Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by 
CharlieBarley 
Welcome one, welcome all. These are some of my favourite albums of all time. Each album means something to me, even the relatively new ones. Just over half of them I discovered in the period of the early 1990s when I was aged 16-20, although not all of those albums are 90's albums. That was when I got into music in a big way, as many teenagers do. Then current music and many classic albums. And my personal discovery of music is ongoing. For me, music is a form of connection with something greater, of solace, of self-expression and a way of channelling feelings. There are many memories here. And new ones are still being created. I have tried to make this chart represent periods from many different stages in my life also. It is subject to change as I remember other albums I like or as I discover new, or even older albums. Enjoy!
- Chart updated: 06/05/2026 20:45
- (Created: 08/06/2016 19:37).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 90 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 93 out of 100 (from 121 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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Wow.
I only recently heard this album.
Most of you guys probably know she sang backing vocals on Gimme Shelter by the Stones, from the Let It Bleed album.
I have only heard this once. One time. But I am putting it here at the top of this list.
Her vocals are extraordinary. [First added to this chart: 05/29/2026]
I only recently heard this album.
Most of you guys probably know she sang backing vocals on Gimme Shelter by the Stones, from the Let It Bleed album.
I have only heard this once. One time. But I am putting it here at the top of this list.
Her vocals are extraordinary. [First added to this chart: 05/29/2026]
A superb album with one of my all-time favourite opening tracks of an album. Very atmospheric. The three opening tracks to this album are awesome. And every track on here is just great. For me it's faultless. They play so well together as a band. And there isn't a duff track on it. It's a legendary album and they have a lot of good albums. Some great albums in fact. This will always be a favourite. The lyrics, the music and Bono singing like he is trying to break out of prison, to paraphrase Andrea Corr. Hard to beat. Will always be a top-tier album for me. One of a kind.
[First added to this chart: 08/06/2016]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,117
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Awesome
Perfection, really. [First added to this chart: 05/22/2021]
Perfection, really. [First added to this chart: 05/22/2021]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,696
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Awesome album from Mr Dylan and now my favourite album of his. It is a real barnstormer of an album. The music has a dynamic quality, it's sublime and the lyrics are pure poetry. A truly fantastic album.
[First added to this chart: 10/31/2016]
Year of Release:
1965
Appears in:
Rank Score:
25,926
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For me one of the best singer-songwriter albums. Period. What a plethora of good songs. And covered so many times. She is a genius and has a very good voice as well as being the writing power behind so many hit songs of the 50s and 60s as part of the Goffin/King songwriting partnership. She is one of the all-time great songwriters and I believe Tapestry is one of the all-time bestsellers - probably in the top 50 bestselling albums in world history. If its not, it should be. Top 100, at least. And no wonder. Breathtaking talent. A simply terrific album.
[First added to this chart: 10/18/2016]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,552
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Words can't express how much this album meant to me when I was a typical teenager, living in the suburbs, in the early 90's. Life’s much better now. I quickly bought up all The Cure's albums upon hearing this. The opening track, Plainsong, is my favourite song of theirs and whenever I get the chance I play this very loud. I find it an emotional album. And deep and driftaway music in tone. It has an elegiac, almost funereal quality which charms the listener and lifts it out of being simply depressing. Smith is a genius. And this is a perfect album. I wanted to be Robert Smith, as a teen.
[First added to this chart: 08/06/2016]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
26,001
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A bit good, for a first album. This is typical British understatement. In fact I think it's great.
[First added to this chart: 10/18/2016]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,170
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First heard this in the early nineties when lent the album by my friend's older brother. I came home one weekend night, drunk, and played it on repeat whilst I slept. I heard it once through before I fell asleep. When I woke up I played it again. I loved it instantly. Now it is like an old friend. I love the overall sentiment of the album, of missing an absent friend, for them Syd Barrett. It's stirring without being sentimental. I also like the tracks relating to dealing with overnight massive fame from Dark Side of the Moon and dealing with the record company machine. For me, listening to it is like a spiritual experience. It's both mellow yet sad and righteously angry without being aggressive. And, apart from family, what could be more important than friendship? I think this will always be one of my favourite albums. I am very attached to it. And I had the good fortune of seeing it played live, in its entirety by tribute band The Australian Pink Floyd Show in 2015, the 40th anniversary year of the album's release. It was sublime. They have many good albums but this one moves me the most, and almost more than any other album. A special record.
