Arising in the 1950s, pop (short for “popular”) music originally meant mostly rock-and-roll. Its definition evolved over the years, however, to encompass numerous other genres, including not just rock but also electronica, R&B, middle-of-the-road, funk, rap, country, and countless hybrids of the above.
24/7 Tempo generated a weighted index using data from the Billboard 200 chart and record sales numbers from the Recording Industry Association of America to compile a list of the 100 best pop albums of all time (well, the best since 1967, since that’s the year Billboard began tracking the top 200 albums)..
Iconic rock bands like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin had some of the earliest record-breaking album sales. To date, Led Zeppelin has put out five of the 100 best pop albums ever – more than any other band or recording artist – making them undoubtedly one of the most popular rock bands of all time.
While six of the best pop albums on this list are from the 1960s, the three subsequent decades feature an increasing number of bests, with 33 of them released in the 1990s. Mariah Carey dominated the ‘90s, releasing four of the best albums ever in a span of five years. Artists who have three bests include Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, and The Beatles.
Click here to see the 100 best pop albums of all time
Click here for our detailed methodology
Album sales plummeted in the 2000s as the recording industry struggled to keep up with the increasing popularity of digital music, and the list reflects what some in the industry refer to as “music’s lost decade.” Only five of the best pop albums came out of the 2000s. Numbers increased in the 2010s, however, when many new, younger artists including Cardi B, Post Malone, and Billie Eilish released top-selling albums that earned spots on this list. (Here is the most famous musician born the year you were born.)
100. Seal, “Seal” (1994)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 15 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 181 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 4 million
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99. Green Day, “American Idiot” (2004)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 3 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 143 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 6 million
98. Elton John, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (1973)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 8 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 111 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 8 million
97. Kelly Clarkson, “Breakaway” (2004)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 3 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 104 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 6 million
96. Post Malone, “Hollywood’s Bleeding” (2019)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 5 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 122 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 3 million
95. Iron Butterfly, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” (1968)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 4 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 140 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 4 million
94. Prince, “1999” (1982)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 7 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 163 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 4 million
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93. Bush, “Sixteen Stone” (1994)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 4 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 109 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 6 million
92. U2, “Achtung Baby” (1991)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 101 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 8 million
91. Bonnie Raitt, “Nick Of Time” (1989)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 3 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 185 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 5 million
90. Bonnie Raitt, “Luck Of The Draw” (1991)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 2 for 2 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 120 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 7 million
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89. Mariah Carey, “Merry Christmas” (1994)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 3 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 107 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 8 million
88. Billy Joel, “An Innocent Man” (1983)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 4 for 5 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 111 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 7 million
87. Christina Aguilera, “Christina Aguilera” (1999)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 97 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 8 million
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86. Aerosmith, “Toys In The Attic” (1975)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 11 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 128 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 8 million
85. Taylor Swift, “Speak Now” (2010)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 6 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 147 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 6 million
84. Enya, “Shepherd Moons” (1991)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 17 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 238 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 5 million
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83. The Black Crowes, “Shake Your Money Maker” (1990)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 4 for 2 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 167 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 5 million
82. Faith Hill, “Breathe” (1999)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 103 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 8 million
81. Spice Girls, “Spice” (1996)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 5 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 105 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 7 million
80. Cardi B, “Invasion Of Privacy” (2018)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 196 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 3 million
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79. Imagine Dragons, “Evolve” (2017)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 2 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 232 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 2 million
78. The Notorious B.I.G., “Life After Death” (1997)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 4 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 87 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 11 million
77. Billie Eilish, “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” (2019)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 3 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 145 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 3 million
76. Mariah Carey, “Daydream” (1995)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 6 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 81 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
75. Taylor Swift, “Red” (2012)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 7 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 185 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 7 million
74. Van Halen, “1984” (1984)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 2 for 5 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 83 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
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73. Whitney Houston, “Whitney” (1987)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 11 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 88 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
72. The Smashing Pumpkins, “Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness” (1995)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 93 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
71. Live, “Throwing Copper” (1994)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 121 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 8 million
70. Will Smith, “Big Willie Style” (1997)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 8 for 3 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 99 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 9 million
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69. REO Speedwagon, “Hi Infidelity” (1980)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 15 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 101 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
68. Led Zeppelin, “Led Zeppelin” (1969)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 7 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 115 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
67. Madonna, “Like A Virgin” (1984)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 3 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 109 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
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> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 8 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 128 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
65. Eminem, “The Marshall Mathers LP” (2000)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 8 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 171 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
64. Elton John, “Diamonds” (2017)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 7 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 216 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 1 million
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63. Def Leppard, “Pyromania” (1983)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 2 for 2 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 123 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
62. Rihanna, “ANTI” (2016)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 2 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 296 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 3 million
61. Van Halen, “Van Halen” (1978)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 19 for 2 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 173 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
60. Mariah Carey, “Mariah Carey” (1990)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 11 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 113 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 9 million
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59. U2, “The Joshua Tree” (1987)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 9 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 121 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
58. No Doubt, “Tragic Kingdom” (1995)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 9 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 91 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
57. George Michael, “Faith” (1987)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 12 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 96 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
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56. Led Zeppelin, “Houses Of The Holy” (1973)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 2 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 106 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 11 million
55. Journey, “Escape” (1981)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 153 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 9 million
54. Paula Abdul, “Forever Your Girl” (1988)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 10 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 175 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 7 million
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53. Madonna, “The Immaculate Collection” (1990)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 2 for 2 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 148 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
