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 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: 04/03/2025 13:15
- (Created: 08/06/2016 19:37).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 87 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 93 out of 100 (from 120 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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A wonderful album.
My current Dylan favourite.
It's very strong. And serious too despite some very dark humour, in places.
I was not a big fan of this album when in my 30s. It was too serious in tone, for me.
But now, as the years go by, I like this album more and more.
But I wish my streaming service would add the album. I have to listen to it on my iPod or YouTube.
Or maybe Mr Bob hasn't given his permission. [First added to this chart: 03/25/2025]
My current Dylan favourite.
It's very strong. And serious too despite some very dark humour, in places.
I was not a big fan of this album when in my 30s. It was too serious in tone, for me.
But now, as the years go by, I like this album more and more.
But I wish my streaming service would add the album. I have to listen to it on my iPod or YouTube.
Or maybe Mr Bob hasn't given his permission. [First added to this chart: 03/25/2025]
Year of Release:
1964
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,714
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51
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Awesome album from Mr Dylan and now my second 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:
28,368
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Just an exceptional album from one of the Kings of Motown. I first heard this album when volunteering on a 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:
19,798
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Pure childhood nostalgia. I was a child of the late 70s/early 80s and what a great time to be alive. Star Wars, E.T. and Indiana Jones were on at the Pictures and music was awesome and there was plenty of cheese to boot. Parallel Lines was never cheesy though, just perfect. A favourite of my Dad's, who had a serious crush on Deborah Harry, he used to play it in the car when I was very small. Right from the angry, vibrant opening of Hanging On The Telephone you are in for a real treat of an album. Never fails to make me smile.
[First added to this chart: 10/18/2016]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,266
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Some days I think this is my favourite Springsteen album. For the moment, it is.
I like many of his albums especially his 70's and 80's ones. And The Rising from the 2000's.
On this album, the title track is my favourite, and one of my favourite songs of his. But all the tracks on here are good. Badlands. Adam Raised A Cain. Racing In The Street. It's just brilliant.
At the moment my top 5 albums by the Boss would be: Darkness On The Edge Of Town, Nebraska, Born In The USA, Born To Run and then The Rising. I also really like The Wild, The Innocent & The E-Street Shuffle. That one is just outside the top 5.
Anyway this is an awesome album, I think. It sounds good any time of day and any time of year. I love it. [First added to this chart: 05/24/2017]
I like many of his albums especially his 70's and 80's ones. And The Rising from the 2000's.
On this album, the title track is my favourite, and one of my favourite songs of his. But all the tracks on here are good. Badlands. Adam Raised A Cain. Racing In The Street. It's just brilliant.
At the moment my top 5 albums by the Boss would be: Darkness On The Edge Of Town, Nebraska, Born In The USA, Born To Run and then The Rising. I also really like The Wild, The Innocent & The E-Street Shuffle. That one is just outside the top 5.
Anyway this is an awesome album, I think. It sounds good any time of day and any time of year. I love it. [First added to this chart: 05/24/2017]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,520
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Stone cold Seventies classic. Its ambitious and clever and it's just great. It's now my favourite Stevie Wonder album. It's terrific. It's also an album you could put on at a party. So many good tracks and some real classics. They just keep on coming. My favourites are Sir Duke, Isn't She Lovely, Pastime Paradise, Have A Talk With God, As, Love's In Need Of Love Today, and the very danceable Another Star. This is a masterpiece. It's pretty amazing and a real trip to listen to. So many good songs. One double album it is worth taking the time to listen to. Plus it cheers you up instantly. Particularly if you happen to be having a bad day. Having a good day? Put this album on and you'll be on cloud nine.
[First added to this chart: 06/19/2018]
Year of Release:
1976
Appears in:
Rank Score:
15,782
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Terrific double album from Bob Dylan. His first studio album I heard, and an early favourite for me. Accomplished, epic, poetic and dazzling. Amazing lyrics, flow and a few surprises. Some classic songs and another successful super-long one in 'Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands', my favourite track on the album. It's very hard to have just one favourite Dylan album. He produced so many classics.
[First added to this chart: 08/06/2016]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
26,071
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I thought Out of Time was good but when this one came out it was just on another level. I remember playing it all summer and it was always playing in my friends' cars. Every song is a winner. It just flows so well as an album. And its themes of: getting older (# "readying to bury your Father and your Mother" - Sweetness Follows); facing death (Man On The Moon); defeating suicidal impulses (Everybody Hurts); nostalgia for youth(Nightswimming); and spirituality and a longing for home (Find The River) made for a mature, reflective but also very melodic work. That's how I see it anyway. It gave me pause for thought when I first heard it aged 17, and it still does now. I love it. A special album.
