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: 11/24/2025 13:15
- (Created: 08/06/2016 19:37).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 89 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 93 out of 100 (from 119 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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I taped this off my friend's older step-brother. I felt like one of the only kids in our school who got the Stone Roses when they debuted in 1989. Most of my friends thought Fools Gold was druggy shite when it entered the Top 40. I used to listen to my tape of this album on my Walkman when out on my bike and I would always play it all the way through. When I found out their influences it made me want to check out 60s music, especially psychedelia.
R.I.P. Mani. One of best bass Players of all time. [First added to this chart: 08/06/2016]
R.I.P. Mani. One of best bass Players of all time. [First added to this chart: 08/06/2016]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
23,127
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A total mellow classic. Although he was a depressed guy, this album makes me feel better. A great human being, it seems.
[First added to this chart: 08/07/2024]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,888
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God, man, rest in peace, Ozzy. You are still a legend, even though you are no longer with us.
And this is my favourite album which Mr Osbourne performed on. But he, and Black Sabbath, have many great albums.
Light years ahead of their peers on this album. Hell, they had no peers, they invented metal!
Heavy, righteous and no B.S.
Love it.
[ I don't listen to their first album all the way through anymore, though. I am not easily scared, but a couple tracks on that eponymous album freak me out even now. Still, nobody rocks harder than these guys!] [First added to this chart: 10/18/2016]
And this is my favourite album which Mr Osbourne performed on. But he, and Black Sabbath, have many great albums.
Light years ahead of their peers on this album. Hell, they had no peers, they invented metal!
Heavy, righteous and no B.S.
Love it.
[ I don't listen to their first album all the way through anymore, though. I am not easily scared, but a couple tracks on that eponymous album freak me out even now. Still, nobody rocks harder than these guys!] [First added to this chart: 10/18/2016]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,785
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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.
And R.I.P. Mani. Special Guy. In the Top 3 Bass players of all time for me [First added to this chart: 08/06/2016]
And R.I.P. Mani. Special Guy. In the Top 3 Bass players of all time for me [First added to this chart: 08/06/2016]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
44,864
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Awesome in winter. I am Mr Winter. My nickname from someone close to me. 'Cos I wear coats all year round! But I am getting more warm-blooded now on colder days.
Anyway. This Kate Bush album is fantastic. [First added to this chart: 07/15/2025]
Anyway. This Kate Bush album is fantastic. [First added to this chart: 07/15/2025]
Year of Release:
2011
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,237
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Words can't express how much this album meant to me when I was a mixed-up, depressed 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:
26,120
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
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I find this album chills me out when I listen to it.
I don't know what that says about me, cos this can be a dark album, but I do know this is excellent. [First added to this chart: 10/18/2016]
I don't know what that says about me, cos this can be a dark album, but I do know this is excellent. [First added to this chart: 10/18/2016]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
22,696
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Just a fantastic schizophrenic record to play no matter what mood you're in. It has happy songs, sad songs, crazy songs, celebratory songs and fun songs. It doesn't take itself too seriously even though it can be a serious record at times.
Too many favourites to pick out songs. It's best played from start to finish. And I rarely skip Revolution 9, I love that one it's definitely different and it's fun. Interesting note: this is Slash from Guns n Roses' favourite Beatles album. I saw him say it on a documentary. You can see why, it totally rocks and it casts a goofy spell over you.
Terrific album. I play it quite a lot. [First added to this chart: 08/06/2016]
Too many favourites to pick out songs. It's best played from start to finish. And I rarely skip Revolution 9, I love that one it's definitely different and it's fun. Interesting note: this is Slash from Guns n Roses' favourite Beatles album. I saw him say it on a documentary. You can see why, it totally rocks and it casts a goofy spell over you.
Terrific album. I play it quite a lot. [First added to this chart: 08/06/2016]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
37,388
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Overall Rank:
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Comments:
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Terrific Scottish indie band. For a relatively small nation, us Scots' always punch above our weight, so to speak, in many realms. Music, acting, writing, industry, inventions. You name it! Scottish people are doing it.
I have never lost my love for Travis's music. When this came out in '99 I was working in a series of menial jobs and every time a Travis track came on the radio I perked up a lot. I got the album for Christmas that year and it quickly became one of my all-time favourites. I like all their other albums too but this one is special. It also happens to be in the Top 100 bestselling albums of all time in the UK. [First added to this chart: 10/18/2016]
I have never lost my love for Travis's music. When this came out in '99 I was working in a series of menial jobs and every time a Travis track came on the radio I perked up a lot. I got the album for Christmas that year and it quickly became one of my all-time favourites. I like all their other albums too but this one is special. It also happens to be in the Top 100 bestselling albums of all time in the UK. [First added to this chart: 10/18/2016]
Year of Release:
1999
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,856
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Great album.
Its maybe a popular song but Mama I'm Coming Home is my all-time favourites Ozzy song.
Only found out recently that the Ozzman co-wrote it with Lemmy Kilmeister from Motorhead. But he gave Sir Lemmy all the credit in interviews. [First added to this chart: 08/02/2025]
Its maybe a popular song but Mama I'm Coming Home is my all-time favourites Ozzy song.
Only found out recently that the Ozzman co-wrote it with Lemmy Kilmeister from Motorhead. But he gave Sir Lemmy all the credit in interviews. [First added to this chart: 08/02/2025]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
563
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Total albums: 42. Page 1 of 5
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 2 | 2% | |
| 1960s | 14 | 14% | |
| 1970s | 32 | 32% | |
| 1980s | 16 | 16% | |
| 1990s | 22 | 22% | |
| 2000s | 4 | 4% | |
| 2010s | 7 | 7% | |
| 2020s | 3 | 3% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Bruce Springsteen | 3 | 3% | |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 3% | |
| Bob Dylan | 3 | 3% | |
| U2 | 2 | 2% | |
| The Beatles | 2 | 2% | |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | 2 | 2% | |
| R.E.M. | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| |
44 | 44% | |
| |
42 | 42% | |
 |
4 | 4% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
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 119 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 02/08/2025 07:26 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,105 | 85/100 |
| ! | 08/12/2024 20:20 |  pedro1976 | 107 | 85/100 |
| ! | 05/05/2024 02:15 | matterhornrider | 95 | 93/100 |
| ! | 01/31/2024 20:26 | Moondance | 476 | 85/100 |
| ! | 01/19/2024 20:48 |  dihansse | 309 | 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 92.9/100, a mean average of 92.9/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 93.4/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.6.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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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) | 0 votes (0 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) | 0 votes (0 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
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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) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From CharlieBarley 01/20/2024 01:41 | #301330
CharlieBarley 01/20/2024 01:41 | #301330
I know! It was a good discovery
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From dihansse 01/19/2024 20:48 | #301324
dihansse 01/19/2024 20:48 | #301324
Funny that you discovered Out Of Time on Belgian radio ;)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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