Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Q (1997)

Q was a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom. These are their best albums of all time. Q is a music and entertainment magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom. In 1997, Q compiled their definitive list of the 100 Best Albums Of All Time.
(Official website: www.qthemusic.com)

There are 18 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Greatest Music Albums has an average rating of 68 out of 100 (from 67 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

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There is a more recent chart by Q in which rank scores have been awarded - 100 Greatest Albums Ever by Q (2006) .

View the complete list of 51,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.

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• Overall Rank
• Num. Charts
• Avg. Rating
• Num. Ratings
• Release Date
• Title
• Artist

1.

OK Computer 

 Radiohead

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Year of Release:

1997

Appears in:

4,292 charts

Rank Score:

82,169

Rank in 1997:

1

Rank in 1990s:

1

Overall Rank:

1

Average Rating:

 92 (5,440 votes)

Comments:

835

2.

Revolver 

 The Beatles

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Year of Release:

1966

Appears in:

3,445 charts

Rank Score:

60,091

Rank in 1966:

1

Rank in 1960s:

2

Overall Rank:

4

Average Rating:

 91 (4,429 votes)

Comments:

474

3.

Automatic For The People 

 R.E.M.

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Year of Release:

1992

Appears in:

1,736 charts

Rank Score:

20,843

Rank in 1992:

1

Rank in 1990s:

7

Overall Rank:

51

Average Rating:

 84 (2,131 votes)

Comments:

174

4.

The Stone Roses 

 The Stone Roses

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Year of Release:

1989

Appears in:

1,947 charts

Rank Score:

27,062

Rank in 1989:

3

Rank in 1980s:

5

Overall Rank:

35

Average Rating:

 86 (2,207 votes)

Comments:

202

5.

Nevermind 

 Nirvana (US)

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Year of Release:

1991

Appears in:

3,071 charts

Rank Score:

43,334

Rank in 1991:

1

Rank in 1990s:

2

Overall Rank:

15

Average Rating:

 87 (4,201 votes)

Comments:

407

6.

The Bends 

 Radiohead

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Year of Release:

1995

Appears in:

2,596 charts

Rank Score:

35,256

Rank in 1995:

1

Rank in 1990s:

5

Overall Rank:

22

Average Rating:

 87 (3,801 votes)

Comments:

311

7.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 

 The Beatles

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Year of Release:

1967

Appears in:

3,384 charts

Rank Score:

54,722

Rank in 1967:

1

Rank in 1960s:

3

Overall Rank:

6

Average Rating:

 90 (4,441 votes)

Comments:

476

8.

(What's The Story) Morning Glory? 

 Oasis

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Year of Release:

1995

Appears in:

1,689 charts

Rank Score:

19,849

Rank in 1995:

2

Rank in 1990s:

9

Overall Rank:

57

Average Rating:

 81 (2,390 votes)

Comments:

230

9.

The Fat Of The Land 

 The Prodigy

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Year of Release:

1997

Appears in:

482 charts

Rank Score:

3,499

Rank in 1997:

13

Rank in 1990s:

96

Overall Rank:

525

Average Rating:

 77 (687 votes)

Comments:

29

10.

The Dark Side Of The Moon 

 Pink Floyd

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Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

4,015 charts

Rank Score:

76,032

Rank in 1973:

1

Rank in 1970s:

1

Overall Rank:

2

Average Rating:

 92 (5,141 votes)

Comments:

576

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Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums composition

Decade	Albums	%
1930s	0	0%
1940s	0	0%
1950s	0	0%
1960s	16	16%
1970s	19	19%
1980s	13	13%
1990s	52	52%
2000s	0	0%
2010s	0	0%
2020s	0	0%

Artist	Albums	%
The Beatles	5	5%
David Bowie	3	3%
Pink Floyd	3	3%
Bob Dylan	3	3%
U2	3	3%
Radiohead	3	3%
R.E.M.	3	3%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	60	60%
	28	28%
	4	4%
	4	4%
	3	3%
	1	1%

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similar charts

• Virgin All-Time Top 1000 Albums by Virgin (1998)
• 100 Greatest Albums Ever by Q (2006)
• Virgin All-Time Top 1000 Albums by Virgin (2000)
• Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by RFNAPLES (2013)
• 100 Greatest Albums Ever by Q (2003)
• Greatest 100 Albums of All Time by The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums with NME (2006)
• Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Channel 4 (2005)
• The Guardian 100 Best Albums Ever by The Guardian (1997)
• Overall Top 100 Ranked Correctly by Mother Nature's Son (2014)
• Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Narcan (2011)