[First added to this chart: 08/06/2016]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
42,912
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Just a big dose of pure joy. Whats not to like about this album? Reminds me of the 90s. Very spiritual and satisfying album. The only one of hers I really like all the way through. It is a real barn-stormer of an album. Great singing, warmth, joy, big songs, great backing singers. Slick production. Hugely talented performer. But we all know that. Most of us!
[First added to this chart: 12/13/2021]
Just an exceptional album from one of the Kings of Motown. I first heard this album when volunteering on a community radio station, quite a few years ago, and a radio Technician was playing it. I knew it was held in high esteem by the music critics but I had never heard it. I knew What's Going On and Robert Palmer's cover of Mercy Mercy Me but I had no idea how good this album was. Musically its sublime, but it is also very satisfying on a spiritual level. Glad I discovered it.
[First added to this chart: 10/18/2016]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,666
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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 | 2 | 2% | |
| 1960s | 15 | 15% | |
| 1970s | 32 | 32% | |
| 1980s | 16 | 16% | |
| 1990s | 22 | 22% | |
| 2000s | 5 | 5% | |
| 2010s | 5 | 5% | |
| 2020s | 3 | 3% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Bob Dylan | 3 | 3% | |
| The Beatles | 3 | 3% | |
| The Cure | 2 | 2% | |
| Kate Bush | 2 | 2% | |
| Various Artists | 2 | 2% | |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | 2% | |
| Stevie Wonder | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| |
44 | 44% | |
 |
41 | 41% | |
 |
4 | 4% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
There have been no changes to this chart.Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
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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 121 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/28/2026 01:34 | mrmcrook | 858 | 92/100 | |
| 02/27/2026 03:43 |  jhuik | 173 | 89/100 | |
| 02/08/2025 07:26 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,089 | 85/100 | |
| 08/12/2024 20:20 |  pedro1976 | 106 | 85/100 | |
| 05/05/2024 02:15 | matterhornrider | 100 | 93/100 |
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 92.9/100, a mean average of 93.0/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 93.5/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.5.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 90 comments |
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From mrmcrook 02/28/2026 01:35 | #313375
I always love a chart with notes. Gives it a more justified substance and personalizes it. Good stuff.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From jhuik 02/27/2026 03:43 | #313315
jhuik 02/27/2026 03:43 | #313315
This is a great chart with great comments.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From CharlieBarley 05/25/2025 14:05 | #309135
CharlieBarley 05/25/2025 14:05 | #309135
Cheers Pedro!
sorry about the late reply
Haven't checked my emails in a week Bro
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From pedro1976 05/19/2025 11:50 | #309061
pedro1976 05/19/2025 11:50 | #309061
pretty cool list - some treasure here for sure
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From CharlieBarley 05/13/2024 17:05 | #303504
CharlieBarley 05/13/2024 17:05 | #303504
Hey RTB! HOW You doing Bud?!
Good to see you on here.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
RoundTheBend 05/13/2024 05:14 | #303494
RoundTheBend 05/13/2024 05:14 | #303494
Great new chart mate! Good to see you still active.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From CharlieBarley 05/05/2024 06:14 | #303365
CharlieBarley 05/05/2024 06:14 | #303365
Thanks MHR!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From matterhornrider 05/05/2024 02:17 | #303362
Nice Top 100, with diversity in Music genres and covering so many decades. I loved your commentary as well. Cheers
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From CharlieBarley 01/31/2024 21:00 | #301633
CharlieBarley 01/31/2024 21:00 | #301633
Thanks Moondance.
Nice comment. I do try and be honest about my tastes.
I will have to check your chart out, see if I have read it.
Have a good day Bud.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Moondance 01/31/2024 20:27 | #301632
There is so much to like about this chart. The intro is spot on - how music is a connection to something greater in one's life (& that's why certain albums, often dismissed by the masses, can find a home in someone's greatest 100 chart). Your chart speaks honestly (no peer pressure) and it is the kind of chart I like to spend time with and will read from no.1 to no.100. Definitely one of my favourite charts on this site. Nicely put together CB - could very well be my first 100!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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