Top 100 Greatest Music Albums
by 
samistake2ice 
ANNOUNCEMENT: I'm currently starting with my year charts working through my decades and finishing with an updated version of my overall. Probably sometime in November, when my 2015 chart is a little more solid, will I be done with this chart. Thank you.
This is my "100 Favorite Albums List"
I think it's pretty hard to definitively rank your favorite albums so lets just say each one of these albums is accurate give or take 5 spots.
I grew up in the 90s, but was raised on a lot of 60s and 70s blues rock. I love Americana/Country/Folk having grown up in Texas, but I think my tastes are pretty broad. If there are albums on my list that you've never heard of (& there are) I recommend having a listen.
Enjoy
- Chart updated: 07/12/2016 15:45
- (Created: 12/27/2012 03:00).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 37 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 87 out of 100 (from 51 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 1970s. (Remove this filter)
I just love Bob Dylan, that's about it. I'm inexplicably drawn to this album, more than the rest, however. The narratives in the songs and even the cover art just pique my interest.
"You're an idiot, babe. It's a wonder that you still know how to breathe." - Idiot Wind
Favorite Tracks: Idiot Wind, Tangled Up in Blue, Simple Twist of Fate [First added to this chart: 12/26/2012]
"You're an idiot, babe. It's a wonder that you still know how to breathe." - Idiot Wind
Favorite Tracks: Idiot Wind, Tangled Up in Blue, Simple Twist of Fate [First added to this chart: 12/26/2012]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
20,322
Rank in 1975:
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It's possible in this last update Transformer got a huge bump because of Lou Reed's passing. But, I have been listening to this album almost non stop since his death and I hear something new, or gain a different appreciation of a song, every time. RIP Lou Reed, you will be missed.
Favorite Tracks: Hanging Around, Take a Walk On the Wild Side, Perfect Day [First added to this chart: 12/26/2012]
Favorite Tracks: Hanging Around, Take a Walk On the Wild Side, Perfect Day [First added to this chart: 12/26/2012]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,596
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Comments:
So difficult picking a favorite Nick Drake album, but after countless listens Bryter Layter is the complete package for me.
Favorite Tracks: Northern Sky, One of These Things First, Hazy Jane II [First added to this chart: 12/26/2012]
Favorite Tracks: Northern Sky, One of These Things First, Hazy Jane II [First added to this chart: 12/26/2012]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,533
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Comments:
Waits well before the cigs and whiskey took complete hold of his vocal chords. I feel like maybe because of that, there is an innocence to this album that seems so basic. It's not complex its just real.
"I search the place for your lost face, guess I'll have another round" - I Hope that I Don't Fall in Love with You.
Favorite Tracks: Ol' 55, I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love With You, Martha [First added to this chart: 03/03/2013]
"I search the place for your lost face, guess I'll have another round" - I Hope that I Don't Fall in Love with You.
Favorite Tracks: Ol' 55, I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love With You, Martha [First added to this chart: 03/03/2013]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,081
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The quintessential southern folk album; clever, witty, politically aware. Not to mention one of the greatest debuts of all time.
"There's a hole in Daddy's arm, where the money goes. Jesus Christ died for nothin', I suppose." - Sam Stone
Favorite Tracks: Spanish Pipedream, Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore, Angel From Montgomery [First added to this chart: 05/14/2013]
"There's a hole in Daddy's arm, where the money goes. Jesus Christ died for nothin', I suppose." - Sam Stone
Favorite Tracks: Spanish Pipedream, Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore, Angel From Montgomery [First added to this chart: 05/14/2013]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,136
Rank in 1971:
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Comments:
[First added to this chart: 02/01/2016]
Year of Release:
1974
Appears in:
Rank Score:
779
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Comments:
I have developed a completely irrational jealous complex towards those who were in attendance at the The Old Quarter on this night. This is easily the place I would go if I could travel back in time to any show. It's perfect, an intimate setting with beautiful songs, terrible jokes, played to a respectful audience that understands what's happening in front of them. Trust me, rednecks in Houston, don't shut the fuck up! So when Townes finishes a song and says "Wow, I've never heard it that quiet in here", you know the atmosphere must've been something special.
