Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by Johnnyo 
The rules; I have to own it, no best of's or greatest hits. The occasional compilation is allowed
- Chart updated: 01/28/2026 09:45
- (Created: 01/22/2011 20:07).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 116 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 86 out of 100 (from 133 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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I can’t put my figure on precisely why this is my favourite album of all time. Maybe it’s got something to do with the fact that it has four 100/100 tracks on it, Adam Raised A Cain, Candy’s Room, Racing In The Street & Factory.
Maybe it’s because it flows seamlessly from one fabulous track to another. It’s not that there’s no filler here, it’s that there’s not even an average track on the album. Every, and I mean every, track is at least a 90/100.
How do you follow up your breakthrough album? Born To Run has been described as a “Wall Of Sound” album, and although I think that it’s a great album, it’s way too over produced for my liking. DOTEOT is leaner. Some say angrier. Not sure about that but it’s certainly more, lyrically anyway, in your face. There’s something of the punk sensibility to the album with it’s raw energy
I think that I warm to the characters depicted so eloquently by Springsteen on the album, their struggles and their fights.
It feels real to me. What I think sounds like, The real New Jersey but, not coming from there, I might be way off the mark.
So many songs were written for the album that didn’t fit the albums narrative that Springsteen famously “gave them away” to other artists
• "Hearts of Stone" & "Talk to Me" to Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes;
• "Because the Night" to Patti Smith;
• "Fire" to Robert Gordon;
• "Rendezvous" to Greg Kihn;
• "Don't Look Back" to the Knack;
• "This Little Girl" to Gary U.S. Bonds
You have more guitar solos and less sax (although it’s still there) than on his previous albums, which I prefer. [First added to this chart: 02/11/2011]
Maybe it’s because it flows seamlessly from one fabulous track to another. It’s not that there’s no filler here, it’s that there’s not even an average track on the album. Every, and I mean every, track is at least a 90/100.
How do you follow up your breakthrough album? Born To Run has been described as a “Wall Of Sound” album, and although I think that it’s a great album, it’s way too over produced for my liking. DOTEOT is leaner. Some say angrier. Not sure about that but it’s certainly more, lyrically anyway, in your face. There’s something of the punk sensibility to the album with it’s raw energy
I think that I warm to the characters depicted so eloquently by Springsteen on the album, their struggles and their fights.
It feels real to me. What I think sounds like, The real New Jersey but, not coming from there, I might be way off the mark.
So many songs were written for the album that didn’t fit the albums narrative that Springsteen famously “gave them away” to other artists
• "Hearts of Stone" & "Talk to Me" to Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes;
• "Because the Night" to Patti Smith;
• "Fire" to Robert Gordon;
• "Rendezvous" to Greg Kihn;
• "Don't Look Back" to the Knack;
• "This Little Girl" to Gary U.S. Bonds
You have more guitar solos and less sax (although it’s still there) than on his previous albums, which I prefer. [First added to this chart: 02/11/2011]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,210
Rank in 1978:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Slap bang in the middle of a run of five classic albums many people would put Exile as the best of that run but for me it's too long and overblown. Fingers on the other hand is lean and mean. No fat here just great tracks performed brilliantly.
Stand out track is Can't You Hear Me Knocking. According to Wiki, "The entire track was captured in one take, with the jam being a happy accident; the band had assumed the tape machine had been stopped, and were surprised to find the entire session had been captured. Originally they were going to end the song before the jam started, but were so pleased with the jam that they decided to keep it in." [First added to this chart: 02/11/2011]
Stand out track is Can't You Hear Me Knocking. According to Wiki, "The entire track was captured in one take, with the jam being a happy accident; the band had assumed the tape machine had been stopped, and were surprised to find the entire session had been captured. Originally they were going to end the song before the jam started, but were so pleased with the jam that they decided to keep it in." [First added to this chart: 02/11/2011]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,801
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Comments:
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Every album that Jimi did during his tragically short lifetime was a true classic & this is the best.
[First added to this chart: 02/11/2011]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,401
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The greatest rock band of all time @ their absolute best.
[First added to this chart: 02/11/2011]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
38,366
Rank in 1971:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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A seamless masterpiece that flows better than any album I know. The history behind the recording of the album and the subject matter also make this the warmest of Floyds albums
[First added to this chart: 08/23/2011]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
44,294
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Just one of the most complete albums ever made!
[First added to this chart: 02/11/2011]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
478
Rank in 1970:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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I would guess that very few album have had as much written about them as this one, so what to add that's new. My personal perspective is that this was an album that I was introduced to by a friend who became one of the greatest influences on my musical tastes for years to follow.
[First added to this chart: 02/11/2011]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
59,476
Rank in 1973:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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There are at least two versions of this album that I am aware of and both, uniquely, appear in this chart. As the title suggests, this is the complete gig whereas the other entry is an edited version. If you come across either, buy it.
