Top 50 Greatest Music Albums
by ponkine

This is a really unusual "Greatest" list I hope!
Yes, it's a "Greatest Greatest Hits" ;) ... er "Best compilation albums".
How many times you've been more than "a bit" disappointed with so-called "Greatest Hits" or "Best ofs" even from the bands you love. Well, if you happen to be an AC/DC or Metallica fan you won't have that problem ;)
Here's a personal list of the Greatest compilation albums ever, IMHO of course.
Please note that various artists compilations aren't included. Also, sound quality is not taken into account. 1 compilation per artist. Forget the order.
If some artists aren't included is because their compilations aren't good (i.e 'Echoes': The Best of Pink Floyd, with truncated versions!)
Cheers =)
There are 7 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 50 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 80 out of 100 (from 4 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
The entries in this chart have a zero rank score because the chart has not been updated within the last ten years (points from overall charts are decayed over a ten year period).

View the complete list of 58,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.

Share this chart
Collector's summary Help The maximum rank used by the Collector's Summary is configurable from your profile (top 50 is currently selected). Log in or register to discover the great albums that are missing from your music collection!
Sort Sort by
1. (=)
1 
Compilation
Of course all of us grew up with '1962-1966' & '1967-1970' but 1 is the perfect combination of both classic overviews. Also IT WAS a #1 everywhere. [First added to this chart: 03/15/2012]
Year of Release:
2000
Appears in:
Rank Score:
345
Rank in 2000:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Top rated album (85/100 - 642 votes)  85 (642 votes)
Comments:
As I posted on other forum around ;) Greatest collection of rock n' roll since the 60s. From start to finish, this is a mind-blowing compilation from the greatest band ever from USA [First added to this chart: 03/15/2012]
Year of Release:
1976
Appears in:
Rank Score:
579
Rank in 1976:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
3. (=)
Remasters 
Compilation
This is the ultimate Zeppelin compilation. Forget 'Mothership', THIS is the one you need. A Classic [First added to this chart: 03/15/2012]
Year of Release:
1990
Appears in:
Rank Score:
119
Rank in 1990:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Back in the day this one was #1. And with a good reason. This compilation shows truly the Best Deep Purple. The 30th anniversary is specially recommended. [First added to this chart: 03/15/2012]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
26
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
5. (=)
Absolutely essential introduction to Sweden's best known ambassadors. [First added to this chart: 03/15/2012]
Year of Release:
1992
Appears in:
Rank Score:
402
Rank in 1992:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
6. (=)
Greatest Hits 
Compilation
This is a case where the tracklist is perfectly arranged. I can't imagine a Queen compilation without 'Bohemian Raphsody' as the first song and 'We Are The Champions' at the end. [First added to this chart: 03/15/2012]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
538
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
The 'John Lennon Collection' had some Beatles tracks, so 'Lennon Legend' is the real Lennon compilation. And it doesn't have Yoko on cover! [First added to this chart: 03/15/2012]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
159
Rank in 1997:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
8. (=)
Cross Road 
Compilation
A rare case where new tracks where actually big hits! The version you have to have is the one with 'Never Say Goodbye' at the end.
And 'Born To Be My Baby' and 'Livin' in Sin'? Well, on 'New Jersey' ;)
[First added to this chart: 03/15/2012]
Year of Release:
1994
Appears in:
Rank Score:
75
Rank in 1994:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Get international version! A perfect compilation of one of the finest and biggest rock bands after the 70s classics. [First added to this chart: 03/15/2012]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
43
Rank in 1995:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
10. (=)
The way the songs are presented is wonderful. Great, great compilation. [First added to this chart: 03/15/2012]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
168
Rank in 1973:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 50. Page 1 of 5
Don't agree with this chart? Create your own from the My Charts page!

Top 50 Greatest Music Albums composition

Top 50 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

There have been no changes to this chart.
TitleSourceTypePublishedCountry
Top 48 Greatest Music AlbumsBlind Boy GruntOverall chart2011Unknown
Top 40 Greatest Music AlbumsmagOverall chart2012Unknown
Top 50 Greatest Music AlbumsSpartan117Overall chart2010Unknown
Top 50 Greatest Music AlbumsthesteinOverall chart2010Unknown
Top 40 Greatest Music AlbumsarieladityaOverall chart2010Unknown
Top 50 Greatest Music AlbumsExtremerushfan99Overall chart2010Unknown
55 Favorite Compilation AlbumsmatterhornriderCustom chart2025Unknown
Top 28 Greatest Music AlbumsKevinTOverall chart2011
Top 50 Greatest Music AlbumsnoahwalkthiswayOverall chart2010Unknown
Top 50 Greatest Music Albumsjhheil514Overall chart2010

Top 50 Greatest Music Albums similarity to your chart(s)


Not a member? Registering is quick, easy and FREE!


