Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by 
Purplepash 
This is a combination of my favourite albums that I have been obsessed with at some stage and will still happily listen to at any time and recent albums that I love right now.
I have been listening to albums for over 35 years now so nostalgia plays a large part in this list but I love new fresh music as well. For a more accurate representation of my current varied musical tastes please check out my recent yearly charts.
I usually don't have a lot to say - the music does the talking, but I will endeavour to slowly add comments as time goes on.
- Chart updated: 04/21/2025 01:45
- (Created: 12/02/2016 06:18).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 34 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 90 out of 100 (from 88 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from the 1970s. (Remove this filter)
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"And if the dam breaks open many years too soon
And if there is no room upon the hill
And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon"
I had 2 best friends in my teenage years and the three of us explored and discovered a lot of music together. One of them was a huge Pink Floyd fan and even though I only got into Piper at the Gates of Dawn he used to play all their other albums a lot. Eventually familiarity bred affection and I now love a lot of Pink Floyd, mainly the Roger Waters era. Anyway he passed away at an early age and ever since this album provokes an emotional response and fond memories and will forever hold a special place in my heart. I hope he is enjoying the great gig in the sky and one day I will see him again on the dark side of the moon.
Special songs: Brain Damage, Eclipse, The Great Gig In The Sky [First added to this chart: 05/18/2017]
And if there is no room upon the hill
And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon"
I had 2 best friends in my teenage years and the three of us explored and discovered a lot of music together. One of them was a huge Pink Floyd fan and even though I only got into Piper at the Gates of Dawn he used to play all their other albums a lot. Eventually familiarity bred affection and I now love a lot of Pink Floyd, mainly the Roger Waters era. Anyway he passed away at an early age and ever since this album provokes an emotional response and fond memories and will forever hold a special place in my heart. I hope he is enjoying the great gig in the sky and one day I will see him again on the dark side of the moon.
Special songs: Brain Damage, Eclipse, The Great Gig In The Sky [First added to this chart: 05/18/2017]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
60,090
Rank in 1973:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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[First added to this chart: 12/09/2017]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
38,728
Rank in 1971:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"You're not alone
Just turn on with me, and you're not alone"
When you became a fan of Bowie with his Let's Dance and Never Let Me Down albums, imagine how good going back and hearing all his earlier albums was. One of my favourite artists.
10/10 songs: Ziggy Stardust, Rock 'n' Roll Suicide, Starman, Suffragette City [First added to this chart: 05/04/2017]
Just turn on with me, and you're not alone"
When you became a fan of Bowie with his Let's Dance and Never Let Me Down albums, imagine how good going back and hearing all his earlier albums was. One of my favourite artists.
10/10 songs: Ziggy Stardust, Rock 'n' Roll Suicide, Starman, Suffragette City [First added to this chart: 05/04/2017]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
43,503
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"I've got the spirit, but lose the feeling,
Feeling, feeling, feeling, feeling, feeling, feeling, feeling"
I am glad that when I was about 18 my best mate was a Joy Division fan because they are not easily instantly accessable, but over a short period of time I came to adore this, Closer, Still, and Substance.
10/10 songs: Disorder, She's Lost Control, and Shadowplay [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
Feeling, feeling, feeling, feeling, feeling, feeling, feeling"
I am glad that when I was about 18 my best mate was a Joy Division fan because they are not easily instantly accessable, but over a short period of time I came to adore this, Closer, Still, and Substance.
10/10 songs: Disorder, She's Lost Control, and Shadowplay [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
Rank Score:
21,854
Rank in 1979:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"Won't you miss me?
Wouldn't you miss me at all?"
I have loved this album for a long, long, time now. His decent into madness from the catalyst of LSD fully on display on this album and is both fascinating and incredibly sad at the same time. There is still so much talent on display here with the melodicism, vocals, and personal lyrics that are revealing both on the surface level and sometimes on a more ambiguous deeper level. The pain and aching on Dark Globe was the realest thing I had heard musically at the time, and it still hurts to hear it now.
10/10 songs: Dark Globe, Octopus, Terrapin, No Good Trying. [First added to this chart: 05/18/2017]
Wouldn't you miss me at all?"
I have loved this album for a long, long, time now. His decent into madness from the catalyst of LSD fully on display on this album and is both fascinating and incredibly sad at the same time. There is still so much talent on display here with the melodicism, vocals, and personal lyrics that are revealing both on the surface level and sometimes on a more ambiguous deeper level. The pain and aching on Dark Globe was the realest thing I had heard musically at the time, and it still hurts to hear it now.
10/10 songs: Dark Globe, Octopus, Terrapin, No Good Trying. [First added to this chart: 05/18/2017]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,656
Rank in 1970:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"You're going to reap just what you sow"
Velvet Underground and Bowie were huge influences on me and this album has been hanging around for a long time. A very special album that means a lot to me.
10/10 songs: Perfect Day, Walk On The Wild Side, Satellite Of Love, and Vicious [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
Velvet Underground and Bowie were huge influences on me and this album has been hanging around for a long time. A very special album that means a lot to me.
10/10 songs: Perfect Day, Walk On The Wild Side, Satellite Of Love, and Vicious [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,814
Rank in 1972:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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"They say they've got control of you
And that's a lie, you know"
When I first started getting into punk 30 odd years ago this was one of the first albums I loved. Great songs, with things to say, fighting injustices, fantastic vocals. Still a great album today and highly recommended to anyone with even a slight interest in punk.
10/10 songs: Johnny Was, Suspect Device, Barbed Wire Love [First added to this chart: 05/18/2017]
And that's a lie, you know"
When I first started getting into punk 30 odd years ago this was one of the first albums I loved. Great songs, with things to say, fighting injustices, fantastic vocals. Still a great album today and highly recommended to anyone with even a slight interest in punk.
