Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by 
Romanelli 
With production credits (because producers are important, too). Also track listings, label info and short reviews written by yours truly. I hope this chart is helpful, entertaining, and at least interesting.
- Chart updated: 11/30/2025 23:45
- (Created: 06/01/2012 04:29).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 114 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 89 out of 100 (from 179 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from The Jayhawks. (Remove this filter)
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- #Sponsored
2003 – AMERICAN
Produced By RICK RUBIN & ETHAN JOHNS
1. Stumbling Through The Dark
2. Tailspin
3. All The Right Reasons
4. Save It For A Rainy Day
5. Eyes Of Sarahjane
6. One Man’s Problem
7. Don’t Let The World Get In Your Way
8. Come To The River
9. Angelyne
10. Madman
11. You Look So Young
12. Tampa To Tulsa
13. Will I See You In Heaven
14. Stumbling Through The Dark (Reprise)
The Jayhawks were a hugely influential band in the Minneapolis music scene in the late 80’s and early 90’s. They were a guiding light for bands like Uncle Tupelo and The Gear Daddies. Their career was just beginning to take shape with the wonderful album Tomorrow The Green Grass (which unfortunately sold little), when co-founder Mark Olson left to be with his new wife, Victoria Williams (and to be in a band with her). The Jayhawks struggled behind Gary Louris for years, and it seemed that the magic had left with Olson. And then…out of nowhere came Rainy Day Music. The Jayhawks had slowly strayed from their country rock roots after Olson departed, but here, Louris brings it all back with a vengeance. The result is one of the most beautiful albums of the 2000’s, and a call back to bands like The Flying Burrito Brothers, Poco, and the early work of the Eagles. This is an amazing comeback…and this is an amazing album.
A very acoustic album with amazing hooks and perfect harmonies. Louris co-wrote “Stumbling Through The Dark” with Matthew Sweet, and it never wavers from there. Former Eagle Bernie Leadon lends his banjo to “Tailspin”. Tracks like “All The Right Reasons”, “Eyes Of Sarahjane”, “Don’t Let The World Get In Your Way” and “Save It For A Rainy Day” would have all been hits in a perfect world. As it is, Rainy Day Music is a quiet and under-appreciated masterpiece by a band that always should have been bigger than they were. If you haven’t yet discovered the joys of The Jayhawks, start here. If you loved what Gram Parsons, Poco, Eagles, and every other country rock band before them did, then you will love The Jayhawks. They went on hiatus after this album, ending their new found momentum quickly, but there have been reunions…even one with Mark Olson. But this is the shining moment for this band. And it should not be missed. [First added to this chart: 05/31/2012]
Produced By RICK RUBIN & ETHAN JOHNS
1. Stumbling Through The Dark
2. Tailspin
3. All The Right Reasons
4. Save It For A Rainy Day
5. Eyes Of Sarahjane
6. One Man’s Problem
7. Don’t Let The World Get In Your Way
8. Come To The River
9. Angelyne
10. Madman
11. You Look So Young
12. Tampa To Tulsa
13. Will I See You In Heaven
14. Stumbling Through The Dark (Reprise)
The Jayhawks were a hugely influential band in the Minneapolis music scene in the late 80’s and early 90’s. They were a guiding light for bands like Uncle Tupelo and The Gear Daddies. Their career was just beginning to take shape with the wonderful album Tomorrow The Green Grass (which unfortunately sold little), when co-founder Mark Olson left to be with his new wife, Victoria Williams (and to be in a band with her). The Jayhawks struggled behind Gary Louris for years, and it seemed that the magic had left with Olson. And then…out of nowhere came Rainy Day Music. The Jayhawks had slowly strayed from their country rock roots after Olson departed, but here, Louris brings it all back with a vengeance. The result is one of the most beautiful albums of the 2000’s, and a call back to bands like The Flying Burrito Brothers, Poco, and the early work of the Eagles. This is an amazing comeback…and this is an amazing album.