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums similarity to your chart(s)

Other all time overall charts

• Top 100 Albums by ABC (published 2006)
• The 100 Greatest Albums Of All Time by Absolute Radio (published 2012)
• Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Channel 4 (published 2005)
• The 100 Greatest Rock Albums Of All Time by Classic Rock (published 2001)
• The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time by Consequence of Sound (published 2022)
• Top 100 Albums Ever by Consequence of Sound (published 2010)
• The 100 All-Time Greatest Albums by Entertainment Weekly (published 2013)
• The Guardian 100 Best Albums Ever by The Guardian (published 1997)
• Greatest 100 Albums of All Time by The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums with NME (published 2006)
• Greatest Albums Of All Time by Hartbeat! (published 1996)
• Top 90.3 Listener Voted Albums by KEXP (published 2008)
• Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Melody Maker (published 2000)
• 100 Greatest Albums of All Time by Mojo (published 1995)
• Mojo Readers: The 100 Greatest Albums Ever Made by Mojo (published 1996)
• Die 20 besten Alben der Geschichte by Musikexpress.de (published 2011)
• The Definitive 200 by National Association of Recording Merchandisers (published 2007)
• NME's Best Albums Of All Time by New Music Express (published 1985)
• NME Readers' All-Time Top 100 Albums by New Music Express (published 1988)
• The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time by New Music Express (published 2013)
• New Musical Express Writers Top 100 Albums by New Music Express (published 1993)
• NME 's 100 Best Albums Of All Time by New Music Express (published 2003)
• 100 Greatest Albums Ever by Q (published 2003)
• Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Q (published 1997)
• 100 Greatest Albums Ever by Q (published 2006)
• Die 100 besten Alben der Musikgeschichte by radioeins (published 2019)
• The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone (published 2020)
• Top 500 Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone (published 2012)
• Top 500 Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone (published 2003)
• Top 500 Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone (published 2005)
• Die besten Alben aller Zeiten by Rolling Stone Deutschland (published 2004)
• Top 100 Albums by Rolling Stone Deutschland (published 1997)
• Os 100 Melhores Discos de Todos Os Tempos by Sinewave (published 2012)
• The Top 50 Albums of All Time by Sound & Vision Magazine (published 2010)
• 100 Greatest Albums Of All Time by The Sound (published 2018)
• All Time Top 100 Albums by Sounds (UK) (published 1985)
• Die 100 Alben des Jahrhunderts by Spex (published 2000)
• The Greatest Rock Albums by uDiscoverMusic (published 2015)
• 200 Greatest Albums of All Time by Uncut (published 2016)
• The Top 100 Albums by VH1 (published 2001)
• Virgin All-Time Top 1000 Albums by Virgin (published 1998)
• Virgin All-Time Top 1000 Albums by Virgin (published 2000)
• Virgin All-Time Top 1000 Albums by Virgin (published 1994)
• Die 100 besten Platten des Jahrhunderts by Wiener (published 1999)
• Albums of the Century by ZigZag (published 1975)
• Best Album Ever by ZigZag (published 1971)

Other charts by Q

Year charts

• Q Albums of the Year 2019 by Q (2019 year chart)
• Q Albums of the Year 2018 by Q (2018 year chart)
• Q Albums of the Year 2017 by Q (2017 year chart)
• Q Albums of the Year 2016 by Q (2016 year chart)
• Q Albums of the Year 2015 by Q (2015 year chart)
• Q Albums of the Year 2014 by Q (2014 year chart)
• Q Albums of the Year 2013 by Q (2013 year chart)
• Q Albums of the Year 2011 by Q (2011 year chart)
• Q Albums of the Year 2010 by Q (2010 year chart)
• Q Albums of the Year 2009 by Q (2009 year chart)
• Q Albums of the Year 2008 by Q (2008 year chart)
• Q Albums of the Year 2007 by Q (2007 year chart)
• Q Albums of the Year 2006 by Q (2006 year chart)
• Q Albums of the Year 2005 by Q (2005 year chart)
• Q Albums of the Year 2004 by Q (2004 year chart)
• Q Albums of the Year 2003 by Q (2003 year chart)

Decade charts

• The 100 Greatest Albums Of The '90s by Q (1990s decade chart) (published 2015)
• 50 Best Albums of the '70s by Q (1970s decade chart) (published 1998)

Overall charts

• Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Q (published 1997)
• 100 Greatest Albums Ever by Q (published 2006)
• 100 Greatest Albums Ever by Q (published 2003)

[Q was founded in 1986 and disbanded in 2020.]

