Top 50 Greatest Music Albums
by SonicPhan630 
This isn't what I think are the greatest albums ever made. This is just what I would rank my personal top favorite albums ever. Also, The Beatles are my favorite band ever so I'm a little biased. Please forgive that, but again this is my personal favorites.
- Chart updated: 10/21/2020 22:45
- (Created: 10/30/2016 17:15).
- Chart size: 50 albums.
There are 12 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 50 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 85 out of 100 (from 26 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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I apologize for having The Beatles take up most of the top slots, but I will not apologize for having Sgt. Pepper be number 1. The definition of a masterpiece, every song is amazing in its own way. Also, I do truly believe A Day in the Life is one of the greatest songs of all time.
Top 3 Favorites: A Day in the Life, Getting Better, Fixing a Hole [First added to this chart: 10/30/2016]
Top 3 Favorites: A Day in the Life, Getting Better, Fixing a Hole [First added to this chart: 10/30/2016]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
42,673
Rank in 1967:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
The greatest punk album ever made. Not a single song that I dislike. I love all the energy the band put in this album and every song could have been a single at one point and it could have done well. Even more impressive is the fact that it's a double album with 19 full songs on it. A well-written, well put together album. There's so many good songs I feel like it would only be fair if I did 5 favorites instead of 3.
Top 5 Favorites: Brand New Cadillac, Lost in the Supermarket, London Calling, Koka Kola, Death Or Glory [First added to this chart: 10/30/2016]
Top 5 Favorites: Brand New Cadillac, Lost in the Supermarket, London Calling, Koka Kola, Death Or Glory [First added to this chart: 10/30/2016]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
Rank Score:
30,392
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David Bowie is my second favorite artist so there's a lot of him on my chart as well, but Ziggy is definitely his magnum opus. While the story of this concept album is kind of hard to understand, the atmosphere still sets this album apart from any other and every song is a hit. A lot of the best songs of Bowie's career is just from this album.
Top 3 Favorites: Suffragette City, Moonage Daydream, Ziggy Stardust [First added to this chart: 10/30/2016]
Top 3 Favorites: Suffragette City, Moonage Daydream, Ziggy Stardust [First added to this chart: 10/30/2016]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
42,539
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I don't care if you don't like live albums, this concert is incredible. Just hearing the famous lyric "I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die" and then hearing cheers from the criminals in the audience sets the tone for the whole album and makes it very real and very raw. Even though not a lot of the songs are well known, you should still appreciate the selection because the songs really speak to the prisoners listening. Even if you don't like country/folk, everyone should listen to Cash completely take over a prison for just a day.
Top 3 Favorites: Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues, 25 Minutes to Go [First added to this chart: 10/30/2016]
Top 3 Favorites: Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues, 25 Minutes to Go [First added to this chart: 10/30/2016]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,293
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Not only does the A side of the album have some of the best individual songs from the band, the B side melody is amazing from beginning to end. This is definitely the greatest good-bye a band could ever give their fans. Also one of the rare occasions where all four members contributed with their own songwriting and they all work well. I even enjoy the questionable Maxwell's Silver Hammer.
Top 3 Favorites: Something, You Never Give Me Your Money, The End [First added to this chart: 10/30/2016]
Top 3 Favorites: Something, You Never Give Me Your Money, The End [First added to this chart: 10/30/2016]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
56,519
Rank in 1969:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
The greatest concept album ever created. It must be listened to from beginning to end with little to no breaks. The only problem this album has is that some of the songs sound weird by themselves outside the context of the album (who would want to listen to Don't Leave Me Now by itself?). If you listen to the album straight through though, you won't have that problem because every song fits. And there are still songs that work amazingly well by themselves with a lot becoming Pink Floyd's most famous.
Top 3 Favorites: Comfortably Numb, Another Brick in the Wall pt. 2, Waiting for the Worms [First added to this chart: 10/30/2016]
Top 3 Favorites: Comfortably Numb, Another Brick in the Wall pt. 2, Waiting for the Worms [First added to this chart: 10/30/2016]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
Rank Score:
24,718
Rank in 1979:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 08/25/2019]
Year of Release:
2006
Appears in:
Rank Score:
15,948
Rank in 2006:
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I fell in love with this album the first time I listened to it and it begs to be listened to over and over again. It's an essential album to listen to if you like anything resembling rock music. One of the greatest debut/band name albums I've ever listened to.
Top 3 Favorites: Break On Through (To The Other Side), Light My Fire, Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar) [First added to this chart: 10/02/2017]
Top 3 Favorites: Break On Through (To The Other Side), Light My Fire, Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar) [First added to this chart: 10/02/2017]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
26,538
Rank in 1967:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
I love the Thin White Duke. It's crazy how Bowie didn't remember much from this album (it was a dark time for him), but he must've been overflowing with ambition when making this album. Something about a coked-up Bowie makes for a thrill-ride of an album and one of my personal favorites of his (although I am happy he decided to sober up after this).
