Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by CharlieBarley

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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 15-20, 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: 04/07/2024 18:45
(Created: 08/06/2016 19:37).
Chart size: 100 albums.

There are 83 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 93 out of 100 (from 117 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

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31. (30)

Glasvegas

One of my favourite albums. Geraldine is a very good song. Whole album sings its heart out. I played this to death the year they came on the scene. Brilliant band. The first of a handful of excellent albums. [First added to this chart: 06/27/2023]

Year of Release:

2008

Appears in:

121 charts

Rank Score:

690

Rank in 2008:

Rank in 2000s:

388

Overall Rank:

2,325

Average Rating:

73 (155 votes)

Comments:

32. (31)

Are You Experienced

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Jimi's incredible debut album with the Experience blew my mind when I first heard it aged 15. It was the second album of his I heard and the first studio album I heard of his. My French teacher at school introduced me to Hendrix with a compilation, he was a cool man my teacher. This album is sublime, it encompasses many moods and genres and flows effortlessly. Plus it totally rocks! It's now my favourite Hendrix album. This one is definitely worth a listen. [First added to this chart: 10/18/2016]

Year of Release:

1967

Appears in:

2,162 charts

Rank Score:

24,293

Rank in 1967:

Rank in 1960s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

87 (2,417 votes)

Comments:

169

33. (44)

OK Computer

Radiohead

What a brilliant album. Another one I didn't get straight away. At first I preferred The Bends but time and repeated listens soon revealed this album's majesty. There are so many good tracks and it just flows so well as an album. My favourite track is Let Down, which is one of my favourite tracks of all time. [First added to this chart: 08/06/2016]

Year of Release:

1997

Appears in:

4,334 charts

Rank Score:

77,043

Rank in 1997:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

92 (5,496 votes)

Comments:

841

34. (32)

If I Could Only Remember My Name

David Crosby

A superb album. I always liked David Crosby, and all the acts he has been involved with but I never heard this album. I had heard of it but never took the time to play it. I am very glad I did. I thought it was amazing. I like how it's laidback and experimental. And he collaborated with some of my favourite artists of the era. Altogether a fantastic record. I played it late at night, which made it even more enjoyable. If you haven't heard this record, do yourself a favour and give it a listen. Its mellow vibe may win you over. Now I keep playing it and I love it. [First added to this chart: 08/04/2020]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

222 charts

Rank Score:

1,076

Rank in 1971:

Rank in 1970s:

316

Overall Rank:

1,600

Average Rating:

78 (220 votes)

Comments:

35. (33)

Parklife

Blur

Another big album of my generation. I was 18 when this dropped. It was awesome. The songs were fun and cheeky. The lyrics were intelligent. And it had some great tunes too. My favourite tracks are Girls And Boys, To The End, Far Out, Trouble In The Message Centre and This Is A Low. And although it has imperfections I just love it. Plus it captures the youthful spirit of a bunch of lads in their twenties who just happened to be in a famous band. Well, this is the record that made them massively famous, even though their eponymously-titled album from 1997 was the album that broke them in America. This album made being a young man more enjoyable, for me. It's my favourite Blur album. [First added to this chart: 02/07/2023]

Year of Release:

1994

Appears in:

978 charts

Rank Score:

7,898

Rank in 1994:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

213

Average Rating:

80 (1,349 votes)

Comments:

36. (35)

Siamese Dream

The Smashing Pumpkins

I heard this when it first debuted. I was at a mate's house and this lad came in playing this album on a small ghetto blaster. I was charmed by the music that came out the speakers.. And I was on drugs at the time. Don't do drugs now but this album really appealled to me when I was off my face and it still does now I am clean. Every track is good. It's so hard to choose between this and Mellon Collie but I think this one just pips all the others. And Today is one of my favourite songs of the 90s. Billy Corgan may have problems but he's no shirker, he has produced a lot of very expressive music. [First added to this chart: 08/06/2016]

Year of Release:

1993

Appears in:

1,553 charts

Rank Score:

19,476

Rank in 1993:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

Comments:

37. (36)

I knew this was an excellent album straight away. I admired Brian Wilson's genius, versatility and ear for a good tune. But the whole album as a piece didn't grab me straight away, in the same way that Simon & Garfunkel or The Beatles did. It's hard to explain. But over time I've kept coming back to it and now I just love it. I think Mr Wilson was light years ahead of his time. This is an amazing album to play all year round for me, and, as many know, God Only Knows is the one song Paul McCartney wishes he'd written. It's one of those perfect songs and it's a darn near perfect album. Caroline, No is terrific too. Deserves all the praise it gets. [First added to this chart: 11/11/2016]

Year of Release:

1966

Appears in:

2,776 charts

Rank Score:

45,162

Rank in 1966:

Rank in 1960s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

Comments:

38. (37)

