Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by YikYak 
Music is really cool. Because no two people ever have the exact same favorites and rankings. It's not like ranking baseball teams, where the number of World Series wins and Hall-of-Famers really determine how legendary your team is. Music is completely open to interpretation and opinion, which is amazing.
I chose my favorites and did not take albums specifically based on commercial success, critical acclaim, or legacy. Everything on here is my personal opinion. Of course, I haven't listened to everything and there is still a lot I have on my album bucket list.
I have a personal bias to guitar-based rock and concept albums.
I considered limiting my chart to one album per artist, but I didn't want to do that. I love a lot of albums by a few artists, like Radiohead, Queens of the Stone Age, Nirvana, The Beatles, and Pink Floyd, where I have at least 4 of their albums on my list. I wouldn't be able to choose just one album for these artists. A one album per artist limit would not show what I truly consider the 100 greatest albums of all time.
My tastes have changed considerably since I started really listening to music, so this chart will always evolve. Right now, I feel pretty satisfied with it, but tomorrow, I may not. The chart is going to change again and again. It is pretty much impossible to rank my favorites, so this is essentially the 100 albums that have stuck with me the most. And even these I could easily switch out for others, especially ones near the bottom.
Chart of the Day on: July 20th, 2016, March 15th, 2018, April 20th, 2022, February 18th, 2023, September 7th, 2023
- Chart updated: 12/02/2023 23:15
- (Created: 05/06/2016 12:45).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 39 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 92 out of 100 (from 85 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 1960s. (Remove this filter)
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Arguably the first concept album, and so, so good. I always knew The Beatles were good, but didn't know much about them. This was the first album of theirs I heard in its entirety and it did not disappoint.
Key Track(s): Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, With a Little Help from My Friends, Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, Getting Better, Fixing a Hole, She's Leaving Home, Lovely Rita, A Day in the Life
Key Lyric: "Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain
Where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies
Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers
That grow so incredibly high
Newspaper taxis appear on the shore
Waiting to take you away
Climb in the back with your head in the clouds
And you're gone" [First added to this chart: 05/09/2016]
Key Track(s): Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, With a Little Help from My Friends, Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, Getting Better, Fixing a Hole, She's Leaving Home, Lovely Rita, A Day in the Life
Key Lyric: "Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain
Where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies
Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers
That grow so incredibly high
Newspaper taxis appear on the shore
Waiting to take you away
Climb in the back with your head in the clouds
And you're gone" [First added to this chart: 05/09/2016]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
45,524
Rank in 1967:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
489
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This album is over 50 and it still feels ahead of its time. And Kanye sampled the first track, which is pretty cool. And it's safe to say 1969 is my 2nd favorite year for music (1967 is 1st): this, Abbey Road, Led Zeppelin I, Led Zeppelin II, Let It Bleed, Tommy, The Velvet Underground and Woodstock.
Key Track(s): 21st Century Schizoid Man, Epitaph, The Court of the Crimson King
Key Lyric: "Knowledge is a deadly friend
If no one sets the rules.
The fate of all mankind I see
Is in the hands of fools." [First added to this chart: 10/16/2016]
Key Track(s): 21st Century Schizoid Man, Epitaph, The Court of the Crimson King
Key Lyric: "Knowledge is a deadly friend
If no one sets the rules.
The fate of all mankind I see
Is in the hands of fools." [First added to this chart: 10/16/2016]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
29,535
Rank in 1969:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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This album holds some Pittsburgh nostalgia, because Andy Warhol used to be their manager, hence the album artwork. But this album in its own right is absolutely amazing. Between this, Sgt. Pepper's, Are You Experienced?, Magical Mystery Tour, Piper, and The Doors' debut, all of which are on this chart, it's safe to say 1967 is my favorite year for music.
