Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by 
quizking 
Christmas edit, now mostly sorted - big time, first proper overhaul since 2017 perhaps. more 21st century, less 70's. Waiting for the stats at bottom of the page to update to reflect this, not sure how often an update happens, monthly?
- Chart updated: 12/26/2022 11:45
- (Created: 10/14/2011 21:53).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 25 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 87 out of 100 (from 34 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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"He's an artist, a pioneer, We've got to have some music on the new frontier". Perhaps a very unlikely choice of favourite album for a rock fan, as it is a most un rock-like album. As with most records in this top 100 (and prevents some albums making the list, or even my top 200) it "holds together", it has specific sound, a theme which a compilation of hits could never have. This album has been a soundtrack to my life through love affairs, travels, business successes and failures (more of the latter than the former unfortunately) - the tone of The Nightfly is optimistic (it's written from the perspective of the late fifties), and it has been my number one absolute favourite for over 30 years. Perhaps it might be yours too one day. Though I know of several people who absolutely hate it. [top 100 tracks - i.g.y., maxine]
[First added to this chart: 10/14/2011]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,934
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
21
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*Jenny sings Lenny* When I first joined BEA I had to enter this album's details myself as no-one else had thought to have it as a favourite, how bizarre. Many readers will know most of the songs already: check this album out as the vocals are better (er, that's why Lenny hired Jenny as a backing vocalist in the first place) and the production is excellent - by Roscoe Beck, and arrangements by Van Dyke Parks. There is also an expanded 20th anniversary edition out there, so someone else must like it too. [top 100 tracks - first we take manhattan, song of bernadette]
[First added to this chart: 10/14/2011]
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"They got a name for the winners in the world, I want a name when I lose, They call Alabama "the crimson tide", call me deacon blues" I went for years without knowing what any of the lyrics on steely dan albums really meant, luckily radio programmers didn't know either or else the dan wouldn't have sold so many records. Still don't understand most of them, but am confident that much rudeness and salacious behaviour is involved; i'd be most disappointed to discover otherwise. (There is now an online steely dan dictionary which helps with many of their more obscure references) [top 100 tracks - aja, deacon blues]
[First added to this chart: 10/14/2011]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,455
Rank in 1977:
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As a kid, I was deeply suspicious of any music that all "old" people (you know, anyone over about 22) seemed to like, and every adult in the western world did seem to own Tapestry. Yet as years have passed, this album has crept higher and higher up my list, and now i've introduced it to other friends; just recently, one decided immediately that it was her new favourite album ever. Sure, it helped that she had heard most of the songs already elsewhere, but she hadn't realised they were all written by the same person. Turns out the old people were right all along. Hate it when that happens. [top 100 track - will you still love me tomorrow]
[First added to this chart: 10/14/2011]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,088
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I thought this unlistenable on first hearing, interesting on second and third, now one of my most played albums, ALWAYS finding something new and surprising here. Dissonance, action, sleaze, aggression. Also not suitable for those of a nervous disposition.
[First added to this chart: 02/19/2016]
Year of Release:
1963
Appears in:
Rank Score:
14,030
Rank in 1963:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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I had pictures of debbie harry on my wall back in the day (the day being sometime in 1979) - possibly would still have pictures of debbie harry on my wall now if a potential mrs quizking didn't think it rather odd. None of this should have anything to do with the music of course. But it does. [top 100 track - picture this]
[First added to this chart: 10/14/2011]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,282
Rank in 1978:
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Would hear snatches of songs in the most random of places, walking past shops, on car radios, all prompting me to play the album a couple more times, not having played it for maybe ten years or more. Now my favourite Dylan album by a stretch. Am guessing you have to live life a little before you can relate.
[First added to this chart: 10/15/2011]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
23,674
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Best live gigs ever seen; the dead at wembley arena, october/november 1990. I went on the first night to watch the hippies at play, and loved it enough to get more tickets for the november 1st gig (halloween night having been sold out already). Three nights, each set several hours long, not a single song featuring more than once, that's a proper band. This album would be in the top ten but for one track which I have to skip every time, just think it's too bland. Everything else is beautiful.
