Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by 
Jimmy Dread 
COMPYS INCLUDED SINCE 2018. And why not?
AKA 100 LPs to Save When the World Caves In, or at least the 100 I currently have with me in my pocket squashed onto my iPhone (and hence carry everywhere). Inspired in equal parts by John Peel, my dear late mother, countless friends I've met over the years and music magazines/internet sites, as well as a couple of BEAutiful souls from this very site.
My chart is hardly definitive (strictly one album per act) and by no means representative of 'the greatest' albums per se, but certainly indicative of the LPs that mean the most to me right now. Think of me as an anorak-clad indie-popper with dreadlocks, buffalo sandals, ripped jeans and a set of glowsticks and you'd get some sort of idea of not only my musical tastes, but why I now let my wife choose my wardrobe. Constantly on the hunt for something new to make my soul sing, so if you think you can help, drop me a line. Jimmy, May 2021.
- Chart updated: 05/22/2021 21:45
- (Created: 11/04/2010 18:06).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 98 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 92 out of 100 (from 141 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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PICK - Northern Sky; FIRST HEARD: off back on Melody Maker CD compy, 1994. My spiritual awakening and pastoral epiphany, which also prompted me to reinvent my shopping habits and raid charity shops for vintage shirts. I always swore I'd marry any female fan of Nick Drake on the spot. Reminds me heaps of my Mum (God rest her beautiful soul) who said how lovely it was that I wasn't listening to 'loud stuff that annoyed your father' when she heard it emanating from my teenage bedroom. When my parents went out, I stuck The Fall on.
[First added to this chart: 11/04/2010]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,681
Rank in 1971:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
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PICK - I Don't Owe You Anything; FIRST HEARD: Age 14. The LP that helped me through GCSE revision, made me feel I wasn't on my own, made me proud to be a swot, made my spots and lack of girlfriend seem like they didn't matter and literally saved my adolescence. I'm eternally grateful.
[First added to this chart: 11/04/2010]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,948
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PICK - Fortress/Deer Park; FIRST HEARD: Play It Again, Aldershot (although Peel may have had a hand in persuading me). A total revelation, which didn't really hit home until my Mum said she loathed them and I gained an English Lit. degree. Never can decide if Hex or Grotesque deserves this spot - I love them both equally. Come back next week and check which one's currently annoying the wife most, when most likely a sudden surge in popularity (mine) will see Room To Live usurp the pair of 'em. Or maybe not - have you heard Papal Visit? Advice = don't.
[First added to this chart: 11/04/2010]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,498
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Comments:
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PICK - Lush; FIRST HEARD: via 'Chime' on a Now compilation. Orbital kinda soundtracked my college days, Belfast being a highlight (not on this LP admittedly) and ex-classmate Annie Mac being a big fan. I never quite had the courage to attend any illegal raves on account of being a square. Probably one of very few regrets in my life to this point, it has to be said.
[First added to this chart: 09/29/2011]
Year of Release:
1993
Appears in:
Rank Score:
446
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PICK - Sway; FIRST HEARD: In a dream somewhere (apart from "If I Were With Her Now", which I know for a FACT was used in a Toffee Crisp advert. Youtube it if you don't believe me. Now THAT'S subliminal advertising for you).
[First added to this chart: 11/05/2010]
Year of Release:
1992
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,163
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PICK - PS Exclusive; FIRST HEARD: Virgin Megastore, Oxford. Went here one day with some girl I'd met and much to her annoyance I spent our first date looking for records. We lasted 3 months. She liked The Coral and had more interest in horses.
[First added to this chart: 11/05/2010]
Year of Release:
2001
Appears in:
Rank Score:
839
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PICK - 12XU; FIRST HEARD: Uni. Punk goes to college with tracks lasting less time than it takes to breathe and in Mr. Suit the best song to shout at anally-retentive, pin-striped commuters at Redhill station. I don't do this often, on account of British Rail's stringent policy on personal stereos.
[First added to this chart: 11/04/2010]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,052
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Comments:
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PICK - The Concept; FIRST HEARD: 6th Form. Glam rock meets Alex Chilton in Northern Britain, wears denim and sounds like the backdrop to many a foppish 90s disco. Of which I rarely attended, bearing in mind everyone was listening to Nirvana at the time. Great cover too.
[First added to this chart: 11/04/2010]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,620
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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PICK - Granadaland; FIRST HEARD: The Rock Box, Camberley (thanks to Peter). A glorious, gut-wrenching racket, the true sound of a heart snapping in two and being grinded into dust. The best album to come from 'oop North' (or at least Yorkshire, duck) without doubt, pilgrimmage to Leeds notwithstanding.
[First added to this chart: 11/04/2010]
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PICK - Breaking Glass; FIRST HEARD: Uni, via Eilir. Got into Bowie far too late. My first exposure was from Eilir playing me "The Laughing Gnome" and "The Gospel According To Tony Day", the latter making me laugh so hard my head hurt. I always liked him when he was at his most kooky (Bowie, not Eilir). As with the Fall, toss up which Bowie LP gets this slot - Hunky Dory and Ziggy are both ace too, but it's my wedding anniversary today so have updated my tastes accordingly. Sometimes you get so lonely, etc.
