | 19 | 19% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| The Beatles | 5 | 5% | |
| Radiohead | 4 | 4% | |
| Steely Dan | 3 | 3% | |
| Led Zeppelin | 2 | 2% | |
| Talk Talk | 2 | 2% | |
| Kendrick Lamar | 2 | 2% | |
| Bon Iver | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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51 | 51% | |
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31 | 31% | |
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5 | 5% | |
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5 | 5% | |
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3 | 3% | |
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1 | 1% | |
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1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 1 from 25th to 26th Histoire De Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg |
| Down 1 from 26th to 27th Skylarking by XTC |
| Down 1 from 27th to 28th The Doors by The Doors |
| Leavers |
|---|
 Astral Weeksby Van Morrison |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
90/100 (from 66 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 66 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
100/100  | 11/08/2022 02:33 | Larcx13 | | 86/100 |
80/100 | 11/07/2022 21:53 | Moondance | | 84/100 |
95/100 | 11/07/2022 14:04 |  flamingyesdept | | 84/100 |
 90/100 | 01/03/2022 17:10 |  Goliath | | 86/100 |
| 100/100 | 11/08/2018 23:22 |  phantom1305 | | 92/100 |
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 90.5/100, a mean average of 90.5/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 91.2/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 9.0.
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80/100
From Moondance 11/07/2022 21:57
Some terrific comments that I enjoyed reading. The chart reads like a reshuffling of the best of the best BEA rated albums - which is fine....but the chart didn't excite me like the more adventurous charts do.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
DommeDamian 04/28/2022 12:13
DommeDamian 04/28/2022 12:13
Nærmest endnu bedre end 4 år siden.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From Goliath 01/03/2022 17:11
Goliath 01/03/2022 17:11
22 in common, contains many classics, as it should.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
65/100
From 
Boltzmann 09/02/2018 11:20
Boltzmann 09/02/2018 11:20
The most PC chart I have ever seen on this site, and that’s saying something. Do you even have a taste of your own?
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (1 helpful | 2 unhelpful)
100/100
From DommeDamian 11/23/2017 11:09
DommeDamian 11/23/2017 11:09
11 albums og 18 kunstnere. Vi har virkeligt meget til fælles. Fed liste og endnu bedre beskrivelser, homie
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From CharlieBarley 11/16/2017 19:57
CharlieBarley 11/16/2017 19:57
Good chart like the notes plenty of heavy hitters
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From platus 11/16/2017 18:33
very nice chart
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From 
PanheadWarrior 08/02/2017 22:33
PanheadWarrior 08/02/2017 22:33
A lot of great albums and some albums I will have to check out! I liked reading your album reviews. Very good stuff!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
80/100
From LedZep 05/01/2017 12:18
LedZep 05/01/2017 12:18
It's got all the classics but that's just it, not a single choice I didn't see on basically every chart ever. This is good and bad at the same time. The second thing is that I don't like some of the choices, but descriptions compensate for that. Not that diverse, but still very charming. I'm confused.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
80/100
From 
Liedzeit 04/28/2017 07:52
Liedzeit 04/28/2017 07:52
Too many albums that everybody seems to like, for my taste. No wonder it resembles the Top 100 rearranged most. Only 2 2digits albums (in less than 100 charts). This is hard too understand for me. There is joy in loving albums that are obscure.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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