Top 3 Favorites: Station to Station, TVC-15, Golden Years [First added to this chart: 04/11/2017]
Top 3 Favorites: Station to Station, TVC-15, Golden Years [First added to this chart: 04/11/2017]
Year of Release:
1976
Appears in:
Rank Score:
11,995
Rank in 1976:
Rank in 1970s:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 10/30/2016]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
27,502
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 50. Page 1 of 5
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Top 50 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 8 | 16% | |
| 1970s | 24 | 48% | |
| 1980s | 2 | 4% | |
| 1990s | 7 | 14% | |
| 2000s | 6 | 12% | |
| 2010s | 3 | 6% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Beatles | 6 | 12% | |
| David Bowie | 4 | 8% | |
| The Clash | 3 | 6% | |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 6% | |
| Arctic Monkeys | 3 | 6% | |
| Green Day | 2 | 4% | |
| The Doors | 2 | 4% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 50 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 18 from 43rd to 25thAM by Arctic Monkeys |
| Up 15 from 50th to 35thParallel Lines by Blondie |
| Up 12 from 42nd to 30thOrange by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 13 from 34th to 47thBand On The Run by Paul McCartney & Wings |
| Down 9 from 33rd to 42ndGreatest Hits by Squeeze |
| Down 9 from 35th to 44thThe Stranger by Billy Joel |
| New entries |
|---|
| L.A. Woman by The Doors |
| Damned, Damned, Damned by The Damned |
| I Should Coco by Supergrass |
| Fun House by The Stooges |
| Leavers |
|---|
| Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV) by Led Zeppelin |
| Who's Next by The Who |
| Breakfast In America by Supertramp |
| Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers |
Top 50 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 50 Greatest Music Albums | TheBestFac | Overall chart | 2010 |  |
| Top 50 Greatest Music Albums | madp | Overall chart | 2012 |  |
| Top 40 Greatest Music Albums | antturner25 | Overall chart | 2013 |  |
| Top 50 Greatest Music Albums | IsaiasAllen1956 | Overall chart | 2020 | |
| Top 50 Greatest Music Albums | elephanttalkmag | Overall chart | 2010 | |
| Top 50 Music Albums of the 1970s | marleykeys | 1970s decade chart | 2023 |  |
| Top 40 Greatest Music Albums | Proghead | Overall chart | 2018 |  |
| Top 50 Greatest Music Albums | jmyl0425 | Overall chart | 2011 | |
| Top 70 Music Albums of the 1970s | AbsurdCheesecake | 1970s decade chart | 2026 | |
| Top 50 Greatest Music Albums | maicenstuart | Overall chart | 2018 | |
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Top 50 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 26 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/12/2021 00:41 | DrewHamster | 315 | 79/100 | |
| 02/11/2021 18:16 | Johnnyo | 2,577 | 80/100 | |
| 02/11/2021 13:26 |  desh79 | 1,274 | 93/100 | |
| 11/20/2019 03:50 |  RoundTheBend | 370 | 92/100 | |
| 11/19/2019 19:56 | panapsal | 231 | 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 has a Bayesian average rating of 84.7/100, a mean average of 84.2/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 84.2/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 9.3.
Top 50 Greatest Music Albums favourites
Showing all 1 members who have added this chart as a favourite
Top 50 Greatest Music Albums comments
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From Johnnyo 02/11/2021 18:17 | #266181
Really digging the work that you have put into the chart in terms of notes. A little too many “obvious choices” but if these are your favourite albums then fair play. Would like to see 51 - 100 at some point.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From RoundTheBend 11/20/2019 03:50 | #245004
RoundTheBend 11/20/2019 03:50 | #245004
900% agree with AAL2014. The whole point of this site is to put your favorite albums and just because someone reads way too much pitchfork or Scaruffi doesn't mean you have to do anything with your chart than do what you think is great. I've spent the greater part of the last decade searching for music I'm unfamiliar with and I still rate Beatles and U2 as my #1/#2 spots, even if I've fallen in love with new music, too. Haters gonna hate. May they find love instead.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Thad 11/19/2019 18:58 | #245000
Not gonna lie, this is the most predictable chart of the day in a while. I suggest looking into some newer music that isn't arctic monkeys
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | -2 votes (0 helpful | 2 unhelpful)
From 
NowhereMan 01/06/2019 22:36 | #229168
NowhereMan 01/06/2019 22:36 | #229168
50 MORE!
Check my chart out for recs we have very similar taste
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
ForegroundNoise 01/06/2019 10:35 | #229112
ForegroundNoise 01/06/2019 10:35 | #229112
Nice start! I really like the notes you've done for your top picks. That said, having looked through your ratings I feel you've still got a lot of musical ground to cover (if that sort of thing interests you) given the propensity for albums from the 70s and nothing outside the US/UK here (apart from Nico slipping in!). Here's a few records that I think might be your cup of tea:
King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King (essential prog album for a pink floyd fan)
Galaxie 500 - On Fire (gorgeous dream pop album that closes with a George Harrison cover)
Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun & Fishmans - Long Season (my two favourite non-English language albums of all time)
Arcade Fire - Funeral (indie rock modern-classic that is impossible not to love, I think you will too)
Hope you enjoy them!!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From PaperVinnie 04/22/2018 00:24 | #213386
A good start, can't wait to see more
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Ulf 02/25/2018 20:42 | #209619
We have a lot of picks in common and i do really like the ones we dont nice one. Also really enjoyed all the text.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Ashmark 02/16/2018 02:21 | #208403
I am not the biggest Beatles fan but it is difficult to argue that they weren’t a great band. London Calling, Nevermind and Remain in Light particularly good calls.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
JulianR 09/08/2017 03:52 | #197467
JulianR 09/08/2017 03:52 | #197467
good stuff! I'd rec other pink floyd album such as Animals and Meddle. Also, I think The Final Cut is their best work, but not many others share their opinion. Also, you def gotta check out OK Computer an the Bends (both by Radiohead)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
AAL2014 06/02/2017 19:03 | #191874
AAL2014 06/02/2017 19:03 | #191874
Having your favorites in order is not anything you need to apologize for. The bottom line is I can tell that you are very passionate about the Beatles and the other artists on this chart and that's all that matters. Keep it up, some great albums on here.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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