Key Track(s): Sunday Morning, I'm Waiting For The Man, Femme Fatale, Venus in Furs, Run Run Run, For All Tomorrow's Parties, Heroin, There She Goes Again
Key Lyric: "I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
I wish that I'd sail the darkened seas
On a great big clipper ship
Going from this land here to that
In a sailor's suit and cap
Away from the big city
Where a man can not be free
Of all of the evils of this town
And of himself, and those around" [First added to this chart: 05/11/2016]
Key Track(s): Sunday Morning, I'm Waiting For The Man, Femme Fatale, Venus in Furs, Run Run Run, For All Tomorrow's Parties, Heroin, There She Goes Again
Key Lyric: "I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
I wish that I'd sail the darkened seas
On a great big clipper ship
Going from this land here to that
In a sailor's suit and cap
Away from the big city
Where a man can not be free
Of all of the evils of this town
And of himself, and those around" [First added to this chart: 05/11/2016]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
41,715
Rank in 1967:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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Is there a more iconic album? Maybe Dark Side, but everyone has imitated the walk, and I mean everyone-I have three different shirts parodying Abbey Road that aren't Beatles related, as well as an actual Abbey Road shirt. Classic album and the last of their really special ones.
Key Track(s): Come Together, Something, Oh! Darling, Octopus's Garden, Here Comes the Sun, You Never Give Me Your Money, She Came In Through the Bathroom Window
Key Lyric: "He roller coaster
He got early warning
He got Muddy Water
He one Mojo filter
He say. "One and one and one is three"
Got to be good looking 'cause he so hard to see
Come together right now over me" [First added to this chart: 05/11/2016]
Key Track(s): Come Together, Something, Oh! Darling, Octopus's Garden, Here Comes the Sun, You Never Give Me Your Money, She Came In Through the Bathroom Window
Key Lyric: "He roller coaster
He got early warning
He got Muddy Water
He one Mojo filter
He say. "One and one and one is three"
Got to be good looking 'cause he so hard to see
Come together right now over me" [First added to this chart: 05/11/2016]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
59,858
Rank in 1969:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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There are 3 Beatles albums that get arguably the most love. Sgt. Pepper's for its unique experimentation with the idea of a concept album, Abbey Road for its cultural status and Revolver for it having the true classic Beatles sound and style.
Key Track(s): Taxman, Eleanor Rigby, I'm Only Sleeping, She Said She Said, Good Day Sunshine, And Your Bird Can Sing, Doctor Robert, Got to Get You Into My Life, Tomorrow Never Knows
Key Lyric: "If you drive a car, I'll tax the street
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet" [First added to this chart: 05/09/2016]
Key Track(s): Taxman, Eleanor Rigby, I'm Only Sleeping, She Said She Said, Good Day Sunshine, And Your Bird Can Sing, Doctor Robert, Got to Get You Into My Life, Tomorrow Never Knows
Key Lyric: "If you drive a car, I'll tax the street
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet" [First added to this chart: 05/09/2016]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
51,827
Rank in 1966:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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The only album I have no fear playing in any crowd. The perfect combination of catchy and quality.
Key Track(s): Drive My Car, Norwegian Wood, You Won't See Me, Nowhere Man, Michelle, In My Life, If I Needed Someone, Run For Your Life
Key Lyric: "But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more" [First added to this chart: 05/13/2016]
Key Track(s): Drive My Car, Norwegian Wood, You Won't See Me, Nowhere Man, Michelle, In My Life, If I Needed Someone, Run For Your Life
Key Lyric: "But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more" [First added to this chart: 05/13/2016]
Year of Release:
1965
Appears in:
Rank Score:
27,905
Rank in 1965:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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It's about time I began listening to Bob Dylan. He won the Nobel Prize - and didn't show up for it. This album proves he earned it - the award and being a savage.
