Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by daftpunter

When I was five my mom bought me a 45 of Pleasant Valley Sunday that I played on my little multi-disk player with my Peter Pan 45's. In the fifth grade my buddy Owen turned me on to Kiss and Queen. Some guy at a record store recommended to my Mom Sweet's Desolation Boulevard and K.C. and the Sunshine Band. My high school buddy's dad owned an AOR station so we had access to a ton of music (though half the albums were worthless because Dad would put finger nail polish on the album cuts to control the dj's). That's also where I developed my nervous twitch when I hear the Beatles too often. We discovered the Rolling Stone Record Guide, The Trouser Press Record Guide, and Robert Christgau (the 1001 albums/songs books have been added to the reference of late). For my freshman year in college Grandmom gave me $1000 for spending money for the year that I blew in about three weeks at the local record store(ooh, that reminds me, I've GOT to listen to Damn the Torpedoes soon!). Over the past thirty years I've put together a collection of music reflecting the eclectic and clasic, usually without ever having heard the music I'd purchased. But the collection is diverse, consisting of about 2500 pieces of vinyl and 1500 cd's. I've discovered the Public library system that has given me access to inumerable albums. And you'll notice that the list doesn't have a bunch of surprises, accepting maybe the order. Because great is still great. The top 20 have been pretty consistant over the years. The next 80 are an incomplete and ever changing array. As far as the more recent albums not making the charts, I direct you to the decade (and soon yearly) charts. Albums that supplant truly classic works have a truly high standard to achieve. It's taken decades for some albums to click.
I'm beginning to warm to Cage The Elephant, The Black Keys, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard ...some other similar bands so there's still hope for some 2000's to make it to the list. Thanks to my boys for their recommendations.
Alright...it's time. 10 year anniversary of this list and it's a bit stale. Maybe not a great word...how about dated. Commenters are right...there IS great music made in this century. Great albums? I'm going to start working through the year album charts and find some gems I've recently discovered. Probably 1500 albums....maybe more since...and note...I won't subscribe to a music service. I have to OWN an album before I rate it. Are YOU that into albums? Damn that was pretentious. New list coming! Midway through another year and I STILL can't touch my top ten...

• Chart updated: 10/12/2022 05:45
• (Created: 09/16/2011 08:34).
• Chart size: 100 albums.

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1. (=)

Quadrophenia 

 The Who

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The problem with Quad is my desire to listen to the whole and not the parts. Each song, on it's own, is great. The Real Me may be one of the most powerful ever. But when I hear one, I need to hear the whole thing. All 80 minutes. Luckily, it's worth it.
The Quad is simply the greatest 80 minutes in rock history. Concept albums usually don't hold up. To make it work the three songs worth listening to are held together my mediocrity to keep the story in line. The exception is Quadrophenia. P.F. Sorrow, Tommy, Ogden Nut, Ziggy Stardust (ok the last one was close) don't get close to this albums ability to keep your ass movin' on every cut. The idea of Pete telling the story of the 60's Mods in through Jimmy is brilliant. The concept of doing so through the filter of each individual in the band being represented in the songs? Inspired. The only shame is how low Pete mixed John's bass into the mix. If you find the Quad soundtrack the mix is different and you get a feel for the true greatness of The Ox. [First added to this chart: 09/16/2011]

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

942 charts

Rank Score:

7,025

Rank in 1973:

6

Rank in 1970s:

53

Overall Rank:

225

Average Rating:

 83 (1,345 votes)

Comments:

103

2. (=)

Pet Sounds 

 The Beach Boys

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24, as full of ideas as Mozart, as full of mind expanding drugs as a pharmacy and a facination with Phil Spector's production. A masteful solo album with a terrific set of guest vocalists. If not the greatest album ever (and depending on a night when it's on my turntable it is)then it's the most beautiful. Thank you, Brian. I love you. [First added to this chart: 09/16/2011]

Year of Release:

1966

Appears in:

2,858 charts

Rank Score:

39,130

Rank in 1966:

2

Rank in 1960s:

5

Overall Rank:

11

Average Rating:

 88 (3,277 votes)

Comments:

360

3. (=)