[First added to this chart: 08/06/2016]
Year of Release:
1992
Appears in:
Rank Score:
19,548
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Superb album. The kind of jazz I like. Creates a good atmosphere. Shame his life story was so tragic, but what an album.
[First added to this chart: 08/05/2021]
Year of Release:
1954
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,597
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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:
Rank Score:
22,176
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Total albums: 46. Page 1 of 5
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 3 | 3% | |
| 1960s | 17 | 17% | |
| 1970s | 30 | 30% | |
| 1980s | 15 | 15% | |
| 1990s | 23 | 23% | |
| 2000s | 3 | 3% | |
| 2010s | 6 | 6% | |
| 2020s | 3 | 3% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Bob Dylan | 5 | 5% | |
| David Bowie | 3 | 3% | |
| Stevie Wonder | 2 | 2% | |
| U2 | 2 | 2% | |
| R.E.M. | 2 | 2% | |
| Various Artists | 2 | 2% | |
| The Beatles | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
46 | 46% | |
| |
42 | 42% | |
 |
4 | 4% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 1 from 35th to 34th Exodus by Bob Marley & The Wailers |
| Up 1 from 34th to 33rd Grace by Jeff Buckley |
| Up 1 from 33rd to 32nd (What's The Story) Morning Glory? by Oasis |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 3 from 32nd to 35th My 21st Century Blues by Raye |
| Down 1 from 20th to 21st OK Computer by Radiohead |
| Leavers |
|---|
 Siamese Dreamby The Smashing Pumpkins |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
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| Virgin All-Time Top 1000 Albums | Virgin | Overall chart | 1998 | |
| ƵnotMⅡne」Los 100 mejores discos de la historia |  II | Custom chart | 2024 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | Channel 4 | Overall chart | 2005 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | Juneof44 | Overall chart | 2025 |  |
| My Personal Ranking of Best Ever Albums' Top 100 |  Xxnu99etxX | Custom chart | 2022 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | album guru joe | Overall chart | 2013 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums |  RFNAPLES | Overall chart | 2013 | |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
93/100 (from 120 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 120 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 90/100  | 02/08/2025 07:26 | SomethingSpecial | | 85/100 |
| 95/100 | 08/12/2024 20:20 |  pedro1976 | | 85/100 |
| 95/100 | 05/05/2024 02:15 | matterhornrider | | 92/100 |
| 100/100 | 01/31/2024 20:26 | Moondance | | 85/100 |
| 95/100 | 01/19/2024 20:48 |  dihansse | | 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 93.0/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 93.5/100. 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 05/13/2024 17:05
CharlieBarley 05/13/2024 17:05
Hey RTB! HOW You doing Bud?!
Good to see you on here.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
RoundTheBend 05/13/2024 05:14
RoundTheBend 05/13/2024 05:14
Great new chart mate! Good to see you still active.
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From CharlieBarley 05/05/2024 06:14
CharlieBarley 05/05/2024 06:14
Thanks MHR!
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95/100
From matterhornrider 05/05/2024 02:17
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
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.
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100/100
From Moondance 01/31/2024 20:27
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!
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From CharlieBarley 01/20/2024 01:41
CharlieBarley 01/20/2024 01:41
I know! It was a good discovery
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95/100
From dihansse 01/19/2024 20:48
dihansse 01/19/2024 20:48
Funny that you discovered Out Of Time on Belgian radio ;)
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From CharlieBarley 06/18/2023 10:27
CharlieBarley 06/18/2023 10:27
Thanks SN!
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95/100
From StreakyNuno 06/18/2023 01:01
Great chart, good to see wywh in top 3
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| Best Ever Artists | |
|---|---|
| 1. The Beatles | |
| 2. Radiohead | |
| 3. Pink Floyd | |
| 4. David Bowie | |
| 5. Bob Dylan | |
| 6. Led Zeppelin | |
| 7. The Rolling Stones | |
| 8. Arcade Fire | |
| 9. The Velvet Underground | |
| 10. Nirvana | |
| 11. Kendrick Lamar | |
| 12. Neil Young | |
| 13. Miles Davis | |
| 14. The Smiths | |
| 15. The Beach Boys | |
| 16. Kanye West | |
| 17. R.E.M. | |
| 18. Pixies | |
| 19. Jimi Hendrix | |
| 20. Bruce Springsteen |