My favourite of his 70's albums. It just is music to my ears. Tangled Up In Blue is easily one of my favourite opening tracks of any album. All the songs on here are good.I have played it a lot but it never gets old. Sign of a classic album. [First added to this chart: 10/20/2016]

Year of Release:

1975

Appears in:

1,812 charts

Rank Score:

23,674

Rank in 1975:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

87 (2,130 votes)

Comments:

165

39. (38)

The Lion And The Cobra

Sinéad O'Connor

What sad news it was to find out that Sinead O'Connor had passed away and so young. I love her music. She was a beautiful and sensitive soul and was really damaged from childhood. I like a lot of her albums and it was an almost impossible choice between this album and her sublime sophomore effort I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. Although the latter album contains her famous Prince cover Nothing Compares 2 U, which is one of my favourite songs, I just felt that song for song, this, her debut album, is a little bit stronger. My favourite songs on here are Jackie and Troy. And Mandinka was a great single. I remember seeing her promote that one in music magazine Smash Hits when I was twelve. It's only fitting that she rose to become world famous because with her feisty personality and her sublime voice. She had world-class talent. Rest in peace. [First added to this chart: 11/26/2020]

Year of Release:

1987

Appears in:

195 charts

Rank Score:

1,246

Rank in 1987:

Rank in 1980s:

221

Overall Rank:

1,392

Average Rating:

78 (189 votes)

Comments:

40. (39)

Ella Fitzgerald Sings The George And Ira Gershwin Songbook

Ella Fitzgerald

This album is great - her voice is sublime. I was introduced to Ella Fitzgerald by my Mother's friend, who was a music teacher, when I was 12. It was an instant love affair with her voice! I think she has the best voice of any female vocalist. For me it's her, then Etta James then Karen Carpenter. Then Susanne Sundfor and Janis Joplin. And Nina Simone of course. And k d lang and Enya. And Sandy Denny and Linda Thompson. And Sinead O' Connor too, of course. And Eddi Reader. And Whitney, Mariah and Lauryn Hill. And Lene Marlin. Okay, and Adele. Can't forget her. But Ella is the most amazing. I feel better when I listen to her sing. And she has tonnes of great albums and compilations.
There are only a few singers who can put an instant smile on my face. Elvis is one. Ella is definitely another. [First added to this chart: 04/05/2021]

Year of Release:

1959

Appears in:

96 charts

Rank Score:

518

Rank in 1959:

Rank in 1950s:

Overall Rank:

2,925

Average Rating:

78 (80 votes)

Comments:

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition

Decade	Albums	%

1930s	0	0%
1940s	0	0%
1950s	3	3%
1960s	13	13%
1970s	29	29%
1980s	18	18%
1990s	25	25%
2000s	5	5%
2010s	3	3%
2020s	4	4%

Artist	Albums	%

David Bowie	3	3%
U2	3	3%
Stevie Wonder	2	2%
Radiohead	2	2%
Various Artists	2	2%
Bob Dylan	2	2%
Pink Floyd	2	2%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	43	43%
	41	41%
	5	5%
	5	5%
	1	1%
	1	1%
	1	1%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	99	99%
Yes	1	1%

Live?	Albums	%
No	98	98%
Yes	2	2%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	97	97%
Yes	3	3%

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

Biggest climbers
Up 20 from 69th to 49th The Man Who by Travis
Up 17 from 34th to 17th The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars by David Bowie
Up 11 from 44th to 33rd OK Computer by Radiohead

Biggest fallers
Down 2 from 32nd to 34th If I Could Only Remember My Name by David Crosby
Down 2 from 33rd to 35th Parklife by Blur
Down 2 from 42nd to 44th Back To Black by Amy Winehouse

Virgin All-Time Top 1000 Albums by Virgin (2000)
Top 100 Albums (Online Amalgam) by musicologist97 (2019)
BEA Top 100 Reorganized According To My Taste by bonnequestion (2024)
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Channel 4 (2005)
Objectively Ranking BEA’s Top 100 by AAL2014 (2023)
100 Greatest Albums Ever by Q (2006)
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by RFNAPLES (2013)
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by tim0505 (2024)
Virgin All-Time Top 1000 Albums by Virgin (1998)
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Narcan (2011)

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similarity to your chart(s)

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Average Rating:

93/100 (from 117 votes)

Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 117 ratings for this chart.

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Date updated
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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
100/100	01/31/2024 20:26	Moondance	453	84/100
95/100	01/19/2024 20:48	dihansse	308	84/100
95/100	06/21/2023 09:05	KineticEchoes02	111	88/100
95/100	06/18/2023 00:57	StreakyNuno	76	85/100
90/100	06/17/2023 19:43	Johnnyo	2,011	79/100

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 7.7.

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments

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From

CharlieBarley 01/31/2024 21:00

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.