Top 21 Greatest Music Albums
by jgrw 
this is not in order, it isn't possible, that changes depending on mood. The funny thing is regardless of how many records I have, I only go back to a handful. I have a full 180gb ipod and only yesterday found myself listening to John Hiatt's "Bring the Family" (30 years old) for the umpteenth time. Its a bit disturbing how my favourite music is dominated by white men. I am trying to rectify this prejudice and will revist this chart as I positively discriminate with new music. To this end, to date I have really enjoted Hinds, The Big Moon, Man Ray and Courtney Barnett. Going baclwards Liz Phair certainly could become a turntable stable, and Juliana Hatfield is up there too. I am trying to take in a bit of Grown up music and have gone down the Mingus and Monk route. Any recommendations?
- Chart updated: 08/20/2017 20:45
- (Created: 08/02/2017 22:24).
- Chart size: 21 albums.
There are 0 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and this chart has not been rated yet. Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
View the complete list of 57,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.
Buy album 
- #Sponsored
When push comes to shove this is the one of the few I can call my favourite lp of all time. The mood met with mine when it was released. The final three songs are as good as anything ever by anybody. The Lp hangs together as a whole and has that wonderful sense of a journey, which I first got with The White Album. The vinyl from 1986 still sounds great, I have the demon 2cd reissue, but haven't really given that a proper critical listen. No point in getting a re-master.
[First added to this chart: 08/02/2017]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
742
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Might as well carry on with my favourite Costello Lps. This was the first one after the"Almost Blue" experiment. At the time I was a bit disapointed by the country Lp, I have sofened to it over the decades but no way is it as effective a this. When I first heard this, I listened to it all, and then listened completely again, that was the last time I did this. No songs really stand out for me, possibly "Man out of Time" but again this is a full Lp that can not be broken up and forces you to hear the whole thing. I started out with The Beatles, so no supprises with my admiration for this. With Geoff Emerick producing Imperial Bedroom is as close as anybody has ever got to recapturing that feel. I saw Costello at The Albert Hall, Christmas 1982, wondeful gig, introduced the horn section that night that defined the next stage of his develpment as an artist. 1982 pressing is fine, again no need to bother with replacing it, despite continuous play for decades.
[First added to this chart: 08/02/2017]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,174
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
I know you should ignore all Fall lps other than the most recent, but this one taught me how to listen to a Fall record, and although you start out worried that it could just be the Emperor's New Clothes, about four of five listens and they get me every time.....32 and counting, although I have only done, the released on last Friday "New Facts Emerge" the once. I have read somewhere that Dragnet was mastered on a cassette, and it sounds like it, just another hurdle to overcome before enlightenment. This contains some of their most accessable (Printhead, Flat of Angles and Choc Stock) stuff, the hard work of Spector vs Rector and all points in between. No comments on the pressing because the sound quality is challenging, I mostly listen to it on MP3 these days.
[First added to this chart: 08/02/2017]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Just the funniest record ever made. Bears repeated listens and defies critical description. Vinyl from 1978 is better than listenable, not improved upon by the CD, but listenable with equal enjoyment on both formats.
[First added to this chart: 08/02/2017]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
This is always cited as Parker's masterpiece. It really should be the entry point, he has nearly consistently made great records for over forty years. the early eighties were a bit sketchy but he bounced back with the Mona Lisa's Sister and has not reallY looked back since. This is, however, his most consistent collection of songs, and his widest range of emotions. Humour pervades throughout, with the exception of "You Can't be too Strong" which is about as bleak as it gets. 1979 UK vinyl is a great pressing, really good sound seperation that facilitates full enjoyment of the Rumour. I have a US pressing as well which is dull and an early (1987) CD which sounds like very little care was taken in the conversion.
[First added to this chart: 08/02/2017]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
Rank Score:
229
Rank in 1979:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
This seems to be an indulgence. It's an Lp made to capitalise upon celebrity but is just a collection of wondeful pop music. Whole load of sixties girl ban feel and fun. Humour palys a big part and it works. When I listen to it, I should go off an listen to a load of Kirsty McColl, I will next time promise.
[First added to this chart: 08/02/2017]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
I remember the NME review of this describing it as Ramones meet Springsteen meets Phil Spector meets the Clash, or something like that, and it may have been uncut or Mojo. Whoever and whatever, it is an accurate description. This is a big noisy record in all the right ways. The songs are great big, operatic and over-the-top in a good way. Difficult to fault, if I have a complaint it is that this has never been available on vinyl. It would be one hell of a master if it was cut properly. I am sure there is a whole load more there to hear.
[First added to this chart: 08/03/2017]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
UK version: Flawless and sonically perfect record. Bill Price enginerred this and the sound separation is magnificent. Its not exactly Sgt Pepper, but you can hear every single thing that is going on. At this point in their history you can't quite tell that London Calling was in this band, although some of Mick Jones playing is just a far enough detached from the three chord anybody can play Punk ideal to make this what it has become, the first Clash LP . . The songs are now rock and roll standards. Ths sleeve is an Icon, and as already stated the first pressing sounds fantastic. I dont bother with the cd, sounds alright on mp3 though.