Key Track(s): Like a Rolling Stone, Tombstone Blues, Ballad of a Thin Man, Highway 61 Revisited, Desolation Row
Key Lyric: "Now the moon is almost hidden
The stars are beginning to hide
The fortune-telling lady
Has even taken all her things inside
All except for Cain and Abel
And the hunchback of Notre Dame
Everybody is making love
Or else expecting rain
And the Good Samaritan, he's dressing
He's getting ready for the show
He's going to the carnival tonight
On Desolation Row." [First added to this chart: 05/13/2016]
Key Track(s): Like a Rolling Stone, Tombstone Blues, Ballad of a Thin Man, Highway 61 Revisited, Desolation Row
Key Lyric: "Now the moon is almost hidden
The stars are beginning to hide
The fortune-telling lady
Has even taken all her things inside
All except for Cain and Abel
And the hunchback of Notre Dame
Everybody is making love
Or else expecting rain
And the Good Samaritan, he's dressing
He's getting ready for the show
He's going to the carnival tonight
On Desolation Row." [First added to this chart: 05/13/2016]
Year of Release:
1965
Appears in:
Rank Score:
28,279
Rank in 1965:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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I never thought too much of The Doors, but I then listened to this album and was pretty impressed. Very, very cool.
Key Tracks(s): Break on Through (To The Other Side), Soul Kitchen, Whiskey Bar, Light My Fire, Take It As It Comes, The End
Key Lyric: "I found an island in your arms
Country in your eyes
Arms that chain
Eyes that lie
Break on through to the other side " [First added to this chart: 05/13/2016]
Key Tracks(s): Break on Through (To The Other Side), Soul Kitchen, Whiskey Bar, Light My Fire, Take It As It Comes, The End
Key Lyric: "I found an island in your arms
Country in your eyes
Arms that chain
Eyes that lie
Break on through to the other side " [First added to this chart: 05/13/2016]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
27,527
Rank in 1967:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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Better guitar album of all time? Probably.
Key Track(s): Purple Haze, Manic Depression, Hey Joe, Foxy Lady, Are You Experienced?
Key Lyric: "Music sweet music,
I wish I could caress, caress, caress.
Manic Depression's a frustrating mess.
Well, I think I'll go turn myself off an' go on down." [First added to this chart: 05/13/2016]
Key Track(s): Purple Haze, Manic Depression, Hey Joe, Foxy Lady, Are You Experienced?
Key Lyric: "Music sweet music,
I wish I could caress, caress, caress.
Manic Depression's a frustrating mess.
Well, I think I'll go turn myself off an' go on down." [First added to this chart: 05/13/2016]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
22,626
Rank in 1967:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
1969 was a pretty great year for music. This is just one of the many amazing records released that year. Even though IV is generally the fan favorite, this is mine.
Key Track(s): Whole Lotta Love, What Is And What Should Never Be, Heartbreaker, Ramble On
Key Lyric: "You've been coolin', baby, I've been droolin',
All the good times I've been misusin',
Way, way down inside, I'm gonna give you my love,
I'm gonna give you every inch of my love,
Gonna give you my love." [First added to this chart: 05/09/2016]
Key Track(s): Whole Lotta Love, What Is And What Should Never Be, Heartbreaker, Ramble On
Key Lyric: "You've been coolin', baby, I've been droolin',
All the good times I've been misusin',
Way, way down inside, I'm gonna give you my love,
I'm gonna give you every inch of my love,
Gonna give you my love." [First added to this chart: 05/09/2016]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
21,719
Rank in 1969:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 15. Page 1 of 2
Don't agree with this chart? Create your own from the My Charts page!
