Debates over what constitutes great art will likely never come to a conclusion. This is especially true when it comes to a medium as personal to people as music.
While it is difficult to quantify the qualities that make good art, when it comes to music, popularity could be considered one measure. There are certain albums that over decades have drawn the admiration of millions of music fans across the world. Such albums can surely be considered among the best.
By creating an index based on album sales, Billboard performance, and recognition among music fans, 24/7 Wall St. has determined the 100 best albums of all time.
Click here to see the 100 best albums of all time.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.
100. Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player (1973)
> Artist: Elton John
> Copies sold: 3 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 89
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99. AM (2013)
> Artist: Arctic Monkeys
> Copies sold: 1 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 123
98. Audioslave (2002)
> Artist: Audioslave
> Copies sold: 3 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 103
97. Sweet Baby James (1970)
> Artist: James Taylor
> Copies sold: 3 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 102
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96. A Rush Of Blood To The Head (2002)
> Artist: Coldplay
> Copies sold: 4 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 108
95. Toxicity (2001)
> Artist: System Of A Down
> Copies sold: 3 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 94
94. Pearl (1971)
> Artist: Janis Joplin
> Copies sold: 4 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 42
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93. Bad Company (1977)
> Artist: Bad Company
> Copies sold: 5 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 64
92. So (1986)
> Artist: Peter Gabriel
> Copies sold: 5 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 93
91. Songs From The Big Chair (1985)
> Artist: Tears For Fears
> Copies sold: 5 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 82
90. Superunknown (1994)
> Artist: Soundgarden
> Copies sold: 5 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 80
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89. Dirt (1992)
> Artist: Alice In Chains
> Copies sold: 4 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 102
88. Out Of Time (1991)
> Artist: R.E.M.
> Copies sold: 4 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 109
87. Brothers In Arms (1985)
> Artist: Dire Straits
> Copies sold: 9 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 97
86. Animals (1977)
> Artist: Pink Floyd
> Copies sold: 4 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 30
85. The Unforgettable Fire (1984)
> Artist: U2
> Copies sold: 3 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 133
84. The Downward Spiral (1994)
> Artist: Nine Inch Nails
> Copies sold: 4 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 115
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83. Paranoid (1971)
> Artist: Black Sabbath
> Copies sold: 4 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 76
82. 1999 (1982)
> Artist: Prince
> Copies sold: 4 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 162
81. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1981)
> Artist: AC/DC
> Copies sold: 6 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 55
80. Heart (1985)
> Artist: Heart
> Copies sold: 5 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 92
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79. Candy-O (1979)
> Artist: The Cars
> Copies sold: 4 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 62
78. All Things Must Pass (1970)
> Artist: George Harrison
> Copies sold: 6 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 38
77. The River (1980)
> Artist: Bruce Springsteen
> Copies sold: 5 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 107
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76. Fleetwood Mac (1975)
> Artist: Fleetwood Mac
> Copies sold: 5 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 168
75. Meet The Beatles! (1964)
> Artist: The Beatles
> Copies sold: 5 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 74
74. Scarecrow (1985)
> Artist: John Mellencamp
> Copies sold: 5 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 75
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73. Toys In The Attic (1975)
> Artist: Aerosmith
> Copies sold: 8 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 128
72. The Razors Edge (1990)
> Artist: AC/DC
> Copies sold: 5 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 77
71. American Idiot (2004)
> Artist: Green Day
> Copies sold: 6 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 143
70. Quadrophenia (1973)
> Artist: The Who
> Copies sold: 1 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 57
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69. Songs In The Key Of Life (1976)
> Artist: Stevie Wonder
> Copies sold: 10 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 82
68. Led Zeppelin III (1970)
> Artist: Led Zeppelin
> Copies sold: 6 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 59
67. MTV Unplugged In New York (1994)
> Artist: Nirvana
> Copies sold: 5 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 91
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66. Chicago Transit Authority (1969)
> Artist: Chicago
> Copies sold: 2 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 171
65. Weezer (1994)
> Artist: Weezer
> Copies sold: 3 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 137