[First added to this chart: 08/03/2017]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,893
Rank in 1977:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Love this band, everything is good. Hysterics is however the defining statement of the first time round 'Gales. Whatever Post Punk is, this Lp is just too varied to fall into a genre - it's all Rock and Roll, The great ones defy categorisation, this is one of those. The guitars are spikey, but not excusively, the drums are into musician territory and the bass is melodic. Oh and Robert Lloyd is one of the great lyciricsts, sort of like if Mark E Smith made sense and had a conscience. Ink records pressing holds up well for a early mid eighties record. The cherry red cd is also a sympathetic remaster.
[First added to this chart: 08/03/2017]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
This may be the greatest lp ever made. Greatest Lp ever, it's not even the greatest Lp by the Velvets.......Steady there, this is nerly as much Cale's as it is Reed's. Each memeber excells, Morrisson is not just a second guitarist, he a Reed collide and bounce back again and again, and Moe creates the whole new art form with the drums. Creative and boundry pushing peak for Rock and Roll, so much came from this, Stooges, Bowie, The Modern Lovers and Patti Smith form a straight line to Punk and the experimentation, mostly Cale, informs anybody who has tried to make new music. Tried several pressings, the recent remastered double is the best, although I have never heard an first pressing. The cd box set is fantastic, as are all the four velvets Lps in this format. Not convinced the mono mix is better, I think I prefer the stereo because the is just enough going on to make it engaging, Sister Ray derinitely benefits from it. the gift sounds very different mono vs Stereo. Its worth comparing.
[First added to this chart: 08/03/2017]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,005
Rank in 1968:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 21. Page 1 of 3
Don't agree with this chart? Create your own from the My Charts page!
Top 21 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 2 | 10% | |
| 1970s | 9 | 43% | |
| 1980s | 8 | 38% | |
| 1990s | 1 | 5% | |
| 2000s | 1 | 5% | |
| 2010s | 0 | 0% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Clash | 2 | 10% | |
| Dexys Midnight Runners | 1 | 5% | |
| The Costello Show Featuring The Attractions And Confederates | 1 | 5% | |
| The Beatles | 1 | 5% | |
| Elvis Costello And The Attractions | 1 | 5% | |
| Richard Thompson | 1 | 5% | |
| The Fall | 1 | 5% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 21 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Leavers |
|---|
| Some Girls by The Rolling Stones |
Top 21 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melody Maker Best Albums of 1979 | Melody Maker | 1979 year chart | 1979 |  |
| Top 20 Greatest Music Albums | KingMob25 | Overall chart | 2011 | |
| Top 20 Greatest Music Albums | Mick Ronson | Overall chart | 2010 | |
| Top 20 Greatest Music Albums | VFBundy | Overall chart | 2010 | |
| Top 20 Greatest Music Albums | MightyFinn | Overall chart | 2012 | |
| Top 20 Greatest Music Albums | Cid Vicious | Overall chart | 2010 | |
| Top 20 Greatest Music Albums | droonster | Overall chart | 2010 | |
| Top 17 Greatest Music Albums | jchurch2 | Overall chart | 2010 | |
| Top 18 Greatest Music Albums | RodrigoLeitao | Overall chart | 2016 | |
| Top 20 Greatest Music Albums | danielcheney | Overall chart | 2014 | |
Top 21 Greatest Music Albums similarity to your chart(s)
Not a member? Registering is quick, easy and FREE!
Why register?
- Join a passionate community of over 50,000 music fans.
- Create & share your own charts.
- Have your say in the overall rankings.
- Post comments in the forums and vote on polls.
- Comment on or rate any album, artist, track or chart.
- Discover new music & improve your music collection.
- Customise the overall chart using a variety of different filters & metrics.
- Create a wishlist of albums.
- Help maintain the BEA database.
- Earn member points and gain access to increasing levels of functionality!
- ... And lots more!
Register now - it only takes a moment!
Top 21 Greatest Music Albums ratings
Not enough data 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.
Top 21 Greatest Music Albums favourites
Top 21 Greatest Music Albums comments
Be the first to add a comment for this Chart - add your comment!
Your feedback for Top 21 Greatest Music Albums
Let us know what you think of this chart by adding a comment or assigning a rating below!
If you enjoy our site, please consider supporting us by sparing a few seconds to disable your ad blocker.
A lot of hard work happens in the background to keep BEA running, and it's especially difficult to do this when we can't pay our hosting fees :(
We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.
A lot of hard work happens in the background to keep BEA running, and it's especially difficult to do this when we can't pay our hosting fees :(
We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.
| Best Ever Artists | |
|---|---|
| 1. The Beatles | |
| 2. Radiohead | |
| 3. Pink Floyd | |
| 4. David Bowie | |
| 5. Bob Dylan | |
| 6. Led Zeppelin | |
| 7. The Rolling Stones | |
| 8. Arcade Fire | |
| 9. Nirvana | |
| 10. Neil Young | |
| 11. The Velvet Underground | |
| 12. Kendrick Lamar | |
| 13. Miles Davis | |
| 14. The Smiths | |
| 15. The Beach Boys | |
| 16. R.E.M. | |
| 17. Kanye West | |
| 18. Pixies | |
| 19. Bruce Springsteen | |
| 20. Jimi Hendrix |