[First added to this chart: 10/14/2011]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,217
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Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
14. (=)
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Mistakenly (i think) listed on the site as a tom waits solo album - it's definitely credited as a joint effort with crystal gayle; counts as my favourite "soundtrack". Shame about the film it's from, which is certainly interesting, but apparently sent francis ford coppola into bankruptcy. I love these songs, though I don't think tom waits does anymore.
[First added to this chart: 10/14/2011]
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Whoah, one of the many albums sitting around unplayed for years, then something sparks my attention and it's on my headphones non-stop, hence a big leap up the chart for me a few years ago. And you notice it everywhere - recently on the soundtrack of a documentary about the beatles first visit to america. Which may seem odd, but didn't sound out of place.
? [First added to this chart: 10/14/2011]
? [First added to this chart: 10/14/2011]
Year of Release:
1959
Appears in:
Rank Score:
25,098
Rank in 1959:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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 | 15 | 15% | |
| 1970s | 34 | 34% | |
| 1980s | 18 | 18% | |
| 1990s | 8 | 8% | |
| 2000s | 9 | 9% | |
| 2010s | 11 | 11% | |
| 2020s | 2 | 2% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Steely Dan | 4 | 4% | |
| The Beatles | 4 | 4% | |
| Radiohead | 4 | 4% | |
| Leonard Cohen | 3 | 3% | |
| David Bowie | 3 | 3% | |
| Linda Ronstadt | 2 | 2% | |
| Fleetwood Mac | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
87/100 (from 34 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).
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Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 34 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
100/100  | 04/16/2023 19:08 |  melisandre | | 88/100 |
 85/100 | 04/27/2020 17:04 | WillyMac | | 86/100 |
| 95/100 | 01/24/2017 21:56 | Seab | | 93/100 |
| 95/100 | 06/23/2016 03:48 |  sageamagoo | | 92/100 |
| 90/100 | 04/10/2016 02:01 |  jwammo12 | | 89/100 |
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 18% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 87.2/100, a mean average of 88.1/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 87.6/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 9.0.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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85/100
From WillyMac 04/27/2020 17:10
Very good chart. The only criticism I have is it's a little heavy on the 70s. But there's a good variety of artists, only a handful of whom I question. Most are excellent musicians. Considering the strange hate that many members are giving to the very best album of Leonard Cohen covers that exists, your ranking of Jennifer Warnes at #3 is not only surprising but courageous - love it.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From sageamagoo 06/23/2016 03:48
sageamagoo 06/23/2016 03:48
Great list, love the personal comments
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From 
buzzdainer 03/27/2016 19:00
buzzdainer 03/27/2016 19:00
Happy to see Closing Time and Doolittle getting well-deserved love. Great chart, and I enjoy your comments!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
80/100
From 
poppmusic 03/20/2015 14:45
poppmusic 03/20/2015 14:45
Would've liked this chart better if you weren't always putting down good (if popular) tracks! I think that since I'm a rock fan who didn't grow up during that 60s/70s/80s I don't have to deal as much with "overplayed" syndrome.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From edubs 03/20/2015 13:57
Great work here - the notes are very fun to read.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From manurock 03/20/2015 09:58
Despite having a different musical taste (though not so different as you also like albums that "hold together" as one and we share 18 artists) and being from different generations, I really enjoyed reading your chart and I love to see so many '70's albums, some I have never heard of, others I find key classics.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From 
Oselju 03/20/2015 08:15
Oselju 03/20/2015 08:15
Very good chart.
Donald Fagen as first and a lot of excellent choices.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From ThisisaCall 07/19/2014 06:42
Great notes and list!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From joathome 02/18/2014 17:10
Very good chart by a 70's music fan !
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From edubs 10/23/2013 14:17
though 70s-centric, it still manages to be eclectic and interesting. enjoyed the notes!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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