64. Tracy Chapman (1988)
> Artist: Tracy Chapman
> Copies sold: 6 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 61
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63. Don’t Look Back (1978)
> Artist: Boston
> Copies sold: 7 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 45
62. Let It Bleed (1969)
> Artist: The Rolling Stones
> Copies sold: 2 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 44
61. Abraxas (1970)
> Artist: Santana
> Copies sold: 5 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 88
60. Running On Empty (1977)
> Artist: Jackson Browne
> Copies sold: 7 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 65
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59. In Through The Out Door (1979)
> Artist: Led Zeppelin
> Copies sold: 6 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 44
58. 52nd Street (1978)
> Artist: Billy Joel
> Copies sold: 7 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 76
57. Kick (1987)
> Artist: INXS
> Copies sold: 6 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 81
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56. Use Your Illusion II (1991)
> Artist: Guns N’ Roses
> Copies sold: 7 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 106
55. The Long Run (1979)
> Artist: Eagles
> Copies sold: 7 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 57
54. The Stranger (1977)
> Artist: Billy Joel
> Copies sold: 10 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 137
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53. Use Your Illusion I (1991)
> Artist: Guns N’ Roses
> Copies sold: 7 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 108
52. The Cars (1978)
> Artist: The Cars
> Copies sold: 6 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 139
51. Purple Rain (Soundtrack) (1984)
> Artist: Prince And The Revolution
> Copies sold: 13 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 124
50. Shake Your Money Maker (1990)
> Artist: The Black Crowes
> Copies sold: 5 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 165
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49. 4 (1981)
> Artist: Foreigner
> Copies sold: 6 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 81
48. …And Justice For All (1988)
> Artist: Metallica
> Copies sold: 8 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 121
47. Some Girls (1978)
> Artist: The Rolling Stones
> Copies sold: 6 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 88
46. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1978)
> Artist: Elton John
> Copies sold: 8 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 111
45. Dookie (1973)
> Artist: Green Day
> Copies sold: 10 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 116
44. The End Of The Innocence (1989)
> Artist: Don Henley
> Copies sold: 6 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 148
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43. A Night At The Opera (1975)
> Artist: Queen
> Copies sold: 3 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 57
42. Off The Wall (1979)
> Artist: Michael Jackson
> Copies sold: 8 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 193
41. Core (1992)
> Artist: Stone Temple Pilots
> Copies sold: 8 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 117
40. Escape (1979)
> Artist: Journey
> Copies sold: 9 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 152
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39. Like A Virgin (1984)
> Artist: Madonna
> Copies sold: 10 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 109
38. Licensed To Ill (1986)
> Artist: Beastie Boys
> Copies sold: 10 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 152
37. Who’s Next (1971)
> Artist: The Who
> Copies sold: 3 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 42
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36. Tommy (1969)
> Artist: The Who
> Copies sold: 2 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 126
35. Boston (1976)
> Artist: Boston
> Copies sold: 17 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 137
34. Born In The U.S.A. (1984)
> Artist: Bruce Springsteen
> Copies sold: 15 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 143
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33. Pyromania (1983)
> Artist: Def Leppard
> Copies sold: 10 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 123
32. Sports (1983)
> Artist: Huey Lewis & The News
> Copies sold: 7 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 160
31. Sticky Fingers (1971)
> Artist: The Rolling Stones
> Copies sold: 3 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 69
30. Bat Out Of Hell (1977)
> Artist: Meat Loaf
> Copies sold: 14 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 82
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29. Hysteria (1987)
> Artist: Def Leppard
> Copies sold: 12 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 136
28. Slippery When Wet (1986)
> Artist: Bon Jovi
> Copies sold: 12 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 118
27. Eliminator (1983)
> Artist: ZZ Top
> Copies sold: 10 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 185
26. Tapestry (1971)
> Artist: Carole King
> Copies sold: 10 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 318
25. Hotel California (1976)
> Artist: Eagles
> Copies sold: 16 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 114
24. Pet Sounds (1966)
> Artist: The Beach Boys
> Copies sold: 1 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 47
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23. Appetite For Destruction (1987)