10/10 songs: Johnny Was, Suspect Device, Barbed Wire Love [First added to this chart: 05/18/2017]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
Rank Score:
917
Rank in 1979:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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"Mother do you think they'll drop the bomb?
Mother do you think they'll like this song?
Mother do you think they'll try to break my balls?
Ooh, ah
Mother should I build the wall?"
I don't think I ever listened to this album fully until after I saw the movie, at which time it all made so much more emotional sense. One of my 100 favourite movies that I have seen many times. I admit the album has lost some of it's shine over time for me, but it always wii be an awedome album.
10/10 songs: Comfortably Numb, Mother, Goodbye Blue Sky [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
Mother do you think they'll like this song?
Mother do you think they'll try to break my balls?
Ooh, ah
Mother should I build the wall?"
I don't think I ever listened to this album fully until after I saw the movie, at which time it all made so much more emotional sense. One of my 100 favourite movies that I have seen many times. I admit the album has lost some of it's shine over time for me, but it always wii be an awedome album.
10/10 songs: Comfortably Numb, Mother, Goodbye Blue Sky [First added to this chart: 03/29/2017]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
Rank Score:
25,096
Rank in 1979:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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[First added to this chart: 05/18/2017]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
10,585
Rank in 1977:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 9. Page 1 of 1
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 5 | 5% | |
| 1970s | 9 | 9% | |
| 1980s | 29 | 29% | |
| 1990s | 35 | 35% | |
| 2000s | 6 | 6% | |
| 2010s | 16 | 16% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Smiths | 5 | 5% | |
| Pixies | 4 | 4% | |
| Nirvana | 4 | 4% | |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 3% | |
| Sonic Youth | 3 | 3% | |
| R.E.M. | 3 | 3% | |
| Dead Kennedys | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 2 from 100th to 98th Sound Of Silver by LCD Soundsystem |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 2 from 98th to 100th Nonagon Infinity by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard |
| New entries |
|---|
| More Scared Of You Than You Are Of Me by The Smith Street Band |
| Leavers |
|---|
| Light Up Gold by Parquet Courts |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s | Purplepash | 1990s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 99 Greatest Music Albums | LimpLimbs | Overall chart | 2017 |  |
| Scrobbles Don't Lie | Purplepash | Custom chart | 2025 | |
| Top 95 Greatest Music Albums | khj11 | Overall chart | 2018 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | KILLALLHIPPIES | Overall chart | 2014 |  |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | Purplepash | 1980s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 90.3 Listener Voted Albums | KEXP | Overall chart | 2008 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | pdapperens | Overall chart | 2015 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | NamibiaStarr | Overall chart | 2015 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | Kettwig | Overall chart | 2025 |  |
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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 88 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 04/27/2025 04:27 | matterhornrider | 97 | 93/100 |
| ! | 03/28/2025 12:08 |  Bach | 956 | 78/100 |
| ! | 02/06/2025 12:43 |  pedro1976 | 107 | 85/100 |
| ! | 01/09/2025 16:16 | DrewHamster | 317 | 79/100 |
| ! | 08/11/2023 09:11 | KineticEchoes02 | 111 | 88/100 |
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 2% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 90.3/100, a mean average of 90.5/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 90.9/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.2.
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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From 
CharlieBarley 05/23/2022 12:18 | #285644
CharlieBarley 05/23/2022 12:18 | #285644
Great chart
Similar 80s/90s influences
Like your notes
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Strangel 10/16/2021 09:29 | #275087
Strangel 10/16/2021 09:29 | #275087
Pleasantly surprised to see Jebediah (in a slightly odd way). Leading the pack for the Aussie connection. Love your write-ups. Not a fan of The Smiths so that holds me back a bit from gushing over your chart ?.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From cronadigallina 03/08/2021 17:19 | #267097
That's an awesome list with surprisingly high ranked Ought and The The. Nice to see Stiff Little Fingers or a few australian bands which I do not know. Great!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
EyeKanFly 09/10/2020 22:44 | #258028
EyeKanFly 09/10/2020 22:44 | #258028
Awesome chart, a little heavy on the 90s for my taste but the music you have from the 2010s (KG&tLW, Car Seat Headrest, Parquet Courts) are favorites of mine.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From BraddlesHendo 09/10/2020 11:48 | #258003
This is great I really love The The Infected as well.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
DommeDamian 05/20/2020 19:29 | #251762
DommeDamian 05/20/2020 19:29 | #251762
Nothing but love for your fascinating chart!
ICU digging that alternative/noisy sound. Absolute recommend you check out The Replacements and early Captain Beefheart
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Purplepash 12/16/2019 10:45 | #245716
Purplepash 12/16/2019 10:45 | #245716
@doubleA: Thanks for the well considered recs. Sound Of Silver, and all of the LCD Soundsystem albums, are already favourites. Ege Bamyasi was great. Loved Feels and Strawberry Jam...not so much Sung Tongs. Still got to get around to Dungen and Ghost but I'm sure I will sometime.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
kynes 12/06/2019 10:31 | #245407
kynes 12/06/2019 10:31 | #245407
Solid, if a bit devoid of genre diversity. It's always nice to see CSH appreciated.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Jameth 09/27/2019 18:54 | #243120
Jameth 09/27/2019 18:54 | #243120
I love you're chart Purple, even if it leans heavily on 80's and 90's alternative and punk. You've gone further down that path than I've been down any. You introduced me to some very good albums that might have taken me years to try, otherwise. I'll be back for more; I need to carry on with Spacemen 3, for sure.
I have to disagree with Nevermind over In Utero, though, even if that is the first CD I ever bought for myself. : P
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From LankyLen 09/26/2019 13:18 | #243090
Great chart! Putting the Pixies on top is a good call!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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