London Calling 

 The Clash

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Punk grows up. Everything but a ballad (thank Gawd!). The greatest from the only band that matters. "And I believe in this, and it's been tested by re-search, that he who ****'s nuns, will later join the church." [First added to this chart: 09/16/2011]

Year of Release:

1979

Appears in:

2,827 charts

Rank Score:

30,851

Rank in 1979:

1

Rank in 1970s:

5

Overall Rank:

20

Average Rating:

 87 (3,158 votes)

Comments:

259

4. (=)

My Aim Is True 

 Elvis Costello

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Women are the most coniving, evil, manipulative, cheating, (did I say evil) things on the planet (according to our hero). Somebody ought to turn out the big light, because I can't stand to see you this way. [First added to this chart: 09/16/2011]

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

612 charts

Rank Score:

3,438

Rank in 1977:

13

Rank in 1970s:

114

Overall Rank:

509

Average Rating:

 81 (738 votes)

Comments:

39

5. (=)

Sticky Fingers 

 The Rolling Stones

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Once in Rolling Stone Keith was quoted as saying, "I wouldn't call Sticky Fingers a heavy drug album, any more than I'd call life a heavy life." Every song a classic. And Mick Taylor's guitar takes the Stones to a different level. [First added to this chart: 09/16/2011]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

1,642 charts

Rank Score:

16,929

Rank in 1971:

5

Rank in 1970s:

19

Overall Rank:

64

Average Rating:

 86 (1,922 votes)

Comments:

136

6. (=)

The Dark Side Of The Moon 

 Pink Floyd

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"...and you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking. Racing around to come up behind you again. The sun is the same in a relative way but YOU'RE older. Shorter of breath and one day closer to death." It was their time. An album chronicling their lost leader's departure into LSD fueled insanity. And it rocks. "There is no dark side of the moon really. Matter of fact, it's all dark." [First added to this chart: 09/16/2011]

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

4,134 charts

Rank Score:

60,060

Rank in 1973:

1

Rank in 1970s:

1

Overall Rank:

2

Average Rating:

 92 (5,331 votes)

Comments:

592

7. (=)

Something Else By The Kinks 

 The Kinks

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The Dean was right, Waterloo Sunset is the most beautiful song in the English Language. David Watts? EVERY kid knew a David Watts. Part two of the six part Ray Davies is the greatest 60's British Songwriter...period. Why this album and not Face to Face? Because I'm not writing in every bloody Kinks album like the Beatles freaks. So I'm gonna write it in this paragraph. Something Else is 7(a). Sunny Afternoon may well be the 2nd most beautiful song in the English Language. [First added to this chart: 09/16/2011]

Year of Release:

1967

Appears in:

605 charts

Rank Score:

4,062

Rank in 1967:

15

Rank in 1960s:

57

Overall Rank:

414

Average Rating:

 81 (699 votes)

Comments:

28

8. (=)

Blood On The Tracks 

 Bob Dylan

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Misery in the marital house of Bob. A good thing for us all. BTW, he recovered. As we all do. [First added to this chart: 09/16/2011]

Year of Release:

1975

Appears in:

1,866 charts

Rank Score:

20,864

Rank in 1975:

2

Rank in 1970s:

11

Overall Rank:

42

Average Rating:

 87 (2,200 votes)

Comments:

168

9. (=)

Songs For Swingin' Lovers! 

 Frank Sinatra

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In the late 80's and 90's I wouldn't listen to ANYTHING with horns, ok maybe Skynyrd...once. Ok, maybe Chicago. Then Mom told me about her stash of old records in the basement. I heard this old wop was good, so I put "Swinging Lovers" on the turntable. Revelation. It's THE voice. Nelson Riddle is the bomb! The tunes rock. Literally. Powerful. From that point on all music got a chance, becuause I wasn't going to risk missing out on another classic I was too ignorant to really listen to. Thanks, Mom. [First added to this chart: 09/16/2011]

Year of Release:

1956

Appears in:

328 charts

Rank Score:

2,872

Rank in 1956:

2

Rank in 1950s:

14

Overall Rank:

595

Average Rating:

 79 (382 votes)

Comments:

20

10. (=)

Elvis Presley 

 Elvis Presley

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The reason all us white boys rock and roll instead of listening to Pat Boone. The King! [First added to this chart: 09/16/2011]

