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.
There are 75 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 88 out of 100 (from 98 votes). Please log in or create an account to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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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]
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
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Rank Score:
6,786
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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
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Rank Score:
36,197
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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
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Rank Score:
28,894
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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
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Rank Score:
3,280
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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
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Rank Score:
15,976
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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
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Rank Score:
55,664
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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
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Rank Score:
3,953
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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
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19,334
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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
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Rank Score:
2,861
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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
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Rank Score:
5,058
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Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 3 | 3% | |
| 1960s | 15 | 15% | |
| 1970s | 52 | 52% | |
| 1980s | 19 | 19% | |
| 1990s | 11 | 11% | |
| 2000s | 0 | 0% | |
| 2010s | 0 | 0% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Rolling Stones | 3 | 3% | |
| The Kinks | 3 | 3% | |
| Bob Dylan | 3 | 3% | |
| The Beatles | 3 | 3% | |
| R.E.M. | 2 | 2% | |
| Led Zeppelin | 2 | 2% | |
| The Velvet Underground | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
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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 Albums (Online Amalgam) | musicologist97 | Custom chart | 2019 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | P H Dias | Overall chart | 2012 |  |
| The Greatest Rock Albums | uDiscoverMusic | Overall chart | 2015 | |
| Virgin All-Time Top 1000 Albums | Virgin | Overall chart | 2000 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | jeffrey-hodgson | Overall chart | 2018 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | ekingshill | Overall chart | 2017 | |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
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Showing latest 3 ratings for this chart. | Show all 98 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 03/20/2025 16:45 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,088 | 86/100 |
| ! | 07/03/2024 17:43 | C0NB9NN | 20 | 85/100 |
| ! | 06/19/2023 20:06 |  MadhattanJack | 361 | 86/100 |
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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 forum mentions
This chart has been referenced 8 times on the forums, Explore the wider forum discussion to see what members have said about it.
From 
BestEverAlbums 06/19/2023 08:00 in Chart of the day (#4255): By daftpunter
BestEverAlbums 06/19/2023 08:00 in Chart of the day (#4255): By daftpunter“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by daftpunter () 1. Quadrophenia by The Who (1973) 2. Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys (1966) 3. London Calling by The Clash (1979) 4. My Aim Is True by Elvis Costello (1977) 5. Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones (1971) 6. The Dark Side Of The…”
(8 mentions across Chart of the Day topics)View latest topic →
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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From
Mr November 02/19/2013 06:54 | #65489
It's not so much the content of your chart that I like so much (although it's a solid chart) but your presentation. You've struck a really good balance between your personal history with the albums and your critical thoughts. This is what BEA should be about.
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From
Patman360 06/30/2013 16:16 | #80128
Patman360 06/30/2013 16:16 | #80128
I rated this awhile back, but after stumbling across it again I figured I might aswell praise it more. While the picks aren't all to my tastes, the comments and background are among the best I've seen on this site which makes this chart so fantastic. Also, your choice of Minutemen album was a rather pleasant surprise, overall just a really great chart. More people need to see this.
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From
kingdomhearts678 06/12/2012 04:57 | #44285
Fantastic chart, I was so surprised to see a description for every album. Shows how hard you worked to make it and I appreciate it. There is a severe lack of modern music on here though. You don't like Radiohead? Arcade Fire? You should check out Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco, one of the all time greats.
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From
RupertRonco 06/19/2013 22:23 | #79422
Rather than rating peoples' tastes, I prefer to rate the actual chart.
I'm not a huge fan of the many selections. But your music history was a brilliant read, and your annotations made for a fun and interesting read.
Thanks for sharing.
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From
gtroda 10/31/2011 00:48 | #29393
Great chart and thank you for the comments on the albums. It makes me want to check out some of the ones I haven't heard before.
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