52. Green Day, “Dookie” (1994)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 2 for 2 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 116 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
51. Led Zeppelin, “Physical Graffiti” (1975)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 6 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 48 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 16 million
50. Travis Scott, “ASTROWORLD” (2018)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 3 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 179 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 3 million
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49. New Kids On The Block, “Hangin’ Tough” (1988)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 2 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 134 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 8 million
48. Led Zeppelin, “Led Zeppelin II” (1969)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 7 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 117 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 12 million
47. Billy Joel, “The Stranger” (1977)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 2 for 6 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 137 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
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46. Kid Rock, “Devil Without A Cause” (1998)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 4 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 111 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 11 million
45. Meat Loaf, “Bat Out Of Hell” (1977)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 14 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 82 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 14 million
44. Michael Jackson, “Bad” (1987)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 6 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 171 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
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43. Michael Jackson, “Off The Wall” (1979)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 3 for 3 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 193 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 9 million
42. Fleetwood Mac, “Fleetwood Mac” (1975)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 168 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 7 million
41. Bon Jovi, “Slippery When Wet” (1986)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 8 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 118 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 12 million
40. Backstreet Boys, “Millennium” (1999)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 10 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 93 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 13 million
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39. TLC, “CrazySexyCool” (1994)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 3 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 119 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 12 million
38. Phil Collins, “No Jacket Required” (1985)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 7 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 123 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 12 million
37. Lady Gaga, “The Fame” (2008)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 2 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 248 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 6 million
36. Prince And The Revolution, “Purple Rain (Soundtrack)” (1984)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 24 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 161 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 13 million
35. ZZ Top, “Eliminator” (1983)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 9 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 185 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
34. Jewel, “Pieces Of You” (1995)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 4 for 2 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 114 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 12 million
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33. Katy Perry, “Teenage Dream” (2010)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 258 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 8 million
32. Celine Dion, “Falling Into You” (1996)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 3 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 113 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 12 million
31. Britney Spears, “…Baby One More Time” (1999)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 6 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 103 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 14 million
30. Adele, “25” (2015)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 10 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 198 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 11 million
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29. twenty one pilots, “Blurryface” (2015)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 325 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 4 million
28. Santana, “Supernatural” (1999)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 12 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 103 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 15 million
27. Norah Jones, “Come Away With Me” (2002)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 4 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 164 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
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26. Def Leppard, “Hysteria” (1987)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 6 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 136 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 12 million
25. The Beatles, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (1967)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 15 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 232 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 11 million
24. Taylor Swift, “Fearless” (2008)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 11 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 261 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
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23. Bee Gees, “Saturday Night Fever” (1977)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 24 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 137 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 16 million
22. Boston, “Boston” (1976)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 3 for 6 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 138 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 17 million
21. Imagine Dragons, “Night Visions” (2012)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 2 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 407 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 2 million
20. Backstreet Boys, “Backstreet Boys” (1996)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 4 for 2 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 133 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 14 million
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19. Bruce Springsteen, “Born In The U.S.A.” (1984)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 7 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 143 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 15 million
18. Carole King, “Tapestry” (1971)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 15 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 318 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 13 million
17. Alanis Morissette, “Jagged Little Pill” (1995)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 12 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 127 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 16 million
16. Pearl Jam, “Ten” (1991)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 2 for 4 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 264 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 13 million
15. Pink Floyd, “The Wall” (1979)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 15 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 158 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 23 million
14. Nirvana, “Nevermind” (1991)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 2 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 556 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 10 million
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13. The Beatles, “Abbey Road” (1969)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 11 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 443 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 12 million
12. Hootie & The Blowfish, “Cracked Rear View” (1994)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 8 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 129 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 21 million
11. Eagles, “Hotel California” (1976)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 8 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 156 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 26 million
10. Guns N’ Roses, “Appetite For Destruction” (1987)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 5 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 256 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 18 million
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9. The Beatles, “The Beatles [White Album]” (1968)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 9 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 215 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 24 million
8. Drake, “Take Care” (2011)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 461 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 6 million
7. Led Zeppelin, “Led Zeppelin IV” (1971)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 2 for 4 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 285 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 23 million
6. Adele, “21” (2011)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 24 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 522 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 14 million
5. Pink Floyd, “The Dark Side Of The Moon” (1973)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 1 week
> Total time on Billboard 200: 960 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 15 million
4. AC/DC, “Back In Black” (1980)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 4 for 3 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 496 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 25 million
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3. Fleetwood Mac, “Rumours” (1977)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 31 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 457 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 20 million
2. Metallica, “Metallica” (1991)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 4 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 640 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 16 million
1. Michael Jackson, “Thriller” (1982)
> Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 37 weeks
> Total time on Billboard 200: 502 weeks
> Certified U.S. sales: 33 million
Methodology
To determine the 100 best pop albums of all time, 24/7 Tempo generated an index composed of data from Billboard and the Recording Industry Association of America. A custom score measuring an album’s performance on the Billboard 200 chart was created, covering albums released between 1967 (the chart’s first year) and Jan. 15, 2022. The score is based on a tally whereby a week at No. 1 is worth 200 points, a week at No. 2 is worth 199 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 200 worth 1 point. To this was added each album’s total certified U.S. album sales from the Recording Industry Association of America – which tracks album sales in the American market with a threshold of 500,000 units. Both numbers were weighted equally. Only albums classified as pop, pop rock, or pop rap and given a rating of at least 4 out of 5 on the music database AllMusic were included.
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