A very acoustic album with amazing hooks and perfect harmonies. Louris co-wrote “Stumbling Through The Dark” with Matthew Sweet, and it never wavers from there. Former Eagle Bernie Leadon lends his banjo to “Tailspin”. Tracks like “All The Right Reasons”, “Eyes Of Sarahjane”, “Don’t Let The World Get In Your Way” and “Save It For A Rainy Day” would have all been hits in a perfect world. As it is, Rainy Day Music is a quiet and under-appreciated masterpiece by a band that always should have been bigger than they were. If you haven’t yet discovered the joys of The Jayhawks, start here. If you loved what Gram Parsons, Poco, Eagles, and every other country rock band before them did, then you will love The Jayhawks. They went on hiatus after this album, ending their new found momentum quickly, but there have been reunions…even one with Mark Olson. But this is the shining moment for this band. And it should not be missed. [First added to this chart: 05/31/2012]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
1995 – AMERICAN
Produced By GEORGE DRAKOULIAS
1. Blue
2. I’d Run Away
3. Miss Williams’ Guitar
4. Two Hearts
5. Real Light
6. Over My Shoulder
7. Bad Time
8. See Him On The Street
9. Nothing Left To Borrow
10. Ann Jane
11. Pray For Me
12. Red’s Song
13. Ten Little Kids
In the first half of the nineties, the focus of popular music was on the death of hair metal, the rise of grunge and hip hop, and not so much on what alternate country bands from Minnesota were up to. That started to change when The Jayhawks released their classic, Hollywood Town Hall, in 1992. These guys had it all…songs, taste, great playing, and top notch vocals. Tomorrow The Green Grass is the follow up, their fourth album, and the one that was hoped to break them in big ways. That never happened, but the album is almost as good as Hollywood Town Hall. This one adds a different element to their brand of alt country…power pop. You know you’re in for a treat right away with the first moments of “Blue”, one of the sweetest and prettiest songs of the decade. Gary Louris and Mark Olson sing perfectly together, and song by song, this album enchants and wins you over.
Along with “Blue”, the highlights here are excellent. “Miss Williams’ Guitar” is an ode to Olson’s future wife, Victoria Williams. “I’d Run Away” and “Real Light” rock, and their take on Grand Funk Railroad’s “Bad Time” is pop rock perfection. “Ann Jane” and “Ten Little Kids” keep the album rolling to the end. The album was met, unfortunately, with slow sales, and Olson left afterwards to spend time with Williams, putting a damper on the band’s future. This one should have been a big hit, and had it been released a few years later, It might have been. But 1995 rock audiences were just not ready for a band of country rockers from Minnesota, which is too bad…because The Jayhawks from this period were exceptionally good. There are three Jayhawks albums you should definitely have: Hollywood Town Hall is the best, followed closely by this one and the later surprise comeback, Rainy Day Music. This is almost perfect. [First added to this chart: 05/31/2012]
Produced By GEORGE DRAKOULIAS
1. Blue
2. I’d Run Away
3. Miss Williams’ Guitar
4. Two Hearts
5. Real Light
6. Over My Shoulder
7. Bad Time
8. See Him On The Street
9. Nothing Left To Borrow
10. Ann Jane
11. Pray For Me
12. Red’s Song
13. Ten Little Kids
In the first half of the nineties, the focus of popular music was on the death of hair metal, the rise of grunge and hip hop, and not so much on what alternate country bands from Minnesota were up to. That started to change when The Jayhawks released their classic, Hollywood Town Hall, in 1992. These guys had it all…songs, taste, great playing, and top notch vocals. Tomorrow The Green Grass is the follow up, their fourth album, and the one that was hoped to break them in big ways. That never happened, but the album is almost as good as Hollywood Town Hall. This one adds a different element to their brand of alt country…power pop. You know you’re in for a treat right away with the first moments of “Blue”, one of the sweetest and prettiest songs of the decade. Gary Louris and Mark Olson sing perfectly together, and song by song, this album enchants and wins you over.