This album captures one of the greatest live bands at their peak. Raw, powerful, energetic and simply enjoying what they do best. Entertaining their fans. I guess I love this album so much because I've seen the syndicate play live for the last 40 years and it's one of my greatest musical experiences. [First added to this chart: 07/19/2020]
This album captures one of the greatest live bands at their peak. Raw, powerful, energetic and simply enjoying what they do best. Entertaining their fans. I guess I love this album so much because I've seen the syndicate play live for the last 40 years and it's one of my greatest musical experiences. [First added to this chart: 07/19/2020]
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Steve Wilson is a true genius & this is his greatest triumph.
[First added to this chart: 02/11/2011]
Year of Release:
2005
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,472
Rank in 2005:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Fav Track = Reach Down
[First added to this chart: 02/11/2011]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,941
Rank in 1991:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 12 | 12% | |
| 1970s | 32 | 32% | |
| 1980s | 16 | 16% | |
| 1990s | 19 | 19% | |
| 2000s | 14 | 14% | |
| 2010s | 5 | 5% | |
| 2020s | 2 | 2% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Bob Dylan | 5 | 5% | |
| Neil Young & Crazy Horse | 4 | 4% | |
| Led Zeppelin | 4 | 4% | |
| Bruce Springsteen | 3 | 3% | |
| The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 3 | 3% | |
| R.E.M. | 3 | 3% | |
| Neil Young | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
There have been no changes to this chart.Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top studio albums of all time | Johnnyo | Custom chart | 2022 | |
| My top scoring albums of all time | Johnnyo | Custom chart | 2022 | |
| Minus BEA Top 100 | Johnnyo | Custom chart | 2023 | |
| 1 album per artist - greatest albums of all time | Johnnyo | Custom chart | 2026 | |
| Top 100 greatest music albums (alternative list) | Johnnyo | Custom chart | 2026 | |
| Greatest US albums | Johnnyo | Custom chart | 2019 | |
| Minus BEA Top 1000 | Johnnyo | Custom chart | 2023 | |
| Greatest albums by US artists (1 - 100) | Johnnyo | Custom chart | 2020 | |
| The best album from each year | Johnnyo | Custom chart | 2024 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s | Johnnyo | 1970s decade chart | 2026 | |
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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 133 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 08/18/2025 23:23 |  LadyGodiva | 96 | 97/100 |
| ! | 06/23/2025 23:00 | C0NB9NN | 20 | 85/100 |
| ! | 05/24/2025 13:28 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,097 | 85/100 |
| ! | 08/28/2024 22:11 | StreakyNuno | 130 | 82/100 |
| ! | 09/11/2023 21:14 |  Xxnu99etxX | 142 | 90/100 |
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 has a Bayesian average rating of 86.0/100, a mean average of 85.5/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 86.0/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 11.0.
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 116 comments |
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From LadyGodiva 08/18/2025 23:26 | #310552
LadyGodiva 08/18/2025 23:26 | #310552
Ah Stills and Young - love that! But the rest is a bit too rock for my personal taste… but hey it would be a dull world if we all liked the same stuff :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From StreakyNuno 08/28/2024 22:12 | #305011
Nice to see Supertramp
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
CharlieBarley 06/17/2023 21:37 | #297660
CharlieBarley 06/17/2023 21:37 | #297660
Excellent, man. I think you introduced me to John Martyn. Great to see Maria McKee. And so much Neil Young.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From manurock 05/09/2023 06:20 | #296770
Nice to see some of my favourite Neil Young, Porcupine Tree and The Jayhawks albums so high.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
DommeDamian 12/09/2022 08:54 | #291848
DommeDamian 12/09/2022 08:54 | #291848
Nice job.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Arthurknight 11/09/2022 12:19 | #291165
Arthurknight 11/09/2022 12:19 | #291165
Thank you, yours is too. God that Dream Syndicate live album is killer – the version on there of Medicine Show is such an elevation of the studio release.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Moondance 04/13/2022 00:55 | #284134
I have finally got around to checking out your top 100 - and I am not disappointed. Just love seeing some of the 'underdogs' (Stephen Stills, Thin Lizzy, Ed Kuepper, The Waterboys, Crowded House & especially Lou Reed's "New York") making the grade.
I like to guess a "user" age based on where the majority of top 100 albums occur (& particularly the no 1 choice) - so I am guessing you are early - mid 60's. If so, we could almost be music-twins :).
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From BlueNote 03/23/2022 01:24 | #283247
I like it.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From FelipeBoorkes 03/23/2021 16:31 | #267665
I have a Spotify playlist called Classy Classics that will benefit from this chart. Great recommendations!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From matterhornrider 07/31/2020 00:00 | #256473
Nice List and some bands I will check out!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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