Why register?


Register now - it only takes a moment!

Top 50 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Average Rating: 
80/100 (from 4 votes)
  Ratings distribution Help Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
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).
AV = the site mean average rating.

N.B. The average rating for this chart will not be reliable as it has been rated very few times.

Showing all 4 ratings for this chart.

Sort Sort by
RatingDate updatedMemberChart ratingsAvg. chart rating
 
50/100
 
05/06/2015 12:31 greatson  Ratings distribution  90480/100
 
55/100
 
02/20/2014 19:58 tgarritsen  Ratings distribution  37586/100
 
75/100
 
08/07/2012 20:23 junodog4  Ratings distribution  71273/100
The chart has been updated since this rating was assigned   
85/100
 
03/16/2012 10:51 Facetious  Ratings distribution  17192/100
Please log in or register if you want to be able to leave a rating

Top 50 Greatest Music Albums favourites

Showing all 2 members who have added this chart as a favourite

Top 50 Greatest Music Albums comments

Showing all 7 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Positive Sentiment First | Longest Comments First
(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. Manage Profile)

Rating:  
50/100
From 05/06/2015 12:31 | #140956
Do we need that chart?
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
55/100
From 02/20/2014 19:58 | #103758
Fun to see Ray Charles at 12
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 01/28/2014 20:56 | #101775
good idea.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 08/12/2013 12:43 | #83779
Interesting list. I can only think of three rock groups whose work I'd rather listen to in compilation form than album-by-album: Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and Cream. Throw in Motown and you can add another handful: Supremes, Miracles, Temptations, Four Tops...
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
75/100
From 08/07/2012 20:25 | #48062
Interesting idea - compilations are indeed not all the same, and it's good that someone ranked them. I can't say your choices are bad either. Decent.

However, more charts like this will push more compilations into the top 1000. We don't need it chock full of compilations.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 04/07/2012 02:14 | #39618
One of the most unusual chart on this site. I'm rather fond on compilation of "rarities" albums (eg. Beatles' Anthology 1-3) than greatest hits. But sure, there are some of the artists here I've got to revisit :).
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 03/16/2012 10:52 | #38479
Some great choices here! You might want to check out "The Dust Blows Forward: An Anthology" by Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band. The best Beefheart compilation. :)
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +4 votes (4 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Please log in or register if you want to be able to add a comment

Your feedback for Top 50 Greatest Music Albums

Anonymous
Let us know what you think of this chart by adding a comment or assigning a rating below!
Log in or register to assign a rating or leave a comment for this chart.
Recognised  Year Charts (2025)
1. Top 40 Albums of 2025 by Decibel (2025)
2. Albums of the year 2025 by Pitchfork (2025)
3. Top 100 Albums of 2025 by Louder Than War (2025)
4. Best Albums of 2025 by The New Yorker (2025)
5. Top 50 Albums of 2025 by The Needle Drop (2025)
6. Albums of the Year 2025 by Loud And Quiet (2025)
7. Albums of the year 2025 by Crack Magazine (2025)
8. Best Albums of 2025 by Double J (2025)
9. Albums of the year 2025 by No Ripcord (2025)
10. Albums of the year 2025 by Rough Trade (2025)
11. Albums of the Year 2025 by Les Inrocks (2025)
12. Albums of the year 2025 by The Line Of Best Fit (2025)
13. The 20 best albums of 2025 by Independent (2025)
14. 50 Best Albums of 2025 by The Alternative (2025)
15. Albums of the year 2025 by Uncut (2025)
16. BrooklynVegan's Top 58 Albums of 2025 by BrooklynVegan (2025)
17. Albums of the year 2025 by Piccadilly Records (2025)
18. Albums of the year 2025 by Stereogum (2025)
19. The 50 best albums of 2025 by The Fader (2025)
20. The 20 Best Records of 2025 by Deep Cuts (2025)