[First added to this chart: 05/03/2019]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,906
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 41. Page 1 of 5
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 15 | 15% | |
| 1970s | 33 | 33% | |
| 1980s | 18 | 18% | |
| 1990s | 18 | 18% | |
| 2000s | 14 | 14% | |
| 2010s | 2 | 2% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Nick Drake | 1 | 1% | |
| Marine Girls | 1 | 1% | |
| Dr. Alimantado | 1 | 1% | |
| Sidan | 1 | 1% | |
| The Garlands | 1 | 1% | |
| Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes | 1 | 1% | |
| The Roches | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| |
41 | 41% | |
| |
29 | 29% | |
 |
11 | 11% | |
 |
4 | 4% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 16 from 56th to 40thMarquee Moon by Television |
| Up 10 from 38th to 28thKing Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown by Augustus Pablo |
| Up 7 from 96th to 89thThe Piper At The Gates Of Dawn by Pink Floyd |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 24 from 28th to 52ndThe Feeding Of The 5000 by Crass |
| Down 21 from 74th to 95thRed, Yellow & Blue by Born Ruffians |
| Down 8 from 92nd to 100th...And Don't The Kids Just Love It by Television Personalities |
| New entries |
|---|
| Scott 4 by Scott Walker |
| Extensions by McCoy Tyner |
| Crazy Rhythms by The Feelies |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Top 100 On Vinyl Challenge | Jimmy Dread | Custom chart | 2017 | |
| NME Best Albums Of All Time 2003 | WayneMC | Custom chart | 2019 | |
| NME 's 100 Best Albums Of All Time | New Music Express | Overall chart | 2003 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s | Jimmy Dread | 1970s decade chart | 2021 | |
| Very Good Plus - Vital Vinyl (Collector's Edition) | Jimmy Dread | Custom chart | 2019 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | Melody Maker | Overall chart | 2000 | |
| Melody Maker 100 Greatest Albums of All Time (2000) | WayneMC | Custom chart | 2019 | |
| Letting Someone Else Do a Chart for Me |  btener11 | Custom chart | 2013 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | Wallerand | Overall chart | 2021 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums |  Hanshiro | Overall chart | 2019 |  |
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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 141 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 03/20/2025 14:40 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,104 | 85/100 |
| ! | 01/15/2025 16:13 | Exist-en-ciel | 147 | 98/100 |
| ! | 10/15/2023 16:31 |  joyofdivision | 2 | 98/100 |
| ! | 08/13/2021 00:45 |  Anti | 356 | 87/100 |
| ! | 07/04/2021 04:08 | RioBravo | 201 | 84/100 |
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 1% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 92.2/100, a mean average of 92.4/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 92.6/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 11.0.
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
Showing latest 20 members who have added this chart as a favourite | Show all 41 members
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 98 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Positive Sentiment First |
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(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. Manage Profile)
From joyofdivision 10/15/2023 16:33 | #299498
joyofdivision 10/15/2023 16:33 | #299498
You cheeky monkey. Have updated my chart to include Wham!'s 'The Final', Tame Impala's 'Currents', Bob Marley & The Wailers 'Reggae Owes Me Money' and Joy Division's 'Further'
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From RioBravo 07/04/2021 04:17 | #271315
What a generous personal chart. Thank you for sharing all of that. Nice to see a fellow Room To Live fan.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
StefanR10 06/10/2020 12:29 | #253235
StefanR10 06/10/2020 12:29 | #253235
Cool album chart. I like it and gave you 90 points. Only one point Led Zeppelin is missing but ok that is my mind. But I like very much that you have THE GO! Team so i gave you for that 90 points. The Beatles are here is also ok. I can´t give you full 100 points because there other albums maybe seen on this list.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
gidgidi 08/17/2019 14:46 | #241319
gidgidi 08/17/2019 14:46 | #241319
This is absolutely amazing!!!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
ForegroundNoise 09/17/2018 10:28 | #221202
ForegroundNoise 09/17/2018 10:28 | #221202
An absolute joy to behold.
Not sure why it took me so long to rate this chart but I'm glad I've finally found myself here. Everything I've not already reviewed added to my to do list <3
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
DeusExMackia 07/23/2018 10:09 | #218683
DeusExMackia 07/23/2018 10:09 | #218683
The Smiths' debut in the top 10, you have my approval that's for sure.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
From Johnnyo 07/21/2018 19:23 | #218620
Just realise when we were talking earlier that I hadn’t visited your chart. Kick ass man. Great diversity. Top chart.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
From SamNassiri98 03/01/2018 18:14 | #209866
Lot of obscure stuff, should definitely check these out...
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Hayden 07/08/2017 17:19 | #193935
Hayden 07/08/2017 17:19 | #193935
Yeah... I deserved that shooting down. Glad I came around eventually. A couple of summers back it just finally clicked. Quite glad it did, I'm even finding myself still growing more appreciation over her lyrics with every listen. Anywho, thanks. Been meaning to give my chart a small revamp as of late...
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
TheHolyKiwi 07/08/2017 00:05 | #193909
TheHolyKiwi 07/08/2017 00:05 | #193909
Perfection. Absolute perfection. I need more charts like this on this website... for my own sanity in the least.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.