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 15 | 15% | |
| 1970s | 11 | 11% | |
| 1980s | 6 | 6% | |
| 1990s | 27 | 27% | |
| 2000s | 30 | 30% | |
| 2010s | 11 | 11% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Queens Of The Stone Age | 6 | 6% | |
| The Beatles | 5 | 5% | |
| Radiohead | 5 | 5% | |
| Pink Floyd | 5 | 5% | |
| Nirvana | 4 | 4% | |
| The White Stripes | 3 | 3% | |
| Muse | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 1 from 63rd to 64th Black Holes And Revelations by Muse |
| Down 1 from 64th to 65th Lullabies To Paralyze by Queens Of The Stone Age |
| Down 1 from 65th to 66th Boston by Boston |
| New entries |
|---|
 Fever To Tellby Yeah Yeah Yeahs |
| Let England Shake by PJ Harvey |
| Leavers |
|---|
 Stories From The City, Stories From The Seaby PJ Harvey |
| The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
92/100 (from 85 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 85 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 90/100  | 02/19/2023 04:28 | Moondance | | 85/100 |
| 90/100 | 02/18/2023 16:15 | Johnnyo | | 80/100 |
| 85/100 | 04/25/2022 17:09 |  Cytoma | | 90/100 |
| 95/100 | 04/20/2022 13:50 | wizardalien | | 88/100 |
| 95/100 | 11/30/2021 19:44 |  Mercury | | 95/100 |
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 91.8/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 93.0/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 9.2.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 39 comments |
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90/100
From Moondance 02/19/2023 04:38
With 17 artists and 10 albums in common, there is a shared love of certain artists/albums. There is also a big divide between us in other music preferences - which to quote you: "Music is completely open to interpretation and opinion, which is amazing".
That said, I find this chart and the comments within it to be some of the best I have seen on this site ~ & I greatly appreciate the time & effort required to make insightful, considered commentary.
Love that you have 3 albums from Australia, including a few outliers. Although not in my top 100, I do have Atlas Genius in my year chart ~ so we are in quite a distinguished minority group there ~ all power to us!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From Johnnyo 02/18/2023 16:16
Really great chart. Great comments too. I keep on trying to get my act together to add more description to my charts but always get distracted. Great job
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From 
sssvnnn 02/28/2021 18:37
sssvnnn 02/28/2021 18:37
good chart.
Very good top 10.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From mrmcrook 02/17/2021 03:52
Well done. Best of all lists I've looked at. Know and love 80% of whats on it. Will be checking out that which I haven't heard. Double thumbs up. Great notes as well.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
jdenny2018 11/06/2018 17:52
jdenny2018 11/06/2018 17:52
"Music is really cool" should be the motto for this website.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
85/100
From 
ForegroundNoise 11/06/2018 09:42
ForegroundNoise 11/06/2018 09:42
I'd already given this chart a rating but since it's chart of the day I'll leave a comment.
Love the passion that comes through on your chart. Even though I'd disagree with that interpretation of Kid A (I'd give that distinction to HTTT since it was the album that Thom Yorke wrote a lot of lyrics about shielding yuor child from the cruelty of the world after the birth of his firstborn) I share your love of that album and our chart's descriptions are spookily similar! - nice to see a like-minded music fan.
Since you are a self-professed lover of 'guitar-based rock and concept albums' then I'll give you a rec in that order: The Microphones' 'The Glow Pt.2' has a loose concept of a figure who feels disconnected from the world of modernity (I Want Wind To Blow, My Roots Are Strong And Deep, I Want To Be Cold, I Felt My Size) who experiences love and loss (I Am Bored, I Felt Your Shape) before resolving to reconnect to the elemental world through his suicide (Samurai Sword) with the album closing to the sound of the narrator's blood pouring back into the earth from whence he came (My Warm Blood).
This one's a personal favourite I think you'd enjoy but feel free to check out my chart since I think there's a number of things there you might like!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
60/100
From 
Boltzmann 03/16/2018 15:42
Boltzmann 03/16/2018 15:42
This comment is beneath your viewing threshold.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | -4 votes (1 helpful | 5 unhelpful)
90/100
From n8rob 03/16/2018 15:34
Dang, good stuff!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
80/100
From SamNassiri98 03/16/2018 14:48
A lot of albums in common which is good but the ranking leaves a lot to be desired. I appreciate the effort you took in writing above each album.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From Ulf 03/16/2018 09:56
Really great stuff with great descriptions!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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