Year of Release:

1956

Appears in:

602 charts

Rank Score:

4,955

Rank in 1956:

1

Rank in 1950s:

5

Overall Rank:

347

Average Rating:

 79 (776 votes)

Comments:

37

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Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition

Country	Albums	%
	49	49%
	40	40%
	3	3%
	3	3%
	2	2%
	2	2%
	1	1%

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts

Title	Source	Type	Published	Country
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	daftpunter	1970s decade chart	2014
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums	Madrocker	Overall chart	2019
The Top 100 Albums	VH1	Overall chart	2001
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	Madrocker	1970s decade chart	2019
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums	P H Dias	Overall chart	2012
Top 100 Albums (Online Amalgam)	musicologist97	Custom chart	2019
The Greatest Rock Albums	uDiscoverMusic	Overall chart	2015
Virgin All-Time Top 1000 Albums	Virgin	Overall chart	2000
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums	ekingshill	Overall chart	2017
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums	jeffrey-hodgson	Overall chart	2018

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

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 98 ratings for this chart.

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
85/100  !	03/20/2025 16:45	SomethingSpecial	1,104	85/100
95/100  !	07/03/2024 17:43	C0NB9NN	20	85/100
80/100  !	06/19/2023 20:06	MadhattanJack	260	85/100
90/100  !	06/19/2023 10:40	Tamthebam	645	85/100
95/100  !	10/11/2022 05:20	leniad	673	85/100

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 6% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 88.5/100, a mean average of 86.5/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 88.7/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 16.9.

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites

Showing latest 20 members who have added this chart as a favourite | Show all 21 members

C0NB9NN

Larcx13

JoeyBones1986

Dankel

TrekkiELO

joathome

WildHorses

sammac

Cymro2011

btener11

pecan3141

ProfessorSquid

Facetious

astelioeswills

jhuik

Daminoutrek76

Johnnyo

Triple Seis

BrandonB

GARY

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments

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Rating:  

95/100

From C0NB9NN 07/03/2024 17:42 | #304153

Brilliant picks. Finally someone who sees My Aim Is True as such a great album. And shout out to ranking Queen up there. The boys sure did know how to perform an album. Dark Side, London Calling, Born To Run, all the greats up there. And who cares if you don’t have enough “modern” albums up there. Agree on a lot of your points too, especially about The Rolling Stones. And I can’t believe how much we match we Abbey Road being my number one. All this being said, great list.

27 albums in common.

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Rating:  

95/100

From leniad 10/11/2022 05:20 | #290352

great picks

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Rating:  

85/100

From Moondance 10/10/2022 21:29 | #290343

Loved the commentary on the soundtrack of your life + music. I can appreciate the joy and wonder of your journey. Good to see Aztec Camera among the usual suspects.

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Rating:  

100/100

From Larcx13 10/10/2022 11:26 | #290324

Great work put on here ?

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Rating:  

95/100

From stuartdurrant 10/22/2020 18:28 | #259585

Best List I've seen

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Rating:  

100/100

From BraddlesHendo 10/22/2020 18:05 | #259584

Great commentary and one of the better lists here

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Rating:  

100/100

From DommeDamian 10/22/2020 09:12 | #259558

better than last time.

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Rating:  

100/100

From DommeDamian 05/10/2018 20:26 | #214549

Small amount in common, but still a fair bunch of great albums. Very good descriptions too, sir.

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Rating:  

85/100

From LedZep 01/15/2018 15:58 | #205742

So nice and diverse. Loveit

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Rating:  

100/100

From Arthurknight 01/07/2018 10:51 | #204788

Ah thank you for the very kind words! The descriptions are in progress, the other 90 will be eventually covered; I’m very gradual with these things, I’m sure you’d be the one to understand.
I very much like your chart too. Your opening description I find very eloquent, and I much adore anyone who takes the time to tell the stories about their experiences of music because it is so vital in the sharing of ones love and appreciation of an artform that carries as much value in when, where and how we listen to it as the songs themselves. Many of the albums you have here were once on my chart since supplanted - to use your words. Shoot out the Lights, for instance, is a long favourite of mine. Thank you for sharing what only years and years of dedicate listening could produce.

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