"Get them damn grape peels from between your teeth." Talking Thunderbird Blues
Favorite Tracks: Waiting 'Round to Die, No Place to Fall, Tecumseh Valley [First added to this chart: 12/26/2012]
"Get them damn grape peels from between your teeth." Talking Thunderbird Blues
Favorite Tracks: Waiting 'Round to Die, No Place to Fall, Tecumseh Valley [First added to this chart: 12/26/2012]
Favorite Tracks: Goodbye Easy Street, Like a Coat From The Cold, Night Riders Lament
[First added to this chart: 03/03/2013]
[First added to this chart: 02/01/2016]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,742
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Favorite Tracks: Only Living Boy in New York, The Boxer, Cecilia
[First added to this chart: 01/26/2014]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
11,914
Rank in 1970:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 26. Page 1 of 3
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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 | 26 | 26% | |
| 1980s | 5 | 5% | |
| 1990s | 7 | 7% | |
| 2000s | 29 | 29% | |
| 2010s | 23 | 23% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Todd Snider | 4 | 4% | |
| Tom Waits | 4 | 4% | |
| The Beatles | 3 | 3% | |
| Van Morrison | 2 | 2% | |
| Bob Dylan | 2 | 2% | |
| The Avett Brothers | 2 | 2% | |
| Phosphorescent | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 2 from 4th to 2ndPet Sounds by The Beach Boys |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 1 from 2nd to 3rdSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles |
| Down 1 from 3rd to 4thBlood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s | samistake2ice | 2000s decade chart | 2016 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums |  glitter-bubbles | Overall chart | 2015 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s | samistake2ice | 1970s decade chart | 2023 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s | samistake2ice | 2010s decade chart | 2020 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | tim0505 | Overall chart | 2026 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | mjbreuer | Overall chart | 2020 | |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums |  RaineyWins | Overall chart | 2015 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | ZTAS | Overall chart | 2017 |  |
| BEA 100 (One Album per Artist) |  BozoTyrannus | Custom chart | 2020 |  |
| Top 100 Greatest Music Albums | EP | Overall chart | 2020 | |
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similarity to your chart(s)
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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 51 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/20/2025 14:44 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,089 | 85/100 | |
| 06/16/2024 10:41 | Moondance | 476 | 85/100 | |
| 02/18/2023 20:23 | Johnnyo | 2,584 | 80/100 | |
| 09/18/2021 21:52 |  DommeDamian | 1,004 | 89/100 | |
| 02/17/2021 06:01 |  pjohnsongolf | 272 | 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 has a Bayesian average rating of 86.5/100, a mean average of 86.9/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 86.7/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 9.5.
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums favourites
Showing all 5 members who have added this chart as a favourite
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments
Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 37 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Positive Sentiment First |
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(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. Manage Profile)
From Moondance 06/16/2024 10:42 | #303979
Very thoughtful chart - lots of love/lots to discover here!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Johnnyo 02/18/2023 20:23 | #294188
Great chart. Not sure if you are still active on the site but would be great to see an updated chart.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Mercury 01/13/2021 22:44 | #264381
Mercury 01/13/2021 22:44 | #264381
hey just wanted to stop by and look at this old chart that i love. miss the "good ol days" when we'd chat on the forums about folk singer/songwriter albums. Hope you're doing well. Hard to beleive that its really been nearly 5 years since you updated this bad boy.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From DommeDamian 11/04/2020 20:18 | #260193
DommeDamian 11/04/2020 20:18 | #260193
fun fact: I saw your #1 as soon as I'd finish it for the first time.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From henrygreen0203 07/08/2017 17:54 | #193936
There's an incredible collection of talented songwriters in this collection. You could literally use this list for a introductory course in American songwriting. Love this chart!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
TheHolyKiwi 07/08/2017 12:24 | #193926
TheHolyKiwi 07/08/2017 12:24 | #193926
Fantastic stuff my friend!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
LedZep 06/03/2017 22:38 | #191932
LedZep 06/03/2017 22:38 | #191932
Not exactly my cup of tea, but the brilliance of this chart cannot be denied
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
buzzdainer 06/06/2016 18:34 | #168052
buzzdainer 06/06/2016 18:34 | #168052
Awesome chart! Happy to see Southeastern and Closing Time getting some love.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Mez123 10/07/2015 23:32 | #151148
Great chart I enjoyed reading through your comments. Your right we have similar tastes. Peace The MEZ
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From samistake2ice 07/29/2015 11:43 | #146673
samistake2ice 07/29/2015 11:43 | #146673
For whatever reason I just can't get into calexico. Their new album is all I've listened to, and I feel like it's sorta been pushed down my throat. I'll listen to the others today.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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| Best Artists of 1969 | |
|---|---|
| 1. The Beatles | |
| 2. Led Zeppelin | |
| 3. King Crimson | |
| 4. The Rolling Stones | |
| 5. The Velvet Underground | |
| 6. Creedence Clearwater Revival | |
| 7. Nick Drake | |
| 8. Neil Young | |
| 9. Neil Young & Crazy Horse | |
| 10. Frank Zappa | |
| 11. Miles Davis | |
| 12. The Who | |
| 13. The Band | |
| 14. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band | |
| 15. The Kinks | |
| 16. The Stooges | |
| 17. Crosby, Stills & Nash | |
| 18. Sly & The Family Stone | |
| 19. Fairport Convention | |
| 20. Townes Van Zandt |