Top 100 Greatest Music Albums ratings

Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 67 ratings for this chart.

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• Rating
• Date updated
• Member

Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
40/100	09/21/2021 08:50	DommeDamian	970	90/100
85/100	06/04/2021 01:53	Skroskznik	94	92/100
70/100	12/11/2020 07:57	pjohnsongolf	274	89/100
60/100	11/11/2020 13:02	Larcx13	1,067	86/100
70/100	03/29/2020 20:46	Szyfman	174	85/100

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 68.1/100, a mean average of 64.5/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 65.7/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 21.9.

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Top 100 Greatest Music Albums comments

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Rating:  

20/100

From PaperVinnie 12/19/2018 15:45

Wow. I've gotta say, of all the "greatest of all time" lists, this has got to be one of the very worst.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

From tomsmith79 03/27/2017 21:11

Gotta love that they put out this list in 1997 and still had OK Computer, which came out that year, as the number one album

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

20/100

From desh79 12/30/2016 15:29

I know the list was very much of its time and it was also made via a public poll, but any "greatest albums ever"-list that has Fat of the Land at 9, Be Here Now (which even Noel Gallagher admitted was disappointing) at 13, and Jagged Little Pill at 19 is absolutely stark raving bonkers. I think I more or less stopped reading Q magazine at that point.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

100/100

From gon2bed 11/02/2016 16:29

This website and Rate Your Music have OK Computer at the top of the albums, so why shouldn't it be top of this list? Some people are so stupid and yes in general it is the best Radiohead album...

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)

From mrprice 11/02/2016 08:40

Anything that rates OK Computer as the best album of all time, is clearly a load of bollocks. It's not even Radiohead's best album of all time.

Anything that rates Morning Glory above Definitely Maybe is also a load of bollocks.

And anything that doesn't rank Never Mind the Bollocks in the same breath as the Stone Roses, is an absolute load of bollocks.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (2 helpful | 2 unhelpful)

Rating:  

15/100

From mianfei 02/16/2016 13:05

Lists based upon popular polls are always problematic, because they can be too spur-of-the-moment and involve people who might have read the relevant magazine, but never actually even tested its recommendations.

This 1997 list by British magazine ‘Q’, which at the time I was reading quite frequently though I did not see any difference with ‘Rolling Stone’, is a perfect reflection of the flaws of popular polls. Too many spur-of-the-moment choices makes it even worse than other generally very bad lists from rock magazines. In general, these lists should be taken sceptically and used only to see if unknown music of value can be found – which is a genuine rarity.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (1 helpful | 1 unhelpful)

Rating:  

100/100

From gon2bed 02/07/2015 15:18

So great! People votes are the best thing to go by!

15 albums in common:
OK Computer by Radiohead (200 points)
The Bends by Radiohead (194 points)
Nevermind by Nirvana (159 points)
Urban Hymns by The Verve (154 points)
Electric Ladyland by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (151 points)
Blue Lines by Massive Attack (125 points)
Rumours by Fleetwood Mac (119 points)
Ten by Pearl Jam (108 points)
Pablo Honey by Radiohead (106 points)
Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin (104 points)
Grace by Jeff Buckley (103 points)
The Fat of The Land by The Prodigy (98 points)
Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette (98 points)
Forever Changes by Love (66 points)
Placebo by Placebo (24 points)
18 artists in common:
Nirvana
Radiohead
Alanis Morissette
U2
Björk
The Verve
Massive Attack
Fleetwood Mac
Led Zeppelin
The Prodigy
Nick Drake
Jeff Buckley
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Love
Pearl Jam
The Chemical Brothers
Placebo
The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (1 helpful | 1 unhelpful)

Rating:  

70/100

From Nickie 09/03/2014 01:38

This is the famous Ok Computer list. Must of annoyed the hell out of Thom Yorke.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (1 helpful | 2 unhelpful)

From ThomCNTV 11/29/2013 19:00

Just Ok

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (1 helpful | 2 unhelpful)

From nutso42 09/10/2013 14:42

Not as abysmal as the 2003 list, but that ain't saying much.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (3 helpful | 2 unhelpful)

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