> Artist: Guns N’ Roses
> Copies sold: 18 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 182
22. Jagged Little Pill (1995)
> Artist: Alanis Morissette
> Copies sold: 16 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 127
21. Supernatural (1999)
> Artist: Santana
> Copies sold: 15 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 103
20. Ten (1991)
> Artist: Pearl Jam
> Copies sold: 13 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 261
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19. Houses Of The Holy (1973)
> Artist: Led Zeppelin
> Copies sold: 11 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 106
18. The Doors (1967)
> Artist: The Doors
> Copies sold: 4 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 122
17. Metallica (1991)
> Artist: Metallica
> Copies sold: 16 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 476
16. Physical Graffiti (1975)
> Artist: Led Zeppelin
> Copies sold: 16 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 48
15. Back In Black (1980)
> Artist: AC/DC
> Copies sold: 22 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 306
14. Nevermind (1991)
> Artist: Nirvana
> Copies sold: 10 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 392
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13. Rubber Soul (1965)
> Artist: The Beatles
> Copies sold: 6 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 70
12. The Wall (1979)
> Artist: Pink Floyd
> Copies sold: 23 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 150
11. Led Zeppelin (1969)
> Artist: Led Zeppelin
> Copies sold: 10 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 115
10. Led Zeppelin II (1969)
> Artist: Led Zeppelin
> Copies sold: 12 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 117
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9. Wish You Were Here (1975)
> Artist: Pink Floyd
> Copies sold: 6 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 46
8. Rumours (1977)
> Artist: Fleetwood Mac
> Copies sold: 20 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 263
7. Thriller (1982)
> Artist: Michael Jackson
> Copies sold: 33 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 327
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6. Revolver (1966)
> Artist: The Beatles
> Copies sold: 5 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 85
5. The White Album (1968)
> Artist: The Beatles
> Copies sold: 19 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 184
4. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
> Artist: The Beatles
> Copies sold: 11 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 222
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3. Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
> Artist: Led Zeppelin
> Copies sold: 23 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 281
2. Abbey Road (1969)
> Artist: The Beatles
> Copies sold: 12 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 256
1. The Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)
> Artist: Pink Floyd
> Copies sold: 15 million
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 937
Methodology & Detailed Findings
To introduce their albums to the general audience, musicians often release singles ahead of time. These songs make their way to listeners via radio, television, or the internet. While not all songs – even in a great album – can be considered great, the best album will have more than one hit. The very best albums provide a cohesive artistic vision that spans all of their songs. They’re something that fans choose to sit down and listen to again and again.
Of the 100 albums on the list of best albums, 40 were released in the 1970s and only five were released after the year 2000. This could be due in part to audience appreciation building over the years, but also the lessening of artists’ focus on making great albums. In the modern age of streaming and downloads, modern artists may choose to concentrate their efforts on singles or EPs. Aside from a handful of devoted fans, few people today listen to a vinyl record from start to finish.
The 1970s were a golden era for albums, and rock and roll was the most popular genre. While there are a number of notable records on the list that fall outside of the genre – such as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Carole King’s “Tapestry” – the majority of the albums would be regarded as rock music first and foremost.
While many critics may disagree with some of the choices or the order in which the albums appear, the list is based on popularity among listeners. These are the best albums according to the fans. This method of determining the best albums also results in the exclusion of successful and beloved recording artists such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nat King Cole.
To determine the best albums of all time, 24/7 Wall St. generated an index based on rankings on the Billboard 200 chart, lifetime album sales, and user ratings on Ranker.com’s “The Greatest Albums of All Time.” This final metric was weighed twice as heavily as the former two.
A band’s total certified U.S. album sales came from the Recording Industry Association of America. The RIAA tracks album sales released in the American market with a threshold of 500,000 units sold. To be considered, an album must have at least 1,000,000 certified sales. How well an album performed on the Billboard 200 was determined by awarding points based on the number of weeks it was on the list and its rank for each week.
Compilation and “greatest hits” albums were removed from consideration.
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