Along with “Blue”, the highlights here are excellent. “Miss Williams’ Guitar” is an ode to Olson’s future wife, Victoria Williams. “I’d Run Away” and “Real Light” rock, and their take on Grand Funk Railroad’s “Bad Time” is pop rock perfection. “Ann Jane” and “Ten Little Kids” keep the album rolling to the end. The album was met, unfortunately, with slow sales, and Olson left afterwards to spend time with Williams, putting a damper on the band’s future. This one should have been a big hit, and had it been released a few years later, It might have been. But 1995 rock audiences were just not ready for a band of country rockers from Minnesota, which is too bad…because The Jayhawks from this period were exceptionally good. There are three Jayhawks albums you should definitely have: Hollywood Town Hall is the best, followed closely by this one and the later surprise comeback, Rainy Day Music. This is almost perfect. [First added to this chart: 05/31/2012]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,034
Rank in 1995:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 2. Page 1 of 1
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 10 | 10% | |
| 1970s | 21 | 21% | |
| 1980s | 11 | 11% | |
| 1990s | 32 | 32% | |
| 2000s | 22 | 22% | |
| 2010s | 4 | 4% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Band | 3 | 3% | |
| Drive-By Truckers | 3 | 3% | |
| The Beatles | 3 | 3% | |
| Tom Petty | 2 | 2% | |
| Pearl Jam | 2 | 2% | |
| Nirvana | 2 | 2% | |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 2 from 39th to 37th Decoration Day by Drive-By Truckers |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 1 from 37th to 38th Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1 by The Traveling Wilburys |
| Down 1 from 38th to 39th The Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | jeffrey-hodgson | Overall chart | 2018 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | maverick470 | Overall chart | 2015 | |
| Outside The BEA Top 1000 | Romanelli | Custom chart | 2015 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | somefatguy157 | Overall chart | 2020 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | Manso | Overall chart | 2020 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums |  RFNAPLES | Overall chart | 2013 | |
| AllMusic's Greatest Albums | musicologist97 | Custom chart | 2019 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | tim0505 | Overall chart | 2025 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | jay020281 | Overall chart | 2020 | |
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings
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.
Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 179 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 05/19/2025 19:46 | StreakyNuno | 131 | 82/100 |
| ! | 05/19/2025 12:26 |  Repo | 558 | 100/100 |
| ! | 03/15/2025 22:29 | BlueNote | 91 | 74/100 |
| ! | 01/29/2025 12:37 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,105 | 85/100 |
| ! | 01/15/2025 18:01 | Exist-en-ciel | 125 | 99/100 |
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 88.6/100, a mean average of 87.4/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 88.7/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 12.5.
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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
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From StreakyNuno 05/19/2025 19:47 | #309063
I like the Chart but The Black Crowes album, even though it is an excellent album, is an exaggeration to consider it the best ever.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Repo 05/19/2025 12:28 | #309062
Repo 05/19/2025 12:28 | #309062
A wondrous labor of love! GREAT notes!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
CassidyInc 03/29/2024 22:06 | #302746
CassidyInc 03/29/2024 22:06 | #302746
Neat chart, but the write ups and historical perspective you've included for many of these albums make it something special. I had a good chuckle when I finally arrived to Loveless, the album I was most excited to hear your thoughts on, and there was nothing there!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Moondance 03/06/2023 07:40 | #294755
What I found most intriguing is where you actually argue in your comments why an album isn't that great - which is an unusual way to create a greatest 100 chart. A bit too US-orientated for my liking and too many so-so bands. Good to see one album each from Australia & New Zealand.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From samora 10/25/2022 14:15 | #290788
Great chart, with impressive comments; very inspirational!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From leniad 07/12/2022 00:28 | #287280
would appreciate more variety from coutries, genres
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +4 votes (4 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Albumlover6789 02/03/2022 23:20 | #280650
Lots of new music to discover here
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
rockbluesfolkjaz 10/19/2021 18:18 | #275181
rockbluesfolkjaz 10/19/2021 18:18 | #275181
There's a lot of excellent choices here. Many of which I'll be listening to as well. Thanks for this list!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Johnnyo 07/18/2021 16:41 | #271703
Stunning chart. I own 83 of the albums in your chart so it's inevitable that I'm going to love it. Also love the notes. Great addition.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From henrygreen0203 05/04/2021 18:55 | #269